Pediatric patients diagnosed as overweight and obese have an elevated risk of dyspnea.

We investigated whether pediatric patients with overweight and obesity are more likely to have dyspnea compared with those who are non-overweight. We collected de-identified data from TriNetX, a global federated multicenter research database, using both the UT Southwestern Medical Center and multinational Research Networks. Our analysis focused on patients aged 8-12 years. We identified overweight and obesity using ICD-10-CM codes E66 and dyspnea using code R06.0. Patients with overweight and obesity had a significantly higher risk of dyspnea compared with those who were non-overweight. This association was observed in both the UT Southwestern Network (risk ratio: 1.81, p < 0.001) and the Research Network (risk ratio: 2.70, p < 0.001). Furthermore, within the UT Southwestern Network, the risk was found to be higher in females compared with males (risk ratio: 2.17 vs. 1.67). These results have significant clinical implications, suggesting that clinicians should consider overweight and obesity as independent risk factors for dyspnea in pediatric patients after excluding other possible contributing factors.

Elevated risk of dyspnea in adults with obesity.

We investigated whether older adults (OA) with obesity are more likely to have dyspnea compared with OA without obesity, and whether OA with obesity are at a greater risk of having dyspnea compared with middle-aged (MA) and younger adults (YA) with obesity. We obtained de-identified data from the TriNetX UT Southwestern Medical Center database. We identified obesity and dyspnea using ICD-10-CM codes E66 and R06.0, respectively. Patients were separated into three age groups: OA, (65-75 y.o.), MA (45-55 y.o.), and YA (25-35 y.o). Within these groups, those with and without obesity or dyspnea were identified for analysis. The risk of dyspnea was greater in OA (risk ratio: 3.64), MA (risk ratio: 3.52), and YA (risk ratio: 2.76) with obesity compared with age-matched patients without obesity (all p < 0.01). The risk of dyspnea was greater in OA and MA with obesity compared with YA with obesity (both p < 0.001 vs. YA). These findings suggest that clinicians should consider obesity as an independent risk factor for dyspnea.

Tumor loss-of-function mutations in STK11/LKB1 induce cachexia.

Cancer cachexia (CC), a wasting syndrome of muscle and adipose tissue resulting in weight loss, is observed in 50% of patients with solid tumors. Management of CC is limited by the absence of biomarkers and knowledge of molecules that drive its phenotype. To identify such molecules, we injected 54 human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lines into immunodeficient mice, 17 of which produced an unambiguous phenotype of cachexia or non-cachexia. Whole-exome sequencing revealed that 8 of 10 cachexia lines, but none of the non-cachexia lines, possessed mutations in serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11/LKB1), a regulator of nutrient sensor AMPK. Silencing of STK11/LKB1 in human NSCLC and murine colorectal carcinoma lines conferred a cachexia phenotype after cell transplantation into immunodeficient (human NSCLC) and immunocompetent (murine colorectal carcinoma) models. This host wasting was associated with an alteration in the immune cell repertoire of the tumor microenvironments that led to increases in local mRNA expression and serum levels of CC-associated cytokines. Mutational analysis of circulating tumor DNA from patients with NSCLC identified 89% concordance between STK11/LKB1 mutations and weight loss at cancer diagnosis. The current data provide evidence that tumor STK11/LKB1 loss of function is a driver of CC, simultaneously serving as a genetic biomarker for this wasting syndrome.

Reduced Wheel Running via a High-Fat Diet Is Reversed by a Chow Diet with No Added Benefit from Fecal Microbial Transplants.

PURPOSE: Chronic overfeeding via a high-fat/high-sugar (HFHS) diet decreases wheel running and substantially alters the gut metabolome of C57BL/6J mice. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that fecal microbial transplants can modulate the effect of diet on wheel running. METHODS: Singly housed, 6-wk-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a grain-based diet (CHOW) or HFHS diet and provided a running wheel for 13 wk. Low-active, HFHS-exposed mice were then either switched to a CHOW diet and given an oral fecal microbial transplant from mice fed the CHOW diet, switched to a CHOW diet and given a sham transplant, or remained on the HFHS diet and given a fecal microbial transplant from mice fed the CHOW diet. Total wheel running, nutrient intake, body composition, fecal microbial composition, fecal metabolite composition, and liver steatosis were measured at various times throughout the study. RESULTS: We found that an HFHS diet decreases wheel running activity, increases body fat, and decreases microbial alpha diversity compared with a CHOW diet. Improvements in wheel running, body composition, and microbial alpha diversity were accomplished within 2 wk for mice switched from an HFHS diet to a CHOW diet with no clear evidence of an added benefit from fecal transplants. A fecal transplant from mice fed a CHOW diet without altering diet did not improve wheel running or body composition. Wheel running, body composition, fecal microbial composition, fecal metabolite composition, and liver steatosis percentage were primarily determined by diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that diet is a primary mediator of wheel running with no clear effect from fecal microbial transplants.

Isquemia arterial aguda de extremidades por migración de endoprótesis / Acute limb ischemia due to endograft migration

Introducción: en numerosos ensayos publicados, se ha comparado la reparación endovascular del aneurisma aórtico abdominal (AAA) con la cirugía abierta. La mayoría de las complicaciones de las endoprótesis que conducen a la ruptura del aneurisma como la migración, las fugas endovasculares y el fallo estructural del injerto, se pueden tratar con procedimientos endovasculares coadyuvantes y rara vez se requiere una conversión a cirugía abierta. Caso clínico: se presenta un caso clínico en el que se realizó una conversión quirúrgica abierta tardía debido a la migración del injerto, que impacta sobre la bifurcación aórtica y debuta como isquemia aguda de la extremidad inferior izquierda. Discusión: la conversión quirúrgica abierta tardía después de la reparación endovascular de aneurisma es un último recurso que se lleva a cabo tras el fracaso del intento de reparación endovascular y conlleva varios desafíos técnicos.(AU)

Introduction: endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was compared to open surgery in recently published trials. Mostly EVAR complications that lead to aneurysm ruptures such as migration, endovascular leaks and structural graft failure can be treated with adjunctive endovascular procedures and rarely a conversion to open surgery is required. Case report: we present a case which a late open surgical conversion was performed due to migration and impact over aortic bifurcation through endograft which began as arterial limb ischemia. Discussion: the conversion to open surgery after EVAR is a last resort that is taken upon after the failure of an endovascular repair and it entails various technical difficulties.(AU)

Absceso glúteo como manifestación inicial de infección protésica aórtica / Glute abscess as an initial manifestation of aortic graft infection

Introducción:la presentación clínica más frecuente de infección protésica aórtica, secundaria a una fístula aortoentérica (FAE) es la hemorragia gastrointestinal.Se presenta un caso de debut atípico de infección protésica en un paciente con un absceso glúteo y sepsis que la demuestra en estudio complementario.Caso clínico:se trata de un paciente de 69 años, con antecedentes de bypass femoropoplíteo a 1.ª porción en ambas extremidades inferiores y de bypass aortobifemoral (2017). Ante el hallazgo de infección protésica, fue intervenido de un explante de la prótesis aortobifemoral por laparotomía transversa y drenaje de absceso de psoas derecho. Se observó fístula a nivel de tercera porción duodenal distal, no observada en la gastroscopia preoperatoria, que se reparó con sutura primaria y patch yeyunal. Se tomaron cultivos de absceso glúteo, observando Candida krusei y Brevibacterium ravenspurgense, pautando antibioterapia intravenosa en el posoperatorio. En los días posteriores se intervino de una amputación supracondílea de pierna derecha por empeoramiento de la isquemia en dicha extremidad.Discusión:la FAE es una complicación rara y potencialmente mortal de la reparación del aneurisma aórtico abdominal. A pesar de no existir ensayos controlados para estandarizar el manejo, la mejor terapia sigue siendo la explantación completa del injerto con reemplazo por material autólogo o reconstrucción extraanatómica.(AU)

Introduction:gastrointestinal bleeding is the most frequent clinical debut of aortic graft infections, secondary to an aortoenteric fistula (AEF). We show a case of an atypical debut of prosthetic infection as an incidental finding in image, requested by gluteal abscess and sepsis.Case report:a 69-year-old patient, with a medical record of femoropopliteal bypass at 1st portion in both lower extremities and aortobifemoral bypass (2017). When finding the graft infection, he was operated for an extraction of aortobifemoral graft by transverse laparotomy and drainage of right psoas abscess. A fistula was not noticed in preoperative gastroscopy seen at the level of the 3rd distal portion and repaired with a primary suture and jejunal patch. Gluteal abscess samples were taken, showing Candida krusei and Brevibacterium ravenspurgense. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was prescribed in the postoperative period. In the following days, he underwent a supracondylar amputation of the right leg due to worsening of the ischemia in said limb.Discussion:AEF is a rare and life-threatening complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Despite the absence of controlled trials to standardize the management, the best therapy remains the complete graft explantation with replacement by autologous material or extraanatomic reconstruction.(AU)

LIFR-α-dependent adipocyte signaling in obesity limits adipose expansion contributing to fatty liver disease.

The role of chronic adipose inflammation in diet-induced obesity (DIO) and its sequelae including fatty liver disease remains unclear. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) induces JAK-dependent adipocyte lipolysis and altered adipo/cytokine expression, suppressing in vivo adipose expansion in normal and obese mouse models. To characterize LIF receptor (LIFR-α)-dependent cytokine signaling in DIO, we created an adipocyte-specific LIFR knockout mouse model (Adipoq-Cre;LIFR fl/fl ). Differentiated adipocytes derived from this model blocked LIF-induced triacylglycerol lipolysis. Adipoq-Cre;LIFR fl/fl mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) displayed reduced adipose STAT3 activation, 50% expansion in adipose, 20% body weight increase, and a 75% reduction in total hepatic triacylglycerides compared with controls. To demonstrate that LIFR-α signals adipocytes through STAT3, we also created an Adipoq-Cre;STAT3 fl/fl model that showed similar findings when fed a HFD as Adipoq-Cre;LIFR fl/fl mice. These findings establish the importance of obesity-associated LIFR-α/JAK/STAT3 inflammatory signaling in adipocytes, blocking further adipose expansion in DIO contributing to ectopic liver triacylglyceride accumulation.

Correction: Protein fractional synthesis rates within tissues of high- and low-active mice.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242926.].

Protein fractional synthesis rates within tissues of high- and low-active mice.

With the rise in physical inactivity and its related diseases, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in physical activity regulation. Biological factors regulating physical activity are studied to establish a possible target for improving the physical activity level. However, little is known about the role metabolism plays in physical activity regulation. Therefore, we studied protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of multiple organ tissues of 12-week-old male mice that were previously established as inherently low-active (n = 15, C3H/HeJ strain) and high-active (n = 15, C57L/J strain). Total body water of each mouse was enriched to 5% deuterium oxide (D2O) via intraperitoneal injection and maintained with D2O enriched drinking water for about 24 h. Blood samples from the jugular vein and tissues (kidney, heart, lung, muscle, fat, jejunum, ileum, liver, brain, skin, and bone) were collected for enrichment analysis of alanine by LC-MS/MS. Protein FSR was calculated as -ln(1-enrichment). Data are mean±SE as fraction/day (unpaired t-test). Kidney protein FSR in the low-active mice was 7.82% higher than in high-active mice (low-active: 0.1863±0.0018, high-active: 0.1754±0.0028, p = 0.0030). No differences were found in any of the other measured organ tissues. However, all tissues resulted in a generally higher protein FSR in the low-activity mice compared to the high-activity mice (e.g. lung LA: 0.0711±0.0015, HA: 0.0643±0.0020, heart LA: 0.0649± 0.0013 HA: 0.0712±0.0073). Our observations suggest that high-active mice in most organ tissues are no more inherently equipped for metabolic adaptation than low-active mice, but there may be a connection between protein metabolism of kidney tissue and physical activity level. In addition, low-active mice have higher organ-specific baseline protein FSR possibly contributing to the inability to achieve higher physical activity levels.

A High Fat/High Sugar Diet Alters the Gastrointestinal Metabolome in a Sex Dependent Manner.

The gut metabolome offers insight for identifying the source of diet related pathology. As such, the purpose of this study was to characterize alterations of the gut metabolome in female and male C57BL/6J mice randomly assigned to a standard "chow" diet (CHOW) or a high fat/high sugar diet (HFHS; 45% fat and 20% fructose drinking solution) for nine weeks. Cecal metabolites were extracted and an untargeted analysis via LC-MS/MS was performed. Partial Least Sums Discriminate Analysis (PLS-DA) presented significant differences between the two diet groups in a sex-dependent manner. Mann-Whitney U-tests revealed 2443 and 1669 features to be significantly different between diet groups in the females and males, respectively. The majority of altered metabolites were depleted within the cecum of the HFHS fed mice. Metabolic pathways associated with galactose metabolism, leukotriene metabolism, and androgen and estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism were differentially altered with an HFHS diet between sexes. We concluded the immense metabolite depletion and elevation of adverse metabolites associated with the HFHS diet is suggestive of poor gut health. Further, the differential alterations between female and male mice suggests that sex plays an important role in determining the effect of diet on the metabolome and host health.

Activated whole-body arginine pathway in high-active mice.

Our previous studies suggest that physical activity (PA) levels are potentially regulated by endogenous metabolic mechanisms such as the vasodilatory roles of nitric oxide (NO) production via the precursor arginine (ARG) and ARG-related pathways. We assessed ARG metabolism and its precursors [citrulline (CIT), glutamine (GLN), glutamate (GLU), ornithine (ORN), and phenylalanine (PHE)] by measuring plasma concentration, whole-body production (WBP), de novo ARG and NO production, and clearance rates in previously classified low-active (LA) or high-active (HA) mice. We assessed LA (n = 23) and HA (n = 20) male mice by administering a stable isotope tracer pulse via jugular catheterization. We measured plasma enrichments via liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and body compostion by echo-MRI. WBP, clearance rates, and de novo ARG and NO were calculated. Compared to LA mice, HA mice had lower plasma concentrations of GLU (71.1%; 36.8 ± 2.9 vs. 17.5 ± 1.7µM; p<0.0001), CIT (21%; 57.3 ± 2.3 vs. 46.4 ± 1.5µM; p = 0.0003), and ORN (40.1%; 55.4 ± 7.3 vs. 36.9 ± 2.6µM; p = 0.0241), but no differences for GLN, PHE, and ARG. However, HA mice had higher estimated NO production ratio (0.64 ± 0.08; p = 0.0197), higher WBP for CIT (21.8%, 8.6 ± 0.2 vs. 10.7 ± 0.3 nmol/g-lbm/min; p<0.0001), ARG (21.4%, 35.0 ± 0.6 vs. 43.4 ± 0.7 nmol/g-lbm/min; p<0.0001), PHE (7.6%, 23.8 ± 0.5 vs. 25.6 ± 0.5 nmol/g-lbm/min; p<0.0100), and lower GLU (78.5%; 9.4 ± 1.1 vs. 4.1 ± 1.6 nmol/g lbm/min; p = 0.0161). We observed no significant differences in WBP for GLN, ORN, PHE, or de novo ARG. We concluded that HA mice have an activated whole-body ARG pathway, which may be associated with regulating PA levels via increased NO production.

Alleles associated with physical activity levels are estimated to be older than anatomically modern humans.

The purpose of this study was to determine the estimated mutation age and conservation of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with physical activity (PA) in humans. All human SNPs found to be significantly associated with PA levels in the literature were cross-referenced with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Grand Opportunity Exome Sequencing Project to find estimated African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) mutation age. As a secondary measure of mutation age, SNPs were searched for in Hawk's mutation age prediction database which utilizes linkage equilibrium. To determine conservation among hominids, all SNPs were searched in the University of California, Santa Cruz Genome Browser, which contains Neanderthal and chimpanzee reference genomes. Six of the 104 SNPs associated with PA regulation were exon-located missense variants found in IFNAR2, PPARGC1A, PML, CTBP2, IL5RA, and APOE genes. The remaining 98 SNPs were located in non-protein coding regions. Average AA and EA estimated mutation age of the exon-located SNPs were 478.4 ± 327.5 kya and 542.1 ± 369.4 kya, respectively. There were four selective sweeps (suggestive of strong positive selection) of SNPs in humans when compared to Neanderthal or chimpanzee genomes. Exon-located PA candidate SNPs are older than the hypothesized emergence of anatomically modern humans. However, 95% of PA associated SNPs are found in intron and intergenic location. Across all SNPs, there seems to be a high level of conservation of alleles between humans, Neanderthals, and chimpanzees. However, the presence of four selective sweeps suggests there were selection pressures or drift unique to Homo sapiens that influenced the development of mutations associated with PA regulation.

Presynaptic loss of dynamin-related protein 1 impairs synaptic vesicle release and recycling at the mouse calyx of Held.

KEY POINTS: This study characterizes the mechanisms underlying defects in synaptic transmission when dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is genetically eliminated. Viral-mediated knockout of DRP1 from the presynaptic terminal at the mouse calyx of Held increased initial release probability, reduced the size of the synaptic vesicle recycling pool and impaired synaptic vesicle recycling. Transmission defects could be partially restored by increasing the intracellular calcium buffering capacity with EGTA-AM, implying close coupling of Ca2+ channels to synaptic vesicles was compromised. Acute restoration of ATP to physiological levels in the presynaptic terminal did not reverse the synaptic defects. Loss of DRP1 impairs mitochondrial morphology in the presynaptic terminal, which in turn seems to arrest synaptic maturation. ABSTRACT: Impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and function is implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases, and likely affects synaptic neurotransmission prior to cellular loss. Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is essential for mitochondrial fission and is disrupted in neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we used the mouse calyx of Held synapse as a model to investigate the impact of presynaptic DRP1 loss on synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling and sustained neurotransmission. In vivo viral expression of Cre recombinase in ventral cochlear neurons of floxed-DRP1 mice generated a presynaptic-specific DRP1 knockout (DRP1-preKO), where the innervated postsynaptic cell was unperturbed. Confocal reconstruction of the calyx terminal suggested SV clusters and mitochondrial content were disrupted, and presynaptic terminal volume was decreased. Using postsynaptic voltage-clamp recordings, we found that DRP1-preKO synapses had larger evoked responses at low frequency stimulation. DRP1-preKO synapses also had profoundly altered short-term plasticity, due to defects in SV recycling. Readily releasable pool size, estimated with high-frequency trains, was dramatically reduced in DRP1-preKO synapses, suggesting an important role for DRP1 in maintenance of release-competent SVs at the presynaptic terminal. Presynaptic Ca2+ accumulation in the terminal was also enhanced in DRP1-preKO synapses. Synaptic transmission defects could be partially rescued with EGTA-AM, indicating close coupling of Ca2+ channels to SV distance normally found in mature terminals may be compromised by DRP1-preKO. Using paired recordings of the presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments, recycling defects could not be reversed by acute dialysis of ATP into the calyx terminals. Taken together, our results implicate a requirement for mitochondrial fission to coordinate postnatal synapse maturation.

An Acute Bout of Aquatic Treadmill Exercise Induces Greater Improvements in Endothelial Function and Postexercise Hypotension Than Land Treadmill Exercise: A Crossover Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to compare acute bouts of aquatic treadmill (ATM) and land treadmill (LTM) exercise on flow-mediated dilation, postexercise blood pressure, plasma nitrate/nitrite, and atrial natriuretic peptide in untrained, prehypertensive men. DESIGN: In a counterbalanced, crossover design, 19 untrained, prehypertensive men completed bouts of ATM and LTM on separate days. Flow-mediated dilation was measured pre-exercise and 1-hr postexercise. Blood samples were obtained pre-exercise and immediately postexercise and analyzed for plasma nitrate/nitrite and atrial natriuretic peptide. A magnitude-based inference approach to inference was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A possible clinically beneficial increase in flow-mediated dilation (1.2%, 90% confidence interval = -0.07% to 2.5%) was observed 1 hr after ATM. In contrast, a possible clinically harmful decrease in flow-mediated dilation (-1.3%, 90% confidence interval = -2.7% to 0.2%) was observed 1 hr after LTM. The magnitude of the postexercise systolic blood pressure reduction was greater after ATM (-4.9, SD = 2.9 mm Hg) than LTM (-2.6, SD = 2.5 mm Hg). Atrial natriuretic peptide increased 34.3 (SD = 47.0%) after ATM and decreased -9.0 (SD = 40.0%) after LTM. CONCLUSIONS: An acute bout of ATM induced a more favorable endothelial response and greater postexercise hypotensive response than LTM. These changes were associated with increased atrial natriuretic peptide levels after ATM.

Reparación endovascular de seudoaneurisma arterial secundario a fístula ilíaco-ureteral / Endovascular repair of an arterial pseudoaneurysm due to ureteral-iliac fistula

No disponible

High Fat High Sugar Diet Reduces Voluntary Wheel Running in Mice Independent of Sex Hormone Involvement.

Introduction: Indirect results in humans suggest that chronic overfeeding decreases physical activity with few suggestions regarding what mechanism(s) may link overfeeding and decreased activity. The primary sex hormones are known regulators of activity and there are reports that chronic overfeeding alters sex hormone levels. Thepurpose of this study was to determine if chronic overfeeding altered wheel running through altered sex hormone levels. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J mice were bred and the pups were weaned at 3-weeks of age and randomly assigned to either a control (CFD) or high fat/high sugar (HFHS) diet for 9-11 weeks depending on activity analysis. Nutritional intake, body composition, sex hormone levels, and 3-day and 2-week wheel-running activity were measured. Additionally, groups of HFHS animals were supplemented with testosterone (males) and 17ß-estradiol (females) to determine if sex hormone augmentation altered diet-induced changes in activity. Results: 117 mice (56♂, 61♀) were analyzed. The HFHS mice consumed significantly more calories per day than CFD mice (male: p < 0.0001; female: p < 0.0001) and had significantly higher body fat (male: p < 0.0001; female: p < 0.0001). The HFHS diet did not reduce sex hormone levels, but did significantly reduce acute running-wheel distance in male (p = 0.05, 70 ± 28%) and female mice (p = 0.02, 57 ± 26%). In animals that received hormone supplementation, there was no significant effect on activity levels. Two-weeks of wheel access was not sufficient to alter HFHS-induced reductions in activity or increases in body fat. Conclusion: Chronic overfeeding reduces wheel running, but is independent of the primary sex hormones.

"Functional" Respiratory Muscle Training During Endurance Exercise Causes Modest Hypoxemia but Overall is Well Tolerated.

A novel commercial training mask purportedly allows for combined respiratory muscle training and altitude exposure during exercise. We examined the mask's ability to deliver on this claim. Ten men completed three bouts of treadmill exercise at a matched workload (60%VO2peak) in a controlled laboratory environment. During exercise, the mask was worn in 2 manufacturer-defined settings (9,000 ft [9K] and 15,000 ft [15K]) and a Sham configuration (∼3,500 ft). Ventilation (V(E)), tidal volume (V(T)), respiratory rate (R(R)), expired oxygen (F(E)O2) and carbon dioxide (F(E)CO2), peripheral oxygen saturation (S(P)O2), heart rate, and RPE were measured each minute during exercise, and subjects completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) immediately after. The mask caused a reduction in V(E) of ∼20 L/min in both the 9K and 15K configurations (p < 0.001). This was due to a reduction in R(R) of ∼10 b·min, but not V(T), which was elevated by ∼250 ml (p < 0.001). F(E)O2 was reduced and F(E)CO2 was elevated above Sham in both 9K and 15K (p < 0.001). VO2 was not different across conditions (p = 0.210), but VCO2 trended lower at 9K (p = 0.093) and was reduced at 15K (p = 0.016). V(E)/VO2 was 18.3% lower than Sham at 9K and 19.2% lower at 15K. V(E)/VCO2 was 16.2% lower than Sham at 9K and 18.8% lower at 15K (all p < 0.001). Heart rate increased with exercise (p < 0.001) but was not different among conditions (p = 0.285). S(P)O2 averaged 94% in Sham, 91% at 9K, and 89% at 15K (p < 0.001). RPE and BAI were also higher in 9K and 15K (p < 0.010), but there was no difference among mask conditions. The training mask caused inadequate hyperventilation that led to arterial hypoxemia and psychological discomfort, but the magnitude of these responses were small and they did not vary across mask configurations.

Dietary nitrate reduces the O2 cost of desert marching but elevates the rise in core temperature.

PURPOSE: Dietary nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation reduces the O2 cost of fixed-workload tasks performed in temperate environments but has not been examined in the heat. If this effect were retained it could reduce heatstroke risk in military personnel that are deployed for desert combat. METHODS: Nine men completed three 45 min loaded battle marches at a standard cadence (4.83 km h(-1)/1.5 % grade) while wearing full combat gear [BDU, boots, body armor (8 kg), NBC suit] and carrying a loaded rucksack (16 kg). The 1st March (FAM) commenced in a temperate environment. The 2nd and 3rd commenced in simulated dry desert conditions (41 °C/20 % RH) and required subjects to ingest the beetroot juice equivalent of 8.4 mmol NO3 (-) (BRJ) or a NO3 (-) depleted placebo (PLA) for 6 days prior. VO2, VCO2, V E, core (T re), skin (T sk), and mean body (T b) temperatures, HR, and physiological strain index (PSI) were measured continuously. Thermal sensation, generalized discomfort, and perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at 5 min intervals. Heat storage (HS) was calculated. Blood markers of gastrointestinal permeability (TNF, Il-6, HO-1) were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: VO2 in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 12; 16 to 26; and 29 to 45 min of exercise (p < 0.05). VCO2 in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 12 min (p < 0.05). V E in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 20 min of exercise (p < 0.05). T re and T b in BRJ exceeded PLA from 16 to 45 min (p < 0.05). TNF, Il-6, and HO-1 were reduced in BRJ (p < 0.05) while HR, PSI, Tsk, and HS were not altered (p > 0.05). Thermal sensation, generalized discomfort, and RPE were elevated in BRJ from 40 to 45, 25 to 45, and 10 to 45 min, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Metabolic efficiency was improved in BRJ. Paradoxically, body temperatures rose more. This was not due to gut permeability. Therefore, we speculate that based on elimination of other possibilities, blood redistribution from skin to skeletal muscle may have contributed to impaired heat exchange.

ESTADIOS DE MADUREZ DEL CAMARÓN ROSADO Farfantepenaeus notialis (PENAEIDAE) EN EL CARIBE COLOMBIANO / Maturity Stages of Pink Shrimp Farfantepenaeus notialis (Penaeidae) in the Colombian Caribbean

El camarón rosado Farfantepenaeus notilais, es uno de los recursos de mayor importancia socioeconómica en la región Caribe. Sin embargo, esta especie ha sido sobreexplotada en las últimas décadas y hay una carencia en la información biológica y pesquera. El objetivo del presente estudio es determinar y caracterizar los estadios de madurez en el campo macroscópico y microscópico del camarón de aguas someras (F. notialis) como insumo para su manejo. Las muestras fueron tomadas entre junio del 2012 y mayo del 2013, en embarcaciones camaroneras en el Caribe colombiano. Las hembras de F. notialis fueron identificadas y conservadas para el análisis histológico y se fijaron algunas de las gónadas. Se tomaron datos de talla, peso y sexo. Se determinó su estadio gonadal a partir de la morfología y coloración de la gónada, para la determinación microscópica se realizaron cortes histológicos de las muestras de 30 gónadas de todos los estadios. Se obtuvo una muestra de 3019 hembras, para las cuales se encontraron y describieron cinco estadios de desarrollo gonadal. Los resultados macroscópicos se corroboraron con los resultados del análisis de desarrollo de los ovocitos en el campo microscópico. El desarrollo de los ovocitos estuvo acorde a lo registrado para F. brevirostris en el Pacífico colombiano y F. paulensis en la costa norte de Brasil. Estos resultados son un aporte de gran importancia, porque son una guía para los administradores del recurso y la comunidad científica para la determinación de la madurez de F. notialis en el Caribe colombiano.

The pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus notialis is one resource of great socioeconomic importance in the Caribbean region. However, this species has been overexploited in the last decades and there is a lack of biological and fishery information. For such reason, the objective of the present study is to determine and characterize the maturity stages a macroscopic and microscopic level of the pink shrimp (F. notialis) as input for its management. The samples were taking from June of 2012 and May 2013, on board shrimp commercial vessels in the Colombian Caribbean. The females of F. notialis were identified and preserved for the histologic analysis and some gonads were fixed. Data of size, weight and sex were taken. The gonadal stages were determined from the morphology and coloration of gonad and to microscopic determination were carried out histologic cut from samples of thirty gonads from all stages. A total of 3019 females were obtained from F. notialis, to which five stages of gonadal development were found and described. The macroscopic results were corroborated with the analysis ovocyte development a microscopic level. The development of ovocyte was coherent to that reported for F. brevirostris in the Colombian Pacífic and F. paulensis in the north coast of Brazil. These results are a contribution of the great scientific importance to the determination of maturity of F. notialis in the Colombian Caribbean.