Maturation-specific enhancements in lower extremity explosive strength following plyometric training in adolescent soccer players: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: For adolescent soccer players, good sprinting and jumping abilities are crucial for their athletic performance. The application of plyometric training on boosting explosive strength in adolescent soccer players is contingent upon the maturation phase, which can mediate the training-induced adaptations. Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to explore the maturation effect of plyometric training on the lower limb explosive power of adolescent soccer players, with vertical countermovement jump (CMJ) and 20-m sprint as the main outcome indicators. Methods: An extensive search of the literature was carried out on various databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), covering the time period from the establishment of each database to February 6, 2023. The search was conducted using English keywords such as 'Plyometric,' 'Adolescent,' 'football,' and 'Explosive strength.' This study utilized the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool to conduct a standardized quality evaluation of all the included literature. Additionally, the Review Manager 5.4 software was employed to perform data analysis on all the extracted data. Results: A total of 17 studies involving 681 adolescent soccer players aged 10 to 19 were included. Plyometric training significantly improved CMJ performance across different maturation stages, especially in the post-peak height velocity stage (POST-PHV) [MD = 4.35, 95 % CI (2.11, 6.59), P < 0.01, I2 = 60 %]. The pre-peak height velocity stage (PRE-PHV) showed the next best improvement [MD = 3.00, 95 % CI (1.63, 4.37)], while the middle-peak height velocity stage (MID-PHV) showed the least improvement [MD = 2.79, 95 % CI (1.16, 4.41), P < 0.01, I2 = 49 %]. However, improvements in 20 m sprint ability were only observed in the PRE-PHV [MD = -0.06, 95 % CI (-0.12, 0), P < 0.01, I2 = 0 %] and MID-PHV [MD = -0.18, 95 % CI (-0.27, -0.08), P < 0.01, I2 = 0 %] stages. Conclusion: Plyometric training serves as a potent strategy for boosting the lower limb explosive strength of adolescent soccer players, and the training effect is closely related to the players' biological maturity. Considering biological maturity is a key aspect that this study deems essential for the formulation of effective training programs for these adolescent players.

The potential of a targeted unilateral compound training program to reduce lower limb strength asymmetry and increase performance: a proof-of-concept in basketball.

Objective: This study investigates the efficacy of training methodologies aimed at mitigating asymmetries in lower limb strength and explosiveness among basketball players. Methods: Thirty male university basketball athletes were enrolled in this research. Initial assessments were made regarding their physical attributes, strength, and explosiveness. Subsequently, the participants were randomly allocated into two groups: an experimental group (EG, n = 15) and a control group (CG, n = 15). Over 10 weeks, the EG engaged in a unilateral compound training regimen, incorporating resistance training exercises such as split squats, Bulgarian split squats, box step-ups, and single-leg calf raises (non-dominant leg: three sets of six repetitions; dominant leg: one set of six repetitions) and plyometric drills including lunge jumps, single-leg hops with back foot raise, single-leg lateral jumps, and single-leg continuous hopping (non-dominant leg: three sets of 12 repetitions; dominant leg: one set of 12 repetitions). The CG continued with their standard training routine. Assessments of limb asymmetry and athletic performance were conducted before and after the intervention to evaluate changes. Results: 1) Body morphology assessments showed limb length and circumference discrepancies of less than 3 cm. The initial average asymmetry percentages in the single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ) for jump height, power, and impulse were 15.56%, 12.4%, and 4.48%, respectively. 2) Post-intervention, the EG demonstrated a significant reduction in the asymmetry percentages of SLCMJ height and power (p < 0.01), along with improvements in the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) test metrics (p < 0.05). 3) The EG also showed marked enhancements in the double-leg countermovement jump (CMJ) and standing long jump (SLJ) outcomes compared to the CG (p < 0.01), as well as in squat performance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The 10-week unilateral compound training program effectively reduced the asymmetry in lower limb strength and explosiveness among elite male university basketball players, contributing to increased maximal strength and explosiveness.

miR-744-5p promotes T-cell differentiation via inhibiting STK11.

T cells utilized in adoptive T cell immunotherapy are typically activated in vitro. Although these cells demonstrate proliferation and anti-tumor activity following activation, they often face difficulties in sustaining long-term survival post-reinfusion. This issue is attributed to the induction of T cells into a terminal differentiation state upon activation, whereas early-stage differentiated T cells exhibit enhanced proliferation potential and survival capabilities. In previous study, we delineated four T cell subsets at varying stages of differentiation: TN, TSCM, TCM, and TEM, and acquired their miRNA expression profiles via high-throughput sequencing. In the current study, we performed a differential analysis of miRNA across these subsets, identifying a distinct miRNA, hsa-miR-744-5p, characterized by progressively increasing expression levels upon T cell activation. This miRNA is not expressed in TSCM but is notably present in TEM. Target genes of miR-744-5p were predicted, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses, revealing that these genes predominantly associate with pathways related to the 'Wnt signaling pathway'. We established that miR-744-5p directly targets STK11, influencing its expression. Further, we investigated the implications of miR-744-5p on T cell differentiation and functionality. Overexpression of miR-744-5p in T cells resulted in heightened apoptosis, reduced proliferation, an increased proportion of late-stage differentiated T cells, and elevated secretion of the cytokine TNF-α. Moreover, post-overexpression of miR-744-5p led to a marked decline in the expression of early-stage differentiation-associated genes in T cells (CCR7, CD62L, LEF1, BCL2) and a significant rise in late-stage differentiation-associated genes (KLRG1, PDCD1, GZMB). In conclusion, our findings affirm that miR-744-5p contributes to the progressive differentiation of T cells by downregulating the STK11 gene expression.

The Antihypertensive Effects and Mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction in Rats with H-Type Hypertension.

H-type hypertension, which is a specific form of hypertension characterized by elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels, has become a major public health challenge worldwide. This study investigated the hypotensive effects and underlying mechanisms of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo decoction (HTJDTLD), a highly effective traditional Chinese medicine formula commonly used to treat vascular stenosis. Methionine was used to induce H-type hypertension in rats, and HTJDTLD was administered intragastrically. Then, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the caudal artery of rats were measured by noninvasive rat caudal manometry. Histological assessment of the aorta was performed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure Hcy levels, and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to determine the mRNA and protein levels of Glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and caspase-3. The results showed that HTJDTLD significantly lowered blood pressure, alleviated histopathological lesions, and decreased Hcy levels after methionine treatment. Moreover, HTJDTLD significantly inhibited the gene and protein expression of GRP78, JNK, TRAF2, and caspase 3, which are involved mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis pathway. Overall, the results indicated that HTJDTLD had effective antihypertensive effects in rats with H-type hypertension and revealed the antihypertensive mechanisms associated with inhibition of ER stress-induced apoptosis pathway activation.

Survival strategies: How tumor hypoxia microenvironment orchestrates angiogenesis.

During tumor development, the tumor itself must continuously generate new blood vessels to meet their growth needs while also allowing for tumor invasion and metastasis. One of the most common features of tumors is hypoxia, which drives the process of tumor angiogenesis by regulating the tumor microenvironment, thus adversely affecting the prognosis of patients. In addition, to overcome unsuitable environments for growth, such as hypoxia, nutrient deficiency, hyperacidity, and immunosuppression, the tumor microenvironment (TME) coordinates angiogenesis in several ways to restore the supply of oxygen and nutrients and to remove metabolic wastes. A growing body of research suggests that tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia interact through a complex interplay of crosstalk, which is inextricably linked to the TME. Here, we review the TME's positive contribution to angiogenesis from an angiogenesis-centric perspective while considering the objective impact of hypoxic phenotypes and the status and limitations of current angiogenic therapies.

Predicting types of human-related maritime accidents with explanations using selective ensemble learning and SHAP method.

Maritime accidents frequently lead to severe property damage and casualties, and an accurate and reliable risk prediction model is necessary to help maritime stakeholders assess the current risk situation. Therefore, the present study proposes a hybrid methodology to develop an explainable prediction model for maritime accident types. Based on the advantages of selective ensemble learning method, this study pioneers to introduce a two-stage model selection method, aiming to enhance the predictive accuracy and stability of the model. Then, SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) method is integrated to identify effective mapping associations of seafarers' unsafe acts and their risk factors with the prediction results. The results demonstrate that the model developed achieves good prediction performance with an accuracy of 87.50 % and an F1-score of 84.98 %, which benefits stakeholders in assessing the type of maritime accident in advance, so as to make proactive intervention measures.

Gold nanocluster-based ratiometric fluorescence immunoassay for broad-spectrum screening of five eugenols.

BACKGROUND: Eugenol compounds (EUGs), which share chemical similarities with eugenol, belong to a group of phenolic compounds primarily found in clove oil. They are highly valued by fish dealers due to their exceptional anesthetic properties, playing a crucial role in reducing disease incidence and mortality during the transportation of live fish. Despite their widespread use, the safety of EUGs remains a contentious topic, raising concerns about the safety of aquatic products. This underscores the need for efficient and sensitive analytical methods for detecting EUGs. RESULTS: Nanomaterial-based ratiometric fluorescence immunoassay has gained increasing attention due to its integration of the immunoassay's excellent specificity and compatibility for high-throughput analysis, coupled with the exceptional sensitivity and anti-interference capabilities of ratiometric fluorescence assays. In this study, we developed a sensitive ratiometric fluorescence immunoassay for screening five EUGs. This method employs a broad-specificity monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a recognition reagent, selective for five EUGs. It leverages the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-triggered formation of fluorescent 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) and the quenching of fluorescent gold clusters (Au NCs) for detection. The assay's detection limits for eugenol, isoeugenol, eugenol methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol, and acetyl isoeugenol in tilapia fish and shrimp were found to be 9.8/19.5 µg/kg, 0.11/0.22 µg/kg, 19/36 Tilapia ng/kg, 8/16 ng/kg, and 3.0/6.1 µg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, when testing spiked Tilapia fish and shrimp samples, recoveries ranging from 84.1 to 111.9 %, with the coefficients of variation staying below 7.1 % was achieved. SIGNIFICANCE: This work introduces an easy-to-use, broad-specificity, and highly sensitive method for the screening of five EUGs at a pg/mL level, which not only provides a high-throughput strategy for screening eugenol-type fish anesthetics in aquatic products, but also can serve as a benchmark for developing immunoassays for other small molecular pollutants, rendering potent technological support for guarding food safety and human health.

Correction: Expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles as a high-rate lithium-ion battery anode.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA00832D.].

The relationship between diabetes and the dementia risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The link between diabetes and dementia risk is not well understood. This study evaluates the factors linking diabetes to dementia onset, providing guidance for preventing dementia in diabetic patients. METHODS: This analysis utilized databases such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to review literature from January 31, 2012, to March 5, 2023. Articles were rigorously assessed using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Data analysis was performed with STATA 15.0. RESULTS: The study analyzed 15 articles, covering 10,103,868 patients, with 8,821,516 diagnosed with diabetes. The meta-analysis reveals a substantial association between diabetes and an increased risk of dementia [RR: 1.59, 95%CI (1.40-1.80), P < 0.01, I²=96.4%]. A diabetes duration of less than five years is linked to a higher dementia risk [RR: 1.29, 95%CI (1.20-1.39), P < 0.01, I²=92.6%]. Additionally, hypoglycemia significantly raises dementia risk [RR: 1.56, 95%CI (1.13-2.16), P < 0.01, I²=51.5%]. Analyses of blood sugar control, glycated hemoglobin, and fasting blood sugar indicated no significant effects on the onset of dementia. CONCLUSION: Diabetes notably increases dementia risk, particularly where diabetes duration is under five years or hypoglycemia is present. REGISTRATION: The research protocol was registered with PROSPERO and assigned the registration number CRD42023394942.

A regulation strategy of self-assembly molecules for achieving efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been successfully employed to enhance the efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells due to their facile low-temperature processing and superior device performance. Nevertheless, depositing uniform and dense SAMs with high surface coverage on metal oxide substrates remains a critical challenge. In this work, we propose a holistic strategy to construct composite hole transport layers (HTLs) by co-adsorbing mixed SAMs (MeO-2PACz and 2PACz) onto the surface of the H2O2-modified NiOx layer. The results demonstrate that the conductivity of the NiOx bulk phase is enhanced due to the H2O2 modification, thereby facilitating carrier transport. Furthermore, the hydroxyl-rich NiOx surface promotes uniform and dense adsorption of mixed SAM molecules while enhancing their anchoring stability. In addition, the energy level alignment at the interface is improved due to the utilization of mixed SAMs in an optimized ratio. Furthermore, the perovskite film crystal growth is facilitated by the uniform and dense composite HTLs. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of PSCs based on composite HTLs is boosted from 22.26% to 23.16%, along with enhanced operational stability. This work highlights the importance of designing and constructing NiOx/SAM composite HTLs as an effective strategy for enhancing both the performance and stability of inverted PSCs.

2D Tellurium Films Based Self-Drive Near Infrared Photodetector.

To reduce the amount of energy consumed in integrated circuits, high efficiency with the lowest energy is always expected. Self-drive device is one of the options in the pursuit of low power nanodevices. It is a typical strategy to form an internal electric field by constructing a heterojunction in self-drive semiconductor system. Here, a two-step method is proposed to prepare high quality centimeter-sized 2D tellurium (Te) thin film with hall mobility as high as 37.3 cm2 V-1 s-1, and the 2D Te film is further assembled with silicon to form a heterojunction for self-drive photodetector, which can realize effective detection from visible to near infrared bands. The photodetectivity of the heterojunctions can reach 1.58×1011 Jones under the illumination of 400 nm@ 1.615 mW/cm2 and 2.08×108 Jones under the illumination of 1550 nm@ 1.511 mW/cm2 without bias. Our experiments demonstrate the potential of 2D tellurium thin films for wide band and near infrared integrated device applications.

Heterogeneity of primary and metastatic CAFs: From differential treatment outcomes to treatment opportunities (Review).

Compared with primary tumor sites, metastatic sites appear more resistant to treatments and respond differently to the treatment regimen. It may be due to the heterogeneity in the microenvironment between metastatic sites and primary tumors. Cancer­associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are widely present in the tumor stroma as key components of the tumor microenvironment. Primary tumor CAFs (pCAFs) and metastatic CAFs (mCAFs) are heterogeneous in terms of source, activation mode, markers and functional phenotypes. They can shape the tumor microenvironment according to organ, showing heterogeneity between primary tumors and metastases, which may affect the sensitivity of these sites to treatment. It was hypothesized that understanding the heterogeneity between pCAFs and mCAFs can provide a glimpse into the difference in treatment outcomes, providing new ideas for improving the rate of metastasis control in various cancers.

Passivating Defects via Retarding the Reaction Rate of FAI and PbI2 Enables Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

The two-step sequential deposition strategy has garnered widespread usage in the fabrication of high-performance perovskite solar cells based on FAPbI3. However, the rapid reaction between FAI and PbI2 during preparation often leads to incomplete reactions, reducing the device efficiency and stability. Herein, we introduced a multifunctional additive, 2-thiophenyl trifluoroacetone (TTA), into the FAI precursor. The incorporation of TTA has proven to be highly effective in slowing the reaction rate between FAI and PbI2, resulting in increased perovskite formation and improved efficiency and stability of the devices. TTA's CF3 groups interact with FAI via hydrogen bonding, effectively suppressing FA+ defects. The S and C═O groups share lone pair electrons with uncoordinated Pb2+, leading to a reduction in perovskite film defects and suppressing nonradiative recombination. Additionally, the CF3 groups impart hydrophobicity, protecting the perovskite film from moisture-induced erosion. As a result, the TTA-modified perovskite film achieves a Champion efficiency of 23.42% compared to the control's 21.52, with 20.58% efficiency for a 25 cm2 solar module. Remarkably, the unencapsulated Champion device retains 86% of its initial PCE after 1080 h under dark conditions (60 ± 5 °C, 35 ± 5% RH), indicating enhanced long-term stability. These findings offer a promising and cost-effective tactic for high-quality perovskite film fabrication.

Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score is Associated with Overall Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Conventional Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in determining the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE). METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 936 patients who underwent cTACE for HCC between January 2012 and December 2018, and divided them into two groups based on their CONUT score. To balance the bias in baseline characteristics, propensity score matched (PSM) analysis was conducted. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to establish a cumulative survival curve, and the log-rank test was employed to determine differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) among the CONUT score groups. Furthermore, the Cox proportional hazard model was employed to assess the correlation between CONUT score and OS and PFS, whereby hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were computed. RESULTS: Before PSM, the median OS for the low (≤ 3) and high (≥ 4) CONUT group (558 vs. 378 patients) was 21.7 and 15.6 months, respectively, and the median PFS was 5.7 and 5 months. Following PSM, both the low and high CONUT score groups comprised 142 patients. The low CONUT score group exhibited a significantly longer OS compared to the high CONUT score group, as determined by the log-rank test (median OS 22.2 vs. 17.0 months, P = 0.014). No significant association was observed between CONUT group and PFS (median PFS 6.4 vs. 4.7 months, log-rank test, P = 0.121). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that a CONUT score of ≥ 4 was an independent risk factor for OS in patients with HCC who underwent cTACE (HR = 1.361; 95% CI: 1.047-1.771; P = 0.022). These findings were consistent across most subgroup analyses. CONCLUSION: A high CONUT score has been found to be a prognostic factor for poorer OS in patients with HCC who underwent cTACE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, Non-randomized controlled cohort.

Expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles as a high-rate lithium-ion battery anode.

Due to their small interlayer spacing and a low lithiation potential close to Li+ deposition, current graphite anodes suffer from weak kinetics, and lithium deposition in a fast-charging process, hindering their practical application in high-power lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, expanded graphite incorporated with Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles (EG/LTO) was synthesized via moderate oxidization of artificial graphite following a solution coating process. The EG/LTO has sufficient porosity for fast Li+ diffusion and a dense Li4Ti5O12 layer for decreased interface reaction resistance, resulting in excellent fast-charging properties. EG/LTO presented a high reversible capacity of 272.8 mA h g-1 at 3.74 A g-1 (10C), much higher than that of the original commercial graphite (50.1 mA h g-1 at 10C) and even superior to that of hard carbon. In addition, EG/LTO exhibited capacity retention rate of 98.4% after 500 cycles at 10C, demonstrating high structural stability during a long cycling process. This study provides a protocol for a solution chemistry method to prepare fast-charging graphite anode materials with high stability for high-power LIBs.

Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals MYOF-Enriched Monocyte/Macrophage Subcluster as a Favorable Prognostic Factor in Sepsis.

This research utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to map the immune cell landscape in sepsis, revealing 28 distinct cell clusters and categorizing them into nine major types. Delving into the monocyte/macrophage subclusters, 12 unique subclusters are identified and pathway enrichment analyses are conducted using KEGG and GO, discovering enriched pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation and antigen processing. Further GSVA and AUCell assessments show varied activation of interferon pathways, especially in subclusters 4 and 11. The clinical correlation analysis reveals genes significantly linked to survival outcomes. Additionally, cellular differentiation in these subclusters is explored. Building on these insights, the differential gene expression within these subclusters is specifically scrutinized, which reveal MYOF as a key gene with elevated expression levels in the survivor group. This finding is further supported by in-depth pathway enrichment analysis and the examination of cellular differentiation trajectories, where MYOF's role became evident in the context of immune response regulation and sepsis progression. Validating the role of the MYOF gene in sepsis, a dose-dependent response to LPS in THP-1 cells and C57 mice is observed. Finally, inter-cellular communications are analyzed, particularly focusing on the MYOF+Mono/Macro subcluster, which indicates a pivotal role in immune regulation and potential therapeutic targeting.

Identification and Transcriptome Analysis of a Novel Allelic Mutant of NAL1 in Rice.

Leaf morphology is a crucial aspect of plant architecture, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf development remain incompletely understood. In this study, a narrow leaf mutant, m625, was identified in rice (Oryza sativa L.), exhibiting pleiotropic developmental defects. Pigment measurement revealed reduced levels of photochromic pigments in m625. Cytological analysis demonstrated that the m625 gene affected vascular patterns and cell division. Specifically, the narrowing of the leaf was attributed to a decrease in small vein number, shorter vein spacing, and an abnormal V-shaped arrangement of bulliform cells, while the thickening was caused by longer leaf veins, thicker mesophyll cells, and an increased number of parenchyma cell layers. The dwarf stature and thickened internode were primarily due to shortened internodes and an increase in cell layers, respectively. Positional cloning and complementation assays indicated that the m625 gene is a novel allele of NAL1. In the m625 mutant, a nucleotide deletion at position 1103 in the coding sequence of NAL1 led to premature termination of protein translation. Further RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the m625 gene significantly impacted regulatory pathways related to IAA and ABA signal transduction, photosynthesis, and lignin biosynthesis. Moreover, the m625 mutant displayed thinner sclerenchyma and cell walls in both the leaf and stem, particularly showing reduced lignified cell walls in the midrib of the leaf. In conclusion, our study suggests that NAL1, in addition to its known roles in IAA transport and leaf photosynthesis, may also participate in ABA signal transduction, as well as regulate secondary cell wall formation and sclerenchyma thickness through lignification.

Reprogramming of Lipid Metabolism Mediates Crosstalk, Remodeling, and Intervention of Microenvironment Components in Breast Cancer.

Due to the unique characteristics of breast cancer initiation sites and significant alterations in tumor metabolism, breast cancer cells rely on lipid metabolic reprogramming to effectively regulate metabolic programs during the disease progression cascade. This adaptation enables them to meet the energy demands required for proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and responses to signaling molecules in the breast cancer microenvironment. In this review, we comprehensively examined the distinctive features of lipid metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer and elucidated the underlying mechanisms driving aberrant behavior of tumor cells. Additionally, we emphasize the potential role and adaptive changes in lipid metabolism within the breast cancer microenvironment, while summarizing recent preclinical studies. Overall, precise control over lipid metabolism rewiring and understanding of plasticity within the breast cancer microenvironment hold promising implications for developing targeted treatment strategies against this disease. Therefore, interventions targeting the lipid metabolism in breast cancer may facilitate innovative advancements in clinical applications.

The enhancement of explosive power contributes to the development of anaerobic capacity: A comparison of autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise and velocity-based resistance training.

Objectives: Due to the character of the taekwondo, the adenosine triphosphate-phosphocreatine system provides the energy for each kick, the glycolytic system supports the repeated execution of kicks, and the aerobic system promotes recovery between these movements and the bout. Therefore, taekwondo athletes require high explosive power and anaerobic capacity in order to carry out sustained and powerful attacks. So, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects of APRE and VBRT on lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity in college taekwondo players. Methods: A total of 30 taekwondo players completed an 8-week training intervention with autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE; n = 15) and velocity-based resistance training (VBRT; n = 15). Testing included the one-repetition maximum squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), taekwondo anaerobic intermittent kick test (TAIKT), and 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). Results: (1) Intragroup comparisons revealed significant effects for one-repetition maximum squat, peak power of CMJ (CMJPP), relative peak power of CMJ (CMJRPP), and total number of TAIKT (TAIKTTN) in both the APRE and VBRT groups. The VBRT group exhibited small effect sizes for time at peak power of WAnT (WAnTPPT) and moderate effect sizes for peak power of WAnT (WAnTPP), relative peak power of WAnT (WAnTRPP), and fatigue index of TAIKT (TAIKTFI), whereas the APRE group exhibited small effect sizes for TAIKTFI. (2) Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant effects in any of the results. However, VBRT demonstrated a moderate advantage in WAnTPP and WAnTRPP, whereas APRE had a small advantage in CMJPP and CMJRPP. Conclusions: These findings suggest that APRE improved explosive power (CMJPP and CMJRPP) more, whereas VBRT improved anaerobic power output (WAnTPP and WAnTRPP) more. Both methods were found to have similar effects in improving the anaerobic endurance (WAnTPPT and TAIKTTN) and fatigue index (power drop of WAnT and TAIKTFI).

Evidence that keratinocyte microvesicle particles carrying Platelet-activating factor mediate the widespread multi-organ damage associated with intoxicated thermal burn injury.

Thermal burn injuries can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The combination of ethanol intoxication with thermal burn injury results in increased morbidity through an exaggerated inflammatory response involving many organs. Recent studies have linked involvement of the lipid mediator Platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the pathology associated with intoxicated thermal burn injury (ITBI). The present studies tested the roles of PAF and the elevated levels of subcellular microvesicle particles (MVP) generated in response to ITBI in the subsequent multi-organ toxicity. First, thermal burn injury of HaCaT keratinocytes preincubated with ethanol resulted in augmented MVP release, which was blocked by inhibiting the PAF-generating enzyme cytosolic phospholipase A2 and the PAF receptor (PAFR). Second, ITBI of mice resulted in increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production and neutrophilic inflammation in multiple organs which were not present in mice deficient in PAFRs nor the MVP-generating enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase). Moreover, the increased bacterial translocation from the gut to mesenteric lymph nodes previously reported in murine ITBI was also dependent upon PAFR and aSMase. MVP released from ITBI-treated keratinocytes contained high levels of PAFR agonistic activity. Finally, use of topical aSMase inhibitor imipramine following ITBI attenuated the widespread organ inflammatory response of ITBI, suggesting a potential therapeutic for this condition. These studies provide evidence for PAF-enriched MVP generated in skin, which then act upon the gut PAFR resulting in bacterial translocation as the mechanism for the multi-organ dysfunction associated with ITBI. Inasmuch as aSMase inhibitors are widely available, these studies could result in effective treatments for ITBI.