Abstract:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation combined with endurance training on endurance capacity and performance in sedentary men. Forty untrained men (age: 20 ± 1 years) participated in this study. Subjects were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (i) placebo-control (CTRL), (ii) GTE, (iii) endurance training (Ex), and (iv) endurance training with GTE (ExGTE). During the 4-week intervention, exercise training was prescribed as 75% oxygen uptake reserve for three 20-min sessions per week, and either GTE (250 mg/day) or placebo was provided. Endurance capacity, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), and creatine kinase (CK) were examined. Ex and ExGTE but not GTE improved exhaustive-run time (Ex: +8.2%, p = 0.031; ExGTE: +14.3%, p < 0.001); in addition, Ex and ExGTE significantly increased maximal oxygen uptake by ϳ14% (p = 0.041) and ϳ17% (p = 0.017) above the values of the CTRL group, respectively. Both Ex and ExGTE significantly decreased the increase of CK by ϳ11%-32% below that of CTRL following an exhaustive run (Ex: p = 0.007; ExGTE: p = 0.001). Moreover, TAS levels increased by ϳ11% in ExGTE after training (p = 0.040), and GTE, Ex, and ExGTE markedly attenuated exercise-induced MDA production (p = 0.01, p = 0.005, p = 0.011, respectively). In conclusion, this investigation demonstrated that daily ingestion of GTE during endurance training does not impair improvements in endurance capacity. Moreover, endurance training combined with GTE not only increases antioxidant capacity without attenuating endurance training adaptations, but also further attenuates acute exercise-induced CK release.Key words: V O 2max , malondialdehyde (MDA), creatine kinase (CK), oxidative stress, catechins.Résumé : Cette étude se propose d'examiner l'effet de la supplémentation en extrait de thé vert (« GTE ») combinée à l'entraînement en endurance sur la capacité d'endurance et la performance chez des hommes sédentaires. Quarante hommes non entraînés (âge de 20 ± 1 ans) participent à cette étude. Les sujets sont assignés à l'un des quatre traitements : (i) placebocontrôle (« CTRL »), (ii) GTE, (iii) entraînement en endurance (Ex) et (iv) entraînement en endurance plus GTE (ExGTE). Durant les quatre semaines de l'intervention, l'entraînement physique consiste en trois séances de 20 min à une intensité sollicitant 75 % du consommation d'oxygène de réserve dans la condition de GTE (250 mg/jour) ou de placebo. On évalue la capacité d'endurance, le taux de malonaldéhyde (« MDA »), le statut antioxydant total (« TAS ») et la créatine kinase (« CK »). Ex et ExGTE, mais pas GTE suscitent une amélioration du temps de course jusqu'à épuisement (Ex: +8,2 %, p = 0,031; ExGTE: +14,3 %, p < 0,001); de plus, Ex et ExGTE suscitent une augmentation significative du consommation maximale d'oxygène de ϳ14 % (p = 0,041) et de ϳ17 % (p = 0,017) respectivement par rapport au groupe CTRL. EX et ExGTE suscitent une baisse significative de l'augmentation de CK de ϳ11-32 % par rap...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted activity on self-esteem, control over activities of daily living, and other psycho-physiological aspects among Taiwanese inpatients with schizophrenia. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either the treatment or control group. A weekly animal-assisted activity program was arranged for patients in the treatment group for 2 months. A questionnaire assessing self-esteem, self-determination, social support, and psychiatric symptoms was completed the week before and the week after the animal-assisted activity. Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significant improvement on all measures except for social support and negative psychiatric symptoms. The results of this study showed that animal-assisted activity can promote significant improvements in many clinical aspects among inpatients with schizophrenia. Therefore, animal-assisted activity should be integrated into the treatment of institutionalized patients with schizophrenia.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeine ingestion on the performance of an intermittent sprint cycling test (ISCT) with different rest intervals. Fourteen males with team sport experience consumed 6 mg kg(-1) of caffeine or a placebo 60 min prior to completing two sets of an ISCT with 4-min rest intervals. Each set consisted of 12 × 4-s sprints with 20- or 90-s active recovery intervals at 60-70 rpm. Blood lactate was collected at baseline and immediately following the completion of six sprints in each set. At 20-s recovery intervals, peak power and total work were not significantly different between conditions during the ISCT (P > 0.05); but caffeine reduced 6.31% effort for mean power in Sprint 10 of the later stage, as well as an increased fatigue index and elevated blood lactate levels during the ISCT (P < 0.05). At 90-s recovery intervals, peak power, mean power, and total work under caffeine conditions were significantly higher than under placebo conditions during the ISCT (P < 0.05), but no differences were apparent in fatigue index and blood lactate levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, caffeine ingestion may be ergolytic, affecting performance and fatigue development in the later stage during a prolonged and intermittent sprint test with a short recovery interval. However, caffeine produces an ergogenic effect in the initial stage of an intermittent sprint performance with a longer recovery interval.

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Nitrogen-containing aromatics have potential applications in surface functionalization, corrosion inhibition, and carbon-nitride materials. Reflection− absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and temperatureprogrammed reaction/desorption (TPR/D) have been employed to study the system of 2,4-C 5 NH 3 Br 2 /Cu(100). Our experimental results indicate that 2,4-C 5 NH 3 Br 2 is adsorbed predominantly in molecular form on Cu(100) at 100 K; however, a tiny fraction of the adsorbed molecules is subjected to debromination. The 2,4-C 5 NH 3 Br 2 undergoes partial C−Br dissociation below 400 K, forming C 5 NH 3 Br intermediate. Although after breaking both the C−Br bonds (>400 K), 2,4-pyridyne (C 5 NH 3 ) can be formed, the possibility of Ullmann coupling reaction cannot be excluded. The NEXFAS study shows a ∼ 35°average inclination of the aromatic plane, with respect to the surface, in a packed 2,4-pyridyne adsorption layer. Thermal decomposition of the C 5 NH 3 or its coupling reaction products on the Br/Cu(100) surface mainly occurs at a temperature higher than 550 K, generating H 2 , HCN, HBr, and (CN) 2 .

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute caffeine ingestion on intermittent high-intensity sprint performance after 5 days of creatine loading. After completing a control trial (no ergogenic aids, CON), twelve physically active men were administered in a double-blind, randomized crossover protocol to receive CRE + PLA (0.3 g kg(-1) day(-1) of creatine for 5 days then followed by 6 mg kg(-1) of placebo) and CRE + CAF (0.3 g kg(-1) day(-1) of creatine for 5 days and followed by 6 mg kg(-1) of caffeine), after which they performed a repeated sprint test. Each test consisted of six 10-s intermittent high-intensity sprints on a cycling ergometer, with 60-s rest intervals between sprints. Mean power, peak power, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rates were measured during the test. Blood samples for lactate, glucose, and catecholamine concentrations were drawn at specified intervals. The mean and peak power observed in the CRE + CAF were significantly higher than those found in the CON during Sprints 1 and 3; and the CRE + CAF showed significantly higher mean and peak power than that in the CRE + PLA during Sprints 1 and 2. The mean and peak power during Sprint 3 in the CRE + PLA was significantly greater than that in the CON. Heart rates, plasma lactate, and glucose increased significantly with CRE + CAF during most sprints. No significant differences were observed in the RPE among the three trials. The present study determined that caffeine ingestion after creatine supplements augmented intermittent high-intensity sprint performance.