No abstract

This investigation assessed the lymphocyte subset response to increasing intensity. Participants completed an exertion test (VO(2max)), and later performed a 10-min run at 76% VO(2max), 5-min at 87%, and run to exhaustion at 100% intensity. Blood was sampled at rest, following each intensity, and 1-h post. Cell concentration, apoptosis (annexin V) and migration (CX₃CR1) were evaluated in CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ subsets. Relative data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA with significance at P≤0.05. Absolute changes from rest (Δ baseline) were calculated for exercise conditions. CX₃CR1 displayed relative changes 1-h post, (CD8+ Pre=58%, Post=68%, 1 h-Post=37%, P=0.04) (CD19+ Pre=1.9%, Post=3.2%, 1 h-Post=5.2%, P=0.02). No relative changes were noted for subsets and annexin V. Absolute changes revealed that CD4+/annexin V+ and CD8+/annexin V+ significantly increased at 76%,(P<0.01). Significant absolute increases were observed in CD4+/CX₃CR1 at 87% VO2max, and at 87% and 100% VO2max in CD8+/CX₃CR1 (P<0.01). Subsets respond differently with intensity with respect to cell count, and markers of apoptosis and cell migration. CD4+ and CD8+ appear to be prone to apoptosis with moderate exercise, but significant increases in migration at higher intensities suggests movement of these cells from the vasculature in postexercise measurements.

Survival after OLT for Wilson disease with end-stage liver disease is excellent. Overall, neuropsychiatric symptoms improved after transplantation, substantiating arguments for widening of the indication for liver transplantation in symptomatic neurologic Wilson disease patients with stable liver function.

Studies have shown significant changes in lymphocytes during continuous exercise, but little has been shown on the effect of repeated high intensity bouts. This study was designed to examine the effect of repeated intermittent bouts on lymphocyte subset cell count, apoptosis, and migration. A series of 6 Wingate anaerobic cycle tests were performed by participants (N = 8) with blood samples attained before, immediately following, and after a designated recovery period (excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC)) to observe lymphocyte changes. Lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD4/CD45RA+, CD8+, CD8+/CD45RA+, CD19+) were assessed for apoptosis (annexin V+) and cellular migration (CX(3)CR1). Our results indicate that the CD8+ and CD8+/CD45RA+ subsets were significantly influenced by the repetitive Wingate cycling protocol such that cell counts increased with exercise, and then decreased at EPOC termination (p = 0.016). The observed postexercise decrease in CD8+ and CD8+/CD45RA+ cells was accompanied by a significant change in the CX(3)CR1 cell migration receptor (p = 0.019), but not apoptosis (p = 0.87). This indicates that with repetitive high-intensity cycling, the response in CD8+ cells following the bout is likely due to cell migration rather than cell death.

BackgroundWilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism resulting in multifaceted neurological, hepatic, and psychiatric symptoms. The objective of the study was to comparatively assess two clinical rating scales for WD, the Unified Wilson’s Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS) and the Global Assessment Scale for Wilson’s disease (GAS for WD), and to test the feasibility of the patient reported part of the UWDRS neurological subscale (termed the “minimal UWDRS”).MethodsIn this prospective, monocentric, cross-sectional study, 65 patients (median age 35 [range: 15–62] years; 33 female, 32 male) with treated WD were scored according to the two rating scales.ResultsThe UWDRS neurological subscore correlated with the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.80; p < 0.001). Correlations of the UWDRS hepatic subscore and the GAS for WD Tier 1 score with both the Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (r = 0.44/r = 0.28; p < 0.001/p = 0.027) and the Child-Pugh score (r = 0.32/r = 0.12; p = 0.015/p = 0.376) were weak. The “minimal UWDRS” score significantly correlated with the UWDRS total score (r = 0.86), the UWDRS neurological subscore (r = 0.89), and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score (r = 0.86).ConclusionsThe UWDRS neurological and psychiatric subscales and the GAS for WD Tier 2 score are valuable tools for the clinical assessment of WD patients. The “minimal UWDRS” is a practical prescreening tool outside scientific trials.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0921-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Under long-term d-penicillamine therapy a minority of patients developed immune-mediated disease. Elevations in antinuclear antibodies were found frequently, but no correlations were evident between increases in antinuclear antibodies and the development of immune-mediated diseases or medical regimes. Thus, the value of antinuclear antibodies for monitoring adverse events under chelator therapy seems to be limited.

Fire suppression and rescue is a physiologically demanding occupation due to extreme external heat as well as the additional physical and thermal burden of the protective garments. The hot environment challenges body temperature homeostasis inducing heat stress. Accurate field assessment of hyperthermia is complex and unreliable. Purpose: The present investigation developed a perceptually based hyperthermia metric to measure physiologic exertional heat strain during treadmill exercise. Methods:Sixty-five (28.88 ± 6.75 yrs) female (n=11) and male (n=54) firefighters and non-firefighting volunteers participated in four related thermal stress investigations performing treadmill exercise while wearing thermal protective clothing in a heated room. Physiological and perceptual responses (i.e. body core temperature, perceived exertion, and thermal sensation) were assessed at baseline, 20-mins exercise, and at termination. Results: Perceived exertion increased from baseline (0.24 ± 0.42) to termination (7.43 ± 1.86). Thermal sensation increased from baseline (1.78 ± 0.77) to termination (4.50 ± 0.68). Perceived exertion and thermal sensation were measured concurrently with body core temperature to develop a twodimensional graphical representation of three "colored" exertional heat strain zones. Each exertional heat strain zone was representative of a range of mean body core temperature responses such that green incorporated 36.0 to 37.4°C, yellow incorporated 37.5 to 37.9°C, and red incorporated 38.0 to greater than 40.5°C. Conclusions: A perceptual hyperthermia index (PHI) was developed using ratings of iii perceived exertion and thermal sensation. The PHI can provide a quick and easy momentary assessment of the level of risk for exertional heat strain for firefighters engaged in fire suppression and rescue. This metric may be beneficial in high risk environments that threaten the lives of firefighters.

High intensity functional training (HIFT) emphasizes constantly varied, high intensity, functional activity by programming strength and conditioning exercises, gymnastics, Olympic weightlifting, and specialty movements. Conversely, traditional circuit training (TCT) programs aim to improve muscular fitness by utilizing the progressive overload principle, similar movements weekly, and specified work-to-rest ratios. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if differences exist in health and performance measures in women participating in HIFT or TCT after a six-week training program. Recreationally active women were randomly assigned to a HIFT (n = 8, age 26.0 + 7.3 yrs) or TCT (n = 11, age 26.3 + 9.6 yrs) group. Participants trained three days a week for six weeks with certified trainers. Investigators examined body composition (BC), aerobic and anaerobic capacity, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, power, and agility. Repeated-measures ANOVA were used for statistical analyses with an alpha level of 0.05. Both groups increased body mass (p = .011), and improved muscular endurance (p < .000), upper body strength (p = .007), lower body power (p = .029) and agility (p = .003). In addition, the HIFT group decreased body fat (BF) %, while the TCT group increased BF% (p = .011). No changes were observed in aerobic or anaerobic capacity, flexibility, upper body power, or lower body stair climbing power. Newer, high intensity functional exercise programs such as HIFT may have better results on BC and similar effects when compared with TCT programs on health and fitness variables such as musculoskeletal strength and performance.