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Unaltered left ventricular mechanics and remodelling after 12 weeks of resistance exercise training – a longitudinal study in men
Get PDFPrevious longitudinal studies suggest that left ventricular (LV) structure is unaltered with resistance exercise training (RT) in young men. However, evidence from aerobic exercise training suggests that early changes in functional LV wall mechanics may occur prior to and independently of changes in LV size, although short-term changes in LV mechanics and structural remodelling in response to RT protocols have not been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of RT on LV mechanics in healthy men performing 2 different time-under-tension protocols. Forty recreationally trained men (age: 23 ± 3 years) were randomized into 12 weeks of whole-body higher-repetition RT (20–25 repetitions/set to failure at ∼30%–50% 1 repetition maximum (1RM); n = 13), lower-repetition RT (8–12 repetitions/set to failure at ∼75%–90% 1RM; n = 13), or an active control period (n = 14). Speckle tracking echocardiography was performed at baseline and following the intervention period. Neither RT program altered standard measures of LV volumes (end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, or ejection fraction; P > 0.05) or indices of LV mechanics (total LV twist, untwisting rate, twist-to-shortening ratio, untwisting-to-twist ratio, or longitudinal strain; P > 0.05). This is the first longitudinal study to assess both LV size and mechanics after RT in healthy men, suggesting a maintenance of LV size and twist mechanics despite peripheral muscle adaptations to the training programs. These results provide no evidence for adverse LV structural or functional remodelling in response to RT in young men and support the positive role of RT in the maintenance of optimal cardiovascular function, even with strenuous RT
Receiving a diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia: exploring experiences of relationships with health professionals
Get PDFObjectives:
Pernicious Anaemia (PA) is a chronic condition caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. This is a qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); which aimed to explore the patients lived experience of diagnosis and treatment.
Methods:
Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with PA patients, these covered participants’ diagnostic and treatment journeys, the responses of others to their diagnosis and the role health professionals have played in their medical care. Interviews were analysed for recurrent themes using IPA.
Results:
Three superordinate themes were identified: ‘The struggle to achieve a diagnosis’, ‘The significance of a diagnosis’ and ‘Battling for sufficient treatment’. Participants were dissatisfied with their medical care due to diagnostic delay, insufficient treatment and poor relationships with their health professionals. Many experienced, anticipated, and internalized stigma, which led to a reduced quality of life and withdrawal from the medical profession.
Discussion:
Participants’ interactions with their health professionals hindered their adaptation to their condition this affected their psychological and physical wellbeing. Increased clinician awareness of stigma in the PA population symptoms and effective patient-centred communication is required
Reflection: patients’ experiences of being treated in a Leg Club setting
Get PDFPatient experiences with wound care treatment are being recognised as central to prudent care. Leg Clubs provide community-based treatment, education and ongoing health promotion and care for people with leg-related problems. This article considers the growing evidence of patients’ experiences of being treated in a Leg Club setting. Six participants from a Leg Club setting were interviewed via a semi-structured interview, and interviews were transcribed verbatim and investigated for themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis in accordance to Smith et al (2009). An overarching theme, the holistic approach to treatment, was identified, with two subthemes: Leg Club education and a sense of autonomy and trust in Leg Club staff. This study revealed the importance of a holistic approach to treatment within a Leg Club setting, and adds to, and compliments, the body of evidence
Effect of travel and fixture scheduling in the Trans-Tasman Netball League
No full textIntroduction: Home advantage, defined as the tendency of sporting-teams to have more success at their home ground, has been well documented. Notably, air travel, which can result in travel fatigue and jet lag (particularly when flying across multiple time zones) in the away team can further augment home advantage. Further, fixture scheduling factors can also affect match outcomes. The effect of air travel and fixture scheduling on team performance requires further investigation in order to assist coaches and players in responding strategically to the impact of these factors.
Aim: To assess the impact of travel, team ability and fixture scheduling characteristics on game outcomes (n=584) in the Trans-Tasman Netball League across nine seasons (2008-2016).
Study design: Analytical study that examined differences in goal margin between home versus away games, distance and direction of travel when playing away, number of days break between games, previous game location and playing consecutive away games, while also accounting for team ability.
Setting: Trans-Tasman (ANZ Championship) Netball League.
Participants: Elite netballers from five Australian and five New Zealand teams competing in the Trans-Tasman Netball League.
Results: Overall, teams won 59% of games at home and had a theoretical +2 goal advantage. Team ability was the strongest predictor of match goal margin, suggesting better teams will more likely win, regardless of where they play. Distance travelled was also a significant negative predictor of match goal margin; the greater distance travelled resulted in a greater disadvantage to the travelling team.
Conclusions: ‘Home advantage’ does exist in the Trans-Tasman Netball League. Travel direction, days break between games, previous game location and playing consecutive away games did not change the theoretical advantage of playing at hom
Probability of winning and match length in Tiebreak Ten tennis
Get PDFNew formats of tennis have been developed to make matches more exciting and unpredictable than the traditional format of the game. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare and the probability of winning between Tiebreak Ten matches and two other formats of the game; Fast4 tennis and traditional tennis. A probabilistic model of winning Tiebreak Ten tennis matches was created and compared with existing models of Fast4 and traditional tennis matches. This analysis was done for a full range of probabilities of players winning points when they are serving. This involved 1000 simulations for each pair of probabilities for two players serving for multiple set matches in Fast4 tennis and traditional tennis. The probability of players beating higher ranked opponents was found to be higher in Tiebreak Ten matches than in Fast4 and traditional tennis matches. This confirms the claim that Tiebreak Ten matches are less predictable and hence more exciting than Fast4 and traditional tennis matches
Local authority sustainable planning for tourism: lessons from Ireland
Get PDFPurpose – Sustainability is an essential word in the vocabulary of modern planning; it is the key principle
that underpins the Irish planning process. Yet, despite decades of academic and practical debate on
sustainable planning and its application to tourism, there still exist many gaps, especially when it comes
to its implementation. The purpose of this paper is to highlight, over a 10-year period, how Local
Authorities in Ireland have responded to the increasing tourism arrivals, which is having major
implications for tourism planning.
Design/methodology/approach – This study used a multi-method approach to determine the level of
sustainable planning for tourism as evident from all legally required Local Authority County Development
Plans (CDPs) in Ireland.
Findings – While findings have identified a slight increase in the provision for sustainable planning for
tourism over the decade, there continues to be poor levels of policy provision in key areas. Despite the
responsibilities placed on Local Authorities to sustainably plan for tourism, findings continue to question
the ability of Local Authorities in Ireland to plan sustainably for tourism and protect the tourism product.
Originality/value – This research provides the first longitudinal study on the level of sustainable planning
for tourism by Local Authorities in Ireland. It provides an assessment of the current state of sustainable
planning as evident from CDPs in 2016 compared to the original study of 2006, while developing new
knowledge on Local Authority sustainable planning for tourism and the incorporation of tourism
indicators
Associations between schizotypal traits and antisocial behaviours in a sub-Saharan sample
Get PDFSchizophrenic symptoms have often been associated with antisocial behaviours (ASBs). Most studies have focused on violence. The association between schizophrenia and violence is often confounded by socio demographic characteristics of patients. Overemphasis on diagnosis, rather than traits, and the traditional focus on violence may have obscured associations between psychotic features and antisocial behaviour. In this study, an analogue sample (n = 604, females = 54.4%, mean age = 21.46, SD = 5.89) completed self-report measures of schizotypy and antisocial behaviours. The aim was to identify the strength of associations between different schizotypal traits/symptoms (unusual experiences, cognitive disorganisation, impulsivity & introvertive anhedonia) and different forms of antisocial behaviour (rule breaking, physical aggression & social aggression). Differential patterns of association between genders were also considered. Traits akin to positive symptoms were more strongly associated with antisocial behaviours. Impulsive non-conformity was associated with rule breaking, physical aggression and social aggression for both males and females whilst unusual experiences traits were associated with physical and social aggression in both males and females but had only a weak (gender-nonspecific) association with rule breaking. Finally, cognitive disorganisation was not associated with any class of ASB for males but was associated with physical and social aggression in females. These specific associations could inform the development of more targeted treatment approaches for specific types of ASBs in males and females
Celebrity endorsement and the attitude towards luxury brands for a sustainable consumption
Get PDFTaking into consideration the increasing role of sustainability in the luxury industry, our study investigates the role of celebrity credibility, celebrity familiarity, luxury brand value, and brand sustainability awareness on attitude towards celebrity, brand, and purchase intention for sustainable consumption. For this, we explored relationships among these variables to test a conceptual model which is developed using existing knowledge available in academic research on this topic. Data for testing were collected from high-end retail stores in the UK about the world top luxury brands by brand value in 2019, also acknowledged for their major engagement in sustainability. Findings from a survey of 514 consumers suggest that celebrity credibility is a very strong key to increasing purchase intentions of sustainable luxury goods. The study has important implications for the expansion of current literature, theory development and business practices. Limitations of the study are also outlined, and directions for future research are considered too
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) pathophysiology study (IDENTIFY-HF): does increased arterial stiffness associate with HFpEF, in addition to ageing and vascular effects of comorbidities? Rationale and design
Get PDFAims: There has been a paradigm shift proposing that comorbidities are a major contributor towards the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) syndrome. Furthermore, HFpEF patients have abnormal macrovascular and microvascular function, which may significantly contribute towards altered ventricular-vascular coupling in these patients. The IDENTIFY-HF study will investigate whether gradually increased arterial stiffness (in addition to ageing) as a result of increasing common comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes, is associated with HFpEF.
Methods and analysis: In our observational study, arterial compliance and microvascular function will be assessed in five groups (Groups A to E) of age, sex and body mass index matched subjects (age ≥70 years in all groups):
Group A; normal healthy volunteers without major comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus (control). Group B; patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus or heart failure (HF). Group C; patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus without HF. Group D; patients with HFpEF. Group E; patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (parallel group). Vascular function and arterial compliance will be assessed using pulse wave velocity, as the primary outcome measure. Further outcome measures include cutaneous laser Doppler flowmetry as a measure of endothelial function, transthoracic echocardiography and exercise tolerance measures. Biomarkers include NT-proBNP, high-sensitivity troponin T, as well as serum galectin-3 as a marker of fibrosis.
Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the regional research ethics committee (REC), West Midland and Black Country 17/WM/0039, UK, and permission to conduct the study in the hospital was also obtained from the RDI, UHCW NHS Trust. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented in local, national and international medical society meetings.
Trial registration number: NCT0318683
'Sex doesn't alarm me': exploring heterosexual male identity in BBC's Sherlock
Get PDFUsing the character of Sherlock Holmes in the recent BBC’s Sherlock (2010– present), this article explores the challenges posed to masculine identity through ascetic behaviour. Asceticism is usually associated with abstinence from food and sexual behaviours for religious purposes, but is used on this occasion to describe a person who has little interest in sexual relationships of any kind. A preoccupation with working life, in this instance, detection, replaces the desire for sexual relationships. Sexual behaviours contribute greatly to masculine, heteronormative identity and men are often depicted on television engaging in sexual relationships, or desiring to do so. In Sherlock, Holmes’s lack of interest in sex, despite many opportunities, is of interest as it fails to detract from his strong masculine identity. This article explores Holmes’s homosocial relationship with John Watson, and suggests that an uneven sexual binary occurs when one character is resolutely straight and the other appears as pansexual. Holmes’s masculinity is further ratified through his clothing, drug use, demonstrations of hyper-intellect and narcissism. While sex might be largely absent from this particular portrayal, masculinity is accounted for in these behaviours, which proposes that masculinity need not be predicted in overtly sexual behaviours and that asceticism is a viable form of sexual identity