1,524 research outputs found
Loss of muscle mass in the immediate post-operative period is associated with inadequate dietary protein and energy intake
No full textDespite the implementation of ‘Enhanced Recovery After Surgery’ (ERAS) protocols, major abdominal surgery is still associated with significant and detrimental losses of muscle mass and function in the post-operative period. Although ERAS protocols advocate both early mobility and dietary intake, dietary composition in the immediate post-operative period is poorly characterised, despite muscle losses being greatest in this period. Herein, we show in 15 patients (66 ± 6 y, 12:3 M:F) who lost ~10% m. vastus lateralis muscle mass in the 5 days after open colorectal resective surgery, mean energy intake was only ~25% of the minimum ESPEN recommendation of 25 kcal/kg/d and daily dietary protein intake was only ~12% of the ESPEN recommended guidelines of 1.5 g/kg/d. Given the known importance of nutrition for muscle mass maintenance, innovative dietary interventions are needed in the immediate post-operative period, accounting for specific patient dietary preference to maximise compliance (e.g., soft-textured foods)
C.S. Lewis: Reactions from Women
No full textRecounts the experiences of eight women (including the author) who knew C.S. Lewis
"Nutraceuticals" in relation to human skeletal muscle and exercise.
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Skeletal muscles have a fundamental role in locomotion and whole body metabolism, with muscle mass and quality being linked to improved health and even lifespan. Optimising nutrition in combination with exercise is considered an established, effective ergogenic practice for athletic performance. Importantly, exercise and nutritional approaches also remain arguably the most effective countermeasure for muscle dysfunction associated with ageing and numerous clinical conditions e.g. cancer cachexia, COPD and organ failure, via engendering favourable adaptations such as increased muscle mass and oxidative capacity. Therefore, it is important to consider the effects of established and novel effectors of muscle mass, function and metabolism in relation to nutrition and exercise. To address this gap, in this review we detail existing evidence surrounding the efficacy of a non-exhaustive list of macronutrient, micronutrient and "nutraceutical" compounds alone and in combination with exercise in relation to skeletal muscle mass, (protein and fuel) metabolism and exercise performance (i.e. strength and endurance capacity). It is long established that macronutrients have specific roles and impacts upon protein metabolism and exercise performance i.e. protein positively influences muscle muscle mass and protein metabolism, whilst carbohydrate and fat intakes can influence fuel metabolism and exercise performance. Regarding novel nutraceuticals, we show the following ones in particular may have effects in relation to: 1) muscle mass/protein metabolism: leucine, hydroxyl b-methylbutyrate, creatine, vitamin-D, ursolic acid and phosphatidic acid, and 2) exercise performance: (i.e. strength or endurance capacity); hydroxyl -methylbutyrate, carnitine, creatine, nitrates and b-alanine
C.S. Lewis’s theory of Sehnsucht as a tool for theorizing L.M. Montgomery’s experience of ‘The Flash'
No full textLongevity and skeletal muscle mass: the role of IGF signalling, the sirtuins, dietary restriction and protein intake
No full textAdvancing age is associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle (SkM) mass and function. Given the worldwide aging demographics, this is a major contributor to morbidity, escalating socio-economic costs and ultimately mortality. Previously, it has been established that a decrease in regenerative capacity in addition to SkM loss with age coincides with suppression of insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling pathways. However, genetic or pharmacological modulations of these highly conserved pathways have been observed to significantly enhance life and healthspan in various species, including mammals. This therefore provides a controversial paradigm in which reduced regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle tissue with age potentially promotes longevity of the organism. This paradox will be assessed and considered in the light of the following: (i) the genetic knockout, overexpression and pharmacological models that induce lifespan extension (e.g. IRS-1/s6K KO, mTOR inhibition) versus the important role of these signalling pathways in SkM growth and adaptation; (ii) the role of the sirtuins (SIRTs) in longevity versus their emerging role in SkM regeneration and survival under catabolic stress; (iii) the role of dietary restriction and its impact on longevity versus skeletal muscle mass regulation; (iv) the crosstalk between cellular energy metabolism (AMPK/TSC2/SIRT1) and survival (FOXO) versus growth and repair of SkM (e.g. AMPK vs. mTOR); and (v) the impact of protein feeding in combination with dietary restriction will be discussed as a potential intervention to maintain SkM mass while increasing longevity and enabling healthy aging
High-k fluoropolymers dielectrics for low-bias ambipolar organic light emitting transistors (Olets)
No full textFunding Information: Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.A. and C.S.; methodology, A.A. and C.S.; validation, A.A., K.G.-R., and C.S.; data curation, A.A., K.G.-R., and C.S.; writing—original draft preparation, A.A. and C.S.; writing—review and editing, A.A., K.G.-R., and C.S.; supervision, C.S.; project administration, C.S.; funding acquisition, C.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published ver-sion ofFunding:the manuThescript.authors acknowledge the support from the Academy of Finland Flagship Program (Grant No.: 320167, PREIN) and the Aalto seed funding scheme. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Organic light emitting transistors (OLETs) combine, in the same device, the function of an electrical switch with the capability of generating light under appropriate bias conditions. In this work, we demonstrate how engineering the dielectric layer based on high-k polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based polymers can lead to a drastic reduction of device driving voltages and the improvement of its optoelectronic properties. We first investigated the morphology and the dielectric response of these polymer dielectrics in terms of polymer (P(VDF-TrFE) and P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)) and solvent content (cyclopentanone, methylethylketone). Implementing these high-k PVDF-based dielectrics enabled low-bias ambipolar organic light emitting transistors, with reduced threshold voltages (<20 V) and enhanced light output (compared to conventional polymer reference), along with an overall improvement of the device efficiency. Further, we preliminary transferred these fluorinated high-k dielectric films onto a plastic substrate to enable flexible light emitting transistors. These findings hold potential for broader exploitation of the OLET platform, where the device can now be driven by commercially available electronics, thus enabling flexible low-bias organic electronic devices.Peer reviewe
Impaired hypertrophy in myoblasts is improved with testosterone administration
No full textWe investigated the ability of testosterone (T) to restore differentiation in multiple population doubled (PD) murine myoblasts, previously shown to have a reduced differentiation in monolayer and bioengineered skeletal muscle cultures vs. their parental controls (CON) (Sharples et al., 2011, 2012 [7], [26]). Cells were exposed to low serum conditions in the presence or absence of T (100 nM) ± PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) for 72 h and 7 days (early and late muscle differentiation respectively). Morphological analyses were performed to determine myotube number, diameter (μm) and myonuclear accretion as indices of differentiation and myotube hypertrophy. Changes in gene expression for myogenin, mTOR and myostatin were also performed. Myotube diameter in CON and PD cells increased from 17.32 ± 2.56 μm to 21.02 ± 1.89 μm and 14.58 ± 2.66 μm to 18.29 ± 3.08 μm (P ≤ 0.05) respectively after 72 h of T exposure. The increase was comparable in both PD (+25%) and CON cells (+21%) suggesting a similar intrinsic ability to respond to exogenous T administration. T treatment also significantly increased myonuclear accretion (% of myotubes expressing 5+ nuclei) in both cell types after 7 days exposure (P ≤ 0.05). Addition of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) in the presence of T attenuated these effects in myotube morphology (in both cell types) suggesting a role for the PI3K pathway in T stimulated hypertrophy. Finally, PD myoblasts showed reduced responsiveness to T stimulated mRNA expression of mTOR vs. CON cells and T also reduced myostatin expression in PD myoblasts only. The present study demonstrates testosterone administration improves hypertrophy in myoblasts that basally display impaired differentiation and hypertrophic capacity vs. their parental controls, the action of testosterone in this model was mediated by PI3K/Akt pathwa
C.S. Lewis: adaptations of life and work
No full textThe author discusses film representations of the life of C.S. Lewis – a famous English Christian writer. She also focuses on adaptations (that include books, television and cinema) of his most famous series The Chronicles of Narnia – series that for already sixty years have been published all over the world
The Nurse of Elfland: Lizzie Endicott and C.S. Lewis
No full textIn Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis introduced Lizzie Endicott as the first of two other blessings in his childhood, even before his introduction of Warnie. But apart from his abbreviated 136-word biography, very little is known about the nurse who introduced Lewis to faery tales. Based on the Lewis Family Papers, genealogical research, and personal interviews with Lizzie’s relatives, this article introduces Lizzie to the world of Lewismania. It also suggests various ways in which Lizzie influenced the man and the author that C.S. Lewis became, as well as the mythical worlds he created and Lewis’s anonymous tributes to her
Accelerometry assessed sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels during the segmented school day in 10 to 14 year old children
No full texthe school day offers several different time periods that provide varying opportunities for sedentary time (SED) and engagement in physical activity (PA), yet little is known about the PA and sedentary behaviour patterns of boys and girls during these times. The volume, intensity and temporal distributions of SED and PA undertaken by 135 schoolchildren aged 10-14 years, during different segments of the school day: (a) school transport, (b) morning recess, (c) lunch break, (d) class time and (e) after school, were explored using triaxial accelerometry. PA was categorised into SED, light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (VPA). Girls engaged in significantly more SED and LPA than boys during recess and lunch break (p < 0.05), while boys engaged in significantly higher levels of VPA during recess (p < 0.001) and MPA and VPA during lunch break (p < 0.001). PA engagement was similar between sexes during other segments of the day. CONCLUSION: PA patterns appear more beneficial for health in boys during less structured school-based time periods and interventions may therefore target opportunities for girls to be physically active during these times to overcome this observed sex deficit
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