Changes in serum haptoglobin as an acute response to a marathon road race

In order to assess the possible occurrence of acute haemolysis with prolonged exertion, serum haptoglobin levels were determined from venous blood samples collected from eight male runners immediately preceding (PreRH), immediately following (PRH1), and 6 h following (PRH2) completion of a marathon road race. The subjects' mean age, percentage of body fat, and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were 46 +/- 9 years, 12.1 +/- 3.4% and 54.9 +/- 8.4 ml kg-1 min-1, respectively. The mean race finish time for the subjects was 3:35 +/- 0:18 h:min. The PreRH, PRH1 and PRH2 averaged 129 +/-18, 97 +/- 48 and 86 +/- 35 mg dl-1 respectively. Significant differences of -32.5 mg dl-1 between PreRH versus PRH1 and -42.5 mg dl-1 between PreRH versus PRH2 were found. The difference between PRH1 and PRH2 of -10.6 mg dl-1 was not significant. No significant correlations were found between the decreases in serum haptoglobin and VO2max or race finish time. The data suggests to occurrence of an acute haemolysis with performance of the marathon road race.     

Le Roiest Mort; Vive le Quoi? Croham and the Death of the UGC

The Croham report has its roots in the Jarratt report on university efficiency; its first fruit is the White Paper on Meeting the Challenge. Croham's message has been significantly transformed, and the last important vestiges of the classical UGC system removed. Detailed examination of both documents nevertheless suggests that not all virtue has gone from the system and that there might yet be hope that the more autocratic wedges inserted by the White Paper will not be driven home. In part this will depend on the universities themselves as well as on the UGC's successor.