Role of Vitamin D Supplementation in Hypertension

Role of Vitamin D supplementation was studied in patients with hypertension. One hundred hypertensive patients (group I) were given conventional antihypertensive drugs while another 100 patients (group II), in addition, were supplemented with Vitamin D₃ (33,000 IU, after every 2 weeks, for 3 months). Besides diastolic and systolic blood pressure, serum calcium, phosphorous, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, albumin-corrected calcium, and 24 h urinary creatinine levels were estimated in both the groups before the start of treatment and after 3 months. Vitamin D supplementation showed a more significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. This group also showed a significant increase in serum calcium as well as albumin-corrected calcium with a decrease in phosphorous. Results of the study confirm that Vitamin D supplementation has a role in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive patients and that it should be supplemented with the antihypertensive drugs. More extensive studies with a larger group, to draw a definite conclusion, are in progress.     

Diagnosis,Evaluation, and Treatment of Lead Poisoning in General Population

Among the heavy metals, lead still remains the major toxic pollutant of the environment. Human exposure to lead can occur through numerous pathways including air, food, dust, soil, and water. In the present study 14 lead poisoned patients with non-occupational lead exposure were evaluated. They were followed up and compared against the controls with no history of lead exposure. The patients had high blood lead levels and symptoms of weakness, dizziness, abdominal pain, generalized body ache, loss of appetite, and anxiety. Repeated course of chelation therapy helped to bring down their body burden of lead. Alternative sources for lead exposure can cause severe lead poisoning in general population. Screening and medical management of such individuals is very important to identify and eliminate sources of lead. The treatment and management requires a thorough medical evaluation and environmental intervention.     

A Preliminary Study of the Effect of Ingestion of Gold on Blood Chemistry

Ten milligram of pure gold foil was given by mouth for 16 days. Routine blood chemistry was done before and after gold therapy and repeated after 3 weeks of cessation of therapy. All the blood values were well within normal range and variations, except the enzymes—creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase, which decreased substantially on gold foil ingestion indicating possible inhibition of these blood enzymatic activity by gold.     

The effect of recovery duration on running speed and stroke quality during intermittent training drills in elite tennis players

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the recovery duration in intermittent training drills on metabolism and coordination in sport games. Ten nationally ranked male tennis players (age 25.3±3.7 years, height 1.83±0.8 m, body mass 77.8±7.7 kg; mean ±s _x ) participated in a passing-shot drill (baseline sprint with subsequent passing shot) that aimed to improve both starting speed and stroke quality (speed and precision). Time pressure for stroke preparation was individually adjusted by a ball-machine and corresponded to 80% of maximum running speed. In two trials (T₁₀, T₁₅) separated by 2 weeks, the players completed 30 strokes and sprints subdivided into 6 2 5 repetitions with a 1 min rest between series. The rest between each stroke-and-sprint lasted either 10 s (T₁₀) or 15 s (T₁₅). The sequence of both conditions was randomized between participants. Post-exercise blood lactate concentration was significantly elevated in T₁₀ (9.04±3.06 vs 5.01±1.35 mmol·l^-1, P ? 0.01). Running time for stroke preparation (1.405±0.044 vs 1.376±0.045 s, P ? 0.05) and stroke speed (106±12 vs 114±8 km·h^-1, P ? 0.05) were significantly decreased in T₁₀, while stroke precision - that is, more target hits ( P ? 0.1) and fewer errors (P ? 0.05) - tended to be higher. We conclude that running speed and stroke quality during intermittent tennis drills are highly dependent on the duration of recovery time. Optimization of training efficacy in sport games (e.g. combined improvement of conditional and technical skills) requires skilful fine-tuning of monitoring guidelines.     

Activity profile and physiological demands of top-class soccer assistant refereeing in relation to training status

To determine the movement patterns and physiological demands of top-class soccer assistant referees, we performed computerized time-motion analysis and measured heart rate and blood lactate concentration in 15 assistant referees during 22 competitive matches in the top Danish league. To relate match performance to the physical capability of the assistant referees, they performed a 3 2 30 m sprint protocol before and after matches and a laboratory treadmill test within 3 weeks of the games. The mean total distance covered by the top-class assistant referees was 7.28 (range 5.78-8.16) km, of which 1.15 (0.86-1.44) km was high-intensity running and 1.16 (0.12-2.34) km was sideways running. The amount of high-intensity running during a game was correlated with performance of repeated sprints (r = 0.80, P ? 0.05). Mean heart rate was 137 (117-159) beats · min^-1 , corresponding to 73% (60-88%) of maximal heart rate and 65% (53-80%) of maximal oxygen uptake. Blood lactate concentration was 4.7 (1.6-11.0) and 4.8 (1.1-13.7) mmol · l -1 after the first and second half, respectively. Sprinting performance was poorer (P ? 0.05) after than before the games. The peak distance to the offside line was greater (P ? 0.05) in the second than the first half (7 - 1 vs 5 - 0 m). Our results show that: (1) top-class assistant soccer refereeing is characterized by brief intense bouts of forward and sideways running interspersed with long periods of low activity; (2) top-class soccer assistant referees have moderate aerobic energy production during games with episodes of high aerobic and anaerobic energy turnover; (3) assistant referees' performance of repeated sprints correlates with the amount of high-intensity running performed in a game; and (4) sprint performance decreases towards the end of a game, which appears to affect assistant referees' ability to keep up with play.     

Fatigue in a simulated cross-country skiing sprint competition

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess fatigue during a simulated cross-country skiing sprint competition based on skating technique. Sixteen male skiers performed a 30-m maximal skiing speed test and four 850-m heats with roller skies on a tartan track, separated by 20 min recovery between heats. Physiological variables (heart rate, blood lactate concentration, oxygen consumption), skiing velocity, and electromyography (EMG) were recorded at the beginning of the heats and at the end of each 200-m lap during the heats. Maximal skiing velocity and EMG were measured in the speed test before the simulation. No differences were observed in skiing velocity, EMG or metabolic variables between the heats. The end (820–850 m) velocities and sum-iEMG of the triceps brachii and vastus lateralis in the four heats were significantly lower than the skiing velocity and sum-iEMG in the speed test. A significant correlation was observed between mean oxygen consumption and the change in skiing velocity over the four heats. Each single heat induced considerable neuromuscular fatigue, but recovery between the heats was long enough to prevent accumulation of fatigue. The results suggest that the skiers with a high aerobic power were less fatigued throughout the simulation.     

孤独的救赎——《药》与《许三观卖血记》中的“血”意象之比较

血与生命有着必然的联系,其本身带有拯救性.在鲁迅小说<药>与余华小说<许三观卖血记>中,都存在"血"的意象.从这一意象切入,可以看到,在五四思想启蒙运动和改革开放十多年这两个历史时期,用血来救助生命所具有的不同意义与价值以及人自身的拯救能力在不同时代的偏失.     

几种单味中草药降低鸡蛋胆固醇的效果比较

选择产蛋率和体重相近的42周龄罗曼褐壳蛋鸡180只,随机分成6组,每组设5个重复,每个重复6只鸡,试验期8周.以基础日粮作为空白对照组,试验组分别在基础日粮中添加l%的陈皮、山楂、姜黄、决明子、大黄,以研究5种中草药对鸡蛋胆固醇的影响.结果表明,5种中草药都能降低血浆TG、TC、LDL水平和提高HDL含量,以山楂、决明子、大黄效果明显(P＜0.05);5种中草药都能降低鸡蛋胆固醇,但以山楂、决明子、大黄降低鸡蛋胆固醇作用显著(P＜0.05),与空白对照组相比,蛋黄胆固醇浓度分别降低14.83%(P＜0.05)、16.06%(P＜0.05)、13.84%(P＜0.05),鸡蛋胆固醇含量分别降低14.50%(P＜0.05)、15.56%(P＜0.05)、12.72%(P＜0.05).     

游泳运动员短时间高强度间歇训练中肌氧含量及相关指标的变化特征

目的：：探讨游泳运动员短时间高强度间歇训练过程中肌肉氧参数动态变化特征和规律,以及训练前后的血乳酸( LA)、心率( HR)、主观疲劳感觉( RPE)变化及相关性。方法：随机选取山东省游泳运动员(n=15)采用短时间高强度间歇训练模式,全力蹬踏功率自行车30秒、休息120秒、重复进行3次为一组、共2组,组间休息3-4分钟。连续监测受试者短时间高强度间歇训练过程中股外侧肌组织肌氧参数变化;每次全力蹬踏30秒后即刻测试受试者RPE;整个训练过程中实时同步监测HR,并于每次全力蹬踏30秒后即刻读取并记录受试者HR;分别在训练前后即刻取受试者指尖血10μL,测试LA值。结果：(1)全力蹬踏功率自行车过程中股外侧肌组织氧合血红蛋白含量( CHbO2)和局部组织肌氧饱和度( TOI)迅速下降、肌组织还原血红蛋白( CHb )迅速上升;(2)两组短时间高强度间歇训练后LA、HR、RPE都分别显著高于训练前(P<0.01);(3)训练前后的LA、HR、RPE之间具有高度相关性(P<0.01)。结论：(1)可通过近红外光谱技术监控短时间高强度间歇训练过程中肌组织中CHbO2、CHb、TOI动态变化趋势;(2)在短时间高强度间歇训练过程中,可以通过LA、HR、RPE直接有效地监控训练的强度。     

延宕、超越与消解:《铸剑》和《鲜血梅花》的复仇

鲁迅的《铸剑》和余华的《鲜血梅花》是两个关于复仇的小说。复仇对眉间尺和阮海阔来说,是命运给他们开的一个尴尬玩笑,他们不可能完成复仇任务。两篇小说虽然最后都以复仇的完成作为结局,但复仇已经超越了复仇本身。眉间尺的复仇完成了对自我的重塑,阮海阔复仇的形式被美丽的漂泊消解,变成对复仇本质的嘲讽。眉间尺的复仇体现了鲁迅真正的启蒙叙事立场,而阮海阔的复仇则暴露了余华精神资源的缺乏带来的"伪先锋"纯情的痞性本质。