Sex Differences in Supplement Intake in Recreational Endurance Runners-Results from the NURMI Study (Step 2)

It has been well-documented that female and male athletes differ in many physiological and psychological characteristics related to endurance performance. This sex-based difference appears to be associated with their nutritional demands including the patterns of supplement intake. However, there is a paucity of research addressing the sex differences in supplement intake amongst distance runners. The present study aimed to investigate and compare supplement intake between female and male distance runners (10 km, half-marathon, (ultra-)marathon) and the potential associations with diet type and race distance. A total of 317 runners participated in an online survey, and 220 distance runners (127 females and 93 males) made up the final sample after a multi-stage data clearance. Participants were also assigned to dietary (omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan) and race distance (10-km, half-marathon, marathon/ultra-marathon) subgroups. Sociodemographic characteristics and the patterns of supplement intake including type, frequency, dosage, and brands were collected using a questionnaire. One-way ANOVA and logistic regression were used for data analysis. A total of 54.3% of female runners and 47.3% male runners reported consuming supplements regularly. The frequency of supplement intake was similar between females and males (generally or across dietary and distance subgroups). There was no significant relationship for sex alone or sex interactions with diet type and race distance on supplement intake (p < 0.05). However, a non-significant higher intake of vitamin and mineral (but not CHO/protein) supplements was reported by vegan and vegetarian (but not by omnivorous) females compared to their male counterparts. In summary, despite the reported findings, sex could not be considered as a strong modulator of supplement intake among different groups of endurance runners.

Teaming with NAADP

NAADP is a potent Ca²⁺-mobilizing messenger linked to numerous Ca²⁺-dependent effects across the natural world. On 18 February 2021, delegates attended a virtual symposium to discuss studies of the mechanisms of action of NAADP, including the work of Gunaratne et al and Roggenkamp et al in this issue of Science Signaling.

Studying the heterogeneity of European higher education institutions

The heterogeneity of the Higher Education (HE) Institutions is one of the main critical issues in the assessment of their performance. This paper adopts a multi-level and multi-dimensional perspective, combining national (macro) and institution (micro) level data, and measuring both research and teaching activity, using performance indicators derived from the European Tertiary Education Register, CWTS Leiden Ranking, and PATSTAT patent database. Clustering and efficiency analysis are combined to characterize the heterogeneity of national HE systems in European countries, and reveal the potential of using micro level data to characterize national level performance. Large differences are observed between the European countries, partially due to the fact that they are in different phases of their scientific (and economic) development and of the re-structuring of their HE systems. Evidence is found that universities specializing either in teaching or in research tend to have a higher efficiency than those institutions balancing research and teaching. Tradeoffs are observed between undergraduate and post-graduate activities, and a “Matthew cumulative effect” seems in place on the European institutions analysed: high quality research is able to attract external funds that stimulate innovative and patenting activities that in turn are self-reinforcing to the scientific activities. The results reveal once more the limits and dangers of one-dimensional approaches to the performance of HEIs.

Status of COMPASS RICH-1 Upgrade with MPGD-based Photon Detectors

A Set of new MPGD-based Photon Detectors is being built for the upgrade of COMPASS RICH-1. The detectors cover a total active area of 1.4 m2 and are based on a hybrid architecture consisting of two THGEM layers and a Micromegas. A CsI film on one THGEM acts as a reflective photocathode. The characteristics of the detector, the production of the components and their validation tests are described in detail.

Abdominal scar endometriosis: case report

Abdominal scar endometriosis, corresponding to the presence of an endometrial tissue near or inside an abdominal surgical incision, is a rare clinical event that can occur in women after gynecological or obstetric surgery. Generally, a triad consisting of underlying mass at the incision, cyclic menstrual scar pain, and history of previous gynecological or obstetric surgery leads to the preoperative diagnosis. In rare cases, the clinical presentation is atypical and the differential diagnosis with incarcerated incisional hernia, granuloma, abscess or other soft tissue tumors can be difficult. The authors describe the case of 39-year-old woman who underwent three previous cesarean sections, with a 20-week history of underlying palpable mass at the Pfannenstiel incision, associated to continuous pain. In this case, a surgical excision followed by the histology definitely clarified the diagnosis.

Drug-induced angioedema: experience of Italian emergency departments

Acute angioedema represents a cause of admission to the emergency department requiring rapid diagnosis and appropriate management to prevent airway obstruction. Several drugs, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and oral antidiabetics, have been reported to induce angioedema. The aim of this prospective observational study conducted in a setting of routine emergency care was to evaluate the incidence and extent of drug-induced non-histaminergic angioedema in this specific clinical setting, and to identify the class of drugs possibly associated with angioedema. Patients admitted to seven different emergency departments (EDs) in Rome with the diagnosis of angioedema and urticaria were enrolled during a 6-month period. Of the 120,000 patients admitted at the EDs, 447 (0.37 %) were coded as having angioedema and 655 (0.5 %) as having urticaria. After accurate clinical review, 62 cases were defined as drug-induced, non-histaminergic angioedema. NSAIDs were the most frequent drugs (taken by 22 out of 62 patients) associated with the angioedema attack. Of the remaining patients, 15 received antibiotic treatment and 10 antihypertensive treatment. In addition, we observed in our series some cases of angioedema associated with drugs (such as antiasthmatics, antidiarrheal and antiepileptics) of which there are few descriptions in the literature. The present data, which add much needed information to the existing limited literature on drug-induced angioedema in the clinical emergency department setting, will provide more appropriate diagnosis and management of this potentially life-threatening adverse event.

Nyctiphanes couchii as intermediate host for Rhadinorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala, Echinorhynchidae) from NW Iberian Peninsula waters

In the mesozooplanktonic community of the coastal upwelling system of the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain), the euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii has been identified for the first time in temperate waters of the NE Atlantic as the intermediate host for cystacanths of Rhadinorhynchus sp. Parasites were identified using morphological characters described in 20 cystacanths. The hooks of the proboscis were arranged in 14 rows of 26 hooks each, while the hooks of the basal circle were only slightly erected and were longer than remaining spines. A maximum-likelihood estimation (ML) tree inferred from the 18S rRNA data set of Palaeacantocephala revealed that our specimens belong to a highly supported clade with Rhadinorhynchus sp., Pararhadinorhynchus sp. and Transvena annulospinosa. Nonetheless, our morphological and phylogenetic analyses suggested that the status of Rhadinorhynchus pristis should be re-examined. The prevalences of parasites were 0.0019% and 0.0001% for frontal and coastal summer communities, and 0.0068% and 0.0008% for coastal and oceanic autumn communities, respectively. The presence of these cystacanths in different mesozooplankton communities throughout the study suggests that the recruitment of parasites may be affected by the oceanography.

The influence of non-osteogenic factors on the expression of M-CSF and VEGF during fracture healing

INTRODUCTION

Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play an important role in bone homeostasis and in the process of fracture healing. To date, limited data regarding the influence of age, gender, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption on the systemic expression of M-CSF and VEGF after long bone fracture exist.

METHODS

From a total of 113 patients with long bone fractures 51 patients met inclusion criteria and were finally enrolled in this study. Patient's serum was collected over a period of 6 months following a standardised time schedule. M-CSF and VEGF serum concentrations were measured. Patient's history with special focus on cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, and regular alcohol intake was recorded. All patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for at least 24 weeks after trauma. A total of 22 male and 29 female patients formed the study population.

RESULTS

The present results show significantly elevated mean overall M-CSF serum concentration in women, older patients as well as in non-smoking individuals. The mean overall VEGF serum concentration was significantly higher in women, older patients, and diabetic individuals as well as in non-smokers. Statistically significant differences were not observed at any time point regarding alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that age, gender, diabetes mellitus and cigarette smoking significantly influence the expression of M-CSF and VEGF after fracture of long bones in human. Of note, diabetic patients showed significantly elevated overall VEGF levels when compared to non-diabetic patients. Therefore, further studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to better understand the influence of these endogenous and exogenous factors on the expression of the osteogenic during human fracture healing.

Nyctiphanes couchii as intermediate host for the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma balaenae in temperate waters of the NE Atlantic

Cystacanths of the acanthocephalan Bolbosoma balaenae (Gmelin, 1790) were found encapsulated in the cephalothorax of the euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii (Bell, 1853) from temperate waters in the NE Atlantic Ocean. Euphausiids were caught in locations outside the Ría de Vigo in Galicia, NW Spain, and prevalence of infection was up to 0.1%. The parasite was identified by morphological characters. Cystacanths were 8.09 ± 2.25 mm total length (mean ± SD) and had proboscises that consisted of 22 to 24 longitudinal rows of hooks, each of which had 8 or 9 hooks per row including 2 or 3 rootless ones in the proboscis base and 1 field of small hooks in the prebulbar part. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA and cytocrome c oxidase subunit I revealed a close relationship with other taxa of the family Polymorphidae (Meyer, 1931). The results extend northwards ot the known distribution of B. balaenae. Taxonomic affiliation of parasites and trophic ecology in the sampling area suggest that N. couchii is the intermediate host for B. balenae, and we suggest that the whales Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) and B. acutorostrata (Lacepède, 1804) are its definitive hosts. This life cycle is probably completed with or without paratenic hosts.

Determination of the dihydropyridine aryloxypropanolamine Z6568 and its acidic metabolites in plasma, urine and tissues by solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/negative-ion mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay for the determination of the dihydropyridine aryloxypropanolamine compound Z6568 and its monoacidic metabolites in plasma, urine and tissues has been developed and validated. Z6568 and the acidic metabolites were isolated from the biological matrices by solid-phase extraction, separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and detected by mass spectrometry using a thermospray interface. Filament ionization and negative-ion detection were used, monitoring the molecular ion of Z6568 and a major fragment of the acidic metabolites. The analysis of spike plasma, urine and tissues demonstrated good accuracy and precision of the assay with a detection limit of 0.5 ng ml-1 for Z6568 and 2 ng ml-1 for the metabolites. Data relative to the optimization of the extraction procedure, mass spectrometric conditions and the validation protocol are reported. The method was used to investigate the metabolic fate and tissue distribution in laboratory animals.

Determination of the dihydropyridine aryloxypropanolamine compound Z6568 and four metabolites in plasma by liquid chromatography/negative-ion mass spectrometry

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay for the determination of the dihydropyridine aryloxypropanolamine compound Z6568 and four metabolites in plasma was developed and validated. Z6568 and the metabolites were isolated from plasma by a simple solvent extraction procedure and separated by reversed-phase high-speed liquid chromatography combined with thermospray mass spectrometry. Filament ionization was used and the molecular negative ions were monitored. The analysis of spiked plasma demonstrated the good accuracy and precision of the assay with a detection limit of 0.5 ng ml-1 for Z6568. Data relative to the optimization of the mass spectrometric conditions and the validation protocol are reported. the method has been used for pharmacokinetic studies in laboratory animals.

Subclinical coeliac disease

The prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) was investigated in an epidemiological study of school children from a district of Rome. Mass screening of IgA-AGA levels (anti-gliadin antibody) were determined in blood samples from the study group and the results were positive in 19 children. Eighteen of these agreed to undergo endoscopic biopsy. Histological study of the duodenal specimens revealed villous atrophy in twelve children none of whom had the characteristic symptoms of CD. The most frequent complaints were abdominal pain, aphtous stomatitis, and atopic dermatitis. The high prevalence of CD in this study suggests the necessity for the widest range of epidemiological research.

Structure-activity relationships in prazosin-related compounds. Effect of replacing a piperazine ring with an alkanediamine moiety on alpha 1-adrenoreceptor blocking activity

Several prazosin-related compounds were synthesized in which the piperazine ring of prazosin (1) was replaced by an alkanediamine chain and were evaluated for their blocking activity on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoreceptors in isolated rat vas deferens. All the compounds investigated proved highly selective toward the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor owing to a very low affinity for alpha 2-adrenoreceptors. Furthermore, compounds 2, 9, and 13 were also investigated in vivo to determine their hypotensive effect on anesthetized rats, which were compared with that of prazosin (1). It was confirmed that the piperazine moiety of 1 is not essential for potency. However, optimum activity depends on two parameters: carbon-chain length of the alkanediamine moiety and N-methylation of both the amide and the 2-amino functions. In the desmethyl series, optimum activity was associated with the lower homologues (2-4) bearing a chain of two to four methylenes whereas in the N,N'-dimethyl series peak potency was observed with a six-carbon chain as in 13. Compound 13 proved the most active of the series and was more potent than prazosin (1) in both in vivo and in vitro assays. It is hypothesized that the alpha 1-adrenoreceptor incorporates a lipophilic area that is located between the binding sites for the quinazoline and the furoyl moieties and is able to accommodate a polymethylene chain.

In vitro effects of aspirin and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the formation of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by platelets

The in vitro effects of aspirin and other non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on 12-HETE formation were evaluated in platelet rich plasma (PRP) stimulated with collagen. Aspirin (1 X 10(-4)-1 X 10(-3) M) inhibited 12-HETE production in PRP. Inhibition of 12-HETE formation was detected also in PRP incubated with indomethacin and BW 755C. Sodium salicylate, instead, did not reduce 12-HETE synthesis. Aspirin (3 X 10(-3) M) did not modify 12-HETE synthesis in similarly challenged washed platelet (WP) preparations, inspite of its effect on the cyclooxygenase pathway. It may be concluded that aspirin and other NSAIDs, not only affect the cyclooxygenase pathway, but also inhibit 12-HETE synthesis. In addition it is shown that the 12-HETE synthesis is reduced by plasma and that this effect is enhanced in the presence of aspirin.