Time-Course of Changes in Inflammatory Response after Whole-Body Cryotherapy Multi Exposures following Severe Exercise

The objectives of the present investigation was to analyze the effect of two different recovery modalities on classical markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and inflammation obtained after a simulated trail running race. Endurance trained males (n = 11) completed two experimental trials separated by 1 month in a randomized crossover design; one trial involved passive recovery (PAS), the other a specific whole body cryotherapy (WBC) for 96 h post-exercise (repeated each day). For each trial, subjects performed a 48 min running treadmill exercise followed by PAS or WBC. The Interleukin (IL) -1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), protein C-reactive (CRP) and white blood cells count were measured at rest, immediately post-exercise, and at 24, 48, 72, 96 h in post-exercise recovery. A significant time effect was observed to characterize an inflammatory state (Pre vs. Post) following the exercise bout in all conditions (p<0.05). Indeed, IL-1β (Post 1 h) and CRP (Post 24 h) levels decreased and IL-1ra (Post 1 h) increased following WBC when compared to PAS. In WBC condition (p<0.05), TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 remain unchanged compared to PAS condition. Overall, the results indicated that the WBC was effective in reducing the inflammatory process. These results may be explained by vasoconstriction at muscular level, and both the decrease in cytokines activity pro-inflammatory, and increase in cytokines anti-inflammatory

Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England.

The evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leads to new variants that warrant timely epidemiological characterization. Here we use the dense genomic surveillance data generated by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to reconstruct the dynamics of 71 different lineages in each of 315 English local authorities between September 2020 and June 2021. This analysis reveals a series of subepidemics that peaked in early autumn 2020, followed by a jump in transmissibility of the B.1.1.7/Alpha lineage. The Alpha variant grew when other lineages declined during the second national lockdown and regionally tiered restrictions between November and December 2020. A third more stringent national lockdown suppressed the Alpha variant and eliminated nearly all other lineages in early 2021. Yet a series of variants (most of which contained the spike E484K mutation) defied these trends and persisted at moderately increasing proportions. However, by accounting for sustained introductions, we found that the transmissibility of these variants is unlikely to have exceeded the transmissibility of the Alpha variant. Finally, B.1.617.2/Delta was repeatedly introduced in England and grew rapidly in early summer 2021, constituting approximately 98% of sampled SARS-CoV-2 genomes on 26 June 2021

Real Time Fatigue Assessment: A Short Review Evidencing the Relevance of Physiological Monitoring

Fatigue decreases performance and physical strength causing incidents and accidents in operational settings. During military operations, soldiers encounter extreme situations, which combined lead to a fatigue status that can later develop in overreaching (OR) and overtraining (OT) conditions. Studies in real environments are essential to expand the knowledge regarding the consequences of stress exposure and facilitate development of operationally-useful techniques. Nevertheless, there is not much available information on non-invasive physiological monitoring during high training military activities. Therefore, this systematic review, as part of a project for the development of a safety system based on physiological monitoring, aims to evidence the relevance of non-invasive physiological monitoring for detecting stages of fatigue, OR, OT and indicators of potential physical impairments in high intensity training scenarios. Four databases (SCOPUS, PubMed, Medline and Science Direct) are used to develop a data search based on the combinations of keywords. 19 articles are included in this review. Sample characteristics, assessment context, purposes and outcomes of each study, were analyzed. Conclusions regarding the most suitable parameters to be considered within an occupational safety assessment system, applicable to military operational settings, were gathered. (c) Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Real Time Fatigue Assessment: Identification and Continuous Tracing of Fatigue Using a Physiological Assessment Algorithm

Fatigue decreases performance and physical strength causing incidents and accidents in operational settings. An algorithm has been developed for the management of fatigue, in which assessment of monitored physiological parameters determines different categories of alert alarms with the aim of advising timely interventions and preventing further physical impairments. In this study, the performance of the algorithm was retrospectively evaluated within laboratory trials. Five soldier participants were referred for assessment and, outcomes demonstrated that the algorithm evidenced the different stages of training and the resulting physical demands on subjects by means of their physiological response throughout the exercises. It is concluded that the developed tool, with further adjustments, has the potential to improve fatigue management, allowing early detection of potential physical impairments, reducing the number of medical evaluations and minimizing unnecessary delays in treatment. (c) Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019