Enhanced durability predicts success in amateur road cycling: evidence of power output declines

PurposeDurability refers to an athlete's capacity to sustain optimal performance levels during prolonged physical exertion. Durability has been recognized as important and remains a key factor in endurance performance, particularly among amateur athletes who make up the largest segment of the endurance sports community. In the modern era, where remote coaching has become increasingly prevalent, there is a need for new methods to measure durability effectively without the constraints of laboratory. The aim of this study was to quantify durability in well-trained age-group cycling athletes using home-based test measures, identify durability as an important predictor of endurance performance, and provide practical recommendations for improving durability through training.MethodsFourteen endurance-trained cyclists (mean 37.5 ± 5.7 years; VO2max 52.0 ± 7.4 ml·kg−¹·min−¹; training volume 9.6 ± 2.2 h·week−¹) took part in this study. Participants were divided into two groups based on less successful achievements: Power output and heart rate response for 5- and 20 min time trial (TT) efforts was measured in watt under both fresh and fatigued conditions. The fatiguing protocol involved cycling at 70%–80% of participants' initial 20 min TT power until 1,000 kJ of work was completed, followed by a 5- and 20 min TT.ResultsSuccessful amateur cyclists have a significantly lower drop of power of in a 20 min interval in fatigued condition compared to less successful counterparts. The average drop in power is only half as high for successful athletes (6.5%) as it is for the less successful athletes (12.5%). For the 5 min interval and the heart rate response between fresh and fatigue state, no differences could be found.ConclusionThe findings of this study demonstrate that successful amateur cyclists exhibit better durability than less successful athletes after a defined amount of work, enabling them to sustain higher performance levels during prolonged efforts

Clinical Usefulness of Cervicogram as a Primary Screening Test for Cervical Neoplasia

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the cervicogram as a primary screening test for cervical neoplasia. A total of 294 women who had undergone a cervicogram and a Pap test between January and July 2003, were selected. The diagnostic accuracy of the Pap test, cervicogram, and the Pap test combined with a cervicogram were compared with the histopathologic diagnosis. Among 294 women, the Pap test was negative in 130 cases and positive in 164 cases. Among patients with positive Pap test, cervicogram were negative in 101 cases (61.6%) and positive in 63 cases (38.4%). The diagnostic accuracy between cervicogram with positive Pap test and histology was as follows; sensitivity 44.9%, specificity 78.3%, positive predictive value 84.1%, negative predictive value 32.7%, false positive rate 15.9%, and false negative rate 67.3%. Although the adjunctive use of cervicogram with the Pap test in the initial screening of cervical neoplasia showed a higher specificity and higher positive predictive value compared to the Pap test alone, consideration in terms of lower sensitivity, lower positive predictive value, higher false positive rate and cost-effectiveness should be given in lieu of clinically applying cervicogram with the pap test as an initial screening test

Insect repellent and chemical agronomic treatments to reduce seed numberin'Afourer'mandarin. Effect on yield and fruit diameter

Obtaining citrus fruits without seeds is a recurrent objective for farmers as it is one of the most valued char-acteristics, especially in mandarins.'Afourer'tangor is a highly valuable well-established mandarin, and a highpercentage of seeded fruits are produced under cross-pollination conditions. Several agronomic techniques havebeen suggested to control presence of seeds, such as covering with nets and copper sulfate (CuSO4) and gib-berellic acid (GA3) treatments. Natural bee repellents are also proposed to reduce the number of seeds per fruit.In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of several agronomic treatments to reduce the seed number in'Afourer' mandarin. To this end, we assessed the effect of chemical and bee repellent treatments on the seednumber per fruit and the side effect on yield and fruit diameter. Under these experimental conditions the two beerepellents, one based on zinc and one based onCapsicum annuum, were not useful for reducing the seed numberper fruit in'Afourer'mandarin. The copper sulfate + GA3treatment reduced the seed number per fruit by only35%, and this efficiency was clearly not enough to reduce the seed number for commercial purposes. The mosteffective method to reduce the seed number per fruit was covering with nets, but this technique led to markedlyreduced yields. Yield data was highly variable. Fruit diameter correlated positively with the seed number, but itwas a weak relationship as the seed number explained only 15% of fruit size variability (R2= 0,15)

Evidence-Based Management of Hand Eczema

Hand eczema is a common skin disease with a wide variation in morphology and a complex etiology based on endogenous and exogenous factors.The diagnosis of hand eczema is based on patient history, exposure assessment, physical examination, and the results of patch testing. Management of hand eczema starts with education of the patient on the etiology of the disease, and the needed changes in behavior regarding skin care and preventive measures, and avoidance of relevant exposure factors. In many cases, medical treatment is needed for successful management of the disease; use of medication can only be successful with proper education and avoidance of relevant exposure

Paper Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry as a Potential Tool for Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer

Squamous intraepithelial lesion is an abnormal growth of epithelial cells on the surface of the cervix that may lead to cervical cancer. Analytical protocols for the determination of squamous intraepithelial lesions are in high demand, since cervical cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer among women in the world. Here, paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PSI-MS) is used to distinguish between healthy (negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy) and diseased (high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) blood plasmas. A total of 86 blood samples of different women (49 healthy samples, 37 diseased samples) were collected, and the plasmas were prepared. Then, 10 μL of each plasma sample was deposited onto triangular papers for PSI-MS analysis. No additional step of sample preparation was necessary. The interval-successive projection algorithm linear discriminant analysis (iSPA-LDA) was applied to the PSI mass spectra, showing six ions (mostly phospholipids) that were predictive of healthy and diseased plasmas. Values of 77% accuracy, 86% sensitivity, 80% positive predictive value (PPV), and 75% negative predictive value (NPV) were achieved. This study provides evidence that PSI-MS may potentially be used as a fast and simple analytical technique for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer

Pollen Competition as a Reproductive Isolation Barrier Represses Transgene Flow between Compatible and Co-Flowering Citrus Genotypes

Background/Objective: Despite potential benefits granted by genetically modified (GM) fruit trees, their release and commercialization raises concerns about their potential environmental impact, and the transfer via pollen of transgenes to cross-compatible cultivars is deemed to be the greatest source for environmental exposure. Information compiled from field trials on GM trees is essential to propose measures to minimize the transgene dispersal. We have conducted a field trial of seven consecutive years to investigate the maximum frequency of pollen-mediated crop-to-crop transgene flow in a citrus orchard, and its relation to the genetic, phenological and environmental factors involved. Methodology/Principal Findings: Three different citrus genotypes carrying the uidA (GUS) tracer marker gene (pollen donors) and a non-GM self-incompatible contiguous citrus genotype (recipient) were used in conditions allowing natural entomophilous pollination to occur. The examination of 603 to 2990 seeds per year showed unexpectedly low frequencies (0.17-2.86%) of transgene flow. Paternity analyses of the progeny of subsets of recipient plants using 10 microsatellite (SSR) loci demonstrated a higher mating competence of trees from another non-GM pollen source population that greatly limited the mating chance of the contiguous cross-compatible and flowering-synchronized transgenic pollen source. This mating superiority could be explained by a much higher pollen competition capacity of the non-GM genotypes, as was confirmed through mixed-hand pollinations. Conclusions/Significance: Pollen competition strongly contributed to transgene confinement. Based on this finding, suitable isolation measures are proposed for the first time to prevent transgene outflow between contiguous plantings of citrus types that may be extendible to other entomophilous transgenic fruit tree species. (Résumé d'auteur

Can we identify patients at risk of life-threatening allergic reactions to food?

Anaphylaxis has been defined as a “severe, life-threatening generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction”. However, data indicate that the vast majority of food-triggered anaphylactic reactions are not life-threatening. Nonetheless, severe life-threatening reactions do occur, and are unpredictable. We discuss the concepts surrounding perceptions of severe, life-threatening allergic reactions to food by different stakeholders, with particular reference to the inclusion of clinical severity as a factor in allergy and allergen risk management. We review the evidence regarding factors which might be used to identify those at most risk of severe allergic reactions to food, and the consequences of misinformation in this regard. For example, a significant proportion of food-allergic children also have asthma, yet almost none will experience a fatal food-allergic reaction; asthma is not, in itself, a strong predictor for fatal anaphylaxis. The relationship between dose of allergen exposure and symptom severity is unclear. While dose appears to be a risk factor in at least a subgroup of patients, studies report that individuals with prior anaphylaxis do not have a lower eliciting dose than those reporting previous mild reactions. It is therefore important to consider severity and sensitivity as separate factors, as a highly sensitive individual will not necessarily experience severe symptoms during an allergic reaction. We identify the knowledge gaps which need to be addressed to improve our ability to better identify those most at risk of severe foodinduced allergic reactions