Whole Body

In the pursuit of sensitive and quantitative methods to detect and diagnose cancer, nanotechnology has been identified as a field of great promise. Semiconductor quantum dots are nanoparticles with intense, stable fluorescence, and could enable the detection of tens to hundreds of cancer biomarkers in blood assays, on cancer tissue biopsies, or as contrast agents for medical imaging. With the emergence of gene and protein profiling and microarray technology, high-throughput screening of biomarkers has generated databases of genomic and expression data for certain cancer types, and has identified new cancer-specific markers. Quantum dots have the potential to expand this in vitro analysis, and extend it to cellular, tissue and whole-body multiplexed cancer biomarker imaging.

The investigators describe their multifaceted approach to the study of the relationship between whole-body vibration and low back pain. In vivo experiments, using percutaneous pin-mounted accelerometers have shown that the natural frequency is at 4·5 Hz. The frequency response was affected by posture, seating, and seat-back inclination. The response appears to be largely determined by the rocking of the pelvis. Electromyographic studies have shown that muscle fatigue occurs under whole body vibration. After whole body vibration exposure the muscle response to a sudden load has greater latency. Vehicle driving may be a reason for low back pain or herniated nucleus pulposus. Prolonged seating exposure, coupled with the whole body vibration should be reduced for those recovering from these problems. Vibration attenuating seats, and correct ergonomic layout of the cabs may reduce the risks of recurrence.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts (mean weight 66 g) in freshwater were exposed to three replicate levels of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) partial pressures for 60 days in an open flow system: 2 mm Hg (6 mg l À 1 ; control), 5 mm Hg (16 mg l À 1 ; medium) and 7 mm Hg (24 mg l À 1 ; high) at constant pH. Water temperature was 7 -9 jC and oxygen concentration higher than 9 mg l À 1 . All groups were transferred to 34x seawater on day 60 and kept there for 150 days. No significant differences in weight and length were found between groups during the freshwater and seawater period. While mean cellular haemoglobin (in the high group) and plasma chloride (in the medium and high group) were significantly lower than that of the control group during the freshwater period, no significant differences between groups were observed in mean haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, or gill Na + ,-K + -ATPase activity. Increased nephrocalcinosis and contents of Ca in the kidney in response to increasing water CO 2 levels were observed at day 58. After 4 weeks in seawater, pH in muscle and whole body ash, Ca, P and Zn content were all significantly higher in 0044-8486/03/$ -see front matter D Aquaculture 215 (2003) 301 -319 fish exposed to elevated CO 2 levels during the freshwater period. This indicates that freshwater CO 2 levels affected tissue mineral content after transfer to seawater. D

The influence of a person’s brain type and the segmental coordination used in free throw basketball shooting was evaluated by video analysis. Fifteen subjects were classified using a brain typing inventory with 16 categories. Markers were placed on selected joints of the participants who performed 5 free throws, videotaped in the sagittal plane at 60 Hz. Three participants having a brain type on each end of the personality spectrum were selected for film analysis. The shooting coordinate data was analyzed using an Ariel APAS. The time and maximal angular velocities were calculated for selected joints. The order of joint sequencing was determined for the brain types. Subjects who were brain type (BCIL/INTJ) tended to use multiple joint sequencing and those of brain type (FEAR/ESFP) used primarily large segments.

The antitumor efficacy as well as hematologic and pulmonary toxicity of Liblomycin, a new lipophilic analog of bleomycin, was evaluated in BDF1 mice. In comparison to bleomycin which was without any antitumor efficacy against P388 leukemia, a dose of 10 mg/kg Liblomycin administered on a daily schedule for 10 consecutive days resulted in a significant increase in animal survival (~ T/C of 190). This therapeutic dose and schedule of drug administration did not produce any evidence of pulmonary histopathologic injury; at a similar dose and schedule bleomycin resulted in greater than 40% consolidation of alveolar lung space. Mouse lung collagen synthesis measured as rate of [3H]hydroxyproline formation was increased almost 4-fold by bleomycin 7 days following a single maximally tolerated i.v. injection (133 mg/kg); in contrast, Liblomycin (60 mg/kg) did not significantly alter the rate of lung collagen synthesis compared to saline injected control animals. Lung function was assessed by whole body plethysmography. Bleomycin produced an increase in breathing rates above control values by day 15 following administration of drug at 10 mg/kg (dl -10). Mice treated with Liblomycin did not exhibit an increased rate of breathing. Liblomycin, in contrast to bleomycin, produced mild and transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia suggesting that this toxicity will be a limiting one in future clinical trials. The only other toxicity noted in this study was the appearance after repeated intraperitoneal administration of Liblomycin of a hepatic collagenous fibrous capsule. The capsule formation resulted in an abnormal and grossly lobulated liver which was believed to have affected animal survival. Intravenous administration of Liblomycin, however, was not associated with any detectable hepatic injury.

Muscle wasting and changes in muscle protein metabolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. R.T. Jagoe, M.P.K.J. Engelen. #ERS Journals Ltd 2003. ABSTRACT: Loss of skeletal muscle mass is now recognised as an important feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which contributes to symptoms and influences prognosis. The changes in skeletal muscle remain poorly understood, largely because only a few studies have been performed to define the adaptations in whole body and muscle protein metabolism in COPD.

Background Real world cardiology is faced with a low diagnostic yield of coronary angiography (CXA) in patients presenting with ACC/AHA class II CXA indication. Our aim was to analyze the clinical implication of a Cardiac MR (CMR) protocol including adenosine stress perfusion in this patient population. We examined whether CMR could enhance appropriate CXA indication and thus reduce the rate of pure diagnostic CXA. In addition, we compared the relative impact of CMR exam components (perfusion, function and viability assessment) in achieving this target. Methods 176 patients were referred for CXA with class II indication. 171 underwent complete additional CMR exam in a 1.5-T whole body CMR-scanner for myocardial function, ischemia and viability prior to CXA. The routine protocol for assessment of CAD consisted of functional imaging (long and short axes), adenosine stress- and rest-perfusion in short axis orientation and “late enhancement” imaging in long and short axes. Images were analyzed by two independent and blinded investigators. Interobserver differences were resolved by a third reader. Results There was a high association between CMR results and subsequent invasive findings (chi square for CMR perfusion deficit and stenosis >70% in CXA: 113.7, p70%. Four (2.3%) patients had false negative CMR findings. In 58 patients (33.9%) no relevant coronary artery stenosis could be observed, correctly predicted by CMR in 48 cases; in 10 (5.8%) patients CMR provided false positive results. Sensitivity of CMR to detect relevant CAD (>70% luminal narrowing) was 0.96, specificity 0.83, positive predictive value 0.92 and negative predictive value 0.92. Of the CMR components, perfusion deficit was the strongest independent predictor (odds ratio 132.3, p Conclusion In a great number of patients being referred to cath lab with ACC/AHA class II indication for CXA, CMR provides a high accuracy for decision making regarding appropriateness of the invasive exam. CMR prior to CXA could substantially reduce pure diagnostic coronary angiographies in patients with intermediate probability for CAD, in our patient-cohort from approximately 34% to 6%. Further studies are warranted to identify rare false negative CMR results.

Diet-induced obesity is known to cause peripheral insulin resistance in rodents. We have recently found that feeding cod protein to high-fat-fed rats prevents the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. In the present study, we have further explored the cellular mechanisms behind this beneficial effect of cod protein on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Rats were fed a standard chow diet or a high-fat diet in which the protein source was either casein, soy, or cod proteins for 4 weeks. Whole-body and muscle glucose disposal were reduced by ϳ50% in rats fed high-fat diets with casein or soy proteins, but these impairments were not observed in animals fed cod protein. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins were similar in muscle of chow-and high-fat-fed rats regardless of the dietary protein source. However, IRS-1-associated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity was severely impaired (؊60%) in muscle of high-fatfed rats consuming casein or soy protein. In marked contrast, feeding rats with cod protein completely prevented the deleterious effect of fat feeding on insulinstimulated PI 3-kinase activity. The activation of the downstream kinase Akt/PKB by insulin, assessed by in vitro kinase assay and phosphorylation of GSK-3␤, were also impaired in muscle of high-fat-fed rats consuming casein or soy protein, but these defects were also fully prevented by dietary cod protein. However, no effect of cod protein was observed on atypical protein kinase C activity. Normalization of PI 3-kinase/Akt activation by insulin in rats fed high-fat diets with cod protein was associated with improved translocation of GLUT4 to the T-tubules but not to the plasma membrane. Taken together, these results show that dietary cod protein is a natural insulin-sensitizing agent that appears to prevent obesity-linked muscle insulin resistance by normalizing insulin activation of the PI 3-kinase/Akt pathway and by selectively improving GLUT4 translocation to the Ttubules.

Objective Whole body positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been widely used in various malignancies, but the clinical value of FDG-PET for endometrial cancer has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of FDG-PET for preoperative evaluation of endometrial cancer. Methods Forty female patients suspected of having endometrial cancer were included in this study. All patients underwent an FDG-PET or PET/CT scan, and images were interpreted visually. The diagnostic performance in detecting the primary tumor, regional nodal status, and distant metastasis was determined. In addition, the usefulness of PET was assessed in terms of additional information and clinical impact for therapeutic management. Results Of 40 patients, 30 were histologically confirmed to have endometrial cancer. The patient-based sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for primary tumors were 83 and 100%, respectively, and 100 and 100%, respectively, for nodal metastases. There were 12 distant metastases in 6 patients and two second primary cancers in two patients, which were all accurately diagnosed by PET on a patientbasis. PET yielded 12 additional findings in 10 patients, and had a bearing on the therapeutic management of four patients, including one patient with recurrent breast cancer. Conclusions FDG-PET had a reasonably high diagnostic accuracy in endometrial cancer. Although the number of cases with clinical impact was limited, additional information by PET was obtained in one-third of the cases.

We are investigating imaging techniques to study the tumor response to photodynamic therapy ͑PDT͒. Positron emission tomography ͑PET͒ can provide physiological and functional information. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging ͑MRI͒ can provide anatomical and morphological changes. Image registration can combine MRI and PET images for improved tumor monitoring. In this study, we acquired high-resolution MRI and microPET 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ͑FDG͒ images from C3H mice with RIF-1 tumors that were treated with Pc 4-based PDT. We developed two registration methods for this application. For registration of the whole mouse body, we used an automatic three-dimensional, normalized mutual information algorithm. For tumor registration, we developed a finite element model ͑FEM͒-based deformable registration scheme. To assess the quality of whole body registration, we performed slice-by-slice review of both image volumes; manually segmented feature organs, such as the left and right kidneys and the bladder, in each slice; and computed the distance between corresponding centroids. Over 40 volume registration experiments were performed with MRI and microPET images. The distance between corresponding centroids of organs was 1.5± 0.4 mm which is about 2 pixels of microPET images. The mean volume overlap ratios for tumors were 94.7% and 86.3% for the deformable and rigid registration methods, respectively. Registration of high-resolution MRI and microPET images combines anatomical and functional information of the tumors and provides a useful tool for evaluating photodynamic therapy.

Alteration in biochemical markers of bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) of whole body and isolated femur and tibia in relation to age, estrous cycle, pregnancy and lactation and suitability of use of rat as model for studies on pathophysiology of bone and therapeutic measures for its management were investigated. Immature rats (1, 1.5 and 2 month of age; weighing, respectively, 39.3 ± 1.0, 67.8 ± 2.4 and 87.2 ± 5.2 g) exhibited high rate of bone turnover, as evidenced by high serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase and urine calcium/creatinine ratio. However, their BMD (whole body or of isolated long bones) was below measurable levels. Marked increase in body weight at 3 months (185.5 ± 5.2 g) was associated with low serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase and urine calcium/creatinine ratio. Biochemical markers and BMD attained at puberty at 3 months were maintained until 36 month of age. No significant change in serum calcium was observed with increasing age or on any of the biomarkers during estrous cycle, and BMD of femur and tibia isolated during proestrus and diestrus stages was almost similar. Onset of pregnancy was associated with significant increase in serum total alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels, but serum calcium, urine calcium/creatinine ratio or BMD of whole body or isolated long bones were not significantly different from that at proestrus stage. No marked change, except increase in body weight (P < 0.05), was also evident in these parameters between days 5 and 19 of pregnancy, irrespective of number of implantations in the uterus. A significant decrease in BMD of isolated femur (neck and mid-shaft regions) was observed on days 5 and 21 of lactation as compared to that during pregnancy or diestrus/proestrus stages of estrous cycle; the decrease being almost similar in females lactating two or six young ones. BMD of isolated tibia (global and region proximal to tibio-fibular separation point), though generally lower than that during cycle and pregnancy, was statistically non-significant. However, clear evidence of occurrence of osteoporosis during lactation, with decrease in BMD of >2.5 × S.D. in isolated femur (global, neck and mid-shaft) as well as tibia (global) was observed only when BMD data was analysed on T-/Z-score basis. Serum biochemical markers of bone turnover, too, were significantly increased in comparison to cyclic rats. Findings demonstrate marked increase in body weight and bone turnover during first 3 months of age, direct correlation between peak bone mass and onset of puberty at 3 months of age and increase in bone resorption rate during lactation. Finding of the study while might suggests possible use of rat as useful model for studies on bone turnover rate during lactation and post-weaning periods and extrapolation of the result to the human situation, but not in relation to ageing.

Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) plays an important role in the study of metabolism in vivo. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of IMCL are usually performed with clinical 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and have employed the single-voxel MRS technique. The present study reports the results of our systematic evaluation of the ability of single-and multi-voxel MRS to yield high-quality, contamination-free IMCL levels from the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. A clinical, 1.5-T, whole-body MRI scanner was used to measure IMCL with a standard knee coil, head coil, or a 3-cm receive-only surface coil with a body coil transmit. Excellent IMCL spectra were obtained in healthy males in only 8 min from multiple 0.25-cm 3 voxels using the surface coil receive/body coil transmit in conjunction with the standard PRESS spectroscopic imaging (SI) technique. This approach provided the spatial resolution and voxel placement flexibility permitting optimal separation of IMCL and extramyocellular lipid. Our findings demonstrate the potential of the SI approach.

In this paper, we present a system that estimates and visualizes muscle tensions in real time using optical motion capture and electromyography (EMG). The system overlays rendered musculoskeletal human model on top of a live video image of the subject. The subject therefore has an impression that he/she sees the muscles with tension information through the cloth and skin. The main technical challenge lies in real-time estimation of muscle tension. Since existing algorithms using mathematical optimization to distribute joint torques to muscle tensions are too slow for our purpose, we develop a new algorithm that computes a reasonable approximation of muscle tensions based on the internal connections between muscles known as neuronal binding. The algorithm can estimate the tensions of 274 muscles in only 16 ms, and the whole visualization system runs at about 15 fps. The developed system is applied to assisting sport training, and the user case studies show its usefulness. Possible applications include interfaces for assisting rehabilitation.

The pressure exerted by shallow water hydrothermal vents on edible gastropods and their cellular responses triggered by these stresses are almost unknown. The aims of this study were to evaluate the bioavailability of metals in the Macaronesian endemic limpet Patella candei gomesii living close to shallow water hydrothermal vents, and the structural differences in their digestive gland as well as the levels of apoptosis in that organ. Limpets were sampled in four sites, two with the presence of hydrothermalism and the other two without it. Whole body concentrations of several metals (Ca, Cd, Cs, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn) were obtained, morphometry analysis of the digestive gland and TUNEL test for apoptosis were also performed. Results revealed that the presence of shallow water hydrothermal vents is a source of chronic metal stress to limpets, imposing modifications in the morphometry and cell composition of the digestive gland of those limpets that may constitute cell and tissue adaptations to the environment they live in. This study sets up new baseline data for further research on the influence of shallow water hydrothermal vents over communities living in these habitats.

Total body turnover of cholesterol was studied in 54 subjects by fitting a three-pool mathematical model to plasma decay curves of 32-49 weeks duration following ['4C]cholesterol injection. Fifteen subjects were normal, 10 hypercholesterolemic, 2 1 hypertriglyceridemic, and 8 had both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia; 2 1 had a familial form of hyperlipidemia. In every subject in this heterogeneous population, the three-pool model gave the best fit for the data.

Purpose The aim of this study was to improve the uniformity of the axial spatial resolution and sensitivity in pinhole single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and to extend the axial field of view, by using a dedicated three-pinhole collimator. Methods A rectangular tungsten plate with three pinhole apertures of 1.5 mm diameter was designed to image a cylindrical field of view of 55 mm diameter and 160 mm axial length using a clinical gamma camera. To evaluate the non-uniformity of spatial resolution and noise, a multiple-disk phantom was built. The phantom was filled with Tc-99m, and data were acquired using a circular orbit and reconstructed with a dedicated iterative reconstruction algorithm. The axial spatial resolution together with the noise was measured in each disk. These measurements were compared to a single-pinhole system using an identical acquisition geometry and reconstruction. Results At the central slice, a spatial resolution of 2.7 mm was observed for both the three-pinhole and single-pinhole geometries. At 17.5 mm from the central slice, the axial spatial resolution deteriorated to 10.3 mm when using a single pinhole, while the spatial resolution remained 2.7 mm for the three-pinhole system. In the central slice, 19% noise was observed for both geometries. At 31.5 mm from this central slice, the noise remained 19% for the three-pinhole geometry, while it increased to 32% using a single pinhole. Conclusion The presented three-pinhole collimator improves the uniformity of the axial spatial resolution and sensitivity in pinhole SPECT and consequently extends the axial field of view, a requirement for whole-body small-animal imaging.

Objective: The usefulness of massage as a recovery method after high-intensity exercise has yet to be established. We aimed to investigate the effects of whole-body massage on heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) after repeated high-intensity cycling exercise under controlled and standardized pretest conditions. Methods: The study included 62 healthy active individuals. After baseline measurements, the subjects performed standardized warm-up exercises followed by three 30-second Wingate tests. After completing the exercise protocol, the subjects were randomly assigned to a massage (myofascial release) or placebo (sham treatment with disconnected ultrasound and magnetotherapy equipment) group for a 40-minute recovery period. Holter recording and BP measurements were taken after exercise protocol and after the intervention. Results: After the exercise protocol, both groups showed a significant decrease in normal-to-normal interval, HRV index, diastolic BP (P N .001), and low-frequency domain values (P = .006). After the recovery period, HRV index (P = .42) and high-frequency (HF) (P = .94) values were similar to baseline levels in the massage group, whereas the HRV index tended (P = .05) to be lower and the HF was significantly (P b .01) lower vs baseline values in the placebo group, which also showed a tendency (P = .06) for HF to be lower than after the exercise. Likewise, diastolic BP returned to baseline levels in the massage group (P = .45) but remained lower in the placebo group (P = .02). Conclusion: Myofascial release massage favors the recovery of HRV and diastolic BP after high-intensity exercise (3 Wingate tests) to preexercise levels.

The aim of this work is the presentation and comparison of state-of-the-art dedicated PET systems actually available on the market, in terms of physical performance and technical features. Particular attention has been given to evaluate the whole-body performance by sensitivity, spatial resolution, dead time, noise equivalent counting rate (NECR), and scatter fraction. PET/CT systems were also included as new proposals to improve diagnostic accuracy of PET, allowing effective anatomic integration to functional data. An overview of actually implemented reconstruction algorithms is also reported to fully understand all of the factors that contribute to image quality.

The inXuence of extremely low temperatures on the human body and physiological reactions are not fully recognized. It has been postulated that cryostimulation could modify immunological reactions, leukocytes mobilization and levels of cytokines. The aim of this research was to estimate the inXuence of a ten sessions 3-min-long exposures to cryogenic temperature (¡130°C) on the white blood cell (WBC) count, level of IL6 and the total oxidative and antioxidative status in 15 young, clinically healthy men. Blood samples were obtained in the morning before cryostimulation, again 30 min after treatment and the next day in the morning, both during the Wrst and tenth session. The WBC count, level of IL6 and total lipid peroxides as the total oxidative status and the total antioxidative status (TAS), were measured. After completing a total of ten whole-body therapy sessions a signiWcant increase in WBC count, especially lymphocytes and monocytes was noted. There was an increase in level of IL6 after Wrst and the last cryostimulation the most pronounced after tenth session. On the contrary the TAS level decreased signiWcant after the treatment. It was concluded that repeated expositions to extremely low temperatures use in cryostimulation have mobilization eVect on immunological system.

A number of authors have demonstrated that heavy metal concentrations in intestinal Helminths are higher than those found in the tissues of their final hosts. In this work, Pb and Cr concentrations in the Acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus anguillae were measured by means of electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The metal concentrations measured in the whole body of Acanthocephalans were compared to those in the liver of their fish hosts (LeuciscTts cephalus) sampled in the Lambro river (Northern Italy). The results show higher concentrations of Pb and Cr in the parasites, respectively-200 times and-60 times higher than that of the host liver. These results corroborate the usefulness of parasites in the monitoring of biologically available metal concentrations in aquatic ecosystems that are non severely polluted.

Commission VI, WG VI/4 ABSTRACT: The Villa Reale in Monza (ITALY) was founded as a symbol of the prestige and the greatness of the Asburgic family. The complex was built in an area not far from the Real Palace in Milan, the main imperial estate, in what once was a hunting haunt affording beautiful views near Monza, a small yet important trading centre. With its Gardens and the Park (later enlarged on Canonica&#39;s design), the great majestic Villa dominated the area, thanks also to the rational constructive rigour and the clear functionality with which it was built and the noble and sober elegance. Our work comes after the activities that we conducted in the last three years to prepare the material for the &quot;International Design Competition for the Refurbishment and Enhancement of the Real Villa in Monza and its Gardens&quot;. In fact in 2003 we began with the Lombardy Region a set of survey in the Real Villa of Monza to know in detail the condition and the state of fact of the...

Blood in the splanchnic vasculature can be transferred to the extremities. We quantified such blood shifts in normal subjects by measuring trunk volume by optoelectronic plethysmography, simultaneously with changes in body volume by whole body plethysmography during contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Trunk volume changes with blood shifts, but body volume does not so that the blood volume shifted between trunk and extremities (Vbs) is the difference between changes in trunk and body volume. This is so because both trunk and body volume change identically with breathing and gas expansion or compression. During tidal breathing Vbs was 50-75 ml with an ejection fraction of 4-6% and an output of 750-1500 ml/min. Step increases in abdominal pressure resulted in rapid emptying presumably from the liver with a time constant of 0.6160.1SE sec. followed by slower flow from non-hepatic viscera. The filling time constant was 0.5760.09SE sec. Splanchnic emptying shifted up to 650 ml blood. With emptying, the increased hepatic vein flow increases the blood pressure at its entry into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and abolishes the pressure gradient producing flow between the femoral vein and the IVC inducing blood pooling in the legs. The findings are important for exercise because the larger the Vbs the greater the perfusion of locomotor muscles. During asystolic cardiac arrest we calculate that appropriate timing of abdominal compression could produce an output of 6 L/min. so that the abdominal circulatory pump might act as an auxiliary heart.

In this paper, we present a new generation of active tactile modules (i.e., HEX-O-SKIN), which are developed in order to approach multimodal whole-body-touch sensation for humanoid robots. To better perform like humans, humanoid robots need the variety of different sensory modalities in order to interact with their environment. This calls for certain robustness and fault tolerance as well as an intelligent solution to connect the different sensory modalities to the robot. Each HEX-O-SKIN is a small hexagonal printed circuit board equipped with multiple discrete sensors for temperature, acceleration, and proximity. With these sensors, we emulate the human sense of temperature, vibration, and light touch. Off-the-shelf sensors were utilized to speed up our development cycle; however, in general, we can easily extend our design with new discrete sensors, thereby making it flexible for further exploration. A local controller on each HEX-O-SKIN preprocesses the sensor signals and actively routes data through a network of modules toward the closest PC connection. Local processing decreases the necessary network and high-level processing bandwidth, while a local analog-to-digital conversion and digital-data transfers are less sensitive to electromagnetic interference. With an active data-routing scheme, it is also possible to reroute the data around broken connections-yielding robustness throughout the global structure while minimizing wirings. To support our approach, multiple HEX-O-SKIN are embedded into a rapid-prototyped elastomer skin material and redundantly connected to neighboring modules by just four ports. The wiring complexity is shifted to each HEX-O-SKIN such that a power and data connection between two modules is reduced to four noncrossing wires. Thus, only a very simple robot-specific base frame is needed to support and wire the HEX-O-SKIN to a robot. The potential of our multimodal sensor modules is demonstrated experimentally on a robot platform.

Many studies have accounted for whole body vibration effects in the fields of exercise physiology, sport and rehabilitation medicine. Generally, surface EMG is utilized to assess muscular activity during the treatment; however, large motion artifacts appear superimposed to the raw signal, making sEMG recording not suitable before any artifact filtering. Sharp notch filters, centered at vibration frequency and at its superior harmonics, have been used in previous studies, to remove the artifacts. [6, 10] However, to get rid of those artifacts some true EMG signal is lost. The purpose of this study was to reproduce the effect of motor-unit synchronization on a simulated surface EMG during vibratory stimulation. In addition, authors mean to evaluate the EMG power percentage in those bands in which are also typically located motion artifact components. Model characteristics were defined to take into account two main aspect: the muscle MUs discharge behavior and the triggering effects that appear during local vibratory stimulation. [7] Inter-pulse-interval, was characterized by a polimodal distribution related to the MU discharge frequency (IPI 55-80ms, σ=12ms) and to the correlation with the vibration period within the range of ±2 ms due to vibration stimulus. [1, 7] The signals were simulated using different stimulation frequencies from 30 to 70 Hz. The percentage of the total simulated EMG power within narrow bands centered at the stimulation frequency and its superior harmonics (± 1 Hz) resulted on average about 8% (± 2.85) of the total EMG power. However, the artifact in those bands may contain more than 40% of the total power of the total signal. [6] Our preliminary results suggest that the analysis of the muscular activity of muscle based on raw sEMG recordings and RMS evaluation, if not processed during vibratory stimulation may lead to a serious overestimation of muscular response.

Purpose [ 11 C]Acetate (C-AC) is a general PET tracer of cellular carbon flux and useful for clinical imaging in heart disease as well as prostate cancer and other tumours. C-AC has a high (70%) whole-body extraction fraction, proportional to blood flow in many organs. Trapping is related to organ-specific enzymatic activation and formation of [ 11 C]acetyl-CoA, the fate of which has been well characterized. Due to the logistic challenges with C-AC, 2-[ 18 F]fluoroacetate (F-AC) has been proposed as a marker for prostate cancer imaging. Method We evaluated the potential of F-AC as a tracer for imaging blood flow and early enzymatic steps in the intermediary metabolism. C-AC and F-AC were injected serially in three cynomolgus monkeys and one domestic pig and scanned using PET/CT. A dynamic scan covering heart and liver was followed by repeated whole-body imaging. Kinetic patterns were compared for the myocardium, liver, blood and other organs. Results C-AC kinetics and organ distribution in both species were similar to those previously established in man. In contrast, F-AC showed prolonged blood retention, no detectable trapping in myocardium or salivary glands, rapid clearance from liver and extensive excretion to bile and urine. Massive defluorination was seen in the pig, resulting in intense skeletal activity. Conclusion 2-[ 18 F]Fluoroacetate cannot be regarded as a functional analogue of 1-[ 11 C]acetate in normal physiology and appears to be of little use for studies of organ blood flow, intermediary metabolism or lipid synthesis.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) balneotherapy is a kind of remedy with a wide spectrum of applications which have been used since the Middle Ages. However, its potential use as an adjuvant therapeutic option in patients with cardiovascular disease is not yet fully clarified. We performed a thorough review of MEDLINE Database, EMBASE, ISI WEB of Knowledge, COCHRANE database and sites funded by balneotherapy centers across Europe in order to recognize relevant studies and aggregate evidence supporting the use of CO 2 baths in various cardiovascular diseases. The three main effects of CO 2 hydrotherapy during whole body or partial immersion, including decline in core temperature, an increase in cutaneous blood flow, and an elevation of the score on thermal sensation, are analyzed on a pathophysiology basis. Additionally, the indications and contra-indications of the method are presented in an evidence-based way, while the need for new methodologically sufficient studies examining the use of CO 2 baths in other cardiovascular substrates is discussed.

The dynamics of fatty acid composition modi¢cations were examined in tissues of Murray cod fed diets containing ¢sh oil (FO), canola oil (CO) and linseed oil (LO) for a 25-week period and subsequently transferred to a FO (¢nishing/wash-out) diet for a further 16 weeks. At the commencement of the wash-out period, following 25 weeks of vegetable oil substitution diets, the fatty acid compositions of Murray cod ¢llets were re£ective of the respective diets. After transfer to the FO diet, di¡erences decreased in quantity and in numerousness, resulting in a revert to the FO fatty acid composition. Changes in percentages of the fatty acids and total accumulation in the ¢llet could be described by exponential equations and demonstrated that major modi¢cations occurred in the ¢rst days of the ¢nishing period. A dilution model was tested to predict fatty acid composition. In spite of a general reliability of the model (Y 5 0.9234X1 0.4260, R 2 50.957, Po0.001, where X is the predicted percentage of fatty acid;Y the observed percentage of fatty acid), in some instances the regression comparing observed and predicted values was markedly di¡erent from the line of equity, indicating that the rate of change was higher than predicted (i.e. Y 5 0.4205X11.191, R 2 50.974, Po0.001, where X is the predicted percentage of a-linolenic acid; Y the observed percentage of a-linolenic acid). Ultimately, using the coe⁄cient of distance (D), it was shown that the fatty acid composition of ¢sh previously fed the vegetable oil diets returned to the average variability of the ¢llet fatty acid composition of Murray cod after 70 or 97 days (LO and CO respectively).

Tumor hypoxia, present in many human cancers, can lead to resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype and is an independent prognostic factor of clinical outcome. It is therefore important to identify and localize tumor hypoxia in cancer patients. In the current study, serial microPET imaging was used to evaluate iodine-124-labeled iodo-azomycin-galactoside ( 124 I-IAZG) (4.2-day physical half-life) as a hypoxia imaging agent in 17 MCa breast tumors and six FSaII fibrosarcomas implanted in mice. For comparison, another promising hypoxic-cell PET radiotracer, fluorine-18-labeled fluoromisonidazole ( 18 F-FMISO), was also imaged in the same tumor-bearing animals. Twelve animals were also imaged with 18 F-labeled fluoro-deoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG). In addition, histological examination was performed, and direct measurement of tumor oxygenation status carried out with the Oxylite probe system. Two size groups were used, relatively well-oxygenated tumors in the range of 80-180 mg were designated as small, and those >300 mg and highly hypoxic, as large. Based on the data from 11 MCa and six FSaII tumors, both 124 I-IAZG and 18 F-FMISO images showed high tracer uptake in the large tumors. In 18 F-FMISO images at 1, 3-4, and 6-8 h postinjection (p.i.), there was considerable whole-body background activity. In contrast, 124 I-IAZG imaging was optimal when performed at 24-48 h p.i., when the wholebody background had dissipated considerably. As a result, the 124 I-IAZG images at 24-48 h p.i. had higher tumor to whole-body activity contrast than the 18 F-FMISO images at 3-6 h p.i. Region-of-interest analysis was performed as a function of time p.i. and indicated a tumor uptake of 5-10% (of total-body activity) for FMISO at 3-6 h p.i., and of ~17% for IAZG at 48 h p.i. This was corroborated by biodistribution data in that the tumor-tonormal tissue (T/N, normal tissues of blood, heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, intestine, and muscle) activity ratios of IAZG at 24 h p.i. was 1.5-2 times higher than those of FMISO at 3 h p.i., with the exception of stomach. Statistical analysis indicated that these differences in T/N ratios were significant. The small tumors were visualized in the 18 F-FDG images, but not in the 124 I-IAZG or 18 F-FMISO images. This was perhaps due to the combined effect of a smaller tumor volume and a lower hypoxic fraction. Oxylite probe measurement indicated a lesser proportion of regions with pO 2 <2.5 mmHg in the small tumors (e.g., pO 2 was <2.5 mmHg in 28% and 67% of the data in small and large FSaII tumors, respectively), and the biodistribution data showed lower uptake of the tracers in the small tumors than in the large tumors. In the first study of its kind, using serial microPET imaging in conjunction with biodistribution analysis and direct probe measurements of local pO 2 to evaluate tumor hypoxia markers, we have provided data showing the potential of 124 I-IAZG for hypoxia imaging.

Movements of the whole-body center of mass during quiet standing have been estimated from measurements of body segment movements. These whole-body center of mass movements have been compared with movements of the center of mass as predicted from a simple inverted-pendulum model of standing. However, the total body center of mass is a weighted average of the center of mass of all individual body segments. The question arises as to how well the total body center of mass represents the individual segments and lower limb joint angles. This study focuses on the validity of how well the individual segments and lower limb angles temporally and spatially synchronize with the total body center of mass. Eleven healthy university students volunteered to participate. Kinematic data were collected using a 3D optoelectronic camera system; kinetic data were collected using a 3D force plate. Participants stood quietly, with eyes open, for 120 s. Segment and whole body centers of mass were calculated from a 14 segment, 3D bilateral model. Segment and joint angles were calculated for the lower limbs, bilaterally, and the trunk. Segment center of mass root-mean-square displacements were strongly correlated with center of mass height relative to the ankle joint and were synchronized, or temporally locked, to the movement of the whole body center of mass. Sagittal plane ankle angular displacements were highly correlated to sagittal plane center of mass movement; stronger correlations between body center of mass and lower limb angular displacement were observed, the result of compensatory knee joint angular displacements. These data support and extend the use of an inverted pendulum model to represent quiet standing postural control.

In positron emission tomographic (PET) scanning, transmission measurements for attenuation correction are commonly performed by using external germanium-68 rod sources. Recently, combined PET and computed tomographic (CT) scanners have been developed in which the CT data can be used for both anatomicalmetabolic image formation and attenuation correction of the PET data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference between germanium-and CT-based transmission scanning in terms of their radiation doses by using the same measurement technique and to compare the doses that patients receive during brain, cardiac and whole-body scans. Measurement of absorbed doses to organs was conducted by using a Rando Alderson phantom with thermoluminescent dosimeters. Effective doses were calculated according to the guidelines in the International Commission on Radiation Protection Publication Number 60. Compared with radionuclide doses used in routine 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET imaging, doses absorbed during germanium-based transmission scans were almost negligible. On the other hand, absorbed doses from CT-based transmission scans were significantly higher, particularly with a whole-body scanning protocol. Effective doses were 8.81 mSv in the high-speed mode and 18.97 mSv in the high-quality mode for whole-body CT-based transmission scans. These measurements revealed that the doses received by a patient during CT-based transmission scanning are more than those received in a typical PET examination. Therefore, the radiation doses represent a limitation to the generalised use of CT-based transmission measurements with current PET/CT scanner systems.

This study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) in the diet of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) with differently processed soybean meals on growth performance; apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs); the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the brush border digestive enzymes: leucine amino peptidase, maltase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; and the fish morphometric and flesh quality. European sea bass with an initial average body weight of 187.8 ± 1.4 g, were fed either a FM based (control) diet or a soy replacement isoproteic, isolipidic and isocaloric diet. The treatments consisted replacing FM protein by: 25% toasted, dehulled and solvent-extracted soybean meal (SE25); 50% dehulled and toasted soy seeds subjected to dry extrusion and mechanical oil extraction (ME50); 50% enzyme-treated soybean meal (ET50) and an inclusion of 60% composed of 30% toasted, dehulled and solvent-extracted soybean meal and 30% enzyme-treated soybean meal (SE + ET/60). ADCs values of dry matter, crude protein, crude lipid and gross energy did not significantly differ between ME50 and SE + ET/60 but both of them were inferior to the other treatments (P < 0.05). Compared with the control FM-based diet, only the group that consumed the ME50 diet had lower specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and gross protein retention efficiency values (P < 0.05). The protein efficiency ratio did not differ between the FM-based control group and all other soy derivate groups (P > 0.05). In order to gain more insight on the effects of the diet on fish growth, activity of the brush border enzymes was measured. No significant differences were found in leucine amino peptidase and maltase activities, between the control group and the other soy derivate groups. The activity of γglutamyl transpeptidase was significantly higher in the upper section in fish that consumed the control diet compared with fish that consumed the soy derivate diets. Yet, the main activity of this enzyme was found in the lower intestinal section. In all the soy derivate diets except for the SE25 diet, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly lower than its activity in the control diet. Feeding diets that include various types and levels of soybean derivatives did not affect the whole body composition and slaughter yield but significantly reduced liver weight. The results show that in methionine supplemented diets, FM can be replaced in terms of protein by 25% SE, 50% ET or 60% soy composed of 30% SE and 30% ET without hampering fish performance. The inclusion of 50% protein from ME resulted in significantly lower growth performance and feed utilization.

To assess potential indices of nutritional condition, we examined changes in lipid content and the blood refractive index (BRI) of postlarval, juvenile and adult prawns (Penaeus spp.) that had been starved or fed to different levels of satiation. The whole-body lipid content (WBL) of small juvenile P. esculentus (20-120 mg wet weight) decreased significantly after 12 h of starvation. The WBL of postlarval P. monodon (4-10 mg wet weight) also decreased during starvation, with WBL almost halving after 5 days. Juvenile P. monodon (0.5-1.3 g wet weight) fed at 25 or 50% of the satiation ration for 6 days had significantly lower WBL than satiated prawns. The lowest concentrations of WBL were recorded for starved prawns and those fed to 25% of satiation. In larger juvenile P. semisulcatus (0.3-1.2 g wet weight) the WBL was also sensitive to starvation, declining significantly after only 1 day. The blood lipid content and digestive gland lipid of adult P. semisulcatus (28-43 g wet weight) decreased significantly after 4 days of starvation. The BRI of starved prawns and those fed to satiation correlated well with the WBL in the case of smaller prawns (r. 0.96) and with the blood lipid of adult P. semisulcatus (28-43 g wet weight). However, there was a weaker correlation between BRI and WBL in prawns whose feed allocations were between starvation and satiation (r 5 0.86). These results from several prawn species and different size classes show that both the BRI and WBL have potential as indices of nutritional condition. Although BRI is much easier and cheaper to measure than WBL and can be measured in the field, it is suitable only for prawns from which sufficient blood can be obtained-generally those larger than 300 mg wet weight (7 mm carapace length). In contrast, WBL can be measured with a good level of precision in individual prawns as small as 20 mg wet weight (3 mm carapace length) using relatively simple laboratory equipment.

Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown to be a highly sensitive method for detecting malignancy not imaged by conventional modalities. We have adapted a hand-held gamma-ray-sensitive probe to detect the radiation emission from the [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) used in PET imaging. This pilot study was devised to examine the feasibility of using a hand-held probe to intraoperatively differentiate normal from tumor-bearing tissue. A commercially available gamma probe was adapted to detect the radioactivity released from FDG and examined to determine the in vitro sensitivity for localization of a FDG point source. Eight consecutive patients underwent resection of metastatic colon cancer or melanoma; each received a preoperative injection of 7--10 mCi of FDG. The gamma probe was used to determine radioactive counts per second from tumor and normal tissue, and ratios of tumor to adjacent normal background were calculated. In vitro studies with a FDG point source demonstrated the probe could identify the source with a 50% reduction in maximum counts 1.7 +/- 0.1 cm from the source (full-width half-maximum measurement). Based on the results of their preoperative PET scans 17 tumors were identified from the 8 patients. Of the 17 tumors assessed the in vivo tumor-to-background ratios varied from 1.16:1 to 4.67:1 for the melanoma patients (13 tumors) and from 1.19:1 to 7.92:1 for colon cancer patients (4 tumors). Thirteen tumors were resected; four (2 patients) were unresectable. This study demonstrates the use of a hand-held gamma-ray-sensitive probe to intraoperatively differentiate the radioactivity released from FDG from tumor-bearing and adjacent normal tissue. While further studies are necessary for us to optimize the use of this probe, the intraoperative detection of FDG-avid malignancies may ultimately improve our ability to completely resect patients with metastatic disease.

While recent studies indicate that observers are able to use dynamic information to anticipate whole-body actions like tennis shots, it is less clear whether the action's amplitude may also allow for anticipation. We therefore examined the role of movement dynamics and amplitude for the anticipation of tennis-shot direction. In a previous study, movement dynamics and amplitude were separated from the kinematics of tennis players' forehand groundstrokes. In the present study, these were manipulated and tennis shots were simulated. Three conditions were created in which shot-direction differences were either preserved or removed: Dynamics-Present-Amplitude-Present (D P A P ), Dynamics-Present-Amplitude-Absent (D P A A ), and Dynamics-Absent-Amplitude-Present (D A A P ). Nineteen low-skill and 15 intermediate-skill tennis players watched the simulated shots and predicted shot direction from movements prior to ball-racket contact only. Percent of correctly predicted shots per condition was measured. On average, both groups' performance was superior when the dynamics were present (the D P A P and D P A A conditions) compared to when it was absent (the D A A P condition). However, the intermediate-skill players performed above chance independent of amplitude differences in shots (i.e., both the D P A P and D P A A conditions), whereas the lowskill group only performed above chance when amplitude differences were absent (the D P A A condition). These results suggest that the movement's dynamics but not their amplitude provides information from which tennis-shot direction can be anticipated. Furthermore, the successful extraction of dynamical information 0167-9457/$ -see front matter Ó

In order to examine the importance of preserving the Poisson characteristics of Positron Emission Tomography data when using Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization iterative reconstruction, we have examined several data weighting schemes with increasing complexity which progressively account for attenuation, normalization, random coincidences and Compton scatter with both ordinary and shifted Poisson models. All schemes have first been tested on 2D dynamic data from a decaying phantom filled with H 2 15 O. The images produced by the various OSEM weighting schemes were compared to the ones obtained by filtered backprojection reconstruction. Small positive bias (1%) could not be excluded for the last 2 schemes considered. The impact of these reconstruction methods on physiological parameters is illustrated with clinical protocols measuring myocardial blood flow with ammonia and Standard Uptake Values from a wholebody study with 18 FDG. Despite the high random rate in cardiac studies, no positive bias was detected in the images when using scans precorrected for random and scatter. Similarly, for whole body studies, at low random rates, the attenuation and normalization weighting scheme produces high quality images with correct quantification. That scheme is likely the best choice for obtaining unbiased high quality emission images in most situations on current 2D scanners.

Kreider, RB, and Greenwood, M. The effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation with and without D-pinitol on resistance training adaptations. J Strength Cond Res 23(9): 2673-2682, 2009-Coingestion of D-pinitol with creatine (CR) has been reported to enhance creatine uptake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether adding D-pinitol to CR affects training adaptations, body composition, whole-body creatine retention, and/or blood safety markers when compared to CR ingestion alone after 4 weeks of resistance training. Twenty-four resistance trained males were randomly assigned in a doubleblind manner to creatine + pinitol (CRP) or creatine monohydrate (CR) prior to beginning a supervised 4-week resistance training program. Subjects ingested a typical loading phase (i.e., 20 g/d 21 for 5 days) before ingesting 5 g/d 21 the remaining 23 days. Performance measures were assessed at baseline (T0), week 1 (T1), and week 4 (T2) and included 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench press (BP), 1RM leg press (LP), isokinetic knee extension, and a 30-second Wingate anaerobic capacity test. Fasting blood and body composition using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were determined at T1 and T3. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Creatine retention increased (p , 0.001) in both groups as a result of supplementation but was not different between groups (p . 0.05). Significant improvements in upper-and lower-body strength and body composition occurred in both groups. However, significantly greater increases in lean mass and fat-free mass occurred in the CR group when compared to CRP (p ,0.05). Adding D-pinitol to creatine monohydrate does not appear to facilitate further physiological adaptations while resistance training. Creatine monohydrate supplementation helps to improve strength and body composition while resistance training. Data from this study assist in determining the potential role the addition of D-pinitol to creatine may aid in facilitating training adaptations to exercise.

Unpicking the molecular basis by which omega3 fatty acids alter skeletal muscle metabolism. View project ABSTRACT Our aim was to examine the effects of seven high intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT) sessions over two weeks on skeletal muscle fuel content, mitochondrial enzyme activities, fatty acid transport proteins, VO 2 peak, and whole body metabolic, hormonal and cardiovascular responses to exercise. Eight females participated in the study (22.1 ± 0.2 yrs, 65.0 ± 2.2 kg, VO 2 peak: 2.36 ± 0.24 l min -1 ). Subjects performed a VO 2 peak test and a 60-min cycling trial at ~60% VO 2 peak prior to and following training. Each session consisted of ten, 4-min bouts at ~90% VO 2 peak with 2-min rest between intervals. Training increased VO 2 peak by 13%.

In this communication, the Standardization and Terminology Committee (STC) of the International Society of Biomechanics proposes a definition of a joint coordinate system (JCS) for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand. For each joint, a standard for the local axis system in each articulating segment or bone is generated. These axes then standardize the JCS. The STC is publishing these recommendations so as to encourage their use, to stimulate feedback and discussion, and to facilitate further revisions. Adopting these standards will lead to better communication among researchers and clinicians. r