Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

PROBLEM: The effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) on autonomic modulation are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate autonomic modulation after resistance exercise with and without BFR in resistance-trained men. METHODS: Sixteen men volunteered for the study. Autonomic modulation was assessed at rest, 15 (Rec1), and 25 (Rec2) minutes after three different conditions. The low-intensity bench press with BFR (LI-BFR) consisted of 4 sets of 30, 15, 15, and 15 repetitions at 30% 1-repetition maximum (1RM). The high-intensity bench press (HI) consisted of 4 sets of 8 repetitions at 70%1RM, and a supine rest control (CON). Autonomic modulation was expressed as natural logarithm (Ln), high-frequency power (LnHF), low-frequency power (LnLF), and sympathovagal balance (LnLF/LnHF ratio). RESULTS: There was a significant condition by time interaction for LnHF (LI-BFR: Rest: 7.3±1.1ms², Rec1: 5.5±1.2ms², Rec2: 6.6±1.5ms²; HI: Rest: 7.4±1.2ms²; Rec1: 5.9±1.4ms², Rec2: 6.5±1.5ms²; CON: Rest: 7.5±1.1ms², Rec1: 7.5±1.8ms², Rec2: 7.4±1.3ms², Rec1: 5.9±0.9ms², Rec2: 6.5±1.2ms²; HI: Rest: 7.3±1.1ms²; Rec1: 6.4±0.8ms², Rec2: 6.6±1.2ms²; CON: Rest: 7.1±1.0 ms², Rec1: 7.1±1.8 ms², Rec2: 7.1±1.0 ms². CONCLUSION: These data suggest that LI-BFR and HI similarly alter autonomic modulation for at least 30 minutes.

Staphylococcus Aureus is currently one of the leading causes of infections in diabetic patients and a major cause of chronic wounds. Staphylococcus Aureus is also a common nosocomial infection as it is an opportunistic pathogen that can live in the epidermis of around 30% of the population. The infection can persist easily and become resistant to antibiotics through the formation of biofilms which can quickly aggregate other Staphylococcus Aureus cells. With need for treatment of these infections on the rise, more research needs to be conducted on the effects of antibiotics on the S. Aureus biofilms. This study will compare the effects of Vancomycin and Ciproflaxin on both planktonic and biofilm S. Aureus to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of the planktonic bacteria (MIC), the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC). The MBIC and MBEC will be compared with the MIC to measure the effects of biofilms on the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. Aureus.

Background: Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels have been implicated in playing a crucial role in several intracellular signal transduction mechanisms throughout the body. A hallmark characteristic of these ligand-gated ion channels is their relative polymodal nature of activation. Through collaborations with investigators at Montana State University, we investigated the extent to which 7 different essential oils (EO) extracted from Ferula iliensis stimulate calcium influx through TRPV1-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells.

Methods: TRPV1-transfected HEK cells were utilized for all protocols. In order to quantifiably determine the extent to which EO’s 1-7 elicit calcium influx, we utilized fura 2 and fluo 4 loaded cells for real-time intracellular calcium measurements and calcium assay preparations, respectively. Cells were treated with the test compounds in the presence or absence of TRPV1 inhibitor peptide, SB366791. Results were analyzed using Sigmaplot 11.0 software.

Results: The current data suggests that several EO’s stimulated calcium influx; however, two compounds, trans-2-nonenal and geranylacetone, were demonstrated to act directly through TRPV1. In the calcium assay, trans-2-nonenal and geranylacetone induced calcium influxes into TRPV1-transfected HEK cells. Comparative results were observed in real-time calcium measurements where trans-2-nonenal and geranylacetone stimulated transient increases in intracellular free calcium concentrations in TRPV1-transfected HEK cells. These effects were diminished in the presence of SB366791.

Conclusions: Herein, we identified trans-2-nonenal and geranylacetone as two novel agonists of TRPV1. The extent to which these agonists modulate intracellular signaling events in the heart will be of great translational interest and will be subject of future investigations.

PROBLEM: Sex-specific responses to an acute bout of resistance exercise (RE) are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine sex-specific responses to an acute bout of RE on heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate complexity (HRC). METHODS: Twenty-three resistance-trained men (n=13) and women (n=10) volunteered for the study. Autonomic modulation was assessed at rest, as well as 15-20 minutes (Rec1) and 25-30 minutes (Rec2) after an acute bout of RE utilizing 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% 1-repetition maximum on the squat, bench press and deadlift with two minutes of rest between sets. Measures of HRV were analyzed in the frequency domain and included measures of vagal modulation (normalized high frequency (HFnu)), sympathetic modulation (normalized low frequency (LFnu)), and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF ratio). Sample Entropy (SampEn), indicative of vagal modulation, was used as a measure of HRC. RESULTS: There were no significant sex differences at rest for any of the variables. Furthermore, there were no significant sex by condition by time interactions for any variable. Compared with Rest, LFnu (Rest: 35.5±15.3%; Rec1: 73.0±18.0; Rec2: 66.0±25.1%, p=0.0001), LnLF/HF (Rest: 4.0±0.9; Rec1: 5.1±1.1; Rec2: 5.2±1.1, p=0.002) were augmented at Rec1 and Rec2. HFnu (Rest: 61.2±17.1%; Rec1: 40.3±22.3%; Rec2: 38.4±21.8%, p=0.0001) and SampEn (Rest: 1.5±0.3units; Rec1: 1.2±0.3units; Rec2: 1.3±0.5units, p=0.0001) were decreased at Rec1 and Rec2 compared to Rest after the acute RE. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that acute RE using free-weights has a profound impact on autonomic modulation that is similar between the sexes.

A recent clinical vaccine trial to treat early breast cancer prior to surgery induced strong immune response characterized by production of Th1 cytokines including Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Of 27 vaccinated subjects, 5 showed complete regression of tumor by the time of surgery. In vitro studies indicated that Th1 cytokine production might have a direct killing effect on breast cancer cells. We therefore sought to determine whether other carcinoma types were also sensitive to Th1 cytokines, a fact that might indicate their sensitivity to similar therapeutic vaccination. We therefore examined the effects of the two principal Th1 cytokines, IFN-γ and TNF-α on 3 common prostate cancer cell lines including LnCap, PC3 and DU145. Several techniques were used to measure apoptotic behavior, which included Alamar Blue dye, microscopic observation, vital staining, and Flow cytometry analysis. Obtaining decent apoptotic responses in each cell line to the cytokines, enhancing the effects of an anti-cancer drug, Alisertib, was then examined. Each cell line was incubated in tissue culture with cytokines only, Alisertib only, and both combined for up to 5 days. Addition of the Alamar Blue dye during the last hours of culture indicated that the cocktail of cytokines and Alisertib-treated cells displayed sharply reduced metabolic activity. Likewise, microscopic observation of cells indicated signs of cell death. Vital staining indicated less viable cells in Th1 cytokine + Alisertib-treated groups compared to untreated controls and cytokines alone. Finally, Flow cytometry analysis of cytokine treated cells showed evidence of enhanced apoptosis compared with untreated cells and cytokine-treated cells alone, indicated by a greater population of cells being induced to programmed cell death in cytokine and Alisertib-treated cells. Thus, treatment involving the combined applications of apoptosis and immunologic enhancers provides new insight into the treatment of prostate cancer.