Given the practicality and low cost of using elastic resistance in training for different populations and its effectiveness in a range of outcomes, a comparison with conventional devices could clarify and quantify the benefits provided by both mode. To compare the effects of resistance training with elastic devices (tubes and Thera-Bands) and conventional devices (weight machines and dumbbells) on the outcome muscular strength. A search was performed in the databases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) from the earliest records up to 20 December 2017. Data were pooled into a meta-analysis and described as standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval (registration number: CRD42016042152). Eight studies were included. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated no superiority between the methods analyzed for upper limb (standardized mean difference = −0.011; 95% confidence interval = −0.40, 0.19; p = 0.48) or lower limb muscular strength (standardized mean difference = 0.09; 95% confidence interval = −0.18, 0.35; p = 0.52). Elastic resistance training is able to promote similar strength gains to conventional resistance training, in different population profiles and using diverse protocols.

The chicken GnRH receptor (cGnRH-R) differs from all mammalian GnRH-Rs in possessing a cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal tail. We have previously demonstrated that the cGnRH-R undergoes more rapid agonist-induced internalization than the mammalian GnRH-Rs and requires the carboxyl-terminal tail for this process. To investigate the structural determinants mediating this rapid internalization, a series of mutant receptors was generated, including progressive truncations of the tail and substitution of serine and threonine residues with alanine. Truncation of the carboxyl-terminal tail to position 366 and then to position 356 resulted in a progressive attenuation of the rate and total extent of receptor internalization. However, truncation between positions 356 and 346 did not alter the kinetics of internalization further, whereas a further truncation to position 337 resulted in an additional marked reduction of internalization. We show that the membrane-proximal Cys(328) and the Thr(369)Thr(370) doublet located in the distal carboxyl terminus play a critical role in mediating rapid internalization. We demonstrate that the cGnRH-R, when expressed in both COS-7 and HEK 293 cells, preferentially undergoes rapid agonist-induced internalization in a caveolae-like, dynamin-dependent manner. These conclusions are based on our observation that pretreatments with filipin and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, agents that disrupt lipid rafts such as caveolae, and coexpression of dominant-negative dynamin-1 (K44A) and caveolin-1 (Delta 1-81) mutants, effectively inhibited rapid agonist-induced internalization. Furthermore, cGnRH-Rs appeared to be mobilized to the beta-arrestin- and clathrin-coated, vesicle-mediated endocytic pathway upon beta-arrestin overexpression.

The chicken gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) is notable for having a cytoplasmic C-terminal tail, which is not present in the mammalian GnRH-Rs. We report here that the cytoplasmic tail mediates rapid agonist-promoted receptor internalization. The chicken GnRH-R mediated internalization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (125I[His5-D-Tyr6]GnRH) at a rate of 11.3%.min-1, compared with only 0.71 %.min-1 for the human GnRH-R. To determine whether the presence of the cytoplasmic tail was responsible for the more rapid internalization kinetics of the chicken GnRH-R we truncated the tail after the Ile336 residue (S337stop). Receptor-mediated internalization of GnRH agonist by the S337stop-chicken GnRH-R was much slower than in the wild-type chicken receptor, and was similar to the wild-type human GnRH-R (0.55 %.min-1). These data indicate that rapid agonist-promoted internalization of the chicken GnRH-R is mediated through elements in the cytoplasmic C-terminal tail, distal to or including Ser337 and suggests that elimination of the C-terminal tail during evolution of mammalian GnRH-Rs may be related to its effects on internalization.

The metabolic syndrome is recognized as a cluster of disturbances associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Over the past two decades, the number of people with the metabolic syndrome has increased at an alarming rate. This increase is associated with the global epidemic of both obesity and diabetes. Cardiovascular mortality is increased among diabetics and obesity-related insulin-resistant patients, and obesity is currently recognized as independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We aimed to establish the effects of a short period of an altered diet on the heart using a rat model of hyperphagia-induced obesity (diet supplemented with sucrose and condensed milk for 8 weeks = DIO) compared to age-matched controls. Isolated, perfused hearts were subjected to global or regional ischaemia/reperfusion. Function on reperfusion was recorded and infarct size determined. A plasma lipid profile was established via HPLC-based methods and proteins involved in metabolic signalling determined either by western blotting or RT-PCR. 8 weeks of diet resulted in whole-body but not myocardial insulin resistance, increased plasma triglyceride and phospholipid levels as well as increased lipid peroxidation. Despite the similar baseline function, hearts from DIO animals showed significantly poorer postischaemic recovery than controls (41.9 % RPP recovery vs 57.9 %, P < 0.05, n = 7-11/group) but surprisingly, smaller infarct size (24.95 ± 1.97 vs 47.26 ± 4.05 % of the area at risk, P < 0.005, n = 8/group). Basal phosphorylation of PKB/Akt was elevated but IRS-1 and SERCA-2 expression severely downregulated. In conclusion, after only 8 weeks of a slight change in diet, the rat heart shows signs of metabolic remodelling. Some of these changes may be protective but others may be detrimental and eventually lead to maladaptation.

The available evidence suggest that phototherapy has beneficial effects on the management of CK activity and demonstrate a possible relationship based on damage caused by exercise, providing a greater effect in studies that used localized exercise.