Role of Exercise Intensity on Th1/Th2 Immune Modulations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to several pioneering scientific discoveries resulting in no effective solutions with the exception of vaccination. Moderate exercise is a significant non-pharmacological strategy, to reduce the infection-related burden of COVID-19, especially in patients who are obese, elderly, and with additional comorbidities. The imbalance of T helper type 1 (Th1) or T helper type 2 (Th2) cells has been well documented among populations who have suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are at maximum risk of infection and mortality. Moderate and low intensity exercise can benefit persons at risk from the disease and survivors by favorable modulation in Th1/Th2 ratios. Moreover, in COVID-19 patients, mild to moderate intensity aerobic exercise also increases immune system function but high intensity aerobic exercise may have adverse effects on immune responses. In addition, sustained hypoxia in COVID-19 patients has been reported to cause organ failure and cell death. Hypoxic conditions have also been highlighted to be triggered in COVID-19-susceptible individuals and COVID-19 survivors. This suggests that hypoxia inducible factor (HIF 1α) might be an important focus for researchers investigating effective strategies to minimize the effects of the pandemic. Intermittent hypoxic preconditioning (IHP) is a method of exposing subjects to short bouts of moderate hypoxia interspersed with brief periods of normal oxygen concentrations (recovery). This methodology inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory factors, activates HIF-1α to activate target genes, and subsequently leads to a higher production of red blood cells and hemoglobin. This increases angiogenesis and increases oxygen transport capacity. These factors can help alleviate virus induced cardiopulmonary hemodynamic disorders and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, during the COVID-19 pandemic we propose that populations should engage in low to moderate exercise individually designed, prescribed and specific, that utilizes IHP including pranayama (yoga), swimming and high-altitude hiking exercise. This would be beneficial in affecting HIF-1α to combat the disease and its severity. Therefore, the promotion of certain exercises should be considered by all sections of the population. However, exercise recommendations and prescription for COVID-19 patients should be structured to match individual levels of capability and adaptability.

Label-Free Quantitative Proteomic Study of The Effect of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) On Rat Ovarian GCs

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a main androgen in the human body. Previous reports have shown that DHT can affect the proliferation, apoptosis and estrogen and progesterone secretion of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs). An imbalance in DHT secretion leads to GC dysfunction and follicular development disorder.Therefore, exploring the influence of DHT on GCs is necessary. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of DHT on GCs through label-free quantitative proteomics (LFQP). After primary cultured rat GCs were treated with DHT (10-8 mol/L), the effect of DHT on GCs was analyzed by LFQP, and some of the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were verified by western blotting.A total of 6124.0 proteins were identified, of which 4496.0 were quantifiable. Compared with the control group, 28 proteins were upregulated and 10 were downregulated after DHT intervention. The subcellular localization of DEPs indicates that DHT is involved in the proliferation, migration, molding and metabolism of GCs. Gene Ontology (GO) revealed that DHT downregulated the oxygen transport capacity and oxygen-binding protein of GCs. Orthologous Groups of proteins (COG/KOG) showed that DHT had an important effect on the survival, growth and apoptosis of GCs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that DHT promotes metabolism, amino acid degradation, chemical carcinogenesis, platelet activation and vasoconstriction in GCs. The western blot results were consistent with the proteomics results. Mark3 and Mre11a are DEPs that were upregulated, and Fth1 and Nqo1 were downregulated, which indicated that DHT could promote the proliferation of GCs.This study comprehensively analyzes the impact of DHT on GCs through LFQP and provides clues for further research.

Stable Mixed Fe-Mn Oxides Supported on ZrO2 Oxygen Carriers for Practical Utilization in CLC Processes

The objective of the research was to prepare Fe-based materials for use as oxygen carriers (OCs) and investigate their reactivity in terms of their applicability to energy systems. The performance of ZrO2 supported Fe-Mn oxide oxygen carriers with hydrogen/air in an innovative combustion technology known as chemical looping combustion (CLC) was analyzed. The influence of manganese addition (15–30 wt.%) on reactivity and other physical properties of oxygen carriers was discussed. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) were conducted to evaluate their performance. Multi-cycle tests were conducted in TGA with oxygen carriers utilizing gaseous fuel. The effect of redox cycle number and temperature on stability and oxygen transport capacity and redox reaction rate were also evaluated. Physical-chemical analysis such as phase composition was investigated by XRD, while morphology by SEM-EDS and surface area analyses were investigated by the BET method. For screening purposes, the reduction and oxidation were carried out from 800 °C to 1000 °C. Three-cycle TGA tests at the selected temperature range indicated that all novel oxygen carriers exhibited stable chemical looping combustion performance, apart from the reference material, i.e., Fe/Zr oxide. A stable reactivity of bimetallic OCs, together with complete H2 combustion without signs of FeMn/Zr oxide agglomeration, were proved. Oxidation reaction was significantly faster than the reduction reaction for all oxygen carriers. Furthermore, the obtained data indicated that the materials have a low cost of production, with superior reactivity towards hydrogen and air, making them perfect matching carriers for industrial applications for power generation.

Assessment of Knowledge and Practice regarding Blood Transfusion among Staff Nurses

Background: Blood transfusion is the transfusing of a compatible donor’s whole blood or any of its components to the recipient to correct/ treat any related clinical condition. The transfusion of blood products is essential for restoring the body’s oxygen transport capacity, or replenishing lost or depleted blood components in various medical conditions. Objectives: To assess knowledge and practice score regarding blood transfusion among staff nurses and to identify the association of knowledge score and practice score with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A descriptive research design that involved convenience sampling technique to collect data from the 60 staff nurses working at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Kashmir, using a “self-structured knowledge questionnaire and practice checklist”. Results: The study revealed that most of the staff nurses, i.e. 53.3%, had fair knowledge, 41.7% had poor knowledge, and only 5% of staff nurses had good knowledge regarding blood transfusion. The mean ± SD knowledge score of the staff nurses was 23.516 ± 4.59. Most of the staff nurses, i.e. 66.7%, had satisfactory practice, and 33.3% had unsatisfactory practice. The mean ± SD practice score of staff nurses regarding blood transfusion was 49.26 ± 6.40. A statistically significant association was found between nurses’ knowledge and demographic variables viz., age, professional qualification, clinical experience, the approximate number of blood transfusions performed in past 6 months, and in-service training programme attended regarding blood transfusion, and practice with demographic variables, viz., gender and clinical experience at p ≤ 0.05. Conclusion: The study concluded that deficiency of knowledge among nurses regarding blood transfusion threatens patients’ safety, and may also put patients in life-threatening conditions.

Effect of Exercise-Induced Reductions in Blood Volume on Cardiac Output and Oxygen Transport Capacity

We wanted to demonstrate the relationship between blood volume, cardiac size, cardiac output and maximum oxygen uptake (V.O2max) and to quantify blood volume shifts during exercise and their impact on oxygen transport. Twenty-four healthy, non-smoking, heterogeneously trained male participants (27 ± 4.6 years) performed incremental cycle ergometer tests to determine V.O2max and changes in blood volume and cardiac output. Cardiac output was determined by an inert gas rebreathing procedure. Heart dimensions were determined by 3D echocardiography. Blood volume and hemoglobin mass were determined by using the optimized CO-rebreathing method. The V.O2max ranged between 47.5 and 74.1 mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1. Heart volume ranged between 7.7 and 17.9 mL⋅kg–1 and maximum cardiac output ranged between 252 and 434 mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1. The mean blood volume decreased by 8% (567 ± 187 mL, p = 0.001) until maximum exercise, leading to an increase in [Hb] by 1.3 ± 0.4 g⋅dL–1 while peripheral oxygen saturation decreased by 6.1 ± 2.4%. There were close correlations between resting blood volume and heart volume (r = 0.73, p = 0.002), maximum blood volume and maximum cardiac output (r = 0.68, p = 0.001), and maximum cardiac output and V.O2max (r = 0.76, p < 0.001). An increase in maximum blood volume by 1,000 mL was associated with an increase in maximum stroke volume by 25 mL and in maximum cardiac output by 3.5 L⋅min–1. In conclusion, blood volume markedly decreased until maximal exhaustion, potentially affecting the stroke volume response during exercise. Simultaneously, hemoconcentrations maintained the arterial oxygen content and compensated for the potential loss in maximum cardiac output. Therefore, a large blood volume at rest is an important factor for achieving a high cardiac output during exercise and blood volume shifts compensate for the decrease in peripheral oxygen saturation, thereby maintaining a high arteriovenous oxygen difference.

The effect of Niobium oxide as a promoter on -Al2O3 based oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is known as a low-cost strategy for the capture of carbon dioxide for fuel combustion. In CLC process, oxygen carriers (OCs) are the cornerstone and play a vital role in defining reaction process. The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential of niobium (Nb) as a promoter on the -Al2O3 and its behavior as an oxygen carrier for chemical looping combustion process. In this work, the Nb loading was varied between 5 – 15 wt. %. Their behavior in CLC was analyzed by TPR, TPO, SEM and TGA. From the TPR results, the reduction temperature for 5 wt.%, 10 wt.% and 15 wt.% Nb loading were 560 ℃, 529 ℃ and 545 ℃, respectively which indicated that reduction reaction occurs around 500 ℃ and above. SEM analysis showed that increasing of Nb loading resulted in some agglomeration and thus lowering the ability of metal oxide to gain and release oxygen. The redox characteristics were carried out using TGA with 5% CH4/N2 was used as the reducing gas, while air was used as oxidizing gas. The highest oxygen transfer capacity was 3.0% which is presented by 5 wt.% of Nb loading. Since the addition of Nb successfully improved the oxygen transport capacity, it can be concluded that Nb is the potential candidate for oxygen carrier in CLC.

Development of V-Based Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Two different preparation methods, viz. incipient impregnation and mechanical mixing, have been used to prepare V-based oxygen carriers with different V loadings for chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The effect of the preparation method, V loading, and reaction temperature on the performance of these oxygen carriers have been measured and discussed. It was found that the VOx species can be well distributed on the support when the V loading is low (5 wt.% and 10 wt.%), but they may become aggregated at higher loadings. For oxygen carriers with a higher V loading, the oxygen transport capacity of the oxygen carrier, propane conversion and COx selectivities increase, while the propylene selectivity decreases. With a V-loading of 10 wt.%, the maximum propylene yield was achieved. The VOx species were better distributed over the support when applying the impregnation method; however, at higher V loadings the V-based oxygen carriers prepared by mechanical mixing showed a larger oxygen transport capacity. The oxygen carriers prepared by impregnation showed a better performance for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) and re-oxidation reactions compared to oxygen carriers prepared by mechanical mixing. Higher reaction temperatures are favorable for the re-oxidation reaction, but unfavorable for the propylene production.

The effect of intermittent hypoxic exposure on erythropoietic response and hematological variables in elite athletes

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the erythropoietin level and hematological variables in wrestlers after intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE). Twelve wrestlers were assigned into two groups: hypoxia (sports training combined with IHE, n=6) and control (sports training, n=6). An IHE was performed for 10 days, with one day off after 6 days, once a day for about an hour. The concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and erythropoietin (EPO), as well as total creatine kinase activity (CK) were measured. Also, the hematological markers (Hb -hemoglobin, Ht - hematocrit, RBC - red blood cell, WBC - white blood cell, Ret - reticulocytes) were analyzed. The 6-day IHE caused an increase in the levels of H(2)O(2), NO and VEGF. Similarly, the EPO level and WBC count reached the highest value after 6 days of IHE. The total Ret number increase constantly during 10 days of IHE. The hypoxia group showed a higher CK activity compared to the control. In conclusion, 10-day IHE in combination with wrestling training elevates levels of H(2)O(2), NO and VEGF, and improves the oxygen transport capacity by the release of EPO and Ret in circulation.

Thermal biology and swimming performance of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) are two commercially important marine fishes impacted by both overfishing and climate change. Increasing ocean temperatures are affecting the physiology of these species and causing changes in distribution, growth, and maturity. While the physiology of cod has been well investigated, that of haddock has received very little attention. Here, we measured the metabolic response to increasing temperatures, as well as the critical thermal maximum (CTmax), of cod acclimated to 8 and 12 °C and haddock acclimated to 12 °C. We also compared the swimming performance (critical swimming speed, Ucrit) of cod and haddock at 12 °C, as well as the Ucrit of 12 °C-acclimated cod acutely exposed to a higher-than-optimal temperature (16 °C). The CTmax for cod was 21.4 and 23.0 °C for 8- and 12 °C-acclimated fish, respectively, whereas that for the 12 °C-acclimated haddock was 23.9 °C. These values were all significantly different and show that haddock are more tolerant of high temperatures. The aerobic maximum metabolic rate (MMR) of swimming cod remained high at 16 °C, suggesting that maximum oxygen transport capacity was not limited at a temperature above optimal in this species. However, signs of impaired swimming (struggling) were becoming evident at 16 °C. Haddock were found to reach a higher Ucrit than cod at 12 °C (3.02 vs. 2.62 body lengths s−1, respectively), and at a lower MMR. Taken together, these results suggest that haddock perform better than cod in warmer conditions, and that haddock are the superior swimmer amongst the two species.