Enhancing immune responses using suicidal DNA vaccines

We describe a DNA vaccine strategy that allows antigens to be produced in vivo in the context of an alphaviral replicon. Mice immunized with such vectors developed humoral and cellular immune responses at higher levels than mice that received a conventional DNA vaccine vector. Immunized animals acquired protective immunity to lethal influenza challenge. Compared with traditional DNA vaccine strategies in which vectors are persistent and the expression constitutive, the expression mediated by the alphaviral vector was transient and lytic. As a result, biosafety risks such as chromosomal integration, and the induction of immunological tolerance, could be circumvented.     

American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement

It is the position of the American College of Sports Medicine that adequate fluid replacement helps maintain hydration and, therefore, promotes the health, safety, and optimal physical performance of individuals participating in regular physical activity. This position statement is based on a comprehensive review and interpretation of scientific literature concerning the influence of fluid replacement on exercise performance and the risk of thermal injury associated with dehydration and hyperthermia. Based on available evidence, the American College of Sports Medicine makes the following general recommendations on the amount and composition of fluid that should be ingested in preparation for, during, and after exercise or athletic competition: 1) It is recommended that individuals consume a nutritionally balanced diet and drink adequate fluids during the 24-hr period before an event, especially during the period that includes the meal prior to exercise, to promote proper hydration before exercise or competition. 2) It is recommended that individuals drink about 500 ml (about 17 ounces) of fluid about 2 h before exercise to promote adequate hydration and allow time for excretion of excess ingested water. 3) During exercise, athletes should start drinking early and at regular intervals in an attempt to consume fluids at a rate sufficient to replace all the water lost through sweating (i.e., body weight loss), or consume the maximal amount that can be tolerated. 4) It is recommended that ingested fluids be cooler than ambient temperature [between 15 degrees and 22 degrees C (59 degrees and 72 degrees F])] and flavored to enhance palatability and promote fluid replacement. Fluids should be readily available and served in containers that allow adequate volumes to be ingested with ease and with minimal interruption of exercise. 5) Addition of proper amounts of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes to a fluid replacement solution is recommended for exercise events of duration greater than 1 h since it does not significantly impair water delivery to the body and may enhance performance. During exercise lasting less than 1 h, there is little evidence of physiological or physical performance differences between consuming a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink and plain water. 6) During intense exercise lasting longer than 1 h, it is recommended that carbohydrates be ingested at a rate of 30-60 g.h(-1) to maintain oxidation of carbohydrates and delay fatigue. This rate of carbohydrate intake can be achieved without compromising fluid delivery by drinking 600-1200 ml.h(-1) of solutions containing 4%-8% carbohydrates (g.100 ml(-1)). The carbohydrates can be sugars (glucose or sucrose) or starch (e.g., maltodextrin). 7) Inclusion of sodium (0.5-0.7 g.1(-1) of water) in the rehydration solution ingested during exercise lasting longer than 1 h is recommended since it may be advantageous in enhancing palatability, promoting fluid retention, and possibly preventing hyponatremia in certain individuals who drink excessive quantities of fluid. There is little physiological basis for the presence of sodium in n oral rehydration solution for enhancing intestinal water absorption as long as sodium is sufficiently available from the previous meal.     

Evaluation of clothing systems to determine heat strain

This article describes the basic evaluation process and test methodology employed when temperature extremes for clothing systems must be considered as part of the U.S. Army's Health Hazard Assessment for material in the development and acquisition process. The goals of the evaluation are to select clothing systems that minimize the hazards of heat strain and to predict the heat strain for persons wearing such clothing. Clothing evaluations begin with biophysical assessments that determine the thermal characteristics (vapor permeability and insulation) for textiles via guarded hot plate tests and for clothing systems via thermal manikin tests. The results from biophysical tests can be used to select the textile and/or clothing with the best thermal characteristics. The data from manikin evaluations also can be used in prediction modeling. Human physiological testing is best done in a controlled laboratory environment, although for realism and user acceptability field trials may also be conducted. Proven test and measurement methods must be employed, and tests must control for confounding variables; subjects serve as their own controls, and test environment and procedures are consistent between trials. The process and test methodology described can be applied to the evaluation of civilian clothing systems as well as to the military systems for which they were developed.     

Hypohydration effects on skeletal muscle performance and metabolism: a 31P-MRS study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether hypohydration reduces skeletal muscle endurance and whether increased H+ and Pi might contribute to performance degradation. Ten physically active volunteers (age 21-40 yr) performed supine single-leg, knee-extension exercise to exhaustion in a 1.5-T whole body magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system when euhydrated and when hypohydrated (4% body wt). 31P spectra were collected at a rate of one per second at rest, exercise, and recovery, and were grouped and averaged to represent 10-s intervals. The desired hydration level was achieved by having the subjects perform 2-3 h of exercise in a warm room (40 degrees C dry bulb, 20% relative humidity) with or without fluid replacement 3-8 h before the experiment. Time to fatigue was reduced (P < 0.05) by 15% when the subjects were hypohydrated [213 +/- 12 vs. 251 +/- 15 (SE) s]. Muscle strength was generally not affected by hypohydration. Muscle pH and Pi/beta-ATP ratio were similar during exercise and at exhaustion, regardless of hydration state. The time constants for phosphocreatine recovery were also similar between trials. In summary, moderate hypohydration reduces muscle endurance, and neither H+ nor Pi concentration appears to be related to these reductions.