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Biomedical subjects

D Stocker

Publications and source records attributed to D Stocker.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Cardiovascular responses to light isometric and aerobic exercise in 21- and 59-year-old males.

The effects of aging on the cardiovascular response to continuous light isometric and aerobic exercise remains to be determined. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the cardiovascular response of young and older males during light handgrip and cycle ergometry exercise. Blood pressure, heart rate, rate pressure product, as well as pre-ejection period (derived from impedance cardiography) were obtained for 15 young [mean (SE) age: 21 (0.7) years] and 15 older males [59 (0.8) years] during and after light handgrip exercise and cycle ergometry. The parasympathetic influence on the heart was also assessed through a time-series analysis of heart period variability (HPVts). Both during and when recovering from the handgrip exercise and cycle ergometry, the older subjects exhibited a significantly higher absolute systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and rate pressure product, and a lower HRVts than the young subjects. Relative to baseline, the change in pre-ejection period was lower for the young subjects during the handgrip and cycle ergometry, tasks. These results indicate that although the sympathetic influence on both the myocardium and the vasculature was less pronounced in the older males, the aging cardiovasculature was under greater hemodynamic stress both during rest and during exposure to light isometric and aerobic challenge.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular response of young and older males to mental challenge.

Blood pressure, heart rate, rate pressure product, heart rate variability, stroke volume, cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and cardiac contractility derived from impedance cardiography were obtained from 15 young and 15 old males during and after the Stroop task. The old group demonstrated significantly higher absolute heart rate, systolic and mean arterial pressure, peripheral resistance, and rate pressure product, and lower cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate variability both during and recovering from Stroop. The young group showed significantly greater relative heart rate increase at the start of Stroop, higher relative levels of contractility during and recovering, and greater relative levels of peripheral resistance during and recovering from Stroop. Overall, old compared to young subjects possessed greater absolute but smaller relative cardiovascular responses during and recovering from Stroop. These results suggest that although the aging cardiovasculature may be less reactive, it may be under greater hemodynamic stress both during rest and mental challenge.

Adult↗

Urinary symptoms, sexual intercourse and significant bacteriuria in male patients attending STD clinics.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between sexual behaviour, urinary symptoms, urinalysis and bacteriuria in men attending STD clinics. DESIGN: A prospective study recording sexual behaviour, urinary symptoms and collecting mid-stream urine specimens. SETTING: Two West Midlands STD clinics, UK. SUBJECTS: 1086 new male patients. RESULTS: 704 patients had had sexual intercourse (SI) within 14 days of testing, 424 had urinary symptoms and 122 had pyuria. All 13 patients with positive culture had SI < 14 days before testing, urinary symptoms and pyuria. No association was found between sexual orientation, type of SI, number of sexual partners, condom usage and bacteriuria. CONCLUSION: Bacteriuria does not behave as an STD but SI may be a factor in acquiring bacteriuria. Dysuria with or without urethral discharge is the most predictive symptom of bacteriuria. Pyuria has a high sensitivity for predicting bacteriuria among males.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of shoulder injury in collegiate- and master's-level swimmers.

The need to investigate shoulder injury in swimmers other than the young and elite is evident, as all ages and levels are represented in the 100 million Americans who classify themselves as swimmers. To investigate the differences between young, highly competitive collegiate swimmers and older, less elite swimmers, a survey questionnaire was distributed to 100 collegiate and 100 master's swim teams. Questions regarding swimming routines, performance standards, and several possible predisposing factors associated with "swimmer's shoulder," as implicated in the literature, were investigated. As expected, the results revealed that the collegiate group swam the higher yardage, with considerably faster times in both the 50- and the 1,000-yd freestyle, and more than double the number of workouts per week. However, the collegiate and master's group reported similar percentages, 47 and 48%, respectively, experiencing shoulder pain lasting 3 weeks or more, despite the lesser distances and intensities associated with the latter group. Chi-square analysis revealed no association between shoulder pain and perceived level of flexibility, hand paddle usage, or breathing side for either group. However, over 50% of the swimmers with shoulder pain in both groups perceived that increased intensities and/or distance provoked shoulder pain, indicating that fatigue may be the issue to avoid and on which to focus. Strengthening the muscles of the shoulder, specifically those shown to have a propensity to fatigue, provides a strong defense against injury, as fatigue of the shoulder muscles may be the initial antecedent to swimmer's shoulder. These results give the swimmer, coach, and medical practitioner feedback to consider for a swimmer of any age or level.

Adult↗

Control of herpes simplex virus infections of the genital tract by vaccination.

The apparent increasing incidence of herpes simplex virus infections of the genital tract has focused attention on the efficacy of vaccination in preventing infection or modifying established disease. Results of an 'open trial' using a DNA-free inactivated virus subunit vaccine have shown that vaccination of subjects at risk of contracting infection from their sexual partner reduced the transmission rate from 34% in unvaccinated controls to 0.5%. In a separate study, vaccination of patients who had experienced their first overt attack of herpes genitalis (the initial clinical episode) had significantly fewer recurrences over the follow-up period of 12 months than the unvaccinated control group. The results, we feel, justify a placebo controlled trial.

Adolescent↗

The relative infrequency and low levels of neutralising and immunoprecipitating antibody to herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 in patients with a history of recurrent herpes genitalis.

Twenty-seven per cent of 70 patients with a history of recurrent herpes genitalis but no concomitant history of recurrent oral or peri-genital disease, had no detectable neutralising antibody against type 1 or type 2 herpes simplex virus; the prevalence and levels of neutralising antibody were similar to 53 patients with no history of herpetic disease and significantly lower than 67 patients with a history of recurrent herpes genitalis in association with oral or peri-genital disease all of whom had neutralising antibody against both virus types. There were similar differences between groups for immunoprecipitating antibody where 80% of patients were herpes genitalis alone had no detectable immunoprecipitating antibody. The results indicate that the failure to detect immunising and immunoprecipitating antibody in an individual's serum is compatible with a long and even severe history of recurrent herpes genitalis and consequently that the development of neutralising antibody does not necessarily indicate an episode of primary herpetic disease.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Efficacy of vaccine Ac NFU1 (S-) MRC 5 given after an initial clinical episode in the prevention of herpes genitalis.

A subunit antigenoid vaccine, Ac NFU1 (S-) MRC 5, was used in patients who had had a clinical episode of herpes genitalis. The rate of recurrence was compared with that in unvaccinated patients to determine the efficacy of vaccination in preventing recurrence and spread of the virus in the community. Seven of 22 (31%) vaccinated patients had eight recurrences after the initial clinical episode; in contrast there were 51 recurrences in 17 of 20 (85%) unvaccinated patients. Although further studies are needed, the results indicate that the vaccine may prevent recurrent episodes of herpes genitalis and thereby reduce the dissemination of this virus in the population.

Adolescent↗