Effects of endurance cycling training on neuromuscular fatigue in healthy active men. Part II: Corticospinal excitability and voluntary activation.

This study investigated the effects of 9-week endurance cycling training on central fatigability and corticomotor excitability of the locomotor muscles. Fourteen healthy participants undertook three incremental fatiguing cycling tests to volitional exhaustion (EXH): (i) before training (PRE), (ii) after training at the same absolute power output as PRE (POSTABS) and (iii) after training at the same percentage of V̇O2max as PRE (POSTREL). At baseline (i.e. before cycling), every 5 min during cycling and immediately at EXH, a neuromuscular evaluation including a series of 5-s knee extensions at 100, 75 and 50% of maximal voluntary knee extension (MVC) was performed. During each contraction, transcranial magnetic and peripheral nerve stimuli were elicited to obtain motor evoked potential (MEP), silent period (SP) and compound muscle action potential (Mmax) and to calculate voluntary activation (VA). The MEP·Mmax-1 ratio recorded from vastus lateralis at 100 and 50% MVC did not show any difference between conditions. At 75% MVC, MEP exhibited significantly lower values in POSTABS and POSTREL compared to PRE at baseline (P = 0.022 and P = 0.011, respectively) as well as at 25% of time to EXH of PRE (P = 0.022) for POSTREL. No adaptations, either at baseline or during cycling, were observed for VA and SPs. In conclusion, endurance training may result in some adaptations in the corticomotor responses when measured at rest or with low level of fatigue, yet these adaptations do not translate into attenuation of central fatigue at a similar cycling workload or at exhaustion.

Effects of endurance training on neuromuscular fatigue in healthy active men. Part I: Strength loss and muscle fatigue.

PURPOSE: The adaptations induced by endurance training on the neuromuscular function remain under investigation and, for methodological reasons, unclear. This study investigates the effects of cycling training on neuromuscular fatigue and its peripheral contribution measured during and immediately after cycling exercise. METHODS: Fourteen healthy men performed a fatigue test before a 9-week cycling program (PRE) and two tests after training: at the same absolute power output as PRE (POSTABS) and based on the post-training maximal aerobic power (POSTREL). Throughout the tests and at exhaustion (EXH), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and peripheral fatigue were assessed in the quadriceps muscle by electrical nerve stimulation [single twitch (Pt); high-frequency doublet (Db100) and low-to-high-frequency ratio (Db10:100)]. RESULTS: Time to EXH was longer in POSTABS than PRE (34 ± 5 vs. 27 ± 4 min, P < 0.001), and POSTREL tended to be longer than PRE (30 ± 6 min, P = 0.053). MVC and peripheral fatigue were overall less depressed in POSTABS than PRE at isotime. At EXH, MVC and Db10:100 were similarly reduced in all sessions (-37 to - 42% and - 30 to - 37%, respectively). Db100 tended to be less depressed in POSTABS than PRE (-40 ± 9 vs. - 48 ± 16%, P = 0.050) and in POSTREL than PRE (-39 ± 9%, P = 0.071). Pt decreased similarly in POSTABS and PRE (-52 ± 16 vs. - 54 ± 16%), but POSTREL tended to be less depressed than PRE (-48 ± 14%, P = 0.075). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms fatigue attenuation at isotime after training. Yet lower or similar fatigue at EXH indicates that, unlike previously suggested, fatigue tolerance may not be upregulated after 9 weeks of cycling training.

[Collagen colitis: separate illness or syndrome?]. / Collageencolitis: aparte ziekte of syndroom?

Six patients with collagenous colitis are described and the literature is reviewed. Collagenous colitis is not a rare disease. Its most prominent feature is profuse watery diarrhoea. Although the endoscopic picture of the mucosa is usually normal, there is a microscopic thickening of the (subepithelial) basement membrane. For diagnostic purposes, multiple colon biopsies are warranted in patients with chronic or relapsing diarrhoea. There is no established therapy for this disease.

[Treatment and surgery of abdominal septic states: comparison of two antibiotic therapies]. / Traitement et chirurgie de l'état septique abdominal: étude comparative de deux antibiothérapies.

A prospective, randomized controlled study was carried out in 104 patients to compare clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin ('Augmentin') with a combination of cephalosporins (cefazoline and cefadroxil) supplemented with metronidazole in the treatment of abdominal septic states, suspected or proven after surgical intervention. Patients on 'Augmentin' received 1.2 g (1 g amoxycillin plus 200 mg clavulanic acid) intravenously 3-times daily for a mean of 6.6 days, then 375 mg (250 amoxycillin plus 125 mg clavulanic acid) orally for a further 6.4 days. Patients on the standard therapy received 1 g cefazoline intravenously 4-times daily plus 500 mg metronidazole intravenously 3-times daily for 7 days, then 500 mg cefadroxil orally 4-times daily for a mean of 6.6 days. Evaluation of the patients' condition was undertaken after 24 hours, 3 days and 7 days. The results showed a significantly better response to treatment in the 'Augmentin' group, as judged by the amelioration of clinical symptoms, bacteriological findings, and tolerance. All the patients treated with 'Augmentin' showed an excellent or satisfactory overall response at Day 7 compared with 76% of those receiving the standard therapy.

[Clinical evaluation of the effects of flucloxacillin in skin and soft tissue infections in the Ivory Coast]. / Evaluation clinique de l'effect de la flucloxacilline dans les infections de la peau et des tissus mous en Côte d'Ivoire.

A total of 37 patients with skin and soft tissue infections was evaluated after oral treatment with the narrow-spectrum antibiotic flucloxacillin (62.5 mg to 1 g twice daily). Only 3 patients failed to respond to therapy, with the remainder being cured or demonstrating a satisfactory response after 1 or 2-weeks' treatment. Five patients suffered from side-effects, which were minor and did not necessitate the withdrawal of treatment.