Correction: Energy expenditure in caving.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170853.].

Energy expenditure in caving.

The aim of this study was to determine the energy expenditure of a group of cavers of both genders and different ages and experience during a 10 hour subterranean exploration, using portable metabolimeters. The impact of caving activity on body composition and hydration were also assessed through bioelectrical impedance, and nutritional habits of cavers surveyed. During cave activity, measured total energy expenditure (TEE) was in the range 225-287 kcal/h for women-men (MET = 4.1), respectively; subjects had an energy intake from food in the range 1000-1200 kcal, thus inadequate to restore lost calories. Bayesian statistical analysis estimated the effect of predictive variables on TEE, revealing that experienced subjects had a 5% lower TEE than the less skilled ones and that women required a comparatively larger energy expenditure than men to perform the same task. BIVA (bioelectrical impedance vector analysis) showed that subjects were within the range of normal hydration before and after cave activity, but bioelectrical changes indicated a reduction of extracellular water in men, which might result in hypo-osmolal dehydration in the case of prolonged underground exercise. All these facts should be considered when planning cave explorations, preparing training programs for subjects practising caving, and optimizing a diet for cavers. Further, information gathered through this study could be of value to reduce accidents in caves related to increase in fatigue.

Physical Capacity and Energy Expenditure of Cavers.

Caves are an extreme environment for humans because of the high humidity, mud, darkness, and slippery conditions. Explorations can last many hours or even days, and require extensive climbing and ropework. Very little is known about the physical capacity of cavers and their energy expenditure (EE) during caving. The physical capacity of 17 (7 females) expert cavers (age 43.9 ± 7.3 years) was assessed during an incremental cycle-ergometer test (IET) with gas exchange analysis. Moreover, a wearable metabolic band (Armband Fit Core) was used to estimate their EE during caving. In terms of physical capacity, the IET showed that cavers had a maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) of 2,248.7 ± 657.8 ml·min-1 (i.e., 32.4 ± 6.4 ml·kg-1·min-1), while anaerobic threshold (AT) occurred on average at 74.5% of VO2max. Results from caving sessions provided an average time spent in cave of 9.4 ± 1.2 h while the average EE was 268.8 ± 54.8 kcal·h-1, which corresponded to about 40% of VO2max measured during IET. A mean distance of 10.6 ± 2.2 km was covered by subjects. Data from the present investigation provide evidence that cavers have a level of aerobic physical capacity only slightly higher than that of sedentary people, thereby suggesting that a high aerobic fitness is not needed by cavers. Moreover, during caving the EE was on average well below the level of AT. However, in absolute terms, the total EE was elevated (i.e., 2,672.3 ± 576 kcal in total) due to the long time spent in caving.

Oxidative imbalance in HIV-1 infected patients treated with antiretroviral therapy.

It is generally accepted that oxidative stress is involved in HIV infection. However, the role in oxidative balance of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is still debated. In our study we assessed serum oxidant and antioxidant levels in an HIV-1-infected population treated with HAART, and compared them with those of untreated HIV-1 patients and HIV-1-negative subjects. The study included 116 HIV-1-infected patients (86 HAART-treated and 30 untreated), and 46 HIV-negative controls. Serum oxidant levels were significantly higher in the HIV-1 treated group as compared to untreated and control groups. In addition, a decrease of serum total antioxidant status was observed in the HIV-1 treated group. To be noted is that patients who rigorously follow antiretroviral therapy (optimal HAART adherence) have significantly higher oxidative status than those who do not closely follow the therapy (poor HAART adherence). Analysis of variance revealed no significant further increase in oxidative status in HIV-1-infected patients taking antiretroviral and other drugs with the exception of psychiatric drugs (e.g. anxiolytics or antidepressants). Taken together, our results indicate that HAART may affect oxidative stress in HIV-1-infected patients and suggest that antiretroviral therapy plays an important role in the synergy of HIV infection and oxidative stress.

Degradation of juglone by Pleurotus sajor-caju.

The toxic naphthoquinone juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone) is efficiently degraded by the ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus sajor-caju, as demonstrated by the total bleaching within 9 d of a conventional liquid culture medium supplemented with 0.6 mM juglone. The oxidative degradation involves the production of hydrogen peroxide arising from both enzymic and non-enzymic oxidation reactions, promoted by the fungus. Juglone is not directly attacked by the oxidative enzymes of the ligninolytic machinery of P. sajor-caju, such as laccase, manganese peroxidase and arylalcohol oxidase. On the other hand, this naphthoquinone is a good substrate for a reductase, which triggers an auto-oxidative process producing reactive oxygen species and leading to juglone degradation. The degradation process continues to completion by means of a direct, presumably non-catalysed reaction with hydrogen peroxide.

Selenium is effective in inducing lymphocyte progression through cell cycle in cancer patients: potential mechanisms for its activity.

Epidemiologic evidence in humans suggests a role for selenium in reducing cancer incidence and mortality. The aim of the present study was that to assess the ability of selenium dioxide (SeO2) to enhance the lymphocyte progression through the cell cycle in patients with advanced (stage IV) cancer. Ten patients (mean age 51.9 years, range: 32-74; M/F ratio: 3/7) with tumors at different sites were included in the study. The addition into culture of SeO2 1.5 microM enhanced significantly the progression into S phase of PBMCs isolated from cancer patients, whilst no significant effect was observed on PBMCs isolated from controls. ROS levels were significantly higher, whereas GPx activity was significantly lower in cancer patients than controls. Serum levels of IL-6 and TNFalpha were significantly higher in cancer patients than controls. Our results show the ability of selenium to induce a progression of PBMCs from cancer patients into the cell cycle, which is an essential prerequisite for the physiological functioning of the immune system and thus positively influence the immune status of advanced cancer patients. The mechanism of action of selenium could be to downregulate the production and release of proinflammatory cytokines, which have a role in cancer progression and particularly in the onset of cachexia.

3-hydroxykynurenine as a substrate/activator for mushroom tyrosinase.

3-Hydroxykynurenine is a tryptophan metabolite with an o-aminophenol structure. It is both a tyrosinase activator and a substrate, reducing the lag phase, stimulating the monophenolase activity, and being oxidized to xanthommatin. In the early stage of monophenol hydroxylation, catechol accumulation takes place, whereas 3-hydroxykynurenine is substantially unchanged and no significant amounts of the o-quinone are produced. These results suggest an activating action of 3-hydroxykynurenine toward o-hydroxylation of monophenols. 3-Hydroxykynurenine could therefore well act as a physiological device to control phenolics metabolism to catechols and quinonoids.