Physiology Commons^™

Compensatory Review Addressing Acute Ischemic Strokes And Bell's Palsy, Patrick R. Godfrey

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

In this study, I review the clinical diagnostic procedure for facial weakness; evaluate the physiological perspective of acute ischemic strokes and Bell's palsy; and assess possible consequences of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) treatment, and the ramification tPA has on Bell's palsy.

Exercise Ameliorates High Fat Diet Induced Cardiac Dysfunction By Increasing Interleukin 10., Varun Kesherwani, Vishalakshi Chavali, Bryan T. Hackfort, Suresh C. Tyagi, Paras K. Mishra

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Increasing evidence suggests that a sedentary lifestyle and a high fat diet (HFD) leads to cardiomyopathy. Moderate exercise ameliorates cardiac dysfunction, however underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Increased inflammation due to induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and attenuation of anti-inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin 10 (IL-10) contributes to cardiac dysfunction in obese and diabetics. We hypothesized that exercise training ameliorates HFD- induced cardiac dysfunction by mitigating obesity and inflammation through upregulation of IL-10 and downregulation of TNF-α. To test this hypothesis, 8 week old, female C57BL/6J mice were fed with HFD and exercised (swimming …

Induction Of Autophagy Markers Is Associated With Attenuation Of Mir-133a In Diabetic Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Mechanical Unloading., Shyam Sundar Nandi, Michael J. Duryee, Hamid R. Shahshahan, Geoffrey M. Thiele, Daniel R. Anderson, Paras K. Mishra

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

Autophagy is ubiquitous in all forms of heart failure and cardioprotective miR-133a is attenuated in human heart failure. Previous reports from heart failure patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation demonstrated that autophagy is upregulated in the LV of the failing human heart. Studies in the murine model show that diabetes downregulates miR-133a. However, the role of miR-133a in the regulation of autophagy in diabetic hearts is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that diabetes exacerbates cardiac autophagy by inhibiting miR-133a in heart failure patients undergoing LVAD implantation. The miRNA assay was performed on the LV of 15 diabetic (D) …

Effect Of Caffeine On Skeletal Muscle Growth, David M. Thomson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this mentoring environment grant was to determine the role of LKB1 on the activation of p53 by exercise, muscle development, and pharmacological means. The primary research objectives and findings are listed below:

Alcohol And Nicotine Co-Dependence, Scott C. Steffensen, Sterling N. Sudweeks

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcoholism and nicotine (NIC) addiction are chronic relapsing disorders that have enormous impact on society. Alcohol and NIC are the most commonly abused drugs, and a large body of evidence indicates that there is a positive correlation between their consumption. Today, smoking NIC-containing tobacco products is recognized as one of the greatest risk factors in the development of alcoholism. A major goal of addiction research is to characterize the critical neural substrates that are most sensitive to these drugs, adapt in association with chronic consumption and drive subsequent drug-seeking behavior. The long-term objective of our research program is to advance …

Exercise In Individuals With Down Syndrome: A Brief Review, Rachel L. Kerstiens, Matt Green

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 192-201, 2015. Research examining acute and long-term responses to exercise of individuals with Downs Syndrome (DS) is sparse. However, if this group experiences benefits associated with improved quantity or quality of life, it would be important to elucidate specific responses and discourage adoption of a sedentary lifestyle in individuals with DS. Specifically, these individuals have multiple blunted physiological responses to exercise both at the onset and termination of an acute exercise bout. Mechanistically, this could be rooted in hormonal responses which are blunted, in comparison to non-DS participants. Specific studies indicate individuals with …

Children In Organized Hockey: How Much Physical Activity Do They Really Get?, Carla Van Den Berg, Angela M. Kolen

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 184-191, 2015. For optimal physical and mental health and child growth, development and maturation, the Canadian physical activity guidelines recommend children participate in minimally 60 minutes of moderate intense physical activity each day. It is often believed that children’s participation in sport provides sufficient physical activity to meet these recommendations. The purpose of this study was to measure the amount and intensity of physical activity obtained by children participating in a regularly scheduled ice hockey practice and game. Actigraph GT3X triaxial accelerometers (motion detectors) were used to determine the intensity and amount of physical …

Health-Related Fitness And Energy Expenditure In Recreational Youth Rock Climbers 8-16 Years Of Age, Shannon R. Siegel, Jacob M. Robinson, Sean A. Johnston, Martin R. Lindley, Karin A. Pfeiffer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 174-183, 2015. Information on the characteristics of youth rock climbers is minimal. The purpose was to 1) Determine the influence of a three-month program of bouldering and vertical rock climbing on the anthropometry and health-related physical fitness of relatively novice youth climbers, and 2) determine whether rock climbing and bouldering in novice youth climbers can provide adequate levels of moderate to vigourous physical activity (US DHHS, 2008). Fifteen participants (11 males and 4 females; mean age = 11.5 ± 2.3 years) from a newly established youth climbing team were assessed twice weekly during their …

Greater Physiological Responses While Playing Xbox Kinect Compared To Nintendo Wii, Derek W. Marks, Lauren Rispen, Gabriel Calara

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 164-173, 2015. Increasing popularity of active video game use as a mode of physical activity prompted this investigation into the physiological differences to playing the Nintendo Wii^TM and XBox Kinect^TM. Differences in motion capture technology between these systems suggests that using one may result in different movement patterns, and therefore physiological responses, than the other. The purpose of this study was to compare the average (10 minute) and peak heart rate (HR, bpm), oxygen consumption (VO₂ mL ^. kg^{-1 .} min^-1), and energy expenditure (EE, kcal …

Bone Turnover Response To Acute Exercise With Varying Impact Levels: A Preliminary Investigation, Amy L. Morgan, Jennifer Weiss, Edward T. Kelley

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 154-163, 2015. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if there are changes in metabolic markers of bone turnover within the 24-hour period following an acute bout of jogging or water exercise. Ten healthy females (22-30 yr.) underwent three trials with different ground impact forces: jogging, water aerobics and control. For the jogging and water aerobics trials, subjects exercised for 30 min at 60-70% of predicted maximal heart rate in addition to a 5 min warm up and cool down. For the control trial, subjects rested for 40 min, i.e., the total …

Implementing A 4 Week Balance Protocol To Impact Quality Of Life In Cancer Patients, Alyssa Bender, Lauren Braun, Kayla Franklin, Megan Kidd, Nicole Rendler

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2): 145-153, 2015. As a result of various cancer treatments, balance, fall risk, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors are often negatively compromised. There has been no prior research conducted examining balance ability and its association with QOL in cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether improved balance will positively influence QOL. Eight female cancer patients (age 55.8 ± 11.8 yrs.) volunteered for an experimental group, and five sex-matched cancer patients (age 64.5 ± 4.6 yrs.) volunteered for a control group. A 4-week balance program, employed twice per week …

A Comparison Of Aquatic- Vs. Land-Based Plyometrics On Various Performance Variables, Mallory S. Kobak, Michael J. Rebold, Renee Desalvo, Ronald Otterstetter

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2) : 134-144, 2015. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of an aquatic- (W) and land-based (L) plyometric program on balance, vertical jump height, and isokinetic quadriceps and hamstring strength. Thirty-four participants were randomized into three groups, W (n = 12), L (n = 11), and control (n = 11). The W and L groups completed an eight-week plyometric program. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of condition (F = 346.95, p < 0.001) and interaction between condition by time (F = 1.88, p = 0.01). Paired samples t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements from …

The Effects Of High Intensity Interval-Based Kettlebells And Battle Rope Training On Grip Strength And Body Composition In College-Aged Adults, Jeffrey Quednow, Tim Sedlak, Joseph Meier, Jeffrey Janot, Saori Braun

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2) : 124-133, 2015. The aim of this current study is to evaluate the changes in body composition and hand grip strength following high intensity interval training (HIIT) utilizing kettlebells and battle ropes. We hypothesize results will show that our HIIT protocol will improve grip strength and body composition. Subjects in the experimental and control group consist of 13 college-aged students (9 females; 4 males). Subjects in both groups complete a pre-test and post-test consisting of height, weight, grip strength via handgrip dynamometers and body composition via skinfold calipers. The experimental group completes a 5-week …

Activity Profile Differences Between Sub-Elite Futsal Teams, Sera Dogramaci, Mark Watsford, Aron Murphy

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2) : 112-123, 2015. Whilst there are a range of studies examining the differences in match demands between levels of competition, there is an absence of the analysis these differences between teams within the same level of competition. The study used notational analysis to identify performance indicators that differentiated between sub-elite futsal teams from Brazil, Spain and Australia during regular season matches. Based on world rankings, Spanish and Brazilian futsal was deemed to be superior to Australian futsal. The Australian players spent a significantly greater time engaged in high intensity activity than the Spanish players …

Effects Of A Smart-Phone Application On Psychological, Physiological, And Performance Variables In College-Aged Individuals While Running, Martin J. Moran, John M. Coons

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 8(2) : 104-111, 2015. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of auditory exergaming through the use of a smart-phone app called Zombies, Run! on psychological, physiological, and performance variables in college-aged individuals while running. Participants included both males (n = 10) and females (n = 10). Participants ran three 15 minute trials, after which they completed motivational questionnaires regarding inspiration, enjoyment, confidence, and anxiety levels. The first run got the participants accustomed to the application. The second and third were randomly counterbalanced either using the application again or running with no …

Anatomy Academy, Dr. Gary Seastrand, Dr. Jon Wisco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Specific Aim 1: Measure the impact of Anatomy Academy on 5th and 6th grade students’ knowledge of anatomy, health, and exercise, interest in pursuing postsecondary education in a science-related field, and ability to make the lifestyle choices necessary to reduce their risk for developing chronic diseases related to sedentary lifestyles and poor diet. Specific Aim 2: Measure the impact of Anatomy Academy on the academic and professional development of McKay students pursuing careers in teaching science and health at the elementary level.

Multidisciplinary Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment Improves Sleep Quality In Parkinson's Disease, Giuseppe Frazzitta, Roberto Maestri, Davide Ferrazzoli, Giulio Riboldazzi, Rossana Bera, Cecilia Fontanesi, Roger P. Rossi, Gianni Pezzoli, Maria Felice Ghilardi

Publications and Research

Background Sleep disturbances are among the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), greatly interfering with daily activities and diminishing life quality. Pharmacological treatments have not been satisfactory because of side effects and interactions with anti-parkinsonian drugs. While studies have shown that regular exercise improves sleep quality in normal aging, there is no definitive evidence in PD.

Methods In a retrospective study, we determined whether an intense physical and multidisciplinary exercise program improves sleep quality in a large group of patients with PD.

We analyzed the scores of PD Sleep Scale (PDSS), which was administered twice, 28 days apart, …

Role Of Octn1 In Tobacco-¬‐Induced Copd, Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Funding available through this MEG award has provided an opportunity for me to meet many academic objectives I’ve determined to be important in the early stages of my faculty appointment at BYU. First of all, I have been able to move my on site research program forward and involve many undergraduates in the process. Specific to the current MEG award, involved students and I have been able to accomplish the proposed research. We have been successful in conducting pilot studies that reveal possible roles for OctN1 in mechanisms of lung inflammation induced by and cigarette smoke (CS). Despite improvement in …

Enhanced Nmda Receptor-Mediated Modulation Of Excitatory Neurotransmission In The Dorsal Vagal Complex Of Streptozotocin-Treated, Chronically Hyperglycemic Mice, Eva C. Bach, Katalin Cs. Halmos, Bret N. Smith

Physiology Faculty Publications

A variety of metabolic disorders, including complications experienced by diabetic patients, have been linked to altered neural activity in the dorsal vagal complex. This study tested the hypothesis that augmentation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated responses in the vagal complex contributes to increased glutamate release in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) in mice with streptozotocin-induced chronic hyperglycemia (i.e., hyperglycemic mice), a model of type 1 diabetes. Antagonism of NMDA receptors with AP-5 (100 μM) suppressed sEPSC frequency in vagal motor neurons recorded in vitro, confirming that constitutively active NMDA receptors regulate glutamate release in the DMV. There …

The Role Of Wnt Signaling In Normal Muscle Development And Disease, Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My laboratory studies the role of Wnt signaling in regulating important events during embryogenesis. In order to better understand the function of this pathway, we study mouse mutants that lack the Porcupine (Porcn) gene which encodes a protein that is required for the secretion of all Wnt molecules. Prior to obtaining the MEG grant entitled: The role of Wnt signaling in normal muscle development and disease, we had demonstrated that mice lacking Porcn activity in the ventral limb ectoderm exhibit a thinning of the ventral limb ectoderm, loss of epidermal appendages and loss of muscle and tendons in the underlying …