The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of increased resistance training frequency on strength and hypertrophy in trained individuals. Six Studies were deemed eligible based on the inclusion exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria for this review were healthy trained individuals. “Trained” refers to over one year of resistance training experience. Exclusion Criteria were study’s that examined either untrained or obese individuals as participants. The evidence indicates a dose-response trend in frequency. Resistance training each muscle group twice a week may be superior compared to once per week. Further more, resistance training each muscle group three times a week may enhance hypertrophy and strength adaptations even more compared to either once or twice a week. Recovery of the muscle may be reached in approximately 72 hours or 3 days. Mechanisms that may correlate to this phenomenon could be related to the more frequent elevations in muscle protein synthesis and physiological anabolic hormones. These results may help develop more specific guidelines in programming for intermediate to advanced athletes as well as lead way to more research on acute training variable manipulation.

No description available.

Medical researchers utilize data sharing agreements (DSA) to communicate privacy policies that govern the treatment of data in their collaboration. Expression of privacy policies in DSAs have been achieved through the use of natural and policy languages. However, ambiguity in natural language and rigidness in policy languages make them unsuitable for use in collaborative medical research. Our goal is to develop an unambiguous and flexible form of expression of privacy policies for collaborative medical research. In this thesis, we developed a DSA Privacy Ontology to express privacy policies in medical research. Our ontology was designed with hierarchy structure, lightweight in expressivity, closed world assumption in interpretation, and the reuse of other ontologies. The design allows our ontology to be flexible and extensible. Being flexible allows our ontology to express different types of privacy policies. Being extensible allows our ontology to be mapped to other linkable ontologies without the need to change our existing ontology. We demonstrate that our ontology is capable of supporting the DSA in a collaborative research data sharing scenario through providing the appropriate vocabulary and structure to log privacy events in a linked data based audit log. Furthermore, through querying the audit log, we can answer privacy competency questions relevant to medical researchers. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Olfactory loss is associated with symptoms of depression. The present study, conducted on a large cohort of mostly dysosmic patients, aimed to investigate whether improvement in olfactory performance would correspond with a decrease in depression severity. In 171 participants (157 dysosmic), we assessed olfactory function and severity of depression before and after an average interval of 11 months, with many patients showing improvement in olfactory function. Separate analyses were conducted for (a) the whole group of patients and (b) the group of dysosmic patients using both classic and Bayesian approaches. For odor identification, Student t test demonstrated that the whole sample improved consistently, especially within the group of dysosmic patients. The dysosmic group also improved in odor threshold and overall olfactory function. Pearson correlation showed that an increase in olfactory function was associated with a decrease in depression severity, particularly in dysosmic patients. To conclude, the present results indicate that symptoms of depression change with olfactory function in general and odor identification in particular.

Abstract in English and Afrikaans / The clinical research enterprise is an industry in crisis due to the challenges investigators and sites experience to stay viable. Clinical researchers might therefore also become an “endangered species”. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of early career research investigators’ experience of clinical research. A generic, exploratory, descriptive and contextual qualitative design was used. Fourteen participants were recruited and interviewed face-to-face from three different clinical research sites in the Gauteng. Data were analysed thematically and cyclically. Findings indicated that early career investigators entered the clinical research “maze” for various reasons and levels of preparedness. As they explored the maze, early career investigators found their way into a labyrinth, all the while making discoveries about the clinical environment and their own desires. They finally reached a point where they needed to move beyond the centre of the labyrinth and ask ‘Quo Vadis’ (where are we going to)? / Die kliniese navorsingsbedryf is ‘n industrie in krises weens die uitdagings wat ondersoekers en navorsingsinstansies beleef om lewensvatbaar te bly. Kliniese navorsers mag daarom ook ‘n ‘bedreigde spesie’ word. Die doel van die studie was om die belewenis van vroeë beroepsnavorsingsondersoekers in kliniese navorsing te verstaan. ‘n Generiese, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele kwalitatiewe ontwerp is gebruik. Veertien deelnemers van drie verskillende kliniese navorsingsinstansies in Gauteng het deelgeneem aan een-tot-een onderhoude. Data is tematies en siklies geanaliseer. Bevindinge het aangedui dat vroeë beroepsnavorsingsondersoekers die kliniese navorsingsdoolhof betree vir verskillende redes en vlakke van gereedheid. Soos wat hulle die doolhof verken het, het vroeë beroepsnavorsingsondersoekers hulle weg in die labirint gevind, terwyl hulle die kliniese omgewing en hul eie wense ontdek het. Hulle het uiteindelik ‘n punt bereik waar hulle verby die middel van die labirint moes beweeg en hulself afvra: “Quo Vadis” (waarheen gaan ons)? / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Cette thèse propose de documenter les dynamiques sociales dans un espace géographique en milieu rural sénégalais — l’aire de Toudinga — où des recherches principalement démographiques et médicales sont menées depuis 1964 dans le cadre des activités de l’IRD (Institut de recherche pour le développement), anciennement Orstom (Office de la recherche scientifique dans les territoires d’outre-Mer). Cette étude se situe au croisement de l’anthropologie de la santé, de l’ethnologie africaniste et de la sociologie des sciences et des organisations. Cette intersection permet d’aborder de multiples aspects socio-culturels relatifs au fonctionnement et aux enjeux de la recherche médicale en Afrique sub-saharienne. Ce travail traite en premier lieu du fonctionnement social de l’aire de Toudinga et présente une analyse des représentations de la recherche scientifique et des interactions entre les professionnels de la recherche et les habitants de la région. Il met également en évidence l’influence des facteurs historiques, identitaires et institutionnels sur la construction locale de l’éthique. Cette étude aborde également des thèmes plus généraux relatifs à l’anthropologie de la recherche médicale tels que l’influence du contexte social sur le recueil du consentement (rapports sociaux de sexe, de classe d’âge, don / contre-don), l’impact de la recherche médicale sur l’offre de soins locale ou encore l’analyse des facteurs sociaux expliquant la crédibilisation des rumeurs de vol de sang / This thesis documents the social dynamics that occur in a rural context in Senegal — the area of Toudinga— where essentially demographic and medical research have been held since 1964 by the IRD (Institut de recherche pour le développement) formerly Orstom (Office de la recherche scientifique dans les territoires d’outre-Mer). At the crossroads of medical anthropology and African ethnology and sociology of science and organizations, the theoretical position adopted in this thesis allows for the examination of numerous social aspects related to medical research in sub-Saharan Africa. This PhD deals with the social organisation of the area of Toudinga. It describes the representations of medical research and the interactions between the research professionnals and the inhabitants of the region and highlights the influence of historic, identity and instititional factors on the local construction of ethics. Futhermore, this work examines wider thematics related the anthropology of medical research such as the influence of the social context on the consentent collection (gender, age group, gift and conter-gift), the impact of medical research on local medical care and the analysis of blood stealing rumors

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: comparar a força muscular (FM) e as habilidades motoras de pacientes com Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) em corticoterapia com a evolução natural da doença (Scott, 1982) e identificar a idade ideal de início da corticoterapia. Noventa pacientes com DMD em seguimento ambulatorial no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, submetidos à corticoterapia (deflazacort ou prednisolona) por um período variável de um a sete anos, foram avaliados quanto à FM através da escala MRC e quanto às habilidades motoras através da escala Hammersmith motor ability score. Foram incluídos no estudo todos os pacientes com idade entre cinco e 12 anos, que compreendiam comandos verbais e que não haviam sido submetidos a cirurgias ortopédicas corretivas ou interrompido em algum momento a corticoterapia. A relação entre FM e habilidades motoras, a comparação dos dados com aqueles do estudo de Scott et al. e a análise da influência do tempo de tratamento, da idade de início e da idade na avaliação, sobre os valores obtidos nos testes foram submetidas a tratamento estatístico. Concluiu-se que: a progressão da perda da FM e das habilidades motoras em relação à idade foi mais lenta do que a da evolução natural em todas as faixas etárias avaliadas; quanto maior a idade maior a diferença entre os dois estudos; a perda da FM foi mais intensa do que a perda da funcionalidade; a metodologia utilizada não permitiu estabelecer com clareza a influência da idade de início do tratamento sobre os parâmetros avaliados, porém demonstrou a influência positiva do tempo de tratamento sobre a FM e habilidades motoras. / The aims of this study were: to compare muscle strength (MS) and motor abilities of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients in use of steroids, with the natural evolution of the disease (Scott, 1982) and to identify the ideal age for starting on steroid therapy. Ninety patients with DMD followed as outpatients at the Clinics Hospital of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine and submitted to steroid therapy (deflazacort or prednisolone) for a period of one to seven years were assessed for MS using the MRC scale, and for motor abilities with the motor ability score from the Hammersmith scale. All patients aged between five and 12 years who understood verbal commands and who had not been submitted to corrective orthopedic surgery and had no interruption in steroid therapy, were included in the study. Statistical analysis was carried out to assess the relationship between MS and motor abilities and to compare our data against results of Scott\'s study. The influence of length of treatment, age at disease onset and first assessment, on values obtained in the tests was investigated. We concluded that: the progression in loss of MS and of motor abilities with age was slower than the natural evolution across all age groups studied; the higher the age the greater the difference between the two studies; loss of MS was more intense than loss of functionality; the methodology used was unable to clearly ascertain the influence of age at treatment on the parameters assessed, but a positive influence of length of treatment on both MS and motor abilities was identified.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: comparar a força muscular (FM) e as habilidades motoras de pacientes com Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) em corticoterapia com a evolução natural da doença (Scott, 1982) e identificar a idade ideal de início da corticoterapia. Noventa pacientes com DMD em seguimento ambulatorial no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, submetidos à corticoterapia (deflazacort ou prednisolona) por um período variável de um a sete anos, foram avaliados quanto à FM através da escala MRC e quanto às habilidades motoras através da escala Hammersmith motor ability score. Foram incluídos no estudo todos os pacientes com idade entre cinco e 12 anos, que compreendiam comandos verbais e que não haviam sido submetidos a cirurgias ortopédicas corretivas ou interrompido em algum momento a corticoterapia. A relação entre FM e habilidades motoras, a comparação dos dados com aqueles do estudo de Scott et al. e a análise da influência do tempo de tratamento, da idade de início e da idade na avaliação, sobre os valores obtidos nos testes foram submetidas a tratamento estatístico. Concluiu-se que: a progressão da perda da FM e das habilidades motoras em relação à idade foi mais lenta do que a da evolução natural em todas as faixas etárias avaliadas; quanto maior a idade maior a diferença entre os dois estudos; a perda da FM foi mais intensa do que a perda da funcionalidade; a metodologia utilizada não permitiu estabelecer com clareza a influência da idade de início do tratamento sobre os parâmetros avaliados, porém demonstrou a influência positiva do tempo de tratamento sobre a FM e habilidades motoras. / The aims of this study were: to compare muscle strength (MS) and motor abilities of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) patients in use of steroids, with the natural evolution of the disease (Scott, 1982) and to identify the ideal age for starting on steroid therapy. Ninety patients with DMD followed as outpatients at the Clinics Hospital of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine and submitted to steroid therapy (deflazacort or prednisolone) for a period of one to seven years were assessed for MS using the MRC scale, and for motor abilities with the motor ability score from the Hammersmith scale. All patients aged between five and 12 years who understood verbal commands and who had not been submitted to corrective orthopedic surgery and had no interruption in steroid therapy, were included in the study. Statistical analysis was carried out to assess the relationship between MS and motor abilities and to compare our data against results of Scott\'s study. The influence of length of treatment, age at disease onset and first assessment, on values obtained in the tests was investigated. We concluded that: the progression in loss of MS and of motor abilities with age was slower than the natural evolution across all age groups studied; the higher the age the greater the difference between the two studies; loss of MS was more intense than loss of functionality; the methodology used was unable to clearly ascertain the influence of age at treatment on the parameters assessed, but a positive influence of length of treatment on both MS and motor abilities was identified.

Elie-Paul Cohen est un médecin et un compositeur encore inconnu du grand public. Ses œuvres électroacoustiques sont construites autour d’un matériau sonore physiologique, issu de la captation des vibrations du corps humain. L’étude de ces pièces pose la question de la relation entre le corps et la musique, notion déjà abordée par les humanistes de la Renaissance. Il fait également partie d’un groupe de recherche médicale qui vient de mettre au point des modèles sonores de molécules d’ADN qu’il utilisera dans sa prochaine production musicale. Ces sons de provenance physiologique ont un impact énorme sur la perception que nous avons des sons mais également de la musique ; ceci nous a amené à nous interroger sur la notion même de musique, sur la perception que nous en avons. Une éventuelle universalité de la musique pourrait-elle reposer, depuis toujours, sur la modélisation sonores des vibrations corporelles ? Pour ce faire nos travaux ont abouti à une transversalité de disciplines telles que musique, musicologie, phénoménologie, neurosciences, physiques, recherche médicale de pointe ou biologie. / Elie-Paul Cohen is a doctor and a composer who is relatively unknown by the general public. His electroacoustic works are built around a physiological sound material, resulting from the capturing of human body vibrations. The study of these works raises the question of the relationship between the body and music, a concept which was already being addressed by the Renaissance humanists. He is also part of a medical research group which has developed sound patterns of DNA molecules that he will use in his next musical production. These physiological sounds have a huge impact on our perception of sounds but also of music; this led us to question the very notion of music and the perception we have of it. Could a universal music based on the sound modeling body vibrations exist? This led our work to result in a cross-disciplinary approach including the fields of music, musicology, phenomenology, neuroscience, physics, medical research or advanced biology.

This thesis proposes an algorithm that determine the geometry of 3D-printed, custom-designed spring element bands made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for use in a wearable orthotic device to aid in the physical therapy of a human hand exhibiting spasticity after stroke. Each finger of the hand is modeled as a mechanical system consisting of a triple-rod pendulum with nonlinear stiffness at each joint and forces applied at the attachment point of each flexor muscle. The system is assumed quasi-static, which leads to a torque balance between the flexor tendons in the hand, joint stiffness and the design force applied to the fingertip by the 3D-printed spring element. To better understand material properties of the spring element’s material, several tests are performed on TPE specimens printed with different infill geometries, including tensile tests and cyclic loading tests. The data and stress-strain curves for each geometry type are presented, which yield a nonlinear relationship between stress and strain as well as apparent hysteresis. Polynomial curves are used to fit the data, which allows for the band geometry to be designed. A hypothetical hand is presented along with how input measurements might be taken for the algorithm. The inputs are entered into the algorithm, and the geometry of the bands for each finger are generated. Results are discussed, and future work is noted, providing a means for the design of a customized orthotic device.