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International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2022The Himalayan region is a fragile high mountain landscape where the population experiences acute vulnerability within a complex coupled human-natural system due to... (Review)
Review
The Himalayan region is a fragile high mountain landscape where the population experiences acute vulnerability within a complex coupled human-natural system due to environmental, social, and economic linkages. The lack of significant regional and spatial knowledge of multi-faceted vulnerabilities hinders any potential recommendations to address these vulnerabilities. We systematically reviewed the literature to recommend mitigation interventions based on the region's socio-economic and ecological vulnerability research to date. We applied the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) criteria to search for results from four comprehensive databases. For our assessment, we compiled a final sample ( = 59) of vulnerability research papers to examine the vulnerability types, spatial variation, assessment methodology, and significant drivers of change. Our study represented all Himalayan countries, namely, India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and Bhutan. More than half of the vulnerability studies were conducted in the central Himalayan region, a quarter in the western Himalayas, and a few in the eastern Himalayas. Our review revealed that the primary drivers of change were climate change, land use/land cover, and glacial lake formation. The vulnerability assessments in the Himalayan region primarily used social science methods as compared to natural science methods. While the vulnerability studies seldom assessed mitigation interventions, our analysis identified fourteen recommendations. The recommended interventions mainly included policy interventions, livelihood improvement, and adaptation measures. This study emphasized that sustainable development requires cross-sectoral interventions to manage existing resources and mitigate the confronting vulnerabilities of the region.
Topics: Acclimatization; Climate Change; Humans; India; Lakes; Nepal
PubMed: 36231508
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912177 -
Journal of Evolutionary Biology Jan 2023Temperatures are increasing due to global changes, putting biodiversity at risk. Organisms are faced with a limited set of options to cope with this situation: adapt,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Temperatures are increasing due to global changes, putting biodiversity at risk. Organisms are faced with a limited set of options to cope with this situation: adapt, disperse or die. We here focus on the first possibility, more specifically, on evolutionary adaptations to temperature. Ectotherms are usually characterized by a hump-shaped relationship between fitness and temperature, a non-linear reaction norm that is referred to as thermal performance curve (TPC). To understand and predict impacts of global change, we need to know whether and how such TPCs evolve. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature search and a statistical meta-analysis focusing on experimental evolution and artificial selection studies. This focus allows us to directly quantify relative fitness responses to temperature selection by calculating fitness differences between TPCs from ancestral and derived populations after thermal selection. Out of 7561 publications screened, we found 47 studies corresponding to our search criteria representing taxa across the tree of life, from bacteria, to plants and vertebrates. We show that, independently of species identity, the studies we found report a positive response to temperature selection. Considering entire TPC shapes, adaptation to higher temperatures traded off with fitness at lower temperatures, leading to niche shifts. Effects were generally stronger in unicellular organisms. By contrast, we do not find statistical support for the often discussed "Hotter is better" hypothesis. While our meta-analysis provides evidence for adaptive potential of TPCs across organisms, it also highlights that more experimental work is needed, especially for under-represented taxa, such as plants and non-model systems.
Topics: Animals; Climate Change; Temperature; Adaptation, Physiological; Hot Temperature; Acclimatization; Plants
PubMed: 36129955
DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14087 -
A systematic review on reporting of refinement measures in mouse ECG telemetry implantation surgery.Laboratory Animals Feb 2023Telemetric monitoring is used in many scientific fields, such as cardiovascular research, neurology, endocrinology, as well as animal welfare research. Nowadays,... (Review)
Review
Telemetric monitoring is used in many scientific fields, such as cardiovascular research, neurology, endocrinology, as well as animal welfare research. Nowadays, implanted electrocardiogram (ECG) radiotelemetry units are the gold standard for monitoring ECG traces, heart rate and heart rate variability in freely moving mice. Telemetry technology can be a valuable tool when studies utilize it adequately, while prioritizing animal welfare. Recently, concerns have been raised in many research fields, including animal research, regarding the reproducibility of research findings, with insufficient reporting being one of the underlying causes.A systematic review was performed by making use of three literature databases, in order to include all publications until 31.12.2019, where the surgical placing of ECG recording telemetry devices in adult mice was involved. Data extracted from the publications included selected items recommended by the ARRIVE guidelines. We focused on aspects related to the refinement of the surgery and experimental conditions that aim to improve animal welfare. In general, the quality of reporting was low in the analyzed 234 publications. Based on our analyses, we assume there has been no improvement in this field's reporting quality since 2010 when the ARRIVE guidelines on reporting were introduced. Additionally, even though expert recommendations on telemetry surgery refinement have been available since many years now, no increase in uptake (or reporting) of these measures prior (e.g., acclimatization), during (e.g., asepsis) or after (e.g., social housing) the surgery could be observed.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Reproducibility of Results; Electrocardiography; Heart Rate; Animal Experimentation; Telemetry
PubMed: 36117425
DOI: 10.1177/00236772221115492 -
Reviews on Environmental Health Dec 2023To analyze case reports with individual patient data belonging to the Armed Forces submitted to specific physical or military combat training that was affected by... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To analyze case reports with individual patient data belonging to the Armed Forces submitted to specific physical or military combat training that was affected by rhabdomyolysis and identify factors that influenced the diagnosis and clinical evolution of the syndrome.
CONTENT
We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021242465). We searched MedLine (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane, Lilacs, SciELO, CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, and PEDro databases for studies that reported cases of military personnel affected by rhabdomyolysis.
SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Forty-nine individual cases of rhabdomyolysis were analyzed. From them, it was possible to identify several associated factors, which were responsible for developing rhabdomyolysis in military personnel. Thirty military personnel (60%) practiced physical training and 20 (40%) practiced specific military combat training. The creatine kinase (CK) peak ranged from 1,040 to 410,755 U/L, with an average of 44.991 U/L, and 14 (28%) of the cases reported alteration of renal function and four militaries (8%) evolved to death condition. Physical activities performed strenuously and without proper planning conditions such as room temperature, the period without adequate water intake, the amount of equipment used during the activity contributed to the development of rhabdomyolysis in the cases of military personnel analyzed in the present study. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies investigate the relationship between the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis cases and the severity of its consequence when associated with progressive methods of training, hydration control, acclimatization to austere environments, monitoring for the existence of hereditary diseases, and control of the use of supplementary nutritional substances.
Topics: Humans; Military Personnel; Rhabdomyolysis; Exercise; Risk Factors; Creatine Kinase; Biomarkers
PubMed: 35852130
DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0038 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jul 2022Vulnerable locations, such as coastlines, are at a high risk of loss and damage. Such places will suffer deleterious impacts as climate change impacts are increasingly... (Review)
Review
Vulnerable locations, such as coastlines, are at a high risk of loss and damage. Such places will suffer deleterious impacts as climate change impacts are increasingly realized. As societies try to adapt to these impacts, managed or planned retreat-aimed at moving people and assets away from vulnerable locations-is gaining increased attention. Despite this increased attention, systematic literature reviews of the retreat literature remain scarce. This paper undertakes such review and uncovers a marked increase in retreat scholarly research papers in the past 5 years. An analysis of 135 managed and planned retreat journal articles is completed. Findings include a strong emphasis on regional or local case studies exploring governance, policy or institutional settings and levers across a range of geographies. Property rights and market interventions, such as compensation schemes, evidence the prevalence of neoliberal predilections. This emphasizes the importance of renewed engagement with political economy scholarship vis-à-vis climate change adaptation, also supported by the sharp increase in the evidenced social and environmental justice impacts. This article is part of the theme issue 'Nurturing resilient marine ecosystems'.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Climate Change; Ecosystem; Humans
PubMed: 35574844
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0129 -
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) Sep 2022Physiological heat adaptations can be induced following various protocols that use either artificially controlled (i.e. acclimation) or naturally occurring (i.e....
BACKGROUND
Physiological heat adaptations can be induced following various protocols that use either artificially controlled (i.e. acclimation) or naturally occurring (i.e. acclimatisation) environments. During the summer months in seasonal climates, adequate exposure to outdoor environmental heat stress should lead to transient seasonal heat acclimatisation.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the systematic review was to assess the available literature and characterise seasonal heat acclimatisation during the summer months and identify key factors that influence the magnitude of adaptation.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
English language, full-text articles that assessed seasonal heat acclimatisation on the same sample of healthy adults a minimum of 3 months apart were included.
DATA SOURCES
Studies were identified using first- and second-order search terms in the databases MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Scopus and Cochrane, with the last search taking place on 15 July 2021.
RISK OF BIAS
Studies were independently assessed by two authors for the risk of bias using a modified version of the McMaster critical review form.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data for the following outcome variables were extracted: participant age, sex, body mass, height, body fat percentage, maximal oxygen uptake, time spent exercising outdoors (i.e. intensity, duration, environmental conditions), heat response test (i.e. protocol, time between tests), core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, whole-body sweat loss, whole-body and local sweat rate, sweat sodium concentration, skin blood flow and plasma volume changes.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine studies were included in this systematic review, including 561 participants across eight countries with a mean summer daytime wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) of 24.9 °C (range: 19.5-29.8 °C). Two studies reported a reduction in resting core temperature (0.16 °C; p < 0.05), 11 reported an increased sweat rate (range: 0.03-0.53 L·h; p < 0.05), two observed a reduced heart rate during a heat response test (range: 3-8 beats·min; p < 0.05), and six noted a reduced sweat sodium concentration (range: - 22 to - 59%; p < 0.05) following summer. The adaptations were associated with a mean summer WBGT of 25.2 °C (range: 19.6-28.7 °C).
LIMITATIONS
The available studies primarily focussed on healthy male adults and demonstrated large differences in the reporting of factors that influence the development of seasonal heat acclimatisation, namely, exposure time and duration, exercise task and environmental conditions.
CONCLUSIONS
Seasonal heat acclimatisation is induced across various climates in healthy adults. The magnitude of adaptation is dependent on a combination of environmental and physical activity characteristics. Providing environmental conditions are conducive to adaptation, the duration and intensity of outdoor physical activity, along with the timing of exposures, can influence seasonal heat acclimatisation. Future research should ensure the documentation of these factors to allow for a better characterisation of seasonal heat acclimatisation.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION
CRD42020201883.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adult; Body Temperature Regulation; Hot Temperature; Humans; Male; Seasons; Sodium
PubMed: 35460514
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01677-0 -
Journal of Sports Sciences Jun 2022We estimated the effectiveness of using velocity feedback to regulate resistance training load on changes in muscle strength, power, and linear sprint speed in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Comparison of the effects of velocity-based vs. traditional resistance training methods on adaptations in strength, power, and sprint speed: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and quality of evidence appraisal.
We estimated the effectiveness of using velocity feedback to regulate resistance training load on changes in muscle strength, power, and linear sprint speed in apparently healthy participants. Academic and grey literature databases were systematically searched to identify randomised trials that compared a velocity-based training intervention to a 'traditional' resistance training intervention that did not use velocity feedback. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a random effects model. Risk of bias was assessed with the Risk of Bias 2 tool and the quality of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Four trials met the eligibility criteria, comprising 27 effect estimates and 88 participants. The main analyses showed trivial differences and imprecise interval estimates for effects on muscle strength (SMD 0.06, 95% CI -0.51-0.63; = 42.9%; 10 effects from 4 studies; low-quality evidence), power (SMD 0.11, 95% CI -0.28-0.49; = 13.5%; 10 effects from 3 studies; low-quality evidence), and sprint speed (SMD -0.10, 95% CI -0.72-0.53; = 30.0%; 7 effects from 2 studies; very low-quality evidence). The results were robust to various sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, there is currently no evidence that VBT and traditional resistance training methods lead to different alterations in muscle strength, power, or linear sprint speed.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Humans; Muscle Strength; Resistance Training
PubMed: 35380511
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2059320 -
Journal of Thermal Biology Feb 2022Rheumatic Diseases (RD) are a class of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including different conditions, and are considered a major cause of disability among the...
Rheumatic Diseases (RD) are a class of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including different conditions, and are considered a major cause of disability among the population. RD do not have an objective and quick diagnosis and are sometimes challenging. In this way, Infrared Thermography (IT) could represent a fast and effective tool to detect essential information for diagnosing RD. Thus, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize and describe the clinical applicability of IT in RD. This innovative systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42020214601). The risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane tool. The PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SciELO databases were searched from their inception to June 2021. In total, 476 studies were identified and 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The main RD analyzed were Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP), Scleroderma, Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and localized juvenile scleroderma. The assessment protocols were similar in terms of acclimatization time, distance between the camera and the individual, temperature, and ambient humidity. Evidence demonstrates that infrared thermography is an effective tool to assess the health status of individuals with rheumatic diseases, producing clinical information relevant to diagnosis and treatment.
Topics: Humans; Infrared Rays; Rheumatic Diseases; Thermography
PubMed: 35180959
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103172 -
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine Jul 2023High-altitude environments are characterized by decreased atmospheric pressures at which individuals exhibit a reduced volume of maximal oxygen uptake and arterial...
High-altitude environments are characterized by decreased atmospheric pressures at which individuals exhibit a reduced volume of maximal oxygen uptake and arterial partial pressure of oxygen, both of which lead to hypobaric hypoxia. While acute exposure may temporarily offset cardiovascular homeostasis in sea-level residents, native highlanders have become accustomed to these high-altitude conditions and often exhibit variations in normal ECG parameters. As part of the "Altitude Non-differentiated ECG Study" (ANDES) project, this paper aims to systematically review the available literature regarding ECG changes in healthy highlander populations. After searching the PubMed, Medline, and Embase databases, 286 abstracts were screened, of which 13 full-texts were ultimately included. This process was completed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Major ECG deviations in native healthy highlanders include right QRS axis deviation, right ventricular hypertrophy signs, and more prevalent T-wave inversion in the right precordial leads. Notably, they exhibit a prolonged QTc compared to sea-level residents, although within normal limits. Evidence about increased P-wave amplitude or duration, variations in PR interval, or greater prevalence of complete right bundle branch block is not conclusive. This review provides ECG reference standards that can be used by clinicians, who should be aware of the effects of high-altitude residence on cardiovascular health and how these may change according to age, ethnicity, and other factors.
Topics: Humans; Altitude; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Electrocardiography; Hypoxia; Oxygen
PubMed: 35121084
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2022.01.013 -
Annals of Thoracic Medicine 2021Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a benign and self-limiting syndrome, but can progress to life-threatening conditions if leave untreated. This study aimed to assess the...
BACKGROUND
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a benign and self-limiting syndrome, but can progress to life-threatening conditions if leave untreated. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acetazolamide for the prophylaxis of AMS, and disclose factors that affect the treatment effect of acetazolamide.
METHODS
Randomized controlled trials comparing the use of acetazolamide versus placebo for the prevention of AMS were included. The incidence of AMS was our primary endpoint. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to explore factors that associated with acetazolamide efficacy. Trial sequential analyses were conducted to estimate the statistical power of the available data.
RESULTS
A total of 22 trials were included. Acetazolamide at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid significantly reduced incidence of AMS compared to placebo. TAS indicated that the current evidence was adequate confirming the efficacy of acetazolamide at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid in lowering incidence of AMS. There was no evidence of an association between efficacy and dose of acetazolamide, timing at start of acetazolamide treatment, mode of ascent, AMS assessment score, timing of AMS assessment, baseline altitude, and endpoint altitude.
CONCLUSION
Acetazolamide is effective prophylaxis for the prevention of AMS at 125, 250, and 375 mg/bid. Future investigation should focus on personal characteristics, disclosing the correlation between acetazolamide efficacy and body mass, height, degree of prior acclimatization, individual inborn susceptibility, and history of AMS.
PubMed: 34820021
DOI: 10.4103/atm.atm_651_20