This study investigated the effects of different acute exercise mode on appetite markers ratings. Twelve healthy male subjects participated voluntarily in the study and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects before participation. Subjects undertook four, 120 min. trials (exercise and control) in a randomized crossover design. Subjects undertook four, 2 h trials (3 exercises and 1 control) in a randomized crossover design. In the exercise trials subjects were performed three different exercise protocol (60 minutes exercise and 60 minutes recovery). In the control trial, subjects rested for 2 h. Ratings of subjective feelings of appetite markers were reported on 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) at baseline and at 20, 40, 60, 80, 90, 120 mins after baseline. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to measure the following appetite markers: (i)Hunger, (ii) Fullness, (iii) Desire to Eat and (iv) Prospective Food Consumption. Repeated-measures, two factor ANOVA was used to examine differences between the four trials over time for appetite markers change. Between-trial differences at each time point were examined using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests when significant interactions were found. Two-way ANOVAs revealed significant (P<0.05) trial x time effects (P<0.05) and time (P<0.05) effects in all appetite markers except hunger marker. Exercise modes are not different from control (P>0.05) in none of the appetite markers except for the feeling of satiety, and the differences between exercise modes are that, combined exercises decrease the feeling of satiety more than combined exercises, and caused desire to eat and prospective food consumption more than resistance exercises (P<0.05). In conclusion, this finding lends support for a role of exercise in weight management.

This study investigated the effects of 60 min acute exercise on energy regulating hormones. Eight healthy female subjects undertook three, 2 h trials in a randomized crossover design. In the exercise trials subjects ran for 60 min at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake and 50 min at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake and 10 min at 80% of maximal oxygen uptake followed by a 60 min rest period. In the control trial, subjects rested for 2 h. Leptin, glucose, des-acyl, obestatin and acylated ghrelin concentrations were measured at baseline and at 20, 50, 60, 90 and 120 mins after baseline. No differences were found at baseline values for leptin, glucose, des-acyl, obestatin and acylated ghrelin for three trials (P>0.05). Two-way ANOVAs revealed significant (P<0.05) interaction effects for leptin, glucose and acylated ghrelin. However, changes in des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin concentration were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The data indicated that although acute treadmill exercise resulted in a significant change in acyl ghrelin, glucose and leptin levels, it had no effect on plasma obestatin and des-acyl ghrelin levels. \nIn conclusion, mix intensity acute exercise has a positive effect on reducing acylated ghrelin responses over time. This finding lends support for a role of exercise in weight management.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a destructive genetic disease, characterized of cognitive and motor dysfunction. Though HD has been considered primarily a neurodegenerative disease, cardiac failure is also a cause of death in HD patients. Many symptoms such as energetic dysfunction and metabolic injury that occur in HD neurons are also seen in failing cardiac muscle cells. However, quite a few clinical drugs have profound cardiac protective effect in HD patients. Many Chinese herbs have been claimed to relieve cardiovascular diseases by stimulating blood circulation and supplementing vital energy.\nThus, Chinese herbs may be used as a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating cardiac failure in HD patients. In Taiwan, the herbal formula B307 is a well-known health supplement for cardiovascular function. Here we investigated the cardiac protective effects of oral B307 treatment in HD mice. Four-weeks-old R6/2 (HD) mice were daily oral treated with B307 or vehicle diet for two weeks. Then cardiac performances and subcutaneous microcirculation of these HD mice were measured at ten-weeks-old by non-invasive echocardiography and moorFLPI Laser Doppler imager individually. Afterward, HD mice and their WT were sacrificed and their heart tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Our data showed that cardiac performances and subcutaneous microcirculation were improved in HD mice under oral B307 treatment. Expressions of angiogenesis-related VEGF and eNOS in heart tissue of HD mice were reduced than their WT, but were enhanced under oral B307 treatment. Also, we observed that myocarditis and huntingtin aggregation in heart tissue of HD mice were significantly enhanced than their WT, but were reduced under oral B307 treatment. Our study suggested that oral herbal formula B307 treatment may be beneficial for cardiac protective effects in HD patients via enhancing angiogenesis in heart tissue. It is possible that the herbal formula B307 can be developed as a health supplement for ameliorating cardiac failure of HD patients.

Herbs have been regarded as an aphrodisiac in treating impotence for many centuries despite little true scientific evidence. Our latest penile venous stripping (PVS) is effective in treating impotence, although it remains controversial. A synergic effect of PVS and oral herbs has become routine in our practice but lacked rigorous scientific proof. The objective of this report reviews our experience with this combination. From August 2010 to March 2014, 263 males underwent PVS under acupuncture-aided pure local anesthesia on outpatient basis. Among these, 67 unsatisfied men chose additional salvage therapy and were randomly assigned to either oral herbs (n=35) or placebo treatment (n=32) respectively. All were evaluated with the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) scoring and our dual Pharmaco-cavernosography. The pre-op IIEF-5 scores for the herb group was 9.7±3.7 postoperative 13.9±3.3 and post-herb 19.6±3.4, while the control group scores were pre-op 9.3±4.1, post-op 14.5±3.6 and 15.1±3.5 post-placebo respectively. Although there was no significance between the two groups preoperatively and post-operatively, statistical significance was demonstrated post-salvage therapy (19.6±3.4 vs. 15.1±3.6, p < 0.001). It appears that the combination of oral herbs and PVS treatment provide an enhanced outcome to impotent patients refractory to medicine and unsatisfied with PVS monotherapy alone. This combination is sustainable under acupuncture-aided local anesthesia on outpatient basis.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate effects of breed, parity and season on reproductive parameters in bitches reared under temperate climate. Breeding and pregnancy statuses, proestrus, estrus and pregnancy durations, litter size and cycle interval were compiled from German Shepherds (GS, n=34), Labrador Retrievers (LA, n=23), Belgian Malinois (BM, n=13) and Pointers (PO, n=9) up to 10th parities. \nParity was negatively correlated with the cycle interval (r=-0.18) and the proestrus duration (r=-0.09) as well as the litter size (r=-0.20), but not correlated with the estrus and pregnancy durations. The mean age at first breeding (464.8±26.2 d, mean±SD) and the pregnancy rate (74.6%) were not different among breeds. The pregnancy duration became shortened as the number of the puppies born in each whelping increased (P<0.008). The cycle interval varied by the breed (208.2, 215.1, 208.6 and 237.0 d for GS, LA, BM and PO, respectively, P<0.01) and decreased linearly from 241.1 to 202.0 d as parity increased from 1 to 10 (P<0.04). The season did not affect the cycle interval, proestrus and estrus length (P>0.05). Reproductive parameters varied among GS, LA, BM and PO bitches reared in Turkey. The effect of seasonal variation was negligible.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different pressures of CO2 on expression of P33 gene and apoptosis in liver and spleen cells during CO2 pneumoperitoneum. In this study, 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing approximately 280-340 grams were procured from Tehran Pasteur Institute’s animal house, and randomly divided into 3 equal groups of 10 each. Groups 1 and 2 received 10 and 20 mmHg respectively, and group 3 was the control group. CO2 was insufflated into abdominal cavity of rats in groups 1 and 2 for one hour using a cannula, and then, perfusion was performed for half an hour. In group 3, cannula was placed into abdominal cavity without releasing any gas. The rats were sacrificed afterwards, and their livers and spleens were removed after laparotomy to investigate expression of gene P33 and apoptosis using RT-PCR and TUNEL techniques. The TUNEL technique showed a significant increase in apoptosis in liver and spleen cells of rats that received 20 mmHg compared to rats that received 10 mmHg and control group (P<0.0001) and (P<0.006).respectively. Furthermore, RT-PCR revealed a significant decrease in P33 gene mRNA in liver and spleen cells in 20 mmHg group compared to other two groups (P<0.001). Too high a pressure or too long a duration of CO2 gas may cause release of cytokines and free-radicals from cells of these organs, which can lead to transient or serious dysfunction.

This paper proposes recommendations for setting up a Project Management Office (PMO) in a public sector organization managing multiple construction projects. Such organizations can face challenges in the implementation of multiple construction projects. \nThe customized design and implementation of PMO includes an infrastructure of departments, people, methodology, procedures, processes and tools to achieve effective project management by leveraging project management standards, allocating resources, establishing consistent performance measures, and reducing duplication of efforts.

3D object tracking is widely used in various vision based applications, for example AR(Augmented Reality) applications, surveillance system and mobile games. The main problem of object tracking algorithm is limitation in supporting type of target object such as slow processing speed and low tracking accuracy. We present a real time 3D object modeling and tracking system which can efficiently carry out 3D object modeling and tracking. The previous algorithms are difficult to obtain 3D object model information. Our system provides an easy 3D modeling method using SfM(Structure from Motion) technique. We exploit a sparse bundle adjustment algorithm in order to acquire accurate 3D model information. The model of 3D target object is also used by our tracking system to robustly track the pose of object. This feature can be accomplished by ROI and double filtering system. Our system can achieve automatic 3D object model acquisition and tracking in real time with high accuracy.