La Trobe University

About: La Trobe University is a education organization based out in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 13370 authors who have published 41291 publications receiving 1138269 citations. The organization is also known as: LaTrobe University & LTU.

The evidence of benefits of exercise training in interstitial lung disease: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract: Background Uncertainty exists regarding the clinical relevance of exercise training across the range of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Objective To establish the impact of exercise training in patients with ILDs of differing aetiology and severity. Methods 142 participants with ILD (61 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 22 asbestosis, 23 connective tissue disease-related ILD (CTD-ILD) and 36 with other aetiologies) were randomised to either 8 weeks of supervised exercise training or usual care. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ), St George Respiratory Questionnaire IPF-specific version (SGRQ-I) and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score were measured at baseline, 9 weeks and 6 months. Measurements and main results Exercise training significantly increased 6MWD (25 m, 95% CI 2 to 47 m) and health-related quality of life (CRDQ and SGRQ-I) in people with ILD. Larger improvements in 6MWD, CRDQ, SGRQ-I and dyspnoea occurred in asbestosis and IPF compared with CTD-ILD, but with few significant differences between subgroups. Benefits declined at 6 months except in CTD-ILD. Lower baseline 6MWD and worse baseline symptoms were associated with greater benefit in 6MWD and symptoms following training. Greater gains were seen in those whose exercise prescription was successfully progressed according to the protocol. At 6 months, sustained improvements in 6MWD and symptoms were associated with better baseline lung function and less pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions Exercise training is effective in patients across the range of ILDs, with clinically meaningful benefits in asbestosis and IPF. Successful exercise progression maximises improvements and sustained treatment effects favour those with milder disease. Trial registration number Results, ACTRN12611000416998.

Effects of intracellular pH and [Mg2+] on excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibres of the rat.

Abstract: 1. The effects on normal excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling of two important intracellular ions, H+ and Mg2+, were examined in skinned fibres from the extensor digitorum longus muscle of rat. 2. A single depolarization (2-3 s duration) in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+ (pH 7.1, 23 degrees C) released most of the available Ca2+ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), but a similar depolarization in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+ was unable to release almost any Ca2+. Thus, raised [Mg2+] potently inhibits depolarization-induced Ca2+ release in mammalian muscle. 3. Depolarization at pH 6.2 (1 mM Mg2+, 23 degrees C) induced a large force response, which was on average 78 +/- 2%, n = 6, of the depolarization-induced response at pH 7.1; this reduction resulted from a corresponding reduction in maximum Ca(2+)-activated force at pH 6.2. Similar results were obtained at 37 degrees C. Also, a single depolarization at pH 6.2 caused almost complete depletion of the releasable Ca2+ in the SR. Thus, low pH does not prevent depolarization-induced Ca2+ release in mammalian muscle. 4. Lowering the free [Mg2+] from 1 mM to 15 microM caused massive release of Ca2+, and depletion of the SR, at both pH 7.1 and 6.2, indicating that over this pH range, H+ did not readily substitute for Mg2+ at its inhibitory site on the Ca2+ release channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mitochondria in Health and Disease.

Abstract: Mitochondria are best known as the sites for production of respiratory ATP and are essential for eukaryotic life. They have their own genome but the great majority of the mitochondrial proteins are encoded by the nuclear genome and are imported into the mitochondria. The mitochondria participate in critical central metabolic pathways and they are fully integrated into the intracellular signalling networks that regulate diverse cellular functions. It is not surprising then that mitochondrial defects or dysregulation have emerged as having key roles in ageing and in the cytopathological mechanisms underlying cancer, neurodegenerative and other diseases. This special issue contains 12 publications—nine review articles and three original research articles. They cover diverse areas of mitochondrial biology and function and how defects in these areas can lead to disease. In addition, the articles in this issue highlight how model organisms have contributed to our understanding of these processes.