Relaxant effect of microtitan via regulation of autonomic nerve activity in mice

The Effects of Uniquely-Processed Titanium on Balance and Walking Performance in Healthy Older Adults

The increased risk of falls associated with advancing age has increased demand for methods to improve balance and mobility. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether wearing Aqua Titan-treated stockings could improve balance and walking performance in an older population; secondary was to elucidate the mechanisms. In a randomized, double-blind crossover, 16 healthy older adults (age, 67.9 ± 4.2 years; BMI, 24.8 ± 3.1 kg/m²) performed two 4-day trials composed of baseline measures and fatiguing exercise on Day 1, with recovery measures at 14, 38 and 62 h post-exercise, wearing Aqua Titan and control stockings. Balance, walking performance, triceps surae stretch reflex, ankle range of motion and gastrocnemius muscle microvascular perfusion, blood flow and oxygen consumption were measured at baseline and during recovery. Aqua Titan had no effect on the microvascular parameters, but increased total ankle range of motion at 38 h (2.4°; 95% CI ± 1.8°) and 62 h (2.7°; ±1.7°), contributed to by increases in dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. There was decreasing persistence in the medial-lateral center of pressure movement at 38 h (q = 0, −0.0635 ± 0.0455), compared to control stockings. Aqua Titan garments hold potential for improving balance and mobility in older adults in the days following a bout of fatiguing exercise. The proposed mechanisms associated with enhanced sensory feedback require further exploration.

The effects of uniquely-processed titanium on biological systems: implications for human health and performance

Titanium is biocompatible and widely utilized in a variety of applications. Recently, titanium in pico-nanometer scale and soluble form (Aqua Titan) has expanded its use to applied human health and performance. The purpose of this article is to review the current evidence associated with specific physiological responses to Aqua Titan-treated materials. In vitro studies have shown that application of Aqua Titan can modify membrane potential and long-term potentiation in isolated hippocampal neurons, suggesting reduced pain memory as a possible mechanism for reported analgesia. Proximal contact with Aqua Titan-treated titanium increased gene expression, protein synthesis, cell growth and adhesion in normal cultured muscle and bone cells, suggesting application for Aqua Titan in clinical implant procedures and wound healing. Evidence for beneficial effects on neuromuscular control of muscle-tendon function and improvements in running economy in human athletes was seen when Aqua Titan-treated tape was applied to the human triceps surae following fatigue induced by prior strenuous exercise. Finally, behavioral responses and effects on the autonomic nervous system to environmental exposure suggest Aqua Titan may promote a mild relaxant, or stress-suppressive response. Together, data suggest exposure to Aqua Titan-treated materials modulates aspects of growth and function in neuronal and other musculoskeletal cells with possible benefits to musculotendinous recovery from exercise and to the systemic response to stress.

Effect of microtitanium impregnated tape on the recovery of triceps surae musculotendinous function following strenuous running

We previously reported increased running economy and joint range of motion (ROM) during subsequent exercise performed 48-h following strenuous exercise while wearing garments containing micro-titanium particles generated from high-pressure aqueous processing of titanium (AQUA TITAN^TM). Here we utilised an isolated plantarflexion triceps surae model and AQUA TITAN-treated flexible tape to determine if dermal application of the micro-titanium could account for meaningful changes in functional properties of the musculotendinous unit. In a randomised double-blind crossover, 20 trained men day 1, baseline measures, AQUA TITAN or placebo tape covering the triceps surae, intermittent high-intensity treadmill running; day 2, rest; day 3, post-stress post-treatment outcome measures. Outcomes comprised: plantarflexion ROM via isokinetic dynamometry; short latency reflex from electromyography; Achilles tendon stiffness from isometric dynamometry, ultrasonography (Achilles-medial-gastrocnemius junction), motion analysis, and force-length modelling. High-intensity exercise with placebo tape reduced tendon stiffness (-16.5%; 95% confidence limits ±8.1%; small effect size), relative to non-taped baseline, but this effect was negligible (-5.9%; ±9.2%) with AQUA TITAN (AQUA TITAN-placebo difference -11.3%; ±11.6%). Change in latency relative to baseline was trivial with placebo (1.6%; ±3.8%) but large with AQUA TITAN (-11.3%; ±3.3%). The effects on ROM with AQUA TITAN (1.6%; ±2.0%) and placebo were trivial (-1.6% ±1.9%), but the small difference (3.1%; ±2.7%) possibly greater with AQUA TITAN. AQUA TITAN tape accelerated the reflex response and attenuated reduced Achilles tendon stiffness following fatiguing exercise. Altered neuromuscular control of tendon stiffness via dermal application of micro-titanium treated materials may facilitate restoration of musculotendinous contractile performance following prior strenuous exercise.

Effect of whole-body microtitanium-treated garments on metabolic cost of exercise following strenuous hill running

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect size of wearing sports garments treated with microscopic titanium particles (AQUA TITAN) during recovery from strenuous running on the restoration of running economy during subsequent exercise.

DESIGN

A double-blind crossover was used to determine the effect of AQUA TITAN on running metabolic cost in 10 healthy men. Participants performed 40 min of treadmill running comprising 2×(10 min at 5% and 10 min at -10% grade), followed by random allocation to skin-tight nylon-polyurethane AQUA TITAN treated or non-treated placebo garments covering the torso, limbs, and feet. Garments were worn continuously throughout the next 48-h, during which time participants rested (day 2) then completed a graded treadmill run to determine metabolic outcome (day 3).

METHODS

Body-weight normalised running metabolic cost was evaluated by indirect calorimetry and the effect size referenced against the smallest meaningful change in economy (0.9%) for improvement in distance running performance.

RESULTS

The fatigue effect while wearing control garments on metabolic cost at 48-h was small (2.2% 95%CL ±1.2%). In contrast, AQUA TITAN garments most certainly reduced running metabolic cost (-3.1% ±0.9%) vs. control. Additionally, AQUA TITAN increased the respiratory exchange ratio (0.011 ±0.005) and lowered minute ventilation at intensities below the ventilatory threshold (-4.0% ±0.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

AQUA TITAN garments worn during recovery from strenuous exercise improved subsequent running economy to a magnitude likely to restore endurance performance. Future research should verify the magnitude of garment effects on performance outcomes, and on identifying the acute or passive neural, musculotendinous or metabolic mechanisms responsible.

Titanium-treated surroundings attenuate psychological stress associated with autonomic nerve regulation in office workers with daily emotional stress

Housing mice in the presence of small particles of titanium has been shown to reduce stress-responsive behavior via the autonomic nervous system. Here, we examined the effects of nighttime titanium exposure on stress parameters and autonomic nerve activity in office workers with emotional stress. A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial was performed in 24 male subjects with desk jobs, who were randomly allocated to spend 5 nights in rooms with or without titanium. The serum concentrations of stress-responsive hormones (cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and catecholamine) were measured, and profiles of emotional stress were collected to subjectively assess relaxation. Autonomic nerve activity was examined by power spectra analysis of heart rate variability. In psychological tests, factors related to tension (-14.5%, 95% CI=-15.7--2.1), anger (-11.3%, 95% CI=-13.9--0.7), and emotional stress (-28.5%, 95% CI=-30.0--5.3) were significantly decreased by exposure to titanium. The serum level of adrenocorticotropin was gradually elevated throughout the experimental period in the placebo group (day 4, 80.5%, 95% CI=7.1-37.5 vs. before trial) but not the titanium group. Power spectral analysis of R-R interval data showed a significant elevation in the high-frequency power spectral ratio in subjects housed in titanium rooms (days 1-2, 14.3%, 95% CI=4.7-21.9; days 3-4, 26.8%, 95% CI=4.9-38.7; and days 5-6, 24.1%, 95% CI=5.8-34.0 vs. before trial). These results suggest that sleeping in a room containing titanium lowers physiological and psychological stress.

Nanometer-thin TiO₂ enhances skeletal muscle cell phenotype and behavior

Background

The independent role of the surface chemistry of titanium in determining its biological properties is yet to be determined. Although titanium implants are often in contact with muscle tissue, the interaction of muscle cells with titanium is largely unknown. This study tested the hypotheses that the surface chemistry of clinically established microroughened titanium surfaces could be controllably varied by coating with a minimally thin layer of TiO₂ (ideally pico-to-nanometer in thickness) without altering the existing topographical and roughness features, and that the change in superficial chemistry of titanium is effective in improving the biological properties of titanium.

Methods and results

Acid-etched microroughened titanium surfaces were coated with TiO₂ using slow-rate sputter deposition of molten TiO₂ nanoparticles. A TiO₂ coating of 300 pm to 6.3 nm increased the surface oxygen on the titanium substrates in a controllable manner, but did not alter the existing microscale architecture and roughness of the substrates. Cells derived from rat skeletal muscles showed increased attachment, spread, adhesion strength, proliferation, gene expression, and collagen production at the initial and early stage of culture on 6.3 nm thick TiO₂-coated microroughened titanium surfaces compared with uncoated titanium surfaces.

Conclusion

Using an exemplary slow-rate sputter deposition technique of molten TiO₂ nanoparticles, this study demonstrated that titanium substrates, even with microscale roughness, can be sufficiently chemically modified to enhance their biological properties without altering the existing microscale morphology. The controllable and exclusive chemical modification technique presented in this study may open a new avenue for surface modifications of titanium-based biomaterials for better cell and tissue affinity and reaction.

Frequency ranges of heart rate variability related to autonomic nerve activity in the mouse

Mice have gained more and more attention in recent years and been widely used in transgenic experiments. Although the number of researches on the heart rate variability (HRV) of mice has been gradually increasing, a consensus on the frequency ranges of autonomic modulation has not been established. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to find a HRV "prototype" for conscious mice in the state of being motionless and breathing regularly (called "genuinely resting"), and to determine the frequency ranges corresponding to the autonomic modulation. Further, whether these frequencies will change when the mice move freely was studied to evaluate the feasibility of the HRV spectrum as an index of the autonomic modulation of mice. The recording sites were specially arranged to simultaneously obtain the electrocardiography and electromyography data to be provided for the use of HRV analysis and motion monitoring, respectively. The states of being motionless and breathing regularly as judged from the electromyography results were selected as a genuine resting state of a conscious mouse. The frequencies related to autonomic modulation of HRV were determined by comparing the spectrum changes before and after blockades of the autonomic tone by different pharmaceutical agents in both the genuine resting state and freely moving states. Our results showed that the HRV of mice is not suitable for indexing sympathetic modulation; however, it is possible to use the spectral power in the frequency range between 0.1 and 1 Hz as an index of parasympathetic modulation.

Aquatitan garments extend joint range of motion without effect on run performance

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of uniquely processed titanium-permeated garments (Aquatitan) on the performance of and recovery from a high-intensity intermittent exercise.

METHODS

In a crossover, 14 nationally and regionally competing male soccer/hockey players performed two 5-d trials composed of a Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test on day 1, followed by 4 d of recovery assessment wearing randomly allocated Aquatitan- and placebo-treated clothing that covered their torso, limbs, and feet continuously throughout the study. Repeated sprint time was measured during the shuttle test, and muscle damage, joint range of motion, isometric strength, and running performance were measured during recovery.

RESULTS

The increase in sprint performance during the shuttle test (0.7%, 90% confidence interval = +/-0.9%) was likely trivial. During recovery, wearing of Aquatitan had a possible harmful effect on peak run velocity on day 3 (-1.1% +/- 1.6%) but a likely small benefit on day 5 (2.0% +/- 1.6%); combined (0.4% +/- 1.3%) and standardized outcomes suggest an overall trivial benefit. Aquatitan increased range of motion. For example, voluntary leg extension increased by 2.6% (+/-4.0%), hip flexion increased by 1.8% (+/-1.2%), plantarflexion increased by 4.8% (+/-2.8%), and shoulder extension and flexion increased by 4.2% (+/-3.0%) and 1.3% (+/-0.6%), respectively; forced voluntary differences at the hip and shoulder were trivial. Running efficiency was possibly increased on days 3 and 5. The effects on isometric strength were largely trivial, but a slight enhancement of the psychological state was observed. In a separate perception experiment, participants perceived tactile differences that were influenced by the knowledge of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

For competitive subelite male soccer/hockey players, performance gains in response to wearing Aquatitan-treated garments are likely of trivial consequence. However, improved joint range of motion during recovery indicates that the garments reduced muscle–tendon stiffness, suggesting enhanced compliance, which warrants further investigation. Garment feel may also explain the outcomes.