European journal of applied physiology
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Aug 2009
Controlled Clinical TrialLipoprotein profile, glycemic control and physical fitness after strength and aerobic training in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes.
We studied the effects on blood lipids and physical fitness after a training program that combined strength and aerobic exercise in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. Ten patients (55.0 +/- 5.2 years) followed four exercise sessions per week, two strength and two aerobic, and ten (59.4 +/- 3.2 years) served as a control group. ⋯ After 16 weeks of training, exercise time (17.8%) and muscular strength increased significantly (P < 0.001). The results indicated that a combined strength and aerobic training program could induce positive adaptations on lipid profile, glycemic control, insulin resistance, cardiovascular function, and physical fitness in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Jul 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEvoked tetanic torque and activation level explain strength differences by side.
Previous studies have demonstrated that healthy young people typically have side-to-side differences in knee strength of about 10% when the peak torque generated by the stronger leg is contrasted with that of the weaker leg. However, the mechanisms responsible for side-to-side differences in knee strength have not been clearly defined. The current study tested the hypothesis that side-to-side knee extensor strength differences are explained by inter-limb variations in voluntary activation, antagonistic hamstrings activity, and electrically evoked torque at rest. ⋯ Side-to-side differences in quadriceps activation and electrically evoked knee extensor torque explained 69% of the strength differences by side. Antagonistic hamstrings activity did not contribute significantly. The results suggest both central and peripheral mechanisms contribute to inter-limb variations in strength.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Jun 2009
Abnormal blood flow in the sublingual microcirculation at high altitude.
We report the first direct observations of deranged microcirculatory blood flow at high altitude, using sidestream dark-field imaging. Images of the sublingual microcirculation were obtained from a group of 12 volunteers during a climbing expedition to Cho Oyu (8,201 m) in the Himalayas. Microcirculatory flow index (MFI) was calculated from the moving images of microcirculatory red blood cell flow, and comparison was made between the baseline and high altitude measurements. ⋯ Our data demonstrate that there was a significant reduction in MFI from baseline to 4,900 m in small (less than 25 microm) and medium (26-50 microm) sized blood vessels (P = 0.025 and P = 0.046, respectively). There was no significant correlation between MFI and SpO(2) or MFI and LLS. Disruption of blood flow within microcirculatory may explain persistent abnormal oxygen flux to tissues following the normalisation of systemic oxygen delivery that accompanies acclimatisation to high altitude.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · May 2009
Clinical TrialSalivary alpha-amylase, cortisol and chromogranin A responses to a lecture: impact of sex.
The aim of this study was to (1) examine the presence of stress on professors when they teach in front of 200 students and analyse objectively such stress using biomarkers such as salivary cortisol, chromogranin A (CgA) and alpha-amylase (AA) (2) investigate whether sex affects the reactivity of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and cortisol concentrations and the interaction of both hormonal systems. Fifty-two participants (26 women and 26 men) collected nine unstimulated saliva samples on 2 days, (one working day, and one resting day). Cortisol concentrations and AA activity measured on the teaching day were significantly higher than those noted on the resting values. ⋯ The awakening cortisol response noted on the teaching day was significantly higher in females than in males. No baseline sex differences in sAA and CgA were observed and men and women seem to have a comparable reactivity in sAA, CgA and cortisol levels on lecture stress. The mechanisms that leads to modify activity of salivary AA and CgA due to stress is not entirely understood and further research is needed to elucidate them.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Apr 2009
Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism with obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and exercise-mediated changes in Korean women.
This study examined whether the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism is associated with obesity, cardiovascular risk factors and 12-week exercise-mediated changes in Korean women. A total of 105 subjects were divided into three groups as II, ID and DD genotype groups based upon ACE I/D genotypes. Body composition and cardiovascular risk factors were compared among the three groups, and the association of ACE I/D genotypes with obesity and hypertension was evaluated. ⋯ The II and ID genotypes showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in intima media thickness of the carotid artery after an exercise intervention, whereas the DD genotype showed an increase. In conclusion, there is a trend towards association of ACE I/D polymorphism with hypertension but not with obesity. Exercise-mediated changes did not differ significantly among genotypes except IMTCA.