European journal of applied physiology
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · May 2004
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialComputer-assisted skin videothermography is a highly sensitive quality tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of complex regional pain syndrome type I.
The use of thermography in the diagnosis and evaluation of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS1) is based on the presence of temperature asymmetries between the involved area of the extremity and the corresponding area of the uninvolved extremity. The interpretation of thermographic images is, however, subjective and not validated for routine use. The objective of the present study was to develop a sensitive, specific and reproducible arithmetical model as the result of computer-assisted infrared thermography in patients with early stage CRPS1 in one hand. ⋯ Furthermore, the temperature asymmetry factor was correlated with the duration of the disease and VAS pain. In conclusion, in resting condition, videothermography is a reliable additive diagnostic tool of early stage CRPS1. This objective tool could be used for monitoring purposes during experimental therapeutic intervention.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · May 2004
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialEccentric exercise, isokinetic muscle torque and delayed onset muscle soreness: the role of reactive oxygen species.
There is growing evidence that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the muscular damage and soreness that is observed following strenuous or unaccustomed exercise. This study investigated the relationship between delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle function and ROS following downhill running using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and plasma malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations. Eight physically active male subjects participated in two trials consisting of 30 min of running at approximately 65% VO(2max) on the flat (FLA) or a 15% downhill (DWN) gradient. ⋯ Increased DOMS and loss of muscle function were observed following DWN ( P<0.05) but not following FLA ( P>0.05). DWN resulted in a transient leukocytosis ( P<0.05) occurring immediately post-exercise but returning to pre-exercise levels by 24 h. Although DWN resulted in an increase in ROS production, the increase occurred after the peak decline in muscle function and DOMS, suggesting that there may be a disassociation in the temporal relationship between ROS, loss of muscle function and DOMS.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · May 2004
Comparative Study Clinical TrialReproducibility of the exponential rise technique of CO(2) rebreathing for measuring P(v)CO(2) and C(v)CO(2 )to non-invasively estimate cardiac output during incremental, maximal treadmill exercise.
The purpose of this study was to determine the reproducibility of the indirect Fick method for the measurement of mixed venous carbon dioxide partial pressure (P(v)CO(2)) and venous carbon dioxide content (C(v)CO(2)) for estimation of cardiac output (Q(c)), using the exponential rise method of carbon dioxide rebreathing, during non-steady-state treadmill exercise. Ten healthy participants (eight female and two male) performed three incremental, maximal exercise treadmill tests to exhaustion within 1 week. Non-invasive Q(c) measurements were evaluated at rest, during each 3-min stage, and at peak exercise, across three identical treadmill tests, using the exponential rise technique for measuring mixed venous PCO(2) and CCO(2) and estimating venous-arterio carbon dioxide content difference (C(v-a)CO(2)). ⋯ In general, the derived cardiorespiratory variables demonstrated acceptable (R=0.61) to high (R>0.80) reproducibility, especially at higher intensities and peak exercise. Measured variables, excluding P(a)CO(2) and C(v-a)CO(2), also demonstrated acceptable (R=0.6 to 0.79) to high reliability. The current study demonstrated acceptable to high reproducibility of the exponential rise indirect Fick method in measurement of mixed venous PCO(2) and CCO(2) for estimation of Q(c) during incremental treadmill exercise testing, especially at high-intensity and peak exercise.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · May 2004
Clinical TrialChest wall kinematics and respiratory muscle coordinated action during hypercapnia in healthy males.
The present study was designed to verify whether during hypercapnic stimulation, as we had previously found during exercise or walking, the partitioning of the respiratory motor output is equally distributed to the muscles of chest wall compartments to assist diaphragm function. We studied chest wall kinematics and respiratory muscle recruitment in seven healthy men during rebreathing of a hypercapnic-hyperoxic gas mixture (CO(2) RT). Data were compared with those previously obtained during either cycling exercise or walking. ⋯ However, while most of W'di was expressed in terms of velocity of shortening, most of W'rcm and W'abm was expressed as force or pressure. A comparison of CO(2) results with data obtained during exercise revealed: (1). a gradual vs. an immediate response, (2). a similar decrease in Vab,e and Pabm, (3). an apparent lack of any difference in ABM recruitment, (4). less gradual ABM relaxation, (5). no drop in Pdi but a similar Wdi change and decrease in pressure-to-velocity ratio of the diaphragm. We have found that in healthy humans: (1). the increased motor output with hypercapnia is equally distributed between RCM and ABM to minimize transdiaphragmatic pressure and (2). data on chest wall kinematics and respiratory muscle recruitment are only partly in line with those obtained during walking or cycling exercise.
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Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. · Apr 2004
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialThe effect of drinking tea at high altitude on hydration status and mood.
The effect of drinking tea on hydration status and mood was studied in nine male and four female members of expeditions based at Mt. Everest base camp at an altitude of 5,345 m. Whilst exposed to altitude-cold diuresis, participants were subjected to a crossover experimental design comprising two 24-h dietary interventions. ⋯ None of these measures indicated a difference in hydration status as a result of the dietary intervention in either the control or tea condition. A difference was, however, found in mood, with subjects reporting reduced fatigue when tea was included in the diet (P=0.005). The study shows therefore that even when drunk at high altitude where fluid balance is stressed, there is no evidence that tea acts as a diuretic when consumed through natural routes of ingestion by regular tea drinkers, but that it does have a positive effect on mood.