Association of adiposity, cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise practice with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Brazilian elderly women

BACKGROUND: Diabetes incidence in people with advanced age is increasing at an alarming rate, and for this reason the screening of high-risk individuals such as elderly women is critically important. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of adiposity, cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise practice with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in elderly Brazilian women. METHODS: Participated of this cross sectional study 1,059 elderly women (mean 69.5 yr; SD 6.1), who self-reported family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, hypertension, and T2D diagnosed previously by a physician. The following independent variables were assessed: exercise practice, body mass index, waist circumference, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between each independent variable with T2D using adjusted-models. RESULTS: T2D prevalence was 16%. General and central adiposity were directly associated with T2D, whereas cardiorespiratory fitness was inversely related with T2D. The joint effect of exercise practice and central adiposity showed that inactive women had higher odds ratio for T2D when compared with active ones, within the same WC group. Inactive women with WC > or = 94.0 cm had an odds ratio of 5.8 (95%IC 1.3-25.3). CONCLUSIONS: A direct positive association was found between general and central adiposity, as well as an inverse relation between CRF and exercise practice with T2D. Elderly women who practice exercise regularly had lower odds for T2D. Health professionals should encourage individuals of all ages to engage on regular exercise practice, which could reduce body fatness and may be beneficial in reducing the prevalence of T2D in older ages.     

基于健康体征信息的有氧耐力训练方法

目的建立基于健康体征信息的有氧耐力训练指导方案，以提高训练效率、减少运动损伤、控制运动心血管风险，提升军校体能训练的科学性与系统性。方法随机择109位男性学员，观测3个月。行心血管风险评估、心血管功能、肺功能、骨强度和有氧耐力测试，收集健康体征信息，并按照训练前有氧耐力测试结果分组：最差组（最大摄氧量最小的30％）、较差组（最大摄氧量中间的30％）和正常组（最大摄氧量最大的40％）。对最差组和较差组进行干预指导训练，正常组按传统方案指导训练。结果训练后3个组心肺有氧耐力水平均显著提高（P〈0．01），而干预指导训练的两组，有氧耐力提高的幅度约是正常组的2～4倍，3次心血管功能和肺功能测试指标变化显著（P〈0．05），其中部分指标训练前后有显著性差异（P〈0．05），运动中骨折发生率比正常组低。结论基于健康体征信息的有氧耐力训练指导方案能显著提高学员的有氧耐力水平，并能减少运动损伤。训练期间可考虑以心血管和肺功能的测量，间接评估心肺功能的改善程度。     

Putative roles of circulating resistin in patients with asthma, COPD and cigarette smokers

Aims: To investigate the hypothesis that circulating resistin reflects the degree of pulmonary inflammation, this study explores putative roles of resistin in patients with acute and stable inflammatory obstructive airway diseases and cigarette smokers. Methods: We determined complements C3, C4, fasting resistin, insulin, glucose and lipid profile; calculated insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) in patients with acute asthma exacerbation (n = 34); stable asthma (n = 26) and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n = 26), cigarette smokers (n = 81), and healthy control subjects (n = 42). We determined the associations between these variables and pulmonary function tests.Results: Patients with COPD, acute and stable asthma had significantly higher resistin and insulin than control subjects. Resistin, insulin, HOMA-IR, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC were significantly (p < 0.05) different between patients with acute asthma compared with stable asthma and COPD; smokers had similar levels of resistin, C3 and C4 as patients with asthma and COPD. In smokers, patientswith asthma or COPD, resistin showed significant inverse correlations with FEV1%; FEV1/FVC% and positive significant correlations with BMI and HOMA-IR. Logistic regression showed that resistin is associated (p < 0.05) with inflammatory obstructive airways disease − odds ratio (OR) = 1.22 and smoking OR = 1.18.Conclusion: Resistin may be a disease activity marker and may contribute to insulin resistance in smokers, asthma and COPD.     

Changes in fitness and shipboard task performance following circuit weight training programs featuring continuous or interval running

Summary Pre- and post-physiological data were collected on 57 Navy men (¯x age=19.5 years) who participated in either circuit weight training/ continuous run (CWT/CR) (N=31) or circuit weight training/interval run (CWT/IR) (N=26) programs. Measured variables included 4 measures of upper torso dynamic strength (one repetition maximum [1RM] for arm curl, bench press, shoulder press, and lat pull-down); two measures of lower torso dynamic strength (1RM) for knee extension and leg press); one measure of power (number of revolutions completed on an arm ergometer (Monark^®) at maximum drag); three measures of muscular endurance (number of repetitions at 60% 1RM for bench press and leg press and maximal number of bent-knee sit-ups in 120 s); one stamina measure (time to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer (Monark^®) maximal work capacity [MWC] test; and three simulated shipboard tasks: manikin shoulder drag, open/secure a water tight door and paint bucket carry. Composite shipboard performance derived from the summed time (s) required to complete the three tasks was also calculated. Results show performance on the manikin shoulder drag and majority of evaluative fitness measures was significantly (p<0.05) enhanced following both circuit weight training/run formats. Significantly (p<0.05) higher values for shoulder press (F=7.2), arm ergometer (F=5.3), and sit-ups (F=6.8) and lower values for leg press muscular endurance (F=5.1) were observed in CWT/IR when compared to CWT/CR. Regression analysis yielded the following prediction equation: Composite shipboard performance (s)=194.15097-1.59492 (arm curl) -0.18369 (leg press)r=0.74.It can be concluded that exercise participation was associated with differential changes in fitness but not job performance. Furthermore, the association between fitness gains and job criteria performance appeared to be specific to the task modelled. Important predictors of criterion task performance included parameters of upper torso and lower torso muscular strength.Report No. 85-33 was supported by the Naval Medical Research and Development Command, Department of the Navy, under research Work Unit M0096-PN.001-1050. The views presented in this paper are those of the authors. No endorsement by the Department of the Navy has been given or should be inferred     

Effects of aerobic fitness on hypohydration-induced physiological strain and exercise impairment

Aim: Hypohydration exacerbates cardiovascular and thermal strain and can impair exercise capacity in temperate and warm conditions. Yet, athletes often dehydrate in exercise, are hypervolaemic and have less cardiovascular sensitivity to acute hypervolaemia. We tested the hypothesis that trained individuals have less cardiovascular, thermoregulatory and performance affect of hypohydration during exercise. Methods: After familiarization, six trained [O_{2 peak} = 64 (SD 8) mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹] and six untrained [O_{2 peak} = 45 (4) mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹] males cycled 40 min at 70%O_{2 peak} while euhydrated or hypohydrated by 1.5–2.0% body mass (crossover design), before a 40-min work trial with euhydration or ad libitum drinking (in Hypohydration trial), in temperate conditions (24.3 °C, RH 50%, v_a = 4.5 m s⁻¹). Baseline hydration was by complete or partial rehydration from exercise+heat stress the previous evening. Results: During constant workload, heart rate and its drift were increased in Hypohydration compared with Euhydration for Untrained [drift: 33 (11) vs. 24 beats min⁻¹ h⁻¹ (10), 95% CI 5–11] but not Trained [14 (3) vs. 13 beats min⁻¹ h⁻¹ (3), CI −2 to 3; P = 0.01 vs. Untrained]. Similarly, rectal temperature drift was faster in Hypohydration for Untrained only [by 0.57 °C h⁻¹ (0.25); P = 0.03 vs. Trained], concomitant with their reduced sweat rate (P = 0.05) and its relation to plasma osmolality (P = 0.03). Performance power tended to be reduced for Untrained (−13%, CI −35 to 2) and Trained (−7%, CI: −16 to 1), without an effect of fitness (P = 0.38). Conclusion: Mild hypohydration exacerbated cardiovascular and thermoregulatory strain and tended to impair endurance performance, but aerobic fitness attenuated the physiological effects.     

Quality of life in smokers: focus on functional limitations rather than on lung function?

BACKGROUND: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based solely on obstruction and does not capture physical functioning. The hypothesis that the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea scale would correlate better with quality of life than the level of airflow limitation was examined. AIM: To study the associations between quality of life in smokers and limitations in physical functioning (MRC dyspnoea scale) and, quality of life and airflow limitation (GOLD COPD stages). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The city of IJsselstein, a small town in the centre of The Netherlands. METHOD: Male smokers aged 40-65 years without a prior diagnosis of COPD and enlisted with a general practice, participated in this study. Quality of life was assessed by means of a generic (SF-36) and a disease-specific, questionnaire (QOLRIQ). RESULTS: A total of 395 subjects (mean age 55.4 years, pack years 27.1) performed adequate spirometry and completed the questionnaires. Limitations of physical functioning according to the MRC dyspnoea scale were found in 25.1% (99/395) of the participants and airflow limitation in 40.2% (159/395). The correlations of limitations of physical functioning with all quality-of-life components were stronger than the correlations of all quality-of-life subscales with the severity of airflow limitation. CONCLUSION: In middle-aged smokers the correlation of limitations of physical functioning (MRC dyspnoea scale) with quality of life was stronger than the correlation of the severity of airflow limitation with quality of life. Future staging systems of severity of COPD should capture this and not rely on forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) alone.     

Changes in aerobic fitness and body fat during army recruit training

Summary Aerobic fitness and related indices were evaluated in 254 soldiers at the beginning and near the end of initial army recruit training. Aerobic fitness in terms of maximal aerobic power was predicted from the Astrand-Ryhming submaximal heart rate bicycle test. Estimated vO₂ max increased by 8%, 42.0–45.3 ml/kg·min. Accompanying this increase in aerobic capacity was a decline in body fat content without a change in body weight. It is concluded that army recruit training at the time of this study was effective in terms of increasing aerobic work capacity and reducing excess body fat.HQ UNFICYP BFPO 567     

香烟烟气提取物对NR8383细胞吞噬功能的影响

目的 探讨不同浓度香烟烟气提取物(CSE)对大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞(NR8383)吞噬功能的影响.方法 通过CCK-8法分析细胞比活力,Annexin-V FITC/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡以及CFSE荧光标记分析细胞的分裂增殖,来确定CSE对NR8383细胞的作用浓度和作用时间.收集经不同浓度CSE处理24 h的NR8383细胞,与FITC标记的大肠杆菌共同孵育2 h后,用流式细胞仪检测胞内荧光强度,分析CSE对细胞吞噬功能的影响.结果 NR8383细胞的吞噬功能随着CSE浓度的变化先增强后降低.单独用CSE处理NR8383细胞,在100μg/ml CSE作用下,巨噬细胞的吞噬功能与正常对照组相比提高0.5倍,此时的细胞比活力最高.在CSE和LPS共同作用下,CSE的浓度为100μg/ml时,NR8383细胞的吞噬功能提高到正常水平的3倍.而当CSE浓度达到200μg/ml时,NR8383细胞的吞噬功能受到损伤,细胞凋亡率为54.1%.结论 CSE可以影响NR8383细胞的吞噬功能,在较低浓度时可能激活巨噬细胞的吞噬功能,但较高浓度时可能对巨噬细胞的吞噬功能造成损伤,CSE可能具有激活巨噬细胞吞噬功能的潜能.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the phagocytosis function of cigarette smoke extracts (CSE)on the NR8383 cells. Methods The concentration of CSE and the optimal time was defined by cell counting kit-8 assay, Annexin V/PI cell apoptosis assay and CFSE cell proliferation assay. The cell was gained after exposed to the different concentration of CSE for 24 h and mixed with fluorescein-labeled Escherichia coli in 37℃ for 2 h. The fluorescence intensity was used to assay the phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells.Results The phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells may be changed by the concentration of CSE. In the concentration of 100 μg/ml, the phagocytosis function of NR8383 was enhanced 0.5 times than the normal cell when NR8383 cell was exposed to CSE, and the specific activity is the highest. When NR8383 cells were exposed to CSE and LPS, the phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells was enhanced 2 times than the normal cell. In the concentration of 200 μg/ml, the phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells was damaged, the rate of apoptosis is the 54. 1%. Conclusion Low concentration of CSE enhanced the phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells, but high concentration of CSE damaged the phagocytosis function of NR8383 cells. This study reveals a new role of CSE as an activator of macrophage function.     

Effect of concurrent aerobic and resistance circuit exercise training on fitness in older adults

The purpose of this study was to determine the physiological effects of a programmed accommodating circuit exercise (PACE) program consisting of aerobic exercise and hydraulic-resistance exercise (HRE) on fitness in older adults. Thirty-five volunteers were randomly divided into two groups [PACE group (PG) 8 men and 10 women, 68.3 (4.9) years, and non-exercise control group (CG) 7 men and 10 women, 68.0 (3.4) years). The PG participated in a 12-week, 3 days per week supervised program consisting of 10 min warm-up and 30 min of PACE (moderate intensity HRE and aerobic movements at 70% of peak heart rate) followed by 10 min cool-down exercise. PACE increased (P<0.05) oxygen uptake (O₂) at lactate threshold [PG, pre 0.79 (0.20) l min^–1, post 1.02 (0.22) l min^–1, 29%; CG, pre 0.87 (0.14) l min^–1, post 0.85 (0.15) l min^–1, –2%] and at peak O₂ [PG, pre 1.36 (0.24) l min^–1, post 1.56 (0.28) l min^–1, 15%; CG, pre 1.32 (0.29) l min^–1, post 1.37 (0.37) l min^–1, 4%] in PG measured using an incremental cycle ergometer. Muscular strength evaluated by a HRE machine increased at low to high resistance dial settings for knee extension (9–52%), knee flexion (14–76%), back extension (18–92%) and flexion (50–70%), chest pull (6–28%) and press (3–17%), shoulder press (18–31%) and pull (26–85%), and leg press (21%). Body fat (sum of three skinfolds) decreased (16%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) increased (10.9 mg dl^–1) for PG. There were no changes in any variables for CG. These results indicate that PACE training incorporating aerobic exercise and HRE elicits significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, body composition, and HDLC for older adults. Therefore, PACE training is an effective well-rounded exercise program that can be utilized as a means to improve health-related components of fitness in older adults.     

Budesonide ameliorates lung function of the cigarette smoke-exposed rats through reducing matrix metalloproteinase-1 content

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate an effect of inhaled budesonide on cigarette smoke-exposed lungs with a possible mechanism involved in the event. Methods: Rats were exposed to air (control) and cigarette smoke (smoking) in presence and absence of budesonide. Inflammatory cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), lung function testing, mean liner intercept (MLI) in lung tissue, mean alveolar number (MAN) and a ratio of bronchial wall thickness and external diameter (BWT/D) were determined in the grouped rats, respectively. Contents of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 productions in BALF were examined as well. Results: There were significant changes in the above assessments in the smoking rats as compared to those in the control rats (all P < 0.01 and 0.05). Budesonide inhalation significantly decreased the numbers of the BALF cells and partly reversed lung function decline in the challenged rats (P < 0.01 and 0.05). However, this corticosteroid did not influence pathological changes in fine structures of the tobacco smoke-exposed lungs. Treatment with budesonide resulted in an obvious decrease in the MMP-1 but not MMP-2 and TIMP-2 productions (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhaled budesonide mitigates the ongoing inflammatory process in the smoked lungs and ameliorates declining lung function through reducing MMP-1 content.     

Long-term exposure to cigarette smoke impairs lung function and increases HMGB-1 expression in mice

Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced emphysema is caused by a continuous inflammatory response in the lower respiratory tract. The development of the condition is believed to be mediated by oxidant-antioxidant imbalance. This paper describes the effects of long-term CS exposure on alveolar cell recruitment, antioxidant defense systems, activity of extracellular matrix metalloelastases, expression of metalloelastase MMP-12, and high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB-1). Ten C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to 12 cigarettes-a-day for 60 consecutive days, while 10 control animals were exposed to ambient air. After sacrifice, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was removed, and lung tissue underwent biochemical and histological analyses. In CS-exposed animals influx of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils into BALF, lung static elastance, and expression of MMP-12 and HMGB-1 were significantly increased while the activity of antioxidant enzyme was significantly reduced in comparison with control group. Thus, we demonstrated for the first time that long-term CS exposure decreased antioxidant defenses concomitantly with impaired lung function, which was associated with HMGB-1 expression.     

Pulmonary involvement in type 1 Gaucher disease: functional and exercise findings in patients with and without clinical interstitial lung disease

Pulmonary disease is a well-known complication of Type 1 Gaucher disease (GD), although its incidence is not well established and its severity varies. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and extent of pulmonary involvement in patients with GD. Pulmonary involvement was assessed by history, physical examination and chest radiograph in 150 consecutive patients with Type 1 GD presenting at a specialized center for genetic diseases. Five patients were noted to have clinical evidence of pulmonary involvement. Full pulmonary function tests were performed in these five patients and in an additional 13 patients randomly selected from the remaining 145. Many of the 18 patients also underwent radionuclide body imaging with 67 Gallium citrate and 111Indium-tagged leucocyte scans, as well as incremental cardiorespiratory exercise tests. Lung biopsies were available in two patients with lung disease, and a second examination of lung tissue was performed in one of these two patients post-mortem. Clinical lung disease was detected in five patients. All five had dyspnea, diffuse infiltrates, restrictive impairment and low single breath CO diffusing capacity (DLCOSB). Two of these patients underwent exercise testing and showed abnormalities consistent with lung disease (ventilatory limitation, excessive ventilation and increased dead space) as well as decreased VO2 max. and anaerobic threshold (AT). In contrast, in the other 13 patients, physical examination, chest radiographs and pulmonary function were normal (except for a low DLCOSB in one patient). Responses on exercise testing (performed in six of the 13 patients) were consistent with a circulatory impairment (decreased VO2 max. and AT). Our study found that <5% of patients with Type 1 GD have clinical interstitial lung disease. In addition, we found that some patients, without evident lung involvement, may experience limitations in physical exertion and are easily fatigued; this is attributable to impaired circulation.     

Lipoprotein 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. Lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), HOMA2 index, exercise stress and muscular testing were assessed at the beginning and after 16 weeks of training program. Exercise training increased significantly HDL-C (17.2%; P < 0.001) and decreased triglycerides (18.9%), HbA_1c (15.0%), fasting plasma glucose (5.4%), insulin resistance (HOMA2 25.2%) and resting blood pressure (P < 0.01). 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. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Effect of one hour of passive cigarette smoking on lung function and airway responsiveness in adults and children with asthma

Summary We exposed 18 adults with bronchial asthma, 16 healthy controls and 11 children with asthma for 1 h either to ambient air (AA) or to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Exposure was performed at rest in an exposure chamber. Before and after exposure symptom scores and lung function were determined. After exposure bronchoprovocation tests with methacholine (adults) or histamine (children) were performed to determine the concentrations causing a 100% increase in SRaw (PC₁₀₀SRaw), and a 20% fall in FEV₁ (PC_2OFEV₁). In adult asthmatics mean (SD) SRaw before and after Sham was 8.8 (3.6) and 8.4 (3.6) cmH₂O · s, and mean FEV₁ (SD) was 3.18 (0.97) and 3.14 (0.9) 1, respectively. Before and after passive smoking mean SRaw (SD) was 7.5 (3.0) and 7.2 (2.7) cmH₂O · s, and mean FEV₁ (SD) was 3.31 (1.0) and 3.21 (0.88) 1, respectively. Geometric mean (SD) PC₁₀₀SRaw and PC_2OFEV₁ after Sham were 0.38 (4.5) and 0.29 (4.1) mg/ml, after passive smoking 0.39 (5.1) and 0.36 (4.7) mg/ ml, respectively. In healthy controls there was no consistent effect on the respective parameters during exposure. In children mean (SD) SRaw before and after Sham was 8.7 (3.6) and 9.0 (3.2) cmH₂O · s, and mean FEV₁ (SD) was 1.97 (0.32) and 1.98 (0.40) 1, respectively. Before and after passive smoking mean SRaw (SD) was 10.4 (5.3) and 9.4 (3.3) cmH₂O · s, and mean FEV₁ (SD) was 1.95 (0.37) and 1.94 (0.35) 1, respectively. Geometric mean (SD) PC₁₀₀SRaw and PC₂₀FEV₁ after Sham were 1.39 (3.0) and 0.70 (2.7) mg/ml, and after passive smoking 1.65 (2.5) and 0.96 (2.3) mg/ml, respectively. There were no significant differences in lung function and airway responsiveness between exposure to ambient air or ETS. The main symptoms during passive smoking were eye and nasopharyngeal irritation. Our observations suggest that in children and adults with mild to moderate bronchial asthma, 1 h of passive cigarette smoking does not cause airway obstruction or con sistent changes in bronchial responsiveness.Abbreviations AA ambient air (Sham) - ETS environmental tobacco smoke - SRaw specific airway resistance - FEV₁a one-second forced expiratory volume - PC₂₀FEV₁a provocative concentrations of histamine/methacholine to decrease FEV₁ by 20% - PC₁₀₀SRaw provocative concentrations of histamine/methacholine to increase SRaw by 100% Supported by Forschungsrat Rauchen und Gesundheit, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany     

rTMS联合运动训练对运动皮质功能影响的研究

目的重复经颅磁刺激(rTMS)联合运动训练可有效提高肢体的运动能力。拟通过皮质静息期(CSP)记录的方法探讨rTMS联合运动训练对运动皮质功能的影响,进一步理解其提高运动能力的神经生理机制。方法募集了16例健康受试者,其中男性14例,女性2例;年龄23~31岁,平均年龄24.56岁。随机分为试验组和对照组,试验组进行为期14 d的rTMS联合运动训练,对照组仅进行14 d的运动训练。记录干预前后的CSP信号,并离线提取CSP中运动诱发电位(MEP)的幅值及潜伏期、CSP的持续时间。结果试验组左手MEP的幅值显著增加(z=3,P<0.05),潜伏期显著降低(z=25,P<0.05),CSP持续时间呈增加趋势,但是无统计学意义(z=6,P>0.05)。对照组左手MEP的幅值显著增加(z=4,P<0.05M),EP的潜伏期和CSP的持续时间均无显著变化(P>0.05)。两组受试者右手的MEP幅值、潜伏期和CSP持续时间的变化均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论rTMS联合运动训练同时调控了运动皮质兴奋和抑制性神经元的功能,它可能是rTMS联合运动训练提高肢体运动能力的重要原因。     

Effect of high versus low-velocity resistance training on muscular fitness and functional performance in older men

This study investigated the effect of a 10-week power training (PT) program versus traditional resistance training (TRT) on functional performance, and muscular power and strength in older men. Twenty inactive volunteers (60–76 years old) were randomly assigned to a PT group (three 8–10 repetition sets performed as fast a possible at 60% of 1-RM) or a TRT group (three 8–10 repetition sets with 2–3 s contractions at 60% of 1-RM). Both groups exercised 2 days/week with the same work output. Outcomes were measured with the Rikli and Jones functional fitness test and a bench and leg press test of maximal power and strength (1-RM). Significant differences between and within groups were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). At 10 weeks there was a significantly (P < 0.05) greater improvement in measures of functional performance in the PT group. Arm curling improved by 50 versus 3% and a 30 s chair-stand improved by 43 versus 6% in the PT and TRT groups, respectively. There was also a significantly greater improvement in muscular power (P < 0.05) in the PT group. The bench press improved by 37 versus 13%, and the leg press by 31 and 8% in the PT and TRT groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups in improved muscular strength. It appears that in older men there may be a significantly greater improvement in functional performance and muscular power with PT versus low velocity resistance training.     

A systematic review of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on P3b

Given accumulating evidence indicating that acute and chronic physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are related to modulation of the P3b-ERP component, this systematic review provides an overview of the field across the last 30+ years and discusses future directions as the field continues to develop. A systematic review was conducted on studies of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on P3b. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from database inception to March 28, 2018. Search results were limited to peer-reviewed and English-written studies investigating typically developed individuals. Seventy-two studies were selected, with 39 studies examining cross-sectional relationships between chronic physical activity (n = 19) and cardiorespiratory fitness (n = 20) with P3b, with 16 and 17 studies reporting associations of P3b with physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness, respectively. Eight studies investigated the effects of chronic physical activity interventions, and all found effects on P3b. Eight studies investigating P3b during acute bouts of physical activity showed inconsistent results. Nineteen of 23 studies demonstrated acute modulation of P3b following exercise cessation. Conclusions drawn from this systematic review suggest that physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with P3b modulation during cognitive control and attention tasks. Acute and chronic physical activity interventions modulate the P3b component, suggesting short- and long-term functional adaptations occurring in the brain to support cognitive processes. These summary findings suggest physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are beneficial to brain function and that P3b may serve as a biomarker of covert attentional processes to better understand the relationship of physical activity and cognition.     

Effect of long-term training and acute physical exercise on red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate

Summary A statistically significant 10% increase (ps<0.005) in mean red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentration, concomitantly with a mean 16% increase (p<0.001) in the predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) was observed in 29 recruits, who were studied during 6 months of physical training in military service. The increase in 2,3-DPG was higher, the lower the initial 2,3-DPG and VO₂ max levels. The mean initial 2,3-DPG level was higher in the subjects with a higher initial VO₂ max. A strenuous but highly aerobic 21-km marching exercise elicited a mean 9% increase (p<0.005) in red cell 2,3-DPG concentration. A significantly greater response of 2,3-DPG to marching exercise was observed in subjects with a lower pre-test VO₂ max than in those with a higher pre-test VO₂ max. During another more competitive march 2,3-DPG remained almost unchanged and was associated with a tendency towards a negative correlation with the accompanying lactate response (r=–0.60, p<0.05). Red cell 2,3-DPG response to a standardized exercise is considered to be a suitable indicator for evaluating the effect of training on an individual.     

Effects of aquatic resistance training on health and fitness in postmenopausal women

To investigate effects of 24 weeks of resistance training with aquatic resistance devices or elastic bands (EB) on markers of cardiovascular health and physical capacity. Forty-six healthy, sedentary postmenopausal women participated. The groups were aquatic exercise (AE; n = 15), EB (n = 21), and control (n = 10). Venous blood chemistry included cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and apolipoprotein B. Physical capacity was assessed by the sit-and-reach, knee push-up, 60-s squat, and abdominal crunch tests. Both AE and EB, respectively, showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in body fat (14.56, 11.97%) and diastolic blood pressure (8.03, 5.88%), and a significant increase in fat-free mass (2.88, 1.22%), sit-and-reach (27.94, 44.2%), knee push-ups (84.74, 51.59%), and 60-s squats (65.76, 46.04%). AE also showed a significant increase in abdominal crunches (28.11%). Aquatic resistance training can offer significant physiological benefits in health and performance that are comparable to those obtained from EB in this population.