Skin vascular response in the hand during sinusoidal exercise in physically trained subjects

The effect of physical training on the cutaneous vascular response during transient exercise load is unclear. We determined the phase response and amplitude response of cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) in the hand during sinusoidal exercise in endurance exercise-trained and untrained subjects. Subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer with a sinusoidal load for 32 min. The load variation ranged from 10% [23 (1) W in the trained group, 19 (1) W in the untrained group] to 60% [137 (4) W, 114 (6) W] of peak O₂ uptake, and five different time periods (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 min) were selected. Skin blood flow in the dorsal hand and palm were monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry. CVC was evaluated from the ratio of blood flow to mean arterial pressure. During sinusoidal exercise, the amplitude of CVC was smaller in the dorsal hand than palm for shorter periods (1, 2, and 4 min) (P<0.05). The phase lag of CVC was smaller in the dorsal hand than palm for longer periods (8 and 16 min) (P<0.05). The amplitude response did not differ significantly between the two groups. The phase lag of CVC in the dorsal hand (P<0.05) and palm (P=0.06) was larger in the trained group than untrained group. These findings suggest that glabrous and nonglabrous skin vascular responses in the hand differ during transient exercise load, and physically trained subjects show a slower vascular response in the two skin areas to exercise stimulation than do untrained subjects.     

Brief intense exercise followed by passive recovery modifies the pattern of fuel use in humans during subsequent sustained intermittent exercise

The role of work period duration as the principal factor influencing carbohydrate metabolism during intermittent exercise has been investigated. Fuel oxidation rates and muscle glycogen and free carnitine content were compared between two protocols of sustained intermittent intense exercise with identical treadmill speed and total work duration. In the first experiment subjects (n=6) completed 40 min of intermittent treadmill running involving a work : recovery cycle of 6 : 9 s or 24 : 36 s on separate days. With 24 : 36 s exercise a higher rate of carbohydrate oxidation approached significance (P=0.057), whilst fat oxidation rate was lower (P ≤ 0.01) and plasma lactate concentration higher (P ≤ 0.01). Muscle glycogen was lower post‐exercise with 24 : 36 s (P ≤ 0.05). Muscle free carnitine decreased (P ≤ 0.05), but there was no difference between protocols. In the second experiment a separate group of subjects (n=5) repeated the intermittent exercise protocols with the addition of a 10‐min bout of intense exercise, followed by 43 ± 5 min passive recovery, prior to sustained (40 min) intermittent exercise. For this experiment the difference in fuel use observed previously between 6 : 9 s and 24 : 36 s was abolished. Carbohydrate and fat oxidation, plasma lactate and muscle glycogen levels were similar in 6 : 9 s and 24 : 36 s. When compared with the first experiment, this result was because of reduced carbohydrate oxidation in 24 : 36 s (P ≤ 0.05). There was no difference, and no change, in muscle free carnitine between protocols. A 10‐min bout of intense exercise, followed by 43 ± 5 min of passive recovery, substantially modifies fuel use during subsequent intermittent intense exercise.     

The effects of cycle racing on pulmonary diffusion capacity and left ventricular systolic function

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 20 km cycle race (TT) on left ventricular (LV) systolic and pulmonary function in 12 endurance cyclists. Spirometry, single-breath diffusion capacity (DLCO) with partitioning of membrane (DM) and capillary blood volume (Vc) components and 2-D echocardiograms were performed before and after the TT. During the TT mean oxygen consumption was 3.79 +/- 0.5 L x min(-1) (83 +/- 5.5% of VO2max) and mean blood lactate was 8.4 +/- 2.4 mM. Following the TT, spirometry values were unchanged, however, DLCO and DM were significantly (P<0.05) reduced. LV systolic function was increased (P<0.05) immediately after exercise, while end-diastolic area was decreased (P<0.05) at all points during recovery. The reduction in DM was correlated with LV systolic function following the TT. This relationship suggests a cardiovascular contribution to pulmonary diffusion impairment following exercise.     

Effect of alkalosis on performance and lactate formation in supramaximal exercise

Summary An increased base binding power of the blood induced by alkali administration to subjects performing a supramaximal exercise has no appreciable effect neither on the maximal performance time nor on the total amount of lactic acid or its rate of appearance in blood.This work has been supported by a grant from the Italian National Research Council. Thanks are due also to Laboratory Glaxo, S.p.A. for facilities and financial support in the course of the experiments.     

The metabolic response to prolonged walking in fed and fasted men

Summary Six healthy men walked 37 km (23 miles) per day over a 3-lap course for each of 4 consecutive days. Subjects were allowed breakfast and an unrestricted diet was consumed after completion of the walk, but no food was consumed during or between laps. At a later date the same subjects walked over the same course after an overnight fast and without breakfast. Completion time for each lap was 139±1 min (mean ±SE) and exercise intensity was equivalent to 17±1% . Mean 24h energy intake was 14.5±0.8 MJ during the fed walk. Estimated daily energy expenditure was 12.0 MJ. Blood glucose concentration fell significantly on the first, third and fourth days of the fed walk, but no subject became hypoglycaemic. Glucose concentration did not fall during the fasted walk and was significantly higher pre-exercise and at the end of laps one and three when compared to the first day of the fed walk. Blood alanine concentration fell significantly after the end of the first lap of each day of the fed walk but not during the fasted walk. Blood lactate levels did not change during the course of either walk. Plasma free fatty acid, glycerol and blood 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were unchanged during the passage of the first lap on each day of the fed walk, but all three had increased significantly by the end of the first lap of the fasted walk. The elevations from rest to the end of each day's walking for these three metabolites were of similar magnitude when comparing each day of the fed walk and the fed and fasted walks. The present experiment indicates that feeding a mixed diet can affect the pattern of substrate mobilization in a similar manner to that seen during more strenuous exercise. It also appears that the pattern of fuel substrate mobilization is very similar from one day to the next providing dietary intake is similar.     

Increased phagocytic capacity of the blood,but decreased phagocytic activity per individual circulating neutrophil after an ultradistance run

The effect of a long strenuous endurance exercise on the phagocytic function of neutrophils was examined. 9 athletes [7 males, 2 females, age: 36–68 years, body mass: 64 (SD 10) kg, height: 175 (SD 10) cm] completed a competetive 100 km run in 8:07 (median value; range: 7:29–9:50 hours). In a whole blood assay the phagocytosis of opsonized E. coli, the receptor density of the Fc receptor 3 (CD16) and the complement receptor 3 (CD11b, direct immunofluorescence) of neutrophils were measured on a per cell basis by flow cytometry before and up to 3 hours after the race. The phagocytic rate (percentage of neutrophils incorporating bacteria) was unchanged after exercise, whereas the phagocytic activity (number of incorporated bacteria per cell) was significantly reduced by –34 (SD 8) % (Wilcoxon test, P<0.001). The total phagocytic capacity of the blood increased 2-3fold post exercise. The surface antigen expressions of CD11b and CD16 were unaffected by the ultradistance run. The results indicate either a reduced phagocytic function of neutrophils on a single cell basis or the mobilization of neutrophils of the marginal pool with a lower phagocytic activity. However, after a long endurance exercise the phagocytotic capacity of the blood was enhanced due to increased cell concentrations.     

Effects of protein supplementation during prolonged exercise at moderate altitude on performance and plasma amino acid pattern

Summary The effects of two levels of protein intake on muscle performance and energy metabolism were studied in humans submitted to repeated daily sessions of prolonged exercise at moderate altitude. For this purpose, 29 healthy males, were exposed to seven successive stages of ski-mountaineering at altitudes between 2500 and 3 800 m, and to an isocaloric diet (4000 kcal·day^–1, 16760 kJ·day^–1) with either 1.5g·kg^–1·day^–1 (C group,n =14), or 2.5 g·kg^–1·day^–1 (PR group,n =15) protein intake. Measurements made after the ski-mountaineering programme did not show any change in body mass. The peak torque during maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps muscle was unaffected by the repeated exercises, whereas the endurance time at 50% MVC was decreased in PR subjects (–26.8%,P<0.001). Increased levels of both free fatty acids (+147%,P<0.001) and glycerol (+170%,P<0.001) observed in C subjects would suggest that lipolysis was enhanced after the repeated exercise. The plasma amino acid pattern was altered after completion of the ski-mountaineering programme; the plasma concentration of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) was significantly decreased in C subjects, whereas the higher level of protein intake (PR group) greatly minimized the exercise-induced decrease in serum BCAA.     

Glycolytic activity of rat aorta after exercise

Summary Activities of glycolytic enzymes in the aorta were investigated in female Wistar rats. There were two groups of rats; one served as the control (sedentary rats), while the other group was forced to run on a treadmill for 10 weeks. In the control animals, the activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and aldolase were relatively lower than those of the other glycolytic enzymes (phosphoglucose isomerase, lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase). After exercise, the activity of phosphofructokinase increased by 15%, whereas the other enzymatic activities were much the same as in the controls. Within the limits of the experiments, the increased percentage of phosphofructokinase was statistically significant (p<0.05). Since phosphofructokinase is a putative rate limiting enzyme, this enzymatic activation may indicate that glycolytic activity in the rat aorta is enhanced during and after running exercise.     

NEAT – non‐exercise activity thermogenesis – egocentric & geocentric environmental factors vs. biological regulation

Non‐exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy expenditure of all physical activities other than volitional sporting‐like exercise. NEAT includes all those activities that render us vibrant, unique and independent beings such as going to work, playing guitar, toe‐tapping and dancing. The factors that account for the 2000 kcal day^?1 variability of NEAT can be categorized as environmental or biological. The environmental determinants of NEAT can be view using one of two models. In the egocentric model we consider a single person as the focus, e.g. ‘my job’. In the geocentric model we consider the ‘environment’ as the focus, e.g. well‐lit and safe walk ways. These models provide us with a theoretical framework to understand NEAT and how best to intervene to promote NEAT. As well as environmental effectors of NEAT, there are also biological regulatory mechanisms that enable us to account for three‐quarters of the biological variance in susceptibility and resistance to fat gain with human over‐feeding. NEAT is likely to be regulated through a central mechanism that integrates NEAT with energy intake and energy stores so that NEAT is activated with over‐feeding and suppressed with under‐feeding. In conclusion, NEAT is likely to serve as a crucial thermoregulatory switch between energy storage and dissipation that is biologically regulated and influenced, and perhaps over‐ridden, by environment. Deciphering the role of NEAT may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of obesity.     

Thermoregulatory responses to intermittent exercise are influenced by knit structure of underwear

Summary The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of knit structure in underwear on thermoregulatory responses. Underwear manufactured from 100% polypropylene fibres in five different knit structures (1-by-1 rib, fleece, fishnet, interlock, double-layer rib) was evaluated. All five underwear prototypes were tested as part of a prototype clothing system. Measured on a thermal manikin these clothing systems had total thermal resistances of 0.243, 0.268, 0.256, 0.248 and 0.250 m² · K · W^–1, respectively (including a value for the thermal resistance of the ambient environment of 0.104 m² · K · W^–1). Human testing was done on eight male subjects and took place at ambient temperature (T _a)=5°C, dew point temperature (T _dp)=–3.5° C and air velocity (V _a)=0.32 m · s^–1. The test comprised a repeated bout of 40-min cycle exercise (315 W · m^–2; 52%, SD 4.9% maximal oxygen uptake) followed by 20 min of rest (62 W · m^–2). The oxygen uptake, heart rate, oesophageal temperature, skin temperature,T _a,T _dp at the skin and in the ambient air, onset of sweating, evaporation rate, non-evaporated sweat accumulated in the clothing and total evaporative loss of mass were measured. Skin wettedness was calculated. The differences in knit structure of the underwear in the clothing systems resulted in significant differences in mean skin temperature, local and average skin wettedness, non-evaporated and evaporated sweat during the course of the intermittent exercise test. No differences were observed over this period in the core temperature measurements.The views, opinions and/or findings in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision, unless so designated by other official documentation