High intensity interval and moderate continuous cycle training in a physical education programme improves health-related fitness in young females.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of eight weeks of regular physical education classes supplemented with high intensity interval cycle exercise (HIIE) or continuous cycle exercises of moderate intensity (CME). Forty-eight collegiate females exercising in two regular physical education classes per week were randomly assigned to two programmes (HIIE; n = 24 or CME; n = 24) of additional (one session of 63 minutes per week) physical activity for 8 weeks. Participants performed HIIE comprising 2 series of 6x10 s sprinting with maximal pedalling cadence and active recovery pedalling with intensity 65%-75% HRmax or performed CME corresponding to 65%-75% HRmax. Before and after the 8-week programmes, anthropometric data and aero- and anaerobic capacity were measured. Two-way ANOVA revealed a significant time main effect for VO2max (p < 0.001), similar improvements being found in both groups (+12% in HIIE and +11% in CME), despite body mass not changing significantly (p = 0.59; +0.4% in HIIE and -0.1% in CME). A significant main time effect was found for relative fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). A group x time interaction effect was found for relative FM and FFM (p = 0.018 and p = 0.018); a greater reduction in FM and greater increase in FFM were noted in the CME than the HIIE group. Improvements in anaerobic power were observed in both groups (p < 0.001), but it was greater in the HIIE group (interaction effect, p = 0.022). Weight loss is not mandatory for exercise-induced effects on improving aerobic and anaerobic capacity in collegiate females. Eight weeks of regular physical education classes supplemented with CME sessions are more effective in improving body composition than physical education classes supplemented with HIIE sessions. In contrast to earlier, smaller trials, similar improvements in aerobic capacity were observed following physical activity with additional HIIE or CME sessions.

Isospin character of low-lying pygmy dipole states in 208Pb via inelastic scattering of 17O ions.

The properties of pygmy dipole states in 208Pb were investigated using the 208Pb(17O, 17O'γ) reaction at 340 MeV and measuring the γ decay with high resolution with the AGATA demonstrator array. Cross sections and angular distributions of the emitted γ rays and of the scattered particles were measured. The results are compared with (γ, γ') and (p, p') data. The data analysis with the distorted wave Born approximation approach gives a good description of the elastic scattering and of the inelastic excitation of the 2+ and 3- states. For the dipole transitions a form factor obtained by folding a microscopically calculated transition density was used for the first time. This has allowed us to extract the isoscalar component of the 1- excited states from 4 to 8 MeV.

Gender differences in carotid artery intima-media thickness and flow-mediated dilatation in young, physically active adults.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences (GD) in vascular structure and function and their relations to cardiovascular risk factors (CVD) in young, physically active adults. METHODS: Sixty-three apparently healthy, physically active adults (34 women, 29 men), aged 20.2±0.9 years, were involved in the study. RESULTS: Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) values of both internal carotid (CI) and common carotid arteries (CC) were significantly (P<0.01 and P<0.01) higher in men than in women (0.47±0.05 vs. 0.51±0.07 mm and 0.45±0.07 vs. 0.49±0.07 mm, respectively). In women, CC-IMT was positively correlated with body fat mass, height and body mass; and CI-IMT was inversely correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In men, CI-IMT was positively correlated with body height, diastolic blood pressure and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Relative values of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) increased in women by 16.6%, in men by 13.7% after a 5-minute period of forearm ischemia, but absolute FMD was similar in men and women, 0.53±0.25 vs. 0.53±0.14 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Values of CC IMT and CI IMT after adjustment to classical CVD risk factors remained strongly diversified with respect to gender, which confirmed the significance of gender as a conditional factor for atherosclerosis assessment. Some GD in vascular structure and function could be eliminated by adjusting for baseline artery diameter and/or subject's somatic features, i.e., body height. This study supports a need for additional studies focusing on understanding GD in vascular characteristics, which could lead to established better quality reference values and comprehend natural history of CVD in view of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying GD.

The influence of thyroid function and bone turnover on lipoprotein profile in young physically active men with different insulin sensitivity.

Physical activity induces changes in the endocrine system. Previous data indicated that changes in insulin secretion and the tissue response to this hormone are very important for energy metabolism. It is believed that they are accompanied by changes in lipid metabolism, but factors contributing to this process are still disputed. The aim of this study was to assess interactions among insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, a bone turnover marker and serum lipid profile in young physically active men. Eighty-seven physical education students, aged 18-23 years, participated in the study. We measured serum levels of glucose, lipids, insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), osteocalcin and anthropometric parameters. Insulin sensitivity was determined using homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The median value of HOMA-IR (1.344) was used to divide the study population into Group A (above the median) and Group B (below the median). Men from both groups did not differ in anthropometric parameters or in daily physical activity. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were higher in Group A (P < 0.05). TSH and osteocalcin levels were similar in males with different HOMA-IR. Multiple regression analysis for TSH and osteocalcin showed that in Group A these hormones had no effect on plasma lipoproteins. However, in Group B they significantly determined the variation of plasma TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (in about 28% and 29%, respectively). We concluded that TSH and osteocalcin are involved in determination of a more healthy lipid profile at a certain level of insulin sensitivity.

Intraspinal microstimulation produces over-ground walking in anesthetized cats.

OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord injury causes a drastic loss of motor, sensory and autonomic function. The goal of this project was to investigate the use of intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) for producing long distances of walking over ground. ISMS is an electrical stimulation method developed for restoring motor function by activating spinal networks below the level of an injury. It produces movements of the legs by stimulating the ventral horn of the lumbar enlargement using fine penetrating electrodes (≤50 µm diameter). APPROACH: In each of five adult cats (4.2-5.5 kg), ISMS was applied through 16 electrodes implanted with tips targeting lamina IX in the ventral horn bilaterally. A desktop system implemented a physiologically-based control strategy that delivered different stimulation patterns through groups of electrodes to evoke walking movements with appropriate limb kinematics and forces corresponding to swing and stance. Each cat walked over an instrumented 2.9 m walkway and limb kinematics and forces were recorded. MAIN RESULTS: Both propulsive and supportive forces were required for over-ground walking. Cumulative walking distances ranging from 609 to 835 m (longest tested) were achieved in three animals. In these three cats, the mean peak supportive force was 3.5 ± 0.6 N corresponding to full-weight-support of the hind legs, while the angular range of the hip, knee, and ankle joints were 23.1 ± 2.0°, 29.1 ± 0.2°, and 60.3 ± 5.2°, respectively. To further demonstrate the viability of ISMS for future clinical use, a prototype implantable module was successfully implemented in a subset of trials and produced comparable walking performance. SIGNIFICANCE: By activating inherent locomotor networks within the lumbosacral spinal cord, ISMS was capable of producing bilaterally coordinated and functional over-ground walking with current amplitudes <100 µA. These exciting results suggest that ISMS may be an effective intervention for restoring functional walking after spinal cord injury.

Cardiovascular risk factors in supersonic pilots in Poland.

Selected cardiovascular risk factors were examined in 272 active pilots of supersonic aircraft in Poland. Hypercholesterolemia was present in 72.4% and hypertriglyceridemia in 17.1% of the pilots. Decreased levels of HDL-cholesterol and increased levels of LDL-cholesterol were found in 86.9% and 69.9% of pilots, respectively. Slightly over half (52.2%) were found to be mildly overweight while 6.6% were obese. The prevalence of smoking was 25.4%. Risk factor modification included non-pharmacological treatment of hyperlipidemia supported by lipid-lowering drugs, depending on the serum lipid level. A significant improvement in lipid profiles was obtained with this strategy, at least over 3 to 6 mo of follow up. The challenge is to develop strategies that will result in maintained improvements.

Sinus node arrest and asystole from vaso-vagal phenomena during lower body negative pressure in a healthy pilot.

We present a case study of sinus node arrest and asystole in a healthy 34-year-old fighter pilot during the third minute of exposure to lower body negative pressure (LBNP). These disturbances lasted more than 17 s, and were accompanied by complete loss of consciousness and tonicclonic body movements of short duration. Routine blood examination, EEG, standard and dynamic ECG (on a treadmill, in a human centrifuge, and upon Holter monitoring), 2 D D echocardiogram, exercise heart scintiscan, tilt table test, carotid sinus massage and electrophysiological heart examination with esophagal electrode stimulation before and after intravenous atropine injection, revealed no pathology. The pilot's tolerance to +Gz acceleration of 6.3-8.0 G was very good. We discuss the clinical, certification, legal, and ethical aspects of this case, asserting that neither normal results of widely applied clinical diagnostic tests of the autonomic and circulatory systems, nor very good tolerance to +Gz acceleration eliminate the possibility of the occurrence of strong vasovagal reflex with sinus node arrest, asystole, and loss of consciousness. Such a reflex may be provoked by the LBNP in the absence of disease.

[Evaluation of the nervous system in workers of a enolofos production department in chemical factories]. / Ocena stanu ukladu nerwowego u pracowników oddzialu produkcji enolofosu zakladów chemicznych.

Neurological examination including EEG, ENG and measurement of nerve motor conduction velocity were performed in 41 male workers, exposed to enolofos. 43% of the population examined developed subjective neurological symptoms 34%--discrete lesions of CNS and in 31% polineuropathy was observed. Motor nerve conduction velocity was decreased in 10 workers (24%) in peroneus nerves and in 1 worker in ulnaris nerve. Comparison of EEG and ENG with the control group was not statistically significant.

[Morphometric evaluation of atherosclerotic constrictions of the coronary arteries]. / Morfometricheskaia otsenka ateroskleroticheskikh suzhenii koronarnykh arterii.

A method is proposed for objective assessment of the degree of stenosis in atherosclerotically-involved coronary arteries through their direct measurement. The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional subjective procedure. The findings coincided in 7 (8%) of 88 assessments. The difference was below +/- 5% in 18 (20%) cases, ranged between +/- 5-10% in further 30 (34%) and exceeded 8 +/- 10% in 33 (38%) cases, reaching +/- 15-20% in 11 (12%) of those. The results suggest that the morphometric technique should be used more extensively for the assessment of atherosclerotically-stenosed coronary arteries.

[Early systolic asynergia of the left ventricle as a symptom of myocardial ischemia]. / Ranniaia sistolicheskaia asinergiia levogo zheludochka kak simptom ishemii miokarda.

Cineangiographic contraction assessment was made in 30 coronary patients with normal left-ventricular ejection fraction. Twenty-seven (90%) patients showed abnormal myocardial segmental contractility during the early phase of contraction. or the so-called early systolic asynergia. Its loci coincided with areas supplied from atherosclerotic coronary arteries, as a result of ischemia causing local impairment of left-ventricular contractility, undetectable by routine hemodynamic investigation. In this respect, early systolic asynergia may be regarded as a sensitive angiocardiographic symptom of coronary heart disease.

[Value of exercise test for assessment of hemodynamic efficiency of the heart]. / Wartosc próby wysilkowej dla oceny sprawnosci hemodynamicznej serca.

The purpose of the work was an attempt at determination of the value of exercise test for the assessment of haemodynamic heart effectiveness. The reaction of blood pressure and heart rate to exercise was accepted as the basis for analysis. The analysis was based on a material of 40 men aged 33-66 years (mean = 51 years) with a history of myocardial infarction in whom exercise tests were carried out one year after aortocoronary bypass graft implantation. The studied men were divided into two groups A abd B depending on the reaction of blood pressure and heart rate occurring during exercise. Group A consisted of persons who responded to exercise with blood pressure and heart rate in a physiological way. The patients in group B terminated the exercise test due to pathological response. The subject of the analysis were: ischaemic changes during exercise; duration of the exercise test; attained workload in Watts; heart rhythm disturbances in group A and B; segmental left ventricular contractility disturbances evaluated on the basis of echocardiography findings. Among the patients in group B a higher percent of positive tests was found as well as shorter duration of the test and lower mean workload in relation to the patients in group A. Contractility disturbances occurred significantly more frequently - 80% among the patients in group B with greater prevalence of more sever forms of akinesis and dyskinesis (p < 0.05). Hypokinesis was observed in 7 patients (35%), akinesis in 5 cases (25%), and dyskinesis in 4 cases (20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Feed forward and feedback control for over-ground locomotion in anaesthetized cats.

The biological central pattern generator (CPG) integrates open and closed loop control to produce over-ground walking. The goal of this study was to develop a physiologically based algorithm capable of mimicking the biological system to control multiple joints in the lower extremities for producing over-ground walking. The algorithm used state-based models of the step cycle each of which produced different stimulation patterns. Two configurations were implemented to restore over-ground walking in five adult anaesthetized cats using intramuscular stimulation (IMS) of the main hip, knee and ankle flexor and extensor muscles in the hind limbs. An open loop controller relied only on intrinsic timing while a hybrid-CPG controller added sensory feedback from force plates (representing limb loading), and accelerometers and gyroscopes (representing limb position). Stimulation applied to hind limb muscles caused extension or flexion in the hips, knees and ankles. A total of 113 walking trials were obtained across all experiments. Of these, 74 were successful in which the cats traversed 75% of the 3.5 m over-ground walkway. In these trials, the average peak step length decreased from 24.9 ± 8.4 to 21.8 ± 7.5 (normalized units) and the median number of steps per trial increased from 7 (Q1 = 6, Q3 = 9) to 9 (8, 11) with the hybrid-CPG controller. Moreover, within these trials, the hybrid-CPG controller produced more successful steps (step length ≤ 20 cm; ground reaction force ≥ 12.5% body weight) than the open loop controller: 372 of 544 steps (68%) versus 65 of 134 steps (49%), respectively. This supports our previous preliminary findings, and affirms that physiologically based hybrid-CPG approaches produce more successful stepping than open loop controllers. The algorithm provides the foundation for a neural prosthetic controller and a framework to implement more detailed control of locomotion in the future.