Impaired post exercise heart rate recovery in anabolic steroid users.

Previous study showed that muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was augmented in anabolic steroids users (AASU). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the heart rate (HR) responses after maximal exercise testing would be reduced in AASU. 10 male AASU and 10 AAS nonusers (AASNU) were studied. Cardiopulmonary exercise was performed to assess the functional capacity and heart rate recovery. MSNA was recorded directly from the peroneal nerve by microneurography technique. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was lower in AASU compared to AASNU (43.66±2.24 vs. 52.70±1.68 ml/kg/min, P=0.005). HR recovery (HRR) at first and second minute was lower in AASU than AASNU (21±2 vs. 27±2 bpm, P=0.02 and 37±4 vs. 45±2 bpm, P=0.05, respectively). MSNA was higher in AASU than AASNU (29±3 vs. 20±1 bursts/min, P=0.01). Further analysis showed a correlation between HRR and MSNA (r=- 0.64, P=0.02), HRR at first minute and peak VO2 (r=0.70, P=0.01) and HRR at second minute and peak VO2 (r=0.62, P=0.02). The exacerbated sympathetic outflow associated with a lower parasympathetic activation after maximal exercise, which impairs heart rate recovery, strengthens the idea of autonomic imbalance in AASU.

Cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal responses to the progressive exercise performed to exhaustion in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin or glyburide.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of Metformin and Glyburide on cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal parameters during progressive exercise performed to exhaustion in the post-prandial state in women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). DESIGN AND METHODS: Ten T2DM patients treated with Metformin (M group), 10 with Glyburide (G group) and 10 age-paired healthy subjects exercised on a bicycle ergometer up to exercise peak. Cardiovascular and blood metabolic and hormonal parameters were measured at times -60 min, 0 min, exercise end, and at 10 and 20 minutes of recovery phase. Thirty minutes before the exercise, a standard breakfast was provided to all participants. The diabetic patients took Metformin or Glyburide before or with meal. RESULTS: Peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)) was lower in patients with diabetes. Plasma glucose levels remained unchanged, but were higher in both diabetic groups. Patients with diabetes also presented lower insulin levels after meals and higher glucagon levels at exercise peak than C group. Serum cortisol levels were higher in G than M group at exercise end and recovery phase. Lactate levels were higher in M than G group at fasting and in C group at exercise peak. Nor epinephrine, GH and FFA responses were similar in all 3 groups. CONCLUSION: Progressive exercise performed to exhaustion, in the post-prandial state did not worsen glucose control during and after exercise. The administration of the usual dose of Glyburide or Metformin to T2DM patients did not influence the cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal response to exercise.

Effects of diet and exercise training on neurovascular control during mental stress in obese women.

Since neurovascular control is altered in obese subjects, we hypothesized that weight loss by diet (D) or diet plus exercise training (D + ET) would improve neurovascular control during mental stress in obese women. In a study with a dietary reduction of 600 kcal/day with or without exercise training for 4 months, 53 obese women were subdivided in D (N = 22, 33 +/- 1 years, BMI 34 +/- 1 kg/m2), D + ET (N = 22, 33 +/- 1 years, BMI 33 +/- 1 kg/m2), and nonadherent (NA, N = 9, 35 +/- 2 years, BMI 33 +/- 1 kg/m2) groups. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured by microneurography and forearm blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography. Mental stress was elicited by a 3-min Stroop color word test. Weight loss was similar between D and D + ET groups (87 +/- 2 vs 79 +/- 2 and 85 +/- 2 vs 76 +/- 2 kg, respectively, P < 0.05) with a significant reduction in MSNA during mental stress (58 +/- 2 vs 50 +/- 2, P = 0.0001, and 59 +/- 3 vs 50 +/- 2 bursts/100 beats, P = 0.0001, respectively), although the magnitude of the response was unchanged. Forearm vascular conductance during mental stress was significantly increased only in D + ET (2.74 +/- 0.22 vs 3.52 +/- 0.19 units, P = 0.02). Weight loss reduces MSNA during mental stress in obese women. The increase in forearm vascular conductance after weight loss provides convincing evidence for D + ET interventions as a nonpharmacologic therapy of human obesity.

Effects of losartan combined with exercise training in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We investigate whether combined treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, and exercise training (ET) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) would have an additive effect in reducing hypertension and improving baroreflex sensitivity when compared with losartan alone. Male SHR (8 weeks old) were assigned to 3 groups: sedentary placebo (SP, N = 16), sedentary under losartan treatment (SL, N = 11; 10 mg kg-1 day-1, by gavage), and ET under losartan treatment (TL, N = 10). ET was performed on a treadmill 5 days/week for 60 min at 50% of peak VO2, for 18 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with a catheter inserted into the carotid artery, and cardiac output with a microprobe placed around the ascending aorta. The baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed by administering increasing doses of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside (iv). Losartan significantly reduced mean BP (178 16 vs 132 12 mmHg) and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.9 0.4 vs 2.5 0.2 mg/g), and significantly increased baroreflex bradycardia and tachycardia sensitivity (1.0 0.3 vs 1.7 0.5 and 2.0 0.7 vs 3.2 1.7 bpm/mmHg, respectively) in SL compared with SP. However, losartan combined with ET had no additional effect on BP, baroreflex sensitivity or left ventricular hypertrophy when compared with losartan alone. In conclusion, losartan attenuates hypertension and improves baroreflex sensitivity in SHR. However, ET has no synergistic effect on BP in established hypertension when combined with losartan, at least at the dosage used in this investigation.

The effects of metformin and glibenclamide on glucose metabolism, counter-regulatory hormones and cardiovascular responses in women with Type 2 diabetes during exercise of moderate intensity.

AIMS: To compare the effects of metformin and glibenclamide on cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal parameters during exercise of moderate intensity performed in the postprandial state, in women with Type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Ten patients treated with metformin, 10 with glibenclamide and 10 control subjects (C) exercised on a bicycle ergometer at 50% of oxygen uptake (VO(2)) peak for 45 min. Cardiovascular, blood metabolic and hormonal parameters were determined at times -60 min (fasting), 0, +15, +30, +45 min (exercise) and at +60, +90 min (recovery). Thirty minutes prior to exercise, participants consumed a standard breakfast. Patients with diabetes took metformin or glibenclamide before the meal. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and plasma glucose were higher in both diabetic groups, for the whole experiment. Blood glucose did not change during exercise in the three groups and increased at recovery only in the control group. Plasma glucagon concentrations at the end of exercise and recovery, and plasma lactate concentrations at recovery were higher in the metformin group. Insulin, noradrenaline, growth hormone, cortisol and free fatty acid responses were similar in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the usual dose of glibenclamide and metformin can be taken safely before postprandial exercise of moderate intensity without affecting cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal responses. However, after exercise, glibenclamide and metformin prevent the normal rise in blood glucose and metformin delays the fall in plasma lactate concentrations.

Effects of diet and exercise training on neurovascular control during mental stress in obese women

Since neurovascular control is altered in obese subjects, we hypothesized that weight loss by diet (D) or diet plus exercise training (D + ET) would improve neurovascular control during mental stress in obese women. In a study with a dietary reduction of 600 kcal/day with or without exercise training for 4 months, 53 obese women were subdivided in D (N = 22, 33 ± 1 years, BMI 34 ± 1 kg/m²), D + ET (N = 22, 33 ± 1 years, BMI 33 ± 1 kg/m²), and nonadherent (NA, N = 9, 35 ± 2 years, BMI 33 ± 1 kg/m²) groups. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was measured by microneurography and forearm blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography. Mental stress was elicited by a 3-min Stroop color word test. Weight loss was similar between D and D + ET groups (87 ± 2 vs 79 ± 2 and 85 ± 2 vs 76 ± 2 kg, respectively, P < 0.05) with a significant reduction in MSNA during mental stress (58 ± 2 vs 50 ± 2, P = 0.0001, and 59 ± 3 vs 50 ± 2 bursts/100 beats, P = 0.0001, respectively), although the magnitude of the response was unchanged. Forearm vascular conductance during mental stress was significantly increased only in D + ET (2.74 ± 0.22 vs 3.52 ± 0.19 units, P = 0.02). Weight loss reduces MSNA during mental stress in obese women. The increase in forearm vascular conductance after weight loss provides convincing evidence for D + ET interventions as a nonpharmacologic therapy of human obesity.

Comparaçäo entre a prescriçäo de intensidade de treinamento físico baseada na avaliaçäo ergométrica convencional e na ergoespirométrica / Comparison between exercises intensity prescription based on a standard exercise test and cardiopulmonary exercise test

OBJETIVO - Comparar os limites inferiores (L.inf.) e superior (L.sup.) da pescriçäo de treinamento físico aeróbico determinada pelo teste ergométrico convencional (60-70 por cento do VO2máx estimulado ou 70-85 por cento da FCmáx atingida), com a prescriçäo obtida pelo teste ergoespirométrico [limiar anaeróbico (LA) e ponto de compensaçäo respiratória (PCR)]. MÉTODOS - Realizaram teste ergoespirométrico progressivo até a exaustäo 47 homens (30ñ5 anos), divididos em subgrupos, de acordo com a velocidade da esteira durante o teste (4 ou 5mph) e a capacidade física medida [baixa (BCF) e moderada (MCF)]. RESULTADOS - Os L.inf. de prescriçäo indireta apresentaram valores de VO2 e FC significantemente maiores que os valores de Vo2 e FC no LA...Os L.sup. de prescriçäo indireta no grupo de 4mph e BCF apresentaram valores de VO2 significantemente maiores que os valores medidos no PCR ..., e valores de FC semelhantes aos medidos no PCR. CONCLUSÄO - Os L.inf. da prescriçäo indireta de treinamento físico superestimam o LA, enquanto os L.sup. parecem adequados somente para indivíduos ativos com MCF

Effects of losartan combined with exercise training in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigate whether combined treatment with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, and exercise training (ET) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) would have an additive effect in reducing hypertension and improving baroreflex sensitivity when compared with losartan alone. Male SHR (8 weeks old) were assigned to 3 groups: sedentary placebo (SP, N = 16), sedentary under losartan treatment (SL, N = 11; 10 mg kg-1 day-1, by gavage), and ET under losartan treatment (TL, N = 10). ET was performed on a treadmill 5 days/week for 60 min at 50 percent of peak VO2, for 18 weeks. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with a catheter inserted into the carotid artery, and cardiac output with a microprobe placed around the ascending aorta. The baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed by administering increasing doses of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside (iv). Losartan significantly reduced mean BP (178 ± 16 vs 132 ± 12 mmHg) and left ventricular hypertrophy (2.9 ± 0.4 vs 2.5 ± 0.2 mg/g), and significantly increased baroreflex bradycardia and tachycardia sensitivity (1.0 ± 0.3 vs 1.7 ± 0.5 and 2.0 ± 0.7 vs 3.2 ± 1.7 bpm/mmHg, respectively) in SL compared with SP. However, losartan combined with ET had no additional effect on BP, baroreflex sensitivity or left ventricular hypertrophy when compared with losartan alone. In conclusion, losartan attenuates hypertension and improves baroreflex sensitivity in SHR. However, ET has no synergistic effect on BP in established hypertension when combined with losartan, at least at the dosage used in this investigation.

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity and hemodynamic alterations in middle-aged obese women

To study the relationship between the sympathetic nerve activity and hemodynamic alterations in obesity, we simultaneously measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), blood pressure, and forearm blood flow (FBF) in obese and lean individuals. Fifteen normotensive obese women (BMI = 32.5 + or - 0.5 kg/m²) and 11 age-matched normotensive lean women (BMI = 22.7 + or - 1.0 kg/m²) were studied. MSNA was evaluated directly from the peroneal nerve by microneurography, FBF was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, and blood pressure was measured noninvasively by an autonomic blood pressure cuff. MSNA was significantly increased in obese women when compared with lean control women. Forearm vascular resistance and blood pressure were significantly higher in obese women than in lean women. FBF was significantly lower in obese women. BMI was directly and significantly correlated with MSNA, blood pressure, and forearm vascular resistance levels, but inversely and significantly correlated with FBF levels. Obesity increases sympathetic nerve activity and muscle vascular resistance, and reduces muscle blood flow. These alterations, taken together, may explain the higher blood pressure levels in obese women when compared with lean age-matched women