Ingestion of a moderate dose of alcohol enhances physical exercise-induced changes in blood lactate concentration

The consumption of alcoholic beverages influences carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, although it is not yet clear whether metabolism during physical exercise at different intensities is also affected. This was the objective of the present study. Eight young and healthy volunteers performed a treadmill test to identify the running speed corresponding to a lactate concentration of 4 mM (S4mM). At least 48 h later, they were subjected to two experimental trials (non-alcohol or alcohol) in which they performed two 1-km running sessions at the following intensities: 1) S4mM; 2) 15% above S4mM. In both trials, blood lactate, triglycerides, and glucose concentrations were measured before and after exercise. The acute alcohol intake increased triglycerides, but not lactate concentration under resting conditions. Interestingly, alcohol intake enhanced the exercise-induced increase in lactate concentration at the two intensities: S4mM (non-alcohol: 4.2±0.3 mM vs alcohol: 4.8±0.9 mM; P=0.003) and 15% above S4mM trial (P=0.004). When volunteers ingested alcohol, triglycerides concentration remained increased after treadmill running (e.g., at S4mM - at rest; non-alcohol: 0.2±0.5 mM vs alcohol: 1.3±1.3 mM; P=0.048). In contrast, glucose concentration was not modified by either alcohol intake, exercise, or their combination. We concluded that an acute alcohol intake changed lactate and lipid metabolism without affecting blood glucose concentration. In addition, the increase in lactate concentration caused by alcohol was specifically observed when individuals exercised, whereas augmented triglycerides concentration was already observed before exercise and was sustained thereafter.

Uso de Esteroides Anabólicos en Jóvenes de Asunción / Anabolic Steroid Use in Young People of Asuncion

Los esteroides anabólicos típicamente usados por jóvenes, atletas y culturistas para incrementar el musculo y la fuerza son peligrosos, están accesibles, y se prescriben de manera errónea como eficaces, pero con riesgo bajo. No solo los atletas consumen esteroides anabólicos. Algunos jóvenes los toman para lucir más musculosos o para quemar grasa. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar los factores asociados al uso de anabólicos esteroides en jóvenes de 16 a 25 años que asisten al Gimnasio Fitness Family Caff de Asunción, conocer los datos socio-demográficos, caracterizar los conocimientos y el uso de esteroides anabólicos en el gimnasio y determinar el factor de consumo de esteroides anabólicos de acuerdo a la práctica en el gimnasio. Estudio tipo observacional descriptivo de corte transversal que contó con la participación de 41 jóvenes provenientes en su mayoría de Asunción. En cuanto a los factores se determinó que su uso está motivado por mejorar el aspecto físico, es decir, por un factor estético al igual que por la participación en competencias fitness

Anabolic steroids, typically used by young people, athletes and bodybuilders to increase muscle and strength, are dangerous, accessible and are prescribed incorrectly as effective, but with low risk. Not only athletes consume anabolic steroids. Some young people take them to look more muscular or for fat burning. The study had the following objectives: To identify factors associated with the use of anabolic steroids in 16 to 25 years young people who attend the Family Fitness Caff Gym in Asuncion, to know the socio-demographic data, characterize the knowledge and use of anabolic steroids in the gym, and determine the consumption factor of anabolic steroids according to the practice in the gym. This was an observational descriptive cross-sectional study. The study had the participation of 41 young people, mostly from Asuncion. In relation to the factors, it was determined that their use was motivated to improve their physical appearance; this is to say, for an aesthetic factor as well as for the participation in fitness competitions.

Intraoperative Neural Response Telemetry and Neural Recovery Function: a Comparative Study between Adults and Children

Introduction Neural response telemetry (NRT) is a method of capturing the action potential of the distal portion of the auditory nerve in cochlear implant (CI) users, using the CI itself to elicit and record the answers. In addition, it can alsomeasure the recovery function of the auditory nerve (REC), that is, the refractory properties of the nerve. It is not clear in the literature whether the responses from adults are the same as those from children. Objective To compare the results of NRT and REC between adults and children undergoing CI surgery. Methods Cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study of the results of NRT and REC for patients undergoing IC at our service. The NRT is assessed by the level of amplitude (microvolts) and REC as a function of three parameters: A (saturation level, in microvolts), t0 (absolute refractory period, in seconds), and tau (curve of the model function), measured in three electrodes (apical, medial, and basal). Results Fifty-two patients were evaluated with intraoperative NRT (26 adults and 26 children), and 24 with REC (12 adults and 12 children). No statistically significant difference was found between intraoperative responses of adults and children for NRTor for REC's three parameters, except for parameter A of the basal electrode. Conclusion The results of intraoperative NRT and REC were not different between adults and children, except for parameter A of the basal electrode. .

Association of the infusion of Heteropterys aphrodisiaca and endurance training brings spermatogenetic advantages

The species Heteropterys aphrodisiaca is commonly used as a stimulant by popular medicine in the Cerrado, a savanna-like biome, Brazil. Recent studies have proved its protective effects on testes of animals submitted to treatment using Cyclosporine A, as well as its stimulus effect in increasing testosterone secretion. Therefore, the present study was designed to analyze whether the association of the plant infusion and endurance exercise could potentiate the stimulating effect. The animals were separated into 4 groups: two control (sedentary and trained) receiving water and two treated (sedentary and trained) receiving the plant infusion daily (104mg/day). The proportion of the seminiferous tubule compartment and interstitium was analyzed. Within the seminiferous epithelium, the number of Sertoli and germ cells were counted in order to evaluate whether the treatment would alter the spermatogenic dynamics, analyzing: the spermatogenic yield, the mitotic and meiotic indexes, the total number of germ cells and the Sertoli cell support capacity. Trained and treated animals showed increased spermatogenic yield and spermatogonia mitosis, and no significant differences in apoptotic indexes. Despite the results showing the same pattern regarding yield and mitotic index, the meiotic index was higher in the sedentary/treated group. Therefore, the H. aphrodisiaca infusion increased both the testosterone production and the spermatogonia mitosis, thus increasing the spermatogenic yield.

O efeito da cafeína no desempenho de ciclistas sob condçoes de alto risco térmico / Effect of caffeine in the performance of cyclists under high thermal risk

PURPOSE: To verify the effect of caffeine on yield time, the tympanic temperature and body weight with the administration of 5 and 9 mg/kg doses of caffeine and placebo, in cycling races under high thermal risk conditions. METHODS: Eight highly-trained cyclists were studied in 3 races of 45 km using the experimental model and double-blind with intra-subjects randomized. RESULTS: Air temperature ranged from 28.,5 and 32 degrees C and humidity between 71 e 78% with an index of WBGT varying between 24.5 degrees and 27 degrees C, figures that indicate high thermal risk. No significant differences were observed between variables assessed, yet yield time was lower with doses of 5 and 9 mg/kg caffeine than with placebo. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that heat and humidity conditions may be sufficient to mask the ergogenic benefit of caffeine in cycling races of prolonged duration. Therefore, isn't justifiable it's utilization in high thermal risk conditions.

Effects of caffeine on time to exhaustion in exercise performed below and above the anaerobic threshold

Controversy still exists concerning the potential ergogenic benefit of caffeine (CAF) for exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of CAF ingestion on endurance performance during exercise on a bicycle ergometer at two different intensities, i.e., approximately 10 percent below and 10 percent above the anaerobic threshold (AT). Eight untrained males, non-regular consumers of CAF, participated in this study. AT, defined as the intensity (watts) corresponding to a lactate concentration of 4mM, was determined during an incremental exercise test from rest to exhaustion on an electrically braked cycle ergometer. On the basis of these measurements, the subjects were asked to cycle until exhaustion at two different intensities, i.e., approximately 10 percent below and 10 percent above AT. Each intensity was performed twice in a double-blind randomized order by ingesting either CAF (5 mg/kg) or a placebo (PLA) 60 min prior to the test. Venous blood was analyzed for free fatty acid, glucose, and lactate, before, during, and immediately after exercise. Rating of perceived exertion and time to exhaustion were also measured during each trial. There were no differences in free fatty acids or lactate levels between CAF and PLA during and immediately after exercise for either intensity. Immediately after exercise glucose increased in the CAF trial at both intensities. Rating of perceived exertion was singificantly lower (CAF = 14.1 + 2.5 vs PLA = 16.6 + 2.4) and time to exhaustion was significantly higher (CAF = 46.54 + 8.05 min vs PLA = 32.42 + 14.81 min) during exercise below AT with CAF. However, there was no effect of CAF treatment on rating of perceived exertion (CAF = 18.0 + 2.7 vs PLA = 17.6 + 2.3) and time to exhaustion (CAF = 18.45 + 7.28 min vs PLA = 19.17 + 4.37 min) during exercise above AT. We conclude that in untrained subjects caffeine can improve endurance performance during prolonged exercise performed below AT and that decrease of perceived exertion can be involved in this process.

Effects of caffeine on the rate of perceived exertion

The role of caffeine in improving performance in endurance exercises is controversial and its mechanism of action is not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of caffeine on the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) by exercising athletes. Six male non-smoking runners, aged 26.8 ñ 4.9 years (mean ñ SD), who had been in training continuously for at least two years before the experiment were studied. Mean maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) was 61.21 ñ 5.36 ml kg**-1 min**-1. The subjects were asked to exercise on a bicycle ergometer for 3 min each at 300 and 600 kg m min**-1, after which the work load was elevated to 1200 kg m min**-1 and they exercised until exhaustion. In order to evaluate the effects of caffeine, the exercicse was performed twice following the ingestion of 200 ml decaffeinated coffee with and without caffeine (5 mg/kg body veight). Caffeine had no significant effect on exercise time, pulmonary ventilation, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide extraction or exchange respiratory ratio, but the RPE was significantly lower (P<0.05) at the work load of 1200 kg m min**-1 after the ingestion of caffeine for both trials I and II. The present results suggest that metabolic acidosis and glycogen depletion were not the main causes of exhaustion