Sleep impairment and altered pattern of circadian biomarkers during a long-term Antarctic summer camp.

Antarctic expeditions include isolation and exposure to cold and extreme photoperiods (with continuous natural light during summer) that may influence psychophysiological responses modulated by luminosity and sleep. We assessed changes in night sleep patterns by actigraphy, salivary biomarkers, and perceptual variables in seven participants in the following time points along a 50-day camping expedition in Antarctica (Nelson Island): Pre-Field (i.e., on the ship before camp), Field-1, Field-2, Field-3, Field-4 (from 1st to 10th, 11th to 20th, 21st to 35th and 36th to 50th days in camp, respectively), and Post-Field (on the ship after camp). We also characterized mood states, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality by questionnaires. Staying in an Antarctic camp reduced sleep efficiency (5.2%) and increased the number of awakenings and wakefulness after sleep onset (51.8% and 67.1%, respectively). Furthermore, transient increases in time in bed (16.5%) and sleep onset latency (4.8 ± 4.0 min, from Pre- to Field-3) was observed. These changes were accompanied by an altered pattern of the emerging circadian marker ß-Arrestin-1 and a trend to reduce nocturnal melatonin [57.1%; P = 0.066, with large effect size (ES) from Pre-Field to Field-2 (ES = 1.2) and Field-3 (ES = 1.2)]. All changes returned to Pre-Field values during the Post-Field. The volunteers reported sleep-related physical complaints (feeling of cold and pain, discomfort to breathe, and cough or loud snoring), excessive daytime sleepiness, and reduced vigor during the camp. Thus, a 50-day camp alters neuroendocrine regulation and induces physical discomfort, which may explain the impaired sleep pattern and the consequent daytime sleepiness and mood changes.

Acute exercise modulates the inflammatory response in adipose tissue in both lean and obese mice.

OBJECTIVES: Acute physical exercise acts as a metabolic stressor, promoting activation of the immune system, and this response could be relevant in the adipose tissue remodeling process. In addition, some cytokines have important functions in lipolysis. Because chronic exercise improves obesity-related metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction, herein we investigated the effect of acute exercise on the inflammatory responses in the adipose tissues of lean and obese mice. METHODS: Lean mice were fed a standard chow diet, whereas obese mice were fed a high-refined carbohydrate diet for 8 wk. Both groups were subjected to 60 min of moderate-intensity exercise. RESULTS: In the epididymal adipose tissue of lean mice, exercise enhanced interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, which correlated positively with increased serum free fatty acid concentrations. In vivo confocal imaging of epididymal adipose tissue vessels revealed higher recruitment of neutrophils after exercise. Also, the number of leukocytes expressing CD11b+F480- was elevated 6 h after exercise. Similarly, the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 level increased at 6 h and remained high until 24 h after exercise. Myeloperoxidase activity was increased at 6, 12, and 24 h after exercise. Surprisingly, however, no changes were observed in epididymal adipose tissue from obese mice, considering proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). On the other hand, IL-13, IL-4, and IL-10 levels were higher in obese mice after exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that acute exercise promotes an inflammatory response in the adipose tissue of lean mice that is observed as part of its role in adipose tissue remodeling. In contrast, acute exercise promotes an antiinflammatory response in adipose tissue from obese mice, likely as an important tool for restoring homeostasis.

Exploring the Predeployment Phase of an Antarctic Expedition and the Brazilian Pre-Antarctic Training.

In Antarctica, human access and presence are complex and require detailed planning and preparation in advance. The personnel of National Antarctic Programs (NAPs, i.e., scientists and support personnel, including military, civilians, and mountaineers) stay in different isolation, confinement, and extreme (ICE) environments such as ships, research stations, and scientific summer camps. Antarctica imposes harsh conditions that influence physiological and psychological responses impacting health, mood, and physical and cognitive performances. In this context, we argue why people should prepare in advance for staying in Antarctica and what to expect in ICE environments. We also spotlighted recommendations shared by different NAPs participant guides, including predeployment training. Next, we present a case study of the Brazilian Pre-Antarctic Training (PAT), a theoretical-practical training that provides technical and logistical information and assesses the adaptability and physical capacity of researchers and military personnel to perform fundamental activities in a polar environment. We evaluated and compared the individual's mood at the beginning and the end of the PAT week and observed group-specific mood changes depending on the sex, functions, and the facilities that participants accessed. Finally, we proposed that conducting training before staying in Antarctica, besides promoting conditions to better plan the voyage and knowledge of the region, can contribute to dealing with the possible mood swings during expeditions and even promote positive affect. Therefore, the psychophysiological effects of PAT are topics for further investigations.

Neuronal Parasitism, Early Myenteric Neurons Depopulation and Continuous Axonal Networking Damage as Underlying Mechanisms of the Experimental Intestinal Chagas' Disease.

There is a growing consensus that the balance between the persistence of infection and the host immune response is crucial for chronification of Chagas heart disease. Extrapolation for chagasic megacolon is hampered because research in humans and animal models that reproduce intestinal pathology is lacking. The parasite-host relationship and its consequence to the disease are not well-known. Our model describes the temporal changes in the mice intestine wall throughout the infection, parasitism, and the development of megacolon. It also presents the consequence of the infection of primary myenteric neurons in culture with Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Oxidative neuronal damage, involving reactive nitrogen species induced by parasite infection and cytokine production, results in the denervation of the myenteric ganglia in the acute phase. The long-term inflammation induced by the parasite's DNA causes intramuscular axonal damage, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and inconsistent innervation, affecting contractility. Acute phase neuronal loss may be irreversible. However, the dynamics of the damages revealed herein indicate that neuroprotection interventions in acute and chronic phases may help to eradicate the parasite and control the inflammatory-induced increase of the intestinal wall thickness and axonal loss. Our model is a powerful approach to integrate the acute and chronic events triggered by T. cruzi, leading to megacolon.

The effect of bcaa on isometric force following endurance exercise in a hot environment / Efeito dos aacr na força isométrica após exercício de endurance em um ambiente quente / Efecto de los aacr en la fuerza isométrica después de ejercicio de endurance en un ambiente cálido

ABSTRACT Introduction: Fatigue due to endurance exercise results from both peripheral and central changes, and may influence subsequent performance during a strength task. The increase in serotonin concentration is one of the central factors associated with endurance exercise-induced fatigue, particularly in hot environments. A nutritional strategy employed to reduce serotonergic activation is supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Objective: To investigate whether BCAA supplementation attenuates the reduction in isometric force caused by prior endurance exercise in a hot environment. Methods: Nine volunteers (aged 25.4 ± 1.2 years) performed a 2-min maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVCISO) of upper limb muscles before and after an endurance exercise on a cycle ergometer at 40% of the maximal aerobic power. The volunteers underwent three experimental trials: 1) endurance exercise in a temperate environment (23°C and 60% RH); exercise in a hot environment (35°C and 60% RH) with the ingestion of: 2) a placebo solution or 3) a solution containing BCAA 30 mg.kg−1. During the MVCISO test, the isometric force of flexor muscles of the right elbow, core body temperature (TCORE) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Results: Isometric force decreased following endurance exercise in the hot environment, and BCAA administration did not attenuate this reduction. Greater TCORE and HR values were observed following endurance exercise in the heat, compared to pre-exercise values, and supplementation did not interfere with these physiological responses. Conclusion: The reduction in isometric force, caused by previous endurance exercise in a hot environment, was not diminished by supplementation with BCAA. Level of evidence I; Type of study: Therapeutic studies - Investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A fadiga decorrente de um exercício de endurance ocorre devido a alterações tanto periféricas quanto centrais e pode influenciar no desempenho subsequente durante um teste de força. Sabe-se que o aumento da concentração de serotonina é um dos fatores centrais associados à fadiga induzida pelo exercício de endurance, principalmente em ambientes quentes. Uma estratégia nutricional utilizada para diminuir a ativação serotonérgica é a suplementação com aminoácidos de cadeia ramificada (AACR). Objetivo: Investigar se a suplementação com AACR atenua a redução da força isométrica causada pela realização prévia de um exercício de endurance em ambiente quente. Métodos: Nove voluntários (25,4±1,2 anos) realizaram uma contração voluntária máxima isométrica (CVMISO) de membro superior durante 2 min, antes e após um exercício de endurance em um cicloergômetro a 40% da potência máxima aeróbica. Os voluntários foram submetidos a três situações experimentais: 1) exercício de endurance em ambiente temperado (23°C e 60% URA); exercício em ambiente quente (35°C; 60% URA) com ingestão de: 2) solução placebo ou 3) solução contendo 30 mg.kg−1 de AACR. Durante o teste de CVMISO, a força isométrica dos músculos flexores do cotovelo direito, a temperatura corporal interna (TINT) e a frequência cardíaca (FC) foram medidas. Resultados: A força isométrica diminuiu após o exercício de endurance no ambiente quente e a administração de AACR não atenuou essa redução. Valores maiores de TINT e FC foram observados após o exercício de endurance em ambiente quente em relação aos valores do pré-exercício, sendo que a suplementação também não interferiu nessas respostas fisiológicas. Conclusão: A redução da força isométrica, devido à realização prévia de exercício de endurance em ambiente quente, não foi atenuada pela suplementação com AACR. Nível de evidência I; Tipo de estudo: Estudos terapêuticos - Investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La fatiga derivada de un ejercicio de endurance ocurre debido a las alteraciones tanto periféricas como centrales y puede influir en el desempeño subsiguiente durante un test de fuerza. Se sabe que el aumento de la concentración de serotonina es uno de los factores centrales asociados a la fatiga inducida por el ejercicio de endurance, principalmente en ambientes cálidos. Una estrategia nutricional empleada para disminuir la activación serotonérgica es la suplementación con aminoácidos de cadena ramificada (AACR). Objetivo: Investigar si la suplementación con AACR atenúa la reducción de la fuerza isométrica causada por la realización previa de un ejercicio de endurance en ambiente cálido. Métodos: Nueve voluntarios (25,4 + 1,2 años) realizaron una contracción voluntaria máxima isométrica (CVMISO) de dos minutos de miembro superior, antes y después de un ejercicio de endurance en un cicloergómetro a 40% de la potencia máxima aeróbica. Los voluntarios fueron sometidos a tres situaciones experimentales: 1) ejercicio de endurance en ambiente templado (23° C y 60% HR); ejercicio en ambiente cálido (35° C, 60% HR) con ingestión de: 2) solución placebo o 3) solución conteniendo 30 mg.kg−1 de AACR. Durante el test de CVMISO, se midieron la fuerza isométrica de los músculos flexores del codo derecho, la temperatura corporal interna (TINT) y la frecuencia cardíaca (FC). Resultados: La fuerza isométrica disminuyó después del ejercicio de endurance en el ambiente cálido y la administración de AACR no atenuó esa reducción. Se observaron mayores valores de TINT y FC después del ejercicio de endurance en ambiente cálido con relación a los valores del pre ejercicio, siendo que la suplementación tampoco interfirió en estas respuestas fisiológicas. Conclusión: La reducción de la fuerza isométrica, debido a la realización previa de ejercicio de endurance en ambiente cálido, no fue atenuada por la suplementación con AACR. Nivel de evidencia I; Tipo de estudio: Estudios terapéuticos - Investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Aerobic training reduces immune cell recruitment and cytokine levels in adipose tissue in obese mice.

Obesity is associated with an energy imbalance that results from excessive energy intake, low diet quality, and a sedentary lifestyle. The increased consumption of a high-refined carbohydrate (HC) diet is strongly related to higher adiposity and low-grade inflammation. Aerobic training is a well-known nonpharmacological intervention to treat obesity and metabolic disturbances. However, the mechanisms through which aerobic training ameliorates the low-grade inflammation induced by an HC diet should be further investigated. Our hypothesis herein was that aerobic training would decrease the recruitment of leukocytes in adipose tissue, thereby reducing the levels of cytokines and improving metabolism in mice fed an HC diet. Male Balb/c mice were assigned to the following groups: control diet/nontrained (C-NT), control diet/trained (C-T), high-refined carbohydrate diet/nontrained (HC-NT), and high-refined carbohydrate diet/trained (HC-T). Mice were submitted to moderate-intensity training sessions that consisted of running 60 min per day for 8 weeks. An intravital microscopy technique was performed in vivo in anesthetized mice to visualize the microvasculature of the adipose tissue. The HC diet induced obesity and increased the influx of immune cells into the adipose tissue. In contrast, HC-T mice presented a lower adiposity and adipocyte area. Furthermore, relative to HC-NT mice, HC-T mice showed increased resting energy expenditure, decreased recruitment of immune cells in the adipose tissue, reduced cytokine levels, and ameliorated hyperglycemia and fatty liver deposition. Collectively, our data enhance understanding about the anti-inflammatory effect of aerobic training and shed light on the adipose tissue-mediated mechanisms by which training promotes a healthier metabolic profile.

Effects of Precooling on 30-km Cycling Performance and Pacing in Hot and Temperate Environments.

This study examined the effects of precooling on performance and pacing during 30-km cycling exercise in hot and temperate environments. 8 trained male cyclists performed 4 trials involving either cooling (PRECTEMP and PRECHOT) or no-cooling interventions (TEMP and HOT) prior to a 30-km self-paced cycling exercise in either a hot (35°C, 68% relative humidity) or temperate environment (24°C, 68% relative humidity). Exercise time was longer in HOT (60.62±3.47 min) than in TEMP (58.28±3.30 min; P<0.001), and precooling attenuated this thermal strain performance impairment (PRECHOT 58.28±3.30 min; P=0.048), but it was still impaired compared with TEMP (P=0.02). Exercise performance in PRECTEMP (54.58±4.35 min) was no different from TEMP. Initial power output was sustained until the end of the exercise in both TEMP and PRECTEMP, but was reduced from the 12th km until the end of the trial in HOT (P<0.05). This reduction was delayed by precooling because power output was reduced only after the 20th km during PRECHOT (P<0.05). Heart rate was similar in all conditions throughout almost the entire exercise, suggesting the maintenance of similar relative intensities. In conclusion, precooling was effective in attenuating, but not completely reversing thermal strain performance impairment and offered no ergogenic effect in the temperate environment.

Osteopetrosis in obese female rats is site-specifically inhibited by physical training.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Clinical studies suggest that obesity 'protects' against osteoporosis. However, these studies used only bone densitometry and assessed only one bone site, which is insufficient to enable conclusions to be drawn about the response of the whole skeleton. Furthermore, the effects of exercise on bone responses in obesity have not been explored previously. What is the main finding and what is its importance? We show that obesity causes osteopetrosis. Therefore, the classical perspective of 'protective effects of obesity' needs to be reviewed, and exercise is an important tool to avoid these alterations and to maintain the homeostasis of bone. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity induce systemic inflammatory responses. Although the effects of physical inactivity on osseous tissue have been well established, the effects of obesity on bone tissue remain controversial. Furthermore, the effects of physical training on bone tissue responses in the presence of diet-induced obesity are unknown. Our aim was to investigate the effects of obesity and physical training at multiple bone sites in rats. Female Wistar rats were divided into the following four groups: (i) control diet, non-trained (C-NT); (ii) high-refined carbohydrate-containing diet, non-trained (HC-NT); (iii) control diet, trained (C-T); and (iv) high-refined carbohydrate-containing diet, trained (HC-T). At 5 months of age, the rats were submitted to daily exercise for 30 min day(-1). After 13 weeks, blood samples, adipose and skeletal tissues were harvested. Two-way ANOVA was applied to detect differences (significance accepted when P ≤ 0.05). The HC-NT group exhibited increased body mass, adiposity, serum leptin, serum insulin, insulin resistance index and concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Obese rats (HC-NT) exhibited thickening of nasal bones, trabecular bones in the lumbar vertebrae and long bones in a site-dependent manner. The HC-T group exhibited similar adiposity and inflammatory results. Morphological analysis of the lumbar vertebrae in rats fed the HC diet revealed characteristics of osteopetrosis that were inhibited by exercise. In conclusion, the HC diet induced obesity and inflammatory/hormonal alterations and increased the trabecular bone in a site-dependent manner. However, obesity caused osteopetrosis in the lumbar vertebrae, which could be inhibited by physical training. Although exercise inhibited the development of bone alterations, physical training did not inhibit the HC diet-induced obesity responses.