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.

Supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii Increases the Maximal Oxygen Consumption and Maximal Aerobic Speed Attained by Rats Subjected to an Incremental-Speed Exercise.

Benefits to the host metabolism resulting from Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) supplementation have been described; however, no study has investigated the effects of this supplementation on aerobic metabolism and performance during physical exercise. Thus, in the present study, we addressed the effects of Sb supplementation on the rate of oxygen consumption (VO2), mechanical efficiency (external work divided by VO2), and aerobic performance of rats subjected to fatiguing, incremental-speed exercise. Twenty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: (1) non-supplemented, in which rats received 0.1 mL of a saline solution, and (2) Sb-supplemented, in which rats received 0.1 mL of a suspension containing 8.0 log10 colony-forming units. The rats received the treatments by gavage for 10 consecutive days; they were then subjected to fatiguing treadmill running. Sb supplementation did not change the VO2 values or mechanical efficiency during submaximal exercise intensities. In contrast, at fatigue, VO2MAX was increased by 12.7% in supplemented rats compared with controls (p = 0.01). Moreover, Sb improved aerobic performance, as evidenced by a 12.4% increase in maximal running speed attained by the supplemented rats (p < 0.05). We conclude that Sb supplementation for 10 days increases VO2MAX and aerobic performance in rats.

Atividade física e hepatite C crônica / Physical activity and chronic hepatitis C

A hepatite crônica causada pelo vírus C (VHC) constitui problema relevante de saúde pública no mundo. A infecção associada a esse vírus é considerada causa significativa de cirrose e respectivas complicações: hipertensão portal, descompensação da função hepática e carcinoma hepatocelular. A atividade física é amplamente incentivada no tratamento de diversas doenças crônicas. Entretanto, pouco tem sido pesquisado sobre o efeito da atividade física no curso evolutivo da hepatopatia associada ao VHC. Ainda, sabe-se que indivíduos com hepatite C crônica podem desenvolver outras afecções devido à inatividade física que podem interferir no curso da doença viral. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar revisão bibliográfica sobre a relação entre atividade física e hepatite C crônica.

Chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relevant for the public health problem in the world. The infection associated with this virus is considered a significant cause of cirrhosis and its complications: portal hypertension, decompensation of the liver function and hepatocellular carcinoma. Physical activity is widely encouraged in the treatment of various chronic diseases. However, little has been done on the effect of physical activity on the evolutionary course of the HCV-related liver disease. It is known that individuals with chronic hepatitis C may develop other disorders due to physical inactivity that may interfere in the course of the viral disease. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to conduct a literature review on the relationship between physical activity and chronic hepatitis C.

Thermoregulatory responses in exercising rats: methodological aspects and relevance to human physiology.

Rats are used worldwide in experiments that aim to investigate the physiological responses induced by a physical exercise session. Changes in body temperature regulation, which may affect both the performance and the health of exercising rats, are evident among these physiological responses. Despite the universal use of rats in biomedical research involving exercise, investigators often overlook important methodological issues that hamper the accurate measurement of clear thermoregulatory responses. Moreover, much debate exists regarding whether the outcome of rat experiments can be extrapolated to human physiology, including thermal physiology. Herein, we described the impact of different exercise intensities, durations and protocols and environmental conditions on running-induced thermoregulatory changes. We focused on treadmill running because this type of exercise allows for precise control of the exercise intensity and the measurement of autonomic thermoeffectors associated with heat production and loss. Some methodological issues regarding rat experiments, such as the sites for body temperature measurements and the time of day at which experiments are performed, were also discussed. In addition, we analyzed the influence of a high body surface area-to-mass ratio and limited evaporative cooling on the exercise-induced thermoregulatory responses of running rats and then compared these responses in rats to those observed in humans. Collectively, the data presented in this review represent a reference source for investigators interested in studying exercise thermoregulation in rats. In addition, the present data indicate that the thermoregulatory responses of exercising rats can be extrapolated, with some important limitations, to human thermal physiology.

Energy demand and heart rate evaluation at different phases during a match along an official soccer competition / Avaliação da demanda energética e frequência cardíaca em diferentes fases durante jogos ao longo de uma competição oficial de futebol

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the energy expenditure and heart rate (HR), expressed as mean and maximal heart rate (HRmax), along matches of an official soccer competition. METHODS: Eighteen under-20 year old (U-20) soccer players from a first-division Brazilian soccer team were evaluated during 15 matches. The relationship between HR and oxygen uptake (HR/VO2 relationship) was established, and a linear regression equation was developed for each individual player participating in the study. This equation was then used to determine the oxygen uptake and the corresponding energy expenditure based on the HR values measured during the games. The HR was recorded at 5-second intervals, which were clustered in phases of 15 minutes (0-15 min, 15-30 min e 30-45 min) for each half time (first half [FH] and second half [SH]). RESULTS: The players' oxygen uptake was 308.3 ± 11.9 LO2/game and the energy expenditure was 17.3±1.3 Kcal.min-1 and 1,542.9±125.1 Kcal/game. The results showed that there were significant differences between the HR and HRmax identified in the first half (FH 15-30 min) compared to the second half (SH 0-15 min and SH 30-45 min), and at FH 30-45 min compared to SH 0-15 min (p<0.05). Conclusions: We concluded that soccer should be considered as an extremely arduous activity for U-20 players due to the high energy expenditure during the matches of an official championship. We also concluded that, during soccer games with young players, FH 15-30 min could be considered the most intense phase, because the highest values of HR and HRmax usually occur at this phase.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi a análise do gasto energético e da frequência cardíaca (HR), expressa pela média e pela frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmax), durante jogos de uma competição oficial de futebol. Foram avaliados, durante 15 jogos, dezoito jogadores de futebol da categoria abaixo de 20 anos de idade (Sub-20) de um time da primeira divisão de futebol brasileira. A relação entre FC e consumo de oxigênio (relação FC/VO2) foi estabelecida, e uma equação de regressão linear foi desenvolvida para cada jogador. Essa equação foi utilizada para determinar o consumo de oxigênio e o gasto energético correspondente a partir dos valores de FC medidos durante os jogos. O registro da FC ocorreu em intervalos de 5 segundos, agrupados em fases de 15 minutos (0-15 min, 15-30 min e 30-45 min) em cada tempo de jogo [primeiro tempo (PT) e segundo tempo (ST)]. O consumo de oxigênio dos jogadores foi de 308,3 ± 11,9 LO2/jogo e o gasto energético foi de 17,3 ± 1,3 Kcal.min-1 e 1.542,9 ± 125,1 Kcal/jogo. Os resultados mostraram que houve diferenças significativas entre a FC e a FCmax observadas no primeiro tempo (PT 15-30 min) em relação ao segundo tempo (ST 0-15min e ST 30-45min), e entre PT 30-45 min em comparação com ST 0-15 min (p<0,05). Concluímos que o futebol deve ser considerado como uma atividade extremamente árdua para jogadores Sub-20, devido aos alto gasto energético durante as partidas de um campeonato oficial. Conclui-se também que, durante jogos de futebol com jogadores jovens, a PT 15-30min poderia ser considerada a fase mais intensa do jogo, porque os maiores valores de FC e FCmax usualmente ocorrem nessa fase.