The effects of a university fitness programme on health-related variables in previously sedentary males.

This study reports on the effects of a 10-week university fitness programme on health-related fitness variables. Twenty-one male exercisers, aged 37.0(10.3) years (mean(s.d.); range 21-58), and 22 male controls, aged 38.6(7.9) years (mean(s.d.); range 17-54), volunteered to take part. Two sample t-tests and 95% confidence intervals were used to determine if the exercise group demonstrated a greater average improvement than the control group and the average improvement in both groups separately. The exercise group showed a greater average improvement over the controls from Test 1 (before fitness programme) to Test 2 (after) in the following: steady-state heart rate (beats min-1) 95% confidence intervals (-7.8, -16.2); predicted VO2max (ml kg-1 min-1): 95% confidence intervals (3.2, 6.6); sit-ups (repetitions): 95% confidence intervals (3.1, 7.0); flexibility (cm): 95% confidence intervals (3.3, 6.9). There was no significant difference between the exercise group and control group in body weight, percentage body fat, blood pressure, total plasma cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. The exercise programme improved aerobic fitness, local muscular endurance and flexibility. However, the increase in aerobic fitness did not coincide with beneficial changes in the coronary risk profile.

Screening for hyperlipidaemia in diabetes mellitus. Relationship to glycaemic control.

Diabetic patients have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease which, in part, may be due to lipid abnormalities. Our aim was to establish from an initial screening programme what proportion of diabetic patients attending a routine diabetic outpatient clinic had hyperlipidaemia despite having good or acceptable glycaemic control. We screened 299 randomly selected diabetic patients to assess the prevalence of hyperlipidaemia and its relationship to glycaemic control. Twenty-eight per cent had hyperlipidaemia (defined as cholesterol greater than 6.5 mmol/L and/or non-fasting triglycerides greater than 3 mmol/L). Of these hyperlipidaemic patients, 71% had good or acceptable glycaemic control as defined by a glycated haemoglobin value of less than 10%. Approximately 40% of type 2 diabetic patients had body mass index values outside recommended targets indicating the potential of weight reduction in this group as a treatment modality. Our results indicate that the majority of hyperlipidaemic diabetic patients had good or acceptable glycaemic control, and as such these patients are potential candidates for specific lipid lowering therapy.

Mobile laboratory unit based on the Kodak Ektachem DT system.

We evaluated the Kodak Ektachem DT system (DT60, DTE, DTSC modules), using it as a mobile laboratory unit (MLU) in different hospital settings. Imprecision of 19 assays performed with the system and correlation with routine methods in the main laboratory were assessed. The system was then transported to different departments within the hospital, where limited test profiles were offered and the time taken to produce results was recorded. It proved practicable to offer a six-test electrolyte profile to a five-bed intensive-care unit but not to an 18-bed renal unit, where more selective analysis would be required. In a low-throughput outpatient clinic (five patients per hour) it was feasible to provide a six-test on-site profile on every patient, whereas the maximum number of tests was four in a high-throughput clinic (10 patients per hour). The cost of providing a flexible extra-laboratory biochemistry service must be balanced against the benefit of having on-site results, e.g., fewer outpatient-clinic visits.

Effect of marathon training on the plasma lactate response to submaximal exercise in middle-aged men.

Twenty-one previously sedentary male volunteers (aged 35-50 years) undertook a defined marathon training programme lasting 30 weeks. At weeks 0 (T1), 15 (T2) and 30 (T3) they underwent measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), submaximal VO2 and submaximal plasma lactate concentration during cycle ergometry. No exercise was taken for 24-48 hours prior to testing. During training aerobic power increased significantly (p less than 0.001) from an initial VO2 max at T1 of 33.9 +/- 6 (mean +/- sd) ml.kg-1min-1 to 39 +/- 5.6 ml.kg-1min-1 at T2 but the T3 value of 39.2 +/- 5.2 ml.kg-1min-1 was not significantly different from that at T2. Plasma lactate concentration of 4 mmol.l-1 (OBLAw) occurred at a significantly (P less than 0.05) higher workload (155 +/- 28 w) at T2 compared with T1 (132 +/- 30 w) but the T3 figure was 137 +/- 34 w. OBLA VO2 at T1 was 2.04 +/- 0.42 l.min-1, at T2 was 2.24 +/- 0.04 l.min-1 but at T3 was 2.03 +/- 0.30 l.min-1 (T1:T2 P less than 0.05, T1:T3 NS). OBLA % VO2 max at T1 was 75 +/- 12%, at T2 was 73 +/- 11% but at T3 was 62 +/- 10% (T1:T2 NS, T1:T3 P less than 0.01).

Cardiovascular effects of training for a marathon run in unfit middle aged men.

The effects of a 30 week exercise programme on serum lipid values, blood pressure, and cardiac function were assessed in a group of sedentary men aged 35-50 training for their first marathon. Mean serum cholesterol concentration (n = 33) fell by 12% from 6.54 (SE 0.18) to 5.76 (0.15) mmol/l (mean fall 0.78 mmol/l; 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 1.04 mmol/l), serum triglyceride concentration (n = 33) by 22% from 1.56 (0.17) to 1.21 (0.09) mmol/l (mean fall 0.34 mmol/l; 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.56 mmol/l), and mean blood pressure (n = 27) by 10% from 102 (2) to 92 (2) mm Hg (mean fall 10 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval 7 to 13 mm Hg). These changes were not explained by changes in body composition. Peak exercise left ventricular end diastolic volume (n = 16) increased with training; as a result of this and an increased exercise left ventricular ejection fraction peak exercise cardiac output increased from 19.9 (1.2) to 23.1 (3.0) l/min (mean rise 3.2 l/min; 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 5.0 l/min). Maximum oxygen consumption increased from 33.9 (1.6) to 39.0 (1.3) ml/kg/min (mean rise 5.0 ml/kg/min; 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 8.2 ml/kg/min). This study showed favourable effects on coronary risk factors and cardiac function and supports the place of regular exercise in coronary prevention programmes.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase during marathon training.

Serum total creatine kinase (CK) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes were studied in 38 sedentary middle-aged men (aged 35-50 yrs) during a 30 week marathon training programme. Basal CK activity rose by 33% after 15 weeks but a significant rise (27%) in LDH activity took 30 weeks to occur. Post-exercise (maximum test on a bicycle ergometer) CK and LDH activities were higher than pre-exercise levels but the increment in enzyme activity following exercise did not change. LDH1 and LDH2 isoenzyme activity increased by 2.5% and 4% of total LDH respectively while LDH3 and LDH5 decreased by 3.9% and 2.4% respectively over 30 weeks. Post marathon total CK did not correlate with finishing time at 30 mins or 30 hrs post race. The range of CK MB isoenzyme activity at 30 mins post race was 1.8-9.8% of total CK with 11 subjects having a value above 6%. The training programme appears not to have affected muscle CK and LDH release during exercise but isoenzyme distribution changes reflect the adaptations known to occur in muscle during endurance training. Unfortunately only 16 subjects were available for all the investigations, and it is these upon whom most of the data were obtained.

Effects of low cobalamin diet and chronic cyanide toxicity in baboons.

The effects of a low cobalamin (Cbl) diet, together with chronic cyanide or thiocyanate administration in some animals have been investigated in baboons over a period of 42 months. All animals remained healthy throughout the study and gained weight at a similar rate. None became anaemic or showed major haematological changes and there were no major neurological changes. Plasma total Cbl in the animals on the low Cbl diet fell within 9 months to values below the lower limit in man and were lowest at 24 months in baboons not receiving cyanide or thiocyanate. A striking feature in all animals, however, was an apparently seasonal increase in the plasma total Cbl each autumn with a corresponding decrease the following spring. This fluctuation was detected by radioisotopic assay but not by Euglena. Methylmalonic (MMA) excretion after oral valine ranged from 0.1--8.4 mg/24 h and was greatest in animals on the low Cbl diet and not receiving cyanide or thiocyanate. The results suggested an inverse relationship between MMA excretion and plasma total Cbl. Plasma thiocyanate was consistently higher in animals receiving cyanide or thiocyanate and at the end of the study plasma cyanide was highest in animals on the low Cbl diet receiving cyanide. The results support the suggestions that cyanide affects bodily handling of Cbl and that hydroxo-cobalamin plays a part in detoxication of cyanide.

Smoking in pregnancy--effects on birth weight and on cyanide and thiocyanate levels in mother and baby.

A total of 45 expectant mothers (20 smokers and 25 non-smokers) and their babies was studied and, after 14 smokers and 14 non-smokers had been closely matched for age, height, parity and social class, significant differences were observed between smokers and non-smokers in the birth weights of the babies and in cyanide and thiocyanate levels in maternal blood and urine.

PIP: 45 mothers giving birth between September 1974-April 1976 were followed very closely (20 smokers and 25 nonsmokers). From this group it was possible to match 14 smokers and 14 nonsmokers closely for age, height, parity, and social class so that smoking was the only major variable. Mean birth weight of babies born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy was 3.33 + or -.29 kg, significantly lower than the 3.61 + or -.42 kg nonsmokers (p less than .02). All infants were born between 39-41 weeks' gestation. Blood samples and 24-hour urine collections were obtained from the mothers at 28, 32, and 36 weeks gestation and a sample of cord blood and a capillary blood sample and a collection of urine were obtained from the baby within 24 hours of birth. Whole blood cyanide levels of smokers were higher than nonsmokers in pregnancy, although the difference failed to reach statistical significance; smokers had significantly higher plasma and urinary thiocyanate levels. Mean thiocyanate level in urine of babies born to smokers was 40.6 + or =29.1 mcmol/1 against 23.1 + or -20.1 mcmol/l for babies of nonsmokers. Difference was not significant (p less than .1) The higher levels of cyanide and thiocyanate in cord blood and urine of the babies suggests these compounds may be crossing the placenta. Since the detoxication of cyanide from tobacco smoke increase Vitamin-B12 and sulphur amino acid requirements in both mother and fetus, this may explain the reduced birth weight. If a demonstrable difference in amino acid patterns exists in smoking women, dietary supplementation might reduce the adverse fetal effects.