A comparison of strength and muscle endurance in strength-trained and untrained women

Muscular strength and fatigability of strength-trained (ST) and untrained (UT) women were compared during a 6-min bout of maximal rhythmic exercise involving the elbow flexor muscles given at a rate of 30 contractions.min-1. Fifteen ST and 15 UT subjects, aged 18-34 years and pair-matched for body size, were tested for differences in initial strength, final strength, absolute endurance, relative endurance, and rate of fatigue. Results revealed a significant difference in initial strength, final strength, and absolute endurance in favor of ST subjects. No significant difference was found for relative endurance, and rates of fatigue were similar for both groups. It is concluded that muscular strength and endurance are enhanced in women engaged in a training program designed primarily to increase muscular strength and hypertrophy, but fatigability is not affected.     

The respiratory system as an exercise limiting factor in normal trained subjects

Recently, we have shown that an untrained respiratory system does limit the endurance of submaximal exercise (64% peak oxygen consumption) in normal sedentary subjects. These subjects were able to increase breathing endurance by almost 300% and cycle endurance by 50% after isolated respiratory training. The aim of the present study was to find out if normal, endurance trained subjects would also benefit from respiratory training. Breathing and cycle endurance as well as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and anaerobic threshold were measured in eight subjects. Subsequently, the subjects trained their respiratory muscles for 4 weeks by breathing 85-160 l.min-1 for 30 min daily. Otherwise they continued their habitual endurance training. After respiratory training, the performance tests made at the beginning of the study were repeated. Respiratory training increased breathing endurance from 6.1 (SD 1.8) min to about 40 min. Cycle endurance at the anaerobic threshold [77 (SD 6) %VO2max] was improved from 22.8 (SD 8.3) min to 31.5 (SD 12.6) min while VO2max and the anaerobic threshold remained essentially the same. Therefore, the endurance of respiratory muscles can be improved remarkably even in trained subjects. Respiratory muscle fatigue induced hyperventilation which limited cycle performance at the anaerobic threshold. After respiratory training, minute ventilation for a given exercise intensity was reduced and cycle performance at the anaerobic threshold was prolonged. These results would indicate the respiratory system to be an exercise limiting factor in normal, endurance trained subjects.     

Comparison of muscle force,muscle endurance,and electromyogram activity during an expedition at high altitude

Handgrip force (HF), maximal pinch force (MF), muscle endurance (ME), and the median power frequency (MdPF) of the activity shown in the electromyogram (EMG) were studied at various altitudes in eight normal healthy subjects. MF and ME were measured between the index finger and thumb, and all measurements were obtained at altitudes ranging from 610 to 4860 m during an expedition in the Qinghai Plateau in China. With the change in altitude HF, ME, and MF showed no significant change. Compared to the MdPF at 2260 m on ascent, the MdPF at other altitudes showed a significant decrease (P<0.01). Thus, we conclude that muscle performance (HF, MF, and ME) was not affected by the environment at high altitude. However, MdPF was affected and the mean MdPF at 610 m after the expedition did not recover to initial values of MdPF. We suggest these results may have been affected by fatigue and chronic exposure to the hypobaric hypoxic environment, since the members of the expedition party expressed feelings of sluggishness and fatigue after the expedition.     

Thermal biology and locomotor performance of the Andean lizard Liolaemus fitzgeraldi (Liolaemidae) in Argentina

Ectotherms thermoregulate to maintain their body temperature within the optimal range needed for performing vital functions. The effect of climate change on lizards has been studied as regards the sensitivity of locomotor performance to environmental temperatures. We studied thermoregulatory efficiency and locomotor performance for Liolaemus fitzgeraldi in the Central Andes of Argentina. We determined body temperature, micro-environmental temperatures and operative temperatures in the field. In the laboratory, we measured preferred temperatures and calculated the index of thermoregulatory efficiency. We estimated the thermal sensitivity of locomotion by measuring sprint speed (initial velocity and long sprint) and endurance at five different body temperatures. Body temperature was not associated with either micro-environmental temperature, nor did it show differences with preferred temperatures. Thermoregulatory efficiency was moderate (0.61). Initial velocity and long sprint trials showed differences at different temperatures; however, endurance did not. Moreover, the optimal temperatures for the performance trials showed no significant differences among themselves. We conclude that Liolaemus fitzgeraldi has thermal sensitivity in locomotor performance with respect to body temperature and that it is an eurythermic lizard that experiences a large variation in body temperature and that has thermal flexibility in the cold.     

植物的水容特征与其耐旱性的关系

在自然风晾条件下,研究了不同植物器官的相对含水量、水势及比水容之间的相互关系。结果表明：植物叶片阻止体内蒸腾失水的能力大小顺序依次为：花生（Arrachishypogaea）＞甘薯（Ipomoeabatatas）＞大豆（Glycinemax）＞玉米（Zeamays）,各植物茎的保水能力相差不大;甘薯的茎、叶在风晾4h后仍未永久凋萎,其他植物的茎、叶在风晾1～3h就出现永久凋萎;花生、甘薯、大豆和玉米叶片风晚3～4h后,其水势的下降幅度分别为：1．00,1．30,1．80和2．70mPa,花生、甘薯、大豆茎的水势下降幅度分别为：1．95,1.40和1．30mPa;植物茎、叶的水势与其相对含水量具有较好的对数关系;植株茎、叶的比水客值范围在0．0258～0．6835mPa-1之间,叶片的比水容大于茎的比水容。因此,植物的水容特征表明不同植物茎、叶的保水、释水能力不同,因而其耐旱、抗旱性不同。玉米和大豆的耐旱性小于花生、甘薯的耐旱性。     

Metabolic characteristics and body composition in house finches: effects of seasonal acclimatization

House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) from the introduced population in the eastern United States were examined to assess metabolic characteristics and aspects of body composition associated with seasonal acclimatization. Wild birds were captured during winter (January and February) and late spring (May and June) in southeastern Michigan. Standard metabolic rates did not differ seasonally, but cold-induced peak metabolic rate was 28% greater in winter than late spring. The capacity to maintain elevated metabolic rates during cold exposure (thermogenic endurance) increased significantly from an average of 26.1 to 101.3 min in late spring and winter, respectively. House finches captured in the late afternoon during winter had twice as much stored fat as those during late spring. Both the wet mass and lean dry mass of the pectoralis muscle, a primary shivering effector, were significantly greater during winter. The seasonal changes in peak metabolism and thermogenic endurance demonstrate the existence and magnitude of metabolic seasonal acclimatization in eastern house finches. Increased quantities of stored fat during winter appear to play a role in acclimatization, yet other physiological adjustments such as lipid mobilization and catabolism are also likely to be involved.Abbreviations bm body mass(es) - MR metabolic rate(s) - MR _peak peak metabolic rate(s) - SMR standard metabolic rate(s)     

Subsarcolemmal mitochondria and capillarization of soleus muscle fibers in young rats subjected to an endurance training

Summary Rats, 6 weeks old, were subjected to a program of endurance running for 3, 6 and 12 weeks. 0.5 to 0.8 m thick sections of Epon embedded soleus muscles were studied with morphometric methods.In cross-sections the area occupied by subsarcolemmal mitochondria was independent of the age, but was 53% higher after 12 weeks of training. The mean depth of the zones with subsarcolemmal mitochondria increased only 15% to about 0.9 m. Thus, the subsarcolemmal mitochondria showed a pronounced spreading at the muscle fiber surface in trained muscles. — The number of capillaries per fiber decreased slightly in controls and increased not significantly in trained muscles.It is concluded that the subsarcolemmal mitochondria supply the energy for the active transport of metabolites through the sarcolemma in oxidative muscle fibers, and that they are the limiting factor for endurance performance of the soleus muscle fibers because the changes in the capillarization were only small. It is suggested that the subsarcolemmal and the interfibrillar mitochondria have different functions and may therefore represent different types of mitochondria which can be distinguished by their morphology as well as by their biochemical properties.     

Effects of training on axial muscle of two cyprinid species: Chondrostoma nasus (L.) and Leuciscus cephalus (L.)

The effect of an endurance training program lasting 17 weeks was studied in two cyprinid species, Chondrostoma nasus (L.) and Leuciscus cephalus (L.). Red, intermediate and white axial muscle were investigated. Morphometrical analysis revealed that training induced, in both species, increased red and intermediate muscle mass, fibre diameter and capillarization. Differences between species in the response to training were observed for volume densities of mitochondria and lipid. In contrast to C. nasus, L. cephalus show higher values for these compartments in red and intermediate fibres. The results are considered adaptational changes which increase the aerobic capacity of red and intermediate muscle fibres to meet higher sustained swimming activities.     

不同训练方式对大鼠骨骼肌纤维类型转化和CaMK II/MEF2传导途径的影响*

目的: 探讨间歇速度训练和耐力训练对大鼠骨骼肌纤维类型转化及钙调蛋白激酶/肌细胞增强因子2(CaMK II/MEF2)信号传导通路的影响。方法: 成年雄性SD大鼠(8周龄)18只,随机分成间歇速度训练组(IST),耐力训练组(ET),设空白组(C),每组6只,IST组采用75 m/min×1 min、20 m/min×1 min的交替训练6次,跑台坡度15,持续时间12 min/d;ET组采用速度30 m/ min、跑台坡度7、持续时间90 min/d的耐力训练。干预8周后,分别取小鼠右侧胫骨前肌、比目鱼肌,酶联免疫吸附法检测骨骼肌琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性,ATP酶染色法观察I、Ⅱ型肌纤维面密度、数密度变化情况,SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳技术观察骨骼肌MHC亚型百分比含量、骨骼肌mRNA表达谱测序分析及qRT-PCR技术检测CaN、CaMKII、MEF2水平。结果: 相比C组,ET组SDH活性显著上升,LDH活性降低(P＜0.05);IST组胫骨前肌中LDH活性值升高(P＜0.01)。ET组胫骨前肌MHCIIa%升高,MHCIIb%降低(P＜0.05),比目鱼肌MHCI% 和MHCIIa%升高,MHCIIb%均降低(P＜0.05)。相比IST组,ET组胫骨前肌MHCIIx%升高(P＜0.05)。相比C组,ET组胫骨前肌 I、II 型纤维纤维密度上升,IST组II型纤维纤维密度提高,IST组、ET组比目鱼肌I型纤维纤维密度上升(P＜0.05)。相比C组,ET组骨骼肌CaN、CaMKII、MEF2 mRNA表达水平增高,IST组CaN、CaMKII、MEF2 mRNA表达水平下降(P＜0.01)。Illumina高通量测序筛选骨骼肌纤维转化相关因子及关联分析,运动干预促使骨骼肌纤维转化相关因子表达变化富集于TGF-β/Smad3、CaN/MEF2、AdipoQ等信号通路,而耐力训练显著提高骨骼肌纤维转化、干细胞功能相关信号通路的富集。结论: 耐力训练促进向氧化型肌纤维转化(慢肌),而间歇速度训练向酵解型肌纤维转化(快肌),并伴随着CaMK II/MEF2传导途径中CaN、CaMKII、MEF2基因的高表达。     

二十四式简化太极拳联合呼吸功能训练对中老年COPD患者肺功能、运动耐力及心理状态的影响

摘要 目的：探讨二十四式简化太极拳联合呼吸功能训练对中老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者肺功能、运动耐力及心理状态的影响。方法：选取2019年4月~2020年8月期间我院收治的中老年COPD患者81例,按照信封抽签法分为对照组（40例,给予呼吸功能训练干预）和观察组（41例,给予二十四式简化太极拳联合呼吸功能训练干预）,均干预6个月。对比两组干预前、干预6个月后的肺功能、运动耐力、心理状态及生活质量。结果：两组干预6个月后用力肺活量（FVC）、1 秒用力呼气容积( FEV1)、FEV1/FVC升高,且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预6个月后呼吸症状、疾病影响、活动受限评分降低,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预6个月后6 min步行试验（6MWT）距离延长,且观察组长于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预6个月后人际关系、抑郁、偏执、敌对、焦虑、恐惧评分降低,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：中老年COPD患者经二十四式简化太极拳联合呼吸功能训练干预后,肺功能、运动耐力、生活质量及心理状态均得到显著改善,提示该康复训练方案可用于辅助中老年COPD患者的治疗。