No improvement in race performance by naps in male ultra-endurance cyclists in a 600-km ultra-cycling race

Ultra-endurance performance is of increasing popularity. We investigated the associations between anthropometry, training and support during racing, with race performance in 67 male recreational ultra-endurance cyclists participating in the 'Swiss Cycling Marathon' over 600 kilometres, an official qualifier for the cycling ultra-marathon 'Paris-Brest-Paris'. The 54 finishers showed no differences in anthropometry and did not train differently compared to the 13 non-finishers. During the race, the finishers were significantly more frequently racing alone than being followed by a support crew. After bivariate analysis, percent body fat (r = 0.43), the cycling distance per training unit (r = -0.36), the duration per training unit (r = -0.31) and the sleep time during the race (r = 0.50) were related to overall race time. The 23 non-sleepers in the finisher group completed the race within (mean and IQR) 1,567 (1,453-1,606) min, highly significantly faster than the 31 sleepers with 1,934 (1,615-2,033) min (P = 0.0003). No variable of support during the race was associated with race time. After multivariate analysis, percent body fat (P = 0.026) and duration per training unit (P = 0.005) remained predictor variables for race time. To summarize, for a successful finish in a cycling ultra-marathon over 600 kilometres such as the 'Swiss Cycling Marathon', percent body fat and duration per training unit were related to race time whereas equipment and support during the race showed no association. Athletes with naps were highly significantly slower than athletes without naps.     

Spontaneous alternation of the working arm in one-arm cranking.

One-arm cranking was done by ten healthy male adults at an oxygen intake level of about 1.0 liter/min. Each subject performed two kinds of cranking at a speed of 60 rpm: forced cranking using only one arm continuously for 15 min and free cranking for 30 min with the instructions to alternate from one arm to the other whenever fatigue set in. The results, excluding those of a subject who changed arms very frequently, were analyzed. In forced cranking, oxygen intake and heart rate steadily increased, the average time of appearance of local fatigue being 161 sec for the stronger arm and 122 sec for the weaker one. In free cranking, the working arm was changed 6 to 23 times during the 30-minute period, while oxygen intake and heart rate increased with fluctuations. The mean duration interval was 175 sec with the stronger arm and 123 sec with the weaker one. The mean interval of arm alternation was positively correlated with the individual time of onset of the sensation of local rigidness during forced cranking, but not with the individual time of initiation of respiratory distress. It is suggested that alternation of active muscles in moderately dynamic work may be linked with an early stage of local fatigue which is different from that of static work.     

模拟高海拔低氧对人体睡眠的影响

在模拟不同海拔高度的低氧条件暴露下,我们记录和测定了6名对象的睡眠生理各项指标。结果如下:在急性低氧暴露下所有对象均出现了睡眠障碍,主要是在夜间规定睡眠时间中觉醒期和觉醒次数增加,深睡眠期和快眼动期减少,睡眠各期的呼吸频率和心率增加。随着低氧暴露时间的延长和多次空气潜水后,各睡眠生理指标有向海平对照值水平发展的趋势。4500m以上的低氧暴露下,所有对象在睡眠中都有周期性呼吸现象出现,并影响体内的缺氧。     

Compensatory and adaptive rearrangement in the human respiratory system under acute hypoxic conditions

Relationships between the parameters of external respiration (minute volume and respiration rate) and those of internal, tissue respiration (oxygen consumption, arteriovenous oxygen difference and efficiency of oxygen uptake) were studied during a period of acute hypoxia and upon its completion. The subjects were exposed to hypoxia for 25 min using oxygen-nitrogen hypoxic gas mixtures (HGMs) differing in oxygen content (8 and 12%, HGM-8 and HGM-12, respectively). From the third to the fifth minutes of exposure to HGM-8, the respiration minute volume (RMV) was found to increase by 51 ± 33% as compared to the background value; however, the body’s oxygen consumption (OC) was 35 ± 22% reduced. Afterwards, OC grew to reach, from the 20th to the 25th min of hypoxia, 108 ± 21% of the background value and 181% of the value determined from the third to the fifth minutes of hypoxia. OC growth was accompanied by an insignificant RMV increase (by 12%) as compared to the level determined from the third to the fifth minutes of hypoxia, whereas the efficiency of oxygen uptake from the arterial blood increased by 75% for the same period. RMV growth from the third to the fifth minutes of hypoxia occurred as expense result of a higher breathing depth; at the same time, the respiration rate decreased as compared to the background value. By the period from the 20th to the 25th min of exposure to HGM-8, the respiration rate increased by 21% as compared to the period from the third to the fifth minutes of hypoxia. The efficiency of oxygen uptake from the arterial blood remained higher than the background value for at least 5 min after completion of the exposure to HGM-8. During the same period, the ventilation equivalent, an indicator of the efficiency of external respiration, i.e., of oxygen supply to the body, was significantly lower than the background value. During the exposure to HGM-12, RMV increased to a lesser extent than on exposure to HGM-8, however, the efficiency of oxygen uptake was higher during exposure to HGM-12; therefore, OC was also higher in the latter case. Therefore, the assumption that, during hypoxia, intensified external respiration (ventilatory response) itself compensates oxygen deficiency in inhaled air is revised. Ventilatory response is only a portion of the entire functional system of respiration (both external and tissue respiration). The role of ventilatory response is important for conditioning the tissue respiration rearrangement to eliminate deficiency of oxygen consumption during hypoxia. The retained higher oxygen uptake from the arterial blood during the period after completion of hypoxic treatment testifies to the adaptive implication of changes in tissue respiration; the same is confirmed by a reduced ventilation equivalent after hypoxia, which is indicative of the growing efficiency of external respiration, i.e., of an improved oxygen supply to the body.     

Oxygen consumption by Nephrops norvegicus (L.), (Crustacea: Decapoda) in relationship with its moulting stage

The study of the rate of oxygen consumption by Nephrops norvegicius (L.) at each moulting stage has been carried out in closed respiration chambers, using an oxygen electrode to measure the oxygen concentration.Although the mean respiration rate seems to be low when compared with other decapod crustaceans of similar weight, the general trends of the variation of the oxygen consumption during the moulting cycle are similar to those described for other species of decapods. It should be noted that, during the process of the ecdysis, there is no oxygen consumption.     

Creatine kinase isoenzyme activity during and after an ultra-distance (200 km) run

It is commonly assumed that creatine kinase (CK) activity in plasma is related to the state of an inflammatory response at 24-48 h, and also it has shown biphasic patterns after a marathon run. No information is available on CK isoenzymes after an ultra-marathon run. The purpose of the present study is to examine the CK isoenzymes after a 200 km ultra-marathon run and during the subsequent recovery. Blood samples were obtained during registration 1 2 h before the 200-km race and during the race at 100 km, 150 km and at the end of 200 km, as well as after a 24 h period of recovery. Thirty-two male ultra-distance runners participated in the study. Serum CPK showed a marked increase throughout the race and 24 h recovery period (p < 0.001). Serum CK during the race occurs mostly in the CK-MM isoform and only minutely in the CK-MB isoform and is unchanged in the CK-BB isoform. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), oestradiol, AST and ALT increased significantly from the pre-race value at 100 km and a further increase took place by the end of the 200 km run. The results of our study demonstrate a different release pattern of creatine kinase after an ultra-distance (200 km) run compared to the studies of marathon running and intense eccentric exercise, and changes in several biomarkers, indicative of muscle damage during the race, were much more pronounced during the latter half (100–200 km) of the race. However, the increases in plasma concentration of muscle enzymes may reflect not only structural damage, but also their rate of clearance.     

No case of exercise-associated hyponatremia in male ultra-endurance mountain bikers in the 'Swiss Bike Masters'

Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) has mainly been investigated in runners and triathletes. In mountain bikers, EAH was studied in two multi-stage races, but not in a single stage race. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EAH in a single-stage mountain bike ultra-marathon. In the 'Swiss Bike Masters' over 120 km with a climb of ~ 5,000 m in altitude, we determined pre and post race body mass, hematocrit, plasma sodium concentration ([Na?]), and urinary specific gravity in 37 cyclists. Athletes recorded their fluid intake while racing. No athlete developed EAH. The cyclists drank on average (means ± SD) 0.7 ± 0.2 l/h. Fluid intake was significantly and negatively related to race time (r = -0.41, P < 0.05), but showed no association with post race plasma [Na?], the change in plasma [Na?], post race body mass, or the change in body mass. The athletes lost 1.4 kg body mass (P < 0.05), plasma [Na?] decreased by 0.7% (P < 0.05), plasma volume increased by 1.4% and urinary specific gravity increased by 0.4% (P < 0.05). The change in body mass was neither related to post race plasma [Na?] nor to the change in plasma [Na?]. The decrease in plasma [Na?] was not related to fluid intake. The change in plasma [Na?] was related to post race plasma [Na?] (r = 0.40, P < 0.01). Ad libitum fluid intake showed no case of EAH in a single-stage mountain bike ultra-marathon. In contrast to previous findings, the faster athletes drank more than the slower ones.     

ENDOCRINE RESPONSE TO AN ULTRA-MARATHON IN PRE- AND POST-MENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Ultra-endurance competitions are becoming increasingly popular but there is limited research on female participants. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in estrogen and the IGF-I system in women after an ultra-marathon. Six pairs of pre- and post- menopausal women were matched for race finish times;mean finish time was 20 hours. Blood samples were drawn 24 hours before the race, at the finish, and 24 hours into recovery. Samples were analysed for estradiol, total IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and intact IGFBP-3. There was a significant increase in estradiol following the race in both groups (P < 0.05). Total IGF-I decreased after the race (P < 0.01) and remained lower in recovery. IGFBP-1 increased after the race (P < 0.001) but returned to pre-race levels after 24 hours, while intact IGFBP-3 was significantly lower post-race and in recovery (P < 0.001). Postmenopausal women had significantly lower estradiol at baseline, but there were no other group differences. These results demonstrate that among recreational female runners, an ultra-marathon is associated with IGF system changes that are consistent with an energy-deficient, catabolic state. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of these endocrine changes on health and performance.     

Functional coupling as a basic mechanism of feedback regulation of cardiac energy metabolism

In this review we analyze the concepts and the experimental data on the mechanisms of the regulation of energy metabolism in muscle cells. Muscular energetics is based on the force-length relationship, which in the whole heart is expressed as a Frank-Starling law, by which the alterations of left ventricle diastolic volume change linearly both the cardiac work and oxygen consumption. The second basic characteristics of the heart is the metabolic stability--almost constant levels of high energy phosphates, ATP and phosphocreatine, which are practically independent of the workload and the rate of oxygen consumption, in contrast to the fast-twitch skeletal muscle with no metabolic stability and rapid fatigue. Analysis of the literature shows that an increase in the rate of oxygen consumption by order of magnitude, due to Frank-Starling law, is observed without any significant changes in the intracellular calcium transients. Therefore, parallel activation of contraction and mitochondrial respiration by calcium ions may play only a minor role in regulation of respiration in the cells. The effective regulation of the respiration under the effect of Frank-Starling law and metabolic stability of the heart are explained by the mechanisms of functional coupling within supramolecular complexes in mitochondria, and at the subcellular level within the intracellular energetic units. Such a complex structural and functional organisation of heart energy metabolism can be described quantitatively by mathematical models.     

Cold-induced paralysis and recovery of lung respiration and heart contractions in newborn rats (inversion of Arrhenius law for physiological functions)

Arrest of respiration and heart activity in new-born rats aged 3-4 days and 10-11 days was shown to occur at a body temperature 6-7 degrees C and 2-3 degrees C lower than in adult rats, resp. At room temperature the body temperature of profoundly cooled rat's litter gradually increases and the functions are restored. In 3-4-day old rats, at the body temperature rising from profound cooling to 15-18 degrees C, the respiration and heart rates are 2-4-fold more than at the same temperature attained from the normal body temperature. These differences in the respiration and heart rates at the same body temperature suggest an inversion of the Arrhenius law (the Q10 coefficient) for physiological functions in early ontogenesis. This effect completely disappears in 10-11-day old rats.     

Performance enhancement in rally car drivers via heat acclimation and race simulation

To investigate the combined use of an interactive racecar simulator and heat acclimation on psychomotor (driving) performance, eight rally drivers underwent 4 days of repeated heat (50 degrees C) exposure (1 h x day(-1)) during which they performed a simulated rally drive (3x12-min stages each separated by a 2-min break), after first cycling for 15 min at 125 W to induce some degree of fatigue and heat storage prior to beginning the rally. During the rally stages, a generic set of pace notes were read to the subject by a co-driver. In each simulation, sweat loss, heart rate, core (rectal) and skin temperatures were recorded and driving and psychomotor performance were assessed by recording stage times and time to complete a psychomotor test. Levels of physiological and perceived thermal strain were also recorded. Significant decreases in rally stage times (88 s; P<0.005), psychomotor test time (18 s; P<0.01), final core (0.25 degrees C; P<0.001) and skin (0.44 degrees C; P<0.005) temperatures, heart rate (16 beats x min(-1); P<0.05) and physiological (15 W x m(-2); P<0.005) and perceived thermal (3.7 units; P<0.01) strain were evident by the end of the final simulation, and a significant (P<0.05) increase in sweat sensitivity (+0.33 g x h(-1) x degrees C(-1)) was also recorded. These results suggest that both heat acclimation and race simulation can improve the psychomotor performance of rally drivers, although the relative contribution of each factor was not determined here. However, in a practical setting, these factors would not be used in isolation. After performing the acclimation and simulation protocol prior to an actual rally, drivers subjectively reported improvements in tolerating a high thermal load and in their ability to control the rally vehicle.     

Case Study: Composite Material Yoke Versus Wooden Yoke for Bullocks’ Comfort

This article addresses the designing of a yoke used to get work output (plowing) from bullocks. The yoke profile was designed in compliance with the profile of the bullock’s body for maximum contact area. Unlike the crude, wooden yoke used in rural India, where modern tilling equipment like a tractor is not affordable, the present yoke was smooth, free from sharp edges, and light in weight. A field study was carried out with bullocks using composite and wooden yokes. The fatigue of bullocks was measured in terms of respiration rate and heart rate. Data revealed that bullocks had less fatigue with composite material yoke than with the wooden yoke. The experimental investigation also showed that at a 30º angle of pull, bullocks feel maximum comfort when they are used for plowing purposes.     

Redefining physiological responses of moose (Alces alces) to warm environmental conditions

We tested the concept that moose (Alces alces) begin to show signs of thermal stress at ambient air temperatures as low as 14 °C. We determined the response of Alaskan female moose to environmental conditions from May through September by measuring core body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, rate of heat loss from exhaled air, skin temperature, and fecal and salivary glucocorticoids. Seasonal and daily patterns in moose body temperature did not passively follow the same patterns as environmental variables. We used large changes in body temperature (≥1.25 °C in 24hr) to indicate days of physiological tolerance to thermal stressors. Thermal tolerance correlated with high ambient air temperatures from the prior day and with seasonal peaks in solar radiation (June), ambient air temperature and vapor pressure (July). At midday (12:00hr), moose exhibited daily minima of body temperature, heart rate and skin temperature (difference between the ear artery and pinna) that coincided with daily maxima in respiration rate and the rate of heat lost through respiration. Salivary cortisol measured in moose during the morning was positively related to the change in air temperature during the hour prior to sample collection, while fecal glucocorticoid levels increased with increasing solar radiation during the prior day. Our results suggest that free-ranging moose do not have a static threshold of ambient air temperature at which they become heat stressed during the warm season. In early summer, body temperature of moose is influenced by the interaction of ambient temperature during the prior day with the seasonal peak of solar radiation. In late summer, moose body temperature is influenced by the interaction between ambient temperature and vapor pressure. Thermal tolerance of moose depends on the intensity and duration of daily weather parameters and the ability of the animal to use physiological and behavioral responses to dissipate heat loads.     

Changes of pulmonary function in humans during exposure to +Gx acceleration after simulated and real microgravity

An important goal of space medicine is preserving high tolerance and performance of cosmonauts an ring exposure to acceleration at the final flight stage given varying mission duration. Among physiological mechanisms limiting +Gx acceleration tolerance, an important role is played by disturbances of external respiration resulting from alterations of respiratory biomechanics, pulmonary gas exchange conditions, and arterial hypoxemia. However, at present data on external respiration changes during exposure to +Gx acceleration after simulated and real microgravity of varying duration, are extremely scanty.     

Effect of ambient temperature on metabolism and heart rate of resting albino rats]

Heart rate and oxygen consumption were measured simultaneously in albino rats. These measurements were carried out in the resting animal at different temperatures between 18 degrees and 33 degrees C. The metabolism evolution with the environmental temperature allowed to place the thermal neutrality at 29 degrees C. The resting heart rate varies as metabolism. It shows the lowest values round the thermoneutrality and increases quickly as the environment is cooling. This result shows the effect of the thermal environment upon the resting heart rate level. On the other hand, the non linear relationship between metabolism and heart rate points out that the heart rate increase is not the only factor that allows an increased oxygen consumption during the body temperature regulation.     

Neuromuscular consequences of an extreme mountain ultra-marathon

We investigated the physiological consequences of one of the most extreme exercises realized by humans in race conditions: a 166-km mountain ultra-marathon (MUM) with 9500 m of positive and negative elevation change. For this purpose, (i) the fatigue induced by the MUM and (ii) the recovery processes over two weeks were assessed. Evaluation of neuromuscular function (NMF) and blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation were performed before and immediately following (n = 22), and 2, 5, 9 and 16 days after the MUM (n = 11) in experienced ultra-marathon runners. Large maximal voluntary contraction decreases occurred after MUM (-35% [95% CI: -28 to -42%] and -39% [95% CI: -32 to -46%] for KE and PF, respectively), with alteration of maximal voluntary activation, mainly for KE (-19% [95% CI: -7 to -32%]). Significant modifications in markers of muscle damage and inflammation were observed after the MUM as suggested by the large changes in creatine kinase (from 144 ± 94 to 13,633 ± 12,626 UI L(-1)), myoglobin (from 32 ± 22 to 1,432 ± 1,209 μg L(-1)), and C-Reactive Protein (from <2.0 to 37.7 ± 26.5 mg L(-1)). Moderate to large reductions in maximal compound muscle action potential amplitude, high-frequency doublet force, and low frequency fatigue (index of excitation-contraction coupling alteration) were also observed for both muscle groups. Sixteen days after MUM, NMF had returned to initial values, with most of the recovery process occurring within 9 days of the race. These findings suggest that the large alterations in NMF after an ultra-marathon race are multi-factorial, including failure of excitation-contraction coupling, which has never been described after prolonged running. It is also concluded that as early as two weeks after such an extreme running exercise, maximal force capacities have returned to baseline.     

The differential cardio-respiratory responses to ambient hypoxia and systemic hypoxaemia in the South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa

Lungfishes (Dipnoi) occupy an evolutionary transition between water and air breathing and possess well-developed lungs and reduced gills. The South American species, Lepidosiren paradoxa, is an obligate air-breather and has the lowest aquatic respiration of the three extant genera. To study the relative importance, location and modality of reflexogenic sites sensitive to oxygen in the generation of cardio-respiratory responses, we measured ventilatory responses to changes in ambient oxygen and to reductions in blood oxygen content. Animals were exposed to aquatic and aerial hypoxia, both separately and in combination. While aerial hypoxia elicited brisk ventilatory responses, aquatic hypoxia had no effect, indicating a primary role for internal rather than branchial receptors. Reducing haematocrit and blood oxygen content by approximately 50% did not affect ventilation during normoxia, showing that the specific modality of the internal oxygen sensitive chemoreceptors is blood PO(2) per se and not oxygen concentration. In light of previous studies, it appears that the heart rate responses and the changes in pulmonary ventilation during oxygen shortage are similar in lungfish and tetrapods. Furthermore, the modality of the oxygen receptors controlling these responses is similar to tetrapods. Because the cardio-respiratory responses and the modality of the oxygen receptors differ from typical water-breathing teleosts, it appears that many of the changes in the mechanisms exerting reflex control over cardio-respiratory functions occurred at an early stage in vertebrate evolution.     

Effects of water temperature on cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation during supine floating

It is well known that heart rate, oxygen uptake and body temperature during exercise in water are affected by water temperature, buoyancy, hydrostatic and so on. It has been reported that the central blood volume during immersion was affected by the increased external hydrostatic pressure and cold-induced peripheral vasoconstriction, and intrathoratic blood volume should be greater during cold than warm water immersion (Epstein, 1992). The purpose of this presentation study was to make clear heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen uptake and cardiac autonomic nervous system modulation during supine floating at water temperatures of 25, 35 and 41 degrees C.     

External respiration and gas metabolism in orthostatic syncopes

Cardiorespiratory reactions to tilt tests were compared in 80 healthy male subjects with an adequate orthostatic tolerance and in 19 subjects who fainted during tilting. They showed significant differences in the gas exchange, hemodynamics, and external respiration. Variations in the heart rate, pulmonary ventilation and the alveolar CO2 tension were most demonstrative. The findings, particularly the lack of the expected decrease o= oxygen consumption in the presyncopal state contribute to the concepts of the pathogenesis of the orthostatic collapse.     

Rate of oxygen consumption during embryonic development of great ramshorn <Emphasis Type="Italic">Planorbarius corneus</Emphasis> (Gastropoda)

Energy metabolism is studied in great ramshorn Planorbarius corneus during embryonic development. It is shown that the rate of oxygen consumption is constantly increasing in the process of embryogenesis. The respiration intensity (rate of the oxygen consumption per unit of the embryo volume) initially increases and then slowly decreases until eclosion. At the early stages of development until the early trochophore stage, the embryo is not growing, and, thus, the change in the rate of oxygen consumption during this period is not associated with the change of the embryo volume. Reduction in the intensity of respiration begins simultaneously with the beginning of the growth of the embryo at the stage of the middle trochophore. Starting from the middle trochophore and until eclosion, an association between oxygen consumption rate and volume of the embryo can be described with an allometric equation with exponential coefficient equal to approximately 0.23.