Cardiorespiratory power across adolescence in male soccer players

Despite the recognition of the beneficial role of cardiorespiratory power (CRP) for health and sport performance, the development of this physical fitness parameter in adolescent soccer players was not well studied. Aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of age on CRP of adolescent soccer players, the influence of anthropometric characteristics and body composition on it, and to establish normative data. Male adolescent (N = 274; aged 12.07–20.98 y), classified in nine one-year age-groups, child (N = 12, aged 7.71–11.8 y) and adult players (N = 22; aged 21.12–31.59 y), all members of competitive soccer clubs, were examined for anthropometric characteristics and body composition and they performed Physical Working Capacity in heart rate 170 test (PWC₁₇₀) on cycle ergometer. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference between age groups with respect to PWC170 in absolute (F _10,.297 = 29.58, P < 0.001, η² = 0.5), relative to body mass (F _10,.297 = 5.28, P < 0.001, η² = 0.15) and relative to fat free mass values (F _10.297 = 4.98, P < 0.001, η²= 0.14). In addition, age was in positive association with these parameters (r = 0.6, P < 0.001, r = 0.24, P < 0.001 and r = 0.23, P < 0.001, correspondingly). The main finding of this study was that CRP increased during developmental period in soccer players, even when it was adjusted to body mass or FFM, which increased during development. This documentation of the development of CRP provided useful tool for coaches and fitness trainers in order to apply optimal exercise interventions for health and performance.     

Species richness of Protozoa in Japanese lakes

The protozoan fauna and species richness in the pelagic zone of 15 Japanese lakes were investigated in 1996 using polyurethane foam (PF) substrates. The most common species were flagellates, such as Cryptomonas erosa, Oikomonas termo, and Pleuromonas jaculans. Cinetochilum margaritaceum and Actinophrys sol were the most common species of the Ciliata and Sarcodina, respectively. The similarity of species occurrence was calculated from presence/absence data, but this revealed no clear trend with respect to the influence of lake properties such as trophic state, surface area, or mean depth. The occurrence pattern of Protozoa was most similar in L. Chuzenji and L. Biwa (north basin), two oligomesotrophic natural lakes. Log species richness was positively correlated with log total phosphorus (r = 0.54, P < 0.05) and negatively with log mean depth (r = −0.58, P < 0.05). The diversity index (Margalef's formula), highly correlated with the total species number (r = 0.85, P < 0.01), was negatively correlated with log lake area (r = −0.71, P < 0.01). The logarithm of Phytomastigophora number was positively correlated with log total nitrogen (r = 0.53, P < 0.05), and the logarithm of Ciliata number was negatively correlated with log lake area (r = −0.55, P < 0.05). The species richness of Protozoa on PF substrates was determined by both the nutrient status of the lake and the distance from the location of the suspended PF substrate to the lake bottom or shore. Received: September 25, 1999 / Accepted: January 6, 2000     

川西亚高山三种森林恢复途径对土壤生物有效磷的影响

土壤生物有效磷在提高森林生产力和生物地球化学循环中起着至关重要的作用,研究不同森林恢复途径对土壤生物有效磷的影响对于退化森林的适应性恢复和可持续经营具有重要意义。选取川西亚高山不同恢复途径下形成的3种森林类型,即粗枝云杉人工林（人工种植,PF）、岷江冷杉-红桦天然次生林（自然更新,NF）和粗枝云杉阔叶混交林（人工种植后自然更新,MF）,采用基于生物有效性的土壤磷分级方法测定土壤生物有效磷（CaCl₂-P、Citrate-P、Enzyme-P和HCl-P）,探究不同森林恢复途径对土壤生物有效磷的影响。结果表明：不同森林恢复途径对土壤生物有效磷影响显著（P<0.05）,NF和MF的土壤Citrate-P和Enzyme-P显著高于PF（P<0.05）,而PF的土壤HCl-P显著高于NF（P<0.05）。自然更新是3种森林恢复途径中最能提高土壤生物有效磷的方式。3种森林恢复途径下的土壤生物有效磷组分与速效磷均呈现显著的正相关关系,且NF的土壤速效磷与生物有效磷的相关性更强（CaCl₂-P除外）。显著影响NF土壤生物有效磷的土壤理化性质有全钾、铵态氮含量和pH值,且全钾对NF的土壤生物有效磷变异的解释程度最高（r²=0.63,P=0.001）。土壤pH值、钙和可溶性有机碳含量是显著影响MF土壤生物有效磷的主要土壤理化性质（P<0.05）。对PF的土壤生物有效磷具有显著影响的土壤理化性质是土壤有机碳、铁和可溶性有机碳含量。土壤理化性质对3种恢复途径下森林土壤生物有效磷的解释率均超过了80%,森林恢复途径对土壤生物有效磷的影响与土壤理化性质有关。     

Impact of diabetic polyneuropathy and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy on the excretion of urinary 8-epi-PGF2α and its metabolites (2, 3-dinor and 2, 3-dinor-5, 6-dihydro)

The objective of this study was to establish if diabetes in the presence of polyneuropathy (PN) and/or cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is associated with alterations in the amounts of 8-epi-PGF_2α (IP) and its metabolites including 2, 3-dinor-8-epi-PGF_2α (dinor-IP) and 2, 3-dinor-5, 6 dihydro-8-epi-PGF_2α (dinor-dihydro-IP) in urine. Mass spectrometric separation showed that excretion of IP was similar in the PN+/CAN ? and PN+/CAN+ groups but higher than in the PN ? /CAN ? group (n = 103, 22 and 60, respectively; P < 0.05). By contrast, excretion of dinor-IP or dinor-dihydro-IP were similar in the PN ? /CAN ? and PN+/CAN ? groups but higher than in PN+/CAN+ group. Correlations were obtained between IP and dinor-IP or dinor-dihydro-IP (r = 0.30; P < 0.001 and r = 0.31; P < 0.001, respectively). A significant association was also observed between dinor-IP and dinor-dihydro-IP (r = 0.48; P < 0.001). In conclusion, these biomarkers should prove useful in studies evaluating the impact of therapeutic drugs or antioxidant interventions aimed at delaying the onset of diabetic complications.     

Estimation of Free‐Living Energy Expenditure Using a Novel Activity Monitor Designed to Minimize Obtrusiveness

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of a novel activity monitor designed to be minimally obtrusive in predicting free‐living energy expenditure. Subjects were 18 men and 12 women (age: 41 ± 11 years, BMI: 24.4 ± 3 kg/m²). The habitual physical activity was monitored for 14 days using a DirectLife triaxial accelerometer for movement registration (Tracmor_D) (Philips New Wellness Solutions, Lifestyle Incubator, the Netherlands). Tracmor_D output was expressed as activity counts per day (Cnts/d). Simultaneously, total energy expenditure (TEE) was measured in free living conditions using doubly labeled water (DLW). Activity energy expenditure (AEE) and the physical activity level (PAL) were determined from TEE and sleeping metabolic rate (SMR). A multiple‐linear regression model predicted 76% of the variance in TEE, using as independent variables SMR (partial‐r² = 0.55, P < 0.001), and Cnts/d (partial r² = 0.21, P < 0.001). The s.e. of TEE estimates was 0.9 MJ/day or 7.4% of the average TEE. A model based on body mass (partial‐r² = 0.31, P < 0.001) and Cnts/d (partial‐r² = 0.23, P < 0.001) predicted 54% of the variance in TEE. Cnts/d were significantly and positively associated with AEE (r = 0.54, P < 0.01), PAL (r = 0.68, P < 0.001), and AEE corrected by body mass (r = 0.71, P < 0.001). This study showed that the Tracmor_D is a highly accurate instrument for predicting free‐living energy expenditure. The miniaturized design did not harm the ability of the instrument in measuring physical activity and in determining outcome parameters of physical activity such as TEE, AEE, and PAL.     

Effect of Fenofibrate on Adiponectin and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Adiponectin is an adipose‐secreted hormone with anti‐inflammatory properties mediated by inhibition of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) signaling. This study investigates whether fenofibrate alters adiponectin levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and the metabolic syndrome, and examines the association of adiponectin with circulating inflammatory markers and whole blood cytokine production. The effects of fenofibrate (160 mg/day) on adiponectin and other inflammatory markers were investigated in a 12‐week randomized, placebo‐controlled trial in 55 patients with hypertriglyceridemia (plasma triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/l and <6.8 mmol/l), central obesity and other characteristics of the metabolic syndrome who were not receiving lipid‐altering therapies. In the fenofibrate group, adiponectin levels increased from 4.10 to 4.50 µg/ml (+7.7%); in the placebo group, adiponectin levels increased by 1.8%; (P = 0.0005). In multivariate models including age, gender, and waist circumference, there were inverse correlations between changes in adiponectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) (r = −0.54, P < 0.0001) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) (r = −0.57, P < 0.0001), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (r = −0.40, P = 0.0041); lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) (r = −0.30, P = 0.035), interleukin (IL)‐1β (r = −0.44, P = 0.0016), monocyte chemotactic protein‐1 (MCP‐1) (r = −0.46, P = 0.001), and macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α (MIP‐1α) (r = −0.45, P = 0.0012). Fenofibrate (160 mg/day) raised adiponectin levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia and the metabolic syndrome. Changes in adiponectin were significantly and inversely associated with changes in multiple inflammatory markers. These data suggest that adiponectin may contribute to the anti‐inflammatory effects of fenofibrate.     

Effect of granule size on the interference colors of starch in polarized light

Abstract

A Nikitin-Berek compensator tilted at 5.5° in a polarizing microscope was used to create a background second-order blue interference color against which starch granules were examined. A grating monochromator showed the first interference minimum of the background was at 590 nm. Starch granules have a radial molecular structure. Thus, some radii were in line with the axis of the compensator while others were across the compensator axis. Where radial birefringence counteracted the background birefringence, starch granules had two quadrants with a bright yellow first-order interference color. Where radial birefringence added to the background birefringence, there were two quadrants of second-order blue (higher than the background). In yellow quadrants where birefringence was reduced, the wavelength of the first interference minimum was reduced. In blue quadrants where birefringence was increased, the wavelength of the first interference minimum was increased. The extent to which the interference minimum of the background birefringence was shifted by starch granules was strongly dependent on the size of the starch granules. For yellow quadrants, the shifts were: r = ?0.87, P < 0.001, n = 22 for corn starch; r = ? 0.94, P <0.001, n = 22 for tapioca starch; and r = ?0.94, P <0.001, n = 12 for potato starch. For blue quadrants, the shifts were: r = 0.80, P < 0.001, n = 22 for corn; r = 0.81, P < 0.001, n = 22 for tapioca; and r = 0.93, P < 0.001, n = 16 for potato. When interference colors are used to evaluate starch granules, the granules should be similar in size or a correction must be made for granule size, and the Michel-Lévy chart of interference colors may be used to collect data subjectively.     

Dual‐energy X‐ray Absorptiometry and Anthropometric Estimates of Visceral Fat in Black and White South African Women

Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and therefore, accurate methods to estimate VAT have been investigated. Computerized tomography (CT) is the gold standard measure of VAT, but its use is limited. We therefore compared waist measures and two dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) methods (Ley and Lunar) that quantify abdominal regions of interest (ROIs) to CT‐derived VAT in 166 black and 143 white South African women. Anthropometry, DXA ROI, and VAT (CT at L4–L5) were measured. Black women were younger (P < 0.001), shorter (P < 0.001), and had higher body fat (P < 0.05) than white women. There were no ethnic differences in waist (89.7 ± 18.2 cm vs. 90.1 ± 15.6 cm), waist:height ratio (WHtR, 0.56 ± 0.12 vs. 0.54 ± 0.09), or DXA ROI (Ley: 2.2 ± 1.5 vs. 2.1 ± 1.4; Lunar: 2.3 ± 1.4 vs. 2.3 ± 1.5), but black women had less VAT, after adjusting for age, height, weight, and fat mass (76 ± 34 cm² vs. 98 ± 35 cm²; P < 0.001). Ley ROI and Lunar ROI were correlated in black (r = 0.983) and white (r = 0.988) women. VAT correlated with DXA ROI (Ley: r = 0.729 and r = 0.838, P < 0.01; Lunar: r = 0.739 and r = 0.847, P < 0.01) in black and white women, but with increasing ROI android fatness, black women had less VAT. Similarly, VAT was associated with waist (r = 0.732 and r = 0.836, P < 0.01) and WHtR (r = 0.721 and r = 0.824, P < 0.01) in black and white women. In conclusion, although DXA‐derived ROIs correlate well with VAT as measured by CT, they are no better than waist or WHtR. Neither DXA nor anthropometric measures are able to accurately distinguish between high and low levels of VAT between population groups.     

Impacts of Visceral Adipose Tissue and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue on Metabolic Risk Factors in Middle‐aged Japanese

Regional fat distribution rather than overall fat volume has been considered to be important to understanding the link between obesity and metabolic disorders. We aimed to evaluate the independent associations of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with metabolic risk factors in apparently healthy middle‐aged Japanese. Participants were 1,119 men and 854 women aged 38–60 years who were not taking medications for diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. VAT and SAT were measured by use of computed tomography (CT) scanning. VAT and SAT were significantly and positively correlated with each other in men (r = 0.531, P < 0.001) and women (r = 0.589, P < 0.001). In multiple regression analyses, either measure of abdominal adiposity (VAT or SAT) was positively associated with blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and log triglyceride (P < 0.001) and inversely with high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol (P < 0.001). When VAT and SAT were simultaneously included in the model, the association of VAT with triglycerides was maintained (P < 0.001) but that of SAT was lost. The same was true for HDL‐cholesterol in women. For fasting plasma glucose, the association with VAT was strong (P < 0.001) and the borderline association with SAT was maintained (P = 0.060 in men and P = 0.020 in women). Both VAT and SAT were independently associated with blood pressure (P < 0.001). Further adjustment for anthropometric indices resulted in the independent association only with VAT for all risk factors. In conclusion, impacts of VAT and SAT differed among risk factors. VAT showed dominant impacts on triglyceride concentrations in both genders and on HDL‐cholesterol in women, while SAT also had an independent association with blood pressure.     

Bioimpedance Analysis Parameters and Epicardial Adipose Tissue Assessed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Heart Failure

There is increasing evidence that body composition should be considered as a systemic marker of disease severity in congestive heart failure (CHF). Prior studies established bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) as an objective indicator of body composition. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is the visceral fat around the heart secreting various bioactive molecules. Our purpose was to investigate the association between BIA parameters and EAT assessed by CMR in patients with CHF. BIA and CMR analysis were performed in 41 patients with CHF and in 16 healthy controls. Patients with CHF showed a decreased indexed EAT (22 ± 5 vs. 34 ± 4 g/m², P < 0.001) and phase angle (PA) (5.5° vs. 6.4°, P < 0.02) compared to healthy controls. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation of CMR indexed EAT with left ventricular ejection fraction (LV‐EF) (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), PA (r = 0.31, P = 0.01), total body muscle mass (TBMM) (r = 0.41, P = 0.001), fat‐free mass (FFM) (r = 0.30, P = 0.02), and intracellular water (ICW) (0.47, P = 0.0003). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that LV‐EF was the only independent determinant of indexed EAT (P < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated good predictive performance of PA and EAT (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.86 and 0.82, respectively) with respect to cardiac death. After a follow‐up period of 5 years, 8/41 (19.5%) patients suffered from cardiac death. Only indexed EAT <22 g/m² revealed a statistically significant higher risk of cardiac death (P = 0.02). EAT assessed by CMR correlated with the BIA‐derived PA in patients with CHF. EAT and BIA‐derived PA might serve as additional prognostic indicators for survival in these patients. However, further clinical studies are needed to elucidate the prognostic relevance of these new findings.     

Insulin Sensitivity,Cardiorespiratory Fitness,and Physical Activity in Overweight Hispanic Youth

Objective: To determine whether cardiorespiratory fitness and/or physical activity (PA) were related to measures of insulin sensitivity and secretion independent of body composition in overweight Hispanic children. Research Methods and Procedures: Ninety‐five Hispanic children (n = 55 boys; n = 40 girls; 8 to 13 years old) participated in this investigation. The frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test was used to determine the insulin sensitivity index (SI), the acute insulin response, and the disposition index. Cardiorespiratory fitness [maximal oxygen uptake (Vo_2max)] was evaluated using a treadmill protocol, and PA was determined by an interviewer‐administered questionnaire. Body composition was measured using DXA. Results: Unadjusted correlations indicated that Vo_2max (milliliters of O₂ per minute) was negatively related to SI (r = ?0.46, p < 0.05) and disposition index (r = ?0.31, p < 0.05) and positively associated with fasting insulin (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), but these relationships were no longer significant once gender, Tanner stage, fat mass, and soft lean tissue mass were included as covariates (all p > 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that body fat mass explained 53% of the variance in SI and that Vo_2max (milliliters of O₂ per minute) was not independently related to SI. Cardiorespiratory fitness was positively related to both fat mass (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) and soft lean tissue mass (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). PA was not related to any measure of insulin sensitivity and secretion. Discussion: Cardiorespiratory fitness, as determined by Vo_2max (milliliters of O₂ per minute), was not independently related to insulin sensitivity or secretion, suggesting that Vo_2max influences insulin dynamics indirectly through fat mass.     

Low IGF-1 levels are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in haemodialysis patients

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a significant risk and may, in part, explain the high morbidity and mortality rates among haemodialysis (HD) patients. Several studies have implicated reduced insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) levels in the development of CVD. However, it is not clear whether IGF-1, and its relationship with other hormones such as leptin, insulin, and growth hormone (GH), as well as anthropometric variables may explain the high incidence of vascular complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This study was designed to measure total serum IGF-1, leptin, insulin and GH levels in CKD patients and in age-matched control subjects and to elucidate the relationship between IGF-1 and GH, leptin, and insulin as well as other known aetiological risk factors for CVD including blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and age. The study consisted of 50 CKD patients [36 M and 14 F; mean age; 41.8 ± 10.3 years) on maintenance haemodialysis and 50 healthy control subjects (36 M and 14 F; mean age 41.6 ± 10.2 years) matched for age and sex. None of the subject among patients and controls reported either smoking or history of diabetes mellitus. The circulating levels of IGF-1 were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in both male and female patients compared to the control subjects. Moreover, IGF-1 was strongly and inversely correlated with both systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = −0.360; P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = −0.512; P < 0.001) in the CKD group, and when the two groups were combined SBP (r = −0.396; P < 0.001) and DBP (r = −0.296; P < 0.01). When adjusted for age, the correlation was more significant, however, when adjusted for BMI no significant correlation was observed between IGF-1 and blood pressure. IGF-1 was inversely correlated with age (r = −0.367; P < 0.01) and BMI (r = −0.310; P < 0.05) in the control group, but not the patient group. In controls and patients, respectively, a positive correlation between leptin and BMI (r = 0.358; P < 0.01; r = 0.640, P < 0.001) was observed. The results show that circulating levels of IGF-1 were significantly lower in CKD patients as compared to healthy normal subjects and were inversely correlated with SBP and DBP independent of age, but not BMI indicative of a strong relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and low IGF-1 levels. Although, the data do not clearly indicate low IGF-1 levels as a cause or an effect of these cardiovascular risk factors, they do point to an interesting relationship between low IGF-1 levels and increased cardiovascular risk factors among CKD patients as compared to age-matched healthy control subjects.     

Natural forests exhibit higher carbon sequestration and lower water consumption than planted forests in China

Large‐scale planted forests (PF) have been given a higher priority in China for improving the environment and mitigating climate change relative to natural forests (NF). However, the ecological consequences of these PF on water resource security have been less considered in the national scale. Moreover, a critically needed comparison on key ecological effects between PF and NF under climate change has rarely been conducted. Here, we compare carbon sequestration and water consumption in PF and NF across China using combination of remote sensing and field inventory. We found that, on average, NF consumed 6.8% (37.5 mm per growing season) less water but sequestered 1.1% (12.5 g C m^?2 growing season^?1) more carbon than PF in the period of 2000–2012. While there was no significant difference in water consumption (p = 0.6) between PF and NF in energy‐limited areas (dryness index [DI] < 1), water consumption was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in PF than that in NF in water‐limited regions (DI > 1). Moreover, a distinct and larger shift of water yield was identified in PF than in NF from the 1980s to the 2000s, indicating that PF were more sensitive to climate change, leading to a higher water consumption when compared with NF. Our results suggest NF should be properly valued in terms of maximizing the benefits of carbon sequestration and water yield. Future forest plantation projects should be planned with caution, particularly in water‐limited regions where they might have less positive effect on carbon sequestration but lead to significant water yield reduction.     

Postural stability during static strain before and after a submaximal aerobic bicycle test in athletes

Control of static balance was studied in wrestlers (n = 31) in the normal state and against the background of physical fatigue, i.e., before and after a bicycle PWC ₁₇₀ test, respectively. The static balance was evaluated using a Ritm force platform (Russia) during normal basic stance (BS) and static strain (half-squatting position (HS) with the eyes open). Before physical exercise, i.e., during BS, the differences in postural control of the center of pressure (CP) between athletes and control subjects (n = 40) were nonsignificant. In the HS position, both linear and angular sway velocities of CP (LSV and ASV, respectively) were significantly lower in wrestlers (p < 0.001), and these parameters were negatively correlated with the PWC ₁₇₀ index (r = −0.454 and r = −455, p < 0.001 for LSV and ASV, respectively), which suggests that up to 20% of the sway velocity variance during static strain is dependent on the working capacity of the subjects. After the PWC ₁₇₀ test, the sway velocities of CP increased in both groups during BS (p < 0.01) and HS (p < 0.001), which testifies to the important role of muscular fatigue in the decrease in postural stability in both groups. During BS, an increase in LSV and ASV was about the same in both groups; however, during HS, an increase in the sway velocities of CP after PWC ₁₇₀ was lower in wrestlers (the intergroup differences at p = 0.037 and p = 0.008 for LSV and ASV, respectively); this parameter was negatively correlated with the recovery of the heart rate (HR) after the bicycle test (r = −0.378, p < 0.001 and r = −0.265, p < 0.05 for LSV and ASV, respectively), which suggests that rapid recovery contributes to a certain extent (about 6.5–14.2%) to the postural stability during static strain of wrestlers against the background of their physical fatigue.     

Validation of a physical activity questionnaire in the elderly

The purpose of this study was to validate a physical activity (PA) questionnaire, Questionnaire d'Activité Physique Saint-Etienne (QAPSE), in an homogenous population of elderly subjects and to estimate its potential for application in routine PA assessments in that age group. A group of 65 (31 men and 34 women) community dwelling, healthy people aged 65–84 years volunteered to participate in a validation substudy comparing maximal oxygen uptake ( ) and anthropometric data. correlated positively with mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE) (r=0.56,P<0.0001), greater than 3MET (metabolic equivalent) daily energy expenditure (DEE) activity (r=0.371,P=0.002), leisure activity (r=0.368,P=0.003), sports activity (r=0.461,P<0.0001), basic daily activity (r=0.325,P=0.008) and moving DEE activity (r=0.273,P=0.028) in both sexes, with MHDEE (r=0.366,P=0.043) and moving DEE activity (r=0.388,P=0.031) in the men and with MHDEE (r=0.624;P<0.001), greater than 3MET DEE activity (r=0.513,P=0.002), leisure activity (r=0.388,P=0.024) and sports activity (r=0.683,P<0.001) in the women. The MHDEE was positively correlated with body mass (r=0.464) and with fat free mass (r=0.639) and negatively correlated with percentage body fat (r=−0.501). In a reproducibility substudy (n=44) a paired Student'st-test, based on mean differences between the two administrations of the questionnaire did not reach statistical significance for any of the QAPSE activity scores studied. Test-retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.648 for moving score to 0.967 for MHDEE with correlation coefficientP values being less than 0.001 for all of the QAPSE activity scores. We concluded that QAPSE demonstrated excellent repeatability and good validity in relation to physical fitness and anthropometric data in the population of these healthy elderly volunteers.     

Effects of resistance training on biomarkers of bone formation and association with red blood cell variables

We previously showed that resistance training significantly increased the red blood cell count (RBC) and hematocrit (Hct) and decreased the mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in physically inactive men. Since the enhanced hematopoiesis may result, at least partly, from bone metabolism, the purpose of this study was to further investigate the effect of resistance training on serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity (B-ALP), a biomarker of bone formation, and focus on the relationship between the change in B-ALP from baseline to 20-week follow-up and the corresponding changes in RBC, Hct and MCHC. Seventy-four men aged 20–45 years were randomly assigned to training and control groups. The training group underwent a 20-week progressive resistance training. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum B-ALP at baseline, and at 10-week and 20-week follow-up. B-ALP in the control group exhibited no significant change. In contrast, the training group increased its B-ALP from baseline at 10-week and 20-week follow-up (both P < 0.01 compared to control group). Within the training group, B-ALP was elevated at 10-week and 20-week follow-up when compared to baseline (both P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between change in B-ALP from baseline to 20-week follow-up and the corresponding changes in RBC, Hct and MCHC in the training group (r = 0.49, P < 0.01; r = 0.56, P < 0.01, and r = −0.38, P < 0.05, respectively). We concluded that resistance training increased biomarkers of bone formation, which had association with RBC turnover. Adaptive changes of bone metabolism induced by resistance training might facilitate erythropoiesis.     

Effects of amount of training on the saliva concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and on the dehydroepiandrosterone: cortisol concentration ratio in women over 16 weeks of training

This study was designed to investigate in the saliva the influence in female athletes of handball or volleyball training on concentrations of cortisol [C], dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], and on the [DHEA]:[C] ratio over 16 weeks of training. Data were compared to those of sedentary women. Saliva samples were collected upon waking after an overnight fast during the 1st week (W₁) of the training programme and in the 16th week (W₁₆). The training programme increased the resting concentrations of saliva [DHEA] in all the sportswomen. In contrast, a decrease of [DHEA] was noted in the sedentary group (W₁₆ < W₁; P < 0.05). In none of the women did the [C] at rest change significantly during the study. Between W₁ and W₁₆, the [DHEA]:[C] ratio increased by more than 30% in all the sportswomen. In addition, the athletes with the highest performance levels and greatest amount of training had the lowest [DHEA]:[C] ratio. Negative linear relationships between the amount of training and the [DHEA]:[C] ratio were found both at W₁ (r = −0.53 P < 0.001), and W₁₆ (r=−0.73 P < 0.001), suggesting that the latter could be used as an indicator of the training status of sportswomen. Accepted: 12 May 1998     

Interrelations and associations of serum levels of steroids and pituitary hormones with markers of insulin resistance,inflammatory activity,and renal function in men and women aged >70 years in an 8-year longitudinal study of opposite-sex twins

Background: The physiological serum levels of steroids and pituitary hormones in older men and women have been sparsely reported in the literature.Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the normal variation and sex differences in steroids and pituitary hormones in those aged >70 years, and to study the interrelation between these hormones and indicators of the metabolic syndrome, inflammatory activity, and renal function.Methods: The investigation comprised a population-based sample of pairs of white opposite-sex twins from the Swedish Twin Registry. At baseline in 1996 and at the 8-year follow-uup in 2004, serum levels of progesterone, cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), and urea were analyzed. Serum levels of insulin and cystatin were analyzed only at the follow-up.Results: The study sample included 219 men and 183 women aged 71 to 80 years (mean [SD], 74.5 [2.5] years) at baseline in 1996, and 127 men and 135 women at follow-uup in 2004. At baseline, in both men and women, the variation of progesterone in serum was positively correlated with that of estradiol (men: r = 0.226, P < 0.01; women: r = 0.115, P = NS), testosterone (men: r = 0.178, P < 0.01; women: r = 0.315, P < 0.001), and cortisol (men: r = 0.314, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.296, P < 0.001). The values of progesterone and other steroid hormones were associated with markers of insulin resistance (iie, insulin, waist circumference), inflammatory activity (ie, CRP) for progesterone (men: r = 0.267, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.150, P < 0.05), and renal function (ie, creatinine) for progesterone (men: r = 0.424, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.212, P < 0.01). Estradiol and prolactin were associated with insulin resistance, inflammation, and renal function. Furthermore, progesterone was associated with prolactin (men: r = 0.275, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.172, P < 0.05).. Among both men and women, there was a strong correlation between testosterone and estradiol (men: r = 0.753, P < 0.001; women: r = 0.526, P < 0.001); in women, there was also a link between testosterone and cortisol at follow-up (r = 0.340, P < 0.01). For progesterone, there was a significant correlation between the values of the co-twins (in 1996: r = 0.16, P < 0.05; in 2004: r = 0.45, P < 0.001). Higher serum levels of progesterone (2.0 [0.7] nmol/L in men and 1.7 [0.8] nmol/L in women) and prolactin (6 [5] μg/L in men and 8 [10] μg/L in women) were found among those who were deceased at follow-up compared with survivors (progesterone: 1.8 [0.5] nmol/L in men and 1.4 [0.6] nmol/L in women, P < 0.01; prolactin: 4 [3] μg/L in men and 5 [2] μg/L in women, P < 0.001).Conclusions: In this study of opposite-sex Swedish twins aged >70 years, there was a sex difference in the serum levels of steroids and pituitary hormones between men and women. Progesterone and other steroid hormones were associated with markers of insulin resistance, inflammatory activity, and renal function. Progesterone and prolactin levels were associated with increased risk of mortality in this sample.     

Characteristics of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) ejaculates collected by rectal probe electrostimulation and by artificial vagina

This study compares characteristics of ejaculates collected from 16 adult male chimpanzees using rectal probe electrostimulation (RPE) and from 10 adult male chimpanzees trained to use an artificial vagina (AV). Ejaculate weight, semen volume, and sperm number were significantly lower (P < 0.01) and percentage liquefaction was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ejaculates collected by RPE. Percentages of motile sperm and of live sperm in semen did not differ significantly between the two collection methods. Total amounts of protein and of α-glucosidase activity were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in seminal fluid from RPE samples. For ejaculates collected by RPE, semen volume correlated positively with protein (r = 0.8640, P < 0.001), fructose (r = 0.6976, P < 0.001), and citrate (r = 0.6976, P < 0.001); sperm number correlated positively with α-glucosidase activity (r = 0.6547, P < 0.001); and protein correlated positively with fructose (r = 0.5906, P < 0.002), citrate (r = 0.5926, P < 0.002) and α-glucosidase activity (r = 0.6006, P < 0.001). For ejaculates collected by AV, semen volume correlated positively with percentage liquefaction (r = 0.6058, P < 0.001), protein (r = 0.8055, P < 0.001), fructose (r = 0.6606, P < 0.001), and citrate (r = 0.8272, P < 0.001); sperm number correlated positively with percentage of motile sperm (r = 0.4196, P 0.004); percentage of motile sperm correlated positively with percentage of live sperm (r = 0.4388, P < 0.002); and, protein correlated positively with fructose (r = 0.6947, P < 0.002) and with citrate (r = 0.5926, P < 0.002). These data show that there is a significant difference in semen parameters and in biochemical parameters of ejaculates obtained by RPE and by AV. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.