Relationships between hemorheology, erythrocyte metabolism, and von willebrand factor in athletes and patients with peripheral arterial disease

The relationship between hemorheology, erythrocyte ATP and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) concentrations, and von Willebrand factor antigen was studied in athletes and peripheral arterial disease patients. Lower blood viscosity, mainly due to a higher erythrocyte deformability, was found in athletes compared to control subjects. Higher 2,3-DPG/Ht levels in athletes were correlated with blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformability, the rigidity index, and erythrocyte suspension viscosity at low shear stress. It is suggested that these relationships might be determined by the predominance of immature erythrocytes in the blood circulation of the athletes. In the group of patients, a decrease in ATP/Ht was related to increased erythrocyte aggregation and a higher erythrocyte suspension viscosity. Moreover, the concentration of von Willebrand factor was positively correlated with the erythrocyte aggregation index, erythrocyte suspension viscosity, and plasma viscosity. The results show that alterations in erythrocyte and plasma rheology may be involved in the modification of the functional state of the vascular endothelium and the development of atherosclerosis.     

Relationships between Thyroid Hormones, Blood Rheology, and Lipid Profile in Athletes

The interrelation of thyroid hormones with blood rheology and lipid profile was studied in athletes (N = 12). A decrease in blood viscosity in the athletes was caused by a lower erythrocyte rigidity index, which correlated with an increased reticulocyte count (P = 0.022), a decreased mean concentration of hemoglobin per cell (MCHC) (P = 0.006), and an increased level of thyrotropin (TTH) (P = 0.040). By multiple regression analysis, MCHC was found to be the primary correlate of the erythrocyte rigidity index (P = 0.044). The interrelation of TTH with the rigidity index was explained by a positive correlation of TTH with the reticulocyte count (P = 0.022). The level of triiodothyronine (T₃) was similar in the athletes and the control subjects and negatively correlated with total cholesterol (Ch) (P = 0.033) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL Ch) (P = 0.048), which both correlated positively with blood and plasma viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Thus, the decrease in LDL Ch in the athletes, which was closely related with the higher blood and plasma fluidities and with erythrocyte aggregation, was at least partly due to the effect of T₃.     

A method for erythrocyte filtration

Erythrocyte deformability is one of the most important factors on determining blood viscosity. Many microcirculation damages are caused by alteration of viscosity. We propose a method for evaluate erythrocyte filtration using Nucleopore membranes, to study erythrocyte deformability. Normal ranges are calculated in young healthy subjects. Mean filtration time is determined on 5 filtrations for every subject. Filtration rate is expressed by sec/ml and correlated whit haematocrit. The method is not easily utilizable, but it can be useful in the knowledge of the role of the erythrocyte deformability in the altered microcirculation.     

Effect of some nickel compounds on red blood cell characteristics

The effect of certain inorganic and coordinated nickel compounds on the resistance to different destructive substances, rheological properties, and functional activity of healthy human red blood cells (RBC), was investigated. It is shown that nickel compounds affect the erythrocyte membrane lipid bilayer, as well as membrane proteins to various extents, depending on the type of compounds used. In general, the acceleration of erythrocyte aging was observed to be more pronounced in young erythrocytes. The observed results suggest that nickel compounds decrease water permeability across erythrocyte membranes. Almost all the investigated nickel compounds decrease erythrocyte thermostability, deformability, and the rate of O₂ release by erythrocytes.     

Considerations of blood parameters of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

To evaluate physiological stress resulting from environmental influences, a haematological study of a natural population of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides , was undertaken to establish a 'normal' blood profile. Several parameters including haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, plasma protein concentration and glucose levels were investigated. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, and total plasma protein were positively correlated with fish length. Haemoglobin and haematocrit were positively correlated with fish age while mean corpuscular haemoglobin, concentration was negatively correlated with fish age. Both haemoglobin and haematocrit values were related to erythrocyte counts.     

Rheological Properties of Blood in Athletes

Rheological properties of blood were studied in subjects with high physical activity (athletes). It was found that the whole blood viscosity decreased under conditions of relative rest. The use of the concept of hemorheological profiles made it possible to reveal different profiles in subjects exposed to different courses of training exercise. The relationship between the rheological properties of blood and the total work capacity in humans was established. The typical parameter of profiles in subjects with high physical activity was high erythrocyte deformability associated mainly with erythrocyte form and viscoelastic properties of its membrane.     

Changes in the erythrocyte in liver cirrhosis: role of cholesterol and plasma phospholipids

To investigate the role played by plasmatic lipids in the altered erythrocyte deformability observed in cirrhotic patients we studied 15 patients with liver cirrhosis (histologically diagnosed) and 10 healthy volunteers. Erythrocyte filtration time, plasmatic free and esterified cholesterol and phospholipids were measured in all subjects. The erythrocyte filtration time resulted to be significantly increased in cirrhotic patients (35' +/- 3, 35 M +/- SEM) when compared to control subjects (26' +/- 2, 53: M +/- SEM) (t = 2,078 p less than 0,05). This increase correlated in cirrhotic patients (but not in control subjects) with free/esterified cholesterol ratio (p less than 0,01) as well as free cholesterol/phospholipid ratio (p less than 0,001). Our results confirm that decreased erythrocyte deformability in cirrhotic patients which is accompanied by altered erythrocyte morphology is due, at least in part, to the altered lipids blood levels.     

Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood parameters of athletes at rest and after exercise

The effects of magnesium supplementation on blood parameters were studied during a period of 4 wk in adult tae-kwon-do athletes at rest and exhaustion. Thirty healthy subjects of ages ranging in age from 18 to 22 yr were included in the study. The subjects were separated into three groups, as follows: Group 1 consisted of subjects who did not train receiving 10 mg/kg/d magnesium. Group 2 included subjects equally supplemented with magnesium and exercising 90–120 min/d for 5 d/wk. Group 3 were subject to the same exercise regime but did not receive magnesium supplements. The leukocyte count (WBC) was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in the subjects who did not receive any supplements (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the WBC of the two groups under magnesium supplementation. The erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and trombocyte levels were significantly increased in all groups (p < 0.05), but the hematocrit levels did not show any differences between the groups although they were increased after supplementation and exercise. These results suggest that magnesium supplementation positively influences the performance of training athletes by increasing erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels.     

Effect of expertise on postmaximal long sprint blood metabolite responses

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the blood metabolic responses obtained after a single maximal exercise in elite and less-successful athletes and to investigate whether these responses are related to sprint performance. Eleven elite (ELI) and 14 regional (REG) long sprint runners performed a 300-m running test as fast as possible. Blood samples were taken at rest and at 4 minutes after exercise for measurements of blood lactate concentration [La] and acid-base status. The blood metabolic responses of ELI subjects compared to those of REG subjects for pH (7.07 ± 0.05 vs. 7.14 ± 1.5), sodium bicarbonate concentration ([HCO(3)(-)], 8.1 ± 1.5 vs. 9.8 ± 1.8 mmol·L(-1)), hemoglobin O(2) saturation (SaO(2)) (94.7 ± 1.8 vs. 96.2 ± 1.6%) were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and [La] was significantly higher in ELI (21.1 ± 2.9 vs. 19.1 ± 1.2 mmol·L(-1), p < 0.05). The 300-m performance (in % world record) was negatively correlated with pH (r = -0.55, p < 0.01), SaO2 (r = -0.64, p < 0.001), [HCO(3)(-)] (r = -0.40, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with [La] (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). In conclusion, for the same quantity of work, the best athletes are able to strongly alter their blood acid-base balance compared to underperforming runners, with larger acidosis and lactate accumulation. To obtain the pH limits with acute maximal exercise, coaches must have their athletes perform a distance run with duration of exercise superior to 35 seconds. The blood lactate accumulation values (mmol·L(-1)·s(-1)) recorded in this study indicate that the maximal glycolysis rate obtained in the literature from short sprint distances is maintained, but not increased, until 35 seconds of exercise.     

Age-Related Erythrocyte Structure and Rheological Blood Properties in Athletes

The relationship between the rheological blood properties and several indices of age-related erythrocyte structure was established in endurance-training athletes (n = 21). Unlike nonathletic subjects, the athletes had a shift in the age-related structure towards younger erythrocyte forms: reticulocytosis, increased erythrocyte resistance, increased percentage of cells with a diameter exceeding 8 m, and decreased percentage of cells with a diameter of less than 7 m. The established correlations between total reticulocyte concentration, mature and immature reticulocyte concentrations, and percentage of cells with a diameter either exceeding 8 m or less than 7 m, on the one hand, and hemorheological parameters (blood viscosity, erythrocyte suspension viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, and surface/volume ratio) and physical work capacity, on the other hand, revealed a significant effect of younger erythrocyte forms on hemorheological indices in athletes.     

Disorders in Magnesium Balance Decrease Erythrocyte Deformability in Athletes

Blood rheology was compared with the magnesium status in athletes (N = 45), who were divided into tertiles with a decreased ≤ 0.86 mmol/l), moderate (0.86–0.97 mmol/l), or high ≥0.97 mmol/l) Mg content in the blood serum. One-way ANOVA revealed differences in the erythrocyte suspension viscosity, total globulins, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL Ch), plasma viscosity, and acid resistance of erythrocytes. According to discriminant analysis, key differences were associated with the erythrocyte deformability (ED), which was decreased in the lower and upper tertiles. The decrease in ED directly correlated with Mg content in the lower tertile and with HDL Ch in the upper tertile. The athletes with the increased Mg had increased plasma viscosity, which was due to elevated globulins and triglycerides. Thus, Mg imbalance in the athletes was associated with a decrease in ED.__________Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005, pp. 133–136.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Melnikov, Vikulov.     

Rapid Rather than Gradual Weight Reduction Impairs Hemorheological Parameters of Taekwondo Athletes through Reduction in RBC-NOS Activation

Purpose

Rapid weight reduction is part of the pre-competition routine and has been shown to negatively affect psychological and physiological performance of Taekwondo (TKD) athletes. This is caused by a reduction of the body water and an electrolyte imbalance. So far, it is unknown whether weight reduction also affects hemorheological properties and hemorheology-influencing nitric oxide (NO) signaling, important for oxygen supply to the muscles and organs.

Methods

For this purpose, ten male TKD athletes reduced their body weight by 5% within four days (rapid weight reduction, RWR). After a recovery phase, athletes reduced body weight by 5% within four weeks (gradual weight reduction, GWR). Each intervention was preceded by two baseline measurements and followed by a simulated competition. Basal blood parameters (red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean cellular hemoglobin and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration), RBC-NO synthase activation, RBC nitrite as marker for NO synthesis, RBC deformability and aggregation parameters were determined on a total of eight investigation days.

Results

Basal blood parameters were not affected by the two interventions. In contrast to GWR, RWR decreased activation of RBC-NO synthase, RBC nitrite, respective NO concentration and RBC deformability. Additionally, RWR increased RBC aggregation and disaggregation threshold.

Conclusion

The results point out that a rapid weight reduction negatively affects hemorheological parameters and NO signaling in RBC which might limit performance capacity. Thus, GWR should be preferred to achieve the desired weight prior to a competition to avoid these negative effects.     

近15年长江口海域海洋生物变化趋势及健康状况评价

对近15年（2004-2018年）长江口海域海洋生物变化趋势进行分析,评价海洋生物健康状况,并对陆源污染物排放与海洋生物变化进行相关性分析。结果表明,（1）长江口海域海洋生物群落结构组成发生了一定变化,与20世纪90年代末相比,浮游植物种类数有所减少,浮游动物、底栖生物种类数有所增加。浮游植物以硅藻为主,但甲藻占比有所增加,2010年以来硅藻、甲藻群落结构进入新的平衡状态;浮游动物以节肢动物为主,主要类群桡足类占比有所下降;底栖生物种类数明显升高。（2）生物多样性总体水平一般,浮游植物多样性指数总体较低,第一优势种的优势度较高;浮游动物多样性指数和丰富度指数多年呈现下降趋势;底栖生物多样性水平一般,优势种渐趋单一。（3）海洋生物总体处于"不健康"状态,主要影响指标为浮游植物密度偏高,浮游动物密度偏低、生物量偏高,底栖动物密度偏高、生物量偏低。生态系统变化与陆源主要污染物排放、营养结构变化及水体富营养化均具有一定的相关性,其中无机氮（DIN）、石油类入海通量与生物健康指数呈显著负相关关系（P < 0.05）,无机磷（DIP）与底栖生物生物量呈显著负相关关系。N/P与浮游植物丰度呈显著负相关,但与浮游植物均匀度和多样性指数呈显著正相关;Si/N与浮游植物多样性指数呈显著负相关。海域严重富营养化面积比例与硅藻甲藻种类数比值呈显著正相关关系。     

慢性呼吸衰竭病人红细胞膜蛋白和红细胞变形能力的研究

目的：探讨红细胞膜蛋白在红细胞变形性改变中的作用。方法：参照Ｌｅａｍｍｌｉ和Ｐｅａｃｏｃｋ方法,测定了肺心病Ⅰ型呼吸衰竭（Ⅰ组）１８例、Ⅱ型呼吸衰竭（Ⅱ组）１８例和健康对照（ＣＧ）２０例的红细胞膜带３蛋白、膜收缩蛋白二聚体（ＳｐＤ）和四聚体（ＳｐＴ）的相对含量与红细胞变形能力。结果：Ⅰ、Ⅱ组带３蛋白、ＳｐＤ、ＳｐＴ相对含量和红细胞变形指数（ＤＩ）与对照组均有显著差异,且肺心病病人的ＤＩ与带３蛋白相对含量呈显著正相关,与ＳｐＤ／ＳｐＴ比值呈显著负相关。结论：带３蛋白和膜收缩蛋白的异常,可能是导致肺心病人红细胞变形能力降低的重要因素之一。     

高脂血症患者肠道优势菌群与血清脂质水平相关性研究

目的探讨高脂血症患者肠道优势菌群变化及其与血清脂质水平的相关性。方法高脂血症患者及健康受试者各50例,采集其空腹血清样本和粪便样本,血清样本用于检测血清中总胆固醇（TC）、甘油-二酯（TG）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）的含量。应用实时定量PCR技术检测肠道内优势菌群的含量,并将其与血清脂质水平进行相关性分析。结果高脂血症患者肠道内总细菌量及拟杆菌属细菌较健康受试者组差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,而双歧杆菌属细菌、乳杆菌属细菌及粪杆菌属细菌较健康受试者明显降低（P〈0．05）,肠杆菌科细菌和肠球菌属细菌较健康受试者明显升高（P〈0．05）。高脂血症患者血清Tc与双歧杆菌属细菌、乳杆菌属细菌和粪杆菌属细菌呈现显著负相关,而与肠杆菌科细菌和肠球菌属细菌呈现显著正相关;血清LDL—C与双歧杆菌属细菌和粪杆菌属细菌呈现显著负相关,而与肠球菌属细菌呈现显著正相关;血清TG与双歧杆菌属细菌和乳杆菌属细菌呈现显著负相关,而与肠杆菌科细菌和肠球菌属细菌呈现显著正相关。结论高脂血症患者肠道优势菌群发生了明显的变化,血清脂质水平与肠道优势菌群变化具有显著相关性,提示肠道优势菌群结构的调整可改善患者血清脂质水平。     

Correlations between serum zinc concentrations and oxygen balance parameters in patients with primary arterial hypertension

It has been postulated that increased blood pressure is related to hypersensitivity of arterial chemoreceptors and increased tissue oxygen supply. Arterial blood pressure has been found to be negatively correlated to serum zinc and positively correlated to age, body mass index, and hemoglobin concentrations. The aim of the present investigation was to further explore the relationship between blood pressure and zinc concentrations in serum and blood morphology parameters, iron concentrations, and venous blood gasometry parameters. The study was carried out in two groups. Group Aconsisted of 23 subjects of both sexes suffering from moderate to severe arterial blood pressure. Their mean age was 53.13±10.45 yr (range: 23–74 yr). Group B included 48 subjects of mean age 36.7±10.0 yr (range: 26–60 yr). This group included 5 patients with arterial hypotension, 37 with hypertension, and the remaining 6 with normal blood pressure. Significant positive correlations between serum zinc and red blood cell count (r = 0.51) and negative with age (r = −0.52) were found. By multiple regression, negative correlations were also found between serum zinc and the diastolic blood pressure and with hemoglobin (r = −0.5). Age was positively correlated to systolic (r = 0.49) and diastolic (r = 0.45) blood pressure parameters and to hemoglobin concentrations (r = 0.33 and r = 0.38, respectively). Buffered and excess bases in blood were negatively correlated to zinc (r = −0.29 in both cases) and to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = −0.31 and r = −0.40, respectively). In turn, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure also correlated negatively to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and positively to venous blood oxygen saturation and to the partial pressure of oxygen. The role of zinc and acid-balance realtionships in blood pressure regulation and in arterial hypertension ethiopatogenesis is disscused.     

慢性常压缺氧和缺氧伴CO_2潴留大鼠红细胞变形能力与能量代谢的研究

本工作研究了慢性常压缺氧和缺氧伴ＣＯ＿２潴留肺动脉高压大鼠红细胞变形能力和红细胞内ＡＴＰ含量的变化。结果表明,慢性常压缺氧和缺氧伴ＣＯ＿２潴留大鼠不同切应力下的红细胞变形指数和红细胞内ＡＴＰ含量均明显低于其对照组,且该两组红细胞内ＡＴＰ含量与不同切应力下的红细胞变形指数呈显著正相关。提示慢性缺氧和伴ＣＯ＿２潴留大鼠红细胞内ＡＴＰ含量降低可能是导致红细胞变形能力降低的诸因素之一,后者又可导致和加重肺动脉高压的形成。     

Catchment land use and trophic state impacts on phytoplankton composition: a case study from the Rotorua lakes’ district, New Zealand

Trophic state of lakes has been related to catchment land use, but direct links between phytoplankton taxa and land use are limited. Phytoplankton composition, represented by relative cell abundance of phyla, was measured over a period of 4 years in 11 lakes in the Rotorua region, New Zealand. The lakes differed in morphometry, trophic state and land use (as percentage catchment area). We tested whether relative proportion of land uses, indirectly representing relative nutrient loading, was the overarching driver of phytoplankton composition. Trophic state was correlated negatively with native forest and positively with pasture and urban area. Cyanoprokaryota were correlated negatively with native forest and positively with pasture and trophic state, Chlorophyta were correlated positively with native forest and urban land use and negatively with pasture and trophic state, and Bacillariophyta were positively correlated with dissolved reactive silica to dissolved inorganic nitrogen (Si:DIN) and Si to dissolved reactive phosphorus (Si:DRP) ratios. Lakes with higher nutrient loads had higher trophic state and Cyanoprokaryota dominance. Chlorophyta were negatively correlated with Cyanoprokaryota and Bacillariophyta, suggesting competition amongst these groups. Our results apply to lakes potentially subject to changes in catchment land use, which may have implications for trophic state, phytoplankton composition and Cyanoprokaryota blooms.     

Post term dietary-induced changes in DHA and AA status relate to gains in weight, length, and head circumference in preterm infants

Preterms need supplementation with docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids to prevent steep postnatal declines.Associations between growth and erythrocyte (RBC) DHA and AA were studied in 139 preterms (51% male, gestational age 30.3±1.5 weeks, birth weight 1341±288 g) fed human milk with breast milk fortifier or preterm formula until term, followed by postdischarge formula (PDF; n=52, 0.4% DHA, 0.4% AA), term formula (TF; n=41, 0.2% DHA, 0.2% AA), or human milk (HM; n=46).At six months, PDF resulted in higher RBC-DHA than TF and HM, while RBC-AA was higher than TF, but similar to HM. There were no between-group differences in growth between term and six months. RHC-DHA related positively with gain in weight and length and negatively with gain in head circumference. RBC-AA related positively with gain in head circumference and negatively with gain in weight and length.In conclusion, PDF with higher DHA and AA than TF may promote postnatal growth of preterms.     

Potassium loading effect on potassium balance in athletes during prolonged restriction of muscular activity

Negative potassium balance during hypokinesia (decreased number of kilometers taken/day) is not based on the potassium shortage in the diet, but on the impossibility of the body to retain potassium. To assess this hypothesis, we study the effect of potassium loading on athletes during prolonged hypokinesia (HK). Studies were done during 30 d of a pre-HK period and during 364 d of an HK period. Forty male athletes aged 23–26 yr were chosen as subjects. They were divided equally into four groups: unloaded ambulatory control subjects (UACS), unloaded hypokinetic subjects (UHKS), loaded hypokinetic subjects (LHKS), and loaded ambulatory control subjects (LACS). For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the LHKS and UHKS groups were kept under an average running distance of 1.7 km/d. In the LACS and LHKS groups, potassium loading tests were done by administering 95.35 mg KC1 per kg body weight. During the pre-HK and HK periods and after KC1 loading tests, fecal and urinary potassium excretion, sodium and chloride excretion, plasma potassium, sodium and chloride concentration, and potassium balance were measured. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration was also measured. Negative potassium balance increased significantly (p < -0.01) in the UHKS and LHKS groups when compared with the UACS and LACS groups. Plasma electrolyte concentration, urinary electrolyte excretion, fecal potassium excretion, PRA, and PA concentration increased significantly (p ≤ 0.01) in the LHKS and UHKS groups when compared with LACS and UACS groups. Urinary and fecal potassium excretion increased much more and much faster in the LHKS group than in the UHKS group. By contrast, the corresponding parameters change insignificantly in the UACS and LACS groups when compared with the base line control values. It was concluded that urinary and fecal potassium excretion increased significantly despite the presence of negative potassium balance; thus, negative potassium balance may not be based on potassium shortage in the diet because of the impossibility of the body to retain potassium during HK.