Sex differences in salt sensitivity to nitric oxide dependent vasodilation in healthy young adults

Dietary sodium and blood pressure regulation differs between normotensive men and women, an effect which may involve endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that differences in the NO component of endothelium-dependent vasodilation between low and high dietary sodium intake depend on sex. For 5 days prior to study, healthy adults consumed a controlled low-sodium diet (10 mmol/day, n = 30, mean age ± SE: 30 ± 1 yr, 16 men) or high-sodium diet (400 mmol/day, n = 36, age 23 ± 1 yr, 13 men). Forearm blood flow (FBF, plethysmography) responses to brachial artery administration of acetylcholine (ACh, 4 μg·100 ml tissue(-1)·min(-1)) were measured before and after endothelial NO synthase inhibition with N(G)-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 50 mg bolus + 1 mg/min infusion). The NO component of endothelium-dependent dilation was calculated as the response to ACh before and after l-NMMA accounting for changes in baseline FBF: [(FBF ACh - FBF baseline) - (FBF ACh(L-NMMA) - FBF baseline(L-NMMA))]. This value was 5.7 ± 1.3 and 2.5 ± 0.8 ml·100 ml forearm tissue(-1)·min(-1) for the low- and high-sodium diets, respectively (main effect of sodium, P = 0.019). The sodium effect was larger for the men, with values of 7.9 ± 2.0 and 2.2 ± 1.4 for men vs. 3.1 ± 1.3 and 2.7 ± 1.0 ml·100 ml forearm tissue(-1)·min(-1) for the women (P = 0.034, sex-by-sodium interaction). We conclude that the NO component of endothelium-dependent vasodilation is altered by dietary sodium intake based on sex, suggesting that endothelial NO production is sensitive to dietary sodium in healthy young men but not women.     

Impaired leg vasodilation during dynamic exercise in healthy older women.

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that leg blood flow responses during leg cycle ergometry are reduced with age in healthy non-estrogen-replaced women. Thirteen younger (20-27 yr) and thirteen older (61-71 yr) normotensive, non-endurance-trained women performed both graded and constant-load bouts of leg cycling at the same absolute exercise intensities. Leg blood flow (femoral vein thermodilution), mean arterial pressure (MAP; radial artery), mean femoral venous pressure, cardiac output (acetylene rebreathing), and blood O2 contents were measured. Leg blood flow responses at light workloads (20-40 W) were similar in younger and older women. However, at moderate workloads (50-60 W), leg blood flow responses were significantly attenuated in older women. MAP was 20-25 mmHg higher (P < 0.01) in the older women across all work intensities, and calculated leg vascular conductance (leg blood flow/estimated leg perfusion pressure) was lower (P < 0.05). Exercise-induced increases in leg arteriovenous O2 difference and O2 extraction were identical between groups (P > 0.6). Leg O2 uptake was tightly correlated with leg blood flow across all workloads in both subject groups (r2 = 0.80). These results suggest the ability of healthy older women to undergo limb vasodilation in response to submaximal exercise is impaired and that the legs are a potentially important contributor to the augmented systemic vascular resistance seen during dynamic exercise in older women.     

Gender differences in hockey players during on-ice graded exercise

The purpose of this study was to examine whether gender differences exist for ventilatory threshold (VT), lactate threshold (LT), and Vo2max during on-ice skating in college hockey players. Ten male and 10 female Division III college hockey players performed a graded exercise skating protocol until reaching volitional fatigue. The graded exercise test employed stages that were 80 seconds in duration, with 40 seconds of rest between each stage to obtain blood lactate samples. Ventilatory threshold occurred at a higher percentage of maximal heart rate (HRmax) in women than in men. The women's VT occurred at 77.3% +/- 1.6% HRmax, while the men's VT occurred at 72.6% +/- 2.0% HRmax (p < 0.02). Men and women had similar HRmax values: 191.3 +/- 2.5 b.min and 185.8 +/- 2.5 b.min, respectively. Vo2max was different between genders, with men at 52.7 +/- 1.3 mL.kg.min and women at 40.1 +/- 1.0 mL.kg.min (p < 0.01). In addition, VT was different between genders when measured as a percentage of Vo2max, with men at 52.7% +/- 3.2% and women at 67.3% +/- 4.0% (p < 0.02). In contrast, LT was similar between genders when expressed as a percentage of HRmax or Vo2max. For each gender, LT occurred at a significantly higher percentage of HRmax or Vo2max than VT did. It can be concluded that VT does not accurately predict LT in male or female hockey players. Additionally, competitive female hockey players have a lower Vo2max but a higher VT than their male counterparts. An increased VT may be a compensatory mechanism to offset the smaller Vo2max values measured in female hockey players. On-ice testing is a practical way to address specific aerobic training needs of hockey players.     

Sex differences in indirect aggression: Psychological evidence from young adults

Many studies have found differences in the types of aggression used by males and females, at least in children and adolescents. Boys tend to use direct physical or verbal aggression, whereas girls tend to use more indirect forms of aggression that prominently feature gossip. Evolutionary theories of sex differences in indirect aggression propose selection pressures that would have acted on older teenagers and adults. Evidence for sex differences in indirect aggression in adults, however, is equivocal. Virtually all studies of adults have found a sex difference in physical aggression, but most have failed to find sex differences in the use of the more indirect forms of aggression. Almost all of these studies have measured indirect aggression using self-reports of aggressive behavior. We investigated sex differences in the psychology of indirect aggression by exposing young adult women and men to the same aggression-evoking stimulus. As evolutionary models predict, we found that women had a stronger desire than men to aggress indirectly, even after controlling for perceptions of social norms and approval. Future work on both evolutionary and social norm models of indirect aggression is warranted.     

Total power output generated during dynamic knee extensor exercise at different contraction frequencies.

A novel approach has been developed for the quantification of total mechanical power output produced by an isolated, well-defined muscle group during dynamic exercise in humans at different contraction frequencies. The calculation of total power output comprises the external power delivered to the ergometer (i.e., the external power output setting of the ergometer) and the "internal" power generated to overcome inertial and gravitational forces related to movement of the lower limb. Total power output was determined at contraction frequencies of 60 and 100 rpm. At 60 rpm, the internal power was 18+/- 1 W (range: 16-19 W) at external power outputs that ranged between 0 and 50 W. This was less (P<0.05) than the internal power of 33+/-2 W (27-38 W) at 100 rpm at 0-50 W. Moreover, at 100 rpm, internal power was lower (P<0.05) at the higher external power outputs. Pulmonary oxygen uptake was observed to be greater (P<0.05) at 100 than at 60 rpm at comparable total power outputs, suggesting that mechanical efficiency is lower at 100 rpm. Thus a method was developed that allowed accurate determination of the total power output during exercise generated by an isolated muscle group at different contraction frequencies.     

Prior heavy-intensity exercise speeds VO2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise in young adults.

The effect of prior heavy-intensity warm-up exercise on subsequent moderate-intensity phase 2 pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics (tauVO2) was examined in young adults exhibiting relatively fast (FK; tauVO2 < 30 s; n = 6) and slow (SK; tauVO2 > 30 s; n = 6) VO2 kinetics in moderate-intensity exercise without prior warm up. Subjects performed four repetitions of a moderate (Mod1)-heavy-moderate (Mod2) protocol on a cycle ergometer with work rates corresponding to 80% estimated lactate threshold (moderate intensity) and 50% difference between lactate threshold and peak VO2 (heavy intensity); each transition lasted 6 min, and each was preceded by 6 min of cycling at 20 W. VO2 and heart rate (HR) were measured breath-by-breath and beat-by-beat, respectively; concentration changes of muscle deoxyhemoglobin (HHb), oxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (Hamamatsu NIRO 300). tauVO2 was lower (P < 0.05) in Mod2 than in Mod1 in both FK (20 +/- 5 s vs. 26 +/- 5 s, respectively) and SK (30 +/- 8 s vs. 45 +/- 11 s, respectively); linear regression analysis showed a greater "speeding" of VO2 kinetics in subjects exhibiting a greater Mod1 tauVO2. HR, oxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin were elevated (P < 0.05) in Mod2 compared with Mod1. The delay before the increase in HHb was reduced (P <0.05) in Mod2, whereas the HHb mean response time was reduced (P <0.05) in FK (Mod2, 22 +/- 3 s; Mod1, 32 +/- 11 s) but not different in SK (Mod2, 36 +/- 13 s; Mod1, 34 +/- 15 s). We conclude that improved muscle perfusion in Mod2 may have contributed to the faster adaptation of VO2, especially in SK; however, a possible role for metabolic inertia in some subjects cannot be overlooked.     

Sex differences in the modulation of vasomotor sympathetic outflow during static handgrip exercise in healthy young humans

Sex differences in sympathetic neural control during static exercise in humans are few and the findings are inconsistent. We hypothesized women would have an attenuated vasomotor sympathetic response to static exercise, which would be further reduced during the high sex hormone [midluteal (ML)] vs. the low hormone phase [early follicular (EF)]. We measured heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 11 women and 10 men during a cold pressor test (CPT) and static handgrip to fatigue with 2 min of postexercise circulatory arrest (PECA). HR increased during handgrip, reached its peak at fatigue, and was comparable between sexes. BP increased during handgrip and PECA where men had larger increases from baseline. Mean ± SD MSNA burst frequency (BF) during handgrip and PECA was lower in women (EF, P < 0.05), as was ΔMSNA-BF smaller (main effect, both P < 0.01). ΔTotal activity was higher in men at fatigue (EF: 632 ± 418 vs. ML: 598 ± 342 vs. men: 1,025 ± 416 a.u./min, P < 0.001 for EF and ML vs. men) and during PECA (EF: 354 ± 321 vs. ML: 341 ± 199 vs. men: 599 ± 327 a.u./min, P < 0.05 for EF and ML vs. men). During CPT, HR and MSNA responses were similar between sexes and hormone phases, confirming that central integration and the sympathetic efferent pathway was comparable between the sexes and across hormone phases. Women demonstrated a blunted metaboreflex, unaffected by sex hormones, which may be due to differences in muscle mass or fiber type and, therefore, metabolic stimulation of group IV afferents.     

Effects of ATP-induced leg vasodilation on VO2 peak and leg O2 extraction during maximal exercise in humans

During maximal whole body exercise VO2 peak is limited by O2 delivery. In turn, it is though that blood flow at near-maximal exercise must be restrained by the sympathetic nervous system to maintain mean arterial pressure. To determine whether enhancing vasodilation across the leg results in higher O2 delivery and leg VO2 during near-maximal and maximal exercise in humans, seven men performed two maximal incremental exercise tests on the cycle ergometer. In random order, one test was performed with and one without (control exercise) infusion of ATP (8 mg in 1 ml of isotonic saline solution) into the right femoral artery at a rate of 80 microg.kg body mass-1.min-1. During near-maximal exercise (92% of VO2 peak), the infusion of ATP increased leg vascular conductance (+43%, P<0.05), leg blood flow (+20%, 1.7 l/min, P<0.05), and leg O2 delivery (+20%, 0.3 l/min, P<0.05). No effects were observed on leg or systemic VO2. Leg O2 fractional extraction was decreased from 85+/-3 (control) to 78+/-4% (ATP) in the infused leg (P<0.05), while it remained unchanged in the left leg (84+/-2 and 83+/-2%; control and ATP; n=3). ATP infusion at maximal exercise increased leg vascular conductance by 17% (P<0.05), while leg blood flow tended to be elevated by 0.8 l/min (P=0.08). However, neither systemic nor leg peak VO2 values where enhanced due to a reduction of O2 extraction from 84+/-4 to 76+/-4%, in the control and ATP conditions, respectively (P<0.05). In summary, the VO2 of the skeletal muscles of the lower extremities is not enhanced by limb vasodilation at near-maximal or maximal exercise in humans. The fact that ATP infusion resulted in a reduction of O2 extraction across the exercising leg suggests a vasodilating effect of ATP on less-active muscle fibers and other noncontracting tissues and that under normal conditions these regions are under high vasoconstrictor influence to ensure the most efficient flow distribution of the available cardiac output to the most active muscle fibers of the exercising limb.     

Older adults are less steady during submaximal isometric contractions with the knee extensor muscles.

This study compared the steadiness of submaximal contractions with the knee extensor muscles in young and old adults. Twenty young and twenty old subjects underwent assessment of isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, and steadiness during isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions with the knee extensor muscles. The old adults displayed 33% lower MVC force and a 41% lower 1-RM load. The coefficient of variation for force was significantly greater for the old adults during isometric contractions at 2, 5, and 10% of MVC but not at 50% MVC. The decline in steadiness at low forces experienced by the men was marginally greater than that experienced by the women. The steadiness of concentric and eccentric contractions was similar in young and old adults at 5, 10, and 50% of 1-RM load. Old subjects exhibited greater coactivation of an antagonist muscle compared with young subjects during the submaximal isometric and anisometric contractions. These results indicate that, whereas the ability to exert steady submaximal forces with the knee extensor muscles was reduced in old adults, fluctuations in knee joint angle during slow movements were similar for young and old adults.     

Effect of contraction frequency on leg blood flow during knee extension exercise in humans.

Previous studies in isolated muscle preparations have shown that muscle blood flow becomes compromised at higher contraction frequencies. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of increases in contraction frequency and muscle tension on mean blood flow (MBF) during voluntary exercise in humans. Nine male subjects [23.6 +/- 3.7 (SD) yr] performed incremental knee extension exercise to exhaustion in the supine position at three contraction frequencies [40, 60, and 80 contractions/min (cpm)]. Mean blood velocity of the femoral artery was determined beat by beat using Doppler ultrasound. MBF was calculated by using the diameter of the femoral artery determined at rest using echo Doppler ultrasound. The work rate (WR) achieved at exhaustion was decreased (P < 0.05) as contraction frequency increased (40 cpm, 16.2 +/- 1.4 W; 60 cpm, 14.8 +/- 1.4 W; 80 cpm, 13.2 +/- 1.3 W). MBF was similar across the contraction frequencies at rest and during the first WR stage but was higher (P < 0.05) at 40 than 80 cpm at exercise intensities >5 W. MBF was similar among contraction frequencies at exhaustion. In humans performing knee extension exercise in the supine position, muscle contraction frequency and/or muscle tension development may appreciably affect both the MBF and the amplitude of the contraction-to-contraction oscillations in muscle blood flow.     

Sex differences in the perceived intensity of breathlessness during exercise with advancing age.

The prevalence of activity-related breathlessness increases with age, particularly in women, but the specific underlying mechanisms have not been studied. This novel cross-sectional study was undertaken to examine the effects of age and sex, and their interaction, on the perceptual and ventilatory responses to incremental treadmill exercise in 73 healthy participants (age range 40-80 yr old) with normal pulmonary function. Age-related changes at a standardized oxygen uptake (Vo(2)) during exercise included significant increases in breathlessness ratings (Borg scale), ventilation (Ve), ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide, and the ratio of tidal volume (Vt) to dynamic inspiratory capacity (IC) (all P < 0.05). These changes were quantitatively similar in women (n = 39) and in men (n = 34). For the group as a whole, exertional breathlessness ratings increased as resting static inspiratory muscle strength diminished (P = 0.05), as exercise ventilation increased relative to capacity (P = 0.013) and as the Vt/IC ratio increased (P = 0.003) during exercise. Older women (60-80 yr old, n = 23) reported greater (P < 0.05) intensity of exertional breathlessness at a standardized Vo(2) and Ve than age-matched men (n = 16), despite similar age-related changes in ventilatory demand and dynamic ventilatory mechanics. These increases in breathlessness ratings in older women disappeared when sex differences in baseline maximal ventilatory capacity were accounted for. In conclusion, although increased exertional breathlessness with advancing age is multifactorial, contributory factors included higher ventilatory requirements during exercise, progressive inspiratory muscle weakness, and restrictive mechanical constraints on Vt expansion related to reduced IC. The sensory consequences of this age-related respiratory impairment were more pronounced in women, who, by nature, have relatively reduced maximal ventilatory reserve.     

Adaptations in muscular activation of the knee extensor muscles with strength training in young and older adults

The purpose of this study was to compare the extent of muscular activation during maximal voluntary knee extension contractions in old and young individuals and to examine the effects of resistance training on muscular activation in each group. The interpolated twitch technique was used to estimate muscular activation during two pre-training baseline tests, and after two and six weeks of resistance training. Throughout the study, the older group was 30% less strong than the young group (p=0.02). The training protocol was effective in both groups with overall isometric strength gains of 30 and 36% in the older (p=0.01) and young (p<0.01) groups, respectively. 10-RM training loads increased by 66% in the old group (p<0.01) and by 77% in the young group (p<0.01) throughout training. At the first baseline test, a 2% difference in muscular activation between groups (p=0.3) did not explain the large disparity in strength. Muscular activation increased by 2% in both groups throughout training (p<0.01). Despite considerably less muscular strength in the older group, muscular activation was greater than 95% of maximum and appears to be equal in both young and older individuals. Both groups demonstrated similar but small increases in muscular activation throughout training.     

Capillary-venous differences of free plasma catecholamines at rest and during graded exercise

Levels of free plasma catecholamines were simultaneously determined in 10 cyclists using capillary blood from one ear lobe and venous blood from one cubital vein. Catecholamine concentrations were higher in the ear lobe blood than in the venous blood at rest and during graded exercise. Average differences amounted to 1.7 nmol X 1(-1) (dopamine), 2.1 nmol X 1(-1) (noradrenaline) and 1.9 nmol X 1(-1) (adrenaline) at rest and increased only to 8.8 nmol X 1(-1) for noradrenaline during exercise. We assume that higher concentrations of dopamine and adrenaline in the capillary blood point to a significant neuronal release of these catecholamines, similar to noradrenaline. Catecholamine concentrations in capillary blood may better reflect sympathetic drive and delivery of catecholamines to the circulation than the concentrations in venous blood.     

Ultrasound Doppler estimates of femoral artery blood flow during dynamic knee extensor exercise in humans

Rådegran, G. Ultrasound Dopplerestimates of femoral artery blood flow during dynamic knee extensorexercise in humans. J. Appl. Physiol.83(4): 1383-1388, 1997.Ultrasound Doppler has been used tomeasure arterial inflow to a human limb during intermittent staticcontractions. The technique, however, has neither been thoroughlyvalidated nor used during dynamic exercise. In this study, the inherentproblems of the technique have been addressed, and the accuracy wasimproved by storing the velocity tracings continuously and calculatingthe flow in relation to the muscle contraction-relaxation phases. Thefemoral arterial diameter measurements were reproducible with a meancoefficient of variation within the subjects of 1.2 ± 0.2%. Thediameter was the same whether the probe was fixed or repositioned atrest (10.8 ± 0.2 mm) or measured during dynamic exercise. The bloodvelocity was sampled over the width of the diameter and the parabolicvelocity profile, since sampling in the center resulted in anoverestimation by 22.6 ± 9.1% (P < 0.02). The femoral arterial Doppler blood flow increased linearly(r = 0.997, P < 0.001) with increasing load [Doppler blood flow = 0.080 · load (W) + 1.446 l/min] and was correlated positively with simultaneousthermodilution venous outflow measurements(r = 0.996, P < 0.001). The two techniques werelinearly related (Doppler = thermodilution · 0.985 + 0.071 l/min; r = 0.996, P < 0.001), with a coefficient ofvariation of ~6% for both methods.

     

Sex and training differences in human growth hormone levels during prolonged exercise

Human growth hormone (hGH) levels were measured during rest, prolonged treadmill exercise at 60% maximum O2 uptake (VO2max), and immediate recovery in four groups of subjects (n = 7/group), ages 21-30 yr, classified as male runners (MR), female runners (FR), male controls (MC), and female controls (FC) to determine whether sex differences in the hGH response are related to resting 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and/or cardiorespiratory endurance (CRE). Glucose (Glc), E2, and hGH levels were determined from serial blood samples taken from an intravenous catheter. Glc did not change significantly during exercise, but different trends for the runners (increases) vs. controls (decreases) resulted in higher (P less than 0.01) postexercise levels in the runners. Resting hGH was higher (P less than 0.05) in the FRs and FCs than the MRs and MCs, respectively, and continued to be higher in the FCs (vs. MCs) during the first 30 min of exercise. The MRs achieved higher peak hGH levels and exhibited higher values than the MCs throughout exercise and recovery. There were no statistically significant training differences in the females. The strongest predictors for peak hGH were absolute work load and group (runners vs. controls), both of which combined accounted for 32-36% of the variability (P less than 0.01) in hGH response. Significant sex-related variables (sex, resting E2) accounted for 11-19% of the variability in peak or percent change in hGH, with E2 having a positive effect at rest but a negative effect during exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanisms contributing to knee extensor strength loss after prolonged running exercise.

The aim of this study was to identify the mechanisms that contribute to the decline in knee extensor (KE) muscles strength after a prolonged running exercise. During the 2 days preceding a 30-km running race [duration 188.7 +/- 27.0 (SD) min] and immediately after the race, maximal percutaneous electrical stimulations (single twitch, 0.5-s tetanus at 20 and 80 Hz) were applied to the femoral nerve of 12 trained runners. Superimposed twitches were also delivered during isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) to determine the level of voluntary activation (%VA). The vastus lateralis electromyogram was recorded. KE MVC decreased from pre- to postexercise (from 188.1 +/- 25.2 to 142.7 +/- 29.7 N x m; P < 0.001) as did %VA (from 98.8 +/- 1.8 to 91.3 +/- 10.7%; P < 0.05). The changes from pre- to postexercise in these two variables were highly correlated (R = 0.88; P < 0.001). The modifications in the mechanical response after the 80-Hz stimulation and M-wave peak-to-peak amplitude were also significant (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). It can be concluded that 1) central fatigue, neuromuscular propagation, and muscular factors are involved in the 23.5 +/- 14.9% reduction in MVC after a prolonged running bout at racing pace and 2) runners with the greatest KE strength loss experience large activation deficit.     

Contraction mode shift in quadriceps femoris muscle activation during dynamic knee extensor exercise with increasing loads

The objective of the present study was to examine the superficial quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle electromyogram (EMG) during dynamic sub-maximal knee extension exercise between young adult men and women. Thirty subjects completed, in a random order, 2 sub-maximal repetitions of single-leg knee extensions at 20-90% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). Vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscle integrated EMG (IEMG) during each sub-maximal lift was normalized to the respective 1RM for concentric, isometric and eccentric modes. The EMG median frequency (f(med)) was determined over the isometric mode. Men attained a significantly (p<0.05) greater knee angular velocity than the women during the concentric mode (83.6+/-19.1 degrees /s and 67.4+/-19.8 degrees /s, respectively). RF IEMG was significantly lesser than the VM (p=0.014) and VL (p<0.001) muscles, when collapsed across all contraction modes, loads, and sex. Overall IEMG was significantly greater during the concentric (p<0.001) and isometric (p<0.001) modes, than the eccentric mode. Men generated significantly (p=0.03) greater VL muscle IEMG than the women, while the opposite pattern emerged for the RF muscle. VM f(med) (105.1+/-11.1Hz) was significantly lesser than the VL (180.3+/-19.5Hz) and RF (127.7+/-13.9Hz) muscles across all lifting intensities, while the men (137.7+/-10.7Hz) generated greater values than the women (129.0+/-11.4Hz). The findings demonstrate a reduction in QF muscle activation across the concentric to eccentric transition, which may be related to the mode-specific velocity pattern.     

Influence of acetaminophen and ibuprofen on in vivo patellar tendon adaptations to knee extensor resistance exercise in older adults

Millions of older individuals consume acetaminophen or ibuprofen daily and these same individuals are encouraged to participate in resistance training. Several in vitro studies suggest that cyclooxygenase-inhibiting drugs can alter tendon metabolism and may influence adaptations to resistance training. Thirty-six individuals were randomly assigned to a placebo (67 ± 2 yr old), acetaminophen (64 ± 1 yr old; 4,000 mg/day), or ibuprofen (64 ± 1 yr old; 1,200 mg/day) group in a double-blind manner and completed 12 wk of knee extensor resistance training. Before and after training in vivo patellar tendon properties were assessed with MRI [cross-sectional area (CSA) and signal intensity] and ultrasonography of patellar tendon deformation coupled with force measurements to obtain stiffness, modulus, stress, and strain. Mean patellar tendon CSA was unchanged (P > 0.05) with training in the placebo group, and this response was not influenced with ibuprofen consumption. Mean tendon CSA increased with training in the acetaminophen group (3%, P < 0.05), primarily due to increases in the mid (7%, P < 0.05) and distal (8%, P < 0.05) tendon regions. Correspondingly, tendon signal intensity increased with training in the acetaminophen group at the mid (13%, P < 0.05) and distal (15%, P = 0.07) regions. When normalized to pretraining force levels, patellar tendon deformation and strain decreased 11% (P < 0.05) and stiffness, modulus, and stress were unchanged (P > 0.05) with training in the placebo group. These responses were generally uninfluenced by ibuprofen consumption. In the acetaminophen group, tendon deformation and strain increased 20% (P < 0.05) and stiffness (-17%, P < 0.05) and modulus (-20%, P < 0.05) decreased with training. These data suggest that 3 mo of knee extensor resistance training in older adults induces modest changes in the mechanical properties of the patellar tendon. Over-the-counter doses of acetaminophen, but not ibuprofen, have a strong influence on tendon mechanical and material property adaptations to resistance training. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that acetaminophen has profound effects on peripheral tissues in humans.     

Sex differences in thermoeffector responses during exercise at fixed requirements for heat loss

To assess potential mechanisms responsible for the lower sudomotor thermosensitivity in women during exercise, we examined sex differences in sudomotor function and skin blood flow (SkBF) during exercise performed at progressive increases in the requirement for heat loss. Eight men and eight women cycled at rates of metabolic heat production of 200, 250, and 300 W/m(2) of body surface area, with each rate being performed sequentially for 30 min. The protocol was performed in a direct calorimeter to measure evaporative heat loss (EHL) and in a thermal chamber to measure local sweat rate (LSR) (ventilated capsule), SkBF (laser-Doppler), sweat gland activation (modified iodine-paper technique), and sweat gland output (SGO) on the back, chest, and forearm. Despite a similar requirement for heat loss between the sexes, significantly lower increases in EHL and LSR were observed in women (P ≤ 0.001). Sex differences in EHL and LSR were not consistently observed during the first and second exercise periods, whereas EHL (348 ± 13 vs. 307 ± 9 W/m(2)) and LSR on the back (1.61 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.09 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2)), chest (1.33 ± 0.06 vs. 1.08 ± 0.09 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2)), and forearm (1.53 ± 0.07 vs. 1.20 ± 0.06 mg·min(-1)·cm(-2), men vs. women) became significantly greater in men during the last exercise period (P < 0.05). At each site, differences in LSR were solely due to a greater SGO in men, as opposed to differences in sweat gland activation. In contrast, no sex differences in SkBF were observed throughout the exercise period. The present study demonstrates that sex differences in sudomotor function are only evidenced beyond a certain requirement for heat loss, solely through differences in SGO. In contrast, the lower EHL and LSR in women are not paralleled by a lower SkBF response.