Biomedical subjects

J R Lacour

Publications and source records attributed to J R Lacour.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

[Relation between physical activity, muscle function and IGF-1, testosterone and DHEAS concentrations in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: Lower amounts of circulating anabolic hormones are thought to accelerate the age related decline in muscle mass and function. Replacement therapies are promising interventions but there are problems with these therapies. Thus alternative strategies should be developed. The age related changes in hormonal status may be probably influenced by exercise. The purpose of this study was: a) to confirm with other methods, more adapted for elderly people, the results of a previous study that has shown relationship between physical activity (PA) and quadriceps muscle function with dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Quadriceps muscle power (Pmax) is measured in this new work with a recently developed leg extensor machine and, b) to complete the results of the first study examining simultaneously the relationship between PA, Pmax and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) with DHEAS, IGF-1 and testosterone in a group of healthy elderly people. METHODS: Fifty independent, community dwelling elderly subjects (25 mens and 25 womens) aged from 66 to 84 volunteered to participate in the study. PA was evaluated by the questionnaire and expressed using two activity indices: mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE) and the daily energy expenditure corresponding to leisure time sports activities (Sports Activity). Pmax and optimal shortening velocity (vopt) were measured on a Ergopower dynamometer. The Pmax was expressed relative to body mass, Pmax/kg (W kg-1), and relative to the mass of the two quadriceps muscles, Pmax/Quadr (W.kgQuadr-1). VO2max has been measured during a maximal treadmill exercise. RESULTS: In women, IGF-1 correlated significantly with MHDEE (r = 0.54, P = 0.004), Pmax/kg (r = 0.54, P = 0.004) and Pmax/Quadr (r = 0.46, P = 0.02), whereas DHEAS with MHDEE (r = 0.54, P = 0.004), Sports Activity (r = 0.65, P < 0.001), VO2max (r = 0.46, P = 0.02), Pmax/kg (r = 0.46, P = 0.02) and Pmax/Quadr (r = 0.55, P = 0.004). No such correlation was found in men. CONCLUSION: These findings confirm that in healthy elderly women physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and quadriceps muscle function are similarly related to levels of circulating DHEAS and IGF-1 suggesting a favourable influence of exercise on anabolic hormonal production in the elderly.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Early onset of pulmonary gas exchange disturbance during progressive exercise in healthy active men.

Some recent studies of competitive athletes have shown exercise-induced hypoxemia to begin in submaximal exercise. We examined the role of ventilatory factors in the submaximal exercise gas exchange disturbance (GED) of healthy men involved in regular work-related exercise but not in competitive activities. From the 38 national mountain rescue workers evaluated (36 +/- 1 yr), 14 were classified as GED and were compared with 14 subjects matched for age, height, weight, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max; 3.61 +/- 0.12 l/min) and showing a normal response (N). Mean arterial PO2 was already lower than N (P = 0.05) at 40% VO2 max and continued to fall until VO2 max (GED: 80.2 +/- 1.6 vs. N: 91.7 +/- 1.3 Torr). A parallel upward shift in the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference vs. %VO2 max relationship was observed in GED compared with N from the onset throughout the incremental protocol. At submaximal intensities, ideal alveolar PO2, tidal volume, respiratory frequency, and dead space-to-tidal volume ratio were identical between groups. As per the higher arterial PCO2 of GED at VO2 max, subjects with an exaggerated submaximal alveolar-arterial oxygen difference also showed a relative maximal hypoventilation. Results thus suggest the existence of a common denominator that contributes to the GED of submaximal exercise and affects the maximal ventilatory response.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Lipid metabolism and exercise].

A high level of physical activity is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk in adult and elderly subjects. Several mechanisms are involved. Physical activity induces an increase in energy output. The contribution of fats to muscle energy metabolism increases with exercise duration. It decreases with exercise intensity. EPOC contributes by about 10% to the total energy cost of exercise. This supplementary energy expenditure is principally covered with fat oxidation, this being related to GH release. Part of energy expended during intermittent exercise is supplied by fat oxidation. The used lipids are taken from the muscular triacylglycerol stores and from the circulating FFA and lipoprotein triacylglycerols. Hydrolysis of triacylglycerols is achieved by LPL. Endurance training induces an increased contribution from fat to the exercise energy need. This results from increased muscle capillary density, enhanced activity of LPL and of the enzymes controlling beta-oxydation. The increased energy expenditure results in a reduced fat mass, which accounts for a decreased plasma triacylglycerol level. Endurance activity requiring approximately an expenditure of 60 kJ.kg-1 per week usually produces favourable lipoprotein changes. Level of post-prandial lipemia is lowered. These alterations disappear within the first two days of recovery.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2001

Force/velocity and power/velocity relationships in squat exercise.

The purpose of this study was to describe the force/velocity and power/velocity relationships obtained during squat exercise. The maximal force (F0) was extrapolated from the force/velocity relationship and compared to the isometric force directly measured with the aid of a force platform placed under the subject's feet. Fifteen international downhill skiers [mean (SD) age 22.4 (2.6) years, height 178 (6.34) cm and body mass 81.3 (7.70) kg] performed maximal dynamic and isometric squat exercises on a guided barbell. The dynamic squats were performed with masses ranging from 60 to 180 kg, which were placed on the shoulders. The force produced during the squat exercise was linearly related to the velocity in each subject (r2 = 0.83-0.98, P < 0.05-0.0001). The extrapolated F0 was 23% higher than the measured isometric force (P < 0.001), and the two measurements were not correlated. This may be attributed to the position of the subject, since the isometric force was obtained at a constant angle (90 degrees of knee flexion), whereas the dynamic forces were measured through a range of movements (from 90 degrees to 180 degrees). The power/velocity relationship was parabolic in shape for each subject (r2 = 0.94-0.99, P < 0.01-0.0001). However, the curve obtained exhibited only an ascending part. The highest power was produced against the lightest load (i.e., 60 kg). The maximal power (Wmax) and optimal velocity were never reached. The failure to observe the descending part of the power/velocity curve may be attributed to the upper limitation of the velocities studied. Nevertheless, the extrapolation of Wmax from the power/velocity equation showed that it would be reached for a load close to body mass, or even under unloaded conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Blood lactate exchange and removal abilities after relative high-intensity exercise: effects of training in normoxia and hypoxia.

The effects of 4 weeks of endurance training in conditions of normoxia or hypoxia on muscle characteristics and blood lactate responses after a 5-min constant-load exercise (CLE) at 90% of the power corresponding to the maximal oxygen uptake were examined at sea-level in 13 sedentary subjects. Five subjects trained in normobaric hypoxia (HT group, fraction of oxygen in inspired gas = 13.2%), and eight subjects trained in normoxia at the same relative work rates (NT group). The blood lactate recovery curves from the CLE were fitted to a biexponential time function: La(t) = La(0) + A1(1 - e- gamma 1.t) + A2(1 - e- gamma 2.t), where the velocity constants gamma 1 and gamma 2 denote the lactate exchange and removal abilities, respectively, A1 and A2 are concentration parameters that describe the amplitudes of concentration variations in the space represented by the arterial blood, La(t) is the lactate concentration at time t, and La(0) is the lactate concentration at the beginning of recovery from CLE. Before training, the two groups displayed the same muscle characteristics, blood lactate kinetics after CLE, and gamma 1 and gamma 2 values. Training modified their muscle characteristics, blood lactate kinetics and the parameters of the fits in the same direction, and proportions among the HT and the NT subjects. Endurance training increased significantly the capillary density (by 31%), citrate synthase activity (by 48%) and H isozyme proportion of lactate dehydrogenase (by 24%), and gamma 1 (by 68%) and gamma 2 (by 47%) values. It was concluded that (1) endurance training improves the lactate exchange and removal abilities estimated during recovery from exercises performed at the same relative work rate, and (2) training in normobaric hypoxia results in similar effects on lactate exchange and removal abilities to training in normoxia performed at the same relative work rates. These results, which were obtained non-invasively in vivo in humans during recovery from CLE, are comparable to those obtained in vitro or by invasive methods during exercise and subsequent recovery.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

A treadmill ergometer for three-dimensional ground reaction forces measurement during walking.

This report describes new treadmill ergometer designed to measure the vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces produced by the left and right legs during walking. It was validated by static and dynamic tests. Non-linearity was from 0.2% (left vertical force) to 1.4% (right antero-posterior force). The resonance frequency was from 219 (right vertical direction) to 58 Hz (left medio-lateral direction). A calibration "leg", an air jack in series with a strain gauge, was developed and used to produce force signals comparable to those obtained during human locomotion. The mean differences between the force measured by the calibration leg and treadmill ergometer at 5 km h(-1) were 3.7 N (0.7%) for the left side and 6.5 N (1.2%) for the right. Measurements obtained during human walking showed that the treadmill ergometer has considerable potential for analysing human gait.

Calibration↗

PubMed2001

A practical method to statistically classify devices according to their relative accuracy.

Mathematical methods to statistically compare the relative accuracy of physiological monitoring devices to reference measurements are scarce. We developed such a method to compare any number of devices to each other as well as to reference values. This new statistical comparative procedure uses a combination of different known mathematical processes. The method allows the separation of the error of the devices into two components, the first, being systematic, can be easily amended, while the second, inherent to the technical limitations of the measuring device as well as to the physical properties of the explored phenomenon, cannot be corrected and will thus be used as the comparative criterion for statistics. That method, which is easy to implement should ease comparisons of the accuracy of any number of devices as well as comparison of other sets of physiological values, by giving an easy access to statistical results.

Equipment Design↗

PubMed2001

Chronotropic incompetence response to exercise in congestive heart failure, relationship with the cardiac autonomic status.

In chronic congestive heart failure (CHF), attenuated heart rate response to exercise, a manifestation of chronotropic incompetence (CI), contributes to limiting exercise capacity. The present study was thus conducted to evaluate the respective role of chronic attenuation of cardiac vagal tone associated with depressed baroreflex sensitivity or affected cardiac sympathetic responsiveness in CHF patients with CI. Spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) assessed by sequence method and spectral- and time-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were analysed in 21 chronic CHF patients. All patients performed a symptom-limited exercise test with measurement of gas exchange. Chronic incompetence which was defined as failure to achieve > or =80% of the heart rate reserve (%HRR) given by (HRpeak - HRrest)/(predictive maximal heart rate - HRrest) was observed in 14 (66%) patients. There was no significant difference in age, heart rate, peak oxygen uptake or left ventricular ejection fraction between the patients with and without CI. Although there was no significant difference in BRS, low frequency power of HRV in normalized units (LFnu) and SDNN were significantly lower in CI patients. Percentage of HRR correlated significantly with LFnu on 15 min (r=0.64, P<0.005) and, with LFnu on 24 h (r=0.52, P<0.01), SDNN (r=0.48, P=0.03) and SDANN (r=0.48, P=0.03), but not BRS (r=0.04, P=NS). Autonomic nervous system derangement is a complex process in CHF. The role of basal depressed cardiac sympathetic tone seems to contribute more closely than depressed baroreflex sensitivity to the impaired heart rate response to exercise frequently observed in CHF patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Simultaneous validation of ten physical activity questionnaires in older men: a doubly labeled water study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to simultaneously validate 10 physical activity (PA) questionnaires in a homogenous population of healthy elderly men against the reference method: doubly labeled water (DLW). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community-based sample from Lyon, France. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen healthy old men (age 73.4 +/- 4.1 years), recruited from various associations for elderly people in Lyon, agreed to participate in the study. MEASUREMENTS: The questionnaire-derived measures (scores) were compared with two validation measures: DLW and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). With the DLW method three parameters were calculated: (1) total energy expenditure (TEE), (2) physical activity level (PAL), i.e., the ratio of TEE to resting metabolic rate, (3) energy expenditure of PA. RESULTS: Relative validity. Correlation between the questionnaires and TEE ranged from 0.11 for the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) total index to 0.63 for the Stanford usual activity questionnaire. This questionnaire also gave the best correlation coefficients with PAL (0.75), and with VO2max (0.62). Significant results with TEE measured by the DLW method were also obtained for college alumni sports score, Seven Day Recall moderate activity, and Questionnaire d'Activité Physique Saint-Etienne sports activity (r = 0.54, r = 0.52, and r = 0.54, respectively). Absolute validity. No difference was found between PA measured by the Seven Day Recall or by the YPAS and DLW, on a group basis. The limits of agreement were wide for all the questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Only a few questionnaires demonstrated a reasonable degree of reliability and could be used to rank healthy older men according to PA. Correlation coefficients were best when the Stanford Usual Activity Questionnaire was compared with all the validation measures. The two questionnaires reporting recent PA, the Seven Day Recall, and YPAS accurately assessed energy expenditure for the group. The individual variability was high for all the questionnaires, suggesting that their use as a proxy measure of individual energy expenditure may be limited.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Lack of correlation between 6-month fluctuations in habitual physical activity and testosterone. Concentrations in elderly subjects.

BACKGROUND: To examine the influence of long-term modifications in habitual physical activity (PA) on resting total testosterone (TT) concentrations in a group of healthy elderly subjects. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: 6-month prospective study. SETTING: University research departments of exercise physiology and geriatric medicine. PARTICIPANTS: thirty-one independent, community dwelling elderly subjects (16 men and 15 women) aged > 65 who volunteered to participate. INTERVENTIONS: correlational study. MEASURES: PA was evaluated by a questionnaire QAPSE (Questionnaire d Activité Physique Saint-Etienne) and expressed by two activity indices: mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE) and daily energy expenditure corresponding to leisure time sports activities (Sports activity index). RESULTS: Changes in resting TT concentrations were not related to changes in MHDEE (r = -0.28; p = 0.30 and r = -0.001; p=0.99) and Sports activity (r = -0.30; p = 0.26 and r = -0.05; p = 0.85) in men and women, respectively. Similarly, relative (%) changes in TT were not related to relative changes in MHDEE (r = -0.16; p=0.55 and r = 0.17; p=0.55) and Sports activity (r = -0.11; p=0.68 and r = 0.02; p = 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of habitual PA undertaken by an average senior do not appear to affect TT levels in healthy active elderly men and women.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Leg extensor power and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, insulin-like growth factor-I and testosterone in healthy active elderly people.

We examined the association between quadriceps muscle function and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and testosterone in a group of healthy elderly people. Fifty-three independent, community-dwelling elderly subjects (26 men and 27 women) aged from 66 to 84 years volunteered to participate in the study. Physical activity (PA) was evaluated by a questionnaire. Quadriceps maximal muscle power (Wmax) and optimal shortening velocity (v(opt)) were measured on a friction-loaded non-isokinetic cycle ergometer. The Wmax is expressed in relation to body mass (W(max/kg), W x kg(-1)), and in relation to the mass of the two quadriceps muscles (W(max/Quadr), W x kg(Quadr(-1))). In women, when adjusted for age, anthropometric measurements and PA indices, IGF-I correlated significantly with W(max/kg) (partial correlation: r = 0.59; P = 0.001), W(max/Quadr) (r = 0.58; P = 0.002) and v(opt) (r = 0.53; P = 0.004), whereas DHEAS was correlated significantly with W(max/kg) (r = 0.54; P = 0.003) and W(max/Quadr) (r = 0.58; P = 0.002). No such correlation was found in men. These findings indicate that in healthy elderly women lower values for quadriceps muscle Wmax and v(opt) are related, independently of age, anthropometric measurements and PA indices, to lower circulating levels of DHEAS and IGF-I.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Effect of hyperoxia on aerobic and anaerobic performances and muscle metabolism during maximal cycling exercise.

The hyperoxia-improved tolerance to maximal aerobic performance was studied in relation to exercising muscle metabolic state. Five students were submitted to four different tests on a cycle ergometer, each being conducted under normoxia and hyperoxia (60% FiO2) on separate days: Test 1, a progressive exercise until exhaustion to determine the maximal work load (Wmax) which was unchanged by hyperoxia; Test 2, an exercise at Wmax (287 +/- 12 W) until exhaustion to determine the performance time (texh) which was elevated by 38% under hyperoxia but exhaustion occurred at the same arterial proton and lactate concentrations; Test 3 (S-Exercise test) consisted of cycling at Wmax for 90% normoxic-texh (4.8 +/- 0.5 min under both O2 conditions) then followed by a 10-s sprint bout during which the total work output (Wtot) was determined; Wtot was elevated by 15% when exercising under hyperoxia; Test 4 (M-Exercise test) consisted also of cycling at Wmax for 4.8 +/- 0.5 min with blood and muscle samples taken at rest and at the end of the exercise to compare the level of different metabolites. During hyperoxic M-Exercise test, glycogen was twice more depleted whereas glucose-6-phosphate and lactate were less accumulated when compared with normoxia. No significant differences were observed for pyruvate, phosphocreatine and muscle/blood lactate ratio between the two conditions. Conversely to normoxia, levels of ATP, ADP and total NADH were maintained at their resting level under 60% FiO2. These data lead us to suppose a higher oxidation rate for pyruvate and NADH in mitochondria, thereby lowering the metabolic acidosis and allowing a better functioning of the glycolytic and contractile processes to delay the time to exhaustion.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Physical activity, aerobic capacity and selected markers of oxidative stress and the anti-oxidant defence system in healthy active elderly men.

The relationship of oxidative stress and the anti-oxidant defence system to maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and habitual physical activity was assessed in 26 elderly men (71.0 +/- 4.2 years) and compared to that of 12 young men (22.1 +/- 5.1 years). Physical activity was assessed by a questionnaire. Malondialdehyde (MDA), plasma total anti-oxidant status (TAS), the levels of red blood cell (RBC) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as serum GPX activities were determined under resting conditions. The older and young men had similar TAS and RBC SOD, while MDA, RBC GPX and plasma GPX were higher, and RBC SOD/GPX ratio was significantly lower in the older men. Neither MDA nor anti-oxidants were associated with any of the physical activity/aerobic capacity measures in the elderly men. We conclude that in healthy elderly men with a good nutritional status, indicators of the anti-oxidant defence system are not lower in comparison with young men. Increased RBC and plasma GPX coupled with a high level of lipid peroxidation marker may indicate an adaptation of anti-oxidant defences to sustained oxidative stress. Furthermore, the results of the present study suggest that the level of habitual physical activity and aerobic capacity have no major influence on the resting balance between radical generation and blood anti-oxidant potential in healthy older men.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Quadriceps muscle function in relation to habitual physical activity and VO2max in men and women aged more than 65 years.

The relationship of quadriceps maximal muscle power (Pmax), corresponding optimal shortening velocity (v(opt)), and relative fatigability (Pmax%D) to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and habitual physical activity (PA) was examined in healthy community-dwelling subjects (29 women and 25 men) aged more than 65 years old. PA was evaluated by a questionnaire and expressed using two activity indices: mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE) and the daily energy expenditure corresponding to leisure time sports activities (Sports Activity). In women, Pmax correlated positively with VO2max (r = .56) and with Sports Activity (rho = .41). Both Sports Activity and Pmax were significant independent predictors of VO2max and accounted for 62% of variance in VO2max. In men, v(opt) was significantly negatively related to MHDEE (r = -.59) and to Sports Activity (rho = -.40). Neither in women nor in men was Pmax%D correlated with VO2max or PA indices. The different relationship of Pmax and v(opt) with VO2max and PA indices suggests that habitual PA may be sufficient in active older women, but not in men, to positively influence quadriceps muscle function. These gender differences may suggest different approaches in exercise programming for elderly women and men.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Influence of fatigue on EMG/force ratio and cocontraction in cycling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to observe force and power losses and electromyographic manifestations of fatigue during repeated sprints performed on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer. METHODS: Ten subjects performed 15 maximal 5-s sprints with 25-s rests between them. Power, velocity, and torque were measured during sprints 1 and 13 and during two submaximal constant-velocity (50 rpm) periods of cycling performed before and after the sprints. The EMG signals of five leg muscles were stored to determine the EMG/force ratio of power producer muscles and the coactivation of antagonist muscles. The power producer muscles were activated to the same level during sprints 1 and 13, despite a loss of force, whereas the vastus lateralis muscle was recruited more during the submaximal cycling period under fatigue conditions. RESULTS: This led to an increased EMG/force ratio for the power producer muscles, indicating the peripheral fatigue status of these muscles. Antagonist muscles were less activated during the sprints after fatigue; whereas they stayed unchanged during the last submaximal cycling period. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that there is a decrease in coactivation as agonist force is lost. This decrease in coactivation under fatigue conditions has not been previously reported and is probably due to the training status of the subjects. Subjects may have learned to better use their antagonist muscles to efficiently transfer force and power to the rotating pedal. This coordination can be adapted to cope with fatigue of the power producer muscles.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Relation between heart rate variability and training load in middle-distance runners.

PURPOSE: Monitoring physical performance is of major importance in competitive sports. Indices commonly used, like resting heart rate, VO2max, and hormones, cannot be easily used because of difficulties in routine use, of variations too small to be reliable, or of technical challenges in acquiring the data. METHODS: We chose to assess autonomic nervous system activity using heart rate variability in seven middle-distance runners, aged 24.6 +/- 4.8 yr, during their usual training cycle composed of 3 wk of heavy training periods, followed by a relative resting week. The electrocardiogram was recorded overnight twice a week and temporal and frequency indices of heart rate variability, using Fourier and Wavelet transforms, were calculated. Daily training loads and fatigue sensations were estimated with a questionnaire. Similar recordings were performed in a sedentary control group. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a significant and progressive decrease in parasympathetic indices of up to -41% (P < 0.05) during the 3 wk of heavy training, followed by a significant increase during the relative resting week of up to +46% (P < 0.05). The indices of sympathetic activity followed the opposite trend, first up to +31% and then -24% (P < 0.05), respectively. The percentage increasing mean nocturnal heart rate variation remained below 12% (P < 0.05). There was no significant variation in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that heavy training shifted the cardiac autonomic balance toward a predominance of the sympathetic over the parasympathetic drive. When recorded during the night, heart rate variability appeared to be a better tool than resting heart rate to evaluate cumulated physical fatigue, as it magnified the induced changes in autonomic nervous system activity. These results could be of interest for optimizing individual training profiles.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Screening of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by heart rate variability analysis.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV) has been evoked in sleep-related breathing disorders. However, its capacity to detect obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has not been systematically determined. Thus, we evaluated the discriminant power of HRV parameters in a first group of patients (G1) and validated their discriminant capacity in a second group (G2). METHODS AND RESULTS: In G1, 39 of 91 patients (42.8%) were identified as diseased by polysomnography, as were 24 of 52 patients (46%) in G2. Time-domain HRV variables (SD of NN intervals [SDNN], mean of the standard deviations of all NN intervals for all consecutive 5-minute segments of the recording [SDNN index], square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals [r-MSSD], and SD of the averages of NN intervals in all 5-minute segments of the recording [SDANN]) were calculated for daytime and nighttime periods, as well as the differences between daytime and nighttime values (Delta[D/N]). Correlations between HRV variables and OSAS status were analyzed in G1 by use of receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and logistic regression analysis. By ROC curve analysis, 7 variables were significantly associated with OSAS. After adjustment for other variables through multiple logistic regression analysis, Delta[D/N]SDNN index and Delta[D/N] r-MSSD remained significant independent predictors of OSAS, with ORs of 8.22 (95% CI, 3.16 to 21.4) and 2.86 (95% CI, 1.21 to 6.75), respectively. The classification and regression tree methodology demonstrated a sensitivity reaching 89.7% (95% CI, 73.7 to 97.7) with Delta[D/N] SDNN index and a specificity of 98.1% (95% CI, 86.4 to 100) with Delta[D/N] SDNN using appropriate thresholds. These thresholds, applied to G2, yielded a sensitivity of 83% using Delta[D/N] SDNN index and a specificity of 96.5% using Delta[D/N] SDNN. CONCLUSIONS: Time-domain HRV analysis may represent an accurate and inexpensive screening tool in clinically suspected OSAS patients and may help focus resources on those at the highest risk.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Influence of acute and chronic exercise on insulin-like growth factor-I in healthy active elderly men and women.

We examined the influence of physical activity (PA) and acute resistance exercise on insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in 39 healthy, independent, community-dwelling elderly volunteers (14 men and 25 women) aged from 66 to 84. In a longitudinal non-interventional study, we compared the fluctuations in IGF-I levels and changes in habitual PA over a 6-month period. PA was evaluated by a questionnaire QAPSE (Questionnaire d'Activité Physique Saint-Etienne), and expressed by two activity indices: mean habitual daily energy expenditure (MHDEE), and daily energy expenditure corresponding to leisure time sports activities (sports activity index). In an experimental design we compared IGF-I levels before, at 1 and 15 minutes after short quadriceps muscle exertion (10 consecutive repetitions) carried out with optimal muscle power development. Changes in IGF-I levels over a 6-month period were positively related to changes in MHDEE (r = 0.41; p<0.01), and sports activity (r = 0.40; p<0.02). When analyzed by gender, these correlations were still statistically significant in women (r = 0.39; p = 0.05 and r = 0.41; p<0.05), but not in men (r = 0.36; p = 0.21 and r = 0.20; p = 0.50). No changes (p = 0.17) were observed in serum IGF-I concentrations after the acute exercise protocol. These findings indicate that IGF-I levels are positively related to fluctuations in habitual PA, at least in women. Further research is needed to establish the best intensity and duration of exercise training to induce these changes.

Aged↗