PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

James D Cotter

Publications and source records attributed to James D Cotter.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Sodium loading aids fluid balance and reduces physiological strain of trained men exercising in the heat.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine whether preexercise ingestion of a highly concentrated sodium beverage would increase plasma volume (PV) and reduce the physiological strain of moderately trained males running in the heat. METHODS: Eight endurance-trained (.VO2max: 58 mL.kg(-1).min(-1) (SD 5); 36 yr (SD 11)) runners completed this double-blind, crossover experiment. Runners ingested a high-sodium (High Na+: 164 mmol Na+.L(-1)) or low-sodium (Low Na+: 10 mmol Na+.L(-1)) beverage (10 mL.kg(-1)) before running to exhaustion at 70% .VO2max in warm conditions (32 degrees C, 50% RH, V(a) approximately equal to 1.5 m.s(-1)). Beverages (approximately 757 mL) were ingested in seven portions across 60 min beginning 105 min before exercise. Trials were separated by 1-3 wk. Heart rate and core and skin temperatures were measured throughout exercise. Urine and venous blood were sampled before and after drinking and exercise. RESULTS: High Na+ increased PV before exercise (4.5% (SD 3.7)), calculated from Hct and [Hb]), whereas Low Na+ did not (0.0% (SD 0.5); P = 0.04), and involved greater time to exercise termination in the six who stopped because of an ethical end point (core temperature 39.5 degrees C: 57.9 min (SD 6) vs 46.4 min (SD 4); P = 0.04) and those who were exhausted (96.1 min (SD 22) vs 75.3 min (SD 21); P = 0.03; High Na+ vs Low Na+, respectively). At equivalent times before exercise termination, High Na+ also resulted in lower core temperature (38.9 vs 39.3 degrees C; P = 0.00) and perceived exertion (P = 0.01) and a tendency for lower heart rate (164 vs 174 bpm; P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Preexercise ingestion of a high-sodium beverage increased plasma volume before exercise and involved less thermoregulatory and perceived strain during exercise and increased exercise capacity in warm conditions.

Adult↗

Exercise can be pyrogenic in humans.

Exercise increases mean body temperature (T(body)) and cytokine concentrations in plasma. Cytokines facilitate PG production via cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, and PGE(2) can mediate fever. Therefore, we used a COX-2 inhibitor to test the hypothesis that PG-mediated pyrogenicity may contribute to the raised T(body) in exercising humans. In a double-blind, cross-over design, 10 males [age: 23 yr (SD 5), Vo(2 max): 53 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) (SD 5)] consumed rofecoxib (50 mg/day; NSAID) or placebo (PLAC) for 6 days, 2 wk apart. Exercising thermoregulation was measured on day 6 during 45-min running ( approximately 75% Vo(2 max)) followed by 45-min cycling and 60-min seated recovery (28 degrees C, 50% relative humidity). Plasma cytokine (TNF-alpha, IL-10) concentrations were measured at rest and 30-min recovery. T(body) was similar at rest in PLAC (35.59 degrees C) and NSAID (35.53 degrees C) and increased similarly during running, but became 0.33 degrees C (SD 0.26) lower in NSAID during cycling (37.39 degrees C vs. 37.07 degrees C; P = 0.03), and remained lower throughout recovery. Sweating was initiated at T(body) of approximately 35.6 degrees C in both conditions but ceased at higher T(body) in PLAC than NSAID during recovery [36.66 degrees C (SD 0.36) vs. 36.39 degrees C (SD 0.27); P = 0.03]. Cardiac frequency averaged 6 x min(-1) higher in PLAC (P < 0.01), whereas exercising metabolic rate was similar (505 vs. 507 W x m(-2); P = 0.56). A modest increase in both cytokines across exercise was similar between conditions. COX-2 specific NSAID lowered exercising heat and cardiovascular strain and the sweating (offset) threshold, independently of heat production, indicating that PGE-mediated inflammatory processes may contribute to exercising heat strain during endurance exercise in humans.

Adult↗

Effect of post-exercise sauna bathing on the endurance performance of competitive male runners.

The physiological adaptations to sauna bathing could enhance endurance performance. We have therefore performed a cross-over study in which six male distance runners completed 3 wk of post-training sauna bathing and 3 wk of control training, with a 3 wk washout. During the sauna period, subjects sat in a humid sauna at 89.9+/-2.0 degrees C (mean+/-standard deviation) immediately post-exercise for 31+/-5 min on 12.7+/-2.1 occasions. The performance test was a approximately 15 min treadmill run to exhaustion at the runner's current best speed over 5 km. The test was performed on the 1st and 2nd day following completion of the sauna and control periods, and the times were averaged. Plasma, red-cell and total blood volume were measured via Evans blue dye dilution immediately prior to the first run to exhaustion for each period. Relative to control, sauna bathing increased run time to exhaustion by 32% (90% confidence limits 21-43%), which is equivalent to an enhancement of approximately 1.9% (1.3-2.4%) in an endurance time trial. Plasma and red-cell volumes increased by 7.1% (5.6-8.7%) and 3.5% (-0.8% to 8.1%) respectively, after sauna relative to control. Change in performance had high correlations with change in plasma volume (0.96, 0.76-0.99) and total blood volume (0.94, 0.66-0.99), but the correlation with change in red cell volume was unclear (0.48, -0.40 to 0.90). We conclude that 3 wk of post-exercise sauna bathing produced a worthwhile enhancement of endurance running performance, probably by increasing blood volume.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

The distribution of cutaneous sudomotor and alliesthesial thermosensitivity in mildly heat-stressed humans: an open-loop approach.

The distribution of cutaneous thermosensitivity has not been determined in humans for the control of autonomic or behavioural thermoregulation under open-loop conditions. We therefore examined local cutaneous warm and cool sensitivities for sweating and whole-body thermal discomfort (as a measure of alliesthesia). Thirteen males rested supine during warming (+4 degrees C), and mild (-4 degrees C) and moderate (-11 degrees C) cooling of ten skin sites (274 cm2), whilst the core and remaining skin temperatures were clamped above the sweat threshold using a water-perfusion suit and climate chamber. Local thermosensitivities were calculated from changes in sweat rates (pooled from sweat capsules on all limbs) and thermal discomfort, relative to the changes in local skin temperature. Thermosensitivities were examined across local sites and body segments (e.g. torso, limbs). The face displayed stronger cold (-11 degrees C) sensitivity than the forearm, thigh, leg and foot (P = 0.01), and was 2-5 times more thermosensitive than any other segment for both sudomotor and discomfort responses (P = 0.01). The face also showed greater warmth sensitivity than the limbs for sudomotor control and discomfort (P = 0.01). The limb extremities ranked as the least thermosensitive segment for both responses during warming, and for discomfort responses during moderate cooling (-11 degrees C). Approximately 70% of the local variance in sudomotor sensitivity was common to the alliesthesial sensitivity. We believe these open-loop methods have provided the first clear evidence for a greater facial thermosensitivity for sweating and whole-body thermal discomfort.

Adult↗

Effects of indomethacin and celecoxib on renal function in athletes.

INTRODUCTION: Strenuous exercise induces a marked reduction in renal hemodynamics. Prostaglandins (PG) play an important role in maintaining renal integrity in the face of hemodynamic changes. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and thus PG formation can further compromise renal perfusion. The role of selective COX-2 inhibition on renal hemodynamics during exercise has not been investigated. METHODS: Twelve healthy males (22-47 yr) took part in a randomized placebo controlled study investigating the effects of nonselective COX inhibition (indomethacin) and COX-2 selective inhibition (celecoxib) on renal hemodynamics during exercise. Renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and free water clearance were measured using standard clearance techniques. Each experimental session was performed at least a week apart. The medications were taken for 36 h before study with the last dose at 0700 h on the day of study. Following baseline studies, each participant exercised for 30 min at 80% of their maximal aerobic power. Renal function was monitored for 2 h post-recovery. RESULTS: RBF and GFR fell by 40% after exercise with no significant difference between placebo, indomethacin, or celecoxib. Indomethacin (-2.43 +/- 0.95 mL x min(-1), P < 0.007) and celecoxib (-3.88 +/- 0.94 mL x min(-1), P < 0.0001) significantly reduced free water clearance compared with placebo during recovery. CONCLUSION: This study has confirmed that selective and nonselective COX inhibition can induce significant inhibition of free water clearance, indicating that these acute changes are regulated predominantly via COX-2. Acute cerebral edema with hyponatremia has been reported after major endurance sporting events. Identifiable risk factors include excessive hydration and use of NSAID. Impaired free water clearance during exercise potentiated by COX inhibition provides a pathophysiological explanation for these observations.

Adult↗