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Results for “Functional capacity”

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PubMed2003

[Effects of dietary variety on declines in high-level functional capacity in elderly people living in a community].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the investigation was to assess effects of dietary variety on declines in high-level functional capacity in community dwelling elderly, based on a 5-year longitudinal study (from 1992 to 1997). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Subjects were a representative sample comprising 235 men (mean age 70.8 years) and 373 women (71.7 years) aged 65 years and above, living in Nangai village in Akita prefecture. Baseline and follow-up surveys were undertaken by the interview method. For assessing dietary variety, we introduced the dietary variety score (DVS), counting the number of 10 food-groups consumed daily from food frequency questionnaires: meat, fish and shellfish, eggs, milk, soybean products, potatoes, green yellow vegetables, fruits, seaweed, and fat and oil. The DVS ranged from 0 to 10 with higher score indicating a higher dietary variety. We also evaluated higher-level functional capacity using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG Index of Competence). Effects of dietary variety on declines in TMIG Index of Competence were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The average TMIG Index of Competence score for men and women were 12.1 and 10.8 at baseline, respectively. The mean baseline DVS was 6.3 for men, and 6.2 for women. Relative to the reference groups with DVS in 1-3, the groups with 4-8 and 9-10 scores had lower risks for decrease in TMIG Index of Competence scores over the study period. Relative risks (95% confidence interval) of the groups with a DVS of 4-8 and 9-10 were 0.92 (0.50-1.67) and 0.71 (0.34-1.48) regarding instrumental self maintenance, 0.50 (0.29-0.86) and 0.40 (0.20-0.77) for intellectual activities, and 0.44 (0.26-0.75) and 0.43 (0.20-0.82) for social roles of sub-scales of TMIG Index of Competence, adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, and the baseline TMIG Index of Competence scores. CONCLUSION: Higher dietary variety is associated with a reduced risk of higher-level functional decline in community dwelling elderly.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1999

Elevated levels and functional capacity of soluble CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus sera.

OBJECTIVE: To measure soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to study the functional capacity of sCD40L in mediating B cell activation. METHODS: A 2-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure sCD40L in the sera of 66 SLE patients, 30 disease control patients, and 23 healthy subjects. Induction of B cell activation antigen expression was used to assess the functional capacity of sCD40L in SLE sera. RESULTS: The mean concentration of sCD40L was statistically significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in SLE patients than in disease controls or healthy subjects, and segregation of SLE patients by severe, moderate, or mild extent of disease showed a relationship between disease severity and sCD40L concentration. Western blot analysis demonstrated the presence of the 18-kd band of sCD40L in SLE sera, and the results of a 1-site ELISA protocol suggested that some of the product in SLE sera was present in dimer or trimer form. Functional studies showed that 10 ng/ml of recombinant CD40L, a level present in some SLE sera, induced increased expression of CD95 on B cells. Several SLE sera also induced CD95 or CD86 on Ramos B cells, a result that was inhibited by anti-CD40L monoclonal antibodies. CONCLUSION: The soluble form of CD40L is present in the sera of most patients with SLE and may have the capacity to mediate B cell activation. Aberrant expression of CD40L might be predicted to result in activation of bystander B cells, including those that have encountered self antigens, and to contribute to autoantibody secretion.

Antigens, Surface↗

PubMed1996

Comparison of standard- and extended-length participation in cardiac rehabilitation on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids.

Participation in a standard-length outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) for 3 months is known to result in positive changes in body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids in patients with coronary artery disease. However, there has been little attempt to compare patients who remain active in a formal CRP for an extended length of >1 year with patients who exit after a standard length of 3 months. Consequently, 50 patients underwent a series of tests including a maximal graded exercise treadmill test, assessment of body composition, and fasting blood lipid analysis, at entry to CRP and after a follow-up period that ranged from 1 to 5 years. All patients participated in a standard multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation program for 3 months. Twenty-five patients discontinued participation after 3 months and received no other contact from the program staff until follow-up, whereas 25 patients remained active in the program until follow-up. After statistically adjusting for baseline differences between the groups, significant differences were observed between the extended- and standard-length groups at follow-up for body weight (177 vs 183 lbs), percent fat (22% vs 24%), METS (10.5 vs 8.4), high-density lipoprotein level cholesterol (44 vs 39 mg/dl), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (5.2 vs 6.1), and triglycerides (134 vs 204 mg/dl), respectively. No significant differences in the adjusted means were observed between the groups at follow-up for total cholesterol (209 vs 219 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (136 vs 138 mg/dl). Data from this study demonstrate the efficacy of extended participation in CRP on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids. Greater efforts need to be directed at retaining patients in low-cost, center-based maintenance programs and at extending monitoring of patients exiting standard length CRPs.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The interrater reliability of a functional capacity evaluation: the physical work performance evaluation.

The purpose was to evaluate the interrater reliability of the Dynamic Strength, Position Tolerance, and Mobility tasks of the Physical Work Performance Evaluation (PWPE), a Functional Capacity Evaluation often used with workers disabled due to back pain. For each worker's evaluation, two raters were preselected among five trained raters. One of the raters administered the PWPE while the other functioned as a silent rater. A convenience sample of 40 workers disabled due to back pain and referred to an occupational rehabilitation center was used. In general, the reliability was "substantial" (0.61 < or = kappa < or = 0.80) to "almost perfect" (0.81 < or = kappa < or = 1.00) for most of the 21 tasks and three sections of the PWPE evaluated with the exception of three tasks in the Mobility section (ladder climbing (kappa = 0.47), repetitive trunk rotation--standing (kappa = 0.54), and repetitive trunk rotation--sitting (kappa = 0.37)) task and the Mobility section itself (kappa = 0.54). Several reasons could explain the lower agreement on the observation of the physical signs associated with these tasks. Since these tasks involve rotation movements or complex neuromuscular integration, it seemed difficult for the raters to define what are the normal physical signs and when physical signs of maximal functional capacity are present. The criteria for establishing the presence of the physical signs in the PWPE should be improved.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

[Functional capacity of T-cell subpopulations of the mouse. Effect of unstimulated and allogenic stimulated T-cell subpopulations on Con A stimulation of splenic lymphocytes].

The distribution and the functional capacity of special subpopulations was examined by means of monoclonal anti-Lyt-1.2-, anti-Lyt-2.2-, anti-L3T4- and anti-Thy-1.2-antibodies. The proportion of Lyt-2+-cells increased after allogeneic stimulation of spleen cells compared with the Lyt-1+-cells. The proportion of L3T4+-cells did not change by allogeneic stimulation. Lyt-2- cells which were negatively selected by monoclonal antibody and complement effected the Con A stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation of a spleen cell culture in a different way depending on their state of differentiation. While Lyt-2--cells selected from a fresh prepared spleen cell suspension increased the 3H thymidine incorporation, Lyt-2--cells selected from allogeneically stimulated cell suspension act as suppressor cells. The results demonstrate the dynamics in the functional capacity of the Lyt-2--T cell subpopulation depending on their state of differentiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Usefulness of a branching treadmill protocol for evaluation of cardiac functional capacity.

A branching treadmill protocol was designed to measure functional capacity in patients with low work capacity and varying ability to walk at speeds used in traditional protocols. A comfortable walking pace is first selected (2.0 to 3.5 mph, 0.25 mph increments) and the workload is then increased every 2 minutes in 1 MET increments (a multiple of the resting oxygen uptake [1 MET = 3.5 ml O2/kg/min]) by adjusting grade. Nine trained (maximal MET = 7.6 +/- 1.6, mean +/- standard deviation) male subjects (age 59 +/- 7 years) with previous myocardial infarction and 9 trained (maximal MET = 11.7 +/- 2.5) male control subjects (age 56 +/- 8 years) completed submaximal and maximal workloads without handrail support. The measured oxygen consumption, volume of oxygen in ml/kg/min (VO2), was compared with the predicted VO2 cost of treadmill walking calculated from speed and grade. A linear regression analysis of predicted versus measured VO2 was performed. There were no significant differences between myocardial infarction and control regression lines. Therefore, a simplified prediction equation for estimated VO2 in myocardial infarction and control subjects is proposed. Overall VO2 prediction = 1.61 + 0.99 x. The main advantage of the branching protocol format is the selection of a stable, brisk walking pace compatible with age and gait, which may improve mechanical efficiency through impedance matching. The protocol is adaptable enough in design so that most patients can complete the exercise test without use of handrails, which is essential for an accurate estimate of VO2 from treadmill speed and grade.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Muscle mass, isokinetic torque, and functional capacity in women with osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relations between cross-sectional area and concentric and eccentric torques in the quadriceps and hamstring muscles and to determine how functional capacity relates to pain, muscle mass, and concentric and eccentric knee torques in women who have bilateral osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. DESIGN: Randomized, descriptive study. SETTING: A university exercise physiology laboratory in Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen women with bilateral knee OA (grades 2 or 3) graded radiographically. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Selected functional tests included the 15-m walk, rising from a chair, descending stairs, and stair climbing. Pain during the functional tests was subjectively measured on an 11-point scale (range, 0-10). Concentric and eccentric torques of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles were measured by isokinetic dynamometry with angular velocities of 60 degrees, 120 degrees, and 180 degrees /s; cross-sectional areas of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles were measured by computed tomography. RESULTS: Eccentric torque was significantly (P range, <.05 to.001) greater than concentric torque for the quadriceps (range, 16%-100%) and hamstring (range, 50%-158%) muscles at all angular velocities. Torque-velocity curves for concentric and eccentric contractions were almost identical to those found in healthy young and elderly people. According to r(2) values, cross-sectional area of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles explained 24% to 61% (r(2) range,.24-.61) and 38% to 51% (r(2) range,.38-.51) of the variations in concentric and eccentric peak torques, respectively. Very small to moderate correlations (.01-.75) were observed among torque at any velocity and the variables of functional capacity and pain. For stair-climbing times, the best predictor variable was the eccentric hamstring to concentric quadriceps torque ratio. For stair descending, it was the concentric hamstring to eccentric quadriceps torque ratios. These torque ratios explained 81% (r(2)=.81) and 61% (r(2)=.61) of the variations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in a patient group with bilateral OA of the knee showed that (1) eccentric torque is greater than concentric torque in knee muscles; (2) the correlation coefficients (r) between concentric and eccentric torques at different velocities (r range,.63-.86), but not between reciprocal torque ratios (r range,.02-.69), are good; (3) cross-sectional area cannot be considered as a single predictor of peak torque for either quadriceps or hamstring muscles; and (4) the variation in descending stairs and stair-climbing capacities can be explained by the reciprocal torque ratios of knee muscles.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

[Functional capacity evaluation of nursing professionals].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional capacity of nursing staff in a hospital complex and its association with individual and work characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional comprising 885 subjects was carried out. A standardized self-administered questionnaire was used to calculate a work capacity index based on information regarding occupation, morbidity, demographic and socioeconomic data. Odds ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the Chi-square test. A multiple logistic model was used for testing the associations and adjusted odds ratios were obtained. RESULTS: The study population included primarily women (87.3%), aged between 35 and 68 years (43+/-6.3 on average), who worked as nursing aides, technical-level professionals and nurses in seven hospital units that integrate the hospital complex. Work capacity was considered good in over 80% of the staff. Statistical analyses showed that those with higher schooling (OR=0.4; CI=0.2-1.0; p=0.05 and adjOR= 0.4; CI: 0.2-1.0; p=0.04) and who exercise and have some physical activity (OR=0.5; CI: 0.3-0.9; p=0.02 and adjOR: 0.5; CI: 0.3-0.9, p=0.02) are more likely to have good work capacity. Those with reduced work capacity were found to have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The company's worker health program should include guidance and follow-up of nursing staff regarding their physical and leisure activities aiming at promoting good work capacity as well as implementing preventive measures against musculoskeletal diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

[Assessment of the functional capacity in the patients with venous diseases].

Acute diseases of the veins, in most cases thromboses, cause inability to work in almost all cases; in profound phlebothromboses hospital treatment is indicated. In the chronic venous insufficiency the functional capacity can be decreased especially bey pains, inclination to swelling and changes of the skin (congestive dermatoses, ulcera). Eventual basic diseases and concomitant diseases render the judgment difficult. Experienced treatment under active collaboration of the patient may improve the functional capacity in most cases. The daily load of the patient by profession and so on, and the often changing course of chronic diseases of the veins must be taken into consideration in the estimation. On the basis of a stage-plan proposed by Kornotzki and coworders the evidence of selected phlebological methods (anamnesis, state, tourniquet-tests, measurement of the venous pressure, functional phlebography) is discussed. It is particularly referred to plethysmographic functional tests of the veins.

Humans↗

PubMed2000

Long-term survival and functional capacity in cardiac surgery patients after prolonged intensive care.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hospital discharge alone represents a good outcome for patients who had prolonged intensive care after cardiac surgery by studying their postdischarge survival and functional outcome. The secondary objective is to estimate the proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) resources used by the long-stay (> or = 10 initial consecutive ICU days) patients and to identify preoperative patient characteristics that are associated with a prolonged ICU stay and hospital and long-term survival. DESIGN: Inception cohort study. SETTING: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a tertiary care, academic teaching institution. PATIENTS: Cardiac surgery patients with an initial ICU stay of 10 or more consecutive days. INTERVENTIONS: Data were collected daily during hospitalization on every adult who underwent coronary artery bypass graft and/or valve surgery at one institution in 1993. Discharged patients who spent >10 initial consecutive days in the ICU after surgery were contacted by telephone to determine vital status and functional capacity using the Duke Activity Status Index. Total ICU and total hospital direct costs were obtained for each patient. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome measurements were ICU length of stay, hospital mortality, after-surgery and postdischarge mortality and functional capacity, and relative resource utilization. Of the 2,618 cardiac surgery patients who met the inclusion criteria, 142 (5.4%) had an initial ICU length of stay of 10 or more consecutive days. Of these, 47 (33.1%) died in the hospital. Ninety-four of the 95 discharged patients were followed up (median follow-up, 30.6 months), and 44 of the 94 (46.8%) died during the follow-up period. The median Duke Activity Status Index for the 50 survivors was 26 out of a possible 58.2. The 142 long-stay patients used 50% of the total ICU days and 48% of the total ICU direct cost for all 2,618 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Many survivors of prolonged intensive care die soon after hospital discharge and many longer term survivors have a poor functional state. Therefore, hospital discharge is an incomplete measure of outcome for these patients, and longer follow-up is more appropriate. The relatively small number of patients who require prolonged intensive care consumes a disproportionate amount of the total ICU and total hospital direct cost.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2001

Characterization of tubular functional capacity in humans using para-aminohippurate and famotidine.

BACKGROUND: Renal drug excretion by glomerular filtration and active tubular secretion may be altered by factors such as acute and chronic renal disease, nephrotoxins, and drug interactions. Thus, accurate and reproducible methods for quantitation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tubular functional capacity are critical. METHODS: We utilized a four-step sequential infusion method to characterize anionic [para-aminohippurate (PAH)] and cationic (famotidine) tubular functional capacity in healthy volunteers. Filtration and secretion rates were quantitated from renal clearance and iothalamate-derived GFR determinations. RESULTS: Concentration-dependent renal clearance of PAH was observed at plasma concentrations> 100 mg/L; renal clearances were 442 +/- 131 (mean +/- SD), 423 +/- 94, 233 +/- 45, and 152 +/- 18 mL/min/1.73 m2 at plasma concentrations of 18 +/- 2, 92 +/- 5, 291 +/- 47 and 789 +/- 28 mg/L, respectively. The apparent affinity (Km) and maximum secretory capacity (TmPAH) were 141 +/- 70 mg/L and 71 +/- 16 mg/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The unbound renal clearance and tubular secretory clearance of famotidine were 384 +/- 70 and 329 +/- 78 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively, and were not significantly correlated with the unbound plasma concentrations, which ranged from 126 to 2659 ng/mL. The rate of tubular secretion was linear at unbound plasma concentrations up to 2659 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that a sequential infusion method using PAH may be used to characterize the anionic secretory component of proximal tubular function. The tubular clearance of famotidine may be a suitable index of the cationic secretory capacity of the proximal tubule in humans. Saturation of the cationic secretory pathway was not observed, and further investigation into parallel pathways of cationic secretion, such as p-glycoprotein, may be warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Nutritional status and functional capacity after femoral neck fractures: a prospective randomized one-year follow-up study.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different surgical methods on nutritional status and functional capacity during the first postoperative year in patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. A further aim was to evaluate the effect of nutritional support. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or osteosynthesis. Half of the patients in each treatment group received protein- and energy-enriched food in the hospital in addition to individual nutritional advice in order to optimize their intake of protein- and energy-rich food. Nutritional state and functional capacity were examined at baseline, one and three months, and one year after the operation. Pain was examined at three months and one year. The effect of nutritional intervention was equal within both surgical groups. Logistic regression showed that the dependent variable "living at one year" was significantly associated with serum albumin levels at one month. Advanced age, mental impairment and deteriorated nutritional status were predominant in the non-survivors. Overall, the primary THA group performed better compared with the osteosynthesis group concerning weight change over time, locomotion and pain. This study also showed that primary THA could safely be performed in the elderly without an increased postoperative mortality rate.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Effects of detraining on the functional capacity of previously trained breast cancer survivors.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a relatively short (8-weeks) period of detraining on cardiorespiratory capacity, dynamic strength endurance, task specific functional muscle capacity and quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer survivors who had previously undergone a combined supervised (aerobic and resistance) training program. Eleven women survivors of stage I - II ductal breast carcinoma (47 +/- 7 yrs) entered the study and performed a battery of tests (including anthropometric evaluation, a graded cycle ergometer test, tests of strength endurance [leg and bench press] and the sit-stand test) and completed a specific QOL questionnaire (EORTC-C30) at three time points: i) before, ii) after an exercise program (including aerobic and resistance exercises) of 8-weeks duration, and iii) after a subsequent 8-weeks period of training cessation. Training-induced improvements in strength endurance, muscle functional capacity (sit-stand test) and QOL were not significantly changed after detraining (p > 0.05 for post-training vs. detraining comparisons). The lack of significant loss in muscle strength endurance occurred despite significant losses in estimated total muscle mass after detraining (27.3 +/- 2.4 kg) compared with post-training (28.5 +/- 2.9 kg). In contrast, cardiorespiratory capacity was significantly decreased during detraining (V.O (2peak) of 29.0 +/- 4.6 vs. 22.7 +/- 3.9 ml . kg ( -1) . min (-1) at post-training vs. detraining, p < 0.01). In conclusion, cancer survivors who have participated in a combined training program can retain some of the training gains (particularly improved QOL and muscle strength endurance/functional performance) after a relatively short duration detraining period.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between cardiac functional capacity and patients' symptom-specific utilities for angina: some findings and methodologic lessons.

Forty-one angina patients with coronary disease were interviewed to examine the correlation between prespecified and individualized weights for disease-specific measures of the effects of angina on the patients' well-being. Modifications of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) scale for angina and the Duke Activity Specific Index (DASI) were used to rate functional capacity with prespecified items. Disease-specific utilities based on descriptions of functional status were obtained directly, and again indirectly with different anchoring conditions to control for noncardiac comorbidity. Correlations between the functional-capacity measures and the derived utilities were not strong, ranging from -0.25 (p > 0.1) to -0.35 (p = 0.02). Correlation between the two prespecified measures was higher (r = -0.51 or -0.69, both p < 0.01, for DASI versus CCS graded from walking and stair-climbing, respectively). The direct and indirect disease-specific utility scores were similar (r = 0.92, p < 0.01). The method described provides an approach to measuring disease-specific utilities by adapting existing scales for use in a standard gamble. It confirms that prespecified functional status scores inconsistently reflect patients' valuations of functional states. Further investigation should address whether the observed null effect of comorbidity on disease-specific utilities arose from inadequate coverage of the comorbidity issues in patient interviews or from lack of power given the small size of the feasibility study.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1993

Bone mineral density in patients with recent onset rheumatoid arthritis: influence of disease activity and functional capacity.

BACKGROUND: Generalised osteoporosis is often described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to evaluate disease related determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with RA. METHODS: Subjects were selected from a group of 147 patients with recent onset RA. Disease activity and functional capacity were studied prospectively in this cohort. Activity of the disease was assessed once every three months by various parameters, and functional capacity was measured with a health assessment questionnaire once every six months. Ninety seven patients consented to participate in the study. Bone mineral density was assessed with dual energy x ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine, in a combined region of interest in the hips, and in Ward's triangle. Multiple linear regression procedures were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Duration of RA was negatively associated with BMD at all three sites of measurement. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the six months before BMD measurement was negatively associated with BMD in the hip and in Ward's triangle. Other parameters of disease activity were not related to BMD. The mean health assessment questionnaire score in the 18 months before BMD measurement was negatively associated with BMD in the combined hip region only. Bone mineral density tended to be decreased when patients were compared with a normal reference group, especially in the femoral regions of interest. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that BMD may be affected in patients with recent onset RA by disease dependent mechanisms. Several factors have been suggested elsewhere as determinants of BMD in RA. The results of this study show that disease duration, disease activity, and functional impairment may, independently of each other, contribute to bone loss, especially in the proximal femur.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effects of exercise training on aerobic and functional capacity of end-stage renal disease patients.

The aim was to assess the effects of exercise training on aerobic and fuctional capacity of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients completed an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine VO2 peak and VO2 at ventilatory threshold (VT; V-slope). On a separate day they performed two constant load exercise tests on a cycle ergometer at 90% of VT and at a workload of 33 W, to determine VO2 kinetics. Functional capacity was assessed using measurements of sit-to-stands (STS-5, STS-60) and a walk test. Dialysis patients were randomly allocated to an exercise (ET: n = 18, age = 57.3 years) or control (C: n = 15, age = 50.5 - 5 years) group. The ET group participated in an exercise training programme involving cycling for 3 months. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant time by group interactions (P < 0.05) following training for VO2 peak (ET: 17 +/- 6.1 versus 19.9 +/- 6-3, C: 19.5 +/- 4.7 versus 188 +/- 4.9 ml kg min(-1)) and VO2-VT (ET: 10.7 +/- 3.5 versus 11.8 +/- 3.3, C:12.9 +/- 3.2 versus 119 +/- 3.5 ml kg min(-10). VO2 kinetics remained unchanged in both groups at 90% -VT, but a trend (P = 0.059) towards faster kinetics at the 33 W was observed (ET: 49.6 +/- 19.5 versus 37.8 +/- 12.7, C: 42.8 +/- 13 versus 49.4 +/- 20.2 s). Significant time by group interactions (P < 0.05) were also observed for STS-5 (ET: 14.7 +/- 6.2 versus 11.0 +/- 3.3, C: 12.8 +/- 4.4 versus 12.7 +/- 4.8 s) and STS-60 measurements (ET: 21.2 + 7.2 versus 26.9 +/- 6.2, C: 23.7 +/- 6.8 versus 24.1 +/- 7.2). Three months of exercise rehabilitation significantly improves peak exercise capacity of patients with ESRD. Measurements of VO2 kinetics and functional capacity suggest that longer time might be needed to induce peripheral adaptations.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Influence of storage time on functional capacity of flow cytometrically sex-sorted boar spermatozoa.

Sex-sorting of boar spermatozoa is an emerging biotechnology, still considered suboptimal owing to the slowness of the process, which requires long sorting periods to obtain an adequate number of spermatozoa to perform a non-surgical insemination. This period involves storage of sorted cells that could impair their functional capacity. Here, we have studied how the storage of sex-sorted boar spermatozoa affects their functional capacity. Sorted spermatozoa were assessed at various times (0, 2, 5h or 10h) during storage after sorting and compared with diluted and unsorted spermatozoa for sperm motility patterns, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity and their ability to penetrate homologous IVM oocytes. Sex-sorted sperm motility and membrane integrity only decreased significantly (p<0.05) by the end of the storage period (10h) compared to unsorted spermatozoa. Sperm velocity, ALH and Dance increased significantly (p<0.05), immediately post-sorting, returning to unsorted sperm values during storage. Acrosome integrity was not seriously affected by the sorting process, but decreased (p<0.05) during storage after sorting. Sorted spermatozoa stored 2h after sorting did not differ from unsorted in penetration rates and numbers of spermatozoa per oocyte, reaching the highest (p<0.05) penetration rates and sperm numbers per oocyte, when co-cultured for 6 or more hours. Non-storage or storage for 5h or 10h negatively (p<0.05) affected sperm penetration ability. In conclusion, although flow cytometrically sex-sorted spermatozoa are able to maintain motility, viability and acrosomal integrity at optimal levels until 10h of storage after sorting, fertilizing ability is maintained only over shorter storage times (<5h).

Acrosome↗

PubMed2004

Influence of age, gender, body mass index, and functional capacity on heart rate variability in a cohort of subjects without heart disease.

We studied the time- and frequency-domain indexes of heart rate variability (HRV) in 653 patients without any evidence of heart disease relative to age, gender, heart rate, body mass index, and functional capacity. There was an inverse correlation of HRV with heart rate (p <0.001). HRV indexes decreased with increasing age, differed by gender, and were higher in patients with higher functional capacity. No correlation was noted between HRV and body mass index.

Adolescent↗