Mitochondrial abnormalities in patients with HIV-HCV co-infection as compared to patients with HCV mono-infection.

Introduction: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a classic complication of HIV infection and its treatment and has also been reported in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Little is known about interactions between both viruses on mitochondrial metabolism.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of HCV-infected patients who underwent liver biopsy as part of their routine care.

[Interpreting carbon monoxide transfer coefficient: significance and difficulties].

Introduction: Interpreting measurements of carbon monoxide can be problematic.

State Of The Art: The transfer factor (TLCO) is usually calculated by multiplying the decrease in alveolar CO concentration between the beginning and the end of a 10 second breath hold (KCO) by the alveolar volume (VA). Thus a reduced TLCO may occur due to either a low KCO, a reduced VA, or a combination of both.

Mitochondrial abnormalities in HIV-infected lipoatrophic patients treated with antiretroviral agents.

Background: Lipodystrophy is now widely described in HIV infected patients under antiretroviral regimen with important psychological impact. But physiopathology of loss of fat mass is still debated and the role of mitochondrial impairment is not clearly defined.

Objective: To correlate clinical lipoatrophy (LA) in HIV patients with long-term treatment by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and muscular impairment related to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Clinical experience with functional electrical stimulation-assisted gait with Parastep in spinal cord-injured patients.

Study Design: Clinical evaluation of the Parastep method, a six-channel transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation device, in spinal cord-injured patients.

Objectives: To investigate the motor performances of this new technique regarding energy expenditure and to evaluate its advantages and limitations, especially in social activities involving ambulation.

Methods: This study was conducted in 15 thoracic spine-injured patients.

Blood lactate concentrations during exercise: effect of sampling site and exercise mode.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare blood lactate concentrations determined in blood sampled from three sites (finger capillary, ear-lobe capillary, and forearm vein) during exercise on three different ergometers (a cycle ergometer, a treadmill and an arm-crank ergometer).

Methods: A total of 312 well-trained subjects performed either a six-minute steady-state exercise (n = 219) or an incremental exercise test until exhaustion (n = 93). Blood was sampled from two sites after each exercise test and at the end of each stage of the incremental protocol, 852 pairs of blood samples were analysed.

Gender effect on the relationship of time limit at 100% VO2max with other bioenergetic characteristics.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of gender on the possible contribution of tlim at Va max (minimal speed that elicits VO2max) in performance speeds. The male and female elite middle-distance runners had similar performance (IAAF scores). Fourteen female and fifteen male (25.

Energy consumption of paraplegic locomotion using reciprocating gait orthosis.

The energy cost of walking using a reciprocating gait orthosis (RGOII) with functional electrical stimulation (FES) was assessed in 14 patients with spastic complete paraplegia from six rehabilitation centres. Before and after training asing RGOII with FES, the subjects performed a progressive maximal test on an arm-crank ergometer to obtain their laboratory peak oxygen uptake (LVO2peak), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentration changes. At the end of the training session, oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured during a walking test with orthosis at different speeds (6 min steady state at 0.

Restoration of functional gait in paraplegic patients with the RGO-II hybrid orthosis. A multicenter controlled study. II: Physiological evaluation.

We have investigated physiological changes in 21 patients with a spinal cord injury who were fitted with the RGO-II hybrid orthosis. All parameters were measured before and after a training programme in order to evaluate the benefit of gait rehabilitation, cardiovascular adaptation, constipation, spasticity and osteoporosis. A tendency for the improvement in cardiovascular function was noticed, and a segmental decrease in right colonic transit time was observed.

Use of oxygen uptake recovery curve to predict peak oxygen uptake in upper body exercise.

A group of 18 well-trained white-water kayakers performed maximal upper body exercise in the laboratory and during a field test. Laboratory direct peak oxygen uptake (VO2) values were compared, firstly by a VO2 backward extrapolation estimation and secondly by an estimation calculated from VO2 measured during the first 20 s of exercise recovery. Direct peak VO2 correlated with VO2 backward extrapolation (r = 0.

Effects of captopril chronic intake on the aerobic performance and muscle strength of normotensive trained subjects.

Fifteen normotensive athletes specializing in dynamic sports took part in a randomized double-blind and cross-over study: captopril (50 mg/24 h) vs placebo. Each treatment lasted one month. Maximal exercise tests on cycle ergometer were performed at the end of each period.

Isokinetic investigation of knee extensors and knee flexors in young French soccer players.

The knee extensor and knee flexor muscle groups in three groups of young soccer players were tested with a Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer and compared with adults. Muscle strength increased with age. The largest gain was observed in young players aged 16-17 years whose quadriceps was the most modified muscle group giving the lowest H/Q ratio.

Ventilatory and occlusion-pressure responses to exercise in trained and untrained children.

Pattern of breathing and mouth occlusion pressure were investigated during an incremental and exhaustive ergocycle test in untrained and trained 11 to 13 year old boys. At each level of exercise, the trained group had lower ventilation, a lower respiratory equivalent, and a lower respiratory rate. These results suggest that trained subjects have more efficient ventilation.

Extent of lactic anaerobic metabolism in handballers.

The authors investigated lactic anaerobic metabolism in handball players during practice games. Seven players aged 18-21, belonging to second division league clubs, took part in the study. In the laboratory, VO2 max and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) were determined with progressive maximal ergocycle tests.

[Modalities of the hyperventilation of exercise in maximal triangular effort on the ergometry bicycle in 11-to-13-year-old boys].

Tidal volume, respiratory frequency, ventilatory equivalent, mean inspiratory flow Vt/Ti, and respiratory timing Ti/Ttot were measured at each level of an incremental exercise in a group of 8 untrained boys. Breathing pattern of the child is characterized by a fast frequency and a small tidal volume. Ventilation at maximal exercise reaches 50% of adults mean value.