Effects of a physical exercise program on HIF-1α in people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease living at high altitude: study protocol for a clinical trial.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic, noncommunicable disease characterized by hypoxemia, with altered lung function, dyspnea on mild exertion, limited tolerance to physical exertion, and functional impairment. Physical exercise has been recommended worldwide as an efficient strategy to improve the autonomy and quality of life of patients affected by COPD. However, the adaptive molecular mechanisms occurring in these patients after the exposure to the hypoxic stimulus triggered by physical exercise have currently not been described in populations living at high altitude.

Hemoglobin Mass, Blood Volume and VOmax of Trained and Untrained Children and Adolescents Living at Different Altitudes.

To a considerable extent, the magnitude of blood volume (BV) and hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) contribute to the maximum O-uptake (VOmax), especially in endurance-trained athletes. However, the development of Hbmass and BV and their relationships with VOmax during childhood are unknown. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate Hbmass and BV and their relationships with VOmax in children and adolescents.