Tipping the scale: Effects of physical activity and body composition on cardiac parameters in postmenopausal females.

The risk of cardiovascular disease increases significantly after menopause. We sought to assess the impact of different activity levels on cardiac structure and function in postmenopausal women. We grouped age-similar, postmenopausal women by self-reported physical activity levels over two decades.

Intensified training augments cardiac function, but not blood volume, in male youth elite ice hockey team players.

While it is well-established that a period of interval training performed at near maximal effort, such as speed endurance training (SET), enhances intense exercise performance in well-trained individuals, less is known about its effect on cardiac morphology and function as well as blood volume. To investigate this, we subjected 12 Under-20 Danish national team ice hockey players (age 18 ± 1 years, mean ± SD) to 4 weeks of SET, consisting of 6-10 × 20 s skating bouts at maximal effort interspersed by 2 min of recovery conducted three times weekly. This was followed by 4 weeks of regular training (follow-up).

Doppler Ultrasound-Based Leg Blood Flow Assessment During Single-Leg Knee-Extensor Exercise in an Uncontrolled Setting.

Doppler ultrasound has revolutionized the assessment of organ blood flow and is widely used in research and clinical settings. While Doppler ultrasound-based assessment of contracting leg muscle blood flow is common in human studies, the reliability of this method requires further investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the within-day test-retest, between-day test-retest, and inter-rater reliability of Doppler ultrasound for assessing leg blood flow during rest and graded single-leg knee-extensions (0 W, 6 W, 12 W, and 18 W), with the ultrasound probe being removed between measurements.

Peripheral limitations for performance: Muscle capillarization.

Sufficient delivery of oxygen and metabolic substrates, together with removal of waste products, are key elements of muscle performance. Capillaries are the primary site for this exchange in skeletal muscle and the degree of muscle capillarization affects diffusion conditions by influencing mean transit time, capillary surface area and diffusion distance. Muscle capillarization may thus represent a limiting factor for performance.

The recovery of muscle function and glycogen levels following game-play in young elite male ice hockey players.

Despite the frequent occurrence of congested game fixtures in elite ice hockey, the postgame recovery pattern has not previously been investigated. The purpose of the present study was therefore to evaluate the acute decrements and subsequent recovery of skeletal muscle glycogen levels, muscle function and repeated-sprint ability following ice hockey game-play. Sixteen male players from the Danish U20 national team completed a training game with muscle biopsies obtained before, postgame and following ~38 h of recovery (day 2).

Extensive profiling of histidine-containing dipeptides reveals species- and tissue-specific distribution and metabolism in mice, rats, and humans.

Aim: Histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) are pleiotropic homeostatic molecules with potent antioxidative and carbonyl quenching properties linked to various inflammatory, metabolic, and neurological diseases, as well as exercise performance. However, the distribution and metabolism of HCDs across tissues and species are still unclear.

Methods: Using a sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS approach and an optimized quantification method, we performed a systematic and extensive profiling of HCDs in the mouse, rat, and human body (in n = 26, n = 25, and n = 19 tissues, respectively).

Endothelial Glycocalyx Preservation-Impact of Nutrition and Lifestyle.

The endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) is a dynamic hair-like layer expressed on the apical surface of endothelial cells throughout the vascular system. This layer serves as an endothelial cell gatekeeper by controlling the permeability and adhesion properties of endothelial cells, as well as by controlling vascular resistance through the mediation of vasodilation. Pathogenic destruction of the eGC could be linked to impaired vascular function, as well as several acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions.

Combination of exercise and GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment reduces severity of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and inflammation: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Identifying and reducing cardiometabolic risks driven by obesity remains a healthcare challenge. The metabolic syndrome is associated with abdominal obesity and inflammation and is predictive of long-term risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in otherwise healthy individuals living with obesity. Therefore, we investigated the effects of adherent exercise, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), or the combination on severity of metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and inflammation following weight loss.

Colchicine enhances β adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilation in men with essential hypertension.

Aims: The aim of this study is to examine whether colchicine improves β adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilation in humans by conducting a double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention study. Colchicine treatment has known beneficial effects on cardiovascular health and reduces the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Studies in isolated rodent arteries have shown that colchicine can enhance β adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilation, but this has not been determined in humans.

The time is now: regular exercise maintains vascular health in ageing women.

Although ageing impairs cardiovascular health in both men and women, the timeline is different between the sexes. This is at least partially attributed to the loss of oestrogen in women at midlife, in connection with menopause. Oestrogen has protective effects on the cardiovascular system, and menopause consequently leads to a rapid and significant decline in cardiovascular health.

Effects of Exercise Training Intensity and Duration on Skeletal Muscle Capillarization in Healthy Subjects: A Meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of intensity and duration of continuous and interval exercise training on capillarization in skeletal muscle of healthy adults.

Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to June 2021. Eligibility criteria for studies were endurance exercise training >2 wk in healthy adults, and the capillary to fiber ratio (C:F) and/or capillary density (CD) reported.

Exercise Training Lowers Arterial Blood Pressure Independently of Pannexin 1 in Men with Essential Hypertension.

Introduction: Regular exercise training reduces arterial blood pressure, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we evaluated the potential involvement of pannexin 1, an ATP releasing channel, in the blood pressure-reducing effect of training.

Methods: Middle-age men, 13 normotensive and 14 nonmedicated stage 1 hypertensive, completed 8 wk of intensive aerobic cycle training.

Is the Pannexin-1 Channel a Mechanism Underlying Hypertension in Humans? a Translational Study of Human Hypertension.

Background: In preclinical models, the pannexin-1 channel has been shown to be involved in blood pressure regulation through an effect on peripheral vascular resistance. Pannexin-1 releases ATP, which can activate constrictive purinergic receptors on the smooth muscle cells. Pannexin-1 opening is proposed to be mediated by α-adrenergic receptors to potentiate sympathetic constriction.

Short-Term Supplementation With Fermented Red Clover Extract Reduces Vascular Inflammation in Early Post-menopausal Women.

The decline in estrogen at menopause poses a critical challenge to cardiovascular and metabolic health. Recently, a growing interest in the role of phytoestrogens, with a particular focus on isoflavones, has emerged as they can bind to estrogen receptors and may mimic the roles of endogenous estrogen. Fermented red clover extract (RC) contains isoflavones with superior bioavailability compared to non-fermented isoflavones, however little is known regarding the impact of isoflavones on cardiovascular and metabolic health.