Inter-Individual Different Responses to Continuous and Interval Training in Recreational Middle-Aged Women Runners.

A crucial subject in sports is identifying the inter-individual variation in response to training, which would allow creating individualized pre-training schedules, improving runner's performance. We aimed to analyze heterogeneity in individual responses to two half-marathon training programs differing in running volume and intensity in middle-aged recreational women. 20 women (40 ± 7 years, 61 ± 7 kg, 167 ± 6 cm, and VOmax = 48 ± 6 mL⋅kg⋅min) underwent either moderate-intensity continuous (MICT) or high-intensity interval (HIIT) 12-week training.

Principal component analysis as a novel approach for cardiorespiratory exercise testing evaluation.

Objective: Our purpose was to apply a principal component analysis (PCA) approach to cardiorespiratory exercise to test evaluation and its sensitivity to workload accumulation.

Approach: Twenty-five healthy young adults performed a progressive and maximal cycling test, which was divided into two parts: moderate and high workload intensities, using a ventilatory threshold as a cut point. A PCA of the time series of cardiovascular and respiratory variables was performed in each part and the number of principal components (PCs), the eigenvalues of the first PC (PC), and the information entropy were calculated.

Physiological and Biological Responses to Short-Term Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia Exposure: From Sports and Mountain Medicine to New Biomedical Applications.

In recent years, the altitude acclimatization responses elicited by short-term intermittent exposure to hypoxia have been subject to renewed attention. The main goal of short-term intermittent hypobaric hypoxia exposure programs was originally to improve the aerobic capacity of athletes or to accelerate the altitude acclimatization response in alpinists, since such programs induce an increase in erythrocyte mass. Several model programs of intermittent exposure to hypoxia have presented efficiency with respect to this goal, without any of the inconveniences or negative consequences associated with permanent stays at moderate or high altitudes.

Different training programs decrease blood pressure during submaximal exercise.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the effects of aerobic, resistance, and mixed (aerobic and resistance) training programs on blood pressure, both at rest and during submaximal exercise in healthy people.

Methods: We randomized 39 physically active, healthy participants into aerobic, resistance, and mixed (aerobic and resistance) exercise groups, and a control group. The exercise groups trained for 60 min three times/week for 6 weeks, and a submaximal cycle ergometer test was performed before and after training, and 3 weeks after detraining.

Cardiorespiratory Coordination in Repeated Maximal Exercise.

Increases in cardiorespiratory coordination (CRC) after training with no differences in performance and physiological variables have recently been reported using a principal component analysis approach. However, no research has yet evaluated the short-term effects of exercise on CRC. The aim of this study was to delineate the behavior of CRC under different physiological initial conditions produced by repeated maximal exercises.

Physical effects of a reconditioning programme in a group of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Background: Physical exercise can be part of treatment in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), where the aim would be to improve strength and endurance through increasing physical exercise (intensity and time) without aggravating symptomatology. The present study examines the effectiveness of a reconditioning programme (focusing on strength, endurance, balance and propioception) for achieving maximum functional capacity according to the clinical status of CFS patients.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with CFS were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (CG) comprising 22 patients and an active group (AG) of 46 patients, the latter being invited to take part in a functional reconditioning programme based on 12 weeks of laboratory training followed by a further 12-week home training period.

Five-year mortality in cardiac surgery patients with low cardiac output syndrome treated with levosimendan: prognostic evaluation of NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein.

Background: To determine the clinical risk factors predictive of the 5-year mortality in patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after cardiac surgery. In addition, to assess the influence of inflammation and myocardial dysfunction severity, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations, on outcome.

Methods: We studied 30 patients who underwent cardiac surgery and developed postoperative LCOS requiring inotropic support for longer than 48 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Cardiorespiratory Coordination after Training and Detraining. A Principal Component Analysis Approach.

Our purpose was to study the effects of different training modalities and detraining on cardiorespiratory coordination (CRC). Thirty-two young males were randomly assigned to four training groups: aerobic (AT), resistance (RT), aerobic plus resistance (AT + RT), and control (C). They were assessed before training, after training (6 weeks) and after detraining (3 weeks) by means of a graded maximal test.

Evaluation of Serial Arterial Lactate Levels as a Predictor of Hospital and Long-Term Mortality in Patients After Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: Although hyperlactatemia is common after cardiac surgery, its value as a prognostic marker is unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine whether postoperative serial arterial lactate (AL) measurements after cardiac surgery could predict outcome.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Influence of cirrhosis in cardiac surgery outcomes.

Liver cirrhosis has evolved an important risk factor for cardiac surgery due to the higher morbidity and mortality that these patients may suffer compared with general cardiac surgery population. The presence of contributing factors for a poor outcome, such as coagulopathy, a poor nutritional status, an adaptive immune dysfunction, a degree of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, and a degree of renal and pulmonary dysfunction, have to be taken into account for surgical evaluation when cardiac surgery is needed, together with the degree of liver disease and its primary complications. The associated pathophysiological characteristics that liver cirrhosis represents have a great influence in the development of complications during cardiac surgery and the postoperative course.

The influence of body mass index on outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: does the obesity paradox really exist?

Purpose: Obesity influences risk stratification in cardiac surgery in everyday practice. However, some studies have reported better outcomes in patients with a high body mass index (BMI): this is known as the obesity paradox. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of diverse degrees of high BMI on clinical outcomes after cardiac surgery, and to assess the existence of an obesity paradox in our patients.

Circulating progenitor cells during exercise, muscle electro-stimulation and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in patients with traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

Background: Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) treatments may have great potential for the recovery of neurons and brain function.

Objective: To increase and maintain CPC with a program of exercise, muscle electro-stimulation (ME) and/or intermittent-hypobaric-hypoxia (IHH), and also to study the possible improvement in physical or psychological functioning of participants with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Methods: Twenty-one participants.

Combined intermittent hypobaric hypoxia and muscle electro-stimulation: a method to increase circulating progenitor cell concentration?

Background: Our goal was to test whether short-term intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) at a level well tolerated by healthy humans could, in combination with muscle electro-stimulation (ME), mobilize circulating progenitor cells (CPC) and increase their concentration in peripheral circulation.

Methods: Nine healthy male subjects were subjected, as the active group (HME), to a protocol involving IHH plus ME. IHH exposure consisted of four, three-hour sessions at a barometric pressure of 540 hPa (equivalent to an altitude of 5000 m).

Evaluation of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio after cardiac surgery as a predictor of outcome during hospital stay.

Background: The arterial partial pressure of O2 and the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio is widely used in ICUs as an indicator of oxygenation status. Although cardiac surgery and ICU scores can predict mortality, during the first hours after cardiac surgery few instruments are available to assess outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of PaO2/FIO2 ratio to predict mortality in patients immediately after cardiac surgery.

Influence of acute kidney injury on short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: risk factors and prognostic value of a modified RIFLE classification.

Introduction: The development of acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor outcome. The modified RIFLE (risk, injury, failure, loss of kidney function, and end-stage renal failure) classification for AKI, which classifies patients with renal replacement therapy needs according to RIFLE failure class, improves the predictive value of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Our aim was to assess risk factors for post-operative AKI and the impact of renal function on short- and long-term survival among all AKI subgroups using the modified RIFLE classification.

Does post-cardiac surgery magnesium supplementation improve outcome?

Hypomagnesemia has been linked with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Since the condition is common after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, the objective of this study was to determine whether magnesium supplementation in the immediate postoperative period may improve outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in a third-level, cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital.

Short-term independent mortality risk factors in patients with cirrhosis undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Cirrhosis represents a serious risk in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Several preoperative factors identify cirrhotic patients as high risk for cardiac surgery; however, a patient's preoperative status may be modified by surgical intervention and, as yet, no independent postoperative mortality risk factors have been identified in this setting. The objective of this study was to identify preoperative and postoperative mortality risk factors and the scores that are the best predictors of short-term risk.

Age and sex differences in perioperative myocardial infarction after cardiac surgery.

We investigate age and sex differences in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after cardiac surgery in a prospective study of 2038 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. An age of ≥ 70 years implied changes in the type of AMI from the ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (non-STEMI). Men were more likely than women to suffer from AMI after cardiac surgery (11.

Impact of non-neurological complications in severe traumatic brain injury outcome.

Introduction: Non-neurological complications in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) are frequent, worsening the prognosis, but the pathophysiology of systemic complications after TBI is unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze non-neurological complications in patients with severe TBI admitted to the ICU, the impact of these complications on mortality, and their possible correlation with TBI severity.

Methods: An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted in one multidisciplinary ICU of a university hospital (35 beds); 224 consecutive adult patients with severe TBI (initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) < 9) admitted to the ICU were included.

Relationships among haemoglobin level, packed red cell transfusion and clinical outcomes in patients after cardiac surgery.

Objective: To identify associations among haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations, blood transfusions, and clinical outcomes in patients after cardiac surgery, especially in those who undergo valve replacement or bypass surgery.

Design: Prospective observational trial.

Setting: Surgical intensive care unit in a tertiary-level university hospital.

Are there sex-based differences in serum troponin I after cardiac surgery?

Objective: To determine whether there are sex-based differences in serum troponin I (TnI) after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Design: Prospective, observational, cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital.

Is C-reactive protein a biomarker for immediate clinical outcome after cardiac surgery?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the possible correlation between inflammatory activation after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, measured by postoperative C-reactive protein concentrations, and immediate intensive care unit outcome.

Design: A prospective, clinical cohort study.

Setting: A 10-bed surgical intensive care unit at a tertiary university hospital.