Decreased anaerobic performance and hormone adaptation after expedition to Peak Lenin.

Background: The change of anaerobic exercise abilities during and after a high-altitude expedition or hypoxic exposure is not well studied. To evaluate the effects of an extreme-altitude expedition on anaerobic performance, the 10-second supramaximal test and endocrine hormones were evaluated before and after an expedition to Peak Lenin.

Methods: Four subjects (3 male and 1 female, age (30.

Cycling and Tai Chi Chuan exercises exert greater immunomodulatory effect on surface antigen expression of human hepatitis B virus.

Background: Both athletes with intensive exercise and aged people may have weakened immunity against virus infection. This study aimed to evaluate whether people undergoing aerobic exercises including competitive cyclists with moderate training (CMT) and middle-aged people practicing Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise have higher immunity against hepatitis B virus than age-matched sedentary controls including college students (CSC) and middle-aged people (MSC).

Methods: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from competitive cyclists and sedentary controls were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to prepare conditioned medium (MNC-CM) for the assessment of inhibitory effects on hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) expression in human hepatoma Hep3B cells.

Protective effects of L-arginine on pulmonary oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses during exhaustive exercise in rats.

Aim: To assess the effects of L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation on pulmonary oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses in rats after exhaustive exercise.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary control with L-Arg treatment (SC+Arg), exhaustive exercise with control diet (E) and exhaustive exercise with L-Arg treatment (E+Arg). Rats in groups SC+Arg and E+Arg received a 2% L-Arg diet.

Effects of long-term ethanol consumption on jejunal lipase and disaccharidase activities in male and female rats.

Aim: To study the effect of long-term ethanol consumption on jejunal lipase and disaccharidase (sucrase, maltase, and lactase) activities in rats and its gender difference.

Methods: Age-matched male and female Wistar rats were fed control or ethanol-containing liquid diets for 12 wk following the Lieber-DeCarli model. According to both the plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, 40 rats were divided into four groups as follows: male control group (MC), male ethanol group (ME), female control group (FC), and female ethanol group (FE).

Antibacterial properties of chitosan in waterborne pathogen.

The antimicrobial properties of chitosan, a derivative of chitin, were investigated in the solid and liquid culture against bacteria associated with waterborne disease in order to assess the potential for using chitosan as a natural disinfectant. Six strains which included three gram-negative and three gram-positive bacteria were studied. The effects of the deacetylation degree, concentration, and molecular weight of chitosan on antibacterial activities were assessed.

Effects of 24 h ultra-marathon on biochemical and hematological parameters.

Aim: To analyze detailed changes in hematology and biochemistry tests parameters before and after a long-distance race in ultramarathon runners.

Methods: Blood samples of 11 participants were obtained for standard analysis before, immediately after, two days after and nine days after the 2002 International Ultra-marathon 24 h Race and the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Asia 24 h Championship.

Results: Total bilirubin (BIL-T), direct bilirubin (BIL-D), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased statistically significantly (P<0.

Effects of exercise on lipid metabolism and musculoskeletal fitness in female athletes.

Aim: This study investigated the effects of intense training on lipid metabolism, bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in female athletes.

Methods: Sixty-six female subjects participated in this study, age ranging from 18 to 55 years. The sample group included thirty-six athletic subjects and the control group comprised thirty non-athletic individuals.

Protective role of metallothionein (I/II) against pathological damage and apoptosis induced by dimethylarsinic acid.

Aim: To better clarify the main target organs of dimethylarsinic acid toxicity and the role of metallothionein (MTs) in modifying dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA) toxicity.

Methods: MT-I/II null (MT(-/-)) mice and the corresponding wild-type mice (MT(+/+)), six in each group, were exposed to DMAA (0-750 mg/kg body weight) by a single oral injection. Twenty four hours later, the lungs, livers and kidneys were collected and undergone pathological analysis, induction of apoptotic cells as determined by TUNEL and MT concentration was detected by radio-immunoassay.

Reducing fatigue of athletes following oral administration of huangqi jianzhong tang.

Aim: To study the effect of Huangqi Jianzhong Tang in reducing fatigue improvement in athletes.

Methods: Twelve athletes were randomly separated into a control group, whose members were administered with placebos, and the experimental group, whose members were administered with Huangqi Jianzhong Tang. During the eight weeks of the experiment, test subjects continued exercise as usual.