Publications by authors named "Larry A Wolfe"

Objectif: Énoncer une directive canadienne visant à informer les fournisseurs de soins obstétricaux des répercussions, pour la mère, le fœtus et le nouveau-né, des exercices de conditionnement aerobique et musculaire pendant la grossesse. RéSULTATS ATTENDUS: Effets sur la morbidité maternelle, fœtale et néonatale et mesures de la forme physique maternelle.

Preuves: Une recherche sur MEDLINE des articles, publiés en anglais de 1966 à 2002, appartenant aux catégories suivantes : études sur le conditionnement aérobique et musculaire chez des femmes ne faisant pas jusque-là d'exercice et chez des femmes actives avant leur grossesse, ainsi que des études sur les répercussions du conditionnement aérobique et musculaire sur les issues précoces et tardives de la grossesse ou sur les issues néonatales; rapports de synthèse et méta-analyses portant sur l'exercice pendant la grossesse.

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Objective: To design Canadian guidelines advising obstetric care providers of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications of aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises in pregnancy.

Outcomes: Knowledge of the impact of exercise on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, and of the maternal measures of fitness.

Evidence: MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2002 for English language articles related to studies of maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously sedentary population, maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previouslyactive population, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on early and late pregnancy outcomes, and impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on neonatal outcomes, as well as for review articles and meta-analyses related to exercise in pregnancy.

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Objective: To examine the effects of acute maternal hypocapnia and hypercapnia on electronic fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns in late gestation.

Methods: Thirty-five women with healthy singleton pregnancies performed a modified carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing procedure between 34 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. Prior to rebreathing, subjects hyperventilated for five minutes to reduce end-tidal CO2 tensions (PETco2) below 23 Torr (hypocapnia).

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This study examined the role of pregnancy-induced changes in wakefulness (or non-chemoreflex) and central chemoreflex drives to breathe, acid-base balance and female sex hormones in the hyperventilation of human pregnancy. Thirty-five healthy women were studied in the third trimester (TM(3); 36.3+/-1.

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We examined the effect of menstrual cycle (MC) phase on acid-base regulation and ventilatory control at rest in monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) users. Twelve healthy women (25+/-1 years; mean+/-S.E.

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Stewart's physicochemical approach was employed to investigate the safety of an average recreational and occupational activity (prolonged moderate exercise) on maternal acid-base homeostasis. The responses of 10 healthy, physically active pregnant women (PG, gestational age 34-38 weeks) were compared with those of 10 non-pregnant female controls (CG). Subjects cycled for 40 min at 85% of their measured ventilatory threshold (VT).

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Evidence-based guidelines indicate that regular prenatal exercise is an important component of a healthy pregnancy. In addition to maintaining physical fitness, exercise may be beneficial in preventing or treating maternal-fetal diseases. Women who are the most physically active have the lowest prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM), and prevention of GDM may decrease the incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in both mother and offspring.

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This study examined the effects of human pregnancy and advancing gestation on the intensity of respiratory discomfort (dyspnea) during cycle exercise. Fourteen pregnant women (PG) performed a progressive cycle ergometer exercise test involving 20 W/min increases in work rate to symptom limitation and/or a heart rate of 170-175 beats/min at 19.7+/-1.

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The primary objective of this study was to develop a cold pressor test (CPT) protocol to evaluate cardiac autonomic function. Secondary objectives were to assess CPT protocol reliability and to examine gender differences in response to orthostatic stress and the CPT. Healthy, normotensive men and women (n = 12 per group) completed 2 trials on different days in the left lateral decubitus and standing postures and during a 6 min CPT (hand immersion while seated).

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After conception, the corpus luteum, placenta, and developing embryo release hormones, growth factors, and other substances into the maternal circulation. These substances trigger a cascade of events that transform the functioning of the maternal cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal systems, which in turn alter the physicochemical determinants of [H(+)]. Following implantation, maternal adaptations fulfill 4 important functions that support fetal growth.

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This study examined the effects of menstrual cycle phase on ventilatory control. Fourteen eumenorrheic women were studied in the early follicular (FP; 1-6 days) and mid-luteal (LP; 20-24 days) phase of the menstrual cycle. Blood for the determination of arterial PCO(2) (PaCO(2)) , plasma strong ion difference ([SID]), progesterone ([P(4)]), and 17beta-estradiol ([E(2)]) concentrations were obtained at rest.

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This study determined the time course of changes in resting and exercising respiratory responses during the first half of human pregnancy, and examined the potential roles of plasma osmolality and the strong ion difference ([SID]) as mediators of pregnancy-induced increases in ventilation. Healthy active women (n = 11) were studied serially from 7 to 22 weeks gestation. Responses were compared with preconception data from 14 subjects (six of whom were tested in early pregnancy), and with late-gestation resting data from 10 additional women.

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This study examined the effects of aerobic conditioning during the second and third trimesters of human pregnancy on ventilatory responses to graded cycling. Previously sedentary pregnant women were assigned randomly to an exercise group (n = 14) or a nonexercising control group (n = 14). Data were collected at 15-17 weeks, 25-27 weeks and 34-36 weeks of pregnancy.

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This review summarizes current information on the tolerance of healthy pregnant women and their fetuses to acute strenuous exertion. Maximal aerobic power, expressed in L x min(-1), is not significantly affected in women who maintain an active lifestyle, whereas values expressed in ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) decline with advancing gestational age in relation to maternal/fetal weight gain. Efficiency during standard exercise testing and the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (Tvent) also appear to be unaffected by pregnancy, but the ability to utilize carbohydrate and exercise anaerobically during brief strenuous exercise may be reduced.

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This study examined the effects of human pregnancy on the central chemoreflex control of breathing. Subjects were two groups (n=11) of pregnant subjects (PG, gestational age, 36.5+/-0.

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Preeclampsia affects 2-7% of pregnancies and is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive study, the etiology of preeclampsia is poorly understood. Abnormal placental development, predisposing maternal constitutional factors, oxidative stress, immune maladaptation, and genetic susceptibility have all been hypothesized to contribute to the development of preeclampsia.

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This study used a modified CO(2) rebreathing procedure to examine the effect of gender on the chemoreflex control of breathing during wakefulness in healthy men (n = 14) and women (n = 14). Women were tested in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. During rebreathing trials, subjects hyperventilated to reduce the partial pressure of end-tidal CO(2) (Pet(CO(2))) below 25 Torr and were then switched to a rebreathing bag containing a normocapnic hypoxic or hyperoxic gas mixture.

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This study examined the claim made by Niemela et al. (1992) that the decline in heart rate variability after coronary artery bypass graft surgery is irreversible. We tested six women and 16 men six and 12 weeks postoperative in three postures: in the supine position, in the standing position, and during low-intensity steady-state exercise.

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The effects of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery on spontaneous baroreflex (SBR) sensitivity and heart rate variability were examined in 11 women and 23 men preoperatively and 5 days postoperatively. Electrocardiograph R-R interval and beat-by-beat arterial blood pressure data were collected continuously for 20 min in the supine and standing postures. Coarse graining spectral analysis was performed on the heart rate variability data.

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This study tested the hypothesis that human pregnancy alters fluid and electrolyte regulation responses to acute short-term exercise. Responses of 22 healthy pregnant women (PG; gestational age, 37.0 +/- 0.

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Objective: To design Canadian guidelines advising obstetric care providers of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications of aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises in pregnancy.

Outcomes: Knowledge of the impact of exercise on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, and of the maternal measures of fitness.

Evidence: MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2002 for English-language articles related to studies of maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously sedentary population, maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously active population, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on early and late pregnancy outcomes, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on neonatal outcomes, as well as for review articles and meta-analyses related to exercise in pregnancy.

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This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that aerobic conditioning prevents exercise-induced hypoglycemia and preserves the capacity to utilize carbohydrates and to produce lactate during heavy exercise in late gestation. The effects of closely monitored cycle ergometer conditioning (heart rate = 143 +/- 2 beats/min, 25 min/day, 3 days/week) during the second and third trimesters were studied in 18 previously sedentary women (exercised group, EG). A nonexercising pregnant control group (CG, n = 9) was also studied.

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Objective: To design Canadian guidelines advising obstetric care providers of the maternal, fetal, and neonatal implications of aerobic and strength-conditioning exercises in pregnancy.

Outcomes: Knowledge of the impact of exercise on maternal, fetal, and neonatal morbidity, and of the maternal measures of fitness.

Evidence: MEDLINE search from 1966 to 2002 for English-language articles related to studies of maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously sedentary population, maternal aerobic and strength conditioning in a previously active population, impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on early and late pregnancy outcomes, and impact of aerobic and strength conditioning on neonatal outcomes, as well as for review articles and meta-analyses related to exercise in pregnancy.

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Objectives: To review the existing literature on the physiology of exercise in pregnancy as a basis for clinical practice guidelines for prenatal exercise prescription.

Methods: MEDLINE search for English language abstracts and articles published between 1966 and 2003 related to physiological adaptations to pregnancy, effects of pregnancy on responses to acute exercise and aerobic conditioning, effects of acute maternal exercise on indexes of fetal well-being, impact of physical conditioning on birth weight and other pregnancy outcomes, and use of exercise to prevent or treat gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia.

Results: Maximal aerobic power (VO(2)max, L/min) is well-preserved in pregnant women who remain physically active, but anaerobic working capacity may be reduced in late gestation.

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