Inspiratory muscle training for diaphragmatic dysfunction: A case series.

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is used across various pathology domains to improve respiratory function. Limited literature exists which demonstrates IMT benefit among patients with Diaphragmatic dysfunction. 7 individuals with a mean age of 59.

Short-latency afferent inhibition is reduced in people with multiple sclerosis during fatiguing muscle contractions.

Understanding how inhibitory pathways influence motor cortical activity during fatiguing contractions may provide valuable insight into mechanisms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) muscle activation. Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) reflects inhibitory interactions between the somatosensory cortex and the motor cortex, and although SAI is typically reduced with MS, it is unknown how SAI is regulated during exercise-induced fatigue. The current study examined how SAI modulates motor evoked potentials (MEPs) during fatiguing contractions.

Voluntary muscle activation in people with multiple sclerosis is reduced across a wide range of forces following maximal effort-fatiguing contractions.

Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequently associated with motor impairment, little is known about how muscle activation is affected with MS. The aim of this study was to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and motor nerve stimulation to investigate voluntary muscle activation in people with MS across a range of contraction forces. Ten people with MS (39 ± 7 yr) and 10 healthy controls (40 ± 5 yr) performed elbow flexions at target contraction forces of 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) while electromyography (EMG) of the biceps brachii was recorded.

High-Intensity Small Muscle Mass Training in Patients With Heart Failure: Rationale and Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Small muscle mass training localized to the quadriceps femoris muscle group has been proposed as an intervention to reverse heart failure-related skeletal muscle impairments. Although this training paradigm has demonstrated efficacy in heart failure, it remains to be evaluated in a conventional clinical context. Hence, the aim of this proposed study is to determine the effects of integrating high-intensity small muscle mass training (HISMT) isolated to the knee extensor muscles within a standard heart failure rehabilitation program.

Fixed-intensity exercise tests to measure exertional dyspnoea in chronic heart and lung populations: a systematic review.

Introduction: Exertional dyspnoea is the primary diagnostic symptom for chronic cardiopulmonary disease populations. Whilst a number of exercise tests are used, there remains no gold standard clinical measure of exertional dyspnoea. The aim of this review was to comprehensively describe and evaluate all types of fixed-intensity exercise tests used to assess exertional dyspnoea in chronic cardiopulmonary populations and, where possible, report the reliability and responsiveness of the tests.

Modulation of red blood cell nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation in the quiescent and exercising human forearm.

In vitro investigations demonstrate that human erythrocytes synthesize nitric oxide via a functional isoform of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (RBC-NOS). We tested the hypothesis that phosphorylation of RBC-NOS at serine residue 1177 (RBC-NOS) would be amplified in blood draining-active skeletal muscle. Furthermore, given hypoxemia modulates local blood flow and thus shear stress, and nitric oxide availability, we performed duplicate experiments under normoxia and hypoxia.

Single-night continuous positive airway pressure treatment improves blood fluid properties in individuals recently diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder that causes repetitive, temporary collapses of the upper airways during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxaemia and sleep fragmentation. Given those with OSA also exhibit decreased blood fluidity, this clinical population is at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) development. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains a primary therapy in OSA, which improves sleep quality and limits sleep fragmentation.

Exertional dyspnea responses to the Dyspnea Challenge in heart failure: Comparison to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: In heart failure (HF), exertional dyspnea is a common symptom, but validated field-based tests for its measurement are limited. The Dyspnea Challenge is a two-minute uphill treadmill walk designed to measure exertional dyspnea in cardiopulmonary disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability of the Dyspnea Challenge in HF and to compare the exercise responses to a group with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Prognostic Value of Left and right ventricular deformation strain analysis on Acute Cellular rejection in Heart Transplant recipients: A 6-year outcome study.

Purpose: Two-dimensional (2D) strain analysis is a sensitive method for detecting myocardial dysfunction in acute cellular rejection (ACR) from post-transplant complications. This study aims to evaluate the utility of novel left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) strain parameters for prognostic risk stratification associated with ACR burden at 1-year post transplantation.

Methods: 128 Heart transplant patients, assessed between 2012 and 2018, underwent transthoracic echocardiography and endomyocardial biopsy.

Exertional Dyspnoea responses reported in the Dyspnoea Challenge and measures of disease severity in COPD.

Background: The Dyspnoea Challenge has been developed to facilitate the field-based measure of exertional dyspnoea(ED). To further validate the test, we aimed to; investigate the relationship between end-exercise ED, generated by a fixed-intensity Dyspnoea Challenge(DC), and measures of disease severity (Forced expiratory volume in 1 s(FEV), six-minute walk distance(6MWD), breathing reserve(V̇/MVV), modified medical research council dyspnoea scale (mMRC), Body-mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnoea, and Exercise (BODE index) and compare the physiological response of the DC to a six-minute walk test(6MWT).

Methods: Thirty-two individuals (15 female) with COPD (GOLD II-IV) (age: 69.

Effects of Acute Sleep Loss on Physical Performance: A Systematic and Meta-Analytical Review.

Background: Sleep loss may influence subsequent physical performance. Quantifying the impact of sleep loss on physical performance is critical for individuals involved in athletic pursuits.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

People with multiple sclerosis have reduced TMS-evoked motor cortical output compared with healthy individuals during fatiguing submaximal contractions.

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) typically experience greater levels of exercise-induced fatigue compared with healthy individuals. Therefore, this study examined performance fatigability in PwMS when executing a prolonged submaximal contraction. Nine PwMS (38 ± 7 yr, 6 females) and nine healthy controls (35 ± 6 yr, 4 females) performed an elbow flexion at 15% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 26 min.

Optimising the Dyspnoea Challenge: exertional dyspnoea responses to changing treadmill gradients.

Background: The Dyspnoea Challenge is a two-minute treadmill walk designed to measure exertional dyspnoea(ED). To efficiently individualise workload, we aimed to assess; 1) whether the Dyspnoea Challenge is responsive to 1% changes in treadmill gradient and 2) the minimum gradient variation necessary to generate a clinically meaningful change in ED (≥1 modified Borg scale).

Methods: Thirty individuals with COPD(GOLD II-IV) (age: 69.

Examining the repeatability of a novel test to measure exertional dyspnoea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Exertional dyspnoea(ED) is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). We examined the repeatability and face validity of the end-exercise ED(ED) response during the Dyspnoea Challenge and compared those to the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in COPD.

Methods: Twenty-six individuals with COPD(13 Females, age:69 ± 5.

Advantage and validation of vendor-independent software for myocardial strain analysis compared to vendor-specific software.

Introduction: One of the main limitations incorporating strain imaging into widespread clinical practice is inter-vendor incompatibility. This poses a problem when serial strain measurements are required in a multi-vendor echocardiography laboratory.

Methods: This study sought to compare the variability of two-dimensional speckle-tracking global and regional longitudinal strain using vendor-specific software and vendor-independent software from images acquired by two different commercially available ultrasound systems.

Myocardial work and left ventricular contractile reserve during stress echocardiography: An angiographic validation.

Objective: This study sought to determine the contractile reserve (CR) response to exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) quantified by the novel parameter, non-invasive myocardial work (MW), in subjects with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: CR was measured by the relative change in ejection fraction (EF), global longitudinal strain (GLS) and MW indices from rest to peak exercise in 304 patients referred for clinically indicated ESE. Positive ESE patients proceeded to coronary angiography and further risk stratified based on either percutaneous or surgical intervention.

Safety and Efficacy of Scientist Led Exercise Stress Testing for Arrhythmia Provocation and Chronotropic Competence.

For many years, non physician led exercise stress testing performed for the investigation of coronary artery disease has been endorsed by many cardiovascular (CV) societies and associations around the world. The safety guidelines don't currently include the performing of these tests for arrhythmia provocation or chronotropic assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of non physician led EST performed for suspected arrhythmias, chronotropic competence, long QT, and accessory pathway conduction (APC) assessment.

The influence of exercise training volume alterations on the gut microbiome in highly-trained middle-distance runners.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of training volume alterations on diversity and composition of the gut microbiome in a free-living cohort of middle-distance runners. Fourteen highly-trained middle-distance runners ( = 8 men; O = 70.1 ± 4.

Resting global myocardial work can improve interpretation of exercise stress echocardiography.

Sensitivity and specificity of ESE to determine hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited by subjective qualitative interpretation resulting in false-positive results. The objective of this study was to determine whether resting myocardial work estimated from non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loops can help improve the interpretation of exercise stress echocardiography (ESE). Resting global myocardial work was performed on 288 patients referred for clinically indicated ESE with no resting regional wall motion abnormalities and normal ejection fraction (≥ 55%).

The Effect of Consuming Carbohydrate With and Without Protein on the Rate of Muscle Glycogen Re-synthesis During Short-Term Post-exercise Recovery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Rapid restoration of muscle glycogen stores is imperative for athletes undertaking consecutive strenuous exercise sessions with limited recovery time (e.g. ≤ 8 h).

Rate-Pressure Product Responses to Static Contractions Performed at Various Altitudes.

Simmonds, Michael J., Surendran Sabapathy, and Jean-Marc Hero. Rate-pressure product responses to static contractions performed at various altitudes.

Shear Stress and RBC-NOS Serine1177 Phosphorylation in Humans: A Dose Response.

Red blood cells (RBC) express a nitric oxide synthase isoform (RBC-NOS) that appears dependent on shear stress for Serine1177 phosphorylation. Whether this protein is equally activated by varied shears in the physiological range is less described. Here, we explored RBC-NOS Serine1177 phosphorylation in response to shear stress levels reflective of in vivo conditions.

Cardiac perturbations after high-intensity exercise are attenuated in middle-aged compared with young endurance athletes: diminished stress or depleted stimuli?

Strenuous exercise elicits transient functional and biochemical cardiac imbalances. Yet, the extent to which these responses are altered owing to aging is unclear. Accordingly, echocardiograph-derived left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS) and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) were assessed before (pre) and after (post) a 60-min high-intensity cycling race intervention (CRIT) in 11 young (18-30 yr) and 11 middle-aged (40-65 yr) highly trained male cyclists, matched for cardiorespiratory fitness.

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement on exercise and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) results in airflow obstruction and a marked reduction in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Affecting over 1 in four Australians aged over 75 years, COPD remains one of the major causes of disability and death in the world. To date there have been over 80 randomised controlled trials examining the role of exercise training in a range of settings for individuals with COPD.