Myoglobin (Mb) plays an important role at rest and during exercise as a reservoir of oxygen and has been suggested to regulate NO bioavailability under hypoxic/acidic conditions. However, its ultimate role during exercise is still a subject of debate. We aimed to study the effect of Mb deficiency on maximal oxygen uptake ( ) and exercise performance in myoglobin knockout mice (Mb ) when compared to control mice (Mb ).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Skeletal muscles are postulated to be a potent regulator of systemic nitric oxide homeostasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of physical training on the heart and skeletal muscle nitric oxide bioavailability (judged on the basis of intramuscular nitrite and nitrate) in rats.
Methods And Results: Rats were trained on a treadmill for 8 weeks, performing mainly endurance running sessions with some sprinting runs.
Seventeen young healthy physically active males (age 23 ±3 years; body mass (BM) 72.5 ±7.9 kg; height 178 ±4 cm, (mean ±SD)), not specifically trained in cycling, participated in this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConcurrent microduplication and microdeletion of the chromosome 22q11.2 region are a rarely reported phenomenon. We describe a case of germline 22q11.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA child's body is highly sensitive to air quality, especially regarding the concentration of particulate matter (PM). Nevertheless, due to the high cost of precision instruments, measurements of PM concentrations are rarely carried out in school areas where children spend most of their daily time. This paper presents the results of PM measurements made by a validated, low-cost university air pollution measurement system operating in a rural area near schools.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProfessional athletes are often exposed to high training loads that may lead to overfatigue, overreaching and overtraining that might have a detrimental effects on vascular health. We determined the effects of high training stress on endothelial function assessed by the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and markers of glycocalyx shedding. Vascular examination as well as broad biochemical, hormonal and cardiometabolic evaluation of sprint and middle-distance female runners were performed after 2 months of preparatory training period and compared to age-matched control group of women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The effect of androgens on the cardiovascular system in humans is ambiguous. Moreover, still little is known about the effects of the most potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone, on arterial stiffness and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether age-dependent alterations in serum concentration of dihydrotestosterone and its circulating metabolite are accompanied by changes in endothelial function and arterial stiffness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiogenesis is the physiological process of capillary growth. It is strictly regulated by the balanced activity of agents that promote the formation of capillaries (pro-angiogenic factors) on the one hand and inhibit their growth on the other hand (anti-angiogenic factors). Capillary rarefaction and insufficient angiogenesis are some of the main causes that limit blood flow during aging, whereas physical training is a potent non-pharmacological method to intensify capillary growth in the musculoskeletal system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe activity and quantity of mitochondrial proteins and the mitochondrial volume density (Mito) are higher in trained muscles; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our goal was to determine if 20 weeks' endurance training simultaneously increases running performance, the amount and activity of mitochondrial proteins, and Mito in the gastrocnemius muscle in humans. Eight healthy, untrained young men completed a 20-week moderate-intensity running training program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSkeletal muscles are an important reservoir of nitric oxide (NO) stored in the form of nitrite [NO] and nitrate [NO] (NO). Nitrite, which can be reduced to NO under hypoxic and acidotic conditions, is considered a physiologically relevant, direct source of bioactive NO. The aim of the present study was to determine the basal levels of NO in striated muscles (including rat heart and locomotory muscles) with varied contents of tissue nitrite reductases, such as myoglobin and mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins (ETC-proteins).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSixteen adult, 4-month-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the training group ( = 8) or the control group ( = 8). We elucidated the effects of 8 weeks of endurance training on coenzyme Q (Q) content and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the tissue level and in isolated mitochondria of the rat heart, liver and brain. We demonstrated that endurance training enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis in all tested organs, while a significant increase in the Q redox state was observed in the heart and brain, indicating an elevated level of QH as an antioxidant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity and ageing place a tremendous strain on the global healthcare system. Age-related sarcopenia is characterized by decreased muscular strength, decreased muscle quantity, quality, and decreased functional performance. Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a condition that combines sarcopenia and obesity and has a substantial influence on the older adults' health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study we characterize the impact of aging on the spontaneous running performance of the Tgα*44 mice (transgenic murine model of chronic heart failure) as compared to the wild-type FVB mice. In 166 mice we have recorded the following parameters of their physical activities in the running wheels: the total distance covered during the experiment (D), the maximal distance covered in single-effort (D), mean time spent on running per 24 h (T), mean running speed (ν), the maximum instantaneous speed of run (ν) and the number of efforts (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe negative relationship between testosterone and inflammatory cytokines has been reported for decades, although the exact mechanisms of their interactions are still not clear. At the same time, little is known about the relation between androgens and acute phase proteins. Therefore, in this investigation, we aimed to study the relationship between androgen status and inflammatory acute phase reactants in a group of men using multi-linear regression analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper presents a calibration system for low-cost suspended particulate matter (PM) sensors, consisting of reference instruments, enclosed space in a metal pipe (volume 0.145 m), a duct fan, a controller and automated control software. The described system is capable of generating stable and repeatable concentrations of suspended PM in the air duct.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the last decades, marathon running has become a popular form of physical activity among people around the world. It should be noticed that the main marathon races are performed in large cities, where air quality varies considerably. It is well established that breathing polluted air results in a number of harmful effects to the human body.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACE-I) and physical activity favorably modulate the ACE/ACE-2 balance. However, it is not clear whether physical activity and ACE-I could synergistically modulate ACE/ACE-2 balance in the course of heart failure (HF). Here, we studied the effects of combined spontaneous physical activity and ACE-I-based treatment on angiotensin (Ang) pattern and cardiac function in a mouse model of HF (Tgαq*44).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) i.e., leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val) are important amino acids, which metabolism play a role in maintaining system energy homeostasis at rest and during exercise.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe elucidated the impact of eight weeks of endurance training on the oxidative metabolism of rat lungs. Adult 3.5-month-old male rats were randomly allocated to a treadmill training group or a sedentary group as control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe issue of air pollution by particulate matter (PM) concerns many places in the world. At the same time, many residents undertake physical activity (recreation, rehabilitation, sport) in the open air. Generally, the amount of dust concentration depends on both the place (center or periphery of the city) and the time of day.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) plays an important role in bone remodeling and in heart failure pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of spontaneous physical activity on the expression of BMP4 in the heart and tibia of the transgenic (Tgαq*44) mice, representing a model of chronic heart failure. Tgαq*44 and wild-type FVB mice (WT) were randomly assigned either to sedentary or to trained groups undergoing 8 weeks of spontaneous wheel running.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to establish the effect of breast cancer surgery in middle aged women on the serum and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations [BDNF] and [BDNF], respectively, in relation to the serum C-reactive protein [CRP] concentration measured before and at 24 hours after surgery. Eighteen patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer (mean ± SE): age 49.1 ± 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Physical activity is generally considered to exert positive effects on the cardiovascular system in humans. However, surprisingly little is known about the delayed effect of professional physical training performed at a young age on endothelial function and arterial stiffness in aging athletes. The present study aimed to assess the impact of long-lasting professional physical training (endurance and sprint) performed at a young age on the endothelial function and arterial stiffness reported in older age in relation to glycocalyx injury, prostacyclin and nitric oxide production, inflammation, basal blood lipid profile, and glucose homeostasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhysical activity is emerging as an alternative nonpharmaceutical strategy to prevent and treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases due to its cardiac and skeletal muscle beneficial effects. Oxidative stress occurs in skeletal muscle of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with possible impact on muscle function decline. We determined the effect of voluntary-free wheel running (VFWR) in preventing protein damage in Tgαq*44 transgenic mice (Tg) characterized by a delayed CHF progression.
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