BACKGROUND\nIncreased physical activity is related to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly because it leads to improvement in the lipoprotein profile. However, the amount of exercise training required for optimal benefit is unknown. In a prospective, randomized study, we investigated the effects of the amount and intensity of exercise on lipoproteins.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA total of 111 sedentary, overweight men and women with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia were randomly assigned to participate for six months in a control group or for approximately eight months in one of three exercise groups: high-amount-high-intensity exercise, the caloric equivalent of jogging 20 mi (32.0 km) per week at 65 to 80 percent of peak oxygen consumption; low-amount-high-intensity exercise, the equivalent of jogging 12 mi (19.2 km) per week at 65 to 80 percent of peak oxygen consumption; or low-amount-moderate-intensity exercise, the equivalent of walking 12 mi per week at 40 to 55 percent of peak oxygen consumption. Subjects were encouraged to maintain their base-line body weight. The 84 subjects who complied with these guidelines served as the basis for the main analysis. Detailed lipoprotein profiling was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with verification by measurement of cholesterol in lipoprotein subfractions.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThere was a beneficial effect of exercise on a variety of lipid and lipoprotein variables, seen most clearly with the high amount of high-intensity exercise. The high amount of exercise resulted in greater improvements than did the lower amounts of exercise (in 10 of 11 lipoprotein variables) and was always superior to the control condition (11 of 11 variables). Both lower-amount exercise groups always had better responses than the control group (22 of 22 comparisons).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe highest amount of weekly exercise, with minimal weight change, had widespread beneficial effects on the lipoprotein profile. The improvements were related to the amount of activity and not to the intensity of exercise or improvement in fitness.

Effects of the amount and intensity of exercise on plasma lipoproteins: Editor's comments

Classification of factors influencing the use of infrared thermography in humans: A review

Senior Fitness Test Manual

91140955 Contrasting effects of oral and transdermal routes of estrogen replacement therapy on 24-hour growth hormone (GH) secretion, insulin-like growth factor I, and GH-binding protein in postmenopausal women

The policy framework

The aim of the study was to investigate fine motor performance and ascertain age-related changes in laterality between the dominant and non-dominant hand. A representative sample of 635 adults (144 males and 491 females) aged 50 years and over completed a test battery MLS (Motor Performance Series) to assess a broad range of hand functions. Functional asymmetry was observed in all four motor tests (postural tremor, aiming, tapping, and inserting long pins). Significant differences between the dominant and non-dominant hand were obtained in both sexes across all age groups, except in the oldest female group (age >70) for the aiming (number of hits and errors) and postural tremor (number of errors) tasks. These differences in age-related changes may be attributed to hemispheric asymmetry, environmental factors, or use-dependent plasticity. Conflicting evidence in the literature warrants additional research to better explain age-related alterations of hand dominance and manual performance in old age.

/pdf/age-related-changes-in-hand-dominance-and-functional-37249sfzhg.pdf

Age-related changes in hand dominance and functional asymmetry in older adults

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to compare characteristics of postural sway and shape of anteroposterior spinal curvatures in faller and non-faller elderly women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 265 women aged 51-82 years (mean: 66.2) who were physically fit and free from conditions affecting sensorimotor function. Balance was assessed by stabilographic method. Changes in the location of the centre of the force of foot pressure on the ground were registered over 20-second periods with the subjects standing still with eyes open and closed. Measures of variability in the COP signal were analysed together the viscoelastic parameters of the mathematical model in the standing position. Assessment of the shape of anteroposterior spinal curvatures was conducted by photogrammetric method. Indices of the degree of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were analysed. RESULTS: The group of women who had experienced at least one fall during the year displayed: a) with regard to body balance, a significantly larger range, variability and velocity of body sway in the sagittal plane and increased suppression of postural oscillations in the frontal plane; b) with regard to body posture, more pronounced forward inclination of the trunk, more marked thoracic kyphosis and a smaller degree of lumbar lordosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fallers demonstrate poorer body balance in the standing position and poorer body posture than non-fallers.

Postural stability and body posture in older women: comparison between fallers and non-fallers.

The effects of extreme cold on the human body are not fully understood, there are also no reports on the effect of cryogenic temperatures on the levels of erythropoietin (EPO) and interleukin 3 (IL-3), two important factors that regulate hematopoiesis. Aim: determination of changes in peripheral blood cell counts and EPO and IL-3 levels induced by a series of 10, 20 and 30 standard whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) treatments. The study involved 45 men, experimental group (EXP, n = 30) subjected to 30 WBC treatments (−130°C, treatment duration: 3 minutes) and a control group (CON, n = 15). Blood samples were collected before the series of treatments and after 10, 20 and 30 treatments. After 10 and 20 treatments we observed lower red blood cell counts and hematocrit and hemoglobin levels compared to baseline (p<0.05) and the control group (p<0.05). Additionally we observed an increase in hemoglobin concentration in plasma (p<0.05), and bilirubin after 10 and 20 treatments, and a decrease in plasma concentration of haptoglobin after 10, 20 and 30 treatments (p<0.05). The number of leukocytes was higher after 10 and 20 WBC treatments compared to baseline and the CON group. EPO concentration in plasma was elevated and the concentration of IL-3 was lower after 10, 20 and 30 WBC treatments. The decrease in indices of the erythrocytic system, plasma hemoglobin and bilirubin, with a simultaneous decrease in haptoglobin concentrations after 10 and 20 WBC treatments, may be due to increased intravascular hemolysis. At the same time there was a small, but statistically significant increase in the concentration of EPO stimulated erythropoiesis which could facilitate a return of erythrocytic system indices to initial levels after 30 WBC treatments. Changes in the white blood cell system showed transient mobilization of this system under the influence of WBC.

Hematological parameters, and hematopoietic growth factors: EPO and IL-3 in response to whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) in military academy students.

Exposure to the extreme low temperatures, ranging between −60 and −140 °C, has many beneficial effects on the human body what is exploited for example in sport medicine, for treatment of locomotory system diseases or even some psychiatric disorders. To insure the safe treatment in a cryochamber, careful planning of the procedure and proper qualification of patients, is required. Cardiovascular system, especially skin vasculature plays the major role of the body response to the extreme cold. The changes in skin blood flow are reflected in changes of the temperature distribution. Therefore, the thermal imaging, which allows to analyze the temperature distribution on the human body, may be successfully exploited to examine the influence of extremely low temperatures on the skin vascular system. The aim of this work was to examine the temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate changes after the whole body cryotherapy in healthy subjects to determine the safety conditions of the treatment. 480 healthy students of the Wroclaw University School of Physical Education were divided into two groups (each 240 persons). All subjects were exposed for 1–3 min to the extremely low temperatures: −60, −100, −120, and −140 °C. In one group, the thermograms were recorded before and 5 and 30 min after the cryotherapy by means of ThermoVision A20 M thermal camera. In the other one, heart rate and blood pressure were measured before and 5 min after the cryotherapy. It was demonstrated that 3-min exposure in the cryochamber and the temperature −120 °C are the optimal and safe cryotherapy parameters.

/pdf/application-of-thermovision-for-estimation-of-the-optimal-27fdzz7f6o.pdf

Application of thermovision for estimation of the optimal and safe parameters of the whole body cryotherapy

Aim: To determine how do performance parameters of the trunk and knee flexors and extensors vary with age. Subjects and method: 215 subjects (82 men and 133 women), were divided into three age groups: 20 (mean 22.69, SD = 1.72, min = 20.0; max = 28.0), 40 (mean 44.81, SD = 2.58, min = 40.0; max = 49.0) and 70-yearold (mean 70.23, SD = 2.54, min = 65.0; max = 74.0). Results: The values of the peak torque was incrementally reduced with age, more so in men and with respect to the extensors of the trunk. Conclusion: The results point out to a selective reduction in trunk muscles function. Given the functional significance of these muscles, prevention programs targeting the elderly should take special attention of this finding.

Anna Skrzek

Papers

Age-related changes in hand dominance and functional asymmetry in older adults

Postural stability and body posture in older women: comparison between fallers and non-fallers.

Hematological parameters, and hematopoietic growth factors: EPO and IL-3 in response to whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) in military academy students.

Application of thermovision for estimation of the optimal and safe parameters of the whole body cryotherapy

Differences in muscle strength depend on age, gender and muscle functions