Search

Addresses the implications of the placement of disabled students in regular education settings toward financial and human resources within physical education environments. Brief description of the placement concept; Possible benefits and side effects of the placement shift; Curriculum accommodations to meet the placement shift; Economic impact; Conclusion.

Abstract: Objective: We evaluated the effects of calcium pyruvate supplementation during training on body composition and metabolic responses to exercise. Methods: Twenty-three untrained females were matched and assigned to ingest in a double blind and randomized manner either 5 g of calcium pyruvate (PYR) or a placebo (PL) twice daily for 30 d while participating in a supervised exercise program. Prior to and following supplementation, subjects had body composition determined via hydrodensiometry; performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test; and performed a 45-min walk test at 70% of pre-training VO2 max in which fasting pre- and post exercise blood samples determined. Results: No significant differences were observed between groups in energy intake or training volume. Univariate repeated measures ANOVA revealed that subjects in the PYR group gained less weight (PL 1.2 ± 0.3, PYR 0.3 ± 0.3 kg, P = 0.04), lost more fat (PL 1.1 ± 0.5; PYR −0.4 ± 0.5 kg, P = 0.03), and tended to lose a greater percentage of body fat (PL 1.0 ± 0.7; PYR −0.65 ± 0.6%, P = 0.07), with no differences observed in fat-free mass (PL 0.1 ± 0.5; PYR 0.7 ± 0.3 kg, P = 0.29). However, these changes were not significant when body composition data were analyzed by MANOVA (P = 0.16). There was some evidence that PYR may negate some of the beneficial effects of exercise on HDL values. No significant differences were observed between groups in maximal exercise responses or metabolic responses to submaximal walking. Conclusions: Results indicate that PYR supplementation during training does not significantly affect body composition or exercise performance and may negatively affect some blood lipid levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Quetiapine, a drug with a broad pharmacologic profile (similar to that of clozapine), may show benefits for agitation in patients with psychoses. Also, quetiapine may be superior to placebo and either equal or superior to haloperidol in treating this symptom. Available data for other second-generation antipsychotic agents show that quetiapine may have better efficacy in improving agitation compared with haloperidol.This reanalysis of a previously reported pivotal clinical trial assessed whether quetiapine or haloperidol has benefits for the treatment of hostility and agitation among patients experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.Patients aged 18 to 65 years of either sex and any ethnicity who had a diagnosis of schizophrenia based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition criteria and who were experiencing an acute exacerbation were recruited into the study. A priori, data from patients assigned to 4 therapeutically effective quetiapine treatment groups (150, 300, 600, and 750 mg) in a previously reported 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial were combined and compared with data from patients given haloperidol 12 mg or placebo on an agitation measure derived from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Patients who received at least 2 weeks of treatment who had a baseline assessment and at least 1 postbaseline assessment after the 2 weeks of treatment were included. An analysis of variance with the baseline hostility score and center as covariates was used to assess treatment effects of quetiapine or haloperidol versus placebo for changes in agitation scores. A path analysis was used to separate the direct from the indirect effects (via improvements in psychoses and/or overall psychopathology) on agitation scores of quetiapine relative to haloperidol.A total of 257 patients (193 men, 64 women) were studied. The combined quetiapine groups comprised 175 patients; the haloperidol group, 42 patients; and the placebo group, 40 patients. Quetiapine treatment reduced agitation scores significantly among patients with acute psychoses compared with placebo. A slight reduction in agitation scores was found when haloperidol treatment was compared with placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant. Compared with haloperidol, quetiapine treatment had a direct and significant effect on agitation that was independent of the improvement in psychotic symptoms.The data in this study suggest that quetiapine treatment has benefits for hostility and agitation among patients experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Furthermore, the path analysis indicated that, relative to haloperidol, quetiapine appeared to have direct effects on agitation that were independent of improvements in psychoses or overall psychopathology, as assessed by the BPRS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractThis paper explores service users’ experiences of a ‘person-centred’ mental health service. We describe the development of a model of social psychiatry that places the emphasis on the experiences of the person within social and political contexts. This establishes the foundations of a ‘person-centred’ approach, the values of which are described briefly. The results of interviews with 20 people are presented, in which their experiences of the service are explored in detail. These interviews reveal the struggle that lies at the heart of the professional–service user dialectic, which relates to issues of institutional power, roles and responsibility, and which places professional staff in conflict with the very notion of ‘person-centredness’. No matter how ‘person-centred’ a mental health service may strive to be, there remain serious obstacles to the full realization of this approach. Despite this critique, there were many things that were valued by those who used the service. More detailed qualitative studies are required to explicate the complex relationships and paradoxes that emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of muscle injuries is prevalent in elite sport athletes and weekend warriors and strategies that safely and effectively hasten recovery are highly desirable. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between 3 recovery methods after eliciting muscle damage in recreationally active men relative to maximal isokinetic contractions, perceived muscle soreness, and psychological mood states. Twenty-five recreationally active men (22.15 ± 3.53 years, 75.75 ± 11.91 kg, 180.52 ± 7.3 cm) were randomly matched by ...O2 peak (53.86 ± 6.65 ml·kg-1·min-1) and assigned to one of 3 recovery methods: anti-gravity treadmill (G-Trainer) (N = 8), conventional treadmill (N = 8) or static stretching (N = 9). Recovery methods were performed 30 minutes, 24, 48, and 72 hours after a 45-minute downhill run. Following eccentrically biased running, no significant differences were noted in isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque, systemic markers of muscle damage, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation such as serum creatine kinase (CK), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA), respectively, and subjective ratings of perceived muscle soreness between recovery methods. The G-Trainer group did however display a higher mood state as indicated by the Profile of Mood State global scores at 24 hours postexercise when compared to the conventional treadmill recovery group (p = 0.035). The improved mood state after the use of the anti-gravity treadmill may provide clinical relevance to other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While commercial dietary weight-loss programs typically advise exercise, few provide actual programing. The goal of this study was to compare the Curves Complete 90-day Challenge (CC, n = 29), which incorporates exercising and diet, to programs advocating exercise (Weight Watchers Points Plus (WW, n = 29), Jenny Craig At Home (JC, n = 27), and Nutrisystem Advance Select (NS, n = 28)) or control ( n = 20) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) and weight loss. We randomized 133 sedentary, overweight women (age, 47 ± 11 years; body mass, 86 ± 14 kg; body mass index, 35 ± 6 kg/m2) into respective treatment groups for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using chi square and general linear models adjusted for age and respective baseline measures. Data are means ± SD or mean change ± 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We observed a significant trend for a reduction in energy intake for all treatment groups and significant weight loss for all groups except control: CC (−4.32 kg; 95% CI, −5.75, −2.88), WW (−4.31 kg; 95% CI, −5.82, −2.96), JC (−5.34 kg; 95% CI, −6.86, −3.90), NS (−5.03 kg; 95% CI, −6.49, −3.56), and control (0.16 kg, 95% CI, −1.56, 1.89). Reduced MetS prevalence was observed at follow-up for CC (35% vs. 14%, adjusted standardized residuals ( adjres.) = 3.1), but not WW (31% vs. 28% adjres. = 0.5), JC (37% vs. 42%, adjres. = −0.7), NS (39% vs. 50% adjres. = −1.5), or control (45% vs. 55% adjres. = −1.7). While all groups improved relative fitness (mL·kg−1·min−1) because of weight loss, only the CC group improved absolute fitness (L/min). In conclusion, commercial programs offering concurrent diet and exercise programming appear to offer greater improvements in MetS prevalence and cardiovascular function after 12 weeks of intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine if the co-ingestion of carbohydrate (CHO) with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) or l-leucine (LEU) preferentially affected serum IGF-1 and the expression of myogenic-related genes in response to resistance exercise (RE). Forty-one college-age males were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: CHO, CHO-BCAA, CHO-LEU, or placebo (PLC). Resistance exercise consisted of 4 sets of 10 repetitions of leg press and leg extension at 80 % 1RM. Supplements were ingested peri-exercise, and venous blood and muscle biopsies were obtained pre-exercise (PRE), and at 30, 120, and 360 min post-exercise. Serum IGF-1 was determined with ELISA, and skeletal muscle mRNA expression of myostatin, ACTRIIB, p21kip, p27kip, CDK2, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, Myo-D, myogenin, MRF-4, and myf5 was determined using real-time PCR. Results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA for serum IGF-1 and two-way MANOVA for mRNA expression. Serum IGF-1 in CHO + BCAA was greater than PLC ( p < 0.05) but was not affected by RE ( p > 0.05). A significant group × time interaction was located for cylin D1 ( p < 0.05), but not for any other genes. However, significant time effects were noted for cyclin B1 and p21cip ( p < 0.05). At 30, 120 and 360 min post-exercise, p21cip was significantly less than PRE. Cyclin D1 was greater than PRE and 30 min post-exercise at 120 and 360 min post-exercise, whereas cyclin B1 was significantly greater than PRE at 120 min post-exercise ( p < 0.05). Unlike the co-ingestion of CHO with either BCAA or l-leucine in conjunction with RE, the expression of various myogenically related genes were up-regulated with RE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal social stress during late pregnancy programs hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyper-responsiveness to stressors, such that adult prenatally stressed (PNS) offspring display exaggerated HPA axis responses to a physical stressor (systemic interleukin-1β; IL-1β) in adulthood, compared with controls. IL-1β acts via a noradrenergic relay from the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) to corticotropin releasing hormone neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Neurosteroids can reduce HPA axis responses, so allopregnanolone and 3β- androstanediol (3β-diol; 5α-reduced metabolites of progesterone and testosterone, respectively) were given subacutely (over 24 h) to PNS rats to seek reversal of the "programmed" hyper-responsive HPA phenotype. Allopregnanolone attenuated ACTH responses to IL-1β (500 ng/kg, i.v.) in PNS females, but not in PNS males. However, 3β-diol normalized HPA axis responses to IL-1β in PNS males. Impaired testosterone and progesterone metabolism or increased secretion in PNS rats was indicated by greater plasma testosterone and progesterone concentrations in male and female PNS rats, respectively. Deficits in central neurosteroid production were indicated by reduced 5α-reductase mRNA levels in both male and female PNS offspring in the NTS, and in the PVN in males. In PNS females, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer was used to upregulate expression of 5α- reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase mRNAs in the NTS, and this normalized hyperactive HPA axis responses to IL-1β. Thus, downregulation of neurosteroid production in the brain may underlie HPA axis hyper- responsiveness in prenatally programmed off spring, and administration of 5α-reduced steroids acutely to PNS rats over rides programming of hyperactive HPA axis responses to immune challenge in a sex-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which was conducted to investigate the effects an anti-gravity treadmill, cycle ergometer and static stretching had on physiological and psychological recovery from endurance exercise. Researchers evaluated 12 aerobically trained men who performed a stationary 29 kilometer cycling time trial and then used one of the three exercise strategies. They found that there were no differences observed in athletes from any of the three strategies in terms of power output, mood or biochemical markers.

Purpose: The present study evaluated the effects of creatine monohydrate (CrM) consumption post-exercise on body composition and muscle strength in middle to older males following a 12-week resistance training program. Methods: In a double-blind, randomized trial, 20 males aged between 55 and 70 years were randomly assigned to consume either CrM-carbohydrate (CHO) [20 g days CrM + 5 g days CHO × 7 days, then 0.1 g kg CrM + 5 g CHO on training days (average dosage of ~8.8 g)] or placebo CHO (20 g days CHO × 7 days, then 5 g CHO on training days) while participating in a high intensity resistance training program [3 sets × 10 repetitions at 75 % of 1 repetition maximum (1RM)], 3 days weeks for 12 weeks. Following the initial 7-day 'loading' phase, participants were instructed to ingest their supplement within 60 min post-exercise. Body composition and muscle strength measurements, blood collection and vastus lateralis muscle biopsy were completed at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of the supplement and resistance training program. Results: A significant time effect was observed for 1RM bench press ( p = 0.016), leg press ( p = 0.012), body mass ( p = 0.03), fat-free mass ( p = 0.005) and total myofibrillar protein ( p = 0.005). A trend for larger muscle fiber cross-sectional area in the type II fibers compared to type I fibers was observed following the 12-week resistance training ( p = 0.08). No supplement interaction effects were observed. Conclusion: Post-exercise ingestion of creatine monohydrate does not provide greater enhancement of body composition and muscle strength compared to resistance training alone in middle to older males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the factors that contribute to and account for strength and work capacity in a large cohort of recreationally trained adult healthy men with high and low strength levels. Researchers evaluated the bench press (BP) and leg strength (LP) values of 295 men.They found that high strength men produced greater capacities for BP and LP and concluded that factors other than body composition account for strength expression.

The article presents information on the physical benefits of intraset rest intervals in hypertrophic training. Topics discussed include decrease in the velocity of contraction while performing repetitions, methods for maintaining velocity, and power output involving interrepetition rest, intraset rest, and cluster sets.

Abstract: Background: A number of diet and exercise programs purport to help promote and maintain weight loss. However, few studies have compared the efficacy of different methods. Objective: To determine whether adherence to a meal-replacement–based diet program (MRP) with encouragement to increase physical activity is as effective as following a more structured meal-plan–based diet and supervised exercise program (SDE) in sedentary obese women. Design: Randomized comparative effectiveness trial. Participants/setting: From July 2007 to October 2008, 90 obese and apparently healthy women completed a 10-week university-based weight loss trial while 77 women from this cohort also completed a 24-week weight maintenance phase. Intervention: Participants were matched and randomized to participate in an MRP or SDE program. Main outcome measures: Weight loss, health, and fitness-related data were assessed at 0 and 10 weeks on all subjects as well as at 14, 22, and 34 weeks on participants who completed the weight maintenance phase. Statistical analyses performed: Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measures. Results: During the 10-week weight loss phase, moderate and vigorous physical activity levels were significantly higher in the SDE group with no differences observed between groups in daily energy intake. The SDE group lost more weight (−3.1±3.7 vs −1.6±2.5 kg; P=0.03); fat mass (−2.3±3.5 vs −0.9±1.6 kg; P=0.02); centimeters from the hips (−4.6±7 vs −0.2±6 cm; P=0.002) and waist (−2.9±6 vs −0.6±5 cm; P=0.05); and, experienced a greater increase in peak aerobic capacity than participants in the MRP group. During the 24-week maintenance phase, participants in the SDE group maintained greater moderate and vigorous physical activity levels, weight loss, fat loss, and saw greater improvement in maximal aerobic capacity and strength. Conclusions: In sedentary and obese women, an SDE-based program appears to be more efficacious in promoting and maintaining weight loss and improvements in markers of health and fitness compared to an MRP type program with encouragement to increase physical activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on research conducted to examine the effects creatine monohydrate supplementation with and without D-pinitol had on resistance training adaptations. Researchers evaluated 24 male resistance trained athletes. They found that adding D-pinitol to creatine monohydrate does not appear to facilitate further physiological adaptations while resistance training and that creatine monohydrate supplementation helps to improve strength and body composition while resistance training

Purpose: To compare range of motion (ROM) outcomes of repeated extension versus static stretching of the lumbar spine in healthy adults. Methods: 101 subjects volunteered and were randomly assigned to 1of 3 groups: repeated extension (Group A, n = 33), static stretching (Group B, n = 36), or control (Group C, n = 32). Double inclinometers were used to measure lumbar extension ROM (prone). Measurements were taken at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. MANOVA assessed equivalence of the 3 groups for age and initial ROM; chi-square testing assessed gender differences. ROM data were assessed using General Linear Mixed Model Analysis. Alpha was set at 0.05. Results: Both methods of stretching increased lumbar extension ROM at 4 and 8 weeks. The repeated stretching group increased ROM more than the static group. Group A differences were significant comparing 8 to 4 weeks and to baseline. Group B differences were also significant comparing 8 to 4 weeks and to baseline. At 8 weeks, only group A was significantly different than the control group. Conclusion: Repeated and static stretching improved lumbar extension ROM when compared to no stretching. However, repeated extension when compared to static stretching showed greater gains in lumbar extension ROM after 8 weeks of stretching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research sought to examine how exercise-related affective states compared with average daily affect. To answer this question, this investigation combined naturalistic methods (i.e., experience sampling) with a more typical exercise protocol. Participants were 36 university students enrolled in step aerobics classes. Participants were asked to carry Palm data recorders set to randomly cue them to complete a questionnaire to tap the affective dimensions of arousal (AD ACL; Thayer, 1989) five times per day over a 7-day period. In addition, participants were asked to complete the AD ACL immediately before, at the midpoint of exercise, and after a 15-min cool-down period after engaging in a bout of aerobic exercise in a class setting. Intensity of exercise was self-chosen, and mean intensity was "strong" (M = 5.28, SD = 1.73) based on Borg's 10-item RPE scale. Daily affect, based on the mean of experience sampling points, and preexercise scores were significantly different for the tension and tiredness subscales. Tension and tiredness were greater during daily recordings than during the preexercise baseline. Results suggest that researchers may be underestimating the tension- and tiredness-reducing effects of exercise if this finding is replicable. The limitations of this research, such as possible contamination by diurnal variations in affective states, are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: We evaluated whether colostrum (Col) or an isocaloric and isonitrogenous blend of whey and casein in addition to creatine (Cr) affects body composition, muscular strength and endurance, and anaerobic performance during resistance training. Methods: Forty-nine resistance-trained subjects participated in a standardized 12-wk total body resistance training program. In a double-blind and randomized manner, subjects supplemented their diet with a protein control (Pro), Pro/Col, Pro/Cr, or Col/Cr. Supplements were isocaloric and isonitrogenous and provided 60 g/d of casein/whey (Pro) or Col as the protein source. At 0, 8, and 12 wk of supplementation, subjects were weighed, had body composition determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), performed one-repetition maximum (1RM) and 80% of 1RM tests on the bench press and leg press, and 30-s anaerobic sprint capacity tests. Data (mean ± SD) were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance and reported as raw data in all tables and as changes from baseline for all figures for the Pro, Pro/Col, Pro/Cr, and Col/Cr groups, respectively. Results: Resistance training increased 1RM strength, muscular endurance, and anaerobic sprint capacity equally in all groups. Significant main and interaction effects (P < 0.05) were found for body mass, DXA total scanned mass, and fat-free mass (FFM; lean plus bone), whereas no changes (P > 0.05) were noted for fat mass, percent fat, or bone content. Post hoc analysis showed that, compared with Pro, subjects ingesting Pro/Col, Pro/Cr, and Col/Cr showed greater gains in body mass and DXA total scanned mass. Subjects ingesting Pro/Cr and Col/Cr had greater increases in FFM during training in comparison with Pro/Col. Conclusion: In conjunction with 12 wk of resistance training, ingestion of Col or a blend of whey and casein protein with a vitamin/mineral supplement containing Cr resulted in greater improvements in FFM in comparison with Pro and Pro/Col. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: For more than 20 years, tamoxifen has been the mainstay of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer. However, not only does tamoxifen have potential side-effects such as an increased risk of endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events, but patients can also develop resistance to the drug. We aimed to investigate whether switching treatment of postmenopausal women with such breast cancer to anastrozole after 2-3 years of tamoxifen would be more effective than continuing on tamoxifen for a total of 5 years.Methods: We did a meta-analysis of three clinical trials--the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG 8), Arimidex-Nolvadex (ARNO 95), and the Italian Tamoxifen Anastrozole (ITA) studies--in which postmenopausal women with histologically confirmed, hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer were randomised to 1 mg/day anastrozole (n=2009) after 2-3 years of tamoxifen treatment or to continued 20 or 30 mg/day tamoxifen (n=1997). We analysed the data with a stratified Cox proportional hazards model with the covariates of age, tumour size, nodal status, grade, surgery, and chemotherapy.Findings: Patients who switched to anastrozole had fewer disease recurrences (92 vs 159) and deaths (66 vs 90) than did those who remained on tamoxifen, resulting in significant improvements in disease-free survival (hazard ratio 0.59 [95% CI 0.48-0.74]; p<0.0001), event-free survival (0.55 [0.42-0.71]; p<0.0001), distant recurrence-free survival (0.61 [0.45-0.83]; p=0.002), and overall survival (0.71 [0.52-0.98]; p=0.04).Interpretation: Our results show that the clinical benefits in terms of event-free survival seen in individual trials for those patients who switched to anastrozole translate into a benefit in overall survival. These findings confirm that clinicians should consider switching postmenopausal women who have taken adjuvant tamoxifen for 2-3 years to anastrozole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: For more than 20 years, tamoxifen has been the mainstay of adjuvant endocrine therapy for women with hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer. However, not only does tamoxifen have potential side-effects such as an increased risk of endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events, but patients can also develop resistance to the drug. We aimed to investigate whether switching treatment of postmenopausal women with such breast cancer to anastrozole after 2–3 years of tamoxifen would be more effective than continuing on tamoxifen for a total of 5 years. Methods: We did a meta-analysis of three clinical trials—the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG 8), Arimidex-Nolvadex (ARNO 95), and the Italian Tamoxifen Anastrozole (ITA) studies—in which postmenopausal women with histologically confirmed, hormone-sensitive early-stage breast cancer were randomised to 1 mg/day anastrozole (n=2009) after 2–3 years of tamoxifen treatment or to continued 20 or 30 mg/day tamoxifen (n=1997). We analysed the data with a stratified Cox proportional hazards model with the covariates of age, tumour size, nodal status, grade, surgery, and chemotherapy. Findings: Patients who switched to anastrozole had fewer disease recurrences (92 vs 159) and deaths (66 vs 90) than did those who remained on tamoxifen, resulting in significant improvements in disease-free survival (hazard ratiro 0·59 [95% CI 0·48–0·74]; p<0·0001), event-free survival (0·55 [0·42–0·71]; p<0·0001), distant recurrence-free survival (0·61 [0·45–0·83]; p=0·002), and overall survival (0·71 [0·52–0·98]; p=0·04). Interpretation: Our results show that the clinical benefits in terms of event-free survival seen in individual trials for those patients who switched to anastrozole translate into a benefit in overall survival. These findings confirm that clinicians should consider switching postmenopausal women who have taken adjuvant tamoxifen for 2–3 years to anastrozole. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: We evaluated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of l-arginine α-ketoglutarate (AAKG) in trained adult men. Methods: Subjects participated in two studies that employed a randomized, double-blind, controlled design. In study 1, 10 healthy men (30–50 y old) fasted for 8 h and then ingested 4 g of time-released or non–timed-released AAKG. Blood samples were taken for 8 h after AAKG ingestion to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of l-arginine. After 1 wk the alternative supplement was ingested. In study 2, which was placebo controlled, 35 resistance-trained adult men (30–50 y old) were randomly assigned to ingest 4 g of AAKG (three times a day, i.e., 12 g daily, n = 20) or placebo (n = 15). Participants performed 4 d of periodized resistance training per week for 8 wk. At 0, 4, and 8 wk of supplementation the following tests were performed: clinical blood markers, one repetition maximum bench press, isokinetic quadriceps muscle endurance, anaerobic power, aerobic capacity, total body water, body composition, and psychometric parameters tests. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In study 1, significant differences were observed in plasma arginine levels in subjects taking non–timed-release and timed-release AAKG. In study 2, significant differences were observed in the AAKG group (P < 0.05) for 1RM bench press, Wingate peak power, blood glucose, and plasma arginine. No significant differences were observed between groups in body composition, total body water, isokinetic quadriceps muscle endurance, or aerobic capacity. Conclusion: AAKG supplementation appeared to be safe and well tolerated, and positively influenced 1RM bench press and Wingate peak power performance. AAKG did not influence body composition or aerobic capacity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the movement speed characteristics of 2 intrinsically different limbs. Twenty subjects volunteered to participate (10 men and 10 women). Each subject performed 5 repetitions of concentric knee and elbow extension and flexion movements at 60 through 500 d·s-1 on an isokinetic dynamometer. Kinematic data were collected at 1,000 Hz and separated into rate of velocity development (RVD) and peak torque. Results demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) main effect for sex for RVD and peak torque. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were also demonstrated between knee and elbow RVD and between knee and elbow peak torque at every speed tested. Neither knee and elbow RVD nor peak torque demonstrated any significant Pearson correlations at any speed tested (r = 20.17-0.41). These results collectively point to the specificity of limb speed and torque as a result of biophysical differences such as length and mass. Therefore, strength and speed may be modulated by neuromotor patterns that differ based on individual limbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation response in exercise of healthy humans is significantly different than that which is commonly reported for chronic inflammatory conditions. Regardless of the scenario, cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and Interleukin (IL)-1b have demonstrated pro-inflammatory functions, while IL-6 has demonstrated versatile pro- and anti-inflammatory roles when exercise is a factor. Prolonged skeletal muscle contractions of sufficient intensity have been shown to induce significant muscle protein damage and a complex inflammatory cascade involving IL-6 and, separately, Heat Shock Proteins (HSP), and components of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway. This cascade not completely understood in any scenario, particularly in humans. Thus the role of inflammation in regards to exercise, particularly resistance training, has not been elucidated. To determine the effects of concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) contractions on creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and IL-6 signaling in regards to IL-1b, TNF-α, HSP-72, Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-?B), p38 MAPK, Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-1 and STAT-3 and the potential cytoprotection HSP-27. Six active males (19.33 ± 1.03 yrs; 181.94 ± 6.40 cm; 72.83 ± 12.78 kg) participated in two separate bouts of 10 × 10 unilateral isokinetic knee extensions at 30°/sec. Each bout consisted of either CON or ECC contractions on either the right or left leg; each contraction type and leg was utilized once for each subject. Isokinetic strength tests were performed five days pre- and 24 and 48 hours post-exercise. Serum CK, LDH, IL-6, IL-1b, and TNF-α were assessed immediately preexercise (PRE), immediately post-exercise (PX), and at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hr PX. IL-6, HSP-27, and HSP-72, NF-?B, p38 MAPK, STAT-1 and STAT-3 protein and mRNA expression of IL-6, HSP-27, and HSP-72 were assessed from vastus lateralis biopsies (Bergstrom ) collected at PRE, PX, and 2 and 6 hr PX. Repeated measures MANOVAs and subsequent univariate analyses were performed on all data. Peak torque decreased (p < 0.05) at 24 and 48 hr PX. CK, but not LDH, increased (p < 0.05) similarly following CON and ECC. Serum cytokines were different (p < 0.05) between CON and ECC, but did not change over time. In muscle, NF-?B (p < 0.05) increased and STAT-1 decreased (p < 0.05). ECC contractions demonstrated significantly greater expression for IL-6, p38 MAPK, and STAT-3 than did CON, with a trend (p = 0.093) for STAT-1. There was significant CON/ECC interaction among NF-?B and STAT-1 and a trend (p = 0.074) for HSP-72. Skeletal muscle mRNA expression demonstrated no significant results. Both CON and ECC bouts demonstrated muscle damage and fatigue, but were not sufficient to induce a systemic inflammatory response. Intramuscular inflammatory response was most robust for NF-?B and STAT-1. The hypothesis of ECC stimulating the IL-6 pathway more so than CON is supported the relationship in expression of IL-6, p38 MAPK, STAT-1 and STAT-3. This is novel evidence of a relationship among these factors. Bouts of resistance exercise that include ECC contractions can favorably affect the exercise inflammation response; perhaps more so than lower intensity CON-only contractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acute response of IGF-1 to resistance exercise remains unclear. Most studies have shown no change in IGF-1 during or immediately following an acute bout of resistance exercise, whereas a few studies have shown acute elevations during and following resistance exercise. To determine the serum free IGF-1 response to an acute bout of intense, lower body resistance exercise. Ten healthy and physically active males (21±2.4yrs, 83±11.2kg, 176.8±7.7cm) engaged in an acute bout of lower body RE which consisted of four sets of both leg press and leg extension at 80% 1RM to failure. Rest periods between sets and exercises were approximately 150 seconds. Immediately prior to the resistance exercise bout, but following an 8-12 hour fast, participants underwent an initial/baseline blood draw. Blood was also obtained immediately, 30 minutes, two and six hours after the resistance exercise bout. Serum free- IGF-1 was analyzed via ELISA [Active® Bioactive ELISA by Diagnostic Systems Laboratories Inc. (DSL-10-9400; Webster, TX)]. A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was utilized to analyze the data. Following the ANOVA, a series of paired-samples t-tests (one for each time point compared to baseline values) was conducted. Data are presented as means ± standard deviation utilizing ng/ml as the units of measurement. Baseline free IGF-1 = 1.2 ± 0.43 ng/ml. Following exercise, free IGF-1 concentrations were 1.6 ± 0.54; 1.5 ± 0.57; 1.4 ± 0.46; and 1.1 ± 0.53 ng/ml immediately post, 30 minutes, 2 hrs, and 6 hours post exercise, respectively. The ANOVA analysis indicated a significant difference across time for IGF-1 (p < .001). Subsequent paired-samples t-tests revealed a significant difference between the baseline and immediate post-resistance exercise IGF-1 levels (p = .001). Statistical trends were observed between baseline and 30 minutes post-exercise (p = .053) and baseline and 2 hours post-exercise (p = .052). An acute bout of lower-body resistance exercise in which each set is performed to failure significantly increases serum IGF-1 levels. The findings from the present study support those from other studies but are in contrast to others. Possible differences accounting for the discrepancies of the acute IGF-1 response to resistance exercise include training to failure on each set, rest periods between sets, exercise selection, or other variables. More investigations involving the response of IGF-1 to intense resistance exercise are needed to further elucidate the responses of this anabolic hormone. Resistance training improves muscular strength, muscular endurance, and increases lean body mass. Serum IGF-1, which increases in response to intense resistance exercise, may be (at least in part) responsible for some of these functional and physical adaptations in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]