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Biomedical subjects

J Heller

Publications and source records attributed to J Heller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effect of PD 123319, an AT-2 antagonist, on renal function of the anesthetized dog: comparison with EXP 3174, an AT-1 blocker.

In anaesthetized dogs fed a diet delivering 3.5 mmol NaCl/kg/day, PD 123319 - an angiotensin (AT) II (Ang II) antagonist preferentially bound to AT-2 receptors - was infused into the renal artery for 20 min at 10 microg/kg/min, the lowest effective dose (group 1 dogs). In group 2 dogs, EXP 3174 (30 microg/kg/min) - an AT-1 blocker - was coinfused while, in group 3, EXP 3174 was infused alone. In all groups, during and immediately after infusion, increased sodium, water, and urea excretions from the infused but not from the contralateral kidney were seen. This increase was the same in all groups throughout the infusion; however, in groups infused with EXP 3174, it persisted even after the infusion had been discontinued. Thus, the total amounts of sodium and water excreted during the whole experiment were higher when EXP 3174 was present in the infusion solution than after PD 123319 alone. Moreover, an increase in glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance) and renal blood flow (electromagnetic flowmeter) was seen during the infusion period in groups receiving EXP 3174, but not PD 123319. Although it is possible to assume that blockade of AT-1 receptors only is responsible for the changes in excretion rates as PD 123319 is known to interact with these receptors at high concentrations, it is difficult to explain why it does not react with the same receptors responsible for changes in glomerular filtration rate and renal blood flow. An alternative explanation assumes that the excretory changes are due to blockade of both AT-1 and AT-2 receptors; the identity in effect and the absence of additivity of both antagonists could be explained by the existence of a final common pathway leading to the inhibition of the Ang II effect. This pathway could be reached either from AT-1 or AT-2 receptors.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

Comparative effects of the angiotensin II receptor blocker EXP 3174 and of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril on renal glomerular hemodynamics in the dog.

The effects on glomerular hemodynamics of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition with captopril and of angiotensin II receptor blockade with EXP 3174, an active metabolite of losartan, either alone or in combination, were compared in anesthetized dogs. Administration of EXP 3174 intrarenally led to an increase in renal blood flow by +14% and in glomerular filtration rate by +7%, thus decreasing the filtration fraction by -5%. Similar changes were observed at the single-nephron level. Water, sodium, potassium, and urea excretion rates rose considerably. A decrease in effective filtration pressure by -27% and an increase in ultrafiltration coefficient, Kf, by +57% were seen. A drop in total arteriolar resistance by -19% was mainly due to a decrease in efferent (-25%) rather than afferent (-14%) resistance. When captopril, an ACE inhibitor, was administered intravenously after and during EXP 3174, an additional increase in renal blood flow, by +8%, with no change in glomerular filtration rate was seen which led to an additional decrease in filtration fraction by -5%; additional increases were observed in water and urea but not in sodium and potassium excretion rates. An additional decrease in total arteriolar resistance, by -14%, was now evenly distributed between the efferent (-6%) and afferent (-8%) arterioles. Almost all of these additional changes disappeared when a bradykinin B2-antagonist, Hoe 140, was infused together with captopril. In conclusion, administration of an ACE inhibitor led to a significantly enhanced vasodilatory response in the kidney as compared with the administration of an angiotensin II-receptor blocker. This enhancement was almost eliminated by the coadministration of Hoe 140, thus rendering the participation of kinins fairly plausible.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

A mucosal irritancy test device for intraoral use in dogs.

The objective of this investigation was to conduct, in dogs, a 6-hour acute mucosal irritation study of a new bioerodible treatment. The main problem was to retain the test drug in situ without extraneous irritation from the retention device. A buccal cup was machined from acrylic with a chamber capacity of 0.025 ml and a flange that could be ligated to a tooth. Ten female retired breeder beagles, 7 to 8 years old, with naturally occurring moderate periodontitis were examined and the upper canine teeth scaled to remove plaque and calculus. One week later the buccal cups were placed at the gingival margin of the upper canine teeth and fixed in place with wire ligature passing through holes in the flange and around the tooth, engaging shallow nicks made in the enamel near the gingival margin so the wire would not slide up and down. The buccal cup was further stabilized with glass ionomer cement placed on the crown and over the outer surface of the cup. Buccal cups were loaded with test, placebo, or no ointment by technicians in a scheme to which examiners were blind. Hourly examinations were made, and after 6 hours the cups were removed and gingival mucosa scored for irritation by a previously described method. All dogs tolerated the test and retained the cups for 6 hours. There was no mucosal irritation from the empty cups. We conclude that this new device can be used successfully for testing new agents for short-term mucosal irritancy.

Acrylic Resins↗

[Determination of the count rate for quality control of combined lung ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy: case report].

We present the case of a 43-year-old male patient who suffered from a massive pulmonary embolism, induced by a peritoneovenous shunt of the Denver type. Calculation of the count rates of the ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy respectively showed a too low ventilation/perfusion ratio. After reinjection of additional 99mTc-MAA the second perfusion study showed further mismatch areals. Count rate ratio determination is essential as a clinical quality control.

Adult↗

[Occurrence and significance of autoantibodies in the course of interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C].

BASIC PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVE: Autoimmunity may occur in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) as a primary event or may be induced by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). The existence of autoantibodies (AAB) is considered to be a contraindication to interferon treatment. It was the aim of this study to determine the extent to which signs of autoimmune disease occur in the treatment of CHC with interferon, even in patients with existing antibodies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 1994 a pre-defined AAB spectrum and thyroid function parameters were determined every other month in 41 patients with CHC (16 women, 25 men; median age 42 years) before and after they had been treated with IFN-alpha, even when AABs were already present. RESULTS: AABs were demonstrated in 17 patients (41%) before and in 26 (63%) during interferon treatment (P = 0.001). In 13 patients new AABs were demonstrated, while previously present AABs were no longer found in four patients. AABs against thyroglobulin (TGA) increased significantly, during interferon treatment (P = 0.001). All except thyroid AABs were demonstrable only at times and in low titres. None of the patients had an auto-immune disease before treatment. But autoimmune thyroiditis developed in four of 19 patients with thyroid AABs. These patients also had constant TGAs in high titres, and antibodies against microsomes were additionally demonstrated in two. No other autoimmune disease occurred during or after interferon treatment. CONCLUSION: Interferon frequently induces the formation of AABs. The demonstration of AABs before or during interferon treatment is no contraindication to it, with the exception of preexisting thyroid antibodies, which indicate a high risk of autoimmune thyroiditis.

Adult↗

[Comparison of the effects of a low protein diet and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors on renal insufficiency in hypertensive rats].

BACKGROUND: It is known that hypertension to aggravate the course of chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). It is too know the beneficial effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and the low-protein diet. In this study, the effect of a low protein diet on the course of CRI was compared with that of administration of enalapril (ENA), an ACEI. METHODS AND RESULTS: A new model of genetic hypertension, the Prague Hypertensive Rat (PHR) was used. In rats just after weaning, 5/6 of renal parenchyma were removed surgically (5/6NX). The rats were observed for 8 weeks after 5/6NX. The animals were fed either a normal rat chow containing 23% of protein, or a low-protein diet containing only 6% protein. Control groups drank tap water, experimental groups received water containing ENA at a dose of 5 mg/kg BW. The rats on normal diet drinking water had the highest levels of blood pressure (200 +/- 4.3 mm Hg), proteinuria (56.2 +/- 14.6 mg/24 hours) and heaviest kidney remnants i.e. highest compensatory hypertrophy (2352 +/- 239.4 mg). Both ENA and low-protein diet significantly improved these functions to the same extent. However, a combination of low-protein diet with ENA had no further beneficial effect as against any of these manoeuvres alone. CONCLUSIONS: We assume every manoeuvre (low-protein diet and enalapril) exerts a maximal beneficial effect per se: the mechanism of this effect is highly speculative: inhibition of growth factors seems to be the most logical explanation. ACEIs are known to inhibit the production of angiotensin II, low-protein diet should inhibit transforming growth factor beta.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

[The effect of electrostimulation with the Rebox apparatus on ischemic renal injury in rats].

BACKGROUND: With developing transplantation programmes the problem of protection against ischaemic renal damage had become important. The results of experimental pharmacological protection of the kidneys are not quite conclusive. The objective of the presented paper was to assess the effect of electrostimulation by means of a Rebox apparatus (generator of direct rectangular impulses at a frequency of 1 to 10 kHz), on the development of ischaemic damage of the renal parenchyma induced experimentally in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experiments were made on Wistar strains rats (n = 15) which were subjected to dextrolateral nephrectomy and the left renal artery was closed by a clamp which was released in the tested and the control group after 30 minutes. In the rebox group electrostimulation with the Rebox apparatus was implemented immediately after release of the clamp. In rats which were in metabolic cages the following parameters were assessed: diuresis, period of survival, endogenous creatinine clearance, plasma creatinine level, urea level and excretion, as well as sodium and potassium urinary excretion. No significant difference in the survival time of the rats was found nor in the plasma levels of creatinine, urea and urinary excretion of potassium and urea between the control and the Rebox group. In the Rebox group, as compared with the control group, a significantly higher diuresis was found 22.8 vs 5.6 (p < 0.001) and natriuresis 0.44 vs 0.11 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Electrostimulation by rebox currents in rats increases significantly the diuresis and natriuresis of the solitary kidney exposed to 30-minute ischaemia but has no impact on other parameters. The mechanism of action is not quite clear, apparently the reabsorption of sodium in the proximal tubule is inhibited.

Animals↗

"Crochetage" (notch) on R wave in inferior limb leads: a new independent electrocardiographic sign of atrial septal defect.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the clinical significance of a "crochetage" pattern--a notch near the apex of the R wave in electrocardiographic (ECG) inferior limb leads--in secundum atrial septal defect. BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect is often overdiagnosed on the basis of classical clinical features. Thus, more specific signs on the ECG for screening are needed. Methods. We searched for a crochetage pattern in 1,560 older children and adults: 532 with secundum atrial septal defect, 266 with ventricular septal defect, 146 with pulmonary stenosis, 110 with mitral stenosis, 47 with cor pulmonale and 459 normal subjects. RESULTS: This pattern was observed respectively in 73.1%, 35.7%, 23.3%, 6.4%, 10.6% and 7.4% of these groups (p<0.001). In atrial septal defect, its incidence increased with larger anatomic defect (p<0.0001) or greater left-to-right shunt (p<0.0001), even in the presence of pulmonary hypertension. By multiple regression analysis, only shunt size (p<0.0006) and defect location (p<0.0001) were the determinants of its presence. In all groups, the specificity of this sign for the diagnosis was remarkably high when present in all three inferior limb leads (> or = to 92%), even when comparison was limited to patients with an incomplete right bundle branch block (> or = 95.2%). Early disappearance of this pattern was observed in 35.1% of the operated-on patients although the right bundle branch block pattern persisted. CONCLUSIONS: A crochetage pattern of the R wave in inferior limb leads is frequent in patients with atrial septal defect, correlates with shunt severity and is independent of the right bundle branch block pattern. Sensitivity and specificity of this sign are remarkably high when it is associated with an incomplete right bundle branch block or present in all inferior limb leads.

Adolescent↗

Solid-state NMR studies of the prion protein H1 fragment.

Conformational changes in the prion protein (PrP) seem to be responsible for prion diseases. We have used conformation-dependent chemical-shift measurements and rotational-resonance distance measurements to analyze the conformation of solid-state peptides lacking long-range order, corresponding to a region of PrP designated H1. This region is predicted to undergo a transformation of secondary structure in generating the infectious form of the protein. Solid-state NMR spectra of specifically 13C-enriched samples of H1, residues 109-122 (MKHMAGAAAAGAVV) of Syrian hamster PrP, have been acquired under cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning conditions. Samples lyophilized from 50% acetonitrile/50% water show chemical shifts characteristic of a beta-sheet conformation in the region corresponding to residues 112-121, whereas samples lyophilized from hexafluoroisopropanol display shifts indicative of alpha-helical secondary structure in the region corresponding to residues 113-117. Complete conversion to the helical conformation was not observed and conversion from alpha-helix back to beta-sheet, as inferred from the solid-state NMR spectra, occurred when samples were exposed to water. Rotational-resonance experiments were performed on seven doubly 13C-labeled H1 samples dried from water. Measured distances suggest that the peptide is in an extended, possibly beta-strand, conformation. These results are consistent with the experimental observation that PrP can exist in different conformational states and with structural predictions based on biological data and theoretical modeling that suggest that H1 may play a key role in the conformational transition involved in the development of prion diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Changes in thermal homeostasis in humans due to repeated cold water immersions.

The purpose of this study was to monitor changes in body and skin temperatures, heat production, subjective shivering, cold sensation and body fat content in humans after intermittent cold water immersion. Repeated exposures of young sportsmen to cold water (head out, 14 degrees C, 1 h, 3 times per week for 4-6 weeks) induced changes in regulation of thermal homeostasis. "Cold acclimated" subjects exhibited an hypothermic type of adaptation. Central and peripheral body temperatures at rest and during cold immersion were lowered. The metabolic response to cold was delayed and subjective shivering was attenuated. The observed hypothermia was due to the shift of the threshold for induction of cold thermogenesis to lower body temperatures. "Cold acclimated" subjects also showed a lowered cold sensation. Because of the observed physiological changes, about 20% of the total heat production was saved during one cold water immersion of "cold acclimated" subjects. Maximal aerobic and anaerobic performances were not altered. No change in the thermosensitivity of the body temperature controller, as assessed from the unchanged slope of the relation between the deep body temperature and total heat production, was observed. Changes in cold sensation and regulation of cold thermogenesis were noticed first after four cold water immersions and persisted for at least 2 weeks after termination of the adaptation procedure. A trend towards a small increase in the body fat content was also observed. This finding, as well as the increased vasoconstriction, evidenced by the lowered skin temperature, indicate that slight changes in body insulation may also occur after "cold acclimation" in humans.

Acclimatization↗

Purity and stability assessment of a semi-solid poly(ortho ester) used in drug delivery systems.

The research work carried out for developing bioerodible drug delivery devices in which the erosion process was to be confined to the polymer-water interface is at the origin of the discovery of a class of polymers known as poly(ortho esters) (POEs). Thus far, three POE systems have been described. The latest POE was prepared by a transesterification reaction between a triol and an ortho ester, followed by a self-condensation of the reaction product. This polymer, which exhibits viscous characteristics at room temperature, was investigated for use as a drug delivery system in glaucoma filtering surgery. The assessment of POE purity and stability was carried out by a detailed analysis of the influence of the purification procedure and storage conditions. This bioerodible semi-solid POE was purified by a repeated precipitation procedure. Elimination of the small molecular weight oligomers and monomers and of the catalysts and stabilizers used in the synthesis, as well as a decrease of the polydispersity, were obtained with this method. Fourier transform infrared analysis also verified the disappearance of degradation products after the first precipitation. Drying of the precipitated polymer was performed at 40 degrees C in order to avoid thermal degradation of the POE at higher temperatures and to facilitate solvent evaporation through the polymer network by a reduction of polymer viscosity. Water vapour uptake of the polymers stored at different relative humidities has demonstrated the high moisture sensitivity of these semi-solid POEs. The average molecular weight of the polymer and hence its viscosity, as well as the solubility characteristics of the incorporated drug, were found to have a considerable influence on the rate of water vapour absorption and on polymer degradation. The use of inert gas or vacuum to maintain the polymer under anhydrous conditions has been studied. Storage of the semi-solid POE under argon in sealed glass bottles provides good protection of the polymer over time.

Argon↗

Action of endothelin-1 on glomerular haemodynamics in the dog: lack of direct effects on glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient.

1. Although numerous studies have demonstrated the potent vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1 on the renal vasculature, it is difficult to differentiate in vivo between indirect and direct actions of endothelin. 2. In the present study we therefore performed micropuncture experiments in 14 anaesthetized dogs after the administration of endothelin-1 into the renal artery (i.r.a.) for 15 min at a dose of 2.78 ng min-1 kg-1 which did not affect blood pressure or contralateral kidney function. 3. In seven dogs on a 'normal' sodium diet (3.5 mmol of NaCl day-1 kg-1) endothelin-1 resulted in decreases in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate with a rise in filtration fraction from 0.24 +/- 0.01 to 0.35 +/- 0.01. Similar changes were seen at the single-nephron level. An increase from 0.11 +/- 0.01 to 0.23 +/- 0.02 (+109 +/- 11%) in efferent, and from 0.15 +/- 0.01 to 0.24 +/- 0.02 mmHg min-1 microliter-1 (+58 +/- 4%) in afferent arteriolar resistance was observed. The ultrafiltration coefficient, Kf, decreased from 4.75 +/- 0.14 to 3.67 +/- 0.14 microliter min-1 mmHg-1 (P < 0.01). 4. In another group of seven dogs, the same endothelin-1 infusion was given after an administration into the renal artery of a 'cocktail' designed to block the receptors of alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists, thromboxane A2, leukotrienes and angiotensin II together with intravenous cyclo-oxygenase inhibition. Under these conditions, the vasoconstrictor action of endothelin-1 was reduced by more than 30%. The increase in vascular resistance was now relatively similar in both arterioles, i.e. +44 +/- 5% in the afferent and 66 +/- 6% in the efferent arterioles (no significant difference). No change in Kf was seen after the 'cocktail'-blockade (9.4 +/- 0.4 versus 10.1 +/- 0.1 microliter min-1 mmHg-1). 5. In conclusion, in anaesthetized dogs on a 'normal' salt diet, the vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1 is more pronounced on the efferent than on the afferent arteriole. This is accompanied by decreases in glomerular filtration rate and water, urea and electrolyte excretion. Part of the vasoconstrictor action of endothelin seems to be mediated by other autacoids. Endothelin-1 itself contributes only partly to pre- and post-glomerular vasoconstriction and has no direct effect on the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient Kf.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Lack of a beneficial effect of PD123319, an AT2-angiotensin receptor antagonist, on the course of ablation nephropathy in the rat.

Since angiotensin II (ANGII) AT1-receptor antagonists have been shown to possess a beneficial effect on the course of ablation nephropathy, and since the possibility that AT2-receptors are also involved could not be ruled out, the effect of the AT1 antagonist, losartan (L), on the course of ablation nephropathy was compared wit that of PD123319 (PD), an AT2 antagonist. Wistar rats underwent surgical ablation of 5/6 of their renal parenchyma (5/6NX) and for the next 8 weeks were treated with either L alone (5 mg/kg/day), or with L + PD (10 mg/kg/day) or with PD alone. The drugs were administered in drinking water and rats drinking pure water served as controls. Whereas in both groups drinking L the survival rate was 100%, it was only 60% in controls and 66.6% in PD (no significant difference). The rats drinking L have a lower blood pressure, proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis score, and higher creatinine clearance than control and PD rats, again with no difference between these two. Cardiac and kidney remnant hypertrophy was completely abolished in both L groups, whereas it was distinctly present in the other 2 groups without a difference between them. Plasma renin activity was elevated only in both L groups. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of the AT1-receptor blocker L was again confirmed. AT2 receptors are obviously not involved in the detrimental effect of ANGII on the course of ablation nephropathy.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

Comparison of the effects of a low-protein diet with the effects of a converting enzyme inhibitor on the progression of renal insufficiency in hypertensive rats.

The beneficial effects of a low-protein diet vs. angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI, enalapril) on the course of ablation nephropathy (5/6 nephrectomy, 5/6NX) were compared in a new strain of genetic hypertensive rats, the Prague hypertensive rat (PHR). Both maneuvers were followed by a significant drop in proteinuria (1.27 and 8.8 vs. 56.2 mg/24 hod, p < 0.001, low-protein diet vs. ACEI vs. untreated), plasma levels of creatinine (175.3 and 177.1 vs. 245.3 mumol/L, p < 0.001) and urea (7.95 and 13.51 vs. 37.6 mmol/L, p < 0.001). Endogenous creatinine clearance was higher after both low-protein diet and ACEI than without them (134.6 and 127.8 vs. 56.7 microL/min/100 g BW, p < 0.001). Both maneuvers had a similar beneficial effect: no additional amelioration was observed with a combination of both low-protein diet and ACEI. Compared to normotensive Wistar rats, the results were quite similar in PHR except the blood pressure values; hypertension had no substantial effect on the course of 5/6NX or on the beneficial action of both low-protein diet and ACEI.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Losartan protects the rat kidney from ischemic injury.

Administration of losartan (L), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, at a daily dose of 3 mg/kg body wt, lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) in both the Prague hypertensive rat and the Prague normotensive rat (PNR). Proteinuria was markedly reduced in both strains by L. Seven days after kidney ischemia due to bilateral clamping of both renal arteries for 45 minutes, the renal function (endogenous creatinine clearance, sodium, potassium, and urea excretion rates) was completely normal in L-treated PHR and PNR, whereas distinct deterioration was observed in untreated animals. The survival rate after kidney ischemia was significantly improved by L in both PHR and PNR. Thus, L had a significant blood pressure-lowering action in both strains and exerted a distinct renal protective effect from kidney ischemia.

Animals↗

A transient role of the kidney in the maintenance of hypertension.

Using the Prague hypertensive rat (PHR), a model derived from the Wistar rat, in which a normotensive parallel, the Prague normotensive rat (PNR), was bred from the same parent pair (so that transplantation of organs between both these parallel rat model lines results in no distinct signs of rejection), we were able to show that hypertension travels with the kidney. Transplantation of a kidney from PHR to a bilaterally nephrectomized (BNX) PNR led to an increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the recipient for 10 weeks after grafting. Similarly, a decrease in SBP was seen in BNX PHR for the same period of time after grafting a kidney from PNR. If, however, the SBP was measured over a longer period of time, because the elevated SBP slowly drops after grafting a kidney from PHR to BNX PNR, it is less than 130 mm Hg in the fourth month and thereafter. If BNX PHR receives a kidney from PNR, the decrease in SBP is permanent, amounting to 126.3 +/- 12.7 mm Hg one year after transplantation. The grafting of a heart from PHR to the abdominal aorta of PNR does not influence SBP. In conclusion, the presence of a kidney from PHR is necessary for the development, but is not sufficient for the maintenance of hypertension. The heart of PHR is not "hypertensogenic" as is the kidney.

Animals↗

Physiological profile of best Czech male and female young triathletes.

To characterize the physiological profile of top young triathletes, 13 top female (mean age = 17.1 +/- 1.4 years, body mass = 58.8 +/- 4.7 kg, body height = 168.4 +/- 2.0 cm and body fat = 10.4 +/- 2.6%) and 23 top male triathletes (age = 17.7 +/- 2.2 years, mass = 66.7 +/- 7.1 kg, height = 176.5 +/- 5.1 cm and fat 8.2 +/- 2.3%) were evaluated by means of an incremental exercise (increment was 1 km.h-1, and exercise starting at 11 km.h-1 in females and 13 km.h-1 in males) on a treadmill with 5% inclination. Mean VO2max was 67.9 +/- 5.9 ml.kg-1 min-1 in boys and 56.1 +/- 2.4 ml.kg-1.min-1 in girls. mean value of maximal running speed was 18.6 +/- 1.2 km.h-1 in mean and 15.4 +/- 0.6 km.h-1 in females and LAmax was 12.5 +/- 2.3 mmol.l-1 in boys and 12.6 +/- 1.2 mmol.l-1 in girls. The selected functional variables at ventilatory threshold (VT) level in boys and girls corresponded to VO2max.kg-1 56.0 +/- 5.4 and 46.6 +/- 2.6 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively, %VO2max.kg-1 at VT 82.4 +/- 2.1 and 83.1 +/- 1.7%, respectively, speed of running 15.2 +/- 1.4 and 12.7 +/- 0.7 km.h-1, respectively, %Vmax at VT 81.8 +/- 2.6 and 82.3 +/- 1.6%, respectively and the coefficient of energy cost of running c was 3.74 +/- 0.42 and 3.71 +/- 0.39 J.kg-1.m-1, respectively. A comparison of the functional profiles of these triathletes with elite young athletes from the sports of swimming (age 17.5 +/- 2.0 and 17.2 +/- 1.7 years, respectively, VO2max 61.6 +/- 3.6 and 52.1 +/- 3.6 ml.kg-1. min-1, respectively, Vmax 17.5 +/- 0.8 and 15.0 +/- 0.9 km.h-1, respectively, LAmax 11.1 +/- 3.2 and 11.8 +/- 3.3 mmol.l-1, respectively) cycling (17.7 +/- 1.8-17.0 +/- 1.7 years; 65.4 +/- 5.1-55.1 +/- 2.4 ml.kg-1. min-1, 18.2 +/- 0.7-15.2 +/- 0.8 km.h-1; 13.3 +/- 3.5-12.9 +/- 3.7 mmol.l-1) and middle-distance running (17.8 +/- 1.9-17.2 +/- 2.1 years; 66.8 +/- 4.7-57.3 +/- 2.6 ml.kg-1.min-1, 19.1 +/- 0.9-16.1 +/- 0.9 km.h-1; 13.1 +/- 2.6-13.7 +/- 3.0 mmol.l-1) showed the physiological characteristics of triathletes to be similar to those of middle-distance runners. According to our results and according to the data from the literature we can conclude that physiological predispositions for success in international triathlon may be as follows in boys and girls: VO2max.kg-1 higher than 65 and 60 ml.kg-1 min-1, respectively, Vmax (5%) higher than 18 and 16 km.h-1, respectively, LAmax higher than 12 and 11 mmol.l-1, respectively, running speed at "anaerobic threshold" higher than 15.0 and 13 km.h-1, respectively, %VO2max at "anaerobic threshold" level higher than 82.5% in both sexes, and the coefficient of energy cost of running lower than 3.75 and 3.73 J.kg-1.m-1, respectively. As in other sports events of an endurance native, these data are not the sole predictor of racing success. Nevertheless these standards are necessary but not sufficient conditions for success in triathlon. These data play a decisive role in the selection of talent for the triathlon.

Adipose Tissue↗