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Biomedical subjects

N Hjeltnes

Publications and source records attributed to N Hjeltnes.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Physical endurance capacity, functional status and medical complications in spinal cord injured subjects with long-standing lesions.

Seventy two spinal cord injured subjects (63 males and 9 females) with long-standing lesions (mean 110 months, range 43-187) were admitted to the Sunnaas Hospital for routine examination (questionnaire, neurological status, radiography, urodynamics, blood specimen, and physical endurance capacity during armergometry). The subjects were divided into three groups with Low-(peak VO2 less than 15 ml/kg/min), Medium-(15 less than VO2 greater than 25) and High-(VO2 greater than 25) endurance capacity. The rate of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and osteoporotic leg bones, was significantly reduced with increasing oxygen uptake (p less than 0.05, X2 test). Differences in scores for ADL-independency (ADL = Activities of daily living) and ambulation on crutches with braces, were even more pronounced between the L, M and H groups (p less than 0.001). The same trends, although not always statistically significant, were also observed in a homogeneous group of paraplegic patients (n = 43, injury level below T6). The results emphasise the importance of regular physical endurance activities to patient well-being, because relatively high endurance capacity was found to be related to less frequent medical complications, and to a higher degree of ADL self-independency.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Effect of daily short bouts of trampoline exercise during 8 weeks on the pulmonary function and the maximal oxygen uptake of children with cystic fibrosis.

Six girls and two boys with cystic fibrosis (CF) 10-13.5 years of age (mean 11.5 years) participated in a prescribed exercise program on a mini-trampoline, maximum 109 min/week, during 8 weeks. The training consisted of three short bouts of trampoline exercise. The CF children were divided into two groups. The first group was a control as the other group exercised on the trampoline and vice versa. Three patients in each group completed the study. Pulmonary and exercise tests were performed before and after the exercise/control periods. The pulmonary tests (FVC, FEV1, and PEFR) showed minor changes during the exercise period, but a slight increase in FVC (P less than 0.05) during the total time of the study was found. The two patients with more advanced lung disease improved their spirometric results during the training period. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) improved from 45 to 49 ml/kg/min (P less than 0.025) during the exercise period. Trampoline exercise programs are suggested to supply other types of training to avoid monotony in the training for CF patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Pulmonary function and oxygen uptake during exercise in 11-year-old patients with cystic fibrosis.

Ten patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), 5 girls and 5 boys, 11 years of age, underwent pulmonary function and bicycle exercise testing. The material includes all but 2 CF patients in this age group in southern and eastern Norway. The CF children had a moderately reduced pulmonary function, the girls more pronounced than the boys. The mean maximal oxygen uptake (max VO2) in the CF boys was 55 ml/kg/min (94% of age predicted value; range 79-105%), and the CF girls 42 ml/kg/min (79% of age predicted value; range 67-89%). The mean maximal peak heart rate was 195 beats/min. Only one CF girl showed apparent pulmonary limitation during exercise. Increased ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was found during both rest and exercise for the CF girls, but only during rest for the CF boys. Max VO2 was fairly well related to the habitudinal physical activity of the children (r = 0.79).

Child↗
PubMed1986

Cardiorespiratory capacity in tetra- and paraplegia shortly after injury.

In one hundred patients (86 males, 14 females) with relatively recent spinal cord injuries the oxygen supporting system was evaluated during graded arm ergometry. The patients were assigned according to injury level to 5 subgroups with complete, and to 2 additional groups with incomplete injuries. Mean peak oxygen uptake (VO2) was found to be as low as 0.74 l/min in males with complete tetraplegia and 1.9 l/min in patients with conus and cauda lesions. Peak VO2 was closely correlated (r = 0.74) to the injury level. Peak VO2 was also closely correlated to peak minute ventilation (VE) in all groups. In patients with higher injury levels most of the increase in VE during maximal exercise was due to an increase in respiratory frequency (fR). In patients with tetraplegia and high paraplegia, arm cranking revealed deficient sympathetic regulation of cardiovascular functions resulting in hypotension. In both the complete and incomplete tetraplegic patients there was a relatively low peak heart rate (fH). Peak fH and VO2 varied more in patients with incomplete tetraplegia than in those with complete tetraplegia. Peak VO2 in females with mid-level thoracic paraplegia was on the average lower than in males with corresponding injury levels (16 ml/kg/min against 22 ml/kg/min, respectively). Evaluation of cardiorespiratory functions in spinal cord injured patients during high intensity endurance work performed shortly after the injury adds diagnostic and functionally useful information for the design of rehabilitation and should be recommended as clinical routine.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Pulmonary function and oxygen uptake during exercise in 16 year old boys with cystic fibrosis.

Eight of altogether 9 Norwegian boys with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 15-17 years, and 8 healthy boys of the same age underwent pulmonary function and bicycle exercise testing. Although the CF boys showed large individual variations, the two groups showed great differences in mean body height and weight, pulmonary function variables and maximum oxygen uptake. The maximum oxygen uptake for the CF boys ranged from 40 to 125% (mean 79%) of predicted values. Increased ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was a characteristic finding during rest and exercise for the CF boys, and their oxygen uptake was higher during rest and corresponding work loads compared with the controls. As physical training is beneficial in cystic fibrosis, such exercise tests are of value for prescribing individual training programs and in evaluating their effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Capacity for physical work and training after spinal injuries and strokes.

Patients with spinal injuries or strokes usually have an initially low capacity for physical work. The level of activity in daily living is also low. There is a further threat of inactivity with the risk of developing medical complications and social isolation. This process can be reversed by physical training and sport. Both patient groups can be trained and a training programme which improves endurance and muscle strength can be incorporated in primary rehabilitation of these patients without disturbing special treatment routines directed at function.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Circulatory strain in everyday life of paraplegics.

Circulatory strain encountered in everyday life was low, taxing 15-24% of HRR. Similar results (Th8-Th12) was estimated from their heart rates (fH) recorded continuously by portable tape recorders for up to 48 h. The degree of strain was expressed in per cent of the individual's heart rate reserve (HRR), i.e. of the span between resting and maximal fH. The average strain of everyday life was low, taxing 15-24% of HRR. Similar results were obtained in a rehabilitated patient (subj. 5, Th12) at the hospital. fH higher than 50% of HRR which could be expected to have a training effect on the circulatory system was recoreded only when ambulating with crutches, driving wheelchair uphill, playing basketball, or during specific training (arm cranking in subj. 6 (Th2) who attended a post-rehabilitation course). The results confirm that daily life activities with no additional training are not intense enough to maintain the circulatory and physical fitness of rehabilitated paraplegics.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1977

Oxygen uptake and cardiac output in graded arm exercise in paraplegics with low level spinal lesions.

Oxygen uptake (V32), heart rate (fH) and cardiac output (Q, CO2-rebreathing method) were measured in 8 paraplegics with complete low level (Th6-Th12) lesions and in 1 paraplegic with a Th2 lesion during graded exercise performed on an arm ergometer. The submaximal work rates taxed about 50, 70 and 90% of the estimated functional capacity of the subjects. A linear relationship between the work rate and VO2 were assessed in the three tests. The increase of Q with increasing VO2 was accomplished by a considerable increase in fH accompanied by a slight increase in stroke volume (SV, calculated). Markedly low values of Q were found in 6 of the 9 subjects. The resulting high arterial-mixed venous blood oxygen content differences (calculated) as well as the high blood lactate concentrations (3.5-4.5 mM/l at 20-30 W and 8-11 mM/l after maximal exertion) indicate that the blood flow in the arm muscles was not adequate.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Human skeletal muscle fibre type variations correlate with PPAR alpha, PPAR delta and PGC-1 alpha mRNA.

AIMS: Studies from genetically modified animals have been instrumental in highlighting genes and their products involved in the regulation of muscle fibre type and oxidative phenotypes; however, evidence in humans is limited. Our aim was therefore to investigate expression of those genes implicated in the regulation of oxidative fibre phenotypes in humans. METHODS: Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction we determined mRNA expression of selected genes in skeletal muscle from three different groups, displaying physiological and pathological variations in muscle fibre type, activity and skeletal muscle metabolism respectively: (i) elite athletes (cyclists), with an increased proportion of type I slow twitch, oxidative fibres, (ii) normally active subjects with an average fibre type distribution, and (iii) spinal cord-injured subjects with a low proportion of type I fibres. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of calcineurin Aalpha and Abeta, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha and -delta, and PPAR gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha and -1beta was determined. Calcineurin Aalpha and calcineurin Abeta mRNA expression was similar between groups. In contrast, mRNA expression of PPARalpha, PPARdelta, PGC-1alpha and -1beta was increased in athletes, when compared with normally active subjects. Furthermore, mRNA expression of PPARalpha, PPARdelta, PGC-1alpha and -1beta was reduced in spinal cord-injured subjects. Additionally, PPARalpha, PPARdelta and PGC-1alpha correlated with oxidative fibre content. CONCLUSION: Skeletal muscle mRNA expression of PPARalpha, PPARdelta, PGC-1alpha and -1beta reflects differences in type I muscle fibres associated with pathologically and physiologically induced skeletal muscle fibre type differences.

Adult↗