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Biomedical subjects

P O Astrand

Publications and source records attributed to P O Astrand.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A 33-yr follow-up of peak oxygen uptake and related variables of former physical education students.

In 1949, 27 female and 26 male physical education students were studied at a mean age of 22 and 25 yr, respectively. They were restudied in 1970 and 1982. Measurements included oxygen uptake, heart rate, and pulmonary ventilation during submaximal and maximal exercise on a cycle ergometer and treadmill. After 21 yr, peak aerobic power was significantly reduced, from 2.90 to 2.18 l/min and from 4.09 to 3.28 l/min for women and men, respectively. After another 12 yr, the 1970 maxima were not reduced further. From 1949 to 1982 there was a decrease in peak heart rate from 196 to 177 beats/min in women and from 190 to 175 beats/min in men (P < 0.05). Highest pulmonary ventilation did not change significantly. At an oxygen uptake of 1.5 l/min, the heart rate was the same in 1949 as in 1982. In conclusion, the physical fitness level of the subjects was well above average for these ages. From 1970 to 1982 there was no decline in the average peak aerobic power, a finding possibly related to increased habitual physical activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Free fatty acids and exercise.

Although the great explorers were well aware that eating fat was an efficient way to meet their large energy demand, it was not until some decades into this century that it could be demonstrated that lipids are metabolized directly by contracting skeletal muscles. The 1950s produced the first studies with [14C]-tagged fatty acids (FAs), proving that fat is transported into the cell as FAs. An FA-transporting protein that is present in the sarcolemma and in the cytoplasma has been identified. For FA transport into the mitochondria, carnitine and carnitine transferase are needed. It is still unclear how the use of lipids as an energy source for the muscle during exercise is limited. The supply of free fatty acids (FFAs) far exceeds what is taken up by the muscle. Seldom more than 2-4% of the amount of FFAs delivered to an exercising limb is taken up by the muscles and only part of it is oxidized. Physical training induces changes that enhance the uptake of FAs by the contracting muscles, and a larger fraction of this uptake is oxidized, but it is not yet clear which mechanism is behind this adaptation. What is known is that this uptake occurs despite no elevation in the amount of FA supplied to the limb.

Exercise↗
PubMed1992

Physical activity and fitness.

There is unanimous agreement that regular exercise is essential for optimal function of the human body. It is evident that extrinsic factors, such as diet and exercise habits, are reflected in the morbidity and mortality statistics, especially in aging. Aging is obligatorily associated with reduced maximal aerobic power and reduced muscle strength, ie, with reduced physical fitness. As a consequence of diminished exercise tolerance, a large and increasing number of elderly people will be living below, at, or just above "thresholds" of physical ability, needing only a minor intercurrent illness to render them completely dependent. Physical training can readily produce a profound improvement of functions also essential for physical fitness in old age. From a nutritional viewpoint one advantage of physical activity, and increased metabolic rate, is that a higher energy intake can better secure an adequate intake of essential nutrients.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

J.B. Wolffe Memorial Lecture. "Why exercise?".

There is a pronounced plasticity and adaptability in the structural and/or functional properties of cells, tissues, and organ systems in the human body when exposed to various stimuli. While there is unanimous agreement that regular exercise is essential for optimal function of the human body, it is evident that extrinsic factors, such as diet and exercise habits, are reflected in the morbidity and mortality statistics, especially in the aged. Aging is obligatorily associated with reduced maximal aerobic power and reduced muscle strength, i.e., with reduced physical fitness. As a consequence of diminished exercise tolerance, a large and increasing number of elderly persons will be living below, at, or just above "thresholds" of physical ability, needing only a minor intercurrent illness to render them completely dependent. Physical training can readily produce a profound improvement of functions essential for physical fitness in old age. Adaptability to regular physical activity serves to cause less disruption of the cell's "milieu interieur" and minimizes fatigue, thereby enhancing performance and the economy of energy output during exercise.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

In-vitro stimulation on the rat epitrochlearis muscle. II. Effects of catecholamines and nutrients on protein degradation and amino acid metabolism.

The influence of catecholamines and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) plus insulin on protein degradation and amino acid metabolism was investigated in isolated and electrically stimulated rat epitrochlearis muscles. 10(-7) M adrenaline significantly increased the total amount of muscle tyrosine during 40 min of stimulation with 50 Hz (I s min 1) pulse trains. On the other hand, BCAA + insulin at normal and five times normal plasma concentrations had no effect on muscle tyrosine. Muscle 3- methylhistidine was not influenced by any of the treatments. Muscle release and content of aspartate, alanine, glutamate and glutamine showed individual response characteristics to catecholamines and BCAA + insulin. The data indicate that adrenaline can induce an increased total protein degradation in rat fast muscle during acute contractions in vitro and, furthermore, that BCAA + insulin does not retard protein breakdown during acute muscle contraction.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1989

Neural and biomechanical differences between men and young boys during a variety of motor tasks.

The adaptation in activation patterns of the ankle extensor muscles to different functional demands was studied in adult men (n = 10) and 9-year-old boys (n = 10). The relative magnitude of the activation of the slow soleus (SOL) and the relatively fast medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was measured during various postures and hopping tasks on a force plate. In addition, the myo-electric activity was quantified in three different phases of the stretch-shortening cycles during hopping. Major differences between boys and adults were observed in the postural tasks, where the boys appeared to utilize the MG to a relatively larger extent. During maximal height hopping there was a clearly larger potentiation of the MG activity in the adults, particularly in the eccentric phase. On the other hand, there were striking similarities between boys and adults with respect to the degree of pre-activation of both muscles during the different hopping regimes as well as potentiation of muscle activity during the concentric phase of maximal height hopping. Thus, some aspects of the selective neural control of the ankle extensor muscles appear to be manifested in pre-pubertal boys. However, the data also indicate that other factors, such as utilization of stored elastic energy in the muscles and stretch reflex potentiation, will still continue to develop from the age of nine.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Effects of chronic iron deficiency anaemia on myoglobin content, enzyme activity, and capillary density in the human skeletal muscle.

The influence of chronic iron deficiency anaemia on myoglobin content, maximal enzyme activities and capillarization in the human skeletal muscle was investigated. Muscle samples from musculus vastus lateralis were screened in an Indonesian population. The causes of iron deficiency were chronic intestinal bleeding or repeated pregnancy combined with low iron intake. The maximal activities of iron-dependent and non-iron-dependent glycolytic and oxidative enzymes as well as myoglobin showed similar values in the iron-deficient group and the matched control group. The activities of the oxidative enzymes in both the iron-deficient group and the controls were lower, however, compared even to untrained Swedish subjects. The capillary density was essentially within a normal range in both groups. It is concluded that chronic iron deficiency anaemia of a moderate or severe degree, with Hb concentrations of about 80-100 g.1(-1), does not cause an impaired biochemical function of the human skeletal muscle.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

From exercise physiology to preventive medicine.

The study of the normal human individual provides an important baseline for the study of disease. Exercise physiology is particularly important because an exercise situation provides a unique opportunity to study how different functions are coordinated and integrated. In fact, most functions and structures are in one way or another affected by acute and chronic (i.e. training) exercise. There is unanimous agreement that regular exercise is essential for optimal function of the human body. It is evident that extrinsic factors, such as diet and exercise habits, are reflected in the morbidity and mortality statistics, especially in aging. Both healthy individuals and those with chronic illnesses and functional handicaps can improve their performances and, therefore, their quality of life by increased physical activity. In my opinion, epidemiological research has established that physical inactivity from a medical viewpoint is a risk factor threatening health and an optimal life style. Adverse effects of non-competitive exercises are very small in comparison with health benefits.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Exercise physiology and its role in disease prevention and in rehabilitation.

It is an impressive fact that many musicians can perform perfectly at an advanced age. Arthur Rubenstein played very demanding compositions of Chopin at the age of 88 and Andre Segovia at the age of 91 is still giving concerts on the classical guitar. Apparently, through practice very demanding neuromuscular activities can be maintained at advanced ages. Yet hours of daily "training" are behind these achievements. This review discusses some of the general aspects of training and their effects on function and health. As an overall goal it is more important to add life to years rather than add years to life.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1986

Disposal of lactate during and after strenuous exercise in humans.

Heavy dynamic exercise using both arm and leg muscles was performed to exhaustion by seven well-trained subjects. The aerobic and anaerobic energy utilization was determined and/or calculated. O2 uptake during exercise and during 1 h of recovery was measured as well as splanchnic and muscle metabolite exchange. Glycogen and lactate content in the quadriceps femoris was determined before exercise, immediately after exercise, and after a recovery period. In four male subjects the estimated mean lactate production during exercise was 830 mmol. The splanchnic uptake of lactate during recovery was 80 mmol, and the calculated maximum amount oxidized during the recovery period was 330 mmol. About 60 mmol were accounted for in the body water at the end of the rest period. The remaining 360 mmol of lactate were apparently resynthesized into glycogen in muscle via gluconeogenesis. It is concluded that approximately 50% of the lactate formed during heavy exercise is transformed to glycogen via glyconeogenesis in muscle during recovery and that lactate uptake by the liver is only 10%.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Physiological characteristics of classical ballet.

The aerobic and anaerobic energy yield during professional training sessions ("classes") of classical ballet as well as during rehearsed and performed ballets has been studied by means of oxygen uptake, heart rate, and blood lactate concentration determinations on professional ballet dancers from the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm. The measured oxygen uptake during six different normal classes at the theatre averaged about 35-45% of the maximal oxygen uptake, and the blood lactate concentration averaged 3 mM (N = 6). During 10 different solo parts of choreographed dance (median length = 1.8 min) representative for moderately to very strenuous dance, an average oxygen uptake (measured during the last minute) of 80% of maximum and blood lactate concentration of 10 mM was measured (N = 10). In addition, heart rate registrations from soloists in different ballets during performance and final rehearsals frequently indicated a high oxygen uptake relative to maximum and an average blood lactate concentration of 11 mM (N = 5). Maximal oxygen uptake, determined in 1971 (N = 11) and 1983 (N = 13) in two different groups of dancers, amounted to on the average 51 and 56 ml X min-1 X kg-1 for the females and males, respectively. In conclusion, classical ballet is a predominantly intermittent type of exercise. In choreographed dance each exercise period usually lasts only a few minutes, but can be very demanding energetically, while during the dancers' basic training sessions, the energy yield is low.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Muscle fibre type distribution, muscle cross-sectional area and maximal voluntary strength in humans.

The relationship between maximum voluntary concentric strength, muscle fibre type distribution and muscle cross-sectional areas were examined in 23 subjects (7 female and 11 male phys. ed. students as well as 5 male bodybuilders). Maximal knee and elbow extension as well as elbow flexion torque at the angular velocities 30, 90 and 180 degrees per second was measured. Muscle biopsies were taken from vastus lateralis and m. triceps brachii. The muscle cross-sectional area of the thigh and upper arm was measured with computed tomography scanning. The maximal torque correlated strongly to the muscle cross-sectional area times an approximative measure on the lever arm (body height). Maximal tension developed per unit of muscle cross-sectional area did not correlate significantly with per cent type I fibre area and did not differ between the female and male students or bodybuilders. Neither did the relative decrease in torque with increasing contraction velocity show any significant relationship to the per cent type I fibre area. The total number of muscle fibres was estimated by dividing the muscle cross-sectional area with the mean fibre area of m. triceps brachii. The number of fibres did not seem to differ between the sexes.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1976

Central circulation during exercise after venesection and reinfusion of red blood cells.

To study central circulation at different levels of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, five subjects performed submaximal and maximal exercise in three different situations: 1) control, 2) after venesection of 800 ml of whole blood, and 3) after reinfusion of the red blood cells about 30-35 days after venesection. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) decreased from 4.27 l-min-1) at control to 4.03 l-min-1 after venesection (P less than 0.05) and increased to 4.61 l-min-1 after reinfusion (P less than 0.05). Maximal values on cardiac output (Q), heart rate (HR), and stroke volume (SV) were the same in the three situations. Thus, there was no compensatory increase in Qmax due to the lowered arterial oxygen content (Cao2) after venesection. An increase of the Cao2 (Hb concentration) and a lowering of the Cvo2 contributed equally to the increased VO2 max after reinfusion. At a given submaximal VO2, HR and blood lactates were increased at lowered Hb concentration and decreased at increased Hb concentration over control levels. Correlation coefficient for the change in Q in relation to the acute change in Hb concentration at a given submaximal VO2 was -0.49 (P less than 0.05).

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Optimal function and health.

Regular physical activity is essential for the optimal function of many vital organs and tissues, and for general function. I am less sure about its direct and significant effects in the area of preventive medicine, but I can mention much indirect evidence to justify a whole-hearted promotion of physical exercise. Information about diet and exercise should be tied together. My present prescription for exercise is as follows: Daily -- at least 60 minutes of physical activity, not necessarily vigorous, nor all at the same time. During your daily routine, moving, walking, climbing stairs, etc., whether for one minute 60 times per day, 12 minutes 5 times a day, or any combination totalling 60 minutes, will burn up approximately 300 kcal (1.2MJ). Weekly -- at least two or three periods of 30 minutes of intermittent or sustained activity at submaximal rate of work (brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, gymnastics etc.) are necessary for maintaining good cardiovascular fitness, and will consume an additional 750 kcal per week (3MJ).

Adult↗