Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V A Convertino

Publications and source records attributed to V A Convertino.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Exercise conditioning in middle-aged men after 10 days of bed rest.

Of 12 healthy men with a mean age 50 +/- 4 years who had been at bed rest for 10 days, six were randomly assigned to perform individually prescribed physical exercise daily for 60 days after bed rest (exercise group) and six simply resumed their customary activities (control group). Exercise group subjects were significantly more active than control subjects during this interval (p less than .05). Two classic training effects observed in the 60 days after bed rest were significantly larger among exercise than among control group subjects; compared with values immediately after bed rest, heart rate at a constant submaximal workload declined by 36 +/- 11 beats/min in the exercise group vs 16 +/- 8 beats/min in the control group and peak oxygen consumption increased by 4.8 +/- 4.2 vs 2.2 +/- 5.0 ml/kg/min (both p less than .05). Despite these differences in the cardiovascular response to exercise, peak oxygen consumption in both groups returned to before-bed rest levels by 30 days after bed rest, and this was accompanied by significant (p less than .05) and similar increases in resting left ventricular end-diastolic and stroke volumes in both groups. Simple resumption of usual physical activities after bed rest was as effective as formal exercise conditioning in restoring functional capacity to before-bed rest levels.

Bed Rest↗

Heart rate and sweat rate responses associated with exercise-induced hypervolemia.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between the plasma volume (PV) expansion accompanying exercise training and the associated changes in heart rate (HR) and sweat rate (SR) during sub-maximal and maximal exercise. Eight male subjects (21 +/- 1 yr) rode a cycle ergometer 2 h/d for 8 consecutive days at 65% maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Average HR and SR were measured each day during exercise, and PV (T-1824) was measured prior to, on day 4, and the day following exercise training. The VO2max and maximal HR (HRmax) were measured before and after the 8-d exercise period. Following exercise training, VO2max increased by 8.3% (P less than 0.05), HRmax decreased by 4.1% (P less than 0.05), and PV increased by 430 ml (+ 12.2%, P less than 0.05). During the 2-h ergometer exercise, mean SR increased from 0.83 1 . h-1 on day 1 to 0.97 1 . h-1 on day 8 (P less than 0.05) while mean HR decreased from 169 beats per min (bpm) on day 1 to 148 bpm on day 8 (P less than 0.05). The percent change (% delta) in PV was correlated with % delta SR (r = 0.93, P less than 0.05), % delta HR at 65% VO2max (r = -0.89, P less than 0.05), and % delta HRmax (r = -0.82, P less than 0.05). The data indicated that plasma volume expansion may be necessary for the cardiovascular and thermoregulatory adaptations accompanying chronic exercise.

Adult↗

Induced venous pooling and cardiorespiratory responses to exercise after bed rest.

The purpose of this study was to deliberately induce venous pooling the lower extremities of bed-rested subjects to determine whether such distention may reverse the reduction in maximal O2 uptake that has regularly been observed. Bed-rest deconditioning was assessed in eight healthy male subjects by measuring submaximal and maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max), ventilation, and heart rate (HRmax) before and after 15 days of bed rest. During bed rest four subjects in the experimental group received daily treatments of venous pooling for 210 min/day with a reverse gradient garment (RGG), whereas the four subjects in the control group received no treatment. Compared with prebed-rest values, VO2max was reduced by 14.0 (P less than 0.05), HRmax was increased by 4.2 (P less than 0.05), and endurance time for the exercise test was decreased by 9.2% (P less than 0.05) in the control group. In the RGG group, VO2max, HRmax, and endurance time were essentially unchanged after bed rest. The plasma volume (PV) of the control group decreased by 16.7 (P less than 0.05) after bed rest compared with a 10.3% (not significant) reduction in the RGG group. The percent delta PV was related to the percent delta VO2 max (r = 0.75, P less than 0.05) and percent delta HR max (r = 0.65, P less than 0.05). The data support the hypothesis that the lack of venous pooling and associated fluid shifts contribute the decrement in VO2 max associated with bed-rest deconditioning.

Adult↗

Plasma volume, osmolality, vasopressin, and renin activity during graded exercise in man.

Plasma volume (PV), renin activity (PRA), and osmotic (Osm), sodium (Na+), and arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentrations were measured in venous blood samples taken before and after three levels of cycle ergometer exercise (100, 175, and 225 W) in 15 young male volunteers. Plasma volume and solute concentrations changed significantly (P less than 0.05, denoted by *) with work intensity. The % delta PV was -3.7%* at 100 W, -8.8%* at 175 W, and -12.4%* at 225 W. Plasma Na+ concentration, Osm, and AVP increase were curvilinear with graded exercise and were significant only when work intensity exceeded 40% VO2max. PRA increase was linear and significant at all work levels. The % delta PV was significantly correlated with delta Osm (r = 0.99*) and delta Na+ (r = 0.89*) but had low correlations with delta AVP (r = 0.22, NS) and delta PRA (r = 0.12, NS). However, delta AVP was significantly correlated with delta Na+ (r = 0.86*) and delta Osm (r = 0.83*), whereas delta PRA had low correlations with delta Na+ (r = 0.33, NS), delta Osm (r = 0.29, NS), and delta AVP (r = 0.43, NS). The data support the hypothesis that a) with exercise, AVP release is a primary factor for fluid and electrolyte regulation as it is highly correlated with the plasma hyperosmolality produced by a net hypotonic plasma efflux; b) an exercise intensity greater than 40% VO2max is required to change plasma osmolality and, thus, stimulate significant AVP release; and c) the stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system is a more general stress response, which responds to increasing sympathetic nervous activity.

Adult↗

Orthostatic fluid-electrolyte and endocrine responses in fainters and nonfainters.

A tilt-table test was administered to five young men before (test 1) and after (test 2) 8 days of heat acclimation (2-h daily exercise at 50% VO2max at 40 degrees db, 30 degrees C wb) and to five other young men before and after the same exercise at 24 degrees C to determine fluid-electrolyte and endocrine responses in orthostasis in fainters and nonfainters. Half of the 10 subjects showed improved orthostatic reactions from test 1 to test 2 (disappearance of nausea and dizziness and improved heart rate and blood pressure), and the other 5 subjects showed no improvement. The improvement, especially in the nonfainters, was related to increases in posttilt plasma volume (PV) and plasma concentration of potassium. During test 1, plasma renin activity (PRA) increased five times from supine to orthostatis, with a corresponding increase in plasma vasopressin (ADH) of 50 times. The corresponding increases in test 2 were lower by 50 and 75% compared with those occurring in test 1 for PRA and ADH, respectively. PRA was five times higher in nonfainters than in fainters in test 1, whereas ADH showed an opposite trend. The orthostatic-induced increase in ADH seems to be related to volume control independent of PRA. This increase is reduced with improvement in orthostatic reactions, probably because of an increase in PV.

Adult↗

Role of thermal and exercise factors in the mechanism of hypervolemia.

Our purpose was to determine whether the chronic increase in plasma volume (PV), resulting from heat exposure (HE) and exercise training (ET), was due only to elevated rectal temperature (Tre) or whether there were additional nonthermal factors related to the exercise. Eight men were divided into two groups. The HE group sat for 2 h/day (Tdb = 42 degrees C, 93% rh) for 8 consecutive days; Tre was raised by 1.72 +/- 0.04 degrees C to 38.5 degrees C each day. The ET group rode a bicycle ergometer for 2 h/day for 8 days (Tdb = 25 degrees C, 60% rh) at a load (60-65 Vo2max) that gave the same area under their Tre curve. PV increased by 177 ml (4.9%, P less than 0.05) in the HE group and by 427 ml (12.0%, P less than 0.05) in the ET group. This exercise-induced hypervolemia was associated with thermal factor(s) that contributed 40% and nonthermal factors that accounted for the remaining 60%. Some nonthermal, exercise-induced factors were twofold greater increases in plasma osmotic and vasopressin levels during exercise, and a fivefold increase in resting plasma protein (albumin) content.

Adult↗

Exercise training-induced hypervolemia: role of plasma albumin, renin, and vasopressin.

To investigate the time course and mechanism of the increase in blood volume (BV) during isotonic exercise training, blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma volume (PV), osmotic, electrolyte, renin activity (PRA), vasopressin (AVP), and protein fractions were measured periodically in eight trained men 20-22 yr (Vo2max = 57 ml . min-1 . kg-1) before, during, and after ergometer exercise training (approximately 160 W, 65% Vo2max) for 2 h/day for 8 days. During training, plasma total osmolar and albumin contents increased to maintain a constant plasma osmolality and protein concentration during PV expansion. After training, BV increased by 457 ml (+8.1% P less than 0.05), due to an increase in PV of 427 ml (+12.1%, P less than 0.05); red cell volume was essentially constant (delta = +30 ml, NS). Plasma hypervolemia during training was associated with two major factors: 1) a ninefold elevation in PRA and AVP during exercise that facilitated Na+ and H2O retention, and 2) a progressive, chronic increase in plasma albumin content that provided increased H2O-binding capacity for the blood. Thus an efficient procedure for increasing PV is the daily performance of high-intensity isotonic leg exercise (65% Vo2max) for 2 h/day.

Adult↗

Plasma volume during stress in man: osmolality and red cell volume.

Our purpose was 1) to test the hypothesis that in man there is a range of plasma osmolality within which the red cell volume (RCV) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) remain essentially constant and 2) to determine the upper limit of this range. During a variety of stresses--submaximal and maximal exercise, heat and altitude exposure, +Gz acceleration, and tilting--changes in plasma osmolality between -1 and +13 mosmol/kg resulted in essentially no change in the regression of percent change in plasma volume (PV) calculated from a change in hematocrit (Hct) on that calculated from a change in Hct + hemoglobin (Hb), i.e., the RCV and MCV were constant. Factors that do not influence RCV are the level of metabolism, heat exposure at rest, and short-term orthostasis (heat-to-foot acceleration). Factors that may influence RCV are exposure to high altitude and long-term orthostasis (head-up tilting). Factors that definitely influence RCV are prior dehydration and extended (greater than 2 h) periods of stress. Thus, either the Hct or the Hct + Hb equations can be used to calculate percent changes in PV under short-term (less than 2 h) periods of stress when the change in plasma osmolality is less than 13 mosmol/kg.

Adult↗

Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise after bed rest in men and women.

The purpose of this study was to compare cardiorespiratory responses of men and women to submaximal and maximal workloads before and after bed rest (BR). Fifteen male college students (19-23 yr) and 8 female nurses (23-34 yr) underwent 14 d and 17 d, respectively of bed rest. The maximal work capacity test was performed in the supine position on a bicycle ergometer just before and immediately after bed rest. The women's maximal O2 uptake (maximal VO2) was 41% lower (P<0.05) than the men's before bed rest and 42% lower (P<0.05) after bed rest. During bed rest the women's maximal VO2 decreased from 2.06 to 1.86 liter/min (-9.7%, P<0.05), and that of the men decreased from 3.52 to 3.20 liter/min (-9.1%, P<0.05). Compared with pre-BR values, after bed rest the maximal ventilatory volume was essentially unchanged in the men (+1.8%) and women (+ 2.3%), but maximal heart rate was elevated from 185 to 193 b/min (+ 4.3%, P<0.05) in the men and from 181 to 187 b/min (3.3%, P<0.05) in the women. Submaximal VO2 was unchanged after bed rest in the men but was significantly reduced in the women; the women's Hct and RBC levels were lower (P<0.05) than comparable male data. Mean corpuscular volume was unchanged in both groups pre- and post-bed rest. It is concluded that the proportional deterioration in maximal VO2 following prolonged bed rest was essentially the same in young men and women.

Adult↗

Cardiorespiratory deconditioning with static and dynamic leg exercise during bed rest.

Bed rest deconditioning was assessed in seven healthy men (19-22 yr) following three 14-day periods of controlled activity during recumbency by measuring submaximal and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (VE), heart rate, and plasma volume. Exercise regimens were performed in the supine position and included a) two 30-min periods daily of intermittent static exercise at 21% of maximal leg extension force, and b) two 30-min periods of dynamic bicycle ergometer exercise daily at 68% of VO2max. No prescribed exercise was performed during the third bed rest period. Compared with their respective pre-bed rest control values, VO2max decreased (P less than 0.05) under all exercise conditions; -12.3% with no exercise, -9.2% with dynamic exercise, but only -4.8% with static exercise. Maximal heart rate was increased by 3.3% to 4.9% (P less than 0.05) under the three exercise conditions, while plasma volume decreased (P less than 0.05) -15.1% with no exercise and -10.1% with static, but only -7.8% (NS) with dynamic exercise. Since neither the static nor dynamic exercise training regimes minimized the changes in all the variables studied, some combination of these two types of exercise may be necessary for maximum protection from the effects of the bed deconditioning.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

A comparison of heart rate methods for predicting endurance training intensity.

Comparing results of various training studies is often confounded by use of different indices of exercise intensity. Two frequently used indices are: 1) the % HR max method (exercise at a HR corresponding to a chosen percentage of maximal HR), and 2) this study, % net VO2max was employed as the criterion measure of exercise intensity and a comparison was made between the prediction of % net VO2-MAXby the above two methods. Experiments were performed on nine males (M +/- SD age = 23.7 +/- 2.6 yrs) and consisted of double determinations of resting VO2 and multiple measurements of resting HR under five different conditions. Duplicate determinations of maximal VO2 and HR preceded a third treadmill test consisting of four, 5-minute workloads representing approx 25, 45, 65, and 85% net VO2max. The results demonstrated that the KM's prediction of exercise intensity was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from measured intensity at any of the four workloads. Additionally, the % HR max procedure yielded large, significant overpredictions of exercise intensity (29, 22, 16 and 8% overpredictions for the four submaximal intensities, respectively. These results suggest that the KM yields a training HR that reflects exercise intensity within reasonable limits of accuracy.

Adult↗

Interaction between exercising humans and growing plants in a Closed Ecological Life Support System.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the gas exchange between plants growing in a Closed Environmental Life Support System (CELSS) and the metabolism of human subjects undergoing various levels of physical exercise, and subsequently determine the buffer characteristics in relation to the carbon exchange established for plants in this closed loop life support system. Two men (ages 42 and 45 yr) exercised on a cycle ergometer at three different work intensities, each on a separate day. The CELSS, a 113 m3 chamber, was sized to meet the needs of one human. The plants, consisting of 20 m2 of potato, provided oxygen to the human during an artificially lighted photosynthesis phase and the human provided CO2 to the plants. The average rates of exchange for the subjects were 0.88, 1.69, and 2.47 liters O2/min and 0.77, 1.47, and 2.21 liters CO2/min at approximately 25%, 50%, and 75% of their maximal aerobic capacity, respectively. The photosynthetic rate for the CELSS was 0.95 liters/min. A balance between human CO2 production and plant utilization was noted at approximately the 50% VO2max level. The oxygen balance and changes were not within detectable limits of the CELSS instrumentation for the durations of these exercise exposures. If a CELSS environment is the methodology selected for long term spaceflight, it will be important to select plants that efficiently grow at the available light and nutrient levels while balancing the needs for the human crew at their levels of physical activity.

Adult↗