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Biomedical subjects

W G Squires

Publications and source records attributed to W G Squires.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Prediction of muscle performance during dynamic repetitive movement.

BACKGROUND: During long-duration spaceflight, astronauts experience progressive muscle atrophy and often perform strenuous extravehicular activities. Post-flight, there is a lengthy recovery period with an increased risk for injury. Currently, there is a critical need for an enabling tool to optimize muscle performance and to minimize the risk of injury to astronauts while on-orbit and during post-flight recovery. Consequently, these studies were performed to develop a method to address this need. METHODS: Eight test subjects performed a repetitive dynamic exercise to failure at 65% of their upper torso weight using a Lordex spinal machine. Surface electromyography (SEMG) data was collected from the erector spinae back muscle. The SEMG data was evaluated using a 5th order autoregressive (AR) model and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The best predictor found was an AR parameter, the mean average magnitude of AR poles, with r = 0.75 and p = 0.03. This parameter can predict performance to failure as early as the second repetition of the exercise. CONCLUSION: A method for predicting human muscle performance early during dynamic repetitive exercise was developed. The capability to predict performance to failure has many potential applications to the space program including evaluating countermeasure effectiveness on-orbit, optimizing post-flight recovery, and potential future real-time monitoring capability during extravehicular activity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cerebral artery blood flow velocity changes following rapid release of lower body negative pressure.

BACKGROUND: Circulatory changes occur during exposure to Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP). These changes may have some similarities to exposure to moderately and slowly increased G-loads in a relaxed subject without anti-G suit. HYPOTHESIS: Changes will also occur in cerebral blood circulation during a rapid release of LBNP. METHODS: Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) was used to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (CBFV) in 14 human subjects following rapid release of a ramped lower body negative pressure (LBNP) (0.33 mm Hg.s) to presyncope (mean peak negative pressure of -124 mm Hg). RESULTS: The mean CBFV decreased to an average of 60% (p < 0.05) of the baseline value at peak LBNP. Mean CBFV was still decreased to 65% and 84% of the baseline value (p < 0.05) at the third heart beat and 30 s, respectively, after pressure release. The systolic CBFV decreased similarly to 57% (p < 0.05) of baseline during peak LBNP, and was still 63% (p < 0.05) at the third heart beat after pressure release. Heart rate increased by a mean of 51% (p < 0.001) and systolic heart level blood pressure decreased by 28% (p < 0.001) during peak negative pressure. Both heart rate and blood pressure returned to baseline levels within 30 s after pressure release. CONCLUSIONS: Following a presyncopal LBNP, the CBFV is not fully restored up to 30 s after the release of the negative pressure. This delayed returning of cerebral circulation following orthostatic stress may have some similarities to what occurs after the release of a gradual onset G-load in a relaxed subject without anti-G suit.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Hormonal responses during orthostasis following 4 hours of head-down tilt.

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that endurance exercise trained (ET) subjects would demonstrate a greater reduction in orthostatic tolerance as compared to untrained (UT) subjects following prior exposure to -6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) because vasoactive hormone and enzyme responses to head-up tilt (HUT) would be decreased following HDT so as to predispose ET subjects to orthostatic intolerance. Six ET subjects (VO2peak = 4.52 +/- 0.20 L/min) were matched for age and height with six UT subjects (VO2peak = 3.26 +/- 0.22 L/min; p < 0.01). After 30 min of supine rest, subjects were exposed to 30 min of head-up tilt (HUT) at 70 degrees, then on a separate occasion, 4 h of HDT (-6 degrees) followed by 30 min of HUT. The HUT involved passive standing for 30 min or until subjects became presyncopal. Blood sampled from the antecubital vein at min 1, 15, and 30, or at presyncope was analyzed for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), aldosterone (PA), arginine vasopressin (AVP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and norepinephrine (NE), while BP and HR were continuously monitored. All subjects tolerating 30 min of HUT, after either condition, had significantly increased (p < 0.05) levels of PRA at the 30th min. Following 4 h of HDT, five of six UT subjects and only one of six ET subjects endured 30 min of HUT. The most marked difference during HUT after prior exposure to HDT was a significant increase in AVP (p < 0.05) at the onset of HUT observed only for the UT subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Aerobic fitness: I. Response of volume regulating hormones to head-down tilt.

We investigated the relationship of aerobic fitness to the response of volume-regulating hormones to acute simulated microgravity. Six untrained (UT) and six endurance-trained (ET) healthy young males were studied in the head-down tilt (HDT) position of -6 degrees for 4 h. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and plasma volume (PV) were significantly greater in the ET (VO2peak = 61.7 +/- 1.6 ml.min-1.kg-1 and PV = 53.1 +/- 2.8 ml.kg-1) than in the UT (VO2peak = 38.4 +/- 1.7 ml.min-1.kg-1 and PV = 38.8 +/- 1.0 ml.kg-1). Plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), arginine vasopressin (AVP), norepinephrine (NE), renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone (PA) were measured prior to HDT and at minutes 2, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 during HDT. PRA and PA significantly decreased during the time of HDT in both groups. The changes in ANP and NE concentrations were not significantly different between the groups nor across time. However, in the ET subjects, the changes in PRA and NE were significantly correlated with the changes in ANP (r = 0.49, P less than 0.01; and r = 0.86, P less than 0.001, respectively); in the UT subjects, the changes in AVP, PRA, and PA were significantly associated with changes in NE (r = 0.34, P less than 0.03; and r = 0.59; and r = 0.53, P less than 0.01, respectively). PV significantly decreased during HDT, and was primarily related to the decrease in PA in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Aerobic fitness: II. Orthostasis and VO2peak following head-down tilt.

To determine whether endurance exercise trained (ET) subjects would experience greater reductions in peak oxygen delivery and orthostatic tolerance (OT) than untrained (UT) subjects, both peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during upright bicycle ergometry and tolerance time during 70 degrees head-up tilt (HUT) were compared within and between groups before and after 4 h of -6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT). Eight ET subjects with a mean VO2peak of 61.7 +/- 1.6 ml.kg-1.min-1 were matched for age, height, and weight with eight UT subjects (VO2peak = 38.4 +/- 1.7 ml.kg-1.min-1). Following HDT, decreases in plasma volume (PV) were larger for ET subjects (-3.7 +/- 0.5 ml.kg-1) than for UT subjects (-2.3 +/- 0.3 ml.kg-1), P less than 0.03. Reductions in VO2peak for ET subjects (-5.4 +/- 1.1 ml.kg-1.min-1) were also greater than for UT subjects (-2.4 +/- 0.8 ml.kg-1.min-1), P less than 0.05. The ET (N = 6) subjects also had a significant decrease in OT time (-13.0 +/- 4.2 min) during post-HDT HUT, which was not observed for the UT group (N = 6). A significant inverse correlation was found pre-HDT VO2peak and the change in OT time, r = -0.74, P less than 0.01. The decrease in OT was also significantly correlated to the PV decrease, r = 0.59, P less than 0.04. The UT subjects had significantly augmented pressor responses to HUT manifested by the increases in both HR and MAP following HDT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hemodynamic responses to 6 degree head-down rest in dogs: effect of aerobic conditioning.

The -6 degree head-down position is used in humans to produce fluid shifts that resemble those occurring in microgravity. Alternative animal models of microgravity may be helpful for extensive exploration of this unique condition. The dog may be a viable candidate. Sixteen dogs were assigned to one of three conditions: anesthetized open chest, anesthetized closed chest, and awake. Dogs in groups 1 (N = 6) and 2 (N = 6) were divided into an exercise or a sedentary treatment, and dogs in group 3 (N = 4) served as their own controls. Following instrumentation the dogs were put in the head-down position for 1 h. Measurements included right atrial pressure, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure for all groups, left ventricular pressure and LV dp/dt for group 1, and cardiac output and iliac flow for group 2. Right atrial pressure increased for all groups. Heart rate demonstrated non-significant changes over time or group. Significant differences were noted for mean arterial pressure, left ventricular pressure and LV dp/dt for exercise condition in response to HDR. It appears that -6 degrees of head-down rest produces similar cardiovascular responses in dogs as those observed in humans and that exercise has a minor effect on those responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

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Publishing↗
PubMed1987

Effect of 60-minute head-down tilt on arterial baroreflex function in anesthetized dogs.

Arterial baroreflex control of heart rate was assessed in 6 anesthetized dogs with a bolus infusion of phenylephrine before and during cardiopulmonary receptor stimulation by 6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) for 60 min. No difference in arterial baroreflex function was observed between the control and HDT conditions. It appears that the attenuation of baroreflex function that occurs during acute stimulation of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors disappears when cardiopulmonary baroreceptors reset after prolonged stimulation.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1986

Benefits of aerobic exercise for the paraplegic: a brief review.

The importance of exercise for the general population is emphasized widely; therefore, it must be even more important for paralegics who are already threatened with poor health due to the sedentary nature of their lifestyle. The effects of functional degeneration are vast and greatly reduce the overall health of paraplegics, particularly within the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, thereby increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent investigations suggest that this process may be reversible through exercise training and that paraplegics respond to exercise training in essentially the same manner as the non-handicapped individual. In addition, exercise training has been reported to decrease the resorptive process of the skeleton by decreasing bone and collagen catabolism and possibly aiding in new bone formation. This review attempts to summarize the available literature on the effects of exercise on the paraplegic and will hopefully provide some direction not only for further research but also recommendations for practitioners working in the field.

Cardiovascular System↗
PubMed1984

Comparison of exercise blood pressure measured by technician and an automated system.

We evaluated the automated system Blood Pressure Measuring System (BPMS) developed by NASA on 277 adult males who elected to have a treadmill test as part of their annual physical. The BPMS uses acoustic transduction with a computer-assisted ECG gating to detect nonsynchronous noise. The BPMS readings were compared to pressures simultaneously measured by trained technicians. For all stages of work, BPMS readings were higher for systolic and lower for diastolic than technician readings. At peak stages of work, BPMS systolic pressures were about 20 mmHg higher than technician readings. Within each 3-min workstage, BPMS readings were found to be more inconsistent than technician readings. The standard errors of measurement for BPMS were from two to three times higher than technician values. These data showed automated blood pressure readings were significantly different than technician values and subject to more random fluctuations. These findings demonstrate the need to view exercise blood pressure measured by automated systems with caution.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1984

Hemodynamic effects of oral smokeless tobacco in dogs and young adults.

Oral smokeless tobacco (snuff) is increasingly used among the young male population. To determine cardiovascular effects of an oral smokeless tobacco product, 10 anesthetized dogs were instrumented to measure blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and circumflex coronary, renal, and femoral flows. After a 5-min baseline, a 2.5-g, approximately 1.2% nicotine bolus dose was placed in the buccal space, and measurements were made for 20 min. Significant increases were seen in heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and left ventricular dP/dt. Significant decreases in flow were noted in the coronary circumflex, renal, and femoral arteries. The flow reduction was thought to have been mediated by an alpha-adrenergic mechanism. Additionally, 20 human males, mean age 20 years, without nicotine exposure for 72 hr, were given a 2.5-g dose of the same oral smokeless product. From baseline to 20 min, heart rate increased from 69 to 88 beats/min (P less than 0.05), blood pressure from 118/72 to 126/78 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). Thus, oral smokeless tobacco use can produce significant hemodynamic changes in both dogs and normal humans.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1981

Effect of exercise training on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in coronary disease patients.

The effects of chronic exercise training on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were studied in 18 male coronary patients. Exercise consisted of aerobic activities utilizing approximately 70% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for 20 to 40 minutes, three times weekly for 3 months. Significant increased in VO2 max, HDL-C, HDL-C/total cholesterol, and a decrease in percent body fat were documented after training. No significant changes were found in total cholesterol, triglyceride, body weight, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Vigorous physical training can contribute to increased in HDL-C in patients with coronary disease without changes in total cholesterol or body weight.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Evaluation of the NASA/JSC blood pressure screening clinic.

This study evaluated the NASA/Johnson Space Center's blood pressure screening program, which was designed to identify the proportion of NASA employees who were hypertensive and to identify self-report variables related to elevated pressures. In 1978, a random sample of 3892 employees was selected from over 2,100 NASA employees. Twenty-eight percent were classified as hypertensive by the criterion of systolic pressure of 140 or above or diastolic pressure of 90 or greater. Approximately 16% of all employees had a history of hypertension; the remaining 12% of the identified hypertensives were unaware of their potential health problem. Multivariate analysis showed that elevated systolic pressures were more prevalent in the older, heavier employees. Of hypertensives under treatment, about 74% were under poor control as judged from blood pressures randomly taken at their place of employment. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of screening for unsuspecting hypertensives in industry.

Adult↗