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PubMed2002

Characteristics of titin in strength and power athletes.

The purpose of this investigation was to identify characteristics of the muscle protein titin in different athletic populations with increased levels of strength and power relative to non-athletes. Subjects fell into one of four groups: (1) non-athletes (NA) ( n=5), (2) weightlifters (WL) (n=5), (3) powerlifters (PL) (n=5), (4) sprinters (S) (n=5). A one repetition maximum in the squat exercise was performed to assess strength. In addition, countermovement vertical jump trials were performed to assess power capabilities. Peak power (W(peak)) was calculated for the vertical jumps from force plate measurements. From gel electrophoresis analyses of muscle samples, titin-1 (T1) and titin-2 (T2) protein bands were identified, quantified and expressed relative to each other. In addition the relative mobility (R(f)) of T1 and T2 was determined as an estimate of molecular weight. The NA group [%T1=47.8 (5.1), %T2=52.2 (5.1), mean (SE)] had lower T1 and higher T2 percentages than WL [%T1=62.3 (6.6), %T2=37.7 (6.6)], PL [%T1=66.8 (5.0), %T2=33.2 (5.0)] and S [%T1=65.9 (4.9), %T2=34.1 (4.9)] groups (P< or =0.10, preliminary investigation into titin and exercise justifies more liberal alpha level). No significant differences were found in R(f) of T1 or T2 between the groups. This investigation has shown that there is a differential expression of titin protein bands in competitive athletes with increased levels of strength and power in comparison to untrained non-athletic individuals. Some relationships between titin characteristics and athletic performance were observed; however, no conclusions can be made based on these data as to the contribution of titin to strength or power capabilities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Comparison of the isometric cervical extension strength and a cross-sectional area of neck extensor muscles in college wrestlers and judo athletes.

Increasing neck muscle strength can play an important role in preventing neck injuries in contact sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the actual conditions of the isometric cervical extension strength (ICES) and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of neck extensor muscles in male athletes participating in college wrestling and judo. The subjects comprised 18 wrestlers and 37 judo athletes from Nippon Sports Science University in Japan. The ICES was measured at eight angles (126 degrees, 108 degrees, 90 degrees, 72 degrees, 54 degrees, 36 degrees, 18 degrees, 0 degrees ). Transverse slices of 10 mm thickness were obtained at the position of each intervertebral disc between C2 and C3, C3 and C4, C4 and C5 and C5 and C6 using magnetic resonance imaging. The ICES of the wrestlers were significantly higher than those of the judo athletes. The ICES curve against the angle in wrestlers tended to differ from that of judo athletes. The CSA of neck extensor muscles in the wrestlers was significantly larger at all intervertebral levels examined than those of the judo athletes. A significant difference was observed in the CSA of the deepest area of neck extensor muscles between the groups although the difference was not significant in the superficial area. In this study, the ICES and the CSA in wrestlers were shown to be significantly higher and larger respectively than in the judo athletes, indicating a significant difference between these two sports.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Exhaled nitric oxide level during and after heavy exercise in athletes with exercise-induced hypoxaemia.

Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of vasodilatation, bronchodilatation and lung inflammation. We hypothesised that the exhaled NO level may be modified in some endurance-trained athletes during and after intense exercise. Nine athletes with exercise-induced hypoxaemia (EIH), 12 athletes without EIH and 10 untrained subjects exercised for 15 min at 90% maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2)max). Exhaled NO was measured during exercise, and after 1 h and 22 h of recovery. Exhaled NO concentration ( C(NO)) decreased significantly during exercise in all subjects and returned to basal values after 1 h of recovery with no further modification. Exhaled NO output (V(NO)) rose significantly during exercise, rapidly dropped down following exercise and was similar to resting values after 1 h and 22 h of recovery. The results also showed that C(NO) and V(NO) were significantly lower in the athletes with EIH in comparison with the untrained subjects (V(NO) was 5.32 +/- 0.77 nmol/min versus 3.61 +/- 0.72 nmol/min at rest, 18.52 +/- 1.50 nmol/min versus 15.00 +/- 2.06 nmol/min during heavy exercise, and 5.52 +/- 1.04 nmol/min versus 3.79 +/- 0.76 nmol/min after 22 h recovery, in untrained subjects and EIH athletes, respectively). These findings do not confirm the hypothesis of pulmonary inflammation associated with EIH. However, potential NO epithelial down-regulation may occur and contribute to the development of gas exchange abnormality in some endurance-trained athletes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Anthropometric features and body composition of young athletes practicing karate at a high and medium competitive level.

The aim of the study was to examine the anthropometric features and body composition of athletes practising karate at a high and medium competitive level. Our study was carried out on a sample of 35 subjects practising karate and aged from 16.0 to 32.5 years. This sample was divided into two groups: group 1 ( n=14 elite athletes) and group 2 ( n=21 amateur athletes). Various anthropometric measurements were taken (weight, height both standing and sitting, diameters, circumferences and skinfold thickness) from which different anthropometric indices were calculated (body mass index, Scelic and Grant indices, arm muscle circumference and area), and the somatotype was then determined. The body composition of each subject was assessed using the skinfold technique and the Jackson-Pollock (J-P) and Sloan-Weir (S-W) equations. The two groups of athletes showed very similar measurements regarding anthropometric characteristics. Only the Scelix index presented a significantly different value in the two groups (49.6+/-1.3 for group 1 vs. 51.1+/-1.3 for group 2; p<0.01). Group 1 showed a mesomorphic-ectomorphic somatotype, while the amateur athletes presented a balanced mesomorphic type. Moreover, a lower percentage of fat mass was more frequent in the first group (J-P=8.1+/-2.4%; S-W=8.9+/-3.3%) than in the second one (J-P=9.8+/-1.6%; S-W=11.2+/-3.7%), although the differences between the two groups were not significant. We conclude that group 1 is characterized by a slightly prominent vertical development of the skeletal frame. This could be an anthropometric characteristic that is best suited to meet the specific functional requirements of this sport. Moreover, both groups of athletes are characterized by a low percentage of fat mass, particularly the elite group.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prevalence and possible mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmias in athletes.

To investigate the prevalence and nature of ventricular arrhythmias in athletes, 40 well trained healthy endurance athletes (20 cyclists and 20 runners) and 40 healthy sedentary subjects as controls were studied. Twenty four-hour continuous ECG monitoring showed a higher, even though not significant prevalence of ventricular ectopy in athletes (70% vs 55%). Complex forms of ventricular ectopy were also more prevalent in the athletes than in the controls (25% vs 5%; p less than 0.05). A prolongation of both measured QT interval and QT corrected for heart rate was observed at the ECG. Echocardiograms showed higher dimensional indices in the athletes, while functional indices were similar in athletes and controls. No correlation was found between any ECG or echocardiographic finding and the grade of ventricular arrhythmia. The comparison between the cyclists and the runners did not show any significant difference in the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias or in the QT interval duration.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Increased reverse cholesterol transport in athletes.

Proposed mechanisms for the cardioprotective benefits of exercise include decreased lipid deposition and increased reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). RCT involves the efflux of tissue free cholesterol into high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, esterification by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), transfer to other lipoproteins by cholesterol ester transfer proteins (CETP), and liver excretion. We tested the hypothesis that RCT is enhanced in athletes and that this can occur without large increases in plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) mass levels. Fasting venous blood was drawn from 13 sedentary men and 11 athletes exercising at the rate of 5,185 +/- 501 kcal/wk. Compared with controls, athletes had similar age, body mass index (BMI), HDL-C (P > .1) and apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 (P > .5) levels, and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P < .05) and apo B (P < .03) levels. The net mass of free cholesterol transported (NMCT) out of cultured human fibroblasts into the athletes' serum was greater than that for controls (25.5 +/- 8.0 v 7.1 +/- 2.6 micrograms/mL/h, P = .048). The efflux component of this transport correlated with HDL-C and apo A-1 levels and was similar between groups (P = .24), suggesting that athletes' antiatherogenic NMCT findings were due to decreased cholesterol influx into the cells. Athletes had increased plasma LCAT (20.3 +/- 2.1 v 13.9 +/- 1.5 micrograms/mL/h, P = .028) and CETP activities (69.7 +/- 4.5 v 21.5 +/- 4.8%/mL/h, P < .001). The NMCT positively correlated with CETP and LCAT activities and inversely with apo B levels and the cardiac risk ratio apo B/A-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Reduced serum cholecystokinin response to food intake in female athletes.

Strenuous training in women has been shown to cause menstrual dysfunction and decreased bone mineral density. These endocrine and metabolic complications are associated with an insufficient dietary intake and decreased body fat content in female athletes. The present investigation was undertaken to study serum levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), insulin, gastrin, and cortisol in 14 female long-distance runners and 15 sex- and age-matched control subjects during intake of a standardized meal (500 kcal). The athletes showed a decreased response of the "satiety peptide" CCK to the meal and reported increased hunger compared with the control group. Meal-related insulin response was also decreased in the athletes, whereas gastrin levels were comparable to those of controls. Basal levels of glucose were increased in the athletes, but there was no difference in postprandial levels between the groups. Cortisol levels were clearly elevated in the female runners. We conclude that insufficient food intake in female athletes cannot be explained by increased CCK secretion and satiety. Since the athletes reported a larger caloric intake of a normal daily breakfast than the control subjects, the decreased CCK response may instead be explained by an adaptation to increased food intake. The decreased meal-related insulin response may be a reflection of increased insulin sensitivity as an adaptation to physical exercise. However, an impaired peptide secretion cannot be excluded. The role of elevated cortisol levels in the gastrointestinal hormone response needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Nutrition and the allergic athlete.

Nutritional management of the allergic athlete centers around providing a diet adequate to meet the increased needs of the athlete at the same time that it is modified by the exclusion of any problematic foods. The athlete has an increased need for water, total energy, carbohydrate, B vitamins, and perhaps protein, the last two of which are usually met when the diet fulfills the energy requirements of the athlete. Requirements for electrolytes are minimally increased, and the need for additional iron is unclear in light of "sports anemia." There is no evidence to support the use of vitamins C and E as ergogenic aids; however, the findings relating vitamin C to bronchospasm and bronchial hyperreactivity are interesting. Caffeine and bee pollen, often believed to increase performance, may be harmful for the allergic athlete. An approach for determining the problematic foods for the allergic athlete and necessary supplementation when they are avoided is given.

Dietary Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1987

The athlete's heart syndrome.

The athlete's heart is a benign condition, associated with physiologic alterations that can be detected on physical and laboratory examination. Echocardiography is a particularly useful technique is quantitating cardiac adaptation to exercise training and in screening for cardiovascular disorders that can be deleterious to the athlete. Cardiomyopathies are common causes of sudden death in young athletes, and myocarditis in physically-active young military recruits. Coronary disease is usually implicated in middle-aged athletes such as distance runners. Recent well-publicized deaths in several athletes have focused more attention on the need to detect Marfan's syndrome and cocaine use. Published guidelines such as the 16th Bethesda Conference and recent medical advances like new antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic drugs assist the clinician in counseling and managing athletes with cardiovascular disorders.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2004

Left ventricular diastolic function and carotid artery wall in elderly athletes and sedentary controls.

Advancing age is characterized by structural and functional change of left ventricle (LV) and large elastic arteries. Recent advances in tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and integrated backscatter (IBS), new ultrasound tools, have allowed non-invasive assessment of structural and functional characterization of myocardium and artery wall. Our aim was to compare LV diastolic function and carotid artery remodeling in elderly athletes and sedentary controls. Twenty-five elderly athletes (males, aged 68.6 +/- 4.2 years) were compared to 25 age-sex-matched sedentary controls. All the subjects underwent either conventional Doppler echocardiography with pulsed TDI to evaluate LV diastolic function, and conventional ultrasonography and integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis to evaluate the carotid wall. Corrected IBS values (C-IBS) were obtained by subtracting the IBS value of the adventitia. Body mass index and blood pressure were not different in the two groups; athletes showed lower heart rate (P < 0.0001) and, as expected, higher LV mass than sedentary subjects (P < 0.0001). Transmitral Doppler analysis showed in trained subjects a significantly lower peak A and a higher E/A ratio (P < 0.001). On regards to TDI measurements, athletes exhibited a higher Em, a lower Am, and, subsequently, an increased Em/Am ratio of both lateral wall and septum (P < 0.0001). The IVRTm was shorter in trained subjects (P < 0.001). Athletes showed a lower C-IBS (-26.8 +/- 2.9 vs. -23.4 +/- 3.8 dB, P < 0.001) and a smaller intima-media thickness (IMT: 0.66 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.80 +/- 0.18 mm, P < 0.001) respect to sedentary controls. Moreover, a significant direct correlation was found between Em/Am of LV septal and lateral wall and C-IBS values (respectively, r = 0.62 and r = 0.56, P < 0.001). Thus the aging heart manifests structural and functional changes in response to physical activity. The expected pattern of cardiac and arterial alterations normally seen in response to age is modified in the older athletes, suggesting the exercise training is an effective stimulus in shaping arterial structure and left ventricular function in older heart. It would appear that pulsed TDI and IBS analysis may play an important role in detecting training-induced LV and carotid artery structural and functional modifications.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Loading modalities and bone structures at nonweight-bearing upper extremity and weight-bearing lower extremity: a pQCT study of adult female athletes.

This cross-sectional study of adult female athletes assessed whether the apparent loading-related differences in bone structure are primarily associated with the loading type or the muscle performance-related joint moments. Several structural variables at shaft sites of the tibia, radius and humerus, and distal sites of the tibia and radius were measured with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) among 113 female national level athletes (representing hurdling, volleyball, soccer, racket-sports and swimming) and their 30 nonathletic referents. For the weight-bearing lower extremities, the loading modalities of the above sports were classified into high-impact (hurdling, volleyball), odd-impact (soccer, racket-sports) and repetitive, nonimpact (swimming) loadings; and for the nonweight-bearing upper extremities into high magnitude (functional weightlifting in hurdling and soccer), impact (volleyball, racket-sports) and repetitive, nonimpact (swimming) loadings. As expected, athletes' bone mass was substantially higher at loaded bone sites compared with the nonathletic referents, but more pertinently to the locomotive perspective, the loading-induced additional bone mass seemed to be used to build mechanically strong and appropriate bone structures. Compared with controls, the weight-bearing bone structures of female athletes (swimmers excluded) were characterized by larger diaphysis, thicker cortices and somewhat denser trabecular bone. The athletes' bones at the nonweight-bearing upper extremity were generally larger in cross-sectional area. The estimated indices of joint moment (muscle force x estimated lever arm) were explained from 29% to 50%, and the loading modalities from 8% to 25%, of the variance in most bone variables (P < 0.05) of the tibia (shaft and distal site). In contrast to the weight-bearing tibia, only the estimated joint moment was positively associated (P < 0.05) with the structural characteristics of the radius and humerus, accounting for 6% to 26% of the variance in bone variables of the shafts of these bones. Such association was not observed at the distal radius. In conclusion, at the weight-bearing lower extremity, the strong bone structure of the female athletes was attributable to muscle performance-related estimated joint moments and impact loading modality. At the shaft sites of the nonweight-bearing upper extremity, the strong bone structure was mainly attributable to the estimated joint moments. Thus, different loading history and other features of loading seemed to govern the skeletal adaptation at the upper and lower extremity.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2005

No association between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) gene variation and endurance athlete status in Kenyans.

East African runners are continually successful in international distance running. The extent to which genetic factors influence this phenomenon is unknown. The insertion (I) rather than deletion (D) of a 287 bp fragment in the human angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with lower circulating and tissue ACE activity and with endurance performance amongst Caucasians. To assess the association between ACE gene variation and elite endurance athlete status in an African population successful in distance running, DNA samples were obtained from 221 national Kenyan athletes (N), 70 international Kenyan athletes (I), and 85 members of the general Kenyan population (C). Blood samples were obtained from C and assayed for circulating ACE activity. ACE I/D (rs????--from NCBI SNPdb first time poly mentioned) genotype was determined, as was genotype at A22982GD (rs????--from NCBI SNPdb first time poly mentioned) which has been shown to associate more closely with ACE levels in African subjects than the I/D polymorphism. ACE I/D and A22982G genotypes explained 13 and 24% of variation in circulating ACE activity levels (P = 0.034 and <0.001 respectively). I/D genotype was not associated with elite endurance athlete status (df = 4, chi(2) = 4.1, P=0.39). In addition, genotype at 22982 was not associated with elite endurance athlete status (df = 4, chi(2) = 5.7, P = 0.23). Nor was the A allele at 22982, which is associated with lower ACE activity, more prevalent in N (0.52) or I (0.41) relative to C (0.53). We conclude that ACE I/D and A22982G polymorphisms are not strongly associated with elite endurance athlete status amongst Kenyans.

Female↗
PubMed2005

Medication and supplement use by athletes.

Athletes are affected in various ways by medications and supplements. Physicians caring for athletes need to be aware of medicines that athletes are taking and how they may interact with performance, exercise, environment, and other medicines. Athletes may attempt to gain a performance advantage with the use of a variety of dietary supplements and performance enhancers. Physicians must be knowledgeable of these so that athletes are properly educated about potential benefits and risks and physical effects. This article first reviews common medicines that athletes use and their potential efficacy and interactions with exercise and environment, then reviews dietary supplements and the data on their efficacy for performance enhancement. Finally, current and future doping issues are discussed.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents↗
PubMed2005

Sunscreen use among collegiate athletes.

BACKGROUND: College athletes participating in outdoor sports are a population with extensive exposure to ultraviolet radiation during the peak hours of the day. These relatively young athletes could represent a group with alterable habits. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the level of sunscreen use in college athletes who are at high risk for ultraviolet radiation exposure. METHODS: An anonymous survey was administered to NCAA soccer and cross-country teams at 4 universities. Answers were analyzed for proportions of sunscreen use and associations among various host variables. RESULTS: Of the surveyed athletes, 85% reported no sunscreen use in the previous 7 days and only 6% reported sunscreen use at least 3 of the previous 7 days. LIMITATIONS: The subject population is limited to one geographic area and includes athletes from only two sports. CONCLUSIONS: These results identify a need for improved primary prevention of ultraviolet damage among the more than 250,000 NCAA athletes participating in outdoor sports. A preventive program involving education, provision of readily available sunscreen, and coach participation is needed to target these individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Influence of sports participation and menarche on bone mineral density of female high school athletes.

Weight-bearing exercise during adolescence may enhance peak bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce osteoporosis risk. The association of sports participation before and after menarche with areal BMD (by central DXA) was investigated in 99 female high school athletes (age 15.5+/-1.3 year). The frequency and duration of structured sports (school-based or other organized team) were assessed using an interviewer-assisted questionnaire. Overall, the average number of years of weight-bearing sport participation was 7.4+/-3.4 years; 72% of the athletes began sport participation before menarche. Training patterns and BMD were examined by tertiles of yearly weight-bearing sport participation (hours/year) before (WBpre), after (WBpost) menarche, and in total (WBtotal). After adjusting for chronological age, gynecological age, and BMI, compared to athletes in the WBtotal low tertile, athletes in the WBtotal high tertile had significantly greater BMD at the spine (p=0.009), total hip (p=0.03), trochanter (p=0.03), and total body (p=0.009). Similar patterns were found by WBpre or WBpost status, separately, with the exception of spine BMD which was significantly different across tertiles in WBpost only (p<0.01). While the number of years of participation was similar across tertiles of WBtotal, the number of months/year was significantly greater among athletes in the high tertile than athletes in the low tertile (9.2+/-3.4 month/year versus 5.0+/-2.9 month/year, respectively (p<0.001)). These results indicate that near year-round participation in structured weight-bearing sports during early adolescence may help young girls optimize bone mineral accrual during these critical years, and may decrease their risk of osteoporosis with advancing age.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2006

Atrial fibrillation in athletes: implicit literature-based connections suggest that overtraining and subsequent inflammation may be a contributory mechanism.

Research on atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart arrhythmia in the elderly, over many decades has resulted in a literature of more than 16,000 articles indexed in Medline. An exploratory Medline search was conducted in which the subheadings for epidemiology and etiology of AF were combined to form a small subset of the initial records. Further computer-assisted selection led to a few articles that reported an unexpectedly high prevalence of AF in groups of otherwise healthy middle-aged endurance runners and other athletes. Why athletes should be unusually susceptible to AF is mysterious and puzzling. Because relatively few articles are about both AF and endurance exercise, a computer was used first to create a list of important terms that these two separate literatures had in common. Several inflammation-related terms, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6, were on that list. Further searching and literature analysis revealed that excessive endurance exercise or overtraining can lead to chronic systemic inflammation and, separately, that there is a solid association between CRP and AF and that anti-inflammatory agents have been reported to lower CRP and ameliorate AF. No articles were found that brought together all three concepts - AF, inflammation, and exercise. The following hypothesis is plausible, readily testable, and apparently novel: Older athletes diagnosed with AF but otherwise healthy who have engaged in rigorous aerobic endurance exercise for more than a decade will have CRP levels that are higher than those of a similar population of athletes without AF. Corroboration of this hypothesis would then justify a prospective clinical trial of anti-inflammation therapy. It is of particular interest to extend recent studies of inflammation in AF to athletes; athletic behavior that can induce inflammation may contribute to understanding the origins of AF.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional considerations for vegetarian athletes.

With the growing interest in the potential health benefits of plant-based diets, it is relevant to consider whether vegetarian dietary practices could influence athletic performance. Accordingly, this review examines whether nutrients that may differ between vegetarian and omnivorous diets could affect physical performance. We also describe recent studies that attempt to assess the effects of a vegetarian diet on performance and comment on other nutritional aspects of vegetarianism of relevance to athletes. Although well-controlled long-term studies assessing the effects of vegetarian diets on athletes have not been conducted, the following observations can be made: 1) well-planned, appropriately supplemented vegetarian diets appear to effectively support athletic performance; 2) provided protein intakes are adequate to meet needs for total nitrogen and the essential amino acids, plant and animal protein sources appear to provide equivalent support to athletic training and performance; 3) vegetarians (particularly women) are at increased risk for non-anemic iron deficiency, which may limit endurance performance; and 4) as a group, vegetarians have lower mean muscle creatine concentrations than do omnivores, and this may affect supramaximal exercise performance. Because their initial muscle creatine concentrations are lower, vegetarians are likely to experience greater performance increments after creatine loading in activities that rely on the adenosine triphosphate/phosphocreatine system. 5) Coaches and trainers should be aware that some athletes may adopt a vegetarian diet as a strategy for weight control. Accordingly, the possibility of a disordered eating pattern should be investigated if a vegetarian diet is accompanied by unwarranted weight loss.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Cardiopulmonary response to maximal exercise in young athletes following the Ross procedure.

BACKGROUND: Aortic prosthetic devices offer limitations that make them less than optimal valve substitutes because the vast majority are innately obstructive, especially at increased levels of hemodynamic function. The present study is designed to demonstrate the hemodynamics of the pulmonary autograft in 11 conditioned athletes who have undergone the Ross (pulmonary autograft) procedure. Data was compared to a group of 13 age-matched "normal athletes." METHODS: All the Ross athletes had undergone the autograft procedure using the root replacement technique and were at least 3 months into their postrecovery phase. All athletes (both normal and Ross) underwent resting transthoracic echo followed by maximal exercise stress test (modified Bruce protocol) to exhaustion. Post-operative transesphogeal echocardiogram obtained within 90 seconds documented aortic valve gradient and velocity across the aortic valve. RESULTS: In the Ross athlete group, maximum heart rate was 188 beats per minute, peak aortic valve gradient at rest (mm Hg) 7.69 (mean), velocity across the aortic valve at rest (cm per second) 129.40 (mean), peak aortic valve gradient at maximal exercise (mm Hg) 16.30 (mean), velocity across the aortic valve at maximal exercise (cm per second) 190.00 (mean). In the normal athlete group, maximum heart rate was 176 beats/minute, peak aortic valve gradient at rest (mm Hg) 5.97 (mean), velocity across the aortic valve at rest (cm per second) 120.54 (mean), peak aortic valve gradient at maximal exercise (mm Hg) 14.61 (mean), velocity across the aortic valve at maximal exercise (cm per second) 190.23 (mean). CONCLUSION: The pulmonary autograft exhibits hemodynamic characteristics similar to the normal human aortic valve under conditions of enhanced cardiac output.

Aortic Valve↗