VO2max Research Articles

Serum proteomic profiling of physical activity reveals CD300LG as a novel exerkine with a potential causal link to glucose homeostasis.

Physical activity has been associated with preventing the development of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remains incomplete and good biomarkers to objectively assess physical activity are lacking. We analyzed 3072 serum proteins in 26 men, normal weight or overweight, undergoing 12 weeks of a combined strength and endurance exercise intervention. We estimated insulin sensitivity with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, maximum oxygen uptake, muscle strength, and used MRI/MRS to evaluate body composition and organ fat depots. Muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were used for mRNA sequencing. Additional association analyses were performed in samples from up to 47,747 individuals in the UK Biobank, as well as using two-sample Mendelian randomization and mice models. Following 12 weeks of exercise intervention, we observed significant changes in 283 serum proteins. Notably, 66 of these proteins were elevated in overweight men and positively associated with liver fat before the exercise regimen, but were normalized after exercise. Furthermore, for 19.7 and 12.1% of the exercise-responsive proteins, corresponding changes in mRNA expression levels in muscle and fat, respectively, were shown. The protein CD300LG displayed consistent alterations in blood, muscle, and fat. Serum CD300LG exhibited positive associations with insulin sensitivity, and to angiogenesis-related gene expression in both muscle and fat. Furthermore, serum CD300LG was positively associated with physical activity and negatively associated with glucose levels in the UK Biobank. In this sample, the association between serum CD300LG and physical activity was significantly stronger in men than in women. Mendelian randomization analysis suggested potential causal relationships between levels of serum CD300LG and fasting glucose, 2 hr glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test, and HbA1c. Additionally, Cd300lg responded to exercise in a mouse model, and we observed signs of impaired glucose tolerance in male, but not female, Cd300lg knockout mice. Our study identified several novel proteins in serum whose levels change in response to prolonged exercise and were significantly associated with body composition, liver fat, and glucose homeostasis. Serum CD300LG increased with physical activity and is a potential causal link to improved glucose levels. CD300LG may be a promising exercise biomarker and a therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes. South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Simon Fougners Fund, Diabetesforbundet, Johan Selmer Kvanes' legat til forskning og bekjempelse av sukkersyke. The UK Biobank resource reference 53641. Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (APP2017942). Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Award (DE220101226). Research Council of Norway (Project grant: 325640 and Mobility grant: 287198). The Medical Student Research Program at the University of Oslo. Novo Nordisk Fonden Excellence Emerging Grant in Endocrinology and Metabolism 2023 (NNF23OC0082123). clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01803568.

Exploring the relationship between Total Athleticism score and CrossFit® Open Performance in amateur athletes: single measure involving body fat percentage, aerobic capacity, muscle power and local muscle endurance.

There has been an increasing interest among CrossFit® coaches and practitioners in identifying indicators of sport performance. This study aimed to examine the correlation between anthropometric measures, cardiorespiratory capacity, power, local muscle endurance, and total athleticism score, with performance in the CrossFit® Open 2021. Fourteen male volunteers (aged 30.3 ± 5.8 years) participated in the study and underwent a series of tests on separate weeks. These tests included assessments of body fat percentage (subcutaneous adipose thickness measured at seven sites), maximal oxygen consumption (2 km test in rowing ergometer), muscle power (one repetition maximum in power clean), and muscle endurance (Tibana test, which included the conclusion of four distinct rounds of work). These results were used to calculate the total score of athleticism, which was then compared to the participants performance during the CrossFit® Open 2021. The athletes presented an average of body fat (8.6 ± 2.0%), maximal oxygen consumption (53.3 ± 2.4 mL. (kg.min)-1), 2km row time (07:00 ± 00:21 mm:ss), 1-Repetition maximum in power clean (125.2 ± 21.2 kg) and Tibana test performance (281.0 ± 35.9 repetitions). Interestingly, the top five athletes with the highest scores also achieved the highest z-scores in the CrossFit® Open 2021. Conversely, the four athletes with the lowest TSA score had the lowest z-scores in the CrossFit® Open. Moreover, almost perfect correlation (r = 0.91; p<0.01) was found between the total athleticism score and z-scores in the CrossFit® Open 2021. The total score may be a single measure and holistic indication of athleticism level in CrossFit®. Furthermore, coaches can potentially apply this useful tool for monitoring athletic performance and designing training sessions that address specific areas of CrossFit® performance.

DiADEM-Dance against Dementia-Effect of a Six-Month Dance Intervention on Physical Fitness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Background: Preserving health and physical fitness is critical to ensure independent living across the lifespan. Lower levels of physical fitness are associated with age-related cognitive decline and a higher prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Thus, this study investigates the influence of a six-month dance intervention on selected measures of physical fitness in older adults with MCI. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 55 patients with MCI were randomized into a sportive dance training (IG; n = 26; age: 70.7 ± 5.6 years; 62% female) or an inactive control group (CG; n = 24; age: 69.1 ± 6.8 years; 46% female). The dance group received two 90 min dance training sessions per week over a duration of six-months, which focused on learning dance movement patterns. During the training sessions, heart rate was measured to control exercise intensity. Physical fitness was assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), lower limb functional fitness via sit-to-stand test, handgrip strength, and heart rate variability (HRV). Results: We observed that the dance intervention preserved the cardiorespiratory fitness as measured by maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) during CPET, which decreased in the CG. Furthermore, participants in the IG demonstrated increases in leg and handgrip strength, although these were not statistically significant. HRV displayed a non-significant decrease following the intervention. Conclusions: The results of this randomized controlled trial suggest that sportive dance training can preserve elements of physical fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory fitness) in older adults with MCI. Although improvements in the other parameters (i.e., leg and handgrip strength) were statistically non-significant, likely due to the small sample size, stabilizing muscular fitness and preventing age-related decline in older adults with MCI is important for maintaining functional independence. For future studies, we recommend a longer training duration paired with precise control of regular physical activity levels, an important confounding factor.

Evaluation of myocardial work and exercise capacity in patients recovered from the severe form of COVID-19

BackgroundThe impact of COVID-19 goes beyond its acute form and can lead to the persistence of symptoms and the emergence of systemic disorders, defined as long-term COVID. MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study that included patients over 18 years of age who recovered from the severe form of COVID-19 at least 60 days after their discharge. Patients and controls were enrolled to undergo transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) using a more sensitive tool, myocardial work, in combination with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). ResultsA total of 52 patients and 31 controls were enrolled. Significant differences were observed in ejection fraction (LVEF; 62 ± 7 vs. 66 ± 6 %; p = 0.007), global longitudinal strain (LVGLS; −18.7 ± 2.6 vs. −20.4 ± 1.4 %; p = 0.001), myocardial wasted work (GWW; 152 ± 81 vs. 101 ± 54 mmHg; p = 0.003), and myocardial work efficiency (GWE; 93 ± 3 vs. 95 ± 2 %; p = 0.002). We found a significant difference in peak VO2 (24.4 ± 5.4 vs. 33.4 ± 8.8 mL/kg/min; p < 0.001), heart rate (160 ± 14 vs. 176 ± 11 bpm; p < 0.001), ventilation (84.6 ± 22.6 vs. 104.9 ± 27.0 L/min; p < 0.001), OUES% (89 ± 16 vs. 102 ± 22 %; p = 0.002), T ½ (120.3 ± 32 vs. 97.6 ± 27 s; p = 0.002) and HRR at 2 min (−36 ± 11 vs. −43 ± 13 bpm; p = 0.010). ConclusionOur findings revealed an increased wasted work, with lower myocardial efficiency, significantly reduced aerobic exercise capacity, and abnormal heart rate response during recovery, which may be related to previously described late symptoms. The reduction in functional capacity during physical exercise is partly associated with a decrease in resting myocardial work efficiency. These findings strongly indicate the need to determine whether these manifestations persist in the long term and their impact on cardiovascular health and quality of life in COVID-19 survivors.

Circulating miRNA Signaling for Fatty Acid Metabolism in Response to a Maximum Endurance Test in Elite Long-Distance Runners.

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a determining indicator for cardiorespiratory capacity in endurance athletes, and epigenetics is crucial in its levels and variability. This initial study examined a broad plasma miRNA profile of twenty-three trained elite endurance athletes with similar training volumes but different VO2max in response to an acute maximal graded endurance test. Six were clustered as higher/lower levels based on their VO2max (75.4 ± 0.9 and 60.1 ± 5.0 mL.kg-1.min-1). Plasma was obtained from athletes before and after the test and 15 ng of total RNA was extracted and detected using an SYBR-based 1113 miRNA RT-qPCR panel. A total of 51 miRNAs were differentially expressed among group comparisons. Relative amounts of miRNA showed a clustering behavior among groups regarding distinct performance/time points. Significantly expressed miRNAs were used to perform functional bioinformatic analysis (DIANA tools). Fatty acid metabolism pathways were strongly targeted for the significantly different miRNAs in all performance groups and time points (p < 0.001). Although this pathway does not solely determine endurance performance, their significant contribution is certainly achieved through the involvement of miRNAs. A highly genetically dependent gold standard variable for performance evaluation in a homogeneous group of elite athletes allowed genetic/epigenetic aspects related to fatty acid pathways to emerge.

Protein Supplementation Increases Adaptations to Low-Volume, Intra-Session Concurrent Training in Untrained Healthy Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial.

Combined endurance and resistance training, also known as "concurrent training", is a common practice in exercise routines. While concurrent training offers the benefit of targeting both cardiovascular and muscular fitness, it imposes greater physiological demands on the body compared to performing each modality in isolation. Increased protein consumption has been suggested to support adaptations to concurrent training. However, the impact of protein supplementation on responses to low-volume concurrent training is still unclear. Forty-four untrained, healthy individuals (27 ± 6 years) performed two sessions/week of low-volume high-intensity interval training on cycle ergometers followed by five machine-based resistance training exercises for 8 weeks. Volunteers randomly received (double-blinded) 40 g of whey-based protein (PRO group) or an isocaloric placebo (maltodextrin, PLA group) after each session. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and overall fitness scores (computed from volunteers' VO2max and one-repetition maximum scores, 1-RM) significantly increased in both groups. The PRO group showed significantly improved 1-RM in all major muscle groups, while the PLA group only improved 1-RM in chest and upper back muscles. Improvements in 1-RM in leg muscles were significantly greater in the PRO group versus the PLA group. In conclusion, our results indicate that adaptations to low-volume concurrent training, particularly leg muscle strength, can be improved with targeted post-exercise protein supplementation in untrained healthy individuals.

AAV-NDI1 Therapy Provides Significant Benefit to Murine and Cellular Models of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, is a multifactorial condition that leads to progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and vision. Therapeutic interventions based on reducing ocular hypertension are not always successful. Emerging features of glaucoma include mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. In the current study, NDI1-based gene therapy, which improves mitochondrial function and reduces reactive oxygen species, was delivered intraocularly via an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV). This AAV-NDI1 therapy protected RGCs from cell death in treated (1552.4 ± 994.0 RGCs/mm2) versus control eyes (1184.4 ± 978.4 RGCs/mm2, p < 0.05) in aged DBA/2J mice, a murine model of glaucoma. The photonegative responses (PhNRs) of RGCs were also improved in treated (6.4 ± 3.3 µV) versus control eyes (5.0 ± 3.1 µV, p < 0.05) in these mice. AAV-NDI1 also provided benefits in glaucomatous human lamina cribrosa (LC) cells by significantly increasing basal and maximal oxygen consumption rates and ATP production in these cells. Similarly, NDI1 therapy significantly protected H2O2-insulted primary porcine LC cells from oxidative stress. This study highlights the potential utility of NDI1 therapies and the benefits of improving mitochondrial function in the treatment of glaucoma.

Comparison of community ambulation intensity determined from overground and treadmill walking cadence cut points: Is there a relationship between step activity measures and predicted VO2 max in healthy children and adults?

BackgroundThis study was designed to evaluate the effect of using maximal cadence criteria cut points established during overground and treadmill walking, on intensity outputs measured during community ambulation. The second aim was to establish the relationship between cardiovascular fitness (predicted VO2 max capacity) and community ambulation intensity performance, in typically developing individuals. Research QuestionWhat is the effect on intensity measures when using cadence cut point criteria derived from overground and treadmill walking and does predicted VO2 max correlate with exercise related community activity in a typically developing population? MethodsA group of 37 typically developing participants between 8 and 27 years of age, underwent a graded submaximal VO2 testing protocol followed by a typical week of community ambulation, recorded with a step activity monitor. Maximum cadence criteria established during overground and treadmill walking were applied and the data were compared. The weekly step activity variables included: total steps, total ambulatory time, intensity, duration, and volume. Predicted VO2 Max was calculated, and correlations calculated to step activity outputs. ResultsResults showed significant differences (p<0.001) between cadence cut point criteria across all intensity measures except in the amount of time spent in the 30–60 % intensity category (p=0.182). Predicted VO2 max did not significantly correlate with step activity outputs related to exercise (moderate+ intensity and long duration ambulatory bouts; p>0.277). SignificanceThis study illustrates the importance of close consideration in applying recommended cut off criteria when assessing intensity outputs from step activity data. Cadence from both overground and treadmill walking were collected in a controlled lab setting, but the influence of the treadmill mechanical and forced cadence criteria must be considered when selecting intensity cut points.

Effects of different exercise interventions on cardiopulmonary function in male tobacco-dependent college students

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of different exercise interventions on cardiopulmonary function in male tobacco-dependent college students. Forty-five male tobacco-dependent college students were recruited as the tobacco-dependent (TB) group, and 45 non-tobacco-dependent college students were recruited as the control group. The TB group was randomly assigned to three subgroups: non-exercise (NE), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). The HIIT and MICT groups underwent a 10-week exercise training, while the NE group received no intervention. Cardiac parameters, including maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), heart rate max (HRmax), and heart rate reserve (HRR), and pulmonary indicators, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), vital capacity (VC), maximum ventilation volume (MVV), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were investigated. The results showed that the TB group had significantly lower cardiopulmonary function than the control group. The degree of tobacco dependence was negatively correlated with VO2max, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and MVV. Furthermore, both HIIT and MICT training improved cardiopulmonary function. HIIT training exhibited superior efficacy compared to MICT in improving HRmax, HRR, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and PEF. In conclusion, tobacco dependence adversely affects cardiopulmonary function in male college students. Both HIIT and MICT effectively improved cardiopulmonary function, with HIIT showing superior efficacy.

Physical Fitness and Exercise Performance of Transgender Women.

In spite of the evolving participation of transgender adults in exercise and sports, research investigating the physical fitness of transgender women remains scarce in the scientific literature. In this cross-sectional study, a variety of reference-standard measures of physical fitness of transgender women who had undergone gender-affirming orchiectomy (30 ± 4 years; n = 15) and who had not (27 ± 4 years: n = 15) were compared with reference males (28 ± 5 years; n = 15) and reference females (29 ± 5 years; n = 15) who were matched for age and estimated physical activity level. Transgender women had been undergoing feminizing gender-affirming therapy for 8-10 years. Height and lean mass of arms, legs, and trunk (measured via DXA) of transgender women were greater than those of reference females but lower than those of reference males (all p < 0.05). No significant differences were in isokinetic muscular torque found between reference females and transgender women. Both absolute and relative measures of maximal oxygen consumption were greater in reference males than in reference females and transgender women (all p < 0.05) with no significant difference between the latter two groups. Reference males had greater peak Wingate anaerobic power (expressed in both absolute and relative to body weight), countermovement jump, and squat jump than reference females and transgender women (all p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in anaerobic power between reference females and transgender women. The results on the field tests, including agility T-test and sprint running acceleration, were consistent with the anaerobic power tests. There were no statistical differences in any of the physical fitness measures between transgender women with and without orchiectomy. Transgender women demonstrated similar levels of reference-standard measures of physical fitness to females that were significantly lower than males.

Aerobic denitrifying bacterial community with low C/N ratio remove nitrate from micro-polluted water: Metagenomics unravels denitrification pathways

The efficient nitrogen removal from micro-polluted source water is an international challenge to be solved urgently. However, the inner denitrification mechanism of native aerobic denitrifying bacterial communities in response to carbon scarcity remains relatively unclear. Here, the bacterial community XT6, screened from an oligotrophic reservoir, exhibited aerobic denitrifying capacity under low-carbon environments. Up to 76.79–81.64 % of total organic carbon (TOC) and 51.48–67.60 % of NO3−-N were removed by XT6 within 48 h at C/N ratios of 2.0–3.0. Additionally, the nitrogen balance experiments further manifested that 26.27–38.13 % of NO3−-N was lost in gaseous form. As the C/N ratio decreased, XT6 tended to generate more extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), with the tightly bound EPS showing the largest increase. Pseudomonas and Variovorax were quite abundant in XT6, constituting 59.69 % and 28.65 % of the total sequences, respectively. Furthermore, metagenomics analysis evidenced that XT6 removed TOC and nitrate mainly through the tricarboxylic acid cycle and aerobic denitrification. Overall, the abovementioned results provide a deeper understanding of the nitrogen metabolic pathways of indigenous aerobic denitrifying bacterial communities with low C/N ratios and offer useful guidance for controlling nitrogen pollution in oligotrophic ecosystems.

The alteration of LBX1 expression is associated with changes in parameters related to energy metabolism in mice.

The LBX1 gene is located near a single nucleotide polymorphism that is highly associated with susceptibility to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and is considered one of the strongest candidate genes involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. We have previously found that loss of LBX1 from skeletal muscle results not only in spinal deformity but also in lean body mass, suggesting a potential role for LBX1 in energy metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to test this hypothesis by analyzing the phenotype of mice lacking LBX1 in skeletal muscle with a focus on energy metabolism. We found that loss of LBX1 rendered mice more resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity, despite comparable food intake between mutant and control mice. Notably, the mutant mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance, increased maximal aerobic capacity, and higher core body temperature compared to control mice. In addition, we found that overexpression of LBX1 decreased glucose uptake in cultured cells. Taken together, our data show that LBX1 functions as a negative regulator of energy metabolism and that loss of LBX1 from skeletal muscle increases systemic energy expenditure resulting in lean body mass. The present study thus suggests a potential association between LBX1 dysfunction and lean body mass in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Almond Consumption Modestly Improves Pain Ratings, Muscle Force Production, and Biochemical Markers of Muscle Damage Following Downhill Running in Mildly Overweight, Middle-Aged Adults: A Randomized, Crossover Trial

BackgroundAlmonds promote cardiometabolic health benefits; however, the ergogenic effect of almond supplementation on exercise recovery is less explored. ObjectivesWe evaluated the impacts of raw, shelled, almonds on pain, muscle force production, and biochemical indices of muscle damage and inflammation during recovery from eccentrically biased exercise. MethodsUsing a randomized, crossover design, 26 healthy adults (37 ± 6 y) ran downhill (–10%) for 30 min at a heart rate corresponding to 65%–70% of maximal oxygen consumption followed by 3-d recovery periods after 8-wk adaptations to either ALMOND (2 oz/d) or isocaloric pretzel (CONTROL) feedings. Volunteers consumed the study food immediately following the run and each day during recovery. Fasted blood samples were collected, and pain and muscle function were tested before the downhill run and over 72 h of recovery. ResultsDownhill running elicited moderate muscle damage (Time: P < 0.001; η2 = 0.395) with creatine kinase (CK) peaking after 24 h (CONTROL: Δ + 180% from baseline compared with ALMOND: Δ + 171% from baseline). CK was reduced after 72 h in ALMOND (Δ – 50% from peak; P < 0.05) but not CONTROL (Δ – 33% from peak; P > 0.05). Maximal torque at 120°/s of flexion was greater (Trial: P = 0.004; η2 = 0.315) in ALMOND compared with CONTROL at 24 h (Δ + 12% between trials; P < 0.05) and 72 h (Δ + 9% between trials; P < 0.05) timepoints. Pain during maximal contraction was lower (Trial: P < 0.026; η2 = 0.225) in ALMOND compared with CONTROL after 24 h (Δ – 37% between trials; P < 0.05) and 48 h (Δ – 33% between trials; P < 0.05). No differences (P > 0.05) in vertical jump force, C-reactive protein concentrations, myoglobin concentrations, and total antioxidant capacity were observed between trials. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that 2.0 oz/d of almonds modestly reduces pain, better maintains muscle strength, and reduces the CK response to eccentric-based exercise. This apparent effect of almond ingestion on exercise recovery has the potential to promote increased exercise adherence, which should be investigated in future studies.This trial was registered at the clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04787718.

The Ex-Timing trial: evaluating morning, afternoon, and evening exercise on the circadian clock in individuals with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity—a randomized crossover study protocol

BackgroundExercise is known to provide multiple metabolic benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity and glucose control in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and those at risk. Beyond the traditional exercise dose, exercise timing is perceived as a contemporary hot topic, especially in the field of T2DM; however, the number of intervention studies assessing exercise timing and glucose metabolism is scarce. Our aim is to test the effect of exercise timing (i.e., morning, afternoon, or evening) on the inter-individual response variability in glycemic control and related metabolic health parameters in individuals with T2DM and those at risk during a 12-week intervention.MethodsA randomized crossover exercise intervention will be conducted involving two groups: group 1, individuals with T2DM; group 2, age-matched older adults with overweight/obesity. The intervention will consist of three 2-week blocks of supervised post-prandial exercise using high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Between each training block, a 2-week washout period, where participants avoid structured exercise, will take place. Assessments will be conducted in both groups before and after each exercise block. The primary outcomes include the 24-h area under the curve continuous glucose monitoring-based glucose. The secondary outcomes include body composition, resting energy expenditure, insulin response to a meal tolerance test, maximal aerobic capacity, peak power output, physical activity, sleep quality, and insulin and glucose levels. All primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at each assessment point.DiscussionOutcomes from this trial will provide us additional insight into the role of exercise timing on the inter-individual response variability in glycemic control and other related metabolic parameters in two distinct populations, thus contributing to the development of more effective exercise prescription guidelines for individuals with T2DM and those at risk.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06136013. Registered on November 18, 2023.

Yogistic efficacy on cardiopulmonary capacities, endurance efficiencies and musculoskeletal potentialities in female college students.

Physical exercise participation among female students is significantly compromised throughout the academic periods of college or university due to scholastic demands and also by less parental and community encouragements. Thus, physical inactivity in female college students leads to less musculoskeletal efficiency and work performance. Customized yogic module may be considered to enhance both aerobic and anaerobic power, pulmonary capacity and musculoskeletal efficiency for the improvement of systemic body functions among female college students. A randomized, controlled parallel study design (n = 60; age = 20.16±2.05 years), on sedentary female college students practicing customized yogic module (n = 30) for 5 days / week for 3 months (60 min daily in the morning) to observe anthropometric, physiological, cardiopulmonary and muscular endurance indices. After yogic practice, a significant reduction in body fat (p < 0.05) (%), heart rate (p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), double product (p‹0.01) and rate pressure product (p < 0.05) were estimated. Significant improvement (p < 0.001) in vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec was also observed. Evaluation of hand grip strength, maximal oxygen consumption and physical work capacity showed significant increase (p < 0.01) after yogic intervention. A three-month customized yogic training improved resting physiological activities, cardiopulmonary functions, musculoskeletal strength and endurance fitness due to focused breathing, mindfulness meditation and by stretching-strengthening patterns for achieving recreational physical activity among female college students.

Assessment of oxygen kinetic parameters for closely related ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

The reaction kinetics of lithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are strongly dependent on dissolved oxygen (DO) as their metabolism is an aerobic process. In this study, we estimate the kinetic parameters, including the oxygen affinity constant (Km[O2]) and the maximum oxygen consumption rate (Vmax[O2]), of different AOB species, by fitting the data to the Michaelis-Menten equation using non-linear regression analysis. An example for three different species of Nitrosomonas bacteria (N. europaea, N. eutropha, and N. mobilis) in monoculture is given, finding a Km[O2] of 0.25±0.05 mg L-1, 0.47±0.09 mg L-1, and 0.28±0.08 mg L-1, and a Vmax[O2] of 0.07±0.04 pg h-1cell-1, 0.25±0.06 pg h-1cell-1, and 0.02±0.001 pg h-1cell-1 for Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrosomonas eutropha, and Nitrosomonas mobilis, respectively. This study shows that of the analyzed AOB, N. europaea has the highest affinity towards oxygen and N. eutropha the lowest affinity towards oxygen, indicating that the former can convert ammonia even under low DO conditions. These results improve the understanding of the ecophysiology of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in the environment. The accuracy of mathematically modelled ammonia oxidation can be improved, allowing the implementation of better management practices to restore the nitrogen cycle in natural and engineered water systems.

Implementation of nutrition care process in Indonesian athletes and its effect on nutritional status and aerobic capacity performance

Introduction: Despite the critical function of a nutritionist, only a few sports training centres for students in Indonesia have one. This study aimed to determine the effect of the nutrition care process (NCP) on athletes’ nutritional status and aerobic capacity performance. Methods: This cohort study was conducted in 2022 (May–August) in four training centres (TC) in Indonesia. Subjects were athletes who have been dwelling in TC for at least three months, excluding those absent for &gt;14 days due to a competition or other commitments during the data collection period. NCP included the assistance of trained sports nutritionists. In total, 114 athletes participated in this study: 90 strength athletes and 24 endurance athletes. The participants were aged 14-19 years old with approximately (mean+SD) 6+2.5 years of experience in specific sports. Results: After three months of NCP, knowledge of nutrition (p=0.013), body fat composition (p&lt;0.001), skinfold thickness scores (p&lt;0.001), and performance (p&lt;0.001) of athletes significantly improved. In spite of good intakes of protein and fat, none of the intakes showed significant changes (p&gt;0.05). Furthermore, improved knowledge of sports nutrition and exercise science had a positive impact on dormitory meal choices. Conclusion: Overall, three months of NCP had a significant effect on athletes’ knowledge of nutrition, body fat composition, skinfold thickness, and also VO2Max.

Trends and Future Directions in the Sports Performance of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Athletes: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was twofold: to identify the main trends and issues that are being addressed by researchers in the context of physical fitness and sports performance in deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) athletes and to indicate the needs and future directions that should be implemented in the training process of athletes with hearing impairments. The methodology of this systematic review was planned according to PRISMA guidelines. A search of electronic databases (PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus) was conducted to identify all studies on physical fitness, sports performance and participation, and D/HH athletes from 2003 to 2024. In total, 87 full-text articles were assessed to determine eligibility, while 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to detailed analysis and assessment of their methodological quality. The presented systematic review indicates evidence that D/HH athletes are characterized by a similar or higher level in selected motor abilities compared to hearing athletes. Moreover, it seems that hearing impairment is not a barrier in the development of an athlete’s physical fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength and power or speed of reaction. Furthermore, inclusion in sports participation and specific tools (i.e., communication aids) appear to be crucial factors for performance enhancement.

Effectiveness of maximum, explosive and combined strength training on endurance runners performance indicators: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effect of practicing maximum strength (MAX), explosive strength (EXP), or both combined (COMB) on seven runners’ performance indicators: vertical jump (VJ), one-repetition maximum squat (1RM), peak velocity/peak running speed (PV), lactate threshold (LT), middle-distance time trial (TT), maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), and running economy (RE). Methods: A systematic review (Scopus, Web of Science, Sports Discuss, PubMed) with meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA standards. Inclusion criteria (PICOS) were: Recreational or well-trained athletes aged 18-45 performing concurrent training for at least five weeks. The search terms used were related to different types of strength/endurance and participants’ age and sports modality. Twenty manuscripts were selected, and quality assessed with PEDro. Results: MAX training is more effective than EXP and COMB in improving VJ, 1RM, and PV, while COMB is more effective than MAX and EXP to enhance TT. MAX is more effective than EXP in improving LT. Concurrent workouts do not provide additional benefits to VO2max. It is unknown which strength modality (MAX, EXP, or COMB) is more effective in improving RE. Conclusion: Concurrent training is more effective than single-mode endurance training for enhancing specific performance variables in adult endurance runners. Middle- and long-distance runners may consider incorporating MAX training to target specific goals (i.e., improving VJ, 1RM, LT, PV) while utilizing COMB training to enhance TT. Certain variables may benefit from EXP. New randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings. Keywords: endurance, running, concurrent training, maximum strength, explosive strength

Informativeness of the LDF method in assessing physical performance

In healthy volunteers, physical performance was assessed according to PWC170 tests, maximum oxygen consumption and microcirculation status by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) using a computerized LAKK-02 analyzer. The performance indicators corresponded to the norms of the age group, while significant correlations were revealed with the indicators obtained during the LDF, which confirms the informativeness of the method.