Purpose: To examine the effects of 28 days of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate free acid (HMB) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak), ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP) and time to exhaustion (Tmax) in collegeaged men and women. Methods: Healthy men and women (n=34, age and VO2peak= 22.7+3.1yr and 39.3+5.0 mL. kg-1.min-1, respectively) participated in this study. All participants completed a series of tests prior and subsequent to treatment. A maximal oxygen consumption test was performed on a cycle ergometer to assess VO2peak, Tmax, VT, and RCP. The peak power output (Ppeak), power at VT (PVT) and power at RCP (PRCP) were also recorded from this test. Twenty-six subjects completed 12 HIIT (80-120% maximal workload) exercise sessions consisting of 5-6 bouts of a 2:1 minute cycling work to rest ratio protocol over a four-week period, while eight served as controls (CTL). In double-blind fashion, the HIIT groups were assigned into either a placebo (HIIT) or 3g per day of HMB (HMB-HIIT). Body composition was measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Outcomes were assessed by ANCOVA with posttest means adjusted for pretest differences. Results: The HMB-HIIT intervention showed significant (p & lt 0.05) gains in VO2peak, VT, and PVT versus the CTL and HIIT group. Both HIIT and HMB-HIIT treatment groups demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) improvement over CTL for Ppeak, Tmax, RCP, and PRCP with no significant difference between the treatment groups. There were no significant differences observed for any measures of body composition. An independent-samples t-test confirmed that there were no significant differences between the training volumes for the HIIT and HMB-HIIT groups. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the addition of HMB supplementation may result in greater changes in VO2peak and VT than HIIT alone. Therefore, in college-aged men and women, the use of HMB supplementation may enhance the benefits of HIIT on aerobic performance measures.

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Résumé : Introduction : La ventilation nasale, de plus en plus utilisée chez le nourrisson, peut insuffler de l’air dans l’estomac et causer des reflux gastro-œsophagiens (RGO). Parmi les modes de ventilation nasale, l’aide inspiratoire (AIn) devrait entrainer un plus grand nombre de RGO que le neuro-asservissement de la ventilation assistée (NAVAn), où l’insufflation d’air est plus «physiologique». L’objectif principal de l’étude est de comparer le nombre de RGO en NAVAn et en AIn dans notre modèle ovin d’étude du RGO néonatal et de ventilation nasale. Méthodes : Une polysomnographie avec pH-impédancemétrie œsophagienne de 6 h a été effectuée chez 10 agneaux nouveau-nés. L’enregistrement a été répété trois jours consécutifs (une condition par jour) en respiration spontanée, AIn (15/4 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O) et NAVAn (15/4 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O) dans un ordre randomisé. Résultats : Comparé à la respiration spontanée [13 (23)], le nombre de RGO en 6 h a diminué fortement et de façon similaire en AIn [1 (3)] et en NAVAn [2 (2)] (p < 0,05), même pour des RGO faiblement acides et proximaux. De plus, le nombre d’insufflations d’air n’était pas différent entre l’AIn et la NAVAn. Conclusion : L’AIn et la NAVAn inhibent de façon équivalente les RGO chez l’agneau, incluant les RGO faiblement acides et proximaux, si la pression inspiratoire n’est pas trop élevée et malgré le fait que de l’air soit insufflé dans l’œsophage. Ce résultat est identique à celui obtenu avec l’application d’une pression positive continue nasale (6 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O). Il est possible que la pression positive appliquée lors de la ventilation diminue les relaxations transitoires du sphincter inférieur de l’œsophage, mais des études en manométrie œsophagienne sont nécessaires pour comprendre les mécanismes en jeu. // Abstract : Introduction: Nasal ventilation, increasingly used in infants, can blow air in the stomach and cause gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Among the nasal ventilation modes, pressure support ventilation (nPSV) should lead to a greater number of GER than neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (nNAVA), where the air delivery is more "physiological". The main objective of the study is to compare the number of GER in nNAVA and nPSV in our unique sheep model of neonatal GER and nasal ventilation. Methods: A 6h polysomnographic recording with esophageal pH-impedance was performed in 10 newborn lambs. The recording was repeated for three consecutive days (one condition per day) for spontaneous breathing, nPSV (15/4 cmH[subscript 2]O) and nNAVA (15/4 cm H[subscript 2]O) in a randomized order. Results: Compared with spontaneous breathing [13 (23)], the number of GER in 6h strongly and similarly decreased in nPSV [1 (3)] and nNAVA [2 (2)] (p < 0.05), even proximal and weakly acidic GER. In addition, the number of air insufflations was not different between nPSV and nNAVA. Conclusion: nPSV and nNAVA both inhibit GER in lambs, including weakly acidic and proximal GER, if the inspiratory pressure is not too high and despite the fact that air is blown into the esophagus. This result is identical to the one obtained with the application of a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (6 cmH[subscript 2]O). It is posssible that the applied positive pressure decreases transient relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter, but esophageal manometry studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved.

In order to address the long-term complications that arise from poor venous return, a hallmark of the Fontan physiology, we assessed the feasibility of a non-invasive, home therapy that will improve the health of the patient during the heart transplant waiting period and ameliorate the quality of life. In order to achieve this goal we tested a device that applies pressure to the lower extremities of the body (legs and abdomen) in a pulsating fashion with the goal of augmenting systemic blood flow to the pulmonary arteries. This treatment will enhance flow from the great veins and through the lungs and serve as adjunctive clinical treatment of single ventricle physiology. The specific aim of this study was to show improvements in cardiorespiratory measurements after applying external pressure as a proxy for improved health in the Fontan patient. Various studies have shown the impaired exercise capacity of post-operative Fontan patients, but very little data exists focusing on a period much later after the surgery. Our results among the two subjects completed so far have shown a moderately beneficial improvement in exercise capacity after the compression therapy. Subjects performed a treadmill exercise stress test at VCU that was followed by six days of applied external pressure treatment and finished with a final post-treatment stress test. Cardiorespiratory data was collected and analyzed for improvements from base level. Overall an improvement in exercise duration time, VO2 peak, ventilatory threshold, and OUES was observed, with only VE / VCO2 slope having mixed results. Both subjects seem to be relatively healthy Fontan patients, as indicated by their VO2 peak, VE/VCO2 slope and OUES. As a result, benefits of treatment may vary among a cohort of Fontan patients with poor health condition; a failing Fontan physiology for instance. The improvement in exercise capacity suggests that this therapy could be very beneficial to Fontan patients. These results warrants follow up studies to explore the extent of the clinical benefits of compression treatment among the Fontan population.

<p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appears to affect up to 5% of the population. The extent to what pulmonary function awake and during sleep relates to obstructive breathing and hypoxemia during sleep in these patients is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate respiratory function in patients with varying degree of snoring and OSA and to analyse regional lung aeration during sleep.</p><p>In all, 35 healthy subjects and 90 patients with snoring and OSA were studied. The ventilatory response to CO₂ (VRCO₂) was measured. Lung function tests were performed. A technique based on computed tomography was developed to study lung aeration during sleep.</p><p>Patients with OSA displayed a higher VRCO₂ in comparison to healthy subjects and snorers (p<0.01). Increased closing volume and reduced expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were found in patients with OSA (p<0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, ERV was an independent predictor of nocturnal apnea (R²=0.13; p=0.001) and desaturation frequency (R²=0.11; p<0.01). In both healthy subjects and OSA patients, lung aeration was reduced during sleep by 0.10 ml gas/g tissue in the dorsal lung region (p<0.05 and p<0.01). OSA patients had a significantly lower gas/tissue ratio in comparison to healthy subjects both awake (-23%; p<0.04) and during sleep (-25%; p<0.04). In a univariate analysis, functional residual capacity (FRC) correlated with the change in lung aeration from wakefulness to sleep (r=-0.78; p<0.001). In patients with OSA, ERV (r=-0.69; p<0.05) and sleep time (r=0.69; p<0.05) correlated with the fall in lung aeration. </p><p>In conclusion, patients with OSA display an increased ventilatory response to CO₂, reduced ERV and increased closing volume. ERV predicts nocturnal apnea and desaturation frequency to a similar extent as obesity. Lung aeration is reduced in the dorsal region during sleep and patients with OSA display a lower amount of gas in comparison to healthy subjects. Decrease in lung volumes, promoting airway closure, and loss of muscle tone contributed to the altered lung function during sleep.</p>

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appears to affect up to 5% of the population. The extent to what pulmonary function awake and during sleep relates to obstructive breathing and hypoxemia during sleep in these patients is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate respiratory function in patients with varying degree of snoring and OSA and to analyse regional lung aeration during sleep. In all, 35 healthy subjects and 90 patients with snoring and OSA were studied. The ventilatory response to CO2 (VRCO2) was measured. Lung function tests were performed. A technique based on computed tomography was developed to study lung aeration during sleep. Patients with OSA displayed a higher VRCO2 in comparison to healthy subjects and snorers (p&lt;0.01). Increased closing volume and reduced expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were found in patients with OSA (p&lt;0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, ERV was an independent predictor of nocturnal apnea (R2=0.13; p=0.001) and desaturation frequency (R2=0.11; p&lt;0.01). In both healthy subjects and OSA patients, lung aeration was reduced during sleep by 0.10 ml gas/g tissue in the dorsal lung region (p&lt;0.05 and p&lt;0.01). OSA patients had a significantly lower gas/tissue ratio in comparison to healthy subjects both awake (-23%; p&lt;0.04) and during sleep (-25%; p&lt;0.04). In a univariate analysis, functional residual capacity (FRC) correlated with the change in lung aeration from wakefulness to sleep (r=-0.78; p&lt;0.001). In patients with OSA, ERV (r=-0.69; p&lt;0.05) and sleep time (r=0.69; p&lt;0.05) correlated with the fall in lung aeration. In conclusion, patients with OSA display an increased ventilatory response to CO2, reduced ERV and increased closing volume. ERV predicts nocturnal apnea and desaturation frequency to a similar extent as obesity. Lung aeration is reduced in the dorsal region during sleep and patients with OSA display a lower amount of gas in comparison to healthy subjects. Decrease in lung volumes, promoting airway closure, and loss of muscle tone contributed to the altered lung function during sleep.

Background: Working within the military as a ground combat solider is very physically demanding. Soldiers are required to handle situations ranging from peacekeeping to counterinsurgency and combat, while faced with the task of load carriage either in form of the military gear or other additional loads. Therefore, a good aerobic and anaerobic fitness is necessary. The aerobic and anaerobic fitness can be assessed with a wide range is methods such as measuring the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), ventilator threshold, blood lactate concentration and heart rate. However research is rather spares regarding the effects of load carriage on the aerobic capacity. Aim: The aim of the current study was to investigate if military gear affects VO2peak, ventilatory threshold, blood lactate concentration and heart rate in ground combat soldiers. Methods: A total of eight soldiers (seven men and one woman) participated in the current study. All participants completed two biological calibrations and VO2max tests (one without and one with military gear) using a modified Bruce protocol, where VO2 (L/min), absolute and relative VO2peck (L/min and ml/kg/min respectively), heart rate (beats/min) and blood lactate concentration (mM/L) were assessed. After the completion of the tests, the soldier’s individual ventilatory threshold (VT) was visually located using the V-slope method. The Wilcoxon test was used for the not normally distributed variables (blood lactate concentration and stage when VT occurred) and the paired sample t-test for the others. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The results showed that the soldier had 10.6 % lower absolute VO2peak and 23.7 % lower relative VO2peak while wearing military gear compared to without (p=0.002 and p=0.001 respectively). The soldiers also had 11.8 % higher VO2 at VT with military gear (p=0.003) and reached a higher percentage of the VO2peak (p=0.023) at VT. The blood lactate concentration was significantly higher when marching at 5.4 km/h and a trend of a higher blood lactate concentration while standing was observed without military gear compared to with military gear. Conclusion: The findings from the present study shows that performing load carriage in form of the military gear significantly decreased the VO2peak. Wearing a military gear also increased the VO2 at the individual VT and made the soldier reach a higher percentage of the VO2peak at VT. These results can act as guidance when recruiting and training soldiers, along with providing important information to other professions and sports that involve load carriage.

Justificativa e Objetivos: Comparar as repercussões na mecânica respiratória e na troca gasosa em pacientes pediátricos submetidos à cirurgia ortopédica em posição lateral sob anestesia geral, utilizando-se dois modos de ventilação mecânica: controlada a volume (VCV) versus controlada a pressão (PCV), pois, em anestesia, o benefício de um modo em relação ao outro não está bem estabelecido. Método: Ensaio clínico randomizado, realizado entre julho de 2003 e junho 2005 envolvendo crianças (seis meses a 5 anos) submetidas à cirurgia de correção de pé torto congênito no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. No modo VCV o volume corrente para se obter 10ml.kg-1 foi fixado. No modo PCV a pressão de pico inspiratória para se obter 10 ml.kg-1 foi fixada. Nos dois modos os pacientes recebiam PEEP 5cmH2O e relação I:E 1:2. Os grupos foram comparados quanto aos efeitos na mecânica ventilatória e na troca gasosa em 4 momentos ao longo da cirurgia com duração de 2 a 3 horas. Os testes t de Student, ANOVA, e Quiquadrado foram utilizados para comparar os grupos. Resultados: 37 cirurgias de correção de pé torto congênito entraram no estudo, sendo 18 no grupo VCV e 19 no PCV. Observou-se redução do volume corrente expirado ao longo da cirurgia em ambos grupos: VT em M1 ~119 ml enquanto em M4 foi ~113 ml (p=0,03), correspondendo a uma redução de 5% no VT ao longo da cirurgia. O número de intervenções (ajustes na freqüência respiratória) ao longo do tempo cirúrgico foi semelhante nos dois grupos. As demais variáveis não diferiram. Conclusões: durante anestesia geral, em crianças saudáveis, o modo ventilatório não influenciou a estabilidade cardioventilatória das crianças ao longo do tempo cirúrgico no presente estudo. / Objectives: To compare the repercussions on the respiratory mechanics and on the gaseous exchange of pediatric patients submitted to orthopedic surgery in lateral position under general anesthesia using two modes of ventilation: volume control ventilation (VCV) versus pressure control ventilation (PCV), because, in anesthesiology, the superiority of one over another is not well established. Methods: Randomized clinical trial, conducted from July of 2003 through June 2005, involving children (from 6 months to 5 years of age) submitted to surgery of correction of congenital clubfoot in the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. In the VCV mode, tidal volume to get 10ml.kg-1 was fixed. In the PCV mode, peak inspiratory pressure to get 10 ml.kg-1 was fixed. In the two ventilations modes the patients received a PEEP of 5cmH2O and relation I:E 1:2. The groups were compared in relation to the effect in the mechanical ventilatory support and the gaseous exchange at 4 times through surgery with duration of 2 the 3 hours. Student t Test, ANOVA, and Qui-square had been used to compare the groups. Results: 37 surgeries of correction of congenital clubfoot were included in study, being 18 in the VCV group and 19 in the PCV. Reduction of the exhaled tidal volume along of the surgery in both groups was observed: VT M1 ~119 ml while in M4 was ~113 ml (p=0,03), corresponding to a reduction of 5% in the VT through the surgery. The number of interventions (adjustments in the respiratory frequency) along the surgical period was similar in the two groups. Remaining variables had not differed. Conclusions: In the present study, envolving healthy children submitted to the general anesthesia using two modes of mechanical ventilation, we did not observed any interferency in the cardio respiratory stability along the surgical period.