Fibrinolysis is the process by which fibrin blood clots are dissolved. Fibrinolytic research is clinically relevant because decreased fibrinolytic potential is linked to increased risk of an ischemic event. Fibrinolysis is known to increase in response to aerobic exercise, however, few research studies have focused on the fibrinolytic response to resistance exercise. Furthermore, women are severely underrepresented in fibrinolytic research, and there are no current studies that focus on women and resistance exercise. Estrogen has been shown to affect basal fibrinolytic potential resulting in the need for fibrinolytic research focused on female subjects. Body composition is known to influence basal fibrinolysis leaving individuals with higher absolute amounts of body fat at risk for cardiovascular events due to decreased fibrinolytic potential. Little is known, however, about the influence of body composition on the fibrinolytic response to exercise. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe the fibrinolytic response to acute resistance training in young women, and further, to determine how body fat percentage affects fibrinolysis at rest and following resistance exercise. Methods. Twenty-three sedentary, healthy women (22.5 ± 4 yrs, 22.3 ± 3.0 kg•m 2) participated in the study. Body fat percentage and fat distribution were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and subjects were separated into two groups by body fat percentage: <30% (lean, n=12) and >30% (obese, n=11). Each subject performed 6 sets of 10 leg extension repetitions at an intensity associated with 70% of her one-repetition maximum. The two primary mediators of fibrinolytic potential, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(PAI-1), were assessed at baseline and immediately after exercise in venous blood. Results. tPA activity increased in response to acute resistance exercise (p<0.05), however, there was no significant change in PAI-1 activity (p>0.05). A significant main effect of group was observed, indicating the lean women had higher tPA activity (p<0.05) and lower PAI-1 activity (p<0.05) than the obese group. A significant time x group interaction indicated that the tPA response was blunted in the obese group (p<0.05). Conclusions. Fibrinolytic potential increases in response to acute resistance exercise in young women due to increases in tPA activity. Obese women demonstrate a decreased fibrinolytic potential at rest and following acute resistance exercise compared to lean women. Given the relationship between fibrinolytic potential and outcomes of cardiovascular disease, these physiological responses suggest that overweight women may be at elevated risk of an adverse cardiovascular event both at rest and during exercise. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

No description available.

Hypertension is associated with a reduction in sensitivity to pain in both animals and humans. Changes in nociception pre-date elevations in blood pressure in animals genetically predisposed to hypertension, and preliminary findings with male offspring of hypertensives indicate that genetic risk for hypertension is related to decreased pain sensitivity in humans. Sensitivity to naturalistic and laboratory pain stimuli was compared in normotensive females with and without a parental history of hypertension in three studies. Genetic risk for hypertension was associated with decreased sensitivity for blood donation venipuncture pain and electric shock, but not for menstrual pain or the cold pressor test. These findings provide modest support for the notion that hypoalgesia is present in females at risk for hypertension. Issues for future research include extension of these findings to other pain stimuli, use of multiple indices of risk, assessment of the effects of cyclic hormonal changes on the relationship between pain sensitivity and risk for hypertension, and further study of the mechanisms and pathophysiological implications of this effect.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Atkins diet had an effect on resting metabolic rate. In addition, the study will further explore the effects of the Atkins diet on blood lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides) and glucose as well as body composition. Eighteen healthy women (mean age 42.4 ± 7.4 yrs, mean BMI 33.7± 5.6 kg' m -2) participated in the 6-week diet intervention. Pre- testing and post-testing included collection of: fasting blood lipids, resting metabolic rate and body composition data measured by air displacement plethysmography. Statistical analysis used to compare baseline and post study data included dependant t-tests. A significant decrease from baseline was noted in resting metabolic rate (1518 to 1374 kcals' day -1). Decreases in body mass (91.0 ± 4.0 to 86.6 ± 3.9 kg), fat mass (42.3 ± 3.1 to 38.0 ± 3.1 kg, and BMI (33.7 ± 1.3 to 32.1 ±1.3 kg' m "2) were noted but there was no significant change in fat-free mass (48.6 ± 1.3 to 48.6 ±1.1 kg). The only significant finding from the blood lipid profile was a decrease in triglyceride levels (121 ± 17.9 to 98 ±12.7 mg ' dL-1). In conclusion, this study showed that adherence to the Atkins diet for six weeks did improve body composition; decrease triglycerides and decrease resting metabolic rate. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

No description available.

The aim of this research was to investigate myogenic (i.e. growth) and proteolytic (i.e. breakdown) gene expression (GE) in skeletal muscle of young and old women. Myogenic (MyoD, MRF4, Myf5, myogenin, myostatin) and proteolytic (Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, FOXO3A) genes were examined in the basal state and after resistance exercise (RE). Six old women (OW: 85 ± 1 y) and eight young women (YW: 23 ± 1) performed 3 x 10 knee extensions at 70% of 1-repetition-maximum. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis (i.e. thigh) before and 4 hours after RE.In the basal state, OW expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of MyoD, MRF4, myf5, myogenin, myostatin, FOXO3A and MuRF-1 compared to YW. Fiber type specific GE analysis in the OW showed that slow-twitch muscle fibers (MHC I) expressed higher levels (p<0.05) of myogenin and Atrogin-1, compared to fast-twitch (MHC Ila) fibers. In response to RE both YW and OW increased (p<0.05) mRNA levels of MyoD and MRF4, while a decrease (p<0.05) was observed for myostatin. MuRF-1 mRNA increased (p<0.05) in both age groups, while there was an age-specific induction (p<0.05) of Atrogin-1 after RE. Fiber type specific GE after RE in the old women showed that MHC Ila fibers did not induce myogenic GE. Robust increases (p<0.05) in MyoD, MRF4, and myogenin were only observed in the MHC I fibers. Both fiber types decreased (p<0.05) myostatin, and increased Atrogin-1 with RE. MuRF-1 mRNA levels increased specifically in MHC Ila fibers. In summary, skeletal muscle of OW expresses higher levels of mRNA for most selected genes at rest. With RE, aging skeletal muscle retains the ability to induce myogenic GE, although exclusive to MHC I fibers. After RE, proteolytic GE induction is greater in OW and most pronounced in MHC Ila fibers. Collectively, these data suggest that an imbalance exists in the regulation of the myogenic and proteolytic program in aging skeletal muscle. This research also provides the first evidence of intrinsic molecular differences between MHC I and MHC Ila fibers in OW, and may, in part, explain the MHC Ila atrophy apparent in sarcopenic muscle. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Graduation date: 1995

Osteoporosis is a significant public health problem for individuals over age 50 (55% are at risk), particularly for women. A key preventive strategy is increasing peak bone mass in youth. Limited information exists on the role that competitive sport activities can play in developing bone mass. Volleyball is a popular sport for girls and involves high impact activity and plyometric training. The purpose of the study was to compare bone mineral density (BMD) between high school and college competitive volleyball players to age matched controls. Relationships between BMD and age, and years of competitive play were also analyzed. The calcium intake, and time spent jumping in practice (volleyball players only) for each group were also assessed. Subject inclusion criteria were: no eating disorders, not amenorrhoeic, did not use calcium supplements (doctor recommended). The volleyball players followed the criteria above and played volleyball >7 months in a year. Subjects were 13 high school volleyball players (HSVB), 10 high school non-athletes (HSN), and 13 college volleyball players (CVB), and 13 college nonathlees (CN). The mean (+ SD) age, weight, body fat percentage, calcium intake, and years of competitive volleyball for the HSVB players were 16.2 + 1.3 yr, 67.5 + 8.0 kg, 27.2 ± 5.3 %, 1269.7 ± 581.7 mg, and 7.2 ± 1.2 yr. and for the CVB players were 19.5 + 1.0 yr, 74.2 ± 9.2 kg, 28.4 ± 4.7 %, 1059.6 ± 462.2 mg, and 8.5 ± 2.3 yr. respectively. The mean (+SD) age, weight, body fat percentage, and calcium intake for the HSN 16.2 ± 1.3 yr, 66.8 ± 12.4 kg, 34.7 + 6.1 %, and 857.9 + 469.5 mg and for the CN were 19.5 ± 1.0 yr, 73.9 + 9.1 kg, 40.1 + 4.4 %, and 1216.4 + 551.9 mg. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine the body composition and BMD at the following regions: AP spine, dual femur, and total body. The only significant descriptive difference was in percent body fat (P>0.05-0.01). The significant difference (P>0.01) between the athletes and non-athletes occurred in the AP spine (1.38 + 0.1 g.cm-2 and 1.20 ± 0.1 g•cm-2), dual femur (1.22 + 0.1 g•cm 2 and 1.05 ± 0.1 g•cm-2), and total body measurements (1.26 ± 0.1 g•cm 2 and 1.16 ± 0.1 ?cm-2). The athleticism and age was not significant for the BMD in the AP spine, total body, and dual femur. Likewise, the correlations between years playing volleyball and jumping in practice were not significant. The correlation between calcium intake in volleyball players and non-athletes showed no significant difference. In conclusion BMD is higher in volleyball players compared to non-athletes however there was no difference between the college and high school volleyball players. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The primary focus of this study was to determine basal levels of myogenic (MRF4, myogenin, MyoD), proteolytic (FOXO3A, atrogin-1, MuRF-1), myostatin, and mitochondrial (PGC-1α & Tfam) mRNA in elderly women before and after aerobic training. This approach was taken to gain insight into the molecular adaptations associated with our observed increases in whole muscle cross sectional area (CSA) (11%, p<0.05), knee extensor muscle function (25%, p<0.05) and aerobic capacity (30%, p<0.05) with training. Nine elderly women (71±2y) underwent muscle biopsies obtained from the vastus lateralis before and after 12-weeks of aerobic training on a cycle ergometer. Post training biopsy samples were acquired 48 hours after the last exercise session. Aerobic training reduced (p < 0.05) resting levels of MRF4 by 25% while myogenin showed a trend to decrease (p = 0.09) after training. FOXO3A expression was 27% lower (p < 0.05) while atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 were unaltered after training. Additionally, myostatin gene expression was decreased (p < 0.05) by 57% after training. Lastly, aerobic training did not alter PGC-1α or Tfam mRNA. These findings suggest that aerobic training alters basal transcript levels of growth related genes in skeletal muscle of older women. Further, the reductions in FOXO3A and myostatin indicate the aerobic training induced muscle hypertrophy in older women may be due to alterations in proteolytic machinery. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle strength and psychomotor performance measures in healthy (n = 18) and frail (n = 21) groups of elderly women utilizing movements requiring various amounts of strength and ballistic action. Subjects were community-dwelling females ranging in age from 66-92 years. Evaluations of functional assessment of motor skills and grip strength occurred. Psychomotor performance was measured through production of aiming movements on a Digitizing Tablet. RT, MT, and movement kinematics (e.g., peak velocity, deceleration, movement adjustments) were evaluated. Differences between groups were apparent in quantity and quality of movement. Healthy subjects were stronger and faster than frail subjects, producing smoother movements with fewer adjustments. Strength appears to differentially affect healthy and frail samples and merits further exploration.