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Purpose: Oral contraceptive (OC) use reduces peak aerobic capacity (...O2peak); however, whether it also influences adaptations to training has yet to be determined. This study aimed to examine the influence of OC use on peak performance (peak power output [PPO]) and physiological adaptations (...O2peak and peak cardiac output [...peak]) after sprint interval training (SIT) in recreationally active women. Methods: Women taking an OC (n = 25) or experiencing natural regular menstrual cycles (MC; n = 16) completed an incremental exercise test to assess ...O2peak, PPO, and ...peak before, immediately after, and 4 wk after 12 sessions of SIT. The SIT consisted ten 1-min efforts at 100% to 120% PPO in a 1:2 work-rest ratio. Results: Though ...O2peak increased in both groups after SIT (both P < 0.001), the MC group showed greater improvement (OC, +8.5%; MC, +13.0%; P = 0.010). Similarly, ...peak increased in both groups, with greater improvement in the MC group (OC, +4.0%; MC, +16.1%; P = 0.013). PPO increased in both groups (OC, +13.1%; MC, +13.8%; NS). All parameters decreased 4 wk after SIT cessation, but remained elevated from pretraining levels; the OC group showed more sustained training effects in ...O2peak (OC, -4.0%; MC, -7.7%; P = 0.010). Conclusion: SIT improved peak exercise responses in recreationally active women. However, OC use dampened ...O2peak and ...peak adaptation. A follow-up period indicated that OC users had spared ...O2peak adaptations, suggesting that OC use may influence the time course of physiological training adaptations. Therefore, OC use should be verified, controlled for, and considered when interpreting physiological adaptations to exercise training in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Breast cancer-related lymphedema is a common and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment. This randomized trial compared the effect of progressive resistance- or aerobic-based exercise on breast cancer-related lymphedema extent and severity, as well as participants_ muscular strength and endurance, aerobic fitness, body composition, upper-body function, and quality of life.Methods:Women with a clinical diagnosis of stable unilateral, upper-limb lymphedema secondary to breast cancer were randomly allocated to a resistance-based (n = 21) or aerobic- based (n = 20) exercise group (12-wk intervention).Women were assessed preintervention, postintervention, and 12 wk postintervention, with generalized estimating equation models used to compare over time changes in each groups lymphedema (two-tailed P < 0.05). Results: Lymphedema remained stable in both groups (as measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy and circumferences), with no significant differences between groups noted in lymphedema status. There was a significant (P < 0.01) time-group effect for upper-body strength (assessed using four to six repetition maximum bench press), with the resistance-based exercise group increasing strength by 4.2 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.2-5.2) postintervention compared with 1.2 kg (95% CI =j0.1 to 2.5) in the aerobic-based exercise group. Although not supported statistically, the aerobic-based exercise group reported a clinically relevant decline in number of symptoms postintervention (-1.5, 95% CI = -2.6 to -0.3), and women in both exercise groups experienced clinically meaningful improvements in lower-body endurance, aerobic fitness, and quality of life by 12-wk follow-up. Discussion: Participating in resistance- or aerobic-based exercise did not change lymphedema status but led to clinically relevant improvements in function and quality of life, with findings suggesting that neither mode is superior with respect to lymphedema effect. As such, personal preferences, survivorship concerns, and functional needs are important and relevant considerations when prescribing exercise mode to those with secondary lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: High cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is strongly associated with longer life among older adults. CRF can be assessed by exercise-based methods, which are not feasible in most clinical settings. Thus, nonexercise algorithms to estimate CRF have been developed, but whether they predict mortality in older adults is uncertain. METHODS: A cohort of 1470 men and 1460 women, representative of the Spanish population age ≥60 yr, was established in 2000/2001 and followed up prospectively through 2011. At baseline, nonexercise CRF was estimated with the sex-specific algorithms developed by Jackson et al. Analyses were performed with Cox regression and adjusted for the main confounders. RESULTS: During an average follow-up of 9.4 yr, 570 (38.8%) deaths occurred in men and 295 (20.2%) in women. Among men, no association was observed between nonexercise CRF and all-cause mortality. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of CRF, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for all-cause death was 0.81 (0.62-1.06) in the second quartile, 0.68 (0.48-0.95) in the third quartile, and 0.56 (0.36-0.87) in the highest quartile (P for trend = 0.004). Results held regardless of age, body mass index, waist circumference, HR, subjective health, functional limitations, and disease status. CONCLUSIONS: Higher nonexercise CRF was related to lower risk of death in older women but not in men. Because previous research does not support clear sex-specific association, further research is required to assess whether nonexercise CRF predicts mortality in older adults or new algorithms should be developed for this population, with special attention to older men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study which aims to analyze the relationship of physical activity and its changes to the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) between young adults enrolled in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. According to the article, among the methods being used include the recording of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), the summing up of LTPA which forms the physical activity index (PAI). In addition, it concludes that a physically active lifestyle can reduce or delay the onset of metabolic syndrome among adults.

The article presents a study which aims to determine whether a moderate dosage of caffeine could augment resting ventilatory responsiveness, exercise ventilation (VE), end-tidal O2 partial pressure, and arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (HbSaO2) in athletes with exercise-induced hypoxemia. The study assessed the ventilatory responsiveness at rest of via the isocapnic hypoxic response (HVR) and hyperoxic hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). Results shows that the failure of HbSaO2 to increase at VO2max despite an increased VE suggests that the mechanisms influencing HbSaO2 other than an inadequate hyperventilatory response may operate to different degrees across individuals as VO2max is approached.

The article focuses on the research study related to heart rate recovery (HRR) whether it is predictive of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to the author, survival analysis has been used to test the association of 1- and 2-minutes HRR with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events. He emphasized that information beyond traditional cardiovascular risk factors that can aid in clinical risk stratification with T2DM has been provided by the HRR.

The article offers information on the study of the difference between thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses and the endurance performance between prepubertal boys and adult males during a steady-load cycling in a moderately hot and cool ambient conditions with moderate humidity. According to the author, to identify the difference of each response, eight prepubertal boys and eight adult men performed the steady-load cycling to exhaustion at an intensity equivalent to approximately 65% with fluid intake ad libitum. He emphasized that the study failed to show the differences in exercise tolerance, thermoregulatory adaptation or cardiovascular response to exercise in the heat between euhydrated prepubertal boys and adult men.

The article examines the potential cardiovascular complications of exercise. It is stated that habitual physical activity reduces coronary heart disease cases but forceful exercises can also lead to the increase risk of sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infraction. According to a study, the rate of exercise-related cardiac death varies with the prevalence of the disease. Here, the authors suggest several strategies to reduce the said incidence including screening the patient before participating in an exercise activity, training fitness personnel for emergencies and encouraging an individual to avoid engaging in high-risk activities.

The article presents a study which examines the effect of high-impact exercise on the physical performance and cardiovascular risk factors. A 12-month population-based randomized controlled trial was performed to 120 women ages 35-40 who are divided into the exercise group and the controlled group. The exercise regimen composed of a supervised, progressive and high-impact physical activities for two to three times per week as well as an added home program. The changes in the physical function were determined and the exercises given were recorded using an accelerometer-based approach. Results showed that the moderate to intensity exercise regimen initially improved cardiorespiratory fitness, speed-strength and lipid profiles.

The article presents a study which investigated whether the way children and adolescents travel to school is associated with level of cardiovascular fitness in Denmark. The participants were recruited via proportional, two-stage cluster sample of schools as part of the European Heart Youth Study. Results showed that children and adolescents who cycled to school were more fit than those who walked or traveled by motorized transport and were nearly five times as likely to be in the top quartile of fitness. In conclusion, cycling to school can contribute a higher cardiovascular fitness in young people.

The article assesses the population-based reference standards for cardiovascular fitness among U.S. adults using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2000 and 2001-2002. Significantly, the study aims to provide reference standards for cardiovascular fitness levels, using population-based estimates of estimated maximal oxygen uptake. Results have shown that non-Hispanic black adults have the highest percentage of low cardiovascular fitness among major race groups in the U.S.

The article looks into the left ventricular function immediately following prolonged exercise. The author pointed out that evidence supporting cardiac fatigue following prolonged endurance exercise remains equivocal. The meta-analysis was aimed to quantify all data fulfilling the specified inclusion criteria, examining the short-term effect of prolonged endurance exercise on left ventricular function. Significantly, the weighted mean change in ejection fraction (EF), systolic blood pressure/end systolic volume ratio (SBP/ESV), and early-to-late diastolic filling were conducted. Finally, the decrease in EF and SBP/ESV observed indicates a reduction in systolic function, partially explained by altered cardiac loading.

The article examines the case of a 17 year old male who presented with chest heaviness that started during a pick-up basketball game. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an unusual cause of acute ischemic events and most spontaneous cases are associated with the peripartum period, Marfan syndrome, oral contraceptive use and primary vascular diseases such as vasculitis. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection should be considered in young individuals presenting with exercise-related acute ischemic cardiac events.