A new equation to estimate temperature-corrected PaCO2 from PET CO2 during exercise in normoxia and hypoxia

Intermittent normobaric hypoxia alters substrate partitioning and muscle oxygenation in individuals with obesity: implications for fat burning

This single-blind, crossover study aimed to measure and evaluate the short-term metabolic responses to continuous and intermittent hypoxic patterns in individuals with obesity. Indirect calorimetry was used to quantify changes in resting metabolic rate (RMR), carbohydrate (CHOox, %CHO), and fat oxidation (FATox, %FAT) in nine individuals with obesity pre and post: 1) breathing normoxic air [normoxic sham control (NS-control)], 2) breathing continuous hypoxia (CH), or 3) breathing intermittent hypoxia (IH). A mean peripheral oxygen saturation ([Formula: see text]) of 80-85% was achieved over a total of 45 min of hypoxia. Throughout each intervention, pulmonary gas exchanges, oxygen consumption (V̇o2) carbon dioxide production (V̇co2), and deoxyhemoglobin concentration (Δ[HHb]) in the vastus lateralis were measured. Both RMR and CHOox measured pre- and postinterventions were unchanged following each treatment: NS-control, CH, or IH (all P > 0.05). Conversely, a significant increase in FATox was evident between pre- and post-IH (+44%, P = 0.048). Although the mean Δ[HHb] values significantly increased during both IH and CH (P < 0.05), the greatest zenith of Δ[HHb] was achieved in IH compared with CH (P = 0.002). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between Δ[HHb] and the shift in FATox measured pre- and postintervention. It is suggested that during IH, the increased bouts of muscle hypoxia, revealed by elevated Δ[HHb], coupled with cyclic periods of excess posthypoxia oxygen consumption (EPHOC, inherent to the intermittent pattern) played a significant role in driving the increase in FATox post-IH.

Cerebral blood flow, frontal lobe oxygenation and intra-arterial blood pressure during sprint exercise in normoxia and severe acute hypoxia in humans

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is regulated to secure brain O₂ delivery while simultaneously avoiding hyperperfusion; however, both requisites may conflict during sprint exercise. To determine whether brain O₂ delivery or CBF is prioritized, young men performed sprint exercise in normoxia and hypoxia (P_IO₂ = 73 mmHg). During the sprints, cardiac output increased to ∼22 L min^-1, mean arterial pressure to ∼131 mmHg and peak systolic blood pressure ranged between 200 and 304 mmHg. Middle-cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) increased to peak values (∼16%) after 7.5 s and decreased to pre-exercise values towards the end of the sprint. When the sprints in normoxia were preceded by a reduced P_ETCO₂, CBF and frontal lobe oxygenation decreased in parallel ( r = 0.93, P < 0.01). In hypoxia, MCAv was increased by 25%, due to a 26% greater vascular conductance, despite 4-6 mmHg lower PaCO₂ in hypoxia than normoxia. This vasodilation fully accounted for the 22 % lower CaO₂ in hypoxia, leading to a similar brain O₂ delivery during the sprints regardless of P_IO₂. In conclusion, when a conflict exists between preserving brain O₂ delivery or restraining CBF to avoid potential damage by an elevated perfusion pressure, the priority is given to brain O₂ delivery.

Total intravenous anesthesia produces outcomes superior to those with combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia for laparoscopic gynecological surgery at high altitude

Objective We compared efficacy and adverse outcomes following totally intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) versus combined intravenous-inhalation anesthesia (CIVIA) on hemodynamics and postoperative recovery following laparoscopic gynecological (LG) surgery at high altitudes. Methods We enrolled 80 ASA I or II patients scheduled for LG surgery and randomly assigned them to TIVA with propofol (group P, n = 40) or CIVIA with isoflurane (group I, n = 40). Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, pulse oxygen saturation, and partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide were measured at various time points. Outcome measures were interval to spontaneous ventilation, eye opening, return to consciousness, extubation, operating room duration. Intraoperative awareness and postoperative nausea/vomiting were assessed at follow-up. Results No differences in hemodynamic parameters were detected in either group. Group P had a significantly shorter postoperative anesthetic recovery time and lower incidence of postoperative nausea/vomiting. Conclusion TIVA is superior to CIVIA for GL surgery at high altitudes.

Arterial to end-tidal Pco2 difference during exercise in normoxia and severe acute hypoxia: importance of blood temperature correction

Negative arterial to end-tidal Pco₂ differences ((a-ET)Pco₂) have been reported in normoxia. To determine the influence of blood temperature on (a-ET)Pco₂, 11 volunteers (21 ± 2 years) performed incremental exercise to exhaustion in normoxia (Nx, P_Io₂: 143 mmHg) and hypoxia (Hyp, P_Io₂: 73 mmHg), while arterial blood gases and temperature (ABT) were simultaneously measured together with end-tidal Pco₂ (P_ETco₂). After accounting for blood temperature, the (a-ET) Pco₂ was reduced (in absolute values) from −4.2 ± 1.6 to −1.1 ± 1.5 mmHg in normoxia and from −1.7 ± 1.6 to 0.9 ± 0.9 mmHg in hypoxia (both P < 0.05). The temperature corrected (a-ET)Pco₂ was linearly related with absolute and relative exercise intensity, VO₂, VCO₂, and respiratory rate (RR) in normoxia and hypoxia (R²: 0.52–0.59). Exercise CO₂ production and P_ETco₂ values were lower in hypoxia than normoxia, likely explaining the greater (less negative) (a-ET)Pco₂ difference in hypoxia than normoxia (P < 0.05). At near-maximal exercise intensity the (a-ET)Pco₂ lies close to 0 mmHg, that is, the mean P_aco₂ and the mean P_ETco₂ are similar. The mean exercise (a-ET)Pco₂ difference is closely related to the mean A-aDO₂ difference (r = 0.90, P < 0.001), as would be expected if similar mechanisms perturb the gas exchange of O₂ and CO₂ during exercise. In summary, most of the negative (a-ET)Pco₂ values observed in previous studies are due to lack of correction of P_aco₂ for blood temperature. The absolute magnitude of the (a-ET)Pco₂ difference is lower during exercise in hypoxia than normoxia.

What limits performance during whole-body incremental exercise to exhaustion in humans?

To determine the mechanisms causing task failure during incremental exercise to exhaustion (IE), sprint performance (10 s all-out isokinetic) and muscle metabolites were measured before (control) and immediately after IE in normoxia (P(IO2) 143 mmHg) and hypoxia (P(IO2): 73 mmHg) in 22 men (22 ± 3 years). After IE, subjects recovered for either 10 or 60 s, with open circulation or bilateral leg occlusion (300 mmHg) in random order. This was followed by a 10 s sprint with open circulation. Post-IE peak power output (W(peak)) was higher than the power output reached at exhaustion during IE (P < 0.05). After 10 and 60 s recovery in normoxia, W(peak) was reduced by 38 ± 9 and 22 ± 10% without occlusion, and 61 ± 8 and 47 ± 10% with occlusion (P < 0.05). Following 10 s occlusion, W(peak) was 20% higher in hypoxia than normoxia (P < 0.05), despite similar muscle lactate accumulation ([La]) and phosphocreatine and ATP reduction. Sprint performance and anaerobic ATP resynthesis were greater after 60 s compared with 10 s occlusions, despite the higher [La] and [H(+)] after 60 s compared with 10 s occlusion recovery (P < 0.05). The mean rate of ATP turnover during the 60 s occlusion was 0.180 ± 0.133 mmol (kg wet wt)(-1) s(-1), i.e. equivalent to 32% of leg peak O2 uptake (the energy expended by the ion pumps). A greater degree of recovery is achieved, however, without occlusion. In conclusion, during incremental exercise task failure is not due to metabolite accumulation or lack of energy resources. Anaerobic metabolism, despite the accumulation of lactate and H(+), facilitates early recovery even in anoxia. This points to central mechanisms as the principal determinants of task failure both in normoxia and hypoxia, with lower peripheral contribution in hypoxia.

Limitations to oxygen transport and utilization during sprint exercise in humans: evidence for a functional reserve in muscle O2 diffusing capacity

To determine the contribution of convective and diffusive limitations to V̇(O2peak) during exercise in humans, oxygen transport and haemodynamics were measured in 11 men (22 ± 2 years) during incremental (IE) and 30 s all-out cycling sprints (Wingate test, WgT), in normoxia (Nx, P(IO2): 143 mmHg) and hypoxia (Hyp, P(IO2): 73 mmHg). Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) was increased to 6-7% before both WgTs to left-shift the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve. Leg V̇(O2) was measured by the Fick method and leg blood flow (BF) with thermodilution, and muscle O2 diffusing capacity (D(MO2)) was calculated. In the WgT mean power output, leg BF, leg O2 delivery and leg V̇(O2) were 7, 5, 28 and 23% lower in Hyp than Nx (P < 0.05); however, peak WgT D(MO2) was higher in Hyp (51.5 ± 9.7) than Nx (20.5 ± 3.0 ml min(-1) mmHg(-1), P < 0.05). Despite a similar P(aO2) (33.3 ± 2.4 and 34.1 ± 3.3 mmHg), mean capillary P(O2) (16.7 ± 1.2 and 17.1 ± 1.6 mmHg), and peak perfusion during IE and WgT in Hyp, D(MO2) and leg V̇(O2) were 12 and 14% higher, respectively, during WgT than IE in Hyp (both P < 0.05). D(MO2) was insensitive to COHb (COHb: 0.7 vs. 7%, in IE Hyp and WgT Hyp). At exhaustion, the Y equilibration index was well above 1.0 in both conditions, reflecting greater convective than diffusive limitation to the O2 transfer in both Nx and Hyp. In conclusion, muscle V̇(O2) during sprint exercise is not limited by O2 delivery, O2 offloading from haemoglobin or structure-dependent diffusion constraints in the skeletal muscle. These findings reveal a remarkable functional reserve in muscle O2 diffusing capacity.