Physical fitness assessment in multiple sclerosis patients: a controlled study

There is growing evidence to show the effectiveness of physical exercise for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic capacity, strength, balance, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) after exercise, in ambulatory patients with mild MS and matched control healthy participants. Seventeen MS patients aged 48.09 ± 10.0 years, with mild MS disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale: EDSS 1.5 to 4.5) and 10 healthy sedentary age matched (41.9 ± 11.2 years) subjects volunteered for the study. MS patients underwent medical examination with resting electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure, EDSS, and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-MFIS. Both groups also underwent physical assessment with the Berg Balance Scale(,) test (Berg), Six Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) of forearm, lower limb, shoulder strength test, and the Borg 10-point scale test. The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences for MFIS (F1.19=9.420; p<0.01), Berg (F1.19=13.125; p<0.01), handgrip MIVC (F1.19=4.567; p<0.05), lower limbs MIVC (F1.19=7.429; p<0.01), and 6MWT (F1.19=28.061; p<0.01) between groups. EDSS, Berg test and Borg scores explained 80% of 6MWT variation. Mild grade EDSS patients exhibited impaired balance, muscle strength, and low self pace-6MWT scores, whereas RPE response after the exercise was similar to that of sedentary individuals. Both groups showed similar global physiological adjustments to exercise.

Impact of different concentrations of human recombinant growth hormone on T lymphocytes

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects induced by increasing concentrations of human recombinant growth hormone on T lymphocytes. Ten healthy volunteers and twelve subjects with symptomatic allergies were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and purified T lymphocytes were cultured in the presence of graded concentrations of growth hormone. Following appropriate in vitro stimulations, the proportion of apoptotic T cells, the percentage of activated T lymphocyte subpopulations, the phytohemagglutinin responsiveness and the Th2 response were assessed by flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, in order to evaluate the phosphoinositol-3-kinase signaling pathway involvement, cells were also analyzed after treatment with LY294002. The treatment with different concentrations of growth hormone did not influence the activation pattern of un-stimulated T lymphocytes. On the contrary, growth hormone was able to modify the CD38/HLA-DR co-expression of T cells activated with phytohemoagglutinin. A different response was observed when samples obtained from healthy donors and from subjects with symptomatic allergies were analysed. Moreover, growth hormone treatment was able to increase the Th2 response in the samples obtained from healthy donors only. The results of the present study strongly support the hypothesis that growth hormone administration may play an important role in conditions of impaired/activated immune systems. The observation that growth hormone administration at high doses may reverse its effects and that it may promote a Th2-oriented response have significant clinical implications when considering the use of this hormone for artificially enhancing the physical performances of healthy athletes.

Effects of chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation on sport performance and antioxidant capacity in trained male: preliminary results

AIM

Rhodiola Rosea, is an adaptogen plant which has been reported to promote fatty acids utilisation, to ameliorate antioxidant function, and to improve body resistance to physical strenuous efforts. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects on physical performance as well as on the redox status of a chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation in a group of competitive athletes during endurance exercise.

METHODS

Following a chronic supplementation with Rhodiola Rosea for 4 weeks, 14 trained male athletes underwent a cardio-pulmonary exhaustion test and blood samples to evaluate their antioxidant status and other biochemical parameters. These data were compared with those coming from the same athletes after an intake of placebo.

RESULTS

The evaluation of physical performance parameters showed that HR Max, Borg Scale level, VO(2) max and duration of the test were essentially unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea assumption. On the contrary, Rhodiola Rosea intake reduced, in a statistically significative manner, plasma free fatty acids levels. No effect on blood glucose was found. Blood antioxidant status and inflammatory parameters resulted unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea supplementation. Blood lactate and plasma creatine kinase levels were found significantly lower (P<0.05) in Rhodiola Rosea treated subjects when compared to the placebo treated group.

CONCLUSION

Chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation is able to reduce both lactate levels and parameters of skeletal muscle damage after an exhaustive exercise session. Moreover this supplementation seems to ameliorate fatty acid consumption. Taken together those observation confirm that Rhodiola Rosea may increase the adaptogen ability to physical exercise.

The Long-Acting Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Tadalafil does not Influence Athletes' V·O2max, Aerobic, and Anaerobic Thresholds in Normoxia

Whereas experimental studies showed that in healthy trained subjects, the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) sildenafil improves exercise capacity in hypoxia and not in normoxia, no studies on the effects of the long half-life PDE-5i tadalafil exist. In order to evaluate whether tadalafil influences functional parameters and performance during a maximal exercise test in normoxia, we studied 14 healthy male athletes in a double-blind cross-over protocol. Each athlete performed two tests on a cycle ergometer, both after placebo or tadalafil (at therapeutic dose: 20 mg) administration. Oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, rate of perceived exertion, arterial blood pressure (BP), heart frequency (HR) and oxygen pulse (VO2/HR) were evaluated before exercise, at individual ventilatory and anaerobic thresholds (IVT and IAT), at VO2max and during recovery. Compared to placebo, a single tadalafil administration significantly reduced systolic BP before and after exercise (p < 0.05), decreased VO2/HR at IVT (13.3 +/- 1.8 vs. 14.5 +/- 2.1 mL . beat (-1); p = 0.03), but did not modify individual VO2max, IVT, or IAT. In healthy athletes, 20 mg of tadalafil does not substantially influence physical fitness-related parameters, exercise tolerance, and cardiopulmonary responses to maximal exercise in normoxia; it remains to be verified if higher doses/prolonged use influence health and/or sport performance in field conditions.