Int J Sports Med. 2004 Jan;25(1):6-13.

Click here to read 
Evidence of exercise-induced O2 arterial desaturation in non-elite sportsmen and sportswomen following high-intensity interval-training.

Mucci P, Blondel N, Fabre C, Nourry C, Berthoin S.

Laboratoire d'Analyse Multidisciplinaire des Pratiques Sportives, UFR-STAPS de Lievin-Universite d'Artois, Chemin du Marquage, 62800 Lievin, France. pmucci@wanadoo.fr

The aim of this study was to investigate the development of exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH defined as an exercise decrease > 4 % in oxygen arterial saturation, i. e. SaO (2) measured with a portable pulse oximeter) in twelve sportsmen and ten sportswomen (18.5 +/- 0.5 years) who were non-elite and not initially engaged in endurance sport or training. They followed a high-intensity interval-training program to improve V.O (2)max for eight weeks. The training running speeds were set at approximately 140 % V.O (2)max running speed up to 100 % 20-m maximal running speed. Pre- and post-training pulmonary gas exchanges and SaO (2) were measured during an incremental running field-test. After the training period, men and women increased their V.O (2)max (p < 0.001) by 10.0 % and 7.8 %, respectively. Nine subjects (seven men and two women) developed EIH. This phenomenon appeared even in sportsmen with low V.O (2)max from 45 ml x min (-1) x kg (-1) and seemed to be associated with inadequate hyperventilation induced by training: because only this hypoxemic group showed 1) a decrease in maximal ventilatory equivalent in O (2) (V.E/V.O (2), p < 0.01) although maximal ventilation increased (p < 0.01) with training, i. e. in EIH-subjects the ventilatory response increased less than the metabolic demand after the training program; 2) a significant relationship between SaO (2) at maximal workload and the matched V.E/V.O (2) (p < 0.05, r = 0.67) which strengthened a relative hypoventilation implication in EIH. In conclusion, in this field investigation the significant decrease in the minimum SaO (2) inducing the development of EIH after high-intensity interval-training indicates that changes in training conditions could be accompanied in approximately 40 % non-endurance sportive subjects by alterations in the degree of arterial oxyhemoglobin desaturation developing during exercise.

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2004;551:299-304.


Effects of intermittent hypoxic training and detraining on ventilatory chemosensitive adaptations in endurance athletes.

Katayama K, Sato K, Matsuo H, Ishida K, Mori S, Miyamura M.

Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.

Br J Nurs. 2004 Jan 8-21;13(1):19-29.


The effects of flying: processes, consequences and prevention.

Shepherd L, Edwards SL.

Barnet Accident and Emergency, Barnet General Hospital, Barnet, Hertfordshire.

The dangers of flying have recently been highlighted in the media; however, the available literature is contradictory, as are current recommendations for travellers. The purpose of this article is to provide an account of the research that has been undertaken to investigate the possible consequences of air travel. It will examine the effect that flying has on the body, especially the respiratory and circulatory systems, by studying the theoretical and empirical literature. The aim is to provide nurses with a sound insight into the effects of long-distance flying on the body, and the potential adverse effects/complications, such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, that may occur as a result. In addition, it provides information on the treatment options available and should enable nurses to give sound prophylactic advice after discharge. By encouraging passengers to take precautions, the number of people affected by flight could be reduced.

Publication Types:

·         Review

·         Review, Tutorial

Clin Sci (Lond). 2004 Mar;106(3):321-8.

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Intermittent altitude exposures reduce acute mountain sickness at 4300 m.

Beidleman BA, Muza SR, Fulco CS, Cymerman A, Ditzler D, Stulz D, Staab JE, Skrinar GS, Lewis SF, Sawka MN.

Biophysics and Biomedical Modeling Division, United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA 01760, USA. beth.beidleman@na.amedd.army.mil

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) commonly occurs at altitudes exceeding 2000-2500 m and usually resolves after acclimatization induced by a few days of chronic residence at the same altitude. Increased ventilation and diuresis may contribute to the reduction in AMS with altitude acclimatization. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of intermittent altitude exposures (IAE), in combination with rest and exercise training, on the incidence and severity of AMS, resting ventilation and 24-h urine volume at 4300 m. Six lowlanders (age, 23 +/- 2 years; body weight, 77 +/- 6 kg; values are means +/- S.E.M.) completed an Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire (ESQ) and Lake Louise AMS Scoring System (LLS), a resting end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 ( PETCO2) test and a 24-h urine volume collection at sea level (SL) and during a 30 h exposure to 4300 m altitude-equivalent (barometric pressure=446 mmHg) once before (PreIAE) and once after (PostIAE) a 3-week period of IAE (4 h.day(-1), 5 days.week(-1), 4300 m). The previously validated factor score, AMS cerebral score, was calculated from the ESQ and the self-report score was calculated from the LLS at 24 h of altitude exposure to assess the incidence and severity of AMS. During each IAE, three subjects cycled for 45-60 min.day(-1) at 60-70% of maximal O2 uptake (VO2 max) and three subjects rested. Cycle training during each IAE did not affect any of the measured variables, so data from all six subjects were combined. The results showed that the incidence of AMS (%), determined from both the ESQ and LLS, increased (P<0.05) from SL (0 +/- 0) to PreIAE (50 +/- 22) at 24 h of altitude exposure and decreased (P<0.05) from PreIAE to PostIAE (0 +/- 0). The severity of AMS (i.e. AMS cerebral symptom and LLS self-report scores) increased (P<0.05) from SL (0.02 +/- 0.02 and 0.17 +/- 0.17 respectively) to PreIAE (0.49 +/- 0.18 and 4.17 +/- 0.94 respectively) at 24 h of altitude exposure, and decreased (P<0.05) from PreIAE to PostIAE (0.03 +/- 0.02 and 0.83 +/- 0.31 respectively). Resting PETCO2 (mmHg) decreased (i.e. increase in ventilation; P<0.05) from SL (38 +/- 1) to PreIAE (32 +/- 1) at 24 h of altitude exposure and decreased further (P<0.05) from PreIAE to PostIAE (28 +/- 1). In addition, 24-h urine volumes were similar at SL, PreIAE and PostIAE. In conclusion, our findings suggest that 3 weeks of IAE provide an effective alternative to chronic altitude residence for increasing resting ventilation and reducing the incidence and severity of AMS.

Publication Types:

·         Clinical Trial

Int J Sports Med. 2004 May;25(4):252-6.


Attenuated ANF response to exercise in athletes with exercise-induced hypoxemia.

Durand F, Mucci P, Hayot M, Couret I, Bonnardet A, Prefaut Ch.

Laboratoire Sport, Sante, Altitude, Departement STAPS, Font-Romeu, France. fdurand@univ-perp.fr

Some highly trained endurance athletes develop an exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) at least partially due to a hemodynamic factor with a potential stress failure on pulmonary capillaries. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) is a pulmonary vasodilatator and its release during exercise could be reduced with endurance training. We hypothesized that athletes exhibiting EIH, who have a greater training volume than non-EIH athletes, have a reduced ANF release during exercise explaining the pathophysiology of EIH. Ten highly trained EIH-athletes (HT-EIH), ten without EIH (HT-nEIH), and nine untrained (UT) males performed incremental exercise to exhaustion. No between group differences occurred in resting ANF plasma levels. In contrast to HT-nEIH and UT (p < 0.05), HT-EIH showed a smaller increase in ANF concentration between rest and maximal exercise (HT-EIH: 8.12 +/- 0.69 vs. 14.1 +/- 1.86 pmol x l (-1); HT-nEIH: 10.46 +/- 1 vs. 18.7 +/- 1.8 pmol x l (-1); UT: 6.23 +/- 0.95 vs. 20.38 +/- 2.79 pmol x l (-1)). During the recovery, ANF levels decreased significantly in HT-nEIH and UT groups (p < 0.05). Electrolyte values increased in all groups during exercise but were higher in both trained groups. In conclusion, this study suggested that ANF response to exercise may be important for exercise-induced hypoxemia.

Publication Types:

·         Clinical Trial

·         Controlled Clinical Trial

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Jun;92(1-2):75-83. Epub 2004 Feb 26.

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Effect of intermittent hypoxia on oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise in endurance athletes.

Katayama K, Sato K, Matsuo H, Ishida K, Iwasaki K, Miyamura M.

Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan. katayama@htc.nagoya-u.ac.jp

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the following: (1) whether steady state oxygen uptake (VO(2)) during exercise decreases after short-term intermittent hypoxia during a resting state in trained athletes and (2) whether the change in VO(2) during submaximal exercise is correlated to the change in endurance performance after intermittent hypoxia. Fifteen trained male endurance runners volunteered to participate in this study. Each subject was assigned to either a hypoxic group (n=8) or a control group (n=7). The hypoxic group spent 3 h per day for 14 consecutive days in normobaric hypoxia [12.3 (0.2)% inspired oxygen]. The maximal and submaximal exercise tests, a 3,000-m time trial, and resting hematology assessments at sea level were conducted before and after intermittent normobaric hypoxia. The athletes in both groups continued their normal training in normoxia throughout the experiment. VO(2) during submaximal exercise in the hypoxic group decreased significantly (P<0.05) following intermittent hypoxia. In the hypoxic group, the 3,000-m running time tended to improve (P=0.06) after intermittent hypoxia, but not in the control group. Neither peak VO(2) nor resting hematological parameters were changed in either group. There were significant (P<0.05) relationships between the change in the 3,000-m running time and the change in VO(2) during submaximal exercise after intermittent hypoxia. The results from the present study suggest that the enhanced running economy resulting from intermittent hypoxia could, in part, contribute to improved endurance performance in trained athletes.

Publication Types:

·         Clinical Trial

·         Randomized Controlled Trial

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2004 Sep;229(8):806-12.

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Intermittent hypoxic training protects canine myocardium from infarction.

Zong P, Setty S, Sun W, Martinez R, Tune JD, Ehrenburg IV, Tkatchouk EN, Mallet RT, Downey HF.

Department of Integrative Physiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-2699, USA. pzong@hsc.unt.edu

This investigation examined cardiac protective effects of normobaric intermittent hypoxia training. Six dogs underwent intermittent hypoxic training for 20 consecutive days in a normobaric chamber ventilated intermittently with N2 to reduce fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) to 9.5%-10%. Hypoxic periods, initially 5 mins and increasing to 10 mins, were followed by 4-min normoxic periods. This hypoxia-normoxia protocol was repeated, initially 5 times and increasing to 8 times. The dogs showed no discomfort during intermittent hypoxic training. After 20 days of hypoxic training, the resistance of ventricular myocardium to infarction was assessed in an acute experiment. The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was occluded for 60 mins and then reperfused for 5 hrs. At 30 mins of LAD occlusion, radioactive microspheres were injected through a left atrial catheter to assess coronary collateral blood flow into the ischemic region. After 5 hrs reperfusion, the heart was dyed to delineate the area at risk (AAR) of infarction and stained with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride to identify infarcted myocardium. During LAD occlusion and reperfusion, systemic hemodynamics and global left ventricular function were stable. Infarction was not detected in 4 hearts and was 1.6% of AAR in the other 2 hearts. In contrast, 6 dogs sham-trained in a chamber ventilated with compressed air and 5 untrained dogs subjected to the same LAD occlusion/reperfusion protocol had infarcts of 36.8% +/- 5.8% and 35.2% +/- 9.5% of the AAR, respectively. The reduction in infarct size of four of the six hypoxia-trained dogs could not be explained by enhanced collateral blood flow to the AAR. Hypoxia-trained dogs had no ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Three sham-trained dogs had ventricular tachycardia and two had ventricular fibrillation. Three untrained dogs had ventricular fibrillation. In conclusion, intermittent hypoxic training protects canine myocardium from infarction and life-threatening arrhythmias during coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion. The mechanism responsible for this potent cardioprotection merits further study.

J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2004 Dec;44(4):342-8.


Exercise induced arterial hypoxemia in swimmers.

Spanoudaki SS, Maridaki MD, Myrianthefs PM, Baltopoulos PJ.

Division of Sports Medicine and Biology of Exercise, Laboratory of Functional Anatomy,TEFAA University of Athens, Dafni, Greece.

AIM: Exercise induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) is a reduction in arterial oxygenation, which may result from a drop in arterial oxygen pressure and therefore in oxygen saturation. We examined EIAH in swimmers, while till now it was known to occur in cyclists and runners. METHODS: We studied 8 male highly trained swimmers (age: 23+/-1.7; (.-)VO(2peak), 5.3+/-0.1 l/min and 8 male ex-swimmers (age: 21.5+/-0.6; (.-)VO(2peak), 3.4+/-0.3 l/min). All subjects performed 200-meter freestyle at maximum effort. Hemoglobin saturation (SaO(2)%) was measured using a finger pulse oximeter before exercise in the water in an upright position and immediately after exercise, within 5 seconds. RESULTS: Highly trained swimmers developed a statistically significant decrease in SaO(2)% (from 98.3+/-0.3 to 94+/-0.9, p= or <0.01) after exercise, while ex-swimmers did not (from 98.4+/-0.3 to 96.8+/-0.3 ns). The 4% decrease in SaO(2)% observed in highly trained swimmers can be characterized as mild EIAH. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that highly trained swimmers but not ex-swimmers may develop mild EIAH after 200 meters freestyle swimming at maximum effort.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Jan;37(1):138-46.


Effects of hypoxic interval training on cycling performance.

Roels B, Millet GP, Marcoux CJ, Coste O, Bentley DJ, Candau RB.

UPRES EA 3759 Faculty of Sport Sciences, 700 avenue Pic St Loup, 34090 Montpellier, France. belle.roels@univ-montpl.fr

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that intermittent hypoxic interval training improves sea level cycling performance more than equivalent training in hypoxia or normoxia. METHODS: Thirty-three well-trained cyclists and triathletes (25.9 +/- 2.7 yr, VO(2max) 66.1 +/- 6.1 mL.min(-1).kg(-1)) were divided into three groups: intermittent hypoxic (IHT, N = 11, P(I)O(2) of 100 mm Hg), intermittent hypoxic interval training (IHIT, N = 11) and normoxia (Nor, N = 11, P(I)O(2) of 160 mm Hg) and completed a 7-wk training program, consisting of two high-intensity (100 or 90% relative peak power output) interval training sessions each week. Each interval training session was performed in a laboratory on the subject's own bicycle, in normoxic or hypoxic conditions for the Nor and the IHT group, respectively. The IHIT group performed warm-up and cool-down plus recovery from each interval in hypoxic conditions. In contrast to IHT, interval exercise bouts were performed in normoxic conditions. RESULTS: Mean power output during a 10-min cycle time trial improved after the first 4 wk of training by 5.2 +/- 3.9, 3.7 +/- 5.9, and 5.0 +/- 3.4% for IHIT, IHT, and Nor, respectively, without significant differences between groups. Moreover, mean power output did not show any significant improvement in the following 3 wk in any group. VO(2max) (L.min(-1)) increased only in IHIT during the training period (8.7 +/- 9.1%; P < 0.05). No changes in cycling efficiency or in hematological variables (P > 0.05) were observed. CONCLUSION: Four weeks of interval training induced an improvement in endurance performance. However, short-term exposure to hypoxia (approximately 114 min.wk(-1)) did not elicit a greater increase in performance or any hematological modifications.

Int J Sports Med. 2004 Jan;25(1):6-13.

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Evidence of exercise-induced O2 arterial desaturation in non-elite sportsmen and sportswomen following high-intensity interval-training.

Mucci P, Blondel N, Fabre C, Nourry C, Berthoin S.

Laboratoire d'Analyse Multidisciplinaire des Pratiques Sportives, UFR-STAPS de Lievin-Universite d'Artois, Chemin du Marquage, 62800 Lievin, France. pmucci@wanadoo.fr

The aim of this study was to investigate the development of exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH defined as an exercise decrease > 4 % in oxygen arterial saturation, i. e. SaO (2) measured with a portable pulse oximeter) in twelve sportsmen and ten sportswomen (18.5 +/- 0.5 years) who were non-elite and not initially engaged in endurance sport or training. They followed a high-intensity interval-training program to improve V.O (2)max for eight weeks. The training running speeds were set at approximately 140 % V.O (2)max running speed up to 100 % 20-m maximal running speed. Pre- and post-training pulmonary gas exchanges and SaO (2) were measured during an incremental running field-test. After the training period, men and women increased their V.O (2)max (p < 0.001) by 10.0 % and 7.8 %, respectively. Nine subjects (seven men and two women) developed EIH. This phenomenon appeared even in sportsmen with low V.O (2)max from 45 ml x min (-1) x kg (-1) and seemed to be associated with inadequate hyperventilation induced by training: because only this hypoxemic group showed 1) a decrease in maximal ventilatory equivalent in O (2) (V.E/V.O (2), p < 0.01) although maximal ventilation increased (p < 0.01) with training, i. e. in EIH-subjects the ventilatory response increased less than the metabolic demand after the training program; 2) a significant relationship between SaO (2) at maximal workload and the matched V.E/V.O (2) (p < 0.05, r = 0.67) which strengthened a relative hypoventilation implication in EIH. In conclusion, in this field investigation the significant decrease in the minimum SaO (2) inducing the development of EIH after high-intensity interval-training indicates that changes in training conditions could be accompanied in approximately 40 % non-endurance sportive subjects by alterations in the degree of arterial oxyhemoglobin desaturation developing during exercise.

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 Aug;92(4-5):470-6. Epub 2004 May 8.


Effects of training in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia on time to exhaustion at the maximum rate of oxygen uptake.

Messonnier L, Geyssant A, Hintzy F, Lacour JR.

Laboratoire de Modelisation des Activites Sportives, Departement STAPS, Universite de Savoie, 73376, Le Bourget du Lac Cedex, France. laurent.messonnier@univ-savoie.fr

The effects of endurance training in normoxia or in hypoxia on time to exhaustion ( T(lim)) at the work rate corresponding to peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)) were examined at sea level in 13 healthy subjects. Before and after training the subjects performed the following: (1) incremental exercises up to exhaustion to determine peak oxygen uptake in normoxia (VO(2peak)N), the percentage of this value at the 4 mmol l(-1) blood lactate concentration (VO(2)4%N) and the work rate corresponding to VO(2peak)N (Pa(peak)N), (2) a 5-min 90% Pa(peak)N exercise followed by a 10-min passive recovery to determine the maximal blood lactate concentration (La(max)) measured during the recovery, and (3) a T(lim) at Pa(peak)N. Training consisted of pedalling 2 h a day, 6 days a week, for 4 weeks. Five subjects trained in normobaric hypoxia [HT; partial pressure of inhaled oxygen ( P(I)O(2)) 89 mmHg] and eight subjects trained at the same relative work rates in normoxia (NT; P(I)O(2) 141 mmHg). The training-induced improvement of all the measured parameters were closely matched between the HT and the NT ( P>0.05). Training increased T(lim) by 59.7% [164(40) s]. The value of T(lim) was related to VO(2)4%N and to La(max) before and after training. Also, the training-induced improvement of T(lim) was related to the concomitant decrease in La(max). It is concluded that: (1) endurance training including continuous high-intensity exercises improves T(lim) for exercises performed at the same relative (higher absolute) work rate after training, (2) intermittent hypoxic training has no potentiating effect on T(lim) as compared with training in normoxia, and (3) the intra-individual training-induced improvement of T(lim) was associated with metabolic alteration in relation to lactate accumulation.

Biol Chem. 2004 Mar-Apr;385(3-4):217-21.


Oxidative stress in the systemic and cellular responses to intermittent hypoxia.

Prabhakar NR, Kumar GK.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. nrp@po.cwru.edu

Patients with chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH) caused by recurrent apneas have a greatly increased risk for developing hypertension, myocardial infarctions, and stroke. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the recent studies focusing on the mechanisms associated with systemic and cellular effects of IH in experimental animals and cell culture models. Rats exposed to chronic IH exhibited elevated blood pressures and increased sympathetic nerve activity, partly due to enhanced reflexes arising from carotid bodies. Direct recordings of the carotid body sensory activity showed that chronic IH selectively augmented hypoxic sensitivity, and induced a novel form of functional plasticity manifested as sensory long-term facilitation. In cell culture models, prior exposure to IH resulted in facilitation of hypoxia-induced transmitter release and activation of several protein kinases. IH caused activation of c-Fos and activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor and tyrosine hydroxylase, an AP-regulated downstream gene. For a given duration and intensity of hypoxia, IH was more potent and caused longer-lasting activation than continuous hypoxia. Scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) prevented IH-induced systemic and cellular responses. Inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain appears to be one of the sources for IH-induced generation of ROS. The persistent oxidative stress may contribute to the progression of morbidity associated with chronic IH caused by recurrent apneas, and antioxidants might be of considerable therapeutic value in preventing the progression of disease associated with chronic IH.

 

Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2004 Apr 20;140(1):1-8.


Persistent respiratory changes following intermittent hypoxic stimulation in cats and human beings.

Morris KF, Gozal D.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of South Florida Medical Center, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd. MDC Box 8, Tampa, FL 33612-4799, USA. kmorris@hsc.usf.edu

Repeated intermittent hypoxia or other stimulation of carotid chemoreceptors produces a consistent long-term increase in respiratory nerve activity in vagotomized, artificially ventilated anesthetized or decerebrate animals, but variable results have been reported in more intact preparations. We sought additional variables that could be measured to help gain an understanding of persistent respiratory responses to intermittent hypoxia. The variance of respiratory phases decreased in 10 of 11 recordings from vagotomized anesthetized cats during long-term facilitation induced by carotid chemoreceptor stimulation. The variance of expiratory time was reduced in 10 awake human beings exposed to repetitive, brief episodes of isocapnic hypoxia (6% O(2) in N(2), 60s). Respiratory frequency was increased in humans and tidal volume decreased so that minute ventilation remained unchanged. The results suggest that there are persistent changes in the output of the respiratory central pattern generator following intermittent peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation or hypoxia.

Publication Types:

·         Clinical Trial

·         Controlled Clinical Trial

Aviakosm Ekolog Med. 2004 Jan-Feb;38(1):63-7.


[The effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on oxygen metabolism in hypertonic pilots]

[Article in Russian]

Razsolov NA, Potievskii BG, Potievskaia VI.

Oxygen tissue metabolism was evaluated in hypertonic pilots in order to draw up an optimal treatment plan. Oxygen metabolism kinetics was determined with the help of transcutaneous polarography and the local ischemic extremity test was applied to measure the O2 utilization efficiency. Breathing mixture of 90% nitrogen and 10% oxygen (GGS-10) was used in therapeutic sessions of intermittent normobaric hypoxia. Results point to the reduced tissue breathing intensity and cell functional energy reserve in hypertonic patients. However, O2 metabolism is much closer to normal in pilots as compared with non-flyers. In pilots, O2 utilization is more intensive, energy supply of cells is higher, O2 transport and utilization are well-balanced, and tissue breathing is less reactive to the hypoxic factor. Dynamic kinetics of O2 metabolism tested post treatment suggested activation of O2 tissue metabolism in the hypertonic pilots rather than O2 transport which was stimulated in non-flyers. In addition, by the end of treatment the pilots were advised to extend the period of breathing GGS-10 leaving the period of air breathing unchanged. Consequently, the pilots were more adaptable to hypoxia than the non-flyers and, therefore, improved O2 tissue metabolism more rapidly.

 

Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 2004 Oct;17(5):334-9.


[Effects of intermittent normobaric hypoxia training on heart rate variability]

[Article in Chinese]

Xu X, Lu LL, Chen ZH, Liu XX, Li YZ.

Institute of Space Medico-Engineering, Beijing, China.

Objective: To observe the influences of intermittent normobaric hypoxia (INH) training on heart rate variability (HRV) under hypoxia. Method: Eight subjects were trained with INH for 4 weeks (24 d), subjects' HRV level, recorded during exposure to hypoxia (10% O2) before and after the training, were compared and analyzed. Result: After the INH training, average of normal to normal Intervals (R-R), standard deviation of normal to normal Intervals (SDNN), total power (TP), high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) increased significantly during hypoxia (P<0.05 - P<0.001); normalized low frequency (LFn), normalized high frequency (HFn) and LF/HF showed no significant change. Conclusion: 1) INH training can increase subjects' HRV under hypoxia; 2) INH training can not only be used to increase the tolerance of hypoxia, but it is also good for increasing astronaut's flying tolerance under special environment.

Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 2004 Apr;17(2):114-6.


[Effects of hypoxic acclimatization on myocardial contents of total protein, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in rats]

[Article in Chinese]

Long CL, Yin ZY, Wang H.

Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Objective: To study the effects of acute hypoxia and acute hypoxia after intermittent hypoxic acclimatization on myocardial contents of total protein, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats. Method: Myocardial contents of total protein, MDA and NO were investigated in rats after intermittent hypoxic acclimatization (simulated high altitude 3000 m and 5000 m, 4 h/d, 2 weeks respectively) and normal rats after they were exposed to hypoxia (simulated high altitude 8000 m) for 4 h. Result: Compared with normal control rats, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO in acute hypoxic rats were reduced significantly, and the myocardial content of MDA was increased significantly. After intermittent hypoxic acclimatization, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO of rats were significantly higher and the myocardial content of MDA was significantly lower compared with those in acute hypoxic rats. Conclusion: After intermittent hypoxic acclimatization, the myocardial contents of total protein and NO of rats were increased significantly and the content of myocardial MDA was decreased significantly. This is one of the biochemical mechanisms of hypoxic acclimatization of the heart.

 

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2004;551:299-304.


Effects of intermittent hypoxic training and detraining on ventilatory chemosensitive adaptations in endurance athletes.

Katayama K, Sato K, Matsuo H, Ishida K, Mori S, Miyamura M.

Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports, Nagoya University,