Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) increases exercise capacity by stimulating erythropoiesis and subsequently enhancing oxygen delivery to the working muscles. In a large dose, EPO crosses the BBB and may reduce central fatigue and improve cognition. In turn, this would augment exercise capacity independent of erythropoiesis. To test this hypothesis, 15 healthy young men (18-34 years old, 7...

STUDY OBJECTIVE In COPD, it has been shown that peripheral muscle dysfunction is a factor determining exercise intolerance. We examined the hypothesis that exercise capacity of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is, at least in part, determined by peripheral muscle dysfunction. METHODS Maximum oxygen uptake (V(O2)max) was evaluated in 41 consecutive patients with IPF, along wit...

The aim of the current study was to compare the functional exercise capacity of patients with bipolar disorder with age-, gender- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. Thirty patients (16 ♂, 40.8±11.6 years) and healthy controls (16 ♂, 40.5±10.8 years) were included. All participants performed a 6-min walk test to assess the functional exercise capacity and completed the Internati...

A major determinant of maximal exercise capacity is the delivery of oxygen to exercising muscles. myo-Inositol trispyrophosphate (ITPP) is a recently identified membrane-permeant molecule that causes allosteric regulation of Hb oxygen binding affinity. In normal mice, i.p. administration of ITPP (0.5-3 g/kg) caused a dose-related increase in the oxygen tension at which Hb is 50% saturated (p50)...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether physiological cardiac reserve can be measured in man without invasive procedures and whether it is a major determinant of exercise capacity. DESIGN Development of method of measurement and an observational study. SETTING A regional cardiothoracic centre. SUBJECTS 70 subjects with a wide range of cardiac function, from heart failure patients to athletes. ...

P rogressive irreversible airway obstruction is the defining characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, people with COPD do not complain of airway obstruction but, more usually, about the associated restriction of physical activity. The disability resulting from COPD may also be compounded by peripheral muscle dysfunction that further limits exercise capacity. Trad...

Background. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an often complication of severe cystic fibrosis (CF); however, data on the presence and impact of pulmonary vasculopathy in adult CF patients with milder disease, is very limited. Aim. To investigate, for the first time, the impact of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PASP) on maximal exercise capacity in adults with mild-to-moderate cystic fibrosi...

BACKGROUND Regular daily physical activity is recognised as important in heart failure (HF) patients, but adherence to physical activity is low (<50%). To improve adherence to exercise in HF patients, alternative approaches to motivate and increase self-efficacy to exercise are needed. Therefore, we have studied a new phenomenon: exergames (games to improve physical exercise). The aims of the s...

A decrease in functional capacity is one of the most important clinical manifestations of hypertensive heart disease, but its cause is poorly understood. Our purpose was to evaluate potential causes of hypertension-induced exercise intolerance, focusing on identifying the type(s) of cardiac dysfunction associated with the first signs of exercise intolerance during the course of hypertensive hea...

Genetic factors determining exercise capacity and the magnitude of the response to exercise training are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with exercise training in mice. Based on marked differences in training responses in inbred NZW (-0.65 ± 1.73 min) and 129S1 (6.18 ± 3.81 min) mice, a reciprocal intercross breeding scheme was u...