25 research outputs found

    Genetics and metabolomics of elite athletes: Genome-wide association study and Metabolomics profiling of elite athletes

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    AIM: The outstanding performance of elite athletes is a product of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The aims of this study was to compare differences in genetic and metabolic profiles among different classes of elite athletes and to identify genetically-influenced metabolic profiles (metabotypes) underlying these differences. METHODS: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted in 1259 elite athlete samples using Drug core BeadChip arrays, followed by non-targeted metabolomics of 692 serum samples. Genotype distribution, differences in metabolic levels and genetically-influenced metabotypes were compared between high and moderate endurance and power sports as well as among sports with different cardiovascular demands (CVD). RESULTS: Out of 341385 SNPs, two novel associations are reported for endurance status including rs56330321 in ATP2B2 (p=1.47E-7) and rs2635438 in SYNE1 (p=2.54E-7). A meta-analysis confirmed the association of rs56330321 and rs2635438 with endurance athlete status at GWAS level of significance. Metabolomics analysis of 740 metabolites was performed in in 191 (discovery cohort) and 500 (replication cohort) elite athletes. These studies revealed changes in various metabolites involved in steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid oxidation, oxidative stress response, xenobiotics and various mediators of cell signaling among different groups of endurance, power and CVD athletes. By combining GWAS with metabolomics profiling data (mGWAS), 19 common variant metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) were identified, of which 5 were novel. When focusing on metabolites associated with endurance, power and CVD, 4 common variant mQTLs were found, of which one novel mQTL linking 4-androsten-3alpha,17alpha-diol monosulfate and SULT2A1 involved in steroid sulfation was identified in association with endurance. CONCLUSIONS: GWAS, metabolomics and mGWAS of elite athletes identified novel markers associated with elite athletic performance with a potential application in biomarker discovery in relation to elite athletic performance

    Effects of bout duration on players internal and external loads during small-sided games in soccer

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    The evolution observed in soccer over the last years has led to an increase in the physical and metabolic demands required during a game. To prepare players for these demands, coaches must prescribe high-intensity training stimuli, which follow the modern competition's requirements. Thus, selecting the appropriate form, duration, and recovery time of exercises, with the objective of controlling training load, is regarded as a task of vital importance for the enhancement and development of capacities during the training process. Therefore, the general objective of this thesis was to identify which form, duration, and recovery time of a specific training exercise allowed male soccer players to reach and maintain higher training loads. To achieve the proposed objectives, the following sequence of work was conducted: (i) review of the literature on the proposed theme, (ii) comparison between the use of the continuous method or the fractionated method in the training load during the performance of small-sided games, and (iii) assessment of the impact of different recovery times on training load during small-sided games. The main evidence suggests that (i) exercises performed by the fractionated training method induce greater responses at the level of external load when compared to exercises performed by the continuous method; (ii) during the performance of small-sided games, the increase in the number of repetitions of the exercise (fractionated method) induces increases in the external load variables compared to the use of the continuous method; (iii) different recovery times for the same total exercise duration, induced differences in internal and external loads; iv) short recovery periods (i.e. 30 s) were sufficient to maintain high training loads compared to longer recovery periods (i.e. 1-2 min) during the performance of 5-a-side small-sided games v) the fractionated method should be used if the trainer aims to induce high training loads during 5-a-side small-sided games, since the continuous method seems to have caused a decrease in the players physical and physiological responses. This thesis also allows the development of guidelines for the prescription and monitoring of training load in soccer, using small-side games.A evolução verificada durante os últimos anos no futebol, levou ao aumento das solicitações físicas e metabólicas requeridas durante um jogo. De modo a prepararem as equipas para estas exigências, os treinadores devem prescrever estímulos de treino de alta intensidade, que acompanhem a exigência da competição. Assim, a escolha adequada da forma, duração e tempo de recuperação do exercício, com o objetivo de controlar a carga de treino, assumem-se como tarefas de vital importância para a potenciação e desenvolvimento das capacidades durante o processo de treino. Consequentemente, o objetivo geral desta tese foi identificar de que forma, a duração e o tempo de recuperação de um exercício específico de treino permitem atingir e manter cargas de treino mais elevadas em jogadores de futebol masculino. De modo atingir os objetivos propostos foi utilizada a seguinte sequência de trabalho: (i) revisão da literatura sobre o tema proposto, (ii) comparação entre a utilização do método continuo ou do método fracionado na carga de treino durante a realização de jogos reduzidos, (iii) impacto de diferentes tempos de recuperação na carga de treino durante a realização de jogos reduzidos. As principais evidências sugerem que: (i) exercícios realizados pelo método de treino fracionado induziram maiores respostas ao nível da carga externa quando comparados aos exercícios realizados pelo método contínuo; (ii) distintos tempos de recuperação para a mesma duração total do exercício, induziram diferenças nas respostas de cargas interna e externa de treino; iii) períodos curtos de recuperação (i.e., 30 s) foram suficientes para manter elevadas as cargas de treino em comparação com períodos de recuperação mais longos (i.e., 1-2 min) durante o desempenho de jogos reduzidos no formato 5 contra cinco iv) o método fracionado deve ser usado se o treinador tiver como objetivo induzir elevadas cargas de treino durante jogos reduzidos de 5 contra 5. Esta tese permite, igualmente, o desenvolvimento de diretrizes para a prescrição e monitorização da carga de treino no futebol através do uso de jogos reduzidos.La evolución observada durante los últimos años en el fútbol ha llevado a un aumento en las demandas físicas y metabólicas requeridas durante una partida. Para preparar a los equipos para estas demandas, los entrenadores deben prescribir estímulos de entrenamiento de alta intensidad, que acompañan el requisito de la competición. Así, la elección adecuada de la forma, duración y tiempo de recuperación del ejercicio, con el objetivo de controlar la carga de entrenamiento, se asume como misión de vital importancia para la potenciación y desarrollo de las capacidades durante el proceso de entrenamiento-. Así, el objetivo general de esta tesis fue identificar qué forma, duración y tiempo de recuperación de un ejercicio de entrenamiento específico permitió alcanzar y mantener cargas de entrenamiento más altas en jugadores de fútbol masculino. Para lograr los objetivos propuestos, se utilizó la siguiente secuencia de trabajo: (i) revisión de la literatura sobre el tema propuesto, (ii) comparación entre el uso del método continuo o el método fraccional en la carga de entrenamiento durante la ejecución de juegos reducidos, (iii) impacto de diferentes tiempos de recuperación en la carga de entrenamiento durante juegos reducidos. La evidencia principal sugiere que: (i) los ejercicios realizados por el método de entrenamiento fraccionado inducen mayores respuestas a nivel de carga externa en comparación con los ejercicios realizados por el método continuo; (ii) diferentes tiempos de recuperación para la misma duración total del ejercicio, indujeron diferencias en las cargas internas y externas; iii) los períodos de recuperación cortos (i.e., 30 s) fueron suficientes para mantener altas cargas de entrenamiento en comparación con los períodos de recuperación más largos (i.e., 1-2 min) durante la ejecución de juegos de 5 contra 5 en espacios reducidos iv) se debe utilizar el método fraccionado si el entrenador tiene como objetivo inducir cargas elevadas de entrenamiento durante el juego de 5 contra 5 en espacios reducidos. Esta tesis también permite el desarrollo de pautas para la prescripción y monitoreo de la carga de entrenamiento en el fútbol mediante el uso de juegos reducidos

    The Impact of Training Quantity on Structure-Function Relationships of the Cyclist's Heart

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    Structural and functional adaptations of the left ventricle (LV) in response to chronic exercise training termed the “athlete’s heart” (AH) are central to a road cyclist’s (RC) performance capacity. As a result, RC athletes complete very high training hours, which generate a stimulus for cardiac remodelling. In some cases, the profound adaptation observed in these athletes can mimic pathological processes, presenting a risk of false-positive identification of cardiomyopathy at pre-participation screening or during follow-up. Furthermore, emerging data suggest acute transient post-strenuous exercise reductions in LV systolic and diastolic function termed “exercise induced cardiac fatigue” (EICF) may be extended to short-term periods such as overload training where very high training hours and limited recovery exist (i.e. training camps and/or stage races). The magnitude and possible mechanism(s) responsible for persistent EICF in overload training, and implications for pre-participation screening/follow-up of RC are not fully understood. Based on this, the aims of this thesis were: 1) establish the impact of moderate and very high chronic training hours on structural, functional and mechanical remodelling of the road cyclist’s LV, 2) determine how the LV responds to variations in training hours across a competitive road cycling season, 3) assess the impact of short-term overload endurance training on LV structure-function-mechanical relationships of the road cyclist’s LV, and 4) evaluate the relationship between LV function and road cycling performance following short-term overload endurance training. Study 1 (Chapter 4) highlighted that LV eccentric hypertrophy is commonly presented by elite cyclists (EC) (35%), but not sub-elite cyclists (SEC) (3%). Increases in LV mass between non-athletes (NA) and SEC (133 ± 24 vs 163 ± 26 g, P<0.001) were predominantly driven by chamber expansion, whereas increased chamber concentricity between SEC and EC (5.85 ± 0.98 vs 7.11 ± 1.08 g/ml2/3, P<0.001) drove further LV mass development (133 ± 24 vs 210 ± 31 g, P<0.001). Marked structural remodelling in EC was also associated with a high prevalence of reduced (<52%) LV ejection fraction (LV EF) (12 %) and mildly reduced diastolic function. Study 2 (Chapter 5) established a progressive increase in LV mass between off-season and end-season in parallel with an accumulation of training hours in RC (143 ± 17 vs 162 ± 31, P<0.05), which was eccentric in nature. Although RC presented mildly decreased early diastolic function during the most rapid increase in training hours, both resting and in-exercise mechanics remained unchanged across all timepoints. In study 3 (chapter 6), 3-weeks of overload (OL) training elicited acute fatigue in RC, which was associated with dilatation of the LV (50.8 ± 2.9 vs 51.8 ± 3.2 mm, P<0.05), a decreased ability to augment LV EF (67 ± 5 vs 63 ± 3, P=0.056), and an increased atrial contribution to diastolic filling in-exercise (9 ± 3 vs 12 ± 2 cm/s, P<0.05). Decreased LV twist (17.7 ± 4.5 vs 15.3 ± 3.3, P<0.05) and global longitudinal strain (GL ɛ) (-20.2 ± 1.0 vs 19.2 ± 1.3, P= 0.063) are indicative of intrinsic contractile dysfunction and suggest similar mechanisms are involved in both acute and persistent EICF. The application of conventional and novel echocardiographic techniques have provided further understanding of normal physiological adaptation of the LV in response to short-, medium- and long-term high training hours in RC. These insights may lead to improvements in pre-participation screening and influence the training practices of this athlete group

    Specificity in the physical preparation of elite rugby union football players

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    The present thesis explored various applications of training specificity with regard to elite-level rugby union football players of various ages. A novel approach to metabolic conditioning employing skill-based conditioning games was investigated with elite-level senior professional players, during the course of a preseason training period. Training responses were assessed using a submaximal intermittent shuttle test performed at weekly intervals. Significant differences post-training (p<0.01) were observed for %HRmax reached during the final test stage and recovery of HR from the end of the final stage to the end of the final 1-minute rest period. The second study examined effectiveness of a circuit format for strength training in elite senior professional players during a preseason training period. Following the circuit based strength training, deadlift and bench pull I-RM strength scores were significantly improved both in comparison to pre-tests (p<0.01) and end season scores (p<0.01). Bench press scores were also significantly improved following the training period (p<0.01), and post-test bench press scores were improved relative to end season scores, albeit to a lesser extent (p<0.05). An Olympic lift training intervention was undertaken with Junior academy-level rugby union players. The effect of the application of these lifts on mean power output measured using test apparatus that simulated the ruck clean movement featured in rugby union football was examined. The considerably greater increases of the training group on this measure (28% vs 8%) were reflected in greater statistical significance (p<0.01) relative to the improvement for the control group (p<0.05). A significant interaction effect also indicated the training groups responded significantly differently on the test measure following training. A weighted ballistic push up training mode, incorporating a prototype shoulder harness, was investigated in a group of junior academy-level rugby football players. The training group recorded significant improvements in work output measured using a concentric-only push test (p<0.05), whereas countermovement push-up test scores approached significance (P=0.063). The final study employed an overweight ball complex training intervention. Following training the elite academy professional players who served as subjects showed significant improvements (p<0.05) in right-handed and left-handed mean and peak pass velocities.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

    Investigating the effect of sex, maturity, training status, and physical activity on performance and health-related parameters in children, adolescents, and adults

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    In 2018, 48% of young people in Wales engaged in sport ≥3 times a week. However, questions remain regarding the influence of sex and maturation on aerobic and anaerobic trainability. Indeed, many earlier studies failed to appropriately account for physical activity (PA), confounding the interpretation of training per se. Moreover, there is a paucity of literature examining the long-term effects of training. Chapter 4 revealed that, irrespective of maturity, trained youth had a higher maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ O2max) than their untrained counterparts but, importantly, the magnitude of training-related difference was higher in girls than boys. Given the well-established sex-differences in the decline of PA levels with age, Chapter 5 explored the role of PA on V̇ O2max using compositional analyses. This demonstrated that, for the same change in PA, girls had a greater predicted change in absolute, and scaled, ̇ O2max. As the trainability, and kinetic determinants, of sprint performance have received little attention compared to aerobic fitness in youth, this was explored in Chapters 6 and 7. In Chapter 6, training was associated with a greater peak power and force, depending on maturity, with only post-pubertal participants demonstrating significant increases in performance. Using a repeated sprint protocol, mechanical efficiency was found to be more important than absolute force production for performance in Chapter 7, highlighting key training targets. Finally, using a narrative review and meta-analytical approach, Chapter 8 found significant inter-sport differences in all-cause, cardiovascular disease, and cancer mortality in former elite athletes, suggesting that sport type influences the long-term effects of training. Overall, this thesis highlights the distinct determinants of aerobic and anaerobic performance, with sex and maturity exerting different, and independent, effects. Moreover, the paucity of data available in girls was highlighted, with conclusions regarding the long-term effects of training in females largely precluded

    Environmental effects of mangrove clearance in Belize, Central America

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    Oxygen Delivery and Utilization during Acute Dynamic Exercise : Effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, and Exercise Training

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    Oxygen Delivery and Utilization during Acute Dynamic Exercise: Effects of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, and Exercise Training Cardiovascular risk is increased in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Peak pulmonary O2 uptake (V̇O2peak) is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. This thesis aimed at studying O2 delivery and utilization (i.e., integrated components of V̇O2 response to exercise) during acute dynamic exercise in healthy individuals and individuals with PCOS or T1D. The adaptations induced by long-term exercise training were also examined in individuals with and without T1D. Data on 22 healthy adult men (Study I), 15 adult overweight or obese women with and 15 without PCOS (Study II), seven adult men with and 10 without T1D (Study III), and eight adult men with and eight without T1D (Study IV) were analyzed. The groups were matched for age, anthropometry, and leisure-time physical activity (II, III) or baseline V̇O2peak (IV). PCOS women and men with T1D had no clinically overt cardiovascular disease. The subjects performed maximal incremental treadmill (I) or cycling (II-IV) exercise tests, and in Study IV the subjects did so both before and after a 1-year individualized exercise training intervention. Alveolar gas exchange (I-IV), arterial O2 saturation (I-IV), heart rate (I-IV), cardiac pump function (II, III), and active leg muscle deoxygenation (I, III, IV) and blood flow (III) (near-infrared spectroscopy [NIRS]), were monitored during the exercise tests. In Study IV, peak O2 pulse was calculated to reflect cardiac pump function. Blood volume (III), hemoglobin concentration (I-IV), and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (III, IV) were determined. Reduced V̇O2peak, reduced peak systemic O2 extraction, and a pronounced cardiac response to increasing V̇O2 but otherwise intact systemic O2 delivery were observed in overweight and obese PCOS women. Reduced peak cardiac pump function, being associated with reduced blood volume, and independently deteriorated peak active leg muscle blood flow led to reduced V̇O2peak and were suggested to be associated with glycosylated hemoglobin A1c in men with T1D. The 1-year training intervention improved V̇O2peak and peak O2 pulse similarly in men with and without T1D but did not affect NIRS-derived local active muscle O2 extraction or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c in men with T1D. The associations between training dose and responses were consistent in healthy men but not in men with T1D. This thesis provides novel information on PCOS- and T1D-related early signs of subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction and leads future multi-disciplinary research to identify more detailed mechanisms behind and the clinical significance of the findings.Sydän- ja verenkiertosairauksien varhaisten ennusmerkkien etsintää liikunnan avulla Väitöstutkimuksessani havaitsimme munasarjojen monirakkulaoireyhtymä (polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS)- ja tyypin 1 diabetes (T1D) -potilailla alentuneen maksimaalisen hapenottokyvyn. Havaitsimme myös, että pitkäaikainen liikuntaharjoittelu parantaa T1D-potilaiden maksimaalista hapenottokykyä ja sydämen pumppaustoimintaa mutta ei heidän luustolihaksen mikroverenkierron häiriöitä eikä pitkäaikaista verensokeritasapainoa. Sydän- ja verenkiertosairauksien riski on kohonnut PCOS:ssä ja T1D:ssa. Sydän- ja verenkiertosairauksien riskiä ennustaa vahvasti ja itsenäisesti maksimaalinen hapenottokyky, joka kuvaa hengitys-, sydän- ja verenkiertoelimistön sekä luustolihasten toiminnallista kapasiteettia. Maksimaalinen hapenottokyky ja sen osatekijöitä voidaan mitata nousujohteisen maksimaalisen kuormituksen aikana. Väitöstutkimuksessani tutkimme hapenottokyvyn eri osatekijöiden käyttäytymistä akuutin fyysisen kuormituksen aikana sekä PCOS- ja T1D potilailla että terveillä verrokeilla. Tutkimme myös vuoden mittaisen liikuntaharjoittelun vaikutuksia T1D-potilaisiin ja terveisiin verrokkeihin. Tulostemme mukaan PCOS-potilaiden alentuneen maksimaalisen hapenottokyvyn taustalla ei ole heikentynyt sydämen pumppaustoiminta vaan hapenkulutusta alentavat muutokset happea käyttävissä kudoksissa, erityisesti luustolihaksissa. T1D-potilaiden alentuneen maksimaalisen hapenottokyvyn taustalta havaitsimme alentuneen veritilavuuden ja siten alentuneen sydämen pumppaustoiminnan. Havaitsimme myös T1D-potilaiden työskentelevän luustolihaksen maksimaalisen mikroverenvirtauksen alentuneeksi sydämen toiminnasta riippumattomasti. Mitä huonompi verensokeritasapaino T1D-potilailla oli, sitä enemmän tarkastelemamme osatekijät maksimaalista hapenottokykyä heillä rajoittivat. Maksimaalinen hapenottokyky ja sydämen pumppaustoimintaa kuvaavat muuttujat paranivat liikuntaharjoittelun myötä T1D-potilailla samassa määrin kuin terveillä verrokeilla, mutta aktiivisen luustolihaksen mikroverenkierto ja pitkäaikainen verensokeritasapaino eivät. Liikuntaharjoittelun annoksen ja vasteiden välillä oli johdonmukainen suhde terveillä verrokkeilla mutta ei T1D-potilailla; T1D-potilaan liikuntaharjoittelun tulleekin olla yksilöllisesti erityisen räätälöityä suotuisien vasteiden aikaansaamiseksi. Väitöstutkimukseni antaa lisätietoa PCOS:ään ja T1D:een liittyvistä sydän- ja verenkiertosairauksien varhaisista ennusmerkeistä ja ohjaa tulevaisuuden poikkitieteellistä tutkimusta tunnistamaan niiden yksityiskohtaisempia mekanismeja, kliinistä merkittävyyttä ja hoitoa

    The frequency of falls in children judo training

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    Purpose: Falling techniques are inseparable part of youth judo training. Falling techniques are related to avoiding injuries exercises (Nauta et al., 2013). There is not good evidence about the ratio of falling during the training in children. Methods: 26 children (age 8.88±1.88) were video recorded on ten training sessions for further indirect observation and performance analysis. Results: Research protocol consisted from recording falls and falling techniques (Reguli et al., 2015) in warming up, combat games, falling techniques, throwing techniques and free fighting (randori) part of the training session. While children were taught almost exclusively forward slapping roll, backward slapping roll and sideward direct slapping fall, in other parts of training also other types of falling, as forward fall on knees, naturally occurred. Conclusions: Judo coaches should stress also on teaching unorthodox falls adding to standard judo curriculum (Koshida et al., 2014). Various falling games to teach children safe falling in different conditions should be incorporated into judo training. Further research to gain more data from groups of different age in various combat and non-combat sports is needed

    Fear of crime and victimization among the elderly participating in the self-defence course

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    Purpose. Self-defence training could enhance seniors´ defensive skills and fitness. There is lack of evidence about fear and concerns of seniors participating in the self-defence course. Methods. 18 elderly persons (16 female, 1 male; age 66.2, SD=5.86) participated in the self-defence course lasting 8 training units (each unit 60 minutes). Standardized tool for fear of crime and victimization analysis previously used in Euro-Justis project in the Czech Republic (2011) was used in pretest and posttest. Results. We explored the highest fear of crime by participants in their residence area after dark (mean=2,77; median=3; SD=0,80), lower fear at the night in their homes (mean=2,29; median=2; SD=0,75) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,77) at the beginning of the course. We noticed certain decrease of fear of crime after the intervention. Participant were less afraid of crime in their residence area after dark (mean=2,38; median=2; SD=0,77), they felt lower fear of crime at the night in their homes (mean=2,00; median=2; SD=0,48) and in their residence area at the daytime (mean=1,82; median=2; SD=0,63). Conclusions. The approach to self-defence teaching for elderly should be focused not just on the motor development, but also on their emotional state, fear of crime, perception of dangerousness of diverse situations and total wellbeing. Fear of crime analysis can contribute to create tailor made structure of the self-defence course for specific groups of citizens
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