Immunoendocrine interactions and T cell proliferation responses to layered physical and psychological stressors

Introduction: Military training environments are rigorous requiring service men and women to endure not only physical and psychological stress but also sleep deprivation, caloric restrictions, and severe thermic challenges. Exposure to these layered stressors are thought to improve human performance by acclimating the individuals to “real-world” operational stressors. It is difficult for scientists to identify pertinent immunoendocrine interactions occurring in layered stress environments because of considerable logistical constraints involving location of and access to affected personnel. The convention has been to use immunoendocrine responses induced by various exercise regimens as platforms to generalize results to the layered, and more exaggerated stress environments of military training. Methods: Three distinct experiments were conducted to understand immunoendocrine interactions resulting from layered stress environments. The first project investigated T cell proliferation following concurrent aerobic and resistance training as well as assessing changes in measures of proliferation following delayed cell isolation protocols. The second project examined whether the exercise models we use to generalize to military experiences are accurate. Eight healthy males underwent a high intensity training session combining physical and psychological stress similar to that experience in military operational training. A control group of 8 subjects participated in a moderate intensity session as comparison. Blood parameters were measured at Pre, Post, 1 hr, 4hr, and 6hr. The third project was an observational study examining immunoendocrine responses to the Marine Corps Martial Arts Training Program (MCMAP). Thirty-six newly enlisted, male Marines were observed three times over a nine-week period at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Blood parameters were measured prior to training, Post training and at 15 min intervals out to 1 hr after training cessation. Conclusions: Immunoendocrine alterations following MCMAP sessions are in line with current laboratory findings that examine response to paired physical and psychological stressors suggesting MCMAP may be a good real world analogue of laboratory based layered stress experiments. The higher intensity training sessions utilized in study two generated an enhanced proliferative response similar to that observed from exercise in competitive settings suggestive of a psychologically driven mechanism for proliferation

Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: Effects on the Properties of Human Plantar Flexors

The effect of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (ISTM) on passive properties and inflammation in human skeletal muscle has not been evaluated. Passive properties of muscle, inflammatory myokines and subjective reporting of functional ability were used to identify the effects of ISTM on the plantar flexors. 11 healthy men were measured for passive musculotendinous stiffness (MTS), passive range of motion (PROM), passive resistive torque (PASTQ) and maximum voluntary contraction peak torque (MVCPT) for plantar flexor muscles of the lower leg. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured from muscle biopsies from the gastrocnemius, and subjective measurements of functional ability were taken using the perception of functional ability questionnaire (PFAQ). MTS, PROM, PRT and MVCPT were measured in the treatment leg (TL) and control leg (CL) before, immediately after, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h following IASTM. Biopsies for IL-6 and TNF-α and PFAQ responses were collected before as well as 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after IASTM. There were no significant differences in MTS, PROM, PASTQ, MVCPT, IL-6 and TNF-α between the TL or CL. A significant decrease in the perception of function and a significant increase in pain for the TL were found following IASTM

Gastrointestinal Cell Injury and Percieved Symptoms after Running the Boston Marathon

Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances are a prevalent cause of marathon related complaints, and in extreme cases can promote life-threatening conditions such as exertional heat stroke. PURPOSE: Our aim was to study intestinal cell injury (via intestinal fatty acid binding protein [I-FABP]) and perceived GI distress symptoms among marathon runners. Potential risk factors (e.g., inadequate sleep) that could exacerbate GI disturbances in healthy, trained endurance runners were also examined. METHODS: A parallel mixed-methods study design was utilized. 2019 Boston Marathon participants were recruited via email. Before the race subjects completed surveys describing demographics and training history. Immediately pre-race, post-race, and 24-hours post-race participants completed a GI questionnaire to assess presence and severity of symptoms, a survey regarding risk factors (e.g., recent illness, medications) that could promote GI disturbances, and provided a urine sample. Due to weather, blood samples were only collected immediately and 24-hours post-race. RESULTS: A total of 40 runners (males: n = 19, age = 44.9 ± 10.8 years; females: n = 21, age = 44.8 ± 10.6 years) completed this study. I-FABP significantly decreased from post-race (3367.5 ± 2633.5 pg/ml) to 24-hours post-race (1657.3 ± 950.7 pg/ml, t(39) = -4.228, p \u3c .001, d = -.669). A significant difference in overall GI symptom scores across the three time points occurred (F(2, 39) = 41.37, p \u3c .001). Compared to pre-race (.09 ± .12) and 24-hour post-race (.44 ± .28), the highest average score occurred post-race (.84 ± .68). Post-race I-FABP (r = .31, p = .048) and post-race urine specific gravity (r = .33, p = .041) were significantly correlated with post-race GI symptom scores. CONCLUSION: Our study further supports the individualized presentation of GI disturbances, with participants experiencing a wide range of risk factors that can influence the extent of GI damage and perceived symptoms during and after exercise