Exercise increases muscle derived Interleukin–6 (IL–6) leading to insulin secretion via glucagon-like peptide–1. IL–1 antagonism improves glycemia and decreases systemic inflammation including IL–6 in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it is not known whether physiological, exercise-induced muscle-derived IL–6 is also regulated by the IL–1 system. Therefore we conducted a double blind, crossover study in 17 healthy male subjects randomized to receive either the IL–1 receptor antagonist IL-1Ra (anakinra) or placebo prior to an acute treadmill exercise. Muscle activity led to a 2–3 fold increase in serum IL–6 concentrations but anakinra had no effect on this exercise-induced IL–6. Furthermore, the IL–1 responsive inflammatory markers CRP, cortisol and MCP–1 remained largely unaffected by exercise and anakinra. We conclude that the beneficial effect of muscle-induced IL–6 is not meaningfully affected by IL–1 antagonism. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01771445

Exercise training has different effects on arterial stiffness according to training modalities. The optimal exercise modality for improvement of arterial function in normotensive and hypertensive individuals has not been well established. In this review, we aim to evaluate the effects of aerobic, resistance and combined aerobic and resistance training on arterial stiffness in individuals with and without hypertension. We systematically searched the Pubmed and Web of Science database from 1985 until December 2013 for relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The data were extracted by one investigator and checked by a second investigator. The training effects on arterial stiffness were estimated using weighted mean differences of the relative changes (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We finally reviewed the results from 17 RCTs. The available evidence indicates that aerobic exercise tends to have a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive patients, but does not affect arterial stiffness in patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Resistance exercise has differing effects on arterial stiffness depending on type and intensity. Vigorous resistance training is associated with an increase in arterial stiffness. There seem to be no unfavourable effects on arterial stiffness if the training is of low intensity, in a slow eccentric manner or with lower limb in healthy individuals. Combined training has neutral or even a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness. In conclusion, our review shows that exercise training has varying effects on arterial stiffness depending on the exercise modalities.

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the acute and 24-hour (h) effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate continuous training (MCT) on arterial pulse wave reflection, an established marker of arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk. Methods: In a randomized cross-over design, 21 young healthy male participants performed a HIIT or a MCT on separate visits. Before and 5 (t5), 20 (t20), 35 (t35), and 50 (t50) minutes after the acute exercise bouts, the crude augmentation index (AIx) and the AIx at a set heart rate (AIx@75) were analysed by applanation tonometry. Starting 1 h post-exercise, both indices were captured over 24-h with an oscillometric monitoring device. Results: AIx did not change significantly after MCT but declined progressively after HIIT, reaching significantly lower values compared to MCT at t35 (P = 0.045) and t50 (P = 0.008). AIx@75 increased after both acute exercise types but was higher after HIIT at t5 (P < 0.001), t20 (P < 0.001) and t35 (P = 0.009) compared to MCT. The 24-h follow-up revealed a significant decline in AIx@75 after HIIT (P = 0.007) but not after MCT (P = 0.813). Conclusions: Exercise intensity affects pulse wave reflection, with different time courses for AIx and AIx@75 post-exercise. Although initially higher after HIIT, AIx@75 declines in the 24-h recovery period indicating more favourable effects on pulse wave reflection compared to MCT. This may result in substantial positive chronic training effects on arterial stiffness in health and cardiovascular disease.

Background Clinical studies revealed age and pathological-related arterial stiffening. Arterial stiffening is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), which reflects both central elastic and peripheral muscular arterial stiffness, has been applied as a simple noninvasive method to evaluate the risk for cardiovascular events. However, whether it is necessary to standardize the time of the day when performing this measurement is unknown. We aim to examine the effect of daytime on CAVI in individuals with and without heart disease. Methods We investigated the daytime variation of CAVI using Vasera VS-1500N (Fukuda Denshi; Japan) in 23 healthy young individuals (28.3±4.7yr, HY), 22 healthy elderly individuals (61.1 ±9.0 yr, HE) and 25 patients with heart disease (63.9±11.5yr, HD). Results The effect of time on CAVI was shown to be significant in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Age was found as a significant determinant of CAVI (p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex and MAP, CAVI was shown to be 4% (09:00 versus 13:00, p = 0.022) and 5% higher (09:00 versus 17:00, p = 0.002) in the morning than the following time points. Furthermore, the patterns of variation over the day showed no significant differences among groups in CAVI. Conclusion CAVI showed a significantly higher value in the morning, which provides further support to standardize the time for measurements of arterial stiffness using CAVI in routine clinical practice and longitudinal studies.

Impaired balance and gait performance increase fall-risk in seniors. Acute effects of different exercise bouts on gait and balance were not yet addressed. Therefore, 19 healthy seniors (10 women, 9 men, age: 64.6 ± 3.2 years) were examined on 3 days. After exhaustive treadmill testing, participants randomly completed a 2-km treadmill walking test (76 ± 8 % VO2max) and a resting control condition. Standing balance performance (SBALP) was assessed by single limb-eyes opened (SLEO) and double limb-eyes closed (DLEC) stance. Gait parameters were collected at comfortable walking velocity. A condition × time interaction of center of pressure path length (COPpath) was observed for both balance tasks (p < 0.001). Small (Cohen's d = 0.42, p = 0.05) and large (d = 1.04, p < 0.001) COPpath increases were found after 2-km and maximal exercise during DLEC. Regarding SLEO, slightly increased COPpath occurred after 2-km walking (d = 0.29, p = 0.65) and large increases after exhaustive exercise (d = 1.24, p < 0.001). No significant differences were found for gait parameters. Alterations of SBALP after exhaustive exercise might lead to higher fall-risk in seniors. Balance changes upon 2-km testing might be of minor relevance. Gait is not affected during single task walking at given velocities.

Background. Arterial stiffness can be measured using various non-invasive methods. It is not well established whether it is necessary to standardize the time of the day when performing these measurements. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of daytime on arterial stiffness in individuals with and without heart disease. Methods. We investigated the diurnal variation of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). CAVI and cfPWV were measured in 70 participants (23 healthy young individuals [HY], 22 healthy elderly individuals [HE], 25 patients with heart disease [HD]) at 09: 00, 13: 00 and 17: 00 h. Results. There was a significant diurnal variation in CAVI with the highest values at 09: 00 h in both univariate and multivariate analysis. After adjusting for age, sex and MAP (mean arterial pressure), CAVI maintained a significant highest values at 09: 00 h, which was 4% higher than at 13: 00 h (p = 0.022) and 5% higher than at 17: 00 h (p = 0.002). However, a lack of diurnal variation was found in cfPWV in multivariate analysis in our study population. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that it does not appear mandatory to measure cfPWV at the same time of day. However, standardizing the time of day for CAVI is important in routine clinical practice and longitudinal studies.

The study investigated physiological responses during 2-km walking at a certain intensity of a previously performed maximal exercise test where moderate perceived exertion was reported. Twenty seniors were examined by an incremental walking treadmill test to obtain maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). A submaximal 2-km walking test was applied 1 wk later. The corresponding moderate perceived exertion (4 on the CR-10 scale) during the VO2max test was applied to the 2-km treadmill test. Moderate exertion (mean rating of perceived exertion [RPE]: 4 ± 1) led to 76% ± 8% of VO2max and 79% ± 6% of maximal heart rate. RPE values drifted with a significant time effect (p = .001, η(p) = .58) during the 2-km test from 3 ± 0.7 to 4.6 ± 0.8. Total energy expenditure (EE) was 3.3 ± 0.5 kcal/kg. No gender differences in ventilatory, heart-rate, or EE data occurred. Brisk walking at moderate RPE of 3-5 would lead to a beneficial physiological response during endurance training and a weekly EE of nearly 1,200 kcal when exercising 5 times/wk for 30 min.

Aortic pulse wave velocity (aortic PWV) is the gold standard for evaluating arterial stiffness and can be measured using various noninvasive However, there has been few data comparing the repeatability and agreement of different methods within the same individuals. The objective of this study is to assess the intra-observer variation and the agreement of aortic PWV measurements using Vasera and SphygmoCor. Aortic PWV measurements were performed in 22 healthy individuals (38.3±16.2 yr) using both Vasera VS-1500N and SphygmoCor. Double recordings with an interval of 5 minutes were undertaken by an experienced observer. The interclass correlation (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated. Intra-observer differences between repeated measurements and the agreement of the two methods were also assessed using Bland-Altman plots. The ICC of the repeated aortic PWV measurements was 0.942 (0.866–0.976, 95