Oxygen uptake, heart rate and energy expenditure during slideboard routines at different cadence.

AIM: Little is known about the physiological response during slideboard exercise (SE). The aim of the present study was to analyse the oxygen uptake (V.O2), the heart rate (HR) and the energy expenditure (EE) during a typical slideboard exercise session and investigate differences on these variables when performing the same choreography at two different cadences (130 e 145 beats per minute - bpm). METHODS: The sample comprised 13 female university students (21,77+/-0,97 years), apparently healthy and physically active, with past training in SE and mastering the technical levels 1 and 2. The subjects performed randomly exercise sessions at 130 bpm and 145 bpm. The ventilatory response was measured by an open air circuit system (COSMED K4b2, Rome, Italy) and HR was measured by a portable monitor (Polar Wireless Double Electrode, Kempele, Finland). HR and V.O2, during SE at 130 bpm, were 179.88+/-834 bpm and 37.95+/-3.71 mL/kg/min respectively. At 145 bpm SE mean values were 182.08+/-9.58 bpm and 39.67+/-3.82 mL/kg/min respectively. EE during 130 bpm exercise was 10.60+/-1.69 kcal/min and at 145 bpm was 10.90+/-1.36 kcal/min. No differences were found between 130 and 145 bpm in none of the variables. We conclude that slideboard exercise cardio respiratory response does not seem affected by the rhythm of execution. Moreover the EE associated with this type of exercise is above the literature reports for other types of group aerobic exercises.

The relevance of flow cytometry for biochemical analysis.

Flow cytometry (FCM) allows the simultaneous measurement of multiple fluorescences and light scatter induced by illumination of single cells or microscopic particles in suspension, as they flow rapidly through a sensing area. In some systems, individual cells or particles may be sorted according to the properties exhibited. By using appropriate fluorescent markers, FCM is unique in that multiple structural and functional parameters can be quantified simultaneously on a single-particle basis, whereas up to thousands of biological particles per second may be examined. FCM is increasingly used for basic, clinical, biotechnological, and environmental studies of biochemical relevance. In this critical review, we summarize the main advantages and limitations of FCM for biochemical studies and discuss briefly the most relevant parameters and analytical strategies. Graphical examples of the biological information provided by multiparametric FCM are presented. Also, this review contains specific sections on flow cytoenzymology, FCM analysis of isolated subcellular organelles, and cell-free FCM.