Effect of physical activity on the production of specific antibody in response to the 1998-99 influenza virus vaccine in older adults.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of physical activity on the production of specific antibody in response to a defined antigen, in particular, the hemagglutinin-inhibition response to the H3N2 (A/Sidney/05/97) and H1N1 (A/ Beij-ing/262/95) component of the 1998-99 influenza virus vaccine. METHODS: Thirty older adults aged 67 to 91 years (mean 81+/-5) participated in the study. Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE); a log-base 2 increase (fold increase) in titer of a serum over the prebleed for each person was representative of the immune response. Plasma samples were collected prior to, 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks postinfluenza virus vaccination. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate the overall immune response to the H3N2 and H1N1 components of the influenza virus vaccine. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationship between specific antibody production and physical activity. RESULTS: As expected, for both antigens, titers significantly increased after vaccination with the highest titers found six weeks postvaccination. A significant correlation between physical activity and specific antibody production was found for the Sidney component of the vaccine (H3N2) one week post- vaccination (r=0.59; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicated a positive relationship between physical activity and the initial immune response to a specific antigenic challenge in the present sample of older adults.

Accuracy and repeatability of the Yale physical activity survey in assessing physical activity of older adults.

The purpose of this study was to extend the initial evaluation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey to assess physical activity in older adults. The survey yields three indicators of physical activity reflecting activities performed during a typical week of the previous month (Total Time, Total Energy Expenditure) and the past month (Total Activity Summary Index). Questionnaire validity was studied in 56 men and women, ages 56 to 86 years, by comparing the average of 3- or 7 day 24-hr. physical activity records (n=56), predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) (n = 23) and the sum of three skinfold measurements. Two-week repeatability was estimated by calculating an intraclass coefficient using an analysis of variance with repeated measures. Spearman rhos were used to study questionnaire validity. Analysis showed the survey was easily administered and scored and exhibited moderate-to-good repeatability. For the first administration the Total Energy Expenditure Index was significantly associated with the physical activity diary (r = .27). On the second administration, correlations were significant for the physical activity diary with the Total Energy Expenditure Index (r = .30), the Total Activity Summary Index (r = .36), and the Total Time Index (r = .27), and for VO2 max and the Total Time Index (r = .49) and Total Activity Summary Index (r = .64). Relative to the criterion measures used in this study, some validity was evident for the second administration in this relatively active and healthy sample of older adults.

The effect of physical activity and fitness on specific antibody production in college students.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of moderate physical activity/fitness on the immune response to a defined antigen, in particular, the hemagglutinin-inhibition response to the H1 (A/Texas/36/91) and H3 (A/Johannesburg/33/94) components of the 1995-96 Influenza virus vaccine. METHODS: Sixty-seven volunteers 18-30 years of age (mean 21.1 + 2.3) participated in the study. Physical activity was assessed using the Stanford 7-Day Recall Questionnaire, physical fitness (VO2max) was predicted based on graded submaximal cycle ergometry. Participants were divided into six groups (lower-active/fit, moderate active/fit, and higher active/fit), based on their scores on the 7-Day Recall Questionnaire or predicted VO2max, respectively. Plasma samples were collected prior to, one, two, four, and six weeks post vaccination. A total of four separate repeated measures ANOVA were utilized to evaluate the effect of physical fitness and physical activity on the immune response to the H1 and H3 components of the vaccine. RESULTS: As expected, for both antigens, titers significantly increased after vaccination, with the highest titers found on week four (H1) and week six (H3), respectively. However, for both antigens, there was no difference between groups and no significant interaction. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed no significant effect of physical fitness or physical activity on the production of specific antibody in the range of physical fitness and physical activity found within this group of college students.

Lactate production in response to maximal and submaximal StairMaster PT4000 and treadmill exercise.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to measure the amount of lactate produced, as an indication of fatigue, in response to maximal and submaximal stairstepper (SM) and treadmill (TM) exercise. METHODS: Thirty volunteers (15 males, mean age 23 yrs; 15 females, mean age 22 yrs) completed maximal and submaximal SM and TM protocols on four separate visits to the laboratory to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), and blood lactate concentrations. Maximal TM testing consisted of the Bruce protocol, while the maximal SM protocol involved progressing in increments of 2 levels every 2 minutes. Eight minutes of submaximal TM and SM exercise was performed at an intensity of 65% of VO2max, as measured during maximal TM and SM testing. Fifty microliters of blood was collected via fingerprick of the index finger prior to, and immediately post maximal and submaximal TM and SM exercise, and during minutes 3, 5, and 7 of active recovery. Red blood cells were lysed and analyzed immediately using the YSI # 1500 Sport lactate analyzer. RESULTS: TM-VO2max, was significantly higher for both, males and females, compared to SM-VO2max. Repeated measured analyses of variance revealed significantly higher blood lactate levels during the same relative submaximal workloads for SM compared to TM exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that an increased lactate production during submaximal SM exercise may result in early fatigue and, thereby, limit maximal performance on the SM.

Perception of body shape in elderly white and black men.

In assessing the effects of age, physical activity and ethnic identity on perception of body shape in a group of 110 elderly men, the difference was significant for perception of current and ideal body shape, with the greatest difference for the 49 physically active black elderly men.

Body-shape perceptions of elderly women exercisers and nonexercisers.

Perceptions of current and ideal body shape for 49 elderly women exercisers (66 to 88 yr.) and 29 nonexercisers were measured using a nine-figure silhouette scale. Exercisers showed greater difference between current and ideal shape than nonexercisers, but no association was found for age. Further research needs to consider additional socioeconomic factors and be validated from a broader population.