001). The higher incidence of the IR in the COPD group than in the age-matched controls may reflect the increased inspiratory neural drive in the COPD group. This higher drive counteracts changes in chest wall and lung mechanics. However, when present, the reflex was similar in size and duration in the two groups. The relation between the IR in COPD and swallowing function could be assessed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A potent short-latency reflex inhibition of inspiratory muscles produced by airway occlusion was tested in people with COPD and age-matched controls. The reflex was more prevalent in COPD, presumably due to an increased neural drive to breathe. When present, the reflex was similar in duration in the two groups, longer than historical data for younger control groups. The work reveals novel differences in reflex control of inspiratory muscles due to aging as well as COPD.High training demands throughout the competitive season in female collegiate soccer players have been shown to induce changes in biomarkers indicative of stress, inflammation, and reproduction, which may be exacerbated in athletes using oral contraceptives (OCs). This study aimed to compare biomarkers and body composition between OC-using and nonusing (CON) female soccer players throughout a competitive season. find more Female collegiate soccer players were stratified into two groups based on their reported OC use at the start of preseason (OC n = 6; CON n = 17). Before the start of preseason and immediately postseason, athletes underwent a battery of performance tests. Blood draws and body composition assessments were performed before preseason, on wks 2, 4, 8, and 12 of the season, and postseason. Area-under-the-curve ratios (OCAUCCONAUC) indicated the OC group were exposed to substantially higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (AUCratio = 1.4, probability = P > 0.999), total cortisol (1.7; P > 0.999), C-reaally those of inflammation, stress, anabolism, and energy balance, between OC-using and nonusing soccer players. Additionally, this study provides insight into changes in body composition with prolonged training between female athletes with and without OC use.We used a within-subject crossover design to examine the impact of exercise modality, i.e., resistance (RT) and endurance (END), on the acute impact of exercise on endothelial function. Then, we examined whether a 4-wk period of chronic exercise training altered the acute exercise-induced change in endothelial function in healthy individuals. Thirty-four healthy, young men (21 ± 2 yr) reported to our laboratory and completed assessment of endothelial function [using the brachial artery flow-mediated dilation test (FMD)] before and immediately after a single bout of RT (leg-extension) or END (cycling). Subsequently, participants completed a 4-wk period of training (12 sessions), followed by evaluation of the FMD before and after a single bout of exercise. Following a 3-wk washout, participants repeated these experiments with the different exercise modality (in a balanced crossover design). An exercise × modality interaction effect was found (P less then 0.001). Post hoc pairwise analyses revealed a decrease rcise. Four weeks of chronic exercise training did not affect the acute endothelial function response.Diagnosing the cause of hypoxemia and dyspnea can be complicated in complex patients with multiple co-morbidities. This Case Study in Physiology describes an obese man admitted to the hospital for relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who experienced progressive hypoxemia, shortness of breath, and dyspnea on exertion during his hospitalization. After initial empirical treatment with diuresis and antibiotics failed to improve his symptoms, we applied a novel, recently described physiological method to estimate the arterial partial pressure of oxygen from the peripheral saturation measurement, and calculate the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference to discern the source of his hypoxemia and dyspnea. Using basic physiological principles, we describe how hypoventilation, anemia, and the use of a beta-blocker and furosemide, collaborated to create a “perfect storm” in this patient that impaired oxygen delivery and limited utilization. This case illustrates the application of innovative physiology methodology in medicine and provides strong rationale for continuing to integrate physiology education in medical education.Intestinal barrier integrity and function are compromised during exertional heat stress (EHS) potentially leading to consequences that range from minor gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances to fatal outcomes in exertional heat stroke or septic shock. This mini-review provides a concise discussion of nutritional interventions that may protect against intestinal permeability during EHS and suggests physiological mechanisms responsible for this protection. Although diverse nutritional interventions have been suggested to be protective against EHS-induced GI permeability, the ingestion of certain amino acids, carbohydrates, and fluid per se is potentially effective strategy, whereas evidence for various polyphenols and pre/probiotics is developing. Plausible physiological mechanisms of protection include increased blood flow, epithelial cell proliferation, upregulation of intracellular heat shock proteins, modulation of inflammatory signaling, alteration of the GI microbiota, and increased expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. Further clinical research is needed to propose specific nutritional candidates and recommendations for their application to prevent intestinal barrier disruption and elucidate mechanisms during EHS.Myocellular stress with high-frequency blood flow restricted resistance exercise (BFRRE) was investigated by measures of heat shock protein (HSP) responses, glycogen content and inflammatory markers. Thirteen participants (24±2 years [mean±SD], 9 males) completed two 5-day-blocks of 7 BFRRE sessions, separated by 10 days. Four sets of unilateral knee extensions to failure at 20% of 1RM were performed. Muscle samples obtained before, 1h after the first session in the first and second block (“Acute1” and “Acute2”), after 3 sessions (“Day4”), during the “Rest Week”, and at 3 (“Post3”) and 10 days post-intervention (“Post10”), were analyzed for HSP70, αB-crystallin, glycogen (PAS staining), mRNAs, miRNAs, and CD68+ (macrophages) and CD66b+ (neutrophils) cell numbers. αB-crystallin translocated from the cytosolic to the cytoskeletal fraction after Acute1 and Acute2 (p less then 0.05), and immunostaining revealed larger responses in type I than type II fibers (Acute1, 225±184% vs. 92±81%, respectively, p=0.001). HSP70 was increased in the cytoskeletal fraction at Day4 and Post3, and immunostaining intensities were more elevated in type I than in type II fibers at Day4, (206±84% vs.