Hans-Peter Kubis

Bangor University · School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

Motor imagery training could be an important treatment of reduced muscle function in patients and injured athletes. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of imagery training on maximal force production in a larger muscle group (hip abductors) and potential bilateral transfer effects. Healthy participants (n = 77) took part in two experimental...

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if hamstring-strain-injury risk factors related to muscle structure and morphology differed between rugby union players and controls. Methods: The biceps femoris long head (BFlh) fascicle length and passive muscle stiffness and relative and absolute muscle volume of knee flexors (KF) and extensors (KE) were...

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by collapse of the upper airways during sleep. The contribution of alterations in effort perception is not understood. This study investigated the response of inspiratory and quadriceps muscles to repetitive loading on effort perception in OSA patients, pre and post continuous positive airway pressure...

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social restrictions had an extensive effect on peoples' lives. Increased rates of weight gain were widely reported, as were declines in the general populations' mental health, including increases in perceived stress. This study investigated whether higher perceived levels of stress during the pandemic were assoc...

Introduction Football matches show higher hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) than football training. The occurrence of HSIs increases in the last fifteen minutes of both halves of football matches and shows an incremental trend towards the end of the ninety minutes. Objectives This study aimed to examine football-specific fatigue-induced alterations...

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated social restrictions had an extensive effect on peoples’ lives. Increased rates of weight gain were widely reported, as were declines in the general populations’ mental health, including increases in perceived stress. This study investigated whether higher perceived levels of stress during the pandemic were assoc...

To systematically review the effects of exercise on fascicle geometry and muscle size parameters of the upper extremity muscles, the CENTRAL, CINAHL, PubMed and OpenGrey databases were searched on 31 July 2021. Finally, 17 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review. High-intensity bench press training (g = 1.03) and...

Objective To systematically review the effects of eccentric training based on biceps femoris fascicle length using ultrasound assessment and extrapolation methods. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Data sources CENTRAL, CINAHL Plus with full text, PubMed and OpenGrey databases were searched on 6 July 20...

This is a call for papers about the influence of nutrients and physical activity on metabolism.

To choose exercise over alternative behaviours, subjective reward evaluation of the potential choices is a principal step in decision making. However, the selection of exercise intensity might integrate acute visceral responses (i.e. pleasant or unpleasant feelings) and motives related to goals (i.e. enjoyment, competition, health). To understand t...

This is a call for submission for a special issue in Nutrients

Relationships between demographic, anthropometric, inflammatory, lipid and glucose tolerance markers in connection with the fat but fit paradigm were investigated by supervised and unsupervised learning. Data from 81 apparently healthy participants (87% females) were used to generate four classes of fatness and fitness. Principal Component Analysis...

: Dietary nitrate (NO3−) has been reported to improve endothelial function (EF) and blood pressure (BP). However, most studies only assess large-vessel EF with little research on the microvasculature. Thus, the aim of the present pilot study is to examine NO3− supplementation on microvascular and large-vessel EF and BP. Twenty older adults (63 ± 6...

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important aspect of the overall health of an individual and its monitoring must be promoted in the general population. Thus, the aim of the study was to cross-validate and improve CRF estimation based on quarter- mile Rockport Fitness Walking Test. METHODS: Thirty participants (31.4 ± 7.99 years) w...

Objectives: Central and peripheral chemosensitivity i.e. ventilatory response to CO2 and O2 are thought to be decisive for ventilatory control instability in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Obesity is associated with chronic low level inflammation. Whether body mass related inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors influencing peripheral and cent...

Exercise is an important health behavior. Expressed reasons for participation are often delayed outcomes i.e. health threats and benefits, but also enjoyment. However, we do not know how people evaluate exercise as a reward. The value of rewards diminish the longer we have to wait for them and the discounting effect can undermine decision-making. H...

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder with repeated partial or complete closure of the upper airway during sleep, despite ongoing efforts to breathe. OSA is associated with a high prevalence for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke. Patients face cyclical deoxygenation/re-oxygenation resulting in episodic...

We developed a smart phone application to measure participants' food-reward perceptions and eating behavior in their naturalistic environment. Intensity ratings (0 - not at all to 10 - very strongly) of perceived anticipation of food (wanting) and food enjoyment at endpoint of intake (liking) were recorded as they occurred over a period of 14 days....

Individuals show high variability in body weight responses to exercise training. Expectations and motivation towards effects of exercise on body weight might influence eating behaviour and could conceal regulatory mechanisms. We conducted two single-blind exercise trials (4 weeks (study 1) and 8 weeks (study 2)) with concealed objectives and exclus...

Cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) is a widespread essential indicator in Sports Science as well as in Sports Medicine. This study aimed to develop and validate a prediction model for CRF based on a 45 second self-test, which can be conducted anywhere. Criterion validity, test re-test study was set up to accomplish our objectives. Data from 81 health...

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 4 weeks high intensity intermittent Taekwondo (TKD) training program on body composition, physical fitness and performance of South African TKD athletes of Zulu ancestry. Thirty four (n=34) active TKD athletes aged 20–26 y volunteered for this study. The athletes were divided into control...

Aim: To gain a better understanding of how children aged 6-18 years who use wheelchairs and their families conceptualized physical exercise and keeping fit. Background: Disabled children with reduced mobility are commonly overweight and unfit. Nurse-led health screening programmes in schools commonly exclude disabled children if they cannot use...

Aim To perform a systematic review establishing the current evidence base for physical activity and exercise interventions that promote health, fitness and well-being, rather than specific functional improvements, for children who use wheelchairs. Design A systematic review using a mixed methods design. Data sources A wide range of databases, inc...

Introduction: Children with physical disabilities and mobility impairments face many barriers to a healthy lifestyle and often experience a progressively deteriorating physical condition, including excess body fat [1]. Identifying children who are overweight and planning appropriate intervention is vital to improve wellbeing and independence. Howev...

Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) experience nocturnal intermittent exposure to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Aim: To investigate whether the ventilatory response to hypercapnia and hypoxia is altered dependent on the severity of OSA and whether this is due to an alteration in the central and/or peripheral chemoreception. Methods:...

A primary skeletal muscle cell culture, in which myoblasts derived from newborn rabbit hindlimb muscles grow on gelatin bead microcarriers in suspension and differentiate into myotubes, has been established previously. In the course of differentiation and beginning spontaneous contractions, these multinucleated myotubes do not detach from their sup...

AimTo undertake the pre-clinical and modelling phases of the Medical Research Council complex intervention framework to underpin development of child-centred ‘keep-fit’, exercise and physical activity interventions for children and young people who use wheelchairs.Background Children who use wheelchairs face many barriers to participation in physic...

Purpose To investigate the ventilatory response to CO2 in hyperoxia, hypoxia, and during exercise amongst experienced scuba divers and matched controls. Methods Two studies were performed. The first investigated the CO2 sensitivity in rest and exercise using CO2 rebreathing in hyperoxia at a workload typical for diving with divers (n=11) and contr...

AimThis mixed-method systematic review aims to establish the current evidence base for ‘keep fit’, exercise or physical activity interventions for children and young people who use wheelchairs.Background Nurses have a vital health promotion, motivational and monitoring role in optimizing the health and well-being of disabled children. Children with...

Introduction Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition defined by the collapse of the upper airway and cessation of respiration during sleep. The resulting hypoventilation leads to intermittent nocturnal hypoxia and increased arterial pCO2 (hypercapnia). Control of ventilation is largely dependent on two interactive pathways, the central and per...

Assessment of the functional capacity of the cardiovascular system is essential in sports medicine. For athletes, the maximal oxygen uptake [Formula: see text] provides valuable information about their aerobic power. In the clinical setting, the [Formula: see text] provides important diagnostic and prognostic information in several clinical populat...

Myocytes grown on microcarriers for 14 days in culture, photographed at ×20 magnficication (B,D) and seeded in conventional culture flasks, 40X magnification (A,C).

Systematic Review Protocol for the Well mi study, Bangor University

Purpose To investigate the ventilatory response to CO2 in hyperoxia, hypoxia, and during exercise amongst experienced scuba divers and matched controls. Methods Three studies were performed comparing the ventilatory response to CO2 of experienced scuba divers with non-diving matched controls. The first study measured the ventilatory recruitment thr...

According to the World Health Organisation, in 2011, 1.5 billion adults were estimated to be overweight worldwide with serious consequences for health. Exercise is often prescribed for weight loss in overweight/obese population. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4 weeks circuit training intervention (3d/wk, 60min/d, 70-80%HR...

Purpose: Chronic sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Hyperglycaemia contributes to metabolic alterations observed in T2DM, such as reduced oxidative capacity and elevated glycolytic and lipogenic enzyme expressions in skeletal muscle tissue. We aimed to investigate the metaboli...

These studies examined the differences in sweet taste perception and implicit attitude toward sweet between normal-weight and overweight/obese adults; and tested the effects of soft drink consumption on sweet taste, explicit preference and implicit attitude toward sweet in normal-weight subjects. In study 1, normal-weight (n = 22) and overweight/ob...

Hyperglycemia is a contributing factor for metabolic alterations seen in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Skeletal muscle in T2DM displays reduced oxidative capacity with an elevation in glycolytic and lipogenic enzyme expression. Recently it was shown that transcription factors MondoA and MondoB mediate responses to elevated glucose availability i...

Adaptations in the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle cells can occur under several physiological or pathological conditions. We investigated the effect of increasing extracellular glucose concentration on the expression of markers of energy metabolism in primary skeletal muscle cells and the C2C12 muscle cell line. Growth of myotubes in 25mM gl...

Continuous high glycemic load and inactivity challenge glucose homeostasis and fat oxidation. Hyperglycemia and high intramuscular glucose levels mediate insulin resistance, a precursor state of type 2 diabetes. The aim was to investigate whether a carbohydrate (CHO)-reduced diet combined with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances the be...

We have studied the mechanism by which a previously described primary muscle culture growing on microcarriers predominantly expresses fast myosin heavy chain (MHC) IId/x. We have measured MHC IId/x mRNA and protein levels, mRNA of MHC I and markers of muscle metabolism, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and mechano-growth factor (MGF) transcripts,...

High sugar and fat intake as well as low physical activity are known risk factors for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. We hypothesize that particular chronic high glucose availability without high metabolic demand might generate metabolic alterations which increase the risk for type 2 diabetes. Therefore a combined diet an...

The effect of constitutively activated proto-oncogene H-ras (H-rasQ61L) on the regulation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) promoter activities was investigated in rabbit satellite cell-derived muscle cell culture during the proliferation stage and early and later stages of differentiation, respectively. During proliferation, overexpression of H-rasQ61L...

Resistance training and to a lesser extent endurance training are capable of enhancing protein synthesis in skeletal muscle via various signaling pathways. Additionally, the expression of muscle fiber types responds to different regimes of training stimuli and immobilization as characterized by changes in myosin heavy chain isoforms (I<-->IIA<-->II...

Resistance training and to a lesser extent endurance training are capable of enhancing protein synthesis in skeletal muscle via various signaling pathways. Additionally, the expression of muscle fiber types responds to different regimes of training stimuli and immobilization as characterized by changes in myosin heavy chain isoforms (I↔IIA↔IIX). Ec...

British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Annual Conference. Brunel University, West London, UK.

We have investigated the mechanism of the changes in the profile of metabolic enzyme expression that occur in association with fast-to-slow transformation of rabbit skeletal muscle. The hypotheses assessed are: do 1) lowered intracellular ATP concentration or 2) reduction of the muscular glycogen stores act as triggers of metabolic transformation?...

In skeletal muscle, the transformation of fast into slow fiber type is accompanied by shifts in fiber type-specific gene expression that includes down-regulation of the adult fast fiber myosin heavy chain IId/x (MyHCIId/x) gene. Here, we report that the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38alpha/beta regulate MyHCIId/x gene expression. Elec...

In skeletal muscle, the transformation of fast into slow fiber type is accompanied by shifts in fiber type-specific gene expression that includes down-regulation of the adult fast fiber myosin heavy chain IId/x (MyHCIId/x) gene. Here, we report that the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38/ regulate MyHCIId/x gene expression. Electrical st...

The function of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozyme II is largely unknown in skeletal muscle. Because of this, we compared the in vitro contractile properties of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL) fibre bundles from mice deficient in CA II (CAD) to litter mate controls (LM). Twitch rise, 1/2 relaxation time and peak twitch force...

In skeletal muscle, the transformation of fast into slow fiber type is accompanied by shifts in fiber type-specific gene expression that includes down-regulation of the adult fast fiber myosin heavy chain IId/x (MyHCIId/x) gene. Here, we report that the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) p38/ regulate MyHCIId/x gene expression. Electrical st...

The hypoxia-inducible-factor-1 (HIF1) mediates the transcriptional upregulation of several target genes during hypoxia. HIF1 itself is known to be regulated essentially by ubiquitinylation and proteolytic degradation of the subunit HIF1alpha of the dimeric transcription factor HIF1. In contrast to other tissues, skeletal muscle expresses high amoun...

Disease-causing mutations in cardiac myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC) are identified in about one-third of families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The effect of myosin mutations on calcium sensitivity of the myofilaments, however, is largely unknown. Because normal and mutant cardiac MHC are also expressed in slow-twitch skeletal muscle, whic...

The calcineurin-mediated signal transduction via nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATc1) is involved in upregulating slow myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression during fast-to-slow transformation of skeletal muscle cells. This study aims to investigate the Ca2+ signal necessary to activate the calcineurin-NFATc1 cascade in skeletal muscle. E...

Myocardial infarction followed by heart failure represents one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in industrialized countries. Engineering and subsequent transplantation of contractile artificial myocardial tissue and, consequently, the replacement of ischemic and infarcted areas of the heart provides a potential therapeut...

Contractile activity imposed by chronic electrical stimulation of a primary skeletal muscle cell culture grown on microcarriers over several days led to an increase of slow myosin heavy chain I (MHCI) and a decrease of fast MHCII expression at mRNA and protein levels, indicating an ongoing fast-to-slow transformation. Only patterns with periods of...

The addition of cyclosporin A (500 ng ml−1) - an inhibitor of the Ca2+-calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine phosphatase calcineurin - to primary cultures of rabbit skeletal muscle cells had no influence on the expression of fast myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms MHCIIa and MHCIId at the level of protein and mRNA, but reduced the expression of slow...