EX Group Research Articles

Treadmill Running Reverses Cognitive Declines due to Alzheimer Disease.

This study investigated the effect of treadmill running on cognitive declines in the early and advanced stages of Alzheimer disease (AD) in 3xTg-AD mice. At 4 months of age, 3xTg-AD mice (N = 24) were assigned to control (AD + CON, n = 12) or exercise (AD + EX, n = 12) group. At 24 months of age, 3xTg-AD mice (N = 16) were assigned to AD + CON (n = 8) or AD + EX (n = 8) group. The AD + EX mice were subjected to treadmill running for 12 wk. At each pathological stage, the background strain mice were included as wild-type control (WT + CON, n = 8-12). At the early stage of AD, 3xTg-AD mice had impaired short- and long-term memory based on Morris water maze along with higher cortical Aβ deposition, higher hippocampal and cortical tau pathology, and lower hippocampal and cortical PSD-95 and synaptophysin. A 12-wk treadmill running reversed the impaired cognitive declines and significantly improved the tau pathology along with suppression of the decreased PSD-95 and synaptophysin in the hippocampus and cortex. At the advanced stage of AD, 3xTg-AD mice had impaired short- and long-term memory along with higher levels of Aβ deposition, soluble Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, tau pathology, and lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, PSD-95, and synaptophysin in the hippocampus and cortex. A 12-wk treadmill running reversed the impaired cognitive declines and significantly improved the Aβ and tau pathology along with suppression of the decreased synaptic proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus and cortex. The current findings suggest that treadmill running provides a nonpharmacological means to combat cognitive declines due to AD pathology.

Supervised physical exercise improves VO2max, quality of life, and health in early stage breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Breast cancer patients suffer impairment in cardiorespiratory fitness after treatment for primary disease, affecting patients' health and survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a pragmatic exercise intervention to improve cardiorespiratory fitness of breast cancer patients after primary treatment. Between February 2013 and December 2014, 94 women with early stage (I-III) breast cancer, 1-36 months post-chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were randomly assigned to an intervention program (EX) combining supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (n = 44) or usual care (CON) (n = 45) for 12 weeks. Primary study endpoint was VO2max. Secondary endpoints were muscle strength, shoulder range of motion, body composition, and quality of life (QoL). Assessments were undertaken at baseline, 12-week, and 6-month follow-ups. Eighty-nine patients aged 29-69 years were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. The EX group showed significant improvements in VO2max, muscle strength, percent fat, and lean mass (p ≤ 0.001 in all cases) and QoL compared with usual care (CON). Apart from body composition, improvements were maintained for the EX at 6-month follow-up. There were no adverse events during the testing or exercise intervention program. A combined exercise intervention produced considerable improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, and quality of life in breast cancer patients previously treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Importantly, most of these benefits were maintained 6 months after ceasing the supervised exercise intervention.

Attentional Focus Effects in Standing Long Jump Performance: Influence of a Broad and Narrow Internal Focus.

The content of instructions that strength coaches give can have a significant impact on how an athlete or client performs. Research on motor learning has shown an advantage of instructions focusing on the effects of movements (external focus) over those focusing on the movements themselves (internal focus) in the performance of motor skills. Internally focused cues are abundant in coaching, therefore the purpose of this study was to test whether some internally focused cues might be more helpful than others. Participants (68) were randomly assigned to either an external focus (EX), broad internal focus (B-IN), narrow internal focus (N-IN), or a control group (CON), and performed 5 standing long jumps. All groups were instructed that the goal was to jump as far as possible. In addition, the EX group was told to "jump as far past the start line as possible." The B-IN group was told to "use your legs." The N-IN group was told to "extend your knees as rapidly as possible," and the CON group received no additional instruction. An analysis of covariance showed that the EX group (198.09 ± 31.89 cm) jumped significantly farther than both the B-IN group (173.74 ± 35.36 cm), p = 0.010 and the N-IN group (178.53 ± 31.17 cm), p = 0.049, with no group different from the CON group. The results suggest that a broad internal focus is no more effective than a narrow internal focus, and that an external focus leads to the greatest jump distance. Strength and conditioning professionals should carefully word their instructions to induce an external focus of attention whenever possible.

The Interaction of Voluntary Running Exercise and Food Restriction Induces Low Bone Strength and Low Bone Mineral Density in Young Female Rats.

There is a concern that the combination of exercise with food intake reduction has a risk of reducing bone strength and bone mass in young female athletes. We examined the influence of the interaction of voluntary running exercise and food restriction on bone in young female rats. Seven-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: the sedentary and ad libitum feeding group (SED), voluntary running exercise and ad libitum feeding group (EX), sedentary and 30 % food restriction group (SED-FR), and voluntary running exercise and 30 % food restriction group (EX-FR). The experiment lasted 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was carried out by two-way analysis of variance with exercise and restriction as the between-subjects factors. As a result, there were significant interactions of running and restriction on energy availability, breaking force, breaking energy, and bone mineral density (BMD). Breaking force and energy in the EX group were significantly higher than in the SED group; breaking force and energy were significantly lower in the EX-FR group than in the EX group, and breaking force in the EX-FR group was significantly lower than that in the SED-FR group. BMD in the EX-FR group was significantly lower than in the EX and SED-FR groups. These results suggest that food restriction induced low bone strength in young female rats engaging in voluntary running exercise. Also, through the interaction of exercise and food restriction, voluntary running exercise combined food restriction, unlike ad libitum feeding conditions, induced low bone strength, and low BMD in young female rats.

Assessment of the effect of prolonged forced swimming on CD-1 mice sperm morphology with and without antioxidant supplementation

As physical exercise has been shown to negatively affect sperm morphology, this study was undertaken to assess the effect of a 3-min forced swimming protocol during 50 days, with and without administration of antioxidants [N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and trans-resveratrol], on sperm morphology in CD-1 mice. Forty-four 13-week-old CD-1 mice were randomly allocated to four different groups: mice not submitted to exercise, control group (CG), mice submitted to swimming without administration of antioxidants (EX), mice submitted to swimming that received trans-resveratrol supplementation [exercise group (EX)+Resv] and mice submitted to swimming exercise that received NAC supplementation (EX+NAC). The EX showed 30.5% of spermatozoa with normal morphology, showing significant differences with regard to the CG, which showed 58.5%. The groups receiving antioxidant supplements showed significantly higher percentages of spermatozoa with normal morphology in comparison with the EX group (EX+Resv: 64.1%, EX+NAC: 48.2%). The imposed model of forced swimming caused alterations in sperm morphology. The antioxidants employed seem to be suitable antioxidants for avoiding exercise-associated sperm morphology anomalies in prolonged forced swimming exercise. Trans-resveratrol has proven to be more efficient for this purpose.

Concurrent exercise on a gravity-independent device during simulated microgravity.

The objective of this study is to examine the effect of a high-intensity concurrent training program using a single gravity-independent device on maintaining skeletal muscle function and aerobic capacity during short-term unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS). Nineteen subjects (10 males and 9 females; 21.0 ± 2.5 yr, 65.4 ± 12.2 kg) were separated into two groups: 1) 10-d ULLS only (n = 9) and 2) 10-d ULLS plus aerobic and resistance training (ULLS + EX, n = 10). Exercise was performed on a single gravity-independent Multi-Mode Exercise Device (M-MED) with alternating days of high-intensity interval aerobic training and maximal exertion resistance training. Aerobic capacity increased by 7% in ULLS + EX (P < 0.05). Knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor three-repetition maximum increased in the ULLS + EX group (P < 0.05), but this change was only different from ULLS in the plantar flexors (P < 0.05). Peak torque levels decreased with ULLS but were increased for the knee extensors and attenuated for the ankle plantar flexors with ULLS + EX (P < 0.05). A shift toward type IIx myosin heavy-chain mRNA occurred with ULLS and was reversed with ULLS + EX in the vastus lateralis (P < 0.05) but not the soleus. Myostatin and atrogin increased with ULLS in both the vastus lateralis and soleus, but this change was mitigated with ULLS + EX only in the vastus lateralis (P = 0.0551 for myostatin, P < 0.05 for atrogin). Citrate synthase was decreased in the soleus during ULLS but was increased with ULLS + EX (P < 0.05). These results indicate that an M-MED class countermeasure device appears to be effective at mitigating the deconditioning effects of microgravity simulated during a modified ULLS protocol.

Tu1639 EUS-Guided Fine Needle Tissue Acquisition Using a Nitinol Ultra Flex 19-Gauge Needle for Transduodenal Lesions: a Multicenter Prospective Study

Tu1639 EUS-Guided Fine Needle Tissue Acquisition Using a Nitinol Ultra Flex 19-Gauge Needle for Transduodenal Lesions: a Multicenter Prospective Study

The effect, moderators, and mediators of resistance and aerobic exercise on health-related quality of life in older long-term survivors of prostate cancer.

The current study examined effects, moderators (for whom), and mediators (working mechanisms) of 12 months of exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older long-term survivors of prostate cancer. In total, 100 men aged 71.7 years (standard deviation, 6.4 years) were randomly assigned to 6 months of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise followed by 6 months of a home-based exercise maintenance program (EX group) or printed education material regarding physical activity for 12 months (PA group). Assessments took place at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Generalized estimating equations were used to study the effects of EX versus PA on HRQoL at 6 and 12 months, adjusting for baseline HRQoL. The authors examined potential sociodemographic and clinical moderators by adding interaction terms, and potential physical and psychological mediators using the product-of-coefficients test. At 6 months, significant beneficial effects were found for global QoL, physical function, and social function in the EX group compared with the PA group. For physical function, beneficial effects were sustained at 12 months. Moderation analyses demonstrated larger effects of EX versus PA for patients who were married, started exercising sooner after their diagnosis, and previously used bisphosphonates. Changes in lower body functional performance significantly mediated the effect of EX on global QoL, physical function, and social function. No mediating effects on HRQoL were found for aerobic fitness, physical activity, fatigue, distress, or falls self-efficacy. Aerobic and resistance exercise appears to have beneficial effects on HRQoL among older, long-term survivors of prostate cancer. Effects were moderated by marital status, time since diagnosis, and use of bisphosphonates, and were mediated by lower body functional performance.

Effects of a 16-week Resistance and Aerobic Exercise Intervention on Metabolic Syndrome in Overweight/Obese Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the effects of a 16-week combined (aerobic and resistance) exercise intervention on metabolic syndrome (MetS) in overweight and obese Latina breast cancer survivors (LBCS). MetS is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and possibly cancer recurrence, and is defined by increased waist circumference (WC), elevated blood glucose (BG), high triglycerides (TG), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and elevated blood pressure (BP). Methods. Forty LBCS (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) were recruited from the USC Lee Breast Clinic and Los Angeles County Hospitals. Participants were randomized to either the Control (CON; n = 20) or the Exercise (EX; n = 20) groups. Participants were tested for MetS outcomes including BP, WC, fasting levels of FBG, HDL, and TG at baseline, post-intervention, and 12-weeks post- intervention (EX group only). The EX group participated in aerobic and resistance exercise sessions 3 times a week for 16 weeks, supervised by an exercise specialist at the WHEL. Aerobic exercise included cycling, walking, or jogging at 65–85% heart rate maximum. Resistance exercise was performed in circuit-fashion with 3 sets of 10–15 repetitions including upper and lower body exercises at 65–70% 1-repetition maximum. The CON group was asked to maintain less than 120 min/week of exercise during the study period. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for statistically significant between-group differences in MetS. Results. There were no significant group differences in MetS between the EX and CON groups at baseline (P &amp;gt; 0.01). However, post-intervention, all MetS components were significantly lower in the EX group than the CON group (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Further, in the EX group, MetS at 12-week post- intervention was not statistically different from post-intervention (P &amp;gt; 0.01). Conclusions. A 16-week supervised resistance and aerobic exercise intervention attenuated MetS in overweight and obese LBCS. Further, reductions in MetS components were maintained following the completion of the intervention, suggesting that the benefits of the intervention on MetS were sustainable in the absence of a supervised intervention.

MP52-02 REGENERATION OF RAT CORPUS CAVERNOSA TISSUE AFTER TRANSPLANTATION OF CD 133+ CELLS DERIVED FROM HUMAN BONE MARROW AND PLACEMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE GEL SPONGE SHEET.

You have accessJournal of UrologySexual Function/Dysfunction/Andrology: Basic Research I1 Apr 2015MP52-02 REGENERATION OF RAT CORPUS CAVERNOSA TISSUE AFTER TRANSPLANTATION OF CD 133+ CELLS DERIVED FROM HUMAN BONE MARROW AND PLACEMENT OF BIODEGRADABLE GEL SPONGE SHEET. Shogo Inoue, Shunsuke Shinmei, Koichi Shoji, Mitsuru Kajiwara, Jun Teishima, and Akio Matsubara Shogo InoueShogo Inoue More articles by this author , Shunsuke ShinmeiShunsuke Shinmei More articles by this author , Koichi ShojiKoichi Shoji More articles by this author , Mitsuru KajiwaraMitsuru Kajiwara More articles by this author , Jun TeishimaJun Teishima More articles by this author , and Akio MatsubaraAkio Matsubara More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.1719AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Conditions, such as congenital anomalies, penile cancer, traumatic penile injury and some types of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), often require penile reconstruction. The objective of this study was to develop an easier regenerating technique of corpus cavernosa through transplanting human bone-marrow-derived CD133+ cells into a rat corpus cavernosa defect model. METHODS 2x2 mm squares of the right corpus cavernosa of 8-week-old male nude rats were excised. Alginate gel sponge sheets supplemented with 1x104 CD133+ cells derived from human bone marrow were then placed over the gaps on both sides (CD group). The same experiments were conducted on sham-operated rats (SH group), rats with only corpus cavernosa excision (EX group), and rats with alginate gel sheets placed on the injured corpus cavernosa (AL group). Functional and histological evaluations were carried out eight weeks later. We used anti α-smooth muscle actin as a primary antibody to detect vascular smooth muscle. We also used anti-S-100 protein as a primary antibody to detect neuron tissue, especially Schwann cells. In the AL and CD groups, four days after the corpus cavernosa were excised and an alginate gel sheet was placed over the corpus cavernosa stumps, the sheets on the only the right side of the corpus cavernosa were retrieved from three rats in each group. We carried out quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of the rat nerve growth factor (NGF) and rat vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the alginate gel sheets. RESULTS The mean intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure of the CD group (0.34258 ± 0.0831) was significantly higher than that of the EX group (0.0580 ± 0.0831; P = 0.0238) and similar to that of the SH group (0.37228 ± 0.1051; P = 0.8266). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed some venous-sinus-like structures without vascular smooth muscle and neuron tissues were regenerated in the CD group. The RT-PCR for the extracts from the alginate gel sponge sheets retrieved in the CD group revealed that qRT-PCR helped in determining the amounts of mRNA for rat NGF and rat VEGF to be significantly higher than those in the AL group (NGF: P = 0.0309, VEGF: P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Transplantation of CD133+ cells accelerated the functional and histological recovery in this corpus cavernosa defect model. We believe CD133+ cell transplantation will be able to be applied to the treatment of penile regeneration or severe ED that is not responsive to PDE5 inhibitors. © 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 193Issue 4SApril 2015Page: e628 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2015 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Shogo Inoue More articles by this author Shunsuke Shinmei More articles by this author Koichi Shoji More articles by this author Mitsuru Kajiwara More articles by this author Jun Teishima More articles by this author Akio Matsubara More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF DownloadLoading ...

Effects of different doses of leucine ingestion following eight weeks of resistance exercise on protein synthesis and hypertrophy of skeletal muscle in rats.

[Purpose]This study was designed to determine the appropriate Leucine intake volume to obtain the effects of restoring damaged muscle through the synthesis of muscle proteins to increase skeletal muscle and improve exercise performance, and to achieve enhanced muscle hypertrophy.[Methods]To clarify the effects of leucine on skeletal muscle hypertrophy of SD rats, following eight weeks of resistance exercise (climbing ladder), the mass of the FHL (Flexor hallucis longus) was measured after extraction, after which change in the activity of muscle signaling proteins (PKB/Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, 4EBP1) was analyzed.[Results]The expressions of PKB/Akt, mTOR and p70S6K were increased in L5 (Leucine 50% administration group) compared with the control group (CON) and exercise group (Ex, exercise training group); EL1 (exercise + 10% leucine administration group) and EL5 (exercise + 50% Leucine administration) also exhibited increased expressions of PKB/Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K, while no difference between EL1 and EL5 were observed. No significant differences in 4EBP1 were found among any of the groups. In addition, there were no differences in FHL mass, while relative mass (FHL/body mass) was increased in the exercise group (Ex, EL1, EL5) compared with the control group. No differences were observed among the exercise groups.[Conclusion]The present study demonstrated that the relative body mass was increased in the EX group compared with the CON group, while no significant differences in muscle mass could be found among the groups. Even though some signaling proteins were increased, or some differences existed among groups, there were no differences in muscle mass between the leucine administration and exercise training combined with leucine administration groups in the present study.

Effect of low glycemic index food and postprandial exercise on blood glucose level, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity.

Low glycemic index (GI) food and postprandial exercise are non-drug therapies for improving postprandial hyperglycemia. The present randomized, crossover study investigated the effect of low GI food combined with postprandial exercise on postprandial blood glucose level, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity. A total of 13 healthy subjects were each used in four experiments: i) rice only (control), ii) salad prior to rice (LGI), iii) exercise following rice (EX) and iv) salad prior to rice and exercise following rice (MIX). The blood glucose level, oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity were then measured. At 60 min after the meal, the blood glucose level was observed to be increased in the MIX group compared with that in the LGI group. Furthermore, at 180 min, the antioxidant capacity was found to be reduced in the MIX group compared with those of the LGI and EX groups. These findings suggest that low GI food combined with postprandial exercise does not improve postprandial hyperglycemia. It may be necessary to establish optimal timing and intensity when combining low GI food with postprandial exercise to improve postprandial hyperglycemia.

Effects of the C3G/D3G anthocyanins-rich black soybean testa extracts on improvement of lipid profiles in STZ-induced diabetic rats

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of black soybean (CJ-3) testa extracts on lipid profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods: One control group and four STZ-induced diabetic groups with different doses of black soybean (CJ-3) testa extracts treatment [0 mg/kg (diabetic control, EX), 250 mg/kg (EX-250), 500 mg/kg (EX-500), 1,000 mg/kg (EX-1000)] were orally administered for 4 weeks. Results: All CJ-3 treatment groups had remarkably lower serum triglyceride (TG) levels than that of EX group (p < 0.05) whereas hepatic TG contents did not show any differences. Results from serum total cholesterol (TC) concentrations of EX-250 and EX-1000 groups were decreased compared to EX group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, protein levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase from the liver decreased in all treatment groups (p < 0.05). However, significant differences were not observed in serum glucose and insulin, and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) protein expression in skeletal muscle tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that black soybean testa extracts could be useful for improvement of hyperlipidemia and hypercholesteremia in diabetes.

Exercise as a Protective Cardiovascular Factor in ESRD Patients

Objective: The aim of the study was to show the effectiveness of Physical Activity (PA) during dialysis as a protective treatment against cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Methods: Eighty volunteer patients were included in this multicentric prospective study and followed for one year: 40 patients in the Exercise group (EX), 40 patients in the Control group (CON). CV risk factors: Total Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol (HDL-c), LDL cholesterol (LDL-c), Triglycerides (TG) and Hemoglobin (Hb), were checked. The number of antihypertensive treatments and the Erythropoietin Stimulating Agent (ESA) required doses were collected. We noted for each group during the follow-up the number of hospitalizations for CV reasons. Results: We observed a slight decrease of total cholesterol in both groups, more important for EX (1.82 ± 0.47 at M0 (Month 0), 1.74 ± 0.51 at M12 (Month 12) than for CON (1.60 ± 0.26 at M0; 1.63 ± 0.45 at M12). HDL-c increased in both groups, but LDL-c decreased in EX and increased in CON. The TG decreased in both groups after one year. The Hb level remained more stable in the EX group (11.70 ± 1.17 to 12.06 ± 1.11, p < 0.05) than in the CON group (11.79 ± 1.01 (M0) and 11.35 ± 1.21 (M12)). There was a significant difference between EX and CON at M12 (respectively 12.06 ± 1.11 vs. 11.35 ± 1.21). At the same time, the required doses of Erythropoietin Stimulating Agent (ESA) decreased in EX and increased in CON. The number of antihypertensive drugs per patient decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the EX group between M0 and M12 (1.85 ± 1.08 at M0 and 1.55 ± 0.85 at M12). The EX patients were 3 times less frequently hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons. There were 3 hospital stays versus 20 for the CON group. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that an intradialytic aerobic cycling training program promotes beneficial effects on cardiovascular protection: Lipids control, HTA control and Hb stability. Physical Activity although reduced the CV events in our population during one year follow-up.

Habitual Exercise May Maintain Endothelium-Dependent Dilation in Overweight Postmenopausal Women

Compared with their physically active peers, overweight sedentary postmenopausal women demonstrate impaired vascular endothelial function (VEF), substantially increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Habitual exercise is associated with improved VEF and reduced CVD risk. The purpose of this study was to compare brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of VEF, in overweight, postmenopausal women who were physically active (EX: n = 17, BMI: 29.3 ± 3.11 kg/m2) or sedentary (CON: n = 8, BMI: 30.3 ± 3.6 kg/m2). Anthropomorphic measures were similar in both groups (P > .05). FMD was significantly greater in EX (10.24 ± 2.36%) versus CON (6.60 ± 2.18%) (P < .002). FMD was not significantly correlated with estimated VO2max (EX: r = .17, P = .52; CON: r = .20, P = .60) but was negatively associated with percent body fat in EX group (EX: r = -.48, P = .05; CON: r = .41, P = .31). These results are consistent with the positive effects of habitual exercise on VEF in overweight postmenopausal women.

Effect of a Single Jump Practice on Vertical Jump Performance

Effect of a Single Jump Practice on Vertical Jump Performance Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a single jump practice session on vertical jump height. Thirty-two physical educational students aged from 19 to 27 years participated in this study. Methods: This study consisted of a randomized, controlled, and longitudinal design. The participants were divided into two groups; the intervention group (EX, n=16) and the control group (CG, n=16). The EX group performed five vertical jumps from a platform located at their knee height. The CG group was instructed to jump five times as high as possible without a platform. Before and after the jump practice, we determined vertical jump height, vertical ground reaction ground force, and the joint angles of trunk and lower extremity. Results: After the practice sessions, vertical jump height was significantly increased in EX, but was significantly decreased in CG. In EX, the change in vertical jump height was related to changes in the hip joint and trunk inclination angles. In CG, no change was found in the kinematic data. Conclusions: A single jump practice using a platform at one’s knee high transiently improves vertical jump height, and the change is associated with changes in the kinematics of the hip joint and trunk inclination. This implies that the coach or practitioner needs to pay attention to a protocol for familiarization trials and warm up when the vertical jump test is used to assess muscular power.

Randomized, controlled trial of resistance training in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy: results on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life

Exercise has been reported to decrease cancer-related fatigue and to increase quality of life (QoL) in various breast cancer (BC) populations. However, studies investigating exercise during radiotherapy or resistance training are scarce. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial (BEST study) to assess the efficacy of 12-week resistance training on fatigue beyond possible psychosocial effects of a group-based intervention. One hundred sixty patients with BC stage 0-III were randomly assigned to a 12-week progressive resistance training (2 times/week) or a 12-week relaxation control (RC, 2 times/week). Both interventions were group-based. The primary end point fatigue was assessed with a 20-item multidimensional questionnaire, QoL with EORTC questionnaires. Statistical analyses were based on analysis of covariance models for the individual changes from baseline to week 13. Adherence to the intervention program as well as the completion rate (97%) for the primary outcome variable fatigue was high. In intention-to-treat analyses for the N = 155 patients, significant between-group mean differences (MD) favoring the exercise group (EX) were observed for general fatigue (P = 0.044), especially for the subscale physical fatigue [MD = -0.8; 95% confidence interval -1.5 to -0.2, P = 0.013], but not for affective (P = 0.91) or cognitive fatigue (P = 0.65). For QoL, significantly larger improvements regarding the role function (P = 0.035) and pain (P = 0.040) were noted among exercisers compared with RCs. Future perspective improved significantly stronger in the RC group compared with the EX group (P = 0.047). The 12-week resistance training program was a safe, feasible and efficacious strategy to improve cancer-related fatigue and components of QoL in BC patients during adjuvant radiotherapy. As exercise was compared with another group-based intervention, results indicate that resistance training effects on fatigue and QoL go beyond psychosocial benefits, and that the clinically relevant overall benefit of resistance exercise compared with usual care can be assumed to be higher. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01468766.

Swimming training promotes cardiac remodeling and alters the expression of mRNA and protein levels involved in calcium handling in hypertensive rats

AimThe aim of this study was to identify the effects of swimming training on the mRNA expression and protein levels of the calcium handling proteins in the hearts of renovascular hypertensive rats submitted to swimming protocol during 6weeks. Main methodsFischer rats with renovascular hypertension 2-kidney 1-clip (2K1C) and SHAM groups were divided among sedentary and exercised groups. The exercise protocol lasted for 6weeks (1h/day, 5×/week), and the mean arterial pressure, cardiomyocytes hypertrophy parameters, mRNA expression and protein levels of some calcium handling proteins in the left ventricle were evaluated. Key findingsSwimming training was able to reduce the levels of mean arterial pressure in the hypertensive group compared to 2K1C SED, and to promote cardiac hypertrophy in SHAM EX and 2K1C EX groups in comparison to the respective control groups. The mRNA levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were reduced in the 2K1C EX when compared to 2K1C SED. The mRNA and protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase increased after the swimming training in SHAM and 2K1C groups. The mRNA and protein levels of phospholamban, displayed an increase in their levels in the exercised SHAM and in hypertensive rats in comparison to their respective controls; while mRNA levels of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was reduced in the left ventricle comparing to the sedentary hypertensive rats. SignificanceTaken altogether, we provide evidence that the aerobic training may lead to cardiac remodeling, and modulate the calcium handling proteins expression in the heart of hypertensive rats.

Effect of diode laser in the treatment of patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

Low back pain is a common, highly debilitating condition, whose severity is variable. This study evaluated the efficacy of treatment with Ga-Al-As diode laser (980 nm) with a large diameter spot (32 cm(2)), in association with exercise therapy, in reducing pain. The present study aimed to evaluate the pain reduction efficacy of treatment with the Ga-Al-As diode laser (980 nm) in combination with exercise therapy, in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study evaluated 100 patients with CLBP (mean age 60 years) who were randomly assigned to two groups. The laser plus exercises group (Laser+EX: 50 patients) received low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with a diode laser, 980 nm, with a specific handpiece [32 cm(2) irradiation spot size, power 20 W in continuous wave (CW), fluence 37.5J/cm(2), total energy per point 1200 J] thrice weekly, and followed a daily exercise schedule for 3 weeks (5 days/week). The exercises group (EX: 50 patients) received placebo laser therapy plus daily exercises. The outcome was evaluated on the visual analogue pain scale (VAS), before and after treatment. At the end of the 3 week period, the Laser+EX group showed a significantly greater decrease in pain than did the EX group. There was a significant difference between the two groups, with average Δ VAS scores of 3.96 (Laser+EX group) and 2.23 (EX group). The Student's t test demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the two groups, at p<0.001. This study demonstrated that the use of diode laser (980 nm) with large diameter spot size, in association with exercise therapy, appears to be effective. Such treatment might be considered a valid therapeutic option within rehabilitation programs for nonspecific CLBP.

Home-Based Exercise Training Improves Capillary Glucose Profile in Women with Gestational Diabetes

Regular maternal exercise may play an important role in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), yet specific exercise guidelines to achieve glycemic control have not been established. Furthermore, many women remain sedentary during pregnancy because of perceived barriers to exercise participation. This study examined the effectiveness of a home-based cycling program commenced upon diagnosis of GDM on daily fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the response of glucose and insulin to a 75-g oral glucose load. Forty sedentary women (28.8 ± 0.9 wk of gestation) were randomized to either home-based exercise training in combination with conventional management (EX, n = 20) or to conventional management alone (CON, n = 20) until week 34 of pregnancy. Mean compliance to the supervised exercise training was 96%, and no adverse effects were reported. Capillary glucose concentration was acutely reduced in response to each cycling session (6.3 ± 0.8 mM to 4.9 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.001). Overall, the EX group had lower mean daily postprandial glucose concentrations throughout the intervention compared with that in the CON group (P < 0.05) despite consuming a greater proportion of dietary carbohydrate (P < 0.05). No differences were observed between groups with respect to HbA1c or the glucose and insulin response to oral glucose ingestion postintervention (P > 0.05). A home-based cycling program may help to maintain daily postprandial normoglycemia in women with diet-controlled GDM.