Exercise Training In Subjects Research Articles

Effects of Exercise Training on EEG Activity Patterns during Cognitive Tasks

To explore the effective method to detect the effect of exercise training on EEG activity, this paper compared the distinguishability of EEG changes relevanted to exercise training in different cognitive states. EEG signals of college students who have undergone long-term exercise training (exercise training group) and college students who have not undergone such training (control group) were collected under specific cognitive tasks (Motor imagination tasks). Then the power characteristics of alpha wave and beta wave were obtained by wavelet transform method. The machine learning method was used to distinguish the difference of brain electrical activity between the exercise-trained subjects and the control group during the exercise-related cognitive tasks. Results showed that EEG patterns between two groups were not distinguished in rest status (the accuracy is lower than 59%), but they were separable in the completion of the motor cognitive tasks. The accuracy was over 85%. The pattern of brain electrical activity during cognitive tasks can better reflect the effect of exercise training.

The Effects of a Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement on Recovery from Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness

Introduction: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of multi-ingredient dietary supplement on indices of muscle recovery on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, healthy exercise-trained subjects (n=24) consumed the treatment (i.e., Caraflame®: Retinyl Palmitate (Vit. A) 3.3 mg, Sodium Butyrate 175 mg, and Beta-Caryophyllene 30 mg or placebo (i.e., Maltodextrin 1000mg) daily over a 14-day period. Subjects completed the DOMS protocol and were assessed for changes in pain (visual analog scale (VAS) and a pressure algometer), strength (1-RM), and inflammatory markers (Interleukin-1b, Interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein). A dependent samples t-test was used to determine differences between groups with regard to the delta score. A p-value of P<0.05 was used to determine significance. Results: All subjects were physically active, healthy adults (Mean±SD – Age 23.5±7, Height 170±12.7 cm, Body Mass 71.0±19.57 kg, % body fat 24.3±10.6). A statistically significant difference was found for the assessment of pain threshold via VAS. Subjects in the treatment group exhibited a higher pain threshold two days post-DOMS (i.e., delta score data). No significant differences between groups for arm circumference, 1-RM, pain assessed by algometer, or arm circumference between the groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between groups for inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, and IL-1b). Conclusions: Based on this preliminary investigation, two weeks of a multi-ingredient dietary supplement may decrease the subjective perception of delayed-onset muscle soreness in exercise-trained adults.

High Impact Exercise Training Versus Low Impact Exercise Training on Functional Outcome in Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis: Experimental Study

Background: Exercise or physical exercise is suggested for subjects with arthritic knee to improve their pain andfunctional condition. These therapies, whose success is dependent on a few components, are commonly ignored.Therefore, the proper intensity or load needs to be specified. Depending on the therapy aim exercise intensitymight be high or low.Purpose: This study aims to modulate the patient’s pain and the secondary outcome was to improve functionalityby evaluating high-impact exercise training with low-impact exercise training in subjects with symptomatic kneeOA.Materials and Methods: Subjects with OA Knee were selected based on selection criteria. All subjects were assignedto either of the groups; high-impact exercise and low-impact exercise by odd even randomization method. Thepre-test values for pain and functional outcome are taken using NPRS and WOMAC questionnaire and the samewere recorded for post-test after 8 weeks of intervention. The entire process was performed from November 2022to March 2023.Result: The statistical analysis reveals a lowering in the pain intensity and notable enhancement in functionalityon high-impact exercise training when compared with low-impact exercise training in subjects with arthritic knee.Conclusion: The study’s findings indicate that high-impact exercise training affects subjects with knee osteoarthritisby decreasing pain and improving function.

Effectiveness of Foot Intensive Exercise Training for Subjects with Chronic Ankle Sprain: Experimental Study

Background: This study was developed to determine the effectiveness of Foot Intensive Exercise Training amongsubjects with Chronic Ankle Sprain.Purpose: To determine the effect of Foot Intensive Exercise Training and Proprioception Exercise Training insubjects with Chronic Ankle Sprain.Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects with Chronic Ankle Sprain were divided randomly into two equal groups.“Foot Intensive Exercise Group” received plyometric exercises while the Control Group received proprioceptionexercises on alternate days for 6 weeks. Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) and Y-Balance Test were usedto evaluate subjects at two intervals (Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment). The entire process was performed fromNovember 2022 to March 2023.Result: Statistical analysis of Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool and Y-Balance Test post values revealed constantlysignificant differences, with the p value of <0.0001.Conclusion: Foot Intensive Exercise is effective and increases functional ankle stability and decreases episodes ofgiving away in subjects with chronic ankle sprain.

Synergistic Effect of Rhodiola rosea and Caffeine Supplementation on the Improvement of Muscle Strength and Muscular Endurance: A Pilot Study for Rats, Resistance Exercise-Untrained and -Trained Volunteers.

Multi-level studies have shown that Rhodiola rosea (RHO) and Caffeine (CAF) have the potential to be nutritional supplements to enhance physical performance in resistance exercise-untrained and -trained subjects. This study examined the synergistic effects of RHO (262.7 mg/kg for rats and 2.4 g for volunteers) and CAF (19.7 mg/kg for rats and 3 mg/kg for volunteers) supplementation on improving physical performance in rats, resistance exercise-untrained volunteers and resistance exercise-trained volunteers. Rats and volunteers were randomly grouped into placebo, CAF, RHO and CAF+RHO and administered accordingly with the nutrients during the training procedure, and pre- and post-measures were collected. We found that RHO+CAF was effective in improving forelimb grip strength (13.75%), erythropoietin (23.85%), dopamine (12.65%) and oxygen consumption rate (9.29%) in the rat model. Furthermore, the current results also indicated that the combination of RHO+CAF significantly increased the bench press one-repetition maximum (1RM) (16.59%), deep squat 1RM (15.75%), maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) (14.72%) and maximum repetitions of 60% 1RM bench press (22.15%) in resistance exercise-untrained volunteers. Additionally, despite the excellent base level of the resistance exercise-trained volunteers, their deep squat 1RM and MVIC increased substantially through the synergistic effect of RHO and CAF. In conclusion, combined supplementation of RHO+CAF is more beneficial in improving the resistance exercise performance for both resistance exercise-untrained and -trained volunteers. The present results provide practical evidence that the synergies of RHO and CAF could serve as potential supplementary for individuals, especially resistance exercise-trained subjects, to ameliorate their physical performances effectively and safely.

Effect of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation on Muscle Performance and Muscle Damage: A Double Blind, Randomized Crossover Study

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) has been used as an ergogenic substance during high-intensity exercises. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of NaHCO3 supplementation on external and internal load parameters during isokinetic exercise in trained subjects. Ten subjects were tested on two occasions: after ingesting 0.3 g.kg-1 of body mass of NaHCO3 or placebo. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction was performed before and after a dynamic protocol consisting of 10 series of 10 movements of flexion/extension of the knee extensors at 120° s-1 at an interval of 60 s between series. Outcomes considered were: peak torque (isokinetic dynamometry), blood lactate and creatine concentration (CK), analysis of perceptions of effort (OMNI scale), pain (visual analog scale) and recovery (scale raging 6 to 20). Performance was assessed using peak torque values. Muscle damage was assessed prior and 24 h post exercise. The subjective perceptions of effort, pain and recovery were assessed at different times and the internal load of the session was assessed 30 min post-effort. Although significant reductions in peak torque were noted both in isometric (NaHCO3:-29.11 ± 22.95%, Placebo: −23.51 ± 15.23%; p = 0.38) and isokinetic strength (NaHCO3:-23.0 ± 13.9%, Placebo:-19.6 ± 9.1%; p = 0.09), there was no effect of supplementation on performance (p > 0.05). The blood CK concentrations (NaHCO3: pre:225.3 ± 135.9 U/L, post: 418.4 ± 318.4 U/L; Placebo: pre:238 ± 94.03 U/L, post:486 ± 336.6 U/L) increased after protocol (p = 0.005), however, without differences between conditions. In conclusion, the NaHCO3 did not attribute benefits in performance or in parameters related to the internal load of exercise.

Effective brain network analysis in unilateral and bilateral upper limb exercise training in subjects with stroke

Knowing the patterns of brain activation that occur and networks involved under different interventions is important for motor recovery in subjects with stroke. This study aimed to study the patterns of brain activation and networks in two interventions, affected upper limb side and bilateral exercise training, using concurrent functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging. Thirty-two patients in the early subacute stage were randomly divided into two groups: unilateral and bilateral groups. The patients in the unilateral group underwent isokinetic muscle strength training on the affected upper limb side and patients in the bilateral group underwent bilateral upper limb training. Oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration changes (ΔHbO2 and ΔHbR, respectively) were recorded in the ipsilateral and contralateral prefrontal cortex (IPFC and CPFC, respectively) and ipsilateral and contralateral motor cortex (IMC and CMC, respectively) by fNIRS equipment in the resting state and training conditions. The phase information of a 0.01-0.08Hz fNIRS signal was extracted by the wavelet transform method. Dynamic Bayesian inference was adopted to calculate the coupling strength and direction of effective connectivity. The network threshold was determined by surrogate signal method, the global (weighted clustering coefficient, global efficiency, and small-worldness) and local (degree, betweenness centrality, and local efficiency) network metrics were calculated. The degree of cerebral lateralization was also compared between the two groups. The results of covariance analysis showed that, compared with bilateral training, the coupling effect of CMC→IMC was significantly enhanced (p=0.03); also, the local efficiency of the IMC (p=0.01), IPFC (p<0.001), and CPFC (p=0.006) and the hemispheric autonomy index of IPFC (p=0.007) were significantly increased in unilateral training. In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the coupling intensity of the inter-hemispheric motor area and the shifted local efficiency. The results indicated that unilateral upper limb training could more effectively promote the interaction and balance of bilateral motor hemispheres and help brain reorganization in the IMC and prefrontal cortex in stroke patients. The method provided in this study could be used to evaluate dynamic brain activation and network reorganization under different interventions, thus improving the strategy of rehabilitation intervention in a timely manner and resulting in better motor recovery.

Effect of Almond Supplementation on Non-Esterified Fatty Acid Values and Exercise Performance.

Several studies have investigated the effects of fat intake before exercise on subsequent substrate oxidation and exercise performance. While some studies have reported that unsaturated fatty acid supplementation slightly increases fat oxidation, the changes have not been reflected in the maximum oxygen uptake or in other performance and physiological parameters. We selected almonds as a fatty acid (FA) source for acute supplementation and investigated their effect on non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) values and exercise performance. Five physically active male subjects (age 32.9 ± 12.7 years, height 178.5 ± 3.3 cm, and weight 81.3 ± 9.7 kg) were randomly assigned to take an almond or placebo supplement 2 h before participating in two cycling resistance training sessions separated by an interval of 7–10 days. Their performance was evaluated with a maximal incremental test until exhaustion. Blood samples collected before, during, and after testing were biochemically analysed. The results indicated a NEFA value average increase of 0.09 mg·dL−1 (95% CI: 0.05–0.14; p < 0.001) after active supplement intake and enhanced performance (5389 ± 1795 W vs. placebo 4470 ± 2053 W, p = 0.043) after almond supplementation compared to the placebo. The almond supplementation did not cause gastrointestinal disturbances. Our study suggests that acute almond supplementation 2 h before exercise can improve performance in endurance exercise in trained subjects.

Different Knee and Ankle Positions Affect Force and Muscle Activation During Prone Leg Curl in Trained Subjects

Marchetti, PH, Magalhaes, RA, Gomes, WA, da Silva, JJ, Stecyk, SD, and Whiting, WC. Different knee and ankle positions affect force and muscle activation during prone leg curl in trained subjects. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3322-3326, 2021-Different joint positions for biarticular muscles may affect force and muscular activity during single-joint exercises. The aim of this study was to compare the maximal isometric contractions and muscle activation in 2 different knee and ankle positions during prone leg curl exercise in trained subjects. Fifteen resistance-trained men (27 ± 4 years, 178.80 ± 5.72 cm, 86.87 ± 12.51 kg) were recruited. The peak force (PF) and muscle activation of biceps femoris, gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and soleus lateralis (SL) were measured during knee flexion at 0 and 90° and maximal dorsiflexion (D) or plantarflexion (P). Three maximal voluntary isometric contractions of 5 seconds were performed for each combination of knee and ankle positions. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variances were used for all dependent variables. For PF, there was a significant difference between ankle positions (D × P) at 90° (p = 0.009) and knee positions (0 × 90°) for D (p < 0.001) and P (p < 0.001). Peak force was greater with the knee at 0° and the ankle maximally dorsiflexed. For GL, there was a significant difference between ankle (D × P) at 0° (p = 0.002) and knee positions (0 × 90°) for D (p = 0.005). Gastrocnemius lateralis activation was greater with the knee at 90° of flexion and the ankle maximally dorsiflexed. For SL, there was a significant difference between ankle positions (D × P): at 90° (p = 0.001) and at 0° (p = 0.002). Soleus lateralis is more active in plantarflexion irrespective of the knee joint position. Isometric contractions with full knee extension produce more strength regardless of the ankle position; neither the knee position nor the ankle position may influence the activity of the hamstrings.

Seasonal changes influence the improvement in asthma symptoms by exercise training in subjects with asthma*

Objective: To investigate whether patients with moderate-to-severe asthma who commence an exercise training program in winter or summer show differences in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and asthma symptoms. Methods: Forty-two consecutive subjects visiting the outpatient clinic were enrolled in the 17-week rehabilitation program. One group of patients received the intervention from summer to winter (SWG, n = 21), and the other group participated from winter to summer (WSG, n = 21). Before and after the exercise training program, all patients were evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise test, pulmonary function test, quality of life questionnaire and a daily diary that evaluated clinical asthma symptoms. Results: After the training period, both groups improved similarly in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and aerobic capacity. The WSG patients had a greater increase that those in the SWG in asthma symptom-free days (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results indicate that seasonal variations affect the improvement in asthma symptoms after an exercise training program but have no effect on health-related quality of life, exercise capacity or pulmonary function.

Cambios de la composición corporal tras un periodo de desentrenamiento deportivo

The infl uence of exercise in trained subjects has beneficial effects in the physical fi tness and body composition; however, detraining has an unfavorable effect in all of them. The current study was designed to ascertain the infl uence of a six week-detraining period on body composition in both well-trained young soccer players (GE, n = 43) and sedentary male adolescents (GC, n = 10). Forty-three well-trained soccer players and ten sedentary adolescents accepted to participate in the study. Body composition measurements included fat mass and skeletal muscle mass (SMM), which were estimated by anthropometry. In addition, total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) were assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) at the end of training and after detraining periods. After the six-week-detraining period, signifi cant increments were found in TBW (35.5 ± 5.2 vs.36.7 ± 4.9 kg; p < 0.001), ICW (14.2 ± 1.8 vs. 14.8 ± 1.6 kg; p < 0.001) and ECW (21.5 ± 3.6 vs. 22.0 ± 3.4 kg; p < 0.001) in soccer players. Conversely, no changes were observed in ECW/TBW (0.4 ± 0.02 vs. 0.4 ± 0.02; p > 0.05) and ICW/TBW (0.6 ± 0.02 vs. 0.597 ± 0.02; p > 0.05) ratios. Finally, fat mass was significantly increased (8.6 ± 3.2 vs. 8.95 ± 3.1 kg; p < 0.01) in the detrained group. No signifi cant changes were found in SMM (21.2 ± 2.5 vs. 22.22 ± 2.8 kg, p > 0.05). After a six-week detraining period, body composition changed signifi cantly in well-trained adolescents. The main fi nding of this study was that increments of TBW and water distribution were observed in the soccer group, which refl ects an increase of fat free mass compartment. The physiological importance of this miss-adaptation needs to be elucidated in future research. Further studies on this topic are still required to assess its impact on physical performance.

Hypertension during Weight Lifting Reduces Flow-Mediated Dilation in Nonathletes.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased intraluminal pressure is the damaging factor that reduces flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young, healthy subjects after resistance exercise to maximal exertion. Attenuating the rise in brachial artery pressure during weight lifting by placing a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm prevents postexercise impairment of brachial artery FMD in sedentary individuals. Nine sedentary individuals who exercise once a week or less and six exercise-trained individuals who exercise three times a week or more performed leg press exercise to maximal exertion on two separate occasions. During one visit, a blood pressure cuff, proximal to the site of brachial artery measurement, was inflated to 100 mm Hg to protect the distal vasculature from the rise in intraluminal pressure, which occurs during resistance exercise. Brachial artery FMD was determined using ultrasonography before and 30 min after weight lifting. Without the protective cuff, brachial artery FMD in sedentary individuals was reduced after weight lifting (9.0% ± 1.2% prelift vs 6.6% ± 0.8% postlift; P = 0.005), whereas in exercise-trained individuals, FMD was unchanged (7.4% ± 0.7% prelift vs 8.0% ± 0.9% postlift; P = 0.543). With the protective cuff, FMD no longer decreased but rather increased in sedentary individuals (8.7% ± 1.2% prelift vs 10.5% ± 1.0% postlift, P = 0.025). An increase in FMD was also seen in exercise-trained subjects when the cuff was present (6.6% ± 0.7% prelift vs 10.9% ± 1.5% postlift, P < 0.001). Protecting the brachial artery from exercise-induced hypertension enhances FMD in sedentary and exercise-trained individuals. These results indicate that increased intraluminal pressure in the artery contributes to the reduced FMD after heavy resistance exercise in sedentary individuals.

Protein carbonyl groups in trained subjects before and after a cardiopulmonary test

Physical exercise influences the body's oxidative status. The modifications can involve lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, and different effects seem to be induced by regular and acute exercise respectively. We examined protein oxidation, expressed as concentration of protein carbonyl groups (PC), in trained subjects before (time 0), 10 min (time 1) and 24 hours (time 2) after a cardiopulmonary test performed on a cycloergometer. We enrolled 38 trained subjects (26 men and 12 women), subdivided in two groups (A1 and B1) of 19 subjects each, according to the median value of VO2max, and in two groups (A2 and B2) of 19 subjects each, according to the median value of PC at baseline. PC concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The groups A1 and B1 did not differ from each other as regards the basal PC level and groups A2 and B2 were not different as regards the VO2max. At time 1 PC showed a significant increase in comparison with baseline in trained subjects as a whole group, as well as in each subgroup. At time 2, PC were decreased in comparison with both times 0 and 1 in the whole group and in subgroups A1 and B2, whereas in subgroups A2 and B1 the PC value at time 2 was not different compared to time 0. The percentage increase of PC at time 1 vs time 0, as well as the percentage decrease at time 2 vs time 1 and time 0 respectively, were not different between subgroups A1 and B1. On the contrary, the percentage variations observed at each interval were significantly different between subgroups A2 and B2. The results suggest a reaction of antioxidant systems to acute exercise in trained subjects, influenced by basal PC levels more than by aerobic fitness.

Randomized controlled trial using bosentan to enhance the impact of exercise training in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In type2 diabetes patients, endothelin (ET) receptor blockade may enhance blood flow responses to exercise training. The combination of exercise training and ET receptor blockade may represent a more potent stimulus than training alone to improve vascular function, physical fitness and glucose homeostasis. We assessed the effect of an 8week exercise training programme combined with either ET blockade or placebo on vasculature, fitness and glucose homeostasis in people with type2 diabetes. In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, brachial endothelium-dependent and ‑independent dilatation (using flow-mediated dilatation and glyceryl trinitrate, respectively), glucose homeostasis (using Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)) and physical fitness (maximal cycling test) were assessed in 18 men with type2 diabetes (60±6years old). Subjects underwent an 8week exercise training programme, with half of the subjects receiving ET receptor blockade (bosentan) and the other half a placebo, followed by reassessment of the tests above. Exercise training improved physical fitness to a similar extent in both groups, but we did not detect changes in vascular function in either group. This study suggests that there is no adaptation in brachial and femoral artery endothelial function after 8weeks of training in type2 diabetes patients. Endothelin receptor blockade combined with exercise training does not additionally alter conduit artery endothelial function or physical fitness in type2 diabetes.

Time-course of vascular adaptations during 8 weeks of exercise training in subjects with type 2 diabetes and middle-aged controls.

Exercise training in healthy volunteers rapidly improves vascular function, preceding structural remodelling. No study examined the time-course of such adaptations in subjects with a priori endothelial dysfunction. We examined brachial artery endothelial and smooth muscle function using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) administration in 13 type 2 diabetes patients (59 ± 6 years) and 10 healthy subjects (58 ± 7 years) before, during (2-weekly) and after an 8-week training programme. Arterial structure was assessed via peak blood flow and artery diameter. Training increased peak oxygen uptake (P = 0.03), comparable between groups (P = 0.276). We observed a similar impact of training on brachial artery vasomotor function across the training period in diabetes patients and controls (FMD/GTN-ratio), with a higher FMD/GTN-ratio at 2, 6 and 8 weeks (P = 0.036). Artery diameter, peak blood flow or peak diameter had not changed after training. Training leads to rapid improvement in brachial artery vascular function in diabetes patients and controls. In contrast to previous observations in healthy young subjects, the increase in function was preserved after 8 weeks of training in middle-aged diabetes patients and controls, suggesting a different time-course in vascular adaptations in subjects with endothelial dysfunction.

Acute Immune Responses to Prolonged Exercise in Environmental Extremes

This study is to investigate the effect of prolonged exercise with and without a thermal clamp on leukocyte cell, stress hormones, and cytokine responses. Fifteen healthy male volunteers ( means ± SD: age 22 ± 3yr; mass 75.8 ± 3.2kg; maximal oxygen uptake 55 ± 7ml/min/kg) randomly completed four chamber trials of 1 hour each, in different environment and separated by 7 days. Trials were: 1. exercise induced heating (EX‐Heating: temperature/humidity, 38°C/50%); 2. exercise with a thermal clamp (EX‐Cooling: temperature/humidity, 18°C/ 50%); 3. passive heating (PA‐H: temperature/ humidity, 38°C/ 50%); 4. passive cooling (PA‐C: temperature/ humidity, 18°C/50%). EX‐H and EX‐C were composed of 1h treadmill runs at 80% Individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Blood samples were collected at pre‐post, and 1h post environments exposure. Compared to EX‐H, exercise‐induced increases in core temperature, heart rate, cortisol, human growth hormone, Interleukin‐6, leukocyte and monocyte counts were significantly (p≤0.01) more pronounced after EX‐C. Our results suggest that the additional impact of elevated ambient temperatures on stress responses to endurance exercise in trained subjects seems to affect primarily the hormonal systems and resulting changes in leukocyte number, monocyte and interleukine‐6.This study was supported by the King Saud University

Feasibility and Impacts of Supervised Exercise Training in Subjects with Obesity Awaiting Bariatric Surgery: a Pilot Study

To optimize bariatric surgery results, experts recommend regular practice of physical activity. However, no precise recommendations are available for the pre-surgical period. We aimed to evaluate, in this pilot study, the feasibility of a supervised Pre-Surgical Exercise Training (PreSET) and its short-term clinical impacts in subjects awaiting bariatric surgery. In addition to the usual interdisciplinary lifestyle management, eight women and four men [40.8 (37.6-47.5) years old, BMI = 51.4 (43.8-53.1) kg/m(2)] underwent the PreSET, which combined both endurance and strength training. They were instructed to perform three physical activity sessions per week during 12 weeks, with at least two sessions per week on site and the possibility to complete missed sessions at home. Before and after the PreSET, anthropometric measures, body composition, physical fitness, quality of life, and physical exercise beliefs were assessed. The subjects participated in 57.3 % of the total supervised exercise sessions proposed and presented high satisfaction rates. Our program resulted in a significant improvement in weight (p = 0.007), physical fitness (p ≤ 0.05), and quality of life score (p = 0.012) as well as for the emotions, social interactions, and sexual life subscales (p < 0.03). Fear of injury (p = 0.028) and embarrassment during physical activity (p = 0.028) were significantly decreased, whereas no significant change in confidence in athletic ability and in beliefs in exercise benefits were noticed after the program. PreSET is feasible in subjects awaiting bariatric surgery and, combined with an interdisciplinary management, results in several short-term benefits.

PPARγ coactivator-1α contributes to exercise-induced regulation of intramuscular lipid droplet programming in mice and humans

Intramuscular accumulation of triacylglycerol, in the form of lipid droplets (LD), has gained widespread attention as a hallmark of metabolic disease and insulin resistance. Paradoxically, LDs also amass in muscles of highly trained endurance athletes who are exquisitely insulin sensitive. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate the expansion and appropriate metabolic control of LDs in the context of habitual physical activity could lead to new therapeutic opportunities. Herein, we show that acute exercise elicits robust upregulation of a broad program of genes involved in regulating LD assembly, morphology, localization, and mobilization. Prominent among these was perilipin-5, a scaffolding protein that affects the spatial and metabolic interactions between LD and their surrounding mitochondrial reticulum. Studies in transgenic mice and primary human skeletal myocytes established a key role for the exercise-responsive transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α in coordinating intramuscular LD programming with mitochondrial remodeling. Moreover, translational studies comparing physically active versus inactive humans identified a remarkably strong association between expression of intramuscular LD genes and enhanced insulin action in exercise-trained subjects. These results reveal an intimate molecular connection between intramuscular LD biology and mitochondrial metabolism that could prove relevant to the etiology and treatment of insulin resistance and other disorders of lipid imbalance.

Alice in Wonderland of statin therapy for small abdominal aortic aneurysm

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Effect of physical exercise training on muscle strength and body composition, and their association with functional capacity and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: A randomized controlled trial

Atrial fibrillation diminishes cardiac function, exercise tolerance and quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine whether exercise training in atrial fibrillation affects muscle strength, body composition, maximal exercise capacity and walking capacity positively, thus improving quality of life. Randomized clinical trial. Twelve weeks of physical exercise training or control. Forty-nine patients in permanent atrial fibrillation were randomized to training or control. Intervention consisted of aerobic training for 1 h 3 times per week at 70% of maximal exercise capacity vs control. Muscle strength, exercise capacity, 6-minute walk test, lean body mass, fat percentage, and quality of life were assessed. Muscle strength increased in the training group (p = 0.01), but no change was observed in controls. Lean body mass was unchanged in both groups. Fat percentage decreased in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the groups. Exercise capacity improved in the training group (p < 0.001), with no change in the control group. There was a significant difference after the training period between the training and control groups in terms of exercise capacity. (p = 0.001). Six-min walk test improved in the training group compared with controls (p < 0.01). Overall quality of life score, as measured by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, improved in the training group (p = 0.03). Quality of life, measured by Short Form-36, improved in the training group in 3 out of 8 subscales: physical functioning (p = 0.02), general health perceptions (p = 0.001) and vitality (p = 0.02). Muscle strength, exercise capacity and quality of life increased with exercise training in subjects with atrial fibrillation. Lean body mass was unchanged.