Non-exercise Control Research Articles

Effects of Aquatic Exercise in Older People with Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective: In this study, the objective is to analyze the efficacy of different aquatic physical exercise programs in the treatment of osteoarthritis in older people. Material and Methods: The systematic review was conducted until April 2024 and updated in November 2024 in five electronic databases. Randomized controlled studies in people over 60 years of age with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis were included. Water-based exercise interventions were assessed for their impact on osteoarthritis symptoms, walking ability, muscle strength, depressive symptoms, range of motion, body composition, fear of falling, fall risk, quality of life, range of motion, and dual task function. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Results: A total of 12 studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 35 to 312 participants. The presence of osteoarthritis in the sample was manifested in different joints. The methodological quality of the included studies varied from fair to good. Based on the results of this review, aquatic exercise significantly improved balance, stiffness, pain, and walking ability compared to non-exercise controls (p < 0.05). Compared with land-based exercise groups, only one study found significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: Water-based exercise programs do not provide significantly superior benefits compared to other exercise modalities and appear to have limited effectiveness in the management of OA. However, the feasibility and high adherence make these programs a recommendable option for older people with OA. Future studies should investigate the impact of exercise intensity on the short- and long-term efficacy of aquatic therapy.

Exercise rehabilitation in post COVID-19 patients: a randomized controlled trial of different training modalities.

Long-lasting symptoms (>12 weeks) following a COVID-19 infection are defined as the post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), often manifesting as fatigue and reduced exercise capacity. Thus, exercise has been suggested as a non-pharmacological therapy. To investigate the effects of endurance vs. concurrent exercise on physical function, symptoms and quality of life in individuals with PCS, that did not need hospital admission during acute COVID-19. Parallel-group, single-center, randomized controlled trial. This study was conducted at the University of Vienna. Adult individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 infection at least 12 weeks prior to enrollment who reported at least one symptom specific to PCS and did not experience post-exertional malaise. Participants were randomized to either 12 weeks of supervised endurance training (ED) or concurrent training (CT), or a non-exercising control group (C). As the primary outcome, VO<inf>2</inf>peak was assessed pre and post intervention. Secondary outcomes were handgrip and lower body strength, heart rate variability, symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and concentration performance. The main effects for time and group as well as the time*group interaction were assessed via a 2x2 analysis of variance. Additionally, within-group pre-post testing was performed. Taking the study protocol into account, 42 subjects could be included in the analysis (N.=14 in each group). A significant time*group interaction favoring both exercise conditions was found for VO<inf>2</inf>peak (partial Eta2=0.267; ED: +3.9 mL/min/kg; CT: +3.2 mL/min/kg). The Fatigue Severity Score significantly decreased in ED (Hedges' g=0.63) and CT (Hedges' g=0.82) from pre to post, but not in C. Breathlessness and lower body strength improved most in CT. Significant within-group improvements in HRQoL and the number of PCS symptoms occurred in all groups. Both exercise regimes led to increases in VO<inf>2</inf>peak and lower fatigue scores in subjects with PCS. Improvements in HRQoL occurred in all groups, however more pronounced after the exercise interventions. No definite conclusion about the superiority of either training modality can be drawn. The results show that in this population both exercise regimes are feasible and safe and lead to improvements in various health domains.

Systematic review of exercise for the treatment of pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Steatotic liver disease affects approximately 1 in 10 children in the U.S. and increases the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle modification centered on increased physical activity and dietary improvement is the primary management approach. However, significant gaps in the literature hinder the establishment of exercise as a targeted therapeutic strategy for pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We performed a systematic review of studies assessing the impact of exercise interventions on validated hepatic outcomes in children with NAFLD. We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar on June 5 and 6, 2023, for studies in English involving children aged 0 to 19 years diagnosed with NAFLD or at increased risk for NAFLD due to overweight or obesity. We updated the search on August 8, 2024. Eligible studies were required to examine the impact of exercise interventions on hepatic steatosis or liver chemistry. The risk of bias was assessed with RoB2 and ROBINS-I. Data extraction was performed by two independent reviewers. After screening 1578 unique records, 16 studies involving 998 children were included. This comprised seven studies comparing exercise intervention with non-exercising controls, three uncontrolled studies of exercise intervention, two studies comparing exercise plus lifestyle interventions with lifestyle interventions alone, and nine studies comparing different types of exercise interventions. Five of the 11 studies that evaluated hepatic steatosis reported an absolute decrease of 1% to 3%. In the nine studies that evaluated liver chemistry, no significant changes were observed. Evidence supporting exercise intervention for the treatment of pediatric MASLD is limited. Existing studies were constrained by their methodological approaches; thus, there is a pressing need for high-quality future research. This will enable the development of precise, evidence-based exercise guidelines crucial for the effective clinical management of this condition.

Passive and active exercise do not mitigate mental fatigue during a sustained vigilance task.

Executive function (EF) is improved following a single bout of exercise and impaired when an individual experiences mental fatigue (MF). These performance outcomes have been linked to a bi-directional change in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Here, we sought to determine whether MF-induced by a sustained vigilance task (i.e., psychomotor vigilance task: PVT) is mitigated when preceded by a single bout of exercise. Participants completed 20-min single bouts of active exercise (cycle ergometry involving volitional muscle activation), passive exercise (cycle ergometry involving a mechanical flywheel) and a non-exercise control intervention. EF was assessed pre- and post-intervention via the antisaccade task. Following each intervention, a 20-min PVT was completed to induce and assess MF, and transcranial Doppler ultrasound of middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was used to estimate intervention- and PVT-based changes in CBF. Active and passive exercise provided a post-intervention reduction in antisaccade reaction times; that is, exercise benefitted EF. Notably, however, frequentist and Bayesian statistics indicated the EF benefit did not mitigate MF during the PVT. As well, although exercise (active and passive) and the PVT respectively increased and decreased CBF, these changes were not correlated with behavioral measures of EF or MF. Accordingly, a postexercise EF benefit does not mitigate MF during a sustained vigilance task and a bi-directional change in CBF does not serve as a primary mechanism associated with EF and MF changes. Such results provide a framework for future work to explore how different exercise types, intensities and durations may impact MF.

Does Unilateral High-Load Resistance Training Influence Strength Change in the Contralateral Arm Also Undergoing High-Load Training?

Training one limb with a high-load has been shown to augment strength changes in the opposite limb training with a low-load (via cross-education of strength), indicating that within-subject models can be problematic when investigating strength changes. This study examined if the cross-education of strength from unilateral high-load training could augment the strength changes in the opposite arm undergoing the same unilateral high-load training. 160 participants were randomized to one of four groups: (1) training on the dominant arm followed by the non-dominant arm (D + ND), (2) training on the dominant arm only (D-Only), (3) training on the non-dominant arm only (ND-Only), and (4) a non-exercise control. All exercise groups performed 18 sessions of unilateral high-load elbow flexion exercise over 6 weeks. Participants were compared for changes in 1RM strength and muscle thickness. Changes in strength of the non-dominant arm were greater in D + ND (2.7 kg) and ND-Only (2.6 kg) compared to D-Only (1.5 kg) and control (-0.2 kg), while the changes were greater in D-Only compared to control. The same finding was observed in the dominant arm. Only the arms being directly trained observed increases in muscle thickness. Unilateral high-load resistance training increased strength in the opposite untrained arm, without changes in muscle thickness. This cross-education of strength did not augment the strength changes in the contralateral arm undergoing the same unilateral high-load training. However, it does not necessarily indicate that within-subject models are methodologically sound to investigate strength change if both limbs are trained with a high-load.

A174: Obese Adolescents

Background/Purpose: The incidence of overweight and obesity among adolescents is escalating rapidly. Many studies have validated the efficacy of low-volume, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in ameliorating cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with obesity. Nonetheless, the influence of exercise frequency—a pivotal element in HIIT's effectiveness—requires further exploration. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of different HIIT frequencies on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents aged 10-13 years with obesity. Methods: Sixty adolescents with obesity aged 10-13 (age: 11.0±3.0 years, BMI: 23.4±2.5 kg/m^2) were randomly allocated to three exercise intervention groups (IG1, IG2, and IG3) and a non-exercise control group (CG). The intervention groups engaged in the same running-based HIIT program at varying frequencies: once weekly (IG-1, n=15, 10 males, 5 females), twice weekly (IG-2, n=15, 10 males, 5 females), and thrice weekly (IG-3, n=15, 10 males, 5 females). The CG (n=15, 9 males, 6 females) participated in only regular school physical education and extracurricular activities without additional exercise. Each HIIT session comprised 3 sets of 8 high-intensity 15-second runs at 100% maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and 8 recovery jogs of 15 seconds at 50% MAS, with a 3-minute rest between sets, totaling 18 minutes. Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed before and after the intervention. Between-group comparisons were conducted using single-factor ANOVA, and within-group differences were analyzed with paired-samples t-tests. Results: Post a 12-week intervention, all experimental groups exhibited improvements in body composition and cardiopulmonary fitness, notably IG-3 and IG-2, which demonstrated significant enhancements. IG-3 showed significant changes in weight, BMI, body fat percentage, total body fat mass, fat-free mass, VAT, VO2max, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference (t-values: 8.726, 7.020, 10.960, 4.923, -3.328, 4.948, -10.557, 2.957, 5.113; P &lt; 0.05), as did IG-2 across these metrics (t-values: 8.15, 6.615, 10.831, 5.028, 6.64, -13.705, 2.965, 3.214, 3.453; P &lt; 0.05). Conversely, the CON and IG-1 groups exhibited fewer improvements, with IG-1 showing gains in BMI, FM, BF, FFM, and VO2max (t-values: 3.638, 7.164, 5.551, -3.392, -6.884; P &lt; 0.05). Relative to the control group CG, IG-2 emerged with the most differential indicators post-intervention, followed by IG-3, with IG-1 presenting the least. Conclusion: Running-based high-intensity interval training twice weekly optimally boosts body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents with obesity. This frequency balances efficacy and practicality, offering a viable method to combat adolescent obesity. Future research should explore long-term effects and adherence to these exercise regimens.

A135: Effects of Exercise on Sleep Disorders in Women

Objectives: Sleep disorders affect at least one-third of the population and are more common in women, with about 40 to 55% of pre- and post-menopausal women experiencing sleep disorders. Sleep disorders are also strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, making it imperative to improve them. Exercise has been reported to improve insomnia and reduce sleep latency and hypnosis medications. Current research indicates that the effects of exercise on sleep quality and insomnia are controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of exercise on sleep quality in adult women. Method: Literature was searched up to 15 October 2023 in 7 databases (CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, CBM, PubMed, The Cochrane library, Embase) for RCTs assessing the effects of exercise and non-exercise control conditions on sleep quality, sleep disorders and/or insomnia in adult women. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used as the outcome indicator. Meta-analyses were conducted using random effects models. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software after screening, data extraction, quality assessment and risk assessment of the included literature. Effects on outcomes were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD) and their 95% confidence interval (CI). Result: A total of 16 papers were included for meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that exercise significantly improved sleep quality (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI [-0.50, -0.35], P &lt; 0.001), sleep latency (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.55, -0.33], P &lt; 0.001), sleep duration (SMD = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.59, -0.32], P &lt; 0.001), sleep efficiency (SMD = -0.19, 95% CI [-0.26, -0.12], P &lt; 0.001), sleep disturbances (SMD = -0.92, 95% CI [-1.42, -0.43], P &lt; 0.001), use of sleep medication (SMD = -0.16, 95% CI [-0.28, -0.03], P &lt; 0.02), and daytime dysfunction (SMD = -0.39, 95% CI [-0.51, -0.26], P &lt; 0.001), and statistically significant differences in adult females when compared to the control group. Discussion and Conclusion: Previous studies have shown that 12–16 weeks of exercise improves sleep, whereas the present study reveals that just 4 weeks of exercise significantly improves sleep in women. Although this study demonstrated the effectiveness of exercise for sleep disorders, too few original studies were included to categorize them based on exercise type and exercise intensity. In the future, further research is necessary to find more appropriate exercise programs for women with sleep disorders. The present study affirmed the role of exercise in improving sleep in women and provided a basis for improving sleep disorders, reducing cardiovascular risk, and improving quality of life.

Exercise on Crepitus in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ABSTRACT Background Crepitus is one of the primary symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Exercise and education are key components of evidence-based recommendations for management of OA. However, evidence if these approaches alter knee crepitus is limited. We aimed to determine if knee crepitus improves with exercise either alone or combined with education in healthy adults or people with early or established OA. Methods Five electronic databases (Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SportDISCUS) were searched from inception to July 1, 2022, for studies of adults with knee crepitus who undertook exercise compared to nonexercise control. Data were analyzed using a random-effects meta-analysis. Risk of bias was appraised using the Cochrane tool. Results Seven studies of adults with established knee OA were included. All studies measured crepitus with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscale following varied exercise interventions, 3 of which included education. Compared with control, no effect of exercise on modifying knee crepitus was found (mean difference −0.01 (95% confidence interval = −0.23, 0.21) on the 0–4 KOOS subscale). Two studies were at low risk of bias. The others had some concern (n = 3) or high risk of bias (n = 2). Conclusion Based on studies with mixed risk of bias, knee crepitus is unlikely to change in individuals with established OA following exercise. Thus, exercise-based practitioners can provide reassurance to people who are concerned about crepitus that exercise should not exacerbate crepitus. Authors of future studies could explore the impact of crepitus on patient’s beliefs about and engagement with exercise.

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Cardiometabolic Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions are typically prescribed according to several laboratory-based parameters and fixed reference intensities to accurately calibrate exercise intensity. Repeated all-out printing efforts, or sprint interval training, is another form of HIIT that is prescribed without individual reference intensity as it is performed in maximal intensities. No previous study has performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of HIIT and SIT on cardiometabolic health markers in children and adolescents. Moreover, previous studies have focused on single risk factors and exercise modalities, which may restrict their ability to capture a complete picture of the factors that could be affected by different interval interventions. The present study aimed to conduct a novel meta-analysis on the effects of HIIT and SIT on multiple cardiometabolic health markers in children and adolescents. An electronic search was conducted in three main online databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from inception to July 2024 to identify randomized and non-randomized control trials comparing HIIT and SIT versus the non-exercise control group in children and adolescents with mean age ranges from 6 to 18 years old on cardiometabolic health markers including fasting glucose and insulin, insulin resistance, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), systolic blood (SBP) and diastolic blood (DBP) pressures. Standardized mean differences (SMD), weighted mean differences (WMD), and confidence were calculated using a random effect model. HIIT decreased insulin, insulin resistance, TG, TC, LDL, and SBP and increased HDL but did not decrease glucose and DBP. Furthermore, subgroup analyses show that insulin and insulin resistance were decreased by sprint interval training (SIT) and in those with obesity. Lipid profile mainly is improved by SIT and in those with obesity. Also, SBP was decreased by SIT and in those with obesity. Our results prove that HIIT is an effective intervention for improving cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents, mainly those with obesity. Specifically, SIT is an effective interval training mode in children and adolescents.

Methodological Considerations When Studying Resistance-Trained Populations: Ideas for Using Control Groups.

Hammert, WB, Dankel, SJ, Kataoka, R, Yamada, Y, Kassiano, W, Song, JS, and Loenneke, JP. Methodological considerations when studying resistance-trained populations: Ideas for using control groups. J Strength Cond Res 38(12): 2164-2171, 2024-The applicability of training effects from experimental research depends on the ability to quantify the degree of measurement error accurately over time, which can be accounted for by including a time-matched nonexercise control group. Yet, control groups are rarely included in studies on resistance-trained individuals. Many authors instead report short-term relative or absolute measures of reliability for the interpretation of statistical tests and the size or meaning of effects observed and assume that good short-term reliability justifies the lack of a control group. In this article, we offer some potential alternatives for employing control groups in research studies on resistance-trained individuals. We wish to suggest researchers consider using a "time-matched training group" (i.e., resistance-trained individuals who keep an exercise log, continue their normal training, and perform the pre- and posttest measures spanning the same duration as that of the exercise group or groups) and/or a time-matched nonexercise control group (i.e., non-resistance-trained individuals who perform only the pre- and posttest measures spanning the same duration as that of the exercise training group or groups). If it is not feasible (e.g., researchers do not wish to randomly assign individuals to a time-matched training group or include a time-matched nonexercise control group) to employ such designs, or relevant, then an alternative approach might be to include a run-in (i.e., control) period that spans the same duration as the exercise training intervention. Our hope is that this article can help strengthen future research designs conducted on resistance-trained individuals.

Investigating the Influence of Limb Blood Flow on Contraction-Induced Muscle Growth and the Impact of that Growth on Changes in Maximal Strength.

Changes in skeletal muscle size may be affected by resting blood flow (e.g., nutrient delivery) and this change in size is a hypothesized mechanism for changes in strength. To determine: 1) whether the relationship between isometric training and muscle growth depends on baseline blood flow or is mediated by a change in blood flow and 2) whether muscle growth mediates changes in maximal isometric strength. 179 participants were randomized into: low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise (LI), low-intensity isometric handgrip exercise with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR), maximal handgrip exercise (MAX), and a non-exercise control (CONTROL). Muscle thickness, strength, and resting limb blood flow were measured before and after the six-week intervention. Baseline blood flow did not moderate training effects on muscle thickness changes (MTHchg) (p = 0.666), and moderated mediation tests were non-significant. Although the LI-BFR group showed a significant effect on MTHchg (p = 0.018), MTHchg was not significantly related to handgrip strength change (HGchg) (p = 0.281), suggesting no mediation of the training-to-strength effect by MTHchg. Both the LI-BFR (p = 0.004) and MAX (p < 0.001) groups exhibited positive direct effects on HGchg compared to CONTROL. Furthermore, there were no differences between training groups and CONTROL on blood flow change (BFchg), BFchg and MTHchg were not significantly related, and neither BFchg nor MTHchg predicted HGchg, providing no evidence for mediated pathways. Muscle growth may not have occurred to an extent that would require vascular adaptation. Training maximally induced the greatest strength adaptations but was seemingly not driven by muscle growth.

The Effect of Isometric Handgrip Training With and Without Blood Flow Restriction on Changes in Resting Blood Pressure

ABSTRACT To investigate the effects of high-intensity contractions and low-intensity contractions with and without blood flow restriction on changes in blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters. A total of 179 participants (18–35 years) were randomly assigned to one of three training groups that exercised 3 times per week for six weeks or a non-exercise control group. The groups are as follows: 1) Control [CON, n = 44]; 2) completed 4 sets of two-minute isometric contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction [LI, n = 47]; 3) completed 4 sets of two-minute isometric contractions at 30% maximal voluntary contraction with a 12 cm cuff inflated to 50% of arterial occlusion pressure [LI+BFR, n = 41]; or 4) completed 4 maximal isometric contractions lasting 5 seconds [MAX, n = 47]. Blood pressure, vascular resistance, and reactive hyperemia were measured at pre and post. Data are presented as means (SD). There was no evidence that SBP (BF10: 0.066), DBP (BF10: 0.057), vascular resistance (BF10: 0.085), or peak reactive hyperemia changed (BF10: 0.044) or A.U.C. (BF10: 0.074). Change scores for SBP were 1.1 (6.7), 0.7 (5.8), −0.4 (6.5), and −0.9 (6.3) mmHg for CON, LI, LI+BFR, and MAX, respectively. DBP change scores were 1.5 (6.6), 1.5 (7), −0.7 (5.9), and 0.3 (6.3) mmHg for CON, LI, LI+BFR, and MAX, respectively. Although recommended as a non-pharmacological method of blood pressure control, isometric exercise with or without BFR did not lower blood pressure. Future work could examine the inclusion of a daily strength test prior to the low intensity protocol.

Abstract C022: Exercise reduces pancreatic tumor in a gut microbiome dependent manner

Abstract Preclinical studies suggest that aerobic exercise influences the tumor microenvironment by normalizing vasculature and reducing immunosuppression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Gut microbes can influence PDAC progression by modulating metabolic and immune pathways. However, a knowledge gap remains regarding the role of the gut microbiome in the anti-tumor effects of exercise. We hypothesized that the exercise-induced anti-tumor effect in PDAC is regulated by gut microbiome. We compared the effect of treadmill running on growth of orthotopic PDAC in C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), which have different microbiomes. Tumor-bearing mice performed treadmill exercise (ex, 12 meters/minute (m/min) for 45 minutes (min) daily) or were non-exercised controls (no-ex). Exercise reduced tumor weight compared to no-ex controls in Jax (no-ex, 0.72±0.05 grams (g); ex, 0.54±0.04g; p=0.04) but not in Tac mice (no-ex, 0.72±0.05g; ex, 0.78±0.05g; p=0.47). Interestingly, in Tac mice treated with antibiotics (ATBx) ad libitum, treadmill exercise reduced tumor growth (no-ex, 0.74±0.04 g; ex, 0.53±0.03g; p= 0.006). Taken together, this data indicates that the anti-tumor effect of exercise is affected by gut microbiome. We considered potential mechanisms by which exercise suppresses tumor growth. Tumor infiltrating immune cells were measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. No significant differences in the tumor infiltrating immune cells were observed between no-ex and ex mice from Tac or Jax, regardless of ATBx, indicating that gut microbiome mediated anti-tumor effect is independent of immune pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that exercise reduces tumor growth in an intensity dependent manner. Therefore, to determine exercise intensity as percentage of Peak Velocity (VPeak), exercise capacity (ExCap) test was performed. VPeak (m/min), time to exhaustion (min), and distance to exhaustion (m) were used as indicators for treadmill ExCap. Treadmill ExCap was significantly lower in tumor bearing Tac mice (24.86±3.55m/min, 12.56±1.79min, 217.17±31.02m) compared to Jax mice (30.50±3.81m/min; 16.58±2.07min; 320.15±40.02m; p=0.01). However, ATBx treatment did not change the treadmill ExCap in the Tac mice (25.50±3.19m/min; 12.62±1.58min; 209.26±26.16m; p=0.97) despite significantly changing the effect of exercise on tumor growth, indicating that ExCap may not regulate differences observed in the tumor weight. Overall, these results indicate that gut microbiome regulates anti-tumor effects of exercise, that are independent of tumor infiltrating immune cells or exercise intensity. Analysis of serum and tumor metabolites, 16s rRNAseq to evaluate microbial differences, and bulk RNAseq on tumors, is underway with the goal of identifying microbial-derived metabolites which mediate the anti-tumor effect of exercise. Understanding how the gut microbiome mediates the efficacy of exercise to suppress tumor growth will be critical for maximizing the benefits of exercise for patients with PDAC. Citation Format: Sumedha Pareek, Vidhi Chandra, Le Li, Hetal Patel, Truong Lam, Olivereen LeRoux, Haoyue Liu, Jonghae Lee, Florencia McAllister, Keri Schadler. Exercise reduces pancreatic tumor in a gut microbiome dependent manner [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor-body Interactions: The Roles of Micro- and Macroenvironment in Cancer; 2024 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(22_Suppl):Abstract nr C022.

Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Exercise Training Prescribed Relative to Traditional Intensity Anchors and Physiological Thresholds: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

It is unknown whether there are differences in maximal oxygen uptake ( O2max) response when prescribing intensity relative to traditional (TRAD) anchors or to physiological thresholds (THR). The present meta-analysis sought to compare: (a) mean change in O2max, (b) proportion of individuals increasing O2max beyond a minimum important difference (MID) and (c) response variability in O2max between TRAD and THR. Electronic databases were searched, yielding data for 1544 individuals from 42 studies. Two datasets were created, comprising studies with a control group ('controlled' studies), and without a control group ('non-controlled' studies). A Bayesian approach with multi-level distributional models was used to separately analyse O2max change scores from the two datasets and inferences were made using Bayes factors (BF). The MID was predefined as one metabolic equivalent (MET; 3.5 mLkg-1min-1). In controlled studies, mean O2max change was greater in the THR group compared with TRAD (4.1 versus 1.8 mLkg-1min-1, BF > 100), with 64% of individuals in the THR group experiencing an increase in O2max > MID, compared with 16% of individuals taking part in TRAD. Evidence indicated no difference in standard deviation of change between THR and TRAD (1.5 versus 1.7 mLkg-1min-1, BF = 0.55), and greater variation in exercise groups relative to non-exercising controls (1.9 versus 1.3 mLkg-1min-1, BF = 12.4). In non-controlled studies, mean O2max change was greater in the THR group versus the TRAD group (4.4 versus 3.4 mLkg-1min-1, BF = 35.1), with no difference in standard deviation of change (3.0 versus 3.2 mLkg-1min-1, BF = 0.41). Prescribing exercise intensity using THR approaches elicited superior mean changes in O2max and increased the likelihood of increasing O2max beyond the MID compared with TRAD. Researchers designing future exercise training studies should thus consider the use of THR approaches to prescribe exercise intensity where possible. Analysis comparing interventions with controls suggested the existence of intervention response heterogeneity; however, evidence was not obtained for a difference in response variability between THR and TRAD. Future primary research should be conducted with adequate power to investigate the scope of inter-individual differences in O2max trainability, and if meaningful, the causative factors.

Acute high-intensity muscle contraction moderates AChR gene expression independent of rapamycin-sensitive mTORC1 pathway in rat skeletal muscle.

The relationship between mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation after resistance exercise and acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit gene expression remains largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation-induced intense muscle contraction, which mimics acute resistance exercise, on the mRNA expression of AChR genes and the signalling pathways involved in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) maintenance, such as mTORC1 and muscle-specific kinase (MuSK). The gastrocnemius muscle of male adult Sprague-Dawley rats was isometrically exercised. Upon completion of muscle contraction, the rats were euthanized in the early (after 0, 1, 3, 6 or 24h) and late (after 48 or 72h) recovery phases and the gastrocnemius muscles were removed. Non-exercised control animals were euthanized in the basal state (control group). In the early recovery phase, Agrn gene expression increased whereas LRP4 decreased without any change in the protein and gene expression of AChR gene subunits. In the late recovery phase, Agrn, Musk, Chrnb1, Chrnd and Chrne gene expression were altered and agrin and MuSK protein expression increased. Moreover, mTORC1 and protein kinase B/Akt-histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC) were activated in the early phase but not in the late recovery phase. Furthermore, rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTORC1, did not disturb changes in AChR subunit gene expression after muscle contraction. However, rapamycin addition slightly increased AChR gene expression, while insulin did not impact it in rat L6 myotube. These results suggest that changes in the AChR subunits after muscle contraction are independent of the rapamycin-sensitive mTORC1 pathway.

High-intensity interval training for cardiometabolic health in adults with metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared with traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and/or non-exercise control (CON) for modification of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and other cardiometabolic...

Effectiveness of exercise intervention in improving physical and mental status of patients with alcohol use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This meta-analysis and systematic review examined the effects of an exercise intervention on alcohol dependence and physical and mental states in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and Embase. Randomized controlled trials published in English from the inception of the database until June 30, 2024, were included. All forms of exercise intervention (aerobic, resistance, yoga, mixed exercise, etc.) were included in the study, using an exercise intervention for patients with AUD and a non-exercise control group. Studies that excluded acute exercise or did not describe a specific intervention program; duplicate publications; review articles, conference articles, etc.; and studies that did not report appropriate outcome metrics. This protocol was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol standard. The risk of bias was assessed via the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool as described by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and Interventions. Alcohol dependence (number of drinks per day, number of drinks per week, AUDIT), physical and mental status [maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), resting heart rate, anxiety state, depression state, stress level]. Seventeen RCTs with a total of 1,905 patients with alcohol use disorders were included as subjects, and the results revealed that the exercise intervention had a significant effect on alcohol dependence, the number of drinks per day and the AUDIT score, the exercise intervention also had a significant effect on physical and mental status, VO2max, the resting heart rate, the anxiety state, the depression state, and the stress level. High heterogeneity in the number of drinks per day, anxiety, depression and stress outcomes (I2 > 50%), but Egger's test showed no publication bias for all outcome indicators (p > 0.05). Exercise intervention can effectively reduce alcohol dependence and significantly improve the physical and mental states of AUD patients, and exercise intervention as an adjunct to the treatment of AUD patients is significantly effective.

Post-exercise hypotension after different volumes of combined calisthenic and walking exercises in older adults with hypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of combined calisthenic and walking exercises using different volumes on blood pressure (BP) in aging adults with primary hypertension. A total of 48 participants with primary hypertension aged 50-80 years were randomly assigned into two groups that performed two experimental sessions each: a non-exercising CONTROL session and a LOW (group 1) or HIGH (group 2) volume exercise session. The order of these sessions was randomized. The exercise protocols lasted 30 min (LOW) or 60 min (HIGH) and consisted of calisthenic exercises combined with continuous walking or jogging. Exercise intensity was controlled using a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale. BP was measured at baseline and after each session for 60 min. Results showed that systolic BP was lower after the HIGH session at post 30' (p = 0.03), post 40' (p = 0.03), post 50' (p = 0.04), and post 60' (p < 0.02), and after the LOW session at post 30' (p = 0.02), post 40' (p < 0.01), post 50' (p < 0.01), and post 60' (p < 0.01) when compared to the corresponding CONTROL at the same time point. There were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic BP between the HIGH and LOW sessions. In conclusion, a pragmatic combined training session using different volumes acutely reduces BP in older adults with primary hypertension.

Exercise and tumor proteome: insights from a neuroblastoma model.

The impact of exercise on pediatric tumor biology is essentially unknown. We explored the effects of regular exercise on tumor proteome profile (as assessed with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) in a mouse model of one of the most aggressive childhood malignancies, high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB). Tumor samples of 14 male mice (aged 6-8 wk) that were randomly allocated into an exercise (5-wk combined aerobic and resistance training) or nonexercise control group (6 and 8 mice/group, respectively) were analyzed. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins database was used to generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and enrichment analyses. The Systems Biology Triangle (SBT) algorithm was applied for analyses at the functional category level. Tumors of exercised mice showed a higher and lower abundance of 101 and 150 proteins, respectively, than controls [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05]. These proteins were enriched in metabolic pathways, amino acid metabolism, regulation of hormone levels, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling (FDR < 0.05). The SBT algorithm indicated that 184 and 126 categories showed a lower and higher abundance, respectively, in the tumors of exercised mice (FDR < 0.01). Categories with lower abundance were involved in energy production, whereas those with higher abundance were related to transcription/translation, apoptosis, and tumor suppression. Regular exercise altered the abundance of hundreds of intratumoral proteins and molecular pathways, particularly those involved in energy metabolism, apoptosis, and tumor suppression. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the molecular mechanisms underlying the potential effects of exercise in HR-NB.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to explore the impact of a 5-wk exercise intervention on the tumor proteome profile in a mouse model of one of the most aggressive childhood malignancies, high-risk neuroblastoma. Exercise altered the abundance of hundreds of proteins and pathways, particularly those involved in energy metabolism and tumor suppression. These molecular changes could mediate, at least partly, the potential antitumorigenic effects of exercise.

Recreational beach tennis training reduces ambulatory blood pressure in adults with hypertension: a randomized clinical trial.

To determine the effect of 12 weeks of beach tennis training on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in adults with essential hypertension. This was a randomized, single-blinded, two-arm, parallel superiority trial. Forty-two participants aged 35-65 years with a previous diagnosis of hypertension were randomized into 12 weeks of beach tennis training group (two sessions per week lasting 45-60 min) or a nonexercising control group. Ambulatory 24 h (primary outcome) and office blood pressure, heart rate at rest, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscle strength were assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. Generalized estimating equation analyses were employed to examine the main effects of the interventions. In the beach tennis group, night-time systolic (-9 mmHg, P = 0.023), diastolic (-4 mmHg, P = 0.026), and mean arterial pressure (-7 mmHg, P = 0.023) decreased after 12 weeks of training. The office SBP/DBP (-6 mmHg, P = 0.016/-6 mmHg, P = 0.001) also decreased in the beach tennis group. Heart rate at rest decreased in the beach tennis group (-4 bpm, P = 0.012) but increased in the control group (6 bpm, P = 0.005). The lower and upper limb muscle strength increased in the beach tennis group after training. However, no such changes were observed in the control group. A 12-week recreational beach tennis training significantly reduced office and ambulatory BP among untrained adults with essential hypertension. Additionally, participation in this sport has led to improvements in physical fitness and overall cardiovascular risk profiles.This clinical trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03909321).