Role Of Exercise Research Articles

The Role of Hyperinsulenemia as a Risk Factor for Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Pancreatic cancer is associated with a very severe prognosis and identification of risk factors is essential. Diabetes and obesity are both established risk factors, and they both cause hyperinsulenemia. With this review we wished to appraise the evidence of a role of high insulin levels in causing pancreatic cancer. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Medline, and all evidence on potential pathophysiology of hyperinsulenemia and pancreatic cancer was included. Metaand pooled-analysis on epidemiological evidence are reported, and individual studies were as appropriate for specific topics (role of therapies, central adiposity and role of physical exercise). Conclusion: Hyperinsulenemia, and possibly hyperestrogenism secondary to a metabolic syndrome, are important elements in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Modification of certain life-style factors (exercise and weight loss) appears to modify the risk of pancreatic malignancy.

Competitive sports and leisure-time physical activity in patients with coronary heart disease

During recent years, the central role of exercise in the prevention of cardiovascular disease has gradually been demonstrated, and in 2003 the consensus document of the Council on Clinical Cardiology and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism on the role of physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease defined sedentary lifestyle as a modifiable independent cardiovascular risk factor, responsible for 12% of total mortality in the United States and for a 1.9-fold increase in the risk of ischemic heart disease. The reduction in cardiovascular mortality and cardiac ischemic events in subjects who perform regular physical activity is mainly due to the action that exercise plays on the control of cardiovascular risk factors. In particular, physical training has proved capable of improving lipid profile, reducing blood pressure and body weight, and improving glycemic control in diabetic subjects. In patients with coronary artery disease, combined exercise training, including both aerobic activities and strength training, is currently recommended. However, physical training in patients suffering from ischemic heart disease should be carefully prescribed, in order to maximize the positive effects and minimize the risks. It is also important that physical training programs are conducted in suitable facilities, with appropriately trained staff and with technical equipment suitable to deal with any emergency situations.

Physical exercise and pancreatic islets

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a great public health problem, which attacks part of the world population, being characterized by an imbalance in body glucose homeostasis. Physical exercise is pointed as a protective agent and is also recommended to people with DM. As pancreatic islets present an important role in glucose homeostasis, we aim to study the role of physical exercise (chronic adaptations and acute responses) in pancreatic islets functionality in Wistar male rats. First, animals were divided into two groups: sedentary (S) and aerobic trained (T). At the end of 8 weeks, half of them (S and T) were submitted to an acute exercise session (exercise until exhaustion), being subdivided as acute sedentary (AS) and acute trained (AT). After the experimental period, periepididymal, retroperitoneal and subcutaneous fat pads, blood, soleus muscle and pancreatic islets were collected and prepared for further analysis. From the pancreatic islets, total insulin content, insulin secretion stimulated by glucose, leucine, arginine and carbachol were analyzed. Our results pointed that body adiposity and glucose homeostasis improved with chronic physical exercise. In addition, total insulin content was reduced in group AT, insulin secretion stimulated by glucose was reduced in trained groups (T and AT) and insulin secretion stimulated by carbachol was increased in group AT. There were no significant differences in insulin secretion stimulated by arginine and leucine. We identified a possible modulating action on insulin secretion, probably related to the association of chronic adaptation with an acute response on cholinergic activity in pancreatic islets.

Severe mental illness and cardiometabolic risk; exercise's role in bridging the gaps in the mental health system

Severe mental illness and cardiometabolic risk; exercise's role in bridging the gaps in the mental health system

Physical Exercise Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Rats Subjected to Experimental Hyperprolinemia

This study investigated whether physical exercise would reverse proline-induced performance deficits in water maze tasks, as well as its effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) immunocontent and brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in Wistar rats. Proline administration followed partial time (6th-29th day of life) or full time (6th-60th day of life) protocols. Treadmill exercise was performed from 30th to 60th day of life, when behavioral testing was started. After that, animals were sacrificed for BDNF and AChE determination. Results show that proline impairs cognitive performance, decreases BDNF in cerebral cortex and hippocampus and increases AChE activity in hippocampus. All reported effects were prevented by exercise. These results suggest that cognitive, spatial learning/memory, deficits caused by hyperprolinemia may be associated, at least in part, to the decrease in BDNF levels and to the increase in AChE activity, as well as support the role of physical exercise as a potential neuroprotective strategy.

Mitochondria as a Target for Exercise-Induced Cardioprotection

Cardiac damage is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality particularly associated with coronary artery disease. Moreover, it is also related to some metabolic diseases such as diabetes and to some side effects of drug treatments. Regular exercise has been confirmed as a pragmatic countermeasure to protect against cardiac injury. Specifically, life-long physical activity and endurance exercise training have been proven to provide cardioprotection against cardiac insults in both young and old animals. It is suggested that the beneficial effects resulting from increased physical activity levels occur at different levels of cellular organization, being mitochondria preferential target organelles. At present, it remains unclear what the protective mechanisms that are essential for exercise-induced cardioprotection are. Proposed mechanisms to explain the cardioprotective effects of exercise are mediated, at least partially, by redox changes and include the up-regulation of mitochondrial chaperones, improved antioxidant capacity, and/or elevation of other protective molecules against cellular death. It is possible that under some conditions, exercise also diminishes the increased susceptibility of cardiac mitochondria to undergo permeability transition pore opening through the modulation of pore components or sensitizers. The role of physical exercise against the impairment of heart mitochondrial function that accompany ageing, diabetes, administration of the anti-cancer agent Doxorubicin and ischemia-reperfusion is analysed in the present review, which provides biochemical, functional and morphological data illustrating the cross tolerance effect of exercise in these conditions predisposing to cardiac "mitotoxicity". However, further work should be addressed in order to clarify the precise regulatory mechanisms by which physical exercise augments heart mitochondrial tolerance against many conditions predisposing to dysfunction.

Trainingstherapie bei Rheumatoider Arthritis: Eine systematische Übersicht

INTRODUCTION: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain and reduced joint mobility lead to impairments of muscle strength and endurance. In the long term RA is associated with increased risks of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise is considered to be an important cornerstone both in therapy for and prevention of these disease-related problems. However, its clinical relevance, the composition of efficient programmes, and their target population remain obscure. METHODS: Medline and PubMed databases as well as available publications were searched in this systematic review by using the key words “rheumatoid arthritis, dynamic exercise, aerobic exercise”. RESULTS: No immunological reactions in response to exercise are described with relevance to the clinical course of the disease. 12 randomised controlled studies were identified with sufficient intensity and duration (>6 weeks) of dynamic exercises. All reviews and all studies with observation periods up to 5 years agree that dynamic exercises are safe in adult as well as juvenile RA patients with mild to moderate impairment and stable disease. There is good evidence for an improvement of aerobic capacity, muscle strength, mobility and a reduced decrease of bone mineral density by intensive supervised training programmes in adult, but not juvenile patients. Some evidence exists that home-based programmes of similar intensity may work as well, provided that patients are correctly instructed at the onset and controlled at regular intervals. Conflicting evidence exists considering the clinical consequences of training programmes to functional capacity and health-related quality of life, no data are available on the prevention of cardiovascular complications. CONCLUSION: The positive effects support a wider use of physical exercise programmes in adult RA patients with mild impairment and stable disease, both as therapy and prevention. However, the occurrence of adverse long-term effects on large, weight-bearing joints cannot be completely excluded with the available data. High exercise loads should be avoided in patients with joint damage. The role of physical exercise in juvenile RA patients and patients with severe impairments remains unsettled. In particular, in acute flares and in elderly, severely deconditioned patients conventional physiotherapy will remain an essential part at least of initial treatment.

Role of Physical Exercise in Low Back Pain Rehabilitation

Randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. To analyze the effects of an exercise program or routine follow-up on patients with chronic low back pain who have completed functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation. The short- and long-term outcome in terms of symptoms and physical and social functioning was compared. Systematic reviews have shown that functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation improves physical function and reduces pain in patients with chronic low back pain. However, long-term maintenance of these improvements is inconsistent and the role of exercise in achieving this goal is unclear. One hundred five chronic patients with low back pain who had completed a 3-week functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation program were randomized to either a 3-month exercise program (n = 56) or routine follow-up (n = 49). The exercise program consisted of 24 training sessions during 12 weeks. Patients underwent evaluations of trunk muscle endurance, cardiovascular endurance, lumbar spine mobility (flexion and extension range-of-motion, fingertip-to-floor distance), pain and perceived functional ability at the beginning and the end of functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation, at the end of the exercise program (3 months) and at 1-year follow-up. Disability was also assessed at the same time points except at the beginning of functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation. At the end of the functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation, both groups improved significantly in all physical parameters except flexion and extension range-of-motion. At the 3 month and 1 year follow-up, both groups maintained improvements in all parameters except for cardiovascular endurance. Only the exercise program group improved in disability score and trunk muscle endurance. No differences between groups were found. A favorable long-term outcome was observed after functional multidisciplinary rehabilitation in both patient groups. Patients who participated in an exercise program obtained some additional benefits. The relevance of these benefits to overall health status need to be further investigated.

Physical exercise induces expression of CD31 and facilitates neural function recovery in rats with focal cerebral infarction

Objectives: The present study was aimed at examining the role of physical exercise in the improvement of damaged neural function and the induction of angiogenesis.Methods: An infarction model was induced by ligating the left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in a total of 66 adult Sprague–Dawley rats that were further randomly divided into three groups: the physical exercise group (n=30), which was given running wheel exercise every day after MCAO, the control group (n=30) and sham-operated group (n=6), which were fed in standard cages without any special training exercise. The rats were killed on the third, seventh and fourteenth days and the neurological severity scores were examined for evaluating the neural function. And the neogenetic microvessels around the peri-infarction region were checked with the specific marker CD31.Results: Although neogenetic microvessels in the peri-infarction region were observed in both control group and physical exercise group, which showed the highest signal on the seventh day after ischemia, the number of CD31 positive cells significantly increased in physical exercise group in comparison with those in control group on the seventh and fourteenth days after ischemia (p<0·01). Moreover, the neurological severity scores in the physical exercise group showed more quick declination as compared to those in control group from the seventh day after ischemic.Conclusion: Our results suggested that physical exercise plays an important role in the recovery of damaged neural function and induction of angiogenesis after cerebral infarction in rats.

Physical exercise is required for environmental enrichment to offset the quantitative effects of dark‐rearing on the S‐100β astrocytic density in the rat visual cortex

After birth, exposure to visual inputs modulates cortical development, inducing numerous changes in all of the components of the visual cortex. Most of the cortical changes thus induced occur during what is called the critical period. Astrocytes play an important role in the development, maintenance and plasticity of the cortex as well as in the structure and function of the vascular network. Visual deprivation induces a decrease in the astroglial population, whereas enhanced experience increases it. Exposure to an enriched environment has been shown to prevent the effects of dark-rearing in the visual cortex. Our purpose was to study the effects of an enriched environment on the density of astrocytes per reference surface at the visual cortex of dark-reared rats, in order to determine if enhanced experience is able to compensate the quantitative effects of visual deprivation and the role of physical exercise on the enrichment paradigm. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were raised in one of the following rearing conditions: control rats with standard housing (12-h light/dark cycle); in total darkness for the dark-rearing experiments; and dark-rearing in conditions of enriched environment without and with physical exercise. The astrocytic density was estimated by immunohistochemistry for S-100beta protein. Quantifications were performed in layer IV. The somatosensorial cortex barrel field was also studied as control. The volume of layer IV was stereologically calculated for each region, age and experimental condition. From the beginning of the critical period, astrocyte density was higher in control rats than in the enriched environment group without physical exercise, with densities of astrocytes around 20% higher at all of the different ages. In contrast, when the animals had access to voluntary exercise, densities were significantly higher than even the control rats. Our main result shows that strategies to apply environmental enrichment should always consider the incorporation of physical exercise, even for sensorial areas such as the visual area, where complex enriched experience by itself is not enough to compensate the effects of visual deprivation.

Physical Exercise and Cognitive Recovery in Acquired Brain Injury: A Review of the Literature

Physical exercise has been shown to play an ever-broadening role in the maintenance of overall health and has been implicated in the preservation of cognitive function in both healthy elderly and demented populations. Animal and human studies of acquired brain injury (ABI) from trauma or vascular causes also suggest a possible role for physical exercise in enhancing cognitive recovery. A review of the literature was conducted to explore the current understanding of how physical exercise impacts the molecular, functional, and neuroanatomic status of both intact and brain-injured animals and humans. Searches of the MEDLINE, CINHAL, and PsychInfo databases yielded an extensive collection of animal studies of physical exercise in ABI. Animal studies strongly tie physical exercise to the upregulation of multiple neural growth factor pathways in brain-injured animals, resulting in both hippocampal neurogenesis and functional improvements in memory. A search of the same databases for publications involving physical exercise in human subjects with ABI yielded 24 prospective and retrospective studies. Four of these evaluated cognitive outcomes in persons with ABI who were involved in physical exercise. Three studies cited a positive association between exercise and improvements in cognitive function, whereas one observed no effect. Human exercise interventions varied greatly in duration, intensity, and level of subject supervision, and tools for assessing neurocognitive changes were inconsistent. There is strong evidence in animal ABI models that physical exercise facilitates neurocognitive recovery. Physical exercise interventions are safe in the subacute and rehabilitative phases of recovery for humans with ABI. In light of strong evidence of positive effects in animal studies, more controlled, prospective human interventions are warranted to better explore the neurocognitive effects of physical exercise on persons with ABI.

Quality of Life and Pulse Pressure in Elderly People: the Role of Physical Exercise

Quality of Life and Pulse Pressure in Elderly People: the Role of Physical Exercise

Influência dos exercícios físicos de baixa e alta intensidade sobre o limiar de hipernocicepção e outros parâmetros em ratos

A prática de exercícios físicos é um hábito importante para manutenção do bem-estar físico e emocional de quem a adota com regularidade, podendo trazer grandes benefícios à saúde. Todavia, dependendo do seu tipo, intensidade, freqüência e duração, os exercícios também podem causar certos prejuízos para o organismo. Como benefício, é descrito o seu papel na função imune específica e não-específica e, nesta última, destaca-se o processo inflamatório. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos dos exercícios físicos de baixa e alta intensidade sobre a hipernocicepção, além de avaliar a massa corporal e o peso relativo de alguns órgãos de ratos. Para isso, foram utilizados ratos machos, adultos, da linhagem Wistar, os quais foram submetidos (grupo treinado) ou não (grupo não treinado) a exercícios em esteira ergométrica. A inflamação aguda foi induzida pela injeção de carragenina-0,5% no coxim da pata posterior esquerda dos ratos e a nocicepção foi mensurada por meio do teste plantar antes e após 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 e 24 horas. Ao final das avaliações os ratos foram submetidos a anestesia profunda, até a eutanásia, para coleta e pesagem das glândulas adrenais, coração, baço e rins e posterior estudo anatomopatológico destes tecidos. A análise estatística dos resultados mostrou aumento significante (P &lt; 0,05) no limiar de hipernocicepção nos momentos H2, H3, H4 e H6 nos animais treinados em alta intensidade. Houve também redução (P &lt; 0,05) na massa corporal, bem como hipertrofia das glândulas adrenais e coração e aumento dos rins nos ratos treinados em alta intensidade, além de hipertrofia das adrenais naqueles treinados em baixa intensidade. Não ocorreram alterações estatisticamente significantes nos demais parâmetros. Concluiu-se que os exercícios físicos em esteira ergométrica alteraram a nocicepção, a massa corporal e o peso relativo de alguns órgãos, porém, de modo dependente do protocolo de exercícios aplicado aos animais.

The Role of Physical Exercise in Wilderness Therapy for Troubled Adolescent Women

This study explores the impacts of backpacking as a therapeutic process for troubled adolescent women participating in wilderness therapy. A qualitative case study approach was used to investigate the experience of six adolescent women and three female wilderness instructors at an established wilderness therapy program. Data were collected through participant observation, client psychological profiles, and semi-structured interviews. Research explored the emotional, cognitive, and physical impacts attributed to the backpacking component of the therapeutic process and the relationships between these impacts. Results revealed eight central impacts of backpacking, each of which fell into categories differentiated by dimensions of temporality, intensity, and clarity. A conceptual model captures the flow of the backpacking process and offers insight into this specific therapeutic element of wilderness therapy.

A 3-year longitudinal study on body composition changes in the elderly: Role of physical exercise

Cross-sectional data have shown that sarcopenia and fat accumulation are associated with aging and can be limited by structured physical training. However, it is often difficult to maintain a long-term compliance to training programs. It is not clear whether leisure-time physical activity is effective in preventing sarcopenia and fat accumulation. (i) To investigate longitudinal body composition changes in a population of elderly people in good apparent health. (ii) To evaluate the impact of leisure-time physical activity on muscle mass and characteristic as reflected by total body potassium per fat-free soft tissue (TBK/FFST), and on fat accumulation. Longitudinal evaluation over 3 years, of body composition changes in 74 healthy men and 66 women, over 65 years old. Body fat and FFST were analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and TBK by whole-body (40)K counter. Physical activity was analyzed by a specific questionnaire. Despite a stable total body weight, FFST and appendicular skeletal muscle mass slightly decreased (-0.3+/-1.4 and -0.2+/-2.2 kg, P<0.01, respectively) as well as the TBK/FFST (-4.1+/-6.3 mmol/kg, P<0.001), over the 3-year period. Body fat increased significantly (0.6+/-2.2 kg, P<0.0001), and it accumulated mainly in the abdomen (0.4+/-1.5 kg, P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that body composition changes were related mainly to body weight changes. Nevertheless, positive linear correlations were observed between the degree of engagement in leisure-time physical activity and FFST (P<0.01), appendicular skeletal muscle mass (P<0.05), TBK/FFST (P<0.05), whereas negative correlation was observed with total and truncal fat (P<0.01). Mild but significant decline in muscle mass and its TBK content, and body fat accumulation were observed over a 3-year period in healthy elderly subject: leisure-time physical activity does not seem to prevent them. However, a higher level of physical activity is associated with higher muscle mass and TBK content, and less total and truncal fat.

Effect of an isotonic rehydration sports drink and exercise on urolithiasis in rats

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of physical exercise as well as the influence of hydration with an isotonic sports drink on renal function in male Wistar rats. Four groups were studied over a period of 42 days: 1) control (N = 9); 2) physical exercise (Exe, N = 7); 3) isotonic drink (Drink, N = 8); 4) physical exercise + isotonic drink (Exe + Drink, N = 8). Physical exercise consisted of running on a motor-driven treadmill for 1 h/day, at 20 m/min, 5 days a week. The isotonic sports drink was a commercial solution used by athletes for rehydration after physical activity, 2 ml administered by gavage twice a day. Urine cultures were performed in all animals. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected in metabolic cages at the beginning and at the end of the protocol period. Urinary and plasma parameters (sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine, calcium) did not differ among groups. However, an amorphous material was observed in the bladders of animals in the Exe + Drink and Drink groups. Characterization of the material by Western blot revealed the presence of Tamm-Horsfall protein and angiotensin converting enzyme. Physical exercise and the isotonic drink did not change the plasma or urinary parameters measured. However, the isotonic drink induced the formation of intravesical matrix, suggesting a potential lithogenic risk.

Benefits of three years of controlled exercise rehabilitation on heart transplant recipients

Introduction: Long term treatment after heart transplantation (HTX) improved survival, although exercise capacity remained 40% below normal due to cardiac denervation and reduced skeletal muscle function. The role of physical exercise in long term treatment after HTX has not been determined. We analysed the effects of a 3 year supervised and computer assisted home training program on exercise and health related variables.

The role of physical exercise in alcoholism treatment and recovery.

The role of physical exercise in alcoholism treatment and recovery.

Framework PEACE: an organizational model for examining physical exercise across the cancer experience.

The primary purpose of this article is to provide a framework for organizing research on physical exercise and cancer control. A secondary purpose is to use this framework to provide an overview of the extant literature and to offer directions forr future research. The proposed framework, entitled Physical Exercise Across the Cancer Experience (PEACE), divides the cancer experience into 6 time periods: 2 prediagnosis (i.e., prescreening and screening/diagnosis) and 4 postdiagnosis (i.e., pretreatment, treatment, posttreatment, and resumption). Based on these time periods, 8 general cancer control outcomes are highlighted. Two cancer control outcomes occur prediagnosis (i.e., prevention and detection), and 6 occur postdiagnosis (i.e., buffering, coping, rehabilitation, health promotion, palliation, and survival). An overview of the physical exercise literature indicates that only I time period (i.e., prescreening) and cancer control outcome (i.e., prevention) has received significant research attention. Some time periods (i.e., treatment and resumption) and cancer control outcomes (i.e., coping and health promotion) have received modest research attention, whereas other time periods (i.e., screening/diagnosis, pretreatment, and posttreatment) and cancer control outcomes (i.e., detection, buffering, rehabilitation, palliation, and survival) have received only minimal attention. It is hoped that Framework PEACE will stimulate a more comprehensive and in-depth inquiry into the role of physical exercise in cancer control.

Very low fat diets.

Very low fat diets.