Objective: To determine tŜe effects of ginger supplementation, exercise, and their combination on insulin resistance and serum Irisin levels in fructose-induced diabetic rats, and to evaluate the relationship between Irisin and insulin resistance Methodology: This study was carried out in the animal research facility at the Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, Pakistan, from Jun 2021 to Jan 2022. Thirty rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n=6). Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was induced in all groups except Group 1 which served as negative control (NC), by administration of 25% fructose diet for four weeks. Group 2 served as positive control (PC, fructose-fed); Group 3 was administered ginger extract (GE), 500 mg/kg/day; Group 4 was subjected to swimming exercise (EX), 30 min/day and Group 5 received combination therapy (GE+EX). Interventions lasted 8 weeks after successful induction of diabetes. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FI), and Irisin were measured; insulin resistance (IR) was assessed using HOMA-IR. Results: Ginger significantȚy redŨced IR Ǽp=0.004) with a non-significant increase in Irisin. Exercise significantly reduced IR(p=0.004) with a marked increase in Irisin (p=0.015). The combination group demonstrated the greatest reduction in IR (p=0.004) along with significant elevation in Irisin (p=0.004). Astatistically significant negative correlation was observed between HOMA-IR and Irisin (r=-0.614, p=0.001) across all study groups. Conclusion: Ginger supplementation and exercise, alone and especially in combination; significantly improve insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats, likely through their positive influence on Irisin. The strong inverse relation between serum Irisin and insulin resistance suggests Irisin as a potential mediator of metabolic improvement in nutraceutical and lifestyle modification-based management of type 2 diabetes. Key Words: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Insulin resistance, Irisin, Nutraceuticals, Ginger, Exercise

Polydrug use among teenagers is widespread and emergent either among athletes or non-athletes. It is reported that stanzolol (Stanz) is commonly abused with cannabis (Cann), this combination probably affects the testicular functions negatively. Aim The present study aimed to evaluate the toxic effects of Stanz and or Cann on reproductive hormones and testicular enzymes. Male Wistar rats were administered Stanz (5mg/kg, s.c., once per week) and Cann (20mg/kg, i.p., daily) either alone or in combination for two months, in exercise or sedentary conditions. Swimming exercise protocol was applied. Administration of both Stanz and Cann induced testicular damage, as evidenced by altered hormones, oxidative stress, and testicular enzymes. The testis tissue was significantly injured by the combined administration. In serum, levels of free testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), lutenizing hormone (LH) were markedly reduced, while sorbitol dehydrogenase level increased. Moreover, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased, glutathione (GSH) content decreased, testicular N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) were increased. SIRT1 and STS mRNA expression were downregulated. Besides, distinct histopathological changes were detected in testis of Stanz and Cann injected rats. Nevertheless, Stanz, Cann or combined treatment showed a considerable up-regulation of immunoexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and caspase-3 in testes tissue. Oxidative stress and inflammation played a significant role in the observed pathological changes. Training was partially ameliorating for the observed effects. Use of the drugs in sedentary rats had more detrimental effects on testes. Although exercise could palliate the damage partially, it was not fully protective.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of treadmill and swimming exercise on cell survival and reactive astrogliosis in the spinal cord and brain after spinal cord injury (SCI). Thirty-two male rats were randomly assigned to four groups: the normal group (Norm, n=8), the SCI+sedentary group (Seden, n=8), the SCI+treadmill exercise group (Tread, n=8), and the SCI+swimming exercise group (Swim, n=8). All rats in the SCI groups were allowed to recover for 2 weeks after injury, and then underwent 4 weeks of low-intensity treadmill and swimming exercise. In the spinal cord, both exercise interventions decreased the cavity formation around the injury, and significantly increased induction levels of growth associated protein-43, with greater improvements in the Tread group. In the motor cortex and hippocampus of the brain, the Tread group upregulated B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 and downregulated cleaved-caspase-3 and glial fibrillary acidic protein relative to the Seden group, indicating enhanced cell survival and reduced reactive astrogliosis in the injury site. Compared with swimming, treadmill exercise further improved tissue preservation and neural circuit-level recovery across the spinal cord, motor cortex, and hippocampus after SCI. Thus, our findings suggested evidence that treadmill exercise might be one of the rehabilitation strategies to support the spinal cord and brain after SCI.

Purpose: Regular exercise exerts at least some of its effects on lowering high blood pressure by regulating vascular tone. Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)], a member of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), has antihypertensive and vasodilator effects. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the blood pressure-lowering effect of regular exercise is mediated by Ang-(1-7)-induced vasodilation in a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition-induced hypertension model. Materials and Methods: 8-week-old Wistar male rats were separated into four groups: Control (C), Hypertension (H), Exercise (E), and Hypertension+Exercise (HE). Rats were subjected to the NOS inhibitor, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME,25 mg.kg-1.day-1) in drinking water and swimming (1 hour/day, 5 days/week) to create hypertension and/or exercise models. Ang-(1-7)-induced dilation responses of aortas were examined in the presence/absence of NOS, cyclooxygenase (COX), and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) inhibitors. To assess the roles of the Mas receptor (MasR) and the Angiotensin II-Type2 receptor (AT2R) in Ang-(1-7)-induced vasodilation, the MasR antagonists A-779 and D-Pro⁷-Ang-(1-7), and AT2R inhibitor PD123319 were used. Results: Swimming exercise improved Ang-(1-7)-mediated vasodilation responses in the E but not in the HE group. Inhibition of NOS and EDHF pathways diminished Ang-(1-7)-induced vasodilation responses in all groups. While vasodilator responses were attenuated only by D-Pro⁷-Ang-(1-7) in the C group, both MasR antagonists reduced these responses in the E and HE groups. In the H group, Ang-(1-7)-induced vasodilation was decreased in the presence of both D-Pro⁷-Ang-(1-7) and PD123319. Conclusion: Although swimming exercise did not significantly alter Ang-(1-7)-mediated vasodilatory responses in the NOS-inhibited hypertensive model, an enhanced involvement of MasR receptors was observed in the vasodilation responses of the exercise groups, particularly through NOS and EDHF pathways.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) can result in impaired blood flow and apoptosis. This study investigated the in vivo and in silico effects of Streptozotocin-induced DM (STZ-DM) on vascular endothelial functions and cardiac apoptotic markers after swimming exercise. This controlled experimental study was conducted using Wistar rats of both sexes. The rats were assigned to five groups (n = 7 each): control (C), diabetic (STZ-Dm), exercise (Ex), diabetic + exercise (STZ-Dm + Ex), and diabetic + insulin (STZ-Dm + In). DM was induced using streptozotocin (65mg/kg IP), while 6IU of insulin was administered (IP) to rats in the STZ-Dm + In group. The exercise groups were put through a structured swimming exercise for 27days, after which blood samples and hearts were collected for biochemical and cardiac apoptotic marker determination, respectively. Molecular docking simulations of STZ on vascular and apoptotic markers were also conducted. Regular swimming exercise minimized hyperglycemia, reduced angiotensin converting enzyme activity, endothelin-1 levels, and raised nitric oxide level in STZ-Dm + Ex compared with STZ-Dm only group (p < 0.05). Hyperglycemia in STZ-Dm + Ex were comparable with control and STZ-Dm + In groups. Cardiac level of Bcl-2 was increased, while caspase-3, serum C-reactive protein, and myoglobin levels were reduced in Ex, STZ-Dm + Ex, and STZ-Dm + In groups when compared with the STZ-Dm group. STZ exhibited the strongest binding energy with ACE [1O86] (-6.9kcal/mol], endothelin receptor A [5X93(-6.3kcal/mol)], and less with iNOS, [3E7G, (-5.8kcal/mol)], myoglobin [1A6M (-5.2kcal/mol)], caspase-3 [1PAU (-4.6kcal/mol)] and Bcl-2 [4LVT(-4.4kcal/mol)]. Swimming exercise mitigates the adverse effects of STZ-DM, probably by improving endothelial functions and reducing cell damage via the Bcl-2 and caspase-3 pathway.

Adolescent swimming exercise induces systemic adaptations and molecular changes in the rat cerebral cortex.

The More Potent Favorable Effects of Swimming Exercise Versus Ketogenic Diet in Combatting Obesity-Induced Brain Damage in Rats

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of swimming exercise on arthritis severity, radiological joint damage, and leptinrelated molecular changes in experimental rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in rats. Materials and methods: A total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=10 per group): Control, Arthritis, and Exercise + Arthritis. Experimental arthritis was induced by a single intradermal injection of Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). The Exercise + Arthritis group underwent a six-week swimming protocol (1 h/day, five days/week), beginning two weeks before arthritis induction and continuing thereafter. Arthritis severity was assessed by visual scoring, radiological analysis, and histopathological evaluation. Plasma concentrations of leptin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-13) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and leptin receptor expression in paw tissues was analyzed immunohistochemically. Results: The Exercise + Arthritis group exhibited significantly lower visual arthritis scores (p=0.002), reduced ankle swelling (p&lt;0.001), and decreased cartilage and bone damage radiologically (p=0.045) compared to the Arthritis group. Histopathological evaluation revealed that swimming exercise markedly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration, pannus formation, and bone resorption. Although plasma leptin and MMP levels did not differ between the groups (p&gt;0.05), leptin receptor expression, considered to be associated with joint damage, was found to be significantly lower in the Exercise + Arthritis group (p=0.009). Swimming exercise reduced arthritis severity and joint damage. Conclusion: Moderate-intensity swimming exerts protective, anti-inflammatory effects in experimental RA by reducing inflammation and preserving joint structure in rats, possibly through modulating leptin receptor expression and inflammatory pathways. Although regular swimming may serve as a useful adjunct to slow disease progression and joint damage in RA in rats, the translational relevance of these results remains uncertain in humans.

Physical fitness is a crucial aspect of the operations of the Special Forces of the National Guard of Ukraine, directly impacting their effectiveness in carrying out assigned tasks. Special operations often demand high levels of endurance, strength, speed, and coordination, making physical training an integral part of military preparation. In the context of modern threats faced by the country, Special Forces must be ready to operate in diverse environments, including urban areas, forests, and mountainous regions. This requires not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills acquired through systematic physical training. The primary requirements for the physical fitness of candidates for Special Forces service encompass not just basic physical attributes but also specialized skills essential for successful task execution. Candidates must demonstrate high endurance, rapid recovery capabilities, and strength to perform physically demanding maneuvers. Agility and coordination development are also vital for effective teamwork and quick response to changing circumstances. Various standards are employed to assess physical readiness, tailored to the unique operational demands of Special Forces. Additionally, the psychological aspect of training is significant, as stressful situations can adversely affect physical performance. Thus, candidate evaluation includes not only physical tests but also psychological assessments to determine an individual’s ability to perform under high stress. Consequently, physical training for the Special Forces of the National Guard of Ukraine is a critical element ensuring servicemen's readiness for complex tasks. The requirements for physical fitness are formulated considering the specifics of future service and operational response needs in various situations. A systematic approach to assessing and improving physical qualities helps maintain a high level of combat readiness among Special Forces, ensuring successful task execution amid contemporary challenges. Training methods for physical fitness testing are vital in achieving optimal results in physical assessments and enhancing overall training effectiveness. A key element in this preparation is the development of individualized training programs that take into account each athlete's personal capabilities, goals, and needs. This tailored approach maximizes training adaptation to specific testing requirements, improving physical performance while minimizing injury risk. Individual programs may encompass various components such as cardiovascular training, strength exercises, and functional workouts, contributing to a balanced training system. The use of diverse training methodologies is another important aspect of preparation for testing; cardiovascular activities like running, swimming, cycling, and other aerobic exercises foster endurance development and enhance cardiovascular system performance, positively influencing overall physical condition and capacity to withstand testing loads. Physical fitness is crucial for successful selection into the National Guard of Ukraine. A comprehensive approach to candidate preparation, which includes physical training, psychological support, and proper nutrition, ensures a high level of readiness to perform tasks in challenging conditions.

Background: Diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood sugar (hyperglycemia). This increase results from a defect in insulin secretion, resistance to its function, or a combination of both. In type 2 diabetes, blood sugar regulation is disrupted due to decreased cell sensitivity to insulin or reduced secretion from pancreatic beta cells. This disease is a major cause of complications such as liver damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of licorice plant extract and swimming exercises on histopathological changes and liver enzymes in rats with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 55 male Wistar rats, 8 weeks old, with an approximate weight of 200 ± 30 grams. Diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 55 mg/kg. The animals were randomly divided into five groups: diabetic control, swimming exercise, licorice extract, combined group (swimming exercise + licorice extract), and healthy control. The exercise program included swimming for 8 weeks. Two groups of diabetic rats received licorice extract orally, and two groups participated in the exercise program. After the research period, liver samples were collected for histopathological examinations and measurement of liver enzymes AST, ALT, and ALP. Descriptive statistics used mean and standard deviation, and mean comparisons were analyzed using two- way ANOVA. The Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to determine differences between groups. Results: The results showed that swimming exercise, licorice extract consumption, and their combination significantly reduced the levels of AST and ALP enzymes (P&lt; 0.05). However, no significant effect was observed on ALT enzyme levels. Additionally, groups receiving licorice supplements and swimming exercises showed a notable reduction in liver fibrosis compared to the diabetic control group. Conclusion: This research provides evidence that both independently and in combination, swimming exercise and licorice extract consumption can help improve liver parameters and reduce diabetes-related damage. These findings suggest that physical activity and herbal interventions like licorice consumption can be considered complementary strategies in diabetes management and its complications, particularly in improving liver function

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women and has lifelong health effects. This study aimed to investigate the physiological effects of PCOS on neurogenesis and cognitive symptom improvement through lifestyle changes and the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female C57BL/6 mice with a mean weight of 18±2 kg and an age of 6 to 7 weeks were randomly divided into five groups: control group, polycystic group, polycystic + swimming exercise group, polycystic + soy group, and polycystic + exercise + soy group. Real-time PCR measured gene expression. Genes were selected with the help of bioinformatics software. ELISA evaluated luteinizing hormone(LH ) concentration. Results: FN1-ARC-NGFR-BDNF genes showed decreased expression in mice with PCOS compared to the control group. On the other hand, the expression of FN1-ARC-NGFR-BDNF genes in mice with PCOS, swimming training, and soy supplement consumption significantly increased compared to the PCOS group. Simultaneous administration of swimming training and soy supplement consumption significantly increased LH concentration (p&lt;0.001) and expression of FN1-ARC-NGFR-BDNF genes (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that combining swimming training and soy extract consumption can enhance neurogenesis in a PCOS model and improve cognitive symptoms. Our findings confirm that this combination not only enhances the function of the nervous system but also contributes to overall health improvement through hormonal regulation. These results provide a new avenue for complementary therapies in the management of PCOS.

Hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) affects vital organs such as the heart and brain, leading to adverse outcomes and posing a serious threat to human health. Maternal exercise helps promote fetal growth and development by improving the intrauterine environment, thereby reducing disease risk and enhancing offspring health. This study investigates whether maternal exercise during pregnancy can reduce the susceptibility of the offspring's heart and brain to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury linked to hypertension, in order to evaluate the protective potential of maternal exercise as an early-life intervention. Pregnant normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were randomly assigned to either a sedentary (p-WKY-SED, p-SHR-SED) or exercise (p-WKY-EX, p-SHR-EX) group for the duration of their gestation. A maternal swimming exercise model was established during pregnancy. Three-month-old (3M) offspring were selected as research subjects. During this period, blood pressure was monitored, and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI) and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgeries were performed to induce ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Maternal exercise during pregnancy significantly reduced infarct size in both male and female offspring of hypertensive rats following MI/RI and MCAO. In the MI/RI model, infarct size was reduced by 60.9% in males and 55.9% in females. In the MCAO model, infarct size was reduced by 31.0% in males and 35.9% in females. Additionally, maternal exercise improved post-myocardial infarction (MI) cardiac function in male offspring and decreased their overall susceptibility to ischemic injury in both the heart and brain. In the context of hereditary hypertension during pregnancy, maternal aerobic exercise has been shown to confer significant protective effects on adult offspring by reducing I/Rinjury in the heart and brain. These findings highlightthe potential of maternal exercise as an effective non-pharmacological strategy for early-life intervention to reduce susceptibility to HMOD.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia, has been shown in our prior work to be mitigated by swim exercise. While accumulating evidence links elevated circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) to cardiovascular disease, their specific involvement in AF pathogenesis and the anti-arrhythmic benefits conferred by exercise remain less understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of BCAA supplementation on AF susceptibility and the potential cardioprotective benefits of swim exercise. C57BL/6J mice were supplemented with 2% BCAA via drinking water, either alone or in combination with a swim exercise regimen (60 min/day, 5 days/week). After 16 weeks of BCAA supplementation, mice exhibited increased AF susceptibility, an effect attenuated by swim exercise. Electrical remodeling analysis revealed that BCAA supplementation enlarged the area and prolonged the duration of the P wave. In support of this, transcriptional profiling of ion channels indicated a tendency toward shortened action potentials following BCAA treatment. BCAA supplementation also induced noticeable atrial cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis, hallmark features of atrial structural remodeling. Importantly, both electrical and structural remodeling induced by BCAA were mitigated by concurrent swim exercise. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that BCAA supplementation impaired systemic insulin sensitivity and activated Bax-mediated atrial apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of Bax with peptide V5 alleviated BCAA-induced cardiac apoptosis in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. In conclusion, our results show that BCAA supplementation induces significant atrial remodeling and AF susceptibility in mice, effects that can be reversed by swim exercise, with Bax-mediated atrial apoptosis playing a crucial role in mediating this effect.

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries frequently result in incomplete recovery despite advances in microsurgical repair. Both pharmacological and rehabilitative strategies have been investigated to enhance regeneration. Dexamethasone, a potent anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, and aerobic exercise, such as swimming, may promote repair through distinct but complementary mechanisms. Methods: A standardized rat sciatic nerve crush model was used to evaluate the effects of local dexamethasone administration (2 mg/kg/day, perineural for 10 days), swimming exercise (20 min/session, three times per week for 21 days), and their combination. Functional recovery was assessed by the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), oxidative stress by MDA, GPX, and MPO assays, and structural recovery by histological, MBP immunohistochemical, and TEM analyses. Results: The injury group exhibited markedly elevated MDA and MPO levels and reduced GPX activity, indicating oxidative stress. Both dexamethasone and swimming exercise significantly improved these parameters, while the combination group showed values approaching controls (p < 0.001 for all comparisons vs. injury). Histological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed greater myelin preservation and higher MBP expression in treated groups, particularly in the combination group, whose g-ratio and myelin thickness were statistically indistinguishable from controls. SFI analysis revealed progressive motor improvement, with the combination therapy achieving near-normal function by day 28. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that dexamethasone and swimming exercise each contribute to peripheral nerve recovery and that their combined application provides additive benefits in terms of functional, biochemical, and structural regeneration. These results are limited to the specific dose and exercise regimen tested but support the potential of integrating anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy with controlled physical exercise as a multimodal approach to enhance peripheral nerve repair.

Background: Scopolamine causes oxidative stress by accelerating the buildup of reactive oxygen species. Physical exercise, such as swimming use oxygen more efficiently, provides benefits in oxidative stress. Objective: To evaluate the effects of swimming on scopolamine induced hippocampal oxidative stress in Long-Evans rats. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in BMU. For this purpose, 18 Long-Evans rats aging 8 to 10 weeks and having body wt. 175±25 grams were collected from animal house of this University. On the basis of treatment, rats were divided into group I (6 rats treated with oral normal saline 5 ml/kg body wt.), group II (6 rats treated with scopolamine), and group III (6 rats treated with scopolamine and allowed to do swimming exercise) for 14 consecutive days. For estimation of hippocampal oxidative stress, reduced glutathione (GSH) &amp; malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured by ELISA. Data were expressed as mean ±SEM and statistical analysis was done by using SPSS version 22. Statistical tests were carried out by ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s post hoc test. In the interpretation of results, p≤0.05 was considered as significant. Results: In perspective of hippocampal enzymes assay, GSH level significantly lower (p≤0.05) and MDA level significantly higher (p≥0.05) was found in group II rats when compared to group I rats. But GSH level significantly higher (p≤0.05) and MDA level significantly lower (p≤0.05) in group III rats, when compared to group II rats. Additionally, their levels were almost similar in group III in comparison to those of group I. Conclusion: Swimming can prevent scopolamine induced hippocampal oxidative stress in Long-Evans rats. Central Medical College Journal Vol 9 No 1 January 2025 Page: 37-43

Exercise training is known to improve the function of the heart in fish. However, at the cellular level, the mechanisms for improvements are still largely unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of exercise training on electric excitation of cardiac contraction in ventricular myocytes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through the investigation of sodium (INa), L-type calcium (ICaL), delayed and inward rectifier potassium (IKr and IK1) currents and action potential (AP) characteristics. The fish were divided into untrained (control) and trained groups. Control fish were kept in standard holding tanks with a water flow rate of 0.3 body lengths per second (bl s-1), whereas trained fish experienced daily sessions of exercise for 6 h, 5 days a week, for a period of 4 wk, at a water flow rate of 0.9 bl s-1. The patch-clamp technique was used to compare ion currents between groups. Trained fish exhibited higher whole cell capacitance, consistent with an increased membrane surface area of ventricular myocytes. Furthermore, exercise training led to reduced current densities of INa, ICaL, and outward IK1. These changes in currents were connected to marked alterations in AP morphology, including depolarized resting membrane potential (RMP), depolarized threshold potential (TP), and prolonged AP at 90% repolarization (APD90). In summary, this study presents novel evidence that swimming exercise training can impact the ventricular ion currents, which leads to prolongation of the action potential, and that the cardiomyocytes of the rainbow trout are highly plastic, enabling them to respond to changes in the environment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exercise training modulates cardiac ion currents, enlarges cardiomyocytes, and prolongs action potentials, demonstrating notable electrophysiological adaptations linked to enhanced cardiac performance in rainbow trout.

This study investigated the effects of acute and chronic swimming exercise on executive functions in preadolescent males. Forty-eight participants (swimming exercise group [SEG], n = 24; control group [CG], n = 24), aged 10.15 ± 0.71 years and proficient in swimming, took part in the study. The SEG followed a structured swimming program consisting of three 45-minute sessions per week for eight weeks. The CG did not engage in regular physical activity during the same period. Both groups showed significant improvements in working memory and inhibition after a single bout of acute swimming exercise (p &amp;lt; 0.001, p &amp;lt; 0.05). Regarding chronic exercise, post-test results revealed a statistically significant advantage for the SEG (p &amp;lt; 0.05). In intragroup comparisons, both groups demonstrated improvements in working memory (p &amp;lt; 0.001), while only the SEG exhibited significant gains in inhibition (p &amp;lt; 0.05, p &amp;lt; 0.001); no such improvements were observed in the CG (p &amp;gt; 0.05). These findings suggest that acute aerobic swimming can enhance working memory and inhibitory control in preadolescent males. Chronic swimming training may also result in significant improvements in these executive functions, with greater gains observed in the exercise group.

Regular physical activity is critical to maintain cardiovascular health. Endurance exercise reduces ischemic injury in the heart. Both ischemic preconditioning (IPC), and acute exercise preconditioning, in which exercise is performed prior to infarction can reduce myocardial damage post-infarction. The precise mechanisms governing preconditioning protection are incompletely understood. An internally translated isoform of Connexin-43 (Cx43), GJA1-20k, has been established as a critical mediator of myocardial protection from ischemia. GJA1-20k is the most abundant internally translated isoform of the GJA1 gene. GJA1-20k translation is regulated by mTOR and MNK/ERK signaling. GJA1-20k is a stress-response protein that increases in the setting of ischemic heart failure. Exogenous GJA1-20k delivery via AAV9-gene therapy recapitulates the protective IPC phenotype in mice. The goal of this study was to determine if acute exercise regulates translation of GJA1-20k and cardiac preconditioning protection. Six-to-ten-week-old wild-type mice were subjected to a 90-minute episode of acute swim exercise (AE) or 90 minutes of rest (UE). A third cohort of mice were injected with insulin (AE-I) prior to exercise. Mice were sacrificed immediately following the exercise. Whole heart immunoblotting revealed increased GJA1-20k expression in AE mice relative to UE mice by two-fold, a phenomenon which was blunted by insulin pretreatment. Furthermore, we measured a reduction in mTOR activity as measured by phosphorylated 4EBP1 and S6K by half following exercise, consistent with the increase in GJA1-20k expression. Insulin pretreatment prevented mTOR inhibition via analysis of phosphorylated 4EBP1 relative to GAPDH. In addition to mTOR, ERK1/2 inhibition has been shown to increase GJA1-20k expression. We measured phosphorylated ERK1/2 in AE and UE hearts and found a trending decrease in ERK1/2 activity with exercise intervention. In parallel studies, AE hearts subjected to ex vivo ischemia/reperfusion demonstrated reduced infarct size by two-fold relative to UE. Insulin pretreatment was sufficient to prevent cardioprotection. In summary, acute exercise regulates GJA1-20k translation via mTOR signaling and GJA1-20k is a critical driver of exercise-mediated cardiac preconditioning. Future directions will focus on leveraging these cellular mechanisms for augmenting GJA1-20k expression for cardioprotection in human disease.

Swimming exercise may alleviate neuropathic pain (NP) in spared nerve injury (SNI) mice by regulating pain-related genes, such as miR-183 and Cacna2d2. However, the related upstream mechanism remains unclear. The demethylase fat-mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) participates in NP through m6A modification. However, whether FTO-regulated m6A modification contributes to the analgesic effect of swimming remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of swimming on FTO expression in the DRG of SNI mice and clarify its role in regulating the m6A modification of miR-183 by inhibiting FTO expression. We established a male SNI mouse model, performed intrathecal injections of adeno-associated viruses to knock down or overexpress FTO, and manipulated the expression of FTO in male and female miR-183 knockout mice. In addition, we subjected the above models to six weeks of swimming training and analyzed the effects on pain behavior, m6A modification levels, and the expression of target gene transcription and protein levels. We observed that swimming exercise downregulated FTO mRNA and protein expressions in the injured L4–L6 DRGs of SNI mice, promoted the m6A modification of miR-183, and showed an association with the increased expression levels of miR-183. These outcomes further reduced the downstream target gene Cacna2d2 and the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway, which alleviated mechanical and cold allodynia. This study suggested that swimming exercise alleviates NP, potentially by downregulating FTO and promoting m6A methylation of miR-183. FTO-regulated m6A modification plays a key role in the mechanism of exercise-induced analgesia.Graphical Swimming exercise alleviates allodynia in peripheral nerve injury-induced NP, potentially by downregulating FTO and promoting the m6A methylation of miR-183, which reduces the downstream target genes Cacna2d2 and BDNF/TrkB.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-025-02176-z.

Abstract Aim Data on physical activity (PA) and sports participation in individuals with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are limited. This study aimed to assess PA and sports participation before and one year after TKA and to identify associated factors. Subject and methods In this cohort study, patients undergoing primary or revision TKA at a German university hospital (Dec 2019–May 2021) were surveyed one day before and 12 months after surgery. Questionnaires assessed PA, sports participation, sociodemographics, and lifestyle factors; data were linked to medical records. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with sports participation one year postoperatively. Results Of 283 eligible patients, 241 (85%) participated, and 95% provided follow-up data. The 229 patients analysed had a mean age of 69.3 years, with 59% being female. PA was reported by 55% pre- and 53% postoperatively, with a shift of people who were active or not. Sports participation remained stable (65% vs. 67%), with cycling, hiking, swimming, and aquatic exercise most common. Higher education (OR middle vs. low: 2.50; high vs. low: 7.68) and non-smoking status (OR: 4.10) were significantly associated with post-TKA sports participation. Conclusion PA and sports participation remained largely stable across the TKA trajectory, though with a shift in individuals who were and were not physically active. Furthermore, the prevailing hypothesis that predominantly knee-related disease burden is the main driver of activity levels does not appear to be sufficient to explain this finding. Rather, it appears that affected individuals’ educational level and current smoking status have a substantial influence.