Aerobic Physical Exercise Improves Exercise Tolerance and Fasting Glycemia Independent of Body Weight Change in Obese Females

Obesity is associated with increased risk of several chronic diseases and the loss of disease-free years, which has increased the focus of much research for the discovery of therapy to combat it. Under healthy conditions, women tend to store more fat in subcutaneous deposits. However, this sexual dimorphism tends to be lost in the presence of comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aerobic physical exercise (APE) has been applied in the management of obesity, however, is still necessary to better understand the effects of APE in obese female. Thus, we investigated the effect of APE on body weight, adiposity, exercise tolerance and glucose metabolism in female ob/ob mice. Eight-weeks-old female wild-type C57BL/6J and leptin-deficient ob/ob mice (Lepob) were distributed into three groups: wild-type sedentary group (Wt; n = 6), leptin-deficient sedentary group (LepobS; n = 5) and leptin-deficient trained group (LepobT; n = 8). The LepobT mice were subjected to 8 weeks of aerobic physical exercise (APE) at 60% of the maximum velocity achieved in the running capacity test. The APE had no effect in attenuating body weight gain, and did not reduce subcutaneous and retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (SC-WAT and RP-WAT, respectively) and interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) weights. The APE neither improved glucose intolerance nor insulin resistance in the LepobT group. Also, the APE did not reduce the diameter or the area of RP-WAT adipocytes, but the APE reduced the diameter and the area of SC-WAT adipocytes, which was associated with lower fasting glycemia and islet/pancreas area ratio in the LepobT group. In addition, the APE increased exercise tolerance and this response was also associated with lower fasting glycemia in the LepobT group. In conclusion, starting APE at a later age with a more severe degree of obesity did not attenuate the excessive body weight gain, however the APE promoted benefits that can improve the female health, and for this reason it should be recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy for obesity.

Balance Expertise is Associated with Superior Spatial Perspective-Taking Skills

Balance training interventions over several months have been shown to improve spatial cognitive functions and to induce structural plasticity in brain regions associated with visual-vestibular self-motion processing. In the present cross-sectional study, we tested whether long-term balance practice is associated with better spatial cognition. To this end, spatial perspective-taking abilities were compared between balance experts (n = 40) practicing sports such as gymnastics, acrobatics or slacklining for at least four hours a week for the last two years, endurance athletes (n = 38) and sedentary healthy individuals (n = 58). The balance group showed better performance in a dynamic balance task compared to both the endurance group and the sedentary group. Furthermore, the balance group outperformed the sedentary group in a spatial perspective-taking task. A regression analysis across all participants revealed a positive association between individual balance performance and spatial perspective-taking abilities. Groups did not differ in executive functions, and individual balance performance did not correlate with executive functions, suggesting a specific association between balance skills and spatial cognition. The results are in line with theories of embodied cognition, assuming that sensorimotor experience shapes cognitive functions.

Assessment of body mass index and resting metabolism of male sedentary and active older adults of Punjab, India

This study aimed to investigate the evaluation of body mass index and resting metabolism of sedentary and active elderly men from Punjab, India. Methods: Participants (N = 180) of the sedentary group (N = 90) and active group (N = 90) elderly people from Punjab were selected to act as study subjects. The study was delimited to sedentary and active male elderly, recruited between 60 and 70, 71 to 80 and 81 to 90 years, respectively. Results: The results of the studies in both variables found that there was a statistically significant difference in both variables with p-value of body mass index 0.02 (P <0.05) and p value of resting metabolism was 0.03 (P <0.05) of active and sedentary male elderly adults. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study revealed that, for people who practice moderate or vigorous physical activities, body mass index and resting metabolism change with aging.

Implications of Argentine Tango for Health Promotion, Physical Well-Being as Well as Emotional, Personal and Social Life on a Group of Women Who Dance

Background: The aim of the research was to determine the effect that dance has on the promotion of health, physical well-being, as well as the emotional, personal and social life of women who dance. In addition, the impact of the physical activity of long, often all-night dancing events on women’s health was investigated. This included possible disturbances in their monthly cycle and circadian rhythm, taking into account symptoms of biological rhythm disturbances. Methods: The study involved 214 women: tango group: 109, sedentary group: 105. The Mann–Whitney U and chi2 tests were used to compare the groups, as well as multiple ordinal regression to analyse individual predictors of missed menstrual periods. Results: The tango vs. sedentary groups did not differ in the duration of menstrual bleeding, the degree of pain during menstruation, the regularity of menstruation, the number of regular monthly cycles per year, and amenorrhea. Intermenstrual spotting was more common in dancers (tango 12.8% vs. sedentary 4.8%; p = 0.038). The frequency of missed periods was not increased by any of the assessed aspects. In 59.6% of female dancers, milongas caused disturbances in circadian rhythms, including extreme fatigue and drowsiness (36.7%), 66.0% of the dancers mentioned only positive aspects of Argentine Tango’s impact on their personal life. Conclusions: tango plays a positive and multifaceted role in the lives of dancers and fulfils the need for social contact. The physical effort put into this form of physical activity does not significantly affect the menstrual cycle, and thus the reproductive functions, and can be recommended as an attractive and safe form of physical recreation for women.

Differential Health Effects on Inflammatory, Immunological and Stress Parameters in Professional Soccer Players and Sedentary Individuals after Consuming a Synbiotic. A Triple-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

The main objective of this research was to carry out an experimental study, triple-blind, on the possible immunophysiological effects of a nutritional supplement (synbiotic, Gasteel Plus®, Heel España S.A.U.), containing a mixture of probiotic strains, such as Bifidobacterium lactis CBP-001010, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4036, and Bifidobacterium longum ES1, as well as the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides, on both professional athletes and sedentary people. The effects on some inflammatory/immune (IL-1β, IL-10, and immunoglobulin A) and stress (epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol) biomarkers were evaluated, determined by flow cytometer and ELISA. The effects on metabolic profile and physical activity, as well as on various parameters that could affect physical and mental health, were also evaluated via the use of accelerometry and validated questionnaires. The participants were professional soccer players in the Second Division B of the Spanish League and sedentary students of the same sex and age range. Both study groups were randomly divided into two groups: a control group—administered with placebo, and an experimental group—administered with the synbiotic. Each participant was evaluated at baseline, as well as after the intervention, which lasted one month. Only in the athlete group did the synbiotic intervention clearly improve objective physical activity and sleep quality, as well as perceived general health, stress, and anxiety levels. Furthermore, the synbiotic induced an immunophysiological bioregulatory effect, depending on the basal situation of each experimental group, particularly in the systemic levels of IL-1β (increased significantly only in the sedentary group), CRH (decreased significantly only in the sedentary group), and dopamine (increased significantly only in the athlete group). There were no significant differences between groups in the levels of immunoglobulin A or in the metabolic profile as a result of the intervention. It is concluded that synbiotic nutritional supplements can improve anxiety, stress, and sleep quality, particularly in sportspeople, which appears to be linked to an improved immuno-neuroendocrine response in which IL-1β, CRH, and dopamine are clearly involved.

The Effect of Maximal Exercise on Matrix Metalloproteinase, its Inhibitor (MMP9 and TIMP1), and the Role of MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C Polymorphisms

To investigate the levels of MMP9 and TIMP1 before and after acute maximal exercise and the role of MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C polymorphisms in athletes and sedentary individuals. The athlete group (n = 43) and sedentary group (n = 43) performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1. A blood sample was taken before and after the test. MMP9, TIMP1, MMP9/TIMP1 ratio, blood lipids, and lipoproteins (total cholesterol, high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and indicators of muscle damage (creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) were determined from postprandial venous blood samples. Genetic polymorphisms were determined from DNA samples obtained from peripheral blood. MMP9 levels were found higher in both groups after the YOYO IR-1 test (exercise) (sedentary group, pre-exercise: 1771.15 ± 862.17 pg/mL, post-exercise: 2172.18 ± 680.93 pg/mL; athletic group, pre-exercise: 1373.57 ± 705.16 pg/mL, post-exercise: 1723.72 ± 733.88 pg/mL, p < 0.05). TIMP1 levels were also found higher in both groups after exercise (sedentary group, pre-exercise: 4.63 ± 3.99 ng/mL, post-exercise: 5.3 ± 3.51 ng/mL; athletic group, pre-exercise: 3.26 ± 2.34 ng/mL, post-exercise: 3.59 ± 1.99 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Basal serum MMP9 levels were significantly higher in sedentary individuals as compared with athletes (p = 0.046). MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C polymorphisms had no effect on MMP9 and TIMP1 levels (p > 0.05). As a conclusion acute exercise increases MMP9 and TIMP1 levels in male athletes and sedentary individuals. Chronic anaerobic exercises performed by the athletic group may caused lower MMP9 levels. MMP9 -1562 C/T and TIMP1 372 T/C genetic polymorphisms are not associated with MMP9 and TIMP1 activation.

Differences in inhibitory control and motor fitness in children practicing open and closed skill sports

The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between types of sport (i.e., closed vs. open skills sport) on inhibitory control and motor fitness in children. Forty-nine children were allocated into three groups based on their sports participation, which comprised an open skill sport group, a closed skill sport group, and a sedentary group. Participants were tested on cognitive performance (inhibitory control by the Flanker task) and motor fitness (reaction time, speed, agility, power, balance). Open skill sport group appeared to display higher inhibitory control (response time and accuracy of incongruent condition of the Flanker task) and motor fitness performance (reaction time, speed, agility, power) than sedentary group, whereas its superiority over closed skill sport group was found only in speed and agility. Moreover, closed skill sport group had only a better reaction time than sedentary group. Our data supports the framework according to which cognitive demands in complex motor actions may contribute to explain the beneficial effects of exercise on inhibitory control. This might suggest that the complexity of the environment (typical in open skill sports) in which sport training is performed plays a key role for both cognitive and motor development in children.

Twenty-one days of low-intensity eccentric training improve morphological characteristics and function of soleus muscles of mdx mice

Duchene muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by the absence of the protein dystrophin, which leads to muscle weakness, progressive degeneration, and eventually death due to respiratory failure. Low-intensity eccentric training (LIET) has been used as a rehabilitation method in skeletal muscles after disuse. Recently, LIET has also been used for rehabilitating dystrophic muscles, but its effects are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 21 days of LIET in dystrophic soleus muscle. Thirty-six male mdx mice were randomized into six groups (n = 6/each): mdx sedentary group; mdx training group-3 days; mdx training group-21 days; wild-type sedentary group; wild-type training group-3 days and wild-type training group-21 days. After the training sessions, animals were euthanized, and fragments of soleus muscles were removed for immunofluorescence and histological analyses, and measurements of active force and Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. Muscles of the mdx training group-21 days showed an improvement in morphological characteristics and an increase of active force when compared to the sedentary mdx group. The results show that LIET can improve the functionality of dystrophic soleus muscle in mice.

Joint association of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity and sedentary behavior with incident functional limitation: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI)

Objective To examine joint association of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behavior with the risk of developing functional limitation 4 years later in adults with knee OA. Methods Using 48-month (baseline) accelerometry data from Osteoarthritis Initiative, , we classified participants as Active-Low Sedentary (≥1 10-minute bout/week of MVPA, lowest tertile for standardized sedentary time), Active-High Sedentary (≥1 10-minute bout/week of MVPA, top two tertiles for standardized sedentary time), Inactive-Low Sedentary (0 10-minute bout/week of MVPA, lowest tertile for standardized sedentary time) and Inactive-High Sedentary (0 10-minute bout/week of MVPA, top two tertiles for standardized sedentary time) groups. Functional limitation was defined as >12sec for five repetition sit-to-stand test (5XSST) and <1.22m/sec gait speed during 20-meter walk test. To investigate the association of exposure groups with risk of developing functional limitation 4 years later, we calculated risk ratios(aRR) adjusted for potential confounders. Results Of 1,091 and 1,133 participants without baseline functional limitation, based on 5XSST and 20-meter walk test, respectively, 15% and 21% developed functional limitation 4 years later. Active- High Sedentary group didn’t have, while Inactive-Low Sedentary, and Inactive-High Sedentary groups had increased risk of developing functional limitations compared to Active-Low Sedentary group. Inactive-Low Sedentary group had 72% (aRR[95% confidence interval]1.72[1.00, 2.94]) and 52% (1.52[1.03, 2.25]) more risk of developing functional limitation based on 5XSST and 20-meter walk test, respectively, compared to Active-Low Sedentary group. Conclusion Regardless of sedentary category, being inactive (0 10-minute bouts/week in MVPA) may increase risk of developing functional limitation in adults with knee OA.

Effects of aerobic exercise training on muscle plasticity in a mouse model of cervical spinal cord injury

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent life-altering motor and respiratory deficits. Other than mechanical ventilation for respiratory insufficiency secondary to cervical SCI, effective treatments are lacking and the development of animal models to explore new therapeutic strategies are needed. The aim of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a mouse model of partial cervical spinal hemisection at the second cervical metameric segment (C2) to investigate the impact of 6 weeks training on forced exercise wheel system on locomotor/respiratory plasticity muscles. To measure run capacity locomotor and respiratory functions, incremental exercise tests and diaphragmatic electromyography were done. In addition, muscle fiber type composition and capillary distribution were assessed at 51 days following chronic C2 injury in diaphragm, extensor digitorum communis (EDC), tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscles. Six-week exercise training increased the running capacity of trained SCI mice. Fiber type composition in EDC, TA and SOL muscles was not modified by our protocol of exercise. The vascularization was increased in all muscle limbs in SCI trained group. No increase in diaphragmatic electromyography amplitude of the diaphragm muscle on the side of SCI was observed, while the contraction duration was significantly decreased in sedentary group compared to trained group. Cross-sectional area of type IIa myofiber in the contralateral diaphragm side of SCI was smaller in trained group. Fiber type distribution between contralateral and ipsilateral diaphragm in SCI sedentary group was affected, while no difference was observed in trained group. In addition, the vascularization of the diaphragm side contralateral to SCI was increased in trained group. All these results suggest an increase in fatigue resistance and a contribution to the running capacity in SCI trained group. Our exercise protocol could be a promising non-invasive strategy to sustain locomotor and respiratory muscle plasticity following SCI.