Moderate exercise improves leucocyte function and decreases inflammation in diabetes

Exercise training improves diabetic renal injury by reducing fetuin-A, oxidative stress and inflammation in type 2 diabetic rats

Background

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stands as a primary contributor to end-stage renal disease, associated with heightened mortality in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to explore the impact of an eight-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on renal injury in diabetic rats.

Methods

Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups: healthy control (CTL), diabetic control (DC), exercise (EX), and diabetes-exercise (D + EX). Induction of diabetes in the DC and D + EX groups occurred through a two-month high-fat diet followed by a single dose of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Rats in the EX and D + EX groups underwent 4-10 intervals of HIIT (80-100% Vmax) over 8 weeks. Subsequently, pathological and biochemical parameters were assessed in the serum and kidney tissue of the experimental groups.

Results

In the DC group, diabetes led to elevated kidney damage, glomerulosclerosis, fasting blood glucose (FBG), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index, animal weight, kidney dysfunction, albuminuria, and glomerular filtration rate. Additionally, serum and kidney levels of fetuin-A increased, along with kidney levels of KIM-1. Mechanistically, diabetes induction resulted in kidney inflammation by elevating levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), while reducing IL-10 levels and increasing the IL-6/IL-10 ratio. Furthermore, diabetes triggered renal oxidative stress, evidenced by increased Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD). HIIT mitigated the adverse effects of diabetes in the D + EX group compared to the DC group.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that HIIT ameliorates type 2 diabetes (T2D)-induced kidney damage by mitigating inflammation, lowering serum levels of fetuin-A, and bolstering antioxidant defenses. This study highlights the potential of HIIT as a time-efficient intervention for diabetic nephropathy.

Pre-treatment with IL-6 potentiates β-cell death induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines

BACKGROUND

Type I Diabetes mellitus (T1D) is characterized by a specific destruction of β-cells by the immune system. During this process pro-inflammatory cytokines are released in the pancreatic islets and contribute for β-cells demise. Cytokine-induced iNOS activation, via NF-κB, is implicated in induction of β-cells death, which includes ER stress activation. Physical exercise has been used as an adjunct for better glycemic control in patients with T1D, since it is able to increase glucose uptake independent of insulin. Recently, it was observed that the release of IL-6 by skeletal muscle, during physical exercise, could prevent β-cells death induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this beneficial effect on β-cells are not yet completely elucidated. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of IL-6 on β-cells exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment with IL-6 sensitized INS-1E cells to cytokine-induced cell death, increasing cytokine-induced iNOS and Caspase-3 expression. Under these conditions, however, there was a decrease in cytokines-induced p-eIF2-α but not p-IRE1expression, proteins related to ER stress. To address if this prevention of adequate UPR response is involved in the increase in β-cells death markers induced by IL-6 pre-treatment, we used a chemical chaperone (TUDCA), which improves ER folding capacity. Use of TUDCA increased cytokines-induced Caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the presence of IL-6 pre-treatment. However, there is no modulation of p-eIF2-α expression by TUDCA in this condition, with increase of CHOP expression.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with IL-6 alone is not beneficial for β-cells, leading to increased cell death markers and impaired UPR activation. In addition, TUDCA has not been able to restore ER homeostasis or improve β-cells viability under this condition, suggesting that other mechanisms may be involved.

The Effect of 13 Weeks Long-Distance Bicycle Riding on Inflammatory Response Indicators Related to Joint Cartilage and Muscle Damage

This study was to investigate the effects of 13 weeks of long-distance cycling on biomarkers of joint cartilage, muscle damage and inflammation. All subjects in this study were seven participants of the “One Korea New-Eurasia Peace Cycle Expedition”, in which they rode cycles from Berlin, Germany to Seoul, Korea for thirteen weeks. The total course of the expedition was divided into three sub-courses: course 1 (from Berlin to Moscow), course 2 (from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar) and course 3 (from Ulaanbaatar to Seoul). All the selected participants rode 87.4 km/day (course 1), 70.4 km/day (course 2) and 57.6 km/day (course 3) on average, respectively. We collected their blood samples before the expedition in Seoul (S1), after course 1 in Moscow (M), after course 2 in Ulaanbaatar (U) and after the expedition in Seoul (S2), to analyze biomarkers of joint cartilage damage (Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; COMP), muscle damage (Creatine Phosphokinase; CPK, Lactate Dehydrogenase; LDH, Myoglobin), inflammation (Interleukin-6; IL-6, Interleukin-1β; IL-1β, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α; TNF-α, C-Reactive Protein; CRP) and stress hormone (Cortisol). According to this result, COMP (S1; 188.37 ± 46.68 ng/mL) showed a significant increase after the expedition course 1 (M; 246.69 ± 51.69 ng/mL, p = 0.012) and course 2 (U; 237.09 ± 62.57 ng/mL, p = 0.047), and recovered to the stable state after expedition course 3 (S2; 218.46 ± 34.78. p = 0.047). Biomarkers of muscle damage (CPK, LDH and Myoglobin) and inflammation (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CRP) were not significantly changed in all courses, but CRP (S1; 1.07 ± 0.76 ng/mL) showed a tendency to decrease after the expedition course 1 (M; 0.3 ± 0.1 mg/mL, p = 0.044). Lastly, the Cortisol level significantly increased in all courses (per p < 0.05), but the Cortisol level after expedition course 3 (S2; 21.00 ± 3.65 mg/mL) was lower than that of after the expedition course 1 (M; 24.23 ± 2.47 mg/mL, p = 0.028). In summary, it seems that repetitive and continuous 50−90 km/day of cycling can increase joint cartilage damage risk and stress hormone temporarily. However, this result suggests that the appropriate intensity of cycling for thirteen weeks does not increase physical damage, and rather enhances the human body to adapt to exercise training.

Can exercise attenuate the negative effects of long COVID syndrome on brain health?

The impetus for many governments globally to treat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as an endemic warrant more research into the prevention, and management of long COVID syndrome (LCS). Whilst the data on LCS remains scarce, reports suggest a large proportion of recovered individuals will experience ongoing neuropsychological symptoms, even with mild disease severity. The pathophysiology underlying LCS is multifaceted. Evidence suggests that altered inflammatory, neurotrophic, and neurotransmitter pathways within the brain contribute to neuropsychological symptoms reported following COVID-19. Exercise or regular physical activity has long been shown to have positive effects on brain health and cognition through exerting positive effects on inflammatory markers, neurotransmitters, and neurotropic factors analogous to the neurophysiological pathways proposed to be disrupted by COVID-19 infection. Thus, exercise may serve as an important lifestyle behavior in the management of LCS. In this opinion article, we present the evidence to support the positive role of exercise in the management of cognitive symptom that manifest with LCS and discuss important considerations and interactions with cardiorespiratory and exercise tolerance complications that often present for individuals experiencing LCS. We highlight the need for more research and training of sports medicine practitioners and clinical exercise physiologists in the management of LCS with exercise and call for further research to understand the optimal dose-responses and exercise prescription guidelines for cognitive benefits and minimizing other complications.

Swimming training modulates lung injury induced by ovariectomy in diabetic rats: involvement of inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers

CONTEXT

Previous studies have noted that the incidence of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases is higher in diabetic menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we evaluated effects of swimming training on inflammatory and fibrotic biomarkers in the lung of ovariectomized diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty female rats were assigned into four groups: sham; rats underwent surgery without ovariectomies, OVX: rats that underwent ovariectomies, OVX.Dia: ovariectomized rats with high-fat diet, OVX.Dia. Exe: ovariectomized diabetic rats with 8 weeks of swimming training. At the end of experiment, protein expressions were assessed with western blot. Lung sections were subjected to immunohistochemical and haematoxylin eosin staining.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the protein expressions between exercise and ovariectomized diabetic groups (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

The present study showed strong potential of swimming training on oestrogen deficient diabetic lung. These data encourage further investigation into the inclusive effects of exercise in menopausal diabetic women.

Exercise as Treatment for Neuropathy in the Setting of Diabetes and Prediabetic Metabolic Syndrome: A Review of Animal Models and Human Trials

BACKGROUND

Peripheral neuropathy is among the most common complications of diabetes, but a phenotypically identical distal sensory predominant, painful axonopathy afflicts patients with prediabetic metabolic syndrome, exemplifying a spectrum of risk and continuity of pathogenesis. No pharmacological treatment convincingly improves neuropathy in the setting of metabolic syndrome, but evolving data suggest that exercise may be a promising alternative.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to review in depth the current literature regarding exercise treatment of metabolic syndrome neuropathy in humans and animal models, highlight the diverse mechanisms by which exercise exerts beneficial effects, and examine adherence limitations, safety aspects, modes and dose of exercise.

RESULTS

Rodent models that recapitulate the organismal milieu of prediabetic metabolic syndrome and the phenotype of its neuropathy provide a strong platform to dissect exercise effects on neuropathy pathogenesis. In these models, exercise reverses hyperglycemia and consequent oxidative and nitrosative stress, improves microvascular vasoreactivity, enhances axonal transport, ameliorates the lipotoxicity and inflammatory effects of hyperlipidemia and obesity, supports neuronal survival and regeneration following injury, and enhances mitochondrial bioenergetics at the distal axon. Prospective human studies are limited in scale but suggest exercise to improve cutaneous nerve regenerative capacity, neuropathic pain, and task-specific functional performance measures of gait and balance. Like other heath behavioral interventions, the benefits of exercise are limited by patient adherence.

CONCLUSION

Exercise is an integrative therapy that potently reduces cellular inflammatory state and improves distal axonal oxidative metabolism to ameliorate features of neuropathy in metabolic syndrome. The intensity of exercise need not improve cardinal features of metabolic syndrome, including weight, glucose control, to exert beneficial effects.

Effects of endurance exercise on serum inflammatory cytokine level and kidney structure in a rat diabetes model

Diabete mellitus (DM) is becoming a global health problem. Whilst many studies have previously focused on the therapeutic effects of exercise on diabetes, insufficient data exist on its effectiveness on disease prevention. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of endurance exercises on kidney injury and on the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Type 2 diabetic rat model was created followng 8 weeks of feeding on high fat diet, followed by injection with streptozotocin (STZ; 30 mg/kg). A total of three different intensity endurance exercises, including low-intensity exercise (8 m/min and 0˚ slope), moderate-intensity exercise (15 m/min and 5˚ slope) and high-intensity exercise (20 m/min and 10˚ slope), were arranged during this process. Oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) and oral sucrose tolerance tests (OSTT) were performed in all rats 1 week after STZ injection. Serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were measured using ELISA. After OGTT, all rats were sacrificed and kidney samples were removed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and western blot analyzes. Urea and ureatinine levels, representative of renal function, were estimated by using automatic biochemical analyzer. Rats in the DM group showed severe impaired glucose tolerance, which was alleviated in the moderate-intensity exercise (ME) and the high-intensity exercise (HE) groups. Inflammatory cytokines were also significantly reduced rats in the ME group compared with those in the DM group. No difference in renal function, MMP-9/TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 expression was observed. In addition, rats in the DM group exhibited glomerular enlargement with structural renal abnormalities, whilst those in the ME and HE groups showed improved symptoms. To conclude, no increased expression of inflammatory cytokines and renal fibrotic proteins could be observed in the present rat model of type-2 DM, but evident structural abnormalities can be observed in the kidneys. Medium-intensity endurance exercise can reduce serum inflammatory cytokine levels and prevent aberrant changes in renal structures.

Features of Neutrophils From Atopic and Non-Atopic Elite Endurance Runners

We collected peripheral blood from thirty-nine elite male endurance runners at rest (24 hours after the last exercise session) and used the Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes score and plasma specific IgE level to separate them into atopic and non-atopic athletes. Neutrophils obtained from atopic and non-atopic athletes were subsequently stimulated in vitro with fMLP (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine), LPS (lipopolysaccharide), or PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate). Neutrophils from non-atopic runners responded appropriately to LPS, as evidenced by the production of pro (IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines. Neutrophils from atopic elite runners exhibited lower responses to LPS stimulus as indicated by no increase in IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 production. Neutrophils from non-atopic and atopic runners responded similarly to fMLP stimulation, indicating that migration function remained unaltered. Both groups were unresponsive to PMA induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Training hours and training volume were not associated with neutrophil IgE receptor gene expression or any evaluated neutrophil function. Since non-atopic runners normally responded to LPS stimulation, the reduced neutrophil response to the stimuli was most likely due to the atopic state and not exercise training. The findings reported are of clinical relevance because atopic runners exhibit a constant decline in competition performance and are more susceptible to invading microorganisms.

Effects of Quercetin and Coenzyme Q10 on Biochemical, Molecular, and Morphological Parameters of Skeletal Muscle in Trained Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the musculoskeletal system through its metabolic perturbations. Exercise modulates blood sugar levels and increases the body's sensitivity to insulin in patients with DM.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of combined quercetin and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements with or without exercise on the histological, biochemical and molecular structures of diabetic rat's skeletal muscle.

METHOD

A total of 64 adult male albino rats were divided into six groups: control, trained nondiabetic, non-trained diabetic, diabetic rats treated with combined CoQ10 and quercetin, diabetic rats with treadmill training, and diabetic rats treated with treadmill training and CoQ10 and quercetin. Blood and skeletal muscle samples were obtained from all groups for routine histological examination and biochemical determination of cytokine levels and protein activities. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and morphometric analysis of PAS and Bax expressions were also performed.

RESULTS

Biochemical analysis revealed improvement in all studied parameters with combined CoQ10 and quercetin than exercise training alone. Combined treatment and exercise showed significant improvement in all parameters especially interleukin 6 and malondialdehyde. Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5) expression and irisin levels increased in all trained groups but combined treatment with exercise significantly increased their levels than exercise alone. Histological analysis revealed improvement after exercise or combined treatment; however, when exercise was combined with CoQ10 and quercetin, marked improvement was observed.

CONCLUSION

the combination of CoQ10 and quercetin could be promising in preserving musculoskeletal function in patients with DM concomitantly with physical exercise.

Melatonin and prolonged physical activity attenuated the detrimental effects of diabetic condition on murine cardiac tissue

In this study, the combined effects of four-week swimming training and melatonin were examined on the oxidative response, inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis capacity of cardiac tissue in the mouse model of diabetes. The mice were randomly allocated into five groups (n = 10 per group) as follows: Control; Diabetic group; Diabetic + Melatonin group; Diabetic + Exercise group; and Diabetic + Exercise + Melatonin group. 50 mg/kg streptozotocin was intraperitoneally administrated. In melatonin-treated groups, melatonin was injected intraperitoneally at 3 mg/kg body weight for four weeks and twice weekly. Swimming exercises were performed for four weeks. We measured cardiac superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase enzymes, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, Caspase‑3, Sirtuin1, and Connexin-43 was measured using real-time PCR analysis. The vascular density was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin antibodies. The combination of melatonin and exercise elevated cardiac superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase coincided with the reduction of malondialdehyde and increase of total antioxidant capacity as compared to the diabetic mice (p < 0.05). In Diabetic + Exercise + Melatonin mice, tumor necrosis factor-α, Caspase‑3 was significantly down-regulated compared to the Diabetic group (p < 0.05). Melatonin and exercise suppressed the expression of Connexin-43 and Sirtuin1 in diabetic mice in comparison with the control mice (p < 0.05). H & E staining showed necrosis and focal hyperemia reduction in the Diabetic + Exercise + Melatonin group compared to the Diabetic group. Data showed a decrease of CD31+ and α-smooth muscle actin+ vessels in the Diabetic group as compared to the normal samples (p < 0.05). The number of CD31+ vessels, but not α-smooth muscle actin+ type, increased in the Diabetic + Exercise + Melatonin group compared to the Diabetic mice. These data demonstrated that exercise along with melatonin administration could diminish the detrimental effects of diabetes on cardiac tissue via using different mechanisms.

Chronic Iron Overload Restrains the Benefits of Aerobic Exercise to the Vasculature

Physical exercise is a well-recognized effective non-pharmacological therapy for cardiovascular diseases. However, because iron is essential element in many physiological processes including hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis, thereby playing a role on oxygen transport, many athletes use iron supplement to improve physical performance. Regarding this, iron overload is associated with oxidative stress and damage to various systems, including cardiovascular. Thus, we aimed to identify the vascular effects of aerobic exercise in a rat model of iron overload. Male Wistar rats were treated with 100 mg/kg/day iron-dextran, i.p., 5 days a week for 4 weeks, and then underwent aerobic exercise protocol on a treadmill at moderate intensity, 60 min/day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Exercise reduced vasoconstrictor response of isolated aortic rings by increasing participation of nitric oxide (NO) and reducing oxidative stress, but these benefits to the vasculature were not observed in rats previously subjected to iron overload. The reduced vasoconstriction in the exercised group was reversed by incubation with superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitor, suggesting that increased SOD activity by exercise was lost in iron overload rats. Iron overload groups increased serum levels of iron, transferrin saturation, and iron deposition in the liver, gastrocnemius muscle, and aorta, and the catalase was overexpressed in the aorta probably as a compensatory mechanism to the increased oxidative stress. In conclusion, despite the known beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on vasculature, our results indicate that previous iron overload impeded the anticontractile effect mediated by increased NO bioavailability and endogenous antioxidant response due to exercise protocol.

Recovery of Diabetic Rats After Physical Exhaustion: Kinetic Alterations in Muscle Inflammation and Muscle-Signaling Proteins to Atrophy and Hypertrophy

The complexity of the adaptive response of diabetics to intense exercise is still poorly understood. To optimize exercise interventions in diabetics, the chronology of inflammatory mediators in muscle and the signaling involved in muscle hypertrophy/atrophy must be understood. Herein, we studied the kinetic inflammatory profile and cellular signaling pathways modulated by physical exhaustion after the induction of type 1 diabetes by streptozotocin in rats. Soleus muscle samples were obtained from diabetic and control groups at the following moments: baseline (no exercise); immediately after exhaustive exercise; and at 2 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after a treadmill exhaustive exercise. Kinetic production of cytokines and kinetic activation of proteins related to muscle synthesis (p70S6K and Akt) and degradation (GSK3, MuRF1, and MAFbx) were measured in the soleus muscle. We observed that the muscle TNF-α (0.9-fold; p = 0.0007), IL-1β (0.8-fold; p = 0.01), IL-6 (0.8-fold; p = 0.0013), L-selectin (1.0-fold; p = 0.0019), and CINC-2α/β (0.9-fold; p = 0.04) levels were higher in almost all stages of the study in the diabetic animals compared with the control group. Our data showed that exhaustive exercise decreased MAFbx expression in diabetic animals compared to the control group in a time-dependent manner. The decreased activation ratios of MAFbx were followed by a decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. p70S6k phosphorylation was also decreased in the diabetic group compared to the control group after physical exhaustion. Regarding the activation of proteins related to muscle synthesis and degradation, we found that the alterations induced by exhaustive exercise in the diabetic rats might involve pathways related to synthesis and muscle breakdown. Moreover, after an exhaustive exercise session, the recovery of the inflammatory response in the diabetic animals was slower than that in the control rats while the return of inflammatory cytokines to baseline levels was more effective in the diabetic animals.

Excessive walking exercise precipitates diabetic neuropathic foot pain: hind paw suspension treadmill exercise experiment in a rat model

The harmful effects of excessive mechanical loading on diabetic neuropathy and the reason diabetic neuropathic symptoms are common in feet are unclear. In this study, the hind paw suspension treadmill exercise model was used in rats to investigate whether mechanical loading applied to the front paws precipitates neuropathic pain, especially in diabetic conditions. Thirty-two rats were divided into six groups according to the presence of diabetes (DM) and the intensity of mechanical loading applied to the front paws: DM-Hi (high-intensity); DM-Lo (low-intensity); DM-No (non-mechanical loading); Sham-Hi; Sham-Lo; and Sham-No. DM was induced by streptozotocin injection. For high-intensity or low-intensity mechanical loading, treadmill walking exercise was conducted with or without hind paw suspension, respectively. The mechanical withdrawal threshold of the front paw decreased significantly after 8 weeks only in the DM mechanical loading groups (DM-Hi and DM-Lo), and high-intensity loading more significantly decreased the front-paw withdrawal threshold than low-intensity loading. In the DM-Hi group only, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) increased significantly, and intra-epidermal nerve fibers (IENF) in the front paws decreased significantly. In diabetic conditions, mechanical overloading such as excessive walking is likely to precipitate mechanical allodynia and damage IENF¸ which could explain why diabetic neuropathic symptoms are common in feet. This finding might be related to up-regulation of intracellular signaling cascades such as MIF, rather than inflammatory processes.

Exercise and Curcumin in Combination Improves Cognitive Function and Attenuates ER Stress in Diabetic Rats

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease associated with chronic low-grade inflammation that is mainly associated with lifestyles. Exercise and healthy diet are known to be beneficial for adults with T2DM in terms of maintaining blood glucose control and overall health. We investigated whether a combination of exercise and curcumin supplementation ameliorates diabetes-related cognitive distress by regulating inflammatory response and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study was performed using male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats (a spontaneous diabetes Type 2 model) and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats (LETO controls) by providing them with exercise alone or exercise and curcumin in combination. OLETF rats were fed either a diet of chow (as OLETF controls) or a diet of chow containing curcumin (5 g/kg diet) for five weeks. OLETF rats exercised with curcumin supplementation exhibited weight loss and improved glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles as compared with OLETF controls or exercised OLETF rats. Next, we examined cognitive functions using a Morris water maze test. Exercise plus curcumin improved escape latency and memory retention compared to OLETF controls. Furthermore, OLETF rats exercised and fed curcumin had lower IL6, TNFα, and IL10 levels (indicators of inflammatory response) and lower levels of ER stress markers (BiP and CHOP) in the intestine than OLETF controls. These observations suggest exercise plus curcumin may offer a means of treating diabetes-related cognitive dysfunction.

Physiological persona differences based on stress and inflammation between meditators and healthy controls

Background Nowadays, yoga is endorsed and advised routinely to stay fit and healthy, as well as control many chronic diseases including diabetes type 2, hypertension, coronary artery diseases, etc. Now, our assumption is that those who do regular yoga have different persona than who do not do yoga regularly. We planned to test our hypothesis scientifically, and therefore baseline physiological characteristics with stress and inflammation levels in long-term and short-term meditators and healthy novice controls were analyzed. Methods In this retrospective analysis, 97 male participants were included for their Baseline analysis. Fifteen apparently healthy subjects practicing preksha meditation (since >5 years, at least 5 days a week) were included as long-term meditators (LTMs); 58 subjects who attended one of our short-term yoga-based lifestyle intervention programs for 2 weeks were included as short-term meditators (STMs); 24 male novice subjects, who did not participate in any yogic intervention, were included as healthy controls. Here, we analyzed the Baseline plasma levels of stress and inflammatory markers, cortisol, β-endorphin, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in long-term meditators vs. short-term meditators vs. healthy controls. Outcome measures The study parameters body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), plasma levels of stress and immune markers, cortisol, β-endorphin (β-Ed), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were assessed in all the three groups at baseline. Results Significant (p<0.05) differences were observed at baseline for plasma levels of stress and inflammatory markers as well as body mass index and systolic blood pressure among LTM vs. STM vs. healthy controls. Conclusions Our observations suggest that the subjects who do regular yoga-meditation practice have better stress & inflammation status than comparable age matched healthy controls.

Exercise heat acclimation causes post-exercise hypotension and favorable improvements in lipid and immune profiles: A crossover randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Passive hyperthermic exposure causes an acute hypotensive response following the cessation of heat stress. Chronic heat stress is well documented in animal studies to instigate metabolic and lipid alterations. However, it is unknown if exercise-heat acclimation also causes favorable chronic blood pressure, lipid, and immune responses in humans.

PURPOSE

This project tested the hypothesis that 10-day exercise-heat acclimation (HA) would cause greater post-exercise reductions in arterial blood pressure and favorable metabolic, lipid, and immune responses compared to 10-day exercise under neutral conditions (CON).

METHODS

Thirteen healthy sedentary participants (8M/5F, 28 ± 6y, 78 ± 17 kg), completed a 10-day (90 min/day exercise bout) clamped hyperthermia HA (increase internal temperature 1.5 °C, in 42 °C, 28% Rh) and control (CON: 23 °C, 42% Rh) protocols in a counterbalanced design with a 2 month washout. Pre- and post-exercise HA/CON blood pressures were taken 1-h post-exercise on exercise days 1 and 10. Metabolic, lipid and immune panels were taken pre-post HA/CON.

RESULTS

Exercise under heat stress had greater post-exercise hypotension (systolic; -6 mmHg, diastolic; -8 mmHg; and mean arterial pressure; -7 mmHg) on both days 1 and 10 compared to exercise under neutral conditions (main effect for condition, P ≤ 0.004). Only from pre-to-post HA, total cholesterol (168 ± 19 to 157 ± 15; P < 0.03) and triglycerides (137 ± 45 to 111 ± 30; P < 0.03) were reduced, while absolute lymphocytes (-26%), monocytes (-22%), and basophils (-49%) significantly decreased (each P ≤ 0.04). Relative values of neutrophils increased (18%) and lymphocytes decreased (-20%) only after HA (P ≤ 0.04).

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that exercise in the heat (regardless of acclimation status) causes a profound post-exercise hypotensive response, while HA causes favorable lipid, and immune profile changes. Further examination of exercise-heat acclimation on vascular, metabolic, and immune responses will offer insight for benefits in other clinical populations with vascular, metabolic and immune dysfunction.

Myostatin alters with exercise training in diabetic rats; possible interaction with glycosylated hemoglobin and inflammatory cytokines

The role of myostatin (MSTN) in the regulation of energy homeostasis has been known and that MSTN inhibition can attenuate the development of diabetes. However, the response of MSTN to exercise in type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the alteration of MSTN following aerobic exercise training in diabetic rats and its possible interaction with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and inflammatory cytokines. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into non-diabetic untrained, non-diabetic trained, diabetic untrained and diabetic trained groups. To induce T1DM, rats received an intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg·kg^-1). Treadmill exercise was performed for six weeks, five days/week. HbA1c was estimated, MSTN mRNA expression in skeletal muscle was measured, and plasma MSTN and inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) were determined. Results revealed a significant decrease of HbA1c and plasma inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) followed by a significant decrease of plasma and skeletal muscle MSTN in diabetic trained rats versus non-diabetic untrained and diabetic untrained rats after the experimental period. Moreover, in diabetic untrained and diabetic trained rats, a significantly positive correlation (change versus change) of plasma MSTN with HbA1c and plasma IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β was found. In conclusion, this study indicated that aerobic exercise training by a decrease of HbA1c and plasma IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β could decrease MSTN levels in plasma and skeletal muscle in T1DM. Furthermore, the effective influence of exercise may be reflected by changes of MSTN in diabetic rats.

Moderate and high intensity chronic exercise reduces plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha and increases the Langerhans islet area in healthy rats

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the effects of moderate (MIT) and high-intensity training (HIT) chronic exercise on plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level and its impact on Langerhans islet morphology in healthy rats.

METHODS

Two-month old normal male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (C, n=6), MIT (n=6), and HIT (n=4). The training protocol consisted in 24 sessions of running on a treadmill at 60-80% maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) for MIT, and >80% VO_2max for HIT. TNF-α and insulin were measured with ELISA tests. Duodenal pancreas was dissected to analyze the Langerhans islets by immunohistochemistry, a correlation analysis was performed with the nuclei/total islet area. Results: HIT and MIT rats showed lower TNF-α plasma levels than controls. Plasma insulin level decreased significantly in HIT compared with C and MIT. In addition, the islet area and nuclei density per islet were higher in the exercise groups compared with C. However, none of the groups showed PD1 immunoreactivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Under healthy conditions, the chronic exercise reduced plasmatic TNF-α level, and in the same sense, increased the size of the Langerhans islets, depending to the exercise intensity.

Effects of short- and long-term regular exercise on reproductive tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE

Reproductive disorders are one of the complications of diabetes mellitus. Since conflicting results have been obtained from different studies, which examined serum levels of cytokines in patients with diabetes, and considering the fact that the origin of cytokines cannot be accurately determined from their serum changes, attempts were made in the present study to study histological changes and testicular tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-1 in rats treated with exercise. Considering the effects of exercise in reducing blood sugar level and its complications, two types of short-term and long-term regular exercises were also considered to evaluate their effects on male reproductive tissues.

METHODS

In this study, 60 male rats with the weight range of 250±50 g were used and were randomly divided into six groups (10 rats each). Healthy groups included sedentary control group, and groups treated with two and eight weeks of exercise. Rats with type 1 diabetes (induced by streptozotocin) included sedentary control group, groups treated with two and eight weeks of exercise (six groups). All groups were evaluated in terms of testicular tissue levels of TNF-α and IL-1 using ELISA and the histometry of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, Sertoli cells, epithelial thickness, diameter of veins, and thickness of the seminiferous tubule.

RESULTS

Histological changes resulting from diabetes, particularly in the diameter of testicular veins and a number of cells, including Sertoli, highlights the important fact that tissue perfusion in patients with diabetes is especially crucial, in a way that exercise proved useful for tissue structures by offsetting this complication. Measurement of the cytokines IL-1 and TNF-α in the current study showed that perfusion problems are more important in diabetic complications than inflammatory factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The main result of this research is recommendation of investigating the tissue of interest for diagnosis of diabetes complications, measuring inflammatory mediators of tissue rather than evaluating their serum concentrations, and focusing on vascular complications as a major complication of diabetes. Furthermore, regular exercise could help improve the function of reproductive organs in healthy groups and prevent diabetes infertility complications to an acceptable degree in diabetic groups.

Protein O-GlcNAc Modification Increases in White Blood Cells After a Single Bout of Physical Exercise

Background

Protein O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a dynamic posttranslational modification influencing the function of many intracellular proteins. Recently it was revealed that O-GlcNAc regulation is modified under various stress states, including ischemia and oxidative stress. Aside from a few contradictory studies based on animal models, the effect of exercise on O-GlcNAc is unexplored.

Purpose

To evaluate O-GlcNAc levels in white blood cells (WBC) of human volunteers following physical exercise.

Methods

Young (age 30 ± 5.2), healthy male volunteers (n = 6) were enlisted for the study. Blood parameters including metabolites, ions, “necro”-enzymes, and cell counts were measured before and after a single bout of exercise (2-mile run). From WBC samples, we performed western blots to detect O-GlcNAc modified proteins. The distribution of O-GlcNAc in WBC subpopulations was assessed by flow cytometry.

Results

Elevation of serum lactic acid (increased from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 6.9 ± 1.7 mM), creatinine (from 77.5 ± 6.3 U/L to 102.2 ± 7.0 μM), and lactate dehydrogenase (from 318.5 ± 26.2 to 380.5 ± 33.2 U/L) confirmed the effect of exercise. WBC count also significantly increased (from 6.6 ± 1.0 to 8.4 ± 1.4 G/L). The level of O-GlcNAc modified proteins in WBCs showed significant elevation after exercise (85 ± 51%, p < 0.05). Flow cytometry revealed that most of this change could be attributed to lymphocytes and monocytes.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that short-term exercise impacts the O-GlcNAc status of WBCs. O-GlcNAc modification could be a natural process by which physical activity modulates the immune system. Further research could elucidate the role of O-GlcNAc during exercise and validate O-GlcNAc as a biomarker for fitness assessment.

Short-term metformin and exercise training effects on strength, aerobic capacity, glycemic control, and mitochondrial function in children with burn injury

Severely burned children experience a chronic state of sympathetic nervous system activation that is associated with hypermetabolic/cardiac stress and muscle wasting. Metformin, a diabetes medication, helps control hyperglycemia in obese diabetic populations, and exercise has been shown to improve exercise strength and aerobic exercise capacity after severe burns. However, whether exercise improves glycemic control in burned children and whether combining exercise and metformin improves outcomes to a greater degree than exercise alone are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that a 6-wk exercise program combined with short-term metformin administration (E + M) improves aerobic and strength exercise capacity to a greater degree than exercise and placebo (E), while improving glucose tolerance and muscle metabolic function. We found that, before exercise training, the metformin group compared with the placebo group had attenuated mitochondrial respiration (pmol·s^-1·mg^-1) for each state: state 2 (-22.5 ± 3), state 3 (-42.4 ± 13), and oxphos (-58.9 ± 19) ( P ≤ 0.02, M vs. E + M group for each state). However, in the E + M group, exercise increased mitochondrial respiration in each state ( P ≤ 0.05), with respiration being comparable to that in the E group (each P > 0.05). In both groups, exercise induced comparable improvements in strength (change from preexercise, Δ1.6 ± 0.6 N-M·kg^LBM) and V̇o_2peak (Δ9 ± 7 mlO₂·kg^LBM) as well as fasting glucose (Δ19.3 ± 13 mg·dl) and glucose AUC (Δ3402 ± 3674 mg·dl^-1·min^-1), as measured by a 75-g OGTT (all P ≤ 0.03). Exercise reduced resting energy expenditure in E + M (Δ539 ± 480 kcal/24 h, P < 0.01) but not E subjects ( P = 0.68). Both groups exhibited reduced resting heart rate (Δ30 ± 23 beats/min, P ≤ 0.02). These data indicate that short-term metformin combined with exercise provides no further improvement beyond that of exercise alone for strength, exercise capacity, and glycemic control.

Low-level laser therapy associated to a resistance training protocol on bone tissue in diabetic rats

Objective

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vivo response of a resistance training and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on tibias and femurs of rats with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Materials and methods

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four experimental groups: control group (CG), diabetic group (DG), diabetic trained group (TG) and diabetic trained and laser irradiated group (TLG). DM was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) and after two weeks laser and resistance training started, performed for 24 sessions, during eight weeks. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and tibias and femurs were removed for analysis. Histological, histomorphometrical, immunohistochemistry and mechanical analyses were performed.

Results

Trained groups, with or without laser irradiation, showed increased cortical area, bone density and biomechanical properties. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TG and TLG demonstrated an increased RUNX2 expression. RANK-L immunoexpression was similar for all experimental groups.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be suggested that the resistance exercise program stimulated bone metabolism, culminating in increased cortical tibial area, bone mineral content, bone mineral density and biomechanical properties. Furthermore, the association of physical exercises and LLLT produced higher values for bone mineral content and stiffness. Consequently, these data highlight the potential of physical exercise in the management of bone loss due to DM and the possible extra osteogenic stimulus offered by lasertherapy. Further long-term studies should be carried out to provide additional information.

Effect of exercise on neurogenic inflammation in spinal cord of Type 1 diabetic rats

Neuropathy is a long-standing and hard to treat complication of diabetes that interferes almost 25-30% of diabetic patients and impacts the quality of life of the patients. Unforeseen side effects, dependency and addiction made the existing medical treatments comparatively ineffective. A number of studies indicate that moderate physical activity provides health-related advantages. However, existing data do not confirm whether regular physical activity would reduce the amount of inflammation in the nervous system of the subjects with Type 1 diabetes. This study reveals the significance of exercise to alleviate inflammation in the spinal cord of the nervous system and preserve sensory nerve function in animals with Type 1 diabetes after 6 weeks of exercise paradigm. Streptozotocin-diabetic animals were placed in motorized running wheels for sixty minutes per day, for five days a week for 6 weeks starting at one week after diabetes. Emerging evidence suggests that the increases in inflammatory mediators play an important role in the development of sensory neuropathy. This study shows that moderate exercise can reduce the release of a number of proinflammatory cytokines in the dorsal horn (DH) of spinal cord, subsequently delaying the development of neuropathy along with an increase in the anti-inflammatory mediator IL10 in the DH. In general, this study indicates that exercise may provide an alternative to the treatment for sensory neuropathy in Type 1 diabetic subjects via reducing the use of medication and providing an easier way to manage neuropathy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia complicated with T1DM can be alleviated by treadmill exercise-evidences revealed by the rat model

Background

Both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) share similar epidemiologic features and are all associated with the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-mediated hormonal imbalance. The purpose of this study is to understand whether exercise (EX) could alleviate DM and DM + BPH.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into eight groups: normal control, EX, BPH, BPH + EX, DM, DM + EX, BPH + DM, and BPH + DM + EX. T1DM was induced by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) in Week 2, and BPH was induced by successive ip injections of Sustanon® (testosterone, 3.5 mg/head) plus estradiol (0.1 mg/head) from Week 3 to Week 9. Treadmill exercise training (20 m/min, 60 min per time) was performed three times per week for 6 weeks.

Results

In BPH + EX, EX maintained at a constant body weight (BW); and suppressed stromal layer thickening, collagen deposition, blood glucose (BG), levels of testosterone (Ts), 5α-reductase(5αRd), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androgen receptor (AR), serum hydrogen peroxide, TBARs, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). EX recovered testes size and substantially increased nitric oxide (NO) levels. In DM + EX group, EX decreased BW, PW, nuclear proliferation, inflammatory cell aggregation, collagen deposition, and BG. As contrast, EX upregulated insulin, IGF, Ts, NO, 5αRd, AR, and DHT, and substantially reduced PSA. In BPH + DM + EX, EX maintained BW at a subnormal level, slightly suppressed prostate stromal inflammation, collagen deposition, and BG, moderately restored sIn and IGF. Although failed to suppress Ts, EX highly upregulated 5αRd and suppressed DHT and AR, together with highly upregulated NO resulting in substantially reduced PSA.

Conclusion

EX, by remodeling androgen and NO expressions, can effectively alleviate BPH, DM, and BPH + DM.

Six-week anaerobic training improves proteolytic profile of diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of six-week anaerobic training on the mRNA expression of genes related to proteolysis Ubb (Ubiquitin), E2-14kDa, Trim63 (MuRF1 protein) and Nfkb1 in the skeletal muscle of diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four groups were established: DE (DiabetesExercised), DS (Diabetes Sedentary), CE (Control Exercised) and CS (Control Sedentary). The training consisted of 3 sets of 12 jumps in the liquid mean with load equivalent to 50% of BW for 6 weeks. Euthanasia occurred under ip anesthesia, and blood, adipose tissue and skeletal muscles were collected. Gene expression was quantified by RT-PCR in the gastrocnemius muscle. ANOVA one-way was used for comparison among groups, with post-hoc (Tukey) when necessary, considering p < 0.05.

RESULTS

We observed reduction in the body weight and adipose tissue in the diabetic groups. The muscle mass was reduced in DS, which could be reversed by training (DE). Although DS and DE have presented similar body weight, the training protocol in DE promoted reduction in the adipose tissue, and increase of muscle mass. Anaerobic training was efficient to reduce glycaemia only in the diabetic animals until 6 hours after the end of training. The Trim63 gene expression was increased in DS; decreased Ubb gene level was observed in trained rats (CE and DE) compared to sedentary (CS and DS), and DE presented the lowest level of E2-14kDa gene expression.

CONCLUSION

Six-week anaerobic training promoted muscle mass gain, improved glycemic control, and exerted inhibitory effect on the proteolysis of gastrocnemius muscle of diabetic rats.

Treadmill training combined with insulin suppresses diabetic nerve pain and cytokines in rat sciatic nerve

BACKGROUND

Insulin therapy plays a critical role in managing type 1 diabetes mellitus, and exercise produces alterations in pain sensation. This experiment explored the effects of insulin therapy combined with treadmill training on diabetic neuropathic pain and on the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and cytokines.

METHODS

Rats were given 4 weeks of insulin (100 IU/kg) therapy and treadmill training (30-60 min/d of training at 20-25 m/min) each day beginning on day 3 after streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, IV) injection and continuing until day 27. Sensitivity to heat and mechanical stimuli and the expression of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and MDA in the sciatic nerve were estimated.

RESULTS

We showed that 2 to 4 weeks of treadmill training, insulin treatment, or their combination increased both paw withdrawal thresholds and latencies compared with the same regimen in sedentary diabetic rats (all P < 0.0022). Treatment with insulin, but without treadmill training, had significant effects on glycemic control (P < 0.0001) and restored body weight (P < 0.0001) in the diabetic rats. The diabetic rats demonstrated the upregulation (all P < 0.009) of IL-6, MDA, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the sciatic nerve on days 14 and 28 after streptozotocin treatment, whereas in diabetic rats receiving insulin, treadmill training, or a combination (all P < 0.01), this upregulation was decreased. Insulin, treadmill training, or the combination increased IL-10 expression (all P < 0.0051) in all diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Treadmill training combined with insulin therapy showed the best improvements in tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia among our 3 treatment groups. The benefits of insulin intervention and treadmill training could be related to chronic inflammation (proinflammatory cytokines) and oxidative stress (MDA).

Cytokines, angiogenic, and antiangiogenic factors and bioactive lipids in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition in which oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction occurs. Plasma levels of soluble receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR)-1, also known as sFlt1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1), an antiangiogenic factor have been reported to be elevated in preeclampsia. It was reported that pregnant mice deficient in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity show a preeclampsia-like phenotype due to a deficiency or absence of 2-methoxyoestradiol (2-ME), a natural metabolite of estradiol that is elevated during the third trimester of normal human pregnancy. Additionally, autoantibodies (AT1-AAs) that bind and activate the angiotensin II receptor type 1 a (AT1 receptor) also have a role in preeclampsia. None of these abnormalities are consistently seen in all the patients with preeclampsia and some of them are not specific to pregnancy. Preeclampsia could occur due to an imbalance between pro- and antiangiogenic factors. VEGF, an angiogenic factor, is necessary for the transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to endothelial cells. Hence reduced VEGF levels decrease the availability of PUFAs to endothelial cells. This leads to a decrease in the formation of anti-inflammatory and angiogenic factors: lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins from PUFAs. Lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins, and PUFAs suppress insulin resistance; activation of leukocytes, platelets, and macrophages; production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α; and oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction; and enhance production of prostacyclin and nitric oxide (NO). Estrogen enhances the formation of lipoxin A4 and NO. PUFAs also augment the production of NO and inhibit the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme and antagonize the actions of angiotensin II. Thus, PUFAs can prevent activation of angiotensin II receptor type 1 a (AT1 receptor). Patients with preeclampsia have decreased plasma phospholipid concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the precursors of lipoxins (from AA), resolvins (from EPA and DHA), and protectins (from DHA) and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1 from DGLA: dihomo-γ-linolenic acid) and prostacyclin (PGI2 derived from AA). Based on these evidences, it is proposed that preeclampsia may occur due to deficiency of PUFAs and their anti-inflammatory products: lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, and maresins.

Moderate exercise training attenuates inflammatory mediators in DRG of Type 1 diabetic rats

Painful neuropathy is a long-term and difficult to treat complication of diabetes that affects 25% of diabetic patients and interferes with their quality of life. Unfortunately, available medical treatments are relatively ineffective due to dependency and addiction. Emerging research indicates that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity provides health-related benefits. However, adequate data is not available to determine whether regular exercise would prevent or delay the development of painful neuropathy in subjects with Type 1 diabetes. This study demonstrates the significance of moderate exercise in the amelioration of pain in animals with Type 1 diabetes after 6weeks of exercise paradigm. After initial acclimatization, streptozotocin-diabetic animals were placed in motorized running wheels for 60minperday, for five days a week for 6weeks starting at one week after diabetes. A growing body of evidence suggests that the release of proinflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the development and persistence of pain. This study demonstrates that moderate exercise increases the expression of inhibitory neurotransmitter enkephalin and also reduces the presence of a number of proinflammatory cytokines in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), subsequently impeding the development of neuropathy along with a decrease in the voltage gated ion channels in the DRG. Overall, the study suggests that exercise may provide an alternate route of treatment of painful neuropathy in Type 1 diabetic subjects by decreasing the use of pain medications, thereby providing a more useful and efficient way for pain management.

Effect of yoga module on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in industrial workers of lonavla: a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory markers play a very important role in body's defense mechanism. Pro-inflammatory markers and anti-inflammatory markers counterbalance each other. It is extremely essential for the body to maintain their balance for a good immune response.

OBJECTIVES

To study the effect of yoga practices on selected pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine among industrial workers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty eight male study participants, aged 30-58 years, were randomly divided into experimental (n=24) & control (n=24) groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were evaluated at the baseline and at the end of 12 wk of yoga training in both the groups. During the experimental study, all the study participants continued with their daily lifestyle and diet. Data were analysed using paired t-test and independent t-test.

RESULTS

The result of within group comparison revealed that the yoga group showed a significant decrease in IL-1 β while significant increase in IL-10 (p < 0.05), whereas the control group revealed no change in IL-1 β (p > 0.05) and IL-10 (p > 0.05). Further, the results between the groups confirmed that the yoga group had significantly lower level of IL-1 β and increase in IL-10 as compared to control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The present study has demonstrated that yoga practices could reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine and increase anti-inflammatory cytokine in industrial workers.

The importance of the cellular stress response in the pathogenesis and treatment of type 2 diabetes

Organisms have evolved to survive rigorous environments and are not prepared to thrive in a world of caloric excess and sedentary behavior. A realization that physical exercise (or lack of it) plays a pivotal role in both the pathogenesis and therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2DM) has led to the provocative concept of therapeutic exercise mimetics. A decade ago, we attempted to simulate the beneficial effects of exercise by treating t2DM patients with 3 weeks of daily hyperthermia, induced by hot tub immersion. The short-term intervention had remarkable success, with a 1 % drop in HbA1, a trend toward weight loss, and improvement in diabetic neuropathic symptoms. An explanation for the beneficial effects of exercise and hyperthermia centers upon their ability to induce the cellular stress response (the heat shock response) and restore cellular homeostasis. Impaired stress response precedes major metabolic defects associated with t2DM and may be a near seminal event in the pathogenesis of the disease, tipping the balance from health into disease. Heat shock protein inducers share metabolic pathways associated with exercise with activation of AMPK, PGC1-a, and sirtuins. Diabetic therapies that induce the stress response, whether via heat, bioactive compounds, or genetic manipulation, improve or prevent all of the morbidities and comorbidities associated with the disease. The agents reduce insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines, visceral adiposity, and body weight while increasing mitochondrial activity, normalizing membrane structure and lipid composition, and preserving organ function. Therapies restoring the stress response can re-tip the balance from disease into health and address the multifaceted defects associated with the disease.

Forced treadmill running suppresses postincisional pain and inhibits upregulation of substance P and cytokines in rat dorsal root ganglion

Exercise causes a variety of psychophysical effects (eg, alterations in pain sensation). Tissue injury induces mediator releases in the spinal cord resulting in pain hypersensitivity; however, the contribution of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is poorly understood. In this study, we tested if forced treadmill running can attenuate postoperative pain and alter substance P (SP) or proinflammatory cytokine level in the DRG by using a rat model of skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR). We evaluated mechanical sensitivity to von Frey stimuli (6 and 15 g) and expression of SP, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in the DRG of sham-operated sedentary rats, SMIR sedentary rats, sham-operated rats with forced treadmill running, and SMIR rats with forced treadmill running. At postoperative day 8, trained rats ran for 5 days per week for 4 weeks on a treadmill 70 minutes/d with an intensity of 18 m/min. On postoperative day 6, SMIR sedentary rats displayed a significant mechanical hypersensitivity that persisted until postoperative day 35. By comparison, SMIR-operated rats, which received forced treadmill running, exhibited a quick recovery from mechanical hypersensitivity. SMIR sedentary rats showed an upregulation of SP, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in the DRG at postoperative days 14 and 28, whereas SMIR-operated rats receiving forced treadmill running reversed this upregulation at postoperative day 28. We concluded that forced treadmill running alleviated persistent postincisional pain caused by SMIR surgery. This appears to be protective against postoperative pain, which probably relates to the downturn in excess SP, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in the DRG.

PERSPECTIVE

Controlling the expression of SP, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β in the DRG can help manage postoperative pain. This finding could potentially help clinicians and physical therapists who seek to examine how exercise may attenuate postsurgical pain and its mechanism.

Caffeine intake may modulate inflammation markers in trained rats

Caffeine is presented in many commercial products and has been proven to induce ergogenic effects in exercise, mainly related to redox status homeostasis, inflammation and oxidative stress-related adaptation mechanisms. However, most studies have mainly focused on muscle adaptations, and the role of caffeine in different tissues during exercise training has not been fully described. The aim of this study was therefore, to analyze the effects of chronic caffeine intake and exercise training on liver mitochondria functioning and plasma inflammation markers. Rats were divided into control, control/caffeine, exercise, and exercise/caffeine groups. Exercise groups underwent four weeks of swimming training and caffeine groups were supplemented with 6 mg/kg/day. Liver mitochondrial swelling and complex I activity, and plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were measured. An anti-inflammatory effect of exercise was evidenced by reduced plasma MPO activity. Additionally, caffeine intake alone and combined with exercise decreased the plasma AChE and MPO activities. The per se anti-inflammatory effect of caffeine intake should be highlighted considering its widespread use as an ergogenic aid. Therefore, caffeine seems to interfere on exercise-induced adaptations and could also be used in different exercise-related health treatments.

Effect of exercise training of different intensities on anti-inflammatory reaction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The study investigated the effect of high- and low-intensity exercise training on inflammatory reaction of blood and skeletal muscle in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats (243 ± 7 g, 8 weeks). The rats completed treadmill running in either high-intensity exercise (6 weeks of exercise training, acute bouts of exercise) or low-intensity exercise (6 weeks of exercise training). Non-running, sedentary rats served as controls. To induce diabetes mellitus, rats received a peritoneal injection of STZ (50 mg · kg⁻¹). Rats were sacrificed immediately after an acute bout of exercise and 6 weeks of exercise training. Inflammatory factors were analyzed by ELISA and by immune blotting from the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. In the serum, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (nitric oxide and malondialdehyde) increased in diabetic rats. However, all exercise training groups displayed reduced inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species. In skeletal muscles, low-intensity exercise training, but not high intensity exercise, reduced the levels of COX-2, iNOS, and MMP-2, which were otherwise markedly elevated in the presence of STZ. Moreover, the levels of GLUT-4 and MyoD were effectively increased by different exercise intensity and exercise duration. Low-intensity exercise training appeared most effective to reduce diabetes-related inflammation. However, high-intensity training also reduced inflammatory factors in tissue-specific muscles. The data implicate regular exercise in protecting against chronic inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes.

Plasma free fatty acids and risk of stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study

BACKGROUND

Although free fatty acids have been positively associated with risk factors for stroke, the role of plasma free fatty acids in the development of stroke has not been elucidated in older adults.

AIMS

We sought to examine the association between plasma free fatty acids and incident stroke.

METHODS

Prospective cohort of 4369 men and women≥65 years of age in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Plasma levels of free fatty acids were measured at the 1992-1993 examination and stroke events were adjudicated by a committee of experts including neurologists and neuroradiologists. Cox regression was used to estimate the relative risk of stroke associated with free fatty acids concentrations.

RESULTS

The average age among participants was 75±5·2 years. During a median follow-up of 11·4 years, 732 incident strokes occurred. The crude incidence rates of stroke were 14·5, 14·9, and 17·6 per 1000 person-years across increasing tertiles of plasma free fatty acids. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for incident stroke was 1·05 (0·97-1·14) per standard deviation increase in plasma free fatty acids. Restriction to ischemic stroke did not alter the results [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 1·04 (0·96-1·14) per standard deviation higher free fatty acids], and there was no effect modification by adiposity (P interaction=0·18) or by diabetes (P interaction=0·15).

CONCLUSION

Our data did not show an association of plasma free fatty acids with incident stroke among community dwelling older adults.

Interaction between advanced glycation end products formation and vascular responses in femoral and coronary arteries from exercised diabetic rats

Background

The majority of studies have investigated the effect of exercise training (TR) on vascular responses in diabetic animals (DB), but none evaluated nitric oxide (NO) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation associated with oxidant and antioxidant activities in femoral and coronary arteries from trained diabetic rats. Our hypothesis was that 8-week TR would alter AGEs levels in type 1 diabetic rats ameliorating vascular responsiveness.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Male Wistar rats were divided into control sedentary (C/SD), sedentary diabetic (SD/DB), and trained diabetic (TR/DB). DB was induced by streptozotocin (i.p.: 60 mg/kg). TR was performed for 60 min per day, 5 days/week, during 8 weeks. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), phenylephrine (PHE) and tromboxane analog (U46619) were obtained. The protein expressions of eNOS, receptor for AGEs (RAGE), Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were analyzed. Tissues NO production and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were evaluated. Plasma nitrate/nitrite (NO_x⁻), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and N^ε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML, AGE biomarker). A rightward shift in the concentration-response curves to ACh was observed in femoral and coronary arteries from SD/DB that was accompanied by an increase in TBARS and CML levels. Decreased in the eNOS expression, tissues NO production and NO_x⁻ levels were associated with increased ROS generation. A positive interaction between the beneficial effect of TR on the relaxing responses to ACh and the reduction in TBARS and CML levels were observed without changing in antioxidant activities. The eNOS protein expression, tissues NO production and ROS generation were fully re-established in TR/DB, but plasma NO_x⁻ levels were partially restored.

Conclusion

Shear stress induced by TR fully restores the eNOS/NO pathway in both preparations from non-treated diabetic rats, however, a massive production of AGEs still affecting relaxing responses possibly involving other endothelium-dependent vasodilator agents, mainly in coronary artery.

Regular physical exercise as a strategy to improve antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status: benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Over the last 30 years the combination of both a sedentary lifestyle and excessive food availability has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity and aggravation of rates of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several lines of scientific evidence have been demonstrating that a low level of physical activity and decreased daily energy expenditure leads to the accumulation of visceral fat and, consequently, the activation of the oxidative stress/inflammation cascade, which underlies the development of insulin resistant T2DM and evolution of micro, and macrovascular complications. This paper focuses on the pathophysiological pathways associated with the involvement of oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of T2DM and the impact of regular physical exercise (training) as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategy to prevent evolution of T2DM and its serious complications.

Persistence of inflammatory response to intense exercise in diabetic rats

In this study we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats subjected to a single session of intense exercise. The following measurements were carried out prior to, immediately after, and 2 and 24 hours after exercise: plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CINC-2α/β, MIP-3α, and IL-6), immunoglobulins (IgA and IgM), acute phase proteins (CRP and C3), and creatine kinase (CK) activity. We also examined the occurrence of macrophage death by measurements of macrophages necrosis (loss of membrane integrity) and DNA fragmentation. An increase was observed in the concentration of IL-1β (3.3-fold) and TNF-α (2.0-fold) and in the proportion of necrotic macrophages (4.5-fold) in diabetic rats 24 hours after exercise, while the control group showed basal measurements. Twenty-four hours after the exercise, serum CK activity was elevated in diabetic rats but not in control animals. We concluded that lesion and inflammations resulting from intense exercise were greater and lasted longer in diabetic animals than in nondiabetic control rats.

Plasma free fatty acids and risk of atrial fibrillation (from the Cardiovascular Health Study)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, affecting approximately 2.3 million residents of the United States and 4.5 million residents of the European Union. It is unclear whether plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) influence the risk of AF in older adults. The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the association between plasma FFAs and incident AF in a prospective cohort of 4,175 men and women ≥65 years old from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Plasma concentrations of FFAs were measured 2 times during the 1992 to 1993 examination. Incident AF was ascertained based on study electrocardiographic and hospitalization records during follow-up. We used Cox regression to estimate relative risks of AF. Average age at baseline was 74.6 ± 5.1 years. During a mean follow-up of 10.0 years, 1,041 new cases of AF occurred. Crude incidence rates of AF were 23.7, 23.3, 23.9, and 29.7 cases/1,000 person-years across consecutive quartiles of plasma FFAs. There was a positive association between plasma FFAs and risk of AF. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for incident AF were 1.00 (referent), 1.02 (0.85 to 1.21), 1.05 (0.88 to 1.26), and 1.29 (1.08 to 1.55) from the lowest to highest quartiles of FFAs, respectively. In a secondary analysis restricted to the first 5 years of follow-up, this association persisted. In conclusion, our data show an increased risk of AF with higher plasma FFAs in community-dwelling older adults.

Assessment of training effects on autonomic modulation of the cardiovascular system in mature rats using power spectral analysis of heart rate variability

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the effects of forced or voluntary exercise on autonomic modulation of the cardiovascular system, we monitored changes in autonomic nervous activity in a mature rat by spectral analysis of the heart rate (HR) during a 10-week training period.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats implanted with a radio-telemetry system were divided into three groups at 18 weeks of age: (1) Control group (n = 8); (2) Voluntary group (n = 6), which were housed separately in a cage with a running wheel; (3) Forced group (n = 6), which were exercised on a treadmill (35 m/min, 15 min/day, 5 days/week). The electrocardiogram was analyzed by the maximum entropy method into two main oscillations, low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) oscillations, respectively. LF and HF are considered to be markers of both sympathetic and parasympathetic modulations and parasympathetic modulation, respectively.

RESULTS

Average running distances of the Voluntary group were more than twofold higher than those of the Forced group. HR levels in the Forced group were lower than those in the Control group. LF and HF levels in the Control and the Forced groups were almost the same during the experiment, and those in the Voluntary group showed a tendency to decrease.

CONCLUSION

The results in the Voluntary and the Forced groups suggest that cardiovascular adjustments are not simply caused by the quantity of exercise. In the Voluntary group, both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity may decrease with a predominance of sympathetic activity. Conversely, in the Forced group, the baroreflex may be hyper-activated by the undesired treadmill running and handling stress.

Transcriptome-wide gene regulation by gentle treadmill walking during the progression of monoiodoacetate-induced arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Physiotherapies are the most widely recommended conservative treatment for arthritic diseases. The present study was undertaken to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of gentle treadmill walking (GTW) on various stages of monoiodoacetate-induced arthritis (MIA) to elucidate the basis for the success or failure of such therapies in joint damage.

METHODS

Knees were obtained from untreated control rats, rats with MIA that did not undergo GTW, rats with MIA in which GTW regimens were started 1 day post-MIA induction, and rats with MIA in which GTW regimens were started after cartilage damage had progressed to grade 1 or grade 2. The cartilage was examined macroscopically, microscopically, and by microfocal computed tomography imaging. Transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis was performed, and microarray data were assessed by Ingenuity Pathways Analysis to identify molecular functional networks regulated by GTW.

RESULTS

GTW intervention started on day 1 post-MIA induction significantly prevented the progression of MIA, but its efficacy was reduced when implemented on knees exhibiting close to grade 1 cartilage damage. GTW accelerated cartilage damage in knees with close to grade 2 damage. Transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis revealed that GTW intervention started 1 day post-MIA inception significantly suppressed inflammation-associated genes and up-regulated matrix-associated gene networks. However, delayed GTW intervention after grade 1 damage had occurred was less effective in suppressing proinflammatory genes or up-regulating matrix synthesis.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that GTW suppresses proinflammatory gene networks and up-regulates matrix synthesis to prevent progression of cartilage damage in MIA-affected knees. However, the extent of cartilage damage at the initiation of GTW may be an important determinant of the success or failure of such therapies.