High-intensity interval training-induced inflammation and airway narrowing of the lung parenchyma in male maturing rats

Comparing the effect of individual and group cognitive-motor training on reconstructing subjective well-being and quality of life in older males, recovered from the COVID-19

While the message emanating from physiological and psychological research has extolled the general advantages of exercise in physical and cognitive health, the social distancing and the impossibility of group exercises have revealed more complex conditions. Therefore, we performed an experimental study comparing the effect of individual and group cognitive-motor training on reconstructing subjective well-being (SWB) and quality of life (QOL) in older males who recovered from COVID-19. The study's design is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT). The participants, 36 older men (65-80 yrs.) recovering from COVID-19, were randomly divided into (1) Group A (cognitive-motor training, G-CMT); (2) Group B (individual cognitive-motor training, I-CMT); and (3) Group C (control). Both training interventions involved performing a training protocol (cognitive-motor training) twice a week for four weeks. The outcomes included an assessment of the SWB and QOL of participants by SWB scale and world health organization QOL scale at baseline and two weeks after interventions. Except for the effect of age and number of children variables on QOL, other demographic variables had no significant effect on the results of SWB or WHOQOL of participants (P > 0.05). The SWB results in G-CMT were better than I-CMT and control groups in emotional and social well-being domains. Also, WHOQOL test results in G-CMT were better than control groups in domains of psychological and social relationships, whereas I-CMT performed better than G-CMT and control groups in domains of cognitive well-being, physical health, and environment. The results revealed that the mean test scores of SWB and WHOQOL in G-CMT and I-CMT were better than the control group (P ≤ 0.001). The positive effects of cognitive-motor training on reconstructing SWB and QOL are associated with the synchronicity of cognitive and motor components in these exercises. We suggest that the emotional, social, and psychological benefits of cognitive-motor training override cognitive, physical, and environmental changes. The future line of the present study will include pathophysiology and further clinical aspect of recovering from COVID-19.

Micro RNA-126 promoting angiogenesis in diabetic heart by VEGF/Spred-1/Raf-1 pathway: effects of high-intensity interval training

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on gene expression of MicroRNA-126 (miR-126) and serum concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor/ sprouty related EVH1 domain containing 1/ rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma 1 (VEGF/Spred-1/Raf-1) proteins effective in cardiac tissue angiogenesis of diabetic rats.

Methods

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of healthy control (HC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic with HIIT training (DT), and healthy with HIIT training (HT). HIIT was performed 6 days per week for 6 weeks (with the overload). Diabetes was induced via the combination of intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and high-fat foods.

Results

Diabetes remarkably diminished the expressions of miR-126, VEGF and Raf-1 proteins, and augmented Spred-1 expression. Meanwhile, the implementation of HIIT gave rise to a significant enhancement in expression of miR-126 heart tissue (P < 0.01), and subsequently increased the expression of VEGF and Raf-1 proteins (P < 0.01), and declined Spred-1 expression (P < 0.01) in the training group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The results of this study show that HIIT increases the expression of miR-126 by activating the angiogenesis pathway of the heart tissue. Increased angiogenesis through the miR-126 pathway is vital to compensate for heart destruction induced by diabetes. Thus, the use of standard interval exercise can be introduced as a novel therapeutic target for diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Effect of moderate-intensity exercise training on GDNF signaling pathway in testicles of rats after experimental diabetes type 1 induction

AIMS

The spermatogenesis failure is reported as the main complication for diabetes and the moderate-intensity exercise (EX) is shown to ameliorate the diabetes-induced impairments both at spermatogenesis and sperm levels. Thus, the current study was done to investigate the possible effect of EX in the sole and simultaneous form with insulin on the network between Sertoli and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) by focusing on niche factor Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

METHODS

For this purpose, 30 mature male Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental type 1 diabetes (T1D)-induced groups. Then the T1D-induced animals were subdivided to sedentary T1D-induced (ST1D), EX + T1D, insulin (INS) + T1D and EX + INS + T1D groups. The general histological changes of testicles, mRNA and protein contents of GDNF and its special receptors gfrα1 and c-RET were evaluated and compared between groups.

RESULTS

EX in the sole and simultaneous form with INS significantly (p < 0.05) diminished the T1D-induced histological damages, amplified the GDNF expression, and enhanced the gfrα1 and c-RET mRNA and protein contents compared to ST1D group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the EX in the sole form promotes spermatogenesis by up-regulating the GDNF signaling system. Moreover, EX remarkably amplifies the insulin-induced ameliorative effect on spermatogenesis.

Taurine with combined aerobic and resistance exercise training alleviates myocardium apoptosis in STZ-induced diabetes rats via Akt signaling pathway

AIM

The aim of this study was considering the effects of taurine supplementation with combined aerobic and resistance training (CARE) on myocardial apoptosis and Protein Kinase B (akt) level changes in diabetic rat.

MAIN METHODS

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided in to 5 groups of 8 animals in each: 1) control, 2) Diabetes Mellitus (DM), 3) DM with taurine supplementation (DM/T), 4) DM with CARE (DM/CARE), and 5) DM with combination of taurine and CARE (DM/T/CARE). DM was induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotine amid (NA) for 2, 3, 4 and 5 groups. Supplement groups received taurine in gavage, 100 mg/kg of body weight, 6 day per weeks, 8 weeks. CARE was performed at maximal speed and 1RM (40-60% of maximum for both).

KEY FINDINGS

The results of this study showed that DM significantly increased blood glucose and caspase 3, caspase 9 expressions and apoptosis cells in heart tissue and reduced Akt expression (p < 0.001). However, taurine and CARE interventions significantly decreased apoptosis markers (caspase 3 and caspase 9) and significantly increased Akt in heart of diabetic rats compare to DM groups (p < 0.05). The highest improvement observed in DM/T/CARE group (p < 0.05).

SIGNIFICANCE

Based on these results, it seems that the use of taurine with combined aerobic and exercise training minimize the cardiac damage caused by diabetes (especially apoptosis) trough increasing protein kinase Akt expression. This could improve cardiac remodeling after diabetes. However, more research is needed, especially on the human samples.