Cardiovascular risk profile, oxygen uptake, and perceived exertion rate in children with obesity: the interactive effect of exercise intensity and duration

Aerobic Exercise Training Improves Renal Injury in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Increasing Renalase Expression in Medulla

We aimed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise training on renal function in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and elucidate their possible mechanisms. Adult male SHR and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were divided into four groups: WKY sedentary group, SHR sedentary group, low-intensity training group, and medium-intensity training group. Using molecular and biochemical approaches, we investigated the effects of 14-week training on renalase (RNLS) protein levels, renal function, and apoptosis and oxidative stress modulators in kidney tissues. In vitro, angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced human kidney proximal epithelial cells (HK-2) were treated with RNLS, and changes in apoptosis and oxidative stress levels were observed. Our results show that moderate training improved renal function decline in SHR. In addition, aerobic exercise therapy significantly increased levels of RNLS in the renal medulla of SHR. We observed in vitro that RNLS significantly inhibited the increase of Ang II-inducedapoptosis and oxidative stress levels in HK-2. In conclusion, aerobic exercise training effectively improved renal function in SHR by promoting RNLS expression in the renal medulla. These results explain the possible mechanism in which exercise improves renal injury in hypertensive patients and suggest RNLS as a novel therapy for kidney injury patients.

Prospective analysis of physical activity levels and associated fitness factors amid COVID-19 pandemic and social-distancing rules. A special focus on adolescents

Objective

Physical activity is a significant health determinant and is likely to be influenced by social-distancing rules imposed by authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored gender-based differences in physical activity levels (PALs) and associated factors amid COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents.

Methods

In this prospective analysis, 112 healthy adolescents (15.63 ± 1.21 years) participated. They were assessed at the baseline (before the announcement of COVID-19 as a global pandemic) for anthropometry, fitness status, and PALs (baseline-PALs), and next at the follow-up (three months of imposed social-distancing rules) for PALs (follow-up-PALs) over an internet-based platform through the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents.

Results

A significant PALs decline was evidenced for the whole sample (P < .001) and such a decline was predominantly affected by significant PALs reduction among males (P < .001) rather than in females (P = .06). The fitness variables (explosive power, muscle endurance, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) were consistently positively correlated with the baseline- and follow-up-PALs in both genders with particularly prominent associations of PALs with explosive power and aerobic endurance.

Conclusion

Physical literacy is necessary for PALs preservation, given the remarkable PALs decreases among adolescents during challenging circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the acute phase: understanding relationships among cardio-respiratory response to exercises, physical activity levels, and quality of life in children after burn injuries

The long-term cardiorespiratory function in burn-injured children can be jeopardized due to complications brought on by the injury. This study sought to assess the cardio-respiratory responses to maximal exercise in children who sustained a burn injury and explore the relationships among cardio-respiratory response, physical activity levels (PALs), and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Forty-five burn-injured children (age:13.89±2.43 years; duration since burn-injury: 3.13±0.93 years) and 52 age- and gender-matched healthy children (14.15±2.27 years) participated in this study. Both cohorts were evaluated for the maximal exercise capacity [defined by peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), maximum heart rate (HRmax), minute ventilation (VE), ventilatory equivalent (VEq), respiratory rate (RR), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER)], PALs, and HRQL. The burn-injured children had significantly lower VO2peak (P=.0001) and VE (P=.003) and higher VEq (P<.0001) and RR (P=.007) than their healthy controls, indicating less efficient cardio-respiratory capacity. However, the HRmax (P=.092) and RER (P=.251) were similar. The burn-injured children reported significantly lower PALs (P=.014) and HRQL (P<.0001). The PALs [r (95%CI) = 0.411 (0.132 to 0.624); P = .005] and HRQL [r (95%CI) = 0.536 (0.284 to 0.712); P = .0001] were significantly correlated with the cardio-respiratory capacity represented by VO2peak in burn-injured group. The variations in VO2peak explained ⁓ 17% and 28.7% of the variations in PALs and HRQL, respectively. In conclusion, the cardio-respiratory efficiency of the burn-injured children may remain limited, even up to a few years following the injury. The limited cardio-respiratory capacity account in part for the reduced PALs and HRQL.

Effect of 8 Weeks of Incremental Aerobic Training on Inflammatory Mediators, Cardiorespiratory Indices, and Functional Capacity in Obese Children With Bronchial Asthma

PURPOSE

To appraise the effects of incremental aerobic training (IAT) on systemic inflammatory mediators, cardiorespiratory indices, and functional capacity in obese children with bronchial asthma.

METHODS

This study included 30 children with asthma (age = 8-16 y) allocated randomly into either the control group (n = 15; received the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program) or IAT group (n = 15; engaged in 8 weeks of IAT in addition to the traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program). The systemic inflammatory mediators (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6), cardiorespiratory indices (peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, heart rate recovery at 1 min after exercises, and oxygen pulse), and functional capacity (represented by 6-min walk test) were analyzed pretreatment and posttreatment.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and increase in peak oxygen uptake, minute ventilation, maximum heart rate, and heart rate recovery at 1 minute after exercises was observed among the IAT group as compared with the control group. In addition, the IAT group covered a longer distance in the 6-minute walk test than the control group, suggesting favorable functional capacity.

CONCLUSION

The study results imply that IAT has the potential to improve the inflammatory profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional capacity of obese children with bronchial asthma.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy and Non-Contact Selective-Field Radiofrequency on Abdominal Adiposity in Adolescents With Obesity

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Structured physical activities and dietary control have traditionally been used with the aim of controlling obesity. However, effective auxiliary modalities still needed to reduce local obesity, specifically abdominal obesity. This study examined the adjunct effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and non-contact selective-field radiofrequency (NcRF) on abdominal adiposity in adolescents with obesity.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-four adolescents with obesity (33 females and 21 males) took part in this study and were distributed randomly into three treatment-based groups. Control group (n = 18, age; 14.61 ± 1.14 years), PBMT group (n = 18, age; 14.22 ± 0.88 years), and NcRF group (n = 18, age; 15.11 ± 0.96 years). A dietary control plan of 1,000-1,200 kcal/day, and a 60-minute aerobic exercise program conducted day-by-day over 4 weeks were provided for all participants. Additionally, the PBMT group received 12 20-minute PBMT on the abdominal area (energy/session ~4.08 J/cm² ) thrice/week, and the NcRF group underwent four 30-minute treatments with NcRF on the abdominal area once/week. Waist/hip ratio (W-to-H ratio), intra-abdominal fat thickness (IAFT), and the subcutaneous-abdominal fat thickness (SAFT) were observed at the baseline and after 4 weeks.

RESULTS

The W-to-H ratio and SAFT reduced significantly in the PBMT group compared with either the control group (P = 0.001 and 0.001, respectively) or the NcRF group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.046, respectively) post-intervention. However, the IAFT and IAFT/SAFT ratio did not differ significantly among the study groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our analysis shows that PBMT is more efficient than NcRF for the reduction of W-to-H ratio and SAFT in adolescents with obesity. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.