Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius SA-03 Supplementation on Reversing Phthalate-Induced Asthma in Mice

Probiotics may protect against asthma. We want to investigate whether probiotics can reverse the adverse effects of phthalate exposure on asthma. We selected the female offspring of BALB/c mice, born from pregnant female mice fed with diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). They were continuously administrated DEHP and Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius SA-03 when they were 5 weeks old, and ovalbumin (OVA) for asthma induction started at 6 weeks for 32 days. The mice were divided into four groups (n = 6/group): 1. control group (C), 2. OVA/DEHP group (OD), 3. OVA/DEHP/probiotics low-dose group (ODP-1X), and OVA/DEHP/probiotics high-dose group (ODP-5X). We found that the administration of probiotics significantly reduced the asthma severity of the mice, as well as serum IgE and IL-5. In the ODP-5X group, the proportion of CD4+ cells in the lung was reduced, whereas IL-10 in serum and CD8+ cells in BALF were increased. In histopathology, the ODP group showed reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells, bronchial epithelial cell hyperplasia, and tracheal mucus secretion. These results might indicate that high-dose probiotics may affect anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce asthma-relative indicators. The above results may provide evidence that high-dose probiotics supplementation might play a modulating role in DEHP causes of allergic asthma in the pediatric animal model.

Supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus brevis GKEX Combined with Resistance Exercise Training Improves Muscle Mass, Strength Performance, and Body Fat Condition in Healthy Humans

In addition to maintaining good exercise and dietary habits, recent studies have shown that probiotics may have potential benefits for muscle mass and strength. It is worth noting that the effects may vary depending on the specific strains used. To date, no studies have analyzed the effects of Lactiplantibacillus brevis in this context. Here, we combine the L. brevis strain GKEX with resistance training to further understand its effects on muscle mass, thickness, performance, and fat loss. In a six-week intervention for a double-blind randomized trial, 52 healthy subjects were divided into two groups (10 male and 16 female participants in each group): a placebo group (two capsules/day, containing 0 CFU of GKEX per capsule) and a GKEX group (two capsules/day, containing 1 × 1010 CFU of GKEX per capsule). Before the intervention, no differences were observed between the two groups in any of the tests (body composition, muscle thickness, exercise performance, and blood parameters). However, supplementation with GKEX significantly improved muscle mass and thickness, as well as grip strength, muscle strength, and explosive performance, when compared to the associated parameters before the intervention. Additionally, GKEX supplementation promoted a reduction in the body fat percentage (p < 0.05). Through analysis of the change amount, we observed that GKEX supplementation yielded significantly improved benefits when compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). In summary, our findings support the notion that a six-week resistance exercise training program combined with L. brevis GKEX supplementation has superior additive effects that enhance muscle mass and strength performance, while also reducing body fat percentage. This intervention can promote muscle gain and fat loss.

Effect of 8-week frequency-specific electrical muscle stimulation combined with resistance exercise training on muscle mass, strength, and body composition in men and women: a feasibility and safety study

In recent years, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) devices have been developed as a complementary training technique that is novel, attractive, and time-saving for physical fitness and rehabilitation. While it is known that EMS training can improve muscle mass and strength, most studies have focused on the elderly or specific patient populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of frequency-specific EMS combined with resistance exercise training for 8 weeks on muscle mass, strength, power, body composition, and parameters related to exercise fatigue. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of EMS as an exercise aid to improve body composition. We recruited 14 male and 14 female subjects who were randomly assigned to two groups with gender parity (seven male and seven female/group): (1) no EMS group (age: 21.6 ± 1.7; height: 168.8 ± 11.8 cm; weight: 64.2 ± 14.4 kg) and (2) daily EMS group (age: 21.8 ± 2.0; height: 167.8 ± 9.9 cm; weight: 68.5 ± 15.5 kg). The two groups of subjects were very similar with no significant difference. Blood biochemical routine analysis was performed every 4 weeks from pre-intervention to post-intervention, and body composition, muscle strength, and explosive power were evaluated 8 weeks before and after the intervention. We also performed an exercise challenge analysis of fatigue biochemical indicators after 8 weeks of intervention. Our results showed that resistance exercise training combined with daily EMS significantly improved muscle mass (p = 0.002) and strength (left, p = 0.007; right, p = 0.002) and significantly reduced body fat (p < 0.001) than the no EMS group. However, there was no significant advantage for biochemical parameters of fatigue and lower body power. In summary, our study demonstrates that 8 weeks of continuous resistance training combined with daily upper body, lower body, and abdominal EMS training can significantly improve muscle mass and upper body muscle strength performance, as well as significantly reduce body fat percentage in healthy subjects.

A functional evaluation of anti-fatigue and exercise performance improvement following vitamin B complex supplementation in healthy humans, a randomized double-blind trial

B vitamins play a crucial role in maintaining fundamental cellular functions and various essential metabolic pathways in the body. Although they do not directly provide energy, each B vitamin acts as a cofactor in energy metabolism processes. Based on the evidence presented above, we hypothesized that a 28-day supplementation of vitamin B would enhance physical performance and reduce physical fatigue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-fatigue effect of vitamin B supplementation, specifically vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12, and its potential to improve exercise performance. We employed a randomized double-blind crossover design with a 28-day supplementation period. Sixteen male and sixteen female subjects, aged 20-30 years, were divided into two groups: the placebo group (n=16, equal gender distribution) and the Ex PLUS® group (n=16, equal gender distribution). The participants received either placebo or Ex PLUS® (one tablet per day) for 28 consecutive days. Following the intervention, there was a 14-day wash-out period during which the subjects did not receive any further interventions. After supplementation with Ex PLUS®, we found a significant increase in the running time by 1.26-fold (p < 0.05) to exhaustion compared to that before supplementation and that in the placebo group. In addition, the Ex PLUS® supplementation group presented significantly reduced blood lactate and blood ammonia concentrations during exercise and at rest after exercise compared with placebo (p < 0.05). In conclusion, 28 consecutive days of vitamin B complex (Ex PLUS®) supplementation significantly improved exercise endurance performance and reduced exercise fatigue biochemical metabolites in not athletes. In addition, it does not cause adverse effects in humans when taken at appropriate doses.

A125 TANDEM STUDY DESIGN IS LESS LIKELY TO DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ADENOMA DETECTION RATE THAN PARALLEL STUDY DESIGN IN THE ASSESSMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-ASSISTED COLONOSCOPY

Background

Randomized controlled trials have reported that artificial intelligence (AI) improves adenoma detection rate (ADR). Different methodologies, namely parallel and tandem study designs, have been employed to evaluate the efficacy of AI-assisted colonoscopy in randomized controlled trials. In systematic reviews and meta-analyses, a pooled effect that includes both study designs have been reported. However, it is unclear whether there are inconsistencies in the reported results of these two designs.

Purpose

To determine if there are differences in ADR using AI-aided technologies during colonoscopy between parallel and tandem study designs

Method

A systematic search of Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to October 2022) and EMBASE (1947 to October 2022) for randomized controlled trials comparing AI-assisted colonoscopy with routine high-definition colonoscopy in polyp detection was conducted. Reference lists of systematic reviews were searched for additional studies. The publications were divided based on trial design: parallel vs. tandem. Analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1 using a random effects model.

Result(s)

The search identified 540 articles. After screening the title and abstract for relevance, 19 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 14 657 patients were included for full-text review. Fourteen were parallel studies (14 136 patients) and 5 were tandem studies (521 patients). ADR was reported in 17 studies, and there was overall improvement in ADR with AI-assisted colonoscopy (risk ratio [RR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.22-1.44; p<.0001). Based on a separate pooled analyses of 13 parallel studies and 4 tandem studies, ADR significantly improved with AI assistance compared to routine colonoscopy, regardless of study design (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.24-1.47 and p<.0001; RR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03-1.28; p=0.02, respectively). A significant increase in ADR with AI assistance were found in 84.6% (11/13) of parallel design studies, but in only 25% (1/4) of tandem studies.

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Conclusion(s)

AI assistance during colonoscopy significantly increased ADR in both parallel and tandem studies; however, improvement in ADR was less likely to be seen in tandem compared to parallel studies. It remains unclear why this difference exists, but some hypotheses include smaller sample sizes in the tandem studies, significant heterogeneity in the tandem design, and differences in operator bias depending on study design. Better understanding the differences in these study designs will inform future studies of new endoscopic technologies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Different Impacts of Heat-Killed and Viable Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 on Exercise Performance, Fatigue, Body Composition, and Gut Microbiota in Humans

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10, a probiotic strain, has been demonstrated to improve exercise performance, regulate body composition, and ameliorate age-related declines. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of viable and heat-killed TWK10 in the regulation of exercise performance, body composition, and gut microbiota in humans. Healthy adults (n = 53) were randomly divided into three groups: Control, TWK10 (viable TWK10, 3 × 1011 colony forming units/day), and TWK10-hk (heat-killed TWK10, 3 × 1011 cells/day) groups. After six-week administration, both the TWK10 and TWK10-hk groups had significantly improved exercise performance and fatigue-associated features and reduced exercise-induced inflammation, compared with controls. Viable TWK10 significantly promoted improved body composition, by increasing muscle mass proportion and reducing fat mass. Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated significantly increasing trends in the relative abundances of Akkermansiaceae and Prevotellaceae in subjects receiving viable TWK10. Predictive metagenomic profiling revealed that heat-killed TWK10 administration significantly enhanced the signaling pathways involved in amino acid metabolisms, while glutathione metabolism, and ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis pathways were enriched by viable TWK10. In conclusion, viable and heat-killed TWK10 had similar effects in improving exercise performance and attenuating exercise-induced inflammatory responses as probiotics and postbiotics, respectively. Viable TWK10 was also highly effective in regulating body composition. The differences in efficacy between viable and heat-killed TWK10 may be due to differential impacts in shaping gut microbiota.

Live and Heat-Killed Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 Accelerated the Improvement and Recovery of Strength and Damage Biomarkers after Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Excessive, high-intensity or inappropriate exercise may cause muscle damage. How to speed up recovery and reduce exercise discomfort are currently very important issues for athletes and sports people. Past research has shown that probiotics can improve inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as improve exercise performance and antifatigue. However, further research is needed to confirm the recovery benefits for muscle damage. In this double-blind design study, all subjects were randomly assigned to placebo, a live Lactobacillus paracasei group (L-PS23, 2 × 1010 colony forming unit (CFU)/day), or a heat-killed L. paracasei group (HK-PS23, 2 × 1010 cells/day), and supplemented for six consecutive weeks. Afterwards, subjects completed 100 maximal vertical jumps to bring about exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), as well as blood tests for markers of muscle damage and inflammation were made pre-exercise and 3, 24, 48 h post exercise. The results show that both L-PS23 and HK-PS23 supplementation significantly slowed the loss of muscle strength after muscle injury, and they significantly reduced the production of markers of muscle damage and inflammation (p < 0.05). In addition, L-PS23 and HK-PS23 had the benefits of accelerating the recovery and improvement of muscle strength, the blood markers of muscle injury and inflammation, and slowing the decline in testosterone concentrations (p < 0.05). Especially in the HK-PS23 supplemented group, there was a better trend. In conclusion, we found that L-PS23 or HK-PS23 supplementation for six weeks prevented strength loss after muscle damage and improved blood muscle damage and inflammatory markers, with protective, accelerated recovery and anti-fatigue benefits.

Low Aerobic Capacity Accelerates Lipid Accumulation and Metabolic Abnormalities Caused by High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Postpartum Mice

Women during pregnancy and postpartum show high rates of obesity and metabolic diseases, especially women with excessive caloric intake. In the past, it was proved that individuals with high intrinsic aerobic exercise capacities showed higher lipid metabolism and lower fat production than those with low intrinsic aerobic exercise capacities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mice with the low-fitness phenotype (LAEC) were more likely to develop metabolic abnormalities and obesity under dietary induction after delivery, and if mice with a high-fitness phenotype (HAEC) had a protective mechanism. After parturition and weaning, postpartum Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice received dietary induction for 12 weeks and were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): high-exercise capacity postpartum mice with a normal chow diet (HAEC-ND); high-exercise capacity postpartum mice with a high-fat diet (HAEC-HFD); low-exercise capacity postpartum mice with a normal chow diet (LAEC-ND); and low-exercise capacity postpartum mice with a high-fat diet (LAEC-HFD). Obesity caused by a high-fat diet led to decreased exercise performance (p < 0.05). Although there were significant differences in body posture under congenital conditions, the LAEC mice gained more weight and body fat after high-fat-diet intake (p < 0.05). Compared with HAEC-HFD, LAEC-HFD significantly increased blood lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and other parameters (p < 0.05), and the content of TG in the liver, as well as inducing poor glucose tolerance (p < 0.05). In addition, after HFD intake, excessive energy significantly increased glycogen storage (p < 0.05), but the LAEC mice showed significantly lower muscle glycogen storage (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although we observed significant differences in intrinsic exercise capacity, and body posture and metabolic ability were also different, high-fat-diet intake caused weight gain and a risk of metabolic disorders, especially in postpartum low-fitness mice. However, HAEC mice still showed better lipid metabolism and protection mechanisms. Conversely, LAEC mice might accumulate more fat and develop metabolic diseases compared with their normal rodent chow diet (ND) control counterparts.

Isolated Soy Protein Supplementation Combined With Resistance Training Improves Muscle Strength, Mass, and Physical Performance of Aging Female Mice

Background/Purpose: In recent years, the aging population has gradually increased, and the aging process is accompanied by health-associated problems, such as loss of muscle mass and weakness. Therefore, it is important to explore alternative strategies for improving the health status and physical fitness of the aged population. In this study, we investigated the effect of soy protein supplementation combined with resistance training on changes in the muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional activity performance of aging mice.

Methods: Female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): sedentary control (SC), isolated soy protein (ISP) supplementation, resistance training (RT), and a combination of ISP and RT (ISP + RT). The mice in designated groups received oral ISP supplementation (0.123 g/kg/day), RT (5 days/week for a period of 4 weeks), or a combination of both ISP plus RT for 4 weeks. Afterward, we assessed muscle strength, endurance, and anaerobic endurance performance and analyzed blood biochemical and pathological tissue sections to investigate whether there were adverse effects or not in mice.

Results: ISP supplementation effectively improved the muscle mass, muscle endurance, and endurance performance of aging female mice. The RT group not only showed similar results with ISP but also increased muscle strength and glycogen content. Nevertheless, the combination of ISP supplementation and RT had greater beneficial effects on muscle strength, physical performance, and glycogen levels (p < 0.05). In addition, the combination of ISP supplementation and RT had significantly increased type II muscle percentage and cross-sectional area (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Although ISP or RT alone improved muscle mass and performance, the combination of ISP with RT showed greater beneficial effects in aging mice. Our findings suggest that regular exercise along with protein supplementation could be an effective strategy to improve overall health and physical fitness among the elderly.

Sea Bass Essence from Lates calcarifer Improves Exercise Performance and Anti-Fatigue in Mice

Sea bass (Lates calcarifer) is rich in protein, amino acids, and long-chain omega 3 (omega-3), which have many health benefits. In East Asian food culture, soup is often eaten as a nutritional supplement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of Hi-Q sea bass essence (SBE) supplementation for improved exercise performance and anti-fatigue. Fifty male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided to five groups (10 mice/group) and administered different doses of SBE (EC): (1) vehicle (water); (2) isocaloric (0.94 g casein/kg/mice/day); (3) SBE-1X (1.04 g/kg/mice/day); (4) SBE-2X (2.08 g/kg/mice/day); and (5) SBE-4X (4.16 g/kg/mice/day). We found that SBE supplementation significantly improved more than 1.96-fold endurance exercise performance (p < 0.05) and more than 1.13-fold glycogen storage in the liver and muscles (p < 0.05), and had dose-dependent by SBE dose (p < 0.05). In addition, supplementation with SBE at different doses had significant effects on the fatigue-related biochemical markers, i.e., lactate, ammonia, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were reduced significantly (p < 0.05), and were also dose-dependent. In conclusion, supplementation with SBE for 4 weeks was able to effectively improve exercise performance and had an anti-fatigue effect. In addition, it did not cause any physiological or histopathological damage.

Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 Supplementation Combined With Resistance Training Improved Muscle Mass, Force, and Exercise Performance in Mice

Increasing numbers of researchers are investigating the benefits of probiotics in enhancing exercise performance and verifying the role of the gut–muscle axis. In our previous study, Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 improved exercise performance and muscle mass. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether supplementation with PL-02 combined with resistance training has a synergistic effect on exercise performance and muscle mass. All the animals were assigned into four groups (n = 8/group): a sedentary control with normal distilled water group (vehicle, n = 8); PL-02 supplementation group (PL-02, 2.05 × 10⁹ CFU, n = 8); resistance training group (RT, n = 8); PL-02 supplementation combined with resistance training group (PL-02 + RT, 2.05 × 10⁹ CFU, n = 8). Supplementation with PL-02 for four consecutive weeks combined with resistance exercise training significantly improved the grip strength and the maximum number of crawls; increased the time of exhaustive exercise; significantly reduced the time required for a single climb; and reduced the lactate, blood ammonia, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen produced after exercise (p < 0.05). In addition, it produced substantial benefits for increasing muscle mass without causing any physical damage. In summary, our findings confirmed that PL-02 or RT supplementation alone is effective in improving muscle mass and exercise performance and in reducing exercise fatigue, but the combination of the two can achieve increased benefits.

Effects of Perch Essence Supplementation on Improving Exercise Performance and Anti-Fatigue in Mice

Silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) has many nutrition and health benefits, being a rich source of macro and micronutrients, phospholipids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a variety of essential minerals while having a high protein content. In addition to direct consumption, it is often made into a soup as an important nutritional supplement for strengthening the body and delaying fatigue. By extracting the essence, its quality can be controlled, and it is convenient to supplement. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Santé premium silver perch essence (SPSPE) on improving exercise performance and anti-fatigue. Fifty male institute of cancer research (ICR) mice were divided into five groups (n = 10/group): (1) vehicle (vehicle control or water only), (2) isocaloric (0.93 g casein/kg/mice/day), (3) SPSPE-1X (0.99 g/kg/mice/day), (4) SPSPE-2X (1.98 g/kg/mice/day), and (5) SPSPE-5X (4.95 g/kg/mice/day). A sample or an equal volume of liquid was fed orally for four consecutive weeks. Grip strength and swimming exhaustion tests were used as exercise performance assessments. After 10 and 90 min of unloaded swimming, biochemical parameters of fatigue were evaluated. We found that supplementation with SPSPE for four consecutive weeks could significantly improve mice’s grip strength, exercise endurance performance, and glycogen content (p < 0.05), and significantly reduced post-exercise fatigue biochemical parameters, such as lactate, blood ammonia (NH₃), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration, and muscle damage index creatine kinase (CK) activity (p < 0.05). In summary, supplementation with SPSPE for 4 weeks could effectively improve exercise performance, reduce sports fatigue, and accelerate fatigue recovery. In addition, it did not cause any physiological or histopathological damage.

Ergogenic Effects of Green Tea Combined with Isolated Soy Protein on Increasing Muscle Mass and Exercise Performance in Resistance-Trained Mice

It is well known that supplementation with high protein after exercise can effectively promote muscle synthesis and repair, while green tea is rich in catechins that have antioxidant effects. We aimed to explore the effects of green tea combined with isolated soy protein on increase muscle mass in resistance-trained mice. A total of 32 male ICR mice (8-weeks old) were divided into four groups (n = 8/group), sedentary control group (SC), isolated soy protein with green tea group (ISPG), resistance training group (RT), isolated soy protein and green tea combine with resistance training group (ISPG + RT). All mice received control or ISPG by oral gavage for four consecutive weeks. Forelimb grip and exhaustive swimming time were used for exercise performance evaluation. In biochemical profile, we analyzed lactate, ammonia, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and glucose and muscle damage index creatine kinase (CK) after exercise as biochemical parameters of exercise fatigue. The grip strength, muscular endurance, and exhaustive swimming time of the ISPG + RT group were significantly increased than other groups (p < 0.05), and also significantly decreased in serum lactate and ammonia levels (p < 0.05, respectively). The ISP + RT group was not only increased in quadriceps weight, (p < 0.05) but also decreased EFP (p < 0.05). We recommend using a 4-week supplementation with ISPG, combined with RT, to increase muscle mass, exercise performance, glycogen storage, and reduce fatigue biochemical parameters after exercise. The benefits of long-term supplementation or application to human supplementation can be further explored in the future.

Effects of Isolated Soy Protein Supplementation Combined with Aerobic Exercise Training on Improving Body Composition, Anthropometric Characteristics and Cardiopulmonary Endurance in Women: A Pilot Study

Today, women are concerned with health promotion but also with improvements in body weight and shape. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise training (AET) combined with isolated soy protein (ISP) supplementation on the body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and cardiopulmonary endurance of women. The qualified subjects were randomly assigned to AET or AET + ISP groups. Women in the AET + ISP group were given an ISP-rich supplement (40 g/day) 5 days a week for 8 weeks; those in the AET group were given the same amount of water in an identical manner. All women received 60 min of AET twice a week for 8 weeks at an intensity of 40–65% heart rate reserve (HRR) and their body composition, anthropometric characteristics, and physical fitness were measured one week before and after the 8-week AET class. A total of 16 subjects (age: 36.13 ± 5.76 years) completed the study and were included in the dataset. The results of this study show that the AET + ISP group obtained greater reductions in body weight (effect size = 0.99), body mass index (BMI, effect size = 1.04), percentage body fat (PBF, effect size = 1.18), circumferences (waist and hip, all effect sizes > 0.8), and greater gains in the percentage lean body mass (PLBM, effect size = 0.89), compared with the AET group, without significant differences in 20 m multi-stage shuttle run test (20 m MST). We conclude that there is a trend for the consumption of ISP following AET to improve the body composition and anthropometric characteristics in women, compared with those who received the same AET without ISP supplementation.

Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 Attenuates Aging-Associated Muscle Weakness, Bone Loss, and Cognitive Impairment by Modulating the Gut Microbiome in Mice

In humans, aging is characterized by the progressive decline in biological, physiological, and psychological functions, and is a major risk factor in the development of chronic diseases. Therefore, the development of strategies aimed at attenuating aging-related disorders and promoting healthy aging is critical. In a previous study, we have demonstrated that Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10), a probiotic strain isolated from Taiwanese pickled cabbage, improved muscle strength, exercise endurance, and overall body composition in healthy humans. In this study, the effect of TWK10 on the progression of age-related impairments was investigated in mice. We found that TWK10 not only enhanced muscle strength in young mice, but also prevented the aging-related loss of muscle strength in aged mice, which was accompanied by elevated muscle glycogen levels. Furthermore, TWK10 attenuated the aging-associated decline in learning and memory abilities, as well as bone mass. Further analyses of gut microbiota using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the pattern of gut microbial composition was clearly altered following 8 weeks of TWK10 administration. TWK10-treated mice also experienced an increase in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and higher overall levels of gut SCFA. Furthermore, TWK10 administration to some extent reversed the aging-associated accumulation of pathogenic bacterial taxa. In conclusion, TWK10 could be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent that attenuates aging-related disorders and provides health benefits by modulating the imbalance of gut microbiota.

Effectiveness of human-origin Lactobacillus plantarum PL-02 in improving muscle mass, exercise performance and anti-fatigue

Gut microbiota is very important for energy metabolism and regulation, which in turn affect the health and physiological functions of the host, and provide energy required for exercise. Supplementation with probiotics may be one of the ways to change the gut microbiota. In recent years, many studies have shown that probiotic supplementation can effectively improve sports performance. In this study, we screened Lactobacillus plantarum (PL-02), a probiotic of human-origin, from the intestines of 2008 Olympic women's 48 kg weightlifting gold medalist and explored the role of PL-02 in improved exercise endurance performance, reduced fatigue biochemical parameters, and changes in body composition. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were assigned to 0, 2.05 × 109, 4.10 × 109 and 1.03 × 1010 CFU/kg/day groups and were fed by oral gavage once daily for 4 weeks. The results showed that 4 weeks of PL-02 supplementation could significantly increase muscle mass, muscle strength and endurance performance, and hepatic and muscular glycogen storage. Furthermore, PL-02 could significantly decrease lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), ammonia, and creatine kinase (CK) levels after exercise (p < 0.05). We believe that PL-02 can be used as a supplement to improve exercise performance and for its anti-fatigue effect.

Protective and Recovery Effects of Resveratrol Supplementation on Exercise Performance and Muscle Damage following Acute Plyometric Exercise

Plyometric exercise (PE) is an effective training method to increase muscle mass and strength. However, excessive or inappropriate conditions might cause exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol plant antitoxin, which improves exercise performance, and exhibits anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of RES supplementation on the recovery of muscle damage, inflammation, soreness, muscle power, and anaerobic performance following plyometric-exercise-induced muscle damage (PEIMD). The present study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled research trial. Thirty-six young, untrained males were enrolled into the placebo (n = 12), RES-500 (500 mg RES/day, n = 12), or RES-1000 (1000 mg RES/day, n = 12) group by a jumping height-counterbalanced grouping design. At baseline, to pre-PEIMD, supplements were pre-loaded 7 days before they conducted PEIMD, and the exercise performance, delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle damage biomarkers were measured over the experimental period at baseline, pre-PEIMD, and post-PEIMD at 2, 24, 48, and 72 h. As a result, we found that, at 72 h post-EIMD, the force peak (FP) and rate of force development (RFD) of the counter movement jump (CMJ) in RES groups showed no significant difference compared to that at baseline but was significantly greater than the placebo group. In the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), supplementation in the RES group had a better recovery effect on the relative peak power (RPP), relative mean power (RMP) and fatigue index (FI) (p < 0.05), especially in the high-dose group. For the detection of muscle pain after PEIMD, the RES supplement group was significantly better than the placebo group (p < 0.05). In addition, for muscle damage indexes, such as creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), after PEIMD, supplementation with RES could significantly reduce and accelerate recovery (p < 0.05). In addition, the blood biochemical indicators of blood count, liver function, and kidney function showed that RES will not cause adverse risks to the human body. Our results suggest that replenishing RES in advance could effectively reduce muscle pain, increase exercise performance, and decrease muscle damage indicators caused by PEIMD, and the recovery was faster. Therefore, plyometric exercises combined with suitable RES supplementation could be an effective candidate for controlling muscle damage, improving physical adaption, and recovering anaerobic capacity.

Exercise training combined with Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 treatment regulates insulin resistance and physical performance in db/db mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Regular exercise is one of the effective lifestyle interventions for maintaining healthy weight and blood glucose levels in the normal range and lowering risk factors. Probiotics, live microorganisms that are beneficial to health, are involved in the regulation of host metabolism. We thus hypothesize that the combination of exercise training and Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 (OLP-01) could improve insulin sensitivity, blood glucose control and body composition in db/db mice. Twenty-four C57BL/6 J db/db male mice (20-weeks old) were divided into four groups (n = 6 per group): vehicle, OLP-01 supplementation (OLP-01), exercise training (EX) and exercise training with OLP-01 supplementation (EX + OLP-01). Animals in the EX and EX + OLP-01 groups underwent strength exercise training for 6 weeks, 5 days per week. After the exercise training, we tested forelimb grip strength, exhaustive running, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and serum biomarkers. Results: Combined intervention of EX and OLP-01 prevented elevation of body weight and body fat. Grip strength and exhaustive swimming time were significantly higher in the EX + OLP-01 group than in the other groups. We found that EX OLP-01 reduced glycolipid parameters (fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c), improved insulin sensitivity (oral glucose tolerance test and HOMA-IR), relieved liver injury parameters (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase) and repaired pancreas damage. Based on our findings, we speculate that the positive effects of combining EX with OLP-01 on capacity for physical activity, blood glucose control and body composition suggest an integrative approach to treating type 2 diabetes. Altogether, the combination of EX with OLP-01 treatment might be a good candidate for preventing and treating diabetes.

Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 Improves Muscle Mass and Functional Performance in Frail Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Sarcopenia is a condition in which there is a loss of muscle caused by aging and it is one of the most significant factors that affects physical fragility. In recent years, the role of the gut–muscle axis has garnered attention as, along with the gut microbiota, it potentially plays a significant role in muscle regeneration, in addition to nutritional supplements and exercise training. Past studies have found that supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 could effectively increase the muscle mass of animals or adult humans. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 produces increased muscle mass and improves the functional performance of elderly persons with mild fragility. A total of 68 elderly subjects were recruited, of which 13 subjects were excluded or withdrew from the study. We adopted a double-blind design, and the 55 subjects were randomly divided into three groups: the placebo group, the TWK10 low-dose group (2 × 10¹⁰ CFU/day) (TWK10-L), and the TWK10 high-dose group (6 × 10¹⁰ colony-forming unit (CFU)/day) (TWK10-H). For 18 weeks, all subjects were required to regularly take experimental samples, perform functional activity testing, and have their body composition analyzed before the study and every six weeks after the intervention. Finally, 17 subjects in the placebo group, 12 subjects in the TWK10-L group, and 13 subjects in the TWK10-H group finished the study. It was found that supplementation with TWK10 had a tendency to increase and improve muscle mass, left hand grip strength, lower limb muscle strength, and gait speed and balance after the sixth week, especially in the TWK10-H group, and, as the supplement time was longer up to the 18th week, it had an even greater effect (p < 0.05). In conclusion, consecutive supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 for more than six weeks could effectively improve the muscle strength and endurance of the elderly, reducing sarcopenia and physical fragility. This trial was registered as NCT04893746.

Lactose-riched Mongolian mare's milk improves physical fatigue and exercise performance in mice

Fatigue may cause the efficiency of the organ in human body to decrease, which may affect the daily life and exercise performance of the general people and athletes. Mare's milk powder (MMP) is a lactose rich supplement. The research of the study is to evaluate the whether MMP has anti-fatigue effect. Forty male ICR mice were randomly divided into four group to receive vehicle or MMP by oral gavage at 0 (Vehicle), 0.27 (MMP-1X), 0.54 (MMP-2X), 1.35 (MMP-5X) g/kg/day for 14 days. The forelimb grip of the MMP-2X, and MMP-5X group were significantly higher than the vehicle group. The swim-to-exhaustion times of the MMP-1X, MMP-2X, and MMP-5X group were significantly greater than the vehicle group. Glycogen levels in liver and muscle were significantly larger in the MMP-1X, MMP-2X, and MMP-5X groups than the vehicle group. Receive MMP supplement for 14 days can promoting exercise performance and amelioration of exercise-induced fatigue.

Combination of Treadmill Aerobic Exercise with Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 Supplementation for Treatment of High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Murine Model

INTRODUCTION

Obesity, which can result from disease, genetics, nutrition, lifestyle, and insufficient physical activity, substantially increases an individual's risk of complications and comorbidities. Exercise can be an effective strategy for achieving an energy balance and physiological fitness as part of obesity management. Additionally, probiotics, which are isolated from food and the environment, are being rapidly developed and have functional benefits for mitigating various metabolic dysfunctions associated with obesity. The potentially positive physiological and functional effects of exercise, probiotics, and exercise combined with probiotics should be elucidated in a model of diet-induced obesity.

METHODS

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum OLP-01 (OLP-01) was isolated from an elite Olympic-level athlete who exhibited physiological adaptations to peripheral fatigue caused by exercise training. In this current study, ICR strain mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks to replicate an obesity model. The mice were divided into 5 groups according to the diet administered: control with normal diet, only HFD, HFD + exercise, HFD + OLP, and HFD + exercise + OLP groups. They were administered the probiotic and/or treadmill exercise training for 5 weeks, and their growth curve, physical activity, physiological adaptation, biochemical parameters, body composition, and glucose tolerance were assessed.

RESULTS

Compared with only exercise or only probiotics, a combination of probiotics and exercise significantly improved the weight, glucose tolerance, fat composition, and exercise-related oxidative stress of mice. Regular and programmed exercise with sufficient rest may be crucial to obesity improvement, and a combination of probiotics and exercise may synergistically assist obesity management and health promotion.

CONCLUSION

OLP-01 probiotics combined with exercise training can be employed as a strategy for treating obesity. However, the exact regulatory mechanisms underlying this effect, possibly involving microbiota and associated metabolites, warrant further investigation.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Supplementation with Planox® Lemon Verbena Extract in Improving Oxidative Stress and Muscle Damage: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Excessive exercise load can cause muscle soreness and fatigue, as well as inflammation and oxidative stress. Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla; Lippia citriodora) is often used as a spice in tea or beverages. Its leaves are rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. In the present study, we investigated whether supplementation with Planox® lemon verbena extract (LVE) could improve muscle damage and biochemical indicators after exhaustive exercise challenge. All subjects (30 males and 30 females) underwent a double-blind trial and were randomly divided into a placebo group (0 mg/human/day) and an LVE supplement group (400 mg/human/day), with gender-equal distribution. All subjects started supplementation 10 days before exhaustive exercise and continued it until all tests were completed. Before the intervention, after the exhaustive exercise, and on the following 3 days, the participants underwent 12-minute Cooper running/walking; blood collection; assessments of pain, muscle stiffness, maximum jump heights, and isometric maximum muscle strength. The results showed that supplementation with LVE effectively increased GPx and reduced CK, IL-6, 8-OHdG and muscle pain after the exhaustive exercise, but it had significant effect on strength recovery. In summary, LVE is a safe and edible natural plant extract that can reduce muscle damage and soreness after exercise. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04742244.

The effects of different types of aquatic exercise training interventions on a high-fructose diet-fed mice

Gradual weight gain in modern people and a lowering onset age of metabolic disease are highly correlated with the intake of sugary drinks and sweets. Long-term excessive fructose consumption can lead to hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and accumulation of visceral fat. Abdominal obesity is more severe in females than in males. In this study, we used a high-fructose-diet-induced model of obesity in female mice. We investigated the effects of aquatic exercise training on body weight and body composition. After 1 week of acclimatization, female ICR mice were randomly divided into two groups: a normal group (n=8) fed standard diet (control), and a high-fructose diet (HFD) group (n=24) fed a HFD. After 4 weeks of induction followed by 4 weeks of aquatic exercise training, the 24 obese mice were divided into 3 groups (n=8 per group): HFD with sedentary control (HFD), HFD with aquatic strength exercise training (HFD+SE), and HFD with aquatic aerobic exercise training (HFD+AE). We conducted serum biochemical profile analysis, weighed the white adipose tissue, and performed organ histopathology. After 4 weeks of induction and 4 weeks of aquatic exercise training, there was no significant difference in body weight among the HFD, HFD+SE and HFD+AE groups. Serum triglyceride (TG), AST, ALT, and uric acid level were significantly lower in the HFD+SE and HFD+AE groups than in the HFD group. The weight of the perirenal fat pad was significantly lower in the HFD+AE group than in the HFD group. Hepatic TG and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly lower in the HFD+AE group than in the other groups. Long-term intake of a high-fructose diet can lead to obesity and increase the risk of metabolic disease. Based on our findings, we speculate that aquatic exercise training can effectively promote health and fitness. However, aquatic aerobic exercise training appears to have greater benefits than aquatic strength exercise training.

Hepatoprotection by Traditional Essence of Ginseng against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Damage

The peroxide produced in the lipid metabolic process attacks liver cells and causes liver injury. Ginsenosides have been shown to have anti-oxidation abilities and to mend myocardial damage. This study evaluated the effect of traditional ginseng essence (TEG) in preventing chemical liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Forty 8-week-old male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into five groups: control, liver injury (CCl₄), and TEG by oral gavage at 0.074, 0.149, or 0.298 g/kg/day for nine weeks. Liver injury biochemical indicators, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipid contents in liver tissues were evaluated. The liver appearance was observed, and histopathological tests were conducted to estimate whether TEG-antagonized oxidants further ameliorated liver injury. The results show that, after supplementation of TEG for nine consecutive weeks and CCl₄—induced liver injury for eight weeks, the levels of liver injury biochemical indicators in animal serum decreased significantly, and, in liver tissue, antioxidant activity was significantly improved and accumulation of lipids was decreased. Pathological sections exhibited reduced liver lipid accumulation and fibrosis. As discussed above, TEG can increase the antioxidant capacity in the liver and the maintenance of hepatocyte function, protecting the liver from chemical injury and improving healthcare.

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum OLP-01 Supplementation during Endurance Running Training Improves Exercise Performance in Middle- and Long-Distance Runners: A Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Olympic No. 1 (OLP-01) has been shown in previous animal experiments to improve exercise endurance performance, but this effect has not been confirmed in humans, or more particularly, in athletes. Toward this end, the current study combined OLP-01 supplementation with regular exercise training in well-trained middle- and long-distance runners at the National Taiwan Sport University. The study was designed as a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment. Twenty-one subjects (14 males and seven females aged 20–30 years) were evenly distributed according to total distance (meters) traveled in 12 min to one of the following two groups: a placebo group (seven males and three females) and an OLP-01 (1.5 × 10¹⁰ colony forming units (CFU)/day) group (seven males and four females). All the participants received placebo or OLP-01 supplements for five consecutive weeks consisting of three weeks of regular training and two weeks of de-training. Before and after the experiment, the participants were tested for 12-min running/walking distance, and body composition, blood/serum, and fecal samples were analyzed. The results showed that OLP-01 significantly increased the change in the 12-min Cooper’s test running distance and the abundance of gut microbiota. Although no significant change in body composition was found, OLP-01 caused no adverse reactions or harm to the participants’ bodies. In summary, OLP-01 can be used as a sports nutrition supplement, especially for athletes, to improve exercise performance.

Exercise Training Combined with Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 Supplementation Improves Exercise Physiological Adaption and Performance

Probiotics exert multiple health benefits, including gastrointestinal health, immunoregulation, and metabolic disease improvement, by modulating microbiota to maintain eubiosis via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and brain–gut–microbiome axes. Physiological fatigue, mental stress, and gastrointestinal discomfort under the demands of athletic performance as well as immunosuppression are common during endurance training and competition. Limited studies investigated the functional effects of probiotic supplementation on endurance training. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Longum OLP-01 (OLP-01), isolated from an elite Olympic athlete, was combined with a six-week exercise training program with gradually increasing intensity. In this study, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were assigned to sedentary, exercise, OLP-01, or exercise + OLP-01 groups and administered probiotic and/or treadmill exercise training for six weeks to assess exercise performance, physiological adaption, and related metabolites. The exercise + OLP-01 group demonstrated higher performance in terms of endurance and grip strength, as well as improved fatigue-associated indexes (lactate, ammonia, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and glycogen content), compared with the other groups. OLP-01 supplementation significantly ameliorated inflammation and injury indexes (platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), aminotransferase (AST), and CK) caused by prolonged endurance exercise test. Moreover, acetate, propionate, and butyrate levels were significantly higher in the exercise + OLP-01 group than in the sedentary and OLP-01 groups. Athletes often experience psychological and physiological stress caused by programed intensive exercise, competition, and off-site training, often leading to poor exercise performance and gastrointestinal issues. Functional OLP-01 probiotics are considered to be a nutritional strategy for improving physiological adaption, oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy balance to ensure high physical performance. Based on these results, probiotics combined with exercise training is a potential strategy for ensuring high physical performance of athletes, which should be further investigated through microbiota validation.

Lactobacillus salivarius Subspecies salicinius SA-03 is a New Probiotic Capable of Enhancing Exercise Performance and Decreasing Fatigue

Probiotics are increasingly being used as a nutritional supplement by athletes to improve exercise performance and reduce post-exercise fatigue. Lactobacillus salivarius is a natural flora in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Lactobacillus salivarius subspecies salicinius (SA-03) is an isolate from the 2008 Olympic women’s 48 kg weightlifting gold medalist’s gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated its beneficial effects on physical fitness. Male ICR mice were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) and orally administered with SA-03 for 4 weeks at 0, 2.05 × 10⁹, 4.10 × 10⁹, or 1.03 × 10¹⁰ CFU/kg/day. Results showed that 4 weeks of SA-03 supplementation significantly improved muscle strength and endurance performance, increased hepatic and muscular glycogen storage, and decreased lactate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), ammonia, and creatine kinase (CK) levels after exercise. These observations suggest that SA-03 could be used as a nutritional supplement to enhance exercise performance and reduce.

Beneficial effects of a negative ion patch on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage, inflammation, and exercise performance in badminton athletes

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are widely applied and accepted for therapeutic purposes because of their numerous benefits. Negative ion treatment belongs to one of the critical categories defined by the National Center for CAM, with such treatment capable of air purification and ameliorating emotional disorders (e.g., depression and seasonal affective disorder). Negative ions can be produced naturally and also by a material with activated energy. Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) often occurs due to inadequate warm up, high-intensity exercise, overload, and inappropriate posture, especially for high-intensive competition. Few studies have investigated the effects of negative ion treatment on muscular injury in the sports science field. In the current study, we enrolled badminton athletes and induced muscle damage in them through eccentric exercise in the form of a high-intensity squat program. We evaluated the effects of negative ion patches of different intensities at three points (preexercise, postexercise, and recovery) by analyzing physiological indexes (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, creatine kinase [CK], and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] levels) and performing a functional assessment (a countermovement jump [CMJ] test). We found that a high-intensity negative ion patch could significantly reduce the levels of TNF-α, an injury-associated inflammatory cytokine, and related markers (CK and LDH). In addition, muscular overload-caused fatigue could be also ameliorated, as indicated by the functional CMJ test result, and related muscular characteristics (tone and stiffness) could be effectively improved. Thus, the negative ion treatment could effectively improve physiological adaption and muscular fatigue recovery after EIMD in the current study. The negative ion patch treatment can be further integrated into a taping system to synergistically fulfill exercise-induced damage protection and functional elevation. However, the effects of this treatment require further experimental validation.

Accelerated Muscle Recovery After In Vivo Curcumin Supplementation

The currently available treatment options for muscle injuries are suboptimal and often delay muscle recovery. In this study, the effects of curcumin on inflammation and skeletal muscle regeneration after contusion-induced injury in mice were investigated. The mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups, namely normal control (NC), with induced injury (mass-drop injury, MDI) and without treatment (MDI [M]), with induced injury and diclofenac (DCF) treatment (MDI + DCF [M + D]), and with induced injury and curcumin treatment (MDI + curcumin [M + C]). Contusion-induced injury was inflicted on the left gastrocnemius muscle, and DCF or curcumin was orally administered after injury once per day for 7 days. The M group exhibited significantly higher lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and desmin than the NC group. The M + D and M + C groups have lower lipid peroxidation and neutrophils (decrease in MPO protein) and higher muscle satellite cell regeneration (increase in desmin protein) than the M group. Additionally, for the contusion-induced muscle injury, curcumin could affect the specific proteins of inflammation, neutrophils, and differentiation of satellite cells, including Ikk-α/ß, MPO, and myogenin. In conclusion, curcumin potentially accelerates muscle recovery; therefore, it may be a potential candidate for further research as an effective treatment to enhance muscle repair.

Protective Effects of Resveratrol Supplementation on Contusion Induced Muscle Injury

Muscle injuries frequently occur in contact sports events. The current treatment options for soft tissue injuries remain suboptimal and often result in delayed or incomplete recovery of damaged muscles. Resveratrol (RES) is a phenolic phytochemical, well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of RES supplementation on inflammation and regeneration in skeletal muscle after a contusion injury, in comparison to a conventional treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). After one week of acclimation, forty eight -week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into the five groups (n=8 per group): 1) normal control (NC), 2) mass-drop injury without any treatment (mass-drop injury, MDI), 3) post-injury NSAID treatment (MDI+ 10mg/kg NSAID), 4) post-injury RES supplementation (MDI+ 25mg/kg/day RES) and 5) post-injury treatment with RES and NSAID (MDI + resveratrol+ NSAID). After muscle contusion injury of the left gastrocnemius muscle, RES or NSAID were orally administered post-injury once a day for 7 days. Results showed that the MDI group had significantly higher serum uric acid (UA), CREA (creatinine), LDH (lactic dehydrogenase) and creatine kinase (CK) than the normal control group. Treatment with resveratrol reduced muscle damage as evidenced by the significantly decreased serum levels of UA, CREA, LDH and CK after contusion-induced muscle injuries in mice. In addition, RES and RES + NSAID groups promoted muscle satellite cell regeneration with increase in desmin protein after injury. Our results suggest that resveratrol combined with NSAID potentially improve muscle recovery and may be a potential candidate for further development as an effective clinical treatment for muscle repair.

Identifying key gait features associated with the radiological grade of knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterized by pain and decreased gait function. This study assessed key features that can be used as mechanical biomarkers for KOA severity and progression. The identified features were validated statistically and were further examined by developing a classification model based on a machine-learning algorithm.

METHODS

The study included 227 volunteers with various grades of KOA. The severity of KOA was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) system. A total of 165 features were extracted from the gait data. The key features were selected using neighborhood component analysis. The selected features were validated using the t-test. Then, the features were examined by building a classification model using a random forest algorithm.

RESULTS

Twenty features were identified that could discriminate the grade of KOA, including nine features extracted from the knee joint, seven from the hip, two from the ankle and two from the spatiotemporal gait parameters. The t-test showed that some features differed significantly between health and sever group, while some were significantly different among the severe group, and others were significantly different for all KL grades. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for classification were 0.974, 0.992, 0.845, 0.894, and 0.905 for KL grades 0 through 4, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Key gait features reflecting the grade of KOA were identified. The results of the statistical analysis and machine-learning algorithm show that the features can discriminate the severity of disease according to the KL grade.

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 on Exercise Physiological Adaptation, Performance, and Body Composition in Healthy Humans

Probiotics have been rapidly developed for health promotion, but clinical validation of the effects on exercise physiology has been limited. In a previous study, Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10), isolated from Taiwanese pickled cabbage as a probiotic, was demonstrated to improve exercise performance in an animal model. Thus, in the current study, we attempted to further validate the physiological function and benefits through clinical trials for the purpose of translational research. The study was designed as a double-blind placebo-controlled experiment. A total of 54 healthy participants (27 men and 27 women) aged 20–30 years without professional athletic training were enrolled and randomly allocated to the placebo, low (3 × 10¹⁰ colony forming units (CFU)), and high dose (9 × 10¹⁰ CFU) TWK10 administration groups (n = 18 per group, with equal sexes). The functional and physiological assessments were conducted by exhaustive treadmill exercise measurements (85% VO_2max), and related biochemical indices were measured before and after six weeks of administration. Fatigue-associated indices, including lactic acid, blood ammonia, blood glucose, and creatinine kinase, were continuously monitored during 30 min of exercise and a 90 min rest period using fixed intensity exercise challenges (60% VO_2max) to understand the physiological adaptation. The systemic inflammation and body compositions were also acquired and analyzed during the experimental process. The results showed that TWK10 significantly elevated the exercise performance in a dose-dependent manner and improved the fatigue-associated features correlated with better physiological adaptation. The change in body composition shifted in the healthy direction for TWK10 administration groups, especially for the high TWK10 dose group, which showed that body fat significantly decreased and muscle mass significantly increased. Taken together, our results suggest that TWK10 has the potential to be an ergogenic aid to improve aerobic endurance performance via physiological adaptation effects.

In Vivo Ergogenic Properties of the Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 Isolated from a Weightlifting Gold Medalist

In recent years, probiotics of human origin have shown superior results and performance compared to probiotics from plant or dairy sources, in both in vitro and animal studies. Towards this end, the current study was conducted to explore the ergogenic properties of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum OLP-01 isolated from the intestinal microbiome of the gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics women’s 48 kg weightlifting competition. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) and orally administered OLP-01 for 4 weeks at 0 (vehicle), 2.05 × 10⁹ (OLP-01-1X), 4.10 × 10⁹ (OLP-01-2X), and 1.03 × 10¹⁰ (OLP-01-5X) CFU/kg/day. Physical performance tests including grip strength and endurance time were measured, with OLP-01 supplementation dose-dependently elevating grip strength and endurance. The anti-fatigue activity levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured after an acute exercise challenge, and OLP-01 was found to significantly decrease lactate, ammonia, and CK levels. OLP-01 treatment was also found to significantly increase the resting levels of both hepatic and muscular glycogen, an indicator of energy storage. Supplementation by OLP-01 showed no subchronic toxic effects while supporting many health-promoting, performance-improving, and fatigue-ameliorating functions.

Electronic cigarette exposure reduces exercise performance and changes the biochemical profile of female mice

Electronic cigarette(s) (EC) becoming a preferred replacement for nicotine delivery among many smokers in recent years. However, the effect of EC on human health is inconclusive due to a lack of empirical research investigating EC-induced health hazard or benefit. In this study, we examine the effect of vapor produced by EC on exercise performance and health-related profiles in a mouse model. Female ICR mice were divided into five groups (n = 6 per group) and exposed for 14 days. Our results indicate that EC exposure leads to dose-dependent decrease in the grip strength and swimming time of the mice. The EC-treated groups also showed a dose-dependent decrease in liver and muscle glycogen storage. In addition, EC treatment had no negative effect on levels of biochemical indices. We also did not detect any adverse effect or gross abnormalities on the morphology of the major organs.

Antifatigue Activity and Exercise Performance of Phenolic-Rich Extracts from Calendula officinalis, Ribes nigrum, and Vaccinium myrtillus

Calendula officinalis, Ribes nigrum, and Vaccinium myrtillus (CRV) possess a high phenolic compound content with excellent antioxidant activity. Dietary antioxidants can reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress. Consumption of large amounts of phenolic compounds is positively correlated with reduction in exercise-induced muscle damage. Research for natural products to improve exercise capacity, relieve fatigue, and accelerate fatigue alleviation is ongoing. Here, CRV containing a large total phenolic content (13.4 mg/g of CRV) demonstrated antioxidant activity. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quantification revealed 1.95 ± 0.02 mg of salidroside in 1 g of CRV. In the current study, CRV were administered to mice for five weeks, and the antifatigue effect of CRV was evaluated using the forelimb grip strength test; weight-loaded swimming test; and measurement of fatigue-related biochemical indicators, such as blood lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK) activity; and muscle and liver glycogen content. The results indicated that in CRV-treated mice, the forelimb grip strength significantly increased; weight-loaded swimming time prolonged; their lactate, ammonia, BUN, and CK activity decreased, and muscle and liver glucose and glycogen content increased compared with the vehicle group. Thus, CRV have antifatigue activity and can increase exercise tolerance.

A cross-sectional evaluation of opt-in testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in three Canadian provincial correctional facilities: a missed opportunity for public health?

PURPOSE

Incarceration provides an opportunity for screening and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) in high-risk groups. The purpose of this paper is to determine positivity rates of STBBI screening within correctional facilities using opt-in strategies and estimate the proportion of admissions tested.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

A cross-sectional, retrospective review of testing data from January 2012 to August 2015 from three provincial correctional facilities located in Alberta, Canada was completed. Analysis variables included STBBI, gender, facility, collection year and age. STBBI-stratified analysis was performed to identify correlates for positivity using univariate and logistic regressions.

FINDINGS

Overall prevalence of chlamydia was 11.2 percent and gonorrhea was 3.5 percent; correlates for both were younger age and facility type. The syphilis prevalence rate was 3.2 percent; correlates included being female, older age, adult facilities, with later years being protective. In total, 14 (0.3 percent) newly diagnosed HIV cases were found, prevalence increased with age. HBV prevalence was 1.7 percent with no significant correlations. Nearly one-tenth (n=422) of those screened for HCV antibody were positive; all variables were significantly correlated. Overall estimates of the proportion of admissions tested by STBBI were low and ranged from 4.8 to 16.1 percent.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

This study found high rates of STBBI in correctional facilities and showed that only a small proportion of the population was tested using an opt-in strategy. Shifting to an "opt-out" strategy may be warranted.

Effects of isolated soy protein and strength exercise training on exercise performance and biochemical profile in postpartum mice

OBJECTIVE

Postpartum women are at an increased risk for obesity and metabolic diseases because of excessive weight gain during pregnancy and weight retention after delivery. Maintenance of good nutrition and regular physical activity is used as a therapeutic approach for promotion of health and well-being in postpartum women. The aim of this study is to assess the independent and additive effects of isolated soy protein (ISP) and strength exercise training (ET) on weight management, exercise performance and health maintenance in postpartum mice.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Thirty-two postpartum mice (ICR, 14-weeks old) were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): Group 1 mice were the sedentary control with vehicle (SC), Group 2 mice were the sedentary control with ISP supplementation (8.95 g·kg^-1, SC + ISP), Group 3 mice received vehicle with exercise training (ET) and Group 4 mice received isolated soy protein with exercise training (ISP + ET). Animals in the ET and ISP + ET groups underwent strength exercise training for 6 weeks, 5 days a week. Exercise performance was evaluated by forelimb grip strength and exhaustive swimming time, as well as by changes in body composition and biochemical parameters at the end of the experiment.

RESULTS

Combined intervention of ISP and ET increased lean muscle mass and prevented body weight and fat elevation. The grip strength and exhaustive swimming time of the ISP + ET group were significantly higher than the other groups. The ISP + ET group showed significantly decreased serum levels of lactate, ammonia and creatinine phosphate kinase (CPK), and increased glucose level after the 15-min swimming test. The serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), triglyceride (TG) and creatinine after sacrifice were significantly decreased in the ET + ISP group. ISP combined with ET promoted fat oxidation in brown adipose tissue (BAT) as evidenced from the increased utilization of plasma and BAT tissue triglyceride.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that long-term supplementation with ISP can have a wide spectrum of bioactivities on health promotion, performance improvement and fitness. ISP with ET conferred better energy utilization, improved biochemical profiles and may be an effective ergogenic aid in strength training.

Abstract OT2-04-05: Phase II trial of pre-operative stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in early-stage breast cancer

Background:

Post-operative accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) has demonstrated efficacy in preventing in-breast tumor recurrence. Pre-operative administration of APBI may be advantageous as an intact breast tumor is smaller than its corresponding lumpectomy cavity, is easier to distinguish on treatment-planning images, and results in smaller and more accurately delineated target volumes. Pre-operative APBI may reduce the incidence of positive margins following breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Investigation is needed in the correlation of MR imaging with pathologic response 6 weeks after SABR. Also, evidence suggests that SABR induces immune activation in the tumor microenvironment; evaluation of excised tumor tissue will give insight into these processes.

Trial Design:

Treatment Planning and Delivery: CT simulation and treatment are performed in the prone position. Diagnostic MRI is fused to planning CT. GTV is delineated on registered breast MRI and includes the intact breast tumor. CTV is 15mm expansion of GTV. PTV is 3 mm expansion of CTV. VMAT or IMRT are permitted. Daily image-guidance aligning to tumor and biopsy-fiducial is mandatory. All subjects undergo pre-operative SABR to 28.5 Gy in 3 fractions of 9.5 Gy on different days separated by ≤48 hours. CTCAE v4 is used to assess toxicity 4-5 weeks after SABR. Pre-operative diagnostic MRI is performed 5-6 weeks following SABR. Imaging parameters to be evaluated include changes in tumor size, enhancement, and tumor margin description. BCS will be 6-8 weeks following SABR.

Tissue pathology: Margin status and degree of pathologic response are recorded from breast-conserving excisions, specimens are archived for future analysis.

Eligibility Criteria:

Inclusion criteria are women age ≥50 with biopsy proven invasive breast adenocarcinoma with tumor size ≤2cm on MRI, cN0 M0, ER+/HER2-, without history of invasive malignancy or prior breast/thoracic radiotherapy.

Exclusion criteria are active scleroderma or lupus erythematosus with skin involvement, MRI defined tumor within 10 mm of skin, implanted hardware prohibiting appropriate treatment planning or delivery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, carrier of BRCA1 or 2 gene mutation, pregnancy.

Specific Aims:

The primary endpoint is pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast tumor, secondary endpoints are incidence of adequate surgical margins (defined as “no tumor on ink”) and MRI response following SABR. Analyses of tumor immune response and microenvironment on pathologic specimens following SABR will also be performed.

Statistical Methods:

Fisher's exact test will be performed to examine associations between patient/tumor characteristics and pCR and surgical margins; these associations will be explored with multivariable logistic and linear regressions.

Accrual:

Present accrual is 9 subjects.

Expected accrual is 22 subjects; if ≥3 pCR are noted in the initial cohort, accrual will be expanded to 40 subjects.

Citation Format: Liveringhouse CL, Diaz R, Ahmed KA, Lee MC, Czerniecki B, Laronga C, Khakpour N, Weinfurtner RJ, Rosa M, Montejo ME. Phase II trial of pre-operative stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in early-stage breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-04-05.

Isolated Soy Protein Supplementation and Exercise Improve Fatigue-Related Biomarker Levels and Bone Strength in Ovariectomized Mice

Isolated soy protein (ISP) is a well-known supplement and has been reported to improve health, exercise performance, body composition, and energy utilization. ISP exhibits multifunctional bioactivities and also contains branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which have been confirmed to positively affect body weight (BW) regulation and muscle protein synthesis. The combined effects of BCAA supplements and exercise in older postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity have been inadequately investigated. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the potential beneficial effects of soy protein supplementation and exercise training on postmenopausal mice. Forty mice (14 weeks old) with ovariectomy-induced osteosarcopenic obesity were divided into five groups (n = 8), namely sham ovariectomy (OVX, control), OVX, OVX with ISP supplementation (OVX+ISP), OVX with exercise training (ET, OVX+ET), and OVX with ISP and ET (OVX+ISP+ET). The mice received a vehicle or soy protein (3.8 g/kg BW) by oral gavage for four weeks, and the exercise performance (forelimb grip strength and exhaustive swimming time) was evaluated. In the biochemical profiles, we evaluated the serum glucose level and tissue damage markers, such as lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urine nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine phosphate kinase (CPK). The body composition was determined by evaluating bone stiffness and muscle mass. All data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance. The physical performance of the OVX+ISP+ET group did not differ from that of the other groups. The OVX+ISP+ET group exhibited lower levels of serum lactate, ammonia, CPK, and BUN as well as economized glucose metabolism after an acute exercise challenge. The OVX+ISP+ET group also exhibited higher muscle mass and bone strength than the OVX group. Our study demonstrated that a combination of ISP supplementation and exercise reduced fatigue and improved bone function in OVX mice.

The Effects of Thiamine Tetrahydrofurfuryl Disulfide on Physiological Adaption and Exercise Performance Improvement

Thiamine, named as vitamin B1, is an important cofactor for the critical enzymes regarding to glucose metabolism, like transketolase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. The thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) is a derivative of thiamine with higher bioavailability and solubility than thiamine and has been widely applied to health maintenance and disease therapy. Higher physical activities are associated with higher thiamine supplements for efficient energy metabolism. Furthermore, the effective dose of TTFD, beneficial to exercise physiological adaption and performance, still be further validated and the safety evaluation were also an important issue to be considered for potential application. ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) strain mice were allocated as 0, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg dose groups and administrated by oral gavage consecutively for 6 weeks. Physical activities including grip strength and aerobic endurance were measured. Various fatigue-associated biochemical variables such as lactate, glucose, blood urine nitrogen (BUN) or creatine kinase (CK), were also assessed. The levels of liver and muscle glycogen were measured as an indicator of energy storage at the end of the experiment. Toxicity assessments for long-term supplementation were also further evaluated for safety consideration. TTFD supplementation significantly increased the endurance and grip strength and demonstrated beneficial effects on lactate production and clearance rate after an acute exercise challenge. The TTFD supplementation significantly mitigated the BUN and CK indexes after extended exercise and elevated the glycogen content in the liver and muscle tissues. According to body composition, biochemical and histopathological data, daily administration of TTFD for over 6 weeks (subacute toxicity) also demonstrated reasonable safety results for long-term and adequate supplementation. The toxicity of TTFD were also considered as safety for long-term supplementation with indicated doses. Furthermore, the TTDF could be applied to not only the health promotion but also improvement of exercise physiological adaption and the TTFD could be further considered as potential ergogenic aids combined with different nutrient strategy.

Secretion-mediated STAT3 activation promotes self-renewal of glioma stem-like cells during hypoxia

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) include the most common and the most aggressive primary brain tumor of adults and children. Despite multimodality treatment, most high-grade gliomas eventually recur and are ultimately incurable. Several studies suggest that the initiation, progression, and recurrence of gliomas are driven, at least partly, by cancer stem-like cells. A defining characteristic of these cancer stem-like cells is their capacity to self-renew. We have identified a hypoxia-induced pathway that utilizes the Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1α (HIF-1α) transcription factor and the JAK1/2-STAT3 (Janus Kinase 1/2 - Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3) axis to enhance the self-renewal of glioma stem-like cells. Hypoxia is a commonly found pathologic feature of HGGs. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α levels are greatly increased in glioma stem-like cells. Increased HIF-1α activates the JAK1/2-STAT3 axis and enhances tumor stem-like cell self-renewal. Our data further demonstrate the importance of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) secretion for this pathway of hypoxia-mediated self-renewal. Brefeldin A and EHT-1864, agents that significantly inhibit VEGF secretion, decreased stem cell self-renewal, inhibited tumor growth, and increased the survival of mice allografted with S100β-v-erbB/p53-/- glioma stem-like cells. These agents also inhibit the expression of a hypoxia gene expression signature that is associated with decreased survival of HGG patients. These findings suggest that targeting the secretion of extracellular, autocrine/paracrine mediators of glioma stem-like cell self-renewal could potentially contribute to the treatment of HGGs.

Effects of dextrose prolotherapy on contusion-induced muscle injuries in mice

Current treatment options for muscle injuries remain suboptimal and often result in delayed/incomplete recovery of damaged muscles. In this study, the effects of dextrose prolotherapy on inflammation and regeneration of skeletal muscles after a contusion injury were investigated. Mice were separated into five groups, including a normal control (NC), post-injury with no treatment (mass-drop injury, MDI), post-injury with 10% dextrose (MDI + 10% dextrose), post-injury with 20% dextrose (MDI + 20% dextrose), and post-injury with 30% dextrose (MDI + 30% dextrose). The gastrocnemius muscles of the mice were subjected to an MDI, and muscle samples were collected at 7 days post-injury. Results showed the serum creatine kinase (CK), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA), and low-density lipoprotein (LDH) of the MDI-alone group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (p<0.05). However, levels of serum CK, BUN, CREA, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) significantly decreased with different concentrations of dextrose. In addition, dextrose suppressed the macrophage response (F4/80 protein decreased) and promoted muscle satellite cell regeneration (desmin protein increased). In conclusion, dextrose prolotherapy can effectively help repair muscles; therefore, it may be one of the methods for clinically treating muscle injuries.

Effect of burdock extract on physical performance and physiological fatigue in mice

Burdock (BD) is a common vegetable with many pharmacological properties. However, few studies have examined the effect of BD on exercise performance and physical fatigue. We aimed to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of BD on fatigue and ergogenic functions following physical challenge in mice. Methods: Male ICR mice were divided into four groups to receive either vehicle, or BD at 348.5, 697 or 1,742.5 mg/kg/day, by daily oral gavage for 4 weeks. Exercise performance and fatigue were evaluated from forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and post-exercise levels of physical fatigue-related biomarkers serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK). Results: BD supplementation elevated endurance and grip strength in a dose-dependent manner. It also significantly decreased lactate, ammonia, and CK levels after physical challenge. In addition, BD supplementation had few subchronic toxic effects. Conclusions: Supplementation with BD has a wide spectrum of bioactive effects, including health promotion, performance improvement, and fatigue reduction.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry spine scans to determine abdominal fat in postmenopausal women

Body composition may be a better predictor of chronic disease risk than body mass index (BMI) in older populations.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to validate spine fat fraction (%) from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) spine scans as a proxy for total abdominal fat.

METHODS

Total body DXA scan abdominal fat regions of interest (ROI) that have been previously validated by magnetic resonance imaging were assessed among healthy, postmenopausal women who also had antero-posterior spine scans (n = 103). ROIs were (1) lumbar vertebrae L2-L4 and (2) L2-Iliac Crest (L2-IC), manually selected by two independent raters, and (3) trunk, auto-selected by DXA software. Intra-class correlation coefficients evaluated intra and inter-rater reliability on a random subset (N = 25). Linear regression models, validated by bootstrapping, assessed the relationship between spine fat fraction (%) and total abdominal fat (%) ROIs.

RESULTS

Mean age, BMI, and total body fat were 66.1 ± 4.8 y, 25.8 ± 3.8 kg/m² and 40.0 ± 6.6%, respectively. There were no significant differences within or between raters. Linear regression models adjusted for several participant and scan characteristics were equivalent to using only BMI and spine fat fraction. The model predicted L2-L4 (Adj. R² : 0.83) and L2-IC (Adj. R² : 0.84) abdominal fat (%) well; the adjusted R² for trunk fat (%) was 0.78. Model validation demonstrated minimal over-fitting (Adj. R² : 0.82, 0.83, and 0.77 for L2-L4, L2-IC, and trunk fat, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The strong correlation between spine fat fraction and DXA abdominal fat measures make it suitable for further development in postmenopausal chronic disease risk prediction models. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:918-926, 2016. © 2016Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Canine Adenovirus Type 1 Infection of a Eurasian River Otter (Lutra lutra)

A 10-year-old female Eurasian river otter ( Lutra lutra) died after prolonged anorexia and weight loss in the Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Seoul, Republic of Korea. On necropsy, the liver was found to be swollen and friable with 1 lobe enlarged and necrotic. The other organs showed no significant alterations except for mild atrophy of the right kidney. Microscopically, there was multifocal hepatic necrosis. The hepatocytes around the necrotic areas were swollen and contained large basophilic intranuclear inclusions. Periportal infiltration by plasma cells and lymphocytes was also evident. Transmission electron microscopy revealed characteristic hexagonal virus particles sized approximately 70 nm in diameter in the nuclei of the hepatocytes, which were consistent with an adenovirus. Polymerase chain reaction of the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver sections was used to determine whether the virus was either the canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), or some other viral agent. The results of these tests showed that the virus was CAV-1. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a CAV-1 infection in an otter.