[Effect of combined endurance and strength training on cystatin C, high- sensitivity C-reactive protein level and cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary postmenopausal]

Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of 50% of death in women after menopause. This study was done to evaluate the effect of combined training on cystatin C, highsensitivity C-reactive protein and some cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary postmenopausal women

Methods: In this quasi -experimental study, 24 sedentary postmenopausal women [50-65 years] were non-randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Women in the experimental group were received a combined training program including aerobic exercise [65-75% of MHR] and resistance exercise [55-65% of 1RM], 4 d/wk for 10 weeks. The control group did not participate in any physical activity. Body weight, BMI, BF%, blood pressure, levels of cystatin C, C-reactive protein, triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C were measured before and after study

Results: Exercise training showed no significant effect on serum levels of cystatin C, C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk factors such as HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride and blood pressure in postmenopausal women

Conclusion: Short-term combined training with moderate intensity has no effect on cystatin C levels and other cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary postmenopausal women

[Evaluation of a short-time exercise on serum leptin levels in type 2 diabetic patients]

Research evidences showed that adipocytokines secreted by adipose tissue play an importance role in the development of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a single bout of exercise on serum leptin levels and insulin resistance in adult males with type 2 diabetes. Fifteen adult obese men with diabetic aged 38-50 years participated in this semi-experimental study. Concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, serum leptin and insulin, as well as insulin resistance were measured before and immediately after a short single bout exercise on a fixed bicycle in studied patients. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05. In this study, exercise protocol did not cause any changes in the mentioned variables, except glucose concentration. In other word, blood glucose concentration significantly decreased after exercise test [p<0.03]. The finding of this study showed that a short single bout exercise has no acute effect on leptin levels and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients. It seems that serum leptin is decreased in response to long time exercise with high energy expenditure and negative energy balance

[Correlation between serum adiponectin level and blood glucose concentration in adult asthmatic patients]

Background: It has been hypothesized that obesity and disturbance in glucose metabolism can play an important role in the development of asthma. There is accumulating evidence in the literature that obesity can increase both the incidence and severity of asthma. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and blood glucose levels in overweight and obese adult patients with asthma

Materials and Methods: Forty-fine obese or overweight men [age 38-50 years] with mildto-moderate asthma referred to Saveh health centers participated in this study. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and adiponectin levels were measured. The homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] was applied to evaluate beta-cell function using fasting glucose and insulin levels. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient

Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between the serum adiponectin and FEV1/FVC, FEV1 and FVC in asthma patients. In addition, serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with insulin and beta-cell function, but negatively with fasting glucose level

Conclusion: According to the results, there is a negative correlation between serum adiponectin levels and blood glucose concentration in adult asthmatic patients. Furthermore, our findings showed that the reduction of systemic adiponectin level influences blood glucose concentration via insulin level and beta-cell function

[Relation between serum ghrelin concentration and blood glucose levels in type-2 diabetic obese males]

Ghrelin is an acylated 28-amino-acid peptide that is the most recently identified adipocytokines, but its role in diabetes is poorly clarified. The objective of this study was to determine the relation between serum ghrelin and blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic obese males. This descriptive study was done on 45 adult obese males with type-2 diabetes in Saveh city, Iran during 2010. Fasting blood glucose, insulin and ghrelin concentrations and Glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1C were measured after overnight fasting. Multiple regression was used for determine ghrelin in relation to glucose, insulin and HbA1C. The multiple regression analyses revealed that HbA1C is not correlated with serum ghrelin levels, while, fasting blood glucose level had positive corrolation with serum ghrelin concentration [P<0.05]. Serum ghrelin level had high negative correlation with insulin [P<0.05]. This study indicated that elevated endogenous ghrelin led to hyperglycemia. Therefore, serum ghrelin is a precise index of blood glucose level in obese male patients with type-2 diabetes

[Investigation of the relationship between adiponectin and beta-cell function in patients with type II diabetes]

Although both insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction contribute to pathogenesis of type II diabetes, the role of adiponectin in beta cell function has received limited attention. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between serum adiponectin level and beta cell function. Forty one non athletes fat adult men between 35 and 50 years of age [BMI >/= 30] with type II diabetes were enrolled in this study. Serum concentrations of adiponectin, glues, triglyceride and insulin were measured after 10-12 hours overnight fasting in all participants. Beta cell function was assessed by measuring fasting glucose and insulin level. After data collection, we used Pearson correlation test to determine the relationship between adiponectin and beta-cell function in patients with type II diabetes [p

[ effect of chronic intake of L-carnitine L-tartrate on lipid metabolism during aerobic exercise]

Despite 20 years of research, there is no compelling evidence about the effect of carnitine supplementation on improving physical performance in healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of long term consumption of acute L-carnitine L-tartarate [LCLT] on fat metabolism and aerobic capacity. A total of 28 healthy nonathlete male students received either L-carnitine L-tartarate or placebo [Lactose] for 3 weeks [3g orally, daily] in experimental and control groups. The subjects of both groups performed submaximal ergometery Astrand protocol on bicycle for 20 minutes before and after this supplementation period. Following each test, blood samples were drawn immediately to determine the concentrations of plasma free fatty acid [FFA], triglyceride [TG] and other metabolites. Resting and submaximal heart rates were monitored. The collected data of pre and post tests were evaluated by SPSS 13.0 software in the both groups. No significant differences in FFA, TG and resting and exercise heart rates were found between pre and post tests in the both experimental and control groups.Three weeks LCLT supplementation has no effect on fat metabolism and aerobic capacity. Also, chronic intake of LCLT has no effect on substrate utilization or endurance performance in healthy individuals

[ effect of chronic L-carnitne supplementation on plasma glucose and lactate during exercise]

In skeletal muscle, carnitine plays an essential role in the translocation of long-chain fatty-acids into the mitochondrial matrix for subsequent beta-oxidation. Despite an abundance of literature describing the basic mechanisms of action of L-carnitine metabolism, there remains some uncertainty regarding the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on metabolism and exercise performance in normal subjects. This study examined the effects of chronic L-carnitine supplementation on glucose and lactate concentration, heart rate and aerobic capacity during submaximal cycling. Thirty healthy and male students cycled for 20 min at 70% VO2 max before and after 3 weeks [3g daily] L-carnitine [experimental] and placebo [control] supplementation. Blood samples were taken immediately after each exercise for the purpose of calculation plasma glucose and Lactate concentration, lactate dehydrogenase activity [LDH]. A two-way repeated measure ANOVA was used to determine significant differences between the two groups [p < 0.05]. The finding of our study showed that L-carnitine supplementation had no influence on plasma glucose and lactate. Also rest and rest heart rate, VO2 max and LDH activity was equal in pre and posttests [p < 0.05]. All variables were unaffected in the control trial. Three weeks L-carnitine supplementation had no effect on substrate and carbohydrate metabolism. Also, L-carnitine supplementation would be unlikely to be associated with the enhanced exercise performance

Effects of an exercise-oriented rehabilitation program on mechanical efficiency and aerobic capacity in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Children suffering from Cerebral Palsy [CP], exhibit movement limitations and physiological abnormalities as compared to normal individuals. The objective of this study was to assess mechanical efficiency and certain cardiovascular indices before and after an exercise-rehabilitation program in children with dipelegia spastic cerebral palsy [experimental group] in comparison with able-bodied children [controls]. In this study, 15 spastic cerebral palsy [dipelegic] children participated in an exercise-rehabilitation program, three days a week for three months with an average 144bpm of heart rate. The mechanical efficiency [net, gross], rest and submaximal heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption [VO[2max]] were measured before [pretest] and after [posttest] exercise program on the cycle ergometer according to the Macmaster ergometer protocol. Then control group, of 18 normal children underwent the exercise program and were assessed, following which results of the 2 groups were compared using SPSS for statistical analysis [P<0.05]. Mechanical efficiency [net, gross] increased significantly in CP patients after the exercise-rehabilitation program; results did not alter significantly for the controls. Rest and submaximal heart rate in CP patients decreased significantly after exercise program. Maximal oxygen consumption, which remained unchanged in patients following the exercise program, was similar in patients and controls after the program. Cerebral palsy patients, because of their high muscle tone, severe degree of spasticity, and involuntary movements are physically more incapacitated and need more energy than normal able-bodied individuals. Rehabilitation and aerobic exercise can be effective in improving their cardiovascular fitness and muscle function and increasing their mechanical efficiency

[ investigation of the effect of rehabilitation program on the spastic diplegia patients' oxygen pulse and aerobic capacity]

Despite the voluminous amount of studies in the field of exercise sciences over the past three decades, there remains a paucity of information on the activity patterns and physiological responses to exercise in people with disability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an exercise-rehabilitation aerobic program on the cardiovascular fitness, maximal oxygen uptake [VO[2 max]] and oxygen pulse for children with spastic cerebral palsy [Diplegia] and their comparison with healthy children. The experimental group for this semiexperimental study comprised of 18 [10-14 years old] diplegic spastic cerebral palsy children [CP] with average height [131 +/- 6.34 cm] and weight [29.83 +/- 5.64 Kg] selected with the consent of their parents as well as specialist physician. Eighteen normal children were randomly designated as the control group. The variables of the experimental group were measured before and after the exercise-rehabilitation program according to Mac Master protocol on cycle ergometer at the laboratory conditions. Then these values were compaired with those of the control group. The experimental group performed exercise program for a period of three months, three times a week with intensity average 144 bpm of heart rate. Each session lasted 20-25 minutes for each subject. The exercise-rehabilitation program led to enhancement of the maximal oxygen uptake [VO[2 max]] at the patient group. The oxygen pulse [VO[2]/HR] of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the normal group and the exercise program improved this variable [p<0.05]. This study indicated that in the spastic patients the lack of activity and being sedentary for a long time increases spasticity, the involuntary movements lead to a decrease in cardiovascular fitness and aerobic capasity and an increase in energy cost during exercise or daily activity as compared with normal people. The Rehabilitation program and exercise, even for short time or at low intensity leads to an improvement in the variables under study and enhances cardiovascular efficiency in these patients