[Effect of five weeks of high-intensity interval training on the expression of miR-23a and Atrogin-1 in gastrocnemius muscles of diabetic male rats]

Introduction: One of the complications of diabetes is muscular atrophy. Considering the role of exercise in controlling diabetes complications, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of five weeks of high intensity interval training [HIIT] on miR-23a and Atrogin-1 genes expression in the gastrocnemius muscles of male diabetic rats

Materials and Method: For this purpose, diabetes was induced in 14 Wistar rats with an average weight of 260 +/- 10g by injection of Streptozotocin [50mg/kg]. They were randomly divided into two groups, controls [n=7] and HIIT [n=7] group. The HIIT program included implementing four 3-minute sets at intensity of 85-90% VO2max and one minute recovery between each set with intensity of 30 to 35% VO2max. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, animals were anesthetized, gastrocnemius muscles were removed and Mir-23a and Atrogin-1 genes expression was evaluated by quantitative REAL time PCR. Data were analyzed by using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and t-test with SPSS software, version 19 and Execle 2007 at a significance level of p

Results: Analysis with independent t-test showed that the HIIT training caused a significant increase in expression of miR-23a and consequently significant decrease in expression of Atrogin-1 gene, compared to controls group

Conclusion: Evidently high intensity interval training due to decrease of hyperglycemia, change in expression of miR-23a and Atragin-1 can be an effective intervention to reduce diabetes complications such as muscle atrophy

[Effect of a course of aerobic exercise and consumption of vitamin d supplementation on respiratory indicators in patients with asthma]

Despite the use of exercise therapy in patients with respiratory disease such as asthma, some researchers have emphasized on taking supplementation as a therapeutic approach. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of a course of aerobic exercise and consumption of vitamin D supplementation [1000 IU] on respiratory indicators of patients with asthma. This study was designed as a quasi-experimental investigation on a total of 32 female asthmatic patients with a mean age of 20-30 years. Subjects were classified into four eight-person groups: 1- [AT+S] group which had both aerobic training and supplementation consumption; 2- Aerobic training [AT] group that only participated in exercise training; 3- Group [S] that only consumed vitamin D supplementation; 4- Control [C] Group that had neither aerobic training nor supplementation consumption. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test. Significant difference considered as p<0.05. In this study, there was a significant difference in post test [p<0.001] between groups in case of maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV], peak expiratory flow rate [PEF] and maximum expiratory flow at 75% vital capacity [FEF75%] and Maximum expiratory flow between 25% to 75% vital capacity [FEF25%-75%]. These indices increased in group AT and AT+S, whereas, they showed decrease in group S and C. Our results indicated that aerobic exercise together with consumption of vitamin D supplementation for 8 weeks could improve the pulmonary function and level of aerobic performance of asthmatic patients and could be considered as a part of pulmonary rehabilitation programs for asthmatic patients

Health-related physical fitness and normative data in healthy women, Tehran, Iran

The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related loss of health-related physical fitness and normative data in healthy population women aged 20-60 years old of Tehran, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 1000 healthy women aged 20-60 years old were randomly selected from northern, southern, eastern, western and center regions of Tehran. Cardiovascular fitness was determined by Ros and Jakson protocol. Body composition were measured using Jackson and Poolak procedure, flexibility was determined by sit and reach test, muscular strength with a standard dynamometer and muscular endurance were measured with Sit-ups test in one minutes. Cardiovascular fitness [vo[2max]], body composition, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance remained unchanged in the 20 and 30 year old age groups. Around of 40 years old, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance began to gradually decline but body composition increased and flexibility unchanged. Data for Vo2max and the other variables in 4-yr groups provide "normative" results. Result indicated age- related declined in Vo2max [0.43 ml/kg/min [x] yr [-1]], muscular strength [0.004 kg/weight [x] yr [-1]] and endurance [0.63 repetition [x]yr [-1]], and increased in body fat [0.43% [x]yr [-1]] in 30-60 year. One-way ANOVA test showed that all variables significantly differed [P<0.001] among decades except sit and rich test [P<0.059] between the second and third decades. V[o2max] had a significant relationship [P<0.01] with Age, BMI, body fat percent and muscular strength and endurance. Iranian women have a greater decline in cardiovascular fitness; muscular strength and endurance. The results of this study can be used as reference material for clinical studies in different age groups