ABSTRACT
Ten male cyclists were randomized into four experimental conditions in this randomized, cross-over, double-blind, and sham-controlled study to test the combined effect of acute dark chocolate (DC) ingestion and anodal concurrent dual-site transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) targeting M1 and left DLPFC on cognitive and whole-body endurance performance in hypoxia after performing a cognitive task. Two hours before the sessions, chocolate was consumed. After arriving at the lab, participants completed an incongruent Stroop task for 30 min in hypoxia (O2 = 13%) to induce mental fatigue, followed by 20 min of tDCS (2 mA) in hypoxia. Then, in hypoxia, they performed a time-to-exhaustion task (TTE) while measuring physiological and psychophysiological responses. Cognitive performance was measured at baseline, after the Stroop task, and during and after TTE. TTE in 'DC + a-tDCS' was significantly longer than in 'white chocolate (WC) + a-tDCS' and WC + sham-tDCS'. The vastus medialis muscle electromyography amplitude was significantly higher in 'DC + a-tDCS' and 'DC + sham-tDCS' than in 'WC + sh-tDCS'. During and after the TTE, choice reaction time was significantly lower in 'DC + a-tDCS' compared to 'WC + sh-tDCS'. Other physiological or psychophysiological variables showed no significant differences. The concurrent use of acute DC consumption and dual-site a-tDCS might improve cognitive and endurance performance in hypoxia.
Subject(s)
Chocolate , Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation , Humans , Male , Reaction Time/physiology , Double-Blind Method , Cognition , Hypoxia , Prefrontal Cortex/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Myocardial ischemia leads to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and cardiac arrhythmia. The present research was conducted with the aim to explore echocardiography changes and electrocardiogram parameters of the hearts of rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). METHODS: The study subjects included 50 male Wistar rats) 8-10 weeks), which were divided into 5 groups (1: trained, 2: supplemented, 3: combined (training and supplementation), 4: sham, and 5: control). High-intensity interval training ý(HIIT) was performed for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week. Rats belonging to groups 2 and 3 received 10 mg/kg berberine. Finally, after 48 hours, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were performed on all rats. Moreover, myocardial ischemia was performed by descending coronary artery ligation for 30 minutes. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the 5 groups in terms of the volumes and dimensions of LV end-systolic dimension (LVSD), LV end-diastolic dimension (LVDD)ý, fractional shortening cardiac output, ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs) episodes, duration of VTs, and ECG parameters (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Berberine supplementation and HIIT, as preconditioning agents, can possibly prevent the elevation of EF and fractional shortening, the reduction of cardiac output and SV, and arrhythmia improvement after myocardial IRI. Finally, these changes result in increased LV function and decreased mortality in rats with myocardial IRI.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that angiogenesis is a desirable treatment for patients with ischemic heart disease. We set out to investigate the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and berberine supplementation on the gene expression of angiogenesis-related factors and caspase-3 protein in rats suffering from myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Fifty rats were divided into the following groups: (1) trained, (2) berberine supplemented, (3) combined, and (4) IR. Each cohort underwent five sessions of HIIT per week for a duration of 8 weeks followed by induction of ischemia. Seven days after completion of reperfusion, changes in the gene expression of angiogenesis-related factors and caspase-3 protein were evaluated in the heart tissue. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference between four groups in the transcript levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), and thrombospondin-1(TSP-1) (p ≤ 0.05). However, the difference in endostatin (ENDO) levels was not significant among the groups despite a discernible reduction (p ≥ 0.05). Moreover, caspase-3 protein and infarct size were significantly reduced in the intervention groups (p ≤ 0.05), and cardiac function increased in response to these interventions. CONCLUSION: The treatments exert their effect, likely, by reducing caspase-3 protein and increasing the expression of angiogenesis-promoting factors, concomitant with a reduction in inhibitors of the process.
