Effects of Aerobic vs. Resistance Exercise on Vascular Function and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Older Women.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of exercise (aerobic vs. resistance) on vascular function and vascular endothelial growth factor in older women. Forty-three older women, aged 65-75 years old, voluntarily participated in this study. All participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: aerobic exercise (AE; n = 14), resistance exercise (RE; n = 15), and control (CG; n = 14) groups. All participants in the exercise groups performed their respective exercises for 60 min/day, three days/week, for 16 weeks. The intensity of aerobic and resistance exercises was determined using the individual heart rate reserve (40-60%) and RPE (12-13), respectively. The vascular function test included the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), carotid artery blood flow volume, and velocity. Participants' blood samples were collected to analyze the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). A significance level of 0.05 was set. Our results showed that ba-PWV improved following both AE (14.5%) and RE groups (11.1%) (all p < 0.05). Increases in carotid blood flow volume (AE: 15.4%, RE: 18.6%) and total artery peak velocity (AE: 20.4%, RE: 17%) were observed in AE and RE groups (p < 0.05), while flow total artery mean velocity (36.2%) and peak velocities (20.5%) were only increased in the aerobic exercise group (p < 0.05). VEGF was increased after resistance exercise (p < 0.05). Overall, aerobic exercise provides greater benefits on vascular function than resistance exercise but further research is needed on VEGF regarding whether this change is associated with vascular function improvement in older women.

Experiments of three identical huts with shape-stabilized phase change materials and simulation of detached house in Japanese climate classification.

The data in this article are the experiment and simulation results of three identical huts were examined using by using varying shape-stabilized PCMs (SSPCMs) sheet levels in winter of Chiba prefecture where Japanese temperate climate. A shape-stabilized phase-change material (SSPCM) established the melting- and solidification-temperature ranges at 19-26 °C was installed on the floor, walls, and ceiling of various buildings, and its effects on indoor room temperature stabilization and heating load reduction were examined using experiments and simulations. The PCM model was developed based on the specific heat capacity measured using a thermostatic chamber and simulations results were obtained using EnergyPlus. The validity of the PCM model was examined by comparing the simulation and experimental results. The model was then examined to determine the applicability of PCM to the various climates in Japan through annual heating load simulations. The target buildings were classified as Type A (no PCM, reference), Type B (only the floor contained PCM), and Type C (the floor, walls, and ceiling contained PCM) using a standard Japanese house. Types B and C had the same amount of PCM. The simulation was run for 21 cases, with one being run for each type of building in seven Japanese climates.

Data on experiments result of three identical huts with shape-stabilized phase change materials in Japanese temperate climate.

The data in this article are the experimental results of three identical huts (Hut A, B and C), which were examined by using varying shape-stabilized PCMs (SSPCMs) sheet levels under natural and heating conditions in winter of Chiba prefecture where Japanese temperate climate. The SSPCMs sheet established the melting and solidification-temperature ranged at 19-26 °C were used. In Hut A, no SSPCM sheets were applied; in Hut B, four layers of SSPCM sheets were applied to the floor; in Hut C, one layer of SSPCM was applied to the floor, walls, and ceilings. The data provide information on the application of SSPCM sheets to improve indoor stabilization and the heating load reduction effects.

High-intensity interval training and athletic performance in Taekwondo athletes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on athletic performance in Taekwondo athletes. METHODS: Thirty-three male and female collegiate Taekwondo athletes were randomly divided into a HIIT group (N.=16) or a high-intensity continuous running (HICR) group (N.=17). The HIIT group undertook training of high-intensity sprints interspersed with active rest periods whilst the HICR group participated in high-intensity running for a continuous period. Both groups completed 11 sessions over 4 weeks. Physique, body composition, Wingate anaerobic test and VO2max test were measured. The vertical jump test, agility T-test and sit-ups were used to assess physical fitness. Repeated measures ANCOVAs with sex as a covariate were applied and significant level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Following 11 sessions of training, significant improvements in anaerobic peak power (P<0.05), relative peak power (P<0.05), and mean power (P<0.05) were observed only in HIIT group compared to HICR group. A greater improvement of aerobic capacity was observed in HIIT group (8.8%) compared to the HICR group (1.7%). In relation to physical fitness, the HIIT group improved in the vertical jump while the HICR group did not change. Both the HIIT and HICR groups showed greater improvements in T-test and sit-ups during the intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the effectiveness of eleven sessions of HIIT in producing significant improvements in anaerobic capacity relevant to successful Taekwondo competition performance in collegiate Taekwondo athletes. This could inform the future planning of Taekwondo athletes' pre-competition training, specifically the influence of training intensity on anaerobic capacity.

Effect of 8 weeks of pre-season training on body composition, physical fitness, anaerobic capacity, and isokinetic muscle strength in male and female collegiate taekwondo athletes.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of 8 weeks pre-season training on body composition, physical fitness, anaerobic capacity, and isokinetic strength in collegiate taekwondo athletes. Thirty-four collegiate athletes (male: 22, female: 12) participated. Body composition, bone mineral density, physical fitness, anaerobic capacity, and isokinetic muscle strength were tested. After statistical analysis was performed the results indicated that there were significant decreases in body weight, percent body fat, and fat tissue after 8 weeks of pre-season training. Bone mineral density increased significantly only in males. There were significant improvements in the 50 m shuttle run and 20 m multistage endurance run in both males and females. The sit & reach test and standing long jump were not significantly changed after 8 weeks. Relative peak power and anaerobic capacity were significantly improved in males. Significant increases in angular velocity were observed for knee extension at both % BW 60°/sec and 180°/sec in both males and females. A significant increase in angular velocity was seen for right knee flexion at % BW 60°/sec for males, but it decreased at % BW 180°/sec for both males and females. In conclusion, this study suggests that 8 weeks of pre-season training has a positive effect on body composition, physical fitness, anaerobic capacity, isokinetic muscular strength, and endurance. Nevertheless, an exercise approach with the goal of increasing lean tissue, and improving power in knee flexors and flexibility of athletes, should be included in the training program.

A follow-up study on the physique, body composition, physical fitness, and isokinetic strength of female collegiate Taekwondo athletes.

The purpose of the study was to analyze changes in physique, body composition, physical fitness, and isokinetic strength in female collegiate taekwondo athletes. The study included 14 subjects, of whom 8 were followed up throughout the study. Anthropometric characteristics included body weight, height, sitting height, circumferences, and bone width. Physical fitness parameters included flexibility, agility, muscle strength, muscular endurance, power, speed, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Peak torque, mean power, and H/Q ratio were analyzed by using Cybex 770. All data were analyzed by using the SAS statistical program. Paired t test was performed, with 0.05 as the significance level. The results indicated significant changes in body weight, and upper arm and flexed upper arm circumferences during the experimental period. Test scores for plate tapping, and sit and reach significantly increased, but that for power decreased. In addition, the peak power of right flexion at 180°/sec was significantly increased, as well as the mean power of right and left flexion, and the H/Q ratio at 180°/sec.

Comparison of nutritional intake, body composition, bone mineral density, and isokinetic strength in collegiate female dancers.

This study compared nutritional intake, body composition, bone mineral density, and isokinetic strength by dance type in collegiate female dancers. The study subjects included Korean dancers (n=12), ballet dancers (n=13), contemporary dancers (n=8), and controls (n=12). Nutritional intake was estimated using the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Isokinetic knee joint strength was measured by Cybex 770-NORM. All statistical analyses were performed by SAS 9.2. Means and standard deviations were calculated using descriptive statistics. One-way analysis of variance was applied to evaluate nutritional intake, body composition, bone mineral density, and isokinetic strength differences. Duncan multiple range test was used for post hoc testing. A level of significance was set at P<0.05. The study results indicated no significant differences in nutritional in-take among dancer types. Despite no significant differences in body composition among dancer types, contemporary and ballet dancers had lower body fat percentages than controls (P<0.05). No significant differences were seen in bone mineral density and bone mineral contents among dancer types. No significant differences were found in isokinetic strength in right or left knee flexion and extension at 60°/sec (P<0.05). There were significant differences in body composition and isokinetic strength between dancer groups and the control group. Further studies of different professional dance type and more scientific methods of dance training are needed.

Influence of mild traumatic brain injury during pediatric stage on short-term memory and hippocampal apoptosis in adult rats.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of neurological deficit in the brain, which induces short- and long-term brain damage, cognitive impairment with/without structural alteration, motor deficits, emotional problems, and death both in children and adults. In the present study, we evaluated whether mild TBI in childhood causes persisting memory impairment until adulthood. Moreover, we investigated the influence of mild TBI on memory impairment in relation with hippocampal apoptosis. For this, step-down avoidance task, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 were performed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experiments. The animals were randomly divided into two groups: sham-operation group and TBI-induction group. The mild TBI model was created with an electromagnetic contusion device activated at a velocity of 3.0 m/sec. The results showed that mild TBI during the pediatric stage significantly decreased memory retention. The numbers of TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells were increased in the TBI-induction group compared to those in the sham-operation group. Defective memory retention and apoptosis sustained up to the adult stage. The present results shows that mild TBI induces long-lasting cognitive impairment from pediatric to adult stages in rats through the high level of apoptosis. The finding of this study suggests that children with mild TBI may need intensive treatments for the reduction of long-lasting cognitive impairment by secondary neuronal damage.

Treadmill exercise ameliorates symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder through reducing Purkinje cell loss and astrocytic reaction in spontaneous hypertensive rats.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder of cognition. We investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on Purkinje cell and astrocytic reaction in the cerebellum of the ADHD rat. Adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYR) weighing 210± 10 g were used. The animals were randomly divided into four groups (n= 15): control group, ADHD group, ADHD and methylphenidate (MPH)-treated group, ADHD and treadmill exercise group. The rats in the MPH-treated group as a positive control received 1 mg/kg MPH orally once a day for 28 consecutive days. The rats in the treadmill exercise group were made to run on a treadmill for 30 min once a day for 28 days. Motor coordination and balance were determined by vertical pole test. Immunohistochemistry for the expression of calbindinD-28 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebellar vermis and Western blot for GFAP, Bax, and Bcl-2 were conducted. In the present results, ADHD significantly decreased balance and the number of calbindin-positive cells, while GFAP expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the cerebellum were significantly increased in the ADHD group compared to the control group (P< 0.05, respectively). In contrast, treadmill exercise and MPH alleviated the ADHD-induced the decrease of balance and the number of calbindine-positive cells, and the increase of GFAP expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the cerebellum (P< 0.05, respectively). Therefore, the present results suggested that treadmill exercise might exert ameliorating effect on ADHD through reduction of Purkinje cell loss and astrocytic reaction in the cerebellum.

Taekwondo training and fitness in female adolescents.

In this study, we determined the specificity of a low frequency taekwondo training programme on physical fitness levels in adolescent females who receive limited physical education instruction (i.e. 2 days per week). Major components of physical fitness assessed were: skeletal muscle fitness (hand grip strength, bent arm hang, standing long jump, and isokinetic strength), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), speed and agility (10 × 5-m shuttle run), and cardiovascular fitness (VO(2max) and 20-m shuttle run). Changes in body composition were also assessed (dual X-ray absorptiometry, DXA). Participants were divided into two groups, a taekwondo training group (n = 21), which trained 50 min a day, 2 days per week for 12 weeks, and a control group (n = 10). Taekwondo training improved isokinetic strength, standing long jump, and sit-and-reach performance. Body fat mass and percent body fat were reduced. No changes in grip strength, bent arm hang time, speed and agility, or cardiorespiratory fitness were observed. Results indicate that low frequency taekwondo training in adolescent females produces beneficial changes in skeletal muscle fitness, flexibility, and body composition in a relatively short period of time. Consequently, this specific type of training can be useful to female adolescents in structured school environments where physical education classes are limited and there is little free time for physical activity.

Lipin proteins form homo- and hetero-oligomers.

Lipin family members (lipin 1, 2 and 3) are bi-functional proteins that dephosphorylate PA (phosphatidic acid) to produce DAG (diacylglycerol) and act in the nucleus to regulate gene expression. Although other components of the triacylglycerol synthesis pathway can form oligomeric complexes, it is unknown whether lipin proteins also exist as oligomers. In the present study, using various approaches, we revealed that lipin 1 formed stable homo-oligomers with itself and hetero-oligomers with lipin 2/3. Both the N- and C-terminal regions of lipin 1 mediate its oligomerization in a head-to-head/tail-to-tail manner. We also show that lipin 1 subcellular localization can be influenced through oligomerization, and the individual lipin 1 monomers in the oligomer function independently in catalysing dephosphorylation of PA. The present study provides evidence that lipin proteins function as oligomeric complexes and that the three mammalian lipin isoforms can form combinatorial units.

Lipin 1 represses NFATc4 transcriptional activity in adipocytes to inhibit secretion of inflammatory factors.

Lipin 1 is a bifunctional protein that regulates gene transcription and, as a Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP), is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of phospholipids and triacylglycerol. We describe here the functional interaction between lipin 1 and the nuclear factor of activated T cells c4 (NFATc4). Lipin 1 represses NFATc4 transcriptional activity through protein-protein interaction, and lipin 1 is present at the promoters of NFATc4 transcriptional targets in vivo. Catalytically active and inactive lipin 1 can suppress NFATc4 transcriptional activity, and this suppression may involve recruitment of histone deacetylases to target promoters. In fat pads from mice deficient for lipin 1 (fld mice) and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes depleted of lipin 1 there is increased expression of several NFAT target genes including tumor necrosis factor alpha, resistin, FABP4, and PPARgamma. Finally, both lipin 1 protein and total PAP activity are decreased with increasing adiposity in the visceral, but not subcutaneous, fat pads of ob/ob mice. These observations place lipin 1 as a potentially important link between triacylglycerol synthesis and adipose tissue inflammation.

cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) positively regulates mouse adiponectin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Adiponectin is expressed in adipose tissue by adipogenic transcription factors including PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, and ADD1/SREBP1c. Because cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) is also a central transcriptional activator of adipocyte differentiation, we evaluated CREB to determine if it stimulates adiponectin gene expression. To accomplish this, we evaluated the effects of activated CREB on the promoter activity of the mouse adiponectin gene, and identified the cAMP-response element (CRE) in the promoter. The constitutively active form of CREB increased the promoter activity of the mouse adiponectin gene. In addition, transfection studies using 5' serial deleted promoters revealed the presence of a putative CRE located between the -1250 and -1000bp region. Furthermore, an electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis demonstrated that CREB bound to the region between -1022 and -995 in the adiponectin promoter. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which activate CREB, increased the adiponectin promoter activity. However, this stimulation was prevented by the dominant negative form of CREB (ACREB) and pretreatment with PD098059, indicating that IGF-1 stimulate adiponectin expression through CREB phosphorylation via the ERK pathway. Importantly, the transactivation of adiponectin expression by CREB was inhibited by ATF3. Coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assay revealed that ATF3 bound to CREB and prevented CREB phosphorylation induced during differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that CREB is a positive regulator of mouse adiponectin gene expression in adipocytes, which play an important role in the regulation of adiponectin expression in response to growth factor.

NFATc4 and ATF3 negatively regulate adiponectin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Expression of adiponectin decreases with obesity and insulin resistance. At present, the mechanisms responsible for negatively regulating adiponectin expression in adipocytes are poorly understood. In this investigation, we analyzed the effects of 5' serial deletion constructs on the murine adiponectin promoter. Here, we identified the repressor region located between -472 and -313 bp of the promoter. Removal of the putative nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATs) binding site increased the promoter activity, and overexpression of NFATc4 reduced the promoter activity. Treatment with the calcium ionophore A23187, an activator of NFAT, reduced mRNA as well as promoter activity. The binding of NFATc4 to the promoter was associated with increased recruitment of histone deacetylase 1 and reduced acetylation of histone H3 at the promoter site. In addition, binding of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) to the putative activator protein-1 site located adjacent to the NFAT binding site also repressed the promoter activity. Treatment with thapsigargin, an inducer of ATF3, reduced both mRNA and promoter activity. Importantly, the binding activities of NFATc4 and ATF3, increased significantly in white adipose tissues of ob/ob and db/db mice compared with controls. Taken together, this study demonstrates for the first time that NFATc4 and ATF3 function as negative regulators of adiponectin gene expression, which may play critical roles in downregulating adiponectin expression in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The upstream sequence of Mycobacterium leprae 18-kDa gene confers transcription repression activity in orientation-independent manner.

In order to understand the role of the upstream region of the Mycobacterium leprae 18-kDa gene on the gene regulation, the region was divided into two at the -50 position from the first start codon of the gene and their effect on transcription was examined by using a LacZ transcriptional reporter gene assay. The presence of each of these two regions conferred transcription repression not only on its cognate M. lepraerae 18-kDa gene promoter, but also on a heterologous promoter such as the Mycobacterium bovis BCG hsp65 gene promoter. Moreover, it was found that these regions could confer transcription repression activity in both cases in an orientation-independent manner. Thus, these results indicate that the upstream region of the M. leprae 18-kDa gene harbors transcription repression responsive element(s) acting as an operator and can be further divided into two separately functional regions, suggesting a bipartite structure of the element(s). The identification of transcription repression activity of the upstream region in the M. leprae 18-kDa gene will contribute greatly for the understanding of the 18-kDa gene regulation mechanism, and provide also useful information for the manipulation of mycobacterium gene expression.

Acupuncture increases nitric oxide synthase expression in hippocampus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In the present study, the effect of acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression in the hippocampus of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry. Animals were divided into four groups: the control group, the nondiabetic and acupunctured group, the STZ-induced diabetes group, and the STZ-induced diabetes and acupunctured group. From the results, NADPH-d-positive neurons in the hippocampus were decreased in STZ-induced diabetic rats, while acupuncture increased NOS expression significantly under diabetic conditions. In the present study, it can be suggested that acupuncture treatment may modulate NOS activity in the hippocampus under diabetic conditions.

Treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation in dentate gyrus of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is a common and serious metabolic disorder in humans. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were shown to produce a significant reduction in the number of proliferating cells in the dentate gyrus. In the present study, the effect of treadmill exercise on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of rats with STZ-induced diabetes was investigated via immunohistochemistry. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: the control-rest group, the control-exercise group, the diabetes-rest group, and the diabetes-exercise group. Each of the animals of the diabetes groups was given a single injection of STZ (50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. All animals were injected with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (50 mg/kg) for six consecutive days, starting on the second day after STZ injection, and rats of the exercise groups were made to run on treadmill for 30 min each day over the same period. On the eighth day of the experiment, all animals were sacrificed. In the present results, it was shown that cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus is suppressed under diabetic conditions, and that treadmill is effective in enhancing hippocampal granular cell proliferation in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. These results raise the possibility that treadmill exercise is of help in the alleviation of the central neural sequelae of diabetes mellitus.

Ginseng radix increases cell proliferation in dentate gyrus of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

In the present study, the effect of Ginseng radix on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes was investigated via immunohistochemistry. Aqueous extract of Ginseng radix was shown to exert no significant effect on weight in normal rats, while it prevented weight loss in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of diabetic rats was increased by Ginseng radix treatment, but it had no effect on cell proliferation in normal rats. These results suggest that Ginseng radix may help in improve the central nervous system complications of diabetes mellitus.

Treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation without altering of apoptosis in dentate gyrus of Sprague-Dawley rats.

The effects of forced treadmill exercise on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. The animals were classified into three groups: the control group, the easy exercise group, and the moderate exercise group. In the control group, rats were left on the treadmill without running for 30 min per day, while rats in the exercise groups were made to run on the treadmill for the same duration. All rats were injected intraperitoneally with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) one-hour prior to exercise once a day for 7 consecutive days beginning at the start of the exercise regimens. Each of the rats was sacrificed 2 h after the last exercise. Both the easy and moderate exercise groups revealed increased number of BrdU-positive cells in the dentate gyrus compared to the control group. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed very few apoptotic cells, with no statistically significant differences among the groups. These results showed that treadmill exercise increases cell proliferation without altering of apoptosis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.

Acupuncture increases cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y expression in dentate gyrus of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

In this study, effects of acupuncture at Zusanli acupoint on cell proliferation and expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: the control group, the non-diabetic and Zusanli-acupunctured group, the non-diabetic and non-acupoint-acupunctured group, the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes group, the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes and Zusanli-acupunctured group, and the streptozotocin-induced-diabetes and non-acupoint-acupunctured group. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetes group, the mean 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine-positive and NPY-positive cell counts in the DG were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Stimulation of the Zusanli resulted in increased cell proliferation and neuropeptide Y levels in the diabetic group. In the present results, it can be suggested that acupuncture may affect cell proliferation in the DG of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by regulating neuropeptide Y expression.