Effects evaluation of different exercises on subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in obese rats by speckle-tracking echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: To identify subclinical left ventricle dysfunction (LVD) in obese rats by speckle-tracking echocardiography, and to evaluate the effects of 12-week Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) or High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on LV geometry, histology and function in obese rats. METHODS: Eighteen male standard or obese Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the Control group, the MICT group, and the HIIT group. Exercise interventions were conducted for 12 weeks, with equal total load and increased intensity gradient. Using dual-energy X-ray, two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography, pulse Doppler, and HE staining to evalucate body shape, LV morphology, structure, and myocardial mechanics function. RESULTS: (1) Both MICT and HIIT have good weight loss shaping effect. (2) The LV of obese rats underwent pathological remodeling, with decreased longitudinal contractility and synchrony, and increased circumferential contractility and synchrony. (3) Exercise can inhibit LV pathological remodeling, improve myocardial mechanical function. HIIT is superior to MICT. (4) The global longitudinal strain of obese rats in the HIIT group showed a significant correlation with Fat% and Lean%. CONCLUSION: Obesity can induce LV pathological remodeling and subclinical dysfunction. Compared with MICT, 12-week HIIT can effectively inhibit the pathological remodeling of LV and promote the benign development of myocardial mechanical function in obese rats.

Efficacy of Different Exercises on Mild to Moderate Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study are to evaluate the effectiveness of different exercise interventions on patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and to provide evidence-based exercise prescriptions for this population. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform were searched until January 2023. The data were pooled and a meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were conducted with 778 participants. The Schroth exercises group (mean difference = -3.48, 95% confidence interval = -4.73 to -2.23, P < 0.00001) and strength training group (mean difference = -3.43, 95% confidence interval = -4.06 to -2.80, P < 0.00001) had better recovery of the Cobb angle than the other groups. The Cobb angle rehabilitation effect was good in the time of less than 60-min group. In addition, there was no significant difference found between the different intervention periods groups ( P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Schroth exercise and strength training significantly improved Cobb angle of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients; exercising for less than 60 mins is effective for Cobb angle rehabilitation, but prolonging exercise time cannot improve training effectiveness; 12 wks of exercise significantly improved Cobb angle, but prolonged training periods did not have a significant impact.

Thermal Shock Behavior of Si3N4/BN Fibrous Monolithic Ceramics.

To develop materials suitable for aerospace applications, silicon nitride/boron nitride (Si3N4/BN) fibrous monolithic ceramics with varying BN contents were prepared. Employing analytical techniques such as XRD and SEM, coupled with mechanical testing equipment, the influence of BN concentration on the thermal shock resistance of Si3N4/BN fibrous monolithic ceramics was assessed. When the thermal shock differential is less than 800 °C, its residual flexural strength gradually decreases as the thermal shock differential increases. Conversely, when the differential exceeds 1000 °C, the residual flexural strength of the material increases. The residual strength of all samples reached its peak after undergoing a thermal shock assessment at a 1500 °C differential. When the BN mass fraction is 5 wt.%, the residual strength after a thermal shock at a temperature difference of 1500 °C is 387 ± 19 MPa, which is 124% higher than the original strength of the sample that did not undergo thermal shock (25 °C, 311 ± 18 MPa). The oxide layer formed on the thermal shock surface played a role in bridging defects introduced during material surface processing.

The Ablation Performance of Silicon Nitride/Boron Nitride Fibrous Monolithic Ceramics under an Oxyacetylene Combustion Torch.

In this study, Si3N4/BN fibrous monolithic ceramics were successfully prepared by wet spinning extrusion and hot pressing, and the effects on its ablation performance and microstructure were studied. The samples were burned in an oxyacetylene flame for 60 s × 30 to evaluate the ablation resistance. With the increase in ablation time, the fibrous monolithic ceramics exhibited specific mass and linear ablation rates, which show a trend of first increasing, then decreasing, and then increasing again. When the ablation time is 60 s × 10, 60 s × 20, and 60 s × 30, the mass ablation rates of the fibrous monolithic ceramics are 1 × 10-5 mg/s, -8.3 × 10-6 mg/s, -6.7 × 10-7 mg/s, respectively; the linear ablation rates are 4.7 × 10-5 µg/s, -1.2 × 10-5 µg/s and 1.7 × 10-6 µg/s. After 60 s × 30 of ablation, the surface oxides of the species are washed away by the oxyacetylene flame, revealing a porous coral-like structure with many cracks. A glass phase layer, predominantly constituted by sintering aids, envelops the Si3N4 ceramic surface on the ablated sample, serving as an effective barrier against additional ablation.

Effects of Ti on the Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Property of the SiBCN-Ti Composite Ceramics.

In this study, amorphous + nanocrystalline Ti-BN mixed powders were obtained through first-step mechanical alloying; subsequently, almost completely amorphous SiBCN-Ti mixed powders were achieved in the second-step milling. The SiBCN-Ti bulk ceramics were consolidated through hot pressing sintering at 1900 °C/60 MPa/30 min, and the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the as-sintered composite ceramics were investigated using SEM, XRD, and TEM techniques. The as-sintered SiBCN-Ti bulk ceramics consisted of substantial nanosized BN(C), SiC, and Ti(C, N) with a small amount of Si2N2O and TiB2. The crystallized BN(C) enwrapped both SiC and Ti(C, N), thus effectively inhibiting the rapid growth of SiC and Ti(C, N). The sizes of SiC were ~70 nm, while the sizes of Ti(C, N) were below 30 nm, and the sizes of Si2N2O were over 100 nm. The SiBCN-20 wt.% Ti bulk ceramics obtained the highest flexural strength of 394.0 ± 19.0 MPa; however, the SiBCN-30 wt.% Ti bulk ceramics exhibited the optimized fracture toughness of 3.95 ± 0.21 GPa·cm1/2, Vickers hardness of 4.7 ± 0.27 GPa, Young's modulus of 184.2 ± 8.2 GPa, and a bulk density of 2.85 g/cm3. The addition of metal Ti into a SiBCN ceramic matrix seems to be an effective strategy for microstructure optimization and the tuning of mechanical properties, thus providing design ideas for further research regarding this family of ceramic materials.

The Effects of Different Exercise Modalities in the Treatment of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese Adolescents with Sedentary Behavior-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

PURPOSE: Obesity has become increasingly prevalent in adolescents due to unhealthy diet habits, sedentary behavior and a lack of physical activities. This study aims to assess the effects of different exercise modalities in the treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, CNKI and VIP database) from the earliest available date to August 2021. Nineteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 704 participants were included. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool, and a statistical analysis was performed by the Review Manage 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software. RESULTS: The results of the meta-analysis showed that exercise could significantly improve obese adolescents' body mass index (BMI) (MD = -1.99, 95% CI: -2.81 to -1.17, p < 0.00001), low density liptein cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD = -0.98, 95% CI: -1.58 to -0.37, p = 0.002), triglyceride (TG) (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.72 to -0.14, p = 0.02), total cholesterol (TC) (SMD = -1.00, 95% CI: -1.73 to -0.26, p = 0.008), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (MD = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.52 to 5.02, p = 0.0003) and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (SMD = -2.07, 95% CI: -3.3 to -0.84, p = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in high-density liptein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: -0.28 to 1.08, p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: Exercise can effectively improve cardiometabolic risk factors in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior. For obese adolescents who want to lose weight and improve cardiorespiratory fitness, combined aerobic and resistance training and high-intensity interval training are optimal choices. For obese adolescents with high blood lipids, aerobic training can be regarded as a primary exercise modality to reduce the high risk of cardiovascular diseases; For obese adolescents with insulin resistance, combined aerobic and resistance training can be considered to reduce the high risk of diabetes. It is hoped that more high-quality studies will further expand the meta-analysis results and demonstrate the optimal exercise frequency and treatment intensity of cardiometabolic risk factors in obese adolescents with sedentary behavior in the future.

Effects of Aquatic Exercise and Land-Based Exercise on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Motor Function, Balance, and Functional Independence in Stroke Patients-A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of aquatic exercise (AE) and land-based exercise (LE) on cardiorespiratory fitness, motor function, balance, and functional independence in stroke patients. DESIGN: Through searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang Database, only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected to study the effects of AE and LE on cardiorespiratory fitness, motor function, balance, and functional independence in patients with stroke. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool, and statistical analysis was carried out by the Review Manage 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software. RESULTS: The RCTs were collected between the earliest available date and April 2021. Eleven RCTs were included, including five studies with low risk and six studies with moderate risk. The total sample size used in the study was 369, which included 187 patients undertaking AE and 182 patients undertaking LE. The results of the meta-analysis showed that AE can significantly improve patients' Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (MD = 5.19, 95% CI: 2.66 to 7.71, p < 0.0001), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (MD = 3.49, 95% CI: 0.17 to 6.8, p = 0.04), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) (MD = 3.84, 95% CI: 1.64 to 6.04, p = 0.0006), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) (MD = 6.1, 95% CI: 4.05 to 8.15, p < 0.00001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two exercise modes in the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) (MD = -2.52, 95% CI: -5.95 to 0.91, p = 0.15) or the Functional Ambulation Category scale (FAC) (MD = 0.28, 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.76, p = 0.26). CONCLUSION: Based on the improvement in the Berg Balance Scale, peak oxygen uptake, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Functional Independence Measure, we can state that aquatic exercise offers better advantages than land-based exercise for patients' balance, motor function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and functional independence.

The Effects of Interval Training and Continuous Training on Cardiopulmonary Fitness and Exercise Tolerance of Patients with Heart Failure-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of interval training (IT) as compared with continuous training (CT) on cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise tolerance of patients with heart failure (HF), with the aim to provide reasonable exercise prescriptions for patients with HF. METHODS: Through searching electronic databases, randomized controlled studies were collected. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool, and statistical analyses were carried out using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata MP 15.1 software. RESULTS: A total of seventeen randomized controlled trials (i.e., studies) with 617 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that IT can improve a patient's peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) (MD = 2.08, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.99, p < 0.00001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (MD =1.32, 95% CI 0.60 to 2.03, p = 0.0003), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) (MD = 25.67, 95% CI 12.87 to 38.47, p < 0.0001) as compared with CT. However, for respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (MD = 0.00, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.03, p = 0.81), CO2 ventilation equivalent slope (VE/VCO2 slope) (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.31, p = 0.75), and resting heart rate (HRrest) (MD = 0.15, 95% CI -3.00 to 3.29, p = 0.93) there were no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence shows that IT is better than CT for improving the cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise tolerance of patients with HF. Moreover, an intensity of 60-80% peak heart rate of IT is the optimal choice for patients. It is hoped that, in the future, more well-designed studies would further expand the meta-analysis results.

Polymer-Derived Lightweight SiBCN Ceramic Nanofibers with High Microwave Absorption Performance.

Lightweight SiBCN ceramic nanofibers were prepared by a combination of electrostatic spinning and high-temperature annealing techniques, showing tunable electromagnetic wave absorption. By controlling the annealing temperature, the nanoscale architectures and atomic bonding structures of as-prepared nanofibers could be well regulated. The resulting SiBCN nanofibers ∼300 nm in diameter, which were composed of an amorphous matrix, ß-SiC, and free carbon nanocrystals, were defect-free after annealing at 1600 °C. SiBCN nanofibers annealed at 1600 °C exhibited good microwave absorption, obtaining a minimum reflection coefficient of -56.9 dB at 10.56 GHz, a sample thickness of 2.6 mm with a maximum effective absorption bandwidth of 3.45 GHz, and a maximum dielectric constant of 0.44. Owing to the optimized A + B + C microstructure, SiBCN ceramic nanofibers with satisfying microwave absorption properties endowed the nanofibers with the potential to be used as lightweight, ultrastrong radar wave absorbers applied in military and the commercial market.

Correction: Structure evolution, amorphization and nucleation studies of carbon-lean to -rich SiBCN powder blends prepared by mechanical alloying.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C6RA08367F.].

Maillard reaction inhibitors produced by Paecilomyces sp.

Maillard reaction inhibitors could be useful therapeutics for diabetes and other age-related diseases. We isolated for the first time 4-O-demethylsilvaticol (1) and (-)-mitorubrin (2) as Maillard reaction inhibitors from Paecilomyces sp. 3193B. Among the isolated inhibitors, 2 showed most potent inhibitory effect by an SDS-PAGE assay on cross-linked protein formation and by a fluorescent assay on AGE formation.

Protective effects of hesperidin derivatives and their stereoisomers against advanced glycation end-products formation.

CONTEXT: Maillard reaction is implicated in the development of pathophysiology in age-related diseases. The search for newer Maillard reaction inhibitors is a priority among strategies to combat diabetes complications. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory potential of hesperidin, its derivatives and their stereoisomers against advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hesperidin and hesperetin were chirally separated and the inhibitory effects of 1:1 mixture of (2S)- and (2R)-hesperidin (1), (2S)-hesperidin (2), (2R)-hesperidin (3), 1:1 mixture of (S)- and (R)-hesperetin (4), (S)-hesperetin (5), (R)-hesperetin (6), and monoglucosyl hesperidin (7) [1:1 mixture of (2S)-glucosyl hesperidin (8) and (2R)-glucosyl hesperidin (9)] at a concentration of 1 mM on protein glycation reaction have been revealed using the newly constructed RNase A-methylglyoxal (MGO) assay for the early stage and the bovine serum albumin (BSA)-glucose assay for the late stage of Maillard reaction. RESULTS: This study has demonstrated that hesperidin and its derivatives possessed relatively strong activity against the formation of AGEs. (S)-Hesperetin (5) possessed the highest inhibitory rate up to 57.4% in BSA-glucose assay, 38.2% in RNase A-MGO assay. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The new RNase A-MGO assay system could be used for the screening of AGEs inhibitors and hesperidin, and its derivatives could be promising candidate adjuvants for the treatment of diabetes complication, and age-related chronic diseases.