Square-Stepping Exercise Program Effects on Fall-Related Fitness and BDNF Levels in Older Adults in Korea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The risk of dementia increases with age. To mitigate this risk, we examined the effect of a square-stepping exercise (SSE) program on fall-related fitness and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Twenty older adults in Korea were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group (each group n = 10). Participants performed SSE for 70 min per session, twice a week, for 12 weeks with a certified instructor. The average age of the participants was 74.80 ± 6.763 years in the exercise group and 72.50 ± 6.519 years in the control group. The experiment group showed significant improvement (p < 0.01) in the lower muscle strength post-intervention. The paired t-test revealed a significant improvement (p < 0.01) in the experimental group and a significant difference in the interaction effect (p < 0.01) in the BDNF levels. There was a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the BDNF levels in the experimental group and a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the control group. The SSE program had a positive effect on fall-related fitness and BDNF levels.

Dehydration affects exercise-induced asthma and anaphylaxis.

Allergies are generally triggered by food, medication, physical exercise, stress, alcohol consumption, and dehydration. There are reports that indicate dehydration affects various kinds of physical allergies. However, there are few studies that have focused on the effects of dehydration on asthma and allergy anaphylaxis. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of dehydration on several kinds of allergy responses and exercise-induced asthma especially during the endurance exercise. PubMed was searched from April to July of 2019 using predefined search terms "dehydration," "exercise," and "allergy responses." Based on the reference search, more than one-hundred articles were identified but eighteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for connections among exercise and dehydration, dehydration and exercise-induced asthma, and allergy responses in the main text. Results suggest that dehydration directly impairs stroke volume, cardiac output, and skin blood flow. This results in larger increases in core temperature, heart rate, and stroke volume. Additionally, exercise-induced dehydration reduces airway surface hydration, which results in an amplified brocnchoconstriction. This response to exercise occurs in those who suffer from exercise-induced asthma. Moreover, damage to the gut and impaired gut function relates to increased intestinal permeability after endurance exercise. Endurance exercise changes the immunological profiles to activate antibody-mediated immunity. Also, numerous mast cells and eosinophils were recruited, therefore isotype switching to IgE antibodies occur, this hypersensitivity activates mast cell degranulation. After degranulation, proteases, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamine lead to many kinds of allergy symptoms.

The relationship between distribution of body fat mass and carotid artery intima-media thickness in Korean older adults.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between the amount and distribution of body fat and the carotid intima-media thickness to explore whether coronary artery disease risk may be mediated through effects on the amount of fat mass in older adults. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 200 elderly females was participated. The percentage of body fat mass was measured by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method, and the carotid intima-media thickness was measured by B-mode ultrasound. Analysis of covariance was performed to assess independent associations between the four categories of percentage of body fat mass and the carotid intima-media thickness after multivariate adjustment. Logistic regression analyses were utilized to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for examining independent associations between percentage of body fat mass and the estimated risk of coronary artery disease. [Results] Analysis of covariance showed that the carotid intima-media thickness was significantly thick in both obesity and overweight groups. When multivariate-adjusted OR for the estimated risk of coronary artery disease, the odds ratios for the obesity and overweight groups were 3.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 8.7) and 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 6.1), respectively. [Conclusion] This study demonstrates that elderly females with a high body fat mass are more likely to have the estimated risk of CAD than who fit body fat mass in elderly female.

Cardiac Damage Biomarkers Following a Triathlon in Elite and Non-elite Triathletes.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate cardiac damage biomarkers after a triathlon race in elite and non-elite athlete groups. Fifteen healthy men participated in the study. Based on performance, they were divided into elite athlete group (EG: n=7) and non-elite athlete group (NEG: n=8). Participants' blood samples were obtained during four periods: before, immediately, 2 hours and 7 days after finishing the race. creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-myoglobin (CK-MB), myoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased in both groups immediately after, and 2 hours after finishing the race (p<.05). CK, CK-MB, and myoglobin were completely recovered after 7 days (p<.05). Hematocrit (Hct) was significantly decreased in both groups (p<.05) 7 days after the race. LDH was significantly decreased in the EG (p<.05) only 7 days after the race. Homoglobin (Hb) was significantly decreased in the NEG (p<.05) only 2 hours after the race. Although cardiac troponin T (cTnT) was significantly increased in the EG but not in the NEG 2hours after the race (p<.05), there was no group-by-time interaction. cTnT was completely recovered in both groups 7 days after the race. In conclusion, cardiac damage occurs during a triathlon race and, is greater in elite than in non-elite. However, all cardiac damage markers return to normal range within 1 week.

Effect of different training mode on Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of different training modes on IL-6 and CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The subjects consisted of 16 middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), all of whom had no other complications. The 16 subjects were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: the circuit training group (CTG, n = 8) and aerobic training group (ATG, n = 8). Based on measured THR (target heart rate) for maximum oxygen consumption rate, the circuit training group (CTG) exercised at 60% intensity, 60 min/day, 5 sets, 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Based on measured THR (target heart rate) for maximum oxygen consumption rate, the aerobic training group (ATG) exercised at 60% intensity (which was increased gradually in weeks 4, 7, and 10) 60 min/day, 3 days/week for 12 weeks. RESULTS: The results are as follows. Significant decreases in the post training values of weight, % Fat, BMI, IL-6 and CRP (p < .05) were observed in the CTG compared to pre-training. However, there were no differences in the physical characteristic and blood inflammatory factors between the groups (ATG & CTG). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that circuit training (CT) may be considered as an effective training mode for helping to decrease the blood inflammatory factors (IL-6 and CRP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Alterations of Muscular Strength and Left and Right Limb Balance in Weightlifters after an 8-week Balance Training Program.

[Purpose] Balance is generally defined as the ability to maintain the body's center of gravity within its base of support and may be categorized by either static or dynamic balance. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of balance training on strength, and the functional balance ability of elite weightlifters. [Subjects] Thirty-two elite weightlifters were recruited for the present study. They were divided into exercise groups (8 high school students, 8 middle school students) and control groups (8 high school students, 8 middle school students). [Methods] Body compositions were measured by the electrical impedance method, and a Helmas system was used to measure basic physical capacities. The muscular function test was conducted using a Cybex 770. [Results] There were no significant changes in body composition after the training. In contrast, significant changes were found in the number of push-ups, one-leg standing time with eyes closed, and upper body back extension. Interestingly, only the left arm external rotation value after the exercise training program showed a statistically significant difference from the baseline value. [Conclusion] The peak torque values of shoulder internal rotation and knee extension were significantly changed compared to the baseline values, which mean subjects showed balance of their muscular power. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that an 8-week balance-training program would positively affect elite weightlifters' balance ability and flexibility. We think that well-balanced muscular functionality may enhance athletes' sport performance.

Combined effects of food and exercise on anaphylaxis.

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIAn) is induced by different types and various intensities of physical activity, and is distinct from food allergies. It has been shown that consumption of allergenic food followed by exercise causes FDEIAn symptoms. Intake of allergenic food or medication before exercise is a major predisposing factor for FDEIAn. Urticaria and severe allergic reactions are general symptoms of FDEIAn. Dermatological tests and serum IgE assays are the typical prescreening methods, and have been used for several decades. However, these screening tests are not sufficient for detecting or preventing FDEIAn. It has been found that exercise may stimulate the release of mediators from IgE-dependent mast cells that can result in FDEIAn when a certain threshold level has been exceeded. Mast cell degradation might be a major factor to induce FDEIAn but this has not been determined. A number of foods have been reported to be involved in the onset of FDEIAn including wheat, eggs, chicken, shrimp, shellfish, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. It is also known that aspirin increases the occurrence of type I allergy symptoms when combined with specific foods. Moreover, high intensity and frequent exercise are more likely to provoke an attack than low intensity and less frequent exercise. In this paper, we present the current views of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying FDEIAn within the context of exercise immunology. We also present a detailed FDEIAn definition along with etiologic factors and medical treatment for cholinergic urticaria (UC) and exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA).

Exercise training improves leptin sensitivity in peripheral tissue of obese rats.

The present study examined the change to the effect of the leptin sensitivity by leptin resistance-induced leptin receptor (ObRb) and leptin-related suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) mRNA levels in hypothalamic, liver, muscle and leptin protein levels in blood after eight 8 weeks of exercise training and/or dietary control of high fat induced obese rats. After 2 weeks of adaptation maintenance, four-week-old male SD rats (n=42) were randomly divided into control (CO) (n=8) and high-fat diet (HF) (n=32) groups. The HF group randomly divided into HF, HF+exercise training (HFT), changed to normal diet (HFND) and changed to normal diet and exercise training (HFNDT) groups. 13 weeks of HF group average body weight significantly increased in comparison to the CO group (p<0.05). Plasma leptin levels of the HFT, HFND and HFNDT group were significantly decreased in comparison to the HF group (p<0.05). The mRNA expression of ObRb and SOCS3 in the liver and muscle of the HF group was significantly decreased comparison to that of the HFT, HFND and HFNDT group after 8 weeks intervention (p<0.05). In addition, the mRNA expression of ObRb and SOCS3 in the hypothalamus of the HF group was significantly increased comparison to that of the HFT, HFND and HFNDT group (p<0.05). HFND group also was significantly reduced comparison to of the HFT and HFNDT group (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the effect of leptin sensitivity in peripheral may primarily the more relate to combined dietary control and exercise training more than effect of dietary control.