Swimming Exercise Training Attenuates the Lung Inflammatory Response and Injury Induced by Exposing to Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke.

BACKGROUND: The use of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is on the rise throughout the world, especially among young people and even athletes. There is a belief among consumers that exercise prevents the harmful effects of hookah smoke on the body. We examined this belief by evaluation of lung injury following to concurrent WTS and swimming endurance training in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Animals were randomly divided to sedentary control (CTL) group, exercise training group (Ex group), sedentary WTS (S) group, and exercise plus WTS (S + Ex) group. FINDINGS: 8 weeks of WTS was associated with significant increase in serum level of cotinine, lung damage, reduction in alveolar number AN/SA (mm2) and increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level of lung tissue. Combination of exercise with WTS significantly decreased these negative effects; however, it could not fully protect the lung from smoking damage. Waterpipe smoking (WPS) also significantly increased the pro-inflammatory cytokines of lung tissue such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.001), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) (P < 0.010), and IL-6 (P < 0.050) in comparison with CTL group. Exercise training to some degree reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the level of IL-10 as an anti-inflammatory IL and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in animals exposed to WTS. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that combination of mild to moderate exercise with WTS may attenuate the hookah smoking-induced lung damage. This effect partly is mediated through balancing of pro/anti-inflammatory and redox systems.

Effects of Endurance Exercise Training on Cardiac Dysfunction Induced by Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing popularity of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) in youth and even in athletes worldwide. Despite the existence of evidence of the harmful effects of hookah smoke on various systems of the body, especially the cardiovascular system, its simultaneous effect with exercise training has not been well studied. We assessed the effects of WTS exposure with/without swimming exercise on blood pressure (BP), and heart histology and mechanical performance in male Wistar rats. METHODS: The animals were divided into 4 groups of sedentary control (CTL), waterpipe tobacco smoking (S), mild endurance swimming exercise training (Ex), and waterpipe smoking plus exercise (S + Ex). The duration of WTS and exercise was 8 weeks. FINDINGS: BP and heart rate (HR) did not show a significant difference among the groups. WTS increased the TNF-α level of the heart (P < 0.05 vs. CTL) and cardiac tissue lesions (P < 0.05 vs. CTL), and reduced +dP/dt max, -dp/dt max, and heart contractility indices (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively, vs. CTL and Ex groups). It also increased the Tau index (P < 0.05 vs. CTL; P < 0.01 vs. Ex groups) of the left ventricle. However, the combination of exercise and WTS reduced the TNF-α level, improved the heart activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes, and prevented the negative effects of smoking on heart function and morphology. CONCLUSION: Mild exercise prevents WTS-induced left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction partly via improvement of antioxidants and attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Prevalence of use of anabolic steroids by bodybuilders using three methods in a city of iran.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of substance use among bodybuilding athletes has been poorly studied in Iran. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of drug use, especially anabolic steroids, among bodybuilding athletes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the first half of 2013 among body building athletes referring to gyms located in Kerman, Iran. Five gyms were selected randomly and 380 athletes were invited to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, consecutively. The questionnaire included two parts; baseline characteristics and substance related questions. The prevalence of anabolic steroids was estimated based on three methods; self-report, projective question, and crosswise model. FINDINGS: We enrolled 298 male athletes in the final analysis. Mean ± SD age of subjects was 25.9 ± 8.4. The most frequent recent (past 30 days) drug use was waterpipe smoking (45%). The second most frequently used drug was alcohol (26.5%, recent use). Based on self-reports, the prevalence of lifetime anabolic steroid use was calculated to be 24.5%. The corresponding figure based on crosswise method was obtained to be 56.8%. Participants believed that a median of 40% of athletes had used anabolic steroids in their lifetime. The prevalence of anabolic steroid was higher in single and less educated individuals (P < 0.05). The main reason for using anabolic steroids was to increase muscle size. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of drug use, especially tobacco, alcohol, and anabolic steroids, was high among bodybuilding athletes. We could not rely on self-reports to examine anabolic steroid use.

Does exercise deprivation increase the tendency towards morphine dependence in rats?

BACKGROUND: Exercise deprivation has been concluded to have some negative effectson psychological well-being. This study was conducted to find outwhether exercise deprivation may lead to morphine dependence in rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 162 ± 9 g were housed in clear plasticcages in groups of two under standard laboratory conditions. The studyhad two phases. In phase I, the animals were randomly divided intoexercised (E) and unexercised (UE) groups (n = 20 each) and treadmillrunning was performed based on a standard protocol for three weeks. Atthe end of the training period, plasma ß-endorphin levels weredetermined in four rats from each group. In phase II, the animals wereprovided with two bottles, one containing tap water and the other 25mg/l morphine sulfate in tap water for a total of 12 weeks. At the end ofthis phase naloxone was injected intraperitoneally to precipitatemorphine withdrawal. FINDINGS: THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UE AND E GROUPS INMORPHINE CONSUMPTION (MG/KG/WK) [ GROUP: F(1,14) = 0.2, P = 0.690; time:F(11,154) =18.72, P < 0.001; interaction: F(11,154) = 1.27 , P = 0.245]. Nostatistically significant difference between the two groups of animals wasseen regarding withdrawal signs. CONCLUSION: The study showed that discontinuation of exercise does not increasethe tendency of morphine dependence in rats.