Impact of Exercise Training on Survival Rate and Neural Cell Death in Sepsis Through the Maintenance of Redox Equilibrium.

PURPOSE: Sepsis-related deaths occur during both the early proinflammatory and the late immunosuppressive phases of the condition. The balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses is influenced by damaged cells that die via either proinflammatory necroptosis or anti-inflammatory apoptosis. Both forms of cell death may be mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the proinflammatory response. Recent evidence suggests that exercise training boosts antioxidative capacity and could offer protection against sepsis. Given these findings, we aimed to examine the impact of exercise training on neural cell death in the context of sepsis. METHODS: We assessed the effectiveness of exercise in reducing ROS production and the inflammatory response using a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model. Forty C57BL/6N male mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: control (CLP-Con; n=20) and experimental (CLP-Ex; n=20). Before the induction of sepsis by CLP, the CLP-Ex mice underwent interval training on a treadmill 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Each day involved 10 cycles of 2 minutes at 8 m/min and 2 minutes at 15 m/min. After the CLP procedure, we monitored the survival of 10 mice from each group over a 30-hour period. RESULTS: The findings indicated that exercise training increased the survival rate among mice with CLP-induced sepsis by enhancing antioxidative capacity and delaying the transition from a hyperdynamic to an immunosuppressive state. CONCLUSION: Exercise training may delay the progression from the hyperdynamic state to the hypodynamic phase of sepsis by increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing apoptotic cell death.

Position Statement: Exercise Guidelines for Osteoporosis Management and Fall Prevention in Osteoporosis Patients.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of exercise for improving osteoporosis and fall prevention in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia has not been fully summarized. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Korean Society of Exercise Physiology has developed exercise guidelines for patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia and provide evidence-based recommendations. METHODS: A systematic review identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) assessing the effect of resistance, impact, balance, aerobic training, and physical activity in osteoporosis and osteopenia on bone quality, physical performance, quality of life, and fall prevention. PubMed, Embase, KoreaMed, and RISS were searched from January 2000 to August 2022. Ten key questions were established to review the evidence and formulate recommendations. RESULTS: The 50 RCTs reported that even with osteoporosis and osteopenia, resistance and impact training consistently maximized bone strength, improved body strength and balance, and eventually reduced fall incidences. Resistance exercise combining 3 to 10 types of free weight and mechanical exercise of major muscle groups performed with an intensity of 50% to 85% 1-repetition maximum, 5 to 12 repetitions/set, 2 to 3 days/week, for 3 to 12 months is recommended. Impact exercises such as jumping chin-ups with drop landings and jump rope performed 50 jumps/session for at least 6 months with 3 or more days/week are recommended. CONCLUSIONS: A multi-component exercise mainly comprised of resistance and impact exercise seems to be an effective strategy to attenuate the risk factors of osteoporosis and osteopenia. The integration of exercise guidelines and individualized exercise plans has significant potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality of osteoporosis.

Alterations in pulmonary vasomotor modulators post aerobic exercise training in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

This study investigated the impact of exercise training on major pulmonary vasomotor mediators and receptors including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1), ET-1 receptors A (ETA) and-B (ETB) in high-fat-high-carbohydrate (HFHC) induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD increased iNOS, ET-1 and ETA (p < 0.05), but not ETB (p > 0.05). Exercise attenuated iNOS, ET-1 and ETA (p < 0.05)., but not ETB (p > 0.05) and eNOS (p > 0.05). Exercise training is beneficial for pulmonary vasculature in NAFLD.

Exercise training attenuates pulmonary inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in a mouse model of high-fat high-carbohydrate-induced NAFLD.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can lead to pulmonary dysfunction that is associated with pulmonary inflammation. Moreover, little is known regarding the therapeutic role of exercise training on pulmonary pathophysiology in NAFLD. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise training on high-fat high-carbohydrate (HFHC)-induced pulmonary dysfunction in C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice (N = 40) were fed a standard Chow (n = 20) or an HFHC (n = 20) diet for 15 weeks. After 8 weeks of dietary treatment, they were further assigned to 4 subgroups for the remaining 7 weeks: Chow (n = 10), Chow plus exercise (Chow+EX, n = 10), HFHC (n = 10), or HFHC plus exercise (HFHC+EX, n = 10). Both Chow+EX and HFHC+EX mice were subjected to treadmill running. RESULTS: Chronic exposure to the HFHC diet resulted in obesity with hepatic steatosis, impaired glucose tolerance, and elevated liver enzymes. The HFHC significantly increased fibrotic area (p < 0.001), increased the mRNA expression of TNF-α (4.1-fold, p < 0.001), IL-1ß (5.0-fold, p < 0.001), col1a1 (8.1-fold, p < 0.001), and Timp1 (6.0-fold, p < 0.001) in the lung tissue. In addition, the HFHC significantly altered mitochondrial function (p < 0.05) along with decreased Mfn1 protein levels (1.8-fold, p < 0.01) and increased Fis1 protein levels (1.9-fold, p < 0.001). However, aerobic exercise training significantly attenuated these pathophysiologies in the lungs in terms of ameliorating inflammatory and fibrogenic effects by enhancing mitochondrial function in lung tissue (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that exercise training has a beneficial effect against pulmonary abnormalities in HFHC-induced NAFLD through improved mitochondrial function.

Dynapenic-abdominal obesity as an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease in postmenopausal women: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Low muscle strength and obesity lead to a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Perimenopause is associated with a natural decline in muscle strength and an increase in visceral adiposity. Dynapenic obesity, which is the coexistence of low muscle strength and obesity, is expected to synergistically increase the prevalence of CKD in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to determine combined associations of dynapenia and obesity with CKD in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016 to 2019. The study included 4,525 postmenopausal women aged 42 to 80 years that were classified into four groups based on waist circumference (≥85 cm) and hand grip strength (<18 kg): normal, dynapenic, obese, or dynapenic-obese. According to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes, we defined CKD as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Complex sample logistic regression models were conducted to determine the relationships among coexistence of dynapenia, abdominal obesity, and the risk of CKD. RESULTS: Dynapenic-abdominal obese group displayed lower estimated glomerular filtration rate levels than other groups (P < 0.05 for all data). The prevalence rates of CKD were 15.5%, 7.8%, 6.2%, and 2.4% in the dynapenic-abdominal obese, dynapenic, abdominal obese, and normal groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Complex sample logistic regression analyses, after adjusting for age, height, health behaviors, and comorbidities, showed that the odds ratio for CKD with respect to dynapenic-abdominal obesity was 1.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.79) and to abdominal obesity was 1.54 (95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.22) than in the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that dynapenic-abdominal obesity, as determined by low handgrip strength and high waist circumference values, was associated with increased risk of CKD in postmenopausal women.

Greater Muscular Strength Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Pulmonary Dysfunction in Individuals with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

This study investigated the combined effect of handgrip strength (HGS) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on pulmonary function using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2016 to 2018. For the present study, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio, handgrip strength (HGS) and the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) to estimate NAFLD were obtained from nationwide cross-sectional surveys. For HGS, subjects were divided into higher HGS (upper 50%) and lower HGS (lower 50%). For NAFLD, subjects were divided into the NAFLD cohort (HSI > 36) and the normal cohort (HSI ≤ 36). Of 1651 subjects (men, n = 601), 25.5% of subjects (n = 421) met the HSI > 36. Based on the normal cohort with high HGS, the normal cohort with low HGS showed an increased risk of reduced FVC (OR = 3.062, 95% CI = 2.46−4.83, p < 0.001) and the NAFLD cohort with low HGS showed a further increased risk of reduced FVC (OR = 4.489, 95% CI = 3.43−7.09, p < 0.001). However, the risk of reduced FVC was not significantly increased in NAFLD with high HGS (OR = 1.297, 95% CI = 0.67−2.50, p = 0.436). After adjusted for covariates such as age, sex, smoking, FBG, HDL-C, TG, SBP, DBP, CRP and alcohol consumption, the results remained similar. More importantly, these results were consistent in the obesity-stratified analysis. The current findings of the study suggest that higher muscle strength is associated with a lower risk of reduced pulmonary function in individuals with NAFLD.

Moderate-Intensity Exercise Preserves Bone Mineral Density and Improves Femoral Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture in Middle-Aged Mice.

BACKGROUND: Aging leads to significant bone loss and elevated osteoporosis risk. Exercise slows age-related bone loss; however, the effects of various moderate-intensity exercise training volumes on bone metabolism remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the degree to which different volumes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training influence bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), femoral trabecular bone microarchitecture, and cortical bone in middle-aged mice. METHODS: Twenty middle-aged male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned 8 weeks of either (1) non-exercise (CON); (2) moderate-intensity with high-volume exercise (EX_MHV); or (3) moderate-intensity with low-volume exercise (EX_MLV) (N=6-7, respectively). Femoral BMD and BMC were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and trabecular and cortical bone were measured using micro-computed tomography. RESULTS: Femoral BMD in EX_MHV but not EX_MLV was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in CON. The distal femoral fractional trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV, %) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both EX_MHV and EX_MLV than in CON mice. Increased BV/TV was induced by significantly increased trabecular thickness (mm) and tended to be higher (P<0.10) in BV (mm3) and lower in trabecular separation (mm) in EX_MHV and EX_MLV than in CON. The femoral mid-diaphysis cortical bone was stronger in EX_MLV than EX_MHV. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with low to high volumes can be thought to have a positive effect on hindlimb BMD and attenuate age-associated trabecular bone loss in the femur. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may be an effective and applicable exercise regimen to prevent age-related loss of BMD and BV.

Exercise Training Attenuates Ovariectomy-Induced Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Remodeling, Apoptotic Signaling, and Atrophy Signaling in Rat Skeletal Muscle.

PURPOSE: The effects of aerobic exercise training on soleus muscle morphology, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in ovariectomized rat skeletal muscle were investigated. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CON), ovariectomy (OVX), and ovariectomy plus exercise (OVX+EX) groups. After ovarian excision, exercise training was performed using a rat treadmill at 20 m/min, 50 min/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks. Protein levels of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in the skeletal muscle (soleus) were examined through western immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: The number of myocytes and myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) were increased and the extramyocyte space was decreased in the OVX group compared to those in the CON group. However, aerobic exercise training significantly increased myocyte CSA and decreased extramyocyte space in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. The protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and muscle atrophy signaling were significantly increased, whereas the protein levels of muscle hypertrophy signaling were significantly decreased in the OVX group compared to that in the CON group. Aerobic exercise training significantly decreased the protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and increased the protein level of antiapoptotic protein in the OVX+EX group compared to that in the OVX group. Aerobic exercise training significantly increased the protein levels of hypertrophy signaling and decreased protein levels of atrophy signaling in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. CONCLUSION: Treadmill exercise improved estrogen deficiency-induced impairment in skeletal muscle remodeling, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in skeletal muscle.

Relationships between Socioeconomic Status, Handgrip Strength, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Middle-Aged Adults.

Although low socioeconomic status (SES) and decreased muscle strength have been found to be associated with the risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, the associations among SES, muscle strength, and NAFLD are still unclear. We aimed to investigate the combined effect of SES and relative handgrip strength (HGS) on the risk of NAFLD in middle-aged adults. Data from 5272 middle-aged adults who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) from 2014-2018 were analyzed. NAFLD was defined using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) > 36 and the comprehensive NAFLD score (CNS) ≥ 40 in the absence of other causes of liver disease. SES was based on a self-reported questionnaire. Overall, individuals with low SES (odds ratio (OR) = 1.703, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.424-2.037, p < 0.001) or low HGS (OR = 12.161, 95% CI: 9.548-15.488, p < 0.001) had a significantly higher risk of NAFLD. The joint association analysis showed that a low SES combined with a low HGS (OR = 2.479, 95% CI: 1.351-4.549, p = 0.003) further significantly increased the risk of NAFLD when adjusted for all the covariates, compared with individuals with a high SES and a high HGS (OR = 1). The current findings suggest that both low SES and low HGS were independently and synergistically associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in middle-aged Korean adults.

Moderate aerobic exercise training ameliorates impairment of mitochondrial function and dynamics in skeletal muscle of high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether moderate aerobic exercise training improves high-fat diet-induced alterations in mitochondrial function and structure in the skeletal muscle. Male 4-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (CON), control plus exercise (CON + EX), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet plus exercise (HFD + EX). After obesity was induced by 20 weeks of 60% HFD, treadmill exercise training was performed at 13-16 m/min, 40-50 min/day, and 6 days/week for 12 weeks. Mitochondrial structure, function, and dynamics, and mitophagy were analyzed in the skeletal muscle fibers from the red gastrocnemius. Exercise training increased mitochondrial number and area and reduced high-fat diet-induced obesity and hyperglycemia. In addition, exercise training attenuated mitochondrial dysfunction in the permeabilized myofibers, indicating that HFD-induced decrease of mitochondrial O2 respiration and Ca2+ retention capacity and increase of mitochondrial H2 O2 emission were attenuated in the HFD + EX group compared to the HFD group. Exercise also ameliorated HFD-induced imbalance of mitochondrial fusion and fission, demonstrating that HFD-induced decrease in fusion protein levels was elevated, and increase in fission protein levels was reduced in the HFD + EX groups compared with the HFD group. Moreover, dysregulation of mitophagy induced by HFD was mitigated in the HFD + EX group, indicating a decrease in PINK1 protein level. Our findings demonstrated that moderate aerobic exercise training mitigated obesity-induced insulin resistance by improving mitochondrial function, and reversed obesity-induced mitochondrial structural damage by improving mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, suggesting that moderate aerobic exercise training may play a therapeutic role in protecting the skeletal muscle against mitochondrial impairments and insulin resistance induced by obesity.

Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture Improvement Is Associated With Skeletal Nerve Increase Following Aerobic Exercise Training in Middle-Aged Mice.

Advancing age is associated with bone loss and an increased risk of osteoporosis. Exercise training improves bone metabolism and peripheral nerve regeneration, and may play a critical role in osteogenesis and increase in skeletal nerve fiber density. In this study, the potential positive role of aerobic exercise training in bone metabolism and skeletal nerve regeneration was comprehensively evaluated in 14-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. The mice were divided into two groups: no exercise (non-exercise group) and 8-weeks of aerobic exercise training (exercise group), with six mice in each group. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and micro-computed tomography showed that femoral and tibial bone parameters improved after aerobic exercise training. Greater skeletal nerve fiber density was also observed in the distal femoral and proximal tibial periostea, measured and analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant association between skeletal nerve densities and trabecular bone volume/total volume ratios (distal femur; R 2 = 0.82, p < 0.05, proximal tibia; R 2 = 0.59, p = 0.07) in the exercise group; while in the non-exercise group no significant correlation was found (distal femur; R 2 = 0.10, p = 0.54, proximal tibia; R 2 = 0.12, p = 0.51). Analysis of archival microarray database confirmed that aerobic exercise training changed the microRNA profiles in the mice femora. The differentially expressed microRNAs reinforce the role of aerobic exercise training in the osteogenic and neurogenic potential of femora and tibiae. In conclusion, 8-weeks of aerobic exercise training positively regulate bone metabolism, an effect that paralleled a significant increase in skeletal nerve fiber density. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise training may have dual utility, both as a direct stimulator of bone remodeling and a positive regulator of skeletal nerve regeneration.

Exercise as a Therapeutic Strategy for Sarcopenia in Heart Failure: Insights into Underlying Mechanisms.

Sarcopenia, a syndrome commonly seen in elderly populations, is often characterized by a gradual loss of skeletal muscle, leading to the decline of muscle strength and physical performance. Growing evidence suggests that the prevalence of sarcopenia increases in patients with heart failure (HF), which is a dominant pathogenesis in the aging heart. HF causes diverse metabolic complications that may result in sarcopenia. Therefore, sarcopenia may act as a strong predictor of frailty, disability, and mortality associated with HF. Currently, standard treatments for slowing muscle loss in patients with HF are not available. Therefore, here, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying sarcopenia in HF as well as current knowledge regarding the beneficial effects of exercise on sarcopenia in HF and related mechanisms, including hormonal changes, myostatin, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and insulin resistance.

Exercise Preconditioning Attenuates the Response to Experimental Colitis and Modifies Composition of Gut Microbiota in Wild-Type Mice.

This study investigated the suppressive effect of exercise preconditioning against colitis induced by high-fat diet (HF) plus dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in wild-type mice. Male mice (C57BL/6) aged 6 weeks were assigned to standard chow (SC, n = 10) or HF (n = 10) or HF followed by DSS (HF+DSS, n = 10) or exercise preconditioning (EX) followed by HF+DSS (EX+HF+DSS, n = 10) for a total of 15 weeks. After 12 weeks of dietary treatments and/or exercise preconditioning, mice in the DSS groups were subjected to administration of 2 cycles of 5-day DSS (2% w/v) with a 7-day interval between cycles. HF resulted in colitis symptoms and histological changes, infiltration of immunity cells, decreased gut barrier proteins, increased pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokine such as adiponectin, which deteriorated after administration of DSS. Exercise preconditioning alleviated HF+DSS-induced colitis and caused significant modifications in gut microbiota: decreased Bacteroides vulgatus (p = 0.050) and increased Akkermansia muciniphila (p = 0.050). The current findings suggest that exercise preconditioning attenuates the severity of HF+DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Aging Promotes Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in Rat Hearts.

Aging represents a major risk for developing cardiac disease, including heart failure. The gradual deterioration of cell quality control with aging leads to cell death, a phenomenon associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in the heart. Apoptosis is an important quality control process and a necessary phenomenon for maintaining homeostasis and normal function of the heart. However, the mechanism of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in aged hearts remains poorly understood. Here, we used male Fischer 344 rats of various ages, representing very young (1 month), young (4 months), middle-aged (12 months), and old (20 months) rats, to determine whether mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signals and apoptosis in the left ventricle of the heart are altered notably with aging. As the rats aged, the extramyocyte space and myocyte cross-sectional area in their left ventricle muscle increased, while the number of myocytes decreased. Additionally, mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic signals and apoptosis increased remarkably during aging. Therefore, our results demonstrate that aging promotes remarkable morphological changes and increases the degree of mitochondrion-mediated apoptosis in the left ventricle of rat hearts.

Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between involuntary weight loss (IWL) and late-life depression (LLD) in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: Data (N=6945) obtained from the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were used. Changed body weight between the 2008 and 2011 was classified into stable weight (<-5% ∼ <+5%), lightweight loss (≥ -5% ∼ <-10%), moderate weight loss (≥ -10%), lightweight gain (+≥5 ∼ <+10%), and moderate weight gain (≥+10%). RESULTS: Compared to the stable weight group, the moderate weight loss group had a higher risk of LLD (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.61-2.46, P<0.001) even after adjustments for covariates, including age, BMI, education, income, life of solitude, smoking, physical activity, dependent aging, comorbidity, and cognitive function. CONCLUSION: IWL is significantly associated with LLD in Korean older adults, implying the prognostic importance of IWL for presenting mental health issues later in life.

Re-Setting the Circadian Clock Using Exercise against Sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia is defined as the involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass and function with aging and is associated with several adverse health outcomes. Recently, the disruption of regular circadian rhythms, due to shift work or nocturnal lifestyle, is emerging as a novel deleterious factor for the development of sarcopenia. The underlying mechanisms responsible for circadian disruption-induced sarcopenia include molecular circadian clock and mitochondrial function associated with the regulation of circadian rhythms. Exercise is a potent modulator of skeletal muscle metabolism and is considered to be a crucial preventative and therapeutic intervention strategy for sarcopenia. Moreover, emerging evidence shows that exercise, acting as a zeitgeber (time cue) of the skeletal muscle clock, can be an efficacious tool for re-setting the clock in sarcopenia. In this review, we provide the evidence of the impact of circadian disruption on skeletal muscle loss resulting in sarcopenia. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of exercise timing (i.e., scheduled physical activity) as a novel therapeutic strategy to target circadian disruption in skeletal muscle.

Exercise and Curcumin in Combination Improves Cognitive Function and Attenuates ER Stress in Diabetic Rats.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease associated with chronic low-grade inflammation that is mainly associated with lifestyles. Exercise and healthy diet are known to be beneficial for adults with T2DM in terms of maintaining blood glucose control and overall health. We investigated whether a combination of exercise and curcumin supplementation ameliorates diabetes-related cognitive distress by regulating inflammatory response and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This study was performed using male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats (a spontaneous diabetes Type 2 model) and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats (LETO controls) by providing them with exercise alone or exercise and curcumin in combination. OLETF rats were fed either a diet of chow (as OLETF controls) or a diet of chow containing curcumin (5 g/kg diet) for five weeks. OLETF rats exercised with curcumin supplementation exhibited weight loss and improved glucose homeostasis and lipid profiles as compared with OLETF controls or exercised OLETF rats. Next, we examined cognitive functions using a Morris water maze test. Exercise plus curcumin improved escape latency and memory retention compared to OLETF controls. Furthermore, OLETF rats exercised and fed curcumin had lower IL6, TNFα, and IL10 levels (indicators of inflammatory response) and lower levels of ER stress markers (BiP and CHOP) in the intestine than OLETF controls. These observations suggest exercise plus curcumin may offer a means of treating diabetes-related cognitive dysfunction.

Association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with serum vitamin D levels in combination of physical fitness in korean older adults.

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) tends to increase with age, but little is known regarding relations between the risk of NAFLD in older adults and serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) and physical fitness levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NAFLD risk and serum vitamin D levels combined with physical fitness in elderly adults using a non-invasive diagnostic approach. We enrolled 533 Korean older adults (80.8 % women), aged 65 years or older in this cross-sectional study. NAFLD in absence of another cause of liver disease was defined according to the ZJU and NAFLD liver fat (LFS) score. Physical fitness was assessed using a senior fitness test protocol. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of NAFLD for different combinations of serum vitamin D and physical fitness levels. According to the ZJU (OR: 3.073, CI: 1.285-7.350, p = 0.012) and LFS (OR = 2.443, CI = 1.071-5.572, p = 0.034), individuals with serum vitamin D < 30 ng/ml and poor physical fitness had a significantly higher risk of NAFLD than individuals with serum vitamin D ≥ 30 ng/ml and high fitness (reference, OR = 1), even after adjustments for age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. However, there was no significant association after adjustment for additional metabolic diseases. Our findings suggest that the maintenance of appropriate levels of serum vitamin D and/or high physical fitness and the monitoring metabolic diseases can help reduce the risk of NAFLD in older adults.

Ferulic acid maintains the self-renewal capacity of embryo stem cells and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in high fat diet-induced obese mice.

Self-renewal is required for embryo stem cells (ESCs) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). This study examined the ability of ferulic acid in mouse ESCs and ADMSCs, in a high fat diet-induced mouse model. Initially, five natural compounds of ferulic acid, xanthohumol, curcumin, ascorbic acid, and quercetin were screened in ESCs using an alkaline phosphate +(AP+) assay, as a self-renewal biomarker. A ferulic acid treatment was the highest AP+ staining in hop-hit screening compounds. Also a ferulic acid increased Nanog mRNA levels in ESCs. The in vivo effects of ferulic acid were next examined in an obese mouse model. C57BL/6 J male mice were fed either a high fat diet (HFD) or control diet with ferulic acid (5 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks. Ferulic acid exhibited weight loss and improved glucose homeostasis, lipid profiling, and hepatic steatosis in a HFD-induced mouse model. Next, ADMSCs (Sca-1+CD45-), a hallmark of fat stem cells, were then isolated and quantified from mouse abdominal adipose tissue. A HFD decreased the Sca-1+CD45- cell population of ADMSCs, but HFD-induced obese mice given ferulic acid showed an increased the Sca-1+CD45- cell population of ADMSCs. Moreover, ferulic acid enhanced NANOG mRNA levels in human ADMSCs and its related gene mRNA expression. Overall, this study suggests that ferulic acid preserves self-renewal in ESCs, and contributes to ADMSCs self-renewal and effective weight control in obesity.

Position Statement: Exercise Guidelines to Increase Peak Bone Mass in Adolescents.

BACKGROUND: An increase in bone mineral density during adolescence increases resistance to fractures in older age. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Korean Society of Exercise Physiology developed exercise guidelines to increase the peak bone mass (PBM) in adolescents based on evidence through a systematic review of previous research. METHODS: Articles were selected using the systematic method, and the exercise guidelines were established by selecting key questions (KQs) and defining the effects of exercises based on evidence through a literature review for selecting the final exercise method. There were 9 KQs. An online search was conducted on articles published since 2000, and 93 articles were identified. RESULTS: An increase in PBM in adolescence was effective for preventing osteoporosis and fractures in older age. Exercise programs as part of vigorous physical activity (VPA) including resistance and impact exercise at least 5 to 6 months were effective for improving PBM in adolescents. It is recommended that resistance exercise is performed 10 to 12 rep·set-1 1-2 set·region-1 and 3 days·week-1 using the large muscles. For impact exercises such as jumping, it is recommended that the exercise is performed at least 50 jumps·min-1, 10 min·day-1 and 2 days·week-1. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise guidelines were successfully developed, and they recommend at least 5 to 6 months of VPA, which includes both resistance and impact exercises. With the development of exercise guidelines, the incidence of osteoporosis and fractures in the aging society can be reduced in the future, thus contributing to improved public health.