Influence of resistance training and herbal supplementation on plasma apelin and metabolic syndrome risk factors in postmenopausal women.

Purpose ­: Menopause is a normal condition that all women experience as they age. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of circuit resistance exercise training with Zataria multiflora (Avishan-e-Shirazi) dietary supplementation on plasma apelin, glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance. Methods ­: Ninety-six volunteer postmenopausal women were allocated into 8 groups. Resistance training consisted of 12 stations had been done for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at pre- and -post intervention. Results ­: Circuit RT increases apelin and decreases both insulin and blood glucose, whereas Zataria multiflora has no independent effect on apelin but does decrease blood glucose and is likely to be in some means synergistic with circuit RT effects. Conclusion ­: These results suggest that circuit resistance training augments plasma apelin and decreases both insulin and blood glucose. However, Zataria multiflora has no independent effect on apelin but does decrease blood glucose which is likely to be to some extent synergistic with training effects.

Objectif ­: La ménopause est une situation physiologique qui affecte toutes les femmes autour de la cinquantaine. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer les effets d'un entraînement en résistance de type « circuit training ¼ avec supplémentation orale en Zataria multiflora (Avishan-e-Shirazi) sur l'apeline plasmatique, le glucose, l'insuline, la sensibilité à l'insuline et la résistance à l'insuline. Méthodologie ­: Quatre-vingt quatre femmes postménopausées bénévoles ont été réparties en 8 groupes. L'entraînement en circuit training comprenait 12 séances sur 8 semaines. Des échantillons sanguins ont été prélevés avant et après intervention. Résultats ­: Le circuit training augmente l'apeline et diminue à la fois l'insuline et la glycémie, alors que Zataria multiflora n'a pas d'effet indépendant sur l'apeline, mais diminue la glycémie et est semble synergique des effets du circuit training. Conclusion ­: Ces résultats suggèrent que le circuit training augmente l'apeline plasmatique et diminue insuline et glucose dans le sang. Cependant, Zataria multiflora n'a pas d'effet indépendant sur l'apeline mais fait diminuer la glycémie, ce qui est susceptible d'être dans une certaine mesure synergique avec les effets de l'entraînement.

Effects of Recovery Mode during High Intensity Interval Training on Glucoregulatory Hormones and Glucose Metabolism in Response to Maximal Exercise.

Catecholamines [adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA)] are known to stimulate glucose metabolism at rest and in response to maximal exercise. However, training and recovery mode can alter theses hormones. Thus our study aims to examine the effects of recovery mode during High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on glucoregulatory hormone responses to maximal exercise in young adults. Twenty-four male enrolled in this randomized study, assigned to: control group (eg, n=6), and two HIIT groups: intermittent exercise (30 s run/30 s recovery) with active (arg, n=9) or passive (prg, n=9) recovery, arg and prg performed HIIT 3 times weekly for 7 weeks. Before and after HIIT, participants undergo a Maximal Graded Test (MGT). Plasma catecholamines, glucose, insulin, growth hormone (Gh) and cortisol were determined at rest, at the end of MGT, after 10 and 30 min of recovery. After training V02max and Maximal Aerobic Velocity (MAV) increased significantly (p<0.05) in arg. After HIIT and in response to MGT plasma glucose increase significantly (p=0.008) lesser in arg compared to prg whereas insulin concentrations were similar. The glucose/insulin ratio was significantly lower at MGT end (p=0.033) only in arg after training. After HIIT, in response to MGT, plasma A, NA, cortisol and Gh concentrations were significantly higher only in arg (p<0.05). HIIT using active recovery is beneficial for aerobic fitness, plasma glucose and glucoregulatory hormones better than HIIT with passive recovery. These findings suggest that HIIT with active recovery may improve some metabolic and hormonal parameters in young adults.

Influence of dose-rate, post-irradiation incubation time and growth factors on interphase cell death by apoptosis and clonogenic survival of human peripheral lymphocytes.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of dose-rate, post-irradiation incubation time and growth factors on radiation-induced interphase cell death by apoptosis and reproductive cell death in human peripheral lymphocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphocytes in G0-phase were exposed in vitro to 1-3Gy 137Cs gamma-radiation at a high- (HDR, 45Gy/h) or a low dose-rate (LDR, 0.024Gy/h). HDR exposures were performed either on day 1 (HDR1) simultaneously with the start of the 3 Gy LDR exposure, or on day 6 (HDR6) when the LDR exposures ended. Apoptosis was studied at different times after irradiation by measuring (1) cellular membrane integrity, (2) morphological changes and (3) cell size reduction. Clonogenic survival was analysed for cells plated directly after irradiation (LDR, HDR6, HDR1 day 1) or after 5 days post-irradiation incubation (HDR1 day 6). RESULTS: A significant decrease in reproductive cell death was observed after 3 Gy LDR exposure as compared with the HDR1 exposure for cells plated day 6. For the lower doses applied, the dose-rate effect could not be statistically verified. A decrease in apoptosis for all three doses applied (i.e. 1, 2 and 3Gy) was observed when the LDR exposures were compared with the HDRI analysed day 6, although not of statistical significance. Radiation-induced apoptosis was efficiently counteracted by growth factors up to 24-48 h after 3 Gy HDR exposure. The prevention of radiation-induced cell death by growth factors was dependent on dose and post-irradiation time in G0. When the growth factors were added after a prolonged post-irradiation incubation in G0 (HDR 1 cells plated day 6), a significant increase in reproductive cell death was found (3 Gy) as compared with HDR protocols where the growth factors were added directly after irradiation (HDR 1 plated day 1 and HDR6). CONCLUSIONS: A dose-rate effect on radiation-induced apoptosis was indicated but not statistically verified. A significant dose-rate effect on reproductive cell death was observed. This dose-rate effect was, however, inverted when growth factors were added directly after the HDR irradiations.