RESUMEN
Normal weight obesity (NWO) refers to a condition in which the body mass index falls within the normal range, but the percent of body fat is excessive. Although there are reports of a high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in NWO, analyses regarding physical fitness have been lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the age-related prevalence of NWO and to examine physical fitness across generations. Our study utilized a dataset comprising 119,835 participants for analysis. The prevalence of NWO across ages was examined using cross-tabulation analysis. For body composition and physical fitness, medians and group differences were assessed by generation through Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Additionally, univariate logistic regression was adopted to analyze the odds ratio. The prevalence of NWO in Korean women was 18.3%. The fat-free mass of the NWO group was consistently lower than that of both the group with normal body mass indexes (Normal) and obese body mass indexes (Obesity) across all generations. Additionally, the waist circumference and blood pressure were greater in the now group than in the Normal group. When considering maximal strength, muscle endurance, power, balance, and coordination, the NWO group exhibited lower levels compared to the Normal group. The NWO group showed lower muscle mass than both the Normal and Obesity groups, resulting in significantly reduced physical fitness compared to that of the Normal group, similar to the Obesity group. This condition may increase not only the risk of posing a potentially more serious health concern than obesity but also the risk of falls in elderly people. Therefore, based on this study, it is crucial to not only define obesity using BMI criteria but also to diagnose NWO. Public health policies and preventive measures must be implemented accordingly.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to investigate the time-dependent alteration in whether concurrent aerobic exercise and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) engraftment could regulate myogenic differentiation-related signaling pathway in the soleus up to 35 days after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The rats were divided as follows: the normal control (CON, n=5), sedentary group (SED, n=20), treadmill exercise group (TEX, n=20), BMSC transplantation group (BMSC, n=20), TEX+BMSC transplantation group (TEX+BMSC, n=20) 7, 14, 21, and 35 days after SNI. SNI was applied into the thigh and treadmill exercise was comprised of walking at a speed of 4 to 8 m/min for 30 min once a day. Harvested BMSC at a density of 5×106 in 50-µL phosphate-buff-ered saline was injected into the injury site. Phosphorylated (p) extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 expression was dramatically upregulated in BMSC and BMSC+EX groups from 21 days after SNI compared to those in the SED group. P-ribosomal s6 kinase (RSK) was sharply increased 14 days later, and then rapidly downregulated from day 21, whereas TEX, BMSC and TEX+ BMSC groups significantly kept up expression levels of p-RSK until 35 days post injury than SED group. TEX+BMSC group significantly increased activation of protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin in the soleus from day 14 and myoblast determination protein 1-myogen-in pathways was activated in TEX+BMSC group from day 21. Present findings provide information that combined intervention of aerobic exercise and BMSC transplantation might be a reliable therapeutic strategy for overcoming the morphological and functional problems in denervated soleus muscle.
RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to determine whether walking exercise can regulate the expression level of neuropathic pain- and inflammatory response markers in the ipsilateral lumbar 4 to 6 dorsal root ganglion neurons after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats were randomly divided into seven groups: the normal control group, sedentary groups for 3, 7, and, 14 days postinjury (dpi), and walking exercise groups for 3, 7, and 14 dpi. Western blot techniques were used to evaluate specific neuropathic pain- and cytokine markers and mechanical allodynia was confirmed by paw withdrawal test. Mechanical allodynia was significantly improved in the walking exercise group compared to the sedentary group at all 7, 10, and 14 dpi. Furthermore, growth associated protein 43 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were significantly increased in the walking exercise groups compared to the sedentary group at all 3, 7, and 14 dpi. Conversely, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor α, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and c-Fos expression levels were significantly decreased in the walking exercise groups compared to the sedentary group at all 3, 7, and 14 dpi. These findings suggest meaningful information that aggressive rehabilitation walking exercise applied early after SNI might be improve mechanical allodynia, neuropathic pain and inflammatory response markers following SNI.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to determine whether combined inter-vention of treadmill exercise and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) transplantation would affect the expression of neurotrophic factors in the sciatic nerve injury (SNI) and neuropathic pain-related cascades in ipsilateral lumbar 4-5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) during the early or late stage of sciatic nerve regeneration. The rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (CONT, n=6), sedentary group (SS, n=24), exercise group (SE, n=24), BMSC transplantation group (SB, n=24), BMSC transplantation+exercise group (SBE, n=24) 1, 2, 3, and 5 weeks after SNI. Single dose of 5×106 harvested BMSC was injected into the injury area sing by a 30 gauge needle. Treadmill exercise was performed at a speed of 8 m/min for 30 min once a day. Tropomyosin-receptor kinase B, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic fac-tor were significantly upregulated in the SE and SBE groups at 1- and 2-week postinjury than those in the CONT and SS groups, and SB and SBE groups continuously kept up proinflammatory cytokines until the late stage of regeneration. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, interleukin and tumor necrosis factor alpha in ipsi-lateral DRG were progressively decreased by exercise alone application and/or BMSC transplantation at early and late stage of regeneration. Present results provide reliable information that combined intervention of treadmill exercise and BMSC transplantation might be one of the effective treatment strategies for recovering sciatic nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain over time.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the timing of tread-mill exercise application can control expression levels of neuropathic pain- and regeneration-related proteins in the ipsilateral lumbar 4 (L4) to 6 (L6) dorsal root ganglion cells (DRG) after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups: the normal control, SNI+sedentary (IS), exercise+SNI (EI), SNI+exercise (IE), exercise+SNI+exercise (EIE) groups. The rats in exercise groups per-formed treadmill exercise at a speed of 8 m/min for 30 min once a day during 14 days before and/or after SNI. For investigating the expression of specific neuropathic pain and regeneration-related proteins in DRG, we prepared L4 to L6 DRG in the ipsilateral side. In the quantitative analysis, growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels were further increased in the ipsilateral DRG at all treadmill exercise groups than those in IS group. In the histological findings, GAP-43 was qualitatively increased IE and EIE groups than IS group at DRG. Wnt3a and ß-catenin were dramatically downregulated in EIE and IE groups than IS groups. In addition, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly decreased in IE and EIE groups than IS group in the ipsilateral DRG. Our findings suggested novel information that regular low-intensity exercise before and/or after SNI might be a therapeutic and preventive approaches for relieving neuropathic pain and improving axonal elongation after peripheral nerve injury.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical efficiency index (PEI) calculated by the Harvard step test and heart rate variation (HRV), and to identify parameters of HRV that can predict PEI in college students. Sixteen college students were participated in this study and they were randomly divided into two groups; higher PEI group (HPEI, n=6) and lower PEI group (LPEI, n=10). To investigate the relationship between PEI and HRV, we were measured HRV and Harvard step test. HRV test was the resting, immediately, 15 min and 30 min after the Harvard step test using electrocardiography device polyG-I. Relationship between PEI and HRV were determined Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis was performed for examining HRV parameters to predict PEI. As shown in the result, not only PEI was negatively correlated with root mean squared differences between adjacent normal RR intervals (RMSSD), but had a positive correlation with low-frequency/high-frequency, but also normalized low frequency (normLF), the ratio of LF, and RMSSD, the change in RR interval showed a significant difference at each time point of measurement according to PEI levels. But, there were no significant differences among the HRV variables except normLF and RMS-SD. Our findings suggest a critical information that PEI calculated by the Harvard step test can be used as an index to predict the autonomic nerve function, and high PEI may have a positive effect on changes in autonomic nerve activity during recovery after exercise intervention.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether combination of low-intensity exercise with bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) transplantation could regulate protein kinas B (Akt)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Wnt3a-ß-catenin signaling pathways for prevention of soleus muscle atrophy after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal control group, SNI+sedentary group (SED), SNI+low-intensity treadmill exercise group (TEX), SNI+BMSC transplantation group (BMSC), SNI+TEX+BMSC transplantation group (TEX+BMSC). Sciatic nerve crush injury was applied into the middle of thigh twice for 1 min and 30 sec at interval. Low-intensity treadmill exercise was comprised of walking at a speed of 4 to 8 m/min for 30 min once a day. cultured BMSC at a density of 5×106 in 50-µL phosphate-buffered saline was injected into the distal portion of the injured sciatic nerves. TEX+BMSC group dramatically up-regulated expression levels of growth-associated protein-43 in the injured sciatic nerve at 2 weeks postinjury. Also, although Akt and mTOR signaling pathway significantly increased in TEX and BMSC groups than SED group, TEX+BMSC group showed more potent increment on this signaling in soleus muscle after SNI. Lastly, Wnt3a and the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin and nuclear factor-kappa B in soleus were increased by SNI, but TEX+BMSC group significantly downregulated activity of this signaling pathway in the nuclear cell lysate of soleus muscle. Present findings provide new information that combination of low-intensity treadmill exercise might be effective therapeutic approach on restriction of soleus muscle atrophy after peripheral nerve injury.
RESUMEN
The effect of combined approach of exercise training and bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) engraftment on activation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway after sciatic nerve injury (SNI) was investigated. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into the normal control, nonexercise (NEX), exercise training (EX), BMSC transplantation (TP), and exercise training+BMSC transplantation (EX+TP) groups 4 weeks after SCI. Exercise training was carried out on the treadmill device at 5-10 m/min for 20 min for 4 weeks. Single dose of 5×106 harvested BMSC was injected into the injury area of the injured sciatic nerve. In order to evaluate induction levels of BDNF-ERK1/2-CREB signaling molecules in the whole cell and nuclear cell lysates of the injured sciatic nerve, we applied Western blot analysis. BDNF was significantly increased only in EX+TP compared to NEX, EX, and TP groups. Phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 was more increased in EX, TP, and EX+TP groups than NEX group, but EX+TP group showed the most upregulation of phosphorylated protein kinase B compared to other groups. In addition, in the whole cell lysate, phosphorylated ERK1/2, but not activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3) and phosphorylated CREB, was significantly increased in TP and EX+TP groups. In the nuclear cell lysate, ATF-3 and phosphorylated CREB were strongly activated in EX+TP group compared to EX group. Regular exercise training combined with BMSC engraftment would seem to be more effective in controlling activation of regeneration-related signaling pathway after SNI.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to determine whether treadmill walking exercise can improve mechanical allodynia through regulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons at the early stage of regeneration after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats were divided into seven groups: the normal control, sedentary groups for 3-, 7-, and 14-day post crush (dpc), and exercise group for 3, 7, and 14 dpc. The rats in exercise groups performed treadmill walking exercise at a speed of 8 m/min for 20 min once a day according to experiment duration. For evaluating neuropathic pain-like behavior after SNI, the mechanical allodynia was examined by von Frey apparatus. And the expression levels of pain-related protein were identified in the cytoplasm or nucleus of DRG neurons using Western blot techniques. Mechanical allodynia was significantly ameliorated in the exercise group at 7 and 14 dpc. Treadmill exercise further decreased Wnt3a expression at 3, 7, and 14 dpc compared to in the sedentary group. Also, phosphorylated-low-density lipoprotein receptor 6 was decreased in exercise groups at 3 and 14 dpc. Beta-catenin was significantly decreased in exercise groups at 3 and 14 dpc compared to sedentary groups as well as treadmill exercise decreased translocation of ß-catenin towards the nucleus of DRG neurons at 14 dpc. Our findings indicate that treadmill walking exercise may be an important regulator of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury through delayed Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in DRG neurons.
RESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of treadmill exer-cise on activating transcription factors such as activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) sig-naling pathway to facilitate axonal regrowth after sciatic nerve injury (SNI). The experimental rats divided into the normal control (n=10), sedentary groups for 7 (n=10) and 14 days (n=10) post crush, exercise group for 7 (n=10) and 14 days (n=10) post crush (dpc). The rats in ex-ercise groups run on treadmill device at a speed of 8 m/min for 20 min once a day according to exercise duration. In order to evaluate specific regeneration markers and axonal elongation in injured sciatic nerve, we applied immunofluorescence staining and western blot techniques. Treadmill exercise further increased growth-associated protein (GAP-43) expression and axonal regrowth at 7 and 14 dpc than those in sed-entary group. Among mitogen-activated protein kinase downstream molecules, phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) was enhanced by treadmill ex-ercise at only 7 dpc and decreased to basal level 14 days later. But c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, and phospho-cyclic adenosine mono-phosphate response element-binding protein showed a tendency to in-crease continuously until 14 dpc by exercise. ATF3 expression in exer-cise group was upregulated at both 7 and 14 dpc compared to the sed-entary group. These results indicate that treadmill exercise had benefi-cial effect on expression of regeneration-related proteins after SNI, suggesting that exercise might be one of various therapeutic strategies for sciatic nerve regeneration.
RESUMEN
The present study investigated whether treadmill exercise with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) transplantation increase expression level of protein synthesis-related molecules in the soleus muscle after spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord contusion injury was performed at the T9-10 level using the impactor (10 g×25 mm). BMSCs were cultured from femur and tibia of 4-week-old rats and then transplanted directly into the lesion 1-week post injury. The rats in exercise group were walking on treadmill device for 6 days per a week during 6 weeks. Prepared soleus muscles were used for examining mechanisms of protein synthesis after SCI. Myostatin induction level was increased by SCI, but BMSCs engrafting after SCI decreased compared to SCI group. Combination of treadmill exercise with BMSCs showed more potent decrement on myostatin expression. Protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) levels were significantly increased in SCI and BMSCs transplantation group compared to SCI group. Combination of treadmill exercise with BMSCs further facilitated expression levels of Akt and mTOR. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (p-CREB) induction levels were more increased in SCI and BMSC transplantation group compared to SCI group. Combination of treadmill exercise with BMSCs further increased expression levels of IGF-I and p-CREB, although statistical significance was not appeared. Combining treadmill exercise with BMSCs transplantation might accelerate protein synthesis and hypertrophy in the soleus muscle after SCI through activation of IGF-I/mTOR signaling pathway.