Active warm-up and time-of-day effects on repeated-sprint performance and post-exercise recovery.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of both an active warm-up and the time-of-day variation on repeated-sprint performance. A second objective was to compare the post-exercise recovery between the experimental conditions. METHODS: Eleven male participants performed ten maximal cycling sprints (6 s each, with a 30-s interval between them) in the morning and late afternoon, either after a warm-up or control condition. The warm-up consisted of cycling for 10 min at 50% of the peak aerobic power. RESULTS: Rest measurements of rectal, muscle, and skin temperatures were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning (p < 0.05), with no significant differences in heart rate (p = 0.079) and blood lactate concentration (p = 0.300). Warm-up increased muscle temperature, heart rate, and lactate, and reduced skin temperature (all p < 0.001), though no significant differences were observed for rectal temperature (p = 0.410). The number of revolutions (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.375), peak (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.375), and mean (p = 0.037, ηp2 = 0.365) power of the first sprint (not the average of ten sprints) were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning, regardless of warm-up. However, beneficial performance effects of warming up were evident for the first (p < 0.001) and the average of ten sprints (p < 0.05), regardless of time of day. More remarkable changes during the 60-min post-exercise were observed for rectal temperature (p = 0.005) and heart rate (p = 0.010) in the afternoon than in the morning. CONCLUSION: Warming-up and time-of-day effects in enhancing muscular power are independent. Although warm-up ensured further beneficial effects on performance than the time-of-day variation, a faster post-exercise recovery was observed in the late afternoon.

Current Technologies and Practices to Assess External Training Load in Paralympic Sport: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Knowing the methods to assess the external load in Paralympic sports can help multidisciplinary teams rely on scientific evidence to better prescribe and monitor the athlete's development, improving sports performance and reducing the risk of injury/illness of Paralympic athletes. OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to systematically explore the current practices of quantifying the external load in Paralympic sports and provide an overview of the methods and techniques used. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO was carried out until November 2022. The measures of interest were objective methods for quantifying the external load of training or competition. The inclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: (1) peer-reviewed article; (2) the population were Paralympic athletes; (3) evaluated during training or competition; (4) reported at least one external load measure; and (5) published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Of the 1961 articles found, 22 were included because they met the criteria, and 8 methods were identified to quantify the external load in training or competition in 8 Paralympic sports. The methods varied according to the characteristics of the Paralympic sports. To date, the devices used included an internal radiofrequency-based tracking system (wheelchair rugby) a miniaturized data logger (wheelchair tennis, basketball, and rugby); a linear position transducer (powerlifting and wheelchair basketball); a camera (swimming, goalball, and wheelchair rugby); a global positioning system (wheelchair tennis); heart rate monitors that assess external load variables in set (paracycling and swimming) and an electronic timer (swimming). CONCLUSIONS: Different objective methods were identified to assess the external load in Paralympic sports. However, few studies showed the validity and reliability of these methods. Further studies are needed to compare different methods of external load quantification in other Paralympic sports.

The Sleep Parameters of Paralympic Athletes: Characteristics and Assessment Instruments.

CONTEXT: Sleep serves many important functions for athletes, particularly in the processes of learning, memory, recovery, and cognition. OBJECTIVES: Define the sleep parameters of Paralympic athletes and identify the instruments used to assess and monitor sleep Paralympic athletes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This systematic review was carried out based on the PRISMA guidelines. The survey was conducted in April 2020, the searches were carried out again in September 2021 to check whether there were new scientific publications in the area of sleep and Paralympic sport, searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Virtual Health Library (BIREME), and SciELO. This systematic review has included studies that investigated at least one of the following sleep parameters: total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, number of awakenings, quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype; the participants were comprised of athletes with disabilities. Studies published at any time in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, were included. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Data extraction and study selection were performed by 2 researchers independently, and a third author was consulted as necessary. The search returned a total of 407 studies. Following the screening based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, a total of 13 studies were considered. Paralympic athletes have a low amount (7.06 h) of sleep with poor quality and sleep latency (28.05 min), and 57.2% have daytime sleepiness, with the majority belonging to the indifferent chronotype (53, 5%). Moreover, 11 studies assess sleep using subjective instruments (questionnaires), and 2 studies used an objective instrument (actigraphy). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders are common among Paralympic athletes, poor sleep quality and quantity, and high rates of daytime sleepiness. Subjective methods are most commonly used to assess sleep.

Nutrient intake is a predictor of lung function in obese asthmatic adolescents undergoing interdisciplinary therapy.

Asthma-obesity is a multifactorial disease with specific asthma phenotypes that aggravate due to overweight and an unbalanced diet. Furthermore, obese asthmatic patients are corticotherapy-resistant. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of an interdisciplinary intervention on food consumption, body composition, lung function and adipokines in asthmatic and non-asthmatic obese adolescents and to investigate the influence of nutrients on lung function. Obese non-asthmatic (n 42) and obese asthmatic (n 21) adolescents of both sexes were enrolled in the present study. Food intake, adipokine levels, body composition, asthma symptoms and lung function were assessed across the study. After the intervention of 1 year, there was a reduction (P ≤ 0·01) in BMI, body fat percentage, visceral and subcutaneous fat and an increase (P ≤ 0·01) in lean mass and all lung function variables in both groups, except the relation between forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity (FEV1:FVC) in non-asthmatic patients. Moreover, both groups decreased lipid and cholesterol consumption (P ≤ 0·01). The highest energy consumption (ß = -0·021) was associated with lower values of FVC. Similarly, carbohydrate consumption (ß = -0·06) and cholesterol were negative predictors (ß = -0·05) in FEV1:FVC. However, the consumption of Ca (ß = 0·01), fibres (ß = 1·34) and vitamin A (ß = 0·01) were positive predictors of FEV1:FVC. Asthma-obesity interdisciplinary treatment promoted an improvement on food consumption and lung function in adolescents and demonstrated that the consumption of nutrients influenced an increase in lung function.

Effects of Progressive Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Autonomic Regulation in Patients With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a progressive resistance training (RT) on cardiac autonomic modulation and on cardiovascular responses to autonomic stress tests in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. SETTING: The Brazil Parkinson Association. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=30) with PD (modified Hoehn & Yahr stages 2-3) were randomly divided into 2 groups: a progressive RT group (PD training [PDT] group) and a control group (PD control [PDC] group). In addition, a group of paired healthy control (HC) subjects without PD was evaluated. INTERVENTIONS: The PDT group performed 5 resistance exercises, 2 to 4 sets, 12 to 6 repetitions maximum per set. Individuals in the PDC group maintained their usual lifestyle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The PDT and PDC groups were evaluated before and after 12 weeks. The HC group was evaluated once. Autonomic function was assessed by spectral analysis of heart rate variability and cardiovascular responses to autonomic stress tests (deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, orthostatic stress). RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the normalized low-frequency component of heart rate variability decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the PDT group only (PDT: 61±17 normalized units [nu] vs 47±20nu; PDC: 60±14nu vs 63±10nu; interaction P<.05). A similar result was observed for systolic blood pressure fall during orthostatic stress that also was reduced only in the PDT group (PDT: -14±11mmHg vs -6±10mmHg; PDC: -12±10mmHg vs -11±10mmHg; interaction P<.05). In addition, after 12 weeks, these parameters in the PDT group achieved values similar to those in the HC group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PD, progressive RT improved cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.

Resistance Training Improves Sleep Quality in Subjects With Moderate Parkinson's Disease.

Silva-Batista, C, de Brito, LC, Corcos, DM, Roschel, H, de Mello, MT, Piemonte, MEP, Tricoli, V, and Ugrinowitsch, C. Resistance training improves sleep quality in subjects with moderate Parkinson's disease. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2270-2277, 2017-The objectives of this study were to test if 12 weeks of progressive resistance training (RT) improves sleep quality and muscle strength in subjects with moderate Parkinson's disease (PD) and if sleep quality values of subjects with moderate PD are closer to those of age-matched healthy controls (HC) at posttraining. This was a randomized controlled trial conducted between March 2013 and September 2014. Twenty-two subjects with moderate PD were randomly assigned to a nonexercising control group (n = 11) or an RT group (n = 11). Thirty-one HC were not randomized to any group. The RT group performed a RT program twice a week for 12 weeks, whereas the control group made no change to their weekly routine. For subjects with PD, sleep quality (i.e., Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]) and knee-extensor peak torque were assessed before and after 12 weeks of intervention; for HC, these outcomes were assessed at pretest only. There were differences between RT and control groups in PSQI scores, PSQI subscores(i.e., subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction), and knee-extensor peak torque at posttraining (p ≤ 0.05). After RT, the average subjects with PD showed lower (i.e., improved) PSQI scores than the average HC (p ≤ 0.05). A negative association was observed between changes in PSQI scores and changes in knee-extensor peak torque at posttraining (r = -0.58, p = 0.028). No adverse events were reported. The RT is recommended as an adjunct therapeutic method for improving sleep quality of subjects with moderate PD and moving these levels to those observed in HC.

Blunted Maximal and Submaximal Responses to Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate submaximal and maximal responses during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests in subjects with Parkinson disease (PD). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: A PD association. PARTICIPANTS: A sample (N=68) of subjects with PD (n=48; mean age, 66±8y; modified Hoehn and Yahr stage between 2 and 3; "on" state of medication) and age-matched controls without PD (n=20; mean age, 64±9y). INTERVENTIONS: Maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oxygen uptake (V˙o2), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and heart rate assessed at rest, submaximal intensities (ie, anaerobic threshold [AT] and respiratory compensation point), and maximal intensity (peak exercise). RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, subjects with PD had lower V˙o2, heart rate, and SBP at respiratory compensation point and peak exercise (V˙o2: 14.6±3.6mL⋅kg⋅min vs 17.9±5.5mL⋅kg⋅min and 17.7±4.8mL⋅kg⋅min vs 21.5±6.6mL⋅kg⋅min; heart rate: 119±17beats/min vs 139±12beats/min and 132±20beats/min vs 158±13beats/min; SBP: 151±17mmHg vs 172±20mmHg and 166±21mmHg vs 187±24mmHg; P≤.05). They also had lower heart rate at AT (102±14beats/min vs 110±13beats/min; P≤.05), whereas V˙o2 and SBP at this intensity were similar to those of control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with PD demonstrated blunted metabolic and cardiovascular responses to submaximal and maximal exercise tests, especially at intensities above AT, which are in line with autonomic disturbances present in patients with PD. Future studies need to determine how this affects performance, participation, and responses of these patients to exercise training at different intensities.

Assessment of Body Composition and Sport Performance of Brazilian Paralympic Swim Team Athletes.

CONTEXT: Body-composition assessments of high-performance athletes are very important for identifying physical performance potential. Although the relationship between the kinanthropometric characteristics and performance abilities of Olympic swimmers is extremely important, this subject is not completely understood for Paralympic swimmers. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between body composition and sport performance in Brazilian Paralympic swimmers 6 mo after training. DESIGN: Experimental pre/posttest design. SETTING: Research laboratory and field evaluations of swimming were conducted to verify the 50-m freestyle time of each athlete. PARTICIPANTS: 17 Brazilian Paralympic swim team athletes (12 men, 5 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body-composition assessments were performed using a BOD POD, and swimming performance was assessed using the 50-m freestyle, which was performed twice: before and after 6 mo of training. RESULTS: Increased lean mass and significantly reduced relative fat mass and swimming time (P < .05) were observed 6 mo after training. Furthermore, a positive correlation between body-fat percentage and performance (r = .66, P < .05) was observed, but there was no significant correlation between body density and performance (r = -.14, P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: After a 6-mo training period, Paralympic swimmers presented reduced fat mass and increased lean body mass associated with performance, as measured by 50-m freestyle time. These data suggest that reduced fat-mass percentage was significantly correlated with improved swimming performance in Paralympic athletes.

The role of multicomponent therapy in the metabolic syndrome, inflammation and cardiovascular risk in obese adolescents.

Obesity is characterised by low-grade inflammation, which increases the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risks. The aim of the present study was to verify the role of multicomponent therapy in controlling the MetS, inflammation and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in obese adolescents. The second aim was to investigate the relationships between adipokines, the MetS parameters and cIMT. A total of sixty-nine obese adolescents participated in the present study and completed 1 year of multicomponent therapy (a combination of strategies involving nutrition, psychology, physical exercise and clinical therapy), and were divided according to their MetS diagnosis as follows: MetS (n 19); non-MetS (n 50). Blood analyses of glucose, lipid and adipokine concentrations (adiponectin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and C-reactive protein) were collected. Insulin resistance was assessed using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index and homeostasis model assessment-adiponectin. cIMT and visceral and subcutaneous fat were estimated using ultrasonography. At baseline, the MetS group presented higher waist circumference, glucose and insulin levels, and systolic and median blood pressures compared with the non-MetS group. After therapy, both groups showed improvements in the anthropometric profile, body composition, insulin level, insulin resistance, insulin sensibility, TAG and VLDL-cholesterol, adiponectin, leptin and PAI-1 levels, blood pressure and cIMT. The prevalence of the MetS was reduced from 27·5 to 13·0 %. Metabolic syndrome patients showed resistance in the attenuation of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and leptin:adiponectin and adiponectin:leptin ratios. In the MetS group, the variation in the adiponectin:leptin ratio was correlated with variations in glucose, insulin sensibility, total cholesterol, LDL-c and systolic blood pressure. Additionally, the number of MetS parameters was correlated with the carotid measurement. Moreover, the variation in cIMT was correlated with the variations in insulin sensibility, total cholesterol and LDL-c. For the entire group, the number of MetS alterations was correlated with the leptin level and leptin:adiponectin ratio and adiponectin:leptin ratio after therapy. In conclusion, multicomponent therapy was effective in controlling the MetS, inflammation and cIMT in the obese adolescents. However, the MetS patients showed resistance in the attenuation of the atherogenic lipid profile and leptin:adiponectin ratio and adiponectin:leptin ratio. These results suggest that the MetS patients have increased cardiovascular risks, and that it is important to attempt to control the inflammatory process that occurs due to obesity in clinical practice in order to improve the health of adolescents.

High-Intensity Progressive Resistance Training Increases Strength With No Change in Cardiovascular Function and Autonomic Neural Regulation in Older Adults.

The effects of high-intensity progressive resistance training (HIPRT) on cardiovascular function and autonomic neural regulation in older adults are unclear. To investigate this issue, 25 older adults were randomly divided into two groups: control (CON, N = 13, 63 ± 4 years; no training) and HIPRT (N = 12, 64 ± 4 years; 2 sessions/week, 7 exercises, 2­4 sets, 10­4 RM). Before and after four months, maximal strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area (QCSA), clinic and ambulatory blood pressures (BP), systemic hemodynamics, and cardiovascular autonomic modulation were measured. Maximal strength and QCSA increased in the HIPRT group and did not change in the CON group. Clinic and ambulatory BP, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume, heart rate, and cardiac sympathovagal balance did not change in the HIPRT group or the CON group. In conclusion, HIPRT was effective at increasing muscle mass and strength without promoting changes in cardiovascular function or autonomic neural regulation.

Aerobic plus resistance training improves bone metabolism and inflammation in adolescents who are obese.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic with a high prevalence of comorbidities, including alterations in bone mineral metabolism. The purpose of this yearlong study was to evaluate the role of 2 types of exercise training (aerobic and aerobic plus resistance exercise) on adipokines parameters and bone metabolism in adolescents who are obese. This was a clinical trial study with interdisciplinary weight loss therapy. Forty-two postpubertal adolescents who are obese were subjected to interdisciplinary weight loss therapy with physical exercise, medical monitoring, nutritional intervention, and psychological intervention. Data were collected from serum analyses of leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, glucose, and insulin. Anthropometric measurements of body composition, bone mineral density, visceral, and subcutaneous fat were also performed. Statistical tests were applied using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Correlations were established using the Pearson test, and dependencies of variables were established using simple linear regression test. Both training types promoted reductions in body mass index, total central, visceral and subcutaneous fat, insulin concentration, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, but only aerobic plus resistance training showed statistical improvements in the bone mineral content, adiponectin concentration, and lean tissue. Effective reduction in the visceral/subcutaneous ratio, central/peripheral ratio, and leptin concentration was observed. Insulin and the HOMA-IR index were negative predictors of bone mineral content in the combined training group. Moreover, fat distribution was a negative predictor for bone mineral density in both groups. Aerobic plus resistance training promotes a protective role in bone mineral content associated with an improvement in adiponectin and leptin concentrations, favoring the control of the inflammatory state related to obesity in adolescents. Aerobic plus resistance training combined with interdisciplinary interventions provides important strategies to approach obesity, and these strategies may contribute to clinical practice.

Resistance training with instability in multiple system atrophy: a case report.

This case report assessed quality of life, activities of daily living, motor symptoms, functional ability, neuromuscular parameters and mRNA expression of selected genes related to muscle protein synthesis and degradation in a patient with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The patient underwent resistance training with instability devices (i.e., bosu, dyna disk, balance disk, Swiss ball) for six months twice a week. After the six months training, the patient's left and right quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area and leg press one-repetition maximum increased 6.4%, 6.8%, and 40%, respectively; the patient's timed up and go, sit to stand, dynamic balance, and activities of daily living improved 33.3%, 28.6%, 42.3%, and 40.1%, respectively; the patient's severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls decreased 32% and 128.1%, respectively. Most of the subscales of quality of life demonstrated improvements as well, varying from 13.0% to 100.0%. mRNA expression of mechanogrowth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin increased 12.7-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. This case report describes likely the first nonpharmacological therapeutic tool that might be able to decrease the severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls, and to improve functional ability, neuromuscular parameters, and quality of the life in a patient with MSA. Key pointsSix months of resistance training with instability alleviate the MSA-related effects and improve the quality of life in a patient with MSA.High complexity exercise intervention (i.e., resistance training with instability) may be very beneficial to individuals with impaired motor control and function as MSA patients.Caution should be exercised when interpreting our findings as they cannot be generalized to the entire MSA population and they do not allow establishing causal conclusions on the effects of this mode of exercise on MSA.

The effect of weight loss magnitude on pro-/anti-inflammatory adipokines and carotid intima-media thickness in obese adolescents engaged in interdisciplinary weight loss therapy.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a chronic disease defined by an excess amount of adipose tissue and presents a low-grade inflammatory state, increasing cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of weight loss magnitude on the inflammatory profile and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in obese adolescents engaged in interdisciplinary therapy. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Seventy-seven postpubertal obese adolescents with a BMI greater than the 95th percentile (37·18 ± 5·14), of both genders and between the ages of 14 and 19 years (16·74 ± 1·59) were subjected to a 1-year period of interdisciplinary intervention (nutrition, psychology, physical exercise and clinical support). MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples were collected to analyse glucose, lipid and adipokine concentrations. Body composition, anthropometric profiles and cIMT were measured. The results are presented according to quartiles of weight loss: 1st (≤5·80 kg) = low; 2nd (5·80-10·90 kg) = low to moderate; 3rd (10·90-15·90 kg) = moderate; and 4th (>15·90 kg) = massive. RESULTS: Leptin, the leptin/adiponectin ratio and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were decreased significantly in the low-to-moderate weight loss. The cIMT was reduced in the moderate weight loss. Moreover, adiponectin was increased only in the massive weight loss. Additionally, weight loss was an independent predictor of changes in leptin level, the adiponectin/leptin ratio (A/L ratio) and PAI-1 when the data were adjusted for age and gender. BMI changes were predictors of changes in leptin and PAI-1 levels. A/L ratio was associated with lean body mass (%), independent of gender and age. In addition, changes in A/L ratio were independent predictors of cIMT alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Interdisciplinary therapy may reduce cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents depending on their degree of weight loss (moderate to massive) and when correlated with their inflammatory profile, metabolic state and cIMT.

Sleep deprivation alters rat ventral prostate morphology, leading to glandular atrophy: a microscopic study contrasted with the hormonal assays.

We investigated the effect of 96 h paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) and 21-day sleep restriction (SR) on prostate morphology using stereological assays in male rats. After euthanasia, the rat ventral prostate was removed, weighed, and prepared for conventional light microscopy. Microscopic analysis of the prostate reveals that morphology of this gland was altered after 96 h of PSD and 21 days of SR, with the most important alterations occurring in the epithelium and stroma in the course of both procedures compared with the control group. Both 96 h PSD and 21-day SR rats showed lower serum testosterone and higher corticosterone levels than control rats. The significance of our result referring to the sleep deprivation was responsible for deep morphological alterations in ventral prostate tissue, like to castration microscopic modifications. This result is due to the marked alterations in hormonal status caused by PSD and SR.

Long-term interdisciplinary therapy reduces endotoxin level and insulin resistance in obese adolescents.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to assess the dietary fat intake, glucose, insulin, Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance HOMA-IR, and endotoxin levels and correlate them with adipokine serum concentrations in obese adolescents who had been admitted to long-term interdisciplinary weight-loss therapy. DESIGN: The present study was a longitudinal clinical intervention of interdisciplinary therapy. Adolescents (n = 18, aged 15-19 y) with a body mass index > 95th percentile were admitted and evaluated at baseline and again after 1 year of interdisciplinary therapy. We collected blood samples, and IL-6, adiponectin, and endotoxin concentrations were measured by ELISA. Food intake was measured using 3-day diet records. In addition, we assessed glucose and insulin levels as well as the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: The most important finding from the present investigation was that the long-term interdisciplinary lifestyle therapy decreased dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels and improved HOMA-IR. We observed positive correlations between dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels, insulin levels, and the HOMA-IR. In addition, endotoxin levels showed positive correlations with IL-6 levels, insulin levels and the HOMA-IR. Interestingly, we observed a negative correlation between serum adiponectin and both dietary fat intake and endotoxin levels. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate an association between dietary fat intake and endotoxin level, which was highly correlated with a decreased pro-inflammatory state and an improvement in HOMA-IR. In addition, this benefits effect may be associated with an increased adiponectin level, which suggests that the interdisciplinary therapy was effective in improving inflammatory pathways.

Characteristics of muscle fibers in rats with limb movements during sleep after spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies have demonstrated that spinal cord injury (SCI) results in changes in sleep patterns through increased arousals and limb movements during sleep. Dramatic changes in muscle myosin heavy-chain isoforms have also been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of muscle fibers after SCI in rats with limb movements during sleep. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: SHAM, SCI 3, 7 and 15 days. Animals were subjected to electrode insertion surgery, 24-hour baseline sleep recording, SCI, and subsequent sleep recording for 3, 7, or 15 consecutive days. In addition, the gastrocnemius muscle and spinal cord were collected for histopathological/histochemical analyses. RESULTS: Our results indicate a rapid and progressive decrease in the cross-sectional area of type I fibers in the gastrocnemius muscle (35.76-24.74 µm(2)) after SCI. Additionally, we found SCI-induced changes in sleep patterns. Following SCI, we also observed limb movements in sleeping rats, as well as significant negative moderate correlations between type I fibers and limb movement. CONCLUSION: Our study strengthened the hypothesis by correlation between changes in types of muscle fiber (decline in type I fibers) and an increase in limb movements during sleep after SCI.

Exhaustive exercise increases inflammatory response via Toll like receptor-4 and NF-κBp65 pathway in rat adipose tissue.

Cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α) are increased after exhaustive exercise in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT) and mesenteric adipose tissue (MEAT). An exhaustive acute exercise protocol induces inflammation in adipose tissue that lasts 6 h after the exercise has ended. It is well-established that this protocol increases circulating plasma levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS), compounds that are important in stimulating signaling via toll like receptor-4 (TLR-4) in different type cells. In the present study, we investigated the regulation of TLR-4 and DNA-binding of nuclear factor-κBp65 (NF-κBp65) in different depots of adipose tissue in rats after exhaustive exercise. Rats were killed by decapitation immediately (E0 group, n=6), 2 (E2 group, n=6), and 6 h (E6 group, n=6) after the exhaustive exercise, which consisted of running on a treadmill (approximately 70% V(O2max) ) for 50 min and then running at an elevated rate that increased at 1 m/min, until exhaustion. The control group (C group, n=6) was not subjected to exercise. In RPAT, TLR-4, MYD-88, and IkBα increased in the E2 group after exercise. MYD-88 and TRAF6 remained increased in the E6 group in comparison with the control group. DNA-binding of NF-κBp65 was not altered. In MEAT, TLR-4, MYD-88, TRAF6, and DNA-binding of NF-κBp65 were increased only in the E6 group. In conclusion, we have shown that increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue pads after exhaustive exercise may be mediated via TLR-4 signaling, leading to increases in NF-κBp65 binding to DNA in MEAT.

Obesity, diabetes and OSAS induce of sleep disorders: exercise as therapy.

Sleep is an integral part of good health. Sleep disorders and variations in sleep habits are associated with a low-grade inflammatory status, which may be either a cause or consequence of other conditions, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several strategies are available to counteract these conditions including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), pharmacological and nutritional interventions, and even surgery. At present, our group is investigating the effect of chronic endurance exercise on sleep alterations.

Exercise training improves sleep pattern and metabolic profile in elderly people in a time-dependent manner.

Aging and physical inactivity are two factors that favors the development of cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and sleep dysfunction. In contrast, the adoption a habitual of moderate exercise may present a non-pharmacological treatment alternative for sleep and metabolic disorders. We aimed to assess the effects of moderate exercise training on sleep quality and on the metabolic profile of elderly people with a sedentary lifestyle. Fourteen male sedentary, healthy, elderly volunteers performed moderate training for 60 minutes/day, 3 days/week for 24 wk at a work rate equivalent to the ventilatory aerobic threshold. The environment was kept at a temperature of 23 ± 2 °C, with an air humidity 60 ± 5%. Blood and polysomnographs analysis were collected 3 times: at baseline (1 week before training began), 3 and 6 months (after 3 and 6 months of training). Training promoted increasing aerobic capacity (relative VO2, time and velocity to VO2max; p < 0.05), and reduced serum NEFA, and insulin concentrations as well as improved HOMA index (p < 0.05), and increased adiponectin levels (p < 0.05), after 3 months of training when compared with baseline data. The sleep parameters, awake time and REM sleep latency were decreased after 6 months exercise training (p < 0.05) in relation baseline values. Our results demonstrate that the moderate exercise training protocol improves the sleep profile in older people, but the metabolism adaptation does not persist. Suggesting that this population requires training strategy modifications as to ensure consistent alterations regarding metabolism.

Endotoxin levels correlate positively with a sedentary lifestyle and negatively with highly trained subjects.

INTRODUCTION: A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. This phenomenon is supported by recent studies suggesting a chronic, low-grade inflammation status. Endotoxin derived from gut flora may be key to the development of inflammation by stimulating the secretion of inflammatory factors. This study aimed to examine plasma inflammatory markers and endotoxin levels in individuals with a sedentary lifestyle and/or in highly trained subjects at rest. METHODS: Fourteen male subjects (sedentary lifestyle n = 7; highly trained subjects n = 7) were recruited. Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast (approximately 12 h). The plasmatic endotoxin, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1), ICAM/CD54, VCAM/CD106 and lipid profile levels were determined. RESULTS: Endotoxinemia was lower in the highly trained subject group relative to the sedentary subjects (p < 0.002). In addition, we observed a positive correlation between endotoxin and PAI-1 (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001), endotoxin and total cholesterol (r = 0.65; p < 0.01), endotoxin and LDL-c (r = 0.55; p < 0.049) and endotoxin and TG levels (r = 0.90; p < 0.0001). The plasma levels of MCP-1, ICAM/CD54 and VCAM/CD106 did not differ. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a lifestyle associated with high-intensity and high-volume exercise induces favorable changes in chronic low-grade inflammation markers and may reduce the risk for diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.