Effects of Official Chess Competition on Salivary Cortisol and Mood Swings in Adolescent Girls: A Win-Loss Approach.

The current study examined the effects of official chess competition on salivary cortisol and mood swings in adolescent girls. Fourteen girl competitive chess players participated in the 5-day Swiss chess tournament held in nine heavy and light rounds. The tournament was performed at 9:00 a.m. (first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth rounds) and 3:00 p.m. (second, fourth, sixth, and eighth rounds). Salivary cortisol and mood was measured before the tournament, before and after the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth rounds, and following the tournament (10 samples). The resting levels of salivary cortisol had considerably greater values on the first, second, third, and fourth competition days compared to 1 week before the competition (P = 0.001). The post-competition cortisol concentration was significantly higher on the second and third days than before the competition (P = 0.001). Winners had considerably higher levels of salivary cortisol compared to losers (P = 0.001). There was a significant increase in total mode disturbance (P = 0.001), anger (P = 0.009), and tension (P = 0.045) following heavy rounds (second and third day) compared to the values before the competition. At the same time, the Scores of vigor decreased significantly (P = 0.001). The findings of the present study showed participating in the official chess competition increased salivary cortisol and caused negative alterations in mood components associated with the difficulty and outcome of the match, indicating the psychological stress. Hence, psychological interventions can be used for psychological recovery of competitive chess players after the competition.

Combination effect of exercise training and eugenol supplementation on the hippocampus apoptosis induced by chlorpyrifos.

The aim of this study was to investigate the combination effect of exercise training and eugenol supplementation on the hippocampus apoptosis induced by CPF. 64 adult male albino rats were randomly selected and devided into eight groups of eight including: control, exercise (EXE), chlorpyrifos (CPF), Control + Oil (Co + Oil), Control + DMSO (Co + DMSO), chlorpyrifos + eugenol (CPF + Sup), chlorpyrifos + exercise (CPF + Exe) and, chlorpyrifos + exercise + eugenol (CPF + Exe + Eu). Four experimental groups received intraperitoneal injection (5 days a week) of 3.0 mg/kg body weight CPF in DMSO for 6 consecutive weeks. The exercise groups performed aerobic 5 days per week over 4 weeks. Eugenol were administered by gavage. Finally, the animals were sacrificed using CO2 gas (a half of the rats were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine and then perfused) to evaluate hippocampus histology and parameters. The results of this study showed that CPF injection significantly decreased BDNF, AChE and ATP in CA1 area of the hippocampus (p ˂ 0.05). Also, CA1 apoptosis by tunnel assay, it was found that CPF receiving groups with different dosage, showed a significant increase compared to other groups, which was confirmed by increasing cytochrome C and procaspase-3 in CPF groups (p ˂ 0.05). The result of this study show that 4 weeks of exercise training and eugenol supplementation does not improve the destructive effects of CPF in CA1 area of the hippocampus. As a result, it is recommended that future studies longer periods for treatment with exercise and eugenol supplementation.

Investigating the protective effect of aerobic exercise on oxidative stress and histological damages of testicular tissue associated with chlorpyrifos in male rats.

The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of moderate aerobic exercise against chlorpyrifos (CPF)-induced testes dysfunction. In excremental study, 48 adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into 16 groups of 3 rats each. Twelve experimental groups received intraperitoneal injection (5 days a week) of either 1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg body weight CPF in DMSO for 2, 4 or 6 consecutive weeks. Seven of these experimental groups were subjected to run at moderate exercise intensity for 5 days per week over 2 weeks, whereas the other groups were not. Two groups (sham groups) were administered to the equal volume of vehicle (DMSO) for 4 or 6 consecutive weeks. The remaining two groups comprised the control groups including a sedentary and an exercise-trained control group. Exercise training leads to a markedly increase in testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in CPF-exposed rats compared with corresponding sedentary animals (p < .05). Lipid peroxidation level was found to be significantly decreased in the testis of exercised animals that had been exposed to CPF (p < .05). Our results suggest that aerobic exercise can alleviate the oxidative stress induced by sub-acute CPF exposure in testis. Exercise training could barely mitigate CPF-induced testicular damages in rats.

Aerobic exercise and eugenol supplementation ameliorated liver injury induced by chlorpyrifos via modulation acetylcholinesterase activation and antioxidant defense.

The primary metabolize of chlorpyrifos (CPF) is in the liver tissue, which it can cause oxidative damage and apoptosis in liver cells. The use of exercise with antioxidant supplements could have a protective effects in the liver tissue especially by improve mitochondria function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of aerobic exercise and eugenol (Eu) supplementation on destructive effects of CPF in liver tissue. Sixty-four adult male albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups (eight rats in each group). Four experimental groups received intraperitoneal injection of either 3.0 mg/kg body weight CPF in dimethyl sulfoxide for six consecutive weeks. Aerobic exercise was performed 5 days per week over 4 weeks for exercise groups. Finally, the animals were sacrificed for the histomorphometric analysis and biochemical measurement in the liver tissue. The result of this study show that consumption of CPF alone, caused collagen deposition, increased apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor α, malondialdehyde, and decreased catalase, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) compared to control and exercise groups (healthy groups) in liver tissue (P ˂ .05). Prescription of exercises and Eu supplements in CPF consumer groups, neutralized this destructive effects of CPF. However, concomitant administration of Eu with exercise had better effects on liver tissue (P ˂ .05). It seems that consumption of Eu with aerobic exercise have a protective role in tissue destruction, inflammatory damage by improving antioxidant defense and modulating AChE activity in hepatocytes.

Aerobic exercise training reduces deep-frying oil-induced apoptosis of hippocampal tissue by reducing oxidative stress in male rats.

Deep-frying oil (DFO) contains high amounts of free radicals, and consuming foods prepared with this method causes damage to nervous tissue due to oxidative stress (OS). Since moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training (AT) reduces OS, the current search investigated the effects of AT on OS, apoptosis, and neurogenesis markers in the hippocampal tissue of DFO-fed rats. Eighteen Wistar male rats (200-280 gr) were randomly allocated to a control group fed with normal food (Con-ND), a control group receiving DFO (Con-DFO), and a group receiving DFO-aerobic exercise (EX-DFO) (n = 6 in each). DFO was gavaged for four weeks, five days a week, with a dose of 2 ml. AT included running on a treadmill for four weeks and five sessions per week (40 min per session). The expression of genes B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), Protein X associated with Bcl-2 (BAX), Caspase-3 (Casp-3), and Caspase-9 (Casp-9) was measured by PCR method. The ELISA method was used to calculate levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Also, the expression of the proteins Cannabinoid receptor type 1(CB1), Cannabinoid receptor type2 (CB2), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and DNA fragmentation was evaluated by Immunohistochemical and TUNEL staining. DFO feeding led to a significant increase in apoptotic markers, such as BAX, Casp-3, and Casp-9 gene expression, and DNA fragmentation (p ≤ 0.05) while decreasing BDNF concentration SOD activity (p ≤ 0.05). AT significantly reduced the BAX, Casp-3, Casp-9, MDA, CB1, GFAP, and DNA fragmentation (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, AT can reduce the harmful effects of feeding with DFO on the hippocampal tissue.

Synergic effects of aerobic exercise and eugenol supplement on germ cell development and testicular tissue structure in chlorpyrifos-treated animal model.

Insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) with increased oxidative stress, structural destruction, and hemostasis of testicular tissue leads to male infertility. The present study investigated the protective effect of exercise (Exe) and eugenol supplementation (Sup) on CPF-induced testicular spermatogenic disorders in male rats. In this experimental study, 21 adult male albino rats were divided into seven groups, control (Co: 6 weeks), CPF (6 weeks), Co + Oil (2 weeks healthy food and 4 weeks oil), Co + Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO: 6 weeks), CPF + Sup (2 weeks CPF and 4 weeks CPF + Sup), CPF + Exe (2 weeks CPF and 4 weeks CPF + Exe), and CPF + Exe + Sup (2 weeks CPF and 4 weeks CPF + Exe + Sup) group. All treatments were done intraperitoneally (5 days a week). Exe groups were subjected to run at moderate exercise intensity for 5 days per week over 6 weeks. DMSO groups were administered to the equal volume of vehicle for 6 consecutive weeks. Finally, the animals were sacrificed with Co2 gas and then alterations in testicular histology and sperm parameters were evaluated. Protein expression of PLZF and IGFα in the CPF group showed a significant decrease compared with the control group (p Ë‚ 0.001 for both). It was shown that CPF + Exe + Sup (p Ë‚ 0.001) and CPF + Sup (p Ë‚ 0.01) groups had a significant increase in protein expression of PLZF, but the protein expression of IGFα showed a significant increase just in the CPF + Exe + Sup group (p Ë‚ 0.001). Also, CPF caused a significant decrease in Leydig counts, Sertoli cell count, spermatogonium counts, spermatocyte cell count, spermatid cell count, and tunica thickness as well as a significant increase in testicle diameter (p Ë‚ 0.01) and ducts diameter compared with the control group. It seems that aerobic exercise with eugenol supplementation suppresses the disruption effects of CPF on testicular tissue (cellular and structural) by increasing the antioxidant capacity and improving the secretion of sex hormones. Therefore, the aerobic exercise with supplement of the eugenol has potential therapeutic targets for male infertility that need further study.

Role or Synergistic Interaction of Adenosine and Vitamin D3 Alongside High-Intensity Interval Training and Isocaloric Moderate Intensity Training on Metabolic Parameters: Protocol for an Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is known as one of the major causes of epidemiologic diseases worldwide; therefore, the introduction of treatment strategies by medical professionals, such as the use of various medicines and exercise programs to reduce fat or prevent obesity, is on the rise. Recently, researchers have shown special interest in assessing the effect of lipolytic adenosine and vitamin D deficiency, as well as the effect of exercise, on decreasing body fat percentage. OBJECTIVE: This study has been designed to examine the effect of adenosine and vitamin D3 injections, in conjunction with high-intensity interval training and isocaloric moderate-intensity training, on the metabolic parameters of obesity induced by a high-fat diet. METHODS: This is an experimental study using 92 Wistar rats. At 6 weeks of age, the rats' weights will be recorded, after which they will have 1 week to adapt to their new environment before being divided into 12 groups. The rats will participate in a 2-stage experimental intervention, including a 13-week fattening diet phase followed by a 12-week exercise training phase consisting of an exercise program and the injection of adenosine and vitamin D3. Groups 1 and 2 will have a normal diet, and the other groups will have a diet of 40% fat, with free access to food and water up to the second half of the second stage of the study (end of the sixth week of training). After termination of the interventions, tissue collection and molecular assessments (blood for biochemical, tissues for gene expression analyses, and anthropometrical indexes) will be performed. RESULTS: The project was initiated in April 2017 and completed in December 2017. Data analysis is under way, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in November 2018. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that weight loss-induced molecular changes and upregulation will be observed in line with an increase in lipolysis and beta oxidation in muscle and fat tissue as a result of performing isocaloric training in drug-receiving rats and groups on a high-fat diet. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/10753.