Effect of resistance exercise on cardiac perturbations and systolic performance: A cross-over randomized trial comparing volumes and techniques.

This study investigated the magnitude and time-course of resistance exercise (RE) technique induced transient cardiac perturbations. Twenty-four participants were assigned to one of four arms: sets to failure or non-failure with 8-10 repetition maximum (RM), and sets to failure or non-failure with 15RM. Echocardiographic and blood pressure (BP) data were recorded at baseline and 30 min, 6 h and 24 h post-exercise. In all groups end-systolic circumferential wall stress (cESS), and ratio of transmitral inflow velocities (E/A) were significantly decreased while posterior wall thickness (PWT), global circumferential strain (GCS), GCS strain rate (GCSR), global longitudinal strain rate (GLSR), and stroke volume (SV) were significantly increased for up to 6 h of follow-up. In the 15RM groups, left ventricular (LV) mass and interventricular septal thickness (IVST) were significantly increased, and left atrial (LA) area was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the 8-10 RM groups. In the 15RM groups, RE decreased global longitudinal strain (GLS) and increased ejection fraction (EF) (p<0.01). After RE, transient cardiac perturbations, the reduction in LA compliance, and the improvement in LV myofibril geometry were volume dependent and influenced more by sets to failure technique. RE increased GCS and reduced the afterload, thus helping to preserve SV and EF.

Epidemiology of sports injuries referring to Kashan University of Medical Sciences Trauma Research Center from 2005 to 2011.

OBJECTIVE: Among the injury types, sports ones constitute a considerable proportion of patients who refer to the medical centers. This research was conducted to examine the frequency of sports-related injuries referring to Kashan University of Medical Sciences Trauma Research Center from 2005 to 2011. METHODS: This was a retrospective research in which existing data from the data bank of Kashan University of Medical Sciences Trauma Research Center were employed. The data were extracted from the main source by SPSS version 16.0. Variables such as age, education, occupation and gender were analyzed. RESULTS: The highest proportion of injuries was observed in students (59.4%) followed by workers (11.8%). Upper and lower extremities were most commonly injured. The most frequent injury was strain (35.4%), followed by sprain (27.7%). CONCLUSION: The results of this research showed that the majority of the sports trauma occurrs in students; therefore, they need more attention in regard to sports injuries. Preventive measures such as informing the coaches and teachers as well as increasing the students'awareness about the injury risk can decrease the incidences of sports injuries.

The role of pre-participation cardiac evaluation in the management of an athlete with premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy: a case report.

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are commonly observed during pre-participation cardiac screening in elite athletes. There is an ongoing debate about the clinical significance of PVCs in athletes and whether burden, morphology, or both should be used to differentiate benign PVCs from PVCs suggestive of cardiac disease. Case summary: A 28-year-old male athlete was evaluated as part of the pre-participation screening programme. He was asymptomatic, without specific cardiac signs and symptoms. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed bigeminy PVCs with infundibular morphology and left ventricular outflow tract origin. Left ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction without valvular lesions was detected on echocardiography. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed biventricular dilatation and dysfunction without evidence of myocardial fibrosis or fatty infiltration. A 48 h Holter monitoring showed 75191 PVCs (35% of total beats). Radiofrequency ablation was performed, and post-ablation assessments showed no PVCs with normalized ventricular function and dimension. Discussion: This case demonstrated that a high PVC burden of common morphology does not also represent a benign finding and requires a comprehensive evaluation to rule out any pathological condition. Furthermore, the present case highlights the critical role of pre-participation cardiac evaluation in identifying cardiac disease in asymptomatic athletes.

Effect of 8 Weeks Aerobic Training and Saffron Supplementation on Inflammation and Metabolism in Middle-Aged Obese Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of 8-week aerobic training (AT) and saffron supplementation on inflammation and metabolism in middle-aged obese women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Thirty-two obese women with T2DM were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 in all groups): saffron + training (ST), placebo + training (PT), saffron supplementation (SS), and placebo (P). The ST and PT groups performed eight weeks of aerobic training (AT) (three sessions/week at 60−75% HRmax). A daily dose of 400 mg saffron powder was consumed by the ST and SS groups for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken after 12 h of fasting, 48 h before the first AT session, 48 h and two weeks after the last AT session. Results: AT, saffron supplementation, and their combination affected body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum levels of insulin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) (p < 0.05). However, body weight, body fat percentage, and serum levels of glucose, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), irisin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed significant changes in the ST group only (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant difference was seen between all factors in post-training and follow-up in the ST group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Saffron supplementation at a dose of 400 mg/day, when combined with AT, could improve inflammation, metabolism, glycemic status, and lipid profile in T2DM patients, and these changes are sustainable at up to 2 weeks of detraining.

Salivary Oxidative Stress, Total Protein, Iron and pH in Children with ß-Thalassemia Major and their Correlation with Dental Caries.

Statement of the Problem: Iron overload in ß-thalassemia major leads to oxidative damage to tissues, which may have an important role in the onset and progression of oral diseases. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the salivary oxidative stress indicators, total protein, iron, and pH in children with ß-thalassemia major and their relationship with the status of dental caries in comparison with healthy children. Materials and Method: In this case-control study, 68 ß-thalassemia major and healthy children, who were age- and sex matched, were selected. Two mililiters of saliva was collected from each child. The pH was measured using pH meter paper. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as salivary lipid peroxidation index, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total protein, and iron were measured by spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 22 software with Pearson and independent samples t-test. Results: TBARS, TAC, iron and dmft index in the ß-thalassemia major group were significantly higher and pH was significantly lower than the control group (p< 0.001). The total protein difference between the two groups was not significant (p= 0.081). Conclusion: Considering the higher salivary TBARS in the ß-thalassemia major group, oxidative stress can be considered as a risk factor for dental caries in children with ß-thalassemia major. Prescription of antioxidant supplements especially natural antioxidants in the diet of children with ß-thalassemia major is recommended to reduce oxidative stress.

The Effects of Exercise on Expression of CYP19 and StAR mRNA in Steroid-Induced Polycystic Ovaries of Female Rats.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent female endocrine disorder that affects 5-10% of women. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, oligo-/anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and aromatase (CYP19) mRNA in the ovaries of an estradiol valerate (EV)-induced PCOS rat model, and the effect of treadmill and running wheel (voluntary) exercise on these parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, we divided adult female Wistar rats that weighed approximately 220 ± 20 g initially into control (n=10) and PCOS (n=30). Subsequently, PCOS group were divided to PCOS, PCOS with treadmill exercise (P-ExT), and PCOS with running wheel exercise (P-ExR) groups (n=10 per group). The expressions of StAR and CYP19 mRNA in the ovaries were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using SPSS software, version 16. The data were assessed at α=0.05. RESULTS: There was significantly lower mRNA expression of CYP19 in the EV-induced PCOS, running wheel and treadmill exercise rats compared to the control group (P<0.001). Treadmill exercise (P=0.972) and running wheel exercise (P=0.839) had no significant effects on CYP19 mRNA expression compared to the PCOS group. mRNA expression of StAR in the ovaries of the PCOS group indicated an increasing trend compared to the control group, however this was not statistically significant (P=0.810). We observed that 8 weeks of running wheel and treadmill exercises could not statistically decrease StAR mRNA expression compared to the PCOS group (P=0.632). CONCLUSION: EV-induced PCOS in rats decreased CYP19 mRNA expression, but had no effect on StAR mRNA expression. We demonstrated that running wheel and moderate treadmill exercise could not modify CYP19 and StAR mRNA expressions.

Frequency of sports trauma in elite national level greco-roman wrestling competitions.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is an inescapable part of sports competitions. It occurs more frequently in contact sports such as wrestling. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of injury in Greco-Roman style wrestling competitions at national level. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This descriptive epidemiological research included 50 Greco-Roman style wrestlers who participated in national level competitions between the years 2003 and 2008. A questionnaire was completed by each participant, itincluded; the number of injuries to skin, muscle tissue, bones and joints. The reliability of the instrument was evaluated by a test - retest method (r = 0.83, P = 0.0001). RESULTS: The most frequent injuries encountered by the wrestlers were; skin lesions (62%), followed by muscle (22%), bone (9%) and joint (7%) injuries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Greco-Roman style wrestlers are at high risk of skin injuries.Therefore, they need appropriate instructions on how to avoid injuries and adequate care after their competitions.

Effect of ramadan fasting on body composition and physical performance in female athletes.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on body composition, calorie intake and physical performance in young female athletes undertaking training sessions during Ramadan. METHODS: Twelve voluntary female athletes (15-27 years old) were assigned to the research. A prospective study was conducted to investigate the athletes on four different occasions: one week before Ramadan (T1), the second (T2) and fourth (T3) weeks of Ramadan, and two weeks after the end of Ramadan (T4). Food intake, body composition and physical performance (agility, balance and explosive leg power) were investigated on each occasion. Further, Physical performance was assessed by agility, vertical jump and balance tests. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect for time for body composition indices. A significant decrease was observed in weight (P=0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (P=0.01) in T2 compared with T1, further decrease in weight (P<0.001) and BMI (P<0.001) was observed in T3 compared to T1. Calorie intake decreased significantly in T3 compared with T1 (P=0.008), and increased significantly in T4 compared with T3 (P=0.04). There was a significant main effect for time for agility performance (P=0.03), but no significant main effect for time was observed for vertical jumping (P=0.1) and balance performance (P=0.3). CONCLUSIONS: This study has found that Ramadan fasting could affect the body composition, but not physical performance in female athletes during Ramadan.