Influence of a 12-month supervised, intensive resistance, aerobic and impact exercise intervention on muscle strength in prostate cancer patients undergoing anti-hormone therapy: Study protocol for the randomized, controlled Burgdorf study.

INTRODUCTION: Reduced testosterone levels due to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer patients cause common side effects, such as reduced muscle strength and bone density, increased fat mass, sexual dysfunction and fatigue. Short-term exercise during ADT has proven to be safe and effective in exhibiting a positive impact on body composition, sexual dysfunction and fatigue. However, there are only three randomized controlled trials that investigate one-year supervised impact exercise interventions, none of which examined follow-up effects after the intervention. Therefore, this study will conduct a one-year impact exercise intervention and assess follow-up effects up to one year later. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim of the randomized, controlled Burgdorf study is to assess the effects of a supervised 12-month intensive multimodal exercise intervention in comparison to a moderate aerobic exercise intervention, on muscle strength in prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. Additionally, quality of life, fatigue, body composition, erectile dysfunction, bone pain, physical activity level, endurance capacity, body-mass-index, waist and hip circumference and prostate-specific antigen- and testosterone levels will be assessed up to one year later. DISCUSSION: The Burgdorf study is the first study to conduct two different one-year supervised exercise interventions, and follow-up with patients for up to one year after the intervention. Results could provide important insights into the long-term effects of interventions on those parameters negatively affected by ADT, which could specify or newly establish care structures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00009975. Registered 2016-02-09, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00009975.

Enhanced regeneration of transplanted splenic tissue by increased work load to the splenic compartments.

Autologous splenic tissue regenerates after subperitoneal transplantation in laboratory animals and in man. Qualitatively it resembles normal splenic tissue but the quantity usually only attains a small proportion of the normal spleen. In the prevention of overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis a critical mass and a considerable blood flow to the regenerated spleen seem to be essential. By increasing the work load to splenic transplants in rats, significantly more splenic tissue was regenerated. This was achieved by: stimulating the white pulp by repetitive injections of xenogeneic red cells; stimulating the red pulp by damaging red cells with phenylhydrazine; a combination of 1 and 2; and stimulating the reticuloendothelial system by IP injections of methylcellulose. Stimulating the red pulp and the reticuloendothelial system were more effective than the injection of antigens. As the splenic mass is obviously regulated by the work load, we conclude that this effect should be used to attain the critical splenic mass and to increase the blood flow for effective clearance of bacteria from the blood.