Sex differences in the adaptations in maximal strength and anaerobic power to upper body plyometric training.

This study aimed to compare the effects of a 6-week upper body plyometric training (UBPT) on maximal strength and anaerobic power performance of male and female subjects. Forty collegiate physically active male and female subjects participated in the study and were assigned to either UBPT group (M-UBPT, n = 10, F-UBPT, n = 10) or control group (M-CON, n = 10; F-CON, n = 10). The training groups performed 6 weeks of progressive overload UBPT three times per week using six exercises and were evaluated for upper-body anaerobic power and maximal strength, 3-kg medicine ball throw (MBT), push-up endurance, and reaction time at pre- and post-intervention. After the training intervention, the M-CON and F-CON groups did not show significant (p > 0.05) changes in the variables, while both the M-UBPT and F-UBPT groups demonstrated significant (p = 0.001) medium to very large improvements in their performance as follows: maximal strength (effect size [ES] = 0.55, 0.92), MBT (ES = 1.96, 0.89) peak power output (ES = 2.31, 1.52), mean power output (ES = 2.19, 1.11), push-up endurance (ES = 1.26, 0.70), and reaction time (ES = - 2.16, - 1.56), respectively. Nevertheless, the male group experienced more significant improvements in the MBT (p = 0.001), peak (p = 0.001) and mean power output (p = 0.01), as well as reaction time (p = 0.01) compared to the female group when utilizing UBPT. In conclusion, it is imperative to take sex into account as a crucial factor when incorporating UBPT, particularly if the objective is to enhance anaerobic power output, muscular power, and reaction time.

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Determine the Impact of Resistance Training versus Aerobic Training on the Management of FGF-21 and Related Physiological Variables in Obese Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target for insulin resistance in health-related metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Despite the metabolic effects of resistance (RT) and aerobic training (AT) on diabetes symptoms, uncertainty exists regarding the superiority of effects manifested through these training approaches on FGF-21 and biochemical and physiological variables associated with metabolic disorders in men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week RT and AT on FGF-21 levels and symptoms associated with metabolic disorders in male individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-six sedentary obese diabetic men (40 to 45 years old) were matched based on the level of FGF-1. They and were randomly divided into two training groups (RT, n = 12 and AT, n = 12) performing three days per week of moderate-intensity RT or AT for 12 weeks and an inactive control group (n = 12). Both training interventions significantly improved FGF-21, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, hormonal changes, strength, and aerobic capacity. Subgroup analysis revealed that RT had greater adaptive responses (p < 0.01) in fasting blood sugar (ES = -0.52), HOMA-IR (ES = -0.87), testosterone (ES = 0.52), cortisol (ES = -0.82), FGF-21 (ES = 0.61), and maximal strength (ES = 1.19) compared to AT. Conversely, AT showed greater changes (p < 0.01) in cholesterol (ES = -0.28), triglyceride (ES = -0.64), HDL (ES = 0.46), LDL (ES = -0.73), and aerobic capacity (ES = 1.18) compared to RT. Overall, both RT and AT interventions yielded significant moderate to large ES in FGF-21 levels and enhanced the management of biochemical variables. RT is an effective method for controlling FGF-21 levels and glucose balance, as well as for inducing hormonal changes. On the other hand, AT is more suitable for improving lipid profiles in overweight men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Influence of exercise prescription intervention based on WeChat on glycolipid metabolism and fitness of suboptimal-health teachers.

Exercise is an effective means to promote health, but adherence is low. Due to the advantages of immediacy, economy and effectiveness, the use of WeChat social software has permeated into every aspect in daily life in China. To explore the influence of WeChat-based exercise prescription intervention mode on glycolipid metabolism and fitness of suboptimal-health teachers. 293 suboptimal-health teachers with senior professional titles were randomized to a control group (CG) or an experimental group (e.g.). The CG exercised on its own, while the e.g. adopted the exercise prescription intervention based on WeChat. The intervention period was 6 months. Finally, 264 cases were adhered to and completed, including 132 cases in the CG and 132 cases in the e.g.. The Suboptimal-Health Status Questionnaires-25 scores (SHSQ-25 scores), exercise adherence, subjective feelings, physical fitness, blood glucose and blood lipids were detected before and after intervention and compared between 2 groups. After the intervention, the SHSQ-25 scores in the e.g. was significantly decreased than those in the CG (P < .01). The complete exercise adherence in the e.g. was significantly higher than those in the CG (P < .01). After intervention, the subjective feelings of e.g. were significantly improved compared to CG (P < .05). The body shape, body function and physical quality in the e.g. was higher than those in the CG (P < .05). Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decreased significantly in the e.g. but not in the CG (P < .05). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased significantly in the e.g. but not in the CG, with a significant difference between groups (P < .05). The subjects in the e.g. were very satisfied with WeChat management. WeChat-based exercise prescription intervention could improve SHS, exercise adherence, subjective feelings, physical fitness and glycolipid metabolism.

The role of MOTS-c-mediated antioxidant defense in aerobic exercise alleviating diabetic myocardial injury.

Myocardial remodeling and dysfunction are commonly observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Aerobic exercise can partly alleviate diabetes-induced myocardial dysfunction through its antioxidant actions. MOTS-c is a potential exercise mimic. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MOTS-c on improving diabetic heart function and its mechanism and to identify whether MOTS-c improved antioxidant defenses due to aerobic exercise. Herein, we established a rat model of T2DM induced by high-fat diet combined with a low-dose streptozotocin injection. Interventions were performed using intraperitoneal injections of MOTS-c (i.p. 0.5 mg/kg/day, 7 days/week) or aerobic exercise training (treadmill, 20 m/min, 60 min/day, 5 days/week) for 8 weeks. Myocardial ultrastructure was assessed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), myocardial lipid peroxidation levels (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) levels were assessed using colorimetric methods, and molecular analyses including MOTS-c, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)and phospho-AMPK (p-AMPK) were examined using Western blot. The results showed that MOTS-c, with or without exercise, reduced myocardial ultrastructural damage and improved glucolipid metabolism and cardiac function in T2DM. Furthermore, MOTS-c increased antioxidant markers such as SOD, CAT, and the protein expression of myocardial MOTS-c, Keap1, Nrf2, and p-AMPK. MOTS-c with exercise treatment reduced myocardial MDA and increased p-AMPK significantly comparing to only exercise or MOTS-c alone. Our findings suggest that MOTS-c may be a helpful supplement for overcoming exercise insufficiency and improving myocardial structure and function in diabetes.

MOTS-c and aerobic exercise induce cardiac physiological adaptation via NRG1/ErbB4/CEBPß modification in rats.

AIMS: To determine the effects of the mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S ribosomal RNA type-c (MOTS-c) and aerobic exercise on cardiac structure and function and explore the role of neuregulin-1 (NRG1)- ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4(ErbB4)- CCAAT-enhancer binding protein ß (C/EBPß) in cardiac physiological adaptation induced by MOTS-c and aerobic training. MAIN METHODS: We used Hematoxylin-Eosin staining(HE)and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) to observe the cardiac myocardial structure, carotid artery catheterization to test cardiac function, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting to describe the changes of NRG1, ErbB4, C/EBPß, and Gata in cardiac physiological adaptation. KEY FINDINGS: MOTS-c and aerobic training significantly increased heart weight and heart weight index (HWI) (all p < 0.05). Aerobic exercise and MOTS-c treatment thickened myocardial fibers, with a tendency of hypertrophy. Heart rate (HR) (p < 0.001, p = 0.010, p = 0.011), the isovolumic diastolic time constant (Tau) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) in exercised (E), MOST-c treated (M) and their combination (ME) decreased significantly, while the dP/dtmax (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.039) and dP/dtmin (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001) in groups E, M and ME were significantly higher than those in group C, but EDP (p = 0.903, p = 0.708, p = 0.744) remained unchanged. Moreover, C/EBPß gene levels were significantly decreased in the differential gene expression between groups C and M transcriptomics sequencing. The levels of ErbB4 mRNA (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and Gata4 mRNA (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001) in groups E, M and ME increased significantly, while C/EBPß mRNA expression decreased significantly (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.001), which was consistent with the results of transcriptome sequencing. NRG1 mRNA in group E was significantly higher than that in group C (p = 0.003), but there was no significant difference between groups M and ME (p = 0.804, p = 0.320). The protein expression of NRG1 (p = 0.026, p < 0.001, p < 0.001), ErbB4 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and Gata4 (p = 0.014, p < 0.001, p = 0.006) in groups E, M and ME increased significantly, while C/EBPß decreased significantly (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.002). SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that MOTS-c and aerobic exercise had similar effects, improving myocardial morphology and structure and enhancing cardiac function through activation of the NRG1-ErbB4-C/EBPß pathway.

The mitochondrial signaling peptide MOTS-c improves myocardial performance during exercise training in rats.

Cardiac remodeling is a physiological adaptation to aerobic exercise and which is characterized by increases in ventricular volume and the number of cardiomyocytes. The mitochondrial derived peptide MOTS-c functions as an important regulator in physical capacity and performance. Exercise elevates levels of endogenous MOTS-c in circulation and in myocardium, while MOTS-c can significantly enhance exercise capacity. However, the effects of aerobic exercise combined with MOTS-c on cardiac structure and function are unclear. We used pressure-volume conductance catheter technique to examine cardiac function in exercised rats with and without treatment with MOTS-c. Surprisingly, MOTS-c improved myocardial mechanical efficiency, enhanced cardiac systolic function, and had a tendency to improve the diastolic function. The findings suggest that using exercise supplements could be used to modulate the cardiovascular benefits of athletic training.