Storage Duration Affects the Quantification of Oxidative Stress Markers in the Gastrocnemius, Heart, and Brain of Mice Submitted to a Maximum Exercise.

This study investigated the effect of sample storage duration on the quantification of oxidative stress markers in the gastrocnemius, heart, and brain of mice submitted to a maximum swimming exercise. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), protein carbonyl derivatives, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were quantified in fresh tissues and in samples stored at -80°C for 1, 3, or 6 months, from exercised (n = 13) and nonexercised mice (n = 13). Except for protein carbonyl derivatives in the heart, the exercise resulted in the modification of all markers in all fresh-evaluated samples (p < 0.001). The storage duration did not modify the effect of exercise on protein carbonyl derivatives and TAC. TBARS was stable for 3 months in the gastrocnemius and for 1 month in frozen heart and brain. Accordingly, the exercise effect on TBARS levels observed in fresh samples was absent in the gastrocnemius frozen for 6 months (p = 0.98) and in the heart and brain frozen for 3 months (p = 0.07 and 0.28, respectively) or more (p = 0.21 for heart and p > 0.99 for brain). In addition, CAT and SOD activities were reduced by storage duration in all tissues evaluated (p < 0.05). Our findings show that sample storage duration alters the quantification of oxidative stress markers in mice submitted to maximum exercise, and its effect is tissue and marker dependent. Some recommendations to achieve more accurate and reproducible data in the exercise physiology and oxidative stress markers field are presented.

Efficacy of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Clinical and Functional Outcomes, and Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and determine the clinical and functional outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Thirty-two women with FMS were randomized into an intervention group (IG), receiving 6 weeks of WBVT, or a control group (CG) with no intervention. The outcomes at the baseline and follow-up in both groups included blood BDNF levels, sit-to-stand test (STS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS). WBVT resulted in a group-by-time interaction effect. Thus, after the intervention time, the IG had increased blood BDNF levels (p=0.045), a higher number of repetitions on the STS test (p=0.011), and increased walking distance on the 6MWT (p=0.010), compared to CG. Moreover, there was a reduction in the scores of the FIQ (p=0.001), the PSQI (p=0.001), the BDI (p=0.017), and pain assessed using VAS (p=0.008) in IG. The results demonstrate that WBVT promotes an increase in blood BDNF levels, with concomitant improvement in lower limb muscle strength, aerobic capacity, clinical symptoms, and quality of life in women with FMS. This trial is registered with Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC; RBR-38nbbx) (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-38nbbx).