Effect of martial arts training on IL-6 and other immunological parameters among Trinidadian subjects.

BACKGROUND: Persistent bouts of extended exercise and heavy training are associated with depressed immune cell function. It has recently been demonstrated that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced locally in contracting skeletal muscles and acts on a wide range of tissues. Larger amounts of IL-6 are produced in response to exercise than any other cytokines. Though the majority of existing data obtained following prolonged exercise, it remains to be explained the effect of martial arts training on IL-6 and other immunological parameters and associated changes to the duration of this type of exercise. IL-1α is produced mainly by activated macrophages, as well as neutrophils, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. It possesses metabolic, physiological, hematopoietic activities, and plays one of the central roles in the regulation of the immune responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of martial arts training on IL-6 and other immunological parameters among Trinidadian subjects. METHODS: Sixteen healthy, non-smoker individuals who have been martial arts practitioners for the last 5-15 years, aged 25.94±7.6.20 years. Blood samples were collected to determine IL-6 and other immunological parameters at pre-exercise, immediately post exercise (0 hours), 1 hour, 2 hour and 52 hours of post exercise). IL-6 and IL-1 was measured using Human IL-6 and IL-1 ß ELISA kit, blood cell count was done using automated blood cell counter and CD4, and CD3 count was performed using the automated immunofluorescence analysis by flow cytometer. RESULTS: The mean basal IL-6 level was 71.47±4.3 and reduced to 70.1±21.6 immediately after exercise and then increased to 75.70±8.2 after one hour of exercise bout, returning to basal level after two hours and remained so after 52 hours. The CD4 count was decreased as low as 102.2, (much lower than immune-compromised subjects) after the bout of training but returned to normal range within 2 hours of exercise and increased even more after 52 hours. Similar trends have been observed for hematological parameters such as white blood cells, granulocytes and lymphocytes. The white blood cell count, granulocyte count and lymphocyte count increased immediately after exercise and returned to basal level only after 52 hours of exercise. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that the martial arts exercise increases key cytokines and other hematological parameters. The magnitude of the martial arts exercise-induced IL-6 response is dependent on intensity and especially duration of the exercise.

An epidemiological study of pulmonary function tests in geriatric population of central India.

We have studied Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) namely Vital Capacity (VC). Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), and Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1). Forced Expiratory Flow(FEF 25-50%) in 1200 elderly subjects above 60 years of age of which 570 were females and 630 males. Mean age was 69.22 +/- 5.57 years in males and 68.77 +/- 5.44 in females. The mean value of ventilatory parameters were as follows-1) VC 2.99 +/- 0.5 lt in males and 1.89 +/- 0.29 lt in females. 2) FVC 2.69 +/- 0.58 lt. in males and 1.76 +/- 0.21 lt in females. 3) FEV1/FVC% 83.82 +/- 10.62% in males and 83.37 +/- 11.93% in females. 4) FEF 25-75% was 2.81 +/- 1.20 lt/sec in males and 2.13 +/- 1.27 lt/sec. Physical as well as ventilatory parameters were less in females than for males. The correlation of age with VC and FEV1 was highly significant (P < 0.01) but with FVC was not significant (P > 0.05). The correlation of height, weight and body surface area was not significant with any ventilatory parameter (P > 0.05). Multiple regression equations for VC, FVC and FEV1 were formulated for males and females taking height and age as variables. The predicted values correlated excellently with observed values.