Step aerobic combined with resistance training improves cutaneous microvascular reactivity in overweight women.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training on body weight and cutaneous microvascular reactivity in overweight individuals. METHODS: A total of 41 overweight women aged 30-45 years (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m²) were randomized into sedentary time control (CON; N.=15), traditional aerobic dance (AD; N.=11), and step aerobic dance combined with upper-body resistance training (SAR; N.=15) groups. Exercise programs were 50 minutes/session, 3 times/week for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Maximal oxygen consumption and 1-RM strength of lower body increased (P<0.05) in the AD and SAR groups. Body mass and BMI decreased (P<0.05) in the SAR group. Plasma concentration of adiponectin increased (P<0.05) whereas leptin concentration did not change. Peak postocclusive reactive hyperemia measured by laser-Doppler fluxmeter improved (P<0.05) in the SAR group. These changes were not observed in the CON or AD groups. Peak occlusive reactive hyperemia was positively and significantly correlated with adiponectin level (r=0.23). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that simultaneously performed step aerobic dance and resistance training exerts more favorable effects on weight loss and improving cutaneous microvascular reactivity in overweight women.

Continuous vs interval training on glycemic control and macro- and microvascular reactivity in type 2 diabetic patients.

To determine the effects of continuous aerobic exercise training (CON) vs interval aerobic exercise training (INT) on glycemic control and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, 43 participants with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to the sedentary, CON, and INT groups. The CON and INT exercise training programs were designed to yield the same energy expenditure/exercise session and included walking on treadmill for 30 and 40 min/day, 3 times/week for 12 weeks. Body fatness and heart rate at rest decreased and leg muscle strength increased (all P < 0.05) in both the CON and INT groups. Fasting blood glucose levels decreased (P < 0.05) in both exercise groups but glycosylated hemoglobin levels decreased (P < 0.05) only in the INT group. Maximal aerobic capacity, flow-mediated dilation, and cutaneous reactive hyperemia increased significantly in both exercise groups; however, the magnitude of improvements was greater in the INT group. Only the INT group experienced reductions in erythrocyte malondialdehyde and serum von Willebrand factor and increases in plasma glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide (all P < 0.05). We concluded that both continuous and interval training were effective in improving glycemic control, aerobic fitness, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation, but the interval training program appears to confer greater improvements than the continuous training program.

Investigation of bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and safety of new pediatric formulations of artesunate and mefloquine.

The bioavailability/pharmacokinetics of dihydroartemisinin and mefloquine following the oral doses of 4 mg/kg body weight artesunate (Cambodian Pharmaceutical Enterprise) given concurrently with 10 mg/kg body weight oral mefloquine artesunate (Cambodian Pharmaceutical Enterprise) were investigated in 15 healthy Cambodian male volunteers. Both formulations were generally well tolerated. Both produced satisfactory plasma/blood concentration-time profiles. Oral artesunate and mefloquine were rapidly absorbed from gastrointestinal tract with marked inter-individual variation. For the dihydroartemisinin, the median (95% Cl) Cmax of 748 (304-1,470) ng/ml was observed at 1.5 (0.3-3.0) hours (tmax) after drug administration. The median (95% CI) values for AUC0-infinity, lambda(z) and tl/2z were 1.673 (1.08-2.88) microg.h/ml, 0.54(0.24-1.1)/hour and 1.3 (0.6-2.9) hours, respectively. For mefloquine, a median (95% Cl) Cmax of 1,000 (591-1,500) ng/ml was observed at 4 (2-6) hours (tmax) after drug administration. The median (95% CI) value for AUC0-168h was 3.92 (2.88-7.02) microg.h/ml.