Comparative Metabolomic Analysis of Moringa oleifera Leaves of Different Geographical Origins and Their Antioxidant Effects on C2C12 Myotubes.

Moringa oleifera is widely grown throughout the tropics and increasingly used for its therapeutic and nutraceutical properties. These properties are attributed to potent antioxidant and metabolism regulators, including glucosinolates/isothiocyanates as well as flavonoids, polyphenols, and phenolic acids. Research to date largely consists of geographically limited studies that only examine material available locally. These practices make it unclear as to whether moringa samples from one area are superior to another, which would require identifying superior variants and distributing them globally. Alternatively, the finding that globally cultivated moringa material is essentially functionally equivalent means that users can easily sample material available locally. We brought together accessions of Moringa oleifera from four continents and nine countries and grew them together in a common garden. We performed a metabolomic analysis of leaf extracts (MOLE) using an LC-MSMS ZenoTOF 7600 mass spectrometry system. The antioxidant capacity of leaf samples evaluated using the Total Antioxidant Capacity assay did not show any significant difference between extracts. MOLE samples were then tested for their antioxidant activity on C2C12 myotubes challenged with an oxidative insult. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was added to the myotubes after pretreatment with different extracts. H2O2 exposure caused an increase in cell death that was diminished in all samples pretreated with moringa extracts. Our results show that Moringa oleifera leaf extract is effective in reducing the damaging effect of H2O2 in C2C12 myotubes irrespective of geographical origin. These results are encouraging because they suggest that the use of moringa for its therapeutic benefits can proceed without the need for the lengthy and complex global exchange of materials between regions.

Physical Activity and Epigenetic Aging in Breast Cancer Treatment.

Biological age, reflecting the cumulative damage in the body over a lifespan, is a dynamic measure more indicative of individual health than chronological age. Accelerated aging, when biological age surpasses chronological age, is implicated in poorer clinical outcomes, especially for breast cancer (BC) survivors undergoing treatments. This preliminary study investigates the impact of a 16-week online supervised physical activity (PA) intervention on biological age in post-surgery female BC patients. Telomere length was measured using qPCR, and the ELOVL2-based epigenetic clock was assessed via DNA methylation pyrosequencing of the ELOVL2 promoter region. Telomere length remained unchanged, but the ELOVL2 epigenetic clock indicated a significant decrease in biological age in the PA group, suggesting the potential of PA interventions to reverse accelerated aging processes in BC survivors. The exercise group showed improved cardiovascular fitness, highlighting PA's health impact. Finally, the reduction in biological age, as measured by the ELOVL2 epigenetic clock, was significantly associated with improvements in cardiovascular fitness and handgrip strength, supporting improved recovery. Epigenetic clocks can potentially assess health status and recovery progress in BC patients, identifying at-risk individuals in clinical practice. This study provides potential and valuable insights into how PA benefits BC survivors' health, supporting the immediate benefits of a 16-week exercise intervention in mitigating accelerated aging. The findings could suggest a holistic approach to improving the health and recovery of post-surgery BC patients.

Oxidative Stress and Skeletal Muscle Function.

Skeletal muscle is continuously exposed during its activities to mechanical/oxidative damage [...].

Sex-Chromosome-Related Dimorphism in Steroidogenic Enzymes and Androgen Receptor in Response to Testosterone Treatment: An In Vitro Study on Human Primary Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Gender-related methodology in biomedical sciences receives considerable attention, with numerous studies highlighting biological differences between cisgender males and females. These differences influence the clinical symptoms of various diseases and impact therapeutic approaches. In this in vitro study, we investigate the potential role of sex-chromosome-related dimorphism on steroidogenic enzymes, androgen receptor (AR) expression, and cellular translocation in primary human skeletal muscle cells before and after exposure to testosterone. We analyzed 46XY and 46XX cells for 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), 5α-reductase (5α-R2), aromatase (Cyp-19), and AR gene expression. We also compared AR expression and intracellular translocation after increasing exposure to testosterone. At baseline, we observed higher mRNA expression for 5α-R2 and AR in 46XY cells and higher Cyp-19 mRNA expression in 46XX cells. Following testosterone exposure, we observed an increase in AR expression and translocation in 46XX cells, even at the lowest dose of 0.5 nM, while significant changes in 46XY cells were observed only from 10 nM. Our in vitro results demonstrate that the diverse sex chromosome assets reflect important differences in muscle steroidogenesis. They support the concept that chromosomal disparities between males and females, even in vitro, lead to pivotal variations in cellular physiology and response. This understanding represents a crucial starting point in gender medicine, ensuring a precise approach in clinical practice, sports, and exercise settings and facilitating the translation of in vitro data to in vivo applicability.

The Impact of Spermidine on C2C12 Myoblasts Proliferation, Redox Status and Polyamines Metabolism under H2O2 Exposure.

A central feature of the skeletal muscle is its ability to regenerate through the activation, by environmental signals, of satellite cells. Once activated, these cells proliferate as myoblasts, and defects in this process profoundly affect the subsequent process of regeneration. High levels of reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with the consequent formation of oxidized macromolecules increase myoblasts' cell death and strongly contribute to the loss of myoblast function. Recently, particular interest has turned towards the beneficial effects on muscle of the naturally occurring polyamine spermidine (Spd). In this work, we tested the hypothesis that Spd, upon oxidative challenge, would restore the compromised myoblasts' viability and redox status. The effects of Spd in combination with aminoguanidine (Spd-AG), an inhibitor of bovine serum amine oxidase, on murine C2C12 myoblasts treated with a mild dose of H2O2 were evaluated by analyzing: (i) myoblast viability and recovery from wound scratch; (ii) redox status and (iii) polyamine (PAs) metabolism. The treatment of C2C12 myoblasts with Spd-AG increased cell number and accelerated scratch wound closure, while H2O2 exposure caused redox status imbalance and cell death. The combined treatment with Spd-AG showed an antioxidant effect on C2C12 myoblasts, partially restoring cellular total antioxidant capacity, reducing the oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and increasing cell viability through a reduction in cell death. Moreover, Spd-AG administration counteracted the induction of polyamine catabolic genes and PA content decreased due to H2O2 challenges. In conclusion, our data suggest that Spd treatment has a protective role in skeletal muscle cells by restoring redox balance and promoting recovery from wound scratches, thus making myoblasts able to better cope with an oxidative insult.

Hydrogen Peroxide Stimulates Dihydrotestosterone Release in C2C12 Myotubes: A New Perspective for Exercise-Related Muscle Steroidogenesis?

Skeletal muscle is a tissue that has recently been recognized for its ability to produce androgens under physiological conditions. The steroidogenesis process is known to be negatively influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in reproductive Leydig and ovary cells, while their effect on muscle steroidogenesis is still an unexplored field. Muscle cells are continuously exposed to ROS, resulting from both their metabolic activity and the surrounding environment. Interestingly, the regulation of signaling pathways, induced by mild ROS levels, plays an important role in muscle fiber adaptation to exercise, in a process that also elicits a significant modulation in the hormonal response. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ROS could influence steroidogenesis in skeletal muscle cells by evaluating the release of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), as well as the evaluation of the relative expression of the key steroidogenic enzymes 5α-reductase, 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17ß-HSD, and aromatase. C2C12 mouse myotubes were exposed to a non-cytotoxic concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a condition intended to reproduce, in vitro, one of the main stimuli linked to the process of homeostasis and adaptation induced by exercise in skeletal muscle. Moreover, the influence of tadalafil (TAD), a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) originally used to treat erectile dysfunction but often misused among athletes as a "performance-enhancing" drug, was evaluated in a single treatment or in combination with H2O2. Our data showed that a mild hydrogen peroxide exposure induced the release of DHT, but not T, and modulated the expression of the enzymes involved in steroidogenesis, while TAD treatment significantly reduced the H2O2-induced DHT release. This study adds a new piece of information about the adaptive skeletal muscle cell response to an oxidative environment, revealing that hydrogen peroxide plays an important role in activating muscle steroidogenesis.

Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Upregulates Nrf2/HO-1 Expression and Ameliorates Redox Status in C2C12 Skeletal Muscle Cells.

Moringa oleifera is a multi-purpose herbal plant with numerous health benefits. In skeletal muscle cells, Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) acts by increasing the oxidative metabolism through the SIRT1-PPARα pathway. SIRT1, besides being a critical energy sensor, is involved in the activation related to redox homeostasis of transcription factors such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2). The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro the capacity of MOLE to influence the redox status in C2C12 myotubes through the modulation of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione levels, Nrf2 and its target gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, as well as enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST). Moreover, the impact of MOLE supplementation on lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage (i.e., TBARS and protein carbonyls) was evaluated. Our results highlight for the first time that MOLE increased not only Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner, but also improved glutathione redox homeostasis and the enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, GPx and GST. Therefore, it is intriguing to speculate that MOLE supplementation could represent a valuable nutrition for the health of skeletal muscles.

Sildenafil Reduces Expression and Release of IL-6 and IL-8 Induced by Reactive Oxygen Species in Systemic Sclerosis Fibroblasts.

Oxidative stress linked to vascular damage plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Indeed, vascular damage at nailfold capillaroscopy in patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) is a major risk factor for the development of SSc together with the presence of specific autoantiobodies. Here, we investigated the effects of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) sildenafil, currently used in the management of RP, in modulating the proinflammatory response of dermal fibroblasts to oxidative stress in vitro. Human fibroblasts isolated from SSc patients and healthy controls were exposed to exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) (100 µM H2O2), in the presence or absence of sildenafil (1 µM). Treatment with sildenafil significantly reduced dermal fibroblast gene expression and cellular release of IL-6, known to play a central role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in SSc and IL-8, directly induced by ROS. This reduction was associated with suppression of STAT3-, ERK-, NF-κB-, and PKB/AKT-dependent pathways. Our findings support the notion that the employment of PDE5i in the management of RP may be explored for its efficacy in modulating the oxidative stress-induced proinflammatory activation of dermal fibroblasts in vivo and may ultimately aid in the prevention of tissue damage caused by SSc.

Emerging Role for Linear and Circular Spermine Oxidase RNAs in Skeletal Muscle Physiopathology.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a pathological condition so far without effective treatment and poorly understood at a molecular level. Emerging evidence suggest a key role for circular RNAs (circRNA) during myogenesis and their deregulation has been reported to be associated with muscle diseases. Spermine oxidase (SMOX), a polyamine catabolic enzyme plays a critical role in muscle differentiation and the existence of a circRNA arising from SMOX gene has been recently identified. In this study, we evaluated the expression profile of circular and linear SMOX in both C2C12 differentiation and dexamethasone-induced myotubes atrophy. To validate our findings in vivo their expression levels were also tested in two murine models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: SOD1G93A and hFUS+/+, characterized by progressive muscle atrophy. During C2C12 differentiation, linear and circular SMOX show the same trend of expression. Interestingly, in atrophy circSMOX levels significantly increased compared to the physiological state, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our study demonstrates that SMOX represents a new player in muscle physiopathology and provides a scientific basis for further investigation on circSMOX RNA as a possible new therapeutic target for the treatment of muscle atrophy.

The acute effect of Quercetin on muscle performance following a single resistance training session.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of acute quercetin (Q) ingestion on neuromuscular function, biomarkers of muscle damage, and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in response to an acute bout of resistance training. METHODS: 10 young men (22.1 ± 1.8 years, 24.1 ± 3.1 BMI) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Subjects consumed Q (1 g/day) or placebo (PLA) 3 h prior to a resistance training session which consisted of 3 sets of 8 repetitions at 80% of the one repetition maximum (1RM) completed bilaterally for eight different resistance exercises. Electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the knee extensor muscles during maximal isometric (MVIC) and isokinetic voluntary contractions, and during an isometric fatiguing test. Mechanical and EMG signals, biomarkers of cell damage, and RPE score were measured PRE, immediately POST, and 24 h (blood indices only) following the resistance exercise. RESULTS: After a single dose of Q, the torque-velocity curve of knee extensors was enhanced and after the resistance exercise, subjects showed a lower MVIC reduction (Q: 0.91 ± 6.10%, PLA: 8.66 ± 5.08%) with a greater rate of torque development (+ 10.6%, p < 0.005) and neuromuscular efficiency ratio (+ 28.2%, p < 0.005). Total volume of the resistance exercises was significantly greater in Q (1691.10 ± 376.71 kg rep) compared to PLA (1663.65 ± 378.85 kg rep) (p < 0.05) with a comparable RPE score. No significant differences were found in blood marker between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The acute ingestion of Q may enhance the neuromuscular performance during and after a resistance training session.

Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors, Sport and Doping.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil) are drugs commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. PDE5i are not prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) but are alleged to be frequently misused by healthy athletes to improve sporting performance. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported various effects of PDE5i on cardiovascular, muscular, metabolic, and neuroendocrine systems and the potential, therefore, to enhance performance of healthy athletes during training and competition. This suggests well-controlled research studies to examine the ergogenic effects of PDE5i on performance during activities that simulate real sporting situations are warranted to determine if PDE5i should be included on the prohibited WADA list. In the meantime, there is concern that some otherwise healthy athletes will continue to misuse PDE5i to gain an unfair competitive advantage over their competitors.

Effects of tadalafil administration on plasma markers of exercise-induced muscle damage, IL6 and antioxidant status capacity.

INTRODUCTION: Physical exercise is associated with enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, which if uncontrolled can result in tissue injury. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) exhibit protective effect against oxidative stress, both in animals and healthy/unhealthy humans. However, the effect of a chronic administration of PDE5i, particularly combined with physical exercise, has never been investigated. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the long-acting PDE5i tadalafil on oxidative status and muscle damage after exhaustive exercise in healthy males included in a double-blind crossover trial. HYPOTHESIS: Tadalafil, having a putative antioxidant activity, may reduce oxidative damage after strenuous exercise. METHODS: Each volunteer randomly received two tablets of placebo or tadalafil (20 mg/day) with 36 h of interval before performing exhaustive exercise. After 2 weeks of washout, the volunteers were crossed over. Blood samples were collected immediately before exercise, immediately after, and during recovery (15, 30, 60 min). Plasma total antioxidant status, glutathione homeostasis (GSH/GSSG), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 were assessed. RESULTS: Tadalafil administration per se affected redox homeostasis (GSH/GSSG -36%; p < 0.05), cellular (CK +75% and LDH +36%; p < 0.05) and oxidative damage (MDA +41% and protein carbonyls +50%; p < 0.05) markers. The exhaustive exercise increased all the above-reported biochemical parameters, with subjects from the tadalafil group showing significantly higher values with respect to the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: A prolonged exposure to tadalafil decreases antioxidant capacity at resting condition, therefore making subjects more susceptible to the oxidative stress induced by an exhaustive bout of exercise.

The impact of physical activity on promoter-specific methylation of genes involved in the redox-status and disease progression: A longitudinal study on post-surgery female breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment.

Most anticancer treatments act on oxidative-stress pathways by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells, commonly resulting in consequential drug-induced systemic cytotoxicity. Physical activity (PA) has arisen as an integrative cancer therapy, having positive health effects, including in redox-homeostasis. Here, we investigated the impact of an online supervised PA program on promoter-specific DNA methylation, and corresponding gene expression/activity, in 3 antioxidants- (SOD1, SOD2, and CAT) and 3 breast cancer (BC)-related genes (BRCA1, L3MBTL1 and RASSF1A) in a population-based sample of women diagnosed with primary BC, undergoing medical treatment. We further examined mechanisms involved in methylating and demethylating pathways, predicted biological pathways and interactions of exercise-modulated molecules, and the functional relevance of modulated antioxidant markers on parameters related to aerobic capacity/endurance, physical fatigue and quality of life (QoL). PA maintained levels of SOD activity in blood plasma, and at the cellular level significantly increased SOD2 mRNA (≈+77 %), contrary to their depletion due to medical treatment. This change was inversely correlated with DNA methylation in SOD2 promoter (≈-20 %). Similarly, we found a significant effect of PA only on L3MBTL1 promoter methylation (≈-25 %), which was inversely correlated with its mRNA (≈+43 %). Finally, PA increased TET1 mRNA levels (≈+15 %) and decreased expression of DNMT3B mRNA (≈-28 %). Our results suggest that PA-modulated DNA methylation affects several signalling pathways/biological activities involved in the cellular oxidative stress response, chromatin organization/regulation, antioxidant activity and DNA/protein binding. These changes may positively impact clinical outcomes and improve the response to cancer treatment in post-surgery BC patients.

Online Home-Based Physical Activity Counteracts Changes of Redox-Status Biomarkers and Fitness Profiles during Treatment Programs in Postsurgery Female Breast Cancer Patients.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in women. Oxidative stress may contribute to cancer etiology through several mechanisms. A large body of evidence indicates that physical activity (PA) has positive effects on different aspects of BC evolution, including mitigation of negative effects induced by medical treatment. With the aim to verify the capacity of PA to counteract negative effects of BC treatment on systemic redox homeostasis in postsurgery female BC patients, we have examined the modulation of circulating levels of oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Moreover, we evaluated the impacts on physical fitness and mental well-being by measuring functional parameters, body mass index, body composition, health-related quality of life (QoL), and fatigue. Our investigation revealed that PA was effective in maintaining plasma levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and tGSH, as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells' (PBMCs) mRNA levels of SOD1 and heat-shock protein 27. Moreover, we found a significant decrease in plasma interleukin-6 (≈0.57 ± 0.23-fold change, p < 0.05) and increases in both interleukin-10 (≈1.15 ± 0.35-fold change, p < 0.05) and PBMCs' mRNA level of SOD2 (≈1.87 ± 0.36-fold change, p < 0.05). Finally, PA improves functional parameters (6 min walking test, ≈+6.50%, p < 0.01; Borg, ≈-58.18%, p < 0.01; sit-and-reach, ≈+250.00%, p < 0.01; scratch right, ≈-24.12%, and left, ≈-18.81%, p < 0.01) and body composition (free fat mass, ≈+2.80%, p < 0.05; fat mass, ≈-6.93%, p < 0.05) as well as the QoL (physical function, ≈+5.78%, p < 0.05) and fatigue (cognitive fatigue, ≈-60%, p < 0.05) parameters. These results suggest that a specific PA program not only is effective in improving functional and anthropometric parameters but may also activate cellular responses through a multitude of actions in postsurgery BC patients undergoing adjuvant therapy. These may include modulation of gene expression and protein activity and impacting several signaling pathways/biological activities involved in tumor-cell growth; metastasis; and inflammation, as well as moderating distress symptoms known to negatively affect QoL.

Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract Protects C2C12 Myotubes against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress.

The imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant defense systems leads to macromolecule and tissue damage as a result of cellular oxidative stress. This phenomenon is considered a key factor in fatigue and muscle damage following chronic or high-intensity physical exercise. In the present study, the antioxidant effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOLE) was evaluated in C2C12 myotubes exposed to an elevated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) insult. The capacity of the extract to influence the myotube redox status was evaluated through an analysis of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione homeostasis (GSH and GSSG), total free thiols (TFT), and thioredoxin (Trx) activity, as well as the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and transferase (GST). Moreover, the ability of MOLE to mitigate the stress-induced peroxidation of lipids and oxidative damage (TBARS and protein carbonyls) was also evaluated. Our data demonstrate that MOLE pre-treatment mitigates the highly stressful effects of H2O2 in myotubes (1 mM) by restoring the redox status (TFT, Trx, and GSH/GSSG ratio) and increasing the antioxidant enzymatic system (CAT, SOD, GPx, GST), thereby significantly reducing the TBARs and PrCAR levels. Our study provides evidence that MOLE supplementation has antioxidant potential, allowing myotubes better able to cope with an oxidative insult and, therefore, could represent a useful nutritional strategy for the preservation of muscle well-being.

The Preventive Role of Physical Activity in Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Correlation with Clinical Parameters and Disease Progression.

Although exercise is associated with improved health in many medical conditions, little is known about the possible influences of physical activity (PA) habits pre- and post- a diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on disease activity and progression. This cross-sectional study assessed, for the first time, self-reported pre- and post-diagnostic PA levels with the aim to verify if changes in these levels were correlated with demographic/anthropometric data (e.g., weight, height, gender, age, BMI), disease duration, diagnostic/clinical parameters (e.g., skin involvement, pulmonary hemodynamic/echocardiographic data, disease activity) related to disease activity and progression, and quality of life in a population-based sample of patients with SSc. Adult participants (n = 34, age 56.6 ± 13.3 years) with SSc (limited cutaneous SSc, lcSSc, n = 20; diffuse cutaneous SSc, dcSSc, n = 9; sine scleroderma SSc, n = 5) were enrolled at the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology of the Humanitas Research Hospital. All medical data were recorded during periodic clinical visits by a rheumatologist. Moreover, all subjects included in this study completed extensive questionnaires to evaluate their health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and others related to health-related physical activity performed before (PRE) and after (POST) the diagnosis of disease. The linear regression analysis has shown that either a high Sport_index or Leisure_index in the PRE-diagnostic period was correlated with lower disease duration in dcSSc patients. Physical load during sport activity and leisure time accounted for ~61.1% and ~52.6% of the individual variation in disease duration, respectively. In lcSSc patients, a high PRE value related to physical load during sporting activities was correlated with a low pulmonary artery systolic pressure (sPAP) and the POST value of the Work_index was positively correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and negatively with creatine kinase levels (CK). Interestingly, the univariate analysis showed that Work_index accounts for ~29.4% of the variance in LVEF. Our analysis clearly reinforces the concept that high levels of physical load may play a role in primary prevention-delaying the onset of the disease in those subjects with a family history of SSc-as well as in secondary prevention, improving SSc management through a positive impact on different clinical parameters of the disease. However, it remains a priority to identify a customized physical load in order to minimize the possible negative effects of PA.

Effect of Tadalafil Administration on Redox Homeostasis and Polyamine Levels in Healthy Men with High Level of Physical Activity.

Background: The phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) tadalafil, in addition to its therapeutic role, has shown antioxidant effects in different in vivo models. Supplementation with antioxidants has received interest as a suitable tool for preventing or reducing exercise-related oxidative stress, possibly leading to the improvement of sport performance in athletes. However, the use/abuse of these substances must be evaluated not only within the context of amateur sport, but especially in competitions where elite athletes are more exposed to stressful physical practice. To date, very few human studies have addressed the influence of the administration of PDE5Is on redox balance in subjects with a fitness level comparable to elite athletes; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate for the first time whether acute ingestion of tadalafil could affect plasma markers related to cellular damage, redox homeostasis, and blood polyamines levels in healthy subjects with an elevated cardiorespiratory fitness level. Methods: Healthy male volunteers (n = 12), with a VO2max range of 40.1-56.0 mL/(kg × min), were administered with a single dose of tadalafil (20 mg). Plasma molecules related to muscle damage and redox-homeostasis, such as creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), free thiols (FTH), antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), protein carbonyls (PrCAR), and polyamine levels (spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd)) were evaluated immediately before and 2, 6 and 24 hours after the acute tadalafil administration. Results: A single tadalafil administration induced an increase in CK and LDH plasma levels 24 after consumption. No effects were observed on redox homeostasis or antioxidant enzyme activities, and neither were they observed on the oxidation target molecules or polyamines levels. Conclusion: Our results show that in subjects with an elevated fitness level, a single administration of tadalafil induced a significant increase in muscle damage target without affecting plasma antioxidant status.

Estrogen-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women: The Role of Body Composition and Physical Exercise.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide and the most common cause of cancer-related death. To date, it is still a challenge to estimate the magnitude of the clinical impact of physical activity (PA) on those parameters producing significative changes in future BC risk and disease progression. However, studies conducted in recent years highlight the role of PA not only as a protective factor for the development of ER+ breast cancer but, more generally, as a useful tool in the management of BC treatment as an adjuvant to traditional therapies. In this review, we focused our attention on data obtained from human studies analyzing, at each level of disease prevention (i.e., primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary), the positive impact of PA/exercise in ER+ BC, a subtype representing approximately 70% of all BC diagnoses. Moreover, given the importance of estrogen receptors and body composition (i.e., adipose tissue) in this subtype of BC, an overview of their role will also be made throughout this review.

Quercetin Modulates IGF-I and IGF-II Levels After Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle-Damage: A Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Prolonged or unaccustomed eccentric exercise may cause muscle damage and depending from its extent, this event negatively affects physical performance. Objectives: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate, in humans, the effect of the flavonoid quercetin on circulating levels of the anabolic insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-II), produced during the recovery period after an eccentric-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study has been performed; twelve young men ingested quercetin (1 g/day) or placebo for 14 days and then underwent an eccentric-induced muscle damaging protocol. Blood samples were collected, and cell damage markers [creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myoglobin (Mb)], the inflammatory responsive interleukin 6 (IL-6), IGF-I and IGF-II levels were evaluated before the exercise and at different recovery times from 24 hours to 7 days after EIMD. Results: We found that, in placebo treatment the increase in IGF-I (72 h) preceded IGF-II increase (7 d). After Q supplementation there was a more marked increase in IGF-I levels and notably, the IGF-II peak was found earlier, compared to placebo, at the same time of IGF-I (72 h). Quercetin significantly reduced plasma markers of cell damage [CK (p<0.005), LDH (p<0.001) and Mb (p<0.05)] and the interleukin 6 level [IL-6 (p<0.05)] during recovery period following EIMD compared to placebo. Conclusions: Our data are encouraging about the use of quercetin as dietary supplementation strategy to adopt in order to mitigate and promote a faster recovery after eccentric exercise as suggested by the increase in plasma levels of the anabolic factors IGF-I and IGF-II.

Can Physical Activity Influence Human Gut Microbiota Composition Independently of Diet? A Systematic Review.

Evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) influences the human gut microbiota composition, but its role is unclear because of dietary interference. The aim of this review is to clarify this issue from this new perspective in healthy individuals. Articles analyzing intestinal microbiota from fecal samples by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were selected by searching the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until December 2020. For each study, methodological quality was assessed, and results about microbiota biodiversity indices, phylum and genus composition, and information on PA and diet were considered. From 997 potentially relevant articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Five studies involved athletes, three were performed on active people classified on the basis of habitual PA level, and two among sedentary subjects undergoing exercise interventions. The majority of the studies reported higher variability and prevalence of the phylum Firmicutes (genera Ruminococcaceae or Fecalibacteria) in active compared to inactive individuals, especially in athletes. The assessment of diet as a possible confounder of PA/exercise effects was completed only in four studies. They reported a similar abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Paraprevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Veillonellaceae, which are involved in metabolic, protective, structural, and histological functions. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.