Journal of Physical Activity and Hormones
Volume:3 Issue: 3, Summer 2019

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by a gradual loss of memory and cognitive function. Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is major proximal causes of neuron loss in AD pathogenesis. Physical exercise may be an important adjunct to pharmacological treatment of AD, but the effects of aerobic exercise on tau gene expression are not well known. Thus, the purpose of present study was to determine the effects of aerobic exercise on tau gene expression in rats with trimethyltin (TMT) model of AD.

In this experiment, Thirty tow mature Sprague-dawley male rats were subjected to Alzheimer’s disease through intraperitoneally injection of 8 mg/kg TMT and then were divided into (1) control, (2) Alzheimer-infected control group, (3) endurance training, and (4) sham to study the impact of the disease on the variables. The rats in the endurance training group ran on a rat treadmill with the speed of 15 to 20 meters per minute for 15 to 30 minutes in each session, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. To analyze the results of the tests, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test were run using SPSS.

The results indicated that TMT injection increases the tau gene expression in the Alzheimer-infected control group. No significant differences were observed between sham and control groups. TMT rats had increased levels of tau gene expression that were significantly ameliorated by exercise (P<0.05).

Our results suggest that aerobic exercise is a feasible intervention for delaying disease progression in AD.

There is a little information about the effect of rest period length on hormonal adaptation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short vs. long rest period between the sets in resistance training on testosterone to cortisol ratio (Ts /‪ Co ratio).

Sixteen experienced, weight trained men volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a short (30 second; P30) or long (120 second; P120) rest period group. During the first 2 weeks of training, 3 sets of 10-12 repetition maximum (RM) with 120 second rest intervals between sets and exercises (hamstring with machine, squat, dead lift and leg press) were performed by both groups. During the next 6 weeks of training, the P120 group trained using 120 second between sets and exercises (4 sets of 8-10RM), and the P30 group trained using 30 second between sets and exercises as the 6 weeks of training progressed (4 sets of 8-10RM). Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately and 30 min after the last session of training for measurement serum Ts and Co concentrations.

The results indicated that Ts /‪ Co ratio had tendency to increase immediately after last session of resistance training in P30 and P120 group however no significant differences were observed between these groups. The Ts /‪ Co ratio at post exercise was higher but not significance in the P120 in compare to the P30.

Our results suggested that there is no significant difference in Ts /‪ Co ratio after short or long rest period between the sets in resistance training.

Lipid abnormalities significantly contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other morbidity in diabetics. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks aerobic training on lipid profile and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Twenty four middle-aged men (age, 40 -50 years, 44.0 ± 2.3 mean ± SD) with type 2 diabetes participated as the subject. The subjects were randomly assign to control group (n=12) or the training group (n=12). The subjects in the training group performed 35 to 50 min aerobic training on bicycle ergometer with 40-55% of their heart rate reserve (HRR), 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The subjects in the control group were instructed to maintain their normal physical activity throughout the study.

The results indicated blood lipid profile improved in the training group. The results also revealed that fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index decrease in the training group compare to the control group (P<0.05).

In summary, it seems that aerobic training utilized in this study improves blood lipid profile and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes

Primary dysmenorrhea is defined as difficulty in menstrual flow in the absence of any pelvic pathology. It is the most common gynaecological problem among adolescent females. The effects of resistance training (RT) on primary dysmenorrhea are not well known. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of RT on primary dysmenorrhea in young girls.

The present quasi experimental study included 20 girls of age 20-23 years with primary dysmenorrheal were selected from Marvdasht branch, Islamic Azad University. The subjects were randomly divided into experimental group (n=10) or control group (n=10). The RT program was composed of exercises for different body segments (trunk, upper and lower limbs) that were performed with 10-12 maximal repetitions at 30-65% of 1-RM. The RT consisted of 50-60 min of circuit weight training per day, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. Moo’s Menstrual Distress Questionnaire was used to evaluate psychological and physical symptoms of dysmenorrheal. Estrogen and progesterone levels and psychological and physical symptoms of dysmenorrhea were measured before and after the intervention. Paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test were used to compute changes in the variables before and after the intervention.

Physical premenstrual symptoms were significantly reduced (11.0 ± 5.1 vs. 6.6 ± 3.9; P = 0.001) while estrogen (6.0 ± 4.6 vs. 8.2 ± 5.7 ng/ml; P = 0.012) and progesterone levels (6.6 ± 2.8 vs. 8.0 ± 5.2 ng/ml; P = 0.017) were significantly increased after the intervention compare to the control group. For psychological premenstrual symptoms (10.4 ± 6.4 vs. 10.4 ± 5.1; P = 0.13) no significant changes were observed in response to 8 weeks of RT.

Primary dysmenorrhea is a common complaint among young women. RT seems to be a practical method for reducing primary dysmenorrhea.

Traditionally, resistance exercise stimulates growth hormone (GH) secretion and leads to muscle hypertrophy in a load-dependent manner; however, new research demonstrates that blood flow restricted resistance exercise (BFR) produces potent GH responses that are similar to or exceed those produced following high-load resistance exercise. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of BFR resistance exercise versus traditional resistance training (TRT) on GH levels and thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA).

Twenty untrained healthy men volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects were divided into BFR resistance exercise group (4 sets with 20-50 % of 1-RM in each station with 30-60 second of rest) or TRT group (4 sets with 6-12 maximal repetitions at 70-80% of 1-RM in each station with 2-3 minute of rest) randomly. All the subjects executed five resistance exercises selected to stress the thigh muscle groups in the following order: leg press, squat, leg extension, prone leg curl, and dead lift. BFR resistance exercise and TRT consisted of 50-60 min of station weight training per day, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. Thigh muscle CSA and GH concentration were measured before and after the intervention.

The results showed that maximum strength in each station was increased after BFR resistance exercise and TRT (P<0.05). Thigh muscle CSA also was increased after BFR resistance exercise and TRT; however the increase in thigh muscle CSA was higher in resistance exercise with BFR than TRT. For GH no significant differences were observed after the BFR resistance exercise and TRT methods.

The data suggest that BFR resistance exercise method is a superior method for thigh muscle CSA in compare to the TRT method.

Apoptosis mechanism is one of the most important ways to remove unwanted cells, which is done in the body of porcelain organisms and even single cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effect of swimming training and vitamin D supplements on Bcl-2 gene expression in heart tissue of cadmium-poisoned rats .

Forty two male Sprague Dawley rats randomly divided into seven groups including, (1) control, (2) sham, (3) swimming, (4) vitamin D, (5) interval swimming + weight, (6) swimming + vitamin D, and (7) interval swimming + Vitamin D + weight. The Rats in groups 3,5,6,7 swam for 4 weeks and 5 sessions per week. 5 μg vitamin D3 was dissolved in 150 μl sesame oil and injected intraperitoneally to groups 4,6,7 every two days. After the 4 weeks of intervention, rats in all groups were peritoneally exposed to 2mg/kg of cadmium. At the end of protocol, the rats were sacrificed and their heart tissues were removed to measure gene expression of Bcl-2. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests.

The results showed that there was no significant difference in Bcl-2 gene expression between swimming groups, vitamin D and interval training swimming + weight with control group. Interactive effect of swimming and vitamin D on the increase of Bcl-2 gene expression in the cadmium-exposed rats is significant.

Based on the results, it was inferred that the combination of swimming training (especially swimming with weight) with vitamin D supplementation could increase the Bcl-2 gene expression as an anti-apoptotic protein in the heart.