فصلنامه فیزیولوژی ورزشی
پیاپی 52 (زمستان 1400)

The purpose of this study was to construct the health-related physical fitness norms for women aged 18-60 in Alborz province. 255 women (Height, 159.0±5.0 cm; Weight, 71.3±10. 6 kg; BMI, 28.1±4.1 kg/m2) were systematically selected as subjects. Aerobic fitness was measured using the Rockport test, strength by using a handgrip dynamometer, body composition by using a caliper. Muscular endurance was measured using sit up and push up tests, and the sit and reach test was used to assess the flexibility. The physical fitness norms were obtained by calculating the percentile of data for each variable. The results showed that the mean value of different variables as follows: cardiovascular endurance 21.7 ml/kg/min, body fat percentage 34.5%, right hand-grip strength 21.3 kg, left hand-grip strength=20.2 kg, abdominal muscular endurance 7 curl-up, muscular endurance of shoulder girdle 1.7 push-ups. Comparing the norms with corresponding norms in other countries revealed the facts about the physical fitness of the 18-60 aged women of Alborz province which, the body composition isn’t at a good status and the aerobic fitness is very weak. Moreover, the muscular endurance norms are significantly lower than that of other countries. Therefore, the lack of physical activity can be clearly observed among the young and middle-aged women in Alborz province and it is crucial to take appropriate action regarding this matter.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Despite the lack of definitive treatment for this disease, exercise and flavonoid use have been suggested as possible non-pharmacological approaches to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of four weeks of aerobic exercise with Naringenin supplementation on hippocampal adiponectin levels and memory impairment in rats  with Alzheimer’s disease, induced by Aβ1-42 injection. For this purpose, 32 eight-week-old male rats (weight 232±26 gr) were randomly divided into four groups: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), AD + aerobic exercise group (ADET), AD + Naringenin supplementation group (AND), and AD + aerobic exercise + Naringenin supplementation group (ADETN). AD was induced by injection of Aβ1-42 into the hippocampus. 10 days after surgery, aerobic exercise interventions (five times a week for four weeks) and / or Naringenin supplementation (80 mg.kg-1.day-1) were started. Then, the animals were subjected to behavioral tests. 48 hours after last session of exercise training, animals were anesthetized and hippocampus were removed. Western Blotting analysis was used to measure Adiponectin protein levels. The results showed that learning and spatial memory performance in ADET, ADN and ADETN groups improved significantly compared to AD group (p < 0.001). Also hippocampal adiponectin levels in ADET, ADN and ADETN groups increased significantly compared to AD group (p < 0.001). In addition, rats in the ADETN group showed better spatial memory function and higher hippocampal adiponectin levels compared to the ADET and ADN groups (p < 0.05). In general, our data suggested that both aerobic exercise and Naringenin supplementation improved learning and spatial memory in rats with Alzheimer’s disease, possibly by modulating hippocampal adiponectin levels. In addition, the combination of these factors had more effect on improving memory.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common endocrine disease that occurs due to glucose intolerance due to imbalance between reserves and insulin demand. Diabetes can also cause damage and cell death or apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to study the gene expression changes in apoptotic and anti-apoptotic indices in liver tissue and insulin resistance index after HIIT and Zataria multiflora extract in obese type 2 diabetic rats. The statistical population consisted of male Wistar rats weighing 110 ± 20 g, with 4-week-old male selected from Royan Institute. Wistar rats with the aim of familiarizing themselves with the environment for two weeks, were kept at about 190 ± 20 gr. All rats were fed a high-fat diet (45 to 60% fat) for 5 months or 20 weeks. After the rats became obese and reached an average weight of about 407 ± 50 g, to create a type 2 diabetic model, 25 mg STZ at a low dose per kg body weight was injected intraperitoneally as fasting glucose between 150 to 400 mg/dl was considered as a criterion for diabetes. All rats were diabetic and were divided into 4 groups (control, HIIT, Thyme, HIIT-Thyme). Rats with fasting glucose between 150 and 400 mg / dL were considered to have type 2 diabetes. HIIT protocol and gavage performed for eight weeks, five sessions per week with 2-minute alternation of 2 and 8 intervals with 80 to 90% vo2max and a one-minute rest cycle with 50 to 56% vo2max. Thyme extract was given by gavage at a dose of 200 mg / kg 5 days a week for eight week. Insulin resistance index was calculated using the formula and the expression of liver tissue apoptotic genes was also measured by RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA and two-factor analysis of variance test for comparison between groups and determination of the effect size and post-hoc method. A significant level of p ≤ 0.05 was considered. Compared to the control group, HIIT led to a significant reduction in glucose and insulin resistance index (P<0.05). Periodic exercise and thyme extract also decreased Bax gene expression and increased Bcl2 expression in hepatocytes compared with controls (P<0.05). The results showed that HIIT with thyme extract in diabetic rats led to improved glycemic profile and changes in glucose and insulin levels, as well as positive and appropriate changes in the expression of hepatic and anti-apoptotic genes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and curcumin supplementation on cardiomyocyte miR-208, miR-499 and HSP60 expression level in rat model of isoproterenol induced acute myocardial infraction (AMI). 40 male rats (200-250 gr, age: 16 weeks old) were randomized into four groups of Training, Curcumin, Concomitant (HIIT+ Curcumin) and Control following intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol (100 mg/kg) for two consecutive days to induce myocardial infarction. HIIT were done for eight weeks, 5 sessions a week for 60 min. Each session was included to 10 intervals (each interval for 4 min) of running at 85-90% of v VO2 peak with 2 min of active recovery at 50 to 60% of v VO2 peak. Curcumin was administrated through oral gavage 15 mg/kg a day. Expression levels of miR-208, miR-499 and HSP60 genes was evaluated using Real-Time PCR method. All three interventions of training, curcumin and their combination (HIIT+Curcumin) significantly elevated cardiac miR-499, HSP60 expression level as well as Vo2max improvement; meanwhile, miR-208 expression was reduced (p=0.001 under any circumstances). Moreover, the expression levels of miR-208 in the concomitant group were significantly lower than HHI (p=0.03) or curcumin (p=0.049) either. All three interventions are likely associated with alleviation of MI complications e.g. oxidative stress, ischemia/reperfusion injury and tissue remodeling, through modifications in microRNAs expression level. Moreover, a further reduction in miR-208 expression level in the concomitant group could imply on a lesser mortality rate or recurrent AMIs as well as a better cardiac structural remodeling following to infraction; emphasizing on better results with curcumin plus HIIT co-prescription. However, more investigations are warranted because of no straight measurement of many factors and also limitations in this study.

Polyploid nuclei are formed as a result of a defective cell division cycle, which is strongly associated with the aging process and leads to an increase in the area of  hepatocytes, i.e. cell inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a period high-intensity interval training (HIIT) swimming with resveratrol (R) supplementation on the area of liver cells and polyploid nuclei in aged rats. In this study, 40 male Wistar aged rats (twenty-month-old, weight of 350-450 g) that the NOVEL test of whom was negative and had no motor disorder, were divided into five groups (control (C), HIIT training (HIT), supplement and HIIT training (HITR), supplement (R), Solvent (S). Rats in the (HIT) and (HITR) groups performed (HIIT) swimming for six weeks (three days a week) the initial load applied (in the first week) was 9% of body weight per rat and 1% was added every week. Also, eight young rats (three-month-old, weight of 150-180 g) was placed in a group(Y) for comparison. At the end of the protocol and after biopsy, 5 healthy tissues were obtained from each group. Variables were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) and, ImageJ software was used to calculate the area of hepatocyte and one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test were used to compare the groups. After six weeks of HIIT swimming with and without resveratrol, there was a significant decrease between the mean levels of hepatocytes in the study groups, which was significant in the training group compared to the other groups. However, this change in polyploid nuclei was not significant (p ≤0.05). There was a significant difference between the mean area of hepatocytes in the research groups (P=0.0001) (Table 1). According to Figure 1, Tukey’s test showed that this significant difference was in the mean area of hepatocytes between the control and exercise (P=0.0001), control and youth (P=0.0001), solvent and supplement (P=0.012), solvent and training (P=0.0001), solvent and youth (P=0.0001), supplement and training + supplement (P=0.0001), supplement and training (P=0.002), supplement and youth (P=0.003), training + supplement and training (P=0.0001), and training + supplement and youth groups (P=0.0001). There was no significant difference between the other groups. It seems HIIT swimming exercise with resveratrol supplements can lower liver cell levels.

The World Health Organization recommends wearing facemasks in public. Some have reported detrimental concern that these may affect the cardiovascular (CV) system during physical activity. The current study aims to evaluate the effect of two weeks of high- (HIIT) or moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) with respiratory masks on women’s CV function. Thirty six healthy female volunteers were randomly divided into 6 groups (age; 25-45 years and BMI; 23 kg/m2) including: HIIT with N95 (HIIT-N95 mask), and surgical (HIIT-SUR mask) masks, MIIT with N95 (MIIT-N95 mask), and surgical (MIIT-SUR mask) masks, and HIIT (Nomask + HIIT) or MIIT (Nomask + MIIT) without masks groups. Three-weekly HIIT (2-4 bouts of 20-60 second intervals at 80–90% and or 60-70% of HRmax, interspersed by 4 min at 65% HRmax), MIIT (4 bouts of 4 min intervals at 55–75 HRmax, interspersed by 15-60 seconds between intervals) was performed for 2 weeks. Cardiovascular parameters were devalued by ECG and Oximeter pulse systems. A bout of the moderate and high intensity running on treadmill, while women wearing surgical and in particular, N95 face masks, causes significant transiently increase in HR, SBP, rate pressure product (RPP) and insignificant change in SPo2% at first and after two weeks of HIIT and MIIT, as compared to control group. Two weeks of HIIT led to greater improvement in exhaustion time and VO2max on treadmill and insignificant reduction in resting cardiovascular parameters, when compared to MIIT groups. In healthy women, wearing respiratory masks during exercise is safe, and associated with only temporary changes of cardiovascular parameters. Overall, performing two weeks of HIIT with respiratory masks improved performance, and wearing respiratory masks during exercise training was safe in healthy women and was associated with only transient changes in CV parameters.