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Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disorder characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density and deterioration of bone microstructure. Despite the high prevalence of this disease, no effective treatment for osteoporosis has been developed. Exercise has long been considered a potent anabolic factor that promotes bone mass via upregulation of myokines secreted by skeletal muscle, exerting long‐term osteoprotective effects and few side effects. Irisin was recently identified as a novel myokine that is significantly upregulated by exercise and could increase bone mass. However, the mechanisms underlying exercise‐induced muscle‐bone crosstalk remain unclear. Here, we identified that polyunsaturated fatty acids (arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) are increased in skeletal muscles following a 10‐week treadmill exercise programme, which then promotes the expression and release of FNDC5/irisin. In osteoblasts, irisin binds directly to Cav1, which recruits and interacts with AMP‐activated protein kinase α (AMPKα) to activate the AMPK pathway. Nrf2 is the downstream target of the AMPK pathway and increases the transcription of HMOX1 and Fpn. HMOX1 is involved in regulating the cell cycle and promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts. Moreover, upregulation of Fpn in osteoblasts enhanced iron removal, thereby suppressing ferroptosis in osteoblasts. Additionally, we confirmed that myotube‐derived exosomes are involved in the transportation of irisin and enter osteoblasts through caveolae‐mediated endocytosis. In conclusion, our findings highlight the crucial role of irisin, present in myotube‐derived exosomes, as a crucial regulator of exercise‐induced protective effects on bone, which provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying exercise‐dependent treatment of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited knowledge exists regarding the chronic effect of muscular exercise on muscle function in a murine model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Here we determined the effects of 1 month of voluntary wheel running (WR), 1 month of enforced treadmill running (TR) and 1 month of mechanical overloading resulting from the removal of the synergic muscles (OVL) in mice lacking both dystrophin and desmin (DKO). Additionally, we examined the effect of activin receptor administration (AR). DKO mice, displaying severe muscle weakness, atrophy and greater susceptibility to contraction‐induced functional loss, were exercised or treated with AR at 1 month of age and in situ force production of lower leg muscle was measured at the age of 2 months. We found that TR and OVL increased absolute maximal force and the rate of force development of the plantaris muscle in DKO mice. In contrast, those of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle remained unaffected by TR and WR. Furthermore, the effects of TR and OVL on plantaris muscle function in DKO mice closely resembled those in mdx mice, a less severe murine DMD model. AR also improved absolute maximal force and the rate of force development of the TA muscle in DKO mice. In conclusion, exercise training improved plantaris muscle weakness in severely affected dystrophic mice. Consequently, these preclinical results may contribute to fostering further investigations aimed at assessing the potential benefits of exercise for DMD patients, particularly resistance training involving a low number of intense muscle contractions. Key points: Very little is known about the effects of exercise training in a murine model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). One reason is that it is feared that chronic muscular exercise, particularly that involving intense muscle contractions, could exacerbate the disease.In DKO mice lacking both dystrophin and desmin, characterized by severe lower leg muscle weakness, atrophy and fragility in comparison to the less severe DMD mdx model, we found that enforced treadmill running improved absolute maximal force of the plantaris muscle, while that of tibialis anterior muscle remained unaffected by both enforced treadmill and voluntary wheel running.Furthermore, mechanical overloading, a non‐physiological model of chronic resistance exercise, reversed plantaris muscle weakness.Consequently, our findings may have the potential to alleviate concerns and pave the way for exploring the prescription of endurance and resistance training as a viable therapeutic approach for the treatment of dystrophic patients. Additionally, such interventions may serve in mitigating the pathophysiological mechanisms induced by physical inactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Horses exercised 'onto the bit' with periods of induced poll flexion can demonstrate a unique array of upper respiratory tract (URT) disorders. Objectives: To describe a previously unreported exercise‐related disorder of the epiglottis associated with poll flexion in harness racehorses. Study design: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Medical records of all harness racehorses that presented for exercising URT endoscopy between 2005 and 2022 were reviewed. These horses were exercised on a high‐speed treadmill using a previously standardised protocol with alternating 1‐min phases of free head carriage (no rein tension on the bit) and poll flexion (driven onto the bit with long reins) until they could no longer maintain the trotting gait. Results: Seven Standardbreds and 11 Norwegian‐Swedish Coldblooded trotters were diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral compression of the epiglottis during exercise in poll flexion. These horses demonstrated progression of this disorder during the phases of induced poll flexion and showed no signs of epiglottic compression during phases exercised with free head carriage. Main limitations: Retrospective nature of study and limited sample size due to low prevalence. Conclusions: Exercise‐related compression of the base of the epiglottis is a URT disorder only evident videoendoscopically when horses are driven onto the bit leading to poll flexion. It is most often seen in association with dynamic laryngeal collapse but can also be witnessed as a solitary disorder. Videoendoscopically, it appears that the compression is initiated by the rostral advancement of the larynx and hyoid apparatus within a progressively narrowing intermandibular space during poll flexion. Visually, this leads to local inward compression of the lateral nasopharyngeal walls and base of the epiglottis. Further studies are ongoing to confirm this hypothesis and to objectively quantify the degree of URT obstruction caused by this conformational narrowing of the epiglottis during poll flexion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alleviating bone loss is an essential way to prevent osteoporotic fractures. Proper exercise improves bone density without the side effects of long‐term medications, but the mechanism is unclear. Our study explored the role of Antxr1/LncRNA H19/Wnt/β‐catenin axis in the process of exercise‐mediated alleviation of bone loss. Here we discovered that moderate‐intensity treadmill exercise alleviates bone loss caused by ovariectomy and ameliorates bone strength accompanied by an increased lncRNA H19 expression. Concomitantly, Antxr1, a mechanosensitive protein was found downregulated by exercise but upregulated by ovariectomy. Interestingly, knockdown expression of Antxr1 increased lncRNA H19 expression and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, whereas overexpression of Antxr1 decreased lncRNA H19 expression and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Hence, our study demonstrates the regulation of Antxr1/LncRNA H19/Wnt/β‐catenin axis in the process of mechanical strain‐induced osteogenic differentiation, which provides further mechanistic insight into the role of mechanical regulation in bone metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a growing trend of individuals wearing cosmetics while participating in physical activities. Nonetheless, there remains a need for further understanding regarding the effects of makeup on the facial epidermis during exercise, given the existing knowledge gaps. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a cosmetic foundation cream on skin conditions during physical activity. Methods: Forty‐three healthy college students, 20 males (26.3 ± 1.5 years) and 23 females (23.1 ± 1.0 years), were enrolled in this study. Foundation cream was applied to participants on half of the face in two different areas (MT: makeup T zone and MU: makeup U zone). The other half of the face served as internal control (T: non‐makeup T zone and U: non‐makeup U zones). Skin levels of moisture, elasticity, pore, sebum, and oil were measured using a skin analysis device (Aramhuvis, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea) before and after a 20‐min treadmill exercise. Paired t‐test and independent t‐test were performed for skin condition measurements at pre‐ and postexercise. Results: The skin moisture levels in both the T and MT significantly increased after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre‐T: 24.5 ± 1.3, post‐T: 38.5 ± 3.5 and pre‐MT: 18.7 ± 0.7, post‐MT: 40.4 ± 4.8). Elasticity also significantly improved in both the T and MT (p < 0.05) (pre‐T: 25.6 ± 1.3, post‐T: 41.5 ± 3.5 and pre‐MT: 20.0 ± 0.9, post‐MT: 41.7 ± 3.7). The size of the pores in the T zone observed a significant increase after exercise (p < 0.05) (pre‐T: 41.7 ± 2.1, post‐T: 47.8 ± 2.4). The sebum levels in the T zone exhibited a reduction following physical activity, whereas there was a notable increase in sebum levels in the makeup zones (p < 0.05) (pre‐MT: 2.4 ± 0.7, post‐MT:4.2 ± 0.8 and pre MU 1.8 ± 0.34, post MU 4.9 ± 0.9). The oil level was increased in the non‐makeup zones (pre‐T: 6.1 ± 1.4, post‐T: 11.8 ± 2.0 and pre‐U: 7.3 ± 1.5, post‐U: 11.9 ± 1.9; p < 0.05) and decreased in the makeup zones (pre‐MT: 13.3 ± 1.9, post‐MT: 7.4 ± 2.3 and pre‐MU: 22.1 ± 2.4, post‐MU: 3.2 ± 1.0; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest that using foundation cream during aerobic exercise can reduce skin oil, causing dryness. Additionally, makeup can clog pores and increase sebum production. Therefore, wearing makeup may not be recommended for people with dry skin conditions based on the results of the current study. This research offers important insights to the public, encouraging them to consider the possible consequences of using makeup while exercising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of exercise training (ET) on the heart of aortic stenosis (AS) rats are controversial and the mechanisms involved in alterations induced by ET have been poorly clarified. In this study, we analyzed the myocardial proteome to identify proteins modulated by moderate‐intensity aerobic ET in rats with chronic supravalvular AS. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary control (C‐Sed), exercised control (C‐Ex), sedentary aortic stenosis (AS‐Sed), and exercised AS (AS‐Ex). ET consisted of five treadmill running sessions per week for 16 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis and Goodman tests. Results were discussed at a significance level of 5%. At the end of the experiment, AS‐Ex rats had higher functional capacity, lower blood lactate concentration, and better cardiac structural and left ventricular (LV) functional parameters than the AS‐Sed. Myocardial proteome analysis showed that AS‐Sed had higher relative protein abundance related to the glycolytic pathway, oxidative stress, and inflammation, and lower relative protein abundance related to beta‐oxidation than C‐Sed. AS‐Ex had higher abundance of one protein related to mitochondrial biogenesis and lower relative protein abundance associated with oxidative stress and inflammation than AS‐Sed. Proteomic data were validated for proteins related to lipid and glycolytic metabolism. Chronic pressure overload changes the abundance of myocardial proteins that are mainly involved in lipid and glycolytic energy metabolism in rats. Moderate‐intensity aerobic training attenuates changes in proteins related to oxidative stress and inflammation and increases the COX4I1 protein, related to mitochondrial biogenesis. Protein changes are combined with improved functional capacity, cardiac remodeling, and LV function in AS rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Dyspnoea is a debilitating symptom in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a range of other chronic cardiopulmonary diseases and is often associated with anxiety and depression. The present study examined the effect of visually‐induced mood shifts on exertional dyspnoea in individuals with COPD. Methods: Following familiarization, 20 participants with mild to severe COPD (age 57–79 years) attended three experimental sessions on separate days, performing two 5‐min treadmill exercise tests separated by a 30‐min interval on each day. During each exercise test, participants viewed either a positive, negative or neutral set of images sourced from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) and rated dyspnoea or leg fatigue (0–10). Heart rate (HR) and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured at 1‐min intervals during each test. Mood valence ratings were obtained using Self‐Assessment Manikin (SAM) scale (1–9). Results: Mood valence ratings were significantly higher when viewing positive (end‐exercise mean ± SEM = 7.6 ± 0.3) compared to negative IAPS images (2.4 ± 0.3, p < 0.001). Dyspnoea intensity (mean ± SEM = 5.8 ± 0.4) and dyspnoea unpleasantness (5.6 ± 0.3) when viewing negative images were significantly higher compared to positive images (4.2 ± 0.4, p = 0.004 and 3.4 ± 0.5, p = 0.003). Eighty‐five percent of participants (n = 17) met the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criteria for both dyspnoea intensity and unpleasantness. HR, SpO2 and leg fatigue did not differ significantly between conditions. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the negative affective state worsens dyspnoea in COPD, thereby suggesting strategies aimed at reducing the likelihood of negative mood or improving the mood may be effective in managing morbidity associated with dyspnoea in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude of bone formation and remodeling is linked to both the magnitude of strain placed on the bone and the perfusion of bone. It was previously reported that an increase in bone perfusion and bone density occurs in the femur of old rats with moderate aerobic exercise training. This study determined the acute and chronic effects of static muscle stretching on bone blood flow and remodeling. Old male Fischer 344 rats were randomized to either a naive or stretch-trained group. Static stretching of ankle flexor muscles was achieved by placement of a dorsiflexion splint on the left ankle for 30 min/d, 5d/wk for 4wk. The opposite hindlimb served as a contralateral control (nonstretched) limb. Bone blood flow was assessed during and after acute stretching in naive rats, and at rest and during exercise in stretch-trained rats. Vascular reactivity of the nutrient artery of the proximal tibia was also assessed in stretch-trained rats. MicroCT analysis was used to assess bone volume and micro-architecture of the trabecular bone of both tibias near that growth plate. In naive rats, static stretching increased blood flow to the proximal tibial metaphasis. Blood flow to the proximal tibial metaphysis during treadmill exercise was higher in the stretched limb after 4 wk of daily stretching. Daily stretching also increased tibial bone weight and increased total volume in both the proximal and distal tibial metaphyses. In the trabecular bone immediately below the proximal tibial growth plate, total volume and bone volume increased, but bone volume/total volume was unchanged and trabecular connectivity decreased. In contrast, intravascular volume increased in this region of the bone. These data suggest that blood flow to the tibia increases during bouts of static stretching of the hindlimb muscles, and that 4 wk of daily muscle stretching leads to bone remodeling and an increase in intravascular volume of the tibial bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary habits and exercise play an important role in the well‐being of human health. Currently, how long of drinking tea combined with exercise could efficiently ameliorate hepatic steatosis and obesity still needs to be investigated. Here, short‐term and long‐term green tea drinking combined with exercise were studied to improve hepatic steatosis and obesity in high‐fat diet‐induced (HF) mice. Our results showed that Yunkang 10 green tea (GT) combined with exercise (Ex) exhibited synergistic prevention effects on ameliorating hepatic steatosis and obesity. Especially, 22‐week intervention with GT or Ex improved all symptoms of obesity, which indicated that long‐term intervention exhibited profound preventive effects than the short term. Moreover, the combined intervention of 22 weeks inhibited the activation of NF‐κB pathway and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, which suggests that tea combined exercise may improve liver steatosis mainly by inhibiting inflammation. The key molecules for regulating lipid and glucose metabolism SCD1 were obviously downregulated, and GLU2 and PPARγ were significantly upregulated by GT and exercise in the liver of high‐fat diet‐induced mice. This study demonstrated that long‐term intervention with GT and exercise effectively relieved hepatic steatosis and obesity complications by ameliorating hepatic inflammation, reducing lipid synthesis, and accelerating glucose transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Many patients with the chronic cholestatic liver disease primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) show fatigue and cognitive impairment that reduces their quality of life. Likewise, rats with bile duct ligation (BDL) are a model of cholestatic liver disease. Current PBC treatments do not improve symptomatic alterations such as fatigue or cognitive impairment and new, more effective treatments are therefore required. Golexanolone reduces the potentiation of GABAA receptors activation by neurosteroids. Golexanolone reduces peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation and improves cognitive and motor function in rats with chronic hyperammonemia. The aims of the present study were to assess if golexanolone treatment improves fatigue and cognitive and motor function in cholestatic BDL rats and if this is associated with improvement of peripheral inflammation, neuroinflammation, and GABAergic neurotransmission in the cerebellum. Methods: Rats were subjected to bile duct ligation. One week after surgery, oral golexanolone was administered daily to BDL and sham-operated controls. Fatigue was analysed in the treadmill, motor coordination in the motorater, locomotor gait in the Catwalk, and short-term memory in the Y-maze. We also analysed peripheral inflammation, neuroinflammation, and GABAergic neurotransmission markers by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results: BDL induces fatigue, impairs memory and motor coordination, and alters locomotor gait in cholestatic rats. Golexanolone improves these alterations, and this was associated with improvement of peripheral inflammation, neuroinflammation, and GABAergic neurotransmission in the cerebellum. Conclusion: Golexanolone may have beneficial effects to treat fatigue, and motor and cognitive impairment in patients with the chronic cholestatic liver disease PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are emerging antidiabetic agents with various potential cardiovascular benefits. The EMPT‐ANGINA trial examined the effect of empagliflozin on the angina burden in those with concurrent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and refractory angina (RA). Method: In this 8‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial, 75 patients with T2DM and RA were randomly assigned to one of two groups: empagliflozin (n = 37) and placebo (n = 38). The primary outcome was an improvement in angina, which was assessed by the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). The secondary outcomes of this study included alterations in the SAQ domains and exercise test components. Results: The mean age of individuals in the empagliflozin and placebo groups was 67.46 ± 9.4 and 65.47 ± 7.0 years, respectively (p =.304). Patients who received empagliflozin showed a significant improvement in both the primary endpoint, which was the SAQ Summary Score (192.73 ± 20.70 vs. 224 ± 25.36, p <.001) and the secondary endpoints. Exercise test components, including treadmill exercise duration, time till angina, 1 mm ST‐segment depression onset, and heart rate (HR) recovery, were all significantly improved in the empagliflozin group. This positive impact was reached with no clinically significant changes in resting and exertion HR or blood pressure. There were no significant side effects in the empagliflozin group (p =.125). Conclusion: Empagliflozin can be safely added as a metabolic modulator agent to existing antianginal medications in individuals with concurrent T2DM and RA to reduce angina symptoms and enhance exercise capacity with minimal side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a relatively new rehabilitative technique and low‐load exercise combined with BFR (LL‐BFR) can increase muscle strength and muscle mass. However, it is currently unknown whether LL‐BFR causes muscle damage. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of LL‐BFR on muscle damage and provide recommendations for sports training and physical exercise. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane Library and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) with a cut‐off of March 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and English‐language studies were selected. Two independent assessors used the PEDro scoring scale to evaluate the methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies. Results: Of the 2935 articles identified, 15 RCTs were included in this systematic review. Two studies demonstrated that LL‐BFR could induce muscle damage in healthy individuals; however, two studies presented contrasting findings in the short term. Four studies found that no muscle damage occurred after LL‐BFR in the long term. The remaining seven articles showed that it was unclear if LL‐BFR could cause muscle damage, regardless of whether these participants were trained or not. Conclusion: Although LL‐BFR may induce muscle damage within 1 week, it will help gain long‐term muscle strength and muscle hypertrophy. However, the lack of sufficient evidence on the effect of LL‐BFR on muscle damage in clinical practice warrants additional RCTs with large sample sizes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: As the ovaries age and women transition to menopause and postmenopause, reduced estradiol levels are associated with anxiety and depression. Exercise contributes to alleviate anxiety and depression and the bone‐derived hormone osteocalcin has been reported to be necessary to prevent anxiety‐like behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on anxiety behaviors in climacteric mice and whether it was related to osteocalcin. Methods: Menopausal mouse model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4‐vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). Open field, elevated plus maze, and light–dark tests were used to detect anxious behavior in mice. The content of serum osteocalcin was measured and its correlation with anxiety behavior was analyzed. BRDU and NEUN co‐localization cells were detected with immunofluorescence. Western blot was applied to obtain apoptosis‐related proteins. Results: The VCD mice showed obvious anxiety‐like behaviors and 10 weeks of treadmill exercise significantly ameliorated the anxiety and increased circulating osteocalcin in VCD mice. Exercise increased the number of BRDU and NEUN co‐localization cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus, reduced the number of impaired hippocampal neurons, inhibited the expression of BAX, cleaved Caspase3, and cleaved PARP, promoted the expression of BCL‐2. Importantly, circulating osteocalcin levels were positively associated with the improvements of anxiety, the number of BRDU and NEUN co‐localization cells in hippocampal dentate gyrus and negatively related to impaired hippocampal neurons. Conclusion: Exercise ameliorates anxiety behavior, promotes hippocampal dentate gyrus neurogenesis, and inhibits hippocampal cell apoptosis in VCD‐induced menopausal mice. They are related to circulating osteocalcin, which are increased by exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause is associated with vascular dysfunction attributed to reduced estrogen levels. Exercise has been proposed to promote angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction. However, studies of brain angiogenesis during menopause are limited. We analyzed the effects of exercise on angiogenesis‐related factors in menopausal rat model. Twenty‐week‐old female Sprague–Dawley rats (N = 18) were randomly divided into a normal control group (N, n = 6), an ovariectomized control group (OVX, n = 6), and an ovariectomy + exercise group (OVX‐EX, n = 6). Treadmill exercises were conducted in the OVX‐EX group for 8 weeks (15–60 m/min, 1 h/day, and 5 days/week). The current study showed that the expression of angiogenesis‐related factors (platelet‐derived growth factor subunit A, B, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin 1, and angiopoietin 2) significantly decreased in the cortex of the OVX group. However, these factors were significantly restored in the cortex of the OVX‐EX group after 8 weeks of treadmill exercise. In summary, estrogen deficiency causes vascular dysfunction by inhibiting the expression of angiogenesis‐related factors. However, exercise can restore angiogenesis‐related factors in OVX rats. Exercise eventually prevents vascular dysfunction in the brain and may help prevent cognitive dysfunction in menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxygen delivery and demand are reduced in the paretic leg of individuals after stroke. However, it is unknown how muscle oxygenation, the balance between delivery and utilization of oxygen at the muscle, is altered post‐stroke during aerobic exercise and how it relates to mobility. Objective: To monitor muscle oxygenation changes between the paretic and nonparetic legs of individuals after stroke during treadmill exercise and the 6‐minute walk test and analyze the association with mobility. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Setting: Cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients Eleven male participants were enrolled in the study. Ten men (30.8 ± 4.1 months post‐stroke; age 63.9 ± 13.9 years) with hemiparetic gait pattern finished the study. Methods or interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: Muscle oxygenation was measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy placed on the vastus lateralis of each leg during treadmill exercise at the first ventilatory threshold and during a 6‐minute walk test. Results: The desaturation slope during treadmill exercise was significantly steeper (p =.047) in the paretic (−0.7 ± 0.6%/s) compared to the nonparetic leg (−0.3 ± 0.2%/s). There was no other significant difference between legs. The 6‐minute walk test distance was not correlated with 6‐minute walk test muscle oxygenation in either leg (paretic: r = 0.20, p = 0.590; nonparetic: r = 0.42, p =.232). Conclusions: At the onset of treadmill exercise, the paretic leg was unable to effectively match the oxygen demand and extraction of the nonparetic leg, suggesting the need for an immediate cardiovascular warmup prior to initiating moderate intensity exercise in this population. Because the exercise desaturation rate is thought to indicate increased anaerobic metabolism and lactate production, efforts to delay rapid desaturation could improve the sustainability of activities of daily living and exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed an early training exercise program, immediately after recovery from surgery, and before severe cardiac hypertrophy, to study the underlying mechanism involved with the amelioration of cardiac dysfunction in aortic stenosis (AS) rats. As ET induces angiogenesis and oxygen support, we aimed to verify the effect of exercise on myocardial lipid metabolism disturbance. Wistar rats were divided into Sham, trained Sham (ShamT), AS and trained AS (AST). The exercise consisted of 5‐week sessions of treadmill running for 16 weeks. Statistical analysis was conducted by anova or Kruskal–Wallis test and Goodman test. A global correlation between variables was also performed using a two‐tailed Pearson's correlation test. AST rats displayed a higher functional capacity and a lower cardiac remodelling and dysfunction when compared to AS, as well as the myocardial capillary rarefaction was prevented. Regarding metabolic properties, immunoblotting and enzymatic assay raised beneficial effects of exercise on fatty acid transport and oxidation pathways. The correlation assessment indicated a positive correlation between variables of angiogenesis and FA utilisation, as well as between metabolism and echocardiographic parameters. In conclusion, early exercise improves exercise tolerance and attenuates cardiac structural and functional remodelling. In parallel, exercise attenuated myocardial capillary and lipid metabolism derangement in rats with aortic stenosis‐induced heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide. Recent research has indicated that sodium butyrate (NaB) affects glucose metabolism and exercise has an anti‐hyperglycemic effect in diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NaB and treadmill exercise on heart angiogenesis through the miR‐34a/SIRT1/FOXO1‐HIF‐1α pathway. Diabetic animals received NaB (400 mg/kg daily, orally) and treadmill exercise for 6 weeks. The effect of NaB and treadmill exercise, alone or combined, on miR‐34a expression, SIRT1, FOXO1, HIF‐1α levels, and angiogenesis in diabetic heart tissue was measured. Diabetes caused increased miR‐34a (p < 0.01) and FOXO1 (p < 0.001) expression levels. Also, SIRT1 (p < 0.001) and HIF‐1α (not significant) expression levels were reduced in diabetic rats. NaB and treadmill exercise decreased miR‐34a (respectively p < 0.05 and not significant) and FOXO1 (both p < 0.001) expression levels and improved SIRT1 (both not significant) and HIF‐1α (respectively p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) levels. Also, NaB combined with treadmill exercise decreased miR‐34a (p < 0.001) and FOXO1 (p < 0.001) expression levels, and elevated SIRT1 (p < 0.05) and HIF‐1α (p < 0.001) levels in comparison with the diabetic group. NaB and treadmill exercises modulate the expression of miR‐34a and the levels of SIRT1, FOXO1, and HIF‐1α proteins, thus increasing angiogenesis in the heart tissue of diabetic rats. It can be concluded that NaB and treadmill exercise, alone or combined, may be useful in the treatment of diabetes through the miR‐34a/SIRT1/FOXO1‐HIF‐1α pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pulmonary complications in systemic sclerosis (SSc) significantly increase morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to determine the factors limiting exercise capacity in SSc patients with and without interstitial lung disease (ILD), and to identify and quantify abnormalities during exercise that might assist in clinical assessment of this complication. Methods: Fifteen patients with SSc and ILD (SSc‐ILD) were compared with 10 patients with SSc without ILD and 9 age‐ and sex‐matched normal volunteers. Subjects performed symptom‐limited incremental treadmill exercise with online measurement of respiratory gas exchange, arterial blood gas sampling and measurement of neurohormones in venous blood. Results: Patients with SSc‐ILD had lower exercise capacity than SSc patients without ILD or normal subjects (peak oxygen consumption (PV̇O2) (17.1 [4.2] vs. 22.0 [4.7] and 23.0 [5.4] ml kg−1 min−1, respectively, mean [SD], p < 0.01 ANOVA), but PV̇O2 did not correlate with static pulmonary function measurements. Ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (V̇E/V̇CO2; nadir) was higher in SSc‐ILD patients than the other two groups (36.6 [8.0] vs. 29.9 [4.4] and 30.0 [2.5], p < 0.005) as were peak exercise dead‐space tidal volume ratio (0.44 [0.06] vs. 0.26 [0.09] and 0.26 [0.05], p < 0.001) and peak exercise alveolar–arterial difference (28.9 [16.9] vs. 18.8 [14.0] and 11.5 [6.9] mmHg, p < 0.05). Atrial natriuretic peptide was elevated in both SSc patient groups. Conclusions: SSc‐ILD results in lower exercise capacity than SSc without ILD, and abnormalities of gas exchange are seen. The possible use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing to identify disease and quantify impairment in SSc‐ILD merits further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study assessed the reproducibility of postexercise hypotension (PEH) detection after two bouts of mixed circuit training (MCT) using three approaches that accounts the pre‐exercise values and/or a control session (CTL) to calculate PEH [i.e., (A1=post‐exercise−pre‐exercise ${A}_{1}=\text{post}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{exercise}-\text{pre}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{exercise}$); (A2=post‐exercise−post‐CTL) $({A}_{2}=\text{post}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{exercise}-\text{post}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{CTL})$; A3=(post‐exercise−pre‐exercise)−(post‐CTL−pre‐CTL)] ${A}_{3}=(\text{post}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{exercise}-\text{pre}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{exercise})-(\text{post}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{CTL}-\text{pre}{\rm{ \mbox{-} }}\text{CTL})]$ in chronic stroke (i.e., ≥6 months poststroke). The proportion of PEH responders determined using different cut‐off values for PEH was also compared (4 mmHg vs. minimal detectable difference). Methods: Seven participants (age: 56 ± 12 years; time post‐stroke: 91 ± 55 months) performed two bouts of MCT and a CTL. The MCT involved 10 exercises with 3 sets of 15‐repetition maximum, with each set interspersed with 45 s of walking. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were assessed 10‐min before and every 10‐min along 40‐min after CTL and MCT. Results: The two‐way random intraclass correlation coefficient for single measurements (ICC2,1) ranges for SBP were: A1: 0.580−0.829, A2: 0.937−0.994, A3: 0.278−0.774; for DBP: A1: 0.497−0.916, A2: 0.133−0.969, A3: 0.175−0.930. The proportion of PEH responders detected using 4 mmHg or the minimal detectable difference as cut‐off values was not different in 97% of analyses (p > 0.05), and higher when using 4 mmHg in 3% of analyses (p = 0.031). The standard error of measurement was ≥4 mmHg in 47% of analyses for SBP, and 40% for DBP. Conclusions: The most reliable approach for determining PEH in chronic stroke was to subtract the postexercise from the post‐CTL values. The proportion of PEH responders was not affected by the cut‐off values applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) to induce models of osteoarthritis (OA), we sought to clarify how flat, uphill and downhill walking affects OA‐related inflammation and articular cartilage degeneration. Thirty‐two male C57BL/6J mice 7 weeks old underwent DMM surgery in their right knee and sham surgery in their left knee, and were then assigned to either the no walking after DMM group or the flat, uphill or downhill walking after DMM group (n = 8/group). After creating the knee OA model, the mice in the walking groups were subjected to treadmill walking 1 day after surgery, which included walking at 12 m/min for 30 min/day, 7 days/week, at inclines of 0, 20, or −20 degrees. Knee joints were harvested at the end of the intervention period. Non‐demineralized frozen sections were prepared and samples were examined histologically. Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores were significantly decreased in both the uphill and flat‐walking groups, compared with the no‐walking group. Immunohistochemical staining showed increased levels of aggrecan and Sry‐related high‐mobility group box9; conversely, decreased levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐13 and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs‐5 in both the uphill and flat‐walking groups. Micro‐CT results showed a higher bone‐volume fraction in the uphill and flat‐walking groups than that in the no‐walking group. Our findings indicate that flat and uphill walking may prevent the progression of OA. Key points: Flat and uphill treadmill walking can prevent the development of post‐traumatic osteoarthritis in mice.Flat and uphill walking increases anabolic proteins and decreases catabolic proteins and inflammatory cytokines in articular cartilage, resulting in protection against cartilage degeneration.Downhill walking increases catabolic proteins and inflammatory cytokines in cartilage, which has negative effects on articular cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced exercise capacity is not only a feature of healthful aging, but also a therapy for aging patients and patients with cardiovascular disease. Disruption of the Regulator of G Protein Signaling 14 (RGS14) in mice extends healthful lifespan, mediated by increased brown adipose tissue (BAT). Accordingly, we determined whether RGS14 knockout (KO) mice exhibit enhanced exercise capacity and the role of BAT in mediating exercise capacity. Exercise was performed on a treadmill and exercise capacity was assessed by maximal running distance and work to exhaustion. Exercise capacity was measured in RGS14 KO mice and their wild types (WT), and also in WT mice with BAT transplantation from RGS14 KO mice or from other WT mice. RGS14 KO mice demonstrated 160 ± 9% increased maximal running distance and 154 ± 6% increased work to exhaustion, compared to WT mice. RGS14 KO BAT transplantation to WT mice, resulted in a reversal of phenotype, with the WT mice receiving the BAT transplant from RGS14 KO mice demonstrating 151 ± 5% increased maximal running distance and 158 ± 7% increased work to exhaustion, at three days after BAT transplantation, compared to RGS14 KO donors. BAT transplantation from WT to WT mice also resulted in increased exercise performance, but not at 3 days, but only at 8 weeks after transplantation. The BAT induced enhanced exercise capacity was mediated by (1) mitochondrial biogenesis and SIRT3; (2) antioxidant defense and the MEK/ERK pathway, and increased hindlimb perfusion. Thus, BAT mediates enhanced exercise capacity, a mechanism more powerful with RGS14 disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable sweat sensors with excellent stretchability and sensing performance attracted significant attention in the real‐time monitoring of physiological data on human sweat. However, most stretchable sweat sensors suffer from low sensitivity at high strains, and the fabrication methods are complicated and time‐consuming. In this study, a highly stretchable sensor by incorporating carbon thread into an elastomeric substrate using a 3D‐printed mold based on a wave pattern in an efficient and easy process is developed. As target biomarkers, sodium ion detecting electrochemical sensors are investigated, and these sensors exhibited high sensing performance of sensitivity, repeatability, selectivity, and stability. In particular, the sensor exhibited highly stable sensing performances even under a high strain of 300% and during a fatigue test of 10 000 stretching and releasing cycles at 300% strain. The real‐time monitoring performance of the stretchable sensor integrated with a wireless electronic module is further demonstrated by conducting on‐body tests of the subject's different physical activities of regular cycling, combined seated rowing and cycling, and treadmill running exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incline treadmill and underwater treadmill (UWTM) exercises are common canine rehabilitation modalities , which are often used in isolation in dogs recovering from spinal surgery. Early use of an incline during UWTM exercise may have the potential to improve rehabilitation outcomes in dogs, but, it is hypothesised that dorsoventral movement of the spine may be excessive meaning it is unsuitable in some circumstances. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify changes in canine spinal kinematics in dogs when using a dry treadmill at different angles of incline compared to an underwater treadmill using the same inclines. Methods: Eight dogs were encouraged to walk on a dry, horizontal, underwater treadmill as well as under the same conditions with both a 10% and 20% incline. This was then repeated at a 10% and 20% incline with the addition of water to hock level. Data were collected using reflective anatomical markers placed at the occipital protuberance, T1, T13, L3, L7 and sacral apex, captured by a high‐speed camera facing the lateral aspect of the treadmill. Dorsoventral motion of the spine as well as flexion, extension and range of motion (ROM) of T1, T13, L3 and L7 were recorded. Results: We found significant differences in dorsoventral spinal ROM at T1, L3 and L7, but no significant differences in T13 ROM. No significant differences were found in flexion and extension of any of the joints assessed when comparing dry conditions to the use of water (P>0.05). Conclusions: The lack of significant differences in joint flexion and extension at T1, T13, L3 and L7 indicates the potential safe use of combining underwater treadmill and incline exercise in canine rehabilitation. However, a lack of uniformity in results makes distinguishing any patterns of significance difficult. More research is needed to establish the effects of these exercises in additional planes of motion before a treatment protocol can be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many conditions, such as inflammation and physical exercise, can induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Toll‐like Receptor 4 (TLR4) can trigger inflammation and ER stress events. However, there are still no data in the literature regarding the role of TLR4 in ER stress during exercise in skeletal muscle. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to verify the responses of ER stress markers in wild‐type (WT) and Tlr4 global knockout (KO) mice after acute and chronic physical exercise protocols. Eight‐week‐old male WT and KO mice were submitted to acute (moderate or high intensity) and chronic (4‐week protocol) treadmill exercises. Under basal conditions, KO mice showed lower performance in the rotarod test. Acute high‐intensity exercise increased eIF2α protein in the WT group. After the acute high‐intensity exercise, there was an increase in Casp3 and Ddit3 mRNA for the KO mice. Acute moderate exercise increased the cleaved Caspase‐3/Caspase‐3 in the KO group. In response to chronic exercise, the KO group showed no improvement in any performance evaluation. The 4‐week chronic protocol did not generate changes in ATF6, CHOP, p‐IRE1α, p‐eIF2α/eIF2α, and cleaved Caspase‐3/Caspase‐3 ratio but reduced BiP protein compared with the KO‐Sedentary group. These results demonstrate the global deletion of Tlr4 seems to have the same effects on UPR markers of WT animals after acute and chronic exercise protocols but decreased performance. The cleaved Caspase‐3/Caspase‐3 ratio may be activated by another pathway other than ER stress in Tlr4 KO animals. Key points: While acute high‐intensity exercise increased the Casp3 and Ddit3 mRNA in KO mice, acute moderate‐intensity exercise increased the cleaved Caspase‐3/Caspase‐3 in the same group.Under basal conditions, Tlr4 KO mice showed lower performance in the rotarod test. In response to chronic exercise, the Tlr4 KO group showed no improvement in any performance evaluation.The global deletion of Tlr4 seems to have the same effects on UPR markers of WT animals after acute and chronic exercise protocols but decreased performance and seems to activate the apoptosis pathway. Significance statement The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for translating and folding most proteins in our body. Protein homeostasis imbalance leads to malformed proteins in the ER lumen, and their accumulation leads to ER stress. Toll‐like Receptor 4 (TLR4) can trigger inflammation, and TLR4 global knockout (KO) mice are protected against ER stress. Furthermore, physical exercise can reduce the TLR4 in the cell. As inflammation seems to affect physical exercise‐related ER stress, the present study investigated the relationship between TLR4 and ER stress after physical exercise in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basolateral amygdala (BLA), which is sensitive to stress, is necessary for reward‐seeking behavior and addiction. Regular exercise can produce various positive effects by affecting the BLA. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of chronic stress and treadmill running (TR) on anxiety‐like behavior, neuronal activity, lipid peroxidation (measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker for oxidative stress), and total thiol in BLA, in morphine‐treated rats. Male Wistar rats were restricted in restraint stress and/or ran on the treadmill and treated with morphine (5 mg/kg) for 21 days. Anxiety‐like behavior was evaluated using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field tests (OFTs), on day 22. On day 23, neuronal activity in BLA was assessed via single‐unit recording. Finally, MDA and total thiol were assessed in BLA. Our results showed that chronic administration of morphine (5 mg/kg) did not affect anxiety‐like behavior. However, the morphine‐treated rats, subjected to chronic stress and exercise, showed fewer anxiety‐like behaviors. Morphine increased BLA's MDA levels but it was prevented by TR. Glutamatergic and GABAergic basal neuronal activities were low in morphine‐treated rats but after acute morphine application, there was a significant decrease in GABAergic neuronal activities in the morphine‐exercise‐stress (Mor‐Exe‐St) group. The results of this study showed that in morphine‐treated rats, stress and exercise or their combination could have either co‐directional or opposite effects to the chronic effects of morphine. These results indicate the existence of common pathways similar to endogenous opioids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation examined the acute effects of high‐intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on temporal changes in behavioral and neuroelectrical indices of working memory. Young adults (n = 22) performed a visual working memory change detection task of equiprobable 2‐ to 5‐dot set sizes while contralateral delay activity (CDA) and N2pc ERP components were assessed at three consecutive time periods (40‐min, 54‐min, and 68‐min) following three separate counterbalanced 9‐min sessions of seated rest, HIIE‐aerobic (treadmill intervals of moderate‐ and high‐intensity run/walk periods) and HIIE‐aerobic/resistance (intervals of rest and body‐weight calisthenics). Behavior results revealed greater 4‐dot accuracy for HIIE‐aerobic/resistance compared to seated rest only at 40‐min, maintenance of 5‐dot accuracy across time for HIIE‐aerobic compared to HIIE‐aerobic/resistance and seated rest, and greater temporal stability in overall accuracy performance (i.e., inter‐class correlation between temporally adjacent assessments) for both HIIE conditions compared to seated rest. CDA and N2pc results revealed no change in amplitude across time and between HIIE‐aerobic, HIIE‐aerobic/resistance, and seated rest. However, greater temporal stability in CDA amplitude was observed for HIIE‐aerobic compared to seated rest. These findings suggest that short bouts of HIIE may serve as an effective modality for improvements and temporal stabilization in behavior with some evidence for stabilization of neuroelectrical indices of working memory capacity. Together, these data broadly suggest that short acute bouts of exercise may facilitate improvements in underlying mental operations responsible for temporal stability in cognitive and neurocognitive function. These data revealed that acute (9‐min) high intensity interval exercise is an effective health behavior for improving performance and temporal stability in cognitive and neuroelectrical indices of working memory capacity. These novel findings suggest that research evaluating a single "snapshot" measure may only capture a finite representation of ongoing cognitive processing, possibly limiting our understanding of temporal fluctuations in behavioral and neural indices that are impacted by acute exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐related degeneration of microvessels is known to occur in white matter, and exercise training can enhance brain function and promote cerebral blood flow. However, the effects of exercise training on microvessels in aged white matter are unknown. Forty‐one middle‐aged male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sedentary group and an exercised group. The rats in the exercised group were made to run on treadmills for 4 months. The spatial learning capacities of all groups were then assessed with the Morris water maze. White matter and its microvessels were investigated using immunohistological techniques and stereological methods. In the exercised group, females but not males, showed improved performance over time in the Morris water maze. In females but not males, the exercised rats showed significantly increased white matter volume compared with that of sedentary rats. The total length of microvessels in the white matter in the exercised group was significantly increased compared with that in the sedentary group in both males and females, but the total volume and total surface area of microvessels in the white matter did not differ significantly between the sedentary and exercised rats. Regular treadmill exercise had protective effects on spatial learning capacity, white matter volume, and the total length of microvessels in the white matter in middle‐aged female rats and on the total length of microvessels in the white matter in middle‐aged male rats. The results obtained might increase our understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise delays brain aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moderate‐intensity exercise performed during wound healing has been reported to decrease inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and accelerate wound healing. However, its effect on macrophage phenotype and the mechanism by which exercise accelerates wound healing remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise on macrophage phenotype during wound healing and to clarify the relationship between angiogenesis and wound healing. 12‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into sedentary (n = 6) and exercise groups (n = 6). The exercise group performed moderate‐intensity treadmill running exercise (9.0 m/min, 60 min) for 10 days. Double immunofluorescence analysis was performed using F4/80+ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)+ for M1 macrophages, F4/80+ transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β)1+ for M2 macrophages, and CD31+ alpha smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA)+ for angiogenesis. The exercise group showed significantly accelerated wound healing compared with the sedentary group. From early wound healing onward, exercise significantly inhibited M1 macrophage infiltration and increased M2 macrophage count. Exercise also significantly increased angiogenesis. Furthermore, the M2 macrophage phenotype was significantly correlated with angiogenesis in the exercise group, indicating that M2 macrophages and angiogenesis are related to accelerated wound healing. These findings suggest that moderate‐intensity exercise increases TGF‐β1 derived from M2 macrophages, which may be associated with enhanced angiogenesis and wound healing in young mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical stress is involved in the onset of sports‐related enthesopathy. Although the amount of exercise undertaken is a recognized problem during disease onset, changes in muscle contraction type are also involved in the increase in mechanical stress during exercise. This study aimed to clarify the effects of increased mechanical stress associated with muscle contraction type and amount of exercise on enthesis. Twenty mice underwent treadmill exercise, and the muscle contraction type and overall load during exercise were adjusted by varying the angle and speed conditions. Histological analysis was used to the cross‐sectional area of the muscle; area of the enthesis fibrocartilage (FC), and expression of inflammation‐, degeneration‐, and calcification‐related factors in the FC area. In addition, the volume and structure of the bone and FC area were examined using microcomputer imaging. Molecular biological analysis was conducted to compare relative expression levels of inflammation and cytokine‐related factors in tendons. The Overuse group, which increased the amount of exercise, showed no significant differences in parameters compared to the sedentary mice (Control group). The mice subjected to slow‐speed downhill running (Misuse group) showed pathological changes compared to the Control and Overuse groups, despite the small amount of exercise. Thus, the enthesis FC area may be altered by local mechanical stress that would be increased by eccentric muscle contraction rather than by mechanical stress that increases with the overall amount of exercise. Clinical Significance: The muscle contraction type might be more involved in the onset of sports‐related enthesopathy rather than the amount of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This systematic review and meta‐analysis assessed the feasibility and acceptability of exercise and controlled trial methods in adults awaiting or having undergone bariatric surgery (BS). Search methods used to identify relevant articles were inclusion of articles identified in a systematic review, new database search of articles published 2019–2021, and hand searching reference lists. Titles/abstracts and full‐texts were screened by two reviewers independently against inclusion criteria: adults awaiting or having undergone BS, controlled trial, exercise group compared with a comparison group without exercise. Twenty‐eight articles were reviewed; most interventions were supervised, performed after BS, and lasted ≤13 weeks. Pooled data for exercise intervention attendance and dropout rates were 84% (k = 10) and 5% (k = 19), respectively, though possibly misestimated due to poor/selective reporting. Median study and recruitment duration were 18 weeks and 24 months, respectively, with a pooled enrollment rate of 2.5 participants/month. Pooled data for refusal to participate, enrollment, and retention rates were 23% (k = 16), 43% (k = 18), and 87% (k = 26), respectively. Despite the lack of data available in studies included, exercise and controlled trial methods seem feasible and acceptable for adults awaiting or having undergone BS. To better identify methodological or practical challenges, and assess bias, better reporting of feasibility and acceptability indicators is needed in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic exercise has been shown to enhance excitability of spinal interneurons in rodents. However, the mechanisms underlying this enhancement remain unclear. In this study we investigated adaptability of lamina X neurons with 3‐week treadmill exercise in mice of P21–P24. Whole‐cell patch‐clamp recording was performed on the interneurons from slices of T12–L4. The experimental results included the following. (1) Treadmill exercise reduced rheobase by 7.4 ± 2.2 pA (control: 11.3 ± 6.1 pA, n = 12; exercise: 3.8 ± 4.6 pA, n = 13; P = 0.002) and hyperpolarized voltage threshold by 7.1 ± 1.5 mV (control: −36.6 ± 4.6 mV, exercise: −43.7 ± 2.7 mV; P = 0.001). (2) Exercise enhanced persistent inward currents (PICs) with increase of amplitude (control: 140.6 ± 56.3 pA, n = 25; exercise: 225.9 ± 62.5 pA, n = 17; P = 0.001) and hyperpolarization of onset voltage (control: −50.3 ± 3.6 mV, exercise: −56.5 ± 5.5 mV; P = 0.001). (3) PICs consisted of dihydropyridine‐sensitive calcium (Ca‐PIC) and tetrodotoxin‐sensitive sodium (Na‐PIC) components. Exercise increased amplitude of both components but hyperpolarized onset voltage of Na‐PIC only. (4) Exercise reduced derecruitment current of repetitive firing evoked by a current bi‐ramp and prolonged firing in the falling phase of the bi‐ramp. The derecruitment reduction was eliminated by bath application of 3 μM riluzole or 25 μM nimodipine, suggesting that both Na‐PIC and Ca‐PIC contributed to the exercise‐prolonged hysteresis of firing. (5) Exercise facilitated dendritic development with significant increase in dendritic length by 285.1 ± 113 μm (control: 457.8 ± 171.8 μm, n = 12; exercise: 742.9 ± 357 μm, n = 14; P = 0.019). We concluded that 3‐week treadmill exercise increased excitability of lamina X interneurons through enhancement of PICs and increase of dendritic length. This study provided insight into cellular and channel mechanisms underlying adaptation of the spinal motor system in exercise. Key points: Chronic exercise alters adaptability of the spinal motor system in rodents; multiple mechanisms are responsible for the adaptation, including regulation of neuronal excitability and change in dendritic morphology.Spinal interneurons in lamina X are a cluster of heterogeneous neurons playing multifunctional roles in the spinal cord; chronic exercise in juvenile mice increased excitability of these interneurons and facilitated dendritic development.Lamina X neurons expressed persistent inward currents (PICs) with calcium (Ca‐PIC) and sodium (Na‐PIC) components; the exercise‐increased excitability of lamina X neurons was mediated by enhancing the Ca‐PIC and Na‐PIC components and increasing dendritic length.This study unveiled novel morphological and ionic mechanisms underlying adaptation of lamina X neurons in rodents during chronic exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a 3‐month supervised high‐intensity exercise program on exercise health beliefs in patients with axial spondyloarthritis. Methods: This was secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Participants (ages 23–69 years) were randomized to an exercise group (n = 50) or a control group (n = 50). The intervention was an individually guided cardiorespiratory and strength exercise program performed 2 times per week, plus an additional individual exercise session of personal choice. The control group received standard care and instructions to maintain their physical activity level. Exercise health beliefs using the Exercise Health Beliefs questionnaire (range 20–100, 100 = best), i.e., barriers, benefits, self‐efficacy and exercise impact on arthritis, and physical activity, were assessed with self‐reported questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months after inclusion. Results: The majority of the participants in the exercise group (76%) followed ≥80% of the prescribed exercise protocol. There was a significant effect of the intervention on exercise health beliefs at 3 months (estimated mean group differences 4.0 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4, 6.6]; P = 0.003) and the effect persisted at 12 months follow‐up (estimated mean group differences 3.8 [95% CI 1.0, 6.6]; P = 0.008). Participants with higher exercise health beliefs had a higher odds ratio (1.1 [95% CI 1.0, 1.20]; P = 0.003) for being physically active at 12 months follow‐up. Conclusion: A supervised high‐intensity exercise program had beneficial short‐ and long‐term effects on participants' exercise health beliefs. Stronger exercise health beliefs were positively associated with a higher chance to be physically active on a health‐enhancing level at 12 months follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) is a clinical parameter used to gain insight into autonomic balance. Prior validation of the HRVT has been with cycle ergometry, with no studies examining the viability of treadmill exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the HRVT during treadmill exercise, and to compare the HRVT to the ventilatory threshold (VT). Ten healthy, college‐aged males completed two maximal graded exercise tests on a treadmill. A Polar RS800CX watch was used for heart rate and HRVT data. The HRVT was determined from three HRV variables including the root mean square of successive differences of continuous R−R intervals (RMSSD), the standard deviation of normal R−R intervals (SDNN) and the standard deviation of instantaneous beat intervals (SD1). A metabolic cart was utilized to determine the VT. Results showed no difference between the HRVT (2.4 ± 0.6 and 2.2 ± 0.3 for RMSSD, 2.8 ± 0.5 and 2.7 ± 0.5 for SDNN and 2.4 ± 0.6 and 2.3 ± 0.6 for SD1) or the VT (3.0 ± 0.3 and 3.1 ± 0.3) between trials. When compared to the VT, averaged HRVT values for RMSSD (2.3 ± 0.3) and SD1 (2.3 ± 0.5) were lower than averaged VT (2.8 ± 0.4, p < 0.05). The averaged HRVT from SDNN (2.8 ± 0.5) did not differ from the VT. These results suggest that treadmill is a viable mode for HRVT determination, and that HRVT determined by SDNN may be a better comparison to the VT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains undetermined whether the cardiac component of the entire arterial baroreflex is blunted even at the onset of low‐intensity exercise. We sought to examine the moment‐to‐moment sensitivity of the cardiac baroreflex during walking at different speeds and the presumed mechanisms responsible for baroreflex modulation in conscious cats. Arterial baroreflex sensitivity for heart rate was estimated from the baroreflex ratio between changes in systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate and from the slope of the baroreflex curve between the cardiovascular responses to brief occlusion of the abdominal aorta. Treadmill walking was performed for 1 min at three levels of speed (low: 20–30 m/min, moderate: 40 m/min, and high: 50–60 m/min) or for 3 min at the stepwise change of speed (low to high to low transition). Cardiac baroreflex sensitivity was blunted at the onset of walking, irrespective of speed. Thereafter, the blunted cardiac baroreflex sensitivity was restored around 15 s of walking at any speed, while the blunting occurred again at 45 s of high‐speed walking. The inhibition of cardiac baroreflex sensitivity also occurred (1) during the speed transition from low to high and (2) at 45 s of high‐speed exercise of the stepwise exercise. The blunted cardiac baroreflex sensitivity was restored immediately to the resting level during the speed transition from high to low, despite sustained pressor and tachycardiac responses. Therefore, moment‐to‐moment modulation of the cardiac baroreflex during exercise would occur in association with motor intention (i.e., exercise onset) and effort (i.e., treadmill speed). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seafood production and trade have expanded dramatically over the last 40 years and comprise one of the fastest growing, and most environmentally impactful, sub‐sectors of the global food system. While richer nations have increased their seafood consumption and displaced their environmental load, the marine environmental impact of fishery production has largely shifted to the waters of less‐affluent nations. To sustain fishing economies and seafood security, in an era of increasing marine ecological precarity constitutes a major challenge for development and human well‐being in the 21st century. Blue growth perspectives emphasize the transformative power of growth‐oriented development. Such perspectives conflict with critical political economic theories of environment and food systems; notably, the treadmill of production and world food system scholarship. Using annual data from the Global Footprint Network, World Bank, UN FAO, and International Monetary Fund, this study applies methods in cross‐national, panel regression analysis in order to ultimately pose some important challenges to modernist blue growth perspectives. The analysis suggests that economic growth and incorporation into the world market economy have led to unsustainable and inequitable outcomes regarding the marine ecological impact of fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies reported inconsistent findings on autophagy activation in skeletal muscles after acute exercise. In this study, we investigated the effect of a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise on AMPK and autophagy activations in mice gastrocnemius muscle in vivo. Male ICR/CD‐1 mice were randomly divided into the control and exercise groups. The later was subjected to a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise. Changes of AMPK, phosphorylation of AMPKThr172 (pAMPKThr172), and autophagy markers including Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I and p62 mRNA and protein expressions in gastrocnemius muscle at different times (0, 6, 12, 24 h) after the exercise were analysed by quantitative real‐time PCR and western blot. Our results demonstrated that a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise significantly induced AMPK content and AMPK activity at 0, 6 and 12 h after the exercise, and changed the expressions of autophagy markers at different time points in the recovery period, respectively. Moreover, we observed positive correlations between expressions of LC3II/LC3I ratio and pAMPKThr172 or AMPK, and a negative correlation between expressions of p62 and AMPK or pAMPKThr172. In conclusion, a single bout of exhaustive treadmill exercise in mice caused a prolonged activation of AMPK and improved autophagy in the gastrocnemius muscle. The regulation of autophagic markers were related to enhanced AMPK activity. The findings indicate that acute exercise enhanced AMPK‐related autophagy activation may be the underlying molecular mechanism that regulates cellular energy metabolism during exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous studies, the offspring of morphine‐exposed parents (MEO) showed pharmacological tolerance to the morphine's reinforcing effect. According to the role of exercise in treatment of morphine addiction, the current study was designed to utilize exercise to improve the effect of parental morphine exposure on the morphine's reinforcing effect. Male and female rats received morphine for 10 days and were drug‐free for another 10 days. Each morphine‐exposed animal was allowed to mate either with a drug‐naïve or a morphine‐exposed rat. The offspring were divided into two groups: (1) offspring that were subjected to treadmill exercise and (2) offspring that were not subjected to exercise. The reinforcing effect of morphine was evaluated using conditioned place preference (CPP) and two‐bottle choice (TBC) tests. Levels of dopamine receptors (D1DR and D2DR), μ‐opioid receptor (MOR), and ΔFosB were evaluated in the nucleus accumbens. The MEO obtained lower preference scores in CPP and consumed morphine more than the control group in TBC. After 3 weeks of exercise, the reinforcing effect of morphine in the MEO was similar to the control. D1DR, D2DR, and MOR were increased in MEO compared with the controls before exercise. Levels of D1DR and MOR were decreased after exercise in the MEO; however, D1DR was increased in control. D2DR level did not change after exercise in MEO, but it increased in control group. Moreover, the level of ΔFosB was decreased among MEO while it was increased after exercise. In conclusion, exercise might modulate the reinforcing effect of morphine via alteration in levels of D1DR, MOR, and ΔFosB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: With exercise, white adipose tissues (WAT) are readily convertible to a "brown‐like" state, altering from lipid‐storing to energy‐catabolizing function, which counteracts obesity and increases insulin sensitivity. Sestrin2 (SESN2) is a stress‐inducible protein that can regulate the cold‐induced increase of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is paramount for the thermogenic capacity of brown‐like WAT. This study aimed to elucidate the necessity of SESN2 in mediating exercise‐induced browning of WAT. Methods: We used 8‐week, male wild‐type and SESN2 knockout C57BL/6J mice to explore the potential role of SESN2 in the exercise‐induced WAT browning process. Over a 3‐week intervention (sedentary versus treadmill exercise, normal chow versus 60% high‐fat diet), we examined the exercise‐induced alterations of the browning phenotype in different depots of white fat. In vitro, 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes and primary adipocytes were used to determine the potential mechanism. Results: Our data revealed that SESN2 was required for the exercise‐induced subcutaneous WAT (scWAT) browning. This may be mediated by higher fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) contents in scWAT locally, rather than skeletal muscle FNDC5 expression and circulating serum irisin levels. SESN2 ablation significantly impaired the exercise‐improved glucose metabolism, where browning of scWAT may serve as an essential pathway. Moreover, SESN2 ablation significantly attenuated the exercise‐promoted respiratory exchange ratio and indexes of energy metabolism (oxygen uptake and energy expenditure). Conclusion: Taken together, our results provided evidence that SESN2 is a key integrating factor in driving the diverse metabolic benefits conferred by aerobic exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: Maximal endurance performance is greater in the early daytime.Timed exercise differentially alters the muscle transcriptome and (phospho)‐proteome.Early daytime exercise triggers energy provisioning and tissue regeneration.Early night‐time exercise activates stress‐related and catabolic pathways.Scheduled training has limited effects on the muscle and liver circadian clocks. Timed physical activity might potentiate the health benefits of training. The underlying signalling events triggered by exercise at different times of day are, however, poorly understood. Here, we found that time‐dependent variations in maximal treadmill exercise capacity of naïve mice were associated with energy stores, mostly hepatic glycogen levels. Importantly, running at different times of day resulted in a vastly different activation of signalling pathways, e.g. related to stress response, vesicular trafficking, repair and regeneration. Second, voluntary wheel running at the opposite phase of the dark, feeding period surprisingly revealed a minimal zeitgeber (i.e. phase‐shifting) effect of training on the muscle clock. This integrated study provides important insights into the circadian regulation of endurance performance and the control of the circadian clock by exercise. In future studies, these results could contribute to better understanding circadian aspects of training design in athletes and the application of chrono‐exercise‐based interventions in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise‐induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) is common, but we lack readily available diagnostic tools. The larynx represents an important point of resistance in the airways, and we therefore hypothesized that EILO is associated with characteristic breathing patterns possible to record from a standard incremental ergospirometry test. We studied 24 individuals with moderate/severe EILO and 20 individuals with no‐EILO, mean (SD) age 17 (6.1) and 24 (6.4) years, respectively. EILO versus no‐EILO was verified from maximal continuous laryngoscopy treadmill exercise (CLE) tests, which also included ergospirometry. We described the relationships between minute ventilation (V˙E) versus tidal volume (VT) and V˙E versus carbon dioxide output (V˙CO2), using respectively quadratic and linear equations, and applied adjusted regression models to compare ergospirometry data and curve parameters. Compared to the no‐EILO group, the group with EILO had prolonged inspiratory time (Tin), lower breathing frequency (Bf), lower V˙E, and lower inspiratory flow rate (V˙in) at peak exercise. Mathematical modeling of the breathing pattern relationships was feasible in both groups, with similar coefficients of variation. For V˙E versus VT, the mathematical curve parameters were similar. For V˙E versus V˙CO2, the slope was similar but the intercept was lower in the EILO group. EILO was associated with prolonged Tin, lower Bf, V˙E, and V˙E. The relationship between V˙E versus VT was similar, whereas for V˙E versus V˙CO2, the slope was almost parallel but shifted downward for the EILO group. Most ergospirometry data overlapped, except V˙in which discriminated between EILO and no‐EILO in a promising way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether wearing phase change material (PCM) packs made of edible oils, such as coconut oil (CO) and palm oil (PO), after engaging in physical activities can alleviate heat strain in a hot and humid environment. Eleven healthy young males performed a treadmill exercise for 30 min. After the physical activity, the participants underwent resting recovery for 30 min with or without a cooling vest made of either CO‐ or PO‐based PCM packs. Results showed that wearing PCM packs made of edible oils as a personal cooling device significantly reduced tympanic temperature, mean skin temperature, and heart rate during the recovery period. The CO‐ and PO‐based PCM packs also improved perceptual thermal strain during recovery. Hence, PCMs made of edible oils can be used as a cooling device to reduce heat strain and improve comfort after physical work in a hot and humid environment. From the aspects of ergonomics and human factors, the use of CO‐ and PO‐based PCM packs for personal cooling is a viable option for preventing heat‐related disorders and maintaining productivity and workers' well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although most total knee replacement (TKR) recipients report less pain and improved function after TKR, many remain sedentary. We aimed to understand TKR recipients' motivations for undergoing TKR, perceptions of and goals related to physical activity, and the role, if any, that activity monitors might play in their recovery. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study, individually interviewing 27 participants who had recently undergone or were about to undergo TKR. We conducted a thematic analysis to better understand participants' views of the benefits and barriers to physical activity after TKR. Results: We identified nine themes and one subtheme that identify patients' initial motivations for undergoing TKR and may help TKR recipients achieve increased activity levels and a perceived successful recovery. Some key messages that emerged from our work include the following: exercise is necessary for physical and mental health, pain and functional limitation interfere with daily life, tracking steps motivates individuals to increase activity levels, and different incentives (for engaging in physical exercise and using an activity monitor) are effective for different individuals. Conclusion: Participants recognized the health benefits of physical activity, and many believed activity monitor use would help them become more active after surgery. Both external and internal factors played a role in motivating individuals to become more active and wear activity monitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrate ingestion is essential for glycogen recovery after exercise. Although studies have investigated methods for enhancement of glycogen repletion with regard to nutrients and their amounts, no studies have examined the effect of temperature of the ingested solution on glycogen recovery. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the temperature of glucose solution ingested after exercise on glycogen recovery. Seven‐week‐old male ICR mice were fasted for 16 h and subjected to treadmill running exercise (20 m/min for 60 min) to decrease glycogen storage. Then, the mice were administered glucose (1.5 mg/g body weight) at three different solution temperatures: 4°C, cold solution group (Cold); 37°C, mild solution group (Mild); and 55°C, hot solution group (Hot). Our results revealed that blood glucose, plasma insulin, and muscle glycogen concentrations did not differ among the three groups. In contrast, liver glycogen concentration in the Hot group was significantly higher than that in the post‐exercise and Cold groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, portal glucose concentration was significantly higher in the Hot group than in the Cold group (p < 0.01). These observations suggest that postexercise muscle glycogen repletion occurs regardless of glucose solution temperature, and that ingesting hot glucose solution after exercise can be an effective means for liver glycogen repletion compared with cold glucose solution ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia type 1 (CPVT1) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disorder caused by missense mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR2), that result in increased β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced diastolic Ca2+ leak. We have previously shown that exercise training prevents arrhythmias in CPVT1, potentially by reducing the oxidation of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII). Therefore, we tested whether an oxidation‐resistant form of CaMKII protects mice carrying the CPVT1‐causative mutation RyR2‐R2474S (RyR2‐RS) against arrhythmias. Antioxidant treatment (N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine) reduced the frequency of β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves in isolated cardiomyocytes from RyR2‐RS mice. To test whether the prevention of CaMKII oxidation exerts an antiarrhythmic effect, mice expressing the oxidation‐resistant CaMKII‐MM281/282VV variant (MMVV) were crossed with RyR2‐RS mice to create a double transgenic model (RyR2‐RS/MMVV). Wild‐type mice served as controls. Telemetric ECG surveillance revealed an increased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and an increased arrhythmia score in both RyR2‐RS and RyR2‐RS/MMVV compared to wild‐type mice, both following a β‐adrenoceptor challenge (isoprenaline i.p.), and following treadmill exercise combined with a β‐adrenoceptor challenge. There were no differences in the incidence of arrhythmias between RyR2‐RS and RyR2‐RS/MMVV mice. Furthermore, no differences were observed in β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced Ca2+ waves in RyR2‐RS/MMVV compared to RyR2‐RS. In conclusion, antioxidant treatment reduces β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced Ca2+ waves in RyR2‐RS cardiomyocytes. However, oxidation‐resistant CaMKII‐MM281/282VV does not protect RyR2‐RS mice from β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced Ca2+ waves or arrhythmias. Hence, alternative oxidation‐sensitive targets need to be considered to explain the beneficial effect of antioxidant treatment on Ca2+ waves in cardiomyocytes from RyR2‐RS mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through utilizing the fluorescent ligand of tris(4‐(triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl)amine, an innovative Zn(II)‐based coordination polymer formulated as {[Zn2(μ‐OH2)(TTPA)(DTDN)2·DMF]·H2O}n (1, DTDN = 6,6′‐dithiodinicotinate and TTPA = tris(4‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl)amine) has been successfully prepared by using the H2DTDN as the auxiliary ligand under the solvothermal reaction conditions and structurally characterized. According to the results of fluorescence spectrum analysis, complex 1 has high sensitivity and selectivity for Fe3+ ion. It can effectively detect Fe3+, the linear range is from 0 to 1,000 μM, and the detection limit of Fe3+ is 8.65 nM. Its treatment activity against exercise induced traumatic osteoarthritis was estimated and its detail mechanism was also investigated in meantime. First, the detection assay of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was implemented for the assessment of the ROS levels produced in the articular soft tissue after compound treatment. Besides, the reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was also conducted and the genes relative expression related with ROS production was measured after compound exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a subset of osteoarthritis (OA) resulting from the integrated outcome of joint injury, accounting for more than 12% of the overall OA cases. Although current therapies restore joint kinematics and alleviate inflammation, more than 20% patients undergo the unexpected progression of PTOA. Exercise is widely recommended to patients with OA and treadmill training is effective in preventing osteoarthritic changes in PTOA animals. However, the understanding gap of modified treadmill exercise models with different exercise dose and loading weight still exists. To evaluate the effects of body weight‐supported treadmill training on PTOA, 30 rats were divided into the sham group (n = 6) and the PTOA group (n = 24) which were further assigned into three subgroups including the sedentary, the treadmill walking (TW), and the body weight‐supported treadmill training (BWSTT) groups. The training groups were subjected to 4‐week treadmill training at the speed of 15 m/min for 30 min/d, 5 d/wk. Then the tibias were elevated by histological staining, immunohistochemical staining, and micro‐computed tomography. In our results, the significant OA‐relevant changes in cartilage‐subchondral bone unit were observed in the PTOA groups after surgery, characterized by cartilage degradation and subchondral bone remodeling. After 4‐week treadmill training, the OA‐relevant changes in cartilage‐subchondral bone unit were alleviated and BWSTT is more efficient to maintain cartilage integrity and attenuate the subchondral bone loss and remodeling than TW. In conclusion, BWSTT is a promising and favorable treatment of PTOA slowing down the development of PTOA by reprogramming the cartilage‐subchondral unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the function of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) on vascular contractility within resistant arteries in high‐fat diet induced obese rats after long‐term aerobic exercise. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to normal diet control group (N‐CTRL), normal diet exercise group (N‐EX), high‐fat diet control group (H‐CTRL), and high‐fat diet exercise group (H‐EX) (n = 8 in each group). After intervention, adipose tissues morphology was observed. Vasomotor function of mesenteric arteries with or without PVAT were assessed; mesenteric PVAT isolated from each group were transferred to chambers bath with untreated vessels (without PVAT) to evaluate the independent effect. Isolated PVAT was further pre‐treated with inhibitor of cystathionine‐γ‐lyase (CSE), a key hydrogen sulphide (H2S) enzyme. Results showed that the size of lipid droplet around mesenteric arteries from H‐EX was significantly reduced (P <.05); uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) in PVAT from H‐EX was enhanced. In N‐CTRL, N‐EX, and H‐EX, vessels without PVAT showed higher sensitivity to serotonin (5‐HT) than that with intact PVAT. Vascular tension by 5‐HT was significantly reduced in H‐EX than H‐CTRL (P <.05) in vessels with PVAT. Transferred PVAT from H‐EX compared with H‐CTRL significantly reduced vascular sensitivity to 5‐HT (P <.05), and this effect was eliminated through inhibiting CSE. In summary, the anti‐contractile effect of PVAT on resistance artery was impaired in obesity but restored by long‐term aerobic exercise. The function of PVAT modified by obesity or by exercise has an independent influence on vascular reactivity, and PVAT derived H2S may participate in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hippocampal‐avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA‐PCI) offers potential neurocognitive benefits but raises technical challenges to treatment planning. This study aims to improve the conventional planning method using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique and investigate a better patient's head positioning to achieve a high quality of HA‐PCI treatment plans. Methods: The improved planning method set a wide expansion of hippocampus as a special region for dose decline. The whole brain target was divided into two parts according to whether the slice included hippocampus and their optimization objectives were set separately. Four coplanar full arcs with partial field sizes were employed to deliver radiation dose to different parts of the target. The collimator angle for all arcs was 90°. Tilting patient's head was achieved by rotating CT images. The improved planning method and tilted head positioning were verified using datasets from 16 patients previously treated with HA‐PCI using helical tomotherapy (HT). Results: For the improved VMAT plans, the max and mean doses to hippocampus were 7.88 Gy and 6.32 Gy, respectively, significantly lower than those for the conventional VMAT plans (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the improved planning method significantly improved the plan quality. Compared to the HT plans, the improved VMAT plans result in similar mean dose to hippocampus (P > 0.1) but lower max dose (P < 0.02). Besides, the target coverage was the highest for the improved VMAT plans. The tilted head positioning further reduced the max and mean doses to hippocampus (P < 0.05), significantly decreased the max dose to lens (P < 0.001) and resulted in higher plan quality as compared to nontilted head positioning. Conclusions: The improved planning method enables the VMAT plans to meet the clinical requirements of HA‐PCI treatment with high plan quality and convenience. The tilted head positioning provides superior dosimetric advantages over the nontilted head positioning, which is recommended for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Finding: What is the central question of this study?How does moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise affect the behaviour of purinergic enzymes in sedentary, overweight and physically active subjects? What is the relationship between purinergic and inflammatory responses triggered by exercise?What is the main finding and its importance?Moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise modifies the activity of purinergic enzymes and the levels of nucleotides and nucleosides. These results are similar in subjects with different biological characteristics. 5′‐Nucleotidase activity and adenosine levels are associated with inflammatory responses. This study suggests that a purinergic pathway is related to the inflammatory responses triggered by exercise. Purinergic signalling is a mechanism of extracellular communication that modulates events related to exercise, such as inflammation and coagulation. Herein, we evaluated the effects of acute moderate‐intensity exercise on the activities of purinergic enzymes and plasma levels of adenine nucleotides in individuals with distinct metabolic characteristics. We analysed the relationship between purinergic parameters, inflammatory responses and cardiometabolic markers. Twenty‐four healthy males were assigned to three groups: normal weight sedentary (n = 8), overweight sedentary (n = 8) and normal weight physically active (n = 8). The volunteers performed an acute session of moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise on a treadmill at 70% of V̇O2peak; blood samples were drawn at baseline, immediately post‐exercise and at 1 h post‐exercise. Immediately post‐exercise, all subjects showed increases in ATP, ADP, AMP and p‐nitrophenyl thymidine 5′‐monophosphate hydrolysis, while AMP hydrolysis remained increased at 1 h after exercise. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis demonstrated lower levels of ATP and ADP at post‐ and 1 h post‐exercise in all groups. Conversely, adenosine and inosine levels increased at post‐exercise, but only adenosine remained augmented at 1 h after exercise in all groups. With regard to inflammatory responses, the exercise protocol increased tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) and interleukin 8 (IL‐8) concentrations in all subjects, but only TNF‐α remained elevated at 1 h after exercise. Significant correlations were found between the activity of 5′‐nucleotidase, adenosine levels, V̇O2peak, triglyceride, TNF‐α and IL‐8 levels. Our findings suggest a purinergic signalling pathway that participates, at least partially, in the inflammatory responses triggered by acute moderate‐intensity exercise. The response of soluble nucleotidases to acute moderate exercise appears to be similar between subjects of different biological profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?Forced treadmill exercise using electrical shock is the most common technique in rodent exercise studies. Here, we examined how the use of electrical shock during forced treadmill exercise affects behavioural and physiological responses in comparison to a novel non‐electrical shock technique.What is the main finding and its importance?In comparison to mice that underwent traditional treadmill running induced by electrical shock, mice that underwent forced running using a novel technique involving gentle prodding to induce running showed: (i) higher locomotor activity; (ii) less anxiety‐like behaviour; and (iii) altered exercise‐induced muscle pain immediately after exercise. Animal models of exercise have been useful to understand underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. Many studies have used methods of exercise that are unduly stressful (e.g., electrical shock to force running), potentially skewing results. Here, we compared physiological and behavioural responses of mice after exercise induced using a prodding technique that avoids electrical shock versus a traditional protocol using electrical shock. We found that exercise performance was similar for both techniques; however, the shock group demonstrated significantly lower locomotor activity and higher anxiety‐like behaviour. We also observed divergent effects on muscle pain; the prodding group showed hyperalgesia immediately after exercise, whereas the shock group showed hypoalgesia. Corticosterone concentrations were elevated to a similar extent for both groups. In conclusion, mice that were exercised without shock generated similar maximal exercise performance, but postexercise these mice showed an increase in locomotor activity, less anxiety‐like behaviour and altered muscle pain in comparison to mice that exercised with shock. Our data suggest that running of mice without the use of electrical shock is potentially less stressful and might be a better technique to study the physiological and behavioural responses to exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]