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Prehypertensive offspring of hypertensive parents are strongly linked to pathological processes of hypertension in later life. It is observed that young adults with high blood pressure (BP) have increased arterial stiffness, which is linked to autonomic anomalies. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of combined resistance and aerobic exercise training on BP, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and heart rate variability (HRV) in prehypertensive young men with hypertensive parents. Thirty prehypertensive males aged 19.6 ± 1.2 years were randomly assigned to either a combined exercise training group (CBT, n = 15) or no exercise group (CON, n = 15). The CBT group performed combined exercise for 8 weeks, 3 times per week. BP, baPWV, HRV, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), and muscle strength were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Systolic BP (-5.1 mmHg, 3.9% decrease, P < 0.05), diastolic BP (-3.9 mmHg, 6.1% decrease, P < 0.01), mean arterial pressure (-4.2 mmHg, 4.7% decrease, P < 0.05), baPWV (-0.4 m/sec, 3.5% decrease, P < 0.01), standard deviation of all RR intervals (+58.5% increase, P < 0.05) and very low frequency (VLF) (+34.6% increase, P < 0.01), VO2peak (+11.7% increase, P < 0.01) and one-repetition maximum leg press (+30.3% increase, P < 0.01) were significantly improved in the CBT group after 8 weeks of training versus the CON group. Additionally, a reduction in baPWV was associated with an increase in the VLF power of HRV (r= 0.72, P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the combined training improves BP, arterial stiffness, vagal activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower-body muscle strength in prehypertensive offspring of hypertensive parents.

A randomized crossover trial was carried out in prehypertensive obese men to compare postexercise hypotension and heart rate variability (HRV) following water-based and land-based high-intensity interval exercises (HIIEs). Nine prehypertensive obese participants, aged 23.6 ± 2.4 years, were randomly assigned to one of three interventions: no-exercise control, HIIE with immersion up to the chest, or HIIE on dry land. In the evenings of three separate days, participants performed either of the interventions. Matched with exercise volume, both HIIEs composed of 5 repetitions of 30-sec sprints at maximum effort followed by a 4-min rest. Ambulatory blood pressure and HRV were measured before the interventions and over the 24-hr following period. Both HIIEs resulted in significant reductions of average 24-hr mean arterial pressure (-6.7 mmHg). Notably, the water-based HIIE resulted in a significantly higher reduction of 24-hr systolic blood pressure (SBP) (-9 mmHg) than the land-based HIIE, particularly at night, in addition to a significantly longer duration of postexercise hypotension. Finally, the water-based HIIE was more effective at restoring HRV during recovery. Our findings demonstrated postexercise hypotension following the HIIEs, particularly the water-based HIIE. During recovery, the water-based HIIE was remarkably effective at restoring HRV. These findings indicate that water-based HIIE is more effective at reducing SBP and requires less recovery time than land-based HIIE in prehypertensive obese men.

This study analysed the activity profiles and the effort-to-pause ratio (E:P) between the winner and the loser of professional Muay Thai fights. The sample consisted of 8 male professional Muay Thai fighters who competed in a combat format involving 5 rounds each being 3 minutes in the 29th ISUZU Muay Thai Tournament. This research used video footage of their offensive and defensive techniques to create a detailed activity profile of each fighter based on 12 matches that were fully assessed without any knockouts. The number of swing punches was higher in round 3 and more accurate in round 4 for winners than losers (p < .05). The number of round kicks was higher in rounds 1 and 5 and more accurate in round 5 for winners than losers (p < .05). Sway movement and evasion (p < .05) were higher in round 5 and grabbing (p < .05) was higher in round 2 for winners compared to losers. The E:P data indicated that Muay Thai had a greater pause duration than effort duration with the greatest effort duration during rounds 3 and 4. The effort to pause data indicated no discrimination between winners and losers. The winners utilized more defensive and offensive techniques than the losers and with better accuracy. Proper utilization of swing punching and round kicking were highlighted as strategically important techniques for the winners. In summary, the E:P data advocates high-intensity interval training characteristics and prescriptions for Muay Thai fighters at a professional level.

A randomized control trial was conducted to investigate the effects of combined concurrent training and Eri silkworm pupae ingestion on resting and exercise fat oxidation (FAO), as well as energy expenditure, and cardiometabolic risk markers in obese adults. Thirty-six sedentary, obese participants were divided into three groups: (1) placebo control group (CON, n=12), (2) Eri silkworm pupae ingestion group (ERI, n=12), and (3) combined concurrent training and Eri silkworm pupae ingestion group (CBT-ERI, n=12). Participants in the ERI and the CBT-ERI con-sumed 5-g Eri silkworm pupae/day (approximately 2.5-g linolenic acid). The concurrent training program comprised of supervised aerobic and resistance training: three 1-hr sessions/wk for 8 weeks. Body composi-tion, energy expenditure, and FAO at rest and during exercise, heart rate variability, and blood chemistry were measured before and after the 8-week interventions. Following the interventions, resting FAO, the natural logarithm of very low-frequency power (lnVLF), and high-sensi-tive C-reactive protein concentration significantly improved in both the ERI and the CBT-ERI. Only the CBT-ERI improved resting energy expen-diture, FAO during exercise, trunk and gynoid fat mass, total cholesterol concentration, the standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN), and the percentage difference between adjacent normal R-R intervals >50 ms. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between rest-ing energy expenditure and FAO, lnVLF and SDNN in the CBT-ERI. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that concurrent training together with dietary Eri silkworm pupae leads to increased energy expenditure through a significant increase in FAO at rest and during exercise, as well as reduced fat mass.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Exposure of endothelial cells to elevated levels of homocysteine (HCY) results in decreased availability of nitric oxide (NO) and impaired vascular function, both of which are early events in atherogenesis. Exercise training improves vascular function by increasing endothelial NO production secondary to an increase in the enzyme responsible for its synthesis, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). We hypothesized that exercise training would increase endothelial NO production, which would attenuate the endothelial dysfunction associated with HCY exposure. Rats were randomly assigned to either sedentary (SED) or exercise (EX) groups. The exercise regimen consisted of treadmill running at 20-25 m/min, 15% grade, 30 min/day, 5 day/week for 6 weeks. Aortic rings obtained from SED and EX trained rats were incubated with 2 mM HCY for 120 min, then exposed to norepinephrine (NE 100 nM) to induce vasoconstriction. Once a stable contraction plateau was achieved, rings were exposed to increasing concentrations of the receptor-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh; 0.1, 1, 10, 100 nM). This procedure was repeated with the non-receptor-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilator A-23187 (0.1, 1, 10, 100 nM), and the endothelium-independent vasodilator, NaNO(2) (0.1, 1, 10, 100 muM). In addition, eNOS protein content and eNOS enzyme activity were determined. Aortic rings obtained from exercise trained rats demonstrated significantly (P

Purpose: Although evidence is accumulating that suggests regular moderate physical activity improves physiological and psychological well-being of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if exercise training improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation after exposure to the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Methods: Rats were injected with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and assigned to either exercise (EX; treadmill running, 20-25 m.min -1 , 15% grade, 30 min.d -1 , 5 d.wk -1 for 8 wk) or sedentary (SED) groups. After the exercise training period, aortic rings were obtained and used to assess contractile and relaxation characteristics. In addition, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein content and eNOS enzyme activity was determined. Results: Exercise training resulted in increased maximal endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh, I × 10 -5 M) (SED, 56 ± 3%; exercise, 71 ± 5%; P < 0.05) after norepinephrine-induced (1 X 10 -7 M) vasoconstriction. Exposure of aortic rings from each group to increasing concentrations of 5-FU (7 X 10 -5 -7 × 10 -3 M) resulted in vasoconstriction. Rings obtained from exercise-trained animals demonstrated enhanced vasorelaxation to ACh (1 X 10 -5 M) after 5-FU-induced vasoconstriction compared with rings obtained from SED animals (P < 0.05). In addition, exercise training enhanced eNOS protein content and eNOS activity. Conclusion: Exercise training enhances endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation after 5-FU-induced vasoconstriction, and this may be due, at least in part, to an increase in aortic eNOS protein content and activity. Such exercise-induced adaptations may help alleviate chemotherapy-related fatigue observed in cancer patients.