Diet and Diet Combined with Chronic Aerobic Exercise Decreases Body Fat Mass and Alters Plasma and Adipose Tissue Inflammatory Markers in Obese Women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 months aerobic exercise and diet alone or in combination on markers of inflammation (MOI) in circulation and in adipose abdominal tissue (AT) in obese women. Thirty obese subjects were randomized into a 24-week intervention: (1) exercise (EX), (2) diet (DI), and (3) exercise and diet (EXD). Blood samples were collected at baseline, after 12 and 24 weeks. AT biopsies were obtained only at baseline and after 24 weeks. In the EXD and DI groups, the fat loss was after 12 weeks was ?13.74 and ?7.8 % (P?<?0.01) and after 24 weeks was ?21.82 and ?17 % (P?<?0.01) with no changes in the EX group. After 12 and 24 weeks, maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max) was increased by 21.81–39.54 % (P?<?0.05) in the EXD group and 18.09–40.95 % in the EX group with no changes in the DI group. In the EXD and DI groups, circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 were decreased after 24 weeks for both groups (P?<?0.01). No changes in the EX group. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance decreased (P?<?0.05) only after 24 weeks in the EXD group. In AT biopsies, subjects in the EXD and DI groups exhibited a significant decrease in MO (P?<?0.01 for all). No changes in AT biopsies were found in the EX group. In conclusion, chronic aerobic exercise was found to have no effects on circulating and AT MOI despite an increased VO_2max. Rather important body composition modifications were found to have beneficial effects on circulating and AT MOI in these obese women.     

Vitamin D reduces the differentiation and expansion of Th17 cells in young asthmatic children

Vitamin D [25(OH)D3] deficiency has been associated with asthma as in many inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies; however, there is still a lack of data about the effects of administration of vitamin D in immune regulation in young asthmatic patients. In this study, we investigated its inhibitory effect on the immune response in young asthmatic patients and the possible mechanisms involved.     

Repeated Sprints in Fasted State Impair Reaction Time Performance

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 3-day Islamic intermittent fasting (3d-IF) on cognitive performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) before and after repeated sprints.

Methods: Twenty-one physically active male Muslims (29.8 ± 5.9 years, exercising 4 ± 1.5 times/week) were randomly assigned to one of 2 experimental sessions: the control or nonfasting session (CS) or the fasting session (FS). These 2 sessions occurred 7 days apart in a counterbalanced crossover design. In both conditions, the test was performed at the same time of day, approximately 1 hour before sunset. In the FS, the test occurred on the third day of the 3d-IF and involved the participants' performance of the following: (a) two series of 5 maximal 5-second sprints and (b) 2 cognitive tasks: One Touch Stockings (OTS) and reaction time (simple and complex RTI).

Results: In both conditions, the participants' reaction times during the RTI test were similar at the pre- and mid-exercise points, but postexercise, simple and complex reaction times were higher in FS compared to CS (p = 0.045, effect size [ES] = 0.21 and p = 0.006, ES = 0.41, respectively). However, OTS performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors were not influenced by the 3d-IF.

Conclusion: Simple and complex reaction times during the RTI test were negatively affected by the 3d-IF after 2 bouts of intensive repeated sprints.     

Influence of intense training cycle and psychometric status on technical and physiological aspects performed during the small-sided games in soccer players

The study investigated the effect of intense training cycle (IT) of early season preparation period (SPP) and psychological status on technical and physiological parameters during small-sided games (SSG) and the relationships between these variables. Sixteen professional soccer players participated in the study (mean±SD: age: 24.5±4.1). Training load (TL), Total quality recovery (TQR) and well-being indices were performed daily. TL increased progressively (%TL=31.56 [AU]). Physiological variables did not change after IT and were not influenced by well-being indices and TQR. Technical aspects were negatively altered after IT (p<0.05). TL was significantly correlated with successful passes (r=-0.57, p=0.02), interceptions (r=-0.83, p<0.001) and lost balls (r=0.73, p=0.002). Well-being and TQR were related to successful passes, interceptions and lost passes [(r=-0.55, p=0.03; r=-0.75, p=0.001; r=-0.69, p=0.004); (r=0.54, p=0.03; r=-0.76, p=0.001; r=-0.69, p=0.004), respectively]. TL, Well-being indices and TQR represent a useful strategy for coaches to control technical aspects in soccer players during SPP.     

Flow index evaluation of 3-D volume flow images: an in vivo and in vitro study

Three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound imaging has improved evaluation of organ circulation and might contribute new information on maternal and fetal blood supply. Flow index (FI) of 3-D color images has been proposed as a measure of perfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the 3-D FI is a parameter of volume flow and flow velocity in a human vessel and in a flow phantom. A 1-cm-long strip of the uterine artery was recorded in 3-D power Doppler (3D-PD) mode in a cross-sectional study of 170 normal singleton pregnancies between 26 and 42 weeks' gestation. A fixed ultrasound system installation was used during the examination. The VOCAL software integrated in the ultrasound unit calculated vessel volume and FI. Reproducibility of the measurements was tested. The method was also tested on a commercially available flow phantom. Reproducibility measurements gave satisfactory results, both in terms of inter- and intraobserver variation. Unexpectedly, in normal pregnancy, the uterine artery FI decreased slightly with gestation. Uterine artery vessel volume increased, however, with gestational age. A poor correlation was found between the FI and both flow velocity and volume flow in the flow phantom. In conclusion, 3D-PD imaging can give impressive anatomical pictures of organ vascular tree. However, the new FI is poorly related to flow velocity or volume of flow.     

The effects of argon laser irradiation on enamel decalcification: An in vivo study.

Enamel decalcification is a significant problem in orthodontic patients. The argon laser has been shown to reduce decalcification during an acidic challenge in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo effects of argon laser irradiation on enamel decalcification during orthodontic treatment. Nine volunteers whose treatment plans included 4 first premolar extractions were enrolled in the study. The 36 extracted premolars were assigned to 1 of the following 4 groups: group 1, control group with no treatment; group 2 (pumice-laser), teeth were pumiced for 3 seconds and treated with a 325 mW, 5-mm diameter laser beam for 60 seconds; group 3 (pumice-etch-laser), teeth were pumiced for 3 seconds, acid-etched with 30% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds, and treated for 60 seconds with laser; and group 4 (laser only), teeth were treated for 60 seconds with laser. A specially designed (oversized) orthodontic band was fitted on each of the premolars to create a pocket for decalcification. The bands were cemented in place for 5 weeks. After extraction, the teeth were sectioned and examined under polarized light microscopy. Images of lesions were digitally analyzed and measured. Average lesion depths were calculated from 3 depth measurements recorded 10 microm apart. Average lesion area was calculated with the aid of imaging analysis software. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance (P <.05) and Student t tests. Significant differences were found in lesion depth (P <.001) and lesion area (P <.01) among the 4 test groups. The average lesion depths were 15.93 +/- 9.31 microm (control), 6.45 +/- 8.70 microm (pumice-laser), 1.71 +/- 4.82 microm (pumice-etch-laser), and 1.34 +/- 3.80 microm (laser only). The average lesion areas were 1028.67 +/- 725.68 microm (2) (control), 555.49 +/- 948.20 microm (2) (pumice-laser), 79.91 +/- 226.03 microm (2) (pumice-etch-laser), and 55.71 +/- 157.59 microm (2) (laser only). The average lesion depth in the laser-only group was reduced by 94.1% and the average lesion area was reduced by 94.4% when compared with the control group. In the pumice-etch-laser group, the average lesion depth was reduced by 89.1% and the average lesion area was reduced by 92.2% when compared with the control group. There were no significant differences in lesion depth and lesion area between maxillary and mandibular teeth (P <.06 and P <.08, respectively) and between the teeth on the right and left sides (P <.68 and P <.55, respectively). These results show that argon laser irradiation is effective in reducing enamel decalcification during orthodontic treatment. Pumicing and etching do not appear to reduce the effect of laser on enamel solubility.