Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common complaints in women's medicine, in the absence of any pelvic pathological failure. Exercise is commonly reported as a factor to decrease dysmenorrhea symptoms. One of the new therapeutic methods is “Kinesio Taping” which claimed to be able to reduce pain, swelling and muscle spasms. Thus, this study tries to determine and compare the effectiveness of using two therapeutic methods of stretching exercises and taping in painful menstruation of high school students.

Materials and Methods: This study is an operational, quasi-experimental and two- stage study with a control group and pre-test and post-test design. Thirty female high school students with the average age of 16.8±0.99 were selected as available, and were divided into three groups, randomly. For the first group, stretching exercises were carried out and the second group was taped with Kinesio Tape and control group did not any exercise. Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) was used to collect information. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and schober test were used for measuring the level of pain and range of motion, respectively. Data analysis was performed by a repeated measures ANOVA at the significant level of p>0.05.

Results: There was a significant improvement in back and abdomen pain and back range of motion.On the other hand, comparing data after intervention showed a significant difference in pain intensity between two groups. But, no significant difference was notified in increased back range of motion in group with kinesion tape.

Conclusion: Kinesio Taping has better effects than stretching exercises in reducing tesucing pain. Too, Stretching exercise has better effects in increasing back rang of motion.

  Background: The physiological role of apelin, an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue , in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has been identified . The aim of this study was to determine t he correlation of plasma level s of apelin-13 with insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and plasma leptin of diabetic male rats after 8-week aerobic exercise .

  Materials and Methods: Peresent study was an experimental study with animal model. Twenty eight diabetic male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: Non-diabetic (n=9), control diabetic (n=9) and trained diabetic (n=10). Type 2 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide and streptozotocin. The trained diabetic rat ran 8-week on treadmill progressively. After the training period, plasma levels of glucose, insulin, leptin and apelin-13 were measured and HOMA-IR was calculated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation were used for analyzing data. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

  Results: A significant decrease in plasma levels of glucose, insulin and leptin and HOMA-IR in trained diabetic vs control diabetic rats, a significant increase in plasma levels of apelin in trained diabetic vs non-diabetic and control diabetic rats and a significant negative correlation of plasma levels of apelin with HOMA-IR and plasma leptin in trained diabetic rats was observed.

  Conclusion: In present study, 8-week aerobic training by improvement of insulin sensitivity (decrease of HOMA-IR and plasma leptin) increased plasma levels of apelin-13 in diabetic male rats.

  Background: The effect of exercise training on body weight and visceral fat have been examined in several studies, whereas those of aerobic training along with the different dosages of intramuscular vitamin D on body weight, visceral fat and food intake are unknown. The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of aerobic training and different doses of intramuscular vitamin D on body weight, visceral fat and food intake in female Wistar rats.

  Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, seventy-two female Wistar rats were divided into 9 with 8 rats in each group, one group: aerobic training (3 days/week for 8 weeks), three groups: aerobic training and vitamin D supplementation (in high, moderate and low doses ), three groups: vitamin D supplementation ( in high, moderate and low doses ) and two control groups. One-way ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA test were used to analyze the data.

  Results: Results showed that body weight and visceral fat in aerobic training with high dose vitamin D supplementation group was significantly lower than other groups. Also, the mean food intake in three groups of (aerobic training with low dose vitamin D supplementation , low dose vitamin D supplementation and control) w as significantly higher than other groups.

  Conclusion: It seems that aerobic training with high dose vitamin D compared to using each of the strategies is more effective in decreasing body weight, visceral fat in female Wistar rats .

Background: One of the important adaptations that occurs after exercise is increased capillary density or angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor, has a mitogenic role for endothelial cells and acts as an important intermediator in the process of angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two kind of endurance training on vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in healthy male rats.

Materials and Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats at the age of eight weeks, with an average weight of 210/5± 9/77g were  selected and randomely divided into three groups (control (n=6), ET (n=6) and HIIT (n=6)). Aerobic continuous training was performed 5 days a week, totally in eight weeks for 30 minutes with 70-75% VO2max and high intensity interval training consisted of three periods (four minutes with 90 to100% VO2max and two minutes with 50 to 60% VO2max). Vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression was measured by real time-PCR technique. To determine the significance of variables between these groups, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were used.

Results: The results showed that the gene expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were increased significantly (p=0/006, F=7/243) in intense aerobic continuous and interval training groups compared to control group. Changes in exercise groups compared with each other were not significant.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in both training groups caused pro-angiogenic function in endothelial cells and an increase in ratsVO2max following eight weeks training may be due to increased angiogenesis process. High intensity interval training may cause faster adaptations in the body of organism than aerobic continuous training.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of preconception endurance exercise training with voluntary exercise activity during pregnancy in mother mice on lipid profile in adult offsprings.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into four subgroups: trained in preconception period and exercised during pregnancy (TE)(20.3±1.02g); trained in preconception periods but unexercised during pregnancy (TC)(21.58±0.4g); untrained in preconception periods but exercised during pregnancy (CE)(21.02±0.23g); untrained and unexercised (CC)(19.23±0.45g). Trained mice were subjected to a protocol of moderate endurance exercise training over a period of 4 weeks for 5 days before pregnancy. The fasting blood samples were collected from adult mice(8 weeks old) and serum levels of glucose and lipid profile were measured. Data were analyzed using two way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test.

Results: The Glucose test results in offspring showed that there was a significant interaction between group and sex and group main effect (p<0.001) Glucose levels of male offspring were significantly lower in TC and TE groups. Results on LDL also showed that the sex main effect was significant (p<0.001), and LDL levels of male born to TE and TC dams lower than in female offspring.

Conclusion: Improving the mother's physical fitness by providing regular endurance training in the preconception period and maintaining it by exercise activty throughout pregnancy may have potential for eliciting positive changes in lipid profile of offspring, specially males.

Background: Chronic kidney disease as an important risk factor is associated with some disorders which are key causes of death and disability in older people. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the combined effect of regular aerobic exercise with garlic extract on renal apoptosis regulatory factors in aged rats with chronic kidney disease.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental research, 42 aged male Wistar rats(48-52 weeks) were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups: control, doxorubicin, doxorubicin-salin, doxorubicin- garlic, doxorubicin - exercise, doxorubicin –garlic-exercise(combined). Chronic kidney disease was induced by a single subcutaneous injection 8.5 mg/kg of doxorubicin. Swimming training was programmed 3 days /week, 30 min/day for 8 weeks. Both the doxorubicin garlic and combined groups with garlic extract were administered by garlic gavage at a dose of 2.5 g/kg. The renal Bax and Bcl-2 levels were evaluated by ELIZA method. A one-way analysis of variance was used to data analysis (p<0.05).

Results: The results showed that induced chronic kidney disease was associated with a significant increase on Bax and a decrease on Bcl-2 in aged rats. Also, 8 weeks swimming training, garlic supplementation and the combined intervention significantly reversed these changes. Furthermore, no significant difference have been observed in the effect of these interventions on Bax and Bcl-2 in aged rats with chronic kidney disease.

Conclusion: It seems that the use of non-pharmacological treatment methods such as exercise training, garlic extract supplement, and combination of the both interventions may be effective in reducing apoptosis resulted from chronic kidney disease in aged rats.

Abstract

Background: Sirtuin-1 regulates important cellular processes, including apoptosis, cellular senescence, and metabolism. Therefore, sirtuin-1 may be a novel therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks aerobic training on sirtuin-1 level and cardiometabolic parameters in women with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study with pretest – posttest design, twenty diabetic women (aged 43.92±5.2 y) were randomly assigned to aerobic training or non-exercising control groups. Aerobic training program was performed 50-60 min/d, 3d/wk, for 2 months. Serum levels of sirtuin-1, body composition and metabolic parameters were assessed before and after the training period. Data were analyzed by paired T test.

Results: Adiposity indices, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL- cholesterol,blood glucose and insulin resistance index were significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to the control (p<0.05). Also, sirtuin-1 level was increased in the intervention group compared to the control (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These findings show that aerobic exercise is associated with an improvement in siruin-1 levels and metabolic indices in women with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

Background: Recently a myokine named irisin has been discovered that effects on obesity, metabolism and glucose homeostasis through browning white adipose tissue and thermogenesis. However, the effects of type and intensity of exercises on it have remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two acute eccentric and concentric exercises on serum irisin level and insulin resistance in obese sedentary women.

Materials and Methods: The study was quasi-experimental. 15 female students with a body mass index above 30 kg/m² and mean age 24.86±2.87 years participated in the study. After measuring the maximal uptake oxygen of participants, they did two acute eccentric and concentric exercises using treadmill in a cross-over design within 10 days. After at least 8 hours- fasting, blood samples were collected before and immediately after each activity, to measure the levels of irisin, glucose and insulin. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. In addition, Pearson correlation was used to examine the relationship between variables.

Results: the irisin levels increased significantly after both types of exercises (p<0.05), that this increase in concentric activity was more than eccentric activity. Insulin resistance increased immediately after both exercises as well, that this increase in concentric exercise was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: However, both eccentric and concentric exercises had no effect on improving insulin resistance in obese women, but they can be considered as a good stimulus for the secretion of Irisin.

Background: High blood pressure increases various cardiovascular events about 2 to 3 times in a person. The purpose of this study is to recognize the effect of a course of pilates exercise on hypertension, nitric oxide, and resting heart rate in the eldrlymen with hypertension.

Materials and Methods: Subjects of this quasi-experimental research included 30 elderly men with hypertension grade one(in the range of systolic-diastolic 140/90 to 159/99mm Hg) who participated voluntarily and accessibly in the study and were divided randomly into two experimental peer (15 people) and control (15 people) groups. Weight, height and BMI of subjects were 75±80, 170±175 and 25-26, respectively. The experimental group did selected exercise of Pilates for eight weeks (three one-hour sessions per week). Desired variables of the subjects of both groups were evaluated 24 hours before the start of exercise and 24 hours after the last session. Data analysis was conducted using dependent and independent t-test by SPSS16 statistical software at the significant level of p≥0.05.

Results: The research results showed that the eight-week pilates exercise gave rise to reduction in blood pressure(p≤0.05) as well as resting heart rate (p≤0.05) and to increase in nitric oxide of elderly men with hypertension (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: The eight-week pilates exercise reduced blood pressure and resting heart rate and increased the production of nitric oxide in elderly men. So, it seems that the regular physical exercise can be effective as a preventive factor in the outbreak of cardiovascular diseases of the elderly men. 

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of supplementation Jadvar on aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzymes after exhaustive incremental exercise in men's handball.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental double blinded study 12 handball players with at least 2 years record in league (with average age=21.42, height=186cm, weight=83.25, and body mass index=24.09kg/m2) divided into 2 groups (n=6) accidentally. Both groups performed maximum Bruce protocol until exhausting level. Before (fasting) and after performing protocol ,blood samples were taken from middle forearm vein and transferred to lab then supplementation group consumed three 500 mg jadvar capsules and control group consumed three 500 mg maltodextrin  for 7 days daily. 24 hours after eating last capsule ,they performed maximum Bruce protocol up to exhausting level and the samples were collected like primary protocol blood samples before (fasting)and after performing protocol and were transferred to the laboratory.

Results: The results of dependent and independent t-test showed that consuming jadvar supplements for 7days did not have significant effect on aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(p≥0.05).But alanine aminotransferase in supplementation group (16.83 mg.dl^-1) decreased in comparison to placebo group (20.5 mg.dl^-1). Also, aspartate aminotransferase was increased from 28 mg.dl^-1 to 35.17 mg.dl^-1 , but neither decrease nor increase was not meaningful (p≥0.05).

Conclusion: It seems that acute consuming of jadvar supplement and one session incremental exercise does not have meaningful effect on AST and ALT in man handball players.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common disease in human societies that dealing with its complications imposes enormous cost to the health system. The previous studies have shown that bone biochemical markers can be used for evaluation of bone metabolism in response to physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of increasing 10-week aerobic exercise (AE) on serum osteocalcin, PTH and glycemic and anthropometric indices in postmenopausal women with type II diabetes.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 40 postmenopausal women with type II diabetes (40-60 years) as available subjects were selected and randomly assigned into two exercise (20) and control (20) groups. Exercise protocol was AE and walking activity for 10 weeks (3d/wk, 45 to 60 min/d with 45% to 60% HRRmax intensity). Blood samples were taken before and after exercise to measure serum variables. Data were analyzed by T-test and statistical significance criterion was set as p<0.05.

Results: AE makes a significant increase in osteocalcin levels and a decrease in insulin resistance index, insulin and fasting blood glucose in the experimental group (p<0.05). Changes in other variables such as PTH, HbA1c and anthropometric indices were not significant (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Due to the favorable effects of AE on osteocalcin and glycemic indices, it seems that this training method can be recommended as a non-invasive treatment for maintaining bone density and controlling blood glucose in diabetic patients.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) plus carbohydrate (CHO) and whey protein plus CHO on muscle damage indices after eccentric resistant exercise.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four untrained healthy males participated in this study. They were randomly divided into three groups, BCAA +glucose (0.1+0.1g/kg) supplement group (n=8), Whey+glucose (0.1+0.1g/kg) supplement group (n=8), and placebo (malto dextrin 0.2g/kg) group (n=8). Each subject consumed a carbohydrate beverage with addition of whey protein or branched-chain amino acid or placebo 30 minutes before exercise in a randomized,double-blind fashion. Serum levels of Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and muscle pain were measured before, 24, 48, 72 h after exercise. Follow-up analyses included 1-way repeated measures ANOVAs, and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons.

Results: 24 h after test, serum levels of CK, LDH and muscle pain in both supplement groups were increased less than placebo group (0.015, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Also, the levels of CK and LDH showed significant changes in both intervention groups compared to placebo group at 24 h (0.001, 0. 015, respectively). Similarly, significant differences in the levels of CK and LDH between groups were observed.

Conclusion: These data indicate that muscle damage and pain after resistant exercise were reduced by an ingestion of either BCAA drink or whey protein drink.