Journal of Sport Biosciences
Year:2011 | Volume:- | Issue:10|Papers Count:8

With regard to the positive effects of training in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and gender differences in the prevalence and pattern of multiple sclerosis, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of selected training on some cytokines (TNFa, IFNg, IL-10, hs-CRP) in male and female MS patients. For this purpose, 35 male and female patients with MS (EDSS<4) volunteered to participate in this study. The sample included 29 subjects (9 females with mean+SD age 34.3±5.9 years, height 160.4±5.8 cm, weight 65.2±8.8 kg and 8 males with age 32.7±6.01 years, height 176.3±9 cm, weight 70.8±7.6 kg in training group and 7 females with age 34±4.6 years, height 166.4±13 cm, weight 68.4±2.6 kg and 5 males with age 26.2±3.1 years, height 169.4±9.7 cm, weight 65.2±13 kg in control group completed the study. Selective training program consisted of eight weeks of aerobic, resistance and stretching training performed three days a week inconsecutively. Measured variables were IL-10, IFNg, TNFa, hs-CRP, 6 min. walking test and 1RM test. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 and descriptive statistics, co-variance analysis, multivariate ANOVA, Tukey's post hoc test at P£0.05. The results showed that IL-10 in males and females of the training group decreased significantly (P=0.02). IFNg decreased in both control and training groups in both males and females but there was no significant difference between groups (P=0.1). TNFa significantly decreased in females after training (P=0.04) but there was no significant difference in males. CRP changes were not significant in both control and training groups for males and females (P=0.09). The results showed that the selected training improved disability in MS patients and produced more apparent cytokine variations in females than males.

the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the response of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) to exhaustive exercise, 16 active men were selected and divided into supplementation and placebo groups based on VO2max. The subjects in each group completed 65 minutes of exhaustive exercise after14 days of supplementation. Blood samples were collected before supplementation and immediately before and after the exhaustive exercise. The data were analyzed using variance analysis and dependent t tests. Results showed a significant increase in serum vitamin E (p=0.000) in supplemented group. Also, serum ICAM-1 insignificantly increased in supplementation (p=0.128) and placebo (p=0.095) groups. However, no differences were found in serum ICAM-1 between supplementation and placebo groups (p=0.710) within any time span. In conclusion, 400 international unit of vitamin E supplementation for 14 days (tocopherol isomer) did not have a significant effect on serum ICAM-1 induced by exhaustive exercise.

Although studies have reported the positive effects of caffeine on aerobic performance, results of its ergogenic effects on anaerobic performance and intense and short-term exercise are equivocal. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of moderate and low doses of caffeine on maximal strength, muscular endurance and power in male body builders. For this purpose, 12 male body builders (mean age 26.83±5years, height 174±4.04 cm and body weight 77.41±3.8 kg) were selected voluntarily. Study design was crossover. Subjects were divided into four groups of control, low dose of caffeine (2.5 mg/kg), moderate dose of caffeine (5 mg/kg) and placebo (starch powder as capsules). Then, subjects performed tests of one-repetition maximum (1RM) for maximal strength, repetition to fatigue at 70% of 1RM for muscular endurance and number of repetitions in 15 seconds with 80% of 1RM for muscle power on the bench press (BP) and leg press (LP). The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and dependent t test. The results showed that there was a significant increase (P<0.005) in maximal strength, muscular endurance and power for the moderate dose of caffeine group, but not for placebo and low dose of caffeine groups. It can be suggested that male body builders consume a moderate dose of caffeine one hour prior to exercise to improve their maximal strength, muscular endurance and power.

Although it is well established that women are more likely to sustain certain connective tissue injuries than men during physical activities, this difference between males and females is not clear. Gelatinases degrade components of tendon tissue. Thus, in this research, the effects of gender on serum gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) at rest and in response to acute endurance exercise were investigated.15 healthy and active men and 15 healthy and active women participated in this study. Subjects exercised for one hour at 70% of VO2max on an ergometer 72 hours after VO2max had been determined. Two mls of antecubital vein blood was collected before, immediately after and 2 hours after the exercise. Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by ELISA method. ANOVA with repeated measures and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data (P£0.05). The results showed that MMP-2 and MMP-9 at rest in men and women were not different. MMP-2 decreased in both groups immediately after the exercise while this decrease in women was not significant. Serum MMP-2 did not change in both groups in response to the exercise. There was no difference in the changes of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in response to the exercise between the two groups. According to the results of this study, the gelatinases at rest and in responses to acute exercise is not an effective factor in more vulnerability of tendon tissues in women in response to the exercise. Presumably, other hormonal and structural factors of women’s tendon are responsible for more injuries.

Producing soluble or cellular components is one of the main functions of immune system which immunes the body against any kinds of inflammation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the plasma level changes of IL-17, CRP, and CPK in male mice after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise and omega-3 consumption. For this purpose, 170 male mice (mean age of two months and mean weight of 35±1 g) were selected. At the beginning, 10 mice were killed in order to determine the amounts of pretest variables. The rest were randomly divided into four groups of control (n=40), supplement (n=40), training (n=40), and supplement with training (n=40).0.2 ml (0.06 ml/g of body weight) oil fish (Omega-3) containing DHA and EPA were consumed by supplement and supplement with training groups every day for eight weeks. The animal training protocol was performed on animal treadmill 5 sessions a week for eight weeks. The results showed a significant difference in plasma levels of IL-17, CRP, and CPK variables of control, supplement, training and supplement with training groups after eight weeks (P<0.05). It was also observed that there was a significant difference in IL-17 between control group and other groups, also between training group and supplement group and between supplement group and supplementtraining group. The final results of this study showed that exercise activity can increase inflammatory index levels but omega-3 consumption can change the amount of these inflammatory indexes, though the effect of this supplement consumption on these indexes was different.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of resistance training with vascular occlusion with traditional resistance training on muscle function and cardiovascular endurance in young females. For this purpose, 43 female students were randomly divided into three groups: traditional resistance training (TRT, 70- 80% 1RM, n=14), resistance training with vascular occlusion (RTVO, 20-30% 1RM with tying an elastic tourniquet around the proximal ends of thighs, n=16) and control (Con, n=13). Training program included 4 sets of leg extension, leg press and leg hock until exhaustion for eight weeks. Before and after the training program, muscular strength, muscular endurance, anaerobic power, explosive power, and cardiovascular endurance tests were performed. To analyze the data, one-way ANOVA was used in SPSS 16 (P<0.05). Results indicated that muscular strength, muscular endurance and explosive power (P<0.05) significantly increased after training in TRT and RTVO in comparison with Con. There was no significant difference between TRT and RTVO (P>0.05). It can be concluded that low intensity RTVO had similar effects in comparison with high intensity TRT on muscular strength, muscular endurance, and leg explosive power in young females. So, RTVO can be successfully replaced with TRT in young girls.

Quality of life (QOL) is a vast multidimensional concept related to health and health care. As QOL decreases after health diseases, the aim of most medical health care systems and cardiac rehabilitation centers are to enhance QOL of heart disease patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of continuous and interval exercise training on quality of life of heart patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). For this purpose, 20 POST CABG patients (18 men, 2 women with mean age: 57.05±8.91 and mean BMI: 26.98±3.20 kg/m2) were divided into aerobic continues training (30 – 60 min. and intensity of 70–85% of maximum HR, n=10) and aerobic interval training (28-44 min. and intensity of 75–90% of maximum HR, n=10). They performed the exercise training three times a week for 8 weeks. QOL was measured by Persian version of SF-36 questioner. Paired t test was used to analyze the data. SPSS version 16 was used to analyze all statistics. Results showed that both aerobic interval and continuous exercise programs had a beneficial significant effect on QOL and its dimensions of physical function (continuous P<0.001, interval p<0.001), body pain (continuous p=0.016, interval p=0.003), mental health (continuous p=0.018, interval p=0.004), vitality (continuous p=0.003, interval p=0.020), social function (continuous p=0.037, interval p=0.032) and general health (continuous p=0.020, interval p=0.018). It can be concluded that both selected interval and continuous exercise programs improved QOL dimensions that are the most important factors in cardiac rehabilitation programs after surgery. Therefore, both types of selected exercise training are recommended in cardiac rehabilitation centers to rehabilitate CABG patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different rhythms of music on some central and peripheral fatigue indices in non-athlete young females. For this purpose, 38 healthy female students were randomly divided into three groups: fast music group or EXP1 (N=13, M±SD age: 22±2 years), slow music group or EXP2 (N=13, M±SD age: 23±2 years) and control group (N=12, M±SD age: 23±2 years). At first, pretest was performed under the same condition as the training condition; then, training program was performed for six weeks, two sessions per week and finally posttest was performed. The training program included pedaling on an ergometer until exhaustion. The experimental groups listened to music by headphones while training; control group received no musical intervention. Results of finger tapping test showed no noticeable difference in peripheral fatigue between experimental groups and control group. The results of chart for continual naming of colors test confirmed the central fatigue in control group compared with fast and slow music groups. Data analysis by one-way ANOVA showed no significant differences in fatigue indices among the three groups in the pretest (P>0.05). But in the posttest, workload of exhaustion (p=0.022) among groups was significant. Tukey post hoc test showed a significant difference in all variables between experimental groups and control group (P<0.05) while this difference was not significant between experimental groups (P>0.05). Generally, it can be concluded that music together with training delays central and peripheral fatigue and finally improves sport performance.