The Effects of Combined Aquatic Exercise on Physical Performance and Metabolic Indices in Overweight Healthy Older Adults

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1499-1513, 2023. Addressing overweight and obesity to promote healthy aging is essential. Exercise is an outstanding approach to manage metabolic and physical dysfunction. Aquatic exercise has been recommended for older individuals due to reduced weight pressure on joints. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of twenty-eight weeks of combined aquatic exercise (aerobic and resistance) in overweight healthy older individuals. Thirty-two subjects of both genders with mean age of 72.06 ± 5.8 years were randomly assigned into two groups: an aquatic exercise group (EG; n = 19) and a control group (CG; n = 13). Body composition, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin, and leptin were assessed before and after the training program. The lipid profile, fasting glucose, leptin, insulin, and insulin resistance did not change between and within groups. The lipid profile worsened in the CG. Reduction in body fat mass, waist and leg circumferences, along with body mass gain in the aquatic exercise group was observed (p ≤ 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly improved in the exercise group (P = 0.003, P = 0.001). Significant differences were found in aerobic endurance (P = 0.008) and lower body flexibility (P = 0.049) of the aquatic exercise group compared with the control group. Also, upper body flexibility (P = 0.001, P = 0.020), lower and upper body strength (P = 0.001, P = 0.031), and handgrip (P = 0.001, P = 0.006), showed significant differences within the exercise group. Aquatic exercise may have a positive impact on the overweight aging population\u27s metabolic and cardiovascular parameters, based on the observed improvements in blood pressure and body composition

A survey of algal bloom impacts on abundance and distribution of macro benthos in Hormozgan province coastal waters

The investigation of the algal bloom effects on Macro benthos abundance and diversity was seasonally carried out in coastline waters of Hormozgan province in 1391. Fourteen stations were selected for sampling; as 8 stations in coast of Bandar Abbas, 3 in Jask Port (east of Hormozgan) and 3 stations in Lengeh Port (west of Hormozgan). Polychaets, oligochaets, mollusks, crustacean and others like nematodes, nemertean’s, foraminifera’s, and ophiuroides were identified. Crustacean with 333950 ind.^-2 were dominant group whereas nemertean with 5050 ind.^-2 were minimum in density. Results showed that mean abundance of macro benthos was at most in spring (5614±3992 end) ^-2 and with 1244±380 ind.-2 was at least in autumn. Related results to stations showed that mean abundance in Jask Port and Lengeh Port were more than Bandar Abbas City. Among 8 stations in Bandar Abbas, Langargah with 168±977 ind.^ -2 was at most and Posht-e- shahr was at least in abundance (82±256 ind. ^-2). In Lengeh and Jask ports the stations far from coasts showed more abundance than station near coast. Monthly investigation showed that Macro benthos community was much more in April with 1011±6783 ind.-2 than December with 6±28 ind.^-2 , respectively. Shannon -Winner diversity index was low (0.61.2) in three stations, Evenness ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 and Margalof ranged from 2 to 4. Among four stations, mean wet weight varied from 12.18±6/95 gr in Jask Port (maximum) to 6.24±3/85gr in Bandar Abbas (minimum) .Seasonally, in spring the wet weight of macro benthos was 15.15±16/32 (maximum) and with 1.43±0.88 gr showed the minimum value in summer. There was a negative correlation between silt and macro benthos abundance and a positive correlation existed between macro benthos community and sand. There was no significant correlation between macro benthos community and TOM. To pay attention to results like diversity, abundance, wet biomass and correlation; it seems that algal bloom has no obvious negative effect on Macro benthos communities

Durability of E-glass vinyl ester composite structures and their modeling in ABAQUS

The use of fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials (FRP) in various applications such as aerospace, automotive, sports equipment, and oil and gas industries has been growing in recent years. Nonetheless, the potential use of FRP pipes in harsh environmental conditions of oil and gas industry-related applications could become significantly greater if there was minimal degradation to the mechanical and physical properties of the materials used to form the pipes. The feasibility study of this potential, however, requires several systematic investigations for assessing the long-term durability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite pipes. This paper presents results from our preliminary investigation on the response of E-glass/Vinyl ester composite pipes aged in water and seawater at various temperatures. Scanning electron microscopy is used to assess the material’s response, and ABAQUS simulations are used to assess the capacity of the modeling software to predict the moisture absorption process in E-glass/Vinyl ester composites using a diffusion module. As the results obtained in the experiments and ABAQUS simulations have good agreement, ABAQUS can be used to simulate the long-term durability of E-glass/Vinyl ester composite pipes exposed to humid environments

Effects of moisture absorption on degradation of E-glass fiber reinforced Vinyl Ester composite pipes and modelling of transient moisture diffusion using finite element analysis

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of humidity and temperature on the properties of GFRP specimens. Tubular specimens fabricated by a filament winding machine are submerged in the studied environment and the accuracy of Fick’s law on moisture diffusion behaviour is studied. The results prove that decreasing the exposure temperature reduces the diffusion coefficient and absorbed moisture. To analyse the effects of moisture uptake on mechanical and physical properties, buckling tests and scanning electron microscope were used. ABAQUS is employed to simulate the moisture absorption. The outcome shows good agreements between experimental and FEA results

Effects of Aging Temperature on Moisture Absorption of Perforated GFRP

This paper examines the effects of aging on the flexural stiffness and bending loading capacity of a perforated glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composite subjected to combined moisture and elevated temperature. Specimens, in the configuration of one-quarter of a perforated GFRP tube, were aged in 60% humidity and temperatures of 40, 60, and 80°C, respectively. Moisture absorptions of the specimens were measured during the aging process, and bending tests were conducted on the specimens after aging. The SEM images were also captured to further examine the effects of the moisture absorption on the aged specimens. The results indicated that the increase in the aging temperature reduced the diffusion coefficient, thus inducing more moisture absorption by the composite and in turn causing more reduction in composite’s flexural stiffness and bending capacity. Moreover, the ability of Fick’s equation for predicting the moisture absorption rate in such perforated thin-walled composite configuration at various moisture contents and temperatures was also assessed. A semiempirical equation was developed and proposed by which the reduction of the stiffness in the perforated aged GFRP structures could be predicted

Molecular Detection of ISAba2 among Carbapenem Hydrolyzing Class D β-Lactamasese Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Patients in Tehran Hospitals

Background and Aims: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that has acquired a high rate of antibiotic resistance. Identification of the major elements increasing the expression of resistance genes while having a role in their transmission, can help us control the A. baumannii infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ISAba2 in A. baumannii strains which include group D beta-lactamase genes among hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: From August 2014 to April 2015, 105 A. baumannii strains were collected from different clinical samples of patients in 5 hospitals in Tehran. The confirmation of strains was done by phenotypical tests and existence of blaOXA-51-like gene. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates were performed by Disc Diffusion Test (DDT) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) according to the CLSI. ESBL producing strains were recognized with Combined Disc Diffusion Test (CDDT) while the presence of OXA genes and ISAba1and ISAba2 were analyzed using PCR reactions. Results: The result of this study showed that the highest and lowest rates of antibiotic resistance belonged to cefotaxim (100%) and colistin (99.05%), respectively. A total of 55 isolates (54.5%) were capable of producing ESBL. Unlike the blaOXA-58-like gene, which was not found in any of the isolates, blaOXA-51-like- was present among all the isolates.. Prevalence of blaOXA-23-like and blaOXA-24-like genes were 103 (98.09%) and 68 (64.76%), respectively and the frequency of ISAba1 and ISAba2 were 105 (100%) and 97 (92.36%), respectively. Conclusions: The existence of additional elements as effective factors, can increase the expression of resistance genes and, therefore, help them to be mobile and transmitted between bacteria. Determination of these elements is, therefore, necessary for controlling infections

Normal Range Determination of Lymphocytes Subsets in Normal Adults in Iran

Immunophenotyping of lymphocytes is very essential for evaluation of immune system. Due  to  the  effect  of  environmental  factors  and  ethnical diversity on  immune  system, establishment of an internal normal range of lymphocyte subsets is a necessity for each population.  The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  determine  the  normal  range  of  T  and  B lymphocytes, and NK cells in normal Iranian adults. Two hundred and thirty three Iranian normal adult volunteers took part in this study. Complete Blood Count (CBC) was performed for them with Sysmex (KX21) and cells with CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD16/56  surface markers were simultaneously detected by flow cytometry method  with FACstar system. Their percentile and absolute count  were determined. The  volunteers  were  150  male  and  83  female.  Mean  percentages  of  lymphocyte subpopulation were: CD3 (67.66 ±7.76), CD19 (14.41±5.09), CD4 (39.22±6.7), CD8 (25.42±5.4) and CD16/56 (10.14±6.42). Also, their mean absolute count of lymphocyte bearing CD3, CD19, CD4 and CD8 were 1,504±505/µl, 332±186/µl, 827±313/µl and 522±185/µl, respectively. Our results are comparable with similar Asian results from other Asian population, but are different from European population, we therefore conclude that it is necessary for each laboratory to establish an internal normal range for the lymphocytes bearing above- mentioned markers

Exosomes in Cancer Liquid Biopsy: A Focus on Breast Cancer

The important challenge about cancer is diagnosis in primary stages and proper treatment. Although classical clinico-pathological features of the tumor have major prognostic value, the advances in diagnosis and treatment are indebted to discovery of molecular biomarkers and control of cancer in the pre-invasive state. Moreover, the efficiency of available therapeutic options is highly diminished, and chemotherapy is still the main treatment due to lack of enough specific targets. Accordingly, finding the new noninvasive biomarkers for cancer is still an important clinical challenge that is not achieved yet. There are current technologies to screen, diagnose, prognose, and treat cancer, but the limitations of these implements and procedures are undeniable. Liquid biopsy as a noninvasive method has a promising future in the field of cancer, and exosomes as one of the recent areas have drawn much attention. In this review, the potential capability of exosomes is summarized in cancer with the special focus on breast cancer as the second cause of cancer mortality in women all around the world. It discusses reasons to choose exosomes for liquid biopsy and the studies related to different potential biomarkers found in the exosomes. Moreover, exosome studies on milk as a specific biofluid are also discussed. At last, because choosing the method for exosome studies is very challenging, a summary of different techniques is provided

A micropillar array-based microfluidic chip for label-free separation of circulating tumor cells: The best micropillar geometry?

Introduction: The information derived from the number and characteristics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), is crucial to ensure appropriate cancer treatment monitoring. Currently, diverse microfluidic platforms have been developed for isolating CTCs from blood, but it remains a challenge to develop a low-cost, practical, and efficient strategy. Objectives: This study aimed to isolate CTCs from the blood of cancer patients via introducing a new and efficient micropillar array-based microfluidic chip (MPA-Chip), as well as providing prognostic information and monitoring the treatment efficacy in cancer patients. Methods: We fabricated a microfluidic chip (MPA-Chip) containing arrays of micropillars with different geometries (lozenge, rectangle, circle, and triangle). We conducted numerical simulations to compare velocity and pressure profiles inside the micropillar arrays. Also, we experimentally evaluated the capture efficiency and purity of the geometries using breast and prostate cancer cell lines as well as a blood sample. Moreover, the device’s performance was validated on 12 patients with breast cancer (BC) in different states. Results: The lozenge geometry was selected as the most effective and optimized micropillar design for CTCs isolation, providing high capture efficiency (>85 %), purity (>90 %), and viability (97 %). Furthermore, the lozenge MPA-chip was successfully validated by the detection of CTCs from 12 breast cancer (BC) patients, with non-metastatic (median number of 6 CTCs) and metastatic (median number of 25 CTCs) diseases, showing different prognoses. Also, increasing the chemotherapy period resulted in a decrease in the number of captured CTCs from 23 to 7 for the metastatic patient. The MPA-Chip size was only 0.25 cm2 and the throughput of a single chip was 0.5 ml/h, which can be increased by multiple MPA-Chips in parallel. Conclusion: The lozenge MPA-Chip presented a novel micropillar geometry for on-chip CTC isolation, detection, and staining, and in the future, the possibilities can be extended to the culture of the CTCs