The effects of exhaustive swimming and probiotic administration in trained rats: Oxidative balance of selected organs, colon morphology, and contractility

The duration and intensity of exercise are significant factors in oxidative, morphological, and functional changes of the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to investigate the effects of both exhaustive swimming and probiotic VSL#3 on rats that had been previously trained with moderate swimming. The rats were divided into four groups labeled: control (C), probiotic (P), exercise (E), and probiotic–exercise (PE). Groups P and PE were fed with probiotic mixture VSL#3. Groups E and PE had a 5-week moderate swimming program (1 h/day for 5 days/week), followed by a 1-week exhaustive swimming program (trained like in moderate program but 3 times with 150 min resting sessions, for 5 days/week). At the end of the program, the rats were euthanized. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione levels were measured in tissue samples from the gastrocnemius muscle, heart, liver, kidney, and colon. In vitro contractile activity and histomorphology of the colon were also determined. Exercise and/or probiotic decreased the oxidative stress and also increased the level of one or more of the antioxidant enzymes in some of the organs. Probiotics had more pronounced effects on colon morphology than exercise but unexpectedly this effect was non-trophic. In the colon, the thickness of the tunica muscularis and the number of goblet cells were not affected; however, probiotic administration decreased the crypt depth and tunica mucosa thickness. Exercise increased the Emax value of acetylcholine (ACh), while decreased its sensitivity. These findings suggest that exhaustive swimming does not cause oxidative stress and that probiotic consumption improves oxidative balance in trained rats. The probiotic intake does not alter the effect of exercise on the contractile activity of the colon. Colon mucosal changes induced by probiotics are independent of exercise

The effects of swimming exercise and probiotic vsl#3 on zonulin and some inflammatory and oxidative parameters in rats

Moderate exercise stimulates immune system whereas intensive exercise may display immune-suppressive effect associated with the disruption of intestinal barrier. With this study, we tested the effects of moderate and intensive swimming exercises on some cytokines and oxidant variables and zonulin, an intestinal barrier marker, in rats. We also tested possible ameliorative effects of probiotic VSL#3 in both moderate and intensive exercise regimens. Twenty eight rats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups: Control-C, Probiotic-P, Exercise-E, Probiotic+Exercise-PE. The rats in group E and PE underwent moderate swimming exercise for 5 weeks. Following this period, intensive swimming exercise was performed for 5 days. The rats in group C and group P were sedentary. Probiotic VSL#3 was given to group P and PE in the water. At the end of the experiments, serum zonulin, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-β, MDA, and protein carbonyl levels were determined. Evidences obtained from present study indicate that moderate swimming exercise improves barrier integrity of intestine and decreases oxidative stress. During the moderate swimming experiment, probiotic VSL#3 supplementation may also improve inflammatory response. On the other hand, intensive exercise does not led changes in the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, but beneficial responses of moderate exercise on the selected parameters probably disappear due to the intense exercise-induced mild stress

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The Complex Genetic Landscape of Hereditary Ataxias in Turkey and Implications in Clinical Practice

Background The genetic and epidemiological features of hereditary ataxias have been reported in several populations; however, Turkey is still unexplored. Due to high consanguinity, recessive ataxias are more common in Turkey than in Western European populations