The Effect of Herbal Diet on Skeletal Muscle Mass After Resistance Training in Rats

Resistance training has been well established as an effective strategy for muscle hypertrophy, increase in skeletal muscle mass and strength. Herbal diet has been introduced as an alternative treatment to alleviate muscle atrophy and therapeutic intervention. However, there is little evidence on the effect of herbal diet on skeletal muscle mass. To investigate whether herbal diet affects skeletal muscle mass after resistance training in rats. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) Control (CON, N=8), 2) Resistance training (RT, N=8), 3) RT+Herb (RTH, N=8). Resistance training was performed every other day for 8 weeks using ladder climbing. The ladder climbing exercise consisted of 3 sets of 5 repetitions with a 1 min rest interval between the repetitions and a 2 min rest between the sets. Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranceus) was given via oral gavage once a day for 8 weeks (1 ml mixed with water based on concentration of 368 mg/kg). All rats received sham treatment, same as treatment groups. All data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA. After 8 weeks of interventions, muscle mass of Gastrocnemius, Plantaris, and Flexor hallucis longus showed significant increases in RT and RTH groups compared to CON (

Where College Students Live Can Impact Their Eating and Exercise Habits

University freshmen usually face with huge environmental changes. They are often stressful and may lead to some health-related problems. We wanted to know whether or not their residence influences eating and exercising habits. PURPOSE: To examine the effect of residence on level of physical activity, eating and other health related habits in college students. Methods: Total 71 college students participated in this study. Thirty one lives on campus and forty lives off campus. Participants completed a consent form and measurements of body weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). Level of physical activity was monitored using pedometer for 7 days. Exercise, smoke, and drink habits were surveyed by questionnaire. Diet pattern was assessed by the researcher based on the daily log for 7 days using computer software. Results: Of the 71 participants, 31.0% were men and 69.0% were women. Students living on campus were 40.9% in men and 43.7% in women. Physical activity was significantly higher in students living on campus both in men (14,152 ± 1,120.2 vs. 7,611 ± 3,379, p\u3c.001) and women (13,043 ± 3,864 vs. 5,948 ± 1,803, p\u3c.001) than students living off campus. In women, the total calorie (1,776 ± 414.7 vs. 1,493 ± 419.5, p=.022), alcoholic drink (1.9±1.4 vs. 1.1±0.4, p=.016), and mono saturated fat intakes (15.1±6.7 vs. 10.5±5.4, p=.011) were significantly higher in students living on campus. Consumption of vitamin C, D, and E were significantly lower in women students living on campus than students living off campus. Conclusion: Students who live on campus have a higher level of physical activity compared to their off-campus counterparts in both gender. However, dietary pattern was affected by the residence of college students only in women. Especially in women, where college students live can be important factors to impact their physical activity, life habits, and dietary pattern. Physical activity and nutrition education are crucial for college students because their lifestyle and dietary pattern may predispose them to the development of various diseases

Exercise Training Attenuates Ovariectomy-Induced Alterations in Skeletal Muscle Remodeling, Apoptotic Signaling, and Atrophy Signaling in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Purpose The effects of aerobic exercise training on soleus muscle morphology, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in ovariectomized rat skeletal muscle were investigated. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CON), ovariectomy (OVX), and ovariectomy plus exercise (OVX+EX) groups. After ovarian excision, exercise training was performed using a rat treadmill at 20 m/min, 50 min/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks. Protein levels of mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in the skeletal muscle (soleus) were examined through western immunoblot analysis. Results The number of myocytes and myocyte cross-sectional area (CSA) were increased and the extramyocyte space was decreased in the OVX group compared to those in the CON group. However, aerobic exercise training significantly increased myocyte CSA and decreased extramyocyte space in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. The protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and muscle atrophy signaling were significantly increased, whereas the protein levels of muscle hypertrophy signaling were significantly decreased in the OVX group compared to that in the CON group. Aerobic exercise training significantly decreased the protein levels of proapoptotic signaling and increased the protein level of antiapoptotic protein in the OVX+EX group compared to that in the OVX group. Aerobic exercise training significantly increased the protein levels of hypertrophy signaling and decreased protein levels of atrophy signaling in the OVX+EX group compared to those in the OVX group. Conclusions Treadmill exercise improved estrogen deficiency-induced impairment in skeletal muscle remodeling, mitochondria-mediated apoptotic signaling, and atrophy/hypertrophy signaling in skeletal muscle

Smart Hydrogel Structure for Microbiome Sampling in Gastrointestinal Tract

Various microbiomes exist in the human body, however, there is an increasing research interest in the microbiomes present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and related diseases of the human body. In general, a healthy human body can maintain a certain balance in the microbiome of the GI tract. A condition, wherein the microbiome becomes imbalanced, is called “dysbiosis”, and it can increase the probability of diseases in the body, especially in the GI tract. Therefore, various methods of sampling and analyzing the microbiomes have been proposed to diagnose dysbiosis. However, it is difficult to apply the existing methods to the various environments of the GI tract. To overcome this limitation, we propose a smart hydrogel structure for microbiome sampling in the GI tract. The proposed hydrogel structure comprises a core containing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) where microbiome sampling occurs and two protection layers (cellulose stearoyl esters (CSEs) and myristic acid (MA)) that protect the hydrogel structure from the external environment and allow sampling at the desired location. The hydrogel structure can be taken orally owing to its small size; and because it contains MNPs, it is possible to target and sample the microbiome at the desired location and retrieve the hydrogel structure after sampling via external magnetic actuation. The hydrogel structure is heated by an alternating magnetic field (AMF) so that the microbiome sampling can be actively initiated from the outside. The basic performance of the hydrogel structure was analyzed through various characterizations and fundamental tests. Further, the microbiome sampling tests using the hydrogel structure were performed in in-vitro and ex-vivo environments, and its microbiome sampling performances were verified through various analysis methods, such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), confocal, and 16 s rRNA sequencing. Consequently, the proposed hydrogel structure can be applied as a microbiome sampling device for the GI tract, which can be a useful method for diagnosing dysbiosis. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.FALS

Conservative management (marsupialization) of unicystic ameloblastoma: literature review and a case report

Abstract Background In this study, we present a case of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) treated by marsupialization followed by surgical enucleation as a conservative approach. UA is a rare, benign, less aggressive, and less invasive variant of ameloblastoma that is observed quite often in younger patients. Radical approaches have effects on the physical and psychological development of a growing young patient; therefore, conservative approaches are widely used for UA management in children. Case presentation This report described a case of an 11-year-old girl with UA of the mandibular molar–ramus area, which also involved impaction of the second and third molars. The lesion was marsupialized, and 31 months after marsupialization, surgical enucleation was performed with extraction of the impacted third molar. The second molar, which was preserved, spontaneously and completely erupted. No recurrence was observed during a 49-month follow-up. Conclusions Conservative treatments for UA in young patients have more advantages. Our results provide evidence that marsupialization is effective in regressing the lesion size to ease complete removal, preserving mandibular growth, maintaining involved second molar, and promoting the eruption of the tooth