Effects of Regular Exercise on Blood Components and Serum Lipids in Elderly with Low Cognitive Function

Exercise is known as an effective method to reduce morbidity related to the cognitive impairment in the elderly. It has been reported that combined exercise including aerobic exercise and resistance training promotes cardiovascular function to facilitate volumetric oxygen transfer into brain and body tissues. The purpose of the present study was to determine the changes of blood components (RBC, WBC, HCT, Hb, MCV, MCH, Platelet) and serum lipids (TC, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c) by regular combined exercise in elderly with low cognitive function. 18 elderly women out of 23 completed all study requirements in this study. Following a baseline screening session that included a measurement of body composition (BIA) and mental status examination (MMSE-K and MoCA-K), subjects were randomly divided into two groups as the exercise group (N=10) and the control group (N=8). The exercise group participated in combined exercise program that was composed of aerobic and resistance exercises (50-60 min, 3 times/week, 12 weeks). Blood components and serum lipids were measured pre and post assessments. Data were statistically analyzed using independent t-test and paired t-test by SPSS 12.0 program. Significance was set a

Acute Effects of Different Stretching Protocols Combined with Potentiating Exercise on Flexibility, Power, and Muscle Performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different stretching protocols combined with potentiating exercise on flexibility, power, and muscle performance. This study was conducted in repeated and cross-over designed. Thirteen collegiate males aged 25.4±3.46 years voluntarily participated in this study. Prior to conduct stretching session, participants performed jogging on the treadmill for 5 min. Then, four different stretching protocols (non stretching; NS, static stretching; SS, dynamic stretching; DS, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching; PNFS) specially targeted for lower limb muscles combined with potentiating exercise (PE, 3 sets x 5 times tuck jumps) were randomly applied at the same time of the day with 7-days interval. Straight leg raise, and vertical jump tests were measured at baseline, post jogging, stretching, and potentiating exercise. Isokinetic muscle strength, anaerobic power, and agility T-test were measured after each stretching combined with potentiating exercise. Repeated measure ANOVAs were used with significant level set at p\u3c.05. Our results indicate that greater improvement in straight leg raise was observed in SS (9.6%) and PNFS (12.1%) compared to NS (0.6%) and DS (5.0%) at post stretching (p\u3c.001). However, vertical jump performance was significantly improved only in DS (1.8%) (p\u3c.001). After potentiating exercise, greater improvement of vertical jump performance was observed in NS (2.2%), SS (3.2%), and PNFS (6.5%) than DS (-0.4%) (p\u3c.01). Isometric leg flexion was significantly higher in DS and PNFS than NS and SS after completion of PE (p\u3c.05). However, no significant differences in leg extension, anaerobic power, and agility were observed among trials. Our study demonstrated that dynamic and PNF stretching protocols combined with potentiating exercise are efficient for generating muscle strength as well as improving flexibility. It is also noted that potentiating exercise plays a major role for preventing the acute loss of power induced by static and PNF stretching

Kinesio Taping does not Alter Muscular Performance of Lower Extremity in Obese Adults

Obese adults often experience a weight burden imposed on the joints during physical activities. Taping is known as an effective therapy that can lessen the stress on joints during physical activity. Specially, Kinesio taping has gained recognition to improve exercise performance. However, the acute effects of Kinesio taping using obese population have not been well established. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of Kinesio taping on the muscular strength, power, and endurance of lower extremity in obese adults. This study was conducted in randomized crossover design with 7 days washout periods. Fourteen obese adults (male: 5, female: 9), mean age of 24.0 ± 3.04 years and percent body fat of 37.44 ± 7.64 % (male: 33.25 ± 8.12, female: 38.16 ± 6.91) took part in the study. All subjects underwent three different trials which were no taping, placebo taping (3M tape), and Kinesio taping. The tape was applied to the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and patella ligament based on the Kinesio taping techniques. Subjects wore an eye mask and the taped leg was covered by clothes for preventing subjects and researchers from identifying different tapings (double-blind). Muscular power, isometric muscle strength, and muscle endurance of lower extremity were assessed. Repeated measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences among three trials. There were no statistical differences in peak power (F= 0.978, p= .402), mean power (F=1.386, p=.285), muscular strength (extension: F= 1.138, p= .350; flexion: F= 3.326, p= .068, and endurance (F= 3.675, p= .060) among three trials. Interpretation of these findings suggests that the Kinesio tape did not improve lower limb performance in obese adults. Short application period may affect to the non-significance result. Further studies are needed to investigate the effective period of taping on lower limb exercise performance in obese adults

Impact of placement of fitbit HR under laboratory and free-living conditions

© 2020 by the authors. Wrist-worn activity monitors have become accessible for measuring physical activities, but an activity monitor\u27s accuracy worn at different placements is not well understood. This study aimed to examine the differences in measurements of heart rates, step counts, and calories estimated from the fitness tracker worn at different locations and the accuracy of Fitbit HR against criterion measures. Thirty-two healthy adults participated in this study. Participants wore Fitbit HR at four different locations (right proximal, distal, and left proximal, distal). Treadmill exercise consisted of five 5-min phases including slow walking and jogging. Free-living activities involved ten 5-min activities with four different intensities. We found that the placement of Fitbit HR has no significant influence on the measurement outcomes overall. However, significant differences were observed in the step counts between left and right while climbing stairs (p = 0.003) and sports activities (p \u3c 0.001). The accuracy of Fitbit HR measurements against the criterion measure was moderate. However, we found out that Fitbit HR overestimated the calories regardless of their positions and activity types. In conclusion, the different placements of Fitbit HR do not have a significant influence on the measurements and Fitbit HR was moderately associated with criterion reference devices for measures of heart rate and steps

The Acute and Chronic Effect of Korea Ginseng Supplement on Exercise Performance, Cognitive Function, and Fatigue Recovery

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute and chronic effects of Korean ginseng supplements on exercise performance, cognitive function, and fatigue recovery. The study used double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Twelve healthy adult males (age = 31 ± 6.86 yrs) were randomly assigned to either KGD or placebo trials. All subjects conducted the exercise consisted with 30 minutes cycling at 70-75% of VO2 max followed by 16 km time trial with 30 minutes resting periods. All subjects were tested for muscular power, strength, endurance, cognitive function, and fatigue. The subjects took KGD (280 ml containing 5.88 mg of ginsenosides) or placebo 90 mins before exercise trials and following 7 days. The blood sample was drawn for IL-6, myoglobin, and total antioxidant capacity immediately after time trial, as well as 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours. After 2 weeks of wash-out period, the subjects were crossed over into the opposite trial and performed the same test. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to examine the effect of acute and chronic intake of ginseng on exercise performance and blood variables. An alpha of .05 was used, and the Greenhouse-Geisser (G-G) adjusted F and degrees of freedom were reported. In a placebo trial, peak power and mean power levels were significantly decreased across time, F (1.47, 13.24) = 4.63, G-G p = .039, h2p = .340 and F (1.46, 13.13) = 5.31, G-G p = .028, h2p = .371 while no differences were found in a ginseng trial. In a placebo trial, average reaction time (ART) was significantly increased across time, F (1.29, 11.63) = 10.81, G-G p = .005, h2p = .546, but in a ginseng trial, no difference in ART was found across time, F (1.54, 13.86) = 4.02, G-G p = .051, h2p = .309. There was a significant increase in TAC across time in a ginseng trial, F (1.42, 11.37) = 5.07, G-G p = .035, h2p = .388 while no difference was found in a placebo trial. No significant differences were found in other variables from placebo and ginseng trails. The 7 days of KRG supplementation significantly reduced the serum myoglobin concentration across time in the KGD trial, F (1.88, 13.17) = 5.18, G-G p = .023, while no difference was found in the placebo trial, F (2.21, 17.66) = .88, G-G p = .443. No significant differences were observed in serum total antioxidant activity and IL-6 between KGD and placebo trials. The study shows that Korean ginseng supplement before stating the exercise improve anaerobic capacity, cognitive function in particular psychomotor vigilance task, and fatigue recovery during cycling exercise. And 7 days of Korean ginseng supplement reduces muscle damage and fatigue after cycling exercise

Feasibility of Ivy (Hedra helix) for landscaping in Seoul, Korea

Due to the global warming, Seoul in Korea seems to be plausible to grow evergreen broad-leaved trees over the cold winter. This offers the planting options to create green environment. Thus, it became worth investigating what kinds of evergreen broad-leaved plants could stand in Seoul during the winter. Ivy (Hedera helix) has been chosen in the current study which is a well-known native and ornamental plant in Europe. It grows in warm condition in general. The current study tracked H. helix which is evergreen cover plant over winter in order to evaluate the possibility for utilizing this species as a climber or cover-plant in Seoul. We found that H. helix can survive over the winter and can be utilized to create evergreen environment in Seoul. It also implies that similar kinds of plants could be tested assuming the environment of Seoul is becoming more suitable for the plants originated from the warmer sites. H. helix is an option for elaborating outdoor environments in the city that lacks of green color

GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetic kidney disease: current evidence and future directions

With the emergence of various classes of blood glucose-lowering agents, choosing the appropriate drug for each patient is emphasized in diabetes management. Among incretin-based drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a promising therapeutic option for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Several cardiovascular outcome trials have demonstrated that GLP-1 receptor agonists have beneficial effects on cardiorenal outcomes beyond their blood glucose-lowering effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The renal protective effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists likely result from their direct actions on the kidney, in addition to their indirect actions that improve conventional risk factors for DKD, such as reducing blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and body weight. Inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation and induction of natriuresis are major renoprotective mechanisms of GLP-1 analogues. Early evidence from the development of dual and triple combination agents suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists will probably become popular treatment options for patients with T2DM

Propyl Gallate Inhibits Adipogenesis by Stimulating Extracellular Signal-Related Kinases in Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Propyl gallate (PG) used as an additive in various foods has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the functional roles of PG in various cell types are well characterized, it is unknown whether PG has effect on stem cell differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that PG could inhibit adipogenic differentiation in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) by decreasing the accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets. In addition, PG significantly reduced the expression of adipocyte-specific markers including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), CCAAT enhancer binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-alpha), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein 2 (aP2). PG inhibited adipogenesis in hAMSCs through extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Decreased adipogenesis following PG treatment was recovered in response to ERK blocking. Taken together, these results suggest a novel effect of PG on adipocyte differentiation in hAMSCs, supporting a negative role of ERK1/2 pathway in adipogenic differentiationclose