درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose: Aging is accompanied by progressive mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress, particularly within the hippocampus, a brain region highly vulnerable to metabolic impairment and redox imbalance. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a time-efficient exercise modality known to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, may offer complementary neuroprotective benefits. This study examined the synergistic effects of curcumin supplementation and HIIT on mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes in the hippocampus of aged rats. Method: Thirty-two male Wistar rats (22–24 months) were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, Curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), HIIT, and Curcumin + HIIT. The 8-week HIIT protocol consisted of treadmill-based intervals performed five days per week, while hippocampal mitochondrial fractions were analyzed for superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Oxidative stress markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH), were also quantified. Results: Both curcumin and HIIT independently increased SOD2, CAT, and GPx activities (p < 0.01), but the combined intervention produced significantly greater enhancements across all enzyme systems (p < 0.001). ROS and MDA levels were markedly reduced in the Curcumin + HIIT group compared with all other groups (p < 0.001), while GSH content increased by more than 100% relative to controls. Effect sizes were large for all mitochondrial and oxidative stress outcomes, indicating robust physiological adaptation. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that curcumin supplementation synergistically enhances the mitochondrial antioxidant and redox benefits of HIIT in the aging hippocampus. Integrating targeted nutraceuticals with structured high-intensity exercise may represent a promising strategy for mitigating age-related oxidative dysfunction and supporting long-term brain health.

Purpose: The acute ventilatory response to exercise in adolescents is a critical indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness, yet the predictive power of basic anthropometric measures for this response, particularly in field-based settings, is not fully established. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between anthropometric variables (height, weight, BMI) and acute ventilatory responses both at rest and immediately following a maximal one-mile (1600m) field run in healthy adolescent boys. Method: In a pre-test/post-test experimental design, 80 healthy adolescent boys (mean age: 14.65 ± 1.22 years, height: 168.20 ± 9.72, body mass index: 19.54 ± 2.80) were selected via cluster sampling. Anthropometric data (height, weight, BMI) and estimated VO₂max were recorded. Pulmonary function variables (FVC, FEV₁, VC, TV, MVV) were measured via spirometry at rest and immediately after a maximal one-mile run. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to predict ventilatory responses from anthropometric and physiological variables. Results: Height, weight, and BMI were all significant predictors of pulmonary function (FVC, FEV₁, VC) in both pre- and post-test conditions (p < 0.05). Height emerged as the strongest single predictor. A slight but consistent decrease in mean FVC, FEV₁, and VC values was observed post-exercise. VO₂max was a weaker predictor compared to anthropometric measures. Conclusion: Basic anthropometric characteristics, most notably height, are strong and consistent predictors of pulmonary function in adolescent boys, both at rest and following acute strenuous exercise. These findings highlight the importance of using individual morphometric characteristics for accurately assessing and interpreting exercise-induced ventilatory responses in youth populations. Field-based testing provides a valid practical method for such evaluations.

Purpose: Winter endurance training combines high aerobic load with repeated cold exposure, which can alter immune-related cellular signaling and increase vulnerability to upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), thereby threatening training continuity and performance. This structured abstract aimed to summarize a signaling-based rationale for immune-informed winter periodization in endurance runners. Method: A narrative, mechanistic synthesis was developed from exercise immunology and cold-stress evidence, focusing on how cold exposure and endurance exercise converge on sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activation, downstream endocrine responses (catecholamines, cortisol), immune cell trafficking, airway barrier function, mucosal immunity (salivary IgA), and cytokine signaling (with emphasis on IL-6). Practical implications were translated into microcycle/mesocycle design principles and a tiered monitoring framework. Results: Cold exposure triggers thermoregulatory vasoconstriction and central blood redistribution and is accompanied by neuroendocrine shifts that can modify leukocyte behavior, adhesion signaling, and lymphocyte proliferation. Evidence indicates that respiratory barrier defenses may be impaired in cold conditions, while mucosal immunity (e.g., IgA-related protection) can be reduced in heavily trained athletes during winter, coinciding with increased URTI reports. IL-6 responses to exercise in the cold were context-dependent: some protocols show minimal temperature effects at moderate intensity, whereas others report higher IL-6 at colder temperatures, supporting a multi-marker and longitudinal interpretation rather than reliance on single measurements. Conclusion: Integrating cellular signaling knowledge enables temperature-aware planning of intensity, structured warm-up/rewarming routines, monotony control, and symptom-gated adjustments to reduce “vulnerability windows” without sacrificing adaptation. Immune-informed winter periodization, supported by feasible monitoring (load, sleep, symptoms, and optional IgA/cytokines), may preserve training availability and mitigate winter performance decrement in endurance runners.

Objective: Plasma follistatin and leptin proteins are important indicators in energy and metabolism regulation that also affect body weight. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training with and without blood flow restriction on serum follistatin and leptin levels in inactive obese girls. Materials and Methods: Thirty inactive obese girls with an age range of 20 to 28 years participated in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: resistance training with blood flow restriction and resistance training without blood flow restriction, and a control group (10 subjects in each group). Data analysis was performed using paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA at a significance level of less than 5%. Results: After 12 weeks of participation in sports activity, follistatin levels in both resistance training groups with and without blood flow restriction increased significantly after training (p<0.05). On the other hand, leptin levels decreased significantly in these groups after training interventions (p<0.05). Regarding the main effect of groups, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the types of resistance training and the control group in follistatin (P=0.036) and leptin (P=0.015) levels. Conclusion: The findings indicate that resistance training can lead to an increase in plasma follistatin levels and a decrease in leptin in inactive obese girls. It is recommended that obese individuals use such resistance training with blood flow restriction as a non-invasive, low-cost, and side-effect-free method to promote health and lose weight