BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy.Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy.Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy.Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy.Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Estrogen regulates certain biological functions, including bone health, maintenance of skin components, and cardiovascular and brain protection. Estrogen deficiency manifests as hot flashes, wrinkles, skin dryness, reduced bone mineral density (BMD), sleep disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise combined with ferulic acid (FA) in ovariectomized rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female Sprague–Dawley rats were classified into control (N), ovariectomy (OV), ovariectomy and exercise (OV+EX), and ovariectomy and exercise with ferulic acid (OV+EX+F) groups. Following ovariectomy at 22 weeks of age, the rats were tower climbing exercise at gradually increase the load (3 days/week for 12 weeks) with or without FA (5 g/kg diet) administration. RESULTS: Estrogen deficiency in female rats (OV group) resulted in increased body weight, increased blood triglyceride (TG) levels, and decreased BMD following ovariectomy.Interestingly, compared with the rats in the OV group, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited reduced body weight and blood TG levels and maintained BMD following ovariectomy, similar to those in the N group. Histological analysis of the skin of estrogen-deficient rats (OV group) revealed significantly decreased skin thickness with fewer dermal cells and distorted subcutaneous fat layers, similar to the aging phenotype. Interestingly, the rats in the OV+EX+F group exhibited rescued skin phenotypes compared with those in the OV and OV+EX groups. The skin of rats from all groups was analyzed for the expression of DNA damage and repair proteins. The OV+EX+F and OV+EX groups exhibited enhanced protein levels of pCHK1 (S345), an initiator of DNA repair signaling, and p53, indicating increased cellular DNA damage because of ovariectomy and ultimately an underlying DNA repair process. CONCLUSION Exercise with FA had beneficial effects on lipid profiles, BMD, and skin remodeling during menopause.

Purpose: Sepsis-related deaths occur during both the early proinflammatory and the late immunosuppressive phases of the condition. The balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses is influenced by damaged cells that die via either proinflammatory necroptosis or anti-inflammatory apoptosis. Both forms of cell death may be mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the proinflammatory response. Recent evidence suggests that exercise training boosts antioxidative capacity and could offer protection against sepsis. Given these findings, we aimed to examine the impact of exercise training on neural cell death in the context of sepsis. Methods: We assessed the effectiveness of exercise in reducing ROS production and the inflammatory response using a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model. Forty C57BL/6N male mice were randomly divided into 2 groups: control (CLP-Con; n=20) and experimental (CLP-Ex; n=20). Before the induction of sepsis by CLP, the CLP-Ex mice underwent interval training on a treadmill 3 days per week for 8 weeks. Each day involved 10 cycles of 2 minutes at 8 m/min and 2 minutes at 15 m/min. After the CLP procedure, we monitored the survival of 10 mice from each group over a 30-hour period. Results: The findings indicated that exercise training increased the survival rate among mice with CLP-induced sepsis by enhancing antioxidative capacity and delaying the transition from a hyperdynamic to an immunosuppressive state. Conclusions Exercise training may delay the progression from the hyperdynamic state to the hypodynamic phase of sepsis by increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing apoptotic cell death.

Background: The effectiveness of exercise for improving osteoporosis and fall prevention in patients diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia has not been fully summarized. The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Korean Society of Exercise Physiology has developed exercise guidelines for patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia and provide evidence-based recommendations. Methods: A systematic review identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) assessing the effect of resistance, impact, balance, aerobic training, and physical activity in osteoporosis and osteopenia on bone quality, physical performance, quality of life, and fall prevention. PubMed, Embase, KoreaMed, and RISS were searched from January 2000 to August 2022. Ten key questions were established to review the evidence and formulate recommendations. Results: The 50 RCTs reported that even with osteoporosis and osteopenia, resistance and impact training consistently maximized bone strength, improved body strength and balance, and eventually reduced fall incidences. Resistance exercise combining 3 to 10 types of free weight and mechanical exercise of major muscle groups performed with an intensity of 50% to 85% 1-repetition maximum, 5 to 12 repetitions/set, 2 to 3 days/week, for 3 to 12 months is recommended. Impact exercises such as jumping chin-ups with drop landings and jump rope performed 50 jumps/session for at least 6 months with 3 or more days/week are recommended. Conclusions A multi-component exercise mainly comprised of resistance and impact exercise seems to be an effective strategy to attenuate the risk factors of osteoporosis and osteopenia. The integration of exercise guidelines and individualized exercise plans has significant potential to reduce the morbidity and mortality of osteoporosis.

Purpose: The study was to investigate exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake [peak VO2 ]) and pulmonary capacitance (GXcap), which is an estimate of pulmonary vascular capacitance, in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: This study utilized a database of patients with NASH (n=26 [17 male and 9 female], aged 58.9±4.3 years) and healthy individuals (n=23 [12 male and 11 female, aged 58.6±7.9 years) who underwent a maximal exercise test on a recumbent cycle ergometer (Corival; Lode) in our laboratory. During cardiopulmonary exercise tests, breathing patterns and respiratory gas exchange including breathing efficiency (VE/VCO2 ) and end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2 ) were measured. In addition, peak VO2 was obtained via averaging the last 30 seconds at peak level and GXcap was obtained by calculation as follows: GXcap=oxygen pulse (O2 pulse)×PETCO2. Results: The NASH group demonstrated reduced peak VO2 relative to the healthy group (17.5±8.4 mL/kg/min vs. 34±10.2 mL/kg/min, respectively; p＜ 0.05). In addition, there was a higher VE/VCO2 relationship in the NASH group relative to the healthy group (34.9±5.5 vs. 32.2±4.0, respectively; p＜ 0.05) and lower PETCO2 in the NASH group compared to the healthy group (32.8±4.0 mm Hg vs. 35.3±3.8 mm Hg, respectively; p＜ 0.05). Furthermore, the NASH group showed lower GXcap than the healthy group (456±150 vs. 551±202, respectively; p＜ 0.05). Conclusion Patients with NASH had reduced exercise capacity and pulmonary vascular capacitance relative to age-matched healthy adults and this may contribute to pulmonary pathophysiology in NASH.

Background: Aging leads to significant bone loss and elevated osteoporosis risk. Exercise slows age-related bone loss; however, the effects of various moderate-intensity exercise training volumes on bone metabolism remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the degree to which different volumes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training influence bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), femoral trabecular bone microarchitecture, and cortical bone in middle-aged mice. Methods: Twenty middle-aged male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned 8 weeks of either (1) non-exercise (CON); (2) moderate-intensity with high-volume exercise (EX_MHV); or (3) moderate-intensity with low-volume exercise (EX_MLV) (N=6-7, respectively). Femoral BMD and BMC were evaluated using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and trabecular and cortical bone were measured using micro-computed tomography. Results: Femoral BMD in EX_MHV but not EX_MLV was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in CON. The distal femoral fractional trabecular bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV, %) was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both EX_MHV and EX_MLV than in CON mice. Increased BV/TV was induced by significantly increased trabecular thickness (mm) and tended to be higher (P<0.10) in BV (mm3) and lower in trabecular separation (mm) in EX_MHV and EX_MLV than in CON. The femoral mid-diaphysis cortical bone was stronger in EX_MLV than EX_MHV. Conclusions Long-term moderate-intensity aerobic exercise with low to high volumes can be thought to have a positive effect on hindlimb BMD and attenuate age-associated trabecular bone loss in the femur. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may be an effective and applicable exercise regimen to prevent age-related loss of BMD and BV.

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.