Objective: The beneficial effects of exercise and ginger extract have been reported to improve obesity-related indicators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic training and ginger extract on lipid profiles, body composition and selected liver enzymes in obese menopausal women. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental trial, 48 obese menopause women (age; 53-58 yr) were randomly divided into 4 groups including control, ginger extract, aerobic training and aerobic training -ginger extract. Aerobic training was performed 3 sessions a week, 60 minutes, with 50-70% maximum heart rate and for 24 weeks. The subjects consumed ginger extract three times a day in 500 mg capsule for 24 weeks. For analyzing the data, twoway ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test was used with SPSS–23 and the significance level was P-value≤ 0.05. Results: The results showed that 12 and 24 weeks of training, ginger and ginger - training significantly decreased ALT and AST in obese menopausal women (P-value= 0.001). Also, 12- and 24- weeks’ ginger- training resulted to improve of body composition and lipid profile in obese menopausal women (P-value= 0.001). Conclusion: According to the findings, regular aerobic training and ginger supplementation have a beneficial effect on body composition and improvement of some liver enzymes and lipid profiles in obese menopausal women. These changes were higher in the Ginger-training group after six months of intervention.

Objective: Oxidative stress can cause DNA damage and apoptosis, and leads to cardiovascular disease. This study aims to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise combined with consumption of hydroalcoholic extract of tribulus terrestris on mitochondrial oxidative stress markers in heart tissue of rats poisoned with hydrogen peroxide. Methods: This is an experimental study conducted on 42 male Wistar rats divided randomly into seven groups of Control (poisoned without supplementation), Aerobic Exercise, Aerobic Exercise + Supplementation with 5mg/kg extract, Aerobic Exercise + Supplementation with 10 mg/kg extract, Supplementation with 5mg/kg extract, Supplementation with 10mg/kg extract, and healthy control. All groups received hydrogen peroxide (100 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days intraperitoneally. The rats in supplementation groups received hydroalcoholic extract of tribulus terrestris with doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg of body weight by gavage. Aerobic exercise was performed on a treadmill at a speed of 23 m/min for 8 weeks, 5 days per week, each for 30 min. Twenty-four hours after the last exercise session, the heart tissues of rats were collected. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, two-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc test considering a significance level of P<0.05. Results: Consumption of tribulus terrestris extracts alone and in combination with aerobic exercise led to a significant increase in the levels of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyl transferase, prooxidants-antioxidant balance, and cytochrome C oxidase, and a significant decrease in adenosine triphosphate and malondialdehyde levels compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: It seems that regular aerobic exercise and consumption of various doses of tribulus terrestris extract is a moderating factor in mitochondrial biogenesis, and is effective in reducing DNA damage in the heart tissue of rats. Lower dosage of tribulus terrestris extract has more benefits.

Introduction: Free radicals increase with age and disease, so the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise and vitamin D on the expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin genes in bone tissue of rats poisoned with hydrogen peroxide. Methods: In this experimental trial, 36 adult male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups of six rats, 1) control; 2) hydrogen peroxide; 3) hydrogen peroxide + vitamin D; 4) hydrogen peroxide + exercise; 5) hydrogen peroxide + exercise and vitamin D and 6) Sham. For eight weeks, groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were given daily dose of 1 mmol/kg hydrogen peroxide on even days, groups 3 and 5 received 0.5 mg / kg of Vitamin-D daily, and sham group received only vitamin D solvent intraperitoneally. Groups 4 and 5 performed aerobic exercise 3 day/week. Osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase gene expression were measured by PCR and were analyzed using independent t-test, two-way analysis of variance and Boferroni’s post hoc test with SPSS 16 (p≤0.05). Results: The interactive effect of exercise and vitamin D on increasing alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin was significant. (p≤0.05); exercise increased alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin (p ≤ 0.05); vitamin D was also associated with increased alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin (p=0.0001). The greatest effect on increasing osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase showed in groups 5 and 3, respectively (p=0.001). Conclusion: Exercise and vitamin D had a positive effect on bone tissue, so that even the systemic effect of hydrogen peroxide could not change the results of this constructive effect.

Original Article AbstractIntroduction: The aim of this study was to compare the protective effects of two types of aerobic and intermittent training on breast cancer as a result of TGFβ protein, Smad-3, and MMP2 gene in female mice.

Background and Aim: Tendon, like the skeletal muscle, exhibits mechanical and morphological adaptations resulted from exercise training; however, little is known about the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate these responses. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the effect of 6 weeks of aerobic training on the TGF-β1, myostatin and MMP9 mRNAs expression in the tendon of fast- and slow-twitch muscles.  Methods & Materials For this purpose, 12 male Wistar rats at 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n=6) and control (n=6). The exercise group performed aerobic training for 6 weeks, 5 sessions per week. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, all rats were sacrificed and the tendons of soleus and Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscles were extracted. Expression of TGF-β1, myostatin and MMP9 mRNAs were assayed using RealTime-PCR. Independent t-test was also used for statistical analysis. Ethical Considerations: All stages of the study were conducted according to the ethical guidelines and authorization of Research Deputy of Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch No. IR.IAU.PS.REC.1398.296.  Results: The results showed that the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in EDL and soleus tendons significantly increased (P≤0.001), whereas the expression of myostatin in EDL tendon was significantly reduced (P≤ 0.001). Increased mRNA expression of MMP9 in the tendon of EDL and soleus muscles was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: It seems that aerobic exercise can modulate the expression of genes involved in the regulation of tendon collagen in a muscle type-dependent manner.