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Nonhuman primate models are valuable in biomedical research. However, reference data for clinical pathology parameters in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys are limited. In the present study, we established hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for healthy cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride. A total of 142 cynomolgus monkeys (28 males and 114 females) and 42 rhesus monkeys (22 males and 20 females) were selected and analyzed in order to examine reference intervals of 20 hematological and 16 biochemical parameters. The effects of sex were also investigated. Reference intervals for hematological and biochemical parameters were separately established by species (cynomolgus and rhesus) and sex (male and female). No sex-related differences were determined in erythrocyte-related parameters for cynomolgus and rhesus monkey housed in indoor laboratory conditions. Alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase were significantly lower in females than males in both cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys aged 48-96 months. The reference values for hematological and biochemical parameters established herein might provide valuable information for researchers using cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys in experimental conditions for biomedical studies.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether cardiovascular fitness, independent of confounding factors, was associated with immune responsiveness to clinically relevant challenges in older adults (60-76 yr). Thirteen sedentary, low-fit (LF; maximal O(2) uptake = 21.1 +/- 1.1 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) and 13 physically active, high-fit (HF; maximal O(2) uptake = 46.8 +/- 3.4 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) older adults participated in this study. Dietary intake was assessed, and a battery of psychosocial tests was administered. In vivo antibody and ex vivo proliferative and cytokine responses to influenza (Fluzone) and tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination and delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests were performed. HF elderly individuals displayed a higher antibody response to two of the three strains included in the Fluzone vaccine as measured by hemagluttination inhibition, but there was no difference between groups in influenza-specific ex vivo proliferation or IFN-gamma or IL-10 production. HF elderly individuals exhibited a lower IgG(1) response and a tendency for a higher IgG(2) response to the TT vaccine. There were, however, no differences in TT-specific ex vivo proliferation or IFN-gamma or IL-10 production. In contrast, HF subjects had higher proliferative responses to phytohemagluttinin. In addition, there were no differences in delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to fungal antigens between groups. These results suggest that, after accounting for confounding factors, HF elderly individuals have higher antibody responses to Fluzone vaccine and a Th2 skewing of the antibody response to TT. There was little evidence that HF mounted better cell-mediated immune responses to the Fluzone or TT vaccine measured in peripheral blood cells or to other recall antigens in vivo.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the influence of aerobic exercise (AE) lasting 12 weeks to that of resistance exercise (RE) of the same duration on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial biogenesis in the cardiac muscle of middle-aged obese rats. Obesity was induced in thirty 50-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats over 6 weeks by administration of a high-fat diet. The rats were then subjected to treadmill-running (AE) and ladder-climbing (RE) exercises 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Rats in the AE group showed significantly lower increases in body weight and intraperitoneal fat than those in the sedentary control (SC) group (P<0.05). The 12-week exercise regimes resulted in a significant increase in expression of mitochondrial biogenesis markers and levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α in the cardiac muscle (P<0.05). Phosphorylation of PKR-like ER kinase, an ER stress marker, decreased significantly (P<0.05) after the exercise training. Although a trend for decreased C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression was observed in both exercise groups, only the AE group had a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05). Levels of GRP78, an ER stress marker that protects cardiac muscle, did not significantly differ among the groups. Although only the AE group decreased body weight and fat mass, the two exercise regimes had similar effects on cardiac muscle with the exception of CHOP. Therefore, we suggest that both AE, which results in weight loss, and high-intensity RE, though not accompanied by weight loss, protect obese cardiac muscle effectively.

BackgroundNumerous researchers have worked to develop treatments for obesity; however, the prevalence of obesity continues to increase in many countries. Moreover, the effects of physical activity and exercise on obesity remain unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between exercise and obesity using mediator variables such as the mode of exercise.MethodsOur review focuses on research tracking the effects of exercise on obesity conducted from 2007 to 2016 and available in any of three databases: Embase, PubMed, and EBSCO Academic Search Premier. The keywords used in the search were “exercise and obesity” and “exercise and obese.”ResultsThe average size of the effects that exercise interventions have on body mass index (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.533), waist circumference (SMD, 0.666), total cholesterol (SMD, 0.721), and triglyceride (TG; SMD, 0.603) were medium or larger. Exercise had greater effects on the outward appearance of obesity (body mass index, waist circumference) than on its practical factors (weight, % body fat). The effect of exercise on TG (SMD, 0.603) was larger than that on low-density lipoprotein (SMD, 0.406) and high-density lipoprotein (SMD, −0.222). Exercise duration (weeks of exercise) and intensity correlate better than exercise time (minutes per week) with a large and consistent improvement in adult obesity.ConclusionWe suggest that individuals with obesity should exercise consistently to achieve significant improvements in their health.