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Background and objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common debilitating neurodegenerative disease caused by inflammatory demyelinating processes in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of core stability training on serum levels of progranulin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in women with MS. Methods: The study population consisted of 24 women with MS (aged 25 to 40 years) in Bojnourd (Iran) with expanded disability status scale score of 2-5. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of core stability training (n=12) and control (n=12). The training group performed 30-40 minutes of core stability training, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Blood sampling was done 24 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the last training session. Serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Analysis of covariance was used to assess data at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The eight-week core stability training was associated with a significant increase in serum level of progranulin (P=0.037) and a significant decrease in the level of TNF-α (P=0.000). Conclusion: The findings indicate that the eight-week core stability training could significantly change serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α and improve the condition of women with MS. Therefore, this type of training could be applied as a complementary therapy for MS patients.

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Introduction: Aging is associated with muscle atrophy or sarcopenia. Autophagy is a process that reduces muscle atrophy; however, the efficiency of this process decreases with age. Exercise improves sarcopenia and the process of autophagy by activating signaling pathways. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on protein levels of ULK1, beclin1, Sestrins2, and AMPK phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of elderly male rats. Methods: Twenty elderly male Wistar rats (18 months years old) were randomly divided into two groups of 1) MCIT 2) control (10 ones in each). MICT protocol included eight weeks of running on treadmill at intensity of 65-70 percentage of Vo2max with speed of 18-29 meter per minute for 25-40 minutes per sessions and five sessions per week. Muscle tissue samples were taken from gastrocnemius muscle at 48 hours after the last training session. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data and P value <0.05 considered significant. Results: Beclin1 protein levels were significantly increased in the MICT group compared to the control group (P = 0.001). However, the protein levels of ULK1, Sestrins2 and p-AMPK in the MICT group did not change significantly compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions: It seems that MICT is not a suitable training method to activate autophagic pathways and subsequently improve the effects of aging in the skeletal muscles of elderly rats.