دانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of aquatic training at different depths on lower limb muscle strength and balance in patients with chronic ischemic strokeاثر تمرین در آب در اعماق مختلف بر قدرت عضلات اندام تحتانی و تعادل در بیماران مبتلا به سکته مغزی ایسکمیک مزمن823352810.22077/jpsbs.2025.9223.1965FAحسینباباییپوراستادیار گروه. آسیب‌های ورزشی و تمرینات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه ولی عصر رفسنجان، رفسنجان، ایران.0000-0001-8044-8750منصورصاحب الزمانیاستاد گروه آموزشی آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه شهید باهنرکرمان، کرمان، ایراننجمهپرهیزمیمندی. استادیار، گروه علوم ورزشی، دانشکده علوم انسانی و اجتماعی، دانشگاه اردکان، اردکان، ایران.0000-0001-9312-2434علیرضاوکیلیاندانشیار، گروه آموزشی نورولوژی و مرکز تحقیقات بیماری‌های غیرواگیر، دانشکده پزشکی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی رفسنجان، رفسنجانJournal Article20250412Extendrd Abstract Background and Aim: Stroke is one of the most common causes of physical disability worldwide, resulting in lower limb muscle weakness, impaired balance, reduced mobility, and an increased risk of falling. These impairments, particularly in patients with chronic ischemic stroke, often lead to decreased quality of life and functional independence. Therefore, rehabilitation in such patients requires approaches that are both safe and highly effective. Aquatic exercises have been introduced as a promising method in the rehabilitation of neurological patients due to the unique characteristics of the aquatic environment, including reduced joint loading, enhanced, multidirectional resistance, and improved proprioceptive stimulation.Despite the growing body of evidence supporting aquatic rehabilitation, limited attention has been paid to the influence of water depth on the effectiveness of aquatic exercise interventions. Previous studies suggest that water depth may affect muscle activation patterns, movement mechanics, energy expenditure, and ultimately the therapeutic outcomes of exercise programs. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to examine and compare the effects of aquatic training at two different depths (shallow and deep water) on lower limb muscle strength and functional balance in male patients with chronic ischemic stroke.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The study population consisted of men with chronic ischemic stroke in Rafsanjan, Iran. Thirty-six participants (60.70 ± 6.20 years) who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and randomly assigned, using stratified randomization based on age and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores, into three groups: shallow-water exercise, deep-water exercise, and control (n=12 per group). The inclusion criteria were as follows: a neurologist-confirmed diagnosis of first-ever ischemic stroke; a post-stroke duration of 6 months to 2 years; lower-extremity muscle strength ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 on the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale; a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥23; a BBS score between 21 and 44; the ability to stand independently for at least 5 minutes; and the ability to walk for at least 10 minutes with or without an assistive device. Participants were excluded if they had uncontrolled medical conditions, additional neurological or musculoskeletal disorders, unstable cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, a history of major central nervous system surgery, or missed more than three training sessions.The intervention consisted of a 6-week aquatic exercise program conducted three times per week, with each session lasting 60 minutes. The exercises program included hip flexion, extension and abduction, multidirectional walking, hip rotation with knee flexion, scissors movements, and single-leg standing. Each session consisted of a 5-minute warm-up, 50 minutes of exercise training, and a 5-minute cool-down period. Training volume progressed gradually from two sets of three repetitions to three sets of ten repetitions throughout the intervention period. Exercises were performed at the level of the anterior superior iliac spine in the shallow-water group and at the level of the xiphoid process in the deep-water group. The control group did not receive any intervention during the study period.Balance and lower limb muscle strength were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale, respectively, before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Levene’s test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mixed-design ANOVA. Bonferroni post hoc tests and partial eta squared (η²) values were used to examine pairwise differences and estimate effect sizes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 22, with the significance level set at p≤0.05Findings: One-way ANOVA results showed no significant differences among the three groups at baseline with respect to balance (F(2,27)=0.71, p=0.50) and lower limb muscle strength (F(2,27)=0.17, p=0.84). The mixed ANOVA results indicated a significant time×group interaction effect for balance (F(2,27)=115.63, p=0.0001) and muscle strength (F(2,27)=47.88, p=0.0001). Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons showed that participants in both the shallow-water and deep-water exercise groups demonstrated significant improvements in balance and lower limb muscle strength from pretest to posttest (p<0.001 for both groups). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the control group (p=0.99). Furthermore, posttest comparisons revealed that both aquatic exercise groups achieved significantly higher scores in balance and lower limb muscle strength than the control group (p<0.001). However, no significant differences were found between the shallow-water and deep-water exercise groups in either outcome measure (p=0.90) (Figure 1).Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that six weeks of aquatic exercise performed in either shallow or deep water significantly improved lower-extremity muscle strength and balance in patients with chronic ischemic stroke.These results suggest that aquatic exercise provides a favorable environment for enhancing motor function in this population. The aquatic environment likely facilitates functional movement by reducing effective body weight and decreasing joint loading, thereby allowing movements to be performed more safely and confidently. In addition, the uniform resistance of water continuously challenges the lower-extremity muscles throughout exercise, contributing to improvements in muscular strength.The observed improvements in balance may also be explained by the sensory and mechanical properties of the aquatic environment. Hydrostatic pressure and water turbulence increase stimulation of sensory receptors and enhance sensorimotor feedback, which may improve postural control and balance performance. Furthermore, repeated practice of movements in an environment that requires continuous postural adjustments to external perturbations may promote neuromuscular adaptations and improve motor coordination. Increased lower-extremity muscle strength itself is also an important determinant of balance, and part of the observed improvement in balance may have occurred through this mechanism.A notable finding of the present study was the lack of significant differences between the shallow-water and deep-water exercise groups. This finding suggests that the therapeutic benefits of aquatic exercise in patients with chronic ischemic stroke may depend more on regular participation in aquatic-based training than on the depth of water immersion. Immersion at hip level appears sufficient to reduce mechanical loading and facilitate functional movement, whereas increasing immersion depth to chest level does not seem to provide additional benefits for improving muscle strength or balance. Therefore, both immersion depths may be equally effective for promoting functional adaptations in this population.Several limitations should be acknowledged when interpreting these findings. First, the sample consisted exclusively of patients with chronic ischemic stroke who met specific inclusion criteria, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other stroke populations. Second, no follow-up assessment was conducted to evaluate the long-term retention of the training effects. Finally, only two levels of water immersion were examined. Future studies are encouraged to investigate a wider range of immersion depths, include long-term follow-up assessments, and evaluate the effectiveness of aquatic exercise in more diverse stroke populations.Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences under the code IR.RUMS.REC.1396.207. All participants were informed about the study procedures and provided written informed consent.Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the approved institutional guidelines. Participation was entirely voluntary, and the confidentiality of participants’ information was maintained throughout all stages of the research.Funding: This study did not receive any financial support from internal or external sources.Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that there are no scientific or financial conflicts of interest related to the conduct or publication of this research.زمینه و هدف: تمرین در آب به‌عنوان یک رویکرد توانبخشی موثر برای بهبود عملکرد حرکتی در بیماران سکته مغزی شناخته شده است. هدف پژوهش حاضر، بررسی اثر تمرین در آب در اعماق مختلف بر قدرت عضلات اندام تحتانی و تعادل در بیماران مبتلا به سکته مغزی ایسکمیک مزمن بود. روش تحقیق: این مطالعه از نوع نیمه‌تجربی و کاربردی بوده و 36 مرد (با میانگین سنی 70/6±20/60 سال) مبتلا به سکته مغزی ایسکمیک مزمن، بهطور تصادفی در سه گروه تمرین در آب کم عمق (ارتفاع آب تا خار خاصره قدامی فوقانی)، تمرین در آب عمیق (ارتفاع آب تا زائده خنجری استخوان جناغ سینه) و گروه کنترل قرار گرفتند. جلسات تمرین بهمدت شش هفته و هر هفته سه جلسه 60 دقیقهای تمرین در آب بود. تعادل با استفاده از مقیاس برگ (Berg) و قدرت عضلات اندام تحتانی با استفاده از مقیاس انجمن تحقیقات پزشکی (MRC) در پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون ارزیابی شد. دادهها با استفاده از آزمون‌های تحلیل واریانس آمیخته بین‌گروهی-درون‌گروهی و تعقیبی بونفرونی در سطح معنیداری p<0/05 تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافتهها: پس از مداخله، تعادل (0001/0=p) و قدرت عضلانی (0001/0=p) در هر دو گروه تجربی نسبت به گروه کنترل افزایش یافت. اما بین گروههای تجربی تفاوت معنیداری مشاهده نشد (p=0/90). نتیجهگیری: در بیماران مبتلا به سکته مغزی ایسکمیک پس از تمرین در آب در اعماق کم و عمیق، تعادل و قدرت عضلانی اندام تحتانی به طور قابل توجهی افزایش یافت، اما بین تمرین در اعماق مختلف تفاوت معنیداری مشاهده نشد. این یافتهها نشان می‌دهد تمرین در آب ممکن است به‌عنوان یک استراتژی توانبخشی مؤثر و ایمن برای بیماران سکته مغزی عمل کند.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3528_ead81fe8cfe9fda9e4c2093e17e4d024.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training and gallic acid consumption on Sirtuin-1 and miR-9-5P expression in kidney tissue of rats exposed to cadmiumاثر هشت هفته تمرین تناوبی با شدت بالا و مصرف گالیک اسید بر SIRT1 و miR-9-5P در بافت کلیه موشهای صحرایی در معرض کادمیوم2437412010.22077/jpsbs.2025.10070.1997FAمریمزارعیگروه ﺗﺮﺑﯿﺖ بدنی، واﺣﺪ ﺑﺮوﺟﺮد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، ﺑﺮوﺟﺮد، اﯾﺮان0000-0001-9122-3952احمدهمت فرگروه ﺗﺮﺑﯿﺖ بدنی، واﺣﺪ ﺑﺮوﺟﺮد، دانشگاه آزاد اﺳﻼﻣی، ﺑﺮوﺟﺮد، اﯾﺮان0000-0002-1014-4935سید علیحسینیگروه ﻓﯿﺰﯾﻮﻟﻮژی ورزشی، واﺣﺪ ﻣﺮودﺷﺖ، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، ﻣﺮودﺷﺖ، اﯾﺮان0000-0001-9122-3952ارشسامنیگروه تربیت بدنی، واحد زﻧﺠﺎن، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، زﻧﺠﺎن، اﯾﺮانJournal Article20250910Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Cadmium (Cd)-induced kidney injury is a major public health concern due to its widespread environmental exposure and nephrotoxic effects. Cadmium accumulation in renal tissue can impair kidney function by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage. In contrast, growing evidence suggests that regular physical exercise exerts protective effects on kidney health by improving protein metabolism, enhancing tubular reabsorption, and maintaining iron and urea homeostasis. In addition to exercise, naturally occurring dietary antioxidants have been shown to exert beneficial effects on the function of various organs. Among these antioxidants, gallic acid (GA), also known as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in a variety of fruits and plant-derived foods, including walnuts, sumac, hazelnuts, tea leaves, and oak. Owing to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, GA has attracted considerable attention as a potential therapeutic agent for reducing cadmium-induced tissue damage.Although the independent effects of exercise and antioxidant supplementation on kidney tissue have been investigated, limited information is available regarding their combined effects on molecular pathways associated with cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the combined effects of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and gallic acid supplementation on the expression of SIRT1 and miR-9-5p in the kidney tissue of cadmium-exposed rats.Materials and Methods: This experimental study employed a posttest-only design with a control group. A total of 42 male Sprague–Dawley rats, aged 8–9 months and weighing 250–270 g, were obtained from the Pasteur Institute Laboratory Animal Breeding and Reproduction Center. The sample size was determined based on previous studies using a similar experimental design, in which seven animals were allocated to each of six experimental groups, resulting in a total sample of 42 rats. Following purchase, the animals were transferred to the Exercise Physiology Laboratory of the Bitaran Research Center and allowed to acclimatize to the laboratory environment for one week under standard housing conditions. All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and were approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the Islamic Azad University, Borujerd Branch (Approval No. IR.IAU.B.REC.1403.094). After the acclimatization period, the rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n=7 per group): healthy control (HC), cadmium (Cd), sham, Cd + gallic acid (GA), Cd + high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and Cd + HIIT + GA. Cadmium chloride was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (USA). A dose equivalent to 5 mg/kg body weight was prepared daily by dissolving the appropriate amount of cadmium in the drinking water of the designated groups, allowing the animals to receive the required dose through voluntary water consumption. Gallic acid (GA; Sigma-Aldrich, USA; Catalog No. 27645) was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight per day. The required amount of GA was dissolved in a food and water flavoring solution to facilitate oral administration. Before the intervention, rats assigned to the exercise groups underwent a one-week familiarization period consisting of five treadmill-running sessions at a speed of 8 m/min for 5 min per session. Subsequently, the HIIT protocol was performed for eight weeks, with three sessions per week. Before initiating the training program, each rat’s maximum running speed was determined using the incremental treadmill test developed by Bedford et al. (1979) and subsequently standardized by Lindberg and colleagues. The HIIT program consisted of treadmill running at an intensity corresponding to 80–110% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), with exercise intensity and duration adjusted according to the experimental protocol. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05.Results: The Shapiro–Wilk test confirmed that all study variables were normally distributed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences among the experimental groups in the expression of miR-9-5p (F=261.31, p<0.001) and SIRT1 (F=272.97, p<0.001). Tukey’s post hoc analysis showed no significant difference in miR-9-5p expression between the healthy control (HC) and sham groups (p=0.47, MD=−0.05). Compared with the HC group, miR-9-5p expression was significantly reduced in the cadmium (Cd) group (p<0.001, MD=0.61). In contrast, miR-9-5p expression was significantly increased in the Cd + GA (p<0.001, MD=−0.54), Cd + HIIT (p<0.001, MD=−0.48), and Cd + HIIT + GA (p<0.001, MD=−1.15) groups compared with the Cd group. No significant difference was observed between the Cd + GA and Cd + HIIT groups (p=0.51, MD=−0.05). However, the Cd + HIIT + GA group exhibited significantly higher miR-9-5p expression than both the Cd + GA (p<0.001, MD=−0.60) and Cd + HIIT (p<0.001, MD=−0.66) groups (Figure 1). Similarly, no significant difference in SIRT1 expression was observed between the HC and sham groups (p=0.42, MD=−0.05). Cadmium exposure significantly reduced SIRT1 expression compared with the HC group (p<0.001, MD=−0.91). Treatment with GA (p<0.001, MD=−0.69), HIIT (p<0.001, MD=−0.63), and their combination (p<0.001, MD=−0.72) significantly increased SIRT1 expression compared with the Cd group. No significant differences were found between the Cd + GA and Cd + HIIT groups (p=0.31) or between the Cd + GA and Cd + HIIT + GA groups (p=0.83). However, SIRT1 expression was significantly higher in the Cd + HIIT + GA group than in the Cd + HIIT group (p=0.02, MD=0.09) (Figure 1).Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and gallic acid (GA) attenuate cadmium-induced renal injury by modulating molecular pathways associated with oxidative stress and cellular protection. HIIT may enhance the endogenous antioxidant defense system through activation of the NRF2 signaling pathway, thereby increasing the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and reduced glutathione (GSH). In addition, HIIT may improve mitochondrial function, promote mitochondrial biogenesis, enhance cellular energy metabolism, and inhibit apoptosis through SIRT1- and SIRT3-dependent signaling pathways. Exercise may also suppress inflammatory responses by modulating macrophage polarization and inhibiting TLR2 and NF-κB signaling.Gallic acid appears to exert nephroprotective effects through complementary antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. In addition to directly scavenging reactive oxygen species, GA may inhibit NF-κB, NADPH oxidase, and myeloperoxidase activity, reduce lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), and promote SIRT1-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. Collectively, these molecular adaptations may contribute to the preservation of renal cellular integrity during cadmium exposure. The present findings further indicate that the combined administration of HIIT and GA produced greater beneficial effects on SIRT1 and miR-9-5p expression than either intervention alone. This enhanced response may be attributed to the simultaneous activation of endogenous antioxidant defenses, attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling, improvement of mitochondrial homeostasis, and coordinated regulation of SIRT1 and miR-9-5p. Therefore, the combination of HIIT and GA may represent a promising strategy for mitigating cadmium-induced renal injury, although further mechanistic and clinical studies are required to confirm these findings.Ethical Considerations: It should be noted that all ethical principles regarding the use of laboratory animals in this study were observed under the supervision of the Ethics Committee for Biomedical Research at the Islamic Azad University, Borujerd Branch (approval code: IR.IAU.B.REC.1403.094).Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: The research followed the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and institutional guidelines. Funding: No funding.Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this study.زمینه و هدف: آسیب به بافت کلیه متعاقب سمیت ناشی از کادمیوم از مشکلات اساسی جوامع بشری است. اگرچه نقش تمرین ورزشی و آنتی‌‌اکسیدان‌‌ها در بافت کلیه بررسی شده است، اما اثر همزمان هشت هفته تمرین تناوبی با شدت بالا (HIIT) و مصرف گالیک اسید (GA) بر سیرتوئین 1 (SIRT1) و miR-9-5p در بافت کلیه موشهای صحرایی در معرض کادمیوم (Cd) هدف این تحقیق بود. روش تحقیق: تعداد 42 سر موش صحرایی نر نژاد اسپراگو-داولی با سن هشت تا نه ماه و وزن 250 تا 270 گرم بهطور تصادفی به گروههای کنترل سالم (HC)، کنترل، دریافت Cd، شم (Sham)، Cd+GA، Cd+HIIT و Cd+HIIT+GA تقسیم شدند. گروههای مصرف Cd روزانه پنج میلی‌گرم به ازای هر کیلوگرم وزن بدن Cd را در آب آشامیدنی دریافت نمودند. گروههای مصرف مکمل روزانه mg/kg 20 GA حل شده در طعم دهنده غذا و آب مصرف نمودند. گروههای تمرین نیز بهمدت هشت هفته، سه جلسه در هفته و هر جلسه تمرینات HIIT را با شدت 80 تا 110 درصد حداکثر اکسیژن مصرفی انجام دادند. سطوح بیان ژنی miR-9-5p و SIRT1 به روش ریل تایم پی‌سی‌آر اندازه گیری شد. برای تجزیه و تحلیل دادهها از آزمون تحلیل واریانس یک‌طرفه همراه با آزمون تعقیبی توکی در سطح معنیداری 05/0>p استفاده شد. یافتهها: بیان ژن miR-9-5p و SIRT1 در گروه Cd+GA (001/0=p)، Cd+HIIT (001/0=p) و Cd+HIIT+GA (001/0=p) بیشتر از گروه Cd بود؛ ضمن آن که این دو متغیر در گروه Cd+HIIT+GA بیشتر از گروههای Cd+GA (001/0=p) و Cd+HIIT (001/0=p) بودند. از طرف دیگر، بیان ژن SIRT1 در گروه Cd+HIIT+GA کمتر از گروه Cd+HIIT (02/0=p) بود. نتیجهگیری: بهنظر میرسد HIIT و مصرف GA هم به تنهایی و هم بهطور همزمان، میتوانند در تعدیل بیان ژنهای SIRT1 و miR-9-5p شوند که در بیوژنزیس میتوکندریایی و کاهش آپوپتوزیس نقش دارند؛ ضمن آن که ترکیب تمرین تناوبی با شدت بالا و مصرف گالیک اسید در تعدیل بیان این ژنها به مراتب موثر‌‌تر از اثر هر کدام به تنهایی میباشد.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_4120_b986700c627db479a4d9460b75de7222.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923Effect of 4-week of high-intensity interval training combined with electrical stimulation on the gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and endostatin in the cardiac tissue of calorie-restricted obese ratsتأثیر چهار هفته تمرین تناوبی شدید به‌همراه تحریک الکتریکی بر بیان ژنهای عامل رشد اندوتلیال عروقی و اندواستاتین بافت قلب موشهای صحرایی چاق با محدودیت کالری3857356910.22077/jpsbs.2025.9354.1972FAساراحامدیدانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد فیزیولوژی ورزشی، واحد اراک، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اراک، ایران.0009-0000-8538-9956محمدملکی پویااستادیار گروه فیزیولوژی ورزشی، واحد اراک، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، اراک، ایران.0000-0002-6463-4884Journal Article20250509Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Obesity is a major contributor to cardiovascular dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key promoter of blood vessel formation, while endostatin can serves as an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis. Moreover, the High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve vascular health and cardiac function, and when combined with electrical stimulation (ES), may further enhance these effects. Caloric restriction (CR) is another well-established intervention that improves metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. However, the combined impact of HIIT, ES, and CR on the expression of genes related to angiogenesis in cardiac tissue remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of HIIT combined with ES under CR conditions on the expression of VEGF and endostatin genes in the heart tissue of obese male rats. The findings may provide some insight into non-pharmacological strategies to improve cardiac health in obesity-related conditions.Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted using 35 male Wistar rats (8 weeks old, body weight: 200±19 g), purchased from Baqiyatallah University, Iran. The animals were housed in transparent polycarbonate cages under controlled conditions: a temperature of 22 ± 2 °C, a humidity of 50 ± 5%, and a 12-hour light/dark cycle. All rats had free access to water and a standard laboratory rodent diet unless otherwise specified. Following a one-week acclimatization period, obesity was induced using a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, consisting of peanuts, milk chocolate, and sweet biscuits in a 3:1:1 ratio. The diet provided 20% protein, 60% fat, and 20% carbohydrates per 100 g. Following obesity induction, rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=7 per group) including obese control (CO), CR, CR+ES (ES.CR), and CR+HIIT (HIIT.CR), CR+HIIT+ES (HIIT.ES.CR). The CR was implemented using a time-restricted feeding model: 16 hours of food access followed by 8 hours of fasting daily. The standard diet used during this phase followed AIN-93 guidelines. HIIT was performed on a treadmill for 4 weeks, 4 sessions per week. Each session included alternating high-intensity intervals (25–30 m/min, 70–95% VO₂max) and low-intensity recovery intervals (21–23 m/min, 50–60% VO₂max), lasting 20–40 minutes. Warm-up and cool-down were performed at 10–12 m/min (30–50% VO₂max). Electrical stimulation (ES) was administered using an R12 electrical stimulator (Parto Danesh Co., Iran) at an intensity of 0.5 mA for 20 minutes per session, three sessions per week. Surface electrodes were placed on the hind limbs, and electrical stimulation was applied during the post-exercise recovery period. Forty-eight hours after the final intervention, rats were anesthetized with Ketamine (75 mg/kg) and Xylazine (10 mg/kg), and cardiac tissue samples were collected. Samples were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at −80 °C. Total RNA was extracted using standard protocols with LR buffer, β-mercaptoethanol, chloroform, and ethanol. cDNA synthesis was performed using reverse transcriptase (Fermentas, USA). Gene expression of VEGF and endostatin was quantified using real-time PCR (Kiagene, Iran), with GAPDH as the housekeeping gene. Primer sequences were designed based on NCBI data. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism (version 8). Normality was assessed with the Shapiro–Wilk test and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to compare groups. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings: The results showed that four weeks of calorie restriction combined with high-intensity interval training (CR+HIIT) significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of both VEGF and endostatin in the cardiac tissue of obese rats compared with the obese control (CO) group. In this group, the reduction in VEGF gene expression (X̄=−0.94, p<0.0001) was greater than that of endostatin (X̄=−0.93, p<0.0001). Similarly , in the obese group under the CR+ES intervention, the expression of both genes was significantly reduced compared with the CO group, such that the reduction in VEGF expression (X̄=−0.73, p<0.0001) was greater than that of endostatin (X̄=−0.67, p<0.0001). Furthermore, the combined intervention of CR+HIIT+ES also produced significant reductions in the expression of both VEGF and endostatin compared with the CO group. The mean changes in gene expression were −0.87 for VEGF (p<0.0001) and −0.70 for endostatin (p<0.0001).Conclusion: It appears that the combination of HIIT and ES [or RS], along with CR, effectively modulates the myocardial angiogenic microenvironment in obese subjects. Rather than a simple reduction in vascular growth, the concurrent down-regulation of both VEGF (pro-angiogenic) and Endostatin (anti-angiogenic) represents a crucial homeostatic resetting of the cardiac tissue. In obesity, chronic low-grade inflammation and tissue hypoxia typically trigger pathological, disorganized angiogenesis, driving an abnormal compensatory increase in VEGF, which in turn up-regulates Endostatin as a counter-regulatory feedback. Therefore, by alleviating myocardial metabolic stress and systemic inflammation, these combined non-pharmacological interventions remove the pathological stimulus for dysfunctional vessel growth. Consequently, VEGF expression can be return to a stabilized baseline, which naturally leads to a parallel reduction in Endostatin to maintain physiological angiogenic equilibrium. Ultimately, this dual reduction serves as a molecular indicator of successful myocardial remodeling, enhanced metabolic efficiency, and the resolution of obesity-induced vascular stress, rather than an impairment in cardiac vascularization.Ethical Considerations: This study was conducted according to ethical standards for biomedical research involving laboratory animals. All procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch (Ethics Code: IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.293). Throughout the study, all efforts were made to minimize animal suffering and ensure humane treatment during housing, interventions, and sample collection. Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: All experimental protocols were reviewed and approved by the institutional ethics board, and the study adhered to national and international guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals.Funding: This research did not receive any financial support from funding agencies or institutions.Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this study.زمینه و هدف: چاقی با ایجاد اختلالات متابولیکی، التهاب مزمن و افزایش خطر بیماری‌های قلبی-عروقی، ریزمحیط رگ‌زایی میوکارد را تحت تأثیر قرار می‌دهد. هدف این پژوهش بررسی تأثیر تمرین تناوبی شدید (HIIT) همراه با تحریک الکتریکی (ES) و محدودیت کالری (CR) بر بیان ژنهای VEGF و اندواستاتین در بافت قلب موشهای صحرایی چاق بود. روش تحقیق: در این مطالعه تجربی، ۳۵ سر موش صحرایی نر ویستار (۸ هفتهای با وزن ۱۹±۲۰۰ گرم) پس از القای چاقی، بهطور تصادفی به پنج گروه مساوی شامل چاق بدون محدودیت کالری (کنترل)، چاق با محدودیت کالری، محدودیت کالری-تمرین تناوبی شدید، محدودیت کالری-تحریک الکتریکی، و محدودیت کالری-تمرین تناوبی شدید-تحریک الکتریکی تقسیم شدند. مداخله‌ها بهمدت چهار هفته اجرا شد و شامل محدودیت کالری، تمرین تناوبی با سرعت ۱۰ تا ۲۰ متر بر دقیقه و مدت ۲۰ تا ۴۰ دقیقه، و تحریک الکتریکی با شدت ۰٫۵ میلی‌آمپر به مدت ۲۰ دقیقه بود. ۴۸ ساعت پس از پایان مداخله، نمونه‌برداری از بافت قلب انجام شد و بیان ژنها با روش Real-Time PCR اندازهگیری گردید. دادهها با آزمون تحلیل واریانس یکراهه در سطح معنیداری ۰٫۰۵>p تحلیل شدند. یافتهها: نتایج نشان داد که سطوح بیان ژنهای VEGF و اندواستاتین در بافت قلب گروه چاق تحت مداخله CR+HIIT در مقایسه با گروه کنترل (CO) کاهش معنیداری داشت. در این گروه، کاهش بیان ژن VEGF (94/0- =¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) بیشتر از اندواستاتین (93/0- =-¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) بود. همچنین، در گروه چاق تحت مداخله CR+ES نیز بیان هر دو ژن نسبت به گروه CO بهطور معنیداری کاهش یافت؛ به‌طوری‌که کاهش بیان VEGF (73/0- =¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) بیشتر از اندواستاتین (67/0- =¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) گزارش شد. ترکیب HIIT و ES در حضور CR نیز موجب کاهش معنیدار بیان هر دو ژن VEGF و اندوستاتین درمقایسه با گروه CO شد، که در این گروه نیز کاهش بیان VEGF (87/0- =¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) بیشتر از اندواستاتین (70/0- =¯X، ۰٫۰۰۰۱>p) بود. نتیجهگیری: بهنظر میرسد ترکیب تمرین تناوبی شدید، تحریک الکتریکی و محدودیت کالری با کاهش استرس متابولیکی میوکارد و التهاب سیستمیک، موجب بازتنظیم هموستاتیک رگ‌زایی در بافت قلب میشود. کاهش همزمان بیان ژنهای VEGF و اندواستاتین احتمالاً نه نشانه اختلال در عروق‌زایی، بلکه بیانگر بازآرایی موفق میوکارد و بهبود تعادل فیزیولوژیک رگ‌زایی در شرایط چاقی است.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3569_77c493ec14246d748db3ee8fce0092db.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of eight-week of intense endurance, resistance and high intensity interval training on SLIT-2 and UCP-1 gene expression in obese male Wistar ratsتأثیر هشت هفته تمرینات استقامتی، مقاومتی و تناوبی شدید بر بیان ژنهای SLIT-2 و UCP-1 رتهای نر ویستار چاق5871263310.22077/jpsbs.2023.6106.1766FAحسینکاووسی حسن آباددانشجوی دکتری،گروه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، واحد بجنورد،دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بجنورد، ایران.0000-0002-0468-0109صادقچراغ بیرجندیاستادیار، گروه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، واحد بجنورد،دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بجنورد، ایران.0000-0001-6898-6804نجمهرضائیاناستادیار، گروه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، واحد بجنورد،دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بجنورد، ایران.علییعقوبیدانشیار گروه تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، واحد بجنورد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بجنورد، ایران.0000-0001-9933-0170Journal Article20230208Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Overweight and obesity have become major global public health concerns, largely driven by sedentary lifestyles, reduced physical activity, and unhealthy dietary habits. These conditions are strongly associated with metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. An imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure is considered the primary cause of obesity, highlighting the importance of lifestyle interventions for its prevention and management. Regular physical exercise is an effective non-pharmacological strategy for weight management, glycemic control, and the improvement of lipid metabolism; however, its physiological benefits depend on the type, intensity, and duration of exercise.. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a critical role in energy expenditure through adaptive thermogenesis. Slit guidance ligand 2 (SLIT-2), a protein reduced in obese individuals, and its C-terminal fragment (SLIT2-C) activate thermogenic pathways via protein kinase A (PKA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), enhancing lipolysis, mitochondrial density, and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) expression, which promotes browning of white fat. While studies show both resistance and endurance training may upregulate UCP-1, conflicting results exist, and the comparative efficacy of resistance training (RT), continuous endurance training (CET), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on SLIT-2 and UCP-1 gene expression in obese male Wistar rats remains unresolved.Materials and Methods: This experimental laboratory study was conducted on 36 adult male Wistar rats (8 weeks old; mean body weight: 225 ± 40 g) obtained from the Razi Serum Research Institute, Mashhad, Iran. The animals were housed under controlled laboratory conditions at a temperature of 22 ± 5 °C, relative humidity of approximately 45%, and a 12:12-hour light–dark cycle, with free access to standard chow and water. Obesity, defined as a body weight exceeding 300 g at the time of group allocation, was used as the inclusion criterion. Following a one-week familiarization period on a motorized treadmill and a 36-rung rat climbing ladder, the animals were randomly assigned to four groups (n=9 per group): continuous endurance training (CET), resistance training (RT), high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and control. Maximal running speed was determined using an incremental exercise test before the intervention and repeated after four weeks to adjust the training intensity. The CET protocol consisted of a warm-up followed by 30 minutes of continuous running at progressively increasing intensities (60%–70% of maximal running speed) over the eight-week intervention, followed by a cool-down period. The RT protocol involved climbing a weighted ladder for three sets of five repetitions per session, with the load progressively increased from 50% to 120% of body weight throughout the intervention. The HIIT protocol consisted of repeated two-minute running bouts performed at 85%–90% of maximal running speed, interspersed with active recovery intervals, with the number of bouts gradually increasing from six to twelve over the eight-week training period.Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from tissue samples and reverse-transcribed into complementary DNA (cDNA) using a thermocycler-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, with gene expression quantified via real-time PCR using SYBR Green dye and the threshold cycle (Ct) recorded for each sample. After confirming normal data distribution, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine between-group differences in SLIT-2 and UCP-1 gene expression, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for pairwise comparisons, with all statistical analyses performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22, at a significance level of p≤0.05.Findings: One-way ANOVA revealed that eight weeks of CET, RT, and HIIT significantly increased SLIT-2 and UCP-1 gene expression in male Wistar rats compared with control (p≤0.05). Given this significant overall effect, Tukey’s post hoc test was subsequently performed to identify the specific source of between-group differences. For SLIT-2 gene expression, Tukey’s test showed that the CET, RT, and HIIT groups each differed significantly from the control group (p=0.001 for all three comparisons); in contrast, no significant differences were observed among the three exercise groups themselves, whether comparing RT with CET (p=0.82), RT with HIIT (p=0.99), or CET with HIIT (p=0.99). A similar pattern was observed for UCP-1 gene expression: the CET, RT, and HIIT groups again differed significantly from control (p=0.001 for each comparison), while pairwise comparisons among the exercise groups showed no significant differences (RT vs. CET, p=0.99; RT vs. HIIT, p=0.99; CET vs. HIIT, p=0.99). Both SLIT-2 and UCP-1 gene expression increased markedly following CET, RT, and HIIT relative to the control group, with mean fold-change values ranging from approximately 3.1 to 3.3 across all three exercise groups for both genes, compared with a baseline value of roughly 1.0 in the control group, corresponding to an approximately three-fold increase in relative expression of both genes following each of the three training protocols. Moreover, these findings demonstrate a consistent and statistically robust effect of exercise training on the expression of both genes, regardless of training modality. Therefore, all three training protocols produced comparable increases in SLIT-2 and UCP-1 expression, none of the exercise groups differed significantly from one another in either gene, and this pattern, observed identically across both target genes, suggests that CET, RT, and HIIT were equally effective in upregulating SLIT-2 and UCP-1 expression in this model, with no evidence that any single training modality conferred superior efficacy over the others. The magnitude and direction of change were highly consistent between the two genes, further supporting the reliability of the observed training-induced upregulation across all three exercise protocols in this obese Wistar rat model.Conclusion: Based on the results, it clear that the mechanisms underlying these adaptations remain incompletely understood, particularly for SLIT-2, whose exercise-related signaling pathways have not previously been characterized. The SLIT-2 is implicated in angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory processes, and lipolysis, and its C-terminal fragment promotes thermogenesis via the protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway. In this way, the SLIT-2 expression appears to be driven by PRDM16, whose downstream activation may explain the training-induced increases observed here, consistent with prior reports demonstrating that PRDM16 induces SLIT-2 expression. Furthermore, SLIT-2 enhances lipolysis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and PI3K-mediated immune regulation, thereby potentially mitigating obesity-related metabolic dysfunction. For UCP-1, exercise-induced upregulation is thought to be mediated through multiple mechanisms, including irisin release and MAPK/p38 signaling, PGC-1α-dependent mitochondrial biogenesis, sympathetic activation via β3-adrenergic receptors, and thyroid hormone–dependent deiodinase activity. UCP-1 facilitates proton leakage across the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis and dissipating energy as heat. The discrepancies observed among previous studies regarding UCP-1 responsiveness may be attributable to differences in training duration, dietary conditions, and the anatomical site of adipose tissue sampling.Compliance with Ethical Guidelines: All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines for animal research and were approved by the Ethics Committee of Bojnourd Azad University (Approval Code: IR.IAU.BOJNOURD.REC.1402.017). All procedures were performed minimizing pain and distress to the animals.Funding: This research is based on a doctoral dissertation from a student at the Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd Branch, and was conducted without any financial support.Conflicts of interest: There are no conflicts of interest regarding this article.زمینه و هدف: اضافه وزن و چاقی یک اختلال متابولیکی است که سطوح بافت چربی در این اختلال تأثیرگذار است. هدف از پژوهش حاضر، تأثیر هشت هفته تمرینات استقامتی تداومی، مقاومتی و تناوبی شدید بر بیان لیگاند راهنمای شکاف ۲ (SLIT-2) و پروتئین جفت نشده 1 (UCP-1) رتهای نر ویستار چاق بود. روش تحقیق: برای این منظور، تعداد 36 سر رت نر نژاد ویستار چاق با سن هشت هفته و وزن 40±325 گرم، به‌‌صورت تصادفی به چهار گروه؛ استقامتی تداومی (10 سر)، مقاومتی (هشت سر)، تناوبی شدید (10 سر) و کنترل (هشت سر) تقسیم شدند. رتهای گروههای تجربی بهمدت هشت هفته، هفتهای پنج جلسه تمرینات استقامتی تداومی با شدت70 تا 80 درصد سرعت بیشینه، مقاومتی با شدت 50 تا 120 درصد وزن بدن و تناوبی شدید با شدت 85 تا 90 درصد حداکثر سرعت را انجام دادند و هر هفته 5 درصد به‌‌شدت تمرینات اضافه می‌‌شد. برای اندازهگیری بیان ژن SLIT-2 و UCP-1 ازروش Real Time-PCR استفاده شد. از روش آماری تحلیل واریانس یکراهه و آزمون تعقیبی توکی جهت تعیین اختلاف بین‌‌گروه‌ها در سطح معنیداری 05/0≥p استفاده شد. یافتهها: نتایج پژوهش حاضر نشان داد هر سه مدل تمرینی استقامتی تداومی، مقاومتی و تناوبی شدید سبب افزایش معنیدار بیان ژن SLIT-2 (001/0 =p) و UCP-1 (001/0 =p) نسبت به گروه کنترل شد، اما تفاوتی بین گروههای تجربی مشاهده نشد (99/0=p ). نتیجه گیری: بنابر نتایج این پژوهش، پیشنهاد میشود از تمرینات استقامتی تداومی، مقاومتی و تناوبی شدید که با افزایش بیان ژنهای SLIT-2 و UCP-1 در افزایش لیپولیز تأثیرگذارند، در جهت کاهش وزن استفاده شود.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_2633_fc03d48253286a798f5116ec00e99b2b.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of eight weeks of moderate intensity interval training on the gene expression of indicators involved in the division and integration of mitochondria in the soleus muscle of ratsاثر هشت هفته تمرین تناوبی با شدت متوسط بر بیان ژن برخی شاخصهای درگیر در تقسیم و ادغام میتوکندری ها در عضله نعلی موشهای صحرائی نر7285287410.22077/jpsbs.2024.6622.1813FAمحمدرضابندلیدانشجوی دکتری فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه حکیم سبزواری، سبزوار، ایران.0009-0007-1540-6336امیرحسینحقیقیاستاد فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه حکیم سبزواری، سبزوار، ایران.0000-0002-7258-9737رویاعسکریدانشیار گروه فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه حکیم سبزواری، سبزوار، ایران.0000-0003-4331-2293Journal Article20230728Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Maintaining mitochondrial function is essential for preserving cellular homeostasis. Mitochondrial quality control depends on the coordinated regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy. The selective removal of damaged mitochondrial components requires their segregation from the mitochondrial network through mitochondrial fission, a process is regulated by two key proteins: mitochondrial fission protein 1 (Fis1) and dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). While maintaining quality depends on the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria, the synthesis of new mitochondria is equally important. Mitochondrial fusion, on the other hand, is mediated by fusion proteins such as mitofusin 1 and 2 (Mfn1/2) and optic atrophy 1 (Opa1). Mitochondrial function declines rapidly during periods of skeletal muscle disuse and is characterized by increased mitochondrial fission accompanied by reduced fusion and biogenesis. Although endurance exercise has been shown to increase PGC-1α gene expression in the soleus muscle of male rats, most existing studies have focused on continuous aerobic exercise, with very few investigating interval training. Given the importance of these processes in skeletal muscle function and the modulation of cellular energy charge by exercise, it is necessary to investigate how these regulatory processes are altered by moderate-intensity interval training (MIT). Specifically, it remains unclear whether the duration and nature of MIT over an eight-week period can induce adaptations in mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics genes to maintain high mitochondrial function. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of MIT on the expression of key genes regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion in the soleus muscle of male rats.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, twelve male Wistar rats (mean weight: 180±20 g; age: 7–8 weeks) were obtained from the laboratory animal farm of the Pasteur Institute of Babol. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups (n=6): the control group and the MIT group. Prior to the intervention, the rats underwent a one-week acclimation period to the laboratory environment and the treadmill. The experimental protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hakim Sabzevari University (Approval No. IR.HSU.AEC.1401.017). Prior to the initiating the training program, an incremental exercise test to exhaustion was conducted to determine the maximal running speed of the rats. The mean maximal speed of the MIT group was subsequently used to prescribe the training protocol. The MIT group completed an eight-week treadmill training program, five days per week. The training program consisted of two phases: an active phase at 60–65% of maximal speed (six 4-minute bouts) and an active recovery phase at 30% of maximal speed (six 2-minute bouts). Following the final exercise session, rats were anesthetized via intramuscular injection of ketamine (75 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg). The soleus muscle was harvested, immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen, and subsequently stored at −80∘C. For gene expression analysis, 50 mg of soleus muscle tissue was used for RNA extraction. Tissue lysis and homogenization were performed using TRIzol reagent (Yekta Tajhiz Azma, Iran) and a tissue homogenizer. RNA concentration and purity were assessed using a PicoDrop device at 260/280 and 260/230 ratios. Complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized using a commercial reverse transcription kit (SinaGene, Iran) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Primers were designed using the online Primer-BLAST tool, with β-Actin serving as the internal control. Gene expression levels of PGC-1α, Opa1, Fis1, Drp1, and Mfn1,2 were quantified via PCR. Data are presented as mean±SD. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and inter-group differences were analyzed using the independent t-test (p<0.05). Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software (version 9).Findings: Changes in body weight were evaluated following the eight-week moderate-intensity interval training (MIT) intervention. Independent t-test revealed a significant reduction in body weight in the MIT group compared to the control group. Regarding the gene expression of mitochondrial fission markers in the soleus muscle, MIT led to a significant downregulation of Drp1 and Fis1 expression relative to the control group (p<0.01). Furthermore, MIT significantly increased the expression of Mfn1, Mfn2, and PGC-1α genes compared to the control group (p=0.01, p=0.007, and p=0.03, respectively). However, no significant change was observed in the relative expression of the Opa1 gene compared to the control group (p=0.21, Figure 1).Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of MIT protocols leads to the structural and functional remodeling of mitochondria within skeletal muscles. Our results indicate that these exercises modulate the equilibrium between fusion and fission processes, thereby enhancing mitochondrial network integrity. Specifically, the upregulation of fusion markers (Mfn1/2) and the master regulator PGC-1α, coupled with the downregulation of fission genes (Fis1/Drp1), creates a favorable environment for augmented biogenesis and improved mitochondrial quality control. These molecular adaptations likely facilitate enhanced cellular capacity for managing metabolic stress and preserving energy reserves. In essence, the ability of MIT to shift the mitochondrial dynamic toward a pro-fusion phenotype may serve as an adaptive mechanism to counteract the detrimental effects of physical inactivity or muscular atrophy. Although further studies are warranted to investigate the effects of different exercise intensities and training durations on mitochondrial remodeling and the regulation of additional genes involved in mitochondrial structure and function, this research underscores the high potential of interval training in optimizing mitochondrial dynamics and enhancing muscular metabolic health.Ethical Considerations: The experimental procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Hakim Sabzevari University (Approval code: IR.HSU.AEC.1401.017).Compliance with ethical guideline: Ethical guidelines for working with laboratory animals were strictly followed, including provisions for adequate food, water, and appropriate housing conditions.Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.Conflicts of interest: The authors hereby declare that they have no conflicts of interest related to this study.زمینه و هدف: پویایی میتوکندری تحت تاثیر تقسیم و ادغام میباشد و تمرین ورزشی ممکن است بر آن موثر باشد. هدف از پژوهش حاضر، تعیین اثر هشت هفته تمرین تناوبی با شدت متوسط (MIT) بر بیان ژن برخی شاخصهای درگیر در تقسیم و ادغام میتوکندری‌‌ها در عضله نعلی موشهای صحرائی میباشد. روش تحقیق: برای این منظور، 12 سر موش صحرایی نر نژاد ویستار بهطور تصادفی به دو گروه مساوی (هر گروه شش موش صحرائی) کنترل و MIT تقسیم شدند. ابتدا آزمون وامانده‌‌ساز و میانگین سرعت بیشینه موش‌‌ها برای طراحی برنامه تمرینی، محاسبه شد. برنامه تمرینی شامل مراحل دویدن بر روی نوارگردان با شدت 60 تا 65 درصد سرعت بیشینه (شش تناوب چهار دقیقهای) و استراحت فعال با شدت 30 درصد سرعت بیشینه (شش تناوب دو دقیقهای) بود که بهمدت هشت هفته و با تکرار پنج جلسه در هفته، با رعایت اصل اضافه بار اچرا گردید. برای ارزیابی تغییرات بیان ژن شاخصهای PGC-1α، Opa1، Fis1، Drp1و Mfn1,2، بافت عضله نعلی موشهای صحرائی استخراج و بیان ژنها با استفاده از روش PCR اندازهگیری شد. دادهها با استفاده از روش آماری t مستقل در سطح معنیداری 05/0>p تحلیل شدند. یافتهها: در گروه MIT بیان ژنهایDrp1 و Fis1 بهطور معنیدار کاهش و بیان ژنهای PGC-1α، Mfn1 و Mfn2 افزایش یافت؛ در حالی که تغییر معنیداری در بیان ژن Opa1 ایجاد نشد. نتیجهگیری: با توجه به یافته‌های پژوهش حاضر، می‌‌توان عنوان کرد احتمالاً سازگاری تمرینات ورزشی تناوبی اثر محافظتی بر پویایی کیفیت میتوکندریایی دارد، اما از بروز تقسیم میتوکندریایی بهطور کامل جلوگیری نمی‌‌کند.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_2874_e6af401c28c1790eaef7d55c92ab6ab6.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of aerobic exercise on the gene expression of selected apoptotic balance factors (Bax/Bcl2) and the inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factorA /hypoxiainducible factor1α pathway in the tumor tssue of rats with colon cancer induced by Dimethylhydrazineتأثیر تمرینات هوازی بر بیان ژن برخی عوامل تعادل آپوپتوتیک (Bax/Bcl-2) و مهار مسیرVEGF-A/HIF-1α در بافت توموری کولون رتهای مبتلا به سرطان کولون القاشده با دی‌متیل‌هیدرازین8699394410.22077/jpsbs.2026.10903.2030FAبتولاسلامیدانشجوی دکتری علوم ورزشی، واحد نجف آباد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، نجف آباد، ایران.0000-0002-4050-7143جمشیدبنایی بروجنیاستادیار گروه علوم ورزشی، واحد نجف آباد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، نجف آباد، ایران.مهنازمرویاستادیار گروه علوم ورزشی، واحد نجف آباد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، نجف آباد، ایران.الهامافتخاری قینانیاستادیار گروه علوم ورزشی، واحد نجف آباد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، نجف آباد، ایران.Journal Article20260127Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Colon cancer remains as one of the leading malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, and its progression is fundamentally influenced by disruptions of apoptotic signaling and activation of hypoxiadriven angiogenesis pathways (Johnson & Fleet, 2013). Dysregulation of the Bcl2associated X protein/Bcell lymphoma 2 (Bax/Bcl2) balance contributes to enhanced tumor cell survival, whereas activation of the hypoxiainducible factor1 alpha/vascular endothelial growth factor A axis (HIF1α/VEGFA) promotes angiogenic expansion within the tumor microenvironment, thereby facilitating tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis (Spanoudaki et al., 2023). Aerobic exercise has been proposed as a nonpharmacological intervention capable of modulating tumor biology by improving metabolic regulation, tissue oxygenation, and inflammatory status (Schadler et al., 2016). However, limited studies have simultaneously evaluated the integrated response of apoptotic and hypoxiadependent angiogenic pathways to structured aerobic exercise in colon tumor tissue. To address this knowledge gap, the present study investigated the effects of 14 weeks of aerobic exercise on the Bax/Bcl2 apoptotic ratio and the HIF1α/VEGFA angiogenesis pathway in a rat model of dimethylhydrazine (DMH)induced colon cancer, with the aim of elucidating coordinated molecular adaptations to exercise.Materials and Methods: This controlled experimental study was conducted on 40 male Wistar rats aged 10–12 weeks and weighing 250–300 g. The animals were maintained under standard laboratory conditions including controlled temperature, a 12h light–dark cycle, and ad libitum access to food and water. Animals were randomly allocated, using block randomization based on age and body weight, into four groups (n=10 per group) including healthy control (HC), sham (SH), sedentary cancer (DS), and cancer with aerobic exercise (DA). Colon cancer was induced in the DS and DA groups by weekly subcutaneous injections of dimethylhydrazine (DMH; 40 mg/kg) for six consecutive weeks, whereas the SH group received the DMH solvent alone.Tumor induction was confirmed macroscopically and by histopathological analysis using H&E staining, consistent with established models.Following tumor confirmation of tumor induction, the DA group performed 14 weeks of continuous aerobic treadmill exercise, 5 sessions per week, 60 minutes per session, at 60% of the maximal running speed determined individually using an incremental test. Incremental tests were repeated at weeks 5, 9, and 13 to adjust intensity. Nontraining groups were placed on a nonmoving treadmill to control for environmental stress.Colon tumor tissues were collected 24 hours after the final intervention following overnight fasting. RNA extraction (kit RB1001), cDNA synthesis, and gene expression quantification via RTqPCR (SYBR Green; StepOnePlus system) were performed for Bax, Bcl2, HIF1α, and VEGFA. TBP gene was used as the reference gene due to its stability in inflammatory and cancer models. Primer sequences were validated for efficiency (90–110%) and specificity using meltcurve analysis. All reactions were performed in technical triplicates. Statistical analyses included Shapiro–Wilk test, the Levene test, oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey posthoc tests. In addition, Bonferroni correction was applied as a sensitivity analysis. Tumor burden and molecular markers were analyzed as fold changes relative to HC. The significance level was set at p<0.05.Findings: DMH administration successfully induced colon tumors in the DS and DA groups, whereas no macroscopic lesions were observed in HC and SH groups. Tumor burden indices were markedly elevated in the DS group, which exhibited the highest tumor number and total tumor weight. Aerobic exercise significantly attenuated tumor burden in the DA group compared with the DS group. Specifically, the mean tumor number decreased from 6.80±1.40 in DS to 4.10±1.20 in DA, while total tumor weight decreased from 1.92±0.35 g to 1.21±0.28 g (p<0.01). Molecular analyses revealed substantial differences in apoptotic and angiogenic gene expression markers across groups. Oneway ANOVA revealed significant differences among the study groups in tumor burden indices as well as molecular variables, including Bax, Bcl2, HIF1α, and VEGFA (p≤0.006), with large effect sizes (η²=0.38–0.81). Descriptive statistics and ANOVA results for these variables are presented in Table 1. Tukey’s post hoc analysis showed that the DS group had significantly higher tumor number and total tumor weight compared with HC and SH (p<0.001), whereas both indices were significantly lower in DA compared with DS (p<0.01). Regarding apoptotic markers, Bax expression was significantly lower in DS compared with HC (p<0.001), while Bcl2 expression was significantly higher (p<0.001). In the DA group, Bax expression was significantly higher than in DS (p=0.04), whereas Bcl2 expression was significantly lower (p=0.01). For angiogenesisrelated markers, HIF1α and VEGFA expression levels were significantly higher in DS compared with HC (both p<0.001). In addition, both markers were significantly lower in DA compared with DS (both p<0.001).Conclusion: Fourteen weeks of structured aerobic exercise in a DMHinduced rat model of colon cancer resulted in meaningful molecular and phenotypic improvements. Aerobic exercise significantly reduced tumor burden, restored apoptotic signaling through increased Bax and decreased Bcl2 expression, and attenuated the activation of the hypoxiadependent angiogenesis pathway through reductions in HIF1α and VEGFA. The coordinated modulation of these pathways suggests that aerobic exercise exerts multidimensional anticancer effects, consistent with preclinical models proposing enhanced oxygenation, improved vascular function, and modulation of survival signaling (Ashcraft et al., 2016; Schadler et al., 2016). Although these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans, they support the potential role of structured aerobic exercise as a complementary non-pharmacological strategy alongside conventional therapies. Future studies should investigate proteinlevel changes, functional angiogenic outcomes, and individualized exercisedose responses to optimize clinical applications.Ethical Considerations: All experimental procedures involving animals were conducted in accordance with the institutional guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals and complied with internationally accepted ethical standards for animal research. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, Iran (Approval No. IR.IAU.NAJAFABAD.REC.1404.225).Compliance with Ethical Guideline: The study complied fully with international standards for the ethical treatment of laboratory animals and followed ARRIVE guidelines.Funding: No external funding was received for this research. Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.زمینه و هدف: سرطان کولون یکی از شایع‌ترین بدخیمی‌های دستگاه گوارش است که پیشرفت آن با اختلال در تعادل آپوپتوزیس و فعال‌سازی مسیر هیپوکسی–آنژیوژنزیس توموری مرتبط است. عدم تعادل در نسبت Bax/Bcl2 و افزایش نسبت عامل القا هپوکسی-۱ آلفا/ و عامل رشد عروق مشتق شده از اندوتلیوم نوع A (HIF-1α/VEGF-A) از مکانیسم‌های کلیدی بقای سلول‌های سرطانی محسوب می‌شوند. اگرچه تمرین ورزشی به‌عنوان یک مداخله غیردارویی ایمن شناخته میشود، اثر مقایسه‌ای تمرینات هوازی بر این مسیرهای مولکولی در بافت توموری کولون بهطور کامل روشن نشده است. هدف این پژوهش بررسی تأثیر تمرینات هوازی بر بیان ژن برخی عوامل تعادل آپوپتوتیک (Bax/Bcl-2) و مهار مسیر HIF-1α/VEGF-A در بافت توموری کولون رتهای مبتلا به سرطان کولون القاشده با دی‌متیل‌هیدرازین بود. روش تحقیق: این مطالعه تجربی بر روی 40 رت نژاد ویستار انجام شد که بهطور تصادفی در چهار گروه شامل کنترل سالم، شم، بیمار کم‌تحرک، بیمار همراه تمرین هوازی تقسیم شدند. سرطان کولون با تزریق دی‌متیل‌هیدرازین القا شد و مداخلات تمرینی بهمدت ۱۴ هفته اجرا شد. بیان ژنهای Bax، Bcl-2، HIF-1α و VEGF-A در بافت توموری کولون با روش RT-qPCR اندازهگیری گردید. تحلیل آماری با روش تحلیل واریانس یکراهه و آزمون تعقیبی توکی در سطح معنیداری 05/0>p انجام شد. یافتهها: القای سرطان کولون موجب کاهش معنیدار بیان Bax همراه با افزایش معنیدار بیان Bcl-2، HIF-1α و VEGF-A در بافت توموری شد (001/0>p برای همه تغییرات). در مقابل، تمرین هوازی نسبت به گروه بیمار کم‌تحرک، باعث افزایش معنیدار بیان Bax و کاهش معنیدار بیان Bcl-2، HIF-1α و VEGF-A گردید (01/0>p برای همه تغییرات). نتیجهگیری: تمرین هوازی در مدل سرطان کولون رت‌ها با افزایش Bax و کاهش Bcl-2 (به نفع تقویت آپوپتوزیس) و نیز با کاهش HIF-1α و VEGF-A (به نفع مهار مسیر/محور آنژیوژنزیس وابسته به هیپوکسی) همراه بود و همزمان بار توموری را کاهش داد. بنابراین می‌تواند به‌عنوان راهبرد غیردارویی برای کند کردن پیشرفت تومور کولون مورد توجه قرار گیرد.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3944_f9fe83f1ea3dd2108188fb7bf8aa5b3c.pdfدانشگاه بیرجندمطالعات کاربردی علوم زیستی در ورزش2383-0182143920260923The effect of 12-week of resistance training with pilates bands on body composition, muscle strength, and liver enzymes in elderly women with diabetesتأثیر 21 هفته تمرین مقاومتی با کش پیلاتس بر ترکیب بدنی، قدرت عضلانی و آنزیم‌های کبدی زنان سالمند دیابتی100113378510.22077/jpsbs.2025.9785.1986FAحمیدرجبیاستاد گروه فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران.0000-0002-3276-1598شکوفهخردمنددکترای فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران.اعظماحمدیدکترای فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده تربیت بدنی و علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران.Journal Article20250719Extended AbstractBackground and Aim: Age-related decrease in physical abilities and muscle weakness are contributing factors for increasing metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes (T2DM). The T2DM is characterized by impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, frequently associates with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and can lead to liver dysfunction. Early detection of liver disease in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes is of considerable clinical importance. Liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) are considered important indicators of liver injury in these patients. Both aerobic and resistance trainings have been shown to improve liver health indices in elderly diabetic patients. Resistance training, such as pilates band exercises, is an effective method for improving muscle function and increasing muscle mass in the elderly. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of resistance training using pilates bands on liver enzymes levels, body composition and, leg muscle strength, in elderly women with type II diabetes.Materials and Methods: This experimental study included 26 elderly women with T2DM (65–80 years), who were randomly assigned to control (n=13) and exercise (n=13) groups. All participants provided written informed consent. Measurements were performed 24 hours pre‑intervention and 48 hours post‑intervention. After 8–12 hours fasting, blood samples were drawn to assess serum liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) via standard enzymatic methods. Body weight was measured using a Porsa ZT‑120 scale, and height using a wall stadiometer. Body composition was measured using an Omron BF‑302 analyzer. Dynamic lower limb strength was evaluated using the 30‑second chair stand test (CST), recording the number of complete sit‑to‑stand repetitions within 30 seconds.Exercise intervention: The 12‑week resistance training program was designed according to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for older adults, was performed three sessions/week using elastic bands (yellow, green, pink, red). Each session consisted 10 min warm‑up, 40 min resistance exercises (seated chest press, row, shoulder press, knee extension/flexion, hip flexion/extension, leg press), and 5 min cool‑down. Intensity was progressively increased by changing band colors every two weeks and increasing repetitions, monitored by the Borg RPE scale (score 13= moderate intensity). Participants completed at least 75% of sessions for final analysis.Statistical analysis: Paired t‑tests, ANCOVA (with pretest scores as covariates), and the Mann‑Whitney U test were used, with significance set at p<0.05.Findings: At baseline, the exercise and control groups were homogeneous in terms of mean age (72.08±4.71 years vs. 72.3±5.75 years) and height (167.68±4.94 cm vs. 164.15±6.30 cm) (p>0.05). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). To be eligible for the post-test phase, participants were required to complete at least 75% of all training sessions. Throughout the intervention period, the participants’ general condition was monitored both visually and verbally to ensure that the exercise intensity remained within their individual tolerance levels.Body Composition: The results indicated a reduction in body weight in the resistance training group, whereas body weight increased in the control group. ANCOVA revealed a statistically significant between-group difference in post-intervention body weight (p=0.004, F=10.40, η²=0.34). Regarding body fat mass, a sig nificant reduction was observed within the exercise group compared with baseline (p=0.04). However, the between-group difference in the post-test was not statistically significant (p=0.16, F=2.00, η²=0.09).Liver Enzymes: Concerning AST levels, both groups showed within-group decreases, but these reductions were not significant, and no between-group difference was observed in the post-test (p=0.75, F=0.005, η²=0.005). Additionally, no significant difference was found between the two groups in ALT levels (p=0.69, F=0.16, η²=0.008). However, both groups demonstrated a significant within-group increase in ALT compared to baseline (p<0.05). Regarding ALP, due to the violation of ANCOVA assumptions, the Mann–Whitney U test was employed for between-group comparisons. The results indicated no significant difference between the groups (p=0.11, Z=-1.58, U=36.00). Furthermore, both groups showed non-significant within-group increases in ALP relative to baseline (p>0.05).Functional Test: The results of the paired-samples t-test also revealed a significant increase in lower limb functional strength in the Pilates band resistance training group compared to baseline (p=0.02), whereas the control group did not showed any significant decrease (p=0.06). Moreover, the results of ANCOVA, with pre-test scores entered as the covariate, demonstrated a significant difference between the two groups in post-test mean scores (p=0.004, F=10.75, η²=0.38), indicating a significant effect of Pilates band resistance training on improving lower limb functional strength compared to the control group (Table 1).Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated improvement in body composition and muscle strength; specifically, for weight, body mass index, and fat mass in the exercise group compared to the control group that indicate the effective role of resistance training in metabolic management of diabetic patients due to the reducing obesity-related risk factors and insulin resistance. Furthermore, a significant 9% improvement in the CST performance in the exercise group suggests increased functional strength and muscular endurance of the lower limbs that can be considered as a key factor in maintaining functional independence, reducing the risk of falls and fractures, and ultimately enhancing the quality of life in the elderly. This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies that have introduced resistance training with elastic bands as effective in improving functional fitness in older adults, although the intensity, volume, and duration of training, as well as the characteristics of the study population, may justify slight differences in the effectiveness between various studies. However, the implementation of resistance training did not create significant changes in the levels of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP). These results can emphasize that the 12-week intervention duration, as well as confounding factors such as medications, diet, and the long history of diabetes in the subjects, may have contributed to the lack of change in liver enzymes. Therefore, to establish sustainable changes in liver enzymes, longer intervention periods or different training intensities may be required.Ethical Considerations: All stages of the present research were approved by the Ethics Committee of Kharazmi University, Tehran (Approval Code: IR.KHU.REC.1403.108) and the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Trial ID: IRCT20241008063290N1).Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.Funding: This research was supported by Grant No. 4026206 from the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF).زمینه و هدف: دیابت نوع دو در زنان سالمند با اختلالات متابولیکی، تغییرات نامطلوب ترکیب بدنی و افزایش خطر آسیب‌های کبدی همراه است و مداخلات ورزشی میتوانند نقش مؤثری در بهبود این پیامدها داشته باشند. هدف پژوهش حاضر بررسی تأثیر ۱۲ هفته تمرین مقاومتی با کش پیلاتس بر آنزیم‌های کبدی آلانین آمینوترانسفراز (ALT)، آسپارتات آمینوترانسفراز (AST)، آلکالین فسفاتاز (ALP)، ترکیب بدنی و قدرت عضلانی پا در زنان سالمند مبتلا به دیابت نوع دو بود. روش تحقیق: در این مطالعه کارآزمایی بالینی تصادفی شده با طرح پیش آزمون و پس آزمون، ۲۶ زن سالمند مبتلا به دیابت نوع دو به روش نمونه‌گیری هدفمند انتخاب و بهطور تصادفی به دو گروه مساوی تمرین و کنترل تقسیم شدند. گروه تمرین بهمدت ۱۲ هفته، سه جلسه در هفته، تمرینات مقاومتی با کش پیلاتس را اجرا کردند. پیش و پس از مداخله، آنزیم‌های کبدی، ترکیب‌بدنی و قدرت عضلانی پا ارزیابی شد. دادهها با استفاده از آزمون تحلیل کوواریانس در سطح 05/0 p< تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافتهها: بر اساس نتایج، شاخصهای وزن بدن (004/0=p)، شاخص توده بدن (0001/0=p) و قدرت عضلانی پا (004/0=p) تفاوت معنیداری بین دو گروه داشت، اما در شاخصهای توده چربی (16/0=p)، AST (75/0=p)، ALT(69/0=p) و ALP (81/0=p) تفاوت معنیداری بین گروه‌ها مشاهده نشد. نتیجهگیری: تمرینات مقاومتی با کش پیلاتس، اگر چه اثر مستقیم بر آنزیم‌های کبدی نداشت، اما بهبود معنیدار در ترکیب بدنی و قدرت عضلانی ایجاد کرد.https://jpsbs.birjand.ac.ir/article_3785_44feb0096faa8326192570788b38c1d1.pdf