1.
Molecular Regulators of Muscle Mass and Mitochondrial Remodeling Are Not Influenced by Testosterone Administration in Young Women.
Horwath, O, Moberg, M, Hirschberg, AL, Ekblom, B, Apró, W
Frontiers in endocrinology. 2022;13:874748
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Testosterone is a sex hormone normally found in higher amounts in adult males than females. Testosterone plays a number of important roles, including influencing muscle size and strength. Treatment with testosterone has been shown to increase lean mass and muscle strength in women as well as men. However, female-only studies are limited, and the precise mechanisms underlying these changes are not well understood. This randomised control trial examined the effect of testosterone administration on regulators of muscle protein turnover and mitochondrial function in muscle samples collected from young women. 48 healthy, pre-menopausal women were assigned to receive either 10mg of transdermal testosterone gel per day, or a placebo, for 10 weeks. Muscle samples were collected via biopsy before and after the intervention. Testosterone administration did not appear to have a significant effect on androgen receptors, 5-alpha reductase, anabolic signalling, or mitochondrial remodelling in muscle tissue. The researchers concluded that improvements in muscle size and oxidative capacity following testosterone administration cannot be explained by changes in protein expression related to muscle protein turnover or mitochondrial remodelling. The authors went on to suggest that the small sample size in this study may have reduced the ability to detect small but biologically relevant changes in protein levels. Within the research, there is large variability among studies in terms of sex, age, route of administration and length of treatment, which makes putting these findings into context of the wider literature difficult.
Abstract
Testosterone (T) administration has previously been shown to improve muscle size and oxidative capacity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations in human skeletal muscle remain to be determined. Here, we examined the effect of moderate-dose T administration on molecular regulators of muscle protein turnover and mitochondrial remodeling in muscle samples collected from young women. Forty-eight healthy, physically active, young women (28 ± 4 years) were assigned in a random double-blind fashion to receive either T (10 mg/day) or placebo for 10-weeks. Muscle biopsies collected before and after the intervention period were divided into sub-cellular fractions and total protein levels of molecular regulators of muscle protein turnover and mitochondrial remodeling were analyzed using Western blotting. T administration had no effect on androgen receptor or 5α-reductase levels, nor on proteins involved in the mTORC1-signaling pathway (mTOR, S6K1, eEF2 and RPS6). Neither did it affect the abundance of proteins associated with proteasomal protein degradation (MAFbx, MuRF-1 and UBR5) and autophagy-lysosomal degradation (AMPK, ULK1 and p62). T administration also had no effect on proteins in the mitochondria enriched fraction regulating mitophagy (Beclin, BNIP3, LC3B-I, LC3B-II and LC3B-II/I ratio) and morphology (Mitofilin), and it did not alter the expression of mitochondrial fission- (FIS1 and DRP1) or fusion factors (OPA1 and MFN2). In summary, these data indicate that improvements in muscle size and oxidative capacity in young women in response to moderate-dose T administration cannot be explained by alterations in total expression of molecular factors known to regulate muscle protein turnover or mitochondrial remodeling.
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Prevalence and determinants of physical activity in a mixed sample of psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia.
Alosaimi, FD, Abalhasan, MF, Alhabbad, AA, Fallata, EO, Haddad, BA, AlQattan, NI, Alassiry, MZ
Saudi medical journal. 2018;39(4):401-411
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Physical activity has been shown to considerably reduce the burden of several non-communicable disorders (are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression), such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and breast and colon cancers. The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of physical activity among a mixed group of patients with psychiatric illnesses in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the study sought to evaluate the associations between physical activity, patients with different psychiatric diagnoses and the use of psychotropic medications. The study is a cross-sectional observational study that recruited 1185 patients seeking psychiatric advice, with an average age of 38.0±13.0 years. Results indicate a low prevalence of physical activity in a large, mixed sample of patients with psychiatric illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient settings in Saudi Arabia. Authors conclude that physical activity levels vary according to the type of psychiatric disease and the medications used. They outline that it is important to assess the physical activity status in patients with psychiatric illnesses and promote physical activity programs among psychiatric patients.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate prevalence of physical activity and its associations with various psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medications. METHODS A cross-sectional observational study was carried out between July 2012 and June 2014. Patients were enrolled from a number of hospitals located in 5 regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. RESULTS A total of 1185 patients were included in current analysis: 796 were outpatients, and 389 were inpatients. Out of 1,185 patients, 153 (12.9%) were physically active. Much higher rates of physical activity were reported among males than females (15.9% versus 9.6%, p less than 0.001). According to the univariate analysis, higher rates of physical activity were positively correlated with primary bipolar disorders, the use of antianxiety medications and, to a lesser extent, use of antipsychotic medications, but they were negatively correlated with primary anxiety disorders, use of antidepressant medications, and use of multiple psychotropic medications. The associations between physical activity and primary bipolar disorders (odds ratio [OR]=2.47, p=0.002), use of antianxiety medications (OR=3.58, p=0.003), and use of multiple psychotropic medications (OR=0.33, p less than 0.001) remained significant after adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. CONCLUSION We report a variable but generally low prevalence of physical activity among a large, mixed sample of psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia. These findings may highlight the importance of assessing physical activity status of psychiatric patients and the critical need for physical activity promotion programs among this group of disadvantaged patients.
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Improvements in health-related quality of life over 3 years with liraglutide 3.0 mg compared with placebo in participants with overweight or obesity.
Kolotkin, RL, Gabriel Smolarz, B, Meincke, HH, Fujioka, K
Clinical obesity. 2018;8(1):1-10
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Obesity is associated with reduced health-related quality of life affecting physical, psychological and social function and well-being. The aim of the study was to determine the durability of improvement of health-related quality of life in participants taking Liraglutide 3.0mg after 3 years. The study included participants with prediabetes who were overweight or obese and presented weight-related conditions (hypertension or dyslipidaemia). Results indicate that participants taking 3.0mg of liraglutide for 3 years saw improvements in obesity-specific and physical aspects of health-related quality of life, and health utility. However, it showed little effects on the mental components when compared to the placebo. Authors conclude that Liraglutide 3.0mg, together with diet and exercise, lead to weight loss in obesity which is linked with improved health related quality of life.
Abstract
Previously in the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial, at 1 year, participants with obesity (or overweight with comorbidities) and prediabetes receiving liraglutide 3.0 mg experienced greater improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than those receiving placebo. The current study extends these findings by examining 3-year changes in HRQoL. HRQoL was assessed using the obesity-specific Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) questionnaire, as well as the Short-Form 36 v2 (SF-36) health survey. At 3 years, mean change (±standard deviation) in IWQOL-Lite total score from baseline for liraglutide (n = 1472) was 11.0 ± 14.2, vs. 8.1 ± 14.7 for placebo (n = 738) (estimated treatment difference [ETD] 3.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.0, 4.7], P < 0.0001). Mean change in SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) score from baseline for liraglutide was 3.1 ± 7.3, vs. 2.6 ± 7.6 for placebo (ETD 0.87 [95% CI: 0.17, 1.6], P = 0.0156). Mean change in SF-36 mental component summary score did not significantly differ between groups. Both IWQOL-Lite total score and PCS score demonstrated an association between greater HRQoL improvement with higher weight loss. Liraglutide 3.0 mg was also associated with improved health utility (Short-Form-6D and EuroQol-5D, mapped from IWQOL-Lite and/or SF-36) vs. placebo. Liraglutide 3.0 mg, plus diet and exercise, is associated with long-term improvements in HRQoL with obesity or overweight with comorbidity vs. placebo.
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Gastrointestinal permeability during exercise: effects of aspirin and energy-containing beverages.
Lambert, GP, Broussard, LJ, Mason, BL, Mauermann, WJ, Gisolfi, CV
Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985). 2001;90(6):2075-80
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Many athletes use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for analgesia. This study of 17 subjects aimed to assess whether the use of aspirin with prolonged exercise could increase gastrointestinal permeability. It also aimed to examine whether consumption of a carbohydrate-containing or a carbohydrate and glutamine-containing beverage could reduce this effect. Authors concluded that acute aspirin consumption before prolonged exercise could increase gastroduodenal and intestinal permeability. They also indicated that gastroduodenal permeability was significantly decreased by the ingestion of carbohydrate-containing beverages and that consumption of carbohydrate containing glutamine beverage provided no additional benefits than the carbohydrate alone beverage.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether aspirin (A) ingestion combined with prolonged exercise increases gastrointestinal permeability and whether consumption of a carbohydrate-containing (CHO) or a CHO + glutamine-containing (CHO+G) beverage would reduce this effect. Seventeen subjects completed six experiments. They ingested A (1,300 mg) or placebo (P) pills the evening before and before running 60 min at 70% maximal oxygen uptake. Also, before running they ingested a solution containing 5 g lactulose (L), 5 g sucrose (S), and 2 g rhamnose (R). During each trial, either a 6% CHO beverage, a 6% CHO+G (0.6%; 41 mM) beverage, or a water placebo (WP) was consumed. For 4 h after a run, all urine was collected to measure urinary excretion of L, R, and S. S excretion (percentage of dose ingested; measure of gastroduodenal permeability) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) during the A trial while the subjects drank the WP compared with all other trials. Administration of A also significantly increased L/R (measure of intestinal permeability) for the CHO and WP trials compared with all P trials. Ingestion the CHO or CHO+G beverages significantly reduced S excretion and L excretion when A was administered, but it did not reduce L/R. These results indicate that gastroduodenal and intestinal permeability increase after A ingestion during prolonged running and that ingestion of a CHO beverage attenuates the gastroduodenal effect but not the intestinal effect. Furthermore, addition of G to the CHO beverage provided no additional benefit in reducing gastroduodenal or intestinal permeability.