The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Basal Metabolism and Physical Fitness in Sedentary Women

Objective: Aerobic exercises are the basic activity on fight against obesity. And obesity is related with metabolic rate. So our study is aimed to investigate the effects of 8 weeks aerobic exercise on basal metabolic rate and physical parameters. Methods: Sedentary women between the ages of 35 - 45 (n = 40) were randomized into control group (CG) (n = 20) and exercise group (EG) (n = 20). EG underwent 8 weeks of aerobic-run-walk exercise training: 3 days a week, 1 hour sessions. The CG was not trained. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage (BFP), body fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LBM) were measured for all of the subjects before and after the training program. Results: Mean BMR decreased from 1386 ± 213.6 kcal to 1327 ± 253.7 in CG, and raised from 1308 ± 201.8 to 1409 ± 218.3 kcal in EG. While BMI raised from 31.39 ± 6.15 kg/m2 to 31.51 ± 6.09 kg/m2 in CG, it decreased from 29.62 ± 3.78 kg/m2 to 28.47 ± 3.74 kg/m2 in EG. There was also statistically significant difference in parameters of WHR, BFP, FM and LBM in favour of EG (p < 0.05). Conclusion: After 8 weeks aerobic exercise training program, there was a statistically significant difference in favour of EG in BMR, BMI, BFP, FM, LBM, WHR and weight parameters.

Seasonal phenotypic flexibility in body mass,basal thermogenesis,and tissue oxidative capacity in the male Silky Starling(Sturnus sericeus)

Background: Acclimatization to winter conditions is an essential prerequisite for the survival of small birds in the northern temperate zone.Changes in photoperiod,ambient temperature and food availability trigger seasonal physiological and behavioral acclimatization in many passerines.Seasonal trends in metabolic parameters are well known in avian populations from temperate environments;however,the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying these trends are incompletely understood.In this study,we used an integrative approach to measure variation in the thermogenic properties of the male Silky Starling(Sturnus sericeus) at different levels or organization,from the whole organism to the biochemical.We measured body mass(Mb),basal metabolic rate(BMR),energy budget,the mass of selected internal organs,state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(COX) activity in the heart,liver and muscle.Methods: Oxygen consumption was measured using an open-circuit respirometry system.The energy intake of the birds were then determined using an oxygen bomb calorimeter.Mitochondrial state 4 respiration and COX activity in heart,liver and pectoral muscle were measured with a Clark electrode.Results: The results suggest that acclimatization to winter conditions caused significant change in each of the measured variables,specifically,increases in Mb,organ mass,BMR,energy intake and cellular enzyme activity.Furthermore,BMR was positively correlated with body mass,energy intake,the mass of selected internal organs,state 4 respiration in the heart,liver and muscle,and COX activity in the heart and muscle.Conclusions: These results suggest that the male Silky Starling's enhanced basal thermogenesis under winter conditions is achieved by making a suite of adjustments from the whole organism to the biochemical level,and provide further evidence to support the notion that small birds have high phenotypic plasticity with respect to seasonal changes.

Seasonal acclimatization and temperature acclimation in small passerine birds is achieved via metabolic adjustments

Temperature and other environmental factors play an integral role in the metabolic adjustments of animals and drive a series of morphological,physiological,and behavioral adaptions essential to survival.However,it is not clear how the capacity of an organism for temperature acclimation translates into seasonal acclimatization to maintain survival.Basal metabolic rate(BMR),evaporative water loss(EWL),and energy budget were measured in the Chinese Hwamei(Garrulax canorus)following winter and summer acclimatization,and in those acclimatized to 15℃(cold)and 35℃(warm)under laboratory conditions for 28 days.In addition to the above indicators,internal organ masses,as well as state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity were also measured for the liver,skeletal muscle,heart,and kidney.Both winter-acclimatized and cold-acclimated birds exhibited significantly higher BMR,EWL,and energy budget,as well as organ masses,state 4 respiration,and COX activity compared with the summer-acclimatized and warm-acclimated birds.This indicated that the Chinese Hwamei could adapt to seasonal or just temperature changes through some physiological and biochemical thermogenic adjustments,which would be beneficial to cope with natural environmental changes.A general linear model showed that body mass,BMR,GEI,state 4 respiration in the liver and kidney,and COX activity in the skeletal muscle,liver,and kidney were significantly affected by temperature and acclimation.A positive correlation was observed between BMR and each of the other parameters(body mass,EWL,energy budget,heart dry mass,kidney dry mass,state 4 respiration)in the muscle,heart,and kidney and also between BMR and COX activity in the muscle and kidney.The results suggested that similar to seasonal acclimatization,Chinese Hwameis subjected to temperature acclimation also exhibited significant differences in metabolism-related physiological and biochemical parameters,depending on the temperature.The data also supported the prediction that metabolic adjustment might be the primary means by which small birds meet the energetic challenges triggered by cold conditions.

New Mathematical Modelling on BMR and Weight Prediction for Ghanaians

Background: Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the quantum of calories needed for optimum body function when at rest. This has long been an indicator of one’s health and the basis for determining the metabolic age of individuals. Many scholastic projects have led to the establishment of mathematical models and inventions that measure the BMR and other body composition parameters. However, existing computations have limitations as they do not offer accurate results for Ghanaians. Aim: The purpose of the study was to model BMR metrics that are most suitable for Ghanaians and to investigate the effect of caloric difference on weight, Lean Body Mass (LBM) and % fat composition that can be implemented with Information Technology. Research Methods and Procedures: This was an experimental study that adopted a quantitative approach. BMR and body composition were measured in a sample of 242 Ghanaian adults (141 males and 101 females) from 19 to 30 years of age. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impendence analysis (BIA) in all participants. Each participant was under study for 7 days. A simple linear regression model was used to examine associations between BMR/calorie intake and total body weight and LBM. Results: There was a significant statistical relation between BMR and LBM and between BMR and weight of both men and women. Equations for BMR and weight were established for males and females. Furthermore, caloric intake differences affected changes in total weight as well as differences in % fat composition. Caloric intake however did not affect the difference in LBM. Conclusion: Caloric difference had an impact on total body weight and Lean Body Mass. The model derived from the study predicts weight change and BMR of Ghanaians from 19 to 30 years of age. It is termed the Health and Age Monitoring System (HAMS).

Oligo-carrageenan kappa increases C, N and S assimilation, auxin and gibberellin contents, and growth in Pinus radiata trees

Oligo-carrageenans （OCs） obtained from pure carrageenans extracted from marine red algae stimulate growth by enhancing photosynthesis and basal metabolism in tobacco plants and Eucalyptus trees. In addition, OCs stimulate secondary metabolism, increasing the level of metabolites involved in defense against pathogens. In this work, we analyzed the effect of OC kappa on the increase in height, in activities of basal metabolism enzymes in- volved in carbon, nitrogen and sulphur assimilation, ribu- lose 1,5 biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase （rubisco）, glutamate dehydrogenase （GDH） and O-acetylserine thiol- lyase （OASTL）, and in the level of growth-promoting hormones, the auxin indole acetic acid （IAA） and the gibberellin GA3, in pine （Pinus radiata） trees treated with OC kappa at concentrations of 1 and 5 mg mL-1 and cultivated for 9 months without additional treatment. Pines treated with OC kappa at 1 mg mL-1 showed a similar increase in height but displayed a higher increased in total chlorophyll, activities of rubisco, GDH and OASTL and level of IAA and GA3 than those treated with OC kappa at 5 mg mL-1. Thus, OC kappa stimulates growth and basal metabolism and increases the level of growth-promoting hormones in pine trees, mainly at 1 mg mL-1.

Histopathological Characteristics of Folliculo-stellate Cells in Pituitary Glands of Wild Type,Obese and High-fat Diet Induced Mice

The anterior pituitary gland regulates growth,metabolism,and reproduction by secreting hormones.Folliculo-stellate cells(FSC)are non-endocrine cells located among hormone-producing cells in the anterior pituitary glands,but little is known about the exact roles of those cells.Although,with their net organization,they seem to have an important role in the hormonal cells regulation and maintenance.In this work,the first ever made in this area,33 pituitaries of three groups of mice(18 wild type[WT],11 genetically obese[OB]and 4 under a high-fat diet[HFD])were studied in order to determine if there was any relation between the number of FSC and alterations of the basal metabolism in each group of mice.For that,immunohistochemical staining using the S-100 protein was used and also the Image-J software,to calculate the percentage of FSC present in each sample.The authors found that,although there wasn’t any significant difference between WT and OB mice,the group of HFD mice tend to have substantially higher percentage of FSC than the mice from other groups.This might suggest some yet unknown link between diet,precisely with a high-fat diet,and the presentation of FSC in the anterior pituitary.

Interspecific variation of thermoregulation between small migratory and resident passerines in Wenzhou

Physiological adaptation arises from several fundamental sources of phenotypic variation. Most analyses of metabolic adaptation in birds have focused on the basal metabolic rate （BMR）, the lower limit of avian metabolic heat production. In this study, we investigated thermoregulation in three passerine species; the yellow-billed grosbeak Eophona migratoria, white-rumped munia Lonchura striata and black-throated bushtit Aegithalos concinnus, in Wenzhou, China. Metabolic rate was measured using the closed-circuit respirometer containing 3.5 L animal chambers. Body temperature （Tb） was measured during metabolic measurements using a lubricated thermocouple. The minimum thermal conductance of these species was calculated by measuring their Tb and metabolic rates. The yellow-billed grosbeak remained largely normothermic, and the white-rumped munia and black-throated bushtit exhibited variable Tb at ambient temperatures （Ta）. Mean metabolic rates within thermal neutral zone were 2.48±0.09 02 （mL）/g/h for yellow-billed grosbeaks, 3.44±0.16 02 （mL）/g/h for white-rumped munias, and 3.55±0.20 O2 （mL）/g/h for black-throated bushtits, respectively. Minimum thermal conductance of yellow-billed grosbeak, white-rumped munia and black-throated bushtit were 0.13±0.00, 0.36±0.01, and 0.37±0.01 02 （mL）/g/h/℃, respectively. The ecophysiological characteristics of these species were： （1） the yellowbilled grosbeak had relatively high Tb and BMR, a low lower critical temperature and thermal conductance, and a metabolic rate that was relatively insensitive to variation in Ta; all of which are typical of cold adapted species and explain its broader geographic distribution; （2） the white-rumped munia and black- throated bushtit had high thermal conductance, lower critical temperature, and relatively low BMR, all which are adapted to warm environments where there is little selection pressure for metabolic thermogenesis. Taken together, these data illustrate small migratory and resident passerines that exhibit the different characteristics of thermoregulation.

The role of temperature as a driver of metabolic flexibility in the Red-billed Leiothrix(Leiothrix lutea)

Background:The thermoregulatory ability of animals is strongly influenced by the temperature of their environment.Acclimation to cold requires a range of physiological and morphological adjustments.In this study,we tested the hypothesis that a small passerine,the Red-billed Leiothrix(Leiothrix lutea),can maintain homeothermy in cold conditions by adjusting the physiology and biochemistry of its tissue and organs and return to its former physiological and biochemical state when moved to a warm temperature.Methods:Phenotypic variation in thermogenic activity of the Red-billed Leiothrixs(Leiothrix lutea)was investigated under warm(35℃),normal(25℃)or cold(15℃)ambient temperature conditions.Oxygen consumption was measured using an open-circuit respirometry system.Mitochondrial state-4 respiration and cytochrome-c oxidase(COX)activity in liver,kidney heart and pectoral muscle were measured with a Clark electrode.Results:Birds acclimated to an ambient temperature of 15℃ for 4 weeks significantly increased their basal metabolic rate(BMR)compared to a control group kept at 25℃.Birds acclimated to 35℃ decreased their BMR,gross energy intake(GEI)and digestible energy intake(DEI).Furthermore,birds acclimated to 15℃ increased state-4 respiration in their pectoral muscles and cytochrome-c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and pectoral muscle,compared to the 25℃ control group.Birds acclimated to 35℃ also displayed lower state-4 respiration and COX activity in the liver,heart and pectoral muscles,compared to those kept at 25℃.There was a positive correlation between BMR and state-4 respiration,and between BMR and COX activity,in all of the above organs except the liver and heart.Conclusions:Our study illustrates that the morphological,physiological,and enzymatic changes are associated with temperature acclimation in the Red-billed Leiothrix,and supports the notion that the primary means by which small birds meet the energetic challenges of cold conditions is through metabolic adjustments.

Short photoperiod increases energy intake, metabolic thermogenesis and organ mass in silky starlings Sturnus sericeus

Environmental cues play important roles in the regulation of an animal＇s physiology and behavior. One such cue, photoperiod, plays an important role in the seasonal acclimatization of birds. It has been demonstrated that an animal＇s body mass, basal metabolic rate （BMR）, and energy intake, are all affected by photoperiod. The present study was designed to examine photoperiod induced changes in the body mass, metabolism and metabolic organs of the silky starling, Stumus sericeus. Captive silky starlings increased their body mass and BMR during four weeks of acclimation to a short photoperiod. Birds acclimated to a short photopedod also increased the mass of certain organs （liver, gizzard and small intestine）, and both gross energy intake （GEl） and digestible energy intake （DEI）, relative to those acclimated to a long photoperiod. Furthermore, BMR was positively correlated with body mass, liver mass, GEl and DEI. These results suggest that silky starlings increase metabolic thermogenesis when exposed to a short photoperiod by increasing their body and metabolic organ mass, and their GEl and DEI. These findings support the hypothesis that bird species from temperate climates typically display high phenotypic flexibility in thermogenic capacity.

Increased BMR in Overweight and Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes may Result from an Increased Fat-free Mass

The study aimed to determine the relationships between the basal metabolic rate（BMR） and body composition of overweight and obese Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus（DM）. This cross-sectional clinical study enrolled 193 Chinese adults with type 2 DM who were overweight（24 kg/m2≤BMI〈28 kg/m2, n=99）, or obese（BMI ≥28 kg/m2, n=94）. Ninety-seven adults with normal BMIs, including 50 DM patients and 47 healthy adults, were recruited as a control group. BMR was measured by indirect calorimetry; predicted BMR was calculated according to the Schofield equation; and the relationships between BMR, body composition, and biochemical results were determined by the Pearson correlation. The results showed that obese DM patients had significantly higher BMRs than both overweight patients（P〈0.05） and patients with normal BMI did（P〈0.05）. The measured BMR was significantly lower than the predicted BMR（P〈0.05） in all groups. Obese and overweight DM patients had significantly greater weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI, body surface area, body fat percentage, fat mass, and fat-free mass than patients with normal BMI. Except for waist circumference, these body composition measurements were significantly increased in obese DM patients when compared with those in overweight DM patients（P〈0.05）. Fat-free mass was closely correlated with BMR in both DM patients（r=0.874, P〈0.01） and in healthy controls（r=0.902, P〈0.01）. It was concluded that overweight and obese Chinese adults with type 2 DM had increased BMRs compared with normal-weight controls, which may result from the difference in fat-free mass.

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus)to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.

Beyond Biological Aging: Table Analysis

Keeping in mind the relationship between the basal metabolic rate and the change in weight in the aging process, we propose to verify the holographic description of the same. For this we set ourselves the following objectives: Verify the correlation between total energy dissipation and energy dissipation per unit body mass, and verify the correlation between the total energy dissipation and the body mass. As a result of the data analysis, we obtained a coherent representation of our proposal. A high degree of correlation between the total energy dissipation in an organism and the basal metabolic rate/dry kg was found. Such a condition implies that the stated biological system satisfies the Holographic Principle.

Effects of a 12-Week Recreational Soccer Program on Resting Metabolic Rate Among Adolescents with Obesity

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of a 12-week recreational soccer program(RSP)on resting metabolic rate(RMR)in adolescents with obesity.Methods Eighteen adolescents with obesity were assigned to RSP[n=10,age=13.8±1.5 years,body mass index(BMI)=30.7±5 kg/m^(2)]and control(n=8,age=14.9±1.4 years,BMI=32.5±4.1 kg/m^(2))groups.Participants underwent anthropometric,body composition,cardiorespiratory fitness and RMR assessments at baseline and post-intervention.The 12-week RSP consisted of small-sided games with 60-min performed 3 times per week.Results Post-intervention,between-group differences due to RSP emerged for body mass(Δ:−15.1 kg,P=0.043),BMI(Δ:−4.7 kg,P=0.05),waist and hip circumferences(Δ:−14.6 and−16.6 cm,P=0.015 and P=0.017,respectively),fat mass(Δ:−8.7 kg,P=0.049)and VO2max(Δ:5.5 mL/kg/min,P=0.013).No significant differences were detected for the absolute and adjusted RMR for fat mass and fat-free mass at baseline and after 12 weeks for both RSP and control groups,although a marked downward trend of 27.6%for adjusted RMR was observed post-control(1915 vs.1386 kcal/day;Δ:−529 kcal/day).Conclusion A 12-week RSP was effective for improving anthropometric,body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness health markers in adolescents with obesity,but not for RMR.

Thermal survival limits of young and mature larvae of a cold stenothermal chironomid from the Alps （Diamesinae： Pseudodiamesa branickii [Nowicki, 1873]）

The threats posed by climate change make it important to expand knowl- edge concerning cold and heat tolerance in stenothermal species from habitats potentially threatened by temperature changes. Thermal limits and basal metabolism variations were investigated in Pseudodiamesa branickii （Diptera： Chironomidae） under thermal stress between -20 and 37 ℃. Supercooling point （SCP）, lower （LLTs） and upper lethal temper- atures （ULTs）, and oxygen consumption rate were measured in overwintering young （lst and 2nd instar） and mature （3rd and 4th instar） larvae from an Alpine glacier-fed stream. Both young and mature larvae were freezing tolerant （SCPs = -7.1 ℃ and -6.4 ℃, re- spectively; LLT100 〈SCP and 〉 -20 ℃） and thermotolerant （ULTso = 31.7 ± 0.4, 32.5± 0.3, respectively）. However, ontogenetic differences in acute tolerance were observed. The LLT50 calculated for the young larvae （=-7.4 ℃） was almost equal to their SCP （= -7.1 ℃） and the overlapping of the proportion of mortality curve with the CPIF curve highlighted that the young larvae are borderline between freezing tolerance and freezing avoidance. Furthermore, a lower ULT100 in the young larvae （of ca. 1 ℃）, suggests that they are less thermotolerant than mature larvae. Finally, young larvae exhibit a higher oxygen consumption rate （mgO2/gAFDM/h） at any temperature tested and are overall less resistant to oxygen depletion compared to mature larvae at ≥ 10 ℃. These findings sug- gest that mature larvae enter into a dormant state by lowering their basal metabolism until environmental conditions improve in order to save energy for life cycle completion during stressful conditions.

Implication of metabolomic profiles to wide thermoneutral zone in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Mongolian gerbils(Meriones unguiculatus)have evolved a wide thermoneutral zone(26.5-38.9°C)and high upper critical temperature,and appear to have a high tolerance for heat exposure.Here,we use a metabolom­ic approach to measure global metabolite profiles for gerbils between lower(27°C)and upper critical tempera­tures(38°C)to investigate the role of metabolomic characterization in maintaining basal metabolic rates within a wide thermoneutral zone.We found that in serum and liver,14 and 19 metabolites were significantly altered,respectively.In the aerobic respiration-related tricarboxylic cycle(TCA),5 intermediates(isocitric acid,cis-ac­onitic acid,α-ketoglutaric acid,fumaric acid and malic acid)were increased in serum in 38°C animals;how­ever,no such increase was found in the liver.A stable level of hepatic TCA cycle intermediates may be relat­ed to the steady state of aerobic respiration at 38°C.Metabolomic results also revealed that acute heat exposure caused increased oxidative stress and low molecular weight antioxidants in Mongolian gerbils.Increased me­thionine and 2-hydroxybutyrate suggest an accelerated synthesis of glutathione.Increased urate and its precur­sors,inosine and hypoxanthine,were detected at 38°C.Glucuronate,threonate and oxalate involved in ascor­bate synthesis and degradation were increased in serum at 38°C.In conclusion,although dramatic metabolomic variation was found,a stable hepatic TCA cycle may contribute to maintaining a constant basal metabolic rate within a wide thermoneutral zone in Mongolian gerbils.