PURPOSE: Normal weight obesity (NWO) is characterized by a normal body mass index but a high body fat mass percentage and low skeletal muscle mass, thereby increasing the risk of cardiometabolic dysfunction and morbidity. However, the effects of exercise intervention in reducing the risk of cardiometabolic disease in NWO have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the potential cardiometabolic disease risk and to provide implications of exercise interventions for the proactive prevention of cardiometabolic disease risk in NWO.
METHODS: We searched and summarized the literature on the cardiometabolic risk factors in NWO. In addition, we summarized literature investigating the effects of exercise intervention on the cardiometabolic risk factors in NWO. We performed the literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases.
RESULTS: NWO was associated with increased visceral fat, ectopic fat, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and subclinical atherosclerosis compared with normal weight lean. NWO requires exercise interventions that induce alterations in body composition, such as decreased body fat percentage and increased muscle mass. Resistance exercise (RE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) can improve lipid components and alter body composition in NWO. In addition, low-intensity blood flow restriction resistance exercise (BFR-RE) may enhance muscular strength and anaerobic power in NWO.
CONCLUSIONS: The cardiometabolic disease risk is increased in NWO. We suggest that exercise interventions (RE, HIIE, and BFR-RE) may effectively prevent cardiometabolic disease risk and alter body composition in NWO. As this has potential implications for exercise interventions in NWO, further investigations are needed to find the optimal exercise for proactive prevention of cardiometabolic risk in NWO.

PURPOSE: Minor skeletal muscle injuries can be repaired, but more extensive volumetric muscle loss (VML) leads to a permanent functional disability with ambiguous therapeutic outcomes, and reconstructive surgical procedures are constrained by donor tissue scarcity. This review assessed the considerable attention paid to biomaterials in healing damaged skeletal muscle.
METHODS: A comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library was conducted to obtain previous studies exploring the state of biocompatible tissue scaffolds for VML recovery.
RESULTS: By regenerating the function of damaged skeletal muscle, tissue-engineered skeletal muscle construction could revolutionize the treatment of VML. However, transporting cells into the wounded muscle location presents a significant challenge because it may result in unfavorable immunological reactions. The development and validation of several biomaterials with varying physical and chemical natures to treat various muscle injuries have recently been undertaken to overcome this problem. This review discusses the relative benefits of satellite cells (SC), the most prevalent skeletal muscle stem cells employed to seed scaffolds.
CONCLUSIONS: Biomaterials can be used with skeletal muscle stem cells and growth factors to repair VML because of their customizable and desirable physicochemical qualities. Owing to the capacity of SCs for self-renewal and their undifferentiated state, these cells are excellent candidates for cell therapy. A large gap exists between understanding SC behavior and how it can be used to repair and regenerate human skeletal muscle tissue. Thus, this review sought to portray the current knowledge on the lifespan of SCs and their involvement in exercise-induced muscle regeneration and hypertrophy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of a 4-week training using a laboratory index on the competition record of elite female middle-distance runners.
METHODS: A female, middle-distance, trained runner with the following characteristics: age, 20 years; height, 168.7 cm; weight, 64.3 kg; 27.2% fat; and VO2max, 56.4 VO2 mL/kg/min; volunteered to participate in this study. Before the training program, the participant took part in a 1,500-m track and field national event in April and the onset of blood lactate threshold was analyzed using (OBVA/ vOBLA), VO2max/vVO2max, and tVO2max tests. After completing the 4-week training program, the participant again took part in the 1,500-m track and field national event in May and her parameters were reassessed using the OBVA/vOBLA, VO2max/vVO2max, and tVO2max tests.
RESULTS: Pre- and post-training indicate that vVO2max did not improve; however, tVO2max (206 seconds pre-training vs. 251.51 seconds post-training) and VO2max (56.4 vs. 59.3 VO2 mL/kg/min)significantly. However, this improvement in relative VO2 was due to weight loss, and the absolute value of VO2 (3.63 vs. 3.62 L/min) did not change. The 1,500-m race record in track and field events decreased significantly from a pre-training value of 5 minutes 03 seconds to a post-training value of 4 minutes 52 seconds.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that utilizing laboratory indicators including vOBLA, vVO2max, and tVO2max may be extremely valuable when prescribing training programs for middle-distance runners.

PURPOSE: Although the prevalence of periodontal disease in adults over the age of 50 is rapidly increasing, the association between serum lipid levels and periodontal disease in Korean adults over the age of 50 still remains to investigate. Thus, the aim was to determine the effect of serum lipid levels on periodontal disease in older adults over the age of 50 using data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
METHODS: The study used the data of 809 adults aged ≥50 years targeted in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2016-2018. Levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density- lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), and low density-lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol) and periodontal conditions were measured. Complex-sample chi square test and linear regression were used to analyze the relationship serum lipid levels with periodontal disease.
RESULTS: The results of chi square tests showed that the prevalence of periodontal disease among the elderly ≥50 years were statistically significant differences according to gender, age, education level, marital status, and smoking status. After adjusting for all confounding factors, HDL-cholesterol alleviated periodontal disease, while LDL-cholesterol exacerbates periodontal disease. However, total cholesterol and triglycerides were not connected with periodontal disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, controlling HDL and LDL cholesterol levels through physical exercise could be a preventative measure for periodontal disease.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of short-term endurance exercise and methamphetamine administration on blood-brain barrier (BBB)-related marker and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.
METHODS: Forty male SD-rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups and treated for 2 weeks. For the methamphetamine group, 1 mg/ kg (+)-S-Methamphetamine hydrochloride (METH) was intraperitoneally injected daily, and an endurance exercise was performed at 21 m/min for 60 minutes. All treatments were performed daily, and METH or saline was administered after exercise. After 2 weeks of treatment, the head was decapitated under anesthesia, and the hippocampus was separated for western blotting.
RESULTS: Two weeks of endurance exercise significantly increased the expression of occludin and claudin-5 in the hippocampus of the rats. Similarly, phosphorylation of CREB/BDNF and AKT/GSK3 signaling pathways were significantly increased. This phenomenon was also observed in the exercise and METH co-treatment groups. However, the single treatment of 1 mg/kg METH did not affect tight junction protein and BDNF expression.
CONCLUSIONS: Endurance exercise increased the expression of BBB-related proteins and neurogenesis-related molecules, which were not inhibited by METH administration.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify a sport-specific assessment for elite race-walking athletes by comparing physiological responses between walking and running graded exercise test (GXT) protocols.
METHODS: Six elite race-walking athletes completed both walking and running protocols in a randomized crossover design with 1 week interval between trials. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilation (VE), and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout and after each trial, and blood lactate levels were collected during the recovery period.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in VO2max, VE, and HR values between the walking and running protocols (p<.001). During the recovery period, VO2max, VE, HR, and blood lactate levels were significantly different in each measurement (p<.001); however, there was no difference between the walking and running protocols.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, both the walking and running GXT protocols were inappropriate for assessing elite race-walking athletes. This study suggests that a supplement GXT protocol is required to specifically assess elite race-walking athletes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the association between light intensity physical activity (LPA) and all-cause mortality in older adults with physical disability.
METHODS: Data from the 2008 Living Profiles of Older People Survey involving 14367 Korean adults aged ≥60 y (13417 without disabilities and 950 with disabilities) were used. Participants were divided into active and inactive groups based on weekly LPA and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), according to disability status and physical activity levels.
RESULTS: During 3.3±0.4 years follow-up period, 1024 deaths occurred from all causes. Among non-disabled people, the inactive group showed a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.282, 95% CI=1.122-1.465, p<0.001) than the active group (reference=1) in LPA. Similarly, for MVPA, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the inactive group (HR=1.522, 95% CI=1.230-1.882, p<0.001) than in the active group (reference=1). However, among physically disabled people, the inactive group correspondingly showed a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR=2.735, 95% CI=1.761-4.246, p<0.001) than the active group, while there was no significant difference between both groups in MVPA.
CONCLUSIONS: The current findings suggest that promoting LPA may play an important role in preventing premature death from all-cause mortality in older adults with physical disability.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8 wks of mat Pilates exercise on back pain, muscle mass, isokinetic muscle function, and core stability in healthy college female.
METHODS: Twenty healthy college females (aged 21.7±2.5 y) were recruited for the study. The participants were divided into two groups: mat Pilates exercise group (MP, n=10) and non-Pilates control group (CON, n=10). The MP group participated in the mat Pilates exercise program for 60 min a day, 3 d per week for 8 wks. Back pain and basal physical fitness were assessed before and after the experimental period. Left and right core stabilities at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180° were measured using Centaur (BFMC, Germany). Isokinetic muscle function (60°/s) of both the knee and trunk was also measured using the isokinetic dynamometer Cybex.
RESULTS: After mat Pilates exercise for 8 wks, there was a significant interaction between the MP and CON groups in back pain during daily activity and lower back stiffness (p<.05), respectively. There was also a significant interaction between the two groups in the left and right core stability at 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180° (p<.05, p<.01, p<.001), respectively. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between the two groups in the right knee and left knee isokinetic extensor muscle strength (p<.05, p<.001, respectively). However, there was no significant interaction between the two groups in trunk isokinetic extensor and flexor muscle strength (NS). There were no significant interactions between two groups in the muscle mass of total body, trunk, and legs (NS), respectively. Regarding basic physical fitness, there were significant interaction effects between the two groups in cardiovascular fitness, sagittal reach, and sit-ups (p<.05).
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that continued mat Pilates exercise can improve back pain and core stability with enhancement of leg isokinetic muscle strength independent of the muscle mass of the total body, trunk, and legs.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between objectively measured physical activity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults and older adults.
METHODS: A total of 2,191 adults and older adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 to 2017 were analyzed. Participants were categorized into three groups ('Inactive', 'Active', 'Highly active') according to physical activity guidelines. A chi-square test was performed to confirm whether the physical activity guidelines were met according to metabolic syndrome and the difference between metabolic syndrome according to age group. Logistic regression was used to predict the relationship between physical activity and metabolic syndrome.
RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome differed according to whether physical activity guidelines were met in older adults, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its risk factors varied according to age group. Compared to the Inactive group, the odds ratios (OR) for metabolic syndrome were 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.56-0.95) and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.47-0.88) in adults in the Active and Highly active groups, respectively; and 0.46 (95% CI:0.28-0.78) and 0.39 (95% CI:0.22-0.69) in older adults in the Active and Highly active groups, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: As the level of physical activity increased, the OR of having metabolic syndrome and its risk factors decreased: this relationship was stronger in older adults than in adults. Therefore, physical activity guidelines should be met to prevent and manage metabolic syndrome.