Donghui Tang

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of wall shear stress (WSS) responsible for the effects of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on vascular endothelial function in young obese males.Methods: A within-subject study design was used. We examined the response of the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) to acute HIIE in young obese males (n = 20, age = 20.38 ± 1.40 years, body mass index [BMI] = 31.22 ± 3.57, body fat percentage [BF (%)] = 31.76 ± 3.57). WSS was manipulated using 100, 80, or 60 mmHg cuff inflation during the HIIE to determine the proper inflation capable of maintaining WSS near baseline levels. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance and LSD post hoc tests were performed to compare changes in WSS and vascular endothelial function at baseline HIIE and following HIIE using different cuff inflations.Results: There were no significant differences in RHI and WSS between the three cuff inflation values (p > 0.05). WSS was significantly higher in obese male individuals after HIIE and HIIE with 100 mmHg cuff inflation (p = 0.018, p = 0.005) than that at baseline, with no significant differences observed comparing HIIE and HIIE with 100 mmHg inflation (p = 0.23). The RHI after HIIE was significantly higher (p = 0.012) than that at baseline, while no significant differences were detected after HIIE at 100 mmHg (p = 0.91). The RHI was significantly lower after HIIE with 100 mmHg than that after HIIE (p = 0.007). WSS (p = 0.004) and RHI (p = 0.017) were significantly higher after HIIE than that at baseline, while no significant differences were observed after HIIE with either 80 or 60 mmHg cuff inflation (baseline vs. HIIE + 80 mmHg: WSS: p = 0.33, RHI: p = 0.38; baseline vs. HIIE + 60 mmHg: WSS: p = 0.58, RHI: p = 0.45). WSS was similar to HIIE, after HIIE with either 80 or 60 mmHg inflation (p = 0.36, p = 0.40). However, RHI was significantly higher for HIIE than for HIIE with both 80 and 60 mmHg inflation (p = 0.011, p = 0.006).Conclusion: HIIE could significantly improve WSS and vascular endothelial function. HIIE intervention with 60 or 80 mmHg inflation might enhance WSS near the baseline level. HIIE-induced acute changes in WSS may provide the primary physiological stimulus for vascular endothelial adaptation to HIIE in young obese males.

Purpose: The primary aim of the present study is to examine the effect of 8-week mind-body exercise intervention combining aerobic jogging and mindfulness-based yoga on implicit emotion regulation ability. The secondary aim is to explore the specific potential pathways by which the mind-body exercise intervention fosters implicit emotion regulation. This may help us to understand how the key components of exercise intervention contribute to emotional benefits. Methods: Sixty participants were randomly allocated to one of two parallel groups: (1) the intervention group (n = 29) and (2) the waitlist control group (n = 31). Participants were asked to fill out scales measuring mindfulness and instructed to complete an emotion regulation task to assess implicit emotion regulation ability as well as the PWC 170 Test to evaluate aerobic fitness before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the two-way repeated ANOVA revealed that 8 weeks of intervention improved implicit emotion regulation, mindfulness, and aerobic fitness levels. Path analysis showed that only improved aerobic fitness mediated the intervention effect on implicit emotion regulation ability, controlling for change in negative affect. Notably, the relationship between the effects on implicit emotion regulation ability and aerobic fitness was moderated by improved mindfulness. Conclusion: Eight weeks of mind-body exercise intervention improves implicit emotion regulation ability. The aerobic fitness may be an essential pathway which mediates the efficacy on implicit emotion regulation ability. Furthermore, different components, such as aerobic fitness and mindfulness, may interactively contribute to such emotional benefits.