Highlights

• Older individuals had attenuated Nrf2 activation and downstream gene expression following acute exercise versus young.

• Exercise Training (ET) can reverse some of the age-related impairment.

• The improvements in signaling effects driven by ET in older individuals comes from decreasing basal levels of Nrf2.

• The degree of improvement in Nrf2 activation to ET was greater in young than older individuals.

• ET does not completely reverse age-related biological declines in Nrf2-dependent signaling systems.

Highlights

• Muscle stimulation decreases Keap1 protein and increases Nrf2-ARE binding.

• High intensity muscle stimulation activates Nrf2-ARE binding and decreases Keap1 protein in the contralateral control limb.

• NQO1 protein is responsive to muscle stimulation regardless of intensity.

• These data suggest an intensity gated redox sensitive exerkine.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during acute exercise can induce beneficial adaptative responses, in part, via nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling—a transcription factor that transcribes cytoprotective genes. Exercise increases Nrf2 activity, leading to increased gene transcription and protein content. Habitual oxidative distress (e.g., induced by inactivity) can increase Nrf2 under basal conditions. While initially protective, increased Nrf2 drives a ceiling effect that attenuates adaptative responses to exercise.

Highlights

• Forearm Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) elicits redox stress responses in humans.

• There were no age differences in F2-isoprostane response to the I/R trial.

• Exercise training improves I/R responses in young and older men and women.

Resistance to oxidative stress is reduced with age but there is lack of data regarding sex differences. In general, many sex differences are driven by sex hormones and thus might be expected to be lessened after menopause and at older ages. Aerobic fitness has been shown to increase redox capacity in older adults but whether adaptations differ between men and women is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences and the association between redox capacity and aerobic fitness. Here we show that age and menopause-related increases in oxidative stress are greater in women relative to the expected age-related increase in men. Furthermore, women are more responsive to the effects of physical fitness on attenuating oxidative stress, possibly mediated by body composition.

Athletes are particularly predisposed to injuries in the groin and pelvic region. Men in particular are predisposed to injuries like hernias in the inguinal region. The increased demands and training load on today’s athletes combined with individual factors may create the environment for these injuries. Five areas categorize the pain present from different pathological entities in this region: adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, pubic-related, and hip-related groin pain. It has been extremely difficult in the past to accurately diagnose what has been previously labeled sports hernia, sportsman’s groin, or inguinal disruption. Therefore, this article describes the methods and procedures used for diagnostic ultrasound (US) and differentiation between these entities from one practice based on the most current research in musculoskeletal US.

Binge drinking is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of pneumonic melioidosis can occur in healthy humans; however, binge alcohol intoxication is a major risk factor. Previous findings indicate that a single binge alcohol episode increases Burkholderia spp. infection by reducing alveolar macrophage function. The aim of this study was to test the ability of the phytonutrient sulforaphane (SFN) to rescue the phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages when infected with Burkholderia spp. in vitro.