Weight loss is not mandatory for exercise-induced effects on health indices in females with metabolic syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of moderate aerobic training on functional, anthropometric, biochemical, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) parameters on women with metabolic syndrome (MS). Fifteen untrained women with MS performed moderate aerobic training for 15 weeks, without modifications of dietary behaviours. Functional, anthropometric, biochemical, control diet record and HRQOL parameters were assessed before and after the training. Despite body weight maintenance, the patients presented decreases in waist circumference (P = 0.001), number of MS components (P = 0.014), total cholesterol (P = 0.049), HDL cholesterol (P = 0.004), LDL cholesterol (P = 0.027), myeloperoxidase activity (P = 0.002) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels (P = 0.006). There were no differences in total energy, carbohydrate, protein and lipid intake pre- and post-training. Furthermore, improvements in the HRQOL subscales of physical functioning (P = 0.03), role-physical (P = 0.039), bodily pain (P = 0.048), general health (P = 0.046) and social functioning scoring (P = 0.011) were reported. Despite the absence of weight loss, aerobic training induced beneficial effects on functional, anthropometric, biochemical and HRQOL parameters in women with MS.     

Gene conversions in the horse alpha-globin gene complex

The sequences of the linked alpha 2- and alpha 1-globin genes of the equine BI and BII haplotypes are greater than 99% identical within a 1.2-kb region extending from approximately 75 bp upstream of the putative cap site to a point approximately 150 bp 3' to the poly A addition signal. Differences between the alpha 2 and alpha 1 genes that are common to both haplotypes indicate that a major gene conversion occurred approximately 12 Myr ago and that this has been followed by shorter, more localized, conversions. Interhaplotype (allelic) comparisons at the alpha loci suggest that the BI and BII haplotypes have probably existed independently greater than or equal to 0.5 Myr and that the alpha 1 genes may have undergone a recent interchromosomal gene conversion.