Exercise training can increase total Hb and red cell mass, which enhances oxygen-carrying capacity. The possible underlying mechanisms are proposed to come mainly from bone marrow, including stimulated erythropoiesis with hyperplasia of the hematopoietic bone marrow, improvement of the hematopoietic microenvironment induced by exercise training, and hormone- and cytokine-accelerated erythropoiesis. Anemia is one of the most common medical conditions in chronic disease. The effects of exercise training on counteracting anemia have been explored and evaluated. The results of the research available to date are controversial, and it seems that significant methodological limitations exist. However, exercise training might be a promising, additional, safe and economical method to help improve anemia. There is a need for further investigation into the effects of and guidelines for exercise interventions (especially strength training) in this population of patients, particularly among cancer patients who are undergoing or have undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatments. As the available data are limited, additional research to uncover the underlying mechanisms associated with the effects of exercise training on anemia is clearly warranted.

Purpose: The aim of the current study is to investigate the impact of Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, on quality of life and sleep quality in breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy.Methods: A total of 72 breast cancer survivors who had received AI treatment for more3 than 6 months were enrolled in the current study using non-probability consecutive sampling procedure. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a 12-week Baduanjin exercise program or to a wait-list control group. The Baduanjin exercise group performed two 90-min supervised sessions per week. The primary outcomes were changes in quality of life measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and in sleep quality evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).Results: A total of 68 participants completed the trial (Baduanjin exercise group: n = 33; control group: n = 35). Baseline values for quality of life did not differ between groups. Both global quality of life and physical functioning scores increased significantly by 12.39 (P < 0.001) and 8.48 (P < 0.001) in the Baduanjin exercise group compared with those in the control. Overall PSQI score also decreased by 4.85 (P < 0.001) in the Baduanjin exercise group, whereas it increased by 0.34 in the control group.Conclusion: Baduanjin exercise training led to improvement in the quality of life and sleep quality of breast cancer patients undergoing AI therapy.

Objective: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) correlate negatively with obesity. Previous studies have shown that exercise significantly restores circulating EPC levels in obese people; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Recently, irisin has been reported to have a critical role in the regulation of EPCs. This exercise-induced myokine has been demonstrated to play a therapeutic role in obesity. In this study, we hypothesized that the increase in circulating irisin may form a link with increasing EPC levels in obese people after exercise.Methods: Seventeen obese adults completed an 8-week program of combined exercise and dietary intervention. Clinical characteristics, blood biochemistry, and circulating irisin levels of subjects were measured before and after eight weeks of training. EPC levels were evaluated via flow cytometry, and EPC migratory and adhesive functions were also determined.Results: Circulating irisin levels significantly increased following the 8-week training program (P < 0.05). We furthermore observed an improvement in EPC numbers (P < 0.05), and EPC migratory and adhesive functions (P < 0.001 andP < 0.05, respectively) after the intervention. Additionally, we detected a positive correlation between changes in irisin and changes in EPC number (r = 0.52,P < 0.05).Discussion: For the first time, a positive correlation between increasing irisin levels and increasing EPC levels has been reported after an 8-week program, consisting of exercise and dietary intervention. This result suggests a novel effect of irisin on the regulation of EPC mobilization, which might contribute to improvement of endothelial function in obese people.

Obesity would result in increased cardiovascular morbidity including endothelial destruction, and miRNAs are recognized as potent regulators on endothelial function. We therefore explored pivotal miRNAs before and after exercise and dietary intervention in obese adults and examined their potential relationships with selected endothelial function and biomarkers. Obese adults were included in an exercise and dietary intervention training program for 2 months. At the beginning and the end, measurements of anthropometric and metabolic parameters were performed. Flow-mediated dilation, endothelial related biochemicals and circulating miR-214 and miR-126 levels were also determined. Results showed that circulating miR-214 and miR-126 levels were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) by exercise and dietary intervention along with improved endothelial function. The relationship between relative changes of miR-214 and that of endothelial progenitor cells was significant (r = 0.589, P < 0.05); relative expression of miR-126 was also significantly (r = 0.433, P < 0.05) correlated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The intervention lead to upregulation of circulating miR-214 and miR-126 in obesity, and these molecular adaptations are associated with improved endothelial function during the restoring process.

Background Low-income Chinese women aged 60 years and older are more likely to have multiple non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Neither the independent healthcare system nor the social work system based on the communities is equipped to address their complex needs of health and daily care. The objective was to design and evaluate a social worker-led self-management program for older community-dwelling women with NCDs. MethodsA total of 144 and 138 subjects were recruited in the intervention and control groups from 10 communities in Guangzhou, China. The intervention group was designed as follows: each community recruited two social workers to carry out an NCD self-management program. A health care professional assisted social workers to complete six weekly two-hour sessions. The control group had no extra intervention. The evaluation was conducted at baseline and 12-months follow-up. Outcomes included changes in weight, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), lipid profile, self-management behaviors, and NCD-related knowledge. Results After 12 months, participants had gained 3.6 and 6.6 kg (P=0.025 for between-group difference) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. NCD-related knowledge increased by 15.4% and 11.3% (P<0.001 for between-group difference). The intervention group had a greater increase in self-reported exercise (87% to 95%) than the control group (81% to 85%) (P difference=0.031). General linear regression analysis showed that the intervention effects were significant for FPG (P=0.013) and total cholesterol (TC) (P=0.046).ConclusionsA social worker-led NCD self-management program successfully promoted NCD-related knowledge and decreased metabolic risk factors in low-income Cantonese women.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry:Evaluation on effectiveness of Non-communicable Disease Self-management models led by social organization. ChiCTR1800015659. Registered 13 April 2018 - Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=15005