The immediate early gene exhibits activation markers in the nervous system consisting of ARC, EGR-1, and c-Fos and is related to synaptic plasticity, especially in the hippocampus. Immediate early gene expression is affected by physical exercise, which induces direct ARC, EGR-1, and c-Fos expression. Objective: To assess the impact of exercise, we conducted a literature study to determine the expression levels of immediate early genes (ARC, c-Fos, and EGR-1). Methods: The databases accessed for online literature included PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. The original English articles were selected using the following keywords in the title: (Exercise OR physical activity) AND (c-Fos) AND (Hippocampus), (Exercise OR physical activity) AND (ARC) AND (Hippocampus), (Exercise OR physical activity) AND (EGR-1 OR zif268) AND (Hippocampus). Results: Physical exercise can affect the expression of EGR-1, c-Fos, and ARC in the hippocampus, an important part of the brain involved in learning and memory. High-intensity physical exercise can increase c-Fos expression, indicating neural activation. Furthermore, the expression of the ARC gene also increases due to physical exercise. ARC is a gene that plays a role in synaptic plasticity and regulation of learning and memory, changes in synaptic structure and increased synaptic connections, while EGR-1 also plays a role in synaptic plasticity, a genetic change that affects learning and memory. Overall, exercise or regular physical exercise can increase the expression of ARC, c-Fos, and EGR-1 in the hippocampus. This reflects the changes in neuroplasticity and synaptic plasticity that occur in response to physical activity. These changes can improve cognitive function, learning, and memory. Conclusion: c-Fos, EGR-1, and ARC expression increases in hippocampal neurons after exercise, enhancing synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis associated with learning and memory.

This study reviews the molecular mechanism of exercise-induced autophagy/mitophagy and its possible mechanism in delaying motor symptoms progressivity in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Relevant articles obtained from PubMed and EBSCOhost were reviewed. After analyzing the articles, it was found that autophagy can be induced by exercise and can possibly be activated through the AMPK-ULK1 pathway. Mitophagy can also be induced by exercise and can possibly be activated through PINK1/Parkin pathway and AMPK-dependent pathway. Moreover, exercise-induced autophagy can decrease the accumulation of toxic α-synuclein aggregates in PD and therefore can delay motor symptoms progressivity.

Background: Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) is recently becoming a novel cardiokine essential in cardiac angiogenesis. This cardiokine has shown a potential to promote angiogenesis and improve cardiac function, particularly in myocardial injury and ischemia. Despite the increasing relevance, there is no information on the mechanisms of FSTL1 in cardiac angiogenesis. Objective: This systematic review aimed to consolidate recent results on the role of FSTL1 in molecular pathways of cardiac angiogenesis. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, SpringerLink, and ScienceDirect. Inclusion criteria were primary studies that investigated the role of FSTL1 in promoting cardiac angiogenesis with in vivo models. The risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE risk of bias tool, and data were synthesized to evaluate the impact of FSTL1 on cardiac angiogenesis. Results: A total of 5 animal studies were included during the analysis. The results showed the role of FSTL1 as a novel cardiokine in inducing cardiac angiogenesis as assessed by protein examination and histologic analysis. In pathological conditions, the effects of ischemia on the heart increased the expression of FSTL1 as a form of protection for the heart through angiogenesis and as a marker of the disease severity. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms of FSTL-induced angiogenesis had different signaling pathways, including activation of AMPK, TGFβ-Smad2/3, Akt/mTOR, Erk1/2, and DIP2A-PI3K. Studies showed increased capillary density and improved blood flow in cardiac tissues where FSTL1 was upregulated, suggesting a possible important role in improving cardiac function. Conclusion: FSTL1 showed a promising avenue for therapeutic development. Moreover, future studies should explore its role in cardiac angiogenesis in healthy populations.

The non-classical role of vitamin D has been investigated in recent decades. One of which is related to its role in skeletal muscle. Satellite cells are skeletal muscle stem cells that play a pivotal role in skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. This systematic review aims to investigate the effect of vitamin D on satellite cells. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar. In vivo studies assessing the effect of vitamin D on satellite cells, published in English in the last ten years were included. Thirteen in vivo studies were analyzed in this review. Vitamin D increases the proliferation of satellite cells in the early life period. In acute muscle injury, vitamin D deficiency reduces satellite cells differentiation. However, administering high doses of vitamin D impairs skeletal muscle regeneration. Vitamin D may maintain satellite cell quiescence and prevent spontaneous differentiation in aging. Supplementation of vitamin D ameliorates decreased satellite cells’ function in chronic disease. Overall, evidence suggests that vitamin D affects satellite cells’ function in maintaining skeletal muscle homeostasis. Further research is needed to determine the most appropriate dose of vitamin D supplementation in a specific condition for the optimum satellite cells’ function.

Asian Journal of Sports Medicine

Objective: To identify the characteristics of risk factors for hearing loss in newborns and their relation to hearing screening results using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Methods: This research is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Chi-square analysis was used to see the relation between various risk factors resulting from the OAEs examination. A significant relation is defined by p-value <.05. Fisher exact test was used when criteria on using Chi-square was not met (expected count <5), and also regression model to show the association between risk factors and OAEs result. Results: 68 ears (7%) from 972 ears were found to have ‘refer’ results. About 329 cases (67.7%) of newborns were at risk of hearing loss, while the other 159 cases (33.3%) were not equally vulnerable to the condition. Out of ‘refer’ OAEs cases, 32 (6.6%) were bilaterally-refer cases, and 4 (0.8%) were unilaterally refer cases. Lower birth weight (LBW) (p = .029), prematurity (p = .000), and congenital abnormalities (p = .000) were found to be the significant risk factor in this study. Regression model showed newborns with congenital abnormalities were significantly more at risk 8.6 times has OAE ‘refer’ than without congenital abnormalities (p = .000), preterm newborns were more at risk 7.1 times compared to mature newborns (p = .000), and newborns with LBW more at risk 2.0 times has OAE ‘refer’ than newborns with normal birth weight (p = .032). Conclusion: The incidence of OAEs ’refer’ cases in newborns at Santosa Hospital Bandung Central is quite high. Lower birth weight, prematurity, and congenital abnormalities were significantly corelated with OAEs ‘refer’. Congenital abnormalities can be considered as a risk factor that most often leads to OAEs ‘refer’.