High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and linseed oil (LO) supplementation are effective strategies to reduce obesity-induced oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine whether the HIIT + LO combination prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. HFD-fed 8-week-old, male, Wistar rats were subdivided in four groups: HFD, LO (2% of sunflower oil replaced with 2% of LO in the HFD), HIIT (4 days/week for 12 weeks), and HIIT + LO. Wistar rats fed a low-fat diet (LFD) were used as controls. Epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and plasma samples were collected to measure oxidative stress markers (AOPP, oxLDL), antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPx activities) and pro-oxidant (NOx and XO) enzyme activities. Compared with the LFD, the HFD altered the pro/antioxidant status in different tissues (increase of AOPP, oxLDL, SOD and catalase activities in plasma, and SOD activity increase in liver and decrease in adipose tissues) but not in gastrocnemius. LO upregulated CAT activity and decreased NOx in liver. HIIT alleviated HFD negative effects in liver by reducing SOD and NOx activities. Moreover, the HIIT + LO combination potentiated SOD activity upregulation in subcutaneous tissue. HIIT and LO supplementation have independent beneficial effects on the pro/antioxidant balance. Their association promotes SOD activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

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This study focused on a coagulation assessment based on the novel technique of blood-impedance-magnitude measurement. With the impedance characterization of recalcified human blood, it was possible to identify two significative biomarkers (i.e., measurable indicators) related to fibrin formation (1st marker) and clot retraction (2nd marker). The confocal microscopy of clotting blood provided a complete visual analysis of all the events occurring during coagulation, validating the significance of the impedance biomarkers. By analyzing the impedance phase angle (Φ) of blood during coagulation, as well as those of the clot and serum expelled after retraction, it was possible to further clarify the origin of the 2nd marker. Finally, an impedance-magnitude analysis and a rotational thromboelastometry test (ROTEM®) were simultaneously performed on blood sampled from the same donor; the results pointed out that the 1st marker was related to clotting time. The developed technique gives rise to a comprehensive and evolutive insight into coagulation, making it possible to progressively follow the whole process in real time. Moreover, this approach allows coagulation to be tested on any materials’ surface, laying the ground for new studies related to contact coagulation, meaning, thrombosis occurring on artificial implants. In a near future, impedance spectroscopy could be employed in the material characterization of cardiovascular prostheses whose properties could be monitored in situ and/or online using effective biomarkers.