The present study examined the effects of a regular walking exercise program on behavioral (daily physical activity, physical strength, energy consumption) and biochemical (fasting blood glucose [FBG], glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], total cholesterol, triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) aspects of elderly people with type II diabetes. A randomized and stratified experimental design was used with experimental and control groups. The experimental group was subjected to a 6 month walking exercise program, involving walking exercise three times per week for 50 min, and a 4 week education program on diet control and the prevention of complications, once per week for 20 min. Post-test was conducted after 3 and 6 months to examine short- and long-term behavioral and biochemical effects. The regular walking exercise program effectively increased daily physical activity, physical strength, and energy consumption (behavioral aspects), and decreased FBG, HbA1c, and TG levels (biochemical aspects) in elderly people with type II diabetes. The incidence of type II diabetes complications might be reduced by implementing a regular walking exercise program.

The present study examined the effects of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) deficiency on skeletal muscle atrophy in single leg-immobilized iNOS knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice. The left leg was immobilized for 1 wk, and the right leg was used as the control. Muscle weight and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake were reduced by immobilization in WT mice, which was accompanied with increased iNOS expression in skeletal muscle. Deficiency of iNOS attenuated muscle weight loss and the reduction in contraction-stimulated glucose uptake by immobilization. Phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K was reduced to a similar extent by immobilization in both WT and iNOS KO mice. Immobilization decreased FoxO1 phosphorylation and increased mRNA and protein levels of MuRF1 and atrogin-1 in WT mice, which were attenuated in iNOS KO mice. Aconitase and superoxide dismutase activities were reduced by immobilization in WT mice, and deficiency of iNOS normalized these enzyme activities. Increased nitrotyrosine and carbonylated protein levels by immobilization in WT mice were reversed in iNOS KO mice. Phosphorylation of ERK and p38 was increased by immobilization in WT mice, which was reduced in iNOS KO mice. Immobilization-induced muscle atrophy was also attenuated by an iNOS-specific inhibitor N(6)-(1-iminoethyl)-l-lysine, and this finding was accompanied by increased FoxO1 phosphorylation and reduced MuRF1 and atrogin-1 levels. These results suggest that deficiency of iNOS attenuates immobilization-induced skeletal muscle atrophy through reduced oxidative stress, and iNOS-induced oxidative stress may be required for immobilization-induced skeletal muscle atrophy.

No abstract

To solve a problem of water supply on urban areas, groundwater recharge has to be assessed not only for evaluating the possibility of groundwater development but also for identifying a sustainable aquifer system for water resource development. The assessment of groundwater recharge has been challenged since the land use has been changed constantly. In this study, the groundwater recharge and its ratio were assessed from 1961 to 2007 in Su-yeong-gu, Busan, South Korea by analyzing precipitation, land use, and soil characteristics. For land use analysis, the urbanization change was considered. The land use areas for the residential, agricultural, forest, pasture, bare soil, and water in 1975 occupy 18.6 %, 30.0%, 48.8%, 0.1%, 2.0%, and 0.5% of total area, respectively. The land use ratios were sharply changed from 1980 to 1985; the agricultural area was decreased to 18.3%, and the residential area was increased to 15.0%. From 1995 to 2000, the agricultural area was decreased to 5.5%, and the residential area was increased to 5.4%. The annual averages of precipitation, groundwater recharge, and its ratio were 1509.3 mm, 216.0 mm, and 14.3% respectively. The largest amount of the groundwater recharge showed in 1970 as 408.9 mm, comparing to 2138.1 mm of annual rainfall. Also, the greatest ratio of the groundwater recharge was 19.8% in 1984 with 1492.6 mm of annual rainfall. The lowest amount and ratio of the groundwater recharge were 71.9 mm and 8.0% in 1988, relative to 901.5 mm of annual precipitation. As a result, it is concluded that rainfall has increased, whereas groundwater recharge has decreased between 1961 and 2007.

No abstract