Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of quercetin supplementation on oxidative stress, blood pressure, aerobic power, concentric pathologic hypertrophy and cardiac function in men with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial; in which, 24 men with hypertension and CAD after PCI (aged 40– 60 years) were participated. Patients were prescribed quercetin (250 mg/day) or placebo for two months. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed using colorimetric methods as well as left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), p wave depression (PWD), ejection fraction (EF) and E/A using echocardiography and WRp using Storer-Davise cycle test. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and paired-sample T-test. Results: Supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in oxidative stress reduction (TAC increased and MDA decreased), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, systolic (EF) and diastolic (E/A) functions and aerobic power, compared to pretest and placebo groups following eight weeks of treatment (p < 0. 05). A small decrease in RWT was seen in quercetin group at the end of intervention with no statistical significance (p > 0. 05). The RWT was not significantly different between the quercetin and placebo groups (p > 0. 05). Conclusions: Quercetin supplementation can improve oxidative stress, blood pressure, left ventricular function and aerobic power in men with hypertension and CAD after PCI. However, this includes no effects on concentric pathologic hypertrophy. Further studies are necessary to verify effects of quercetin supplementation on left ventricular hypertrophy in humans.

Background: Midlife is associated with the development of various cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and heart failure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of midlife on cardiac hypertrophy in sedentary rats and its relationship with body weight and oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, 10 rats aged 11-14 months and 10 rats aged 4 months were used. After keeping the rats under normal housing condition for 10 days, they were slaughtered, and the dimensions of the heart, the extent of heart tissue fibrosis, and levels of H2O2 were measured. Student’ s t-test and linear regression were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The findings of this study showed that midlife with low physical activity increases heart weight (P = 0. 001), body weight (P = 0. 001), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels (P = 0. 001) resulting in a significantly increased ventricular wall thickness (P = 0. 001) and ventricular diameter (P = 0. 001). The increase in body weight and H2O2 by middle age was significantly associated with an increased ventricular wall thickness (P = 0. 001), ventricular diameter (P = 0. 001), and heart weight (P = 0. 001). Also, there was a significant positive relationship between body weight gain and H2O2 level (P = 0. 001). Conclusions: Midlife with low physical activity is associated with pathological concentric cardiac hypertrophy in rats, and subsequently, with weight gain, increased H2O2, increased heart weight and left ventricular wall thickness, and to some extent, left ventricular internal diameter.

Objective: Satellite cells play an important role in muscle regeneration, which this process can be affected by different genes including PAX7 and MyoD. Exercise training known as an important strategy for mediating the satellite cell’, s function. Therefore, the main purpose of the present study is to investigate the changes in PAX7 and MyoD protein expression in response to eccentric and concentric resistance exercise in healthy young men. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental and cross-sectional study, 10 healthy men (age range 18-30 years old) participated. They were randomly divided into two equal groups (n=5) to perform one of two high-intensity eccentric or concentric knee extensions muscle contraction protocols. The contractions included a maximum of 12 sets of 10 repetitions, with a 30 second rest time interval between sets. PAX7 and MyoD protein expression was assessed using Immunohistochemistry analysis from the Vastus Lateralis muscle needle biopsy samples that have been taken 24 hours before and 3 to 4 hours after the end of the exercise protocol. Results: We observed that the PAX7 protein expression level increased significantly after eccentric (47. 75%) and concentric (39. 21%) (P=0. 01) intervention. While, the MyoD protein expression level reduced (38. 14%) significantly following acute eccentric resistance exercise (P=0. 01). Conclusion: It seems that eccentric or concentric muscular contraction modulates the expression of PAX7 and MyoD protein expression in the skeletal muscle, with further effects observed in eccentric resistance exercise.