ABSTRACT
          Background and objectives: Visfatin is a newly characterized adipokine, which is highly expressed in visceral adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of aerobic exercise training on visfatin, homocystein, C-reactive protein and lipid profile in sedentary men.
          Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 27 sedentary men were selected by convenience sampling method. The subjects were divided into a control group (n=13) and an aerobic training group (n=14). The subjects in the experimental group performed 60 minutes of aerobic exercise at 75-85% of maximum heart rate, three sessions per week for eight weeks. Data were analyzed in SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) using paired and independent sample t-test for comparison of means within and between groups, respectively. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
          Results: The eight-week aerobic exercise training significantly reduced body weight (P=0.02), body mass index (P=0.01) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P=0.03) levels. It also caused a significant increase in the high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (P=0.00) and a significant decrease in visfatin levels (P=0.005). Serum homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels decreased by the end of the training program, but these changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05).
          Conclusion: The eight-week aerobic exercise program could effectively improve lipid profile and visfatin levels. Therefore, this type of exercise could be recommended for prevention of cardiovascular disease and improvement of its risk factors.
          Keywords: Aerobic, C-reactive protein, Exercise, Homocysteine.

ABSTRACT
           Background and objectives:  Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) is a conserved a NAD⁺-dependent protein deacetylase essential for cellular metabolism and defence against oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to compare effects of 8 weeks of aerobic and combined training on serum level of SIRT1 and PGC1-α in coronary artery bypass graft patients.
           Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 45 non-active men (mean age 47.4 ± 3.3 years) who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly divided into three groups: aerobic training, combined resistance and aerobic training and control. Trainings were performed at 80% of maximum heart rate, three sessions a week for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the first exercise session and 48 hours after the last training session. T-test and one-way analysis of variance were used for assessment of within-group and between-group differences, respectively. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
           Results: The 8-week aerobic and combined training increased serum levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α compared with the control group, and significantly decreased the weight of subjects (p=0.001). There was no significant difference in serum levels of SIRT1 and PGC-1α between the two training groups (P≥0.05).
           Conclusion: Both combined and aerobic training significantly improve the SIRT1 and PGC-1α levels in coronary artery bypass graft patients.
           KEYWORDS: Combined training, Aerobic training, PGC-1α, SIRT1, CABG patient.

ABSTRACT
             Background and Objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation improves functional capacity of post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate effects of eight weeks of cardiac rehabilitation on serum levels of sirutin1 (SIRT1) and functional capacity of post-CABG patients.
             Methods: Forty-five non-active men (mean age: 47.4 ± 3.3 years, duration of disease: 150 ± 69.12 months) were randomly divided into three equal groups: aerobic exercise, combined (resistance and aerobic) exercise and control. The subjects performed trainings at 60-75% of maximum heart rate, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the first exercise session and 48 hours after the last exercise session. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 using one-way ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
             Results: Aerobic and combined exercise increased serum SIRT1 levels and functional capacity. There was no significant decrease in body mass index (P=0.06). The SIRT1 level did not differ significantly between the two exercise groups after the intervention (P=0.91). There were significant difference between the study groups in terms of the travelled distance (P<0.034).
             Conclusion: Both combined and aerobic exercise can increase serum levels of SIRT1, reduce body mass index and improve functional capacity in CABG patients.
             Keywords: Resistance training, exercise, SIRT1.

Background and objectives: Chemokines are a group of proteins involved in both innate and adaptive immunity with a significant role on homeostasis and immune system development. The present study aimed to evaluate effects of eight weeks of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation exercise after coronary artery bypass surgery on expression of chemokines CCL2 and CCL5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of middle-aged men.
Methods: The study was performed on 45 middle-aged men that had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups of control (n=15), aerobic exercise (n=15) and combined aerobic-resistance exercise (n=15). The trainings were performed three times a week for eight weeks at 60-75% of target heart rate. Fasting blood samples were collected 24 hours before the first training session and 48 hours after the last training session. Lymphocytes were separated by centrifugation. Change in gene expression was investigated by real time-PCR. Data were analyzed in SPSS (version 16) using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results: The eight week exercise training significantly decreased expression of CCL2 compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Rehabilitation exercise can be an effective way to prevent, control or reduce atherosclerosis by lowering expression of CCL2 and CCL5.