Browsing by Author "Ngametua N"

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    Characterising the Cytokine and Circulating Immune Cell Response After a Single Bout of Eccentric Stepping Exercise in Healthy Untrained Males
    (Springer Nature, 2023-05-15) Lomiwes D; Barnes M; Shaw O; Ngametua N; Sawyer GM; Burr NS; Miller MR
    Purpose The mechanisms that underpin exercise-induced muscle damage and recovery are believed to be mediated, in part, by immune cells recruited to the site of injury. The aim of this study was to characterise the effects of muscle damage from bench-stepping on circulating cytokine and immune cell populations post-exercise and during recovery. Methods Ten untrained, healthy male volunteers completed 30 min of bench-stepping exercise to induce muscle damage to the eccentrically exercised leg. Muscle function, muscle pain and soreness were measured before, immediately after and 24, 48 and 72 h after exercise. Plasma creatine kinase, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, cytokines and circulating immune cell phenotyping were also measured at these timepoints. Results Significant decreases occurred in eccentric, isometric and concentric (P = 0.018, 0.047 and 0.003, respectively) muscle function in eccentrically, but not concentrically, exercised quadriceps post-exercise. Plasma monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 concentrations significantly increased immediately after exercise (69.0 ± 5.8 to 89.5 ± 10.0 pg/mL), then declined to below pre-exercise concentrations (58.8 ± 6.3 pg/mL) 72 h after exercise. These changes corresponded with the significant decrease of circulating CD45+ CD16− CD14+ monocytes (5.8% ± 1.5% to 1.9% ± 0.5%; Pre-exercise vs. 48 h) and increase of CD45+ CD3+ CD56− T-cells (60.5% ± 2.2% to 66.1% ± 2.1%; Pre-exercise vs. 72 h) during recovery. Conclusion Bench-stepping induced muscle damage to the quadriceps, which mediated systemic changes in MCP-1, monocytes and T-cells immediately post-exercise and during recovery. Further research is needed to clarify how modulations in immune subpopulations facilitate muscle recovery and adaptation following muscle damage.
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    The dose-dependent effect of acute ozone exposure on lung function and the efficacy of a Boysenberry apple powder blend (BerriQi®) in reducing throat irritation and symptom recovery time in healthy adults
    (Elsevier B V, 2025-09-01) Lomiwes D; Barnes M; Nicholls G; Ngametua N; Sawyer G; Kanon AP; Vangala G; Shaw O
    Urbanization and industrialization have impacted air quality and health, with ozone exposure linked to reduced lung function and increased respiratory issues. This study characterised the dose-dependent effect of acute, controlled ambient ozone exposure in an environmental chamber on lung function, then investigated the effect of BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple powder (BerriQi) ozone-induced respiratory irritation symptoms. In an incremental dose study, healthy adults were exposed to 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 ppm ozone for 2 h. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were measured at designated timepoints up to 48 h after ozone exposure. This was followed by a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, with healthy adults (n = 20) who consumed either BerriQi or a placebo daily for 5 days before being exposed to 0.2 ppm ozone for 2 h. Respiratory irritation symptoms, including throat irritation (TI), soreness of cough (SOC), shortness of breath (SOB), and pain on deep inspiration (PODI), were assessed at designated timepoints up to 48 h after ozone exposure. Our results showed that 0.2 ppm ozone was the maximum tolerated dose that elicited a temporal decline in lung function in healthy participants and that BerriQi supplementation significantly reduced TI (p = 0.04), and may expedite the resolution of SOC, SOB and PODI after acute ozone exposure. These findings suggest that BerriQi may alleviate the severity and duration of ozone-induced respiratory irritation and highlights the potential of BerriQi as a dietary intervention for mitigating the respiratory effects of air pollution.
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    The Efficacy of New Zealand Greenshell™ Mussel Powder Supplementation in Supporting Muscle Recovery Following Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Healthy, Untrained Adult Males
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-05-15) Lomiwes D; Barnes M; Shaw O; Ngametua N; Sawyer G; Burr N; Hedderley D; Kanon A; Bear T; Carroll A; Bentley_Hewitt K; Tian HS; Miller MR; Nieman DC
    Unaccustomed eccentric exercise results in muscle damage limiting physical performance for several days. This study investigated if Greenshell™ mussel (GSM) powder consumption expedited muscle recovery from eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Methods: Twenty untrained adult men were recruited into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study and were randomly assigned to receive the GSM powder or placebo treatment first. Participants consumed their allocated intervention for four weeks then completed a bench-stepping exercise that induced muscle damage to the eccentrically exercised leg. Muscle function, soreness and biomarkers of muscle damage, oxidative stress and inflammation were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and 24, 48 and 72 h post exercise. GSM powder promoted muscle function recovery, significantly improving (p < 0.05) isometric and concentric peak torque at 48 h and 72 h post exercise, respectively. Participants on the GSM treatment had faster dissipation of soreness, with significant treatment × time interactions for affective (p = 0.007) and Visual Analogue Scale-assessed pain (p = 0.018). At 72 h, plasma creatine kinase concentrations in the GSM group were lower (p < 0.05) compared with the placebo group. This study provides evidence for GSM powder being effective in supporting muscle recovery from EIMD.