Effects of a very short-term preseason training procedure on the fitness of soccer players.

AIM: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a very short-term training program on the immediate and late changes in the fitness level of young soccer players during the pre-season period. METHODS: Twenty-four young (17-18 years) soccer players were randomly assigned to either an interval (9 to 5 X 1000 m) or continuous (9000 to 5000 m) training group, matched for total running distance. While the number of intervals or total distance was reduced every day, speed was increased in each session throughout the five days of both training programs. Each group performed 20 m shuttle run, 10 m sprint, 5 X 10 m run, 250 m run and vertical jump test, before (pre), immediately after (post) and 10 days after (late) completion of five successive training days during the preseason period for the upcoming soccer season. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in aerobic capacity both immediately post-training and in the late test, in both training groups. We found a significantly greater reduced performance in the 250 m run immediately following training in the interval compared to the continuous training group. In addition, there was a decrease in vertical jump that was significantly greater in the interval compared to the continuous training group, both immediately post-training and in the late test. CONCLUSION: Very short interval or continuous preseason training programs induce significant improvement in aerobic fitness but lead to stagnation or deterioration in anaerobic performance. Considering the opposing effects of both training modes (positive on the aerobic power but negative on the anaerobic performance), coaches should make their choices based on the relevant conditions at hand.

Cytotoxic ent-abietane diterpenes from Gelonium aequoreum.

Seventeen ent-abietane diterpenes, including gelomulides K-X (1-14), and three known compounds, were isolated from a dichloromethane-soluble extract of Gelonium aequoreum through bioassay-guided fractionation. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods, and stereochemistry was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis, CD spectral data, and Mosher's method. The isolates were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity, and compounds 1 and 3 showed moderate cytotoxicity against lung (A549), breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines.

Digoniodiol, deoxygoniopypyrone A, and goniofupyrone A: three new styryllactones from Goniothalamus amuyon.

Three new styrylpyrone analogues, digoniodiol (2), deoxygoniopypyrone A (3), and goniofupyrone A (4), along with ten known styryllactones, were isolated from the aerial parts of Goniothalamus amuyon. Among these compounds, 2 is the first example of a bis-styrylpyrone. Compound 4 represents a new skeleton for styryllactones. All structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data. The stereochemistry of 2 and 4 was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute configuration of 3 and 4 was further confirmed by Mosher ester derivatives. All styryllactones were subjected to cytotoxicity assays. Among them, goniothalamin, goniothalamin epoxide, and 8-chlorogoniodiol showed significant cytotoxicity against the HepG2 cancer cell line with IC50 in the range of 0.19 - 0.64 microg/mL, and moderate activity toward Hep3B, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines.

Bioactive coumarins from the leaves of Murraya omphalocarpa.

Using antiplatelet aggregation as a guide to fractionation, eight coumarins, omphalocarpinol (1), 5,7-dimethoxy-8-(3'-methyl-2'-oxobutyl)coumarin (2), murralongin, murrayanone, omphamurin (5), murragleinin, mexoticin, and murrangatin, were isolated from the leaves of Murraya omphalocarpa. Compound 1 is new, and 5 is a new enantiomer of omphamurin. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques, and the structure of compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Among them, compounds 1, 2 and 5 exhibited significant antiplatelet aggregation activity.