Analysis of changes in brain morphological structure of taekwondo athletes by diffusion tensor imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Taekwondo, which is the most preferred sport among the martial arts, is known to improve individuals physically, spiritually and mentally. The aim of this study is to reveal the effect of teakwondo sport on the brain and brain structures. DESIGN;: 30 taekwondo athletes and 15 control groups were included in this study. Diffusion tensor MR images of each participant were taken. The information was obtained by the self-declaration of the athletes, whether they were sports years, amateur or elite. METHOD: Total brain volume and volumes of white matter, gray matter, frontal lobe, precentral gyrus, corticospinal tract, basal nuclei, postcentral gyrus, hippocampus and amigdala and the ratio of these volumes to total brain volume were evaluated statistically between the groups using MriCloud software and ROIEditor program. RESULTS: An increase in total brain volume, gray matter, frontal lobe and precentral gyrus volume in athletes was associated with taekwondo training. When the ratio of brain parts to total brain volume was examined, it was determined that there was a difference in the ratio of gray matter, white matter volumes in amateur athletes, right frontal lobe, left corticospinal tract, right postcentral gyrus volumes in elite athletes, and left postcentral gyrus volumes of both athletes compared to sedentary individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the volume of gray matter, frontal lobe, postcentral gyrus and corticospinal tract together with the brain volume shows that taekwondo exercise contributes to physical, spiritual and mental development.

Iron-chelation therapy with oral chelators in patients with thalassemia major.

In thalassemia major (TM), without iron chelation therapy, iron-mediated free radical damage causes liver, endocrine, and myocardial toxicities. Deferoxamine has universally been the standard therapeutic option for iron chelation therapy; however, its usage is troublesome, leading to suboptimal patient compliance. In order to maximize the effectiveness of iron chelation therapy, oral iron chelators deferiprone and deferasirox constitute an important development, offering a potential to improve compliance. Although both oral drugs are effective, they have differences including different pharmacokinetics and side-effect profiles. Our retrospective evaluation of TM patients using oral chelators showed that oral chelators are effective in reducing iron overload regarding ferritin level and partially in cardiac T2* value. However, in our study side effects and discontinuation rates were unexpectedly high and close follow-up of TM patients using oral chelators should be carefully done. The variability in rate of side effects and drug discontinuation in spelenectomized patients using oral chelators suggests that spleen may have a role in pharmacokinetics of these drugs, as well.

Effects of trace element levels on platelet aggregation.

Platelet aggregation was measured by an optical method in 32 patients with iron-deficiency anemia at the time of diagnosis and after a period of supplementation with iron. Epinephrine- and adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation were lower in anemic patients than in the controls (p<0.05). After iron-supplementation therapy, these values showed no significant differences. If induced by collagen or ristocetin, platelet aggregation was the same for patients and controls, but increased after treatment of patients (p<0.05). The plasma zinc values did not show significant differences among the subjects included in this study. These results show that iron is involved in the enzymatic systems that regulate platelet aggregation. The exact nature of this interaction is still to be determined.

Effects of zinc deficiency and supplementation on malondialdehyde and glutathione levels in blood and tissues of rats performing swimming exercise.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of zinc deficiency and supplementation on lipid peroxidation and glutathione levels in blood and in some tissues of rats performing swimming exercise. Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: group 1, zinc-deficient consisted of swimming rats; group 2 consisted of zinc-supplemented swimming rats; groups 3 and 4 were the swimming and nonswimming controls, respectively. The levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione were measured after 4 wk of zinc-deficient or zinc-supplemented diet and 30 min of swimming exercise daily. The erythrocyte glutathione levels of groups 2 and 4 were significantly higher than those of groups 1 and 3 (p<0.01). The plasma malondialdehyde level of group 1 was significantly higher than all other groups. The glutathione levels in liver, kidney, striated muscle, and testes of group 2 were higher than in the other groups (p<0.01) and higher in kidney and striated muscle of group 3 than in groups 1 and 4 (p<0.01). The tissue malondialdehyde levels of striated muscle, liver, kidney, and testes of group 1 were significantly higher than for all other groups (p<0.01). Our findings suggest that both swimming exercise and zinc deficiency result in an increase of lipid peroxidation in tissues and that zinc supplementation prevents these alterations by the activation of the antioxidant system.

Effects of zinc deficiency and supplementation on some hematologic parameters of rats performing acute swimming exercise.

The aim of the study was to investigate how zinc deficiency and supplementation effect some hematologic parameters of rats performing swimming exercise. Forty adult male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups, zinc deficient swimming group (Group 1, n=10, zinc supplemented swimming group (Group 2, n=10), swimming control group (Group 3, n=10), and control group (Group 4, n=10). Blood samples were taken by decapitation and analyzed for the determination of erythrocyte, hemoglobin level, hematocrit, leukocyte, lymphocyte, platelet count and plasma zinc level at the end of the 4 week experiment. Erythrocyte count of group 1 was the lowest whereas erythrocyte count in group 3 was significantly lower than that in group 2 and 4 (p<0.05). Hemoglobin level of group 1 was significantly lower than that of groups 2 and 4 (p<0.05). Hematocrit was significantly lower in both group 1 and group 3 than both groups 2 and 4 (p<0.05). Lymphocyte count in group 2 was significantly higher than in all other groups (p<0.05). Platelet counts in group 2 was significantly lower than in all other groups (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that zinc deficiency effects the hematologic parameters mentioned negatively whereas zinc supplementation has a positive influence.

Activity of neutrophil NADPH oxidase in iron-deficient anemia.

This study was designed to measure the effects of iron supplementation on respiratory burst in iron-deficient anemia. The performance of neutrophils was evaluated by measuring the activity of NADPH oxidase in 18 patients with iron-deficient anemia before and after body iron stores are saturated. The activity of NADPH oxidase was significantly lower in pretreatment patients relative to controls (p<0.05). The activity increased after iron supplementation to levels that had no significant differences relative to controls.

Effect of iron supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in iron-deficiency anemia.

This study was designed to measure the effect of iron supplementation on antioxidant status in iron-deficient anemia, including the time for hemoglobin normalization and at the time of filling of iron body stores. The extent of plasma lipid peroxidation was evaluated by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in 63 patients with iron-deficiency anemia before and after 6 wk of iron supplementation and at the time when body iron stores are saturated. After 6 wk of iron supplementation, a significant decrease of oxidative stress was observed in the treated subjects relative to controls (p<0.05). No significant differences existed between treated patients at 6 wk and at the end of the study. The erythrocyte levels of catalase, SOD, and GSH-Px were significantly lower in treated patients relative to controls (p<0.05). These levels increased after 6 wk of supplementation (p<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those at the end of the study.

Effects of zinc deficiency and supplementation on the glycogen contents of liver and plasma lactate and leptin levels of rats performing acute exercise.

The aim of the present study was to investigate how zinc (Zn) deficiency and supplementation affect glycogen content of the liver and plasma lactate and leptin levels of rats performing acute swimming exercise just before the blood samples were obtained. Four sets of 10 rats each served as the (1) Zn-deficient group, (2) Zn-supplemented group, (3) swimming controls, and (4) normal controls. Plasma lactate levels of Zn-deficient animals were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (p<0.01), and those in the swimming controls (group 3) were significantly higher than in the Zn-supplemented animals, group 2 (p<0.01). The plasma glucose of the Zn-deficient group was significantly higher than all other groups (p<0.01) and that of group 2 was significantly lower than group 4 (p<0.01). Glycogen levels in liver of the Zn-deficient animals was significantly lower than groups 2 and 4 (p<0.01), and, in turn, were higher than for group 3 (p<0.01). The plasma leptin and Zn levels of group 1 were significantly lower than in all other groups (p<0.01). These results suggest that Zn deficiency exerts a negative influence in the above-mentioned parameters and that Zn supplementation has the opposite effect.

Effect of zinc and melatonin supplementation on cellular immunity in rats with toxoplasmosis.

The effects of zinc (Zn) and/or melatonin supplementation on cellular immunity were investigated in rats infested with Toxoplasma gondii. Fifty Sprague-Dawley male rats were used for this study. All animals were fed a normal diet, ad libitum, containing 97 mg Zn/kg. They were divided into five experimental groups, as follows. Group I (n = 10) received intraperitoneal injections of zinc sulfate at a dose of 3 mg/kg/d for 3 wk. Group II (n = 10) received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin at a dose of 3 mg/kg/d for 3 wk. Group III (n = 10) received intraperitoneal injections of zinc sulfate (3 mg/kg/d) and melatonin (3 mg/kg/d) for 3 wk. Group IV (n = 10) was infested controls. Group V (n = 10) was healthy controls. There were no differences in the percentage of CD3+ lymphocytes among all groups. For groups I-III, the CD4+ and CD8+ ratios were higher than those of the groups IV and V controls (p<0.01). Similarly, the total lymphocyte ratios in groups I-III were higher than those of infested and healthy controls (p<0.01). The total lymphocyte ratios in group III were significantly higher than those of groups I and II (p<0.01). The plasma Zn levels in the supplemented groups were significantly higher than those of control groups IV and V (p<0.01). These results suggest that melatonin and/or Zn supplementation may activate cellular immunity by stimulating CD4+ and CD8+ production in infected rats with T. gondii.