Lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein (a) phenotypes in healthy Macedonian children.

BACKGROUND: Plasma levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are determined largely by genetic variation in the gene encoding apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], the unique protein component of Lp(a). High plasma levels of Lp(a) increase the risk of premature atherosclerosis. However, the association of apo(a) phenotypes with the development of these diseases remains largely unexplored. OBJECTIVES: Determination of Lp(a) levels and apo(a) isoforms (phenotypes) in 100 (51 boys, 49 girls) Macedonian healthy children aged 9-18. METHODS: We used 3-15 % gradient SDS-PAGE for separation of apo(a) isoforms. According to the different apo(a) electrophoretic mobilities, Apo(a) was classified into five single and respective double-band phenotypes. RESULTS: Each individual expressed a single (homozygotic), double-band (heterozygotic) or no band (null phenotype). The apo(a) phenotype frequencies revealed that the frequency of single-band phenotype expression (64 %) was higher than that of double bands (32 %) and that the frequency of phenotypes representative of low molecular weight was very low (4%). The most frequent phenotype was S4 (42.65%). The distribution of plasma Lp(a) levels was skewed, with the highest frequencies at low levels. The mean Lp(a) concentration was 11.95 (SD of 5.98 and median of 9.62 mg/dL). We did not find differences in the mean and median plasma Lp(a) levels between boys and girls (p > 0.05). A strong inverse relationship was found between the apparent molecular weight of apo(a) phenotypes and plasma Lp(a) concentration (r = -0.4257). CONCLUSIONS: Determination of Lp(a) levels and apo(a) phenotypes in children, may help in preventing and reducing the risk of atherosclerotic development (Tab. 6, Ref 32). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

The changes of ACTH, cortisol, testosterone and testosterone/cortisol ratio in professional soccer players during a competition half-season.

BACKGROUND: The following up of some hormonal parameters during the professional soccer training process could be one of the indicators of the training effects. On the other hand, overreaching and overtraining as an opposite adaptation of supercompensation could be detected by following up some hormonal changes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in some hormonal parameters in professional soccer players during a half-season competition. METHODS: We included 30 professional soccer players from a soccer club of our National Soccer League in this study. All sport medical examinations were conducted tree times: before the preparation phase, before the competition phase (after previous phase) and after finishing the competition phase. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all evaluated hormones between three phases of soccer training process, including significant decrease in T/C of more than 30% at the end of the competition phase (phase III). The decrease in muscle mass after the preparation phase and the increase in fat mass at the end of competition phase were insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: The hormonal changes indicated that some indices could indicate overreaching and overtraining at the end of professional soccer competition season. Although insignificant, the decrease in muscle mass after the preparation phase and the increase in fat mass at the end of competition phase were undesirable effects for us (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 19).

Somatotype and stress hormone levels in young soccer players.

AIM: The relationship between somatotype and cortisol and adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone concentrations at rest or after exercise in adolescent soccer players at different time points throughout a soccer season is not understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between somatotype and cortisol and ACTH concentrations at rest and after exercise in adolescent soccer players at different time points during a soccer season. METHODS: During the first 4 months of the soccer season, 47 soccer players (between 15-17 years of age) were tested at three different time points including at baseline, after 6 weeks, and at the end of 4 months. Testing included anaerobic threshold (AnT, km/h) and maximal speed of running (Max, km/h) were measured with Conconi protocol on treadmill. Before and after a maximal exercise Test, plasma levels of cortisol (ug/dL) and ACTH (pg/ml) were assessed by chemiluminometry enzyme amplificated method. Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype model was used to determine 13 elements of somatotype. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis (P<0.05). RESULTS: Body composition and AnT were not significantly different between each time point of testing. The mesomorph-ectomorph (N.=21), balanced mesomorph (N.=8) and balanced ectomorph (N.=7) were the most frequent somatotypes. There were significant decrements of cortisol plasma levels (at rest 33.4%; after test 27.46%), with insignificant changes of ACTH plasma levels, after 6 weeks of preparation phase and after finishing of half season, at rest and after maximal treadmill test. There were significant correlation between ACTH levels at rest (R=0.44; P<0.01) and some somatotypes (mesomorph endomorph, central and balanced endomorph) and ACTH levels after maximal exercise test (R=0.36; P<0.05) and balanced ectomorph and endomorph mesomorph. There were significant correlation between cortisol levels after maximal exercise test at the beginning of training process (R=0.59; P<0.01) and some somatotypes (mesomorph ectomorph, mesomorph endomorph, balanced endomorph and endomorph mesomorph) and after the finishing of training process (R=0.62; P<0.01) and some somatotypes (central, balanced ectomorph and mesomorph ectomorph). CONCLUSION: The significant decreases of cortisol plasma levels during soccer training process could indicate a stagnation of training process, accordingly with insignificant changes of AnT. The significant correlations of some somatotypes with stress hormonal responses could only suggest that the somatotype characteristics of young soccer players could be of interest in process of selection and planning of soccer training process with an essential need for more studies.

Isonymy, consanguinity and repeated pairs of surnames in Aromun populations.

The Aromuns represent a small and almost unknown people that live scattered over the Balkan Peninsula. Due to their language, that is very similar to classical Latin, they are in a special position. The Aromuns settled only in more recent times. Until now they lived as shepherds, as caravan guides and merchants and lead a semi-nomadic life. We are currently carrying out studies to determine the genetic structure of this population. To facilitate the interpretation of these data, we are also trying to obtain other important parameters that pertain to migration processes and the genealogical structure of this populations. The data arise from three areas in Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and Romania. The inbreeding coefficient and the proportion of repeated pairs of surnames was calculated through the use of genealogies and the isonymy method. The difference between these three populations are due primarily to confounding by selection of mates and family composition.