Changes in electrolytes and uric acid excretion during and after a 100 km run.

Physical activity leads to changes in water and electrolyte homeostasis and to enhanced purine metabolism. The typical abnormalities observed after exercise are hyperkaliemia, hyper- or hyponatremia and hyperuricemia. The possible explanations of hyperuricemia are: increased metabolism and decreased elimination of uric acid. Changes in uric acid excretion are commonly observed in disturbances of sodium and water homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in electrolytes and uric acid excretion during a very long period of exercise. Twenty subjects with a mean age of 40.75±7.15 years took part in a 100 km run. The route of the run was based on the university stadium track. All subjects were experienced amateur runners, with a mean time of regular running of 6.11±7.19 years. Blood was collected before the start, after every 25 km and 12 hours after the run. The levels of electrolytes, creatinine, uric acid, cortisol, aldosterone, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were measured. Creatinine clearance, urinary potassium-to-sodium ratio, fractional excretion of electrolytes and uric acid were calculated. Seventeen runners completed the study. Significant increases in sodium (from 141.65±1.90 to 144.29±3.65mmol/l), potassium (from 4.53±0.34 to 5.03±0.42mmol/l), creatinine (from 0.88±0.11 to 1.10±0.20mg/dl) and uric acid (from 5.15±0.87 to 5.94±1.50 mg/dl) were observed after 100 km (p less than 0.05). Other significant changes during the study were noted in fractional excretions of sodium (from 0.86±0.29 to 0.33±0.13%) and potassium (from 6.66±2.79 to 18.90±10.01%), probably reflecting the decrease in renal blood flow (RBF) and increase in renal tubule reabsorption. The fractional excretion of uric acid slightly increased but without statistical significance from 5.34±1.51 to 6.09±2.34%. The results of our study showed that during very long but not very intensive exercise there is no change in uric acid excretion, although at the same time profound changes in electrolyte excretion are found. Both hyperuricemia and hyperuricosuria may be harmful, therefore it seems logical that the best way to avoid those abnormalities is to maintain fractional uric acid excretion.

Total bilirubin in athletes, determination of reference range.

The purpose of this study was to determine a typical reference range for the population of athletes. Results of blood tests of 339 athletes (82 women and 257 men, aged 18-37 years) were retrospectively analysed. The subjects were representatives of different sports disciplines. The measurements of total bilirubin (BIT), iron (Fe), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were made using a Pentra 400 biochemical analyser (Horiba, France). Red blood cell count (RBC), reticulocyte count and haemoglobin concentration measurements were made using an Advia 120 haematology analyser (Siemens, Germany). In groups of women and men the percentage of elevated results were similar at 18%. Most results of total bilirubin in both sexes were in the range 7-14 µmol·L-1 (49% of women and 42% of men). The highest results of elevated levels of BIT were in the range 21-28 µmol·L-1 (12% of women and 11% of men). There was a significant correlation between serum iron and BIT concentration in female and male athletes whose serum total bilirubin concentration does not exceed the upper limit of the reference range. Elevated concentrations of total bilirubin appear to be due to changes caused by regular exercise. The obtained upper limit of the reference range for total bilirubin concentration in the group of athletes is 29.0 µmol·L-1. It seems reasonable to use dedicated reference values for total bilirubin concentration in relation to the group of athletes.

Myokines in Response to a Tournament Season among Young Tennis Players.

The study investigated changes in myokines, heat shock proteins, and growth factors in highly ranked, young, male tennis players in response to physical workload during the competitive season and their potential correlations with match scores. Blood collections were carried out at the beginning, the midpoint, and the end of the tournament season. Data analysis revealed a significant increase in interleukin 6 and its inverse correlation with the number of lost games (r = -0.45; 90% CI -0.06 to 0.77). Neither the irisin nor BDNF level changed notably, yet delta changes of irisin across the season significantly correlated with the number of games won. The concentration of HSP27 recorded a small increase (31.2%; 90% CI 10.7 to 55.5, most likely). A negative correlation was noted between IGF-1 and HSP27 concentration at baseline (-0.70 very high; 90% CI -0.89 to -0.31, very likely). At the end of the season IGF-1 correlated positively with the number of games won (r = 0.37 moderate, 90% CI -0.16 to 0.73, likely) but negatively with the number of games lost (r = -0.39, 90% CI -0.14 to -0.74, likely). In conclusion our data indicated that Il-6, irisin, and growth factor IGF-1 may modify overall performance during a long lasting season, expressed in the amount of games won or lost.

Expression of factors associated with apoptosis in the porcine corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase of the estrous cycle and early pregnancy: their possible involvement in acquisition of luteolytic sensitivity.

The studies on the acquisition of luteolytic sensitivity have been focused mainly on molecular changes induced in the luteal tissue after treatment with exogenous PGF2α or on physiological changes occurring during the estrous cycle. The comparison of changes leading to the acquisition of luteolytic sensitivity after Day 12 of the estrous cycle and corresponding days of pregnancy has not been investigated in the pig. The present study was undertaken to evaluate (1) apoptosis measured as the proportions of early apoptotic, late apoptotic, and viable cells; (2) expression of factors involved in the extrinsic (TNFA/TNFα, TNFRSF1A/TNFR1, TNFRSF1B/TNFR2, FAS/Fas, and FASLG/FasL) and intrinsic (CASP3/Casp3, TP53/p-53, BAX/Bax, and BCL2/Bcl-2) apoptotic pathways, with two components of the activating protein-1 complex, i.e., FOS/Fos and JUN/Jun and IFNG/IFNγ; and (3) concentrations of luteal and blood plasma progesterone (P4) throughout the luteal phase of the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Corpora lutea (CL) were collected postmortem on Days 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the estrous cycle and the corresponding days of pregnancy. The luteal tissue was subjected to RNA and/or protein isolation and disaggregation of CL cells followed by flow cytometry analysis aimed to determine apoptotic changes. Luteal and blood plasma P4 concentrations decreased on Day 14 of the estrous cycle versus pregnancy (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). A significant increase in the number of early apoptotic cells and a decrease in the number of viable cells were observed on Day 14 of the estrous cycle (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Increase (P < 0.05) of TNFA messenger RNA (mRNA) level coincided with that of IFNG on Day 12 of the estrous cycle but not on the corresponding day of pregnancy. The content of FAS mRNA and protein increased on Day 14 of the estrous cycle versus pregnancy (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of CASP3, BCL-2 and BAX was unchanged in cyclic and pregnant CL, while level of TP53 increased (P < 0.05) on Day 12 of the estrous cycle versus Day 8. The level of FOS and JUN mRNA increased (P < 0.05) on Day 14 of the estrous cycle versus the remaining days. The level of FOS and JUN mRNA was significantly higher (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) on Day 14 of the estrous cycle than that on the corresponding day of pregnancy. In summary, the simultaneous increase of TNFA and IFNG transcript in cyclic CL suggests the crucial role of both cytokines in sensitization of porcine CL to further luteolytic action of PGF2α. The upregulated expression of FAS, FOS, and JUN mRNA in the late luteal phase in cyclic CL can indicate their involvement in structural luteolysis. The increased viability of luteal cells and elevated P4 concentrations in pregnant CL confirm the protective role of luteal P4 against apoptosis.

Salicylic acid is an indispensable component of the Ny-1 resistance-gene-mediated response against Potato virus Y infection in potato.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of salicylic acid (SA) signalling in Ny-1-mediated hypersensitive resistance (HR) of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to Potato virus Y (PVY). The responses of the Ny-1 allele in the Rywal potato cultivar and transgenic NahG-Rywal potato plants that do not accumulate SA were characterized at the cytological, biochemical, transcriptome, and proteome levels. Analysis of noninoculated and inoculated leaves revealed that HR lesions started to develop from 3 d post inoculation and completely restricted the virus spread. At the cytological level, features of programmed cell death in combination with reactive oxygen species burst were observed. In response to PVY infection, SA was synthesized de novo. The lack of SA accumulation in the NahG plants led to the disease phenotype due to unrestricted viral spreading. Grafting experiments show that SA has a critical role in the inhibition of PVY spreading in parenchymal tissue, but not in vascular veins. The whole transcriptome analysis confirmed the central role of SA in orchestrating Ny-1-mediated responses and showed that the absence of SA leads to significant changes at the transcriptome level, including a delay in activation of expression of genes known to participate in defence responses. Moreover, perturbations in the expression of hormonal signalling genes were detected, shown as a switch from SA to jasmonic acid/ethylene signalling. Viral multiplication in the NahG plants was accompanied by downregulation of photosynthesis genes and activation of multiple energy-producing pathways.

The novel gene Ny-1 on potato chromosome IX confers hypersensitive resistance to Potato virus Y and is an alternative to Ry genes in potato breeding for PVY resistance.

Hypersensitive resistance (HR) is an efficient defense strategy in plants that restricts pathogen growth and can be activated during host as well as non-host interactions. HR involves programmed cell death and manifests itself in tissue collapse at the site of pathogen attack. A novel hypersensitivity gene, Ny-1, for resistance to Potato virus Y (PVY) was revealed in potato cultivar Rywal. This is the first gene that confers HR in potato plants both to common and necrotic strains of PVY. The locus Ny-1 mapped on the short arm of potato chromosome IX, where various resistance genes are clustered in Solanaceous genomes. Expression of HR was temperature-dependent in cv. Rywal. Strains PVYO and PVYN, including subgroups PVYNW and PVYNTN, were effectively localized when plants were grown at 20 degrees C. At 28 degrees C, plants were systemically infected but no symptoms were observed. In field trials, PVY was restricted to the inoculated leaves and PVY-free tubers were produced. Therefore, the gene Ny-1 can be useful for potato breeding as an alternative donor of PVY resistance, because it is efficacious in practice-like resistance conferred by Ry genes.

Potato chromosomes IX and XI carry genes for resistance to potato virus M.

Two new loci for resistance to potato virus M (PVM), Gm and Rm, have been mapped in potato. The gene Gm was derived from Solanum gourlayi, whereas, Solanum megistacrolobum is the source of the gene Rm. Gm confers resistance to PVM infection after mechanical inoculation. Rm induces a hypersensitive response in potato plants. Two diploid populations segregating for Gm and Rm, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), and available potato molecular maps were instrumental for mapping the resistance loci. The novel locus Gm was mapped to a central region on potato chromosome IX. The locus Rm was placed on the short arm of chromosome XI, close to the marker loci GP250 and GP283, where a hotspot for monogenic and polygenic resistance to diverse pathogens is located in the potato and tomato genome.

[Mechanical sterility in the female population of the Kielce province. I. Socioeconomic characteristics]. / Nieplodnosc mechaniczna w populacji kobiet kielecczyzny. Czesc I: Charakterystyka socjoekonomiczna.

The first part of the study of 70 women with mechanical sterility analyses social and economical conditions and characteristics of menstrual cycles. It was proved that mechanical sterility was most frequent in urban population older than 25 years. Longer period of therapy before pregnancy was typical of rural population. Earlier menarche had essential effect on duration of therapy. No effect of occupation on duration of therapy was proved.

[Mechanical infertility in the female population of the Kielce province. IV. Evaluation of hypophyseal gonadotropin levels during the [Mechanical infertility in the female population of the Kielce province. IV. Evaluation of hypophyseal gonadotropin levels during the menstrual cycle]. / Nieplodnosc mechaniczna w populacji kobiet kielecczyzny. Czesc IV: Ocena poziomu gonadotropin przysadkowych w cyklu miesiaczkowym.

The paper describes results of the RIA of the hypophyseal gonadotropins estimated in the menstrual cycle in the group of women with mechanical sterility in confrontation with the group of fertile women. Significantly higher mean concentration of FSH in follicular and luteal phase and higher concentration of LH after ovulation in the group of sterile women were found. There was no LH peak and mean concentration in 14th day of menstrual cycle was significantly lower in the group of women with mechanical sterility. Mean PRL concentration was higher but within the bounds of standard in sterile women.

[Vulvovaginitis in girls. I. Characteristics of the investigated population]. / Zapalenia sromu i pochwy u dziewczat. Czesc I: Charakterystyka badanej populacji.

The group of 277 girls treated for vulvovaginitis was investigated. Any objective and subjective factors, which could effect on occurrence of this disease at girls were analysed. Over 2/3 of investigated girls were before menarche, 36.5% were 3-7 years old. Over 30% had urinary tract infections, 10%--tonsillitis. No essential effect of social and economical conditions on occurrence of vulvovaginitis at investigated population was proved.