Study of Morpho-Functional Characteristics of the Cardiovascular System According to Electrocardiography, Phonocardiography, Echocardiography in Masters Athletics.

Background: Many authors have noted the lack of knowledge on the causal relationship between the degree of physical activity, the dynamics, and outcomes of diseases, as well as the influence of sports history on the rehabilitation potential of former athletes. Purpose: Assessment of the functional state of the cardiovascular system according to the indicators of electrocardiography, polycardiography, echocardiography and the level of physical performance in masters athletes. Patients and Methods: The study included a main group consisting of 100 athletes, who had undergone electrocardiography, poly-electrocardiography, ultrasound echocardiography, heart rate and blood pressure measurement to determine their level of physical performance. The subjects were then divided into 2 groups. The first group included 75 people who continue to be active in regular sports activities. The second group consisted of 25 people who completely stopped training or had only occasional, unsystematic physical activities. A control group of 31 people, consisting of people of the same age who had not been involved in sports earlier, was examined according to the same program. Results: The data obtained by us show that sports activities do contribute to the increasing stability of the body and maximize the deployment of the capabilities of the circulatory system, including their long-term preservation in masters athletic. Athletes who have stopped training have signs of age-related changes in the heart and blood vessels, which seem to be more frequent and earlier than those who continue training. A higher degree of myocardial contractility (in 90.67% of cases) can also be seen in the main group. Conclusion: Masters athletes and those who stopped training after completing their sports career, should have notably thorough medical supervision and undergo regular annual in-depth examination.

Beneficial Effects of Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes on Wound Healing Compared to Commercial Nitric Oxide Plasma Generator.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous molecule which plays a key role in wound healing. Previously, we identified the optimal conditions for wound healing strategies using NO donors and an air plasma generator. The aim of this study was to compare the wound healing effects of binuclear dinitrosyl iron complexes with glutathione (B-DNIC-GSH) and NO-containing gas flow (NO-CGF) at their optimal NO doses (0.04 mmol for B-DNIC-GSH and 1.0 mmol for NO-CGF per 1 cm2) in a rat full-thickness wound model over a 3-week period. Excised wound tissues were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemical, morphometrical and statistical methods. Both treatments had an identical stimulating impact on wound healing, which indicated a higher dosage effectiveness of B-DNIC-GSH compared to the NO-CGF. B-DNIC-GSH spray application reduced inflammation and promoted fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis and the growth of granulation tissue during the first 4 days after injury. However, prolonged NO spray effects were mild compared to NO-CGF. Future studies should determine the optimal B-DNIC-GSH solution course for a more effective wound healing stimulation.

Plant Secondary Metabolites in the Battle of Drugs and Drug-Resistant Bacteria: New Heroes or Worse Clones of Antibiotics?

Infectious diseases that are caused by bacteria are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in all regions of the world. Bacterial drug resistance has grown in the last decades, but the rate of discovery of new antibiotics has steadily decreased. Therefore, the search for new effective antibacterial agents has become a top priority. The plant kingdom seems to be a deep well for searching for novel antimicrobial agents. This is due to the many attractive features of plants: they are readily available and cheap, extracts or compounds from plant sources often demonstrate high-level activity against pathogens, and they rarely have severe side effects. The huge variety of plant-derived compounds provides very diverse chemical structures that may supply both the novel mechanisms of antimicrobial action and provide us with new targets within the bacterial cell. In addition, the rapid development of modern biotechnologies opens up the way for obtaining bioactive compounds in environmentally friendly and low-toxic conditions. In this short review, we ask the question: do antibacterial agents derived from plants have a chance to become a panacea against infectious diseases in the "post-antibiotics era".