Physiological Responses Associated with Nordic-Walking and Walking in Middle-age Women.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of supervised 12-week walking (W) and Nordic-walking (NW) programs on changes in specific physiological parameters in middle-aged women 55.40±7.87 and 52.58±6.91 years of age, respectively. Body mass, fat tissue percentage, muscle tissue percentage, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, resting pulse, and maximum oxygen uptake were measured at the beginning and end of the exercise program. Intra- and intergroup differences in physiological parameters as a function of the preparation period were analyzed using bootstrap analysis. Clinically reliable changes for a specific subject in the W and NW programs were analyzed using the Reliable Change Index (RCI). The results of this study indicate that more distinct differences were observed in the NW group. However, both programs improved the parameters studied. Nevertheless, an analysis of the RCI indicates that the W provides results similar to, if not better than, NW for increasing neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and cardiorespiratory fitness. This study leads us to the conclusion that the W is not less efficient than the NW for middle-aged women.

Changes in Health-related Parameters Associated with Sports Performance Enhancement Drugs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in health-related parameters caused by the administration of anabolic-androgenic steroids and "fat-burning drugs" during a 6-month competition preparation period. The physiological, biochemical, and anthropometric parameters studied included serum cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, bilirubin, body mass, and percentage of total body fat. Changes in the parameters studied were analyzed at monthly intervals during six months of preparation for competition. The study revealed a continuous increase in body mass, accompanied by a decrease in body fat percentage to the physiologically essential level. Total cholesterol levels remined in the desirable concentration range. The mean levels of triglycerides fluctuated between borderline high and high. Mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained within the low range, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fluctuated between near-optimal / above-optimal, borderline high, and high levels. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase remained within the high concentration. The bilirubin concentration remained in the desirable range. The blood nitrogen urea concentration fluctuated between normal and elevated levels. Sports-enhancing drugs analyzed in this study do not have an immediate detrimental impact on the selected biochemical, physiological, and anthropometric parameters that define health.

Age-dependent changes in fat- and water-soluble vitamins-National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys study.

Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of various diseases associated, among others, with detrimental blood levels of fat- and water-soluble vitamins. Thus, the objective of this study is to investigate age-related changes in blood levels of vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E. Subject serum vitamin levels were obtained from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). NHANESIII and NHANES 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, and 2005-2006. The raw data set was stratified into five age groups G1- G5: 20 ≤ G1 < 30, 30 ≤ G2 < 40, 40 ≤ G3 < 50, 50 ≤ G4 < 60, and 60 ≤ G5 < 70 years of age. Age stratified data was cleaned using the modified Horn algorithm. The reference range for the vitamin level of a specific age group was defined as data between the first and third quartile of the subject defined by normal blood pressure and normal bone density. Age-dependent changes in serum/plasma vitamin levels were assessed using the bootstrap technique with 10,000 repeats and Bonferroni adjustment. There was a continuous increase in vitamin A, B12, D, and E levels in the blood. However, the vitamin C concentration remained virtually constant in all age groups. There was a lack of cross-correlations between lipid and water-soluble vitamin levels and blood pressure and bone health. The following reference levels for vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E in subjects older than 20 years of age were established: vitamin A: 1.32-2.8 mmol/L, vitamin B12: 257.94-498.33 pmol/L, vitamin C: 38.18-79.2 mmol/L, vitamin D: 76.33-199.36 nmol/L and vitamin E: 3.65-41.12 µmol/L.

Supplementation with Silk Amino Acids improves physiological parameters defining stamina in elite fin-swimmers.

BACKGROUND: Previous animal study has shown that supplementation with silk amino acid hydrolysate (SAA) increases stamina in mice. The presented study was the first formal evaluation of the influence of SAA supplementation on parameters defining physiological fitness level in humans. METHODS: It was a randomized controlled trial with a parallel-group design on elite male fin-swimmers. The experimental group was supplemented with 500 mg of SAA per kg of body mass, dissolved in 250 ml of a Carborade Drink®; the control group with Carborade Drink® alone; 3 times a day, 30 minutes prior to the training session. RESULTS: Changes discerned in the experimental group were more pronounced than those observed in the control group. For example, the change in the serum lactic acid concentration observed in the experimental group was sevenfold less than in the control group [21.8 vs. -3.7 L% for the control and experimental groups, respectively]. An analysis of a lactate profile as a function of a maximal swimming velocity exposed a statistically significant positive shift in the swimming velocity of 0.05 m/s, at the lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L in the experimental group. There was also a positive, although statistically insignificant, increase of 2.6 L% in serum testosterone levels in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a 12-day SAA supplementation combined with an extensive and rigorous training schedule was sufficient to increase an aerobic stamina. However, this phenomenon was associated with an augmented level of muscular damage (an increased level of creatine phosphokinase in the experimental group).

Effect of a MAST Exercise Program on Anthropometric Parameters, Physical Fitness, and Serum Lipid Levels in Obese Postmenopausal Women.

The purpose of this study was to examine an influence of a mixed aerobic and strength training program (MAST) on anthropometry, serum lipid levels, physical performance, and functional fitness in obese postmenopausal women. The MAST sessions were held three times per week, and the exercise program lasted for 10 weeks. The exercise group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in maximal oxygen uptake, a waist/hip ratio, and strength of the upper and lower body. An increase in LDL-C levels was observed in the control group. A 10-week MAST program encompassing Nordic-walking as an aerobic component, and strength exercises, induces positive changes in functional fitness, HDL-C, LDL-C and a waist/hip ratio in obese postmenopausal women. The observed changes implicate an increase in a health-related quality of life among the women administered to the physical exercise program.

Physiological Responses Associated with Nordic-walking training in Systolic Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women.

Loss of physical strength and hypertension are among the most pronounced detrimental factors accompanying aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a supervised 8-week Nordic-walking training program on systolic blood pressure in systolic-hypertensive postmenopausal women. This study was a randomized control trial on a sample of 24 subjects who did not take any hypertension medications. There was a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and an increase in lower and upper-body strength in the group following Nordic-walking training. There was a decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density cholesterol. The obtained results indicate that an 8-week Nordic-walking program may be efficiently employed for counteracting systolic hypertension through a direct abatement of systolic blood pressure and an increase of maximal aerobic capacity.

Proteome changes in response to ecologically viable environmental variation in Calanus sinicus.

Copepods are the most abundant multicellular animal group and are often most important component of zooplankton and indicators of local and global climate change. Among this broad group of animals, Calanus sinicus holds an important role in the ecosystems of The East China Sea, The Korea Strait, and The East Sea. By comparing the response of their proteomes to ecologically viable environment changes, this study tried to identify molecular responses accountable for compensation of a change in metabolic rates. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry on C. sinicus sampled at its native environment, 45 distinct proteins were identified that changed abundance as a function of environment changes i.e., temperature elevation and/or oxygen decrease, and 14 that are only present in proteome adapted to higher temperature/lower oxygen. Although the study failed to find heat shock proteins, the abundance of disulfide-isomerase A3 precursor was higher in species thriving at higher temperatures/lower oxygen. The abundance of proteins responsible for redox homeostasis, DNA maintenance, and chromatin rearrangement was also higher at elevated temperature. Also, the molecular machinery responsible for xenobiotic metabolism is mobilized at higher temperatures/ lower oxygen levels. These data indicate fine adjustment of molecular apparatus in response to changes in living environment.

Age- and menopause-related differences in physiological factors of health quality in women aged 35-60.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate using time series analysis age and menopause induced differences in selected health quality related physiological factors. The study was conducted, using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), and the NHANES 1999-2002 data, on women aged 35-60. Subjects who had not had surgical menopause, did not use contraceptives, did not smoke, and did not breastfeed during the examination, and did not use contraception and for whom follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (LH) activity was assessed, were included in the study. Menopausal status was defined by months since the last period (<2, 2-12, and >12 months for pre-, peri-, and postmenopause, respectively). The results indicate that postmenopausal women, aged less than 45, are characterized by a decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP), an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and a decrease in triglyceride (TG) levels. It was also determined that aging is the main factor leading to physiological variability in systolic blood pressure and high density lipoprotein levels, in pre- and perimenopausal women, and in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) activity in peri- and postmenopausal women.

The changes of the specific physiological parameters in response to 12-week individualized training of young soccer players.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of individualized training (IT) as a function of motor type and effort status on changes of in specific physiological parameters among young soccer competitors. Blood pH and lactate concentrations, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) activities were measured at the beginning of a preparation period, a match season, and a recuperation period of a 6-month macrocycle. The differences among specific physiological parameters as a function of the preparation phase for a defined motor type were analyzed by means of a 1-way generalized linear model (GLM) for repeated measurements. The differences in physiological parameters among defined motor types for a defined preparation phase were analyzed by means of the GLM for independent data. The differences in specific parameters before and after short time effort were analyzed by means of a t-test for matched pairs. Applied experimental and analytical approaches have revealed that IT administered to specific motor types differentiates players with respect to the pH, lactate concentration, and LDH activity. Obtained results indicate also that the dynamics of these parameters reflects the player's fitness level. Analysis of CK activity as a function of a preparation phase may serve as a prognostic tool for both overtraining and physical exhaustion.

Influence of individualized training on psychomotor performance of young soccer players.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of individualized training (IT) on psychomotor performance of young soccer players. Psychomotor performance was measured by means of differential response time and number of correct responses to audio and visual stimuli. Kinematic analysis allowing assessment of both the distances and the average speeds of young players during consecutive matches was also performed. For the data analysis, one-way analysis of variance, Friedman test, and t-test for dependent samples were used. The obtained results clearly indicate that IT during the preparation period increases specific psychomotor performance among young soccer players.

Measures of menopause driven differences in levels of blood lipids, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in women aged 35 to 60 years: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002 study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the association of the menopausal transition with differences in lipid and endogenous hormone levels in normal [18.5 kg/m² ≤ body mass index (BMI) ≤ 24.99 kg/m] and overweight (BMI >24.99 kg/m²) women. METHODS: The study was conducted on women age 35 to 60 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey surveys conducted between the years 1999 and 2002. Menstrual cycle-based menopause status was defined for women who had not had surgical menopause, did not use contraceptives, did not smoke, and did not breast-feed during the examination, by months since the last period (<2, 2-12, and >12 mo for premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause, respectively). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age-adjusted total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels among the menopausal periods in the normal BMI class. The pattern of differences in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level differed between the normal and obese BMI classes. The activity of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone was statistically different between premenopause and perimenopause and premenopause and postmenopause in the normal BMI class. A different picture was observed for the analysis of differences in raw parameters. In this case more differences between menopausal phases were observed for all of the studied parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Aging plays a role at least as important as menopause during the menopausal transition. However, at the current stage, it is impossible to assess the relative weights of aging and the menopausal transition on the differences in the studied parameters.

The changes of bone mineral density in relation to body mass index and aging among Polish and different ethnic women in the United States: cross-sectional studies.

In the present study, we analyzed the changes of bone mineral density (BMD) among Polish women age 40-79, as a function of biological aging and body mass index (BMI) class, and compared them with the US sample (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III). The null hypothesis of this study was that the rate of BMD change is femoral region, age, ethnicity, and BMI dependent. The studied group was divided into 4 age decades: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 and 2 BMI classes (normal: 18.524.99). Analysis of covariance technique, using a generalized linear model with age and BMI as covariates, was used for data analysis. The influence of weight, height, and BMI on BMD loss was analyzed using multivariate regression analysis. The changes in BMD of femoral neck and trochanter are congruent. BMD decrease is not only age dependent but also, for specific ethnic groups, weight, height, and BMI dependent. The obtained results indicate that the analysis of age-dependent BMD changes should be performed by means of regression analysis using a broad age range rather than an age-decade approach.

The age-dependent divergence of strength and coordinating parameters among men and women: the cross-sectional studies.

The objective of these studies was to determine the gender-dependent changes of coordination and fitness parameters in function of age by means of observational, cross-sectional study. We studied 180 male and 180 female participants by means of flamingo, kinesthetic differentiation, spatial orientation, reaction to signals, arm bend and chair stand tests. Generalized linear model (GLM) and the Welch test and the appropriate t-tests were used to compare the differences between the studied age groups. A nonlinear age-dependent progressive deterioration of basic coordination parameters and the strength level has been observed. The results of the battery of the tests indicate men as stronger with higher coordination level than women. The difference between the two genders increases along the aging.

Changes in level of VO2max, blood lipids, and waist circumference in the response to moderate endurance training as a function of ovarian aging.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of moderate endurance training on a set of physiological parameters accompanying menopausal transition. METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight women participated in the study. The cohort was divided into three subgroups: premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal. A 12-week moderate intensity Nordic Walking program was administered to the cohort. The changes in body mass index (BMI), total fat mass (TF), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TGs), and waist circumference (WC) were assessed by means of appropriate statistical methods. RESULTS: Significant differences are observed in VO2max and cholesterol levels as a function of age, both ovarian and chronological. BMI, TF, LDL, HDL, TGs, and WC also fluctuate, however insignificantly, as a function of age. Administration of a 12-week Nordic Walking program results in significant changes in the parameters studied. The only exception is HDL level in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Significant decreases in BMI, TF, LDL, TGs, and WC and increase in HDL in premenopausal and perimenopausal women indicate the outstanding role the appropriately chosen moderate endurance training may play in the quality of daily life in perimenopausal women.

Deterioration of basic coordinative parameters defines life quality of elderly.

The objective of the studies was to analyze the level of deterioration of basic coordinative parameters and to derive the present correlation. 180 female participants with no neurological disorders and limb surgery were studied by means of flamingo, kinesthetic differentiation, spatial orientation and reaction to signals tests. t-test for un-paired data and Pearson correlation analyses were performed. Nonlinear gradual deterioration of studied parameters in function of age was observed. The correlation between postural balance, kinesthetic differentiation, and reaction to signals was observed. The obtained results indicate that significant correlation between the coordinative parameters may influence daily life functioning. It has also been shown that decline of the basic coordinative parameters can be driven be neurodegenerative processes and environmental factors such as high calorie intake, physical and mental inactivity, toxins and/or infectious agents.

Correlations between postural stability and strength of lower body extremities of women population living in long-term care facilities.

The present study was aimed at analyzing correlation between strength of lower body extremities and postural stability in function of age. A pool of 180 women divided into 6 age groups (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89 and 90-94 years) was examined. They all were informed-consent participants. The results suggest that age is negatively correlated with lower body strength and positively correlated with decrease of postural balance. There is also an exponential correlation between the strength of lower body part and postural balance. The conclusion was derived that postural stability is at least partially controlled by the strength of lower body. The age of 75 in women population seems to be a threshold above which the neurodegenerative and muscle degeneration processes are responsible for significant increase of risk of fall.

The primary study on influence of fitness camps on rehabilitation efficiency of full laryngectomy patients.

The objective of this study was to estimate the efficiency of exercise driven rehabilitation procedure after laryngectomy. A retrospective review of case notes from the Ludwig Rydygier Hospital, Bydgoszcz, Poland archives was performed. The setting was the Rehabilitation Unit in Department of Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation of Collegium Medicum, Nicolas Copernicus University, Poland. Thirty male laryngectomy patients with no signs of recurrence were analyzed using modified Harvard Step Test. Also, t-test, Wilcoxon u-paired test and Friedman analysis of variance analyses were performed. A significant increase in the level of physical fitness was observed. The test results showed high effectiveness of rehabilitation camps in respect to the improvement in both physical efficiency and physical exertion tolerance.

The studies on substrate, product and inhibitor binding to a wild-type and neuronopathic form of human acid-beta-glucosidase.

Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of human acid beta-glucosidase. Recent x-ray structural elucidation of the enzyme alone and in the presence of its inhibitor was done, which provided an excellent template for further studies on the binding of substrate, product and inhibitor. To draw correlations between the clinical manifestation of the disease driven by point mutations, L444P and L444R, and the placement and function of putative S-binding sites, the presented theoretical studies were undertaken, which comprised of molecular dynamics and molecular docking methods. The obtained results indicate the D443 and D445 residues as extremely important for physiological functionality of an enzyme. They also show, although indirectly, that binding of the substrate is influenced by an interplay of E235 and E334 residues, constituting putative substrate binding site, and the region flanked by D435 and D445 residues.

2-DE profiling of GDNF overexpression-related proteome changes in differentiating ST14A rat progenitor cells.

Targeted differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) is a challenge for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by cell replacement therapy and cell signalling manipulation. Here, we applied a proteome profiling approach to the rat striatal progenitor model cell line ST14A in order to elucidate cellular differentiation processes. Native cells and cells transfected with the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene were investigated at the proliferative state and at seven time points up to 72 h after induction of differentiation. 2-DE combined with MALDI-MS was used to create a reference 2-DE-map of 652 spots of which 164 were identified and assigned to 155 unique proteins. For identification of protein expression changes during cell differentiation, spot patterns of triplicate gels were matched to the 2-DE-map. Besides proteins that display expression changes in native cells, we also noted 43 protein-spots that were differentially regulated by GDNF overexpression in more than four time points of the experiment. The expression patterns of putative differentiation markers such as annexin 5 (ANXA5), glucosidase II beta subunit (GLU2B), phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 (PEBP1), myosin regulatory light chain 2-A (MLRA), NASCENT polypeptide-associated complex alpha (NACA), elongation factor 2 (EF2), peroxiredoxin-1 (PRDX1) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were verified by Western blotting. The results reflect the large rearrangements of the proteome during the differentiation process of NPCs and their strong modification by neurotrophic factors like GDNF.

2-DE proteome analysis of a proliferating and differentiating human neuronal stem cell line (ReNcell VM).

The proteome of a proliferating human stem cell line was analyzed and then utilized to detect stem cell differentiation-associated changes in the protein profile. The analysis was conducted with a stable human fetal midbrain stem cell line (ReNcell VM) that displays the properties of a neural stem cell. Therefore, acquisition of proteomic data should be representative of cultured human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in general. Here we present a 2-DE protein-map of this cell line with annotations of 402 spots representing 318 unique proteins identified by MS. The subsequent proteome profiling of differentiating cells of this stem cell line at days 0, 4 and 7 of differentiation revealed changes in the expression of 49 identified spots that could be annotated to 45 distinct proteins. This differentiation-associated expression pattern was validated by Western blot analysis for transgelin-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, as well as peroxiredoxin 1 and 4. The group of regulated proteins also included NudC, ubiquilin-1, STRAP, stress-70 protein, creatine kinase B, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin. Our results reflect the large rearrangement of the proteome during the differentiation process of the stem cells to terminally differentiated neurons and offer the possibility for further characterization of specific targets driving the stem cell differentiation.