Acute effect of different doses of caffeinated chewing gum on exercise performance in caffeine-habituated male soccer players.

The ergogenic benefits of caffeine have been well established, but there is scarce research on its chewing gum form. The present research aimed to examine the effects of different doses (100 and 200 mg) of caffeinated chewing gum on muscle strength, vertical jump performance, and ball-kicking speed in trained male soccer players. In a double-blind, randomized counterbalanced, and crossover research design, 14 male soccer players (age = 22 ± 2 y; body mass = 74.2 ± 7.1 kg; height = 180.0 ± 6.8 cm; habitual caffeine intake = 358.9 ± 292.4 mg/day) participated in three experimental trials. In each trial, participants performed isometric handgrip strength, quadriceps and hamstring strength, ball-kicking speed, and 15 s countermovement jump test 10 min after chewing 100 mg (LCAF) or 200 mg (MCAF) of caffeinated gum or placebo (PLA). MCAF improved quadriceps strength (53.77 ± 5.77 kg) compared to LCAF (49.62 ± 8.81 kg, p = 0.048) and PLA (49.20 ± 7.20 kg, p = 0.032). However, neither LCAF nor MCAF had a significant effect on the isometric handgrip and hamstring strength, ball-kicking speed, and 15 s countermovement jump test (all p > 0.05). These findings support chewing gum as an alternative mode of caffeine administration which can be used as a nutritional ergogenic aid for trained soccer players, at least for quadriceps strength.

Investigation of Kidney Morphology and Somatotype Components in Early-Stage Kidney Patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the kidney morphology and somatotype components of adult patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: The sample consisted of 46 individuals with early-stage CKD (26 men and 20 women, mean age=45.92±16.53 years). The pathological subjects were compared with a control group consisting of 46 healthy subjects (28 men and 18 women, mean age=41.96±11.48 years). The Heath-Carter method was used to determine somatotype components. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) of patients with Stage 2 CKD and healthy volunteers taken within the past 3 months was scanned to determine kidney morphology. Kidney measurements were performed on CTs (length, width, depth, and volume of kidney). Results: Kidney patients (mean somatotype: 6.33-5.37-0.6) were less ectomorphic and more endomorphic than the controls (mean somatotype: 4.35-4.40-3.02). Moderate effect size (ES) was found in endomorphy (ES=0.87; p=0.035) and ectomorphy (ES=1.08; p=0.012) between groups. No significant difference was observed in the kidney morphology (ES=0.04-0.19; p>0.05). Conclusion: In the early-stage CKD, kidney morphology may not be the distinguishing factor. On the other hand, patients differed significantly in terms of endomorph components. Being overweight can also be one of the negative findings for kidney disease. Somatotype classification could be a suitable tool for monitoring kidney disease.

Evaluation of Willis Polygon Morphometry with Cranial Tomographic Angiography.

AIM: To examine the morphometric properties of the vessels forming the Willis polygon (WP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HT) and compare them with healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cranial Tomography Angiography (CTA) of 168 individuals were analyzed retrospectively. The individuals included in the study were divided into four groups according to the diagnosis. Group 1 included 40 individuals who were diagnosed with HT, Group 2 included 43 individuals who were diagnosed with DM, Group 3 included 42 individuals who were diagnosed with DM and HT, and Group 4 was the control group and included 43 individuals. The diameter and length measurements of the vessels forming the WP were included in our study. RESULTS: According to the results of the Kruskal Wallis H test, in female patients statistically significant differences were detected in the diameter measurements of the right and left A1 segment of the ACA, the diameter measurement of the left A2 segment, the diameter measurements of the right and left P1 and P2 segments of the ACP, the diameter measurements of the right and left AComP. (p < 0.05), in male patients statistically significant differences were found in the diameter of the right A1 segment of the ACA, the diameter and segment length measurements of the right and left P1 segments of the ACP, of the right and left P2 diameter measurements, and segment length measurements of the left AComP (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We also found that the vessel diameters were similar in the HT, DM and HT+DM groups, and smaller than the control group. In addition, we think that knowing WP morphometric measurements will both guide the radio-anatomical evaluations to be made and increase the level of microanatomical knowledge in surgical treatment.

Does Dominant Somatotype Differentiate Performance of Jumping and Sprinting Variables in Young Healthy Adults?

The relationship between an athlete's somatotype three-numeral rating and his or her athletic performance is well known. However, a direct effect of the different dominant somatotype on jumping and sprinting variables has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dominant somatotype on sport-specific explosive variables. One hundred and twelve physically active young adults (mean ± standard deviation age: 21.82 ± 3.18 years) were somatotype-rated using the Heath-Carter method. Participants were classified as balanced ectomorph, balanced mesomorph, central, mesomorph-endomorph, and mesomorphic ectomorph. Vertical jump and linear sprint tests were performed to measure peak lower body performance and sprint variables (time, speed, and momentum), respectively. The analysis revealed that balanced mesomorph had significantly higher vertical jump (effect size (ES) = 1.10, p = 0.005) and power to body mass (ES = 1.04, p = 0.023) than mesomorph-endomorph. In addition, balanced mesomorph showed significantly superior performance in 30-m sprint time and velocity than central and mesomorph-endomorph (ES range = 0.93-1, p < 0.05). Finally, balanced ectomorph (ES = 1.12, p = 0.009) and mesomorphic ectomorph (ES = 1.10, p = 0.017) were lower in sprint momentum compared to balanced mesomorphs. In conclusion, this study has shown the importance of the interaction between subtypes and athletic performance. The knowledge gained may be important in identifying those who tend to perform well in sports with explosive power and in prescribing training programs.

Somatotype characteristics of patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease and its relationships with physical activity and depression / Características del somatotipo de pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica sin diálisis y su relación con la actividad física y la depresión

SUMMARY: Somatotype characters have been defined for many diseases. However, there is insufficient information on the somatotype characters of chronic kidney patients. The first aim of our study was to define the specific somatotype in patients diagnosed with CKD. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between somatotype characters and physical activity and depression in CKD patients. A total of 88 (52.7 %) patients diagnosed with CKD between January and December 2021 at the Department of Nephrology, Inonu University Hospital (Malatya, Turkey) and 79 (47.3 %) healthy volunteers were included in the study. Somatotype analysis was performed using the Heath-Carter method. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Analysis revealed that patients had greater medial calf girth (p = 0.036), higher triceps (p = 0.007) and suprailiac (p = 0.042) skinfold thicknesses and higher body mass index (p = 0.007) compared to controls. Patients also had significantly higher endomorphy (patients: 6.57±1.35 vs. controls: 6.04±1.3; effect size (ES): 0.40, p=0.010) and significantly higher mesomorphy (patients: 7.44±2 vs. controls: 6.85±2.3; ES: 0.27, p=0.039) as well as significantly lower ectomorphy (patients: 0.71±0.69 vs. controls: 1.10±0.93; ES: 0.47, p=0.006). Significant positive correlations were also observed between mesomorphy and IPAQ (rho = 0.219, p = 0.04), endomorphy and BDI (rho = 0.423, p 0.001). Significant negative correlations were observed between ectomorph and BDI (rho = -0.325, p = 0.002). We observed that the dominant somatotype was endomorphic mesomorph in patients with CKD. In addition, the fact that CKD patients with ectomorphic body structure have lower depressive symptoms could have an impact on their well-being.

RESUMEN: Se han definido caracteres de somatotipo para muchas enfermedades. Sin embargo, no hay suficiente información sobre los caracteres somatotípicos de los pacientes renales crónicos. El primer objetivo de nuestro estudio fue definir el somatotipo específico en pacientes diagnosticados de ERC. El segundo objetivo fue investigar la relación entre los caracteres del somatotipo y la actividad física y la depresión en pacientes con ERC. Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 88 (52,7 %) pacientes diagnosticados con ERC entre enero y diciembre de 2021 en el Departamento de Nefrología del Hospital Universitario de Inonu (Malatya, Turquía) y 79 (47,3 %) voluntarios sanos. El análisis del somatotipo se realizó mediante el método de Heath-Carter. La actividad física se evaluó con el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ) y los síntomas depresivos con el Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI). El análisis reveló que los pacientes tenían una mayor circunferencia media de la pierna (pantorrilla) (p = 0,036), tríceps (p = 0,007) y pliegues cutáneos suprailíacos (p = 0,042) más altos y un IMC más alto (p = 0,007) en comparación con los controles. Los pacientes también tenían una endomorfia significativamente mayor (pacientes: 6,57±1,35 frente a controles: 6,04±1,3; tamaño del efecto (ES): 0,40, p=0,010) y una mesomorfia significativamente mayor (pacientes: 7,44±2 frente a controles: 6,85±2,3; ES: 0,27, p=0,039) así como una ectomorfia significativamente menor (pacientes: 0,71±0,69 vs. controles: 1,10±0,93; ES: 0,47, p=0,006). También se observaron correlaciones positivas significativas entre mesomorfia e IPAQ (rho = 0,219, p = 0,04), endomorfia y BDI (rho = 0,423, p 0,001). Se observaron correlaciones negativas significativas entre ectomorfo y BDI (rho = -0,325, p = 0,002). Observamos que el somatotipo dominante fue el mesomorfo endomórfico en pacientes con ERC. Además, el hecho de que los pacientes con ERC con estructura corporal ectomórfica tengan menos síntomas depresivos podría tener un impacto en su bienestar.