Monitoring biological and psychological measures throughout an entire season in male handball players

[EN] The aim of this study was to monitor biological markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, mood states, and recoverystress states throughout an entire season in male handball players. Fourteen handball players (age 20.192.5 years) with a regular training and competitive background in handball (11.093.7 years) from the same club volunteered to participate. All participants completed 40 weeks of training. The training load was increased progressively throughout the season. Blood samples were collected and questionnaires were administered during preparatory, competitive, and recovery periods. Blood C-reactive protein and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations increased during periods of high load, while the reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) decreased. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in total leukocyte count. Positive correlations were found between C-reactive protein, GSSG, GSH/GSSG ratio, and training load. No changes were observed in the Total Mood Disturbance score of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). However, scores on some Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes subscales, such as Injury, Physical Recovery, and Being in Shape, correlated with training load. Findings indicate that during periods of high training load, handball players developed a low grade of inflammation and oxidative state. Results support the usefulness of monitoring psychological and biological markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and training load during season.SIThis work was supported by the Acción Estratégica Sobre el Deporte, Spain (grant #2006-56141-C03- 01 to J.G. and grant #2006-56141-C03-02 to S.M.)

Signs of Overload After an Intensified Training

[EN] This study investigated eff ects of a 9-week intensified aerobic training and 3-weeks of recovery on signs of overload in 9 healthy active young males. Blood and saliva samples were collected and psychological questionnaires were administered during baseline (T1), intermediate load (T2), maximal load (T3), and recovery (T4) periods. Maximal oxygen uptake increased and blood lactate concentration decreased in T3, while running time in a 3 000 m track fi eld test was significantly shorter. No signifi cant changes were found in hematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, transaminases, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor- α , myeloperoxidase and markers of oxidative stress in plasma, or salivary cortisol and testosterone. Increases in diff erent negative aff ectscales and in the total mood disturbance score of the Profi le of Mood States were observed during T3. Scores in the stress scales of the Recovery- Stress Questionnaire for Athletes and in the State Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory also showed signifi cant increases during T3. The lack of eff ects in biomarkers together with the changes observed in psychological assessment indicates that an intensifi ed training can produce psychological disturbances prone to early overreaching development. Additionally, it seems that psychological parameters are sensitive markers to detect stress produced by load increases.SIThis work was supported by the Acción Estratégica Sobre el Deporte, Spain (grants n ° 2006-56141-C03-01 to J. G., n ° 2006- 56141-C03-02 to S.M., and n ° 2006-56141-C03-03 to F.S.

Impact of resistance training on the autophagy-inflammation-apoptosis crosstalk in elderly subjects

[EN]Aging is associated with a decline in autophagy and a state of low-grade inflammation which further affects apoptosis and autophagy. Importantly, these alterations could reverse with regular physical activity. This study assessed the effects of a resistance exercise training program on autophagy, NLRP3 inflammasome, and apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from old subjects. Twenty-six healthy women and men (age, 69.6±1.5 yr) were randomized to a training (TG) or a control (CG) group. TG performed an 8-week resistance training program, while CG followed their daily routines. Protein expression of beclin-1, Atg12, Atg16 and LAMP-2 increased following the training program, while expression of p62/SQSTM1 and phosphorylation of ULK-1 at Ser757 were significantly lower. Resistance exercise also induced a decrease in NLRP3 expression and in the caspase-1/procaspase-1 ratio. Expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, as well as the Bad/BcL-2 ratio were reduced, and there was a significant decrease in the protein content of caspase-3. The results obtained seem to indicate that 8-week resistance training stimulates autophagy, prevents NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces apoptosis in PBMCs from elderly subjects. These data could have a significant impact in prevention and rehabilitation programs currently employed in elderly population.S

Estudio morfológico de un caso de hermafroditismo en Procambarus clarkii (crustáceo, decápodo) de la Albufera de VAlencia

Hemos recogido y revisado aproximadamente 7000  ejemplares de a especie Procambarus clarkii y de todos ellos sólo uno era aparentmente hermafrodita. Este animal se examinó y sus gónadas se fijaron en solución Bouin durante dos horas. El lóbulo genital posterior presentaba en su zona proximal tejido ovárico alterado y en su zona distal acinos testiculares inactivos. Por ello, este anima puede considerarse como un caso de hermafroditismo auténtico en esta especieApproximately 7.000 specimens of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii from the Albufera lake (Valencia, Spain) were collected and examined, and only one apparent hermaphrodite animal was localized. This animal was studied and its gonads were fixed in Bouin's solution for 2 hours. The posterior genital lobe presented in its proximal zone and altered ovarian tissue and its distal zone the tecticular acini found were inactive. This observation constitute a real description of a case of autentic hermaphroditism in this speci