INTAKES OF SELECTED NUTRIENTS, BONE MINERALISATION AND DENSITY OF ADOLESCENT FEMALE SWIMMERS OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD

The aim of this study was to conduct three-year monitoring of bone mineralization (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of adolescent girls engaged in swimming at the time of attaining the peak bone mass and of their counterparts leading a rather sedentary life, considering the intakes of calcium, phosphorus and protein, as well as the proportions among those nutrients. Two groups of girls aged 11–13 years were studied 3 times at yearly intervals: untrained controls (n = 20) and those engaged in competitive swimming (n = 20). Bone density was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the lumbar spine (L2 – L4). Nutrient intakes (energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus) were assessed from 24-h recalls. The group of swimmers had significantly lower BMI values than the control group. No systematic, significant between-group differences were found in nutrient intake or in bone mineralization variables. Calcium intake was below the recommended norm in all subjects but mean values of bone mineralization variables (BMC, BMD) steadily increased in both groups. The BMD z-scores proved negative throughout the three-year period of early adolescence in both groups of girls and that decrease was significant in swimmers. This could have been due to insufficient calcium intake as well as to inadequate calcium-to-phosphate and protein-to-calcium ratios and, when continued, might result in a decreased bone mass in adulthood

CHANGE IN BLOOD GELSOLIN CONCENTRATION IN RESPONSE TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) produced by muscle is an abundant protein of extracellular fluids capable of severing actin filaments and eliminating actin from the circulation. Additionally, pGSN modulates the cellular effects of some bioactive lipids. In this study we test the hypothesis that hormonal and metabolic adaptations to exercise are associated with changes in gelsolin concentration in blood. Plasma samples were collected from twenty healthy males recruited from untrained (UT, n=10) and endurance trained (ET, n=10) groups that performed 30-60 minutes of exercise on a cycloergometer at a workload corresponding to 700of VO2max. Gelsolin concentration was determined by quantitative Western blot analysis with an anti-human gelsolin antibody. The gelsolin concentration in UT and ET subjects before starting exercise ranged from 104 to 330 and 163 to 337 µg•ml-1 respectively. After 30 minutes of exercise we observed a significant decrease of plasma gelsolin in the UT group (p<0.05) while the gelsolin concentration in the ET group rose on average from 244 to 271 µg•ml-1. However, this increase did not reach statistical significance. Endurance training might increase the ability of muscle tissue to express plasma gelsolin as part of an adaptive mechanism

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among students with different levels of physical activity

Civilisation changes helped to improve living conditions in societies but at the same time they posed numerous new threats to the health of a contemporary human. The aim of the work was to define differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome risk factors in male and female sports university students with different levels of physical activity. The study included 164 female and 174 male first-year students of the Department of Physical Education and Sport in Biala Podlaska. Body weight and height, circumference of waist, hips, arm and calf as well as elbow and knee breadth were measured. BMI and WHR were calculated. Fat tissue was assessed and the levels of glucose, lipid profile, pulse and blood pressure were taken. Moreover, physical activity and a diet of students were determined. Female and male students of physical education and sport demonstrated a higher level of daily physical activity, which was statistically significant compared to other students. However, different levels of physical activity did not influence their diet or the results of their biochemical and physiological tests. Healththreatening factors were noted in a significant number of the examined women and men

Polymorphisms in Genes Encoding VDR, CALCR and Antioxidant Enzymes as Predictors of Bone Tissue Condition in Young, Healthy Men

The aim of the study was to assess significant predictors of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of young, healthy men at the time of reaching peak bone mass. Regression analyses showed that age, BMI and practicing combat sports and team sports at a competitive level (trained vs. untrained group; TR vs. CON, respectively) were positive predictors of BMD/BMC values at various skeletal sites. In addition, genetic polymorphisms were among the predictors. In the whole population studied, at almost all measured skeletal sites, the SOD2 AG genotype proved to be a negative predictor of BMC, while the VDR FokI GG genotype was a negative predictor of BMD. In contrast, the CALCR AG genotype was a positive predictor of arm BMD. ANOVA analyses showed that, regarding SOD2 polymorphism, the TR group was responsible for the significant intergenotypic differences in BMC that were observed in the whole study population (i.e., lower BMC values of leg, trunk and whole body were observed in AG TR compared to AA TR). On the other hand, higher BMC at L1–L4 was observed in the SOD2 GG genotype of the TR group compared to in the same genotype of the CON group. For the FokI polymorphism, BMD at L1–L4 was higher in AG TR than in AG CON. In turn, the CALCR AA genotype in the TR group had higher arm BMD compared to the same genotype in the CON group. In conclusion, SOD2, VDR FokI and CALCR polymorphisms seem to affect the association of BMC/BMD values with training status. In general, at least within the VDR FokI and CALCR polymorphisms, less favorable genotypes in terms of BMD (i.e., FokI AG and CALCR AA) appear to be associated with a greater BMD response to sports training. This suggests that, in healthy men during the period of bone mass formation, sports training (combat and team sports) may attenuate the negative impact of genetic factors on bone tissue condition, possibly reducing the risk of osteoporosis in later age

Bone Mineral Status of Young Men With Different Levels of Physical Activity

Introduction. The study sought to assess bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in men with different levels of physical activity during the period of reaching peak bone mas

Effects of Rhodiola rosea supplementation on mental performance, physical capacity, and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy men

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic Rhodiola rosea (R. rosea) supplementation on mental and physical performance, as well as hormonal and oxidative stress biomarkers. Methods: Twenty-six healthy male students received either R. rosea extract (600 mg/day; RR) or placebo (PL) in a randomized double-blind trial. Prior to supplementation (Term I) and following 4 weeks of supplementation (Term II), the students underwent psychomotor tests for simple and choice reaction time, included in the Vienna Test System. Also, the subjects performed VO2peak test. Blood samples were obtained before and after the test to measure the hormonal profile (cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone), as well as the biomarkers of oxidative stress (lipid hydroperoxides, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase) and muscle damage (creatine kinase). Results: R. rosea ingestion shortened reaction time and total response time. Moreover, a greater relative increase in the number of correct responses was observed in RR group as compared to the PL group. No changes in endurance exercise capacity and hormonal profile were observed after R. rosea ingestion. R. rosea ingestion raised plasma total antioxidant capacity. It did not, however, affect other measured parameters. Conclusion: Chronic R. rosea ingestion does not affect physical performance, but can improve the results of some psychomotor tests (simple and choice reaction time) in young, healthy, and physically active men. The improvements in mental performance, however, at least in our study, seem not to be related to changes in cortisol release or antioxidant activity of R. rosea extract. Thus, the specific mechanisms responsible for these effects still need to be elucidated. Keywords: Cortisol, Endurance capacity, Incremental exercise, Men, Oxidative stress, Simple and choice reaction time, Testosteron

Exercise increases sphingoid base-1-phosphate levels in human blood and skeletal muscle in a time- and intensity-dependent manner

PURPOSE: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates cardiovascular function and plays an important role in muscle biology. We have previously reported that cycling exercise increased plasma S1P. Here, we investigated the effect of exercise duration and intensity on plasma and skeletal muscle S1P levels. METHODS: In the first experiment, 13 male athletes performed a 60-min exercise at 65 % of VO(2max) and a graded exercise until exhaustion on a rowing ergometer. Samples of the venous blood were taken, and plasma, erythrocytes and platelets were isolated. In the second experiment, ten male moderately active subjects performed three consecutive periods of one-leg knee extension exercise (at 25, 55 and 85 % of the maximal workload). Muscle biopsies and blood samples from the radial artery and femoral veins were taken. RESULTS: Under basal conditions, S1P was released from the leg, as its concentration was lower in the arterial than in the venous plasma (p < 0.01). Exercise until exhaustion increased plasma S1P and sphinganine-1-phosphate (SA1P) concentration (p < 0.05), whereas moderate-intensity exercise elevated only SA1P (p < 0.001). Although knee extension increased muscle S1P content (p < 0.05), it was not released but taken up across the leg during exercise. However, sphingosine was released from both working and resting leg at the highest workload (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma S1P concentration is elevated only by high-intensity exercise which results, at least in part, from increased availability of sphingosine released by skeletal muscle. In addition, exercise markedly affects S1P dynamics across the leg. We speculate that S1P may play an important role in adaptation of skeletal muscle to exercise. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00421-014-3080-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Gender w podręcznikach Projekt badawczy. Raport TOM II

Projekt posiada stronę internetową, na której znajdują się informacje na temat badań, osób zaangażowanych oraz udostępnione wyniki badań: www.gender-podreczniki.amu.edu.pl.Publikacja stanowi podsumowanie badań zrealizowanych w ramach projektu badawczego „Gender w podręcznikach”. Celem projektu była rekonstrukcja i krytyczna analiza zawartości polskich podręczników oraz treści podstaw programowych pod kątem prezentowanych i promowanych w nich wzorców i idei dotyczących kobiecości, męskości oraz relacji między dziewczynkami/kobietami i chłopcami/mężczyznami. Zawarte w poszczególnych tomach analizy i studia przypadków stanowią wieloaspektową diagnozę, wskazującą zarówno pozytywne praktyki, jak i obszary, w których konieczne są zmiany w kierunku równościowej, demokratycznej i antydyskryminacyjnej edukacji. Analizą ilościową i jakościową objęto 25%, czyli 227 z 879 podręczników dopuszczonych przez MEN w 2013 roku do użytku szkolnego i przeznaczonych do kształcenia ogólnego w zakresie 28 przedmiotów, na wszystkich poziomach w różnych typach szkół, zgodnie z podstawą programową na dzień 01.10.2013. Analizie jakościowej poddana została również treść podstawy programowej do poszczególnych przedmiotów oraz dokumenty prawne dotyczące problematyki stereotypów i uprzedzeń związanych z płcią w edukacji szkolnej i samych podręcznikach. Raport składa się z trzech tomów. Pierwszy tom zawiera opis metodologii badań, analizy eksperckie dotyczące roli podręczników w reprodukowaniu/obalaniu stereotypów płciowych i innych aspektów edukacji w ramach przyjętych w projekcie założeń. Kolejne dwa tomy zawierają wyniki badań ilościowych i jakościowych podręczników do 27 przedmiotów, wraz z rekomendacjami, z których korzystać mogą zarówno przyszłe autorki i autorzy podręczników, ich wydawcy, recenzentki i recenzenci, osoby opracowujące podstawy programowe i materiały edukacyjne, pedagożki i pedagodzy, a także nauczycielki i nauczyciele.Ogólnopolski projekt badawczy „GENDER W PODRĘCZNIKACH” zrealizowany został przez Interdyscyplinarne Centrum Badań Płci Kulturowej i Tożsamości Uniwersytetu im. A. Mickiewicza w Poznaniu we współpracy z Fundacją Feminoteka w ramach projektu „Kobiety i mężczyźni, chłopcy i dziewczęta RAZEM przeciwko stereotypom płciowym” realizowanego w ramach Programu Obywatele dla Demokracji finansowanego z Funduszy EOG