Somatotypes and hand-grip strength analysis of elite cadet sambo athletes

The objectives of this research were to establish somatotype and hand-grip strength between elite cadet male and female sambo athletes divided by weight categories. A total of 97 elite cadet sambo athletes, participants of the World Cadets Sambo Championships 2018 participated in the study. Male and female sambo athletes were divided by official weight categories. Anthropometrical variables were taken in order to calculate somatotypes and hand-grip strength. A one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc tests were used to compare group differences by weight categories. Results of this study provide the first description of somatotype and hand-grip strength of elite male and female cadet sambo athletes in relation to weight category. A typical somatotype in male sambo athletes was endomorphic mesomorphs with a predominance of musculoskeletal tissue, while female athletes differed concerning weight category. Overall, an increase in handgrip strength across weight categories was noted. Hand-grip strength increases linearly from the lightest to the heaviest weight category except in -66 and -84 kg in male athletes. Differences in handgrip strength of female athletes were detected between the lightest group and last six groups in all three variables in favor of last six as well as -44 and kg -48 kg compared with the heaviest. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first normative data of somatotype and hand-grip strength analyses in relation to age, gender, and weight categories of cadet sambo athletes. The anthropometric profile of sambo athletes changed according to their weight category. Mesomorphy was the most dominant somatotype component in male athletes, while female had three different types of somatotype component in relation to weight category. In conclusion, we found differences in hand-grip strength related to weight category, which can be linked to the muscle mass of athletes. Future studies should focus on somatotype and strength handgrip values of international compared to national level sambo athletes

Sadržaj pigmenata hloroplasta u lekovitoj biljci Teucrium chamaedrys sa sanirane deponije Rudarsko metalurško hemijskog kombinata “Trepča”

In this paper, the contents of chloroplast pigments (chlorophyll a, b, a+b and carotenoids) in the leaves of medicinal plant Teucrium chamaedrys from tailing pond „Žitkovac“ of Mining and Metallurgical Chemical Company „Trepča“ and from uncontaminated area near city of Niš were compared. Chloroplast pigments were determined spectrophotometrically in the acetone extracts of experimental and control samples of plant material. The contents of chlorophyll a, a+b and ratio a/b were higher in leaves of samples from tailing pond in comparison with control samples from uncontaminated habitat near city of Niš. In response to stress conditions caused by pollution and full intensity of sunlight in samples of leaves from tailing pond providing the protection of chlorophyll from photooxidation or ultraviolet radiation damage.U ovom radu upoređen je sadržaj pigmenata hloroplasta (hlorofil a, b, a+b, karotenoidi) iz listova lekovite bilјne vrste podubica - Teucrium chamaedrys sa deponije „Žitkovac“ Rudarsko Metalurško Hemijskog Kombinata „Trepča“ i nezagađenog područja okoline Niša. Pigmenti hloroplasta su određeni spektrofotometrijski u acetonskim ekstraktima eksperimentalnih i kontrolnih uzoraka bilјaka. Sadržaj hlorofila a, a+b i odnos a/b je bio veći kod u uzorcima listova sa deponije u poređenju sa kontrolnim uzorcima sa nezagađenog staništa iz okoline Niša. Kao odgovor na stresne uslove uzrokovane zagađenjem i punim intenzitetom sunčeve svetlosti zabeležen je i povećan sadržaj karotenoida kod uzoraka listova sa deponije, što obezbeđuje zaštitu hlorofila od fotooksidacije odnosno štetnog dejstva ultravioletnog zračenja

Aktivnost enzima katalaze i sadržaj organskih kiselina kod Hajdučke trave (Achillea millefolium) sa sanirane deponije „Žitkovac“ Rudarsko metalurško hemijskog kombinata „Trepča“

In this comparative study, the activity of enzyme catalase and total content of organic acids were determined in undergroung and above-ground plant parts of medicinal plant Achillea millefolium from tailing pond “Žitkovac” of Mining and Metallurgical Chemical Company „Trepča“ and from uncontaminated area near city of Niš. Catalase activity was measured using the gasometric method and the values obtained for this activity were expressed as ml of O2. The content of organic acids in the plant material was detrmined by modified titration method in the presence of indicator. An increased catalase activity on tailing pond, in comparison with uncontaminated habitat, is a result of stress that is caused by chemical changes in the soil on tailing pond representing good metabolic ways of detoxification, which belongs to the mechanisms of defence and acquiring resistance. An increased content of organic acids in samples on tailing pond is an efficient mechanism reducing the heavy metal uptake, binding them to complexes and allowing the plant growth at high level of contamination.U ovom komparativnom istraživanju određeni su aktivnost enzima katalaze i ukupan sadržaj organskih kiselina u podzemnim i nadzemnim delovima lekovite biljke hajdučka trava (Achillea millefolium) sa sanirane deponije „Žitkovac“ Rudarsko Metalurško Hemijskog Kombinata „Trepča“ i nezagađenog područja okoline Niša. Aktivnost katalaze je izmerena korišćenjem gasometrijske metode i izražena u ml kiseonika. Sadržaj organskih kiselina u bilјnom materijalu određen je modifikovanom metodom titracije u prisustvu indikatora. Uvećanje aktivnosti enzima katalaze kod uzoraka na deponiji u poređenju sa nezagađenim staništem je rezultat stresa uzrokovan hemijskim promenama u zemljištu i predstavlja metabolički vid razgradnje štetnih jedinjenja, odnosno detoksikacije, koja spada u kvalitetne mehanizme sticanja otpornosti, kao odgovor na izmenjene uslove u životnoj sredini. Povećan sadržaj organskih kiselina u uzorcima sa deponije je efikasan mehanizam, koji smanjuje unos teških metala u bilјku vezujući se za njih u komplekse i omogućava rast biljke pri visokom nivou kontaminacije

Age, Successive Waves, Immunization, and Mortality in Elderly COVID-19 Haematological Patients: EPICOVIDEHA Findings

Introduction: elderly patients with haematologic malignancies face the highest risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. The infection impact in different age groups remains unstudied in detail. Methods: We analysed elderly patients (age groups: 65-70, 71-75, 76-80 and >80 years old) with hematologic malignancies included in the EPICOVIDEHA registry between January 2020 and July 2022. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were conducted to identify factors influencing death in COVID-19 patients with haematological malignancy. results: the study included data from 3,603 elderly patients (aged 65 or older) with haematological malignancy, with a majority being male (58.1%) and a significant proportion having comorbidities. The patients were divided into four age groups, and the analysis assessed COVID-19 outcomes, vaccination status, and other variables in relation to age and pandemic waves.tThe 90-day survival rate for patients with COVID-19 was 71.2%, with significant differences between groups. The pandemic waves had varying impacts, with the first wave affecting patients over 80 years old, the second being more severe in 65-70, and the third being the least severe in all age groups. factors contributing to 90-day mortality included age, comorbidities, lymphopenia, active malignancy, acute leukaemia, less than three vaccine doses, severe COVID-19, and using only corticosteroids as treatment. Conclusions: These data underscore the heterogeneity of elderly haematological patients, highlight the different impact of COVID waves and the pivotal importance of vaccination, and may help in planning future healthcare efforts

Tc-99(m)-p-aminohippuric acid as a new renal agent

Tc-99(m)-p-aminohippuric acid (Tc-99(m)-PAH) is a new renal radiopharmaceutical prepared from a lyophilized kit by the addition of sodium pertechnetate ((NaTcO4)-Tc-99-O-m. Each vial contains PAH, the calcium trisodium salt of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (CaNa(3)DTPA) and stannous chloride (SnCl2. 2H(2)O) in an inert atmosphere. It is a stable radiopharmaceutical with high radiochemical purity ( GT 95%). Its protein binding is very similar to that of I-131-OIH, but it is hydrophilic in character. Animal studies using Tc-99(m)-PAH have indicated that it provides renal images of satisfactory quality with no external background. Despite its almost identical radiochemical purity and HPLC analysis results to Tc-99(m)-DTPA, Tc-99(m)-PAH is rapidly secreted by the kidneys in a manner consistent with tubular secretion, as confirmed by rat probenecid studies, whereas Tc-99(m)-DTPA is excreted by glomerular filtration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of Tc-99(m)-PAH (t(1/2(alpha))) = 2.5 min, t(1/2(beta)) = 41.7 min, Cl = 5.22 ml . min(-1), K-el 5.1 x 10(-4) min(-1)) differ from those of Tc-99(m)-DTPA. Evaluation of Tc-99(m)-PAH in two human volunteers confirmed its good renal characteristics: rapid disappearance from the vascular system, high uptake in kidneys followed by its very fast elimination, and low residual activity 20 min after its intravenous administration. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

Association of Smoking Patterns with Vision-Related Disability According to Glaucoma Subtypes

The relationship between smoking and onset of glaucoma has been inconsistent. However, there is a gap in understanding whether tobacco smoking is linked to a worse visual impairment in different glaucoma subtypes. The objective of this study was to examine the association between smoking behavior and vision-related disability in people who have different glaucoma subtypes. A total of 283 people with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and pseudo-exfoliative (PEX) were included in this cross-sectional study. The recruitment of study participants was organized in one of two tertiary centers for eye diseases in Belgrade, Serbia, during their regular eye checks. Information about the duration and quantity of smoking was self-reported. Vision-related impairment was quantified using a validated Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 (GQL-15) questionnaire. A series of multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, gender, severity of glaucoma, lifestyle, and mobility, intraocular pressure level, visual parameters, previous and current therapy, and chronic illnesses suggested that a higher quantity of cigarettes smoked per day was associated with poorer vision-related quality of life only among people with NTG subtypes. This association was absent when smoking duration was tested in the adjusted linear regression model. A higher number of cigarettes smoked daily was associated with poorer vision-related impairment among people who have NTG, but not other glaucoma subtypes. It is recommended that ophthalmologists and other health-care professionals work to improve their patients’ understanding of harmful effects of tobacco smoke and quit smoking.</p

Somatotype Profiles of Montenegrin Karatekas: An Observational Study

Competitive karate activity involves numerous factors affecting performance in sport. Physical structure and somatotype is considered to be one of them. This study aimed to determine whether there are differences between karate athletes in five male and five female official weight categories in different anthropometric measurements and to determine the somatotype profiles of athletes divided by weight categories. This study consisted of a total of 27 male karate athletes (21.88 &plusmn; 4.66 years) and 24 female karate athletes (20.29 &plusmn; 3.14 years). Measurements were taken in April 2020. Athletes are classified into official weight categories according to World Karate Federation rules. Somatotypes were calculated using anthropometry. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey&rsquo;s post hoc tests were used for statistical analysis to compare group differences regarding weight categories. Anthropometric parameters were highest in the heaviest categories compared to lighter categories. All male subjects were endomorphic mesomorph, except for category &lt;84 kg, which was endomorphic ectomorphs. Somatotype analysis of male categories found a difference between the &lt;75 kg and &lt;84 kg in endomorphy. In mesomorphy, there is no difference between categories. Perceiving ectomorphy, there is a significant difference between the first category and the &gt;84 kg. Profiling female athletes, three different types of somatotypes were obtained concerning the weight category. The lightest weight category was predominantly endomorphic ectomorphs, and two weight categories were ectomorphic endomorphs (&lt;61 kg and &lt;68 kg), and the other two weight categories were endomorphic mesomorphs (&lt;55 kg and &gt;68 kg). Somatotype differences in the female karate athletes were observed only in the ectomorphy components, between &lt;50 kg and &lt;61 kg. The present study points to how the somatotypes profiles of karate athletes differ between weight categories

BTK and PLCG2 remain unmutated in one third of patients with CLL relapsing on ibrutinib

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) progressing on ibrutinib constitute an unmet clinical need. Though BTK and PLCG2 mutations are associated with ibrutinib resistance, their frequency and relevance to progression are not fully understood. In this multicenter retrospective observational study, we analyzed 98 patients with CLL treated with ibrutinib (49 relapsing after an initial response and 49 still responding after ≥1 year of continuous treatment) using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel (1% sensitivity) comprising 13 CLL-relevant genes including BTK and PLCG2. BTK hotspot mutations were validated by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) (0.1% sensitivity). By integrating NGS and ddPCR results, 32/49 relapsing cases (65%) carried at least 1 hotspot BTK mutation and/or PLCG2 mutation(s); in 6/32, BTK mutations were only detected by ddPCR [variant allele frequency (VAF) 0.1-1.2%]. BTK/PLCG2 mutations were also identified in 6/49 responding patients (12%; 5/6 VAF &lt;10%), of whom 2 progressed at later time points. Among the relapsing patients, the BTK-mutated (BTKmut) group was enriched for EGR2 mutations, while BTK-wildtype (BTKwt) cases more frequently displayed BIRC3 and NFKBIE mutations. Using an extended capture-based panel, only BRAF and IKZF3 mutations showed a predominance in relapsing cases, who were enriched for del(8p) (n=11; 3 BTKwt). Finally, no difference in TP53 mutation burden was observed between BTKmut versus BTKwt relapsing cases, and ibrutinib treatment did not appear to favor selection of TP53-aberrant clones. In conclusion, we show that BTK/PLCG2 mutations were absent in a substantial fraction (35%) of a real-world cohort failing ibrutinib, and propose additional mechanisms contributing to resistance

B-cell malignancies treated with targeted drugs and SARS-CoV-2 infection: A European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA)

Patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD) are vulnerable to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here, we describe and analyze the outcome of 366 adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) treated with targeted drugs and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed between February 2020 and January 2022. Median follow-up was 70.5 days (IQR 0-609). Most used targeted drugs were Bruton-kinase inhibitors (BKIs) (N= 201, 55%), anti-CD20 other than rituximab (N=61, 16%), BCL2 inhibitors (N=33, 9%) and lenalidomide (N=28, 8%).Only 16.2% of the patients were vaccinated with 2 or more doses of vaccine at the onset of COVID-19. Mortality was 24% (89/366) on day 30 and 36%(134/366) on the last day of follow-up. Age >75 years (p<0.001, HR 1.036), active malignancy (p<0.001, HR 2.215), severe COVID-19 (p=0.017, HR 2.270) and admission to ICU (p<0.001, HR 5.751) were risk factors for mortality at last day of follow up. There was no difference in OS rates in NHL vs CLL patients (p=0.306), nor in patients treated with or without BKIs (p=0.151). Mortality in ICU was 66% (CLL 61%, NHL 76%). Overall mortality rate decreased according to vaccination status, being 39% in unvaccinated patients, 32% and 26% in those having received one or two doses, respectively, and 20% in patients with a booster dose (p=0.245). Overall mortality rate dropped from 41% during the first semester of 2020 to 25% at the last semester of 2021. These results show increased severity and mortality from COVID-19 in LPDs patients treated with targeted drugs