The Influence of Age on the Representation of Subcutaneous Adiposetissue and Muscle Strength of Biceps in Females

DergiPark: 379034tmsjAims: The aim of this study is to determine the age influence on the development of the muscle strength in biceps and on the representation of the subcutaneous adipose tissue.Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad between October 2014- January 2015 and included 20 females between the ages of 18 - 25 years and 20 females between the ages of 50 – 60. For each subject, anthropometric parameters were determined, as well as dynamometric parameters of the biceps muscle strength, the ultrasound dimensions of the biceps and the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Caliper was used to determine the percentage of body fat based on skinfolds around the biceps. The collected data were then statistically analyzed.Results: There was greater representation of body fat mass in older (30%±7.2) compared to younger women (20%±7) and these values were statistically significant. The ultrasound revealed statistically significant age differences; older women have greater values of subcutaneous fat (1.5±0.26mm) and dimensions of biceps (31.03±3.9mm) than younger women with values of subcutaneous fat (1.2±0.1mm) and dimensions of biceps (29.04±4.2mm). There was greater mean value of muscular strength of biceps in younger women (35±6kg) compared to older women (32±8.5kg). It was established that there was a positive statistically significant correlation between body fat percentage and thickness of adipose tissue (r=0.55) (p lt;0.05), as well as between mean muscular strength and ultrasound measurement of biceps (r=0.37) (p lt;0.05).Conclusion: Older women have greater representation of subcutaneous adipose tissue, while younger women have greater muscle strength of bicep

Parameters of anaerobic physiological profile of elite athletes

Introduction. Anaerobic capacity is much less evaluated in literature compared to aerobic component. Anaerobic performance of athletes can be measured using different motoric tests, lasting 20 to 30 seconds, one of them being the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the work performed and power generated by athletes and non-athletes during a 30-second high intensity exercise, as well as to compare explosive characteristics of subjects using a new parameter of WAnT, named explosive power, or slope of power. Methods. All parameters of anaerobic power were investigated in 152 subjects classed into different groups depending on their physical fitness and sport specialties as follows: non-athletes (n=31), rowers (n=26), volleyball players (n=37), handball players (n=34) and judo players (n=24). The WAnT, as well as basic anthropometric measurements, was administrated to all participants. Results. Values of anaerobic parameters were higher in the group of athletes compared to physically inactive subjects. The highest values of the WAnT parameters were registered in the group of volleyball players (AP=1006 W; relative AP=11.4 W/ kg, AC=19.8 kJ), compared to athletes of other sport disciplines (volleyball, rowing and judo). The new parameter of the WAnT, explosive power, also showed highest values in volleyball players (EP=154 W/s; relative EP=1.74 W/s/kg). These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion. The results of laboratory tests can provide useful information on improvements in training processes. The new parameter of the WAnT could be implemented in further analyses of explosive characteristics of muscle contraction

Isokinetic profile of subjects with the ruptured anterior cruciated ligament

Background/Aim. All changes in the knee that appear after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesion lead to difficulties in walking, running, jumping especially during sudden changes of the line of movement. This significantly impairs quality of life of these subjects and leads to decrease in physical activity. Knee injuries make 5% of all most severe acute sport injuries. The aim of the study was to determine strength of the thigh muscles in persons with unilateral rupture of the ACL and to evaluate potential bilateral differences between healthy and injured leg. Methods. This study involved 114 male athletes of different sport specialities with the clinical diagnosis of ACL rupture. Each subject had unilateral ACL rupture and the other leg was actually the control for this research. An isokinetic device was used to evaluate the muscle strength of thigh muscles. Testing was performed for two testing speeds, 60º/s and 180º/s. Results. Data analysis showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) between the ACL and the healthy leg in the following parameters: peak torque for thigh extensors (Ptrq_E), angle to peak torque during extension (Ang_E), power of extension (Pow_E) and work during extension (Work_E). Analysing hamstrings to quadriceps (H/Q) ratio we found the unilateral disbalance of thigh muscle strength in ACL leg. Conclusion. A high level of validity makes isokinetic dynamometry the method for evaluation of thigh muscles strength and leaves this field of research open for new studies in order to improve both diagnostic and rehabilitation of patients with the insufficient ACL

Comparative analysis of two different methods of anaerobic capacity assessment in sedentary young men

Background/Aim. The Wingate anaerobic test is a valid and reliable method of measuring anaerobic capacity. The aim of this study was to determine whether other modified test can be used instead of the Wingate test. Methods. A group of 30 sedentary young men were first tested with a cycle ergometer (classic Wingate test), and then with a dynamometer during 30 s of 'all out' leg extension exercise (modified Wingate test; WAnTe) in order to test anaerobic capacity. Subsequent correlations between these tests were made. Results. Peak power, mean power on cycling ergometer in absolute and relative values were 463 ± 105 W, 316.7 ± 63.8 W, 5.68 ± 1.17 W/kg, 3.68 ± 0.78 W/kg, respectively. On a dynamometer absolute and relative values of maximal and mean load in kg and power in Watts were 136.54 ± 21.3 kg, 1.67 ± 0.26; 128.65 ± 19.93 kg, 1.57 ± 0.24 kg, 657 ± 125.87 W, and 8 ± 1.54 W/kg, respectively. There was no correlation between 5 s intervals of the classic Wingate test and WAnTe during the first, fourth and fifth intervals, but in the second (r = 0.49, p &lt; 0.05), third (r = 0.38, p &lt; 0.05) and last 5 s intervals (r = 0.39, p &lt; 0.05), and also in peak power and mean power (r = 0.42, p &lt; 0.05 and r = 0.45, p &lt; 0.05 respectively), a significant positive correlation was detected. Conclusion. A modified Wingate test of leg extension on a dynamometer in sedentary young men shows a correlation with the classic Wingate test only in parameters of peak power, and mean power and the second, the third and the last 5 s intervals. Because of that it should only be used for orientation, whereas for precise measurements of anaerobic capacity the classic Wingate test should be used

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and COVID-19

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients with COVID-19 is triggered by various mechanisms and can significantly affect the patient’s further treatment and prognosis. The study aimed to investigate the characteristics, major complications, and predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients with ACS. All consecutive patients hospitalized from 5 July 2020 to 5 May 2021 for ACS with confirmed SARS-Co-2 were prospectively enrolled and tracked for mortality until 5 June 2021. Data from the electronic records for age and diagnosis, matched non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 ACS group, were extracted and compared. Overall, 83 COVID-19 ACS patients, when compared to 166 non-COVID ACS patients, had significantly more prevalent comorbidities, unfavorable clinical characteristics on admission (acute heart failure 21.7% vs. 6.6%, p p p p p p < 0.01. Concomitant ACS and COVID-19 is linked to underlying comorbidities, adverse presenting features, and poor outcomes. Urgent strategies are needed to improve the outcomes of these patients