Activity pattern and fat accumulation strategy of the Natterer’s bat (Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera) swarming population indicate the exact time of male mating effort

Studies concerning bat autumn swarming behavior suggest that the main purpose of this phenomenon is mating. However, the process of fat accumulation is crucial for surviving winter, and it seems to be in clear conflict with a need to strive for the opportunity to mate prior to hibernation. Investment in one activity limits the other one creating a trade-off between them. The aim of our study was to describe the activity pattern of each sex-age group (adult males, adult females, subadults) of the Natterer’s bat during swarming period and to investigate the fat accumulation process of adult males in the context of their reproductive strategy. Bats were captured by mist nets at the swarming site fortnightly from the early August until the late November. The age, sex, reproductive status, and body condition index (mass to forearm ratio, BCI) were recorded. The activity peak of both sexes, adults, and subadults was observed in the late September. That time in season, BCI of adult males was the lowest, and there was no correlation between the hour of an adult male capture and its BCI value within one night (rs = 0.23; p = 0.157). Such correlation was observed later in the season (early October: rs = 0.44; p = 0.020; late October: rs = 0.48; p = 0.002). A negative correlation between adult males’ BCI and proportion of adult females was found (r = 0.44; p = 0.000). We conclude that the activity peak of females is likely to be responsible for the effort of the mating behavior of the males, which is reflected by their low condition index. We suggest that the gleaning foraging strategy of Natterer’s bat allows the males to postpone their fat accumulation until just before hibernation

Prevalence of PgR, ER and HER2+ receptors among women with breast cancer by age in Poland

Introduction. Prevalence of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PgR) and human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER2) vary by age among women with breast cancer (BC). Such variation has a large significance for the prognosis and treatment process. This study characterizes the prevalence of breast cancer subtypes by age in a hospital sample in Poland. Material and methods. The study population included 735 women with BC aged 27–91 years old (ICD-10: C50) and treated in the years 2009–2011 in the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw. Subjects were divided into 2 age categories — 27–44 and 45+ — which included 66 (9%) and 669 (91%) women respectively. In each group prevalence of PgR, ER and HER2+ receptors was investigated. Results. In both age groups the most frequent BC subtype was luminal A (hormone dependent BC — with PgR and ER receptor expression) — 27–44 years old — 44% and 45+ years old — 56%. The lowest number of cases in the age group 27–44 was luminal B (triple positive breast cancer) — about 15% of cases and for 45+ age group — HER2+ BC — about 11%. Discussion. Performed research shows relationship between growing age of diagnosis and presence of more desirable features of BC among women aged 55 and more, such as expression of steroid receptors or lack of expression of HER2 receptors, which is a good prognostic indicator for treatment outcomes. In the same time, many studies suggest that more aggressive types of breast cancer (basal-like — triple negative) are more characteristic for younger age groups (under 45 years old and younger women in perimenopausal age). Same results have been obtained in own study. Conclusions. A high incidence of BC in older age groups (45+) and more frequent occurrence of aggressive types of BC among younger women (27–44 years old) indicate the need to educate women from both age groups about risk factors and early symptoms of the disease. As we still have not recognized all BC risk factors, education about well-known agents, such as alcohol intake, overweight and obesity, play significant role in decrease of BC incidence and mortality

Effectiveness of Action on Prevention in a Population with High-risk for Coronary Heart Disease. Part II. Distribution of Blood Pressure in Relation to Body Mass

Wstęp Masa ciała jest jednym z najważniejszych czynników warunkujących podwyższone ciśnienie, zwłaszcza skurczowe. Celem przedstawianej pracy jest ocena skuteczności akcji profilaktyki pierwotnej w zakresie ciśnienia tętniczego u chorych z wysokim ryzykiem choroby wieńcowej w powiązaniu z masą ciała. Materiał i metody Grupę badanych stanowiły 992 wybrane losowo osoby, spośród 7965 uczestników akcji profilaktyki pierwotnej SPES, u których wykazano obecność wysokiego ryzyka wystąpienia incydentów wieńcowych. W badanej grupie było 771 mężczyzn (77,7%) w wieku 64 &plusmn; 7 lat (zakres 38&#8211;86 lat) i 221 kobiet (22,3%) w wieku 66 &plusmn; 7 lat (zakres 42-82 lata). W analizie uwzględniono wyniki pomiarów ciśnienia tętniczego i masy ciała w trzech grupach w zależności od indeksu masy ciała (BMI): < 25 - wagi należnej, 25-29,9 - nadwagi ł 30 - otyłości. Wyniki W badaniu wyjściowym nadwagę i otyłość stwierdzono łącznie u 802 osób (80,8%), a w badaniu powtórnym u 748 (75,4%). Największa zmiana dotyczyła spadku liczby osób z otyłością. Odsetek badanych z ciśnieniem prawidłowym był w obu badaniach najwyższy u osób z prawidłową masą ciała. Natomiast w każdej z grup obserwowano jego podwojenie w badaniu powtórnym, z 15,8% do 32,4% przy BMI < 25, z 11,7% do 20,6% u osób z nadwagą oraz z 5,7% do 11,5% u otyłych. Odnotowano wzrost liczby osób z prawidłową masą ciała i nadwagą, u których w powtórnym badaniu ciśnienie tętnicze osiągało wartości optymalne. Odsetek badanych osób z ciśnieniem prawidłowym (< 130/85 mm Hg) zwiększył się z 2,7% do 9,8%, w podobnym stopniu w każdej z grup BMI. Na opisane zmiany nakłada się wyraźny spadek częstości nadciśnienia tętniczego. U osób z BMI < 25 w powtarzanych pomiarach wartości SBP/DBP ł 140/90 obserwowano odpowiednio u 63,2% i 34,0%, przy BMI 25-29,9 u 71,0% i 52,2%, a przy BMI ł 30 u 82,3% i 67,2%. Redukcja częstości dotyczyła głównie występowania ciśnienia tętniczego kwalifikującego badanych do nadciśnienia tętniczego II° i III°, niezależnie od masy ciała. Odmienne wyniki osiągnięto, gdy analizowano częstość występowania wartości odpowiadających izolowanemu nadciśnieniu skurczowemu. W grupie z BMI < 25 odnotowano wzrost z 21,05% do 33,6%, z BMI 25-29,9 odpowiednio 17,3% i 27,2%, a u badanych z BMI = 30 wzrost z 12,0% do 21,3%. Wnioski Przedstawione wyniki wskazują na ograniczoną, jakkolwiek istotną statystycznie, skuteczność akcji profilaktycznej w zakresie kontroli masy ciała. Uzyskanie poprawy zaledwie u 5% badanych łączy się z istotnym zmniejszeniem częstości nadciśnienia tętniczego. Sugeruje to skuteczność działań profilaktycznych w zakresie nadciśnienia nawet u tych osób, u których nie uzyskuje się istotnego zmniejszenia masy ciała.Background An important link between arterial hypertension and body mass is well established, however not fully recognized not only by patients, but sometimes by their physicians. The aim of our study was to evaluate an effectiveness of action on prevention SPES (Southern Polish Epidemiological Survey) among persons with a high risk for coronary artery disease in relation to body mass. Methods An examined population consisted of 992 randomly selected subjects from 7965 participants of action on prevention SPES, who had carried an increased risk for coronary heart disease. There were 771 men (77,7%) aged 64 &plusmn; 7 year (range 38&#8211;86) and 221 women (22,3%) aged 66 &plusmn; 7 years (range 42&#8211;82). Blood pressure measurements and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Blood pressure changes between initial and subsequent measurements were evaluated in three groups according to BMI values: < 25, 25&#8211;29,9 and = 30 kg/m2. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 80,8% initially and 75,4% 3 years later. The proportion of subjects with blood pressure measurements indicating hypertension rose along with BMI increase at first examination being: 84,2% in subjects with BMI < 25, 87,3% with BMI 25&#8211;29,9 and 94,3% with BMI = 30. Similar trend was observed after 3 years: 67,6%, 79,4% and 88,5%, respectively. Importantly, in subjects with normal BMI the percentage of BP measurements within optimal values was the greatest. However, isolated systolic hypertension almost doubled during this period, irrespective on initial BMI

Importance of fatiguing, overtraining and chronic fatigue in athletes

Piesik Adam, Dryja Monika, Zawadka-Kunikowska Monika, Slomko Joanna, Kozakiewicz Mariusz, Tafil‑Klawe Małgorzata, Klawe Jacek J., Zalewski Paweł. Importance of fatiguing, overtraining and chronic fatigue in athletes. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2017;7(9):203-216. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.893319 http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/4829 https://pbn.nauka.gov.pl/sedno-webapp/works/831622 The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part B item 1223 (26.01.2017). 1223 Journal of Education, Health and Sport eISSN 2391-8306 7 © The Authors 2017; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 15.08.2017. Revised: 10.09.2017. Accepted: 10.09.2017. Importance of fatiguing, overtraining and chronic fatigue in athletes Adam Piesik1, Monika Dryja1, Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska1, Joanna Slomko1, Mariusz Kozakiewicz3, Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe2, Jacek J. Klawe1, Paweł Zalewski1 1 Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Ergonomics Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy UMK w Toruniu, Polska 2 Department of Physiology Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy UMK w Toruniu, Polska 3 Department of Chemistry of Foodstuffs Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy UMK w Toruniu, Polska Correspondence: Adam Piesik, Department of Ergonomics and Exercise Physiology, ul. M. Curie Skłodowskiej 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, [email protected], tel./fax 52 585-35-89 Abstract Each training that requires achieving a higher heart rate limit and/or increased concentration in time may cause fatigue, considered to be a natural defence mechanism of a body. In the case of excessive fatigue and insufficient time designated for rest and regeneration, an overtraining syndrome (OTS) may develop. The main symptom of overtraining is increased fatigue that fails to become reversed in normal conditions of regeneration. Although authors are familiar with the overtraining syndrome and associated symptoms, as of today no diagnostic tool has been developed that may form a basis for a final diagnosis, and the diagnosis itself is frequently based on a subjective assessment of the athlete. Possible causes of the band overtraining syndrome are disorders of sodium, inflammatory processes resulting from physical activity and / or disorders of the autonomic nervous system. Key words: OTS, elite sportsmen, supercompensatio

Relationship between Cardiopulmonary, Mitochondrial and Autonomic Nervous System Function Improvement after an Individualised Activity Programme upon Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients

Background: The therapeutic effects of exercise from structured activity programmes have recently been questioned; as a result, this study examines the impact of an Individualised Activity Program (IAP) on the relationship with cardiovascular, mitochondrial and fatigue parameters. Methods: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients were assessed using Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) and the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). VO(2)peak, VO(2)submax and heart rate (HR) were assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels in plasma were assessed. A Task Force Monitor was used to assess ANS functioning in supine rest and in response to the Head-Up Tilt Test (HUTT). Results: Thirty-four patients completed 16 weeks of the IAP. The CFQ, FSS and FIS scores decreased significantly along with a significant increase in Mfn1 and Mfn2 levels (p = 0.002 and p = 0.00005, respectively). The relationships between VO2 peak and Mfn1 increase in response to IAP (p = 0.03) and between VO2 at anaerobic threshold and ANS response to the HUTT (p = 0.03) were noted. Conclusions: It is concluded that IAP reduces fatigue and improves functional performance along with changes in autonomic and mitochondrial function. However, caution must be applied as exercise was not well tolerated by 51% of patients

Density of Gr1-positive myeloid precursor cells, p-STAT3 expression and gene expression pattern in canine mammary cancer metastasis

The very recent studies on human and mice models have indicated an important role of myeloid precursor cells (progenitors or not fully differentiated cells that express the Gr1 antigen also called Gr1-positive myeloid suppressor cells) in the tumor progression and metastasis. They are thought to suppress the immune system and promote angiogenesis via Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. As of now there is no data available on the correlation of Gr1-positive cell number, phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) expression and cancer ability to metastasis. Thus, we counted the myeloid precursor cell number and analyzed p-STAT3 expression in 50 canine mammary tumors that gave local/distant metastases and did not metastasize. We showed that the number of Gr1-positive cells and p-STAT3 expression are significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the metastatic tumors than in the non-metastatic ones. We also observed higher expression of p-STAT3 in the canine mammary cancer cell lines with metastatic potential than in other cell lines (p < 0.001). Moreover, the number of myeloid precursors and p-STAT3 expression in metastatic tumors correlate strongly. The tumor infiltrating myeloid precursor cells may invigorate the STAT3 activity (probably via vascular endothelial growth factor – VEGF) that contributes to the tumor angiogenesis and furthermore tumor`s ability to metastasize. The analysis of gene expression in canine mammary cancer cell lines with metastatic potential indicated that semaphorin 3B (SEMA3B) and neuropilin receptors (NRP) may also be important elements in this process. Thus, we discuss the possible interactions within the tumor that may be required for cancer metastatis

Neutrophil-Derived MMP-8 Drives AMPK-Dependent Matrix Destruction in Human Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Pulmonary cavities, the hallmark of tuberculosis (TB), are characterized by high mycobacterial load and perpetuate the spread of M. tuberculosis. The mechanism of matrix destruction resulting in cavitation is not well defined. Neutrophils are emerging as key mediators of TB immunopathology and their influx are associated with poor outcomes. We investigated neutrophil-dependent mechanisms involved in TB-associated matrix destruction using a cellular model, a cohort of 108 patients, and in separate patient lung biopsies. Neutrophil-derived NF-kB-dependent matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) secretion was up-regulated in TB and caused matrix destruction both in vitro and in respiratory samples of TB patients. Collagen destruction induced by TB infection was abolished by doxycycline, a licensed MMP inhibitor. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contain MMP-8 and are increased in samples from TB patients. Neutrophils lined the circumference of human pulmonary TB cavities and sputum MMP-8 concentrations reflected TB radiological and clinical disease severity. AMPK, a central regulator of catabolism, drove neutrophil MMP-8 secretion and neutrophils from AMPK-deficient patients secrete lower MMP-8 concentrations. AMPK-expressing neutrophils are present in human TB lung biopsies with phospho-AMPK detected in nuclei. These data demonstrate that neutrophil-derived MMP-8 has a key role in the immunopathology of TB and is a potential target for host-directed therapy in this infectious disease