Advances in medical physics, biophysics and biomaterials

Short abstractsAvailable from Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information, under signature: A558809 / Slovenska Technicka Univerzita v BratislaveSIGLESKSlovak Republi

Ocena autentycznosci soku pomaranczowego na podstawie wybranych wyroznikow

Samples of orange juices were evaluated according to standard criteria in Code of Practice and compared with standard RSK values (Richtwerte und Schwankungsbreiten bestimmter Kennzahlen). In 15 orange juices, the content of chlorides, total acidity, volatile acids and ammonia did not exceed values in Code of Practice. It was found that samples F and K (66.30 g/dm3 and 57.65 g/dm3) contained more glucose than is allowed by Code of Practice. Juices G and K did not exceed RSK values for the D-isocitric acid content (103.68 g/dm3 and 109.96 g/dm3). Criterion according to citric and D-isocitric acid ratio corresponded to the normal values in 100% orange juice in samples G, K, L and also in 12% orange nectar P (69.3; 118.6; 51.4 and 72.3).Próbki soków pomarańczowych oceniano pod względem zgodności z kryteriami Code of Practice (CP) i porównywano z wartościami standardowymi RSK (Richtwerte und Schwankungsbreiten bestimmter Kennzahlen). We wszystkich 15 badanych sokach kwasowość ogólna, zawartość chlorków, lotnych kwasów i amoniaku nie przekraczała wartości podanych w CP. Stwierdzono, że próbki F i K zawierały więcej glukozy (odpowiednio 66.30 g/dm3 i 57.65 g/dm3) niż jest to dopuszczone przez CP, z kolei soki G i K osiągnęły najwyższe zawartości kwasu D-izocytrynowego (odpowiednio 103.68 g/dm3 i 109.96 g/dm3). Kryteria stosunku stężeń kwasów cytrynowego i D-izocytrynowego spełniały próbki soków 100% G, K i L oraz nektarów 12% P. Odpowiednie wartości wynosiły: 69.3; 118.6; 51.4 i 72.3

Achievement Motivation of Undergraduates Divided by Sport Activity

This paper strives to contribute to performance motivation research and to point out diff erences in achievement motivation among college students in terms of sports activities. The research sample was comprised of 248 college students (men: n=141, 22.40±1.62 years of age; women: n=107, 21.78±1.49 years of age) from Bratislava. The respondents were divided into 3 groups according to frequency of sports activities: college students who didn’t engage in any sports activities (non-active respondents), college students who engaged in sports activities 1 to 2 times a week (moderately active respondents), and those who engaged in sports activities 3 or more times a week (highly active respondents). A standardized DMV questionnaire consisting of 52 items was used as the research tool. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of data and the Kruskal-Wallis test and MannWhitney tests were used to test the signifi cance of the diff erences between independent choices. The coeffi cient η2 , expressed the eff ect of the independent variable (sport activity) on the dependent variable (achievement motivation). The degree of dependence between the two of the groups of features was expressed by means of the coeffi cient r. The results revealed signifi cant (p≤0.001) diff erences in all three performance motivation dimensions. The performance motivation of the highly active respondentswas signifi cantly (p=0.000) higher compared to that of the moderately active respondents. Also, when compared with the non-active respondents, the level of performance motivation was signifi cantly (p=0.000) higher among the highly active respondents. Performance motivation and performance-supporting anxiety increases with the frequency of sports activities; on the contrary, performance-hindering anxiety decreases with the frequency of sports activities. Hence, our results testify to the fact that sport activity is one of the determinants for increased performance motivation

International Journal of Endocrinology / Pericardial Fat Relates to Disturbances of Glucose Metabolism in Women with the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but Not in Healthy Control Subjects

Objective The objective of the present study is to investigate the relationship of cardiac fat depots with disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism in women with PCOS. Methods An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was realized, and metabolic parameters were collected in 48 women with PCOS and in 20 controls. Intramyocardial fat (MYCL) and pericardial fat (PERI) were measured using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging. Results Only in PCOS women, PERI was positively and independently related to parameters of glucose metabolism (HbA1c: p = 0 001, fasting plasma glucose: p < 0 001, stimulated glucose at 30 and 60 minutes in the OGTT). Thus, the disposition index, insulin sensitivity, and adiponectin also declined with the increase of PERI in women with PCOS; however, these results were not independent of BMI and age. In addition, PERI was positively related to atherogenic lipid profiles, BMI, waist circumference, CRP, and liver fat in women with PCOS. A negative relation of PERI with triglycerides and a positive relation with BMI and waist circumference could be observed in the controls. No relationship of MYCL with diabetes-specific parameters could be found in the study population. Conclusion PERI is related to metabolic disturbances in women with PCOS, but not in metabolically healthy lean subjects. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and has the registration number NCT03204461.(VLID)470864

Effects of carnosine supplementation on glucose metabolism: Pilot clinical trial

Carnosine is a naturally present dipeptide in humans and an over-the counter food additive. Evidence from animal studies supports the role for carnosine in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, yet there is limited human data. This study investigated whether carnosine supplementation in individuals with overweight or obesity improves diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors.In a double-blind randomized pilot trial in nondiabetic individuals with overweight and obesity (age 43 ± 8 years; body mass index 31 ± 4 kg/m(2) ), 15 individuals were randomly assigned to 2 g carnosine daily and 15 individuals to placebo for 12 weeks. Insulin sensitivity and secretion, glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test), blood pressure, plasma lipid profile, skeletal muscle ((1) H-MRS), and urinary carnosine levels were measured.Carnosine concentrations increased in urine after supplementation (P &lt; 0.05). An increase in fasting insulin and insulin resistance was hampered in individuals receiving carnosine compared to placebo, and this remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and change in body weight (P = 0.02, P = 0.04, respectively). Two-hour glucose and insulin were both lower after carnosine supplementation compared to placebo in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (P &lt; 0.05).These pilot intervention data suggest that carnosine supplementation may be an effective strategy for prevention of type 2 diabetes