Generalized Poincaré plots analysis of heart period dynamics in different physiological conditions: Trained vs. untrained men

Background Recently we proposed a new method called generalized Poincare´ plot (gPp) analysis which gave a new insight into the pattern of neurocaridac control. In this study we examined potential of gPp method to reveal changes in cardiac neural control in young athletes during three conditions: supine rest, running and relaxation, with respect to untrained subjects. Methods This method is based on the quantification of Pearson's correlation coefficients r(j, k), between symmetrical (j = k) and asymmetrical summed j previous and k following RR intervals up to the 100th order (j,k.100). Results Differences between groups were obtained at all levels of this analysis. The main result is the significant difference of NAI, normalized index of asymmetry, between groups in running, which was originated in different positions of local maxima of r(j, k). Compared with untrained subjects, these findings indicate modified neural control and altered intrinsic heart rate behavior in athletes which are related to some kind of memory mechanism between RR intervals. Conclusion Obtained results provide great potential of gPp method analysis in the recognition of changes in neurocardiac control in healthy subjects. Further studies are needed for identification of altered cardiac regulatory mechanisms whose background may be useful in the evaluation of genesis of athletes neurocardiovascular pathology. © 2019 Platiša et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Effect of acute exercise on serum growth hormone and fatty acid levels in elite male water polo players

The aim of study was to estimate the effect of acute exercise on serum growth hormone (GH) and fatty acid (FFA) levels in elite water polo players. Twelve male water polo players (20.50 ± 2.02 years) and eleven non-athletic male subjects (20.55 ± 1.04 years) participated in this study. In order to determine GH and FFA responses to acute exercise, a treadmill-running test was performed following an incremental protocol. Pre-exercise blood samples for both athletes and non-athletes were taken at 9 AM. Post-exercise samples were taken immediately after and 30 min after the treadmill running test. Water polo players had significantly lower baseline values of serum GH concentration compared to controls, whereas serum FFA concentration was significantly higher in water polo players compared to controls (p<0.01; p<0.05, respectively). In both groups, concentration of GH was significantly higher immediately after and after the 30-min of recovery compared to baseline levels (p<0.05). In water polo players, the concentration of FFA was significantly decreased immediately after and after the 30-min of recovery compared to baseline levels (p<0.05). No significant response to maximal exercise test was observed in the control group for serum FFA concentration. Our research indicates that acute exercise resulted in a significant increase in serum GH and reduction in fatty acid levels in elite water polo players. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. OI 175067

Increased platelet aggregability following an atherogenic diet in rabbits

In atherosclerosis researches different animal models are used but the most common is the rabbit, because of the easy development of atherosclerotic lesions. Atherosclerosis is a multicellular process and platelets play an important role in atherogenesis. Excessive plasma lipids stimulate platelet aggregability and thus atherosclerosis development. The effects of an atherogenic diet on lipid status, abdominal aorta wall structure, and platelet aggregability were studied in rabbits. Adult male Chinchilla rabbits were fed an atherogenic diet (2% edible oil solution of crystaline cholesterol at 8 mg cholesterol per kg b.wt.daily) for 8 weeks. Plasma lipid levels (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratio) and platelet aggregability were then measured and compared to the values obtained for control animals. Histological analysis showed atherogenic changes in the abdominal aorta wall of the experimental animals. Total plasma cholesterol level, plasma LDL-cholesterol, and LDL/HDL ratio were significantly increased compared to the controls (p<0.01), as well as triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels (p <0.05). Platelet aggregability was also significantly increased (p<0.01) after the atherogenic diet in comparison with controls when ADP, at concentrations both of 5 and 10 (mol/L, was used as the aggregant. Disaggregation was common in control animals but this phenomenon was not recorded in the experimental animals. It can be concluded that an 8-week atherogenic diet in rabbits induced marked changes of the lipid parameters, provoked atherogenic changes in the abdominal aorta wall and increased platelet aggregability.U istraživanjima ateroskleroze korišćeni su razlčiti animalni modeli, ali najčešće korišćene životinje su kunići zbog toga što lako razvijaju aterosklerozne lezije. Ateroskleroza je multicelularni proces i trombociti igraju važnu ulogu u aterogenezi. Prekomerna koncentracija lipida u plazmi izaziva povećanu agregaciju trombocita i na taj način pospešuje razvoj ateroskleroze. Istraživali smo efekte aterogene dijete na lipidni status promene na" abdominalnoj aorti i agregabilnost trombocita u kunića. Odrasli mužjaci Cinčila kunića bill su podvrgnuti aterogenoj dijeti koja se sastojala od 2% rastvora kristalnog holesterola u jestivom ulju u toku 8 nedelja. Dnevna doza holesterola bila je 8 mg/kg telesne mase. Po završetku dijete, određivane su koncentracije triglicerida, ukupnog holesterola, LDL holesterola i HDL holesterola, odnos LDL/HDL, kao i agregabilnost trombocita. Vrednosti su poređene sa kontrolnim životinjama. Histološka analiza je pokazala aterogene promene u zidu abdominalne aorte eksperimentalnih životinja. Koncentracije ukupnog i LDL holesterola u plazmi kao i odnos LDL/HDL bili su visoko statisticki značajno povećane (p<0,01). Koncentracije triglicerida i HDL-holesterola u plazmi takođe su bile statističk značajno povećane (p<0,05). Agregabilnost trombocita bila je statisticki visoko značajno povećana (p<0,01) posle aterogene dijete, bez obzira na to da II je agregant ADP korišćen u koncentraciji 5 ili 10 (mol/L. Fenomen dezagregacije bio je uobičajen za kontrolne životinje, ali nije registrovan kod eksperimentalnih životinja. Može se zaključiti da je osmonedeljna aterogena dijeta u kunića izazvala značajne promene lipidnih varijabli, izazvala nastanak aterogenih promena u zidu abdominalne aorte i povećala agregabilnost trombocita.nul

Increased platelet aggregability following an atherogenic diet in rabbits

In atherosclerosis researches different animal models are used but the most common is the rabbit, because of the easy development of atherosclerotic lesions. Atherosclerosis is a multicellular process and platelets play an important role in atherogenesis. Excessive plasma lipids stimulate platelet aggregability and thus atherosclerosis development. The effects of an atherogenic diet on lipid status, abdominal aorta wall structure, and platelet aggregability were studied in rabbits. Adult male Chinchilla rabbits were fed an atherogenic diet (2% edible oil solution of crystaline cholesterol at 8 mg cholesterol per kg b.wt.daily) for 8 weeks. Plasma lipid levels (triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL/HDL ratio) and platelet aggregability were then measured and compared to the values obtained for control animals. Histological analysis showed atherogenic changes in the abdominal aorta wall of the experimental animals. Total plasma cholesterol level, plasma LDL-cholesterol, and LDL/HDL ratio were significantly increased compared to the controls (p<0.01), as well as triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol levels (p <0.05). Platelet aggregability was also significantly increased (p<0.01) after the atherogenic diet in comparison with controls when ADP, at concentrations both of 5 and 10 (mol/L, was used as the aggregant. Disaggregation was common in control animals but this phenomenon was not recorded in the experimental animals. It can be concluded that an 8-week atherogenic diet in rabbits induced marked changes of the lipid parameters, provoked atherogenic changes in the abdominal aorta wall and increased platelet aggregability.U istraživanjima ateroskleroze korišćeni su razlčiti animalni modeli, ali najčešće korišćene životinje su kunići zbog toga što lako razvijaju aterosklerozne lezije. Ateroskleroza je multicelularni proces i trombociti igraju važnu ulogu u aterogenezi. Prekomerna koncentracija lipida u plazmi izaziva povećanu agregaciju trombocita i na taj način pospešuje razvoj ateroskleroze. Istraživali smo efekte aterogene dijete na lipidni status promene na" abdominalnoj aorti i agregabilnost trombocita u kunića. Odrasli mužjaci Cinčila kunića bill su podvrgnuti aterogenoj dijeti koja se sastojala od 2% rastvora kristalnog holesterola u jestivom ulju u toku 8 nedelja. Dnevna doza holesterola bila je 8 mg/kg telesne mase. Po završetku dijete, određivane su koncentracije triglicerida, ukupnog holesterola, LDL holesterola i HDL holesterola, odnos LDL/HDL, kao i agregabilnost trombocita. Vrednosti su poređene sa kontrolnim životinjama. Histološka analiza je pokazala aterogene promene u zidu abdominalne aorte eksperimentalnih životinja. Koncentracije ukupnog i LDL holesterola u plazmi kao i odnos LDL/HDL bili su visoko statisticki značajno povećane (p<0,01). Koncentracije triglicerida i HDL-holesterola u plazmi takođe su bile statističk značajno povećane (p<0,05). Agregabilnost trombocita bila je statisticki visoko značajno povećana (p<0,01) posle aterogene dijete, bez obzira na to da II je agregant ADP korišćen u koncentraciji 5 ili 10 (mol/L. Fenomen dezagregacije bio je uobičajen za kontrolne životinje, ali nije registrovan kod eksperimentalnih životinja. Može se zaključiti da je osmonedeljna aterogena dijeta u kunića izazvala značajne promene lipidnih varijabli, izazvala nastanak aterogenih promena u zidu abdominalne aorte i povećala agregabilnost trombocita.nul

High-dose ifosfamide and mitoxantrone (HDIM) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is treated with salvage chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Optimal chemotherapy is unknown. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 58 patients treated with 2 cycles of high-dose ifosfamide and mitoxantrone (HDIM). HDIM consisted of ifosfamide 5 g/m(2)/day and MESNA 5 g/m(2)/day in continuous 24-h infusion (days 1 and 2), MESNA 2.5 g/m(2) over 12 h (day 3), and mitoxantrone 20 mg/m(2) (day 1) administered every 2 weeks. Stem cells were collected after the first cycle. Responding patients proceeded to ASCT. Toxicity was acceptable. Stem cell mobilization was successful in 96 % of patients. Overall response rate was 74 % (89 % in relapsing and 45 % in refractory patients) with 31 % complete remissions. After a median follow-up of 54 months, 5-year event-free survival was 56 % (69 % for relapsing and 35 % for refractory patients), and 5-year overall survival was 67 % (73 % for relapsing and 55 % for refractory patients). Significant adverse prognostic factors were refractoriness to previous therapy and HDIM failure. No differences in outcomes were noted between patients with early and late relapses or between complete and partial responders. HDIM is a well-tolerated and effective regimen for relapsed and refractory HL with excellent stem cell mobilizing properties. Patients failing HDIM may still benefit from other salvage options

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid dietary recommendations are moderately efficient in optimizing their status in healthy middle-aged subjects with low fish consumption: a cross-over study

Several dietary recommendations have been made for marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUPA) intake; however, the effectiveness of these fatty acids has not been thoroughly examined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether public-aimed dietary recommendations for long-chain n-3 PUPA from oily fish or fish oil supplements are efficient in optimizing their status in red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets of healthy middle-aged subjects with low customary fish consumption. In a randomized, cross-over trial conducted over an 8-week period and separated by a 6-month washout period, 33 participants received an oily fish (salmon), providing 274 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + 671 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day, or a commercial fish oil supplement, providing 396 mg EPA + 250 mg DHA per day. Blood samples were collected before and after each intervention period, and RBCs and platelets were used for analysis of fatty acids. After 8 weeks, there were significant increases in EPA and DHA content in RBCs and platelets with both salmon and fish oil capsules. The increase in EPA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with capsules, whereas the increase in DHA in both RBCs and platelets was higher with salmon. In spite of the quantitative and qualitative differences between n-3 fatty acid profiles in salmon and the fish oil supplement, the overall incorporation of these fatty acids into RBCs and platelets did not differ in our short-term study (P>.05). The sum of EPA + DHA significantly increased in both compartments following dietary recommendations for oily fish and fish oil supplements intake in middle-aged healthy subjects with low baseline long-chain n-3 PUPA status, although targeted values with optimal cardioprotective effect of more than 8% were not achieved

Altered plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid profile in elite female water polo and football players

The impact of chronic, intense exercise, such as in elite athletes, on phospholipids fatty acids (FA) composition has not been studied in women so far. This study aimed to investigate FA profiles in plasma and erythrocytes phospholipids in elite female water polo (N = 15) and football (N = 19) players in comparison with sedentary women. In spite of similar dietary patterns, as assessed by a food frequency questionnaire, plasma FA profile in the football players showed significantly higher proportions of stearic acid, oleic acid, and monounsaturated FA (MUFA), and significantly lower proportions of total and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than in the water polo and control group. The water polo players had higher percentages of palmitoleic acid and arachidonic acid than the control subjects. Erythrocyte FA profile differed among groups. We found significantly higher proportion of oleic acid and MUFA in the football group than in the controls, and decreased stearic acid and elevated palmitic and palmitoleic acid in the water polo players than in the other 2 groups. Both groups of athletes had significantly lower percentages of n-6 dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFA, and total PUFA compared with the controls. The estimated activities of elongase and desaturases in erythrocytes were also altered in the athletes. Our results indicate that long-term, intense physical training significantly affects FA status of plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids in women. The observed differences between the water polo and the football players suggest that the type of regular training may contribute to the altered metabolism of FA, although possible genetic differences among the 3 study groups cannot be ruled out

Unfavourable plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid profile in elite amateur boxers

Research on possible physiological changes as a consequence of a specific lifestyle and long-term strenuous exercise in boxing has been sparse. We determined plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid (PL) fatty acids (FA) profile of 16 elite amateur male boxers (22.4 +/- 3.3 years of age), and compared them with a control group composed of 19 sedentary (24.4 +/- 3.4) year-old men. The percentages of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monosaturated FA in plasma phospholipids were significantly higher (P lt 0.001) in boxers compared to the control group. On the other hand, all studied polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma PL with the exception of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5, n-3) and docosatetraenoic acid (DTA, 22:4, n-6) were significantly lower in boxers than in sedentary men. Total PUFA, n-6 PUFA and n-3 PUFA were also significantly lower in boxers (P lt 0.001), whereas the n-6/n-3 ratio was higher in boxers than in control group (P lt 0.01). Boxers had significantly higher proportion of all SFA in erythrocyte PL compared to the control group (P lt 0.05). In addition, the percentage of linoleic acid was lower in boxers' erythrocyte PL than in the control group (P lt 0.05). The results show two potentially unfavourable main features of the FA profile of boxers, that is, a higher n-6/n-3 ratio in plasma PL and a higher percentage of SFA in both plasma and erythrocyte phospholipids compared to controls. As SFA correlates directly with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and high n-6/n-3 ratio has been shown to stimulate carcinogenesis and modulate inflammation and autoimmunity, this profile could be detrimental to the health of boxers. The mechanism underlying these differences requires further investigation; however the results suggest benefits of nutritional intervention

Plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid fatty acid profile in professional basketball and football players

The effect of intensive long-term physical activity on phospholipid fatty acid (FA) composition has not been studied thoroughly. We determined plasma and erythrocyte phospholipid FA status of professional basketball and football players. Our results showed differences in plasma FA profile not only between sportsmen and sedentary subjects, but also between two groups of sportsmen. Plasma FA profile in basketball players showed significantly higher proportion of n-6 FA (20: 3, 20: 4, and 22: 4) and total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than controls, while football players had higher palmitoleic acid (16: 1) than basketball players and controls. Total PUFA and 22: 4 were also higher in basketball than in football players. Erythrocyte FA profile showed no differences between football players and controls. However, basketball players had higher proportion of 18: 0 than controls, higher saturated FA and lower 18: 2 than two other groups, and higher 22: 4 than football players. These findings suggest that long-term intensive exercise and type of sport influence FA profile