EXAMINATION OF THE FINGER TAPPING TEST AND MENTAL ROTATION ACHIEVEMENT LEVEL OF THE ORIENTEERING ATHLETES

The purpose of this study is to assess the cognitive skills and the audio visual perceptions of orienteering athletes and to research the relationship between these two. 17 male athletes, who have been playing orienteering sport for at least 2 years, whose average age is 16.3 ± 1.6 years, participated voluntarily in our study. Reaction time test, mental rotation tests were implemented to the participants on successive days, during the same time zone, and in a quiet environment favorable for testing. The "Finger Tapping Test” (FTT), in which the speed of consecutive motor movements was evaluated was implemented via a computer program and the athletes were asked to press the specified key consecutively for 20 seconds. The obtained data was recorded. In conclusion, it was determined that the random-interval audio visual reaction times are longer than the Fix-interval audio visual reaction times. It was concluded that each question was answered in 8.7 seconds on average during the mental rotation test implemented in the study; whereas it was discovered that the correct answer average was 9.8 in the MR test, which consists of 16 questions. When the answers given by the athletes to the test questions were examined, it was determined that 4 athletes, who answered each question approximately in 3 seconds and completed the test in under 1 minute, are not successful in terms of accuracy and duration. These results indicate that the mental rotation performances of the orienteering athletes are not at a good level.  Article visualizations

A Comparative of Finger Tapping Test Scores Elite Athletes, Art, Foreign Languages and Computer- Instructional Technology Students

Fine motor skill is ability to control and coordinate the small muscles in the hand for precise movements. Fine motor skill have been associated with several other cognitive abilities, including processing speed executive functions and scholastic skills. Fine motor skill in the early years have also been shown to predict later academic achievement, especially in reading and mathematics and to predict underachievement in able students at school. In this aspect our objective in this study was to compare finger tapping test scores between students of art, foreign languages, computer-instructional technologies and elite athletes. A significant difference was found between elite athletes and all groups in finger tapping test scores. Elite athletes performed more finger taps than other groups in the same period. In conclusion, the more importance of fine motor skill in terms of sporting success also explains the difference of the finger tapping test performances between the groups. Keywords: education, motor skills, finger tapping, elite athlete

Acute effects of different types of exercises on insulin-like growth factor-1, homocysteine and cortisol levels in veteran athletes

This study aimed to investigate acute effects of table tennis(physical+cognitive exercise), aerobic running (physical exercise), and chess (cognitive exercise) exercise sessions of veteran male athletes in their branches on the serum homocysteine (Hcy), insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and cortisol (Cor) levels. Thirty veteran athletes [10 table tennis players (TT), 10 long-distance runners (LR), 10 chess players (CP)] and 10 sedentary controls (SC) between 50 and 65 years of age participated in the study. Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after exercise to determine serum Hcy, IGF-1, and Cor levels. According to their branch, each veteran athlete performed exercise sessions (70-75% of the participants' heart rate reserve) of 10-min of warm-up followed by 40-min of table tennis, aerobic running, or chess. TT and LR groups demonstrated significant increases in the serum IGF-1, Cor, and Hcy levels from pre to post-exercise (p0.05). LR group had a greater serum Cor increase than all exercise groups (p<0.05). The TT group showed significantly greater changes in serum Cor levels than the CP group (p<0.05). In conclusion, although a single bout of aerobic running and table tennis exercise induces a remarkable increase in all measured biomarkers, chess exercise only elicits an increase in Hcy levels. Although aerobic running is more effective in increasing Cor levels than other types of exercise, the current study's findings suggest that serum Hcy and IGF-1 levels in veteran male athletes are not affected by the type of exercise

Investigation of the response to antiplatelet therapy in cardiovascular patients by optical aggregation and PFA-100

Kardiyovasküler hastalarda primer ve sekonder koruma amacıyla kullanılan aspirin ve ADP reseptör antagonistleri gibi antitrombositik ilaçların ciddi vasküler olayları anlamlı olarak azalttığı bir çok klinik çalışma ile gösterilmiştir. Biz bu antitrombositik ilaçların trombositler üzerindeki etkilerini optik agregometre ve PFA-100 ile değerlendirdik ve antitrombositik tedaviye karşı bireysel farklılıkların olup olmadığını araştırdık. En az 6 aydan beri düzenli olarak 100 mg/gün aspirin (Aspirin grubu, n=37), 500 mg/gün tiklopidin (TİK) veya 75 mg/gün klopidogrel (KLO) (TİK/KLO grubu, n=18) veya kombine antitrombositik tedavi kullanan (Aspirin+TİK/KLO grubu, n=10) 65 stabil kardiyovasküler hastayı, kardiyoloji polikliniği tarafından aspirin başlanması uygun görülen 12 hastayı (tedavi başlamadan önce ve tedavi sonrası) ve 22 sağlıklı gönüllüyü değerlendirdik. Optik agregometrede ADP, kollajen (COL) ve epinefrine (EPİ) karşı meydana gelen % maksimum agregasyon cevaplarını ve maksimum agregasyona ulaşma sürelerini ve PFA-100 ile Kollajen/Epinefrin (Col/Epi) ve Kollajen/ADP (Col/ADP) kartuşlarında kapanma zamanlarını (KZ) saptadık. Optik agregometreye göre aspirinin özellikle EPİ ve COL'e karşı, TİK/KLO'in ise esas olarak ADP'ye karşı olan agregasyonu düşürdüğü gözlendi. Kombine ilaç grubunda en düşük maksimum agregasyon yanıtları alındı. Antitrombositik ilaç kullanımı anlamlı olarak ADP ve COL'e karşı olan maksimum agregasyona ulaşma süresini kısalttı. PFA-100'de aspirin kullanımı Col/Epi kartuşu KZ'nı uzatırken ADP reseptör antagonistleri her iki kartuş KZ'na da etki göstermedi. Optik agregometrede 3 uyarıcı ajan ve PFA-100'de Col/Epi kartuşu esas alınarak toplam 4 parametreden en az ikisine göre aspirin direnci sıklığı %13,5 olarak bulundu. TİK/KLO grubunda bir hastada tedavinin trombositler üzerinde etkisiz olduğu gözlendi. Aspirine yeni başlanan grupta tedavi öncesi değerlerin kontrol ile tedavi sonrası değerlerin aspirin grubuyla benzerlik gösterdiği saptandı. Aspirine yeni başlanan grupta 4 hastanın ilk değerlerine göre epinefrine cevapsız olduğu bulundu. Sonuç olarak antitrombositik tedaviye karşı cevabın her hastada benzer olmadığını gösterdik. Bu nedenle antitrombositik tedavinin yeterliliğinin mutlaka her hasta için değerlendirilmesi ve tedavinin bu sonuçlara göre yönlendirilmesi gerektiğini düşündük.It has been shown in many clinical studies that, antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and ADP receptor antagonists, which are used for primary and secondary prophylaxis in cardiovascular patients significantly decrease severe vascular events. We evaluated the effects of these antiplatelet drugs on platelets by optical aggregation and PFA-100 and investigated the presence of individual differences to antiplatelet therapy. We evaluated 65 stable cardiovascular patients, who have been taking regularly 100 mg/dayaspirin (Aspirin group, n=37), 500 mg/day ticlopidine (TIC) or 75 mg/day clopidogrel (CLO) (TIC/CLO group, n=18) or combined antiplatelet therapy (Aspirin + TIC/CLO group, n=10) for at least 6 months, 12 outpatients who have been recently prescribed aspirin by the cardiology department (before and after the therapy) and 22 healthy volunteers. By optical aggregation, we determined the maximum aggregation response % to ADP, collagen (COL) and epinephrine (EPI) and the duration of maximum aggregation, and by PFA-100 we determined the closure times (CT) in collagen/epinephrine (Col/Epi) and collagen/ADP (Col/ADP) cartridges. By optical aggregation,aspirin decreased the aggregation particularly to EPI and COL, and TIC/CLOdecreased the aggregation mainly to ADP. The lowest maximum aggregation responses were obtained in combined antiplatelet therapy group. Antiplatelet therapy significantly decreased the duration of maximum aggregation to ADP and COL. In PFA-100, aspirin extended the CT in Col/Epi cartridge, while ADP receptor antagonists were ineffective in both cartridges' CT. Based on 3 stimulating agents in optical aggregation and on Col/Epi cartridge in PFA-100, incidence of aspirin resistance was found to be 13,5 %, according to at least two of a total of 4 parameters. The therapy was observed to be ineffective on platelets in one patient in TIC/CLO group. Premedication values were similar to the control group and postmedication values were similar to the aspirin group, in patients who have recently been prescribed aspirin. In this group, 4 patients were considered to be nonresponsive to epinephrine, with respect to their previous values. As a result, we showed that the response to antiplatelet therapy is not similar in all patients. Therefore, we suggest that the adequacy of the antiplatelet therapy should be evaluated individually for each patient and directed according to these data

Çok düşük frekanslı ve zayıf elektromanyetik alanların trombosit agregasyonu üzerine etkileri

Teknolojik gelismelerle birlikte her geçen gün daha fazla maruz kaldıgımız elektromanyetik alanların biyolojik sistemler üzerinde etkili oldugu bilinmektedir. Özellikle membrandan kalsiyum akımını degistirmeleri ve bazı enzimlerin aktivitelerine etkileri, birçok farklı hücre üzerinde gösterilmistir. Bu çalısmada 1 mT ve 6 mT siddetindeki, 50 Hz frekanslı manyetik alanların, trombositlerin agregasyonu üzerine etkisi arastırılmıstır. Saglıklı gönüllülerden sitratla veya heparinle koagülasyonu önlenmis kan örnekleri alındı. Bu örnekler 200 G’de 10 dk. santrifuj edilerek trombositten zengin plazma örnekleri hazırlandı. ki esit kısma ayrıldı. Bir kısım, Helmholtz bobinde 1.5 saat süreyle 1 mT siddetinde veya 1 saat süreyle 6 mT siddetinde, 50 Hz frekanslı manyetik alana maruz bırakıldı. Diger kısım kontrol grubu oldu. Manyetik alan ve kontrol grubu trombositten zengin plazma örnekleri aynı anda modifiye edilmis optik agregometrede degerlendirildi. Optik agregometredeki modifikasyon, trombositten zengin plazma örnegini karıstıran mıknatıs düzenegini elimine etmek amacıyla yapıldı. Agregasyonu uyarıcı ajan olarak ADP, kollajen ve epinefrin kullanıldı. Agregasyon grafiklerinin egimleri, maksimum degerleri ve egri altında kalan alanları, kontrol ve manyetik alan grupları arasında karsılastırıldı. Dört grup olusturuldu [1 mT-Heparin (n=30), 1 mT-Sitrat (n=30), 6 mTHeparin (n=10), 6 mT-Sitrat (n=10)]. Yalnızca 1 mT-Sitrat grubunda etki gözlendi. Manyetik alanın kollajen ile uyarılan agregasyonda, agregasyon grafiginin egimini ve maksimum degerini anlamlı olarak arttırdıgı bulundu. Trombosit agregasyonunu uyarmak için kullandıgımız ajanların, trombositleri aktive ettikleri yolaklar çok iyi bilinmektedir. Her üç uyarıcı ajanda farklı yolaklar üzerinden intrasellüler kalsiyum konsantrasyonunu arttırır ve protein kinazları aktive eder. Kollajenin ADP ve epinefrinden farkı tirozin kinazlar üzerinden fosfolipaz Cg’yı aktive etmesidir. Uygulanan manyetik alanın tirozin kinaz ve fosfolipaz Cg aktivasyonuna neden oldugu düsünülmektedir

The effects of 1 mT and 5 mT static magnetic fields on platelet aggregation

Aim: Numerous studies have been conducted on the biological effects of static magnetic fields, reporting effects on various cell types and functions. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological effects of 1 mT and 5 mT static magnetic fields using platelet aggregation. Materials and Methods: Blood samples taken from 18 healthy volunteers were anti-coagulated with citrate or with heparin. The platelet rich plasma obtained from the anti-coagulated whole blood was divided into four equal parts. Two were exposed to 1 mT or 5 mT static magnetic fields produced by a Helmholtz coil for 1 hour; the remaining two were assigned as control groups. Both groups were simultaneously studied with a 4-channel optical aggregometer. ADP (2-4 ;amp;#956;M), Collagen (38-95 ;amp;#956;g/ml) and Epinephrine (10 ;amp;#956;M) were used to induce platelet aggregation. The slopes, maximum values, and lag times for the aggregation curves for the control samples and the exposure groups were compared. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed for any of the four groups formed: 1 mT-citrate (n=5), 5 mT-citrate (n=5), 1 mT-heparin (n=5), 5 mT-heparin (n=5). Conclusion: 1-hour, 1 mT or 5 mT static magnetic field exposures have no effect on the platelet aggregation.Giriş: Statik manyetik alanların biyolojik etkileri, birçok çalışmada farklı hücreler ve fonksiyonlar üzerinden gösterilmiştir. Bizim bu çalışmadaki amacımız, 1 mT ve 5 mT statik manyetik alanların trombosit agregasyonu üzerine etkisini araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: 18 sağlıklı gönüllüden alınan kan örnekleri sitratla veya heparinle antikoagüle edildi. Antikoagüle tam kandan elde edilen trombositten zengin plazma örnekleri 4'e bölündü. İkisine Helmholtz bobinde 1 saat, 1 veya 5 mT statik manyetik alan uygulanırken diğer ikisi kontrol grubu oldu. Manyetik alan ve kontrol grubu trombositten zengin plazma örnekleri aynı anda 4 kanallı optik agregometrede çalışıldı. Trombosit agregasyonunu uyarmak için ADP (2-4 ?M), Kollajen (38-95 ?g/ml) ve Epinefrin (10 ?M) kullanıldı. Agregasyon eğrilerinin eğimleri, maksimum değerleri ve lag zamanları, kontrol ve manyetik alan grupları arasında karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Oluşturulan 4 grupta [1 mT sitrat (n=5), 5 mT sitrat (n=5), 1 mT heparin (n=5), 5 mT heparin (n=5)] manyetik alan ve kontrol grupları arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir farklılığa rastlanmadı. Sonuç: 1 saat uygulanan, 1 mT veya 5 mT statik manyetik alanların trombosit agregasyonu üzerine etkisi gözlenmedi