IMPACT OF BODY COMPOSITION AND VO2 MAX ON THE COMPETITIVE SUCCESS IN TOP-LEVEL HANDBALL PLAYERS

The purpose of the study was to determine the morphological and functional characteristics of 32 Serbian national U20 handball players (age 20.43±1.16y; training experience 8.12±1.89y) before European championship in Switzerland (2006) and to determinate their impact on competitive performance and outstanding success achieved. The results show that wing players differ from other players in morphological characteristics. Values for body height, weight, BMI, muscle mass and fat mass were significantly lower compared to the other playing positions. Extremely low values of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) were measured in all players (ranged from 2.68 to 4.66 l×min-1). Pivots had the highest VO2 max in absolute values (3.76 l×min-1), and wing players in relative terms (40.83 ml×kg-1×min-1). Handball is characterized by high intensity intermittent play, followed by a number of walking breaks and quick substitutions. This makes possible to retain high playing intensity during whole match, because players can be given rest periods whenever needed. This will result in a high intensity game that does not necessarily require high VO2 max. Competitive success in modern top-level handball might be more reliant on optimal tactical preparation than on the body composition and VO2 max of an individual athlete

Dental Tissue — New Source for Stem Cells

Stem cells have been isolated from many tissues and organs, including dental tissue. Five types of dental stem cells have been established: dental pulp stem cells, stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth, stem cells from apical papilla, periodontal ligament stem cells, and dental follicle progenitor cells. The main characteristics of dental stem cells are their potential for multilineage differentiation and self-renewal capacity. Dental stem cells can differentiate into odontoblasts, adipocytes, neuronal-like cells, glial cells, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, melanocytes, myotubes, and endothelial cells. Possible application of these cells in various fields of medicine makes them good candidates for future research as a new, powerful tool for therapy. Although the possible use of these cells in therapeutic purposes and tooth tissue engineering is still in the beginning stages, the results are promising. The efforts made in the research of dental stem cells have clarified many mechanisms underlying the biological processes in which these cells are involved. This review will focus on the new findings in the field of dental stem cell research and on their potential use in the therapy of various disorders

Quality Red Wines: Changing the Content of Anthocyanins in the Process of Ripening Grapes

The content of anthocyanins in grape affects the color and sensory properties of red wine. This paper deals with the quality of Cabernet Sauvignon wines examining changes in the content of anthocyanins in the process of ripening grapes. The HPLC results show that the skin extracts obtained from the early defoliation plants showed up to 6 % and corresponding wine up to 24 % increase of the content of total anthocyanins as compared to the extracts from the control grape and corresponding wine samples. Partial early defoliation may be an excellent tool for control of anthocyanins in grapes and may be employed as a management practice as parameter for quality of red wines

Mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia within a period 1991-2009

Background/Aim. Lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors account for 3.7% of all cancer deaths worldwide, with significant geographic variations in frequency and distribution. The aim of this descriptive epidemiologic study was to analyze the mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia proper within a period 1991-2009. Methods. Mortality rates standardized directly using the world population as the standard were used in data analysis. Linear trend and regression analyses were used to analyze rate trends in mortality. Results. The Serbian population demonstrated an increase in the mortality of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors (y = 3.32 + 0.03×; p = 0.002; average annual percent change = + 0.8). The male population showed a significant increase in mortality trend (y = 5.90 + 0.03×; p = 0.020; % change = + 0.9), while the female population did not show a significant increase in mortality. The male/female cancer mortality ratio was 5.5:1. Mortality rates for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer increased with age in both genders, with rates being the highest in the population aged 85 and older. Increasing trends of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality were observed in males aged 50-54; the average annual percent change was + 7.4 % (95% CI, 6.2-9.0). The population of both genders aged 55-59 demonstrated an increase in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality, the increase being + 1.8% (95% CI, 1.4-2.2) in men and + 34.3% (95% CI, 28.4-40.2) in women. Conclusion. The increasing trend in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality points to the necessity to investigate etiology and improve primary and secondary prevention measures

Stem Cell-Based Dental Tissue Engineering

The development of biological and biomaterial sciences profiled tissue engineering as a new and powerful tool for biological replacement of organs. The combination of stem cells and suitable scaffolds is widely used in experiments today, in order to achieve partial or whole organ regeneration. This review focuses on the use of tissue engineering strategies in tooth regeneration, using stem cells and stem cells/scaffold constructs. Although whole tooth regeneration is still not possible, there are promising results. However, to achieve this goal, it is important to understand and further explore the mechanisms underlying tooth development. Only then will we be able to mimic the natural processes with the use of stem cells and tissue engineering techniques

Variation of the cytokine profiles in gingival crevicular fluid between different groups of periodontally healthy teeth

© 2020, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. Profiling of biomarkers of physiological process represents an integrative part in optimisation of diagnostic markers in order to adjust the diagnostic ranges to the potential effects of the local factors such occlusal forces in case of periodontal tissues. The objective of this study was estimation of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, TNFα and IFNγ concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid samples (GCF) between different groups of teeth. Two hundred fifty-nine systemically healthy non-smokers having at least one vital tooth without restorations, with healthy periodontal tissues, were clinically examined and the GCF sample was retrieved. The cytokine levels were estimated using flow cytometry and compared between central incisors (CI), lateral incisors, canines, first premolars, second premolars, first molars and second molars. Cytokine profiles varied between different groups of teeth with tendency of increase in proinflammatory cytokines from anterior teeth toward molars. Molars might be considered teeth with natural predisposition for faster bone resorption while the adjustment of diagnostic range of periodontal biomarkers for anterior or posterior teeth should be considered within diagnostic context. Cytokine profiles varied between different groups of teeth with tendency of increase in proinflammatory cytokines from anterior teeth toward molars. Molars might be considered teeth with natural predisposition for faster bone resorption while the adjustment of diagnostic range of periodontal biomarkers for anterior or posterior teeth should be considered within diagnostic context

Design, Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of novel N-{4-[2-(4-aryl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethyl]-phenyl}-arylamides

5HT1A receptor targeting drugs have been used as the treatment for the many neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. As a part of ongoing research, we designed series of new compounds that share arylpiperazine common structural motif with the 5HT1A receptor ligand aripiprazole. Receptor-ligand interactions were determined by the molecular docking simulations, revealing the positive impact of the phenyl substitution in the arylpiperazine part of the molecules. Nine selected compounds were synthesized in four reaction steps in high overall yields (59-73%). In vitro pharmacological evaluation of the synthesized compounds revealed three compounds (5b, 6b and 6c) with high 5HT1A binding affinity, comparable with aripiprazole (Ki 12.0, 4.8, 12.8, 5.6 nM, respectively). Compounds from b series, 5b and 6b, possess 2-methoxyphenyl substituents, while 6c possess 2,3-dichlorophenyl substituent in the arylpiperazine part of the molecule. The pharmacological results are therefore in accordance with the molecular docking simulations thus proving the rational design. Compounds 5c, 6b and 6c can be considered as the candidates for further evaluation as new, potential antidepressants