Physiology International

Football Movement Profile Analysis and Creatine Kinase Relationships in Youth National Team Players

2022-10-07T20:48:19+02:00

ABSTRACT

Objective

Creatine kinase (CK) is widely used as a monitoring tool to make inferences on fatigue and readiness in elite soccer. Previous studies have examined the relationship between CK and GPS parameters, however these metrics may not accurately describe the players’ load during soccer-specific movements. Football Movement Profile (FMP) monitoring is a viable option for such purposes, providing solely inertial sensor-based data and categorizing movements according to intensity (very low, low, medium, high) and movement type (running-linear locomotive, dynamic – change of direction or speed).

Methods

We investigated the relationship between the FMP distribution of youth (U16-U21) national team soccer players and the absolute day-to-day change in CK. We applied Spearman’s correlations, principal component analysis and K-means clustering to classify players’ CK responses according to their specific FMP profile.

Results

Moderate to large negative associations were found between very low intensity FMP parameters and CK change (r=-0.43±0.12) while large positive associations were identified between CK change and other FMP metrics (r=0.62±0.12). Best fitting clustering methods were used to group players depending on their CK sensitivity to FMP values. PCA explained 83.0% of the variation with a Silhouette score of 0.61 for the 4 clusters.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that soccer players can be clustered based on the relationship between FMP measures and the CK change. These findings can help to plan soccer training or recovery sessions according to the desired load on skeletal muscle, as FMP monitoring might bridge the limitations of GPS telemetry.

Cuff Width Does Not Affect Discomfort Ratings Immediately Following Isometric Handgrip Exercise

2022-09-18T18:59:58+02:00

Previous work has found that wide cuffs produce greater discomfort with elbow flexion exercise than narrower cuffs. It is our hypothesis that this is due to the balling up of the biceps underneath the cuff that is more pronounced with a wider cuff. One method to test this is through an upper body exercise where there is no contraction of the biceps. Purpose: To investigate the effects of cuff width on discomfort following isometric handgrip exercise. Main Methods: One hundred participants completed this experiment. In a randomized order, the participants performed four sets of two-minute isometric handgrip contractions with thirty seconds of rest at thirty percent of their maximal voluntary contraction with a 5 cm and 12 cm cuff inflated to 40% of arterial occlusion pressure. Discomfort ratings (0–100) were given after the fourth set of exercise. Average force was recorded for all four sets. Results: There was no difference in discomfort (BF₁₀=0.158) [median difference (95% credible interval) -0.997 (-3.360, 1.283) arbitrary units], or in average force (BF₁₀=0.132) [median difference (95% credible interval) 0.08 (-0.199, 0.372) kilograms], between cuff conditions. There did not appear to be a greater preference for either cuff. Forty people preferred the narrow cuff (BF₁₀=0.325), forty people preferred the wide cuff (BF₁₀=0.325), and twenty people had no preference (BF₁₀=7.719). Conclusion: Cuff width does not appear to influence discomfort or the average force produced. This provides support for our hypothesis that the shape of the muscle may interact with wider cuff sizes, leading to greater discomfort.

The Status of Free Radicals, Spermidine/Spermine-N (1)- Acetyltransferase, Oxidative DNA Damage, Inflammation and Energy in Liver and Serum of the Rats with Brain Ischemia-Reperfusion and treated with Putrescine

2022-08-16T12:18:27+02:00

We aimed to examine the effects of brain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) especially on liver and the changings in serum SSAT, ATP, 8-OHdG, ALT, AST, NO levels and liver NF-κB, and IL-6 levels. The effects of addition of putrescin on IR will be evaluated in terms of inflammation and oxidant-antioxidant balance in liver.

The study was conducted on 46 male Albino Wistar rats weighing 200-250 grams. The rats were grouped into: 1-Sham group (n=6), 2- IR Group (n=8): Carotid arteries were ligated for 30 minutes and reperfusion was achieved for 30 minutes under general anesthesia. 3- Ischemia + Putrescine + Reperfusion Group (IPR) (n=8): Unlike the IR group, a single dose of 250 µmol/kg putrescine was given by gavage at the beginning of reperfusion. In putrescine treatment groups in addition to the procedures performed in the IR group, a total of 4 doses of 250 µmol/kg putrescine were given at 12-hour intervals, with the first dose immediately after 30-minute reperfusion (4-IR+Putrescine Group (IR+P1) (n=8)); 3 hours after the 30-minute reperfusion (5-IR+Putrescine Group (IR+P2) (n=8)); 6 hours after the 30-minute reperfusion (6-IR+Putrescine Group (IR+P3) (n=8)). ALT, AST, ATP, NO, SSAT, 8-OHdG levels were analyzed in serum, and liver samples. NF-κB an IL-6 levels were analyzed in liver samples.

Brain IR causes inflammatory, oxidative and DNA damage in the liver, and putrescine supplementation through gavage reduces liver damage by showing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Chlorogenic acid alleviated testicular inflammation and apoptosis in tunicamycin induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

2022-07-23T06:23:20+02:00

Purpose: Chlorogenic acid (CA) is a polyphenol compound, found in many herbs and foods including coffee, berries and potatoes. Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-apoptotic effects of CA have been proved in many tissues. Testicular inflammation and apoptosis is an essential factors in male infertility that could be resulted from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress provides unfolding and misfolding of nascent proteins and thereby provokes cellular inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. This study was designed to assess the effects of CA on ER stress induced testis inflammation and apoptosis. Main methods: To do this, male mice were divided into six groups. The control, vehicle and CA groups were received saline, DMSO and 50mg/kg CA. Tunicamycin (TM( was injected to induce ER stress (TM group). In the CA20-TM and CA50-TM groups, 20mg/kg CA and 50mg/kg CA were administrated one hour before TM injection. After thirty hours, animals were sacrificed and testes were removed. Hematoxylin & eosin staining, ELISA assay and real time PCR were performed. Results: CA administration significantly downregulated genes expression of TNFα, IL6, P53, Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase3. It also reduced testis levels of ALP, NF-κB, TNFα and caspse3. Finally, CA relieved structural changes in seminiferous tubules. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that positive effects of CA on attenuation of ER stress induced inflammation and apoptosis might be due to inhibition of NF-κB and thereby suppression of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways.

Can the transection plane be optimized in pancreatic resections?

2022-07-04T21:38:56+02:00

Purpose: According to current protocol, the separation of pancreatic head and body is performed at the level of superior mesenteric vein (SMV). Previous data indicate that the resection plane should be modified in portal annular pancreas. We presumed that the optimal line of pancreatic resections could also be different in other cases. Our aim is to simulate pancreatic resections in different planes and find the optimal resection line with the minimum number of cut vessels.

Main methods: 25 abdominal vascular corrosion casts were prepared, the aorta and the portal vein were cannulated. CT scans were taken on the casts, and specific planes were reconstructed simulating different resection lines. The total amount of cross sections of vessels were calculated in the different planes.

Results: In our series, the optimal plane is the SMV in 11/25, 2 cm left in 10/25, 1 cm left in 4/25, 1 cm right in 1/25 and 2 cm right in none of our cases. The group of left sided extension contain more than half of the cases. With left sided resections, the cut surface of the vessels may be lowered to even 29% compared to the SMV plane.

Conclusion: Our study revealed that pancreatic resections should be extended to the left side of the SMV in more than half of our cases. Therefore, the resection plane should be determined by preoperative imaging methods. Using DICOM viewer with multiplanar reconstruction, the resection planes can be simulated in clinical practice, which would reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

Additional value of microvascular flow imaging in the assess-ment of cystic and solid renal lesions

2022-07-24T16:54:22+02:00

Background:

Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is increasingly used in the evaluation of renal lesions, however, its availability remains limited. Thus, sensitive noncontrast ultrasound evaluation of renal lesion vascularity is an unmet need.

Methods:

In this single-center, retrospective study we assessed microvascular flow imaging (MV-flow) compared to CEUS in the evaluation of complex renal cysts and solid lesions. Out of 92 patients 28 were evaluated with both CEUS and MV-flow. Color Doppler, CEUS, and MV-flow was performed in 13 cases, whilst MV-flow, CEUS, and contrast-enhanced MV-flow (CE-MV-flow) was done in 16 cases. The CEUS diagnosis was considered gold standard.

Results:

MV-flow showed a substantial agreement with the CEUS diagnosis (weighted Kappa=0.806), excluding equivocal lesions (Bosniak 2F). MV-flow substantially outperformed color Doppler (weighted Kappa= 0.77 vs. 0.133). The agreement of CE-MV-flow and MV-flow was comparable (weighted Kappa= 0.79 vs. 0.69).

Conclusion:

MV-flow significantly improves evaluation of renal lesion vascularity compared to conventional techniques. However, the sensitivity is limited for equivocal lesions (e.g. Bosniak 2F cysts). Thus, MV-flow should be used as an ancillary technique, not as a substitute to CEUS. Current MV-flow presets are ill-suited for postcontrast imaging, therefore specific presets optimized for this purpose are needed to establish its potential.

Intermittent cold exposure upregulates regulators of cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis and function in mice

2022-07-21T08:37:43+02:00

Hypothermic conditions enhance the incidence of cardiovascular diseases due to increased blood pressure. Cold-induced adaptive thermogenesis increased mitochondrial biogenesis and function in skeletal muscles and adipocytes. Here, we studied the effect of intermittent cold exposure on the regulators of cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis, function, and its regulation by SIRT-3. Intermittent cold exposed mice hearts showed normal histopathology with increased mitochondrial antioxidant and metabolic function, as evidenced by an increase in the activity and expression of MnSOD and SDH. A substantial increase in mitochondrial DNA copy number and increase in the expression of PGC-1α and its downstream targets NRF-1 and Tfam indicated the possibility of enhanced cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis and function on intermittent cold exposure. Increased mitochondrial SIRT-3 level and decreased total protein lysine acetylation indicate increased sirtuin activity in cold exposed mice hearts. Ex vivo cold mimic using norepinephrine showed a significant increase in PGC-1α, NRF-1, and Tfam levels. AGK-7, a SIRT-3 inhibitor, reversed the norepinephrine-induced upregulation of PGC-1α and NRF-1, indicating the role of SIRT-3 on the production of PGC-1α and NRF-1. Inhibition of PKA with KT5720 in norepinephrine treated cardiac tissue slices indicates the role of PKA in regulating the production of PGC-1α and NRF-1. In conclusion, intermittent cold exposure upregulated the regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and function through PKA and SIRT-3 mediated pathway. Our results emphasize the role of intermittent cold-induced adaptive thermogenesis in overcoming chronic cold-induced cardiac damage.