Beata Augustyńska

The Effect of Submaximal Exercise Preceded by Single Whole-Body Cryotherapy on the Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Blood of Volleyball Players

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of single whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) session applied prior to submaximal exercise on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, the concentration of lipid peroxidation products, total oxidative status, and the level of cytokines in blood of volleyball players. The study group consisted of 18 male professional volleyball players, who were subjected to extremely cold air (−130°C) prior to exercise performed on cycloergometer. Blood samples were taken five times: before WBC, after WBC procedure, after exercise preceded by cryotherapy (WBC exercise), and before and after exercise without WBC (control exercise). The activity of catalase statistically significantly increased after control exercise. Moreover, the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase was lower after WBC exercise than after control exercise (P < 0.001). After WBC exercise, the level of IL-6 and IL-1β was also lower (P < 0.001) than after control exercise. The obtained results may suggest that cryotherapy prior to exercise may have some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The relations between the level of studied oxidative stress and inflammatory markers may testify to the contribution of reactive oxygen species in cytokines release into the blood system in response to exercise and WBC.

Physical exercise combined with whole-body cryotherapy in evaluating the level of lipid peroxidation products and other oxidant stress indicators in kayakers.

The influence of exercise combined with whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on the oxidant/antioxidant balance in healthy men was assessed. The study included 16 kayakers of the Polish National Team, aged 22.7 ± 2.6, subjected to WBC (−120°C–−145°C; 3 min) twice a day for the first 10 days of a 19-day physical training cycle: pre exercise morning stimulation and post exercise afternoon recovery. Blood samples were taken on Day 0 (baseline) and on Days 5, 11 and 19. The serum concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), conjugated dienes (CD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls, vitamin E, urea, cortisol, and testosterone were determined, along with the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and morphological blood parameters. On 5th day of exercise/WBC, the baseline GPx activity decreased by 15.1% (P < 0.05), while on 19th day, it increased by 19.7% (P < 0.05) versus Day 5. On Day 19 TBARS concentration decreased versus baseline and Day 5 (by 15.9% and 17.4%, resp.; P < 0.01). On 19 Day urea concentration also decreased versus 11 Day; however, on 5th and 11th days the level was higher versus baseline. Combining exercise during longer training cycles with WBC may be advantageous.

Whole-body cryostimulation and oxidative stress in rowers: the preliminary results.

Introduction The effect of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) on the biomarkers of oxidative stress, lysosomal enzymes, creatine kinase and cortisol was studied. Material and methods The rowers underwent two 6-day training cycles: with pre-training daily WBC (temperature: from –125°C to –150°C) and without cryostimulation (control). Blood samples were taken before and after the third and sixth day of training. Results The activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase was lower (by 44% and 42%, respectively) after the third day of training with WBC than without WBC. The concentration of lipid peroxidation products was also lower after the training preceded by WBC. Moreover, the acid phosphatase activity was 50% lower after the third day of training with WBC than training without WBC. Considering the antioxidant enzymes activity during training without WBC, the increase of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed after the third day of training (by about 74% and 100%, respectively). The level of lipid peroxidation products also increased after the training without WBC. No statistically significant changes were observed in creatine kinase activity after the training preceded with WBC, while after the training without WBC activity of this enzyme was two-fold higher than before the training. Conclusions The use of WBC prior to training may reduce the risk of oxidative stress and the extent of muscle fibre injuries provoked by intense exercise. The WBC seems to be an effective and safe method for limiting exercise-induced damage; thus it may be used in biological regeneration of sportsmen.

– Sports medicine Whole-body cryostimulation and oxidative stress in rowers: the preliminary results

Introduction The effect of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) on the biomarkers of oxidative stress, lysosomal enzymes, creatine kinase and cortisol was studied. Material and methods The rowers underwent two 6-day training cycles: with pre-training daily WBC (temperature: from –125°C to –150°C) and without cryostimulation (control). Blood samples were taken before and after the third and sixth day of training. Results The activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase was lower (by 44% and 42%, respectively) after the third day of training with WBC than without WBC. The concentration of lipid peroxidation products was also lower after the training preceded by WBC. Moreover, the acid phosphatase activity was 50% lower after the third day of training with WBC than training without WBC. Considering the antioxidant enzymes activity during training without WBC, the increase of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed after the third day of training (by about 74% and 100%, respectively). The level of lipid peroxidation products also increased after the training without WBC. No statistically significant changes were observed in creatine kinase activity after the training preceded with WBC, while after the training without WBC activity of this enzyme was two-fold higher than before the training. Conclusions The use of WBC prior to training may reduce the risk of oxidative stress and the extent of muscle fibre injuries provoked by intense exercise. The WBC seems to be an effective and safe method for limiting exercise-induced damage; thus it may be used in biological regeneration of sportsmen.

Repository of images for reverse engineering and medical simulation purposes

Novel technologies such as 3D printing (additive manufacturing), 3D scanning and reverse engineering may significantly improve application of the principles of medicine in current clinical practice. This paper aims at presentation of the own concept of the repository of medical images based on 3D printing and reverse engineering technology. The proposed concept of the repository can constitute a beginning of the novel family of commercial techniques needed for development and optimization of reverse engineering toward printing the fully clinically functional solutions.

2-Allylaminothiazole and 2-allylaminodihydrothiazole derivatives: synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of bioactivity.

Some reactions of selected chlorooxoesters and haloesters with a 1-allylthiourea under various conditions have been performed. The reactions have been performed in methanol in alkaline and neutral environment. Condensation of 1-allylthiourea with chlorooxoesters has been further led via acetal as intermediate compound. As a result, the compounds containing thiazole and a 4,5-dihydrothiazole ring with a good yield have been obtained. The structures of the compounds were verified by 1H NMR, 13C NMR as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. Due to the potential biological activity of the synthesized compounds, the parameters of their bioavailability have been determined, and the probability of pharmacological action has been defined. All of the obtained compounds fulfilled the rule of five, which indicate their good absorption after oral intake. The probability of pharmacological action and potential targets calculated for the obtained compounds show that they can be potential drugs.Graphical abstract

Use of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate diagnostic value of collagen degradation products.

Abstract. The concentration of collagen degradation products (CDPs) may reflect the process of left ventricular remodeling (LVR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential diagnostic usefulness of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRFS) in assessment of CDPs. The preliminary experiment was designed to establish if CDPs’ characteristics might be visible by mean fluorescence lifetime (FLT) in determined conditions. The in vitro model of CDPs was prepared by conducting the hydrolysis of type III collagen. The FLT of samples was measured by the time-resolved spectrometer Life Spec II with the subnanosecond pulsed 360-nm EPLED diode. The FLTs were obtained by deconvolution analysis of the data using a multiexponential model of fluorescence decay. In order to determine the limit of traceability of CDPs, a comparison of different collagen/plasma ratio in samples was performed. The results of our study showed that the increase of added plasma to hydrolyzed collagen extended the mean FLT. Thus, the diagnosis of LVR based on measurements using TRFS is possible. However, it is important to point out the experiment was preliminary and further investigation in this field of research is crucial.

Change of the State of the Natural Antioxidant Barrier of a Body and Psychological Parameters in Patients Aged above 60

Background The goal of this study is to assess the natural antioxidant barrier of the organism and selected psychological aspects of the aging process in patients above 60 years old. Methods The study included a total of 52 patients aged above 60 (mean age 67 ± 3.4) and 32 healthy subjects (mean age 22 ± 3.4) as a control group. All patients underwent psychological assessment using Test of Attentional Performance version 2.3 (TAP 2.3, four subtests: alertness, cross-modal integration, neglect with central task, and working memory) and biochemical analysis of venous blood concerning values of the selected parameters of oxidative stress (HT, GSH, GPXOS, GPXRBC, GRRBC1, SODRBC1, MDARBC1, NO2−/NO3−, and CP). Results Disorders of attention were observed mainly in elderly people, but an assumption that elderly people have developed more efficient ways of working memory use than younger people may be true. Results showed the reduced effectiveness of the bodys natural antioxidant barrier in elderly people. Moderate positive and negative correlations among parameters of oxidative stress and psychological parameters were observed in the control group. Discussion Intensification of the attention deficits and oxidative stress may be observed as one of the pathogenic factors of age-dependent diseases.

Lipophilicity Study of Thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine Derivatives as Potential Bioactive Agents

Systems containing fused thiazole and pyrimidine rings play a significant role in organisms due to their biological activity. Lipophilicity, as important parameter to expect biological activity of the compounds, was evaluated for 27 potentially active thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives using chromatographic methods: reversed phase thin layer chromatography (RP-TLC) and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) methods. Methanol was used as the organic modifier of the mobile phases. The corresponding relationship between compounds structure and lipophilicity parameters (RM0 and log kw) values were observed and featured. RM0 and log kw parameters were compared with computed log P values. For all of analyzed compounds, determined lipophilicitys parameters values are > 0 which means that there are hydrophobic substances, soluble in the lipid phase. Simultaneously, these values are < 5, i.e., are in accordance with Lipinskis rule in the range of lipophilicity. In the case of the possibility of their use as drugs, they will be active after oral application.

MEASURING THE CHRONOTYPE IN POLISH POPULATION

Chronotype is an attribute connected with an individual, preferred pattern of circadian activity on the continuum of morningness-eveningness. It mirrors the inter-individual differences in the course of circadian rhythms [1, 2]. The studies indicate its connections with sleep-wake cycle, i.e.: time of sleep onset, wake up time and duration of sleep [3, 4]. Two methods of describing human chronotypes are considered in this paper: a subjective – questionnaire method and an objective method – actigraphy that measures the gross motor activity. The aim of the study was to assess the relation between results of Polish adaptation of Horne and Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire [5] and circadian activity measured with actigraphs in order to compare and evaluate the usefulness of both methods in chronotype related studies. Also, the purpose was to assess the relation between chronotype and socio-demographic factors such as sex, age and education in Polish population. The research group included 150 healthy volunteers of genders, 75 women and 75 men. The age of the respondents fell between 19 and 60 years old (34.25±12.13 EX±SD). The obtained results confirmed the usefulness of actigraphy in chronotype related studies. Also they confirmed modulation of chronotype with age and revealed differences in circadian activity between men and women.