Hasan Birol Cotuk

Assessment of DNA Damage and Protective Role of Vitamin E Supplements after Exhaustive Exercise by Comet Assay in Athletes

Exhaustive physical exercise is associated with an increased oxidative activity and antioxidants are widely used as supplements, to prevent the deleterious effects of endogenous reactive oxygen species. The purpose of this study is to investigate exercise induced oxidative DNA damage and the possible protective effect of vitamin E supplementation. Comet assay was carried out in 23 athletes who were competitive rowers and physical education students of a Sports school. The blood samples were tested at baseline, 24h after performing maximal exercise and all subjects took antioxidant supplementation (vit E 400 IU/day) for 60 days and the above tests were repeated. The mean percentage of DNA damage in tail (% DNAT) in rowers, were higher than in physical education students, (8.32±0.51, 5.99±0.52, respectively). A significant decrease in the extent of %DNAT was observed in athletes who used vitamin E supplementation for 60 days compared to their initial DNA damage evaluations.

Use of entropy, spectral parameters and recurrence quantification analysis for the evaluation of muscle fatigue from surface electromyography

Surface electromyography (EMG) is commonly used to detect muscle activation, to find muscle activation level compared to a reference-especially at low force levels- and to evaluate muscle fatigue level. EMG signal is nonstationary and is the response of complex system. The most commonly used method to assess muscle fatigue is to compute decline in mean (MNF) and median (MDF) frequencies which are found from power spectrum of EMG signal. As the muscle continuously passes to fatigue state during a prolonged muscle activation, conduction velocity declines whereas motor unit synchronization increases. The motor unit synchronization should effect EMG signal complexity. Considering this, the EMG signals are analysed with entropy and recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) methods along with MNF and MCF parameters since entropy and RQA methods give measure to determine complexity changes in the signal. It was found that MNF decline is accompanied with entropy decline and %DET increase as the fatigue occurs. These findings could be explained by increased regularity caused by motor unit synchronization.

Load distribution on the foot and lofstrand crutches of amputee football players

BACKGROUND Amputee football is a worldwide popular sport with positive physical and psychological effects on the disabled. Amputee players use their hands dominantly for locomotion. However, the effect of using upper extremity which is not accommodated to loading is not very well known. RESEARCH QUESTION The objective of this study was to determine the load distribution of amputee football players during walking, running and kicking the ball. METHODS This study was conducted with 15 certified amputee football players (age 24.5 ± 5.8 years, body weight 62.3 ± 10.9 kg, height 171.6 ± 7.7 cm). The loads on their non-amputated lower extremity were measured with F-Scan mobile system sensors inserted in their shoes, and the loads on their upper extremities were measured with F-Grip system sensors affixed to the gloves. The participants were asked to walk, run and kick the ball using Lofstrand Crutches. RESULTS The maximum loading on the upper extremities during walking, running and kicking the ball varied between 111% and 175% of the body weight. While loading during walking and running was similar, the loading on the upper extremity during kicking the ball exceeded that of walking by 58.1% and running by 47.4%. The maximum loading on the non-amputated lower extremity varied between 134% and 196% of the body weight. Loading during running was 46.2% higher than that of walking. The loading on the foot during kicking the ball was 45.7% higher than that of walking. The loading on the foot during running and kicking were similar. SIGNIFICANCE Walking-running-kicking the ball with LC resulted in unusual loading particularly on the upper extremity. During running, the increased loading was transferred to the foot rather than the hands. During kicking, the loading increased extremely and was mainly transferred to the hands. The frequent repetition of kicking during the game may therefore increase the incidence of upper extremity injuries.

BİRİNCİ TÜRK ANTARKTİKA ARAŞTIRMA SEFERİ 2016’DA TIBBİ DANIŞMANLIK

Amac: Antarktika, Dunya’nin en soguk, en uzak ve en yuksek kitasidir. Kitada calisacak olan arastirmacilar, buradaki olagandisi kosullar ve izolasyon nedeniyle tibbi degerlendirmeden gecmektedir. Bu degerlendirme icin her ulkenin kendi saglik standartlari bulunmaktadir. Ulusal Arktik ve Antarktik Kutup Arastirmalari Projeleri icin saglik standartlari ise Fakultemiz tarafindan hazirlanmistir ve ilk Ulusal Antarktik Bilimsel Seferi’ne katilacak arastirmacilarin tibbi degerlendirmeleri Sualti Hekimligi ve Hiperbarik Tip Anabilim Dali’nda yapilmistir. Gerec ve Yontem: Bir senelik arastirma ve incelemeler sonunda Turk Ulusal Kutup Arastirmalari Saglik Standartlari (TUKAS) hazirlanmistir. Aday arastirmacilarin muayeneleri bu standartlara gore klinigimizde yapilmistir. Tum muayene bulgulari, laboratuar test ve radyolojik degerlendirme sonuclari kaydedilmistir. Arastirmacilar sefer boyunca da takip edilmis ve her turlu tibbi sorun kayit altina alinmistir. Bulgular: Birinci Ulusal Antarktik Bilimsel Seferi’ne on uc arastirmaci katilmis, bunlardan onikisi TUKAS’a gore tibbi degerlendirmeden gecmistir. Dort adayda kardiolojik durum saptanmistir. Bir adayda tuberkuloz, bir adayda ise Hepatit A ve B oykusu vardir. Ayrica uc adayda minor gastrointestinal problem oldugu gorulmustur. Saptanan bu durumlarin hic birinin sefere katilmaya engel olusturacak nitelikte olmadigi belirlenmistir. Sefer sirasinda da her hangi bir saglik problemi yasanmamistir. Sonuc: Antarktika’da calisacak ekibin uyeleri fizik muayene ve tibbi durumlari dikkate alinarak ozenle secilmelidir. Turk ekibinin tibbi degerlendirmesi icin Istanbul Tip Fakultesi, Sualti Hekimligi ve Hiperbarik Tip Anabilim Dali secilmistir. Boylece bir merkezde toplanmasi saglanan veriler ileride yapilacak bilimsel arastirmalar icin iyi bir kaynak olusturacaktir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Antarktika; demografi, saglik durumu; bilimsel sefer.

Effects of aerobic capacity, age and gender on brain neural matter

The brain is one of the most complex and integrated organ in the human body which directs our muscle movements, our breathing and internal temperature, furthermore every imaginative sight, perception, and diagram are derived by the brain. The brains neurons are effected by internal and external stimulations. Those stimulations might have positive and negative influence on brain activity and structure. There are several factors which can increase the activation of the brain, as well as increase gray matter (GM) and white matter(WM) volume, in some regions of the brain, such as learning new language, playing musical instrument as well as performing physical exercise. Studies suggested that aerobic exercice can enhance brain plasticity and may decrease risk for developing brain diseases in older adults. In this research, the effect of three factors which are age, gender and aerobic fitness level on brain structure were investigated by means of tissue volumes. Higher aerobic capacity did not indicate a change in structural volumetric brain volume. Moreover age — related gray matter (GM) atrophy was significantly observed. Finally, greater hippocampal volume in female volunteers was found when compared to male volunteers.

MEDICAL CONSULTANCY OF THE FIRST TURKISH ANTARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION 2016

Objective: Antarctica is the coldest, farthest, and highest continent on Earth. Due to its extreme conditions and isolation, researchers undergo health assessments, which are prepared differently in each country. Health standards for National Arctic and Antarctic Polar Research Projects were prepared by our Faculty, and the scientists participating in the first national scientific expedition were assessed in the Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine. Materials and Methods: After one year of investigation, National Turkish Polar Research Health Standards (TUKAS) were prepared. Medical assessment of the candidate researchers was done according to these standards in our hospital. All the physical examinations, laboratory and radiologic results were recorded. Researchers were monitored all through the expedition and any medical condition was recorded. Results: Thirteen researchers attended the 1st Turkish Antarctic Scientific Expedition in 2016. Twelve researchers were assessed according to TUKAS. Cardiologic conditions were detected in four applicants. There was a history of tuberculosis in one applicant and hepatitis A and B in another. Also, there were minor gastrointestinal problems in three applicants. None of the detected conditions impeded participation. No serious health problems were reported during the expedition. Conclusion: Team members who are to work in Antarctica should be selected carefully by taking into account a physical examination and medical conditions. Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine has been selected for the examination of the Turkish team. Thus, the data, which will be kept in one center, will be an important resource for future scientific studies. Key words: Antarctic regions; demography; health condition.

Investigation of stroop effect using event related potentials of elite karate players

The Stroop Colour Word Test is a measurement technique to assess the cognitive flexibility and attention. Event related potentials via electroencephalography is used to examine the cortical activity differences during The Stroop Test. The aim of this study was to examine the electroencephalogram (EEG) activity during Stroop Test of elite Karate players (n=10) and control group (n=10). It was asked to participants to click on Right Arrow Key of the keyboard when the colour and the word was congruent and click on Left Arrow Key when it was incongruent. Event related potentials were recorded by EEG to analyse the performance of Stroop Test. There was no significant differences between Elite Karate players and control group during 390-410 ms comparing colour word match (p=0.36, p=0.24). There was a significant difference for all participant comparing to compatible answers.

Physical and cardiovascular performance in cases with acromegaly after regular short-term exercise

Impaired physical performance is a disturbing complication of acromegaly. We aimed to evaluate the role of regular exercise in amelioration of the impaired physical performance in acromegaly.