Yildirim Kayacan

A Study on Determining the Physical Workload of the Forest Harvesting and Nursery-Afforestation Workers

Abstract This study examines the physical workload, isometric strength and body composition values of workers working in the forestry industry. Researches in 10 different test areas in total were carried out, including 31 workers of forest harvesting and 30 workers of forest nursery-afforestation in The Regional Directorate of Forestry, Artvin (RDF). As the result of the workload measurement conducted on the workers, the physiological workload (%HRR) of harvesting and nursery-afforestation workers was found as 40.9 percent and 32.4 percent on average, respectively. This finding leads to the conclusion that nursing-afforestation workers can be classified as “light-work” workers, whereas harvesting workers must be classified as “medium-weight work” workers. Heartbeat rates for both worker groups during resting (HRrest) were almost identical; however, the heartbeat rates while at work (HRmax) were found to be higher in harvesting workers than in nursing-afforestation workers, which suggests that harvesting workers are more challenged at some periods of their work activity.

A novel biomarker explaining the role of oxidative stress in exercise and l-tyrosine supplementation: thiol/disulphide homeostasis

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between exercise and both l-tyrosine and oxidative stress using thiol/disulphide homeostasis via a novel biomarker in rats. Following the completion of the exercise and l-tyrosine protocol, serum total thiol, native thiol, and disulphide concentrations were determined using a novel automated measurement method. Compared with the control group, serum dynamic disulphide levels were significantly lower in the E group (116.75 ± 10.49; p < .05) and the highest in the LT group (151.0 ± 5.84). The lowest oxidised thiol (49.75 ± 6.18; p = .087) and the highest reduced thiol (75.38 ± 3.16; p = .079) rates were determined to be in the E group. The highest oxidised thiol value was observed in the LT group. Exercise positively affects thiol/disulphide homeostasis, which is a novel indicator of oxidant-antioxidant parameters. Additionally, l-tyrosine appears to be more convenient combined with exercise. The new method used in our study proposes a promising, practical, and useful method for assessing the oxidative stress parameters.

Effect of carbohydrate–electrolyte consumption on insulin, cortisol hormones and blood glucose after high-intensity exercise

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of CHO-E consumption after high-intensity exercise on insulin, cortisol hormones and blood glucose responses, which is important for performance and recovery in athletes. Methods: Sixteen volunteers, male athletes, participated into this study. Athletes were divided into two groups as experiment (CHO-E) and placebo (PLA). Blood was taken from the athletes three times as basal, post-exercise (PE) and 2 h after ingestion of supplement (PS). Results: When inter-group comparisons, insulin was significantly higher in the CHO-E group than the PLA group at the PS phase (p < .05). Cortisol significantly decreased in the CHO-E group at the PS compared to the PE (p < .05). Conclusions: Carbohydrate–electrolyte consumption after high-intensity exercise, accelerates the recovery process by providing optimal recovery, and enable the metabolism to remain in the anabolic state by preventing it from entering in the catabolic process as well as provides hormonal balance in metabolism.

Evaluation of progesterone levels during the luteal phase in athletes and sedentary individuals

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of regular exercise on progesterone levels during the luteal phase among basketball players and sedentary women. The study included a total of 34 individuals. Venous blood samples (4 cc) were collected from subjects on days 20 and 21 of the menstrual cycle. Based on the test results, a statistically significant difference was observed between active basketball players and sedentary individuals (p<0.05). The average progesterone levels of the players and sedentary women were 3.84 ng/ml and 7.88 ng/ml, respectively. In accordance with the Pearson’s correlation analysis that was applied to determine the relationship between progesterone levels and age, height, and weight of the subjects, a slight positive correlation was observed between the age and progesterone levels of the subjects (p=0.015). Despite significant differences between the groups with respect to progesterone levels, these values in both groups were within normal limits.

Penicillin-Induced Epileptiform ECoG Activity in Gerbils: Effects of Physical Exercise and a Diospyros kaki Extract

Mongolian gerbils (28 males) were divided into four groups, control (C), treadmill-exercised (Ex), treated with the extract of Diospyros kaki (Dk), and exercised plus treated with the Dk extract (Ex+Dk). Animals of the respective groups were running-exercised for 30 min per day during 8 weeks, and the Dk extract (dose 20 mg/kg) was given by gavage during five days per week within the same period. After the treatment and exercise period, an epilepsy model was produced by penicillin G injection (500 IU) into the left somatomotor cortex, and the electrocorticogram (ECoG) was recorded during 120 min. The mean frequency of spike/wave complexes was significantly smaller in the Ex and Ex+Dk groups from the 65th min of the observation period and, in the Dk group, from the 75th min than the respective value in the C group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). The differences in the amplitude values and latency to onset of the spike/wave events among all groups did not reach the significance level (P > 0.05). Thus, both the running exercise and Dk extract applications inhibit penicillin-induced epileptiform activity by altering the spike/wave frequency or severity of seizures observed in ECoG recordings. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of physical activity of different intensities and forms and to analyze the active compounds in the Dk extract.

The effects of treadmill exercise on penicillin-induced epileptiform activity

Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-, moderate- and long-duration treadmill exercise (15, 30 and 60 min) on the mean frequency and amplitude of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity in rats. Material and methods In this study, 32 rats were assigned to 15, 30, and 60 min running exercise groups and the control group, each consisting of 8 rats. According to the specified protocol, the rats were submitted to running exercises at the same hour of each day for 90 days. After the exercise program, the rats were administered (500 IU/2.5 µl) of penicillin into the left cortex by the microinjection method. An electrocorticogram (ECoG) recording was performed for 3 h using a data acquisition system. The frequency and the amplitude of the recordings were analyzed. Results Short-duration treadmill exercise (15 min) caused a decrease in the frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity at 70 min after penicillin injection (p < 0.001). The mean frequency of epileptiform activity decreased at 90 min after penicillin injection in the 30 and 60 min treadmill exercise groups (p < 0.01). The mean amplitude of epileptiform activity was not changed in any of the exercise groups compared to the control (p > 0.05). Conclusions The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time that short-, moderate- and long-duration treadmill exercises decreased the frequency of penicillin-induced epileptiform activity. These findings may contribute to improving the quality of life in epileptic patients.

Effects of Work Types and Workload on Certain Anthropometric Parameters in Forestry Workers

Abstract Using computer software and anthropometric measurements, the present study analyzes the changes in body posture associated with the workload exposure of harvesting and nursery-afforestation workers. Studies were conducted in 10 different locations within the boundaries of the Regional Directorate of Forestry (RDF) in Artvin, Turkey. A total of 88 male forestry workers (32 harvesting and 56 nursery-afforestation worker) aged between 18 and 61 years, were assessed in the study. Forestry activities are associated with an intense deformation in the upper extremities, having a detrimental effect on anthropometric parameters and the development of an abnormal posture, which results from intense stress on the muscles and other tissues with increasing workload. This effect was found to be more severe among the harvesting workers when compared to the nursery-afforestation workers.