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Serological and molecular screening of umbilical cord blood for Toxoplasma gondii infection; a reply to Botein et al
Get PDFMagnitude and reliability of mechanical outputs obtained during loaded squat jumps performed from different knee angles
No full textThis study aimed to explore the effect of the knee angle and loading condition on the magnitude and reliability of squat jump (SJ) performance variables. Thirteen male sport sciences students performed in a random order 4 SJ types (knee angle of 80o [SJ80], 90o [SJ90], 100o [SJ100], and self-preferred [SJ(pref)]) against 3 external loads. The push-off distance (HpO), jump height (Hmax), maximum force (Fmax) and maximum power (Pmax) were obtained from force platform recordings. The HpO during the SJ(pref) (43.4 +/- 6.4 cm) was always between SJ90 (44.3 +/- 4.8 cm) and SJ100 (40.5 +/- 4.2 cm). The magnitudes of Hmax, Fmax and Pmax were comparable or higher during the SJ(pref). The increase of the knee angle was associated with larger values of Fmax and Pmax, but no significant differences were observed for Hmax. An acceptable reliability was observed for HpO (coefficient of variation [CV] lt = 5.09% and intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] gt = 0.78), Hmax (CV lt = 6.06% and ICC gt = 0.84), Fmax (CV lt = 3.25% and ICC gt = 0.96) and Pmax (CV lt = 2.93% and ICC gt = 0.96). Reliability did not systematically differ between the 4 SJ types. In conclusion, the higher magnitudes and comparable reliability of the performance variables obtained during the SJ(pref) support its use for testing lower-body ballistic performance against different loads
The relationship between occupational stress, health status, and temporary and permanent work disability among security guards in Serbia
No full textPurpose. This study aimed to examine the influence of occupational stress on health status and work disability among security guards in Serbia. Methods. Three hundred and ninty nine male security guards (aged 25-65 years) were examined during regular medical preventive check-ups at the Institute of Occupational Health. Data on their health status and permanent and temporary work disability were obtained, and correlations with the levels of occupational stress (measured by occupational stress index [OSI] questionnaire) were analysed. Results. A high prevalence of health impairments, including diabetes (38.8%), dyslipidaemia (82.7%), hypertension (69.9%) and metabolic syndrome (77.7%), was found. Highly significant correlations were shown between reported levels of total stress at work (total OSI score) and measured values of glucose, lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, Framingham cardiovascular risk scale, occurrence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular insults, degenerative eye-fundus changes, and temporary and permanent work disability. All of these correlations remained significant even after adjustments for age, body mass index and smoking status. Regression analysis confirmed the independent effect of occupational stress on the analysed parameters. Conclusions. There is a significant independent impact of occupational stress on development of health impairments and work disability among security guards
Expression Suppression and Activity Inhibition of TRPM7 Regulate Cytokine Production and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome During Endotoxemia: A New Target for Sepsis
No full textBackground: Main pathological features detected during sepsis and endotoxemia include over-secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Unfortunately, current clinical efforts to treat sepsis are unsatisfactory, and mortality remains high. Interestingly, transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin 7 (TRPM7) ion channel controlling Ca2+ and Mg2+ permeability is involved in cytokine production and inflammatory response. Furthermore, TRPM7 downregulation has been shown to alleviate local symptoms in some models of sepsis, but its effects at a systemic level remain to be explored. Objective: To test whether TRPM7 mediates cytokine production and MODS during endotoxemia. Methods: Endotoxemic and sham-endotoxemic rats were subjected to pharmacological inhibition of TRPM7 using carvacrol, or to expression suppression by adenovirus delivery of shRNA (AdV(shTRPM7)). Then, cytokine and MODS levels in the blood were measured. Results: Inhibition of TRPM7 with carvacrol and suppression with AdV(shTRPM7 )were both efficient in inhibiting the over-secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-12 in endotoxemic rats, without inducing downregulation in blood levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4. Additionally, the use of carvacrol and AdV(shTRPM7) significantly prevented liver and pancreas dysfunction, altered metabolic function, and hypoglycemia, induced by endotoxemia. Furthermore, muscle mass wasting and cardiac muscle damage were also significantly reduced by the use of carvacrol and AdV(shTRPM7) in endotoxemic rats. Conclusion: Our results indicate TRPM7 ion channel as a key protein regulating inflammatory responses and MODS during sepsis. Moreover, TRPM7 appears as a novel molecular target for the management of sepsis
Sport-Specific Warm-Up Attenuates Static Stretching-Induced Negative Effects on Vertical Jump But Not Neuromuscular Excitability in Basketball Players
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of static stretching (SS) and dynamic stretching (DS), alone and in combination with specific basketball warm-up (SBWU), on the neuromuscular excitability and vertical jump height in basketball players. Twelve healthy young male basketball players participated in the study (18 +/- 0.42 years; 17.4 - 18.6 age range; 188 +/- 9 cm; 76.5 +/- 9 kg). All participants completed two different stretching treatments (static and dynamic), performed on different days at least seven days apart, in the same period of training microcycle, in a counterbalanced order. Each session consisted of a self-paced jogging warm-up, followed by a 10-minute testing period (T0), which involved eliciting H reflex and M waves, followed by three trials of a vertical jump test. Participants then performed one of the treatment protocols. After another test (T1), participants conducted 8-minute specific basketball warm-up and then one more test (T2). Combined 3 (time) x 2 (stretching protocol) analysis of variance with repeated measures on both factors revealed that SS significantly decreased spinal excitability (H/M ratio) (p = 0.015, d = -0.38, percentage of change = -20.55%) and vertical jump height (p = 0.007, d = -1.91, percentage of change = -2.6%), but after SBWU, vertical jump height increased (p = 0.006, d = 1.13, percentage of change = 3.01%), while H/M ratio continued decreasing (p = 0.019, d = -0.45, percentage of change = -30.23%). Acute effects of DS, alone and in combination with SBWU were not significant. It seems that SBWU attenuates negative acute effects of SS on vertical jump performance in young basketball players, while DS appears to cause no significant acute effect for this population
Nutritivni i socioekonomski status slučajnog uzorka ispitanika koji žive u Jugoistočnoj Srbiji - u smeru strategija personalizovane ishrane
Get PDFSouth-Eastern Serbia is with traditionally acknowledged intake of spicy and energy-dense food. For the purposes of this study we presented official socio-economic determinants for the three counties within South-Eastern Serbia: jablanički, niški and pirotski. The objective of this study was to assess nutritional status of randomly selected 40 subjects (11-74 years) residing in South Eastern Serbia within the counties. By means of validated food and dietary data methodology, we interviewed subjects and analyzed in a cross-sectional design. Our data indicate low-carbohydrate-high-fat like dietary pattern within the subjects, irrespective of age and gender in the region. Demonstrated likely improper nutritional status of sodium, calcium, vitamins A, C, D and B9 (folate) warrants public health initiatives towards optimization of the intake within the region. Our results indicate inadequate micronutrient intake within the adolescent group. Overall our results underline the necessity of raising education and awareness of healthy nutrition benefits and sustainable food choices within South Eastern Serbia and foster the necessity of implementation of an individualized approach in nutrition healthcare in this middle-income country.U jugoistočnoj Srbiji se tradicionalno konzumira začinjena i energetski bogata i jaka hrana. Za potrebe ove studije, prikazali smo zvanične socioekonomske pokazatelje kroz tri okruga jugoistočne Srbije: jablanički, niški i pirotski. Cilj ove studije bio je evaluacija nutritivnog statusa slučajnog uzorka 40 ispitanika (11-74 godine) koji žive unutar pomenuta tri regiona jugoistočne Srbije. Korišćenjem validiranih metodoloških alata o prikupljanju podataka o kvalitetu ishrane i učestalosti konzumiranja namirnica, intervjuisali smo ispitanike i analizirali metodama studije preseka. Naši podaci ukazuju na dijetarni obrazac u regionu koji teži nižem unosu ugljenih hidrata i povišenom unosu masti, nezavisno od pola i starosne dobi. U našem radu ukazano je i na mogući neadekvatan unos mikronutrijenata u regionu, uključujući natrijum, kalcijum, vitamine A, C, D i B9 (folat), podatak koji zahteva inicijative javnog zdravlja u regionu. Naši podaci ukazuju da je neadekvatan unos mikronutrijenata prvenstveno prisutan u grupi adolescenata. Uopšte uzev, naši rezultati ukazuju na neophodnost podsticanja obrazovanja i podizanja svesti o značaju zdrave, adekvatne i balansirane ishrane kao i održivih izbora hrane i grupa hrane u okviru jugoistočne Srbije. Naši podaci ističu neophodnost implementacije individualizovanog pristupa u nutritivnim i dijetarnim strategijama i dijetnim planovima zemlje u razvoju kakva je Srbija
Opšta psihopatologija i impulsivnost kao pokazatelji potencijalnog ishoda medicinske nutritivne terapije kod predgojaznih i gojaznih žena
Get PDFBackground/Aim. Obesity is the chronic disease and health threatening condition. The number of obese people in the world has taken epidemic conditions. Medical nutritional therapy is the first choice in the treatment of obesity, but it is also accompanied with a great percentage of attrition and a significant weight regain. The aim of our study was to evaluate if psychiatric and specific psychological factors (impulsivity) could be the predictors of successful weight loss. Methods. A study sample consisted of 84 consecutive overweight/obesity women, 20 to 40 years old, who were willing to adhere to the medical nutrition therapy after the initial anthropometric measurements were performed. All participants received a personalized nutritional counseling and a daily diet treatment with 20% caloric restriction from estimated daily energy requirement. At the beginning of the study, the 90-item Symptom Check-list (SCL-90) and the 30-item Barratt Impulsiveness scale (BIS11) were administrated. At the end of six months of caloric restriction, the conventional diet therapy and control weight measurement, the patients were divided into two groups: the group I - 40 participants (48%) who lost ≥ 10% of their initial body weight (successful group) and the group II - 44 participants (52%) who lost lt 10% of their initial weight (unsuccessful). Results. There were no significant differences between groups in the demographic data (age, education level, employment, marital status), baseline anthropometric measurements, and in the general psychopathology total score. Groups I and II were significantly different in the total BIS-11 score (p lt 0.001) and in Factor II (motor impulsivity) (p lt 0.05). Conclusion. Even though the successful and unsuccessful diet responded participants did not differ in the general psychopathology and symptom dimensions, our results pointed out impulsivity as a discriminative factor between them. The total impulsivity and Factor II (motor impulsivity) as an indicator of binge eating were higher in the unsuccessfully responding overweight/obese women on the conventional diet treatment. A focus on impulsivity in a psychotherapeutic work might lead to better outcomes in the medical nutrition therapy.Uvod/Cilj. Gojaznost je hronično oboljenje sa značajnim nepovoljnim efektima na zdravlje, a broj gojaznih osoba u svetu dostigao je epidemijske razmere. Medicinska nutritivna terapija je terapija izbora, ali je njena uspešnost ograničena zbog značajnog procenta odustajanja, kao i ponovnog dobijanja na težini koje je prate. Cilj ove studije je bio da se proceni da li psihijatrijski i specifični psihološki faktori (impulsivnost) mogu biti pokazatelji pozitivnog ishoda lečenja. Metode. Studijom je bilo obuhvaćeno ukupno 84 predgojaznih i gojaznih žena životnog doba 20-40 godina, koje su bile motivisane za medicinsku nutritivnu terapiju. Sve ispitanice su prošle individualno savetovanje i dobile dnevni plan ishrane koji je podrazumevao kalorijsku restrikciju od 20% u odnosu na procenjene dnevne energetske potrebe. Na početku studije sprovedeno je antropometrijsko merenje i primenjene su Lista simptoma od 90 pitanja (90item Symptom Check-list) i Baratova skala impulsivnosti (Barratt Impulsiveness scale (BIS-11)). Nakon šest meseci primene kalorijski restriktivnog načina ishrane ponovljena su antropometrijska merenja. Ispitanice su podeljene u dve grupe: 40 ispitanica (48%) koje su izgubile ≥ 10% od početne telesne mase (uspešne) i 44 ispitanice (52%) koje su izgubile lt 10% od početne telesne mase (neuspešne). Rezultati. Nije bilo značajne razlike između grupa ispitanica u odnosu na demografske karakteristike (godine života, stepen obrazovanja, zaposlenost, bračni status) i antropometrijske parametre na početku studije, kao i na skor opšte psihopatologije i dimenzije simptoma. Statistički značajna razlika između uspešnih i neuspešnih predgojaznih/gojaznih ispitanica dobijena je za ukupni BIS-11 skor (p lt 0.001) i za Faktor II (motorna impulsivnost) (p lt 0.05). Zaključak. Ispitanice sa ponovljenim lošim odgovorom nisu se razlikovale po opštoj psihopatologiji od onih sa uspešnim odgovorom na nutritivnu terapiju. Naši rezultati ukazuju na impulsivnost kao mogući pokazatelj ishoda lečenja. Ukupna impulsivnost i motorna impulsivnost kao indikator povremenog impulsivnog prejedanja bili su viši u grupi predgojazih/gojaznih ispitanica koje nisu postigle terapijski cilj. Psihoterapijski rad na impulsivnosti možda bi mogao doprineti boljem ishodu medicinske nutritivne terapije
Anthocyanins: From Sources and Bioavailability to Cardiovascular-Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms of Action
No full textAnthocyanins are phytochemicals widely found in plant foods, with berries and fruit-derived beverages as the main dietary sources. Accumulating evidence suggests the positive role of anthocyanins in preserving cardiovascular health. Epidemiological data show an association between anthocyanin intake and lower risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular-disease-related mortality. Clinical studies report the beneficial effects of the consumption of different anthocyanin-rich sources on surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk. Animal and in vitro evidence suggest the protective role of anthocyanins in dysfunctions related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Still, the underlying molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin action seem complex and are not entirely clear. This review aims to give a comprehensive update on anthocyanins and their cardioprotective properties. It provides information on their sources; quantities consumed through diet; absorption; bioavailability; cardiovascular properties; and underlying mechanisms of action, including their effects on gene and protein expression and their interactions with cell-signaling pathways and miRNAs
Influence of chemical fixation process on primary mesenchymal stem cells evidenced by Raman spectroscopy
No full textIn investigation of (patho)physiological processes, cells represent frequently used analyte as an exceptional source of information. However, spectroscopic analysis of live cells is still very seldom in clinics, as well as in research studies. Among others, the reasons are long acquisition time during which autolysis process is activated, necessity of specified technical equipment, and inability to perform analysis in a moment of sample preparation. Hence, an optimal method of preserving cells in the existing state is of extreme importance, having in mind that selection of fixative is cell lineage dependent. In this study, two commonly used chemical fixatives, formaldehyde and methanol, are used for preserving primary mesenchymal stem cells extracted from periodontal ligament, which are valuable cell source for reconstructive dentistry. By means of Raman spectroscopy, cell samples were probed and the impact of these fixatives on their Raman response was analyzed and compared. Different chemical mechanisms are the core processes of formaldehyde and methanol fixation and certain Raman bands are shifted and/or of changed intensity when Raman spectra of cells fixed in that manner are compared. In order to get clearer picture, comprehensive statistical analysis was performed
Effects of near-infrared low-level laser stimulation on neuronal excitability
No full textEffects of near-infrared low-level laser (NIR LLL) on brain excitability have been seldom investigated. A few studies carried out so far showed that following several minutes of transcranial NIR LLL illumination, the output of the primary motor cortex area in humans, measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), is inhibited for at least half an hour. The effect seems to be dose dependent. Given that NIR LLL is known to boost metabolic activity in the illuminated neurons, the results may suggest that this allows for more efficient functioning of the cell membrane potential maintenance mechanisms which are then able to resist more effectively external perturbations (such as TMS). Alternatively, it may be that, due to the morphological complexity of the cerebral cortex coupled with the size of the area illuminated by a laser beam, transcranial LLL induces activation in a large population of the cortical cells of various functional features. Because of their abundance in the most superficial cortical layers, inhibitory interneurons may be the principal recipients of the NIR LLL effects thus causing an inhibition of the output from more deeply-seated, large pyramidal cells. Further investigations are needed to better understand these effects