The Hepcidin-25/Ferritin Ratio Is Increased in University Rugby Players with Lower Fat Mass.

Hepcidin-25 is suggested as a surrogate iron status marker in athletes who show exercise-induced anemia; however, the implications of hepcidin concentration in this population remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hepcidin and body fat levels in rugby football players. We included 40 male university rugby football players (RUG) and 40 non-athlete controls. All participants underwent an anthropometric analysis and blood testing that included both hepcidin-25 and ferritin levels. The hepcidin-25 level was slightly (11.6%, p = 0.50) higher, and the ferritin level was significantly (35.9%, p < 0.05) lower, in the RUG group than in controls. The hepcidin-25 to-ferritin ratio was significantly higher (62.5%, p < 0.05) in the RUG group. While significant U-shaped correlations were observed between the body fat and ferritin levels in both groups, the correlations between the hepcidin levels and fat mass index were significantly higher in the RUG group (RUG: r = 0.79, controls: r = 0.45). Notably, the RUG with the lower fat mass index group had a higher hepcidin-25 level, lower ferritin level, and then significantly higher hepcidin-25/ferritin ratio. The hepcidin-25/ferritin ratio may serve as a biomarker for iron status in RUG, especially RUG with lower fat mass.

Altered Fecal Microbiotas and Organic Acid Concentrations Indicate Possible Gut Dysbiosis in University Rugby Players: An Observational Study.

Gut eubiosis is essential for the host's health. In athletes, the gut microbiota can be altered by several factors, including diets. While eubiotic gut microbiota in elite rugby players has been reported, our survey found that university rugby players suffered from loose stools and frequent urgency to defecate. To establish the causes of the condition, the microbiota and the concentrations of organic acids in fecal samples of university male rugby players (URP) were analyzed and compared with those of age-matching, non-rugby playing males (control). Body mass indices were significantly (p < 0.05) different between groups. Chao1 index was significant (p < 0.05) lower in URP than in control. The relative abundances of phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher and lower, respectively, in URP than in control. Potential pathobiont genera Collinsella, Enterobacter, and Haemophilus were significantly (p < 0.05) abundant, whereas beneficial Akkermansia was lower (p < 0.05) in URP than in control. Succinate, a potential causative of gut inflammation, was five-fold higher in URP than in controls. Our findings all but confirmed that the dysbiotic status of gut in URP.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in University Rugby Football Players.

Physical activity improves various metabolic disturbances. The effect of physical activity on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been defined, particularly in athletes who are able to consume a diet to increase body mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of NAFLD and associated factors of NAFLD among male university rugby football players [n = 69, 37 forwards (FW) and 32 backs (BK)], relative to age-matched controls (CON; n = 29). For FW players exercise consists of physical contact play, such as ruck, mall, scrum, and tackle. For BK players exercise consists of sprints and endurance running. Liver function tests and bioimpedance analysis to assess body composition were performed. Subjects consuming ≤ 20 g/day of ethanol and exhibiting an aspartate transaminase (AST) level ≥ 33 U/L, and/or alanine transaminase (ALT) level ≥ 43 U/L, were considered to have NAFLD. The PNPLA3 and MTP genotypes were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The body mass index, body fat mass, and lean body mass were significantly higher in the FW group than in the BK and CON groups (P < 0.05). The total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly higher in the FW group than in the CON group (P < 0.05). The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in the FW group than in the BK group and CON group (18.9, 8.6, and 0.0%, respectively), whereas there were non-significant between-group differences in the frequency of the PNPLA3 and MTP genotypes. These findings indicate that rugby football players, especially those in the FW position, are at higher risk of developing NAFLD, which emphasizes the role of diet and exercise in the development of NAFLD.

ACTN3 GENE R577X POLYMORPHISM ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND ADIPONECTIN IN RUGBY PLAYERS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between the R577X polymorphism of the α-actinin-3 (ACTN3), which may play a role in the individual differences observed in the effects of exercise on health benefits and antiatherogenic markers (i.e., high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] and adiponectin) in athletes. METHODS: Seventy-six male rugby players (mean age 19.8 years) were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reactions were conducted to assess ACTN3 genotypes. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, serum lipids including HDL-C, and adiponectin levels were measured. Current smoking and alcohol intake habits were evaluated with a questionnaire. All of the parameters were compared between 2 groups displaying frequently observed genotypes: one group consisting of patients having either the R/R or R/X genotype and a second group with the X/X genotype. RESULTS: The frequency of the X allele was 0.55 and the distribution of the genotypes was 35.5% (n = 27) for X/X, 39.5% (n = 30) for R/X, and 25.0% (n = 19) for R/R. Serum HDL-C and adiponectin levels were significantly higher in X/X genotype compared to the R/R or R/X genotype (HDL-C 1.6 ± 0.3 [SD] vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 mmol/L; P<.01, adiponectin 8.8 ± 2.6 vs. 6.9 ± 2.3 µg/mL; P<.01), even after adjustments for confounders (P<.01). CONCLUSION: There may be a relationship between the ACTN3 genotype and HDL-C and adiponectin levels in rugby players. This may be useful information when determining the individual responses of antiatherogenic markers to exercise. ABBREVIATIONS: ACTN3 = α-actinin-3 BMI = body mass index CVD = cardiovascular disease HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C = low-density lipoprotein cholesterol R = arginine (R) at amino acid position 577 of the ACTN3 protein TC = total cholesterol TG = triglyceride X = truncation at amino acid position 577 of the ACTN3 protein.

A survey of the potency of Japanese illicit cannabis in fiscal year 2010.

In recent years, increased 'cannabis potency', or Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis products, has been reported in many countries. A survey of Japanese illicit cannabis was conducted from April 2010 to March 2011. In Japan, all cannabis evidence is transferred to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare after criminal trials. The evidence was observed at Narcotics Control Department offices in major 11 cities. The total number of cannabis samples observed was 9072, of which 6376 were marijuana. The marijuana seizures were further classified, and it was found that in terms of the number of samples, 65.2% of them were seedless buds, and by weight 73.0% of them were seedless buds. Seedless buds were supposed to be 'sinsemilla', a potent class of marijuana. THC, cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD) in marijuana seizures exceeding 1g were quantified. The number of samples analyzed was 1115. Many of them were shown to contain CBN, an oxidative product from THC. This was a sign of long-term storage of the cannabis and of the degradation of THC. Relatively fresh cannabis, defined by a CBN/THC ratio of less than or equal to 0.1, was chosen for analysis. Fresh seedless buds (335 samples) contained an average of 11.2% and a maximum of 22.6% THC. These values are comparable to those of 'high potency cannabis' as defined in previous studies. Thus, this study shows that highly potent cannabis products are distributed in Japan as in other countries.

Surface and dynamic structures of bacteriorhodopsin in a 2D crystal, a distorted or disrupted lattice, as revealed by site-directed solid-state 13C NMR.

The 3D structure of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) obtained by X-ray diffraction or cryo-electron microscope studies is not always sufficient for a picture at ambient temperature where dynamic behavior is exhibited. For this reason, a site-directed solid-state 13C NMR study of fully hydrated bR from purple membrane (PM), or a distorted or disrupted lattice, is very valuable in order to gain insight into the dynamic picture. This includes the surface structure, at the physiologically important ambient temperature. Almost all of the 13C NMR signals are available from [3-13C]Ala or [1-13C]Val-labeled bR from PM, although the 13C NMR signals from the surface areas, including loops and transmembrane alpha-helices near the surface (8.7 angstroms depth), are suppressed for preparations labeled with [1-13C]Gly, Ala, Leu, Phe, Tyr, etc. due to a failure of the attempted peak-narrowing by making use of the interfered frequency of the frequency of fluctuation motions with the frequency of magic angle spinning. In particular, the C-terminal residues, 226-235, are present as the C-terminal alpha-helix which is held together with the nearby loops to form a surface complex, although the remaining C-terminal residues undergo isotropic motion even in a 2D crystalline lattice (PM) under physiological conditions. Surprisingly, the 13C NMR signals could be further suppressed even from [3-13C]Ala- or [1-13C]Val-bR, due to the acquired fluctuation motions with correlation times in the order of 10(-4) to 10(-5) s, when the 2D lattice structure is instantaneously distorted or completely disrupted, either in photo-intermediate, removed retinal or when embedded in the lipid bilayers.