Effects of aerobic workout on the changes in the characteristics of dynamics of the center of gravity in different age categories.

INTRODUCTION: The quality and function of movements undergo deterioration due to weight gain. Aerobic training normalizes body weight, improves the health status, and in addition, it is expected to improve the dynamics of movements. The aims of this study were to prove the beneficial effects of recreational physical activities on the movements. METHODS: Participants were divided into five different age categories: second childhood, adolescence, mature age I, mature age II, and aging. Squatting and vertical jumping of the participants were measured at the beginning and at the end of a 5-month training program. These movements simulated ordinary daily movements. Changes in the body were determined by InBody230. APAS 3D system was used for movement analysis. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvements in body weight, fat mass, muscle mass, fat mass-body weight ratio, muscle mass-body weight ratio, body mass index, body fat percentage, and waist-hip ratio. During jumping, the lifting and sinking of the center of gravity's (CG) position and its velocity and acceleration were improved. In case of squatting, the results showed significant improvements in the velocity and acceleration of dynamical characteristics of the CG. Other correlations were observed between changes in body composition and the dynamics of movements. DISCUSSION: The research proved that recreational training optimized body composition and improved the characteristics of CG's dynamics. The study suggests considerable connection between body composition and the characteristics of the movements' dynamics. From this point of view, our training program was the most effective in the working age groups.

The effect of nasal provocation with a single-dose allergen on the physical and cognitive performance of patients with ragweed allergy.

Purpose This study aims to compare the impact of active allergic rhinitis on physical and cognitive abilities of trained allergic athletes to untrained allergic patients. Methods Cognitive, respiratory, and fitness functions were assessed before and after allergen exposure. Participants in both groups were provoked intranasally with ragweed allergen. Results The group of athletes revealed significantly higher average values in peak inspiratory flow and fitness index before and after provocation. In neuropsychological assessments, athletes performed significantly better after allergen provocation in complex working memory capacity. Due to single acute allergen exposure, the size of the nasal cavity and nasal inspiratory peak flow significantly decreased in both groups. The physical performance of both groups did not change after provocation. Executive functions and complex working memory capacity of athletes significantly improved resulting from provocation. Conclusions A single-shot allergen in high dose might cause an increase in mental concentration, which was more pronounced in the group of athletes. This study indicates that acute exposure to allergen cannot affect the physical performance and may result in increased mental focus in patients with allergy notwithstanding the declining respiratory functions.

Effects of galanin-monoaminergic interactions on vasopressin secretion in rat neurohypophyseal cell cultures.

The effects of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), histamine (HA), adrenaline (ADR), noradrenaline (NADR) and K(+) administration on vasopressin (VP) secretion were studied in 13-14-day cultures of rat neurohypophyseal (NH) cells, and it was examined whether galanin (GAL) can modify the VP release enhancement induced by these monoaminergic compounds. An enzymatic dissociation technique was used to make the rat NH cell cultures. The VP contents of the supernatants of 14-day cultures were determined by radioimmunoassay. Following the administration of 10(-6) M GAL, the VP secretion into the supernatant media decreased. DA, 5-HT, ADR or NADR treatment increased the VP level substantially, while the enhancing effect of HA was more moderate. GAL administration before DA, ADR and NADR treatment prevented the VP concentration increase induced by DA, ADR or NADR. Preincubation with GAL reduced the 5-HT- or HA-induced VP level increases; the VP concentrations of the supernatant media remained above the control level. The GAL blocking effect was prevented by previous treatment with the GAL receptor antagonist galantid (M15). GAL had no effect on the VP level increase induced by K(+), which causes a non-specific hormone secretion. The results indicate that the changes in VP secretion induced by the monoaminergic system can be directly influenced by the GAL-ergic system. The interactions between the monoaminergic and GAL-ergic systems regarding VP secretion occur at the level of the posterior pituitary.

Significance of the adrenergic system in the regulation of vasopressin secretion in rat neurohypophyseal tissue cultures.

UNLABELLED: The effects of adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) on vasopressin (VP) secretion were studied in 13-14-day cultures of isolated rat neurohypophyseal (NH) tissue. The VP contents of the supernatant media were determined by radioimmunoassay after a 1 or 2-h incubation. Significantly increased VP levels were detected in the tissue culture media following the administration of A (an alpha+beta(2)-receptor agonist), depending on the dose of A. The VP secretion elevation was totally blocked by the previous administration of phentolamine (an alpha(1)+alpha(2)-receptor antagonist) or corynanthine (an alpha(1)-receptor antagonist). Yohimbine (an alpha(2)-receptor antagonist) did not influence the VP secretion increase induced by A. After the administration of NA (a beta+alpha(1)-receptor agonist), a VP secretion elevation was again detected, but the degree of enhancement proved smaller than that of the VP secretion increase induced by A. Propranolol (a beta(1)+beta(2)-receptor antagonist) before NA administration prevented the VP secretion increase. Atenolol (a beta(1)-receptor antagonist) did not block the VP secretion elevation induced by NA. Corynanthine (an alpha(1)-receptor antagonist) treatment before NA administration reduced the NA-induced VP enhancement, because NA has an alpha(1)-receptor agonist character in addition to its main character (a beta-receptor agonist). Surprisingly, the administration of pindolol (a beta(1)+beta(2)-receptor antagonist) enhanced VP secretion. This contradictory effect can be explained in that pindolol not only acts as a blocker, but also exerts "intrinsic sympathomimetic action" and a strong adrenergic agonist effect. Pindolol before NA administration significantly increased the NA-induced VP elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Mainly the alpha(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors are involved in the A- or NA-induced increase of VP secretion in isolated NH tissue cultures. The results indicate that VP release is influenced directly by the adrenergic system, and the adrenergic control of VP secretion from the NH tissue in rats can occur at the level of the posterior pituitary.

Inhibitory effect of vasopressin receptor antagonist OPC-31260 on experimental brain oedema induced by global cerebral ischaemia.

The effects of the non-peptide vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist 5-dimethylamino-1-[4-(2-methylbenzoylamino)benzoyl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzazepine hydrochloride (OPC-31260) on the cerebral oedema induced by general cerebral hypoxia were studied in rats. The general cerebral hypoxia was produced by bilateral common carotid ligation in Sprague-Dawley rats of the CFY strain. By 6 h after the ligation, half of the rats had died, but the survival rate was significantly higher following OPC-31260 administration. Electron microscopic examinations revealed typical ischaemic changes after the carotid ligation. The carotid ligation increased the brain contents of water and Na(+) and enhanced the plasma vasopressin level. The increased brain water and Na(+) accumulation was prevented by OPC-31260 administration, but the plasma vasopressin level was further enhanced by OPC-31260. These results demonstrate the important role of vasopressin in the development of the disturbances in brain water and electrolyte balance in response to general cerebral hypoxia. The carotid ligation-induced cerebral oedema was significantly reduced following oral OPC-31260 administration. The protective mechanism exerted by OPC-31260 stems from its influence on the renal vasopressin V(2) receptors. These observations might suggest an effective approach to the treatment of global hypoxia-induced cerebral oedema in humans.