Effect of 8-Week ß-Alanine Supplementation on CRP, IL-6, Body Composition, and Bio-Motor Abilities in Elite Male Basketball Players.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week ß-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a ß-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of ß-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups (p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of ß-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that ß-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.

[Fibrinolysis during pregnancy. The pre- and postpartal changes]. / Fibrinoliza în cursul sarcinii. Modificari pre si post partum.

Our previous research as well as data in literature (Yuasas, Ishizawa M.--1992) emphasised increased plasma fibrinolytic activity (PFA) in women during labor. Starting from these data we have tried to observe plasma fibrinolytic activity studied through euglobulin lysis time (ELT) in women during pregnancy and after delivery. We studied 25 healthy pregnant women aged between 18 and 30 years which were tested in the seventh month, during labour and at 48 hours after delivery. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein by venous puncture. The study showed an increased PFA (shortened ELT) only during labor; in the seventh month and at 48 hours after delivery ELT had almost the same values.

Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis after confinement hypokinesia.

Our previous studies dealt with the dynamics of the fluid-coagulant equilibrium in rats after confinement hypokinesia (CHK) for 1, 2 and 3 weeks obtained by placing them in small cages permitting only slight movements for spontaneous feeding. We found an acceleration of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, with a maximal response after 1-2 weeks. In this work attention focussed on the initial more dynamic interval of 1, 3 and 7 days of exposure to CHK. To find certain relations between the central vegetative stimuli and the peripheral responses, experiments were done on normal and adrenalectomized rats and plasma corticosterone, the main glucocorticoid in these species, was measured. CHK accelerated the Quick and the Howell time (QT and HT) and euglobulin lysis time (ELT) progressively, beginning with the first day of exposure. Adrenalectomy as such shortened these parameters, demonstrating an inhibitory action of corticoid hormones in normal conditions. Exposure to CHK of adrenalectomised rats emphasizes these inhibitions. We did not found evident correlations between plasma corticosterone and these processes. The number of thrombocytes had a similar evolution, but in adrenalectomised and CHK rats they increase.

Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in hyperthermic rats.

Exposure of rats to an environment of +40 degrees C that increases central (rectal) temperature to about 40 degrees C, importantly decrease the number of thrombocytes, the blood coagulation (the Quick time and Howel time) and euglobulin lysis time (ELT). In order to search for the mechanism responsible for coagulability and fibrinolysis we studied the relations of these changes with the sympatheticoadrenergic system and with the adrenal hormonal secretion. Some parameters were thus explored after adrenalectomy and under the influence of a beta-blocking agent, Eraldin. Adrenalectomy moderately reduced these decreasing effects, excepting the ELT. Eraldin has a contrary effect. Adrenalectomy acts by suppressing the corticoid reaction and by diminishing the catecholamineones. Since Eraldin influences coagulation and fibrinolysis in an opposite sense than adrenalectomy, it may be concluded that catecholamines do moderate the effect of heating, inhibiting and not stimulating circulation, as assumed. On the contrary, corticoids (gluco- or mineralo-) contribute to the effect, influencing coagulation in hyperthermia. Both influences are slight, not determinant. Supplementary explorations revealed that repeated daily exposure for 1-2 or 3 weeks, simply in the cages in which hyperthermia was subsequently produced, decreased also the number of thrombocites, the QT and the ELT, especially the last one. The HT was less influenced. It results that these exposures, produced effects similar with hyperthermia. Heating rats after these daily repeated exposures does not influence these already changed parameters.

Blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in rats after hypokinesia and hyperthermia.

Coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied in rats exposed to hypokinesia (HK) obtained by including rats (for 1, 2 and 3 weeks) in small cages designed to limit their movements, permitting only spontaneous feeding (a method widely used for mimicking space flight conditions). The number of thrombocytes, the Quick time, the Howell time and the euglobulinlysis time (ELT) decreased after 1 and 2 weeks of HK; however, after 3 weeks, the parameters of coagulation approached normal control levels, while ELT was still significantly under the control values. An increased blood level of corticosterone in animals subjected to HK suggested that changes observed in the blood coagulation could be linked with it. After exposing rats to heat, similar changes were noticed, i.e. thrombocytopenia and an increase in the speed of coagulation and fibrinolysis. When hyperthermia was induced in hypokinetic animals (after 1 and 2 weeks of HK), the association of exposure to HLK and heat was not followed by a cumulative response.

The influence of magnetic fields on some humoral parameters and on resistance to hyperthermia in rats.

The influence of magnetic fields of moderate intensities (50 and 120 Oe) was studied in rats after single or repeated exposures with or without a rise in environmental temperature. The following parameters were investigated: the number of erythrocytes and leucocytes, the percentage of different varieties of leucocytes, serum Na+ and K+, plasma corticosterone, ascorbic acid in adrenals, blood catecholamines, plasma fibrinolytic activity, plasma antidiuretic hormone. The resistance to hyperthermia was tested after single exposures to magnetic fields and the survival time was measured. The only significant change recorded in the number of blood cells was a leucopenia after single exposures to 50 Oe for 4 hrs. The parameters indicating the activity of the adrenal cortex were not altered significantly. A moderate rise in blood noradrenaline suggested a possible mild stimulation of the adrenergic system. The plasma fibrinolytic activity was significantly stimulated after single exposures, but no change in fibrinolysis could be recorded after repeated exposures to magnetic fields. Changes observed in plasma ADH were not conclusive. The resistance of animals to hyperthermia - as a general test of reactivity - showed minimal changes in the survival time, loss of weight, and rectal temperature in animals exposed to hyperthermia (40 degrees C) under the influence of the magnetic fields.

Circulatory adaptive reactions under hypergravity in normal and cold environments.

Rats subjected to various levels of +Gz acceleration exhibited an increased blood concentration of noradrenalin and adrenalin, indicative of a sympatho-adrenergic reaction. Under the same conditions, from plasma determinations, and by histochemical examination of the supra-optic nucleus, an increased antidiuretic response was noted. This response was reduced in cold environment.

The role of the sympathoadrenergic reaction in adaptation of the organism to the action of + 6 Gz acceleration.

In experiments on rats the symphathoadrenergic reactivity after a + 6 Gz acceleration was investigated. Hypergravitation produced as a rule a short initial bradycardia, followed by tachycardia. Hexamethonium (C6), a peripheric ganglion-blocking agent, produced bradycardia, diminution or vanishing of the initial bradycardic episode, and a decreased tachycardic reaction. No initial bradycardic response was observed ater atropine. Atropinized and C6-treated rats showed an increased heart frequency response. Centrifugation produced a decreased adrenal catecholamine content and a blood noradrenaline elevation. C6 importantly decreased both catecholamines content in blood. On this background the acceleration produced a slight increase of both blood catecholamines.

Hypergravitation and sympatho-adrenergic reactivity.

The sympatho-adrenergic reaction of the organism subjected to hypergravitation was investigated in rats exposed to +6 Gz. The electro- and cardiotachograms recorded telemetrically were correlated with the adrenal catecholamine content. The determinations were made in controls and in rats treated with hexamethonium and atropine administered separately or together. The rats reacted to acceleration initially by a short bradycardia followed by tachycardia. In one case there was a sustained bradycardic response. Hexamethonium (C6) lowered the resting heart rate, attenuated the initial bradycardia and reduced the consecutive tachycardia. In some rats during centrifugation a bradycardic and arhythmic response was found sometimes ending in cardiac arrest. Hexamethonium stored the catecholamines in the adrenals as a result of their increased concentration. Atropin brought about resting tachycardia, disappearance of bradycardia from the very beginning of centrifugation and a more accentuated tachycardia. Atropin and hexamethonium administrated together diminished the response to acceleration.