Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers and Endocrine Responses to Exercise in Female Soccer Players.

The objective of the study to determine the effects of graded exercise on the cytokines and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), growth hormone (hGH), testosterone (T), and cortisol (C) concentrations in the peripheral blood of female soccer players, and to evaluate if increased inflammatory biomarkers were related to these hormones and performance variables. Sixteen female soccer players (N = 16, age 19.3 ± 2.3 years) participated in this study. Blood samples were collected at three time points: pre-exercise, post-exercise, and in the 15th minute of recovery, to evaluate morphological and biochemical variables. The relative expression of IL-6 (interleukin 6) and serum concentrations of the cytokines were increased in the recovery period compared to pre-exercise levels (p = 0.03 and p=0.005, respectively). There was a significant effect of exercise on serum hGH level (p " 0.001), T/C ratio (p = 0.001), and C level (p=0.02). Positive correlations were found between: post-exercise IL-1ß (interleukin 1 beta) and IL-6 (R = 0.84, p = 0.000), and the IL-6 and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) gene expression during recovery (R = 0.65, p = 0.009), and serum IL-1ß post-exercise and maximal power (R = 0.68; p = 0.004). Exercise-induced serum C levels positively correlated with IGF-1 levels (R = 0.52 p = 0.05). Negative associations were revealed between post-exercise T/C ratio and IGF-1 (R = - 0.58, p = 0.03) and serum free T and IL- ß (R = -0.56, p = 0.04) levels. The low level of pre-exercise genes and protein of the IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α indicate a lack of inflammation signs in the female soccer players. This study shows significant effects of exercise on hormone levels and pro-inflammatory markers, which could be used to identify the role of female sex steroids on the immune function.

The effect of high intensity physical exercise and hypoxia on glycemia, angiogenic biomarkers and cardiorespiratory function in patients with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: An integral part of the treatment of diabetes is physical activity. Scientific reports have shown the beneficial effects of hypoxia and exercise on cardiovascular and metabolic variables in patients with diabetes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of normobaric hypoxia and exercise on the serum concentrations of proangiogenic factors and glycemia in patients with type 1 diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 28 adults (aged 30.4 years ±9.7 years), suffering from diabetes for 12.1 years ±6.0 years and healthy individuals, participated in the following trials: normoxic (Nor) and hypoxic (Hy) rest and Nor and Hy incremental exercise test (Ex) (FIO2 = 15.2%). The Altitude Trainer Hypoxico System (HYP-123 Hypoxic Generator, LOWOXYGEN Technology GmbH, Berlin, Germany) corresponding to a height of about 2500 m above sea level was used in the study. Exercise tests were performed on a cycle ergometer Excalibur Sport (Lode B.V., Groningen, The Netherlands). Cardiorespiratory variables, glycemia, angiogenic and hematological indices were measured at rest and in response to both exercise protocols. RESULTS: The present data confirmed that the patients with type 1 diabetes demonstrated a good level of aerobic capacity and fitness. NorEx and HyEx resulted in a significant decrease in serum glucose concentration (p < 0.05 vs p < 0.01). Patients with diabetes had higher baseline hypoxia induced factor-1alpha levels compared to healthy adults (p < 0.05), which increased after exposure to hypoxia and hypoxia with exercise (p < 0.001). Hypoxia significantly decreased baseline transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) (p < 0.05) and had a significant effect on tumor necrosis factor-α level (TNF-α) (F = 4.9; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that hypoxia combined with exercise reduces glycemia and may induce significant benefits in the prevention of diabetes cardiovascular complications.

Differences in echocardiography, blood pressure, stroke volume, maximal power and profile of genes related to cardiac hypertrophy in elite road cyclists.

BACKGROUND: Regular and moderate exercise is beneficial for improving the efficiency of the heart, but high-intensity physical activity may result in cardiac changes. OBJECTIVES: This study focuses on the identification of the differences in echocardiography and blood variables before exercise, as well as the genes associated with cardiac hypertrophy at rest and in response to graded exercise test. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group was made up of 28 road cyclists. Echocardiographic parameters and blood pressure were measured before exercise tests (N = 28). Blood samples were collected at rest, at maximal exercise intensity in a graded bicycle test and after 15 min of recovery; afterwards, blood morphology was estimated and RNA was isolated. Analysis of the expression profile of genes was performed for randomly selected road cyclists using the microarray method. RESULTS: Echocardiographic results and blood parameters divided cyclists into two groups: with and without left ventricular hypertrophy (N = 14). Differences in the structure and function of the left ventricle cyclists with a similar level of training were observed (p < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure and resting heart rate were significantly lower in subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy (p < 0.05). The myosin light chain 9 and interleukin-6 signal transducer gene expression were differentially regulated in cyclists with left ventricular hypertrophy compared to athletes with normal heart dimensions in response to intensive exercise. CONCLUSIONS: We have found differences in echocardiography parameters, blood pressure, stroke volume and maximal power in the cyclists examined. These studies indicate the benefits of the recommended echocardiography measurements for professional endurance-athletes. The graded exercise altered the myosin light chain 9 and interleukin-6 signal transducer gene expression in the peripheral blood of road cyclists has also been found.

Adrenergic response to maximum exercise of trained road cyclists.

The aim of this study was to evaluate adrenergic responses in the peripheral blood of trained road cyclists at rest, at maximal intensity of incremental bicycle exercise test, and during 15 minutes of recovery, as well as the relationship between them. Competitive male road cyclists, in the pre-competitive phase of a season, mean age 21.7 ± 6.4 years, and BMI 20.7 ± 0.8 kg·m(-2), performed an incremental test on a bicycle ergometer with unloaded cycling for 5 min, then increased the load to 40 W every 3 min, up to maximal exercise intensity. The plasma catecholamine concentrations (epinephrine, norepinephrine) and oxygen uptake were estimated. The expression of 132 genes related to the adrenergic system in leukocytes was measured. A statistically significant increase in plasma epinephrine concentration (p < 0.01) was observed in response to exercise. The mean of maximal oxygen uptake was 65.7 ± 5.5 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1). The RGS2 gene expression was highest regardless of the test phase for all athletes. The effort had a statistically significant influence on ADRB2 and RAB2A expression. In addition, the RAB2A, ADM and HSPB1 expression level increased during recovery. We can conclude that plasma epinephrine concentration and genes related to the adrenergic system such as ADM, ADRB2, CCL3, GPRASP1, HSPB1, RAB2A, RGS2 and ROCK1 seem to have an influence on the response to high-intensity exercise in trained cyclists.

Differential expression of inflammation-related genes after intense exercise.

The present study focused on the identification of the difference in expression of inflammation-related genes after intense exercise by oligonucleotide microarray methods. This may finally lead to an improved understanding of underlying cellular and molecular mechanism of the immunological alterations in response to exercises. The study group consisted of three healthy road cyclists. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected preexercise, immediately post-exercise and after 15 min of recovery. The analysis of the expression profile of genes related to the inflammation was performed in PBMCs using HG-U133A oligonucleotide microarrays. 4 genes were found to be regulated by more than 2.0-fold (IL1R2, IL2RB, IL8, IL8RB). Venn diagram indicated that only one of differentially expressed genes (TXLNA) remains the same in each comparison. The balance of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines after exercise seems to be important for athletes. Optimal inflammatory and immune response may help optimize exercise regimes, link physical activity with health and diagnose or prevent athletes from overtraining.

Expression pattern of the transforming growth factor ß signaling genes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after exercise-inflammatory aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The present study has focused on the identification of differences between the expression pattern of TGF-ß signaling pathway genes in athletes after exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of three healthy cyclists, which were collected pre-exercise, immediately postexercise, and after 15 min of recovery. The analysis of the expression profile of genes related to the TGF-ß signal transduction pathway was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using HG-U133A oligonucleotide microarrays. RESULTS: A significant differential gene expression was recorded for RUNX3, TGFBR3, MLC1, and GRB2. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of physical exercise on immune response may be essential for human health. Moreover, alterations of TGF-ß signaling can be involved in the process of adaptation of human organism to physical exertion.

Urinary iodine in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) during L-thyroxine treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Urinary iodine concentrations were analyzed in the morning urine samples of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analyzed group included 572 DTC patients who were treated with radioiodine or hospitalized for evaluation of radioiodine treatment effects in 2009 at the Institute of Oncology in Gliwice. Ioduria was analyzed by PAMM (Program Against Micronutrient Malnutrition) method before rhTSH administration. A total of 545 tests were performed during L-thyroxine treatment and 27 after L-thyroxine withdrawal. RESULTS: Median L-thyroxine dose was 150 µg/day. Median ioduria was 127.5 µg/L during L-thyroxine therapy and 134 µg/L after the L-thyroxine withdrawal. No distinct relation between ioduria and L-thyroxine dose was observed. Ioduria < 200 µg/L was observed in over 90% of patients and this cut-off was chosen for the reference range. Only 1.2% of patients showed a distinct stable iodine contamination (ioduria ≥ 300 µg/L). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary iodine concentrations in differentiated thyroid cancer patients treated with L-thyroxine vary in a wide range and do not show a clear relation with L-thyroxine dose.

[Comparative analysis of the effects of iodine prophylaxis in children and adolescents from the region of Szczecin]. / Analiza porównawcza efektów profilaktyki jodowej u dzieci i mlodziezy z regionu szczecinskiego.

UNLABELLED: The research on iodine metabolism carried out in the '80s and '90s of the twentieth century revealed moderate iodine deficiency in the area of the whole Poland. These results contributed to the introduction of the populational iodine prophylaxis programme consisting in the obligatory iodizing of kitchen salt. In 2002-2003, the research was conducted in the region of Szczecin, the aim of which was to assess the efficiency of this model of iodine prophylaxis. As it was observed, the incidence of goitre among children considerably reduced, however, determination of ioduria (iodine level in the urine) proved that slight iodine deficiency was still present. The aim of our research was the renewed assessment of iodine prophylaxis results in the randomly chosen group of children and adolescents from the region of Szczecin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was undertaken in the 2006. In random selected groups of children and adolescents in Szczecin region. The patients administered vitamins or minerals enriched with iodine were excluded from a study. The study included 314 persons aged 13 to 16 years, 151 boys (48%) and 163 girls (52%). Iodine excretion with urine was determined on the basis of catalytic Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Radioimmunometric and radioimmunological methods were used for the determination of thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT) concentrations. Collected data were then analyzed using sophisticated computer-based statistic program. RESULTS: In the research conducted in 2002-2003, median urinary iodine concentration was 81.6 microg/l, and the percentage of children with abnormal ioduria excedeed 65%, where slight iodine deficiency (50-100 microg/l) was observed in 43% of children, medium (20-49 microg/l)--in 19%, and serious iodine deficiency (< 20 microg/l) was found in--4.4%. At present, median iodine concentration increased up to 108.1 microg/l, and the proportion of children showing normal ioduria is 58.4% including 5% with urinary iodine concentration exceeding 200 microg/l. The percentage of children with slight and medium iodine deficiency considerably reduced to 21.9% and 10,4% respectively, but the proportion of children with serious deficiency of this element increased (up to 9%). According to the results from 2002-2003, serum concentration of free thyroxine was 14.58 pmol/l, and thyrotropin--2.0 microU/ml. In our results, significantly higher median FT4 concentration (17.54 pmol/l) as well as insignificant increase in median TSH concentration (to 2.1 microU/ml) were observed. Similarly to the previous research, no correlation was found between ioduria and hormone levels. Neither considerable differences in urinary iodine concentrations nor in serum hormone levels were observed between sexes. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Proper median urinary iodine concentration and satisfactory proportion of people with normal ioduria are an important result of the currently conducted iodine prophylaxis programme in the region of Szczecin. (2) The rising percentage of individuals with high urinary iodine concentrations suggests that there is the necessity for extended research on the assessment of incidence of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

[Clinical usefulness of determining beta-2-microglobulin concentration in thyroid cystic fluid]. / Przydatnosc kliniczna oznaczania stezenia beta-2-mikroglobuliny w plynie z torbieli gruczolu tarczowego.

UNLABELLED: The main subject of the paper was to prove that beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-m) exists in fluid taken from a thyroid gland cyst of the patients with non-toxic, nodular goitre with cysts and whether the confirmation of beta-2-m existence in fluid taken from a cyst may indicate the presence of autoimmunological process in thyroid glands. The research was carried out on a group of 36 patients operated on because of goitre. Patients with the thyroid cancer were except. The operations were carried out in the General Surgery Department of Hospital 1 in Sosnowiec from 1994 to 1999. The group of patients consisted of women aged between 13 to 75 years old (average 43 +/- 13.8 years). TSH, FT4 serum concentration in this investigated group were normal. The paper presents the beta-2-m existence in fluid taken from a thyroid gland cyst. It was confirmed that there was no differences between beta-2-m serum concentration in operated patients and in healthy controls. In 50% of patients operated on with thyroid cysts high antibody antithyroid peroxidase (antiTPO) serum concentration and in fluid taken from cyst was confirmed and statistically higher beta-2-m concentration in cyst fluid than beta-2-m concentration in serum. CONCLUSIONS: The increased antiTPO concentration in serum and in a fluid taken from cyst and beta-2-m existence in cyst fluid point to the autoimmunological process taking place in half of the patients with thyroid cysts.

[Assessment of selected neoplastic markers in women receiving hormone replacement therapy]. / Ocena wybranych markerów nowotworowych u kobiet stosujacych hormonalna terapie zastepcza.

The study was performed in order to assess the serum levels of proteins believed to be the markers of neoplastic differentiation (CEA and CA 15.3) and proliferation (TPS) in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. 190 women were included into the study. Women were classified into one of four groups: healthy women receiving hormone replacement therapy (n = 76), women with diagnosed benign breast disease (BBD) receiving HRT (n = 26), women with diagnosed BBD without HRT (n = 48), and control group--age matched, regularly menstruating women without HRT (n = 40). Measurements of serum concentrations of neoplastic markers were performed using radioimmunological method. The results indicate that hormone replacement therapy does not provoke a rise in neoplastic markers concentrations above normal levels in any of assessed groups. Women with BBD using HRT were found to have the lowest TPS and CA 15.3 values and the highest CEA values. The long-term usage of HRT was found to cause a gradual rise of average concentrations of all measured markers in BBD group and in healthy women.

[Urine iodine excretion by healthy pregnant women after vitamin and microelement supplementation (Materna) in the first trimester]. / Wydalanie jodu z moczem u zdrowych kobiet rozpoczynajacych stosowanie preparatu Materna w pierwszym trymestrze ciazy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was the assessment of iodine turnover in healthy pregnant women supplemented by microelement and vitamin preparation Materna. METHODS: To assess iodine supplementation, a modified PAAM method was used for measurement of iodine concentration in morning urine. MATERIALS: 50 pregnant healthy women were tested for Materna supplementation. Urine iodine concentration was measured starting from the I trimester of pregnancy and then after 1, 2 and 3 months of Materna administration. RESULTS: It has been found, that 3 months of supplementation with Materna reduces iodine deficiency in 83% of primiparas, while in the same time urine iodine concentration was normal in only 30% of women in their third and next pregnancy. CONCLUSION: In our opinion iodine urine concentration should be assessed in all multiparas using Materna after 1 month of supplementation in order to correct individual iodine supplementation doses.

Estimation of usefulness of monitoring tissue polypeptide antigen--TPA-M concentrations in the effectiveness surgical treatment of urinary bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Of all cancer tumours, urinary bladder cancer is the fourth must common in men and the seventh in women. The aim of this work was to answer the question whether tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA-M) determination in patients after electroresection of urinary bladder cancer can be used to establish the probability of tumour recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research included 98 patients, all of whom had undertaken electroresection of urinary bladder tumour (TURT), which enabled its removal, and then estimation of malignancy and progression stage according to the international TNM scale. The mean age was 62.7 years. All patients had blood samples taken to determine TPA-M and then underwent routine cystoscopy examination. RESULTS: The patients with tumour recurrence (60, mean age 64 +/- 10) had TPA 30.2 +/- 4.3 U/l, the patients without recurrence (38, mean age 61.3 +/- 11) had TPA-M 26.2 +/- 3.18 U/l (p > 0.1). Taking the TPA-M threshold point 85 U/l as normal, true-positive results were 16.3%, true-negative were 31.6%, false-positive results were 7.1% and false-negative were 44.9%. The ROC curves with the calculated area under them are the measurement of the diagnostic estimation of TPA-M concentrations in specificity and sensitivity categories. CONCLUSIONS: For the examined group the calculated P was 0.45. If P value is under 0.5 it is considered that the test should not be used in diagnosing recurrence of urinary bladder cancer.