[Polymorphism of Uncoupling Protein Genes in Football Players: Investigation of the Functional Role.]

We studied the polymorphism of uncoupling protein genes (families UCPI, 2 and 3) and FTO gene in football players and compared the results with the data obtained in non-sportsmen. All these genes encode the proteins that take part in the regulation of body weight. However, we observed an increased percentage of the carriers of "sparing" allele of the UCP3 gene; the allele frequency of other studied genes showed the same tendency. This finding can be partially explained by the fact that the organism of a sportsman needs to spare energy. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that there is a significant correlation between the UCP1 and FTO genes and the elastic component of explosive strength of leg muscles. No correlations were found with the body composition and fat distribution(except for the fat distribution in the pelvic area). The UCP2 correlated with the parameters of respiratory functions. The UCP3 genes correlated with the rate of energy production in ramp test and the ergometric parameters of efficiency. It was also found that high rate of uncoupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in muscles results in an increase in total energy consumption rate, but also improves the ergometric parameters of efficiency and intensity of muscle work corresponding with the anaerobic threshold. Obtained data were analyzed in the context of the possible role uncoupling proteins in homeostasis during intense physical activities.

Growth variation, final height and secular trend. Proceedings of the 17th Aschauer Soiree, 7th November 2009.

Growth and body height have always been topics interesting to the public. In particular, the stupendous increase of some 15-19cm in final adult height during the last 150 years in most European countries (the "secular trend"), the concomitant changes in body and head proportions, the tendency towards early onset of sexual maturation, the changes in the age when final height is being reached, and the very recent trend in body mass index, have generated much scientific literature. The marked plasticity of growth in height and weight over time causes problems. Child growth references differ between nations, they tend to quickly become out of date, and raise a number of questions regarding fitting methods, effects caused by selective drop-out, etc. New findings contradict common beliefs about the primary importance of nutritional and health related factors for secular changes in growth. There appears to be a broad age span from mid-childhood to early adolescence that is characterised by a peculiar insusceptibility. Environmental factors that are known to influence growth during this age span appear to have only little or no impact on final height. Major re-arrangements in height occur at an age when puberty has almost been completed and final height has almost been reached, implying that factors, which drive the secular trend in height, are limited to early childhood and late adolescence.

Certain approaches to the development of on-board automated training system.

Perspectives of long-term space programs make it necessary to develop autonomous computer expert system for crew-members physical state control. The purpose of the work--to develop a set of objective formalizable physiological indices of working capacity suitable for reliable algorithmization of physical state control. Investigations were performed in on-earth microgravity simulation (3- and 7-day dry immersion, 6 subjects; 4-month antiorthostatic hypokinesy, 10 subjects) with volunteers' participation as well with 34 members of MIR-station expeditions during flights. Model exercise investigations were made also with 20 young male volunteers to evaluate the validity of different physical state indices. A set of indices was found which, being simple enough for measuring, performs to get satisfactory adequate evaluations of current organism physical state in long-term real or simulated microgravity. It was proved that some ergometric indices along with heart rate derivatives could reflect real working ability even better than traditional characteristics of organism energy systems state.