Status, Stress and Performance in Track and Field Athletes during the European Games in Baku (Azerbaijan).

This study analyzes the relationship between salivary cortisol and testosterone levels and performance in track and field athletes. In addition, we analyzed the influence of status among athletes (measured based on previous athletic achievement) on hormone levels. Nineteen members of the Austrian track and field team (eleven males, eight females, 25.

Eccentric resistance training intensity may affect the severity of exercise induced muscle damage.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the role of eccentric exercise intensity in the development of and recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Methods: Using a cross-over study design, 15 healthy, male college students were tested on two occasions. The training stimulus consisted of an exhaustive series of eccentric muscle contractions of the elbow flexors at either 100% (high intensity) or 50% (low intensity) of the individual concentric one-repetition maximum.

Influence of age and physical fitness on miRNA-21, TGF-β and its receptors in leukocytes of healthy women.

The TGF-β superfamily has been shown to play an important role in a wide range of physiological as well as pathological processes including ageing, immune modulation, atherosclerosis and cancer development. The aim of the current study was to investigate (i) whether TGF-β signalling in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) would differ between young and old females and (ii) whether physical performance parameters of elderly women would be related to the expression of TGF-β or its receptors. Sixteen healthy young (22-28 years; YF) and 90 healthy older (65-92 years; OF) females participated in the study.

Effects of negative air ions on oxygen uptake kinetics, recovery and performance in exercise: a randomized, double-blinded study.

Limited research has suggested that acute exposure to negatively charged ions may enhance cardio-respiratory function, aerobic metabolism and recovery following exercise. To test the physiological effects of negatively charged air ions, 14 trained males (age: 32 ± 7 years; VO2max: 57 ± 7 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) were exposed for 20 min to either a high-concentration of air ions (ION: 220 ± 30 × 10(3) ions cm(-3)) or normal room conditions (PLA: 0.1 ± 0.

Cell-free plasma DNA and purine nucleotide degradation markers following weightlifting exercise.

The present study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a single bout of high-intensive strength training on the production of cell-free plasma DNA (cf-DNA), as well as on the degradation of purine nucleotides as assessed by the concentration of xanthine (XA) and hypoxanthine (HX) in urine and serum. Twelve trained weightlifters performed six sets of six lifting exercises with 90-95% of the one repetition maximum. Blood samples and urine were obtained 1 h before training, immediately after finishing the exercise session and following 2 h of recovery.

Effects of ultra-marathon on circulating DNA and mRNA expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes in mononuclear cells.

We investigated the effects of an ultra-marathon on cell-free plasma DNA as well as on mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic (Bax, Bad), anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and cell-protective (Hsp70, Hsp27 and Hsp32) genes in mononuclear blood cells (MNCs). Blood samples were drawn from 14 athletes before and immediately after 6-h run. In addition, blood samples were also collected and analyzed 2 and 24 h after the end of the run.

Purine and pyrimidine metabolites in children's urine.

Various enzyme defects in the metabolic pathways of purines and pyrimidines are known, which result in different diseases occurring in children. They mainly affect kidney function, central nervous system, immunological and blood system. For example, complete deficiency of HPRT (hypoxanthine-guanine-phosphoribosyl-transferase) causes the Lesch Nyhan syndrome, which is characterized by hyperuricemia, mental retardation, choreoathetosis and compulsive self-mutilation.