Comparison of lung diffusing capacity in young elite athletes and their counterparts.

Background: The influence of exercise on the pulmonary function is controverse, some studies have reported no sports influence, while the others have found positive correlation.

Aim: To evaluate and compare the sports influence on pulmonary function: spirometry (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC), lung diffusing capacity (DLCO) and coefficient of the CO gas transfer (KCO) in two elite athletes groups and healthy sedentary controls.

Method: Equally divided into aerobic and anaerobic group, 60 elite athletes were recruited, as well as 43 age-matched, healthy sedentary controls.

A reappraisal of saprobic values and indicator weights based on Slovenian river quality data.

The saprobic values and indicator weights used in the Slovenian saprobic system are reappraised using data from the 1990 to 95 river quality surveys of Slovenia. The conceptual basis of the reappraisal is described and then formulated mathematically. The analysis is based on 1,106 biological samples and covers 300 taxa.