Case Report: A case study of positive doping control by animal-to-human drug transfer after an athlete administered medicine in spray format, containing clostebol acetate, to a pet dog.

The presence of a doping substance in an athlete's biological sample may not be only related to intentional pharmacological support. The unintended use of a prohibited substance may be due various reasons. This paper describes the case of a Polish canoeist preparing for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris who presented a positive doping test result, as a consequence of administering medication to her injured dog.

Predicting Future Athletic Performance in Young Female Road Cyclists Based on Aerobic Fitness and Hematological Variables.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether the initial levels of aerobic fitness and hematological variables in young female road cyclists are related to their athletic performance development during their careers.

Methods: Results of graded exercise tests on a cycle ergometer and total hemoglobin mass (tHb-mass) measurements were analyzed in 34 female road cyclists (age 18.6 [1.

Effect of training load on sleep parameters and biochemical fatigue markers in elite swimmers.

The effect of strenuous exercise on sleep patterns in swimmers is equivocal. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to describe possible changes in sleep parameters among elite swimmers subjected to different training loads (TL). Methods: Eighteen elite swimmers (8 females) were monitored across two high-volume preparatory 1-wk periods (P1, P2) and a lower-volume tapering 1-wk period (P3) before a major competition.

The effect of body size and composition on lumbar spine trabecular bone score in morphologically diverse subjects.

Aim: The trabecular bone score (TBS) is a tool for assessing bone quality and health. Current TBS algorithm corrects for body mass index (BMI), as a proxy of regional tissue thickness. However, this approach fails to consider BMI inaccuracies due to individual differences in body stature, composition and somatotype.

Relationships between Changes in Hematological Adaptations and Exercise Capacity in Olympic Rowers after a Period of Reduced Training Loads.

Endurance performance is positively associated with hematological adaptations; therefore, high total hemoglobin mass and intravascular volumes are commonly observed in high-level endurance athletes. However, it is still unclear whether the fluctuations in exercise capacity that typically occur in endurance athletes during the annual training cycle are directly associated with changes in hematological adaptations, which appear to be relatively stable during this time. To better understand this issue, a study was conducted with 10 Olympic rowers, who followed the same training program.

The Influence of Fatigue on the Characteristics of Physiological Tremor and Hoffmann Reflex in Young Men.

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between changes in physiological tremor after exercise and changes in the traction properties of the stretch reflex indirectly assessed using the Hoffmann reflex test. The research involved 19 young men practicing canoe sprint (age 16.4 ± 0.

No effects of a 4-week post-exercise sauna bathing on targeted gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and hsCRP in healthy men: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Body temperature fluctuations induced by acute exercise bouts may influence the intestinal barrier with related effects on epithelial permeability, immune responses, and release of metabolites produced by the gut microbiota. This study evaluated the effects of post-exercise sauna bathing in young men undergoing endurance training on gut bacteria inflammation and intestinal barrier function.

Methods: Fifteen (15) untrained males aged 22 ± 1.

HIF-1α and NFIA-AS2 Polymorphisms as Potential Determinants of Total Hemoglobin Mass in Endurance Athletes.

Malczewska-Lenczowska, J, Orysiak, J, Majorczyk, E, Sitkowski, D, Starczewski, M, and Żmijewski, P. HIF-1α and NFIA-AS2 polymorphisms as potential determinants of total hemoglobin mass in endurance athletes. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1596-1604, 2022-The aims of this study were to examine (1) the genotype distribution of rs11549465:C>T of the HIF-1α gene and rs1572312:C>A of the NFIA-AS2 gene; (2) the association between the genes and hematological status in endurance-oriented athletes; and (3) the association between the NFIA-AS2 gene and aerobic capacity in cyclists.

Hematological Adaptations to Post-Exercise Sauna Bathing With No Fluid Intake: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

: Sauna bathing is recommended to improve the sports training process, yet empirical evidence confirming its effectiveness is still inconclusive. We examined the effects of post-exercise sauna bathing on hematological adaptations and exercise capacity in healthy men. : Thirteen physical education students participated in randomized cross-over study: two, 4-week interventions, with 10-week washout.

Vitamin D and upper respiratory tract infections in young active males exposed to cold environments.

Introduction And Objective: Performing indoor and outdoor work in cold environments may result in various adverse effects on human health and may lead to increased risk of respiratory infection. The aim of this study was to determine the relation of vitamin D status to secretory immunoglobulin A concentration, leucocyte counts, cytokine concentrations and incidence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) episodes in young active men during an autumn-winter period.

Material And Methods: The effect of work in a cold microclimate was studied among 23 young active male ice hockey players during a 19-week study period.

The impact of physical training on neutrophil extracellular traps in young male athletes - a pilot study.

Neutrophils are an important component of the innate immune response against various pathogens. However, there is a lack of research concerning the effects of short intensive training on neutrophil functions, especially neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) formation. The study aim was to determine the effects of a 19-day training cycle on innate immunity among young male athletes.

Benefits and limitations of electrocardiographic and echocardiographic screening in top level endurance athletes.

The study was designed to assess the usefulness of routine electrocardiography (ECG) as well as transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in screening top level endurance athletes. An additional goal was to attempt to identify factors determining occurrence of adaptive and abnormal changes in ECG and TTE. The retrospective analysis included basic medical data, ECG and TTE results of 262 athletes (123 rowers, 32 canoeists and 107 cyclists), members of the Polish National Team.

Hematological status and endurance performance predictors after low altitude training supported by normobaric hypoxia: a double-blind, placebo controlled study.

The benefits of altitude/hypoxic training for sea level performance are still under debate. This study examined the effects of low altitude training supported by normobaric hypoxia on hematological status and endurance performance predictors in elite female cyclists. Twenty-two female cyclists trained for 3 weeks at low altitude (<1100 m) and 2 weeks near sea level.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection and Mucosal Immunity in Young Ice Hockey Players During the Pretournament Training Period.

Orysiak, J, Witek, K, Malczewska-Lenczowska, J, Zembron-Lacny, A, Pokrywka, A, and Sitkowski, D. Upper respiratory tract infection and mucosal immunity in young ice hockey players during the pretournament training period. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 3129-3135, 2019-The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 17 days of training during preparation for the Ice Hockey Under 18 World Championship of the Polish ice hockey national team on the mucosal immune function and monitor upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) incidence before, during, and after the competition.

Interrelationships between changes in erythropoietin, plasma volume, haemoglobin concentration, and total haemoglobin mass in endurance athletes.

Interrelationships between physiological changes (Δ) in erythropoietin (EPO), plasma volume (PV), haemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), and total haemoglobin mass (tHb-mass) were examined in cyclists who trained in different altitudes. Regardless of differences in pattern of changes observed in three training locations, ΔEPO was correlated positively with ΔPV, negatively with Δ[Hb], and trivially with ΔtHb-mass. Δ[Hb] was negatively correlated with ΔPV.

The Association between Iron and Vitamin D Status in Female Elite Athletes.

Vitamin D may influence iron metabolism and erythropoiesis, whereas iron is essential for vitamin D synthesis. We examined whether vitamin D deficiencies (VDD) are associated with reduced iron status and whether progressive iron deficiency (ID) is accompanied by inferior vitamin D status. The study included 219 healthy female (14-34 years old) athletes.

The differences in electrocardiogram interpretation in top-level athletes.

Background: The Ministry of Health in Poland recommends electrocardiogram (ECG)-based cardiovascular screening in athletes, but so far there has been a lack of guidelines on preparticipation assessment. We compared different criteria of ECG screening assessment in a group of top-level athletes.

Aim: The aims were to evaluate the prevalence of ECG changes in athletes that necessitate further cardiological work-up according to three criteria in various age groups as well as to identify factors determining the occurrence of changes related and unrelated to the training.

Left Atrial Enlargement in Young High-Level Endurance Athletes - Another Sign of Athlete's Heart?

Enlargement of the left atrium is perceived as a part of athlete's heart syndrome, despite the lack of evidence. So far, left atrial size has not been assessed in the context of exercise capacity. The hypothesis of the present study was that LA enlargement in athletes was physiological and fitness-related condition.

Indirect Methods of Assessing Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Rowers: Practical Implications for Evaluating Physical Fitness in a Training Cycle.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of indirect methods of assessment of VO2max for estimation of physical capacity of trained male and female rowers during a training cycle. A group of 8 female and 14 male rowers performed the maximal intensity test simulating the regatta distance (a 2 km test) and a submaximal incremental exercise test on a rowing ergometer. The suitability of the indirect methods of predicting VO2max during the training cycle was evaluated by performing the tests twice: in females at an interval of five months and in males at an interval of seven months.

Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricle adaptation to endurance training in young rowers - speckle tracking echocardiography.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the degree of cardiorespiratory fitness and the function of the right ventricle (RV). 117 rowers, age 17.5±1.

Mucosal immunity and upper respiratory tract infections during a 24-week competitive season in young ice hockey players.

The aim of this study was to examine upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and their associations with resting saliva and blood immune and endocrine parameters in ice hockey players. Twenty-seven participants (age 16.5 ± 0.

Total Hemoglobin Mass, Aerobic Capacity, and HBB Gene in Polish Road Cyclists.

Malczewska-Lenczowska, J, Orysiak, J, Majorczyk, E, Zdanowicz, R, Szczepańska, B, Starczewski, M, Kaczmarski, J, Dybek, T, Pokrywka, A, Ahmetov, II, and Sitkowski, D. Total hemoglobin mass, aerobic capacity, and the HBB gene in polish road cyclists. J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3512-3519, 2016-The relationship between genes, amount of hemoglobin, and physical performance are still not clearly defined.

Prevalence and determinants of the early repolarisation pattern in a group of young high endurance rowers.

Background: The prevalence and significance of the early repolarisation (ER) pattern in the general population has raised a number of questions. Even less data are available on athletes.

Aim: To determine the prevalence and determinants of ER in a group of young high endurance athletes.

Relationship Between ACTN3 R577X Polymorphism and Physical Abilities in Polish Athletes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between α-actinin 3 (ACTN3) R577X polymorphism and physical abilities of male athletes performing various sports (volleyball, ice hockey, canoeing, swimming). One hundred eighty-five subjects were recruited for the study. The following measurements were taken: height of jump and power output in countermovement jump and spike jump (SPJ) and muscle strength of 10 muscle groups.