Effects of Fasting on the Physiological and Psychological Responses in Middle-Aged Men.

Tracking changes in the body during fasting takes into account indicators of mental well-being and physiological parameters. The aim of the study was to measure psychological and physiological reactions, along with their mutual relations, caused by 8 days of water-only fasting. Fourteen men aged 35 to 60 participated in the study, divided into two groups, younger and elder.

Body Loading during an Intensive Yoga Exercise Routine and a Cycle Ergometer Test.

The present study compared the effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions of the practice of an intensive yoga exercise routine called Dynamic Suryanamaskar (DSN) and a cycle ergometer test (CET) of increasing intensity. The study involved 18 middle-aged volunteers who had previously practiced DSN. The study was conducted in two series (i.

Excessive Facial Wrinkling Is Associated with COPD Occurrence-Does COPD Damage Skin Beauty and Quality?

The aim of this study was to investigate facial wrinkling in COPD patients, its relationship with lung function parameters, and the differences in wrinkling between COPD patients and smokers without COPD. The study included 56 patients with COPD with smoking history and 84 controls. Wrinkle intensity was measured and classified using Daniell's grading system, and the total length of wrinkles was also estimated.

Evaluation of transport properties of biomembranes by means of Peusner network thermodynamics.

Purpose: The R version of the Kedem-Katchalsky-Peusner (KKP) network equations is one of the basic research tools for membrane transport. For binary solutions of non-electrolytes containing a solvent and one solute, these equations include the Peusner resistance coefficients. The aim of the study was to assess the transport properties of biomembranes on the basis of the concentration characteristics of the coefficients: resistance, coupling, energy conversion efficiency and degraded and free energy fluxes.

Effect of 8-Day Fasting on Leukocytes Expression of Genes and Proteins Involved in Iron Metabolism in Healthy Men.

The popularity of fasting and restricted food intake is increasing. While the body's adaptability to dietary insufficiency is crucial for health, molecular mechanisms of adaptive changes are not well understood. Here, we compared the effects of fasting and exercise on the expression of leukocyte genes and proteins involved in the storage, export, and acquisition of iron, an essential element with physiological roles.

Eight Days of Water-Only Fasting Promotes Favorable Changes in the Functioning of the Urogenital System of Middle-Aged Healthy Men.

The aim of this study was to determine whether, after 8 days of water-only fasting, there are changes in the efficiency of the lower urinary tract, the concentration of sex hormones, and the symptoms of prostate diseases in a group of middle-aged men ( = 14). For this purpose, before and after 8 days of water-only fasting (subjects drank moderately mineralized water), and the following somatic and blood concentration measurements were made: total prostate specific antigen (PSA-T), free prostate specific antigen (PSA-F), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteotropic hormone (LH), prolactin (Pr), total testosterone (T-T), free testosterone (T-F), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), sex hormone globulin binding (SHGB), total cholesterol (Ch-T), β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB). In addition, prostate volume (PV), volume of each testis (TV), total volume of both testes (TTV), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) values were determined.

Body composition and nutrition of female athletes.

Background: The somatic features of the athletes’ bodies partially determine their sporting level and are conditioned to a large extent by the state of nutrition.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to present nutritional status and its correlation with the somatic determinants of training athletes and physical education students.

Material And Methods: This study involved 12 weightlifting players (subgroup-WL), 15 soccer players (subgroup-SP), 12 table tennis players (subgroup-TT) and 12 female students of physical education (subgroup-C).

Three-Year Chronic Consumption of Low-Carbohydrate Diet Impairs Exercise Performance and Has a Small Unfavorable Effect on Lipid Profile in Middle-Aged Men.

The objective of this research was to determine whether chronic (average 3.58 ± 1.56 years) deliberate adherence to low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) is associated with selected markers of metabolism, risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), body mass and physical performance in apparently healthy middle-aged men ( = 12).

A nutritional evaluation of dietary behaviour in various professional sports.

Background: The types of physical exertion undertaken by weightlifters and race walkers markedly differ. This difference should also be reflected in their respective diets.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the diets of professional weightlifters and race walkers, along with a comparison to the diets of those students studying physical education (PE).

Health benefits and risk associated with adopting a vegetarian diet.

A vegetarian diet may be adopted for various reasons that can include ecological, economic, religious, ethical and health considerations. In the latter case they arise from the desire to lose weight, in tackling obesity, improving physical fitness and/or in reducing the risk of acquiring certain diseases. It has been shown that properly applied vegetarian diet is the most effective way of reducing body mass (expressed as BMI), improving the plasma lipid profile and in decreasing the incidence of high arterial blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic syndrome and arteriosclerosis.

Effects of a brief Valsalva manoeuvre on hemodynamic response to strength exercises.

Strength training is a recommended measure against loss of strength and muscle mass because of age- or illness-induced inactivity. Strength exercises may impose heavy cardiovascular load by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. To increase strength efficiently, a heavy load has to be applied; this, however, leads to a spontaneous Valsalva manoeuvre, which additionally raises blood pressure.

Long-term consumption of a carbohydrate-restricted diet does not induce deleterious metabolic effects.

Carbohydrate (CHO)-restricted diets have been recommended for weight loss and to prevent obesity, but their long-term effects have not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of long-term (>1 year) consumption of a low-CHO high-fat diet ("The optimal diet," developed by Dr Kwaśniewski referenced herein) on lipid profile, glycemic control, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy subjects. Of 31 "optimal" dieters enrolled in the study (17 women and 14 men, aged 51.

[Accomplishment of the educational path "pro-healthy education" in the opinion of teachers of different subjects].

The purpose of the presented report is analysis of opinions of teachers of different subjects on supplementing knowledge, discussed topics, methods applied in health education and its environmental factors. In the years 2004-2006, a diagnostic survey was carried out among 289 teachers of different subjects employed in secondary and post-secondary schools in slaskie (Silesian), lubelskie (Lublin) and podkarpackie (sub-Carpathian) voivodeships /regions/. Analysis covered answers to questions concerning the atmosphere predominating in school when realizing health education and ways of carrying out the pro-health path.

[Physical fitness of children after operation of ventricular septal defect of the heart].

Physical fitness of 26 children aged 8-12 years, being 4-7 years after cardiosurgical correction of ventricular septal defect of the heart (VSD) was studied. The results were compared with the ones obtained in 23 healthy children of the same range of age. There were continuously registered in these children the gas exchange values with direct method using progressive exercise test.

Effects of a low carbohydrate diet and graded exercise during the follicular and luteal phases on the blood antioxidant status in healthy women.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a low-carbohydrate (L-CHO) diet and graded cycling exercise on the enzymatic and non-enzymatic blood antioxidant defence system in young eumenorrhoeic women. Seven healthy physical education students exercised incrementally until they were fatigued under four different phase-diet conditions of the menstrual cycle, i.e.