Acute normobaric hypoxia does not affect the simultaneous exercise-induced increase in circulating BDNF and GDNF in young healthy men: A feasibility study.

Physical exercise has a neuromodulatory effect on the central nervous system (CNS) partially by modifying expression of neuropeptides produced and secreted by neurons and glial cells, among which the best examined are brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Because both neurotrophins can cross the brain-blood barrier (BBB), their blood levels indirectly reflect their production in the CNS. Moreover, both neuropeptides are involved in modulation of dopaminergic and serotoninergic system function.

The effects of combining focus of attention and autonomy support on shot accuracy in the penalty kick.

The penalty kick is of great importance in the sport of soccer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test predictions of the OPTIMAL theory and identify key attentional and motivational factors that impact the accuracy of the penalty kick. The following six groups of moderately skilled participants performed penalty kicks following instructions that directed their focus of attention or impacted their autonomy support: external focus with autonomy support (EF/AS), external focus alone (EF), internal focus with autonomy support (IF/AS), internal focus alone (IF), autonomy support alone (AS) and control (C) groups.

Does kisspeptin participate in GABA-mediated modulation of GnRH and GnRH receptor biosynthesis in the hypothalamic-pituitary unit of follicular-phase ewes?

Background: The inverse relationship between GnRH transcript level and GABA neurons activity has suggested that GABA at the hypothalamic level may exert a suppressive effect on subsequent steps of the GnRH biosynthesis. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of GABA type A receptor agonist (muscimol) or antagonist (bicuculline) on molecular mechanisms governing GnRH/LH secretion in follicular-phase sheep.

Methods: ELISA technique was used to investigate the effects of muscimol and/or bicuculline on levels of post-translational products of genes encoding GnRH ligand and GnRH receptor (GnRHR) in the preoptic area (POA), anterior (AH) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamus, stalk/median eminence (SME), and GnRHR in the anterior pituitary (AP).

Epidemiological Aspects of Low Back Pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem, particularly in the contemporary societies of highly developed countries. This study seeks to define the influence of basic demographic and social factors, such as gender, body mass, physical activity, and the type of work, on the occurrence of lumbosacral spine pain in the early and middle-late adulthood. The study was based on a self-reported survey, using the revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire to evaluate pain symptoms, and managing everyday tasks.

Postural stability in Parkinson's disease patients' wives and in elderly women leading different lifestyles.

The study aimed to determine postural stability of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' wives in comparison with women differing in their lifestyle. (PD) patients' wives ( = 44), homemakers ( = 41), and female students of the University of the Third Age ( = 43) performed balance tests on a stabilometric platform. The PD patients' wives were characterized by significantly ( < 0.

Compensatory strategy for ankle dorsiflexion muscle weakness during gait in patients with drop-foot.

Background: Pathological movement patterns are characterized by abnormal kinematics, kinetics and muscle activations that alter the distribution of muscle forces during walking.

Aim: The objective of this study was to identify what compensatory strategy is evident in muscle force distribution in patients with drop-foot, in response to weakness in the dorsiflexor muscles.

Methods: A sample of 10 patients with drop-foot were evaluated by a computerized gait analysis system and compared to a group of 10 healthy subjects.

Associations between perceived social and physical environmental variables and physical activity and screen time among adolescents in four European countries.

Objectives: Associations between the perceived social and physical environment and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and screen time (ST) were examined among adolescents in four European countries.

Methods: Representative samples were surveyed with standardised methodologies. Associations between environmental variables and meeting MVPA recommendations and tertiles of ST were tested in gender-specific logistic regression models.

The assessment of skeletal status in young patients with Turner syndrome by 2 densitometric techniques: Phalangeal quantitative ultrasound and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Background: Studies using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) demonstrate a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD) in children and adolescents with Turner syndrome (TS). However, these studies do not take into account changes in bone size, which influence BMD in the case of short-statured patients. Phalangeal quantitative ultrasound (phQUS) measurements have shown an ability to reveal changes due to skeletal growth, aging, and bone and mineral disorders.

Weight Disorders in Short Children.

This study aimed to determine the degree of adiposity and prevalence of weight disorders in short children and to assess relationships between selected birth parameters and actual body fat content and body mass indicators. The study encompassed 85 girls and 97 boys, aged 7-14 years, with height below the 10th centile of the age and sex standard. In addition, 609 normal-height children (height between 25th and 75th centile) served as a comparison group.

Inter-individual similarities and variations in muscle forces acting on the ankle joint during gait.

Muscle forces acting over the ankle joint play an important role in the forward progression of the body during gait. Yet despite the importance of ankle muscle forces, direct in-vivo measurements are neither possible nor practical. This makes musculoskeletal simulation useful as an indirect technique to quantify the muscle forces at work during locomotion.

Preventive Chair Massage with Algometry to Maintain Psychosomatic Balance in White-Collar Workers.

People working at computers often suffer from overload-related muscle pain, and physical and mental discomfort. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of chair massage, conducted in the workplace among white-collar workers, in relieving symptoms of musculoskeletal strain related to prolonged sitting posture. The study was conducted in 124 white-collar workers, 55 women and 69 men, aged 33.

Body Mass Disorders in Healthy Short Children and in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency.

The aim of the study was to determine the degree of adiposity and the incidence of body mass disorders, including abdominal obesity, in healthy short children and children with growth hormone deficiency. The study included 134 short children (height < 10th percentile) aged 7-15. In this cohort there were 63 (31 boys and 32 girls) children without diagnosed hormonal disorders and 71 patients (35 boys and 36 girls) with growth hormone deficiency.

Is a Perceived Activity-Friendly Environment Associated with More Physical Activity and Fewer Screen-Based Activities in Adolescents?

The aim of this study is to explore if perception of an activity-friendly environment is associated with more physical activity and fewer screen-based activities among adolescents. We collected self-reported data in 2014 via the Health Behavior in School-aged Children cross-sectional study from four European countries ( = 13,800, mean age = 14.4, 49.

The prevalence of sexual activity, and sexual dysfunction and behaviours in postmenopausal woman in Poland.

Introduction: Despite the aging of the population, there is limited data available about sexual life and behaviours among of postmenopausal and late postmenopausal women. Aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction, behaviours, and preferences in the Polish population in 2015.

Material And Methods: This observational survey study involved 538 women, of whom 220 were over 50 years old.

Game Performance Evaluation in Male Goalball Players.

Goalball is a Paralympic sport exclusively for athletes who are visually impaired and blind. The aims of this study were twofold: to describe game performance of elite male goalball players based upon the degree of visual impairment, and to determine if game performance was related to anthropometric characteristics of elite male goalball players. The study sample consisted of 44 male goalball athletes.

Relationships Between Anaerobic Performance, Field Tests and Game Performance of Sitting Volleyball Players.

The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between anaerobic performance, field tests, game performance and anthropometric variables of sitting volleyball players. Twenty elite Polish sitting volleyball players were tested using the 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test for arm crank ergometer and participated in six physical field tests. Heights in position to block and to spike, as well as arm reach were measured.

A program to support self-efficacy among athletes.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a proprietary program for increasing self-efficacy among track and field athletes through vicarious experience and successful control over excitation and to determine the changes in the cognitive dimensions related to self-efficacy: dispositional optimism, hope of success and locus of control. An experimental two-group design with a pre-test and a post-test in the experimental and control groups was used. Forty-two athletes (29 women and 13 men) aged 17 to 24 years randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups took part in the study.

Allometric assessment of somatic specificities.

The clinical assessment of body build and proportions is usually based on relating anthropometric measurements to the respective mean values found for population of a given age. The other common method is relating the measurements of body parts directly to body height or body mass, i.e.

Plasma homocysteine levels, physical activity and macronutrient intake in young healthy men.

Introduction: It is well documented that high blood homocysteine (Hcy) levels possibly contribute to insulin resistance through the induction of resistin and inhibition of adiponectin expression in mouce adipose tissue in vitro. Additionally, in humans, hyperhomocysteinemia has been recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Aim Of The Study: Our study aimed at the evaluation of the relationship between total plasma Hcy levels and physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness and dietary habits in young healthy men.