Lipid peroxidation, erythrocyte superoxide-dismutase activity and trace metals in young male footballers

Physical training is known to induce oxidative stress in individuals subjected to intense exercise. In this study, we investigated plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of 25 young male footballers and a control group of similar age. Red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (Hct) values, and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels were also examined. The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of all subjects was determined in order to establish their functional capacity. The main finding of the present study was that plasma MDA levels, one of the most commonly used markers of lipid peroxidation, of this group of footballers aged under 21 decreased slightly when compared with those of the control group (p < 0.001). In contrast, erythrocyte SOD activity was higher in the footballer group than in the controls (p < 0.001). Footballers who are under regular training showed an improved antioxidant activity in comparison to sedentary controls. Plasma copper concentration, RBC count and Hb concentration of the footballer group were all significantly lower than those of the control group, (p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Investigating the footballers' data with Spearman's correlation analyses, the correlation coefficients (r) between Zn/Cu ratio and SOD was positive (r=0.44; p < 0.05); and between VO2max and SOD (r=0.42; p < 0.05) were both positive. On the basis of statistical analysis, we suggest that regular exercise may be beneficial in cases of oxidative damage by reducing the amount of lipid peroxidation and increasing the activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD.     

Serum tumor markers and testicular germ cell tumors: a primer for radiologists

Abdominal Radiology - Serum tumor markers (STMs) play a critical role in the diagnosis, staging and follow-up of both seminomatous and nonseminomatous testicular germ cell neoplasms. Levels of...     

Impedance cardiographic monitoring during pericardiocentesis: comparison with echocardiography

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic impedance cardiography (TIC) is a noninvasive method which has proved to be useful in monitoring the haemodynamic status of the patients. In this study, we evaluated the TIC findings in patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study consisted of patients with pericardial effusion with (group A) or without (group B) cardiac tamponade (CT). The stroke volume, cardiac output and ejection fraction was measured by both echocardiography and TIC. The measurements were done at baseline in both groups and following pericardiocentesis in group A. The variables were compared by linear regression analysis, paired sample's t test and chi-square test. The study included 32 patients. Group A consisted of 16 patients and group B of 14 patients. Two patients were excluded from comparisons because of insufficient quality of the echocardiographic examination. There were no significant differences between group A and B with regard to demographic features. Both echocardiographic and TIC measurements at baseline revealed decreased cardiac output, EDV and SV in group A and EF was not different. Linear regression analysis revealed that echocardiography and TIC were in significant correlation with regard to cardiac output, enddiastolic volume, stroke volume (p < 0.01) but not ejection fraction (p = 0.8910). The correlation was also present after pericardiocentesis. CONCLUSIONS: TIC can be safely used in patients with pericardial effusion. It provides suggestive data for the diagnosis of CT and can be used as a means of monitoring the results of the pericardiocentesis.     

Cold exposure and left ventricular diastolic performance in coronary artery disease

It is known that cold exposure is accompanied by coronary artery vasoconstriction and ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response of left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic functions, estimated by means of Doppler echocardiography, to cold pressor test (CPT) in patients with CAD. Twenty-five male patients (mean age 50.8 +/- 8.1 years) with documented CAD underwent CPT with Doppler echocardiographic assessment of LV diastolic and systolic functions. According to the development of ischemic response to CPT, all patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1, 10 patients with ischemia and group 2, 15 patients without ischemia during CPT. Cold exposure caused significant increase in blood pressure with no changes in heart rate in all CAD patients. Patients with signs of ischemia during cold exposure had lower transmitral flow velocity during early filling (p < 0.001), prolonged isovolumic relaxation time (p < 0.04), shortened deceleration time of early transmitral flow velocity (p < 0.001), and higher values of Doppler-derived index of myocardial performance (p < 0.0001) than those without ischemic response to CPT. Cold exposure in CAD patients through stimulating of vasoconstriction and ischemia was associated with derangements in LV myocardial performance, manifested by delayed relaxation, impaired stiffness, and reduced contractility.