Volume 35, Issue 3

Background The purpose of this study was to investigate irisin and myostatin responses to acute high-intensity interval exercise. Materials and methods Ten male professional kick-boxers aged between 18 and 24 years and 10 sedentary males with similar age and body weight participated in the present study. Participants performed 4 × 30-s Wingate test separated with 4 min of rest. Blood samples were taken immediately before and after exercise, and 3 and 6 h of recovery. Results and conclusion At rest, irisin levels were higher in the kick-boxers (p < 0.05). Immediately after the exercise, irisin levels were decreased in both groups (p < 0.05). A trend toward a return to baseline appeared after 3 h of recovery in the kick-boxers (p < 0.05). At rest, myostatin concentrations were not different between the groups (p > 0.05). Immediately after the exercise, myostatin levels were increased in both groups (p < 0.05). A trend toward a return to baseline appeared after 3 h of recovery in the kick-boxers (p < 0.05). Acute high-intensity interval exercise decreased irisin levels and increased myostatin levels.

Background Human β-defensins (hBD2 and hBD3) are small cationic antimicrobial peptides of innate immune system which can act as a barrier against the majority of pathogens, contributing to the host immune defence. Objective The aim of study is to determine whether hBD2 and hBD3 play a role in development and proliferation of human effector CD4 T cells or not. Furthermore, if enhanced proliferation is observed in the presence of hBD2 and hBD3, these data will demonstrate whether chemokine receptor type 6 (CCR6) is required to be present for this activity to occur. Methods In this study, we examined the effect of hBD2 and hBD3 on CD4 + T cell proliferation in CCR6 + and CCR6 − T cells through co-culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 stimulation in the presence or absence of hBD2 and hBD3. Proliferation was assessed using flow cytometry. Results It was demonstrated that, co-culture with hBD2 and hBD3 led to up-regulation of CD4 + T cell proliferation after 72 h whereas, CD4 + T cell proliferation was suppressed after 96 h. On the other hand, CCR6 − and CCR6 + T cell proliferation was up-regulated after 72 h. But, CCR6 + only was down-regulated in the second cycle in the presence of hBD3. In contrast, after 96 h CCR6 + and CCR6 − T cell proliferation was decreased. Conclusion Collectively, our data indicated that hBD2 and hBD3 play a positive and negative regulatory role in development and proliferation of human effector CD4 + T cells which is essential for optimal adaptive immune responses and the control of immunopathology.

Background Fetal red blood cells (FRBC) in maternal blood are counted in rhesus-negative women to determine the amount of anti-D immunoglobulin to be administered in the case of a rhesus-positive fetus. In rhesus-positive pregnant women this is done in not always very well-defined indications including trauma, miscarriage, fetal death and diminished fetal movements. The aim of this study is to determine if the detection of FRBC is useful in rhesus-positive pregnant woman. This was done by assessing maternal and fetal characteristics that are more likely to give a positive test. Materials and methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Results A total of 169 FRBC tests were performed in 161 rhesus-positive pregnant women. FRBC were found in 45 (26.6%) of the women. Three patients experienced a miscarriage although their FRBC tests were negative (p = 0.295). Of the seven patients who experienced unexpected stillbirths, three tested positive. The deaths were not less likely to occur if the results had been negative (p = 0.631). There was a statistically significant difference between the different types of trauma indications (p = 0.025): the test was more likely positive if there had been a fall on the ground or staircase or blunt trauma (p = 0.041, 0.026 and 0.018, respectively). FRBC were not more frequently present in the absence of fetal movements (n = 16, p = 0.693). Conclusion FRBC in maternal blood were more likely positive in the case of a fall on the ground, or from a staircase. However, a positive test does not necessarily imply fetal pathology and, therefore, does not contribute to clinical management.

Background Physiological aging can now be considered as a multi-factorial process that is associated with anatomical and signaling changes associated with endocrine function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparison of performing 12 weeks’ resistance training before, after and/or in between aerobic exercise on the hormonal status of aged women. Materials and methods Forty healthy aged women (age: 67.35 ± 1.40 years) were randomly divided into three training groups and a control group: resistance followed by endurance training (ER, n = 12), endurance training followed by resistance training (RE, n = 12, interval resistance-endurance (RE) training (INT, n = 12) and a control (Con, n = 12) groups. The training program was done over 12 weeks, 3 times per week. Endurance training was performed on a cycle ergometer (intensity: 60–90% maximum heart rate) and resistance training involved selected resistance exercises (intensity: 40–75 one-repetition maximum, 8–18 repeats). All participants were evaluated before and after the training period. Results and conclusion The data showed that performing resistance training before, after and/or in between aerobic exercise did not influence the adaptive response of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) (p = 0.07), growth hormone (p = 0.35), cortisol (p = 0.20), insulin (p = 0.72), epinephrine (p = 0.83) and norepinephrine (p = 0.86) levels throughout the study. However, when comparing pre and post, no significant differences were shown following combined training within the SE, ES and INT groups for all variables (p < 0.05), except of IGF-1 within ES (p = 0.04) and SE (p = 0.02), and testosterone within ES (p = 0.007). In conclusion, combined training with RE order may be more effective than other orders for increasing anabolic status in aged women.

In this report, we propose a study protocol capable of improving IVF outcomes in subfertile women with expected normal ovarian response. This proposal derives from conflicting published data and observations in our daily practice, concerning the negative impact of progesterone (P4) elevation at the day of oocyte triggering on pregnancy outcomes. Our hypothesis points to the combination of two previous “suspects” of reduced success after assisted reproduction techniques (ART) – the endometrium ultrasonographic parameters and P4 elevation at the day of oocyte triggering on their impact on pregnancy outcomes. Up-to-the minute data show that, there is a different impact of elevated P4 in fresh, frozen and donor cycles, whereas there are plenty of reports pointing to a different endometrial gene expression on different P4 measurements. Gaps in the literature are linked with a variation of the measurements of P4, its cycle-to-cycle reproducibility, the different cut-off levels used, the impact of various protocols of ovarian stimulation and the limitations of systematic reviews originating from the initial studies. Our hypothesis states that the combination of P4 values and endometrial ultrasound parameters at the day of oocyte triggering can affect clinical pregnancy rates in normal responders undergoing ART.