Associations between cardiac troponin I and cardiovascular parameters after 12-week endurance training in young moderately trained amateur athletes

BackgroundPrevious studies were conducted only on elite athletes, and they investigate acute training responses of cardiac troponin I (CTnI). However, cardiac troponin was found to be elevated in young and inexperienced athletes than adults, and immature myocardium is more susceptible to injury, which needs further consideration.AimTherefore, we aimed to observe the association between CTnI and cardiovascular parameters in response to chronic endurance training adaptation in young athletes.MethodsFifteen participants aged (19.5±1.3) years were selected and placed in endurance running at 70%–80% HRmax intensity for 35 min per training for the first week and additional 2 min each week from the second to the last week for 12 weeks. Serum cardiac troponin and cardiovascular parameters were assessed at pre-training and after 12 weeks of training.ResultWe find a significant CTnI level (p<0.05) and it is positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (BP) (r=0.425). Moreover, CTnI was statistically significant (p<0.01) and positively associated with mean arterial pressure (r=0.516) with a moderate correlation. Besides, CTnI showed a significant (p<0.001) and positive relationship with resting heart rate (r=0.605) and a moderate correlation. We did not find a significant relationship between CTnI and diastolic BP in response to endurance training adaptation.ConclusionIn conclusion, serum CTnI was significantly and positively associated with cardiovascular parameters in young amateur athletes in response to 12-week endurance training adaptation.

Six Weeks of Aerobic Exercise in Untrained Men With Overweight/Obesity Improved Training Adaptations, Performance and Body Composition Independent of Oat/Potato or Milk Based Protein-Carbohydrate Drink Supplementation

Background: Protein availability around aerobic exercise might benefit aerobic capacity and body composition in normal weight adults. However, it is unknown if individuals with overweight/obesity elicit similar adaptations or improve other cardiometabolic/health-related markers in response to different types of protein. Thus, our aim was to study the effect of supplementation of two different protein drinks in conjunction with exercise on aerobic capacity, body composition and blood health markers in untrained subjects with overweight or obesity.Methods: The present study measured training adaptation and health parameters over a 6 week period in untrained men with overweight/obesity (n = 28; BMI 30.4 ± 2.2 kg/m2) ingesting either plant- (Oat/Potato; n = 8) or animal-based (Milk; n = 10) protein-carbohydrate drinks (10 g of protein/serving), or a control carbohydrate drink (n = 10) acutely before and after each training session (average three sessions/week @ 70% HRmax). Pre-post intervention V˙O2peak, muscle biopsies and blood samples were collected, body composition measured (DXA) and two different exercise tests performed. Body weight was controlled with participants remaining weight stable throughout the intervention.Results: For the groups combined, the training intervention significantly increased V˙O2peak (8%; P &lt; 0.001), performance in a time-to-exhaustion trial (~ 100%; P &lt; 0.001), mitochondrial protein content and enzyme activity (~20–200%). Lean body mass increased (1%; P &lt; 0.01) and fat mass decreased (3%; P &lt; 0.01). No significant effects on fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipids or markers of immune function were observed. There were no significant interactions between drink conditions for training adaptation or blood measurements. For body composition, the Oat/Potato and carbohydrate group decreased leg fat mass significantly more than the Milk group (interaction P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: Aerobic capacity and body composition were improved and a number of mitochondrial, glycolytic and oxidative skeletal muscle proteins and enzyme activities were upregulated by a 6 week training intervention. However, none of the parameters for endurance training adaptation were influenced by protein supplementation before and after each training session.

Genetic Polymorphisms Related to VO2max Adaptation Are Associated With Elite Rugby Union Status and Competitive Marathon Performance

Purpose: Genetic polymorphisms have been associated with the adaptation to training in maximal oxygen uptake (). However, the genotype distribution of selected polymorphisms in athletic cohorts is unknown, with their influence on performance characteristics also undetermined. This study investigated whether the genotype distributions of 3 polymorphisms previously associated with training adaptation are associated with elite athlete status and performance characteristics in runners and rugby athletes, competitors for whom aerobic metabolism is important. Methods: Genomic DNA was collected from 732 men including 165 long-distance runners, 212 elite rugby union athletes, and 355 nonathletes. Genotype and allele frequencies of PRDM1 rs10499043 C/T, GRIN3A rs1535628 G/A, and KCNH8 rs4973706 T/C were compared between athletes and nonathletes. Personal-best marathon times in runners, as well as in-game performance variables and playing position, of rugby athletes were analyzed according to genotype. Results: Runners with PRDM1 T alleles recorded marathon times ∼3 minutes faster than CC homozygotes (02:27:55 [00:07:32] h vs 02:31:03 [00:08:24] h, P = .023). Rugby athletes had 1.57 times greater odds of possessing the KCNH8 TT genotype than nonathletes (65.5% vs 54.7%, χ2 = 6.494, P = .013). No other associations were identified. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that polymorphisms previously associated with training adaptations in nonathletes are also associated with marathon performance (PRDM1) and elite rugby union status (KCNH8). The genotypes and alleles previously associated with superior endurance-training adaptation appear to be advantageous in long-distance running and achieving elite status in rugby union.

Nutritional strategies to optimize performance, ­training adaptation and recovery in team sports

Team sports performance is highly demanding in terms of physiological and psychological aspects. Furthermore, the competition schedule is often time constrained and athletes need to travel between games during recovery. Therefore, it seems very important to optimize nutritional strategies around training sessions as well as while traveling or competing. This review discusses a variety of different aspects, which are important in the development of a nutritional strategy in a club. It summarizes how the medical and performance staff of a team can provide the right nutritional strategies to optimize training adaptation and recovery. Furthermore, specific nutritional aspects for female, youth and traveling athletes as well as athletes recovering from injury are discussed. Besides nutritional strategies, teams should be cautious regarding the monitoring of body composition. Choosing the right time point in the season together with selecting a reliable and valid method and measuring under standardized circumstances is essential. Furthermore, athletes need to be educated on the risks and benefits of supplement use. This can reduce the risk of a positive doping test as well as the use of unnecessary, inappropriate and ineffective supplements.

Effect of Drug Abuse Counselling Training: Adaptation of Motivational Interviewing Strategy on Empathy, Confidence, Change Behaviour Skill and Self-Esteem among Prison Officers in Sabah

The correctional officers in Sabah Prison have not received any specific training to treat drug abusers, even though they consist the highest percentages of inmates. The Adaptation of Motivational Interviewing, AMI Treatment Modules, has been used as the training module in this project. This project aims to transfer drug abuse counselling skills to 67 prison officers in Sabah. Participants were trained for 5 days with various training methods, and the instruments used were Counseling Response Questionnaires (CRQ), Confidence and Knowledge Scale (CKS), Behavior Change Counselling Index (BECCI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem. This study uses a quasi-experimental design aimed at seeing the effectiveness of AMI's training. Result from Wilcoxon signed-ranks test showed that the mean for post-test ranks was higher than the mean pre-test ranks for empathy (z = -7.14, p .05, confidence ( z = -6.95, p .05), change behavior skill (z = -5.99, p .05) as well as self- esteem (z = -4.98, p .05). In other words, the study showed that the Drug Abuse Counselling Training: Adaptation of Motivational Interviewing Strategy can promote positive effects on subject’ empathy, confidence, change behavior skill and self-esteem. Therefore, the five-day workshop based on the AMI Treatment Modules can be used as a guideline for relevant authorities such as the Malaysia Prison Department for future training programmes particularly to correctional officers. In conclusion, this project has been able to enhance empathy, confidence and behavior-changing skills as well as self-esteem among prison officers in Sabah.

TO SUSTAINABLE FUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMPLEX IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

New challenges and threats to the transport complex are caused by dangerous changes in the external environment, including a pandemic, climate change, and heightened global competition. These changes can lead to emergency situations and deterioration in the functioning of the transport complex. In the face of such dangerous changes, the efficiency, safety and stability of the functioning of the transport complex should be based on training, adaptation and self-organization.