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Cytokines, such as interleukins, are crucial in regulating critical cell signaling pathways as well as being major contributors to inflammatory response and are upregulated during ligament and tendon injuries. The genes encoding key interleukins, such as IL1B and IL6 as well as interleukin receptor IL6R, were chosen as candidate genes for association with soft tissue injuries. The aim of the case-control study was to verify the hypothesis that sequence variants rs1143627, rs16944, rs1800795, rs2228145 in the IL1B, IL6 and IL6R genes are associated with ACL rupture susceptibility in a Polish population. Among four analyzed SNPs, the rs1800795 IL6 gene polymorphism was found to be the only one significantly associated with ACL rupture (p = 0.010, p = 0.022, p = 0.004 for codominant, recessive and overdominant models, respectively; odds ratio = 1.74, 95% CI 1.08-2.81, sex adjusted p = 0.032 for recessive model). With reference to the other analyzed polymorphisms, we failed to show significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies for IL6R rs2228145as well as IL1B rs16944 and rs1143627 (analyzed alone or in haplotype combination) between the ACL rupture group and the healthy control group among Polish participants. Due to the nature of case-control studies, the results of this study need to be confirmed in independent studies with larger sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen alpha-1(V) chain, encoded by the COL5A1 gene, plays a crucial role in abundant fibrillar collagens supporting many tissues in the body containing type I collagen and appears to regulate the association between heterotypic fibers composed of both type I and type V collagen occurring among others in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Taking this fact into consideration we decided to examine the association between COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946 polymorphisms, individually and as inferred haplotypes, with anterior cruciate ligament rupture risk (ACLR) in professional soccer players. A total of 134 male professional soccer players with surgically diagnosed primary anterior cruciate ligament ruptures and 211 apparently healthy male professional soccer players, who were without any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury, were included in the study. Both the cases and the healthy controls were recruited from the same soccer teams, of a similar age category, and had a comparable level of exposure to anterior cruciate ligament injury. Genomic DNA was extracted from oral epithelial cells using GenElute Mammalian Genomic DNA MiniprepKit. All samples were genotyped for the rs12722 and rs13946 polymorphisms using a Rotor-Gene realtime polymerase chain reaction. Statistically significant differences in the genotype frequencies for the COL5A1 rs13946 polymorphisms in dominant modes of inheritance occurred (p = 0.039). Statistically significant differences were documented only in the dominant model under the representation tendency of the C-C haplotype in the ACLR group compared to controls (p = 0.038). Our results suggest that variation in the COL5A1 gene may be one of the non-modifiable factors associated with the ACL injury in professional soccer players. The C-C rs12722-rs13946 haplotype provides a protective effect against the ACL tear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among genetic variants of the ADIPOQ gene +276 G>T (rs1501299) and -11377 G>C (rs266729) are the most frequently investigated polymorphisms which were described in the context of genetic conditioning for a predisposition to obesity. However, the information of polymorphisms' potential modifying effect on obesity-related traits achieved through training procedures are still unknown. DNA was extracted from buccal cells donated by the 201 participants and genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR. The genotype distribution was examined in a group of women measured for chosen traits before and after the completion of a 12-week training programme. Our results suggest that the ADIPOQ genotypes analyzed individually or in combination can modulate training-induced body mass measurements changes: after the training programme, carriers of rs1501299 T allele and rs266729 C allele were characterized by a greater reduction in fat mass percentage (FM), fat mass, and body mass. Moreover, the ADIPOQ polymorphisms were associated with changes in lipid profile in response to training. Additionally, we showed three main effects of genotypes for the FM, LDL-C (rs266729), and TBW (rs1501299). Our study indicate that the both polymorphisms are associated with changes in obesity-related traits in response to 12-week aerobic training programme in Caucasian women. From this evidence, it could be concluded that rs1501299 G and rs266728 G variants may be considered as disadvantageous factor in the context of training-induced effects on body mass traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background During the early adulthood health promoting behaviors are created, but also risky behaviors increase. The research of health behavior is believed to be currently a valid method for estimating the health status of the population. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the health behaviors of young adults studying at various courses in Bydgoszcz universities. Material/Methods The study involved 313 people studying in the fields of health and engineering. The study used the Inventory of Health Behaviors (IoHB) by Z. Juczyński. Results Throughout the treatment group an average level of health-related behavior was shown. The highest level of health-related behavior has been shown in a group of students of Nutrition, the lowest in the group of students of Construction. The results of the students related to health were higher than the results of engineering courses. The women's results were higher than men's results. Conclusions Special attention should be paid to health education of young people in order to form proper pro-health attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Swimming has become a very popular form of physical activity mainly due to its wholesome influence on the human body. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of swimming training on the functional mobility and flexibility of young female swimmers. It is believed that swimming has a beneficial impact on the basic flexibility and functional mobility parameters. Material and Methods. Nine young female swimmers, members of the swimming team from 5th Secondary Sport School in Bydgoszcz took part in the study. The girls' functional mobility and flexibility in were determined twice the sagittal plane with the use of the FMS test and "Eurofit" test, respectively. The bend of the torso in the frontal plane was also assessed. The differences in results were measured with Student's t-test, and the value of changes was determined using the Mollison index. Results. A slight increase in the final FMS test result was noted in the second examination, compared with the first one: from 16.88 ± 1.76 to 17.22 ± 2.28. In 25-35% of cases the risk of overloading muscles as well as the positive impact of training on flexibility levels in the sagittal and frontal planes (during a bend to the left) was detected: from 26.44 ± 9.73 to 29.66 ± 7.92, and from 23.33 ± 2.45 to 25.11 ± 3.18, respectively. The Mollison index revealed the most positive results in the rotational stability of the torso (1.65) and the range of the lateral bend to the left (0.73), while negative values were only found in the in-line lunge and chest mobility range (-0.42). Conclusions. The results of the study confirm that swimming training has a positive impact on the body of young swimmers (increased mobility and flexibility). It is of vital importance to undertake further research on the effects of swimming on the mobility of the human body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. A common polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme I gene (the ACE I/D variant) represents one of the first characterized and the most widely studied genetic variants in the context of elite athletes status and performance related traits. The aim of the study was to determine the genotype and allele distribution of the allele and genotype of the ACE gene in Polish male football players. Methods. The total of 106 Polish male professional football players were recruited. They were divided into groups according to the position in the field: forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers. For controls, samples were prepared with 115 unrelated volunteers. DNA was extracted from the buccal cells donated by the subjects, and the PCR amplification of the polymorphic region of the ACE gene containing either the insertion (I) or deletion (D) fragment was performed. Results. The genotype distribution and allele frequencies among all football players did not differ significantly when compared with sedentary control individuals (p = 0.887, p = 0.999, respectively). Likewise, the analysis of forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers revealed no significant differences in either ACE genotype or allele frequencies. Conclusions. We did not provide evidence for difference of variation of the ACE I/D polymorphism between Polish football players and controls, as we did not obtain any statistically significantly higher frequency of either of the analysed alleles (I and D) or genotypes (DD, ID, and II) in the studied subgroups. It may be suspected that harbouring of I/D allelic variants of the ACE gene neither decreases nor increases the probability of being a professional football player in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The incidence of low back pain has led to the search of the most optimal methods of treatment of this condition, including physical therapy. The study focuses on three such methods: peloid therapy, ultrasound therapy, and magnet therapy. Material and Methods. The study sample comprised 70 patients with chronic low back pain resulting from the overload pain syndrome and/or degenerative changes of the joints of the spine. The patients were divided into three groups undergoing three different types of physical therapy: Group I - peat therapy, Group II - ultrasound therapy, and Group III - a wide range of magnet therapy. The VAS scale, Laitinen's questionnaire, Schober's test and Oswestry Disability Index were used to assess the effectiveness of the therapeutic methods. Results. In each group of patients, a statistically significant improvement was attained in all tested variables. Comparing the results between treatment groups, a statistically significant difference in the results of the VAS scale was found (with the best results in the group undergoing ultrasound therapy). Posttherapy results of Laitinen's questionnaire, Schober test and the Oswestry Disability Index revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions. Peloid therapy, ultrasound therapy and magnet therapy used on patients with low back pain, showed analgesic effects, increased patients' physical activity, and decreased their degree of disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Gonarthrosis is the most common form of osteoarthritis and it is included in the group of civilization diseases. Searching for the optimal treatment of this disease is still ongoing. Physical treatment methods play an important role. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser therapy and cryotherapy in the treatment of the symptoms of degenerative changes in the knee joint. Material/Methods The study involved 40 patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 20) were patients who used low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Group II (n = 20) were patients who used cryotherapy. Before and after surgery, all patients were examined in the following areas: assessment of pain using the VAS (Visual- -Analogue Scale); Pain assessment questionnaire modified by Laitinen; Sit-up test; measurement of circumference of knee joints. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 12.5. Results The study has demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the reduction of pain, a reduction in the swelling of knee joints and an improvement in the functionality of patients in both groups, with no statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Both low level laser therapy and cryotherapy proved to be effective treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy of low level laser therapy and cryotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of physical exercise on fat loss and improvement of aerobic capacity varies considerably between individuals. A strong linkage exists between common allelic variants of the adrenergic receptor genes and weight gain, as well as changes in body composition. Therefore we aimed to check if body composition and metabolic variables were modulated by the ADRB2 (Gly16Arg and Glu27Gln), ADRB3 (Trp64Arg) and ADRA2A (rs553668 G/A) gene polymorphisms in 163 Polish sedentary women (age 19-24; body mass index (BMI) 21.7 ± 0.2 kg·m-2) involved in a 12-week aerobic training program. Only 74.8% of participants lost fat mass. On average, participants lost 5.8 (10.4)% of their relative fat mass with training (range: +28.3 to - 63.6%). The improvement of VO2max was significantly greater in women who could lose their fat mass compared to women who were unsuccessful in fat loss (4.5 (5.6)% vs. 1.5 (3.8)%; p = 0.0045). The carriers of a low number (0-3) of obesity-related risk alleles (ADRB2 Gly16, ADRB2 Glu27, ADRA2A rs553668 G) were more successful in fat mass loss compared to the carriers of a high number (5-6) of risk alleles (7.7 (9.8) vs 4.0 (9.4)%, p = 0.0362). The presented results support the assumption that variation within adrenergic receptor genes contributes to interindividual changes of body composition in response to physical exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen alpha-1(V) chain, encoded by the COL5A1 gene, plays a crucial role in abundant fibrillar collagens supporting many tissues in the body containing type I collagen and appears to regulate the association between heterotypic fibers composed of both type I and type V collagen occurring among others in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Taking this fact into consideration we decided to examine the association between COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946 polymorphisms, individually and as inferred haplotypes, with anterior cruciate ligament rupture risk (ACLR) in professional soccer players. A total of 134 male professional soccer players with surgically diagnosed primary anterior cruciate ligament ruptures and 211 apparently healthy male professional soccer players, who were without any self-reported history of ligament or tendon injury, were included in the study. Both the cases and the healthy controls were recruited from the same soccer teams, of a similar age category, and had a comparable level of exposure to anterior cruciate ligament injury. Genomic DNA was extracted from oral epithelial cells using GenElute Mammalian Genomic DNA MiniprepKit. All samples were genotyped for the rs12722 and rs13946 polymorphisms using a Rotor-Gene realtime polymerase chain reaction. Statistically significant differences in the genotype frequencies for the COL5A1 rs13946 polymorphisms in dominant modes of inheritance occurred (p = 0.039). Statistically significant differences were documented only in the dominant model under the representation tendency of the C-C haplotype in the ACLR group compared to controls (p = 0.038). Our results suggest that variation in the COL5A1 gene may be one of the non-modifiable factors associated with the ACL injury in professional soccer players. The C-C rs12722-rs13946 haplotype provides a protective effect against the ACL tear.