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Biomedical subjects

J Pucsok

Publications and source records attributed to J Pucsok.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Antioxidant status of interval-trained athletes in various sports.

Muscular exercise results in an increased production of free radicals and other forms of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further, developing evidence implicates cytotoxins as an underlying etiology of exercise-induced stimuli in muscle redox status, which could result in muscle fatigue and/or injury. Two major classes of endogenous protective mechanisms (enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants) work together to reduce the harmful effects of oxidants in the cell. This study examined the effects of acute physical exercise on the enzymatic antioxidant systems of different athletes and comparison was made to the mechanism of action of three main antioxidant enzymes in the blood. Handball players (n = 6), water-polo players (n = 20), hockey players (n = 22), basketball players (n = 24), and a sedentary control group (n = 10 female and n = 9 male) served as the subjects of this study. The athletes were divided into two groups according to the observed changes of activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme. The antioxidant enzyme systems were characterized by catalase (CAT), glutathione-peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide-dismutase (SOD) and measured by spectrophotometry. An important finding in the present investigation is that when the activities of SOD increased, the activities of GPX and CAT increased also and this finding related to the physical status of interval-trained athletes. Positive correlation between SOD and GPX activities was observed (r = 0.38 females, r = 0.56 males; p < 0.05). We have observed that the changes in the primary antioxidant enzyme systems of athletes are sport specific, and different from control subjects. Presumably, with interval-trained athletes, hydrogen-peroxide is significantly eliminated by glutathione-peroxidase. From these results it can be concluded that the blood redox status should be taken into consideration when establishing a fitness level for individual athletes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

The role of insertion allele of angiotensin converting enzyme gene in higher endurance efficiency and some aspects of pathophysiological and drug effects.

BACKGROUND: None of the genetic markers are selectively associated with elite athletes, but potential candidates are found in the renin-angiotensin system, which plays a key role in the regulation of cardiovascular physiology. The most extensively examined gene in connection with the hemodynamics category is the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). This review paper has focused on ACE I/D allele polymorphism regarding the evidence of the effects of physiological and pathophysiological drugs and has completed with an original work in the exercise physiology. METHODS: In this study we examined genetic polymorphisms of ACE in female (n=26) and male (n=24) athletes as well as in a well-trained control group (n=24). MVV(ex), VE and VO(2max) were determined at rest and during an exhaustive step test. RESULTS: The frequency of the ACE I allele was significantly higher (p<0.041) in the group showing a higher intensity of breathing metabolism. The ACE D allele frequency was significantly higher in the excellent endurance athletes group than in unsuccessful athletes (p<0.054). CONCLUSION: The ACE I allele is a genetic marker for higher endurance efficiency in acute physical activity and higher adaptation of the cardiovascular system. The measurement of acute physical status needs to be completed with examination of genotype, which is related to the athletic excellence also, because the D allele could be associated with good performance by endurance athletes in future world championships. Further studies are needed to assess the view that the ACE D allele has a significant role in athletic efficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Super-marathon race increases serum and urinary nitrotyrosine and carbonyl levels.

BACKGROUND: In normal conditions, proteins are not present in the urine, however, exercise of long duration could result in proteinurea. Increased levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are formed during exhaustive physical exercise and causes alterations to cellular proteins. MATERIALS: In the present study serum and urinary nitrotyrosine and protein carbonyl levels were measured before and after each run of a 4-day super-marathon race. RESULT: Serum nitrotyrosine and protein carbonyl levels increased after the first (93 km) day running and reached a plateau on the second (120 km), third (56 km) and forth (59 km) days of the competition. A significant correlation was found between urinary and serum protein carbonyl and nitrotyrosine levels (r=0.78, r=0.71, respectively). A large percentage of urinary proteins were carbonylated and nitrated. Therefore, it appears that clearance of oxidized proteins in certain conditions occurs not only by the proteolytic pathways but also by filtration and urination. CONCLUSION: Data reveals that exhaustive aerobic exercise causes oxidative stress and increases the nitration and carbonylation of serum proteins. The presence of carbonyl and nitrotyrosine in proteins of the urine might reflect oxidative stress and could serve as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for exercise physiology.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Regular exercise improves cognitive function and decreases oxidative damage in rat brain.

The biochemical mechanisms by which regular exercise significantly benefits health and well being, including improved cognitive function, are not well understood. Four-week-old (young) and 14-month-old (middle aged) Wistar rats were randomly assigned to young control and young exercised, middle-aged control and middle-aged exercised groups. Exercise groups were exposed to a swimming regime of 1 h a day, 5 days a week for 9 weeks. The passive avoidance test showed that middle-aged exercised rats had significantly (P<0.05) better short- (24 h) and long-term (72 h) memory than aged-matched control rats. Conditioned pole-jumping avoidance learning was improved markedly in both age groups by exercise. Brain thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine content in the DNA did not change significantly, while the protein carbonyl levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) in both exercised groups. This decrease was accompanied by an increase in the chymotrypsin-like activity of proteasome complex in the exercised groups, whereas trypsin-like activity did not differ significantly between all groups. The DT-diaphorase activity increased significantly (P<0.05) in the brain of young exercised animals. These data show that swimming training improves some cognitive functions in rats, with parallel attenuation of the accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Exercise preconditioning against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative damage in proteins of rat myocardium.

Both regular physical exercise and low levels of H(2)O(2) administration result in increased resistance to oxidative stress. We measured the accumulation of reactive carbonyl derivatives and the activities of proteasome complex and DT-diaphorase in cardiac muscle of trained and untrained rats after chronic i.p. administration of 1 ml t-butyl H(2)O(2) (1 mmol/kg for 3 weeks every second day). Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to a control group administered with saline, control administered with H(2)O(2), and exercised administered either saline or H(2)O(2). The activity of DT-diaphorase significantly increased in H(2)O(2) administered and exercised groups, indicating that an increase in H(2)O(2) levels stimulate the activity of this enzyme. The cardiac muscle of H(2)O(2) administered nonexercised animals accumulated significantly more carbonyl than control group (P < 0.05). The exercise and H(2)O(2) administration resulted in less oxidatively modified protein than found in nonexercised groups (P < 0.05). The peptide-like activity of proteasome complex was induced by the treatment of H(2)O(2) and exercise and exercise potentiate the effect of H(2)O(2). On the other hand, the chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like activities were stimulated only by physical training and H(2)O(2) administration. The data suggest that chronic administration of H(2)O(2) after exercise training decreases the accumulation of carbonyl groups below the steady-state level and induces the activity of proteasome and DT-diaphorase. Hence, the stimulating effect of physical exercise on free radical generation is an important phenomenon of the exercise-induced adaptation process since it increases resistance to oxidative stress. Regular exercise training is a valuable physiological means of preconditioning the myocardium to prolonged oxidative stress.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1999

Muscle soreness-induced reduction in force generation is accompanied by increased nitric oxide content and DNA damage in human skeletal muscle.

We examined the effect of exercise-induced muscle soreness on maximal force generation, tissue nitric oxide (NO) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) content in human skeletal muscle. Female volunteers were assigned to control (C) and muscle soreness (MS) groups (n = 6 in each). MS group performed 200 eccentric muscle actions of the rectus femoris to induce muscle soreness. Maximal force generation was measured 24 h before and after exercise in both groups. Needle biopsy samples were assayed for NO content with electron spin resonance spectroscopy after ex vivo spin trapping, and 8-OHdG content were measured with an enzyme-linked immuno assay. Maximal force decreased by 11+/-5.4% (p < .05) 24 h after exercise in MS group. Muscle soreness increased NO and 8-OHdG contents from their control values of 0.39+/-0.08 arbitrary units and 0.035+/-0.004 pmol/micromol DNA to 0.96+/-0.05 (p < .05) arbitrary units and 0.044+/-0.005 (p < .05) pmol/micromol DNA, respectively. This is the first demonstration that muscle soreness-induced decrease in maximal force generation is a result of an increase in muscular NO content and associated with enhanced formation of 8-OHdG in human skeletal muscle.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗
PubMed1990

Chromatographic studies on the binding, action and metabolism of (-)-deprenyl.

Serum binding, the effect on striatal dopamine release and the metabolism of (-)-deprenyl [N-methyl-N-propargyl(2-phenyl-1-methyl)ethylammonium chloride], TZ-650 [N-methyl-N-propargyl(2-phenyl)ethylammonium chloride] and J-508 [N-methyl-N-propargyl(indanyl)ammonium chloride] were investigated using various chromatographic methods. A strong interaction between (-)-deprenyl and macroglobulins was found. Deprenyl enhanced the dopamine release from striatal slices of the rat brain and also inhibited the dopamine-DOPAC conversion. Deprenyl analogues showed either smaller or no effect. Hydroxylation of (-)-deprenyl takes place in the para position, in addition to the usual oxidative N-dealkylations, which are known from various metabolic studies on N-substituted phenylalkylamines.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Separation of lipids by new thin-layer chromatography and overpressured thin-layer chromatography methods.

New methods were developed for the separation of major lipid classes varying in polarity from cholesterol esters to lysophosphatidylcholine. The methods were used for the analysis of extracts obtained from human sera. The lipids were separated by overpressured thin-layer chromatography, classical thin-layer chromatography, and one-dimensional thin layer chromatography, using six different solvent systems for development. These techniques are also suitable to separate unsaturated and saturated cholesterol esters according to the number of carbon atoms and double bond numbers of their constituent fatty acids.

Cholesterol Esters↗
PubMed1988

Platelet aggregation, lipids and excretion of catecholamines after acute physical exercise in patients with myocardial infarction.

The effect of acute physical exercise and a four-month conditioning program on cardiovascular risk factors was investigated in patients with myocardial infarction. The bicycle exercise testing caused a moderate rise in urinary epinephrine, serum cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels. The changes in platelet aggregation and urinary catecholamines were markedly greater in the group with exercise induced ischaemic changes. Under the effect of the conditioning program a significant improvement in the performance capacity and circulatory response could be observed. The direction of changes in platelet aggregation and in the lipid parameters were favourable too.

Catecholamines↗
PubMed1985

Lung maturation and prevention of hyaline membrane disease.

Small pieces of 7 to 12 week old human foetal lung, derived from legal abortions, were maintained in organ culture for 21 days. In the last 5 days of cultivation the explants were treated with dexamethasone (10 ng/ml) or betamethasone (10 ng/ml) or fenoterol (10 ng/ml), or fenoterol + dexamethasone, or bromhexine VIII metabolite (ambroxol: 12 ng/ml) and were then prepared for electronmicroscopic examination. In another experimental group the pregnant were treated before the interruption of 14-17-week old pregnancies with ambroxol (total dose, 1080 mg). The interruption was carried out with PgF2 alpha, and lung pieces were immediately prepared for electron microscopic examination. From the experiments the following conclusions can be drawn: Surfactant production can already be induced in 7-12 week old human fetal pneumocytes; Corticosteroids (dexamethasone, betamethasone) stimulate the formation of osmiophilic lamellar bodies; Fenoterol has probably no effect on the surfactant production. Its administration together with dexamethasone, however, does not inhibit the development of osmiophilic lamellar bodies; Ambroxol has a marked effect on the synthesis of lamellar bodies in vitro: Ambroxol or its active metabolite probably have a reduced placental transport in the first trimester of human pregnancy; Thin-layer chromatography has revealed no qualitative difference between the treated and untreated cultures.

Ambroxol↗
PubMed1976

Intermittent cerebral symptoms in type V hyperlipoproteinemia.

A case with central nervous symptoms in type V hyperlipoproteinemia was described. The 39-year-old male patient suffered from abdominal pains after fatty meals since childhood. After the age of 31 he developed attacks of cephaleas. Headaches were associated with vertigo, paresis and paresthesia of the limbs and loss of consciousness in some instances. During antilipemic treatment combined with a diet of restricted fat and carbohydrate content the patient became free of complaints. Authors emphasize the impairment of cerebral circulation and tissue hypoxia in the development of cerebral disturbances in hyperlipoproteinemia. The mechanism of the development of hypoxia is discussed.

Adult↗