Comparison of the level of physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with limited physical activity (PA) of most of the world's population. This cross-sectional prospective study aimed to assess the levels of PA of university students in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia after COVID-19 using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF).

METHODS

A total of 2635 students completed questionnaires regarding their PA levels using the IPAQ-SF between September and December 2022.

RESULTS

PA measured by metabolic equivalent of task (MET) scores, varied between the three countries: Slovakia median MET-minutes/week score 4459.9; Czech Republic 3838.8 Poland 3567.1. The results of the post hoc analysis revealed there were significant differences in MET-minutes/week values between the Czech Republic and Poland (p < 0.035) as well as between the Czech Republic and Slovakia (p < 0.037). The analysis of energetic expenditure during walking revealed that students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia had higher median MET-min/weeks values (Czech 2284.1; Slovak 2467.1) compared to their Polish (1536.1) peers (p < 0.001). Polish cohort presented with significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) than Czech and Slovak groups (BMI Czech: 22.3; Slovak 22.8; Polish 23.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Significant differences in PA levels between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia university students were identified. Slovakia showed the highest median PA measured as a MET score, and Poland showed the lowest. Compared to available pre-COVID studies it seems the total level of PA in the observed cohorts has not returned to the pre-COVID levels and students remain less active.

Arterial stiffness in relation to subclinical atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

Increased arterial stiffness or arteriosclerosis, represents a physiological part of ageing. Atherosclerosis is a process that does not affect the arterial bed uniformly but has a variable local distribution and is frequently superimposed on stiffened vessels. We therefore addressed the question of whether any correlation exists between the general characteristics of arterial stiffness or wave reflection and subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in a sample of healthy subjects.

METHODS

A total of 116 healthy subjects (mean age 55 years, 43 female) were evaluated. Arterial stiffness and wave reflection was assessed with the use of digital volume pulse analysis (DVP) and pulse wave analysis (PWA). Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measurement of IMT.

RESULTS

Stiffness Index (SI(DVP)), the measure of general arterial stiffness correlated significantly with IMT (r = 0.37, P < 0.01). IMT correlated significantly with age (r = 0.5, P < 0.0001), waist to hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.39, P < 0.0001) and mean blood pressure (BPmean) (r = 0.4, P < 0.0001). IMT did not correlate with measures of wave reflection. SI(DVP) correlated significantly with age (r = 0.32, P < 0.005), WHR (r = 0.36, P < 0.0001), BPmean (r = 0.36, P < 0.0001) and measurements of wave reflection. However analysis of a model which included variables that significantly influenced SI(DVP) and IMT, such as age, WHR and mean BP showed that arterial stiffness is not independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The indices of subclinical atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness and wave reflection, indicate different aspects of vascular status in otherwise healthy subjects.

Functional dissection of Escherichia coli trigger factor: unraveling the function of individual domains

In Escherichia coli, the ribosome-associated chaperone Trigger Factor (TF) promotes the folding of newly synthesized cytosolic proteins. TF is composed of three domains: an N-terminal domain (N), which mediates ribosome binding; a central domain (P), which has peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase activity and is involved in substrate binding in vitro; and a C-terminal domain (C) with unknown function. We investigated the contributions of individual domains (N, P, and C) or domain combinations (NP, PC, and NC) to the chaperone activity of TF in vivo and in vitro. All fragments comprising the N domain (N, NP, NC) complemented the synthetic lethality of Deltatig DeltadnaK in cells lacking TF and DnaK, prevented protein aggregation in these cells, and cross-linked to nascent polypeptides in vitro. However, DeltatigDeltadnaK cells expressing the N domain alone grew more slowly and showed less viability than DeltatigDeltadnaK cells synthesizing either NP, NC, or full-length TF, indicating beneficial contributions of the P and C domains to TF's chaperone activity. In an in vitro system with purified components, none of the TF fragments assisted the refolding of denatured d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in a manner comparable to that of wild-type TF, suggesting that the observed chaperone activity of TF fragments in vivo is dependent on their localization at the ribosome. These results indicate that the N domain, in addition to its function to promote binding to the ribosome, has a chaperone activity per se and is sufficient to substitute for TF in vivo.

Chronopharmacokinetics of amitriptyline in rats

The circadian changes in absorption, tissue distribution and elimination of amitriptyline after single intravenous (i.v.) and intragastric (i.g.) administration, as well as the differences in pharmacokinetic profile after multiple i.g. administration (at 10:00 and 22:00 h) during a 12 h dosing interval, were investigated. The circadian changes of pharmacokinetic parameters of amitriptyline such as AUC (serum and tissues), clearance (i.v. and i.g.), volume of distribution, biological half-life and bioavailability were estimated. Acrophases for clearance appeared between 19:00 and 21:00 h; the bioavailability was highest during the dark phase at around 04:00 h. Higher values of AUC in serum were observed at the beginning of the light phase. A circadian rhythm of tissue distribution (AUC, K(D)) of amitriptyline with acrophase in the dark phase was observed for brain (12 h period), lung and liver (24 h), but not for heart or kidney. After single (i.v. and i.g.) amitriptyline administration, concentrations of its major metabolite, nortriptyline, were negligible; however, after ten doses, nortriptyline serum and tissue levels were similar to the concentrations of the parent drug with higher values during the day (light phase).

[Neurological aspects of two patients with non-mosaic and mosaic polysomy of the X and Y chromosomes]

Clinical features were compared of a patient with the 48,XXYY karyotype and a case of 47,XXY/48,XXYY mosaicism. In the former patient tremor of the upper extremities of unclear aetiology was present. In both cases epilepsy was suspected. Similarly as in other cases of 48,XXYY karyotype the first patient had skeletal anomalies, abnormalities of dermatoglyphics and personality changes. These features are rarely found in Klinefelter syndrome. The differences in relation to the syndrome were less evident in the case of mosaicism 47,XXY/48,XXYY.

Effect of ethanol dose on its chronopharmacokinetics in the rats

Circadian changes in the elimination of ethanol after its administration in the rats in two doses: low (1.5 g/kg) and high (4.5 g/kg) were investigated. Circadian rhythm in ethanol pharmacokinetics (AUC, CLpo, t1/2) was observed after the low dose but not after the high one. The maximum rate of elimination was in the dark (active) phase at 1 am. The maximum value of clearance was related to the minimum value of AUC. Although the maximum and the minimum values of Vmax and KM differed essentially the diurnal variation were not observed.

N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol: two novel metabolites of tetrachloroethene in humans after occupational exposure

The excretion of tetrachloroethene metabolites in urine was studied in occupationally exposed workers to identify and quantify metabolites formed by glutathione conjugation and by cytochrome P450 oxidation of tetrachloroethene in humans. The glutathione conjugation pathway has been implicated in the chronic toxicity and possible tumorigenicity of tetrachloroethene to the kidney in rats. The biosynthesis of S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)glutathione and N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in humans had not been demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the biotransformation of tetrachloroethene in humans occupationally exposed during dry cleaning. Tetrachloroethene concentrations in the air of the dry cleaning shop were 50 +/- 4 ppm; two individuals were exposed for 8 hr daily and two individuals were exposed for 4 hr daily. In urine samples collected from the individuals at the beginning and at the end of the work week, N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol as tetrachloroethene metabolites in humans were identified by GC/MS. The concentrations of N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in the urine of the individuals were not significantly different at the start and at the end of the work week; however, concentrations of both N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine and 2,2,2-trichloro compounds (trichloroacetic acid and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol) as a marker for cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism were proportional to the length of daily tetrachloroethene exposure. A remarkable difference in the excretion pattern of 2,2,2-trichloro compounds, the major tetrachloroethene metabolites, was observed. Trichloroacetic acid and 2,2,2-trichloroethanol were present in the urine of two of the exposed individuals. Only 2,2,2-trichloroethanol was identified as a major urinary tetrachloroethene metabolite in two other individuals who did not excrete detectable amounts of trichloroacetic acid. The obtained results indicate that humans also have the ability to biosynthesize nephrotoxic glutathione S-conjugates from tetrachloroethene; however, when compared with rats, the human capacity for the biosynthesis of N-acetyl-S-(1,2,2-trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine seems to be lower.

Inhibitory action of cimetidine on antipyrine metabolism

The influence of cimetidine on the activity of microsomal enzymes in vivo using the simple one-sample antipyrine test was investigated. The calculated antipyrine clearance unequivocally indicates the dose-dependent effect of cimetidine on the microsomal biotransformation of antipyrine. The IC50 of cimetidine inhibitory effect was 39.9 mg/kg. The duration of the effect was approximately 12 h and the lowest antipyrine clearance was observed 0.5 h following cimetidine administration. The in vivo results were confirmed by an in vitro study. Km for global metabolic processes of antipyrine in vitro was 1.3 mM. Vmax 9.1 nM/mg/min for control was decreased to 3.1 nM/mg/min after addition of cimetidine (4 mM). The inhibition constant of cimetidine determined by the method of Dixon, was 2.8 mM. Inhibition of antipyrine metabolism by cimetidine was noncompetitive.

Circadian changes in the elimination of amitriptyline in rats

The circadian changes in elimination and absorption of amitriptyline after its intravenous and intragastric administration in rats were investigated. The values of such parameters as: AUC, MRT, t1/2, Cl, Vd, k(a) for amitriptyline change in the circadian rhythm. The fastest elimination of amitriptyline was observed in the dark phase (the acrophases for clearance were ca. 11 p.m. for iv administration and ca. 10 p.m. for po administration). The maximal value of clearance corresponds to the minimal values of MRT and t1/2. The acrophase for the constant absorption rate (po) falls at 7 p.m. Cyclic changes were not observed as far as the bioavailability is concerned.

[Subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured intracranial aneurysm and surgical procedures as a cause of neuropsychological disorders]

The results of preoperative and postoperative examinations in 30 patients operated on for ruptured intracranial aneurysm are reported. The examinations included neuropsychological, neurological and EEG assessment. The agreements and divergencies in the assessment of the condition of the patients by these methods were analysed suggesting the necessity of consideration of psychological disturbances as a consequence of the disease in the general evaluation of the therapeutic results in such cases.

[Neuropsychological catamnesis in cases of intracranial aneurysm]

The authors analyzed the results of neuropsychological examinations in 30 cases in which a single intracranial aneurysm had been excluded from circulation. The neuropsychological assessment of the higher mental functions was carried out using a set of tests of A. R. Luria in all cases and repeated thrice, comparing the results with those of neurological examination and EEG. The condition of the patients was evaluated using a three-grade scale. In the group of cases with aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery a divergence was observed between the results of neuropsychological examination and neurological examination. The patients achieved not infrequently, very good and good Grades in neurological examination and unsatisfactory in neuropsychological examination and unsatisfactory in neuropsychological examination. A similar divergence was observed also when the aneurysm was situated in other cerebral arteries. On the other hand, considerable similarities were found between the neuropsychological assessment and the result of EEG (with regard to the location, of disturbances and their intensity). Neuropsychological examination made possible detection and determination of the dynamic development of defects in the functions of higher psychic activities inaccessible for routine neurological examination, but having a very important effect on the everyday functions of the patient.