The aim of the present study was to examine the acute effect of an ultra-endurance performance on N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac specific troponin T (cTnT), creatinine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), ischemia modified albumin (IMA), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) and cardiovascular function. Cardiac biomarkers were evaluated in 14 male ultra-marathoners (age 40 ± 12 years) during a 24 h ultra-marathon at five points (i.e., Pre-race; Marathon, 12-h run, 24-h run, and 48-h post-race). All subjects underwent baseline echocardiography assessment at least 10 days prior to the ultra-marathon and 48 h post-race. The average distance covered during the race was 149.4 ± 33.0 km. Running the ultra-marathon led to a progressive increase in hsCRP and H-FABP concentrations (p < 0.001). CK-MB and cTnT levels were higher after a 24-h run compared to pre-race (p < 0.05). Diastolic function was altered post-race characterized by a reduction in peak early to late diastolic filling (p < 0.01). Running an ultra-marathon significantly stimulates specific cardiac biomarkers; however, the dynamic of secretion of biomarkers linked to myocardium ischemia were differentially regulated during the ultra-marathon race. It is suggested that both exercise duration and intensity play a crucial role in cardiovascular adaptive mechanisms and cause risk of cardiac stress in ultra-marathoners.

The aim of this study was to evaluate selected parameters of strain and rotation of the left ventricle (the basal rotation (BR) index, the basal circumferential strain (BCS) index, and the global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the left ventricle) in male athletes with physiological cardiac hypertrophy (LVH group), and athletes (non-LVH group) and non-athletes without hypertrophy (control group, CG). They were evaluated using transthoracic echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography before and after an incremental exercise test. The LVH group demonstrated lower BR at rest than the non-LVH group (p < 0.05) and the CG (p < 0.05). Physical effort had no effect on BR, nor was this effect different between groups (p > 0.05). There was a combined influence of LVH and physical effort on BR (F = 5.70; p < 0.05) and BCS (F = 4.97; p < 0.05), but no significant differences in BCS and GLS at rest between the groups. A higher BCS and lower GLS after exercise in the LVH group were demonstrated in comparison with the CG (p < 0.05). Left ventricular basal rotation as well as longitudinal and circumferential strains showed less of a difference between rest and after physical effort in subjects with significant myocardial hypertrophy. In conclusion, the obtained results may suggest that echocardiographic assessment of basal rotation and circumferential strain of the left ventricular can be important in predicting cardiac disorders caused by physical effort in individuals with physiological and pathological heart hypertrophy.

Background: Children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at high risk of having insufficient physical activity during school days and, thus, the importance of special program in promoting regular physical exercise has been largely emphasized. Therefore, this study examined the levels of physical activity and glycemia control in children with T1D, with particular focus on the relative contributions of regular physical education and physical activity program during the diabetes camp.Material and methods: Ninety-eight children suffering from T1D for 3.0 ±1.4 years free of diabetic complications participated in the study. Glycemia, insulin doses and diet were monitored, and physical activity was repeatedly measured across school days (GrS) and during the diabetes camp (GrR).Results: Physical activity of T1D children during the diabetes camp program were significantly higher compared to their regular physical education program GrS (p < 0.001). The age of study participants had a significant impact on physical activity, glycemia and daily insulin doses.Conclusions: Physical activity of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is lower compared to reference ranges for healthy population. Our findings highlighted that diabetic camps-based physical activity, in addition to regular physical education classes, could be of heath benefit in children with T1D.

Given the previous evidence that breath-hold diving is a cause of physiological stress, this study aimed to determine whether a combination static and dynamic apnea would affect total oxidant status, nitric oxide, heat shock proteins and cardiovascular parameters in elite freedivers. Thirteen finalists of the World and European championships in swimming pool breath-hold diving participated in the study. Whole-body plethysmography and electrocardiography was performed to determine the cardiorespiratory variables at baseline and during the simulation static apnea. An assessment of the heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and biochemical variables was performed before and in response to a combination of a static followed by a dynamic apnea. Static and dynamic breath-holding had a significant effect on oxidative stress, as evidenced by an increase in the total oxidant status/capacity (p &lt; 0.001). The post apnea concentrations of heat shock proteins 27 (HSP27) were significantly elevated (p &lt; 0.03, but total antioxidant status (TAS), HSP90, HSP70, and nitric oxide (NO) changes were not significant. levels under the influence of the static and dynamic breath-hold protocol. A significant positive correlation between HSPs and TAS (r = 0.63; p &lt; 0.05) as well as NO levels was associated with beneficial cardiovascular adaptation. An increase in serum HSP27 levels mediated in nitric oxide levels could explain its important role in improving cardiovascular functions in elite freedivers. Further studies are necessary to explain the exact mechanisms of breath holds training of cardiovascular adaptation responsible for maintaining adequate oxygen supply in elite divers.

The knowledge of physiological reactions enabling a diver increasing the functional reserve in a life-threatening situation is not yet complete. It is suggested that the ability to adapt to prolonged stress experienced by divers maintaining an upright position on the water surface is associated with the diver’s individual characteristics and the type of the buoyancy control device. The purpose of this study was to perform a preliminary evaluation of physiological variables in divers wearing two different types of buoyancy control device and floating upright at the surface to determine the level of safety offered by each of them. The physiological variables were measured while participants wearing a classical dive vest and a wing dive vest. The oxygen uptake and heart rate measured after 30 minutes of experiment were significantly greater in participants using wing dive vest than classical dive vest. The results confirm the possibility of using physiological indicators to compare the fatigue and rescue function in divers depending on the buoyancy control device type.