It is widely recognized that mitochondrial dysfunction is a key component of the multifactorial process of ageing. The effects of age on individual components of mitochondrial function vary across species and strains. In this study we investigated the oxygen consumption, the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ), the sensitivity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) to calcium overload, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in heart mitochondria isolated from old compared with adult healthy Sprague-Dawley rats. Respirometry studies and Δψ measurements were performed with an Oxygraph-2k equipped with a tetraphenylphosphonium electrode. ROS production and calcium retention capacity were measured spectrofluorimetrically. Our results show an important decline for all bioenergetic parameters for both complex I and complex II supported-respiration, a decreased Δψ in mitochondria energized with complex I substrates, and an increased mitochondrial ROS production in the old compared with the adult group. Mitochondrial sensitivity to Ca²⁺-induced mPTP opening was also increased in the old compared with the adult animals. Moreover, the protective effect of cyclosporine A on mPTP opening was significantly reduced in the old group. We conclude that healthy ageing is associated with a decrease in heart mitochondria function in Sprague-Dawley rats.

High-resolution respirometry of permeabilized myocardial fibers offers reliable insights concerning the integrated mitochondrial function while using small amounts of cardiac tissue. The aim of the present study was to assess the respiratory function in permeabilized fibers of human right atrial appendages harvested from patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) (n = 6) versus patients with valvular disease (n = 5) and preserved ejection fraction that underwent non-emergency cardiac surgery. Human bundle samples (1-3 mg wet weight) permeabilized with saponin were transferred into the 2 ml Oxygraph-2 k chambers to measure complex I(CI) and II (CII)-dependent respiration, respectively. The following values (expressed in pmol/s mg) were obtained for CI-dependent respiration: oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), 35.65 ± 1.10 versus 42.43 ± 1.08, electron transport system (ETS), 37.87 ± 1.72 versus. 46.58 ± 1.85, and respiratory control ratio (RCR, calculated as the ratio between OXPHOS and LEAK states), 2.43 ± 0.09 versus 2.73 ± 0.068 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in patients with CHD we showed a significant decline for the OXPHOS capacity, ETS and RCR for mitochondria energized with CI (but not with CII) substrates. These observations are suggestive for an early impairment of complex I supported respiration in ischemic heart disease, as previously demonstrated in the setting of experimental ischemia/reperfusion in several animal species.

Introduction: The COVID-19 Pandemic started in December 2019 in China and it affected millions of people, forcing them to radically change their lifestyle.Aim: Thus, the idea of starting a study that evaluates the effects of the online media transfer on the life routine of PESF-WUT students was outlined, becoming the purpose of the present paper.Material and methods: This study consisted of analyzing a developed questionnaire applied on a study group of 334 students from PESF–WUT, which evaluated 3 aspects of our students’ life: the educational aspect, physical activity and leisure time.Results: The results revealed that COVID-19 Pandemic was a major life changing factor for our students, affecting all aspects of their daily routines. The evaluation of behavior regarding physical activity revealed that this component of our students’ life is of great importance in both the educational and leisure aspects of life.Conclusion: The study revealed that face to face, interpersonal contact has a great impact for both educational performance and the psychological and social aspect, by keeping the level of motivation at high standards. Last but not least, physical activity performed even in unusual conditions, such as Pandemic lockdowns has a great influence on stress management.

Orotic acid and its salts chronically administered have been shown to significantly improve cardiac function in pathological settings associated with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of magnesium orotate (Mg-Or) administration at the onset of post-ischemic reperfusion on myocardial function and infarct size (IS). Ex-vivo experiments performed on isolated perfused rat hearts were used to compare Mg-Or administration with a control group (buffer treated), ischemic post-conditioning, orotic acid treatment, and MgCl2 treatment. Mg-Or administration was also investigated in an in-vivo model of regional I/R performed in rats undergoing reversible coronary ligation. The effect of Mg-Or on mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening after I/R was investigated in vitro to gain mechanistic insights. Both ex-vivo and in-vivo experiments showed a beneficial effect from Mg-Or administration at the onset of reperfusion on myocardial function and IS. In-vitro assays showed that Mg-Or significantly delayed mPTP opening after I/R. Our data suggest that Mg-Or administered at the very onset of reperfusion may preserve myocardial function and reduce IS. This beneficial effect may be related to a significant reduction of mPTP opening, a usual trigger of cardiac cell death following I/R.

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) have recently emerged as important mitochondrial sources of oxidative stress in the cardiovascular system. Generation of reactive oxygen species during the brief episodes of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is responsible for the cardioprotection at reperfusion. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of two MAO inhibitors (clorgyline and pargyline) on the IPC-related protection in isolated rat hearts. Animals subjected to 30 min global ischemia and 120 min reperfusion were assigned to the following groups: (i) Control, no additional intervention; (ii) IPC, 3 cycles of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion before the index ischemia; (iii) IPC-clorgyline, IPC protocol bracketed for 5 min with clorgyline (50 μmol/L); (iv) IPC-pargyline, IPC protocol bracketed for 5 min with pargyline (0.5 mmol/L). The postischemic functional recovery was assessed by the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and the indices of contractility (+dLVP/dt max) and relaxation (-dLVP/dt max). Infarct size (IS) was quantified by TTC staining. In both genders, IPC significantly improved functional recovery that was further enhanced in the presence of either clorgyline or pargyline. IS reduction was comparable among all the preconditioned groups, regardless of the presence of MAO inhibitors. In isolated rat hearts, acute inhibition of MAOs potentiates the IPC-induced postischemic functional recovery without interfering with the anti-necrotic protection.

Introduction: The great changes that occurred in the domain of sports and physical education requested the formation of a high qualified human resource. The concept of sport science greatly supported and promoted within European academic area was adopted also by Physical Education and Sport Faculty of The Timisoara West University (PESF-TWU) that has aligned its educational offer by developing the Master degree program in the field of Fitness and Motric Performance (FMPM). Thus, the framework for preparing a highly qualified human resource, capable to adjust to the changes of the labor market was established. Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the dynamics of the professional insertion journey of FMPF Alumni. We evaluated the following category of parameters: alumni demographic indices, education level and parameters that characterize the job insertion. Results: The data analysis showed a significant increase of the alumni during the last 5 years with a particular dynamics of age distribution during the study period: 80% of the participants were included in the 28-31 years of age category. The evaluation of dynamics during the years revealed that extreme age categories: 24-27 years and > 31 years presented a constant increase during the years comparing to the most representative age category. In terms of education, over 50% of the Alumni followed complementary courses and specializations in order to increase their expertise with an interesting gender distribution in favor of male group (male: 74% vs. female: 26%, p< 0.0001). Referring to the parameters that characterize job insertion data showed an increased speed in terms of first job employment: 82% of the Alumni were employed within a 6 month interval after graduation and only 3.8% of the Alumni are jobless even after 3 years. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicate that FMPM Alumni are well trained and able to adapt to the specific labor market needs in the field of sports and physical activity and education, suggesting that PESF-TWU through its education programs respects the high standards of performance promoted by the TWU.

Acute administration of magnesium orotate (Mg-Or) at reperfusion has been previously shown to elicit significant protection in isolated rat hearts. Since recovery of mitochondrial function is mandatory for cardioprotection, the present study was aimed at characterising the effects of Mg-Or on mitochondrial respiration. Isolated male adult rat hearts (n=6/group) subjected to 30 min global ischaemia and 120 min reperfusion were randomised to receive: (i) no additional intervention (Ctrl); (ii) Mg-Or at 28 min of ischaemia (Mg-Or-28I) and (iii) Mg-Or at 3 min of reperfusion (Mg-Or-3R). Mitochondria were isolated at 15 min of reperfusion and oxygen consumption was measured at 37°C by polarographic oxymetry in the presence of NAD and FAD-linked substrates, respectively. Basal (state 2) and ADP-stimulated (state 3) respiratory rates were recorded and expressed as nanoatoms oxygen/min/mg mitochondrial protein and respiratory control ratio (RCR) was calculated. In mitochondria respiring on glutamate/malate a statistically significant increase in state 3 respiratory rates was observed in the Mg-Or-28I group but not in Mg-Or-3R when compared to the ischaemic Ctrl (514±29 and 386±17 vs 350±13, respectively, p<0.001). Subsequently, RCR increased from 6.2±0.38 in Ctrl group to 8±0.28 in Mg-Or-28I group (p<0.05). In the presence of complex II-dependent substrate (succinate+amytal) both administration protocols elicited an important increase in state 3 respiration (Mg-Or-28I: 488±25, Mg-Or-3R: 463±20 vs Ctrl: 355±15, respectively, p<0.001). In isolated rat hearts, magnesium 355+orotate elicited a protocol-dependent improvement of mitochondrial respiration at reperfusion that may contribute to its cardioprotective effect against reperfusion injury.

Aim and purpose : It has been widely accepted in the athletic community that altitude training can increase performance at sea level, therefore this study aims to analyze the influence of altitude training on the manifestation of muscle strength in the lower limbs and aerobic endurance in students participating at in-depth training course in a branch of sports- skiing, on the “living high-training high” model. Material : This study included 9 students from the Physical Education and Sports Faculty of Timisoara, who took the in-depth training course in a branch of sports- skiing, taking part in the program and activities specific to this course, as well as in the training carried out at altitude. Method : The batch was evaluated in two moments (T0 and T1), using the following assessment tests: Yo -Yo, Roman seat in isometry, high jump evaluated via the OPTOJUMP device, long jump test. The data was processed in Excel (v2205) and the statistical processing was performed using the Student T-test. It was considered that the results are statistically significant for values of p <0.05. Results : The progress recorded was quantified by normalizing the absolute values and was expresse d as a percentage as follows: Yo-Yo= -1% ± 0.08 STD; RS= + 168% ± 1.26STD; HJ-Squat Jump= -4% ± 0.16STD; HJ- countermovement jump= -2% ± 0.14STD; HJ- countermovement jump-free arms = + 2% ± 0.14STD; LJ= + 6% ± 0.04STD; LJ SLJ R= + 9% ± 0.08STD; LJ SLJ L= + 10% ± 0.08STD. Conclusions : From the evaluations performed at sea level, at T0 and T1, a noticeable improvement in the muscular strength of the lower limbs has resulted via the following tests: the Roman seat in isometry, long jump with bilateral support, long jump with unilateral support on either the left or right side; registering a significant statistical (p). However, there was no significant improvement noticed on the rest of the tests.