The best research works of AWF Katowice research teams

Team leader: prof. dr hab. Ewa Sadowska

Bibliographic data

Aleksandra Żebrowska, Barbara Hall, Anna Stolecka-Warzecha, Arkadiusz Stanula, Ewa Sadowska-Krępa
The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Serum Adipocytokines, Lipid Profile and Biochemical Markers of Inflammation in Recreational Runners
Nutrients 2021, 13, 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020456

Current impact factor: 5.719
5-year impact factor: 6.352

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 3-week !-3 PUFA supplementation on serum adipocytokines (i.e., adiponectin, leptin), neuregulin-4 (NRG4) and erythrocyte omega-3 (!-3) fatty acid content, as well as the blood antioxidant defense capacity in non-elite endurance runners. Methods: Twenty-four runners were randomized into two groups: the supplemented group, who received omega free fatty acids extract containing 142 mg of EPA, 267 mg of DHA, 12 mg of vitamin E and 5 g of vitamin D, each administrated at a dose of six capsules twice a day for three weeks, or the placebo group. Venous blood samples were withdrawn at the start and at the end of the study protocols to estimate serum biochemical variables. Results: A significantly higher !-3 index and lower AA/EPA ratio was observed after !-3 PUFA compared to pre-supplementation levels (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). An increase in baseline adiponectin and NRG4 levels, as well as a decrease of leptin concentration and lipid profile improvement, were observed in subjects after a !-3 PUFA diet. The increased !-3 index had a significant effect on TNF levels and a serum marker of antioxidant defense. Conclusions: The !-3 PUFA extract with added vitamin E and D supplementation may have a positive effect on the function of the adipocyte tissue, as well as the ability to prevent cardiovascular complications in athletes.

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Team leader: dr hab. Anna Zwierzchowska prof. AWF

Bibliographic data

Groffik D, Mitáš J, Jakubec L, Svozil Z, Frömel K.
Adolescents’ Physical Activity in Education Systems Varying in the Number of Weekly Physical Education Lessons
RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT. 2020 Dec;91(4):551-561. doi: 10.1080/02701367.2019.1688754. Epub 2020 Jan 24. PMID: 31976822

Impact factor (2020): 2.500
5-year impact factor (2020): 3.376

Liczba cytowań: 15.

Abstract

Purpose: School physical activity (SPA) is a significant component of daily PA. We investigated differences in PA between boys and girls in two differing education systems—Poland and the Czech Republic—which have four and two physical education lessons (PELs) per week, respectively. Method: This project was conducted from 2012–2016 at 17 Polish and 23 Czech secondary schools (N = 921; mean age = 16.2 ± 0.7 years). ActiTrainer accelerometers were used to monitor participants’ PA and heart rate during school days. Weekly PA was measured using pedometers. Subjective levels of weekly PA were self-reported on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–long form. Results: The Polish education system enabled adolescents to meet the recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous PA more likely than did the Czech system. SPA also represented a higher portion of daily PA in the Polish (vs. Czech system); however, the differences in total daily step count between Polish and Czech adolescents were non-significant. SPA accounted for 30–37% of the daily PA (as measured by step count) of Polish girls (23–30% of Czech girls) and 28–39% of Polish boys (25–37% of Czech boys). 

Conclusions: Participation in PELs was associated with a higher rate of meeting SPA recommendations in both countries. Compared with the Czech Republic, more PELs in the Polish education system was associated with increased daily vigorous PA and a greater portion of SPA in daily PA. Differences in overall daily and weekly moderate-to-vigorous PA between Polish and Czech adolescents were non-significant.

Team leader: prof. dr hab. Adam Zając

Bibliographic data

Krzysztofik, Michal; Wilk, Michal; Golas, Artur; Lockie, Robert George; Maszczyk, Adam; Zajac, Adam
Does Eccentric-only and Concentric-only Activation Increase Power Output?
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: February 2020 - Volume 52 - Issue 2 - p 484-489 doi: 10.1249/MSS.000000000000213

Impact Factor: 5.411

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of study was to evaluate changes in power output and bar velocity in the bench press throw (BPT) following the bench press (BP) exercise as a conditioning activity (CA) with concentric only (CONONLY) and eccentric only (ECCONLY) contractions.

Methods
Thirty-two (n = 32) healthy strength-trained men participated in this study (age, 28.4 ± 4.5 yr; height, 177 ± 7.6 cm; body mass, 93.5 ± 9.3 kg; BP one-repetition maximum (1RM), 143.6 ± 17.5 kg). The experiment was performed following a randomized crossover design, where each participant performed 2 sets of 2 repetitions using the BP exercise as the CA at 90% 1RM ECCONLY, 90% 1RM CONONLY, 110% 1RM ECCONLY, or 130% 1RM ECCONLY contraction. The BPT was performed to assess changes in peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and peak velocity (PV), mean velocity (MV) before and after CA. The differences between analyzed variables before and after the CA were verified using ANOVA with repeated measures. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results
There were statistically significant differences between baseline and postactivation value of PP and PV in the BPT (P < 0.05) after the CA with ECCONLY contraction at 110% 1RM and at 130% 1RM as well between baseline and postactivation value of MV in the BPT (P < 0.05) after CA with contraction at 110% 1RM. There were no significant differences between baseline and postactivation values of PP, MP, PV, and MV in the BPT after the CA with CONONLY contraction at 90% 1RM and CA with ECCONLY contraction at 90% 1RM.

Conclusions
Partial movement with ECCONLY contraction is effective in short-term power output development, but only when the load used in the CA exceeds 100% 1RM.1

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Team leader: prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Juras

Bibliographic data

Mariusz P. Furmanek, Madhur Mangalam, Mathew Yarossi, Kyle Lockwood & Eugene Tunik
A kinematic and EMG dataset of online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to visual perturbations
Scientific Data | (2022) 9:23 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-01107-2

2-year impact factor: 6.444
5-year impact factor: 9.051

Abstract

Control of reach-to-grasp movements for deft and robust interactions with objects requires rapid sensorimotor updating that enables online adjustments to changing external goals (e.g., perturbations or instability of objects we interact with). Rarely do we appreciate the remarkable coordination in reach-to-grasp, until control becomes impaired by neurological injuries such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, or even aging. Modeling online control of human reach-to-grasp movements is a challenging problem but fundamental to several domains, including behavioral and computational neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, neural prostheses, and robotics. Currently, there are no publicly available datasets that include online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to object perturbations. This work aims to advance modeling efforts of reach-to-grasp movements by making publicly available a large kinematic and EMG dataset of online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to instantaneous perturbations of object size and distance performed in immersive haptic-free virtual environment (hf-VE). The presented dataset is composed of a large number of perturbation types (10 for both object size and distance) applied at three different latencies after the start of the movement.

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Team leader: prof. dr hab. Andrzej Małecki

Bibliographic data

Nowacka-Chmielewska MM, Liśkiewicz D, Grabowska K, Liśkiewicz A, Marczak Ł, Wojakowska A, Pondel N, Grabowski M, Barski JJ, Małecki A.
Effects of Simultaneous Exposure to a Western Diet and Wheel-Running Training on Brain Energy Metabolism in Female Rats.
Nutrients. 2021; 13(12):4242. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124242

IF = 5.719

Abstract

Background: In the pathogenesis of central nervous system disorders (e.g., neurodegenerative), an important role is attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle affecting brain energy metabolism. Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases is getting increasing attention.

Methods: We performed a series of assessments in adult female Long Evans rats subjected to 6 weeks of Western diet feeding and wheel-running training. A control group of lean rats was fed with a standard diet. In all experimental groups, we measured physiological parameters (animal weights, body composition, serum metabolic parameters). We assessed the impact of simultaneous exposure to a Western diet and wheel-running on the cerebrocortical protein expression (global proteomic profiling), and in the second part of the experiment, we measured the cortical levels of protein related to brain metabolism (Western blot).

Results: Western diet led to an obese phenotype and induced changes in the serum metabolic parameters. Wheel-running did not reduce animal weights or fat mass but significantly decreased serum glucose level. The global proteome analysis revealed that the altered proteins were functionally annotated as they were involved mostly in metabolic pathways. Western blot analysis showed the downregulation of the mitochondrial protein—Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family member 9, hexokinase 1 (HK1)—enzyme involved in principal glucose metabolism pathways and monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2). Wheel-running reversed this decline in the cortical levels of HK1 and MCT2.

Conclusion: The cerebrocortical proteome is affected by a combination of physical activity and Western diet in female rats. An analysis of the cortical proteins involved in brain energy metabolism provides a valuable basis for the deeper investigation of changes in the brain structure and function induced by simultaneous exposure to a Western diet and physical activity.

Team leader: prof. dr hab. Edward Saulicz

Team leader: prof. dr hab. Jakub Taradaj

Bibliographic data

Walewicz K, Taradaj J, Rajfur K, Ptaszkowski K, Kuszewski MT, Sopel M, Dymarek R.
The Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blinded Pilot Study.
Clin Interv Aging. 2019 Oct 30;14:1859-1869. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S224001.

IF = 3.829

5 year Impact Factor = 5,02

Number of citations

Web of Science: 21

Abstract

Purpose: This prospective, randomized and single-blinded study assesses the influence of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) in patients with low back pain (LBP). Methods: A total of 52 patients with LBP were enrolled in the study, out of which a homogeneous group of 40 patients with mean age of 53.45±4.9 years was included. Patients were randomized into group A (n=20) treated with rESWT (2000 pulses; 2.5 bars; 5 Hz, 7 mins) performed twice a week for five weeks (10 sessions) and stabilization training, as well as group B (n=20) treated with sham rESWT and stabilization training. To analyze the therapeutic progress, the following tests were performed (before and after therapy; 1 and 3 months follow-up) to assess pain and functional efficiency: (1) Visual Analog Scale (VAS), (2) Laitinen Pain Scale (LPS), and (3) Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results: The control group had a statistically significant advantage over the rESWT group (4.4 vs. 3.1 points on the VAS; p=0.039). However, in long-term observations, group A gradually experienced more pain relief than group B (2.7 vs. 3.5 points, p>0.05, at one month and 2.0 vs. 4.4 points at three months after treatment; p<0.0001). Similar findings can be seen in the analysis of changes in pain sensations measured with the LPS. The functional state (ODI) was better in rESWT group, especially in follow-up observation (9.3 vs. 14.6 points, p=0.033, at one month and 9.3 vs. 17.8 points, p=0.004, at three months after treatment). Conclusion: The rESWT combined with stabilization training is particularly effective in the long-term and achieves a stable beneficial effect for patients with LBP. The use of rESWT has a significant long-term influence on the reduction of pain and the improvement of the general functional state in relation to the conventional motor improvement program.