Serdar Küçükoǧlu

To investigate the effects of age on the reciprocal peak torque ratios during knee muscle contractions, 25 elite male soccer players, aged 22.3 +/- 3.8 yr (18-28), volunteered for the present study. The players were grouped as adult (> 21 years, n = 13) and young players (< or = 21 years, n = 12). Maximal concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) isokinetic thigh muscle strength was measured at angular velocities of 30 degrees, 180 degrees, 240 degrees and 300 degrees/s. ECC and CON peak torques of knee flexors (hamstring, HAM) and CON peak torques of knee extensors (quadriceps, QUA) in the dominant knee were greater (P < 0.05) in adult players than in young players at 180, 240 and 300 degrees/s. ECC HAM/CON QUA peak torque ratio at 300 degrees/s was greater (P < 0.05) for adult players compared to young players in the dominant knee but not in the nondominant knee. Furthermore, conventional HAM/QUA peak torque ratios of the dominant knee at all angular velocities for ECC contraction were higher (P < 0.05) in adult players than in young players. In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicate that the reciprocal torque ratio is influenced by age in the dominant knee of elite soccer players. Because there was no effect of age for the nondominant leg, the findings of the present study are more likely to be the result of the training background of the players than their age.

This study is designed to evaluate the N-terminal pro-BNP (NTproBNP) levels in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and its possible correlation with clinical and echocardiographic parameters of the disease. The study group consisted of 29 patients with isolated MS (patients with greater mild regurgitation were excluded) and 20 normal control subjects of similar age and gender distribution. Blood samples for NTproBNP were collected at the time of clinical and echocardiographic examination. NTproBNP levels were elevated in patients with MS compared to controls (325 +/- 249 pg/dL [19.9-890] versus 43 +/- 36 pg/dL [5.76-193.3], P < 0.001). Patients with atrial fibrillation had significantly higher NTproBNP levels compared to those with sinus rhythm (561 +/- 281 pg/dL versus 254 +/- 194 pg/dL, P = 0.044). MS patients with sinus rhythm also had higher NTproBNP levels compared to controls (254 +/- 194 pg/dL versus 43 +/- 36 pg/dL, P = 0.00011). NT pro BNP levels correlated to the LA (R = 0.73, P < 0.0001) and RV (R = 0.41, P = 0.042) diameters, mitral valve area (R =-0.45, P = 0.025), mean mitral gradient (R = 0.57, P = 0.003), peak PAP (R = 0.7, P = 0.03), and NYHA functional class (R = 0.61, P = 0.007). In conclusion, serum NTproBNP levels correlate well with echocardiographic findings and functional class in patients with MS and can be used as a marker of disease severity. Additionally, it may have a potential use as an additional noninvasive and relatively cheap method in monitoring disease progression especially in patients with poor echocardiographic windows.