http://hdl.handle.net/11089/52892 2026-04-09T15:15:44Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/52899 A review on association between menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors Kar, Debasmita; Roy, Subho Menopausal transition and post-menopausal periods can have short-term and long- term effects on mid-life health of women. The short-term effects include the possibility of experiencing of menopausal symptoms, while the long-term effects include cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk. The occurrence of menopausal symptoms varies widely within and between populations. Studies indicate that the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms are linked to CVD risk factors, but the existing literature is divergent and somewhat limited. Thus, women belonging to different populations are likely to be at a different risk of CVD, but the exact physiological mechanism behind this relationship remains unclear. The present narrative review aimed to synthesize the available evidence of menopausal symptoms in association with various conventional CVD risk factors such as blood pressure, total cholesterol and blood glucose levels and obesity, as well as to determine the potential link between these two processes. We undertook a rigorous data base search to identify, examine, and critically assess the existing literature on the associations between menopausal symptoms and CVD risk factors. We applied inclusion and exclusion criteria to filter the retrieved articles and classified the literature into eight major categories. The risk of CVD is higher among women who experience vasomotor, psychological, and urogenital symptoms compared to those who do not experience these symptoms. Our review indicates that menopausal symptoms can be used as markers in assessing CVD risk factors during midlife. Thus there is a need for larger-scale research to support these findings and identify the potential mediators that are controlling this association. 2024-07-03T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/52900 Association between expression level of the miR-320, miR-182, miR-223 and miR-486 and body composition among young Polish female volleyball players Pruszkowska, Paulina; Cichy, Ireneusz; Ignasiak, Zofia; Kochan, Katarzyna; Kociuba, Marek; Kozieł, Sławomir; Sebastjan, Anna; Ściślak, Marcin; Żądzińska, Elżbieta; Rokita, Andrzej The expression of circulating microRNAs appears to be a promising indicator of physical strength. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the expression level of four selected microRNAs and body composition over time among young female volleyball players. Blood samples and body composition measurements were taken from 7 females who are Polish volleyball players before and after 5 matches played out between the years 2017 and 2018. The blood spots were used to assess the expression of four microRNAs: miR-320, miR-182, miR-223, and miR-486. Fat mass, PFB% and BMI were positively correlated with expression level (exp.l) of miR-182. The miR-320 the exp.l was positively correlated with muscle mass and TBW. There were inverse correlations between miR-486 exp.l and PBF%, as well as between miR-486 exp.l and body mass, muscle mass, TBW, FFM, and BMR. Conversely, there were positive correlations between miR-486 exp.l and body mass and fat mass. The miR-182 may be positively correlated with fat tissue, miR-320 was positively correlated with muscle mass, and miR-486 was negatively correlated with fat mass. Overall, our study shows that the expression of miR-182, miR-320, and miR-486 is associated with body composition. The results of our study also suggest that exercise may decrease the level of miR-486.The authors are grateful for the support of the Laboratory of Microscopic Imaging and Specialized Biological Techniques of the University of Lodz. 2024-07-02T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/52898 Revisiting the cranial variability of the Dmanisi hominins Neves, Walter; Senger, Maria Helena; Valota, Leticia; Hubbe, Mark The Dmanisi specimens represent the most diverse contemporaneous hominin fossils found at one single site and are key in understanding the first out -of- Africa dispersal and the origins of Homo erectus. Due to these reasons, they have]e been the focus of many studies in paleoanthropology in the last 30 years. However, there has not been any consensus on how to classify these fossils, nor has it been clarified how many species were co-living at that site. In this article, we aim to revisit the subject and contribute further to the discussion. 2024-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11089/52897 Association between normal weight obesity and lipids profile in Slovak women aged 38 to 59 years Ferjančeková, Daniela; Švábová, Petra; Hozáková, Alexandra; Sulis, Simona Obesity and its associated health problems are an issue, especially when weight gain is not outwardly visible. Individuals with the same Body Mass Index (BMI) may differ in body fat percentage and may unknowingly suffer from normal weight obesity (NWO). Middle-aged women are at high risk if their body composition changes due to factors such as age, health status or reproductive history. This study investigated the relationship between NWO and lipid profile in middle-aged women. A sample of 122 women aged 38 to 59 years (47.17 ± 5.24) from Slovakia participated in this study. Using a questionnaire, participants answered questions about lifestyle, health background, sociodemographic classification, reproductive and menstrual history. The anthropometric parameters were determined using standard methods. Body composition was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Biochemical parameters were determined from morning blood samples. Blood pressure was assessed in a sitting position using a digital sphygmomanometer. The primary aim of this study was to assess the differences in lipid profiles between NOW women and normal weight-lean (NWL) women. Our results showed statistically significantly higher values of uric acid in the women with NWO compared to NWL women (237.39 ± 54.11 μmol/l vs. 213.02 ± 52.64 μmol/l; p = 0.009). Moreover, significant differences were noted between NWO women and NWL women in body height, body weight, waist and hip circumference, WHR, BMI and fat mass (%, p < 0.05). Other biochemical variables showed no statistically significant differences between the study groups of women. Elevated uric acid levels in women diagnosed with NWO may serve as an indication of metabolic imbalance associated with undetected obesity. These results underscore the importance of implementing early detection and intervention methods for NWO to prevent related health issues. Further research is necessary to investigate the underlying factors contributing to these connections and evaluate the efficacy of customized interventions. 2024-06-28T00:00:00Z