Wilhelm Gromisz

(1) Background: the aim of this study was to explore parental competences and stress levels in the mothers of children with autism in relation to the mothers of neurotypical children. (2) Methods: the study used the Parental Competence Test and the PSS-10 scale to assess the intensity of stress related to one’s own life situation over the past month. Forty mothers of children with ASD (n = 20) and neurotypical children (n = 20) participated in the study. (3) Results: the mothers of children with ASD showed higher levels of stress (p = 0.0002). The mothers of neurotypical children achieved higher scores in parental competences (r = −0.49). The competence of mothers of children with ASD was correlated with rigour (r = 0.50), permissiveness (r = −0.60), overprotectiveness (r = 0.71), and helplessness (r = −0.77). (4) Conclusions: mothers of children with autism demonstrate lower parental competences than mothers of neurotypical children. Mothers of children with autism are less rigorous but more permissive, overprotective, and helpless. They tend to become heavily involved with their child. An overprotective attitude and greater tolerance for antisocial behaviours among parents of children with ASDs protect them from excessive stress.

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the most common polymorphisms in the IL-6 and HSP70 genes affect the circulating heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), as well as inflammatory and prooxidant-antioxidant parameters in healthy men undergoing chronic endurance training. The subjects were randomly assigned to a 12-week swimming training (ST group) or control group (CON). Fasting blood samples were collected pre- and post-study period to assessment: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, serum levels of lipid hydroperoxides (LHs), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and HSP70. Subjects were genotyped for IL-6-174G/C, HSPA1A + 190 G/C and HSPA1B + 1538 A/G single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by real-time PCR. After a 12-week study period, a decrease in TNFα, HSP70, and GPx was observed in the ST group, but not the CON group. IL-6 SNP affected serum TNFα levels (main effect of genotype). Higher TNFα levels (pre- and post-study period) was observed in CC CON than in other IL-6 genotypes of CON and ST groups. However, a post-training decrease in TNFα was observed in both GG and CC IL-6 genotypes of ST group. In turn, only GG IL-6 genotype of the ST group was related to a post-training decrease in HSP70 (main time and genotype interaction). Moreover, pre- and post-training LHs were lower in GG than GC/CC HSPA1A genotypes of the ST group (main genotype effect). In conclusion, polymorphisms within the IL-6 and HSPA1A genes seem to affect baseline levels of some inflammatory parameters and prooxidant-antioxidant status and/or their changes after chronic swimming training. However, the results should be confirmed in a study with a larger sample size, one that includes individuals with sedentary lifestyles.

Background: Systematic physical activity can permanently prevent disadvantageous developments in the human body. This is very important especially for women, for whom the maintenance of a lean body in good shape is sometimes a primary consideration. However, in most cases, this activity is taken randomly and does not produce the desired effects such as reducing body fat. The purpose of the study was to evaluate changes in female body composition induced by 12 weeks of swimming training compared to sedentary controls. Methods: Training sessions occurred three times per week (60 min/session). Height, body mass, and waist/hip circumference and waist/hips ratio (WHR) were measured. Body cell mass (BCM), total body water (TBW), extracellular (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW), fat mass (FM), lean mass (FFM), and muscle mass (MM) were measured using bioelectrical impedance (pre/post). Results: Training elicited decreases in hip circumference and increase in WHR. No changes were recorded in BCM, TBW, ECW, ICW, FM, FFM, and MM. Controls experienced decreases in values of BCM, ICW, and MM and increases in ECW. Conclusion: The applied swimming training did not significantly affect the body composition parameters. Inactivity also triggered a tendency toward unhealthy movement of water from the intracellular to extracellular space.