Background: Athletes’ skin is exposed to increased microbial challenges due to rigorous physical activity, perspiration, constant “skin-to-skin” contact, frequent showering, use of hygiene products, and environmental factors present in training settings. This study aims to characterize the skin microbiome communities of young wrestlers and kickboxers in comparison with their non-athlete age-peers. Methods: A total of 56 combat sport athletes (30 males and 26 females, mean age ± SD = 18.2 ± 1.5 years) and 25 non-athlete youths (control group: 13 males and 12 females, mean age ± SD = 19.8 ± 1.2 years) voluntarily consented to participate in the study conducted by our research team in 2023 and 2024. The skin microbiome analysis involved standardized sampling, DNA isolation, molecular sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis, thus enabling detailed characterization and comparison of the skin microbial community in contact sports athletes and the control group. Results: Our results revealed notable sexual dimorphism in the skin microbiome composition of youth. Males showed a higher relative abundance of bacterial genera associated with nosocomial infections and respiratory diseases, while females had more skin inflammation- and infection-related genera (relative abundances in males vs. in females: Corynebacterium—12.0 vs. 7.2; Luteimonas—4.4. vs. 1.4; Paracoccus—8.8 vs. 5.0; Psychrobacter—6.3 vs. 4.4; Cutibacterium—6.4 vs. 11.4; Kocuria—1.6 vs. 3.9; Micrococcus—5.8 vs. 8.5; Pseudomonas—1.2 vs. 3.4; Streptococcus 3.3 vs. 6.2). We also found skin microbiome differences between athletes and non-athletes in both sexes: wrestlers, who experience frequent skin-to-skin contact and wear less covering sportswear, had microbiome profiles distinct from both kickboxers and non-athletes (relative abundances in athletes vs. in non-athletes: Psychrobacter—7.3 vs. 0.4; Staphylococcus 9.5 vs. 18.5; predominance of genera by sports type: relative abundance of Cutibacterium and Streptococcus was higher in kickboxers, and relative abundance of Acinetobacter, Enhydrobacter, Micrococcus, and Enhydrobacter was higher in wrestlers). Bacteria linked to skin infections (e.g., Aliterella, Arthrobacter, and Empedobacter) were present in around 30% of wrestlers and kickboxers but were absent in the control group. Conclusions: These results underscore the heightened risk of skin infections in contact sports and highlight the importance of regular microbiome monitoring and hygiene protocols among young athletes.

Purpose: The assessment of endocrine status in elite athletes is typically linked to training load and perceived stress; however, the relationship between hormonal parameters and psychosomatic and stress indicators remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the associations between endocrine status and stress, mood, and psychosomatic status indicators in elite handball players. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, salivary cortisol (with no strict control over wake-up time), testosterone, and—in female athletes—17-β-estradiol concentrations were assessed in 584 elite handball players aged 14–35 years using ELISA. Psychological variables were evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS), and the Health Behavior in School-aged Children Symptom Checklist (HBSC-SCL). Associations were examined using non-parametric tests and general linear models adjusted for age. Results: Hormonal and psychological variables demonstrated significant age-related trends. No significant associations were observed between hormonal parameters and perceived stress or mood disturbance (values for the general linear model (GLM) were all p > 0.05). In contrast, psychosomatic symptom severity was significantly associated with cortisol levels in male athletes (GLM, p < 0.001) and testosterone levels in female athletes (GLM, p = 0.009). Multivariate analyses confirmed the relevance of psychosomatic symptoms and indicated interaction effects between stress-related factors. Conclusion: Psychosomatic symptoms were more closely associated with endocrine status than with perceived stress or mood disturbance in elite handball players. However, these associations were characterized by relatively small effect sizes, indicating that psychosomatic symptoms explain only a limited proportion of the variance in hormonal parameters. These findings suggest that psychosomatic indicators may provide a more sensitive reflection of physiological strain and support the use of integrated monitoring approaches combining endocrine and psychosomatic measures in elite sport. In practical terms, routine monitoring of psychosomatic symptoms alongside hormonal measures may help practitioners to identify early signs of physiological strain and support timely adjustments in training load and recovery strategies.

The development of children’s respiratory functions and body structural parameters, as well as the relationship between body structural and respiratory parameters were analysed in a subsample of the Second Hungarian National Growth Study (n: 1339 children, aged between 8–17). The spirometric parameters (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in the 1st second, peak expiratory flow in 1 minute) of children were recorded alongside their body structural parameters. The nutritional status of children was assessed by body mass index, children were divided into underweight, normal, overweight and obese subgroups. There was a significant difference between the two sexes’ respiratory functions in each age-group starting from the age of 13 years. While girls’ pubertal growth started to come to an end at the age of 15 years, boys’ developmental changes only slowed at the age of 17 years and continued even after. By considering nutritional status, it could be observed that overweight and obese children surpass their peers in spirometric functions in almost every age-group. We recommend the use of references of body weight-related spirometric parameters for paediatric use in overweight and obese children, such references of the three studied spirometric parameters are constructed on the basis of the studied sample of Hungarian children. The children scoring below the 5th centile should be considered for further respiratory examinations.

Currently, one of the most accurate measurements of body composition components, including the fat content of the body is based on the method of dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The application of the DEXA method in clinical setting is usually limited to the assessment of bone health status due to the device’s cost and immobile nature, therefore in sport diagnostics the body composition estimation is usually carried out with other methods, such as bioimpedance analysis or anthropometrical methods based on the measurement of body dimensions, which ensure a rapid, accurate and frequently repeatable way of examination. For our research goal we choose the comparison of the most frequently used body fat percentage estimation methods. The accuracy of the other methods in the light of the DEXA estimations is presented. Sport Sciences and Diagnostic Research Centre of the Hungarian Handball Federation coordinated the assessment of 171 young elite handball players (14–21-year-olds), whose body composition estimations were performed in the spring and summer of 2023. The preliminary analysis of body fat percentage estimates in handball players carried out with different methods showed that the rapid and cost-efficient estimations based on anthropometric skinfold measurements can substitute the body fat percentage estimation method based on the clinically acclaimed golden standard dual X-ray absorptiometry technology. Body fat percentage estimation via InBody 770 device showed significantly lower values compared to the DEXA method, however this difference was consistent, therefore body composition assessment via InBody device can serve as an alternative of monitoring personal progress and status. We also carried out examinations with a novel ultrasound technology aided by BodyMetrix device, its subcutaneous fat thickness measurement estimated accurately the skinfold thicknesses on human body, its body fat percentage estimation based the skinfold thicknesses was adequately accurate compared to the DEXA method. With the aid of available DEXA measurement results and with the aim of creating an alternative method with low instrument requirement for body fat percentage estimation, which can be used with the highest accuracy particularly considering the body composition of young elite athletes, we created a modified sport-specific body fat percentage estimation equation. Our new estimation method was based on classical anthropometric skinfold measurements, and it accurately correlated with the DEXA body fat% estimates in case of young elite handball players.