The Examination of Injuries in Dancers

The purpose of the present study was to examine the incidence of the injuries in dancers. A hundred and sixty eight dancers (135 women and 33 men) 23.17+6.43 years old, members of different dancing clubs, participated in the research. All the subjects participated only in dancing programs for learning, performing and practicing in any kind of dance and no other form of physical activity, and filled the instrument of measurements concerning general questions as well as questions about injury incidence. For data analysis, descriptive analysis and Pearson chi-square test of the SPSS version 17 for windows, were used. From the results it was shown that the biggest percentage of dancers take hip-hop (25.1%) and Latin American lessons (18.6%). Moreover, the dancers are involved in European dances, classic ballet, modern dance, oriental dances and Greek dances. The subjects participated in dance programs for 4.44 + 4.45 years, 3.16+1.63 days a week, for 2.29+1.30 hours a day. According to the dancersrsquo statements, 44.62% of them have suffered an injury. The most usual kinds of injuries are muscle strains (22.9%), muscular spasms-cramps (20.15%), callus (13.18%), sprains (12.53%), blisters (11.80%) and abrasions (11.10%). Also, in smaller percentages follow the fractures (3.48%), hematomas (3.48%) and dislocations (1.38%). The most significant causes of the injuries are poor warming-up (21.92%), fatigue (16.64%), clumsiness (15.68%), bad technique (10.48%), and concentration (10%), and nbspin smaller percentages performance pressure (7.12%), shoes (5.2%), partner and floor (4.8% both), hour of the day (1.44%), as well as competition and space tightness (7.96% both). Most of the dancers of the present sample (34%), who had an injury, overcame it with medication, 25% needed further medical examinations and 20% overcame the injury with rehabilitation. 16% of the dancers needed rest, while fortunately, only 5% overcame the injury with a surgery. Finally, most of the dancers of the present sample (63.76%) consider that dance teachers, as well as dancing clubs, are concerned very much with injuries prevention (63.76%). Consequently, recognizing, resolving, but above all, preventing the causes of injuries is very important concerning injuriesrsquo avoidance, good physical condition of dancers, reduction of training time loss, continuation of professional career, and continuation of dancing activity of those who have finished their career or are not professionally engaged in dancing

Greek Traditional Dances Program and Self-Evaluated Effects and Changes in Life

The purpose of the present study was the evaluation of the effects of Greek traditional dancing programs on middle-aged peoplersquos life. Seventy one subjects (60 women and 11 men) 51.92+4.99 years old, members of different dance clubs, participated in the research. All the subjects participated in a group dancing program for learning and performing Greek traditional dances once a week. The effects and changes in life due to participation in the Greek traditional dancing program were measured through questions by Chewing, Yu kappaalphaiota Johnson (http://www.krapu4.com/taichi/research/Chewing Yu Johnson B. htm#emotions). For data analysis were used the descriptive analysis and Pearson chi-square test of the SPSS version 17 for windows. From the results, it was proved that almost 90% of the subjects supposed that their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program had an effect on their lives. The bigger percentage declared that the participation in Greek traditional dances offered them joy, well-being and calmness (33.30%), as well as many effects on their bodies (33.30%), while a smaller percentage claimed that their participation in the program offered them sociability-participation in a group (16.70%) and activity increase (16.70%). In addition, more than 4/5 (86.50%) believe that their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program has changed their confidence concerning their mobility or possible falls. About three-quarters of the subjects (73.70%) consider that their participation in the program of Greek traditional dances influenced in any way their everyday activities. The majority (78.90%) believe that their physical activity has changed as a result of their participation in the program of Greek traditional dances. Finally, all people think they have been benefited from their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program, which is very important. In addition, the Pearson chi-square test showed a significant effect (x2=8.15, plt0.05) of the years that the subjects participated in Greek traditional dancing programs on the feeling of people#39s confidence in their mobility or possible falls. Thus, as the years of participation in Greek traditional dances are increasing, the feeling of people#39s confidence in their mobility or even the potential falls is increasing. From the results, it was shown that all the middle-aged people suppose that they have been benefited from their participation in the Greek traditional dancing program.nbspThe benefits concern their better emotional state expressed in joy, well-being, calmness and sociability-participation in a group, but also their better physical condition, confidence in their mobility and possible falls, increase in their physical activities and the effects on everyday activities. The importance of participation in Greek traditional dances is also worth mentioning. Thus, it could be said that the participation in Greek traditional dancing programs brings about effects and changes on life. Consequently, Greek traditional dances as a regular physical activity may be extremely useful for the quality of life of middle-aged people offering many benefits.nbs

Carcinoma developing in ectopic pancreatic tissue in the stomach: a case report

The development of pancreatic tissue outside the confines of the main gland, without anatomic or vascular connections between them, is a congenital abnormality referred to as heterotopic pancreas. A heterotopic pancreas in the gastrointestinal tract is usually discovered incidentally and the risk of its malignant transformation is extremely low. In this study, we describe the first case of endoepithelial carcinoma arising in a gastric heterotopic pancreas of a 56-year old woman in Greece. She presented with epigastric pain, periodic nausea and vomiting. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an ulcerated lesion in the gastric antrum, biopsies of which showed intense epithelial dysplasia with incipient malignant degeneration. The pathology report of the distal gastrectomy specimen demonstrated a 2 cm in diameter ulcerative mass in the gastric antrum. Microscopically, an endoepithelial (in situ) carcinoma of the gastric antrum was determined, which in places turned into an microinvasive endomucosal adenocarcinoma. It also incidentally demonstrated heterotopic pancreatic ducts, detected within the mucosa to the muscularis propria of the same region of the stomach, in which an endoepithelial (in situ) carcinoma was evolving. The follow-up course was uneventful 6 months postoperatively

Greek Traditional Dances and Health Effects for Middle-Aged and Elderly People- A Review Approach

Greek traditional dances are an integral part in Greek peoplersquos lives, treated as a cultural element. Recently, many middle-aged and elderly people participate in programs of Greek traditional dances due to internal and external motivation, but mainly for health improvement. From the literature review it became clear that, indeed, Greek traditional dances incorporate effects and benefits for all the health dimensions, that is physical/somatic, psychological, mental and social health effects. These beneficial effects on middle-aged and elderly peoplersquos health may be due to the features of Greek traditional dances. These are the music accompaniment, the fact that Greek traditional dances constitute an aerobic exercise mode, the rhythmical and repetitive movements, the hemicyclic dance shape, the variety of the performed steps, movements and dance directions, the absence of competition, the enjoyment/pleasure that helps the participants to escape from their problems. Consequently, all the middle-aged and elderly people should participate in Greek traditional dances in order to achieve positive physical, psycho-emotional and social effects, leading to health achievement. nbs

Perioperative Use of Erythromycin Reduces Cognitive Decline after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Surgery: A Pilot Study

Objectives Adverse neurologic outcome can be a debilitating complication after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential neuroprotective action of erythromycin, a well known antibiotic agent, regarding postoperative cognitive decline in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods Forty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were prospectively randomly assigned in 2 groups: the erythromycin group (n = 19) who received erythromycin at a dose of 25 mg/kg before and after surgery and the control group (n = 21) who did not receive it. All patients were monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy during the operation. Interleukin (IL) 1 and IL-6 as inflammatory markers and tau protein as a marker of brain injury were measured before and after surgery. Neurocognitive assessment was performed before surgery, on the day of discharge, and at 3 months postoperatively. Results Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic and clinical data. Patients who took erythromycin presented with significantly better cognitive performance before discharge and 3 months after surgery. No significant differences between the 2 groups referring to IL-1 and IL-6 values were detected. Tau serum values were lower in the erythromycin group after surgery. Conclusions Erythromycin administration attenuates cerebral damage and postoperative cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01274754). Study start day: November 2008. © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved

Initial experience with renal denervation for the treatment of resistant hypertension - The utility of novel anesthetics and metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (MIBG)

Background: The Symplicity-HTN 3 trial failed to show significant difference in blood pressure (BP) lowering between patients undergoing catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) and the sham-procedure arm of the study. However, there is still optimism about the role of RDN in the treatment of resistant hypertension, because identification of patients with increased sympathetic activity thus being good RDN responders, improvements in the RDN procedure and new technology RDN catheters are all expected to lead to better RDN results. We present our initial experience with RDN for the treatment of resistant hypertension, and the utility of novel anesthetics and cardiac123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (123I-MIBG). Methods and Results: Seven patients with resistant hypertension underwent RDN and were followed up for 6 months. MIBG was performed before RDN, in order to estimate sympathetic activity and predict the response to RDN. All patients were sedated with dexmedetomidine and remifentanil during RDN. All patients tolerated the procedure well, were hemodynamically stable and their peri-procedural pain was effectively controlled. A median of 7.6 ± 2.1 and 6 ± 1.4 ablations were delivered in the right and left renal artery respectively, making an average of 6.8 burns per artery. No peri-procedural or late complications - adverse events (local or systematic) occurred. At 6 months, mean reduction in office BP was -26.0/-16.3 mmHg (p=0.004/p=0.02), while mean reduction in ambulatory BP was -12.3/-9.2 mmHg (p=0.118/p=0.045). One patient (14.3%) was a non-responder. None of the cardiac123I-MIBG imaging indexes (early and late heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) count density ratio, washout rate (WR) of the tracer from the myocardium) were different between responders and non-responders. Conclusion: Patients with resistant hypertension who underwent RDN in our department had a significant reduction in BP 6 months after the intervention.123I-MIBG was not useful in predicting RDN response. Dexmedetomidine and remifentanil provided sufficient patient comfort during the procedure, allowing an adequate number of ablations per renal artery to be performed, and this could probably lead to improved RDN results. © Ziakas et al