Governing bodies or managing freedom? Subcultural struggles, national sport systems and the glocalised institutionalisation of parkour

Whilst being the world’s fastest growing informal sport, parkour is also undergoing a gradual institutionalisation which is shaped differently by each national context’s specific sport system. We investigate this glocalised process by examining the subcultural tensions and power struggles it generates within the Italian parkour community. Whilst in other countries parkour practitioners (the so-called traceurs/traceuses) have managed to gain public recognition by forming a specific and independent national governing body, in Italy they are gradually affiliating with different Sport Promotion Bodies (Enti di Promozione Sportiva), the distinctive umbrella organisations which compete for the provision of sport-for-all within the country. Through a qualitative mixed-method approach based on focus groups, individual interviews and the analysis of ethnographic and documentary material, we explore the institutionalisation of Italian parkour by focusing on the controversies surrounding the introduction of teaching standards and qualifications, which is becoming a battlefield between competing authenticity claims based on different visions and interpretations of parkour. Our analysis shows how sport policymakers become influential agents in this authentication process by (often unwittingly) favouring certain forms and meanings of the practice and thereby contributing to legitimising certain practitioners over others, distributing subcultural reputations and shaping hierarchies in the field. Moreover, by highlighting how the specific characteristics of the Italian sport system contribute to increasing tensions amongst traceurs but also stimulate discussion and pluralism, this study calls for future comparative analysis of the role of policymakers in the local re-contextualisation of highly globalised practices

Resolución de una necrosis lingual por leptospirosis canina

The present study describes the clinical resolution of a tongue necrosis associated whit an acute renal failure due to leptospirosis. A 4 year old male Boston terrier canine was present with a tongue that showed changes of color, consistency, sensibility and lack of pulse. Regarding the renal profile urea (183 mg/ dl) and creatinine (1,8 mg/dl), values were increased and micro agglutination technique gave titers 1/3200 of Leptospira interrogans serovars, Ballum castellonis y Canicola canicola. Increased antibody titles and clinical manifestations, confirmed the diagnosis of acute kidney damage. The treatment began with fluid therapy using Ringer lactato and dextrose 5%. As leptospirosis was possible, antibiotic treatment was applied (penicillin combined with estreptomicina). Once the patient was stable, partial glosectomy was realized. Nevertheless, necrosis continued, so it was decided to use 1 mg/kg of dexametasona parenteraly during three days an then a lower dosis. Eight days later, the patient was recovered, although isostenuric urine density continued, urea (87 mg/dl) and creatinine (0,8 mg/dl) values decreased and the patient was stable. Despite corticosteroids are not recommended in acute renal failure in this case were used to control vasculitis. Considering the immune origin of vascular injury, treating the initial cause isn´t enough, reason why immunosuppressive drugs are recommended.Se describe la resolución clínica de una necrosis lingual asociada a insuficiencia renal aguda por leptospirosis. Un canino Boston terrier, macho entero de 4 años, a la exploración de la cavidad oral presentó alteraciones de la coloración, consistencia, sensibilidad y temperatura, así como ausencia de pulso en la punta de la lengua. En el perfil renal se observaron valores elevados de urea (183 mg/dl) y creatinina (1,8 mg/dl). Las pruebas de Ehrlichia y Leishmania fueron negativas, en tanto la prueba de microaglutinación microscópica, arrojó títulos de 1/3200 de los serovares Ballum castellonis y Canicola canicola de Leptospira interrogans. Los títulos elevados de anticuerpos y las manifestaciones clínicas compatibles, confirmaron el diagnóstico de daño renal agudo. Para el tratamiento se realizó fluidoterapia con Ringer lactato y dextosa al 5%. Ante la sospecha de leptospirosis se administró penicilina con estreptomicina. Una vez estabilizada, se realizó una glosectomía parcial. Sin embargo, como la necrosis continuó avanzando, se decidió administrar 1 mg/kg de dexametasona por vía parenteral cada 12 horas, durante 3 días, y luego dosis decreciente. A los 8 días, el paciente estaba recuperado, aunque todavía poseía densidad urinaria isostenúrica. El valor de urea fue de 87 mg/dl y el de creatinina 0,8 mg/ dl, con un paciente recuperado. Si bien, los corticoides no se recomiendan ante un daño renal agudo, el uso de dexametasona estaría indicado para resolver el daño vascular

Alteraciones ecográficas y hematológicas en caninos con leishmaniosis visceral

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a multisystemic disease with clinical signs such as splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, lymphadenopathy and glomerulonephritis. The presentation of anemia associated with hyperproteinemia is frequent. Ultrasound can reveal morphological and structural abnormalities of the abdominal organs. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the visible lesions of the abdominal organs by means of ultrasound, and to establish relationships with laboratory analysis. The parasite was detected by indirect parasitological and serological diagnoses. The affected abdominal organs were evaluated by ultrasound (shape, size, structure and echogenicity). The cortex/medulla ratio was explored in the kidneys. At the laboratory, hemogram and blood biochemistry of each patient were investigated. The clinical staging of the dogs was 50% for moderate stage, 40% for severe, and 10% for very severe. The main alterations were hepatomegaly (8 patients), splenomegaly (1 case) and increased echogenicity of the renal cortex with decreased corticomedular definition and lymphadenomegaly (5 animals). Around 90% of the animals revealed anemia accompanied by hyperproteinemia. It is concluded that the use of ultrasound in conjunction with blood tests can help to establish the severity of abdominal organ injuries in dogs with leishmaniasis.La leishmaniosis visceral es una enfermedad multisistémica que en los caninos ostenta signos clínicos tales como esplenomegalia, hepatomegalia, linfadenopatía y glomerulonefritis. Es frecuente la presentación de anemia asociada a hiperproteinemia. La ecografía puede revelar anomalías morfológicas y estructurales de los órganos de la cavidad abdominal. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar mediante eco-grafía las lesiones visibles de los órganos abdominales, así como establecer relaciones con los análisis de laboratorio. La detección del parásito se efectuó mediante diagnósticos parasitológico y serológico indirecto. Los órganos abdominales afectados se evaluaron por ecografía (forma, tamaño, estructura y ecogenicidad). En los riñones se exploró la relación corteza/médula. En el laboratorio se investigaron las variables sanguíneas, serológicas y renales. La estadificación clínica de los caninos resultó del 50% en estadio moderado, 40% grave y 10% muy grave. Las principales alteraciones fueron hepatomegalia(8 pacientes), esplenomegalia (1 caso) e incremento de la ecogenicidad de la corteza renal con disminución de la definición corticomedular y linfoadenomegalia (5 animales). El 90% de los caninos reveló anemia acompañada de hiperproteinemia. Se concluye que el uso de la ecografía en conjunto con los análisis sanguíneos, pueden ayudar a establecer la severidad de las lesiones de los órganos abdominales en pacientes con leishmaniosis

Synaptic Vesicle Docking: Sphingosine Regulates Syntaxin1 Interaction with Munc18

Consensus exists that lipids must play key functions in synaptic activity but precise mechanistic information is limited. Acid sphingomyelinase knockout mice (ASMko) are a suitable model to address the role of sphingolipids in synaptic regulation as they recapitulate a mental retardation syndrome, Niemann Pick disease type A (NPA), and their neurons have altered levels of sphingomyelin (SM) and its derivatives. Electrophysiological recordings showed that ASMko hippocampi have increased paired-pulse facilitation and post-tetanic potentiation. Consistently, electron microscopy revealed reduced number of docked vesicles. Biochemical analysis of ASMko synaptic membranes unveiled higher amounts of SM and sphingosine (Se) and enhanced interaction of the docking molecules Munc18 and syntaxin1. In vitro reconstitution assays demonstrated that Se changes syntaxin1 conformation enhancing its interaction with Munc18. Moreover, Se reduces vesicle docking in primary neurons and increases paired-pulse facilitation when added to wt hippocampal slices. These data provide with a novel mechanism for synaptic vesicle control by sphingolipids and could explain cognitive deficits of NPA patients

Part I: nature sports: a unifying concept

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Coming to be a man. Pleasure in the construction of Italian men\u2019s sexuality

Little research has challenged a naturalized conception of male (hetero) sexuality by looking at the multiple ways in which heterosexual men experience and make sense of sexuality in their everyday lives. In this article, after outlining the forms that such a conception has taken in recent Italian history, we explore how men and women deal with the issue of male pleasure. The analysis is based on interviews with seventy-one Italian men and women aged fifty to seventy. These cohorts were socialized in a highly mechanistic model of male pleasure as coinciding with orgasm and ejaculation. Some of the interviewees\u2019 biographies hint at subsequent changes in the definitions of what is pleasurable for men. These changes can be traced to the challenges of emerging new experiences and representations of women\u2019s sexuality. However, such changes do not question fully the mechanistic image of man as a sexual machine