Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Cardiovascular Autonomic Parameters in Rugby Players: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on cardiovascular autonomic parameters after a rugby match. Methods: Resting and reactivity (ie, response to orthostasis) measures of mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability were assessed in 23 male players after a single session of OMT, both 18 to 20 hours after a rugby match and in a corresponding no-match condition, in a randomized, sham-controlled, crossover design. Results: Signs of reduced heart rate variability and elevated mean arterial pressure and heart rate were found 18 to 20 hours after a rugby match compared with the no-match condition. A significant increase in heart rate variability and a significant reduction in mean arterial pressure were observed after OMT in both the after-match and no-match conditions. Heart rate and heart rate variability responses to orthostasis were not affected by previous match competition, but were significantly larger after OMT compared with sham treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests the presence of cardiovascular autonomic alterations in rugby players after a competitive match, which may be indicative of prolonged fatigue and incomplete recovery. In these players, favorable changes in cardiovascular autonomic parameters were observed following a single session of OMT

La preparación física desde una perspectiva cualitativa: la educación del movimiento

El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a partir de la puesta en práctica de un proyecto de preparación física en rugby juvenil al desarrollo de un nuevo enfoque del Profesor de Educación Física en las distintas prácticas deportivas, basado en una visión cualitativa de la preparación física, es decir, orientado a la educación del movimiento. Esto nos va a permitir una mejor relación del alumno con su cuerpo, mejorar su estilo de vida y reducir el riesgo de lesiones. Existen diversas aproximaciones desde distintos modelos teóricos que sustentan la preparación física para la mejora del rendimiento deportivo. Sin embargo, estos enfoques tienen la particularidad de abordar el rendimiento desde la cuantificación y la evolución constante de la performance, dejando de lado la calidad de movimientos de esos individuos. Desde nuestra idea, limitaciones en los patrones básicos de movimiento, llevan a distintas alteraciones y compensaciones que disminuyen el rendimiento, el aprendizaje motor y aumentan el riego de lesión.Departamento de Educación Físic

Polydatin beneficial effects in zebrafish larvae undergoing multiple stress types

none8noPolydatin is a polyphenol, whose beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, have been largely demonstrated. At the same time, copper has an important role in the correct organism homeostasis and alteration of its concentration can induce oxidative stress. In this study, the efficacy of polydatin to counteract the stress induced by CuSO4 exposure or by caudal fin amputation was investigated in zebrafish larvae. The study revealed that polydatin can reduced the stress induced by a 2 h exposure to 10 µM CuSO4 by lowering the levels of il1b and cxcl8b.1 and reducing neutrophils migration in the head and along the lateral line. Similarly, polydatin administration reduced the number of neutrophils in the area of fin cut. In addition, polydatin upregulates the expression of sod1 mRNA and CAT activity, both involved in the antioxidant response. Most of the results obtained in this study support the working hypothesis that polydatin administration can modulate stress response and its action is more effective in mitigating the effects rather than in preventing chemical damages.openPessina A.; Di Vincenzo M.; Maradonna F.; Marchegiani F.; Olivieri F.; Randazzo B.; Gioacchini G.; Carnevali O.Pessina, A.; Di Vincenzo, M.; Maradonna, F.; Marchegiani, F.; Olivieri, F.; Randazzo, B.; Gioacchini, G.; Carnevali, O

Antidepressant-like effects of pharmacological inhibition of FAAH activity in socially isolated female rats

Pharmacological inhibition of the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which terminates signaling of the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (or anandamide, AEA), exerts favourable effects in rodent models of stress-related depression. Yet although depression seems to be more common among women than men and in spite of some evidence of sex differences in treatment efficacy, preclinical development of FAAH inhibitors for the pharmacotherapy of stress-related depression has been predominantly conducted in male animals. Here, adult female rats were exposed to six weeks of social isolation and, starting from the second week, treated with the FAAH inhibitor URB694 (0.3 mg/kg/day, i.p.) or vehicle. Compared to pair-housed females, socially isolated female rats treated with vehicle developed behavioral (mild anhedonia, passive stress coping) and physiological (reduced body weight gain, elevated plasma corticosterone levels) alterations. Moreover, prolonged social isolation provoked a reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and AEA levels within the hippocampus. Together, these changes are indicative of an increased risk of developing a depressive-like state. Conversely, pharmacological inhibition of FAAH activity with URB694 restored both AEA and BDNF levels within the hippocampus of socially isolated rats and prevented the development of behavioral and physiological alterations. These results suggest a potential interplay between AEA-mediated signaling and hippocampal BDNF in the pathogenesis of depression-relevant behaviors and physiological alterations and antidepressant action of FAAH inhibition in socially isolated female rats

Probiotic-Based Nutritional Effects on Killifish Reproduction

Probiotic bacteria used as dietary additives seem to offer an attractive choice inducing overall health benefits to the host organism. It is well known that reproduction, in all vertebrates, is regulated by the reproductive axis and that nutrition affects reproductive events, from puberty to adult gametogenesis, in both sexes. Consequently, reproductive events are very closely aligned with the nutrition. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of dietary probiotic administration on the marine teleost Fundulus heteroclitus and the effects of such broodstock dietary treatment on the growth and survival of the new progeny. Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501® was administered daily as a feed additive, at a final concentration of 106 cfu ml-1 for 8 days. Gonadal growth (gonadosomatic index, GSI), fecundity, embryo survival and hatching rate of larvae from broodstock fed probiotic-supplemented diets were analysed as well as the biometric parameters (body weight, BW; total length, TL). The results demonstrated the beneficial effects of probiotics on the reproductive performance of this marine teleost, as the GSI, fecundity and embryo survival were significantly enhanced by probiotic administration. On the contrary, no effect on the hatching rate was shown. Moreover, broodstock probiotic-based nutrition affected the early stages of larval development of the new progeny: in detail, a significantly higher TL was shown throughout the experiment in the progeny derived from the probiotic (PRO) group bloodstocks compared to the control (CTRL) group; mean BW was significantly higher only at 30 days post-hatching (dph) while no change was observed in terms of larval survival. These results confirmed the positive effect of L. rhamnosus IMC 501® on the reproductive process of this marine teleost, but further work is required to better understand the mechanisms by which probiotics act on the reproductive axis as well as the nutritionally-/immunologically-mediated maternal effects on embryo and larval development and growth

A review of clinical decision-making: Models and current research

Aims and objectives: The aim of this paper was to review the current literature with respect to clinical decision-making models and the educational application of models to clinical practice. This was achieved by exploring the function and related research of the three available models of clinical decision making: information processing model, the intuitive-humanist model and the clinical decision making model. Background: Clinical decision-making is a unique process that involves the interplay between knowledge of pre-existing pathological conditions, explicit patient information, nursing care and experiential learning. Historically, two models of clinical decision making are recognised from the literature; the information processing model and the intuitive-humanist model. The usefulness and application of both models has been examined in relation the provision of nursing care and care related outcomes. More recently a third model of clinical decision making has been proposed. This new multidimensional model contains elements of the information processing model but also examines patient specific elements that are necessary for cue and pattern recognition. Design: Literature review Methods: Evaluation of the literature generated from MEDLINE, CINAHL, OVID, PUBMED and EBESCO systems and the Internet from 1980 – November 2005

Management of severe head injury with brain exposure in three loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta

The loggerhead Caretta caretta is the most common sea turtle in the Mediterranean. Currently, sea turtles are considered endangered, mainly due to the impact of human activities. Among traumatic lesions, those involving the skull, if complicated by brain exposure, are often life-threatening. In these cases, death could be the outcome of direct trauma of the cerebral tissue or of secondary meningoencephalitis. This uncontrolled study aims to evaluate the use of a plantderived dressing (1 Primary Wound Dressing®) in 3 sea turtles with severe lesions of the skull exposing the brain. Following surgical curettage, the treatment protocol involved exclusive use of the plant-derived dressing applied on the wound surface as the primary dressing, daily for the first month and then every other day until the end of treatment. The wound and peri-wound skin were covered with a simple secondary dressing without any active compound (non-woven gauze with petroleum jelly). Data presented herein show an excellent healing process in all 3 cases and no side effects due to contact of the medication with the cerebral tissue