Polar coordinates in Taekwondo

[EN] In observational methodology, inter‐relational behaviors are relevant for coaches and athletes to know which behaviors are dependent or inexistent while others occur

Exploring the Relationship between Ageing and Cancer: from Translational to Clinical Research

A better understanding of the physiological and functional changes that occur with aging will enable to improve strategies for treating elderly cancer patients. For istance, hemathological toxicity is a major obstacle to the administration of chemotherapy in elderly cancer patients and ageing per sé is a major risk factor for cancer development, but the age-related impairment of immune system has never been studied in cancer patients. For this reason, the present Doctoral Course has been committed to provide the first description of immune senescence observed in cancer patients. In the context of a prospective, exploratory study, TREC levels, subsets of peripheral naïve/memory T-cells and peripheral cell telomere length have been detected in elderly cancer patients and in age-matched controls. A further critical issue of geriatric oncology is to uncover clinical problems that may impair the potential benefits and tolerability of anticancer treatments (Balducci, 2003; Extermann, 2003). Recently, the International Society of Geriatric Oncology released a position paper where the obligatory integration of a comparable form of geriatric assessment is strongly recommended in future studies (Wildiers, 2013). The Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) has been developed from a complete CGA and, differently from it, MPI may be administered and scored in a consistent manner. In order to answer this prioritary issue of geriatric oncology, the second project of this doctoral research program has been devoted to validate the MPI in patients with advanced cancer (Pilotto, 2008) to predict the 6 and 12-months overall mortality risk. In addition to estimate the tumor-independent survival, a CGA is essential when planning a cancer treatment as it uncovers medical conditions that may worsen the chemotherapy toxicity reported in clinical trials involving younger patients (Balducci, 2007). Despite there is strong evidence that any treatment decision in elderly cancer patients should be supported by a CGA, this is still performed in less than 10% of cancer centers because it is highly time-consuming. For this reason various author attempted to summarize the complete CGA in shorter versions. Among these screening tests, the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13), a simple 13-item questionnaire has good sensitivity and acceptable specificity (Luciani, 2010) in comparison with a full CGA, but there is not consistent medical literature regarding its ability to predict chemotherapy toxicity. Therefore, the third chapter of the present Doctoral Research Program reports a joint analysis of 4 prospective studies that evaluated the accuracy of VES-13 in predicting the risk of high grade toxicity in elderly patients undergoing chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Immunesenescence and Cancer. Fifty-two elderly patients with breast or colorectal cancer and 39 age-matched controls without personal history of cancer were enrolled. All patients underwent a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), from which a multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) score was calculated. Peripheral blood samples were collected at the time of enrollment, prior to any oncological medical treatment (endocrine therapy, chemo- therapy, radiotherapy or immune therapy). Peripheral blood samples were studied for naïve and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) CD4+ and C8+ cells by flow cytometry. T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circle (TREC) levels, telomere length and telomerase activity in peripheral blood cells were quantified by real-time PCR. In addition to descriptive analysis through Mann–Whitney U test and Student's t-test, correlations between age and TREC levels, or telomere length in both groups were analyzed with Pearson's χ2 test. TREC levels and telomere length were also analyzed as dichotomous variables (cut-off: ≤median) and Odd Ratios were estimated with a logistic regression model. Validation of MPI in Cancer Patients. Patients aged 70 yrs and older with a recently-diagnosed metastatic or inoperable cancer were enrolled and received a complete CGA including functional state, comorbidity, cognitive and humoral state, nutritional state, risk of pressure scores, social aspect and medications. The MPI score was calculated for each patient from the results of the various tests (ADL, IADL, SPMSQ, CIRS-CI, MNA, ESS, number of drugs, and social conditions), as reported elsewhere by Pilotto et al (Pilotto, 2007). Statistical Analysis. The associations between 6- or 12-months mortality and the MPI scores, was analyzed using a Cox’s proportional hazards regression model adjusted for age and gender. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to estimate the strength of the associations. The discriminatory power of the mortality model at 6 and 12 months of follow-up was assessed by calculating the area under the ROC curves for the MPI (considered as a continuous variable) using logistic regression models. VES-13 to predict chemotherapy toxicity. The study involved patients aged >70 years with a diagnosis of a solid or hematological tumor. All Patients were administered VES-13. For all patients number of medications, comorbidities, CIRS-G score and index, type of chemotherapy, line of treatment, MMSE and MNA scores were recorded. Grade 3-4 hematological and non hematological toxicities were avaibile for all patients. Regression analysis was performed. RESULTS Immunesenescence and Cancer. The percentages of CD8+ naïve and CD8+ RTE cells and TREC levels were significantly lower in cancer patients than in controls (p = 0.003, p = 0.004, p = 0.031, respectively). Telomere lengths in peripheral blood cells were significantly shorter in cancer patients than in controls (p = 0.046) and did not correlate with age in patients, whereas it did in controls (r = −0.354, p = 0.031). Short telomere (≤median)/low TREC (≤median) profile was associated with higher risk of cancer (OR = 3.68 [95% CI 1.22–11.11]; p = 0.021). Neither unfitness on CGA nor MPI score were significantly related to thymic output or telomere length in either group. Validation of MPI in Cancer Patients. A hundred and sixty patients entered the study. The MPI-related hazard ratios were higher at 6 months of follow-up than at 12 months, a high MPI being associated with a HR of 8.094 (95% CI 3.749-17.475, p<0.0001) at 6 months as opposed to 5.655 (95% CI 2.866-11.158, p<0.0001) at 12 months. When the MPI was considered as a continuous variable, any increase by 0.2 units (corresponding to the lower quartile) was associated with a 2.347-fold increase in the mortality risk (95% CI=1.838-2.997) at 6 months and a 2.051-fold increase (95% CI=1.662-2.531) at 12 months. The discriminatory power of the MPI’s predictive performance was statistically significant. The age- and sex-adjusted area under the ROC curve for MPI score at 6 and 12 months of follow-up were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.74-0.88) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.71-0.85), respectively. VES-13 to predict chemotherapy toxicity. 648 patients aged ≥ 66 years old were included, mean age was 76.2 years (SD 4.5, 66 to 90), 336 (51.9%) were female. VES-13 identified 287 of the patients (44.3%) as vulnerable. Grade 3-4 hematological and non-hematological toxicities were more prevalent in the vulnerable subjects (35.2% vs 20.8%, p <0.0001, and 18.5% vs 10.8%, p = 0.0055). Vulnerable patients (OR) had a higher risk of hematological and non hematological toxicity with an OR 2.15, (95% CI 1.46-3.17; p<0.001) and 1.66 (95% CI 1.02-2.72; p = 0.043) respectively. CONCLUSIONS The study of Immunesenescence provided the first evidence that elderly cancer patients seemed to suffer from a more severe decline in thymic output and had a lower proportion of naïve CD8+ cells than age-matched controls. In addition, cancer patients had significantly shorter telomeres in their peripheral blood cells than age-matched non-cancer patients. This result suggests the unpublished hypothesis – which would need to be tested in a larger study - that elderly people with shorter telomeres are at higher risk of developing cancer. If confirmed, thymic output and telomere length could be widely used in elderly general population to easily identify subjects who run an higher risk of developing cancer and optimize the resources for screening procedures. The second trial was the first to validate MPI in the oncological setting. The MPI retained in elderly patients with advanced cancer the same reliability and accuracy as reported in the original study by Pilotto et al. The results also suggested the possibility of creating a new, better-performing version of MPI by integrating it with the comorbidity severity index and the geriatric depression scale. In the third study the patients identified as vulnerable by the VES-13 had a statistically significant higher risk of developing both hematological and non-hematological toxicity. These risk increases progressively with the aging of the population, particularly for haematological toxicity. With the awareness that geriatric assessment of cancer patients cannot relies on a single test, future studies should be planned with the aim of prospectively identifying which is the most appropriate geriatric instrument for any single aspect of patient management (e.g. toxicity, overall survival, active life expectancy, or the quality of life) and clinical researc

La promozione musicale sui social network

L’industria musicale non ha mai vissuto un periodo di cambiamento così intenso e profondo come al giorno d’oggi. La sua digitalizzazione attraverso lo streaming musicale, la nascita di nuovi dispositivi che ne consentano la fruizione e l’interazione tra industria discografica e un pubblico sempre più centrale e determinante nelle scelte produttive e distributive del mercato, sono solo alcuni degli aspetti, indubbiamente i più importanti, che caratterizzano questa nuova fase della storia della musica. Attraverso questa tesi di laurea ho cercato di osservare e approfondire come in questi ultimi anni l’industria musicale si stia approcciando al mondo dei social network per promuovere e distribuire i prodotti musicali. Viene tracciato un quadro generale dell’ambiente dei social media, mostrandone sia i lati tecnologici che sociali, fino ad evidenziarne aspetti positivi e negativi. Nella seconda parte della trattazione invece, vengono osservate le strategie comunicative adottate dagli artisti e dagli addetti ai lavori per arrivare più efficacemente al pubblico e il ruolo che rivestono i vecchi media e l’utenza nel diffondere su larga scala il prodotto musicale

UMA ATUALIZAÇÃO DA LÓGICA INTERNA DE COMPETIÇÃO DO COMBATE NO TAEKWONDO

This manuscript addresses the internal logic of sparring taekwondo, regulated by the World Taekwondo Federation, to explain motor actions used in competitions. A narrative review was conducted on Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest, and Dialnet databases, guided by structural and functional taekwondo parameters with no limits as to year of publication or language used. The authors describe the various elements that make up the sport’s internal logic such as regulation, space, time, motor communication, roles and sub-roles in addition to the techniques or execution models that explain their special characteristics. This could assist in further examining the characteristics of that sport, defining combat actions, and contextualizing the real competitive situation by adapting tactical taekwondo sequences. Being aware of this sport’s unique characteristics will enable creating the necessary framework to continue research on Olympic-level taekwondo. El objetivo de este manuscrito es abordar la lógica interna del taekwondo de competición regulado por la Federación Mundial de Taekwondo para explicar la acción motriz en la competición. Se realizó una revisión narrativa basada en los parámetros estructurales y funcionales del taekwondo en las bases de datos del Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest y Dialnet sin limitar el año de publicación ni el idioma. Los autores se refieren a los diversos elementos que componen la lógica interna mencionada, como reglamento, espacio, tiempo, comunicación motriz, roles y subfunciones, además de los modelos de técnica o ejecución, explicando sus particularidades. Esto podría ayudarnos a profundizar en las características del taekwondo, a definir la acción de combate y a contextualizar la situación real de la competición, adaptando las secuencias tácticas del taekwondo. El conocimiento de las particularidades de este deporte permite crear un marco necesario para continuar el trabajo de investigación en el taekwondo olímpico. O objetivo do manuscrito é abordar a lógica interna do taekwondo competição regulamentada pela Federação Mundial do Taekwondo para explicar a ação motora na competição. Uma revisão narrativa foi realizada com base nos parâmetros estruturais e funcionais do taekwondo nos bancos de dados do Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest e Dialnet, sem limitar o ano de publicação nem o idioma utilizado. Os autores se referem aos diversos elementos que compõem a lógica interna mencionada, como regulação, espaço, tempo, comunicação motora, papéis e subfunções, além dos modelos de técnica ou execução, explicando suas particularidades. Isso poderia nos ajudar a aprofundar as características desse esporte, definir a ação de combate e contextualizar a situação real da competição, adaptando as sequências táticas do taekwondo. O conhecimento das particularidades desse esporte permite criar uma estrutura necessária para continuar o trabalho da pesquisa no taekwondo olímpico.  

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS OF TAEKWONDO ATHLETES ACCORDING TO THE ROUNDS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The purpose of this study was to analyse the technical and tactical behaviour of taekwondo athletes in a university level taekwondo championship according to the round. A total of 169 matches, consisting of 1088 performances were videotaped. The results showed that athletes when compete in a final and semifinal round performed more direct actions, simultaneous counterattacks, linear kicks, actions to the chest, and with left leg than when competing in prior rounds, whose technical-tactical behavior is characterized by perform more anticipatory actions than competitors in the final and semifinals. This information serves to focus taekwondo training in direct attacks to the chest and perform simultaneous counterattacks, imitating the final round competitors’ behavior

Una actualización de la lógica interna de la competición del combate en el taekwondo

This manuscript addresses the internal logic of sparring taekwondo, regulated by the World Taekwondo Federation, to explain motor actions used in competitions. A narrative review was conducted on Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest, and Dialnet databases, guided by structural and functional taekwondo parameters with no limits as to year of publication or language used. The authors describe the various elements that make up the sport’s internal logic such as regulation, space, time, motor communication, roles and sub roles in addition to the techniques or execution models that explain their special characteristics. This could assist in further examining the characteristics of that sport, defining combat actions, and contextualizing the real competitive situation by adapting tactical taekwondo sequences. Being aware of this sport’s unique characteristics will enable creating the necessary framework to continue research on Olympic-level taekwondo.O objetivo do manuscrito é abordar a lógica interna do taekwondo competição regulamentada pela Federação Mundial do Taekwondo para explicar a ação motora na competição. Uma revisão narrativa foi realizada com base nos parâmetros estruturais e funcionais do taekwondo nos bancos de dados do Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest e Dialnet, sem limitar o ano de publicação nem o idioma utilizado. Os autores se referem aos diversos elementos que compõem a lógica interna mencionada, como regulação, espaço, tempo, comunicação motora, papéis e subfunções, além dos modelos de técnica ou execução, explicando suas particularidades. Isso poderia nos ajudar a aprofundar as características desse esporte, definir a ação de combate e contextualizar a situação real da competição, adaptando as sequências táticas do taekwondo. O conhecimento das particularidades desse esporte permite criar uma estrutura necessária para continuar o trabalho da pesquisa no taekwondo olímpico.El objetivo de este manuscrito es abordar la lógica interna del taekwondo de competición regulado por la Federación Mundial de Taekwondo para explicar la acción motriz en la competición. Se realizó una revisión narrativa basada en los parámetros estructurales y funcionales del taekwondo en las bases de datos del Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco, PubMed, ProQuest y Dialnet sin limitar el año de publicación ni el idioma. Los autores se refieren a los diversos elementos que componen la lógica interna mencionada, como reglamento, espacio, tiempo, comunicación motriz, roles y subfunciones, además de los modelos de técnica o ejecución, explicando sus particularidades. Esto podría ayudarnos a profundizar en las características del taekwondo, a definir la acción de combate y a contextualizar la situación real de la competición, adaptando las secuencias tácticas del taekwondo. El conocimiento de las particularidades de este deporte permite crear un marco necesario para continuar el trabajo de investigación en el taekwondo olímpico.Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deport

Why do female and male taekwondo athletes win the bout? An analysis based on the Olympic weight category and the result of the bout

[ES] Los deportes de combate como el taekwondo, donde se compite contra un adversario requieren del control de la técnica y la táctica, así como de conocer el rendimiento óptimo de los oponentes para ganar el combate. Por eso, el objetivo principal del presente estudio fue analizar a los competidores olímpicos (Juegos Olímpicos de Londres), según la categoría de peso (mosca, pluma, ligero y pesado) y en función del resultado obtenido en sus combates (ganador vs. perdedor) en cada sexo. Para ello, se empleó la Metodología Observacional, siguiendo un diseño nomotético, de seguimiento y multidimensional de 302 actuaciones individuales. Para el análisis estadístico, la comparativa de las frecuencias se realizó a través de un ANOVA y T de Student. Se hallaron diferencias significativas entre categorías de peso, donde los competidores de menor peso realizan más acciones que los competidores de mayor peso; mientras que las competidoras de mayor peso realizan más acciones defensivas (bloqueos y cortes) que las de menor peso. Los ganadores realizan más acciones anticipadas, consiguiendo 1 y 3 puntos que los perdedores, mientras que estos últimos realizan un mayor número de acciones con pierna trasera, indirectas y con giro. Se concluye que, en los taekwondistas, hay un comportamiento técnico-táctico diferente en función de las categorías y del resultado del combate en cada sexo, sugiriéndose emular a los ganadores, realizando más acciones anticipadas tanto al tronco como a la cabeza, así como entrenar las acciones técnico-tácticas más empleadas acorde a la categoría de peso en la que se compita.[EN] Combat sports such as taekwondo, where athletes compete against an opponent require control of technique and tactics, as well as knowing the optimal performance of opponents to win the bout. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the Olympic competitors (London Olympic Games), according to the weight category (fly, feather, light and heavy) and according to the performance in their fighting (winner vs. loser) in each gender. An observational methodology was used, following a nomothetic, follow-up and multidimensional design of 302 individual performances. The statistical analysis used an ANOVA and T Student test for comparing frequencies. The results obtained indicate significant differences between weight categories, that is, lighter competitors performed more actions than heavier ones. Female heavier competitors performed more defensive actions (blocks and cuts) than lighter competitors. Regarding their performance, winners performed more anticipated, 1 and 3-point actions than losers who performed more indirect and spinning actions with back leg. Therefore, there is a different technical-tactical behaviour between taekwondo athletes depending on the categories and the result of the combat, suggesting to emulate winners, performing more anticipated actions to both trunk and head, as well as training the most used technical-tactical actions according to the athletes’ competition weight category.[PT] Os desportos de combate, tais como o taekwondo, onde se compete contra um adversário, requer controle técnico e tático, bem como de conhecimentos sobre o rendimento dos oponentes para ganhar o combate. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de analisar os competidores olímpicos (Jogos Olímpicos de Londres), segundo a categoria de peso (mosca, leve, médio e pesado) e o resultado do combates (vencedor vs. vencido), por género. Empregou-se uma Metodologia Observacional, seguindo uma perspetiva nomotética, longitudinal e multidimensional de 302 atuações individuais. Para a análise estatística, foram utilizados os testes ANOVA e T Student para comparação de frequências. Verificaram-se diferenças significativas nas categorias de peso, onde os competidores de menor peso realizaram mais ações do que os competidores de maior peso; enquanto os praticantes de maior peso realizaram ações mais defensivas (bloqueios e cortes) do que os de menor peso. Os vencedores realizaram mais ações antecipadas e de 1 e 3 pontos que os vencidos. Estes últimos realizaram um maior número de ações indiretas e giratórias com a perna traseira. Concluiu-se que, nos praticantes de taekwondo, há um comportamento técnico-tático diferenciado em função das categorias de peso e dos resultados dos combates por género, sugerindo-se uma stimulação dos vencedores, realizando-se mais ações antecipadas, tanto no tronco como na cabeça, assim como a promoção de ações técnico-táticas mais empregues, de acordo com a categoria de peso em que se compete

A review of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cardiac remodeling

Pathological molecular mechanisms involved in myocardial remodeling contribute to alter the existing structure of the heart, leading to cardiac dysfunction. Among the complex signaling network that characterizes myocardial remodeling, the distinct processes are myocyte loss, cardiac hypertrophy, alteration of extracellular matrix homeostasis, fibrosis, defective autophagy, metabolic abnormalities, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Several pathophysiological stimuli, such as pressure and volume overload, trigger the remodeling cascade, a process that initially confers protection to the heart as a compensatory mechanism. Yet chronic inflammation after myocardial infarction also leads to cardiac remodeling that, when prolonged, leads to heart failure progression. Here we review the molecular pathways involved in cardiac remodeling, with particular emphasis on those associated with myocardial infarction. A better understanding of cell signaling involved in cardiac remodeling may support the development of new therapeutic strategies towards the treatment of heart failure and reduction of cardiac complications. We will also discuss data derived from gene therapy approaches for modulating key mediators of cardiac remodeling

Preliminary results demonstrating the impact of Mediterranean diet on bone health

Nutrition is an environmental factor affecting bone health. Nutrition is considered essential to achieve and maintain optimal bone mass. Mediterranean diet (MD) has shown to prevent bone disease. Aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between bone health status and adherence the MD