Specific Physical Ability Prediction in Youth Basketball Players According to Playing Position

This study investigated the hierarchical structure of physical characteristics in elite young (i.e., U17-U19) basketball players according to playing positions. In addition, their predictive value of physical characteristics was determined for the evaluation of players’ physical preparedness. Sixty elite male basketball players performed 13 standardized specific field tests in order to assess the explosive power of lower limbs, speed, and change-of-direction speed. They were divided into three groups according to playing positions (guard [n = 28], forward [n = 22], center [n = 10]). The basic characteristics of the tested sample were: age = 17.36 ± 1.04 years, body height = 192.80 ± 4.49 cm, body mass = 79.83 ± 6.94 kg, and basketball experience = 9.38 ± 2.10 years for guards; age = 18.00 ± 1.00 years, body height = 201.48 ± 3.14 cm, body mass = 90.93 ± 9.85 kg, and basketball experience = 9.93 ± 2.28 years for forwards; and age = 17.60 ± 1.43 years; body height = 207.20 ± 3.29 cm, body mass = 104.00 ± 9.64 kg, and basketball experience = 9.20 ± 1.62 years for centers. For all playing positions factor analysis extracted three factors, which cumulatively explained 76.87, 88.12 and 87.63% of variance, respectively. The assessed performance measures were defined as significant (p < 0.001), with regression models of physical performance index (PPINDEX ). PPINDEX of guards = −6.860 + (0.932 × t-test) − (1.656 × Acceleration 15 m) − (0.020 × Countermovement jump); PPINDEX of forwards = −3.436 − (0.046 × Countermovement jump with arm swing) − (1.295 × Acceleration 15 m) + (0.582 × Control of dribbling); PPINDEX of centers = −4.126 + (0.604 × Control of dribbling) − (1.315 × Acceleration 15 m) − (0.037 × Sargent jump). A model for the evaluation of physical performance of young basketball players has been defined. In addition, this model could be used as a reference model for selection procedures, as well as to monitor the efficacy of applied training programmes within the short, medium and long-term periodization

Differences in Body Composition across Police Occupations and Moderation Effects of Leisure Time Physical Activity

This study investigated differences in the body composition of police officers from different occupational groups and the moderation effects of leisure time physical activity (LTPA). A sample of 237 police officers (special anti-terrorist unit, gendarmerie, firefighters, and general duties) participated in the study. Body mass index (BMI), percent of body fat (%BF), percent of skeletal muscle mass (%SMM), and index of hypokinesia (IH) were assessed using a multichannel bioelectric impedance analyzer and officers reported the amount of LTPA using an international physical activity questionnaire. The sample was divided in three groups relative to LTPA, sedentary (0–149 min/week), moderately active (150–299 min/week), and very active (300+ min/week). Multiple analysis of variance (4 × 3) was used to analyze if occupational groups differed based solely on occupation, if officers from the same occupation differed in muscularity and fatness based on LTPA, and if any differences in body composition occurred between officers from different occupations with the same level of LTPA. Police officers from more physically demanding occupations demonstrated lower %BF and IH, while having higher %SMM. This was also observed among the officers of the same occupation who reported a higher LTPA, while officers who reported very high LTPA had similar body composition

Relationship between stature level and success in elite judo: an analysis on four consecutive Olympic Games

Purpose: The rationale of our study derived from the important changes in judo rules, with particular consideration of the leg grabs. Therefore, the present study aimed at demonstrating the relationships between stature and successful matches in elite judo, in relation to both genders and seven weight categories. Methods: Stature levels and final ranking position of each participant were recorded on the base of the year of Olympic Game (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016), gender, and weight class. A one-way ANCOVA was applied to determinate possible differences (p ≤ 0.05) among judoka’s statures related to each Olympic Game. Results: Results showed that no difference has been reported for stature level of each judo Olympic Game in all and only male judoka. On the contrary, for female, difference (p = 0.007) on judoka’s stature levels among ranking positions generally emerged, reporting increases in stature levels between the first and the fifth (from 163.62 ± 7.95 to 167.90 ± 8.88 cm; p = 0.004), and the seventh (from 163.62 ± 7.95 to 168.26 ± 8.53 cm; p = 0.016) ranking position. Conclusion: Considering that no relationship between stature and successful matches in elite judo emerged in the analyzed four Olympics Games, it can speculate that no advantage can be attributed to the taller judoka’s for the rule changes regarding the leg grabs. © 2017, Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l., part of Springer Nature

Lipid peroxidation as risk factor for endothelial dysfunction in antiphospholipid syndrome patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress markers and it relations to endothelial damage as risk factor for thrombosis in patients with primary (PAPS) and secondary (SAPS) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in correlation to traditional risk factors. Flow-mediated (FMD) and nitroglycerine (NMD)-induced dilation of the brachial artery were studied in 140 APS patients (90 PAPS, 50 SAPS) and 40 controls matched by age, sex, and conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis. Markers of oxidative stress, lipid hydroperoxydes (LOOH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), total sulfhydryl groups (tSHG), and paraoxonase 1 activity (PON1) were determined by spectrophotometric method. Oxidative stress dominates in APS patients. LOOH and AOPP correlate to lipid fractions (p lt 0.05), unlike PON1, tSHG that correlated to antiphospholipid antibody positivity (p lt 0.05). FMD was lower in APS patients comparing to controls (p lt 0.001). Cholesterol is independent variable for FMD impairment in control group (p = 0.011); LOOH in PAPS (p = 0.004); LOOH, aCL, and triglycerides in SAPS patients (p = 0.009, p = 0.049, and p = 0.012, respectively). Combined predictive of aCL and LOOH is better for FMD impairment than LOOH alone in both PAPS and SAPS patients (AUC 0.727, p = 0.001, 95 % CI 0.616-0.837 and AUC 0.824, pE,0.001, 95 % CI 0.690-0.957, respectively). Lipid peroxidation is independent predictor for endothelial dysfunction in APS patients. We demonstrated synergistic effect of aCL and LOOH as risk for endothelial impairment in both PAPS and SAPS patients