EVALUATION OF THE GOALS SCORING PATTERNS AND THE RELATION BETWEEN TIME AND GOAL SCORING OF FOUR UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS

The purpose of this study was to compare time period and patterns of goal scoring in four UEFA Champions League (UCL) tournaments (2013-2017). All matches (n=500) of the four Champions League tournaments were recorded using video and analyzed with the software Sportsscout. Chi-square methods were used for the data analysis and the level of significance was set at p0.05 for the time period, X2=25.350, p>0.05 for open play and X2=7.503, p>0.05 for set play). The 15-min analysis for each tournament did not show any significant difference if we exclude all extra time periods. However, in UCL 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 more goals were scored in the second half (X2=9.696, p<0.05 and X2=7.496, p<0.05, respectively). With open play more goals were scored than set play (75% and 25% average, respectively). The action that scored the most goals in open play was combination and crosses (21.6% and 22.4% respectively) and in set play was corners and penalties (33.9%, all). The results showed that no differences occurred between CLs regarding the scoring patterns and time periods of scoring. However, goal scoring might be time dependent because more goals were scored in the second half. An explanation for this could be the fatigue and the tactical strategy. About the patterns, coaches must focus on training crosses and passing combinations. Also, they should give a lot of attention to corners of set plays

DIFFERENCES IN GOAL SCORING AND MINUTES OF SCORING BETWEEN TWO EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, ONE AMONG 16 TEAMS (EURO 2012) AND THE OTHER AMONG 24 TEAMS (EURO 2016)

The purpose of this study was to record and compare the goal scoring patterns and the minutes of the game that goals were scored between two Euro Cups (2012 and 2016). All matches (n=82) of both the Euro Cups were video taped and analyzed using the sport software Sportscout. Chi-square methods were used for the data analysis and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. The team that scored the first goal in a match was the winner of that match 70.97% of the time in Euro 2012 and 72% in Euro 2016. In open play, the highs of all the actions were more frequent prior to a goal which involved a cross or a through pass. The 15-min analysis showed that the most goals (20%) were scored between the 46th-60th min of the game in the Euro Cup 2012. Furthermore, in the Euro Cup 2016 the most goals were scored between the 31st-45th minute (19%), 46th–60th minute (19%) and between the 76th-90th minute (18%). No differences between the Euro Cups observed. The results indicated that coaches have to make sure their teams score first, press in the offensive third and prepare their players well in set plays to be more effective.

Efeito de um imunomodulador na qualidade do colostro e na incidência de doenças no pós-parto de vacas leiteiras

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaEste estudo analisou a eficácia do pegbovigrastim (ImrestorTM) na incidência de doenças no pós-parto de vacas leiteiras e o seu efeito na qualidade do colostro. Às vacas do grupo experimental foi administrado pegbovigrastim e às vacas do grupo controlo soro fisiológico. Não se observaram diferenças significativas no número de neutrófilos e macrófagos nos esfregaços de colostro. Contudo, os seus valores máximos foram superiores no colostro de vacas do grupo ImrestorTM. Verificou-se que no colostro não centrifugado das vacas tratadas com ImrestorTM o número de linfócitos foi tendencialmente superior (p=0,08). O colostro de vacas que receberam as duas doses de ImrestorTM teve uma média de 300 mil células/ml superior ao colostro do grupo controlo. A incidência de mastites, metrites e RP foi inferior no grupo experimental, comparativamente ao grupo controlo, contudo esta redução não foi estatisticamente significativa. O valor Brix foi semelhante entre os dois grupos em estudo. Não se observaram diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos na produção leiteira acumulada no primeiro mês após o parto. A percentagem de vacas com hipercetonémia foi 5,3% no grupo experimental e 8,2% no grupo controlo. É de todo o interesse que futuramente se desenvolvam mais estudos de modo a obter conclusões mais consolidadas.ABSTRACT - EFFECT OF AN IMMUNOMODULATOR IN THE QUALITY OF COLOSTRUM AND THE INCIDENCE OF DISEASES IN THE POSTPARTUM OF DAIRY COWS - This study examined the efficacy of pegbovigrastim (ImrestorTM) on the incidence of postpartum diseases in dairy cows and its effect on the quality of colostrum. Cows in the experimental group received pegbovigrastim and cows in the control group saline solution. No significant differences were observed in the number of neutrophils and macrophages in the colostrum. However, its maximum values were higher in colostrum of the ImrestorTM group. It was found that in the non-centrifuged colostrum of cows treated with ImrestorTM the number of lymphocytes was tendentially higher (p=0,08). The colostrum of cows that received the two doses of ImrestorTM was an average of 300,000 cells/ml higher than colostrum in the control group. The incidence of mastitis, metritis and RP was lower in the experimental group, compared to the control group, but this reduction was not statistically significant. The Brix value was similar between the two groups under study. There were no significant differences between the two groups in milk production accumulated in the first month after calving. The percentage of cows with hyperketonemia was 5.3% in the experimental group and 8.2% in the control group. It is of great interest that more studies are carried out in the future in order to obtain more consolidated conclusions.Fonte de Leite Exploração Agrícola e Pecuária, S.A.N/

Region-specific up-regulation of oxytocin receptor binding in the brain of mice following chronic nicotine administration.

Nicotine addiction is considered to be the main preventable cause of death worldwide. While growing evidence indicates that the neurohypophysial peptide oxytocin can modulate the addictive properties of several abused drugs, the regulation of the oxytocinergic system following nicotine administration has so far received little attention. Here, we examined the effects of long-term nicotine or saline administration on the central oxytocinergic system using [(125)I]OVTA autoradiographic binding in mouse brain. Male, 7-week old C57BL6J mice were treated with either nicotine (7.8 mg/kg daily; rate of 0.5 μl per hour) or saline for a period of 14-days via osmotic minipumps. Chronic nicotine administration induced a marked region-specific upregulation of the oxytocin receptor binding in the amygdala, a brain region involved in stress and emotional regulation. These results provide direct evidence for nicotine-induced neuroadaptations in the oxytocinergic system, which may be involved in the modulation of nicotine-seeking as well as emotional consequence of chronic drug use

Vrabas. The Effect of Natural and Artificial Grass on Sprinting Performance in Young Soccer Players

Abstract: The sprint performance on natural and artificial grass of 5 th generation was assessed. Sixty eight young male soccer players, which were divided in two groups according to their age [children (n=36; 12.1±0.5y) and adolescents (n=32; 14.2±0.4y)], performed 30-m sprint tests with and without handling the ball on natural and artificial grass. The performance was recorded during 0-10m, 10-30m, and 0-30m running distances. It was found that children were significantly faster during 0-10m running distance on the artificial compared to natural grass when handling the ball while adolescents revealed no differences in sprint performance between the surfaces irrespectively of the ball condition. In running distances 10-30m and 0-30m, children were significant faster in the artificial compared to the natural grass either with or without ball, while the adolescents were significantly faster in the artificial grass only without handling the ball. Children run faster on artificial than natural grass while adolescent soccer players are faster in artificial grass when they do not have to handle the ball. It is clear that children should be more careful when play soccer on artificial grass because the ball is moving faster and greater skill is needed in order to avoid injuries

Quantification of the novel N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor ligand [11C]GMOM in man

[11C]GMOM (carbon-11 labeled N-(2-chloro-5-thiomethylphenyl)-N0-(3-[11C]methoxy-phenyl)-N0-methylguanidine) is a PET ligand that binds to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor with high specificity and affinity. The purpose of this first in human study was to evaluate kinetics of [11C]GMOM in the healthy human brain and to identify the optimal pharmacokinetic model for quantifying these kinetics, both before and after a pharmacological dose of S-ketamine. Dynamic 90 min [11C]GMOM PET scans were obtained from 10 subjects. In six of the 10 subjects, a second PET scan was performed following an S-ketamine challenge. Metabolite corrected plasma input functions were obtained for all scans. Regional time activity curves were fitted to various single- and two-tissue compartment models. Best fits were obtained using a two-tissue irreversible model with blood volume parameter. The highest net influx rate (Ki) of [11C]GMOM was observed in regions with high N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor density, such as hippocampus and thalamus. A significant reduction in the Ki was observed for the entire brain after administration of ketamine, suggesting specific binding to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. This initial study suggests that the [11C]GMOM could be used for quantification of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors

Thermogenic capacity of human white-fat: the actual picture

Presented at the 9th Greek Conference of Biochemistry and Physiology of Exercise, Thessaloniki, Greece, 18–20 October 2019Cold exposure and exercise may increase thermogenic capacity of white adipose tissue (WAT), which could subsequently enhance energy expenditure and body weight loss. We aimed to identify possible alterations in uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)—the main biomarker of thermogenic activation—in human WAT due to both cold exposure and exercise, as well as the link between environmental temperature and thermogenic capacity of human WAT. MATERIAL &amp; METHOD: We conducted four human experimental studies and two systematic reviews and meta-analyses—PROSPERO registration CRD42019120116, CRD42019120213. RESULTS: UCP1 mRNA was higher in winter than in summer [t(30) = 2.232, p = 0.03] in human WAT and our meta-analysis showed a main effect of cold exposure on human UCP1 mRNA [standard mean difference (Std-md) = 1.81, confidence interval (CI) = 0.50–3.13, p = 0.007]. However, UCP1 mRNA/protein expressions displayed no associations with %fat mass or BMI (p &gt; 0.05, Cohen’s f2 &lt; 0.20). Both a 2-hour cooling and a non-cooling protocol preceding the positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) measurements revealed no association between environmental temperature and standardised uptake value (SUVmax) of human WAT, as well as no mean differences in SUVmax-WAT-activity between winter and summer. An 8-week exercise program had no effect on UCP1 of human WAT or on body composition. Our meta-analysis also revealed: (a) no effect of chronic exercise on human UCP1 mRNA, (b) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 0.59, CI = 0.03–1.16, p = 0.04) and UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 1.76, CI = 0.48–3.04, p = 0.007) in WAT of normal diet animals, c) a main effect of chronic exercise on UCP1 mRNA (Std-md = 2.94, CI = 0.24–5.65, p = 0.03) and UCP1 protein concentrations (Std-md = 2.06, CI = 0.07–4.05, p = 0.04) of high-fat diet animals. CONCLUSIONS: Cold exposure represents a main stimulus for increased thermogenic capacity in human white adipocytes; however, this may have no impact on body weight loss. Chronic exercise may represent no major stimulus for UCP1 induced in human white adipocytes, while in animals it increases UCP1 gene independently of their diet. Therefore, evidence from animal studies regarding UCP1 gene activation in white adipocytes may not be applicable in humans. Finally, the identification of human WAT thermogenic capacity via PET/CT examination may be optimal with both a cooling and a non-cooling protocol.Published onlin

In Vivo Detection of Amyloid-β Deposits Using Heavy Chain Antibody Fragments in a Transgenic Mouse Model for Alzheimer's Disease

This study investigated the in vivo properties of two heavy chain antibody fragments (VHH), ni3A and pa2H, to differentially detect vascular or parenchymal amyloid-β deposits characteristic for Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Blood clearance and biodistribution including brain uptake were assessed by bolus injection of radiolabeled VHH in APP/PS1 mice or wildtype littermates. In addition, in vivo specificity for Aβ was examined in more detail with fluorescently labeled VHH by circumventing the blood-brain barrier via direct application or intracarotid co-injection with mannitol. All VHH showed rapid renal clearance (10–20 min). Twenty-four hours post-injection 99mTc-pa2H resulted in a small yet significant higher cerebral uptake in the APP/PS1 animals. No difference in brain uptake were observed for 99mTc-ni3A or DTPA(111In)-pa2H, which lacked additional peptide tags to investigate further clinical applicability. In vivo specificity for Aβ was confirmed for both fluorescently labeled VHH, where pa2H remained readily detectable for 24 hours or more after injection. Furthermore, both VHH showed affinity for parenchymal and vascular deposits, this in contrast to human tissue, where ni3A specifically targeted only vascular Aβ. Despite a brain uptake that is as yet too low for in vivo imaging, this study provides evidence that VHH detect Aβ deposits in vivo, with high selectivity and favorable in vivo characteristics, making them promising tools for further development as diagnostic agents for the distinctive detection of different Aβ deposits