Relazione tra carico interno e carico esterno in esercitazioni con la palla ad alta intensit\ue0 nel settore giovanile \u2013 Studio preliminare

Questo studio preliminare ha analizzato il carico di allenamento di due esercitazioni tecnico-tattiche a elevato impegno fisico in calciatori di et\ue0 differenti. 8 calciatori Under 16 e 8 Under 15 hanno eseguito 2 SSGs (Small Sided Games) in diverse modalit\ue0: un 4 vs 4 in \u201cdoppio quadrato\u201d (3 x 4\u2019) e mini-partite, con la presenza del portiere, in \u201cgabbia\u201d (20\u2019 totali, dal 2 vs 2 al 4 vs 4). Gli indici di carico esterno sono stati monitorati attraverso un sistema GPS, ed \ue8 stata registrata la fatica percepita (RPE). Il 4 vs 4 ha mostrato un\u2019intensit\ue0 complessivamente maggiore rispetto alla gabbia per potenza metabolica media, distanza al minuto, distanza equivalente al minuto ed RPE. Al contrario, un\u2019intensit\ue0 maggiore \ue8 emersa nella \u201cgabbia\u201d per percentuale di distanza equivalente e accelerazione/decelerazione ad alta intensit\ue0. Tali differenze tra le esercitazioni sono risultate pressoch\ue8 simili negli Under 15 rispetto agli Under 16. Infine, l\u2019intensit\ue0 elle 2 modalit\ue0 di SSGs \ue8 risultata complessivamente maggiore negli Under 16 per tutte le variabili esaminate. In conclusione, il 4 vs 4 \ue8 pi\uf9 intenso della \u201cgabbia\u201d, essendo un lavoro pi\uf9 focalizzato su aspetti fisici che tecnici. I calciatori di categoria Under 16 riescono a esprimere un impegno maggiore nel 4 vs 4 e appaiono quindi pi\uf9 pronti a svolgere in modo ottimale tale esercitazione

The effect of a single session of plyometric training per week on fitness parameters in professional female soccer players. A randomized controlled trial.

As the interest and popularity of female soccer has increased over the last few decades, there still lacks research conducted with the elite population, specifically ecological training interventions during the competitive season. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 12 weeks (undertaken once a week) of plyometric (PLY) training on physical performance in professional female soccer players during the season. Using a randomized controlled trial design sixteen players were included in the current study (mean ± SD; age 23 ± 4 years, weight 60.3 ± 4.9 kg, height 167 ± 3.7 cm) and randomized in PLY (n=8) and Control groups (CON, n=8), respectively. Squat jump (SJ), counter movement jump (CMJ), long jump (LJ), single-leg triple jump distance test (triple jump test), change of direction 505 test (505-COD), and sprint 10 m and 30 m were performed before and after 12 weeks of PLY training. Significant within-group differences were found in triple jump test dominant (p=0.031, ES=moderate) and non-dominant limb (p=0.021, ES=moderate) and sprint 10 m (p=0.05, ES=large), while, the CON did not report any positive variation. However, neither group reported significant variation in SJ, CMJ, LJ, 505-COD, sprint 30 m (underlining the difficulties in obtain meaningful variation in season). These findings have strong practical applications as this study showed for the first time that a single session a week of plyometric training can significantly increase sport-specific fitness parameters in professional female soccer players during the season

First UHPLC MS/MS method coupled with automated on-line SPE for quantification both of tacrolimus and everolimus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and its application on samples from co-treated pediatric patients

Tacrolimus (TAC, FK-506) and everolimus (EVE, RAD001) are immunosuppressors used to treat pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation. Their hematic TDM by liquid chromatography became standard practice. However, it does not always reflect concentrations at their active site. Our aim was to develop and validate a new method for the simultaneous TAC and EVE quantification into target cells: Peripheral-Blood-Mononuclear-Cells (PBMCs). PBMCs were collected using Cell-Preparation-Tubes; cells number and MCV were evaluated by an automatic cell counter. TAC and EVE were quantified using UHPLC-MS/MS coupled with an automated on-line SPE platform. Chromatographic run was performed on an Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 1,7 μm (2,1 x 50 mm) column at 45 °C, for 6 minutes at 0.5 mL/min. Mobile phases were water and methanol, both with 2 mM ammonium acetate and 1 mL/L formic acid). XBridge® C8 10 μm (1x10mm) SPE cartridges were used and the internal standard was ascomycin. Following FDA guidelines, method validation resulted in high sensitivity and specificity. Calibration curves were linear (r(2) = 0.998) and intra- and inter-day imprecision and inaccuracy were <15%. A reproducible matrix effect was observed, with a good recovery for all compounds. Drug amounts in 15 "real" PBMCs samples from 5 pediatric patients in co-treatment resulted within the calibration range (0.039-5 ng). Concentrations from each patient were standardized using their evaluated MCV: intra-PBMCs concentration was meanly 19.23 and 218.61 times higher than the hematic one for TAC and EVE, respectively. This method might be useful in clinical routine, giving reliable data on drugs concentration at the active site

Rubidium deficiency in dialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Since dialysis has brought long-term survival to uremic patients, we can now speculate on more subtle problems derived from imbalance or sub-optimal regulation of some elements such as trace metals. We focused on the rubidium (Rb) status in dialysis patients (HD), as concerns about its possible deficiency have been raised. METHODS: Rb in uremic patients was evaluated by: A) serum concentration (graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy) from blood samples of 70 patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) in comparison with 75 controls; B) tissue concentration (neutron activation analysis) from autopsy or biopsy samples (20) of HD patients in comparison with 21 controls; C) in vivo intradialytic mass balance during standard bicarbonate dialysis in 8 HD patients. RESULTS: A) Serum Rb concentrations in HD patients significantly were lower than in normal controls (304 +/- 81 micrograms/L versus 350 +/- 74 micrograms/L p < 0.001, log-transformed 5.68 +/- 0.28 versus 5.84 +/- 0.20, p < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis found a significantly higher risk of serum Rb < 250-300 and 350 micrograms/L in uremic patients than in controls (Odd ratios or 12.6, 95% CI 2.77-57.04; 4.0, 95% CI 1.92-8.4; 2.08, 95% CI 1.02-4.25, respectively). B) Rb was significantly lower in tissues of HD patients, including brain (2250 +/- 1520 ng/g versus 5490 +/- 1250 ng/g, p = 0.0002) than normal controls. C) Rb was transferred from the patients' blood to the dialysis bath during a standard bicarbonate dialysis session, giving mean intradialytic Rb removal of 4.0 +/- 1.1 mg/session. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that Rb deficiency may arise in uremic patients, and indicate that diffusive dialysis treatments allow Rb removal which, however, with a standard bicarbonate schedule does not seem to be any greater than that expected with normal urine output (20 mg/week). Further studies are needed to clarify the roles of many factors in this Rb deficiency, including the effects of uremia by itself, pre-dialysis factors (diet, impaired renal function and drugs), dialysis procedures (frequency, hours, diffusive/convective components) or other biochemical/clinical parameters (hemoglobin, body mass index, age). The finding of a Rb deficiency in uremia is important as it has a role in neurobehavioural functions, mainly as an antidepressant. As Rb deficiency may be implicated in central nervous system alterations which strongly influence the quality of life, we believe that monitoring serum Rb in uremic patients and clarifying the causal mechanisms of deficiency will facilitate future therapeutic approaches

Single-run UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of endogenous steroids and their phase II metabolites in serum for anti-doping purposes.

Anti-doping rule violations related to the abuse of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids can be currently discovered by the urinary steroidal module of Athlete Biological Passport. Since this powerful tool is still subjected to some limitations due to various confounding factors altering the steroid profile, alternative strategies have been constantly proposed. Among these, the measurement of blood concentrations of endogenous steroid hormones by LC-MS is currently of increasing interest in anti-doping, bringing significant advantages for the detection of testosterone abuse in females and in individuals with deletion of UGT2B17 enzyme. Although various research groups have made significant efforts in method development, there is currently no accepted or harmonized anti-doping method for quantitative analysis of the various testosterone doping markers in blood. In this study we present a UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of major circulating steroid hormones together with an extended panel of glucuro- and sulpho-conjugated phase II metabolites of androgens. Chromatographic setup was optimized by comparing the performance of three different C18 stationary phases and by the careful selection of mobile phases with the aim of separating all the target steroids, including numerous isomeric/isobaric compounds. MS parameters were fine-tuned to obtain the sensitivity needed for measuring the target analytes, that show specific serum concentrations ranging from low pg/mL for less abundant compounds to μg/mL for sulpho-conjugated steroids. Finally, sample preparation protocol was developed for the extraction of steroid hormones from 200 μL of serum and the performance was evaluated in terms of extraction recovery and matrix effect. The final method was then applied to authentic serum samples collected from healthy volunteers (40 males and 40 females) at the Blood Bank of the City of Health and Science University Hospital of Turin. The analysis of these samples allowed to obtain results on serum concentrations of the targeted steroids, with particular emphasis on previously undiscovered phase II metabolites, such as the isomers of 5-androstane-3,17-diol glucuronide. This preliminary application also enabled measuring dihydrotestosterone sulphate in male samples, efficiently separating this analyte from its isomer, epiandrosterone sulphate, which circulates in blood at high concentrations. The promising results of this study are encouraging for the measurement of blood steroid profile markers in serum and plasma samples for Athlete Biological Passport purposes