Psychological Stress Triggers a Hyperammonemia Episode in Patient with Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency.

An 18-year-old male motorcycle racer, who was a participant in the FIM Road RacingWorld Championship and had a history of Ornithine Transcarbamylase deficiency, developed nausea and dizziness while driving his motorcycle and became unconscious right after he stopped at the box. He was rapidly attended to by the medical personnel of the circuit, and once he recovered consciousness, he was taken to the local hospital where the blood analysis showed hyperammonemia (307 _g/dL) and excess alkalosis. The patient was properly following the prescribed treatment, and there were no environmental stressors. Hence, psychological stress and its somatization due to the risky task that the patient was performing could have triggered the episode. Stress must be considered as a potential cause, triggering strenuous metabolic stress that leads to hyperammonemia

The Effect of Expertise during Simulated Flight Emergencies on the Autonomic Response and Operative Performance in Military Pilots.

Heart rate variability (HRV) and performance response during emergency flight maneuvers were analyzed. Two expert pilots (ages 35 and 33) and two rookie pilots (ages 25) from the Portuguese Air Force participated in this case–control report study. Participants had to complete the following emergency protocols in a flight simulator: (1) take-off engine failure, (2) flight engine failure close to the base, (3) flight engine failure far away from the base, and (4) alternator failure. The HRV was collected during all these maneuvers, as well as the performance data (the time it took to go through the emergency protocol and the subjective information from the flight simulator operator). Results regarding autonomic modulation showed a higher sympathetic response during the emergency maneuvers when compared to baseline. In some cases, there was also a higher sympathetic response during the emergency maneuvers when compared with the take-off protocol. Regarding performance data, the expert pilots accomplished the missions in less time than the rookie pilots. Autonomic modulation measured from HRV through portable devices can easily relay important information. This information is relevant since characterizing these maneuvers can provide helpful information to design training strategies to improve those psychophysiological responses

Level of Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Self-Perceived Physical Fitness in Peruvian Adolescents

Background: Physical activity and physical fitness play an important role in adolescence. Both are considered to be indicators of the current and future health status of young adults. The main objective of this article was to report the normative values of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) and the International Fitness Scale (IFIS) instruments in Peruvian school adolescents. Methods: A sample of 1229 participants (622 girls and 607 boys) aged between 12 and 17 years was used. The type of study was descriptive-comparative. All measures used were obtained by means of self-administered instruments. The PAQ-A was used to assess the level of physical activity and the IFIS to assess the self-perceived physical fitness level of the adolescents. Results: It was observed that the PAQ-A questionnaire results obtained from the total sample was 2.34; significantly higher for boys (2.41) compared with girls (2.27). For the IFIS, the total score was 3.07, with boys obtaining 3.13 and girls 2.97. Conclusions: It was concluded that there was a direct relationship between the level of PA and self-perceived PF in Peruvian adolescents. Furthermore, adolescent boys were more physically active than girls and they had a better self-perceived PF with the exception of flexibility. Finally, there was a higher weight category involved at the lower level of PA

Analysis of caloric intake and its relationship with body composition in university students

Thirty-one older people (age 70,2±6,3 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=16), performing 16 weeks, 2 weekly sessions of 30 min of exercise with warm up (5 min bycicle and 5 min 4 set of exercises) 30 sec x 4 sets of whole body vibration (WBV) with 60 sec of rest between sets; or to a control group (n=15). Maximal isokinetic strength was measured at 60º/s in the knee extensors and flexors in concentric action. Dynamic balance was evaluated using The Timed up and Go Test (Rikli & Jones, 1999). Fueron observadas diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres en Kcal (male 22 vs. female 2026±3; p=0,044). After 16 weeks of WBV exercise significant improvements occurred in concentric extensors strength at 60º/s and in dynamic postural balance (Table 1). Multivariate regression analyses indicated that gains in concentric knee extensors strength predicted improvements in postural balance |F (2, 17) = 17,410; R2 = 0,351; p = 0.026)|. A WBV exercise produced relevant gains in dynamic postural balance (≈16%) and muscle strength at low velocities of movements in extensors (≈17%), some of which predicted improvements (≈35%) in dynamic balance

Effects of Pilates-based exercises on immediate pain in older people with persistent non-specific low back pain.

Introduction: The low back pain is the most documented sort of vertebral column`s pain, it may affect almost 84% of the people at some point of their life (Airaksinen et al., 2006). This study aimed to determine the immediate changes of Pilates-based exercises program on pain (before vs. after session) in older people with persistent non-specific low back pain. Methods: Fifteen older people (age 65.5±3.5 years; body mass index 28.1±5.4 kg/m2; specific pain drugs 1.1±1.0 number) with persistent non-specific low back pain were selected to participate in a 12 weeks (2sessions/week – 60minutes/session) Pilates-based exercises program. The Portuguese version of The Keele Start Back Screening Tool (Raimundo et al., 2016) was used as inclusion criteria (medium and high risk were included). Pain was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale before and after each single session (i.e., 24 sessions). Results: Immediate benefits (pre-post session) were observed on pain with decrease ≈20% at 4th, 6th, 7th, and 10th sessions. No significant differences pre-post were showed before 4th and after 11th session. There were significant accumulative differences (pre session) on pain between 1st session and all sessions after 8th session. Conclusions: Pilates-based exercises program (2 times/week) led to a positive immediate decrease in the level of pain in older people with persistent non-specific low back pain after the second week. From the second month of the intervention the pre session pain decreases compared with the pain on the first session. So, only from the second month the patients begin the practice without pain and the intervention goes to a maintenance stage

Effects of whole body vibration exercise on muscle strength and dynamic balance on elderly people.

Introduction: One of the major causes generating disability and even death among the elderly population are the falls, and as such a major public health problem (Bogaerts, Delechulse, Boonen, Claessens, Milisen & Verschueren, 2011). There are several studies that show that the Whole Body Vibration (WBV) can be a reliable alternative to many other types of training to reduce the risk of falls of the elderly, by improving the muscle strength, balance capacity and mobility (Lam, Lau, Chung & Pang, 2012). Thus, the present study aims to find out what are the effects of the vibration training on muscle strength and dynamic balance in individuals over 65 years old. Methods: Thirty-one older people (age 70,2±6,3 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=16), performing 16 weeks, 2 weekly sessions of 30 min of exercise with warm up (5 min bycicle and 5 min 4 set of exercises) 30 sec x 4 sets of WBV with 60 sec of rest between sets; or to a control group (n=15). Maximal isokinetic strength was measured at 60º/s in the knee extensors and flexors in concentric action. Dynamic balance was evaluated using The Timed up and Go Test (Rikli & Jones, 1999). Results: After 16 weeks of WBV exercise significant improvements occurred in concentric extensors strength at 60º/s (≈17%) and in dynamic postural balance (≈16%) (Table 1). Multivariate regression analyses indicated that gains in concentric knee extensors strength predicted improvements of 35% in postural balance |F (2, 17) = 17,410; R2 = 0,351; p = 0.026)| Conclusions: A WBV exercise produced relevant gains in dynamic postural balance and muscle strength at low velocities of movements in extensors, some of which predicted improvements in dynamic balance which is important for daily activities such as, getting off a bus in time, to go to the bathroom or answer the phone

Test-Retest Intra-Session Reliability of Isokinetic Knee Strength Measurements in Obese Children

Abstract: Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most critical global health challenges. Poor knee extensor strength is associated with disability and difficulties with physical function in obese patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of peak torque and total work in concentric flexion and concentric extension in obese children. Methods: 25 obese children aged between 6 and 11 years performed 3F maximal unilateral isokinetic repetitions with the knee extensors/flexors performing concentric actions at 60◦/s. Peak torque (Nm), total work (J), and the ratio antagonist/agonist were recorded and normalized by total and lean mass. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and smallest real difference (SRD) were computed. Results: Reliability was excellent for almost all variables. The highest ICC values were observed when work or peak torque were not divided by any other variable. However, SEM (%) and SRD (%) were lower when peak torque and work were divided by the total mass or lean mass. The antagonist/agonist ratio showed an ICC value of 0.873. Conclusion: Peak torque, total work, and the antagonist/agonist ratio are reliable in obese children