KINEMATIC COMPARISON BETWEEN ATHLETES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AND THE WORLD TAEKWONDO FEDERATIONS IN THE ROUNDHOUSE KICK

Taekwondo (TKD) is a combat sport organized by two main federations: International TKD (ITF) and the World TKD (WTF). The present study analyzed the kinematic differences in roundhouse kick performed by ITF and WTF athletes. Seventeen athletes participated in the study (8 ITF; 9 WTF). DVideo system was used to reconstruct the 3D coordinates of sixteen markers. Pelvis and hips angles and angular velocities were used to compare the groups. The results highlight two kick strategies to hit the target. WTF athletes performed the kick with increased pelvis left rotation while ITF used increased pelvis anteversion, hip flexion and abduction on supporting leg. These differences should be considered for adaptation of rules and training

THE INFLUENCE OF TWO VARIABLES OF THE NONLINEAR CAMERA CALIBRATION ON THE 3D UNDERWATER ACCURACY

The purpose of this study was to control two variables of the nonlinear camera calibration to evaluate if they affect the 3D undewater accuracy. Two cameras (GoPro, 60 Hz) were fixed in the swimming pool. In order to evaluate the influence of a distance constrain (1 and 2 markers) and the movement of the wand calibration, we performed three different movements: M1 (zig zag), M2 (circular) and M3 (up and down). In each condition the 3D accuracy were assessed in seven trials of a dynamic rigid bar test (ANOVA,

Synergisms in antioxidant and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities of artichoke, milk thistle and borututu syrups

Artichoke, borututu and milk thistle are three medicinal plants well-known for their capacity to prevent oxidative stress and many liver diseases. In a previous work, we reported the bioactivity of infusions and pills based on these plants; herein, the aim was to provide scientific information about the antioxidant and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities of syrups based on these medicinal plants and evaluate the synergism among the combined plants by using syrups based on the mixed plants or prepared form the combinations of individual species. The antioxidant activity was measured by radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition, while the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity and the hepatotoxicity were evaluated using HepG2 human cell line and a primary culture of porcine liver cells, respectively. Milk thistle syrup proved to have the highest antioxidant activity in all the assayed methods, providing the best results either in single syrup or included in mixed syrups. Synergistic effects were the main interactions observed in the mixture of artichoke, borututu and milk thistle; mixing the syrups based on each single plant proved to be more efficient regarding antioxidant proposals than mixing plants in the same syrup. The latter was advantageous for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the research center CIMO (PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011) and L. Barros researcher contract under "Programa Compromisso com Ciencia-2008

New insights into the effects of formulation type and compositional mixtures on the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of dietary supplements based-on hepatoprotective plants

Artichoke (A), borututu (B) and milk thistle (M) are included in several supplements to provide beneficial effects. Different formulations (infusions, pills and syrups), with different proportions of A, B and M (1 : 1 : 1, 2 : 1 : 1, 1 : 2: 1, 1 : 1 : 2) within each formulation, were assayed to optimize the desired benefits. The antioxidant activity, anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity, hepatotoxicity and bioactive compound contents were evaluated. Syrups tended to be the formulation with highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic and flavonoid content; otherwise, pills were the worst formulation. In what concerns A : B : M ratios, the results did not reveal so pronounced differences. None of the assayed mixtures resulted to be toxic (up to the maximum assayed dose) for liver primary cells (PLP2), but some samples, especially infusions, showed toxicity for the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). With no exception, the mixtures for all formulations showed synergistic effects on antioxidant activity, when compared to the activity of single plants.The authors are grateful to Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to CIMO (strategic project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011). J. C. M. Barreira and R. C. Calhelha thank FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE for their grants (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010 and SFRH/BPD/72802/2010, respectively). L. Barros thanks "Compromisso para a Ciencia 2008" for her contract

Chemical characterization and bioactive properties of Prunus avium L.: The widely studied fruits and the unexplored stems

The aim of this study was to characterize sweet cherry regarding nutritional composition of the fruits, and individual phytochemicals and bioactive properties of fruits and stems. The chromatographic profiles in sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds were established. All the preparations (extracts, infusions and decoctions) obtained using stems revealed higher antioxidant potential than the fruits extract, which is certainly related with its higher phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids) concentration. The fruits extract was the only one showing antitumor potential, revealing selectivity against HCT-15 (colon carcinoma) (GI50~74 μg/mL). This could be related with anthocyanins that were only found in fruits and not in stems. None of the preparations have shown hepatotoxicity against normal primary cells. Overall, this study reports innovative results regarding chemical and bioactive properties of sweet cherry stems, and confirmed the nutritional and antioxidant characteristics of their fruits.The authors are grateful to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the research centre CIMO (strategic project PEst OE/AGR/UI0690/2011) and L. Barros researcher contract under “Programa Compromisso com Ciência – 2008”

Dietary intake of young portuguese handball players

The aim of this study was to analyse dietary intake (macronutrients and micronutrients) in young female and male handball athletes. A transversal study was performed with young handball players from sub 16 and 18 Portuguese Handball Federation, who volunteered to participate in this study. Anthropometric (weight and height measure), nutritional intake (using food frequency questionnaire) and position in the game were evaluated. The final sample comprised 64 athletes (48.4% female and 51.6% male). The mean age was 16± 1 years, average body mass index was higher in females (24.1± 3.5kg/m2) than males (23.8± 3.0 kg/m2). Mean energy intake per day was significantly lower in females than males 2167.4± 1185.0 and 2952.9± 1315.8 kcal/day (p= 0.015, 95CI), respectively. According to the recommendations from food, most of the young handball athletes reported a generally higher dietary intake (protein intake was near to the upper recommendation limit; the carbohydrate intake was below and the fat intake higher) and a lower for some micronutrients. A process to identify the athletes that need nutritional support should be considered by handball coaches to optimise their performance and safeguard their healthTo all athletes and their coaches who contributed to the study and to the Portuguese Handball Federationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Osteoma of external acoustic meato: report of nine cases and literature review

The osteoma of external acoustic meatus corresponds to an abnormal and benign bony growth, that is developed under the skin of the auditory canal and that can cause total or partial obstruction of the external acoustic meatus. STUDY DESIGN: Serie study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reported in this study nine cases of osteoma of external acoustic meatus. The patients' ages varied between 23 and 70 years old, being the average age 40,6 years. These patients were 5 of the feminine sex and 4 were of the masculine sex. RESULTS: The more common symptoms were hipoacusia, caused by the partial or total obstruction of the canal, appealing external otitis and also the accumulation of cerumen deep in the external auditory canal with difficult removal. CONCLUSION: We recommended in the presented cases surgical treatment, which had good evolution, with no recidivism.Osteoma de meato acústico externo corresponde a um crescimento ósseo anormal e benigno, que se desenvolve abaixo da pele do conduto e pode causar obstrução total ou parcial do meato acústico externo. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de série. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Apresentamos neste estudo nove casos de osteoma de meato acústico externo. A idade dos pacientes variou de 23 anos (idade mínima) e 70 anos (idade máxima), sendo a média 40,6 anos. Desses nove pacientes, 5 eram do sexo feminino e 4 eram do sexo masculino. RESULTADO: Os sintomas mais comuns foram: hipoacusia, causada pela obstrução parcial ou total do conduto, otites externas recorrentes e também impactação de cerume de difícil remoção. CONCLUSÃO: A conduta nos casos apresentados foi cirúrgica, com boa evolução, não ocorrendo recidivas.UNIFESP-EPMHospital Paulista de OtorrinolaringologiaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL