Differences in oral health status in elite athletes according to sport modalities

Oral health status may affect physical and sports performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status and oral health habits of elite athletes according to the performed sports type. A sample of 186 elite athletes divided into individual sports (n = 74; 53 men and 21 women; 24.9 ± 9.3 years) and team sports (n = 112; 97 men and 15 women; 24.5 ± 4.8 years) participated in the study. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT), the oral health impact profile (OHIP), and the diet assessment of caries risk (DACR) were evaluated to assess their oral health status. Athletes in individual modalities had a lower number in total teeth, healthy teeth, and restoration index (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this group showed a greater number of missing (p < 0.001) and decayed teeth (p < 0.05) and a greater DMFT index (p < 0.001). A relationship between sports modality and prevalence of malocclusions (p < 0.01), periodontal plaque (p < 0.05), and the habit of consuming energy drinks (p < 0.05) was also highlighted. Elite athletes who compete in individual sports presented a worse oral situation

Gender differences in neuromuscular, haematological, and urinary responses during padel matches

Research on the acute physiological response to a padel match is limited. The present study aimed to: (a) evaluate neuromuscular, urinary, and hematological responses after simulated padel competition (SC) and (b) analyze possible gender differences. In this study, 28 high-level padel players participated (men = 13, age = 26.83 ± 6.57 years; women = 15, age = 30.07 ± 4.36 years). The following parameters were analyzed before and after SC: neuromuscular (hand grip strength, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and Abalakov jump (ABK)), hematological (red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit), and urinary (pH, specific gravity, microalbuminuria, and red blood cells). Significant gender differences were found in neuromuscular and hematological responses, with men obtaining higher values (p < 0.05). For the SC influence, changes were noted in ABK and microalbuminuria (p < 0.05). The percentages of change in hand grip strength, SJ (height and watts), CMJ (height), and ABK (height) were higher for men than women (p < 0.05). SC negatively influenced the neuromuscular parameters to a greater extent in women. Our results could be related to gender differences in game actions, the temporal structure, and anthropometric and physiological characteristics. Game dynamics and a different organic response between male and female padel playing were confirmed. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Effect of a padel match on biochemical and haematological parameters in professional players with regard to gender-related differences

Haematological and biochemical parameters have not yet been analysed in professional padel players. The aim of this study was to determine the basal values of these parameters and to observe the effect of a simulated competition on them, including gender-related differences. A total of 14 male professional players (age: 28.2 ± 7.9 years), and 16 female professional players (age: 29.7 ± 3.7 years) participated in this study. Players were allowed to hydrate ad libitum during the matches. Haematological and biochemical values were obtained before and after a simulated competitive padel match. The men’s group showed higher baseline values in red blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, albumin, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) (p < 0.01) than the women’s group. Attending to match effect, significant differences were obtained in urea, creatinine, CK and glucose (p < 0.05). Finally, the group x match interaction revealed significant differences in serum concentrations of sodium and chloride (p < 0.05). In conclusion, high-level padel matches provoke several changes in biochemical parameters related to muscle damage and protein catabolism. Recovery and fluid intake strategies could be added regarding gender. The results obtained could be due to the differences in the intensity and volume of the simulated competition

Physical fitness and upper limb asymmetry in young padel players: differences between genders and categories

This study aimed to assess the physical fitness and upper body asymmetries of young padel players aged between 13 and 16 years and to determine the possible differences between genders and categories. A total of 60 padel players were divided into four groups: under-14 male (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.45 years; height: 1.64 ± 0.07 m; weight: 54.7 ± 8.3 kg), under-14 female (n = 15; age: 13.75 ± 0.44 years; height: 1.60 ± 0.05 m; weight: 51.5 ± 6.0 kg), under-16 male (n = 15; age: 15.44 ± 0.51 years; height:1.71 ± 0.04 m; weight: 63.88 ± 6.2 kg) and under-16 female (n = 15; age:15.46 ± 0.52 years; height:1.63 ± 0.05 m; weight: 55.08 ± 3.6 kg). Handgrip strength, ischiosural flexibility, gestural speed of the dominant arm, vertical jump, cardiorespiratory capacity, lateral movement, lateral acceleration and reaction time were measured. Male players showed better results in manual grip strength, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement (p < 0.05). Moreover, males presented a higher percentage of asymmetry in upper limb strength. Female players showed better reaction time and greater flexibility (p < 0.05). Regarding the differences between categories, the under-16 players showed greater flexibility, gestural speed, vertical jump power, cardiorespiratory capacity and lateral movement compared to the under-14 players. These results can be used as reference values for coaches/physical trainers of younger categories to improve health control and physical performance planning

Recomendaciones del panel de expertos sobre la fisiopatología, diagnóstico y tratamiento de las dislipidemias en la población adulta. Asociación Colombiana de Endocrinología, Diabetes y Metabolismo y Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares constituyen la primera causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo, tanto en los países desarrollados como en los que están en vías de desarrollo. La dislipidemia –asociada a la disfunción endotelial- y a los fenómenos inflamatorios vasculares, son los procesos iniciales en la patogénesis de la enfermedad arterial arterioesclerótica. Es evidente la asociación directa y lineal entre los niveles de colesterol de baja densidad y el riesgo de enfermedad arterial arterioesclerótica, al igual que el efecto benéfico de la intervención con fármacos que actúan en diferentes niveles (estatinas, ezetimibe, fibratos, anticuerpos monoclonales contra la PCSK9, entre otros). Por su parte, la hipertrigliceridemia, y los niveles bajos de colesterol de alta densidad, al igual que otros parámetros como el colesterol no-HDL y otras lipoproteínas, también juegan un papel importante en la etiopatogenia de la enfermedad arterioesclerótica, y existe evidencia en favor de la modificación de dichos parámetros. Los nuevos fármacos han cambiado de forma sustancial los desenlaces cardiovasculares en individuos con alto riesgo cardiovascular, y en individuos con intolerancia a las estatinas. Las diferentes guías internacionales para el manejo de la dislipidemia comparten muchos aspectos respecto al manejo farmacológico y no farmacológico. Sin embargo, existen algunas diferencias importantes entre ellas, incluso en la forma de abordar individuos con situaciones especiales de dislipidemia (embarazo, enfermedad renal crónica, entre otras).Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world, both in developed and developing countries. Dyslipidemia –associated with endothelial dys-function- and vascular inflammatory phenomena are the ini-tial processes in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerotic arterial disease. The direct and linear association between LDLc levels and the risk of arteriosclerotic arterial disease is evident, as is the beneficial effect of the intervention with drugs that act at different levels (statins, ezetimibe, fibrates, iPCSK9, etc.).Moreover, hypertriglyceridemia, and low levels of HDL-C, as well as other parameters such as non-HDLc and other lipopro-teins, also play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of arteriosclerotic disease, and there is evidence in favor of the modification of said parameters. The new drugs have substantially modified the cardiovascular results in individuals with high cardiovascular risk, and in individuals with intolerance to statins. The different international guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia share many aspects regarding pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, however, there are some important differences between them; even in the way of dealing with individuals with special dyslipidemia situations (pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, inter alia).Revista Nacional - Indexad

The management of acute venous thromboembolism in clinical practice. Results from the European PREFER in VTE Registry

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Data from real-world registries are necessary, as clinical trials do not represent the full spectrum of VTE patients seen in clinical practice. We aimed to document the epidemiology, management and outcomes of VTE using data from a large, observational database. PREFER in VTE was an international, non-interventional disease registry conducted between January 2013 and July 2015 in primary and secondary care across seven European countries. Consecutive patients with acute VTE were documented and followed up over 12 months. PREFER in VTE included 3,455 patients with a mean age of 60.8 ± 17.0 years. Overall, 53.0 % were male. The majority of patients were assessed in the hospital setting as inpatients or outpatients (78.5 %). The diagnosis was deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in 59.5 % and pulmonary embolism (PE) in 40.5 %. The most common comorbidities were the various types of cardiovascular disease (excluding hypertension; 45.5 %), hypertension (42.3 %) and dyslipidaemia (21.1 %). Following the index VTE, a large proportion of patients received initial therapy with heparin (73.2 %), almost half received a vitamin K antagonist (48.7 %) and nearly a quarter received a DOAC (24.5 %). Almost a quarter of all presentations were for recurrent VTE, with &gt;80 % of previous episodes having occurred more than 12 months prior to baseline. In conclusion, PREFER in VTE has provided contemporary insights into VTE patients and their real-world management, including their baseline characteristics, risk factors, disease history, symptoms and signs, initial therapy and outcomes

Effects of power and ballistic training on table tennis players’ electromyography changes

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of ballistic and power training on table tennis players’ electromyography (EMG) changes. Thirty male table tennis players, who were able to perform top spin strikes properly, were randomly assigned to three groups: power training (PT; n = 10); ballistic training (BT; n = 10); and no training (CON = control group; n = 10). PT and BT were performed 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Before and after training programs, a one-repetition maximum test (1RM) and the EMG activity of all the subjects’ upper/lower body muscles while performing top spin strokes were analyzed. After training, significant interactions (group × time) were observed in increasing 1RM strength in upper/lower muscles (p < 0.05). However, neither training type had any significant effect on muscle EMG activity. These findings suggest that there should not necessarily be any significant change in the EMG signal after BT and PT despite the increase in muscle strength

Medición del uso y apropiación de las tecnologías digitales por parte de los docentes colombianos

Este estudio propone y valida una escala multivariada para medir el uso y apropiación de las tecnologías digitales en docentes. Considerando que el instrumento empleado no sigue un marco teórico específico, para su validación se emplearon las metodologías de análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis factorial exploratorio multinivel y a partir de encuestas de percepción diligenciadas por 5919 docentes pertenecientes a 121 instituciones educativas públicas de Colombia entre los años 2013 y 2015. Una vez verificadas las propiedades psicométricas de la encuesta, a nivel individual se estimó un índice compuesto por las dimensiones de beneficios de la tecnología, disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos en la institución educativa, conocimiento en aspectos relacionados con las tecnologías digitales, uso de recursos tecnológicos en la práctica docente, intencionalidad del uso de tecnología en el aula de clase e institucionalización de la tecnología en la planeación escolar. A nivel grupal y considerando que un menor porcentaje de preguntas de la encuesta se asociaban directamente a la institución educativa, la metodología multinivel permitió establecer validez de las dimensiones de disponibilidad de recursos tecnológicos e institucionalización de la tecnología en la planeación escolar