Drop jumps versus sled towing and their effects on repeated sprint ability in young basketball players

[EN] Background: The aim of the investigation was to compare the occurrence of post-activation performance enhance- ment (PAPE) after drop jumps, or heavy sled towing, and the subsequent effect on repeated sprint ability (RSA). Methods: Ten young basketball players (17 ± 1 yrs) performed, in randomized order, RSA test with changes of direc- tion after a standardized warm up followed by drop jumps, heavy sled towing, or no exercise (control condition). Neuromuscular assessments composed of two maximal voluntary contractions of the knee extensors, peripheral nerve stimulation, and surface electromyography (EMG), responses were recorded before and immediately after the RSA. The EMG signal of leg muscles during sprinting were also recorded as well as the blood lactate concentration. Results: The drop jumps improved the RSA mean time (P = 0.033), total time (P = 0.031), and slowest time (P = 0.029) compared to control condition, while heavy sled towing did not change RSA outcomes (P > 0.05). All conditions exhibited a decrease of doublet high frequency stimulation force (pre-post measurement) (P = 0.023) and volun- tary activation (P = 0.041), evidencing the occurrence from peripheral and central components of fatigue after RSA, respectively, but no difference was evident between-conditions. There was a significantly greater EMG activity during sprints for the biceps femoris after drop jumps, only when compared to control condition (P = 0.013). Conclusion: Repeated drop jumps were effective to induce PAPE in the form of RSA, while heavy sled towing had no effect on RSA performance in young basketball players. Furthermore, both conditioning activities exhibited similar levels of fatigue following the RSA protocol. Thus, drop jumps may be used as an alternative to induce PAPE and thus improve performance during sprints in young male basketball players

Efeito da terapia ultrassônica de baixa intensidade em cultura celular de fibroblastos

Within the physiotherapy practice there is a wide use of therapeutic ultrasound for the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Low Intensity Ultrasonic irradiation with differents forms of pulse and intensity in cell culture of L929 fibroblasts (ATCC CCL-1 NCTC), in order to check cell viability and define parameters of dosimetry. For this purpose, it was used the application of pulsed ultrasound with a frequency of 1MHz in cultured fibroblast cells divided into five groups (control and instantaneous intensity of 0.3W/cm2-10%, 0.3W/cm2 -20%, 0.5W/cm2-10% and US 0.5W/cm2-20% - 100Hz). Irradiation occurred at intervals of 24, 48 and 72 hours for two minutes and 24 hours after each irradiation test MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] was performed. Results showed that when comparing the values of viable cells by MTT method in the five groups, we could not find statistically significant difference in any of them, in these three conditions (24, 48 and 72 hours); while. Whereas, when performing the analysis of repeated measures in the different groups, it was found a statistically significant difference only in the group irradiated with ultrasound at 0.5W/cm2 with pulse regime of 10% (p=0.003). Based on these results, it is concluded that the Low Intensity Ultrasonic irradiation in L929 fibroblast cell culture, only in the group with an intensity of 0.5W/cm2 -10% obtained numerical growth, with statistical significance in all periods evaluation.En la práctica fisioterápica se utiliza bastante el ultrasonido como terapia para el tratamiento de diversos trastornos muscoloesqueléticos. Este artículo tiene por objetivo evaluar el efecto de la irradiación ultrasónica de baja intensidad, con diferentes regímenes de pulsos y de intensidades, en cultivo celular de fibroblastos L929 (ATCC CCL-1 NCTC), para verificar la viabilidad celular y establecer los parámetros de dosimetría. Se utilizó el ultrasonido pulsado, con frecuencia de 1Mhz, en un cultivo de células fibroblásticas, divididas en cinco grupos (con control y con la intensidad instantánea del 0,3W/cm2-10%; 0,3W/cm2 -20%; 0,5W/cm2 -10% y US 0,5W/cm2-20 % - 100Hz). La irradiación se llevó a cabo en intervalos de 24, 48 y 72 horas, durante dos minutos y después de las 24 horas de cada irradiación se realizó la prueba de MTT {Bromuro de [3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio]}. Los resultados mostraron que en la comparación entre los valores de células viables por el método MTT en los cinco grupos evaluados no ha sido posible encontrar ninguna diferencia estadísticamente significativa en los tres momentos evaluados (24, 48 y 72 horas). En cambio, al llevar a cabo el análisis de medida repetida en los diferentes grupos, se obtuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa solamente en el grupo irradiado con ultrasonido a 0,5W/cm2 con el régimen de pulso del 10% (p=0,003). Basándose en estos resultados se concluyó que la irradiación ultrasónica de baja intensidad en cultivo celular de fibroblastos L929 obtuvo el aumento sólo en el grupo con intensidad de 0,5W/cm2-10%, con significancia en todos los periodos de evaluación.Dentro da prática fisioterápica verifica-se a ampla utilização do ultrassom terapêutico para tratamento das diversas afecções musculoesqueléticas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da irradiação Ultrassônica de Baixa Intensidade, com diferentes regimes de pulsos e intensidade, em cultura celular de fibroblastos L929 (ATCC CCL-1 NCTC), de modo a verificar a viabilidade celular e definir parâmetros de dosimetria. Para isso, utilizou-se a aplicação de ultrassom pulsado, com frequência de 1Mhz, em cultura de células fibroblásticas, divididas em cinco grupos (controle e com intensidade instantâneas de 0,3W/cm2-10%; 0,3W/cm2 -20 %; 0,5W/cm2 -10% e US 0,5W/cm2 -20 % - 100Hz). A irradiação ocorreu com intervalos de 24, 48 e 72 horas, por dois minutos, e após 24 horas de cada irradiação foi realizado teste de MTT Brometo de [3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio]. Os resultados revelaram que ao compararem-se os valores de células viáveis pelo método MTT nos cinco grupos, não foi possível encontrar diferença estatisticamente significativa em nenhum deles, nos três momentos avaliados (24, 48 e 72 horas); enquanto que, ao se realizar a análise de medida repetida nos diferentes grupos, encontrou-se diferença estatisticamente significativa apenas no grupo irradiado com ultrassom a 0,5W/ cm2com regime de pulso de 10% (p=0,003). Com base nesses resultados, conclui-se que a irradiação Ultrassônica de Baixa Intensidade em cultura celular de fibroblastos L929, somente no grupo com intensidade de 0,5W/cm2-10% obteve o crescimento numérico, com significância estatística em todos os períodos de avaliação

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 >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

HE-LHC: The High-Energy Large Hadron Collider – Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 4

In response to the 2013 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (EPPSU), the Future Circular Collider (FCC) study was launched as a world-wide international collaboration hosted by CERN. The FCC study covered an energy-frontier hadron collider (FCC-hh), a highest-luminosity high-energy lepton collider (FCC-ee), the corresponding 100 km tunnel infrastructure, as well as the physics opportunities of these two colliders, and a high-energy LHC, based on FCC-hh technology. This document constitutes the third volume of the FCC Conceptual Design Report, devoted to the hadron collider FCC-hh. It summarizes the FCC-hh physics discovery opportunities, presents the FCC-hh accelerator design, performance reach, and staged operation plan, discusses the underlying technologies, the civil engineering and technical infrastructure, and also sketches a possible implementation. Combining ingredients from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the high-luminosity LHC upgrade and adding novel technologies and approaches, the FCC-hh design aims at significantly extending the energy frontier to 100 TeV. Its unprecedented centre-of-mass collision energy will make the FCC-hh a unique instrument to explore physics beyond the Standard Model, offering great direct sensitivity to new physics and discoveries

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

HE-LHC: The High-Energy Large Hadron Collider: Future Circular Collider Conceptual Design Report Volume 4

In response to the 2013 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics (EPPSU), the Future Circular Collider (FCC) study was launched as a world-wide international collaboration hosted by CERN. The FCC study covered an energy-frontier hadron collider (FCC-hh), a highest-luminosity high-energy lepton collider (FCC-ee), the corresponding 100 km tunnel infrastructure, as well as the physics opportunities of these two colliders, and a high-energy LHC, based on FCC-hh technology. This document constitutes the third volume of the FCC Conceptual Design Report, devoted to the hadron collider FCC-hh. It summarizes the FCC-hh physics discovery opportunities, presents the FCC-hh accelerator design, performance reach, and staged operation plan, discusses the underlying technologies, the civil engineering and technical infrastructure, and also sketches a possible implementation. Combining ingredients from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the high-luminosity LHC upgrade and adding novel technologies and approaches, the FCC-hh design aims at significantly extending the energy frontier to 100 TeV. Its unprecedented centre-of-mass collision energy will make the FCC-hh a unique instrument to explore physics beyond the Standard Model, offering great direct sensitivity to new physics and discoveries