Influence of typical handball characteristics on upper body posture and postural control in male handball players

Background

Well defined constitutional parameters support the physical fatigue resistance in handball to maintain the performance level for the majority of actions. Ideal constitutional conditions are necessary to achieve these physiological advantages in handball. But limited knowledge exists about the upper body posture or the postural control in correlation to the Body Mass Index (BMI), playing years, playing position and throwing arm in professional male handball.

Methods

Ninety-one male handball players participate (24.1 ± 5.9 years; playing experience 16.6 ± 5.7 years). A three-dimensional back scanner and a pressure measuring plate were used.

Results

Correlations between BMI and upper body posture and postural control were not significant. Same counts for the comparison between the left and right throwing arm according to upper body posture and postural control (p ≥ 0.05). Correlations between the years of playing can be found at pelvis height (p ≤ 0.04) and for the length of the Center of Pressure (CoP) (p ≤ 0.01). Wing players are 6.5-8.5 cm smaller. The playing position is independently of BMI, age or upper body posture (p ≥ 0.05). Backcourt players have a higher load of the left and a lower load of the right foot compared to wing players (p ≤ 0.001). Left-right comparison (p ≤ 0.001/ 0.01) can be seen in pivot player (covered area), backcourt player (weight distribution left/right [rear] foot), wing player (weight and force distribution left/right foot, covered area).

Conclusion

Goalkeeper, Backcourt and pivot players are taller and heavier than wing players. These physiological demands are not detectable in the upper body posture and slightly in postural control. Wing players have the most asymmetric load distribution and the longest length of CoP. Since goalkeepers do not differ from pivot or backcourt players, this can be lead back to the same training.

Reveal LINQ Versus Reveal XT Implantable Loop Recorders: Intra- and Post-Procedural Comparison

OBJECTIVES

To compare the procedure, recovery, hospitalization times, and costs along with patient/parent satisfaction after newer-generation cardiac implantable loop recorder (Reveal LINQ; Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota) and previous-generation implantable loop recorder (Reveal XT; Medtronic Inc).

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective study of patients undergoing LINQ implantations between April 2014 and October 2015 was performed. Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing XT implantations was performed for comparison.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients received LINQ and 15 patients received XT. Indications included syncope/palpitations (28/46, 61%), history of arrhythmias (9/46, 20%), arrhythmia burden in congenital heart disease (5/46, 10%), and monitoring in channelopathies (4/46, 9%). The LINQ group underwent more conscious sedation procedures than the XT group (8/31 vs 0/15, P = .04) with shorter procedural time (9 vs 34 minutes, P <.001), room occupation time (38 vs 81 minutes, P <.001), recovery time (21 vs 67 minutes, P <.001), and total hospital time (214 vs 264 minutes, P = .046). The LINQ group also had shorter return to activity time (2 vs 5 days, P = 1). Three device erosions in the LINQ group required reintervention. The LINQ group had fewer body image issues than the XT group (1/26 vs 5/14, P = .01) with both groups scoring 5/5 overall patient/parent satisfaction score at follow-up. Both groups had comparable total direct hospital costs (US $5905 vs $5438, P = .8).

CONCLUSIONS

LINQ offers better procedural and recovery time compared with XT. LINQ implantations under conscious sedation reduce total hospitalization time.

Enhanced killing of ovarian carcinoma using oncolytic measles vaccine virus armed with a yeast cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase

OBJECTIVE

To preclinical assess the feasibility of combining oncolytic measles vaccine virus (MeV) with suicide gene therapy for ovarian cancer treatment.

METHODS

We genetically engineered a recombinant MeV armed with a yeast-derived bifunctional suicide gene that encodes for cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (MeV-SCD). From this suicide gene, a chimeric protein is produced that converts the non-toxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into highly cytotoxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and directly into 5-fluorouridine monophosphate (5-FUMP) thereby bypassing an important mechanism of chemoresistance to 5-FU.

RESULTS

MeV-SCD was demonstrated to infect, replicate in and effectively lyse not only human ovarian cancer cell lines, but also primary tumor cells (albeit at lower efficiencies) that were derived from malignant ascites of ovarian cancer patients. Addition of the prodrug 5-FC significantly enhanced cell killing. Importantly, precision-cut tumor slices of human ovarian cancer patient specimens were efficiently infected with MeV-SCD. The prodrug-converting enzyme SCD was expressed by all infected tumor slices, thereby ensuring provision of the suicide gene arming function in patient-derived materials.

CONCLUSIONS

With respect to safety and therapeutic impact, arming of oncolytic measles vaccine virus warrants further clinical investigation for ovarian cancer treatment.

Fast reconstruction in magnetic particle imaging

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a new tomographic imaging method which is able to capture the fast dynamic behavior of magnetic tracer material. From measured induced signals, the unknown magnetic particle concentration is reconstructed using a previously determined system function, which describes the relation between particle position and signal response. After discretization, the system function is represented by a matrix, whose size can prohibit the use of direct solvers for matrix inversion to reconstruct the image. In this paper, we present a new reconstruction approach, which combines efficient compression techniques and iterative reconstruction solvers. The data compression is based on orthogonal transforms, which extract the most relevant information from the system function matrix by thresholding, such that any iterative solver is strongly accelerated. The effect of the compression with respect to memory requirements, computational complexity and image quality is investigated. With the proposed method, it is possible to achieve real-time reconstruction with almost no loss in image quality using measured 4D MPI data.

The leisure satisfaction of people with psychiatric disabilities

Leisure is considered to be an important part of life for every individual. This is even more so for people who have limited employment prospects and life options. The primary handicaps associated with mental illness create problems with social relationships and can hinder individuals from participating in or enjoying leisure pursuits. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine leisure satisfaction in a sample of one hundred adults with a mental illness who were clients of an Australian community mental health rehabilitation service. The Leisure Satisfaction Survey and the Life Skills Profile were administered to these clients to determine their leisure satisfaction and general functioning. Contrary to expectations, results indicated that the clients of mental health rehabilitation services believe that their leisure pursuits provide them with intellectual stimulation, enjoyable relationships with others and relaxation, suggesting that they are very satisfied with the activities they engage in during their leisure time. In general, these clients were more satisfied with their leisure than the normative population. Consistent with expectations, clients with lower disability and in particular with high capacity for social contact were most satisfied with their leisure pursuits. The significance of these results and the utility of the Leisure Satisfaction Survey with this population are discussed.

Development of a soy food frequency questionnaire to estimate isoflavone consumption in US adults

OBJECTIVE

To develop a dietary assessment instrument to measure soy food consumption and isoflavone intake and test it for reliability.

DESIGN

A soy food frequency questionnaire, designed for use in this study, was administered twice to participants, separated by a 2-week interval. The questionnaire was tested for reproducibility of estimates of soy food consumption and isoflavone (genistein and daidzein) intake.

SUBJECTS/SETTING

A convenience sample of 51 faculty, staff, and students was recruited from a naturopathic university.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to assess reproducibility of estimates of soy food intake and genistein and daidzein intake.

RESULTS

Correlation coefficients comparing mean soy food servings per month between the 2 administrations of the questionnaire ranged from 0.50 for soy yogurt to 0.89 for tempeh. Correlation coefficients for genistein and daidzein intake estimated by the 2 administrations of the questionnaire were the same: 0.89. Mean intake (+/- standard deviation) of genistein and daidzein was 7 +/- 10 and 4 +/- 6 mg/day, respectively. Fifteen soy foods contributed 95% of the total genistein and daidzein intake: tofu, soy yogurt, tempeh, soy milk, low-fat tofu, soy flour, miso, soy protein isolate, low-fat soy milk, veggie soy burger, textured vegetable protein, miso soup, cooked soybeans, soy hot dogs, and natto (fermented soy beans).

APPLICATIONS

The soy food frequency questionnaire developed in this study provided highly reproducible estimates of soy food consumption and isoflavone intake. This instrument may be a useful tool in studies of the associations between isoflavone exposure and risk for chronic disease.

Degeneration of the cerebellar granule cell layer in transgenic mice expressing genes of human foamy virus

Transgenic mice expressing various combinations of structural and regulatory genes of human foamy virus (HFV) develop a neurodegenerative syndrome. delta gpe transgenic mice (which express the auxiliary bel-1 and bet genes along with truncated forms of gag, pol, and env) develop a severe neurological syndrome consisting mainly of spastic tetraparesis and blindness, and show neuronal loss in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In addition, mice in two of eight delta gpe lines developed an ataxic gait. Here we studied the phenotype of these two lines, and show that these mice exhibit progressive degeneration of their cerebellar granule cells beginning at 4-8 weeks of age. Transgenic mRNA and HFV proteins accumulate in cerebellar granule cells immediately before the onset of degeneration. The Purkinje cell layer is largely unaffected by this pathological process. Probably due to the loss of granule cell processes, the cerebellar molecular layer is narrowed in the late stages of the disease. These findings indicate that HFV gene products can be neurotoxic for cerebellar granule cells.

CD44 expression is aberrant in benign Schwann cell tumors possessing mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 2, but not type 1, gene

Atypical expression of CD44 splice variants has been implicated in the progression of numerous tumors. This abnormal CD44 expression is presumed to result from gene alterations that cause tumorigenic transformation. Two tumor types that have been linked to specific gene alterations are schwannomas, which have mutations in the neurofibromatosis (NF) type 2 (NF2) gene, and neurofibromas, which characteristically possess NF type 1 (NF1) gene mutations. We examined CD44 expression in normal sciatic nerves, in schwannomas with confirmed NF2 mutations, and in neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor tissue and cell lines from NF1 patients. Compared to normal nerves, schwannomas express higher total levels of CD44 and additional splice variants, whereas CD44 expression in neurofibromas is unaltered. Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor tissue and cell lines express the CD44v6 epitope, which is not expressed by normal Schwann cells or by other Schwann cell tumors. These data indicate that altered CD44 expression correlates strictly with mutations in the NF2 but not NF1 gene and suggest that CD44v6 might be a marker for the malignant transformation of Schwann cells.

Reduced expression of the P2 form of the gap junction protein connexin43 in malignant meningiomas

Neoplastic transformation is often associated with aberrant gap junctional intercellular communication. We assessed mutations and expression of the connexin43 (Cx43) gene in 49 intracranial meningiomas. SSCP analyses followed by direct DNA sequencing showed GCG-->GTG (Ala-->Val) transition mutation in codon 253 of the cytoplasmic carboxyl terminal of the Cx43 gene in 1 of 31 (3%) benign meningiomas and 1 of 14 (7%) anaplastic meningiomas. The same base change was present in normal tissue from these patients and also in 4 of 80 (5%) DNA samples extracted from lymphocytes of healthy Europeans, suggesting that this constitutes a newly identified Cx43 polymorphism. Western blot analyses showed expression of phosphorylated P1 (45 kD) and P2 (47 kD) Cx43 as well as the unphosphorylated form (42 kD) in 11 of 14 (79%) benign meningiomas. In contrast, the P2 form was not detectable in the majority (7 of 9; 78%) of atypical and anaplastic meningiomas. Since the presence of the P2 form is often associated with optimal function of the Cx43, these results suggest that loss or impaired gap junctional cell to cell communication may be associated with meningiomas displaying more rapid growth and a less favorable prognosis.

Preferential expression of Fas/APO1 (CD95) and apoptotic cell death in perinecrotic cells of glioblastoma multiforme

Fas/APO-1 (CD95)-mediated apoptosis is one of the major mechanisms of programmed cell death. We have previously shown by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction that Fas is frequently expressed in malignant gliomas [Tachibana et al. (1995) Cancer Res 55: 5528-5530]. In this study, we assessed Fas expression in astrocytomas using a polyclonal anti-Fas antibody. Immunoreactivity to Fas was detected in 1 out of 9 (11%) low-grade astrocytomas (WHO grade II), 2 of 11 (18%) anaplastic astrocytomas (WHO grade III) and in 13 of 15 (87%) glioblastomas (WHO grade IV). In glioblastomas, Fas expression was almost exclusively observed in glioma cells surrounding foci of necrosis. In these perinecrotic areas, there was also an accumulation of glioma cells undergoing apoptosis, as detected by in situ nick-end labeling. This suggests that Fas-mediated apoptosis may play a role in the pathogenesis of necrosis which constitutes a histological hallmark of glioblastoma multiforme.

Expression of Fas/APO-1 during the progression of astrocytomas

Fas/APO-1 (CD95) is an apoptosis-signaling receptor molecule on the surface of cells. To investigate the possible role of Fas during malignant transformation of glial cells, we analyzed the expression of Fas mRNA by reverse transcription-PCR in human astrocytic brain tumors. Expression was found in 1 of 4 (25%) juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO grade I), 1 of 9 (11%) low-grade astrocytomas (WHO grade II), 6 of 12 (50%) anaplastic astrocytomas (WHO grade III), and all of 9 glioblastomas (WHO grade IV). Thus, the frequency of Fas expression appears to correlate with the malignancy grade of astrocytomas. The soluble form of the Fas mRNA lacking the transmembrane domain was detected in one anaplastic astrocytoma and in two glioblastomas.

Clonal expansion of hypermutated measles virus in a SSPE brain

Nucleotide sequence analysis was carried out to study genes encoding the matrix (M) protein of measles virus (MV) from several regions of the brain of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This analysis revealed the presence of MV with "wild-type" sequences as well as variants which had undergone at least five biased hypermutation events (U to C and A to G in the positive strand sequences). Despite the presence of MV variants with genes encoding the intact matrix protein open reading frame, M protein could not be detected in any of the brain regions. The distribution of virus variants was studied by cDNA cloning and sequence analysis and by in situ hybridization. The hypermutated viruses appeared to expand clonally throughout the brain of patient B.

Quantitative determination of lignans and isoflavonoids in plasma of omnivorous and vegetarian women by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The first quantitative method for the determination of both lignans and isoflavonoid phytoestrogens in plasma is presented. Using ion-exchange chromatography the diphenols are separated into two fractions 1) the biologically "active" fraction containing the free compounds + mono- and disulfates and 2) the biologically "inactive" fraction containing the mono- and diglucuronides and the sulfoglucuronides. After hydrolysis the fractions are further purified by solid phase extraction and ion exchange chromatography. Losses during the complete procedure are corrected for using radioactive estrogen conjugates during the first steps and later by adding deuterated internal standards of all compounds measured (matairesinol, enterodiol, enterolactone, daidzein, O-desmethylangolensin, equol, and genistein). The final determination is carried out by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode (GC/MS/SIM). The diphenols may be measured at concentrations as low as 0.2 to 1.0 nmol/l. Results of plasma analyses of all compounds in 27 pre- and postmenopausal omnivorous and vegetarian women are presented for the first time. The most important findings are that the free+sulfate fraction is low for genistein (3.8% of total), but as much as 21-25% of enterolactone and enterodiol occurs in this fraction. A good correlation between plasma and urine values was found. Total concentrations of individual compounds vary greatly between the subjects (from pmol/l to mumol/l), the vegetarians having higher values, particularly one vegan subject. The highest total enterolactone concentration value exceeded 1 mumol/l. It is concluded that a highly specific method for the assay of 3 lignans and 4 isoflavonoids in plasma has been developed. This method will be useful in future studies of lignan and isoflavonoid metabolism.

[Early detection of colorectal cancers by detection of occult blood in feces using Krypto-Haem SSW]

Screening for cancer of the bowels with tests for occult blood in the stools obtained an increasing interest during the last 15 years. In the GDR Krypto-Haem SSW is at the disposal for this purpose. Up to now two larger investigations were performed with this preparation. The results of the studies with Krypto-Haem and Haemoccult were compared as well as questions of the test performance, the secondary diagnostics, the sensitivity of the tests, the compliance and organisation of a screening are treated. From this derived that Krypto-Haem SSW can be recommended as diagnostic test for colorectal tumours within the basic medical care.

The role of cytochrome P-450 in the toxicity of xenobiotics

The cytochrome P-450 containing mixed-function oxidase system bound to the ergastoplasmic membrane plays an essential role both in the detoxification as well as in the activation of numerous xenobiotics. In many cases, this enzyme system initiates the formation of reactive electrophilic intermediates (epoxides, free radicals, carbenes) which may induce cytotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects by reacting with various cell constituents. In most cases, the active metabolites are covalently bound to the proteins and nucleic acids, but the binding to lipids or the initiation of the lipid peroxidation is also important. In the activation of xenobiotics by N-hydroxylation or N-dealkylation an aminoxidase is of special importance which is independent of cytochrome P-450. The intermediates arising from this enzyme reaction frequently become biologically active only after being stabilized by an ester bond.

Studies on electron transfer between mercury electrode and hemoprotein

The electrochemical behaviour of ferricytochrome c, metmyoglobin and methemoglobin was studied using d.c., a.c. and differential pulse polarography, and controlled potential electrolysis. 1. The three hemoproteins yield d.c. polarographic steps, and peaks in differential pulse polarograms, the height of which is proportional to concentration. The charge transfer is influenced by strong adsorption. 2. The concentration dependence of the a.c. polarograms indicates structural changes in the adsorbed molecules. 3. The reduction products of controlled potential electrolysis of metmyoglobin and methemoglobin have absorption spectra identical with the native control samples. The affinity for oxygen and the cooperativity in hemoglobin are not affected by the reaction at the electrode. 4. The charge transfer proceeds via adsorbed, already reduced, molecules to freely diffusible proteins.