Increased Distance of Shooting on Basketball Jump Shot

The present study analyzed the effect of increased distance on basketball jump shot outcome and performance. Ten male expert basketball players were filmed and a number of kinematic variables analyzed during jump shot that were performed from three conditions to represent close, intermediate and far distances (2.8, 4.6, and 6.4m, respectively). Shot accuracy decreased from 59% (close) to 37% (far), in function of the task constraints (p < 0.05). Ball release height decreased (p < 0.05) from 2.46 m (close) to 2.38m (intermediate) and to 2.33m (long). Release angle also decreased (p < 0.05) when shot was performed from close (78.92°) in comparison to intermediate distances (65.60°). While, ball release velocity increased (p < 0.05) from 4.39 m/s (close) to 5.75 m·s^-1 (intermediate) to 6.89 m·s^-1 (far). These changes in ball release height, angle and velocity, related to movement performance adaptations were suggested as the main factors that influence jump shot accuracy when distance is augmented.

Key points

• The increased distance leads to greater spatial con-straint over shot movement that demands an adapta-tion of the movement for the regulation of the accu-racy and the impulse generation to release the ball.
• The reduction in balls release height and release angle, in addition to the increase in balls release ve-locity, were suggested as the main factors that de-creased shot accuracy with the distance increased.
• Players should look for release angles of shooting that provide an optimal balls release velocity to im-prove accuracy.

Key words: Jump shot, distance of shooting, basketball, motor control, biomechanics     

Alcohol acute intoxication before sepsis impairs the wound healing of intestinal anastomosis: rat model of the abdominal trauma patient

Introduction

Most trauma patients are drunk at the time of injury. Up to 2% of traumatized patients develop sepsis, which considerably increases their mortality. Inadequate wound healing of the colonic repair can lead to postoperative complications such as leakage and sepsis.

Objective

To assess the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on colonic anastomosis wound healing in septic rats.

Methods

Thirty six Wistar rats were allocated into two groups: S (induction of sepsis) and AS (alcohol intake before sepsis induction). A colonic anastomosis was performed in all groups. After 1, 3 or 7 days the animals were killed. Weight variations, mortality rate, histopathology and tensile breaking strength of the colonic anastomosis were evaluated.

Results

There was an overall mortality of 4 animals (11.1%), three in the group AS (16.6%) and one in the S group (5.5%). Weight loss occurred in all groups. The colon anastomosis of the AS group didn’t gain strength from the first to the seventh postoperative day. On the histopathological analysis there were no differences in the deposition of collagen or fibroblasts between the groups AS and S.

Conclusion

Alcohol intake increased the mortality rate three times in septic animals. Acute alcohol intoxication delays the acquisition of tensile strength of colonic anastomosis in septic rats. Therefore, acute alcohol intoxication before sepsis leads to worse prognosis in animal models of the abdominal trauma patients.

     

Cytokine inhibition and time-related influence of inflammatory stimuli on the hyperalgesia induced by the nucleus pulposus

Introduction  

The symptoms of lumbar disc herniation, such as low back pain and sciatica, have been associated with local release of cytokines following the inflammatory process induced by the contact of the nucleus pulposus (NP) with the spinal nerve.     

Ventricular remodeling and mitral valve modifications in dilated cardiomyopathy: new insights from anatomic study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the behavior of the mitral valve ring and the left ventricle in dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: We analyzed 68 fixed adult human hearts, divided into 48 hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy of ischemic or idiopathic origin and 20 hearts free of pathologic heart conditions. Digital images of the mitral ring perimeter, attachment of the anterior and posterior leaflets, and fibrous and muscular portions were collected. We also measured the internal perimeter of the left ventricle, the distance from the septum to the anterior and posterior papillary muscles, the distance between the papillary muscles, and the extension of interventricular septum. RESULTS: The analysis of the results showed proportional distribution of the ring's fibrous portion (r2 = 0.98) and muscular portion (r2 = 0.99) according to the degree of mitral valve dilation. Linear regression revealed that the perimeters of anterior and posterior leaflet attachments (r2 = 0.96 and r2 = 0.98, respectively) also had a proportional relation. We did not observe proportionality between the degree of dilation of the mitral ring and the left ventricle. It was observed that dilation of the left ventricle takes place globally in its segments. CONCLUSION: Differently from what was thought, in ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, dilation of mitral ring is proportional and does not exclusively affect the posterior portion. The degree of left ventricular dilation does not determine the degree of dilation of the mitral ring because they are independent processes. These observations shed new light on the techniques used to correct mitral valve insufficiency in dilated cardiomyopathy.     

Liver transplantation in a patient with S(beta)o-thalassemia

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting sickle cell disease may develop different types of hepatic complications. Intrahepatic cholestasis is a potentially fatal complication of the disease, and sometimes the only possible solution is transplantation. Postoperative transfusion management has not yet been well established. In this report, we describe the transfusional program of a patient presenting sickle cell disease and intrahepatic cholestasis who underwent liver transplantation 2 years ago. METHODS: Data were obtained from the chart and the blood bank records. RESULTS: The liver transplantation was performed successfully. Despite mild allograft dysfunction 3 months after surgery, secondary to intrahepatic sickling, the patient has been doing well with the transfusional management adopted (sickle-cell hemoglobin <20%). CONCLUSION: Sickle cell disease should not be a criterion for exclusion from liver transplantation. Regular transfusion with monitoring of sickle-cell hemoglobin is a very important measure to minimize the risk of intrahepatic sickling and possible rejection.     

Feasibility of supraomohyoid neck dissection in N1 and N2a oral cancer patients

BACKGROUND: The use of selective neck dissection in a positive neck is still controversial. The object of this study was to ascertain the possibility of doing this procedure in oral cavity carcinoma with a single clinically metastatic lymph node smaller than 6 cm (N1 and N2a). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1970 to 1994, we analyzed 164 oral cavity cancer patients with clinically N1 or N2a stage cancer submitted to radical neck dissection. RESULTS: The histologic findings did not confirm a metastatic lymph node in 69 (42.1%) cases (pN0) and showed multiple lymph nodes in 19 (11.6%) cases. Moreover, just one patient (0.6%) had a metastatic lymph node at level IV (one case with multiple lymph nodes) and none at level V. CONCLUSIONS: Because we did not find a single metastatic lymph node at levels IV and V and there was a high incidence of pN0 (57.4%) in patients with clinical N1 stage at level I, these patients could be candidates for a supraomohyoid neck dissection (extended or not to level IV) instead of radical neck dissection.     

Neurotransmitter regulation of neural development: acetylcholine and nicotinic receptors

Several neurotransmitter systems have been related to developmental processes during the past decade. In this review, we discuss the evidence that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors could have an additional function during development that may be unrelated to their role in cholinergic neurotransmission in the vertebrate brain. Both temporal expression data and in vitro and in vivo studies with nicotinic agonists and antagonists have provided direct support for a role of nicotinic receptors in neural developmental processes such as neurite outgrowth and differentiation. A similar picture has emerged for other neurotransmitter and receptor systems as well, which generates a new view of neural processes during both development and mature life.     

Clinical impact of bowel symptoms in women with pelvic floor disorders

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between the POP-Q Bp point and the perineal body (Pb) and genital hiatus (Gh) measurements and constipation, anal incontinence, severity of symptoms and quality of life.

Methods

The patients were distributed into two groups according to the posterior vaginal wall Bp point: one group with Bp ≤?1 (without posterior vaginal wall prolapse, control group) and the other group with Bp ≥0 (with posterior vaginal wall prolapse, case group). Demographic data, defecatory dysfunction and SF-36 scores were compared between the groups. Correlations between severity of posterior prolapse (Bp, Gh, Pb and Gh?+?Pb) and severity of bowel symptoms were also calculated.

Results

A total of 613 women were evaluated, of whom 174 were included, 69 (39.7%) in the control group and 105 (60.3%) in the case group. The groups were similar in terms of anal incontinence, fecal urgency and/or constipation. There was no correlation between the severity of constipation and anal incontinence according to the Wexner score, and the severity of posterior vaginal wall prolapse measured in terms of point Bp. There were, however, statistically significant differences in Pb, Gh and Gh?+?Pb between the groups. The Pb and Gh?+?Pb measurements were positively correlated with symptoms of constipation, as well as with the scores of some SF-36 domains, but were not correlated with anal incontinence.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the severity of posterior vaginal wall prolapse is not correlated with constipation or anal incontinence, but Pb and Gh?+?Pb measurements are correlated with constipation and SF-36 scores.