Laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy in achalasia

Background: Inappropriate length of the myotomy incision along the stomach, the most common technical fault during Heller's cardiomyotomy, is related to the difficulty of identifying the gastro-esophageal junction, in particular during laparoscopic surgery. The goal of this study was to evaluate the contribution of endoscopy to gastro-esophageal junction identification during laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy. Methods: In a group of 19 patients with intraoperative endoscopy with laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy, surgical and endoscopic criteria for gastro-esophageal junction identification have been assessed. Then postoperative results of this group were compared with those of another group of 16 patients previously operated on without intraoperative endoscopy. Results: Endoscopic and laparoscopic criteria for gastro-esophageal junction identification were discordant in 11 patients (11/19, 58%). The cardia was in all these cases at a more distal site with endoscopic criteria. Complications ascribable to suboptimal technique were more frequent in the group without intraoperative endoscopy (7/16 patients) than in the other group (2/19 patients). Conclusions: Endoscopy during laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy is of great assistance in identifying the cardia, and thereby could improve surgical outcomes. Received: 20 October 1998/Accepted: 20 January 1999     

Perceived barriers to physical activity during the 2nd lockdown in a northeastern state of Brazil

Sport Sciences for Health - The practice of physical activity has been recommended during the pandemic period of COVID-19 as a way of preventing the worsening of physical and mental health. After...     

Nitric oxide in the exhaled breath condensate of healthy volunteers collected with a reusable device

BackgroundThe analysis of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a non-invasive technique that enables the determination of several volatile and nonvolatile substances produced in the respiratory tract, whose measurement may be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of several respiratory diseases.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to produce a low-cost reusable device in order to sample exhaled breath condensate in healthy adult volunteers, and to determine the concentration of nitric oxide in the sample collected.Material and methodsThe apparatus was made with a U-shaped tube of borosilicate glass. The tube was placed in a container with ice, and unidirectional respiratory valves were fitted to the distal end. Afterwards, nitric oxide was measured in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) by chemiluminescence.ResultsThe total cost of the device was $120.20. EBC samples were obtained from 116 volunteers of both sexes, aged between 20 and 70. The mean volume of exhaled breath condensate collected during 10 minutes was 1.0±0.6 mL, and the mean level of nitric oxide was 12.99±14.38 μM (median 8.72 μM). There was no correlation between the nitric oxide levels in the exhaled breath condensate and age or gender.ConclusionWe demonstrate that it is possible to fabricate a low-cost, efficient, reusable device in order to collect and determine nitric oxide levels in EBC. We have identified no correlation between the nitric oxide levels present in the EBC obtained with this method with either age or sex.     

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.

     

Effect of Rest Interval Length on the Volume Completed During Upper Body Resistance Exercise

The purpose of the current study was to compare the workout volume (sets x resistance x repetitions per set) completed during two upper body resistance exercise sessions that incorporated 1 minute versus 3 minute rest intervals between sets and exercises. Twelve trained men completed two experimental sessions that consisted of 5 upper body exercises (i.e. barbell bench press, incline barbell bench press, pec deck flye, barbell lying triceps extension, triceps pushdown) performed for three sets with an 8-RM load. The two experimental sessions differed only in the length of the rest interval between sets and exercises; one session with a 1-minute and the other session with a 3-minute rest interval. The results demonstrated that for each exercise, significantly greater workout volume was completed when resting 3 minutes between sets and exercises (p < 0.05). These results indicate that during a resistance exercise session, if sufficient time is available, resting 3 minutes between sets and exercises allows greater workout volume for the upper body exercises examined.

Key points

• The length of the rest interval between sets is an important variable when designing a resistance exercise program and may vary depending on the characteristic being emphasized (i.e. maximal strength, hypertrophy, localized muscular endurance, power).
• Although acknowledged, this variable is rarely monitored precisely in field settings.
• Previous studies that examined rest interval lengths from 1 to 5 minutes between sets for single exercises demonstrated significant differences in repetition performance and the exercise volume completed.
• There is a need for further research to compare the workout volume (sets x resistance x repetitions per set) completed over an entire resistance exercise session with different rest intervals between sets.
• The results of the current study indicate that during a resistance exercise session, if sufficient time is available, resting 3 minutes between sets and exercises allows greater workout volume for the upper body exercises examined.

Key words: Recovery, fatigue, strength, muscle endurance, weight training, strength training     

Effect of the shoulder position on the biceps brachii emg in different dumbbell curls

Incline Dumbbell Curl (IDC) and Dumbbell Preacher Curl (DPC) are two variations of the standard Dumbbell Biceps Curl (DBC), generally applied to optimize biceps brachii contribution for elbow flexion by fixing shoulder at a specific angle. The aim of this study is to identify changes in the neuromuscular activity of biceps brachii long head for IDC, DPC and DBC exercises, by taking into account the changes in load moment arm and muscle length elicited by each dumbbell curl protocol. A single cycle (concentric-eccentric) of DBC, IDC and DPC, was applied to 22 subjects using a submaximal load of 40% estimated from an isometric MVC test. The neuromuscular activity of biceps brachii long head was compared by further partitioning each contraction into three phases, according to individual elbow joint range of motion. Although all protocols elicited a considerable level of activation of the biceps brachii muscle (at least 50% of maximum RMS), the contribution of this muscle for elbow flexion/extension varied among exercises. The submaximal elbow flexion (concentric) elicited neuro muscular activity up to 95% of the maximum RMS value during the final phase of IDC and DBC and 80% for DPC at the beginning of the movement. All exercises showed significant less muscle activity for the elbow extension (eccentric). The Incline Dumbbell Curl and the classical Dumbbell Biceps Curl resulted in similar patterns of biceps brachii activation for the whole range of motion, whereas Dumbbell Preacher Curl elicited high muscle activation only for a short range of elbow joint angle.

Key points

• The Incline Dumbbell Curl and the Dumbbell Biceps Curl resulted in a considerable neuromuscular effort throughout the whole elbow range of motion.
• The Incline Dumbbell Curl and the Dumbbell Biceps Curl may be preferable for the improvement of biceps brachii force in training programs.

Key words: Biceps curl, EMG, biceps brachii.     

Experimental animal model and RNA interference: a promising association for bladder cancer research

Animal models are at the centre of laboratory bladder cancer (BC) research and at the same time, the bridge to the clinic. A new and very promising therapeutical approach is to silence abnormally up-regulated genes in cancer, through small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. Therapeutic use and success of siRNAs will largely depend on their efficient and safe in vivo delivery and on avoiding accidental off-target effects. Intravesical siRNA is a strategy which may be the best deliver option to surperficial BC like intravesical immunotherapy. Its direct action might allow a continuous intracellular exposure to effective siRNA concentrations. While the procedure of transurethral siRNA administration is promising for BC research allowing detection of new targets in BC therapy, the optimal intravesical carrier and the best target(s) to siRNA are to be determined.