Kinematic and electromyographic changes during 200 m front crawl at race pace.

The purpose of this study was to analyse eventual kinematic and electromyographic changes during a maximal 200 m front crawl at race pace. 10 male international level swimmers performed a 200 m maximal front crawl test. Images were recorded by 2 above and 4 under water cameras, and electromyographic signals (EMG) of 7 upper and lower limbs muscles were analysed for 1 stroke cycle in each 50 m lap. Capillary blood lactate concentrations were collected before and after the test. The variables of interest were: swimming speed, stroke length, stroke and kick frequency, hand angular velocity, upper limb and foot displacement, elbow angle, shoulder and roll angle, duration of stroke phases, and EMG for each muscle in each stroke phase. Generally, the kinematic parameters decreased, and a relative duration increased for the entry and pull phases and decreased for the recovery phase. Muscle activation of flexor carpi radialis, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, peitoral major and upper trapezius increased during specific stroke phases over the test. Blood lactate concentration increased significantly after the test. These findings suggest the occurrence of fatigue, characterised by changes in kinematic parameters and selective changes in upper limbs muscle activation according to muscle action.

Use of NSAIDs in triathletes: prevalence, level of awareness and reasons for use.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the level of awareness regarding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the prevalence and reasons for their consumption among athletes competing at the 2008 Brazil Ironman Triathlon (3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle and 42.2 km run). DESIGN: survey study. SETTING: 2008 Brazil Ironman Triathlon, Florianópolis, Brazil, May 2008. PARTICIPANTS: 327 Of the 1250 athletes competing at the 2008 Brazil Ironman Triathlon were enrolled in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: athletes answered a questionnaire about NSAID effects, side effects and consumption at the bike checkout or awards lunch. RESULTS: 196 (59.9%) Athletes reported using NSAIDs in the previous 3 months; of these, 25.5% (n=50), 17.9% (n=35) and 47.4% (n=93) consumed NSAIDs the day before, immediately before and during the race, respectively. Among NSAID users, 48.5% (n=95) consumed them without medical prescription. The main reason given for NSAID consumption in the previous 3 months was the treatment of injuries, while the main reason given for consuming NSAIDs during the race was pain prevention. Despite anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, most athletes were unaware of the effects of NSAIDs, and the only adverse effects known by most athletes were the gastrointestinal complications. CONCLUSIONS: this study found a high prevalence of NSAID consumption, limited awareness of the effects and side effects of them and a high rate of nonprescribed use. It is suggested that long-distance triathlon events include in their programmes educational devices such as talks or folders about NSAID use, effects and side effects.

The effect of organic chlorine compounds and their metabolites present in human milk on newborn mice.

The effect of pesticides and their metabolites (DDE, DDT, DDD, alpha, beta and gamma-HCH and PCBs) isolated from human milk on the blood and liver morphology of the mouse were studied. Mouse neonates were fed an extract of the organochlorine compounds in linseed oil for a period of 6 weeks. The lowest dose used in the experiment equalled that which a human infant can receive with its mother's milk, calculated per gram of body weight. Doses 10 and 100 times higher were also used. At the end of the experiment, tissue samples for electron microscopy and blood samples for haemotological examination were taken. Haematological examinations, in mice receiving pesticides, revealed a significant rise in the number of Heinz bodies in erythrocytes and an increased number of lymphocytes. These changes were related to the concentrations of the organic chlorine compounds that the animals were given. Electronmicroscopy demonstrated that organochlorine pesticides at doses equal to that might be received by infants caused proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes without any clear damage to other subcellular structures. Doses 10 and 100 times higher resulted in more extensive proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, reduction of the rough elements of the endoplasmic reticulum and damage to mitochondria. The latest changes were associated with an increased number of prominent Kupffer cells and the appearance of immigratory cells with traits characteristic of lymphocytes and monocytes.

Lower-extremity saphenous vein transposition arteriovenous fistula: an alternative for hemodialysis access in AIDS patients.

Arteriovenous access for long-term hemodialysis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) represents a special challenge. Many of these patients are chronic intravenous drug abusers and do not have patent superficial upper-extremity veins available for conventional arteriovenous fistulas. This group of patients is also particularly prone to infections, which contraindicates the use of prosthetic grafts. Over a period of 13 months, five lower-extremity saphenous vein transposition arteriovenous fistulas (SVTAFs) were performed. Four patients had a diagnosis of AIDS at the time of operation; all of these were intravenous drug abusers. Three patients were male, two were female, and their age ranged from 34 to 66 years (mean, 48). Three patients had a SVTAF as their first hemodialysis access, and in two it was performed after multiple failed upper-extremity accesses. Four fistulas remain patent to date, after a mean follow-up of 11 months (range, 4 weeks to 16 months). One fistula thrombosed 4 weeks postoperatively, due to a hematoma that occurred after premature venipuncture for dialysis. There were no other major complications. We conclude that SVTAF is a suitable alternative to the limited hemodialysis venous access sites, especially in the AIDS population.

The Cenaps model of relapse prevention: basic principles and procedures.

Nine basic principles that underlie the Cenaps relapse prevention planning process are described. Each principle is complemented with a procedure or clinical technique that can be used to operationalize that principle with patients: the first principle of self-regulation is operationalized with a procedure for physical, psychological, and social stabilization; the second principle of integration is operationalized by the technique of self-assessment; the third principle of understanding is operationalized by a relapse education procedure; the fourth principle of self-knowledge is operationalized with a procedure of relapse warning-sign identification; the fifth principle of coping skills is operationalized through a procedure of warning-sign management; the sixth principle of change is operationalized in a procedure for reviewing the recovery plan; the seventh principle of awareness is operationalized by a procedure of inventory training; the eighth principle of support is operationalized by the involvement of significant others; and the ninth principle is maintenance, which is operationalized by a comprehensive follow-up plan.

[Vibration syndrome and occupational exposure in Poland]. / Zespól wibracyjny w Polsce na tle narazenia zawodowego na wibracje.

The objective of the study was to analyse the data on the exposure to vibration, and the incidence of vibration syndrome in individual branches of the national economy and voivodships. The data were obtained from the records of The Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódz, containing reports submitted to the Institute every three years, and the literature on fragmentary analyses of this kind of exposure. Although, the number of persons exposed to vibration, and the incidence of occupational diseases induced by vibration have decreased, the material collected provide evidence that vibration syndrome still plays an essential role in occupational pathology. The decrease in the vibration syndrome incidence observed during the years 1982-97 was lower than the decline in the number of persons exposed to vibration, but the ratio of the number of cases to the number of those exposed remained unchanged (2.1). In 1994-97, forestry workers constituted the largest working population exposed to vibration, and the number of persons with diagnosed vibration syndrome significantly increased, however, exposure to vibration in this branch of economy considerably declined. In the mining industry, a significant decrease in the number of persons exposed to vibration, as well as in the incidence of vibration syndrome was observed at that time. The worse situation in forestry might result from the past negligence of hygiene norms or less effective diagnosis in early stages of the disease development. The lack of measuring and monitoring of vibration intensity in the working environment is an alarming observation in view of the fact that both the number of persons exposed, and the incidence of occupational diseases caused by this kind of exposure are still high.