Playing tactics, contextual variables and offensive effectiveness in English Premier League soccer matches. A multilevel analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of tactical and contextual indicators on achieving offensive penetration and scoring opportunities in English Premier League (EPL) soccer matches. A total of 1971 team possessions from 20 random matches were evaluated by means of multidimensional observation. The EPL matches had a great proportion of fast attacks (36.0%) followed by combinative (29.6%), direct attacks (24.1%) and counterattacks (9.5%). Multilevel logistic regression models revealed that counterattacks (OR = 3.428; 95% CI: 2.004-5.864; P<0.001) were more effective to create goal scoring opportunities than combinative attacks, while direct attacks showed to be less effective (OR = 0.472; 95% CI: 0.264-0.845; P<0.05). Playing at home increased the probability (OR = 1.530; 95% CI: 1.097-2.135; P<0.05) of creating goal scoring opportunities compared with playing away. These findings show the multifactorial character of soccer and how different contextual and tactical indicators can influence the creation of offensive penetration and goal scoring opportunities in the English Premier League.

[Long-term prognostic value of troponin I in patients admitted to a coronary unit for unstable angina]. / Valor pronóstico de la troponina I en los pacientes ingresados en una unidad coronaria por angina inestable.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Troponin I (TnI) is a useful marker of myocardial damage for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome. The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term prognostic value of the peak TnI concentration obtained within 48 h of admission to the coronary unit for unstable angina. METHODS: The study included 149 consecutive patients. Serial determinations were made of the MB fraction of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and TnI. Patients without CK-MB elevation were classified into two groups depending on the presence of high (n = 58) or normal (n = 91) troponin I values. We prospectively analyzed the clinical and evolutive factors related to the probability of death, new acute coronary event, or coronary revascularization at one-year of follow-up. RESULTS: There were no differences in the clinical characteristics between groups, except that patients in the group with high TnI values were older (69 vs. 64 years, p = 0.01). At one year of follow-up there were no differences in the incidence of new acute coronary events or coronary revascularization procedures; however there was a higher mortality in the group with high TnI (13 vs. 4%; p = 0.01). The independent predictors of mortality were prior myocardial infarction (RR = 3), elevated troponin I (RR = 3.2), left ventricular ejection fraction < 35% (RR = 10), and age > 70 years (RR = 15). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with unstable angina a high troponin I value in the first 48 h of admission was associated with a higher mortality rate at one-year of follow-up.

Prevención de hemorragias en el posoperatorio temprano de cirugía bariátrica: Papel de la vitamina K / Prevention of hemorrhage in the early postoperative period of bariatric surgery: Role of vitamin K

Introducción: la cirugía bariátrica es el tratamiento más eficaz para la obesidad mórbida. La hemorragia se presenta en el 0,5-5% de las pacientes. La preparación prequirúrgica con dieta líquida y el uso de antibióticos para Helicobacter pylori podría alterar el metabolismo de la vitamina K y asociarse a hemorragia. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de la concentración de protrombina (basal = B-PT y prequirúrgica = preQ-PT) en estos pacientes. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte prospectivo donde se comparó la concentración de B-PT (15-180 días previos a la cirugía) y la preQ-PT (24 horas previas a la cirugía). Resultados: se incluyeron 194 pacientes, de los cuales el 72% (n = 139) fueron mujeres, de entre 19 y 69 años, con BMI (IMC) 45 (33 a 58) y pérdida de peso prequirúrgica del 7% (-2 a 17). El promedio de B-PT fue 91,9% (DE 9,529), el promedio de la preQ-PT fue 81,1% (DE 10,760); descendió un 10,8% (p < 0,001). No hubo diferencias significativas cuando se comparó el comportamiento en la preQ-PT entre los diferentes subgrupos (uso de antibióticos para Helicobacter pylori, de acuerdo con la pérdida de peso y en relación con la suplementación de vitamina K); sin embargo, siempre se detectó descenso de la preQ-PT. No hubo ninguna complicación hemorrágica (necesidad de transfusiones o reoperación); tampoco hubo muerte por hemorragias ni eventos tromboembólicos. Conclusión: realizar dosaje de protrombina 24 horas antes de la cirugía bariátrica permite detectar alteraciones iatrogénicas de la coagulación inducidas por la dieta y el uso de antibióticos.

Background: bariatric surgery is the most efficient treatment for morbid obesity. Bleeding occurs in 0.5-5% of patients. Pre-surgical preparation with liquid diet and the use of antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori could alter the metabolism of vitamin K and be associated with hemorrhage. Objective: to describe the behavior of the concentration of Prothrombin (basal = B-PT and pre-surgical = preQ-PT) in these patients. Material and methods: a prospective cohort study comparing B-PT concentration (15-180 days prior to surgery) and preQ-PT (24 h prior to surgery) was performed. Results: a total of 194 patients were included in the study, with 72% (n = 139) women aged 19-69 years, BMI 45 (33 to 58) and preoperative weight loss of 7% (-2 to 17). The media B-PT was 91.9% (SD 9.529), the media pre-PT was 81.1% (SD 10.760); declined 10.8% (p <0.001). There was no significant difference when comparing the behavior in the preQ-PT among different subgroups (use of antibiotics for Helicobacter pylori, according to weight loss and in relation to vitamin K supplementation), however, there was always a decrease of the preQ-PT. There were no bleeding complications (need for transfusions or re-intervetion), nor was there death for bleeding or thromboembolic events. Conclusion: prothrombin measurement 24 hours before bariatric surgery allows the detection of iatrogenic coagulation alterations induced by diet and the use of antibiotics.

One year hemodynamic performance of the Perimount Magna pericardial xenograft and the Medtronic Mosaic bioprosthesis in the aortic position: a prospective randomized study.

We compared the hemodynamic performance of the Edwards Perimount Magna (EPM) and the Medtronic Mosaic (MM) bioprostheses according to the patient aortic annulus diameter (AAD). Eighty-six patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were prospectively assigned to receive either an EPM-valve (n=43) or an MM-bioprosthesis (n=43). Randomization was performed after measuring the AAD and patients were grouped according to their AAD: <22 mm (n=12), 22-23 mm (n=31) and >23 mm (n=43). Echocardiographic assessment was performed one year postoperatively. The mean AAD (EPM 23.9+/-2.1 mm vs. MM 23.6+/-2.3 mm) and mean valve size implanted (EPM 22.6+/-2.1 mm vs. MM 23.3+/-2.1 mm) were comparable in both groups. The EPM-group showed significantly lower mean gradient (EPM 10.2+/-3.2 mmHg vs. MM 17.1+/-8.2 mmHg) and larger effective orifice area (EOA) (EPM 1.99+/-0.4 cm(2) vs. MM 1.69+/-0.4 cm(2), P<0.0001). The EPM-valve was superior with respect to mean pressure gradient and EOA in all AAD. This difference was statistically significant in AAD of 22-23 mm (EPM 9.6+/-3.0 mmHg vs. MM 18.2+/-8.6 mmHg; EPM 1.82+/-0.3 cm (2) vs. MM 1.51+/-0.2 cm (2)) and >23 mm (EPM 9.9+/-3.1 mmHg vs. MM 14.2+/-5.6 mmHg; EPM 2.18+/-0.4 cm(2) vs. MM 1.94+/-0.5 cm(2)). Patient-prosthesis mismatch was present in 26.8% (MM) vs. 6.9% (EPM) of the patients (P=0.01). When the same AAD is taken as a reference, the EPM-valve was hemodynamically superior to the MM-bioprosthesis. The EPM-prosthesis significantly reduced the incidence of PPM.