Water polo throwing velocity and kinematics: differences between competitive levels in male players.

AIM: In water polo, throwing is one of the most important and frequently used technical skills for the player. There is no scientific literature that provides information about differences in throwing between elite and sub-elite water polo players. The aim of our study was to study differences in throwing velocities and kinematic variables in elite and sub-elite level male water polo players. METHODS: We considered the variables under standardized conditions during a typical motion, the five-meter shot (penalty). Thirty-four athletes from the Men's First Division Water Polo Championship and forty-two players participating in the National Fourth Division League, took part in the study. Video analysis measures were taken with high-speed digital cameras and the videos were analyzed offline with Dartfish 5.0 Pro. RESULTS: No correlation was found between body mass, height and throwing velocity. Elite players had higher values ​for ball speed (22.8±2.4 m/s for elite team and 18.4±1.7 m/s for sub-elite team; P=0.002) and greater elbow angle (157.5±10.3 degree for elite team versus 146.7±8.9 degree for sub-elite team; P=0.002). In elite team the throwing time was lower (165.6±22.2 and 188.6±23.9 ms, respectively; P=0.05) and the shoulder angle was smaller (115.1±10.3 and 123.8±12.4 degree, respectively; P=0.03) than in sub-elite team. Head height was significantly greater in elite players (elite players 71.1±8.7 cm, sub-elite players 65.6±6.2 cm; P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Differences in kinematic characteristics between elite and sub-elite players were showed. Differences in elbow and shoulder action must be considered both in training and injury prevention.

A experiencia do Centro de Referencia e Treinamento DST/AIDS na implantacao do Projeto Leia Comigo: Uma proposta de estimulo a leitura / Experience of the STD/AIDS Reference and Training Center (CRT-DST/AIDS) on the implementation of the

O Projeto Leia Comigo e uma atividade piloto proposta pela Secretaria de Estado da Cultura em parceria com a Secretaria de Estado da Saude para hospitais e centros de referencia. O Centro de Referencia e Treinamento DST/AIDS (CRT-DST/AIDS) encampou esta ideia por se tratar de uma acao humanizadora e de inclusao social. O Projeto Leia Comigo tem como objetivo promover entre os usuarios, funcionarios, familiares e comunidade local o habito de leitura, no sentido de trazer conforto, entretenimento, cultura e a oportunidade de adquirir novos conhecimentos. O CRT-DST/AIDS recebeu da Secretaria da Saude e da Cultura a supervisao e orientacao basica para a sua implantacao. Procuramos adapta-lo a realidade vivenciada pela Instituicao, pelo fato de nao dispormos de uma sala de leitura especifica para tal atividade. Profissionais de diversas areas foram sensibilizados no sentido de colaborar e efetivar seu desenvolvimento. O processo de implantacao aconteceu apos reunios semanais onde as tarefas criadas pelo grupo eram divididas entre os profissionais visando atingir todas as pessoas que participam direta ou indiretamente da Instituicao. Estao sendo utilizadas as seguintes ferramentas para a divulgacao das publicacoes disponiveis: um carrinho volante contendo diversos tipos de literaturas infanto-juvenis e de adultos e dois armarios localizados em pontos estrategicos de circulacao de pessoas, com visores de vidro temperado que permitem a visualizacao do acervo disponivel. Estao sendo desenvolvidas por profissionais e colaboradores diversas atividades em varios espacos da Instituicao, tais como: declamacoes de poemas, conto de historias, apresentacoes artisticas, dramatizacoes, saraus, dentre outras. A implantacao do Projeto resultou no aumento significativo de pessoas interessadas em ler. O Projeto tem sensibilizado amplamente seus participantes, de modo que foi iniciado um processo de sele‡ao e recrutamento de voluntarios e de novos talentos que irao auxiliar no desenvolvimento de atividades e eventos culturais relacionados aos Projeto Leia Comigo

Deteccion de antigeno del polisacarido capsular de Cryptococcus neoformans en pacientes con SIDA y neurocriptococosis en Sao Paulo, Brasil / Detection of capsular polysaccharide antigen of Cryptococcus neoformans in patients with AIDS and neurocryptococcosis in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Antigeno del polisacarido capsular (AgPC) de Cryptococcus neoformans fue detectado por la tecnica de aglutinacion de latex (AL) en LCR y suero de pacientes con Sindrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida (SIDA) y primer episodio de neurocriptococosis, usando como patron el examen micologico (examen directo y cultivo) de LCR. Se obtuvo una sensibilidad de 100 por ciento de AL para detectar AgPC de C. neoformans, el cual por su rapidez permite tratamiento especifico precoz. Titulos iniciales de AgPC de la levadura en esos pacientes pueden ser>1.000.000, pareciendo que cuando esos titulos estan presentes en suero, se relacionan con mortalidad durante el tratamiento. En los pacientes que sobrevivieron se observo que el examen micologico directo y AgPC de C. neoformans, en LCR y suero, permanecen positivos aun despues de tratamiento y mejoria clinica del paciente.

[Detection of capsular polysaccharide antigen of Cryptococcus neoformans in patients with AIDS and neurocryptococcosis in São Paulo, Brazil]. / Detección de antigeno del polisacárido capsular de Cryptococcus neoformans en pacientes con SIDA y neurocriptococosis en São Paulo, Brasil(1).

Capsular polysaccharide antigen (AgPC) of Cryptococcus neoformans was detected by latex agglutination technique (LA) in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients with AIDS during their first central nervous system manifestation of the disease. Direct mycological examination and culture were used as controls. Sensitivity was 100% by LA allowing an early specific treatment of cryptococcosis. Initial titres of AgPC in such patients can be > 1000000 and it appears that when such titres are present in the serum they are related to mortality during treatment. Surviving patients showed positivity of the direct mycological examination and AgPC of C. neoformans in cerebrospinal fluid and sera even after treatment and clinical recovery.

Mouth-to-cecum transit time in patients affected by chronic constipation: effect of glucomannan.

Mouth-to-cecum transit time was studied in 13 patients affected by chronic idiopathic constipation and 18 control subjects matched with the constipation group for age, sex, and dietary habits. In a preliminary investigation, all patients showed a prolonged whole gut (oroanal) transit time as measured with radiopaque markers. Mouth-to-cecum transit time was studied through the serial determination of breath H2 after administration of 12 g lactulose diluted in 120 ml water. Breath H2 was measured with a gas analyzer and was determined in parts per million (ppm). Breath H2 after lactulose was also determined in the group with constipation after a 10-day diet that included either glucomannan (1 g tid orally) or placebo administered in a double-blind manner. The results show a statistically significant increase in mouth-to-cecum transit time in the group with constipation, compared with controls, and a return to within the normal range after the 10-day treatment with glucomannan. With placebo, no difference in transit time was noted. We therefore suggest that chronic idiopathic constipation is a disease that involves the whole gut.