Practice of martial arts and bone mineral density in adolescents of both sexes / Prática de artes marciais e densidade mineral óssea em adolescentes de ambos os sexos

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between martial arts practice (judo, karate and kung-fu) and bone mineral density in adolescents. Methods: The study was composed of 138 (48 martial arts practitioners and 90 non-practitioners) adolescents of both sexes, with an average age of 12.6 years. Bone mineral density was measured using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry in arms, legs, spine, trunk, pelvis and total. Weekly training load and previous time of engagement in the sport modality were reported by the coach. Partial correlation tested the association between weekly training load and bone mineral density, controlled by sex, chronological age, previous practice and somatic maturation. Analysis of covariance was used to compare bone mineral density values according to control and martial arts groups, controlled by sex, chronological age, previous practice and somatic maturation. Significant relationships between bone mineral density and muscle mass were inserted into a multivariate model and the slopes of the models were compared using the Student t test (control versus martial art). Results: Adolescents engaged in judo practice presented higher values of bone mineral density than the control individuals (p-value=0.042; Medium Effect size [Eta-squared=0.063]), while the relationship between quantity of weekly training and bone mineral density was significant among adolescents engaged in judo (arms [r=0.308] and legs [r=0.223]) and kung-fu (arms [r=0.248] and spine [r=0.228]). Conclusions: Different modalities of martial arts are related to higher bone mineral density in different body regions among adolescents.

Objetivo: Analisar a relação entre a prática de artes marciais (judô, karatê e kung-fu) e a densidade mineral óssea em adolescentes. Métodos: O estudo foi composto por 138 adolescentes (48 praticantes de artes marciais e 90 não praticantes) de ambos os sexos, com média de 12,6 anos. A densidade mineral óssea foi medida com absortometria radiológica de dupla energia em braços, pernas, coluna, tronco, pelve e total. A carga de treinamento semanal e o tempo anterior de envolvimento na modalidade esportiva foram relatados pelo treinador. A correlação parcial testou a associação entre a carga semanal de treinamento e a densidade mineral óssea, controlada para sexo, idade cronológica, prática anterior e maturação somática. A análise de covariância foi usada para comparar os valores de densidade mineral óssea de acordo com os grupos controle e de artes marciais, controlados para sexo, idade cronológica, prática anterior e maturação somática. Associações significativas entre a densidade mineral óssea e a massa muscular foram inseridas em um modelo multivariado e as inclinações dos modelos foram comparadas com o teste t de Student (controle versus arte marcial). Resultados: Os adolescentes envolvidos na prática de judô apresentaram valores maiores de densidade mineral óssea do que os do grupo controle (p=0,042; tamanho de efeito médio [eta-quadrado=0,063]), enquanto a relação entre a quantidade de treinos semanais e a densidade mineral óssea foi significativa entre os adolescentes praticantes de judô (braços [r=0,308] e pernas [r=0,223]) e kung-fu (braços [r=0,248] e coluna [r=0,228]). Conclusões: Diferentes modalidades de artes marciais estão relacionadas com maior densidade mineral óssea em diferentes regiões do corpo em adolescentes.

[Tolerability, safety and efficacy of Iloprost infusion without peristaltic pump in systemic sclerosis] / Tollerabilità, sicurezza ed efficacia del trattamento infusivo con Iloprost senza pompa peristaltica in pazienti affetti da sclerosi sistemica.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy on Raynaud's phenomenon (Rp) of iloprost infusion without peristaltic pump in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The inclusion criteria were diagnosis of SSc, age between 18 and 65 years, presence of Rp, and absence of any contraindication to the use of iloprost. The treatment was carried out in a day hospital setting and consisted first of 5 consecutive days of iloprost infusion (from an initial dose of 1.0 ng/Kg/min up to 2 ng/kg/min), and then of 2 days of infusions at the maximum possible dose every 45 days for one year. All of the adverse events were carefully recorded and the changes in the Rp were measured by a 5 grade scale (worsened, unmodified, slightly improved, very improved, disappeared). RESULTS: Thirty-eight SSc patients (all females), mean age 49 years (range 18.5-65), disease duration 1.5 years (range 0.5-10.8) were enrolled in the study. During the first cycle of therapy, 14 adverse events occurred in 11 (28.9%) patients and during the next cycles, 3 adverse events were seen in 3 (7.9%) patients. In all of the cases they were mild and transient. Rp was considered very improved in 15 (39.5%) patients, slightly improved in 13 (34.2%), unmodified in 8 (21%) and worse in 2 (5.2%). DISCUSSION: In this study intravenous iloprost without peristaltic pump proved to be safe, well tolerated, and as effective as traditional infusion through peristaltic pump in improving Rp in patients with SSc.