Investigating the effect of remote ischaemic preconditioning on biomarkers of stress and injury-related signalling in patients having isolated coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic valve replacement using cardiopulmonary bypass: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Ischaemia-reperfusion injury occurs during heart surgery that uses cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardioplegic arrest. It is hypothesised that remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) protects the heart against such injury. Despite the numerous studies investigating the protective effects of RIPC, there is still uncertainty about the interpretation of the findings as well as conflicting results between studies. The objective of this trial is to investigate the cardioprotective effect of RIPC in patients having coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or aortic valve replacement surgery. This will be achieved by estimating the effect of the intervention in the two groups of pathologies and by investigating the signalling mechanisms that may underpin the cardioprotective effect. METHODS/DESIGN: A two-centre randomised controlled trial will be used to investigate the effects of RIPC in two pathologies: patients having isolated CABG and those having aortic valve replacement surgery (AVR) with CPB. Participants will be randomised to RIPC or control (sham RIPC), stratified by surgical stratum. The intervention will be delivered by a research nurse. Data will be collected by a research nurse blinded to the intervention. The patient and the theatre staff are also blinded to the allocation. Markers of myocardial injury and inflammation will be measured in myocardial biopsies and in blood samples at different times. DISCUSSION: This trial is designed to investigate whether RIPC will reduce myocardial injury and inflammation following heart surgery and whether there is a difference in effect between participants having CABG or AVR. This trial is a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms associated with RIPC using human myocardial tissue and blood, and to relate these to the extent of myocardial injury/protection. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN33084113 (25 March 2013).

A profile of the Youth Olympic Taekwondo Athlete.

Our study aims to identify trends in anthropomorphic attributes and competitive strategies of successful (medalists) versus non medalist young Olympic Taekwondo competitors by gender in terms of body mass, body-mass index (BMI) and fighting technique at the Youth Olympic Games 2010. Results were then compared to adult Taekwondo Olympic athletes in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Data on 96 Taekwondo athletes were obtained from the official Youth Olympic website. A LOGIT analysis was performed on the following six independent variables: height, body mass, body mass index, gender, techniques used to score, and warnings obtained during a match. The study did find some differences between winners and non-winners for males and female, although none of the differences were statistically significant. Consequently, training personnel may enhance winning potential of Taekwondo competitors by focusing on offensive versus defensive techniques and improving the quality of punching.

Notre étude visait à identifier les tendances, aux Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse de 2010, dans les attributs anthropomorphiques et les stratégies compétitives des jeunes athlètes olympiques champions (médaillés) de taekwondo par rapport à ceux des non-médaillés, par sexe, du point de vue de la masse corporelle, de l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et de la technique de combat. Les résultats ont été ensuite comparés aux athlètes olympiques adultes de Taekwondo de 2000, 2004 et 2008. Les données sur les 96 athlètes de taekwondo ont été obtenues du site Web officiel des Jeux Olympiques de la Jeunesse. Une analyse LOGIT a été réalisée sur les six variables indépendantes suivantes : hauteur, masse corporelle, indice de masse corporelle, sexe, techniques utilisées pour marquer, et avertissements obtenus lors d'un match. L'étude a établi quelques différences entre les gagnants et les non-gagnants, pour les hommes comme pour les femmes, mais aucune des différences n'était statistiquement significative. Par conséquent, les entraîneurs peuvent améliorer la chance de gagner des athlètes de Taekwondo en mettant l'accent sur les techniques offensives au lieu de défensives, et en améliorant la qualité des coups.

Weight cycling in adolescent Taekwondo athletes.

BACKGROUND: Weight reduction cycles are used by weight classed athletes in Taekwondo to make a weight category. Tension, dizziness, headaches, and confusion have been associated with rapid weight loss (RWL). There is a lack of research in weight cycling and its benefits among Taekwondo athletes. PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of weight cycling in Junior Taekwondo athletes and its effect on performance. METHODS: Athletes were weighed prior to competition, then again before their first match. Body mass difference in relation to winning was compared. RESULTS: A significant increase from weigh-in to pre-match measurements was consistently found in both genders with no significant difference between them. Winners had a mean body mass gain (1.02 kg) which was non-significantly less than the non-winners (1.09 kg). CONCLUSIONS: RWL practices do not define which athlete will perform better. Negative effects of weight cycling coupled with RWL has unclear performance benefits which indicates a need for further research.