Relative Age Effect Analysis in the History of the Ballon d'Or (1956-2023).

Ballon d'Or is the most important individual award in football, and is a significant measure of excellence. From our knowledge, this is the first study that explored the relative age effect (RAE) throughout the history of the Ballon d'Or. A total of 1899 football players nominated for the award from the first edition in 1956 to the most recent edition (2023) were analyzed. To assess the RAE, the birthdate distributions were categorized into four trimesters. The comparison involved correcting for the uniform distribution using chi-square analysis, with Cramer's V serving as a measure of effect size. Standardized residuals were computed to identify quarters that exhibited significant deviation from the expected values. Odds Ratio and 95% confidence intervals were used to identify discrepancies between trimesters. The results indicated a pronounced presence of an RAE at the global level. However, the longitudinal analysis revealed variations in the behavior of the RAE over time. In the initial decades, there is an overrepresentation of players born in the last months of the year. Subsequently, there is no discernible RAE. In the most recent decades, there has been a clear resurgence of RAE, with an overrepresentation of players born in the first quarters of the year.

Exercise, physical fitness, and Parkinson's disease: an 8-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The progression of Parkinson's Disease is variable, leading to a poor pharmacological response, as the effect of medication is reduced due to adaptation. Physical therapy is established as adjuvant treatment on physical conditions. The aim of this study was to monitor the level of physical fitness and anthropometric parameters of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, who had participated in physical exercise programs for 8-years. METHODS: Seventy-one patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (53.50% males), mean age 71.19±9.04 years old, with a mean disease stage of 2.52±0.77 (Hoehn and Yahr Scale). All patients underwent an assessment of fitness and body composition at baseline (2011), 4-years, and 8-years. RESULTS: The study of the anthropometric parameters showed that throughout the 8 years of follow-up, the BMI has not undergone significant changes and shows a small upward trend for both men (0.30%, sig=0.938) and women (-0.10%, sig=0.817). This same behavior was reflected by the weight in men (1.36%, sig=0.315) and in women (-0.35%, sig=0.787). In terms of physical fitness, men showed a trend towards a deterioration in this parameter over the 8 years of follow-up (ΣFitness=-1.82%, sig=0.930), while women showed a trend towards improvement (ΣFitness=0.96%, sig=0.821). The same is recorded for strength and flexibility, where the data suggest that these are two of the variables that deteriorated the most over the 8 years of the study. CONCLUSIONS: After an 8-year follow-up, no significant changes in FC parameters affected by the progression of a neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease have been identified. The 8-foot up and go test has shown correlations with the other physical tests used.

Selection of talents in handball: anthropometric and performance analysis / Seleção de talentos em handebol: análise antropométrica e de desempenho / Selección de talentos en el balonmano: análisis antropométrico y de rendimiento

ABSTRACT Introduction: Anthropometric and physical performance parameters that determine competitive levels in handball need to be carefully studied to identify which of them can bring the optimal contribution when the talents for this sport are selected. Objective: To identify which anthropometric and physical performance variables evaluated in the basic categories (infantile, under-15 and cadet, under-17) have the greatest influence on professional levels attained by male and female handball players throughout their sports careers. Method: A total of 145 handball players (75 males and 70 females) participated in the study. Participants were initially evaluated during the season 1998-99 and their performance levels were supervised until March 2013. The resulting data were classified according to the performance level (regional n = 109; national n = 36), gender, and category (infantile, cadet). Results: The MANCOVA analysis indicated that the player's maturation stage is one of the main parameters to be accounted for when selecting the variables that should configure a talent detection model for handball, which is also conditioned by sex. Anthropometric variables are highly influential in the case of male players, while physical performance variables (squat jump, counter movement jump, counter movement jump with arm, 10x5m shuttle run, 20 m shuttle run, and VO2 max) have a similar effect in males and females. Conclusion: The study of changes occurring in anthropometric and physical performance variables may yield useful information to detect talents in handball, and maturation is a key factor to choose the most appropriate variables.

RESUMO Introdução: Os parâmetros antropométricos e de desempenho físico que determinam o nível competitivo no handebol devem ser submetidos a um estudo mais aprofundado para identificar quais deles podem contribuir de forma otimizada ao serem selecionados os talentos para esse esporte. Objetivo: Identificar quais variáveis antropométricas e de desempenho físico avaliadas nas categorias de base (infantil, sub-15 e cadete, sub-17) têm a maior influência sobre os níveis profissionais atingidos por jogadores de handebol do sexo masculino e feminino ao longo de sua carreira esportiva. Método: Um total de 145 jogadores de handebol (75 homens e 70 mulheres) participou do estudo. Os participantes foram inicialmente avaliados durante a temporada de 1998-99 e os níveis de desempenho foram supervisionados até março de 2013. Os dados resultantes foram classificados pelo nível de desempenho (regional n = 109; nacional n = 36), por sexo e por categoria (infantil, cadete). Resultados: A análise MANCOVA indicou que o estágio de maturação do jogador é um dos principais parâmetros a serem considerados ao escolher quais variáveis devem configurar o modelo de detecção de talento para o handebol, que também é condicionado por sexo. As variáveis antropométricas influenciam muito os atletas do sexo masculino, enquanto as variáveis de desempenho físico (salto agachado (squat jump), salto com contramovimento (counter movement jump), salto com contramovimento com braço (counter movement jump with arm), corrida vaivém (shuttle run) 10 x 5 m, corrida vaivém 20 m e VO2 máx) têm efeito semelhante em ambos os sexos. Conclusão: O estudo das mudanças que ocorrem em variáveis de desempenho antropométricas e físicas podem gerar informações úteis para identificar talentos para o handebol, e a maturação é um fator chave na escolha das variáveis mais adequadas.

RESUMEN Introducción: Los parámetros antropométricos y de rendimiento físico que determinan el nivel competitivo en el balonmano deben ser sometidos a un estudio más profundo con el fin de identificar cuáles de ellos pueden contribuir de forma óptima para la selección de talentos para ese deporte. Objetivo: Identificar qué variables antropométricas y de rendimiento físico evaluadas en las categorías base (infantil, sub-15 y cadete, sub-17) tienen mayor influencia sobre los niveles profesionales alcanzados por los jugadores y las jugadoras de balonmano a lo largo de su carrera deportiva. Método: Un total de 145 jugadores de balonmano (75 hombres y 70 mujeres) participaron en el estudio. Los participantes fueron evaluados inicialmente durante la temporada 1998-99 y los niveles de rendimiento fueron supervisados hasta marzo de 2013. Los datos fueron clasificados según el nivel de rendimiento (regional n = 109; nacional n = 36), el sexo y la categoría (infantil, cadete). Resultados: El análisis MANCOVA indicó que la etapa de maduración del jugador es uno de los principales parámetros a tener en cuenta al seleccionar qué variables deben componer el modelo identificador del talento en balonmano, que también está condicionada por el sexo. Las variables antropométricas son las que mayor influencia presentan en los deportistas de sexo masculino, mientras que las variables de rendimiento físico (sentadilla con salto (squat jump), salto en contramovimiento (counter movement jump), salto en contramovimiento con brazos (counter movement jump with arm), 10 x 5 m shuttle run, 20 m shuttle run y VO2 máx) tienen una influencia similar en ambos sexos. Conclusión: El estudio de los cambios que se producen en las variables antropométricas y de rendimiento físico puede generar informaciones útiles para la identificación de talentos en el balonmano, y la maduración es un factor clave a la hora de escoger las variables más adecuadas.

Anthropometric analysis and performance characteristics to predict selection in young male and female handball players

Abstract The aim of this study was two-fold. The first aim was to determine if there were any anthropometric and physical performance differences (controlling for maturation) between male and female handball players selected in training categories as well asthe relation of these differences with the performance level achieved. The second aim was to identify the discriminatory variables between the performance levels achieved. A total of 216 young handball players (125 men and 91 women) participated in the study. The data were classified by selection level (regional n=154; national n=62), gender (men; women) and age category (under-15; under-17). The use of MANCOVA analyses, controllingfor maturation, identified how gender could determine variables related to handball players' future competitive levels. The results revealed that anthropometric variables such as height, arm span, trochanter height, thigh girth, and leg girth were more influential in men than in women. In addition, the physical performance tests of vertical jump (squat jump and counter movement jump with/without arm) and 10x5m shuttle run were determinants in both sexes. Discriminatory analysis predicted that a combination of five variables (counter movement jump with arm, body mass, 10x5m shuttle run, dominant hand length and trochanter height) would successfully distinguish between regional and national players, with a predictive accuracy of 81.9% for all players.

Diversity of Y-chromosomal and mtDNA Markers Included in Mediscope Chip within Two Albanian Subpopulations from Croatia and Kosovo: Preliminary Data.

The aim of this preliminary study is to analyze genetic specificity of Kosovo Albanians comparing with neighboring populations using new genetic tool - MEDISCOPE gene chip, to investigate the feasibility of this approach. We collected 37 DNA samples (9 Croats, 17 Albanians from Croatia and 11 Albanians from Kosovo) from unrelated males born in Croatia and Kosovo. Additionally, samples were expanded with female individuals and mtDNA analysis included a total of 61 samples (15 Croats, 23 Albanians from Croatia and 23 Albanians from Kosovo). This pilot study suggests that the usage of the MEDISCOPE chip could be recognized as an efficient tool within recognition of the population genetic specificity even within extremely small sample size.

p16 overexpression identifies HPV-positive vulvar squamous cell carcinomas.

Two types of vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCCs) are recognized according to their relationship to human papillomavirus (HPV). Basaloid or warty carcinomas are considered HPV-associated tumors, whereas differentiated keratinizing neoplasms are considered non-HPV-associated. Recently, immunohistochemical detection of p16 and p53 has been proposed to differentiate these 2 types of VSCCs. We conducted a histologic study with immunohistochemical evaluation of p16 and p53 and HPV detection and typing by polymerase chain reaction using 2 different sets of primers in 92 cases of VSCCs to evaluate the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the classification of VSCCs and to describe the clinico-pathologic characteristics of both types of VSCCs. HPV was detected in 16/92 (17.4%) specimens, HPV16 being identified in 75% of positive cases. A significant number of discrepancies between histology and HPV detection were observed, with 37.5% of HPV-positive tumors being keratinizing and 9.2% of HPV-negative carcinomas showing basaloid or warty features. Diffuse positivity for p16 and p53 was observed in 100% and 6.2% of HPV-positive tumors and in 2.3% and 64.5% of HPV-negative neoplasms, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of p16 immunostaining to detect HPV-associated carcinomas (100% and 98.7%, respectively) were better than those of histologic criteria (93.8% and 35.5%) and of p53 negative stain (62.5% and 93.4%). Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 of basaloid/warty type was identified in 53.8% HPV-positive tumors, including 3 keratinizing tumors. All these cases were p16 positive and p53 negative. Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 of differentiated type was observed in 45.6% of HPV-negative cases; 90.8% of them were positive for p53 but all were negative for p16. No differences in age, stage, or development of recurrence were observed between HPV-positive and negative tumors. In summary, the current morphologic criteria to discriminate HPV-positive and negative VSCCs have a significant overlap. Immunostaining for p16 is a reliable marker for HPV-positive VSSCs, which improves the results of histologic classification.