Case report: Urbanized non-human primates as sentinels for human zoonotic diseases: a case of acute fatal toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging marmoset in coinfection with yellow fever virus.

Free-ranging non-human primates (NHP) can live in anthropized areas or urban environments in close contact with human populations. This condition can enable the emergence and transmission of high-impact zoonotic pathogens. For the first time, we detected a coinfection of the yellow fever (YF) virus with Toxoplasma gondii in a free-ranging NHP in a highly urbanized area of a metropolis in Brazil. Specifically, we observed this coinfection in a black-tufted marmoset found dead and taken for a necropsy by the local health surveillance service. After conducting an epidemiological investigation, characterizing the pathological features, and performing molecular assays, we confirmed that the marmoset developed an acute fatal infection caused by T. gondii in coinfection with a new YF virus South American-1 sub-lineage. As a result, we have raised concerns about the public health implications of these findings and discussed the importance of diagnosis and surveillance of zoonotic agents in urbanized NHPs. As competent hosts of zoonotic diseases such as YF and environmental sentinels for toxoplasmosis, NHPs play a crucial role in the One Health framework to predict and prevent the emergence of dangerous human pathogens.

Genomic epidemiology unveils the dynamics and spatial corridor behind the Yellow Fever virus outbreak in Southern Brazil.

Despite the considerable morbidity and mortality of yellow fever virus (YFV) infections in Brazil, our understanding of disease outbreaks is hampered by limited viral genomic data. Here, through a combination of phylogenetic and epidemiological models, we reconstructed the recent transmission history of YFV within different epidemic seasons in Brazil. A suitability index based on the highly domesticated Aedes aegypti was able to capture the seasonality of reported human infections. Spatial modeling revealed spatial hotspots with both past reporting and low vaccination coverage, which coincided with many of the largest urban centers in the Southeast. Phylodynamic analysis unraveled the circulation of three distinct lineages and provided proof of the directionality of a known spatial corridor that connects the endemic North with the extra-Amazonian basin. This study illustrates that genomics linked with eco-epidemiology can provide new insights into the landscape of YFV transmission, augmenting traditional approaches to infectious disease surveillance and control.

Highlighting Shooting Opportunities in Football.

The purpose of the present study was to create a two-dimensional model which illustrates a landscape of shooting opportunities at goal during a competitive football match. For that purpose, we analysed exemplar attacking subphases of each team when the ball was in the last 30 m of the field. The player's positional data (x and y coordinates) and the ball were captured at 25 fps and processed to create heatmaps that illustrated the shooting opportunities that were available in the first and second half in different field areas. Moreover, the time that the shooting opportunities were available was estimated. Results show that in the observed match, most of the shooting opportunities lasted between 1 and 2 s, with only a few opportunities lasting more than 2 s. The shooting opportunities did not display a homogenous distribution over the field. The obtained heatmaps provide valuable and specific information about each team's shooting opportunities, allowing the identification of the most vulnerable areas. Additionally, the amount, duration, and location of the shooting opportunities have shown significant differences between teams. This customizable model is sensitive to the features of shooting opportunities and can be used in real-time video analysis for individual and collective performance analysis.

Dissimilarity between Wrist Trajectories in Basketball Dribbling: Hypothetical Differences Not Available to the Human Eye.

Previous research identified the stability of wrist position as a performance indicator in a static basketball dribbling task performance under different experimental conditions since professionals displayed higher stability values than amateurs. We hypothesized that the trajectories of this cyclical task may be different between amateurs and professionals under downward peripheral vision occlusion and auditory occlusion. A modified version of the Procrustes analysis was used to quantify the dissimilarity between wrist trajectories along time. Results showed that peripheral vision occlusion caused dissimilarity in amateurs' dribbling trajectories almost four times larger than professionals'; however, auditory occlusion did not affect neither amateur nor professionals' performance. There were no cumulative effects on performance when the individual was submitted to both occlusions simultaneously.

COVID-19 em pessoas com deficiências do desenvolvimento: uma revisão de escopo / COVID-19 en personas con trastornos en el desarrollo: una revisión de alcance / COVID-19 in people with developmental disabilities: a scoping review

Resumo Objetivo Examinar a evidência emergente sobre os tipos e a frequência de deficiências do desenvolvimento na população afetada pela COVID-19, identificando formas de categorização, incidência/prevalência e comorbidades mais frequentes. Métodos Para esta revisão de escopo realizou-se busca por estudos observacionais nas bases de dados Medline (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), Lilacs (BVS) e 'literatura cinzenta'. Como critérios de elegibilidade, os estudos deveriam apresentar resultados de ocorrência de deficiência de desenvolvimento em pessoas com COVID-19, permitindo comparação com a população em geral, ou entre os grupos de deficiências. Dois revisores independentes fizeram o mapeamento das informações utilizando um instrumento de extração de dados previamente elaborado. Outros dois pesquisadores verificaram os dados e auxiliaram na elaboração dos quadros de apresentação dos resultados. Resultados Observou-se diversidade de terminologias empregadas para categorizar as DD. As pessoas com DD e com comorbidades que representam maior risco para a COVID-19 necessitaram de internação hospitalar com maior frequência do que a população em geral. De um total de 4930 estudos, 14 foram selecionados para avaliação. Destes, 5 artigos foram estudos longitudinais. Conclusão Em pessoas com DD, a COVID-19 apresentou taxas de morbidade, letalidade e mortalidade mais altas em faixas etárias mais jovens, na população mais pobre, na população institucionalizada e que requer tecnologias de suporte de vida e cuidados especializados. A vulnerabilidade das pessoas com DD à COVID-19 depende do tipo e da gravidade da deficiência e da presença de comorbidades, evidenciando a necessidade de atenção no diagnóstico e nas medidas preventivas, como a vacinação.

Resumen Objetivo Examinar la evidencia emergente sobre los tipos y la frecuencia de trastornos en el desarrollo (TD) en la población afectada por COVID-19 e identificar formas de categorización, incidencia/prevalencia y comorbilidades más frecuentes. Métodos Para esta revisión de alcance se realizó una búsqueda de estudios observacionales en las bases de datos Medline (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), Lilacs (BVS) y 'literatura gris'. Como criterio de elegibilidad, los estudios debían presentar resultados de casos de TD en personas con COVID-19 y permitir la comparación con la población general, o entre los grupos de trastornos. Dos revisores independientes realizaron el mapeo de la información con la utilización de un instrumento de extracción de datos previamente elaborado. Otros dos investigadores verificaron los datos y ayudaron a elaborar los cuadros de presentación de resultados. Resultados Se observó diversidad en la terminología empleada para categorizar los TD. Las personas con TD y con comorbilidades que representan mayor riesgo de COVID-19 necesitaron internación hospitalaria con mayor frecuencia que la población general. De un total de 4930 estudios, 14 fueron seleccionados para el análisis, de los cuales 5 artículos fueron estudios longitudinales. Conclusión En personas con TD, el COVID-19 presentó índices de morbilidad, letalidad y mortalidad más altos en rangos de edad más jóvenes, en la población más pobre, en la población institucionalizada y que requiere tecnologías de soporte vital y cuidados especializados. La vulnerabilidad de las personas con TD depende del tipo y gravedad del trastorno y de la presencia de comorbilidades, lo que deja en evidencia la necesidad de atención en el diagnóstico y en las medidas preventivas, como la vacunación.

Abstract Objective To examine the emerging evidence on developmental disability type and frequency in the population affected by COVID-19, identifying more frequent forms of categorization, incidence/prevalence and comorbidities. Methods For this scoping review, we searched for observational studies in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), LILACS (VHL) and grey literature databases. As eligibility criteria, studies should present results of developmental disability (DD) occurrence in people with COVID-19, allowing comparison with the general population, or between groups of disabilities. Two independent reviewers mapped the information using a previously elaborated data extraction instrument. Two other researchers verified the data and assisted in table elaboration to present the results. Results There was a diversity of terminologies used to categorize DD. People with DD and comorbidities that represent a higher risk for COVID-19 required hospitalization more frequently than the general population. Out of a total of 4930 studies, 14 were selected for assessment. Of these, 5 articles were longitudinal studies. Conclusion In people with DD, COVID-19 had higher morbidity, lethality and mortality rates in younger age groups, in the poorest population, in the institutionalized population, requiring life support technologies and specialized care. The vulnerability of people with DD to COVID-19 depends on disease type and severity and the presence of comorbidities, highlighting the need for attention in diagnosis and preventive measures, such as vaccination.

A hint for the obesity paradox and the link between obesity, perirenal adipose tissue and Renal Cell Carcinoma progression.

Increasing evidence supports a role for local fat depots in cancer outcomes. Despite the robust positive association of obesity with renal cell carcinoma (RCCa) diagnosis, increased adiposity is inversely related to RCCa oncological outcomes. Here, we sought to ascertain whether imagiologically assessed local fat depots associate with RCCa progression and survival and account for this apparent paradox. A retrospective cohort of renal carcinoma patients elective for nephrectomy (n = 137) were included. Beyond baseline clinicopathological characteristics, computed tomography (CT)-scans at the level of renal hilum evaluated areas and densities of different adipose tissue depots (perirenal, subcutaneous, visceral) and skeletal muscle (erector spinae, psoas and quadratus lumborum muscles) were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were estimated following empirical analysis using stepwise Cox regression. Age, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and body mass index (BMI) predicted tumour-sided perirenal fat area (R2 = 0.584), which presented upregulated UCP1 expression by 27-fold (P = 0.026) and smaller adipocyte areas, compared with subcutaneous depot. Multivariate analyses revealed that increased area of perirenal adipose tissue (PRAT) on the contralateral and tumour side associate with improved progression-free survival (HR = 0.3, 95CI = 0.1-0.8, P = 0.019) and overall survival (HR = 0.3, 95CI = 0.1-0.7, P = 0.009). PRAT measurements using CT, might become a possible tool, well correlated with other measures of obesity such as VAT and BMI, that will improve determination of obesity and contribute to assess the risk for disease progression and mortality in renal cancer patients. Present data supports the obesity paradox in RCCa, assumed that larger PRAT areas seem to protect from disease progression and death.

Oral manifestations arising from oral piercings: A systematic review and meta-analyses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of oral manifestations arising from oral piercings. STUDY DESIGN: Literature was searched through January 2022 in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Virtual Health Library, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar to address the question, "Is there an association between oral piercings and oral alterations, complications, or lesions?" Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. Meta-analyses were performed, and certainty of evidence was assessed through Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Reporting followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Fifty-four studies were included, with 15 achieving good methodological quality. Periodontal and tooth damage were the most reported, followed by soft tissue/mucosal injuries, speech disorders, chewing, soft plaque, and saliva. Pain was the most reported complication, followed by infection, swelling, bleeding, inflammation, allergy, and adornment aspiration. Meta-analyses revealed that 33% of participants with piercings had gingival recession (GR) (event rate [ER] = 0.329). In participants with piercings, ER values for nonspecified dental damage (NSDD), tooth chipping, wear/abrasion, and dental fracture (DF) were 27% (ER = 0.270), 22% (ER = 0.219), 34% (ER = 0.344), and 34% (ER = 0.338), respectively. Certainty of evidence was very low. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations, complications, and lesions were associated with oral piercings and adornments, of which GR, DF, and NSDD were the most prevalent.

Hepato-pathological hallmarks for the surveillance of Yellow Fever in South American non-human primates.

The early detection and diagnosis of deaths in free-ranging non-human primates (NHPs) are key points for the surveillance of Yellow Fever (YF) in Brazil. The histopathological identification of infectious diseases remains very useful and reliable in the screening and detection of emerging zoonotic diseases such as YF. We surveyed data records and liver slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin from the Epizootics Surveillance Network to control YF, Ministry of Health of Brazil, to evaluate histopathological hallmarks for the diagnosis of the YF virus infection. We selected natural fatal cases in NHPs from the genera Alouatta spp., Callithrix spp., and Sapajus spp. with a positive immunohistochemical assay for YF in liver samples. Our findings showed the full-spectrum YF-associated hepatic lesions in all NHPs, but some histopathological findings differed in the distribution and intensity between the three genera. In our study, South American NHPs showed significant differences in the YF-associated hepatic histopathological features compared to fatal cases reported in humans.

Do all patients with suspicious prostate cancer need Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging before prostate biopsy?

OBJECTIVES: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a useful tool to diagnose prostate cancer (PCa) but its cost is not negligible. In order to reduce costs and minimize time to diagnosis, it is necessary to establish which patients benefit the most from doing mpMRI prior to prostate biopsy (PB). Our aim was to test if mpMRI still predicts PCa and clinically significant PCa (csPCa) in patients with high clinical suspicion of cancer, defined as prostate specific antigen (PSA) > 10 ng/ml, PSA-Density (PSAD) > 0.15 ng/ml/cc or suspicious digital rectal examination (DRE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data on 206 patients who underwent mpMRI before PB at our Department from January 2017 to July 2018. mpMRI results were classified using Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2. In primary analysis, we evaluated the association of mpMRI with PCa and csPCa and stratified this model for low and high clinical suspicion of cancer. In secondary analysis, we determined the rate of negative PB results in patients with high suspicion of cancer and compared theses rates with those obtained if only those with PI-RADS 3-5 would be biopsied. RESULTS: In primary analysis and overall, mpMRI was predictive of PCa and csPCa. In stratified analysis, mpMRI was still significantly associated with csPCa in patients with PSA > 10 ng/ml and PSAD > 0.15 ng/ml/cc, but not in those with suspicious DRE. In secondary analysis, negative result rates were lower if only patients with PI-RADS 3-5 were biopsied, even in subgroups with high suspicion of cancer based on PSA and PSAD. In patients with suspicious DRE, however, the rate of negative results did not change significantly if only patients with PI-RADS 3-5 were biopsied. CONCLUSIONS: mpMRI is still useful in predicting csPCa in patients with PSA > 10 ng/mL and PSAD > 0.15 ng/ml/cc. If DRE is suspicious, though, mpMRI might be no longer useful in the prediction of PCa.

Sensing Technology for Assessing Motor Behavior in Ballet: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Human performance in classical ballet is a research field of growing interest in the past decades. Technology used to acquire data in human movement sciences has evolved, and is specifically being applied to evaluate ballet movements to better understand dancers' profiles. We aimed to systematically review sensing technologies that were used to extract data from dancers, in order to improve knowledge regarding the performance of ballet movements through quantification. METHODS: PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were accessed through 2020. All studies that used motor control tools to evaluate classical ballet movements, and possible comparisons to other types of dance and sports movements were selected. Pertinent data were filled into a customized table, and risk of bias was carefully analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty studies were included. The majority were regarding classical ballet and with pre-professional dancers. Forty-four studies (55%) used two or more types of technology to collect data, showing that motion capture technique, force plates, electromyography, and inertial sensors are the most frequent ways to evaluate ballet movements. DISCUSSION: Research to evaluate ballet movements varies greatly considering study design and specific intervention characteristics. Combining two or more types of technology may increase data reliability and optimize the characterization of ballet movements. A lack of studies addressing muscle-brain interaction in dancers were observed, and given the potential of novel insights, further studies in this field are warranted. Finally, using quantitative tools opens the perspective of defining what is considered an elite dancer.

Reconstruction of the Denonvillier's fascia and posterior ligament of the external urethral sphincter: Assessment of its effect on urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Some studies have shown that rhabdosphincter reconstruction provides an earlier return to continence after radical prostatectomy. We aim to study the impact of this procedure in urinary continence along with comparing two specific surgical techniques for posterior reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied a group of patients who were submitted to LRP with No Rhabdosphincter Reconstruction (NRR) and another group with Posterior Reconstruction of the Rhabdosphincter (PRR). The latter was further divided into two groups: "Rocco type stitch" group and "Bollens type stitch" group. We used three questionnaires (IIEF-5, ICIQ-SF and IPSS) to assess urinary continence and erectile function 90 days after surgery. RESULTS: Patients of PRR group had a better full continence rate than patients of NRR group at 90 days (96.6% vs 33.3%, p < 0.001). Concerning urinary incontinence (p = 0.116), lower urinary tract symptoms (p = 0.543) and postoperative complication rates (p = 0.738), our results suggested that there were no differences between the techniques studied. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior reconstruction of the rhabdosphincter has significant benefits for urinary continence recovery on patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. No differences were observed in continence recovery between the two techniques analyzed. Additionally, reconstruction of the rhabdosphincter appears to be a safe procedure with no increased risk of postoperative complications.

Digital informed consent on radical prostatectomy surgery - A turning point on patient communication means.

To the Editor, Radical Prostatectomy (RP) is one of the preferred treatments for localized prostatic cancer and although surgical complications have been reduced over the years, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are still common and significantly impact the patient's life. Therefore, adequate patient education and counselling before RP is essential. Informed Consent (IC) is a crucial element of doctor-patient interaction, and it must ensure that patients receive and understand all the information regarding their diseases and treatments. Implicit in providing IC is assessing the patient's understanding, since accessible communication enables them to make informed decisions consciously and autonomously about their health status [...].

West Nile Virus in the State of Ceará, Northeast Brazil.

In June 2019, a horse with neurological disorder was diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV) in Boa Viagem, a municipality in the state of Ceará, northeast Brazil. A multi-institutional task force coordinated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was deployed to the area for case investigation. A total of 513 biological samples from 78 humans, 157 domestic animals and 278 free-ranging wild birds, as well as 853 adult mosquitoes of 22 species were tested for WNV by highly specific serological and/or molecular tests. No active circulation of WNV was detected in vertebrates or mosquitoes by molecular methods. Previous exposure to WNV was confirmed by seroconversion in domestic birds and by the detection of specific neutralizing antibodies in 44% (11/25) of equids, 20.9% (14/67) of domestic birds, 4.7% (13/278) of free-ranging wild birds, 2.6% (2/78) of humans, and 1.5% (1/65) of small ruminants. Results indicate that not only equines but also humans and different species of domestic animals and wild birds were locally exposed to WNV. The detection of neutralizing antibodies for WNV in free-ranging individuals of abundant passerine species suggests that birds commonly found in the region may have been involved as amplifying hosts in local transmission cycles of WNV.

Can narration and guidance in video-enhanced learning improve performance on E-BLUS exercises?

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare trainees' laparoscopic performance concerning the peg-transfer (PT) and needle-guidance (NG) exercises after watching the original European Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Skills (E-BLUS) video or after watching a video-mentored tutorial (VMT) with 'tips and tricks', narration and didactic illustrations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An experimental, unblinded, parallel, 2-intervention, 2-period randomized trial with an allocation ratio of 1:1 was conducted. Forty-two participants were randomized into 2 groups. Prior to task initiation, Group 1 watched the VMT in both trials and Group 2 watched, firstly, the original E-BLUS examination video and, in the second trial, the VMT. Each participant performed 2 trials for each exercise. Outcome measures were task time and total number of errors. RESULTS: In the first period, participants who visualized the PT and NG VMT had fewer errors than participants who visualized the E-BLUS video (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively). In the second period, after watching the VMT, a decrease in the total number of errors in PT and NG exercises was observed in the participants who previously watched the E-BLUS video (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). In the second period, a decrease in median task time was observed for Group 1 and 2 after watching the PT VMT (p ≤0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively) and NG VMT (p = 0.005 and p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The use of VMT can lead to a smaller number of errors and, if coupled with deliberate practice, could lead to a shorter task time in exercise performance among participants with no previous laparoscopic experience.

Illustrating changes in landscapes of passing opportunities along a set of competitive football matches.

This study aims to illustrate the landscape of passing opportunities of a football team across a set of competitive matches. To do so positional data of 5 competitive matches was used to create polygons of pass availability. Passes were divided into three types depending on the hypothetical threat they may pose to the opposing defense (penetrative, support, and backwards passes). These categories were used to create three heatmaps per match. Moreover, the mean time of passing opportunities was calculated and compared across matches and for the three categories of passes. Due to the specificity of player's interactive behavior, results showed heatmaps with a variety of patterns. Specifically the fifth match was very dissimilar to the other four. However, characterizing a football match in terms of passing opportunities with a single heatmap dismisses the variety of dynamics that occur throughout a match. Therefore, three temporal heatmaps over windows of 10 min were presented highlighting on-going dynamical changes in pass availability. Results also display that penetrative passes were available over shorter periods of time than backward passes that were available shorter than support passes. The results highlight the sensibility of the model to different task constrains that emerge within football matches.

Proprioceptive Dialogue - Interpersonal Synergies During a Cooperative Slackline Task.

Proprioceptive based interpersonal communication, playing a crucial role in cooperative motor tasks, needs further investigation. This study aimed to explore the interpersonal coordination of dyads cooperating to stand up in balance on a slackline through the study of inter and intrapersonal synergies. With this purpose, acceleration time series of the slackline as well as of both legs and the center of mass of slackliners were recorded. The Uncontrolled Manifold was used to evaluate inter and intrapersonal synergies, and afterwards, the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis was performed to detect hypothetical embedded organization of synergies. Furthermore, the kinematic variability of the synergetic elements was studied through the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis to find potential stabilizing roles among slackliners. Inter and intrapersonal synergies were identified with a higher hierarchical dominance of the former. Interpersonal stabilizing roles were demonstrated among slackliners, revealing greater kinematic control of free leg and the center of mass in those slackliners with more training experience and higher task performance. This exploratory study of interpersonal coordination found that there was an embedded organization between inter and intrapersonal synergies in which stabilizing roles emerged. Dyads established a dominantly proprioceptive dialogue to form a co-adaptive whole and cope with an unstable environment.

Is motor learning of stroke patients in non-immersive virtual environment influenced by laterality of injury? A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in adults, causing residual sensorimotor deficits in many survivors. Patients may have different impairments according to laterality of injury, as well as different responses to some therapies. OBJECTIVE: This preliminary study sought to investigate motor learning in rehabilitation of stroke patients with non-immersive virtual environment by process (electroencephalography) and product (performance) measures in stroke patients with left and right cerebral hemispheres damage. METHODS: The study included 10 chronic stroke patients; 5 with left brain injury (LI), mean age 48.8 years (±4.76), and 5 with right brain injury (RI), mean age 52 years (±10.93). Patients were evaluated for electroencephalographic activity (alpha and beta frequencies) and performance (absolute error) in a darts game on XBOX Kinect (Microsoft®). Then they underwent a virtual darts game training task, 12 sessions for 4 weeks (acquisition stage). After training, they were revaluated (long-term retention). RESULTS: RI group increased alpha power and decreased beta in ipsilesional areas, increased activation on left hemisphere and decreased the absolute error of performance; LI group increased right hemisphere activation and did not decrease the absolute error. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with right brain injury reduce neural effort and errors after virtual darts training, which did not happen to patients with left brain injury. Therefore, the laterality of lesion should be considered in studies that use virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation.

The role of variability in the control of the basketball dribble under different perceptual setups.

When executing a sport-specific movement, athletes cannot use all perceptual resources to control their actions. The complexity of a basketball match, demands that individuals command their attention towards the context to make decisions. The dependency on the perceptual sources to control a movement should be kept to a minimum. During a match due to situational constraints, players often see themselves with impaired perceptual sources (e.g. auditory and peripheral vision occlusions). Assuming that professional basketball players are more skilled than amateurs, we analysed how both groups were affected by perceptual impairment, within and in-between groups in a dribbling task. A variability analysis (correlation dimension, approximate entropy and Lyapunov exponent) was used to evaluate how an increased variability or stability, in a specific joint movement, contributes to a better adaptive behaviour when facing perceptual impairment. Professionals showed a significantly lower variability of the wrist movements, but had a significantly higher value of variability in the shoulder horizontal movements (anterior-posterior and lateral), and also in the lateral elbow movements when their downwards peripheral vision was impaired. The increase in variability in such joint movements reflects adaptive behaviour and might be a performance factor.