The Use of Dietary Supplements in Fitness Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Observation Study.

This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of use of dietary supplements (DSs) among gym users and gym instructors involved in body shaping-oriented fitness training. Furthermore, this study aimed to verify whether differences existed in the prevalence and in the types of DSs used in both gym users and gym instructors involved in body shaping-oriented fitness competitions vs. those not involved in fitness competitions. A survey was distributed to 316 participants, composed of 89 gym instructors and 227 gym users of both genders aged 27.3 ± 7.7. Among these participants, 52 were involved in competitions and 248 were not, while 16 participants did not specify either way. The results showed a high prevalence in the use of DSs in the population considered, with 85.4% of the participants declaring they used DSs, with high heterogeneity in the numbers and in the combinations used. No differences were found between gym instructors and gym users, or between participants involved and those not involved in competitions. The results indicate that DSs are widely used by persons involved in body shaping-oriented fitness training. The results also suggest that the majority of the participants decided individually which DSs to use.

Assessment of Body Composition in Athletes: A Narrative Review of Available Methods with Special Reference to Quantitative and Qualitative Bioimpedance Analysis.

Body composition is acknowledged as a determinant of athletic health and performance. Its assessment is crucial in evaluating the efficiency of a diet or aspects related to the nutritional status of the athlete. Despite the methods traditionally used to assess body composition, bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and bioelectric impedance vector analysis (BIVA) have recently gained attention in sports, as well as in a research context. Only until recently have specific regression equations and reference tolerance ellipses for athletes become available, while specific recommendations for measurement procedures still remain scarce. Therefore, the present narrative review summarizes the current literature regarding body composition analysis, with a special focus on BIA and BIVA. The use of specific technologies and sampling frequencies is described, and recommendations for the assessment of body composition in athletes are provided. Additionally, the estimation of body composition parameters (i.e., quantitative analysis) and the interpretation of the raw bioelectrical data (i.e., qualitative analysis) are examined, highlighting the innovations now available in athletes. Lastly, it should be noted that, up until 2020, the use of BIA and BIVA in athletes failed to provide accurate results due to unspecific equations and references; however, new perspectives are now unfolding for researchers and practitioners. In light of this, BIA and especially BIVA can be utilized to monitor the nutritional status and the seasonal changes in body composition in athletes, as well as provide accurate within- and between-athlete comparisons.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury profile in Italian Serie A1-A2 women's volleyball league.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess how anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures with subsequent surgery reconstruction impact on the professional career of A1-A2 Italian women's volleyball league players. METHODS: Using an observational study with a retrospective case-series design for ACL ruptures, 125 teams with 1488 players were monitored. Subjects had to report level, role, injury modality, lower limb injured, laterality, period of the season and age. RESULTS: A total of 34 ACL ruptures were reported. Thirty-three (97%) were non-contact and 1 (3%) with contact. Twenty-one (61.7%) occurred in landing from a jump attack, 3 (8.8%) in landing from wall jump, 1 (3%) with apparent contact and 9 (26.5%) in other landing conditions. The most injured knee was the left limb (22, 64.7%) respect to the right limb (12, 35.3%). Fourteen (41.2%) ruptures occurred in spikers, 10 (29.4%) in middle blockers, 6 (17.6%) in setters, 3 (8.8%) in liberos and 1 (3%) in opposite hitters. Nine (26.5%) occurred in pre-season period, 16 (47%) in the first round, 4 (11.8%) in the second round, and 5 (14.7%) during play-off. The average age of the first ACL rupture was 23±3 years. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that female volleyball players of A1-A2 Italian volleyball league occurred mostly in a left non-contact ACL rupture during a landing condition and the spikers were the players most at risk. Therefore, it is desirable that coaches teach players variations of landing in order to avoid possible chronic overloading of ACL.

Left pneumothorax secondary to colonoscopic perforation of the sigmoid colon: a case report.

We present here the case of a 75-year-old woman who complained of acute abdominal pain after a diagnostic colonoscopy. Abdominal x-rays demonstrated pneumoperitoneum, whereas chest x-rays showed pneumomediastinum and left pneumothorax. A chest drain was placed and subsequently an exploratory laparoscopy was performed, during which air was found in the subserosa of the sigmoid colon and in the mesosigmoid secondary to perforation of a sigmoid diverticulum. The perforation was repaired and a protective loop colostomy was fashioned. The patient was discharged 8 days postoperatively in a good general condition. Although numerous cases of pneumoretroperitoneum and pneumomediastinum secondary to iatrogenic perforation of the colon have been described, reports of pneumothorax are much rarer. We, therefore, discuss the anatomic bases and the possible physiopathologic mechanisms responsible for this clinical complication.

Use of human fibrin glue (Tissucol) versus staples for mesh fixation in laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernioplasty: a prospective, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the morbidity of fixation of prosthetic meshes using Tissucol fibrin glue versus staples in laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair of inguinal and femoral hernias. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: In patients undergoing laparoscopic hernia repair, fixation of mesh prostheses with staples may affect inguinocrural nerves causing early postoperative neuralgia and chronic neuralgia. METHODS: Between June 2003 and February 2005, 197 patients with inguinal or femoral hernia were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study, to assess morbidity following hernia repair with staples (n = 98) or Tissucol (n = 99). The primary outcomes were early postoperative and late neuralgia recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS). The effects of neuralgia on functional status were evaluated using the modified SF-36 questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included complications such as nonspecific pain and recurrence. RESULTS: Assessments took place at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, with all patients completing each follow-up visit. Mean VAS scores were significantly lower in the Tissucol group versus the staples group (MANOVA, P < 0.05). Higher scores for the modified SF-36 questionnaire at 1 month were demonstrated in the Tissucol group compared with the staples group (23.2 and 22.6, respectively; P < 0.05). The mean recovery time for normal physical activity was significantly shorter in the Tissucol group compared with the staples group (7.9 vs. 9.1 day, respectively; P < 0.001). One recurrence was seen in the fibrin glue group, which was attributable to a technical error in fixation of the mesh. CONCLUSIONS: The use of Tissucol provides distinct advantages in laparoscopic treatment of inguinal/femoral hernias compared with conventional TAPP, including a lower incidence of postoperative neuralgia and an earlier resumption of physical and social activities.