Influence of resistance training on cardiorespiratory endurance and muscle power and strength in young athletes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of additional resistance training on cardiorespiratory endurance in young (15.8 ± 0.8 yrs) male basketball players. Experimental group subjects (n=23) trained twice per week for 12 weeks using a variety of general free-weight and machine exercises designed for strength acquisition, beside ongoing regular basketball training program. Control group subject (n=23) participated only in basketball training program. Oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) and related gas exchange measures were determined continuously during maximal exercise test using an automated cardiopulmonary exercise system. Muscle power of the extensors and flexors was measured by a specific computerized tensiometer. Results from the experimental group (VO(2max) 51.6 ± 5.7 ml.min(-1).kg(-1) pre vs. 50.9 ± 5.4 ml.min(-1).kg(-1) post resistance training) showed no change (p>0.05) in cardiorespiratory endurance, while muscle strength and power of main muscle groups increased significantly. These data demonstrate no negative cardiorespiratory performance effects on adding resistance training to ongoing regular training program in young athletes.

Time of planting and choice of maize hybrids in controlling WCR (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte) in Serbia and Montenegro.

Effects of the length of growing season of maize hybrids (FAO maturity groups 400, 500, 600 and 700) and planting dates on the maize crop, as an attractive supplemental feeding for western corn rootworm (WCR) beetles and larval survival, were observed in two locations of South Banat, during a three-year (1997-1999) and a two-year period (2001 and 2002). The feeding attraction of the maize crop for WCR beetles and survival of larvae were evaluated in dependency of the variable "plant lodging". The following results were obtained: First location: A. Plant lodging over time of planting and applied insecticides. 1. Early planting: 44.2%, 77.6%, and 76.7% for FAO 400, 500 and 600, respectively. 2. Late planting: 4.7%, 14.9%, and 7.9% for FAO 400, 500 and 600, respectively. B. Plant lodging over time of planting and cropping practices: 1. Early planting without insecticide application 72.2%, and with insecticide application 7.3%. The efficacy of application of insecticide carbofurane (Furadan 350 FS, dosage 4.0 liter/ha) in larval control was 89.9%. 2. Late planting without insecticide application, plant lodging was 47.7%, and with insecticide application 8.1%. The efficacy of application of insecticide carbofurane (Furadan 350 FS, dosage 4.0 l/ha-1) in larval control was 83.0%. Early planting resulted in greater survival of larvae; hence plant lodging was 10 times greater in early than in late planting. The percentage of lodged plants indicates that the maize crop in late planting was more attractive to imagoes. Therefore, more lodged plants were observed in the treatment where late planting preceded. Second location: Plant lodging as dependent on "treatments" 1. Regular plantings: 90.7% in untreated control and 76.2% in insecticide treated variant. The efficacy of insecticide application in control of high larval population was 16.0%. 2. Replanting date: 12.2% in untreated and 4.4% in treated variant. The efficacy of insecticide in control of low larval population increased from 16.0 to 63.9%. To successfully decrease the size and intensity of attacks of the Diabrotica v. virgifera population under conditions of applying insecticides or not, it is necessary to use maize hybrids of the earliest possible maturity group and to plant the seed on the earliest date possible in the first year of growing maize, if maize is to be followed by maize in the next year.

Use of lumbar extension, slump test, physical and neurological examination in the evaluation of patients with suspected herniated nucleus pulposus. A prospective clinical study.

This prospective and consecutive study was designed to evaluate the validity of different clinical tests, e.g. lumbar extension in lying and slump test for patients with suspected herniated nucleus pulposus, in comparison with findings on computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. There were 105 patients who were seen and examined by the senior author (for the sake of the study) at the Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Department, on an average of 5.5 days (range 0-21 days) before CT and/or MRI examination were carried out. There were 36 women and 69 men with an average age of 42.7 +/- 9.8 (range 19-64) years. According to the radiological findings on CT and/or MRI, the patients were divided into three groups: 52 patients with disc hernia, 41 patients with bulging discs and 12 patients without positive findings. The mean values with standard deviations of 25 variables of three diagnostic groups were studied. Multiple comparison adjustment according to Bonferroni showed significant differences for three variables that were of diagnostic value (lumbar range of motion for forward flexion, left side-bending in standing, and pain distribution during extension in standing). The agreement between clinical and radiological findings for type and level of diagnosis of disc herniation was accurate in 72 patients (69%). The diagnostic sensitivity for disc herniation was 82.6% and the specificity 54.7%.

Conservative treatment of acute low back pain. A 5-year follow-up study of two methods of treatment.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. OBJECTIVES: To compare the McKenzie method of treatment of acute low back pain with patient education in "mini back school" after 5 years; the 1-year results have already been published. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The 5-year results after the initial treatment are presented in this study of 89 subjects. Included in the study were 22 women and 67 men with an average age of 39.6 +/- 10.5 years (range 22-66 years). METHODS: Sixty-two subjects (70%) were interviewed by telephone, while the remaining 27 subjects (30%) were examined and interviewed personally. Information of sick leave was obtained from the Swedish National Health Insurance Office. RESULTS: The results showed that subjects who received treatment according to the McKenzie principle 5 years earlier had significantly less recurrences of pain and fewer were on sick leave compared with the subjects who received education in mini back school. The other variables did not show any statistically significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The difference between the two treatments was much less after 5 years compared with the 1-year results.

Malignant transformation of osteoblastoma: study using image analysis microdensitometry.

AIM: To determine if the malignant transformation, as perceived histologically, in a case of osteoblastoma from the right femur, was also expressed as a quantitative change in nuclear DNA during tumour progression over five months. METHODS: Nuclear DNA microdensitometry by computer image analysis was used to acquire relative DNA distribution patterns. Tissue had been removed on four separate occasions from a lesion in the right femur of an 18 year old man. Retrospective DNA analysis was performed on formalin fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tissue. RESULTS: The DNA profile of the initial biopsy specimen, which was histologically diagnosed as osteoblastoma, was euploid with a near diploid (2c) modal DNA. The second biopsy specimen taken one month later also resembled osteoblastoma but showed an aneuploid DNA profile with a diploid modal DNA and some nuclei with ploidy greater than 5c. The third biopsy specimen taken four months later showed histological evidence of osteosarcoma and a near pentaploid (5c) modal DNA with large number of nuclei exceeding 5c. CONCLUSIONS: DNA microdensitometry confirmed the initial and final diagnosis. The technique also seems to be capable of detecting aneuploidy before malignancy is morphologically evident.

Detection of aneuploidy and polyploidy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by computer video image analysis.

Thirty-six cases of histologically intermediate and low grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, classified according to the International Working Formulation, were examined using image analysis cytometry. Aneuploidy was detected in 21 cases (58%). No significant difference in either the incidence or extent of aneuploidy was seen for cases that entered remission when compared to cases that did not. Bone marrow examinations, by either aspiration or trephine biopsy, were conducted on 34 cases, with 11 showing lymphocytic infiltration. Aneuploidy was detected in 6 of the 11 cases having bone marrow involvement, while 5 cases with bone marrow infiltration were euploid. Polyploid cell distributions were detected in 3 cases, and the remaining 12 cases were diploid. The biologic significance of polyploidy among non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is not well understood, and its detection is limited to static techniques for DNA quantitation. With further investigation, awareness of its presence may reveal some insight into the clonal evolution of this neoplasm.

Conservative treatment of acute low-back pain. A prospective randomized trial: McKenzie method of treatment versus patient education in "mini back school".

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the McKenzie method of treatment with patient education in "mini back school" in patients with acute low-back pain. The study included 100 patients, 23 women and 77 men with the average age 34.4 +/- 9.7 (range 18-61) years. The study included only those who were employed. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups, one group receiving treatment according to the McKenzie technique and the other group receiving education in a "mini back school." Assessments were made after 3 weeks by an independent observer and after 52 weeks they were seen by one of the authors. Patients were assessed on seven variables: return to work, sick-leave during the initial episode, sick-leave during recurrences, recurrences of pain during the year of observation, patients' ability to self-help, pain and movement. Although the effect of attention placebo cannot be ruled out, the results demonstrated that the McKenzie method of treatment for patients with acute low-back pain was superior for five out of seven variables studied. The only variables that did not show any statistically significant differences were sick-leave during recurring episodes of pain and patients' ability to self-help.

[Clinical and laboratory aspects of malignant hyperthermia in children with special reference to creatine kinase isoenzymes (author's transl)]. / Klinik und Laborbefunde bei maligner Hyperthermie im Kindesalter unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Creatinkinase-Isoenzyme.

The clinical and laboratory findings in 4 children with signs of malignant hyperthermia are reported. In all cases an extraordinary elevation of creatine kinase activity in serum was observed. By investigation of the creatine kinase isoenzyme activities we tried to determine the origin of creatine kinase. In contrast to other reports, creatine kinase BB derived from brain was found to be absent in all cases, although creatine kinase MM and MB showed remarkable alterations. A certificate for all patients who have survived malignant hyperthermia is suggested.