The immediate effect of simulating leg-length discrepancy on spinal posture and pelvic position: a cross-over designed study.

Leg-length discrepancy (LLD) is a common condition that may cause posture changes and clinical consequences. Rasterstereography is a valid and reliable method that analyzes posture without radiation exposure and invasive procedures. This study aimed to assess the immediate effect of artificial LLD on pelvic position and spinal posture in athletes. Twenty-four elite karate athletes (14 men, 10 women) were included in the study. Sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance, pelvic obliquity, pelvic torsion angle, thoracic kyphosis angle and lumbar lordosis angle were measured at different artificial LLD heights (5 -10 -15 -20 mm). Statistical analysis was performed with One-Way ANOVA with repeated measures or Friedman test. In cases where there were significant differences, pairwise comparisons were performed with least significant differences (LSD) test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. There were statistically significant differences in pelvic obliquity (p = 0.001), pelvic torsion (p = 0.001) and lumbar lordosis (p = 0.001) with varying LLD. However, there was no significant difference in sagittal imbalance, coronal imbalance and thoracic kyphosis angle. It has been observed that even a 5-mm LLD causes pelvic position and spinal posture changes. Future studies detecting these changes in populations with LLD via rastersterography may prevent possible musculoskeletal disorders.

Which Body Density Equations Calculate Body Fat Percentage Better in Olympic Wrestlers?-Comparison Study with Air Displacement Plethysmography.

Although skinfold-derived equations seem to be practical for field application in estimating body fat percentage (BF%) and minimum body mass in Olympic wrestlers, prediction equations applied first need to be cross-validated in Olympic wrestlers to define the best prediction equation. This study aimed to evaluate the most accurate field method to predict BF% in Olympic wrestlers compared to BF% estimated by air displacement plethysmography (ADP). Sixty-one male (body mass 72.4 ± 13.5 kg; height 170.3 ± 7.0 cm; body mass index (BMI) 24.9 ± 3.5 kg.m-2; BF% 8.5 ± 4.9%) and twenty-five female wrestlers (body mass 60.3 ± 9.9 kg; height 161.3 ± 7.1 cm; BMI 23.1 ± 2.5 kg.m-2; BF% 18.7 ± 4.7%) undertook body composition assessments including ADP and nine-site skinfold measurements. Correlations, bias, limits of agreement, and standardized differences between alterations in BF% measured by ADP and other prediction equations were evaluated to validate measures, and multiple regression analyses to develop an Olympic wrestlers-specific prediction formula. The Stewart and Hannan equation for male wrestlers and the Durnin and Womersley equation for female wrestlers provided the most accurate BF% compared to the measured BF% by ADP, with the lowest bias and presented no significant differences between the measured and predicted BF%. A new prediction equation was developed using only abdominal skinfold and sex as variables, predicting 83.2% of the variance. The findings suggest the use of the new wrestler-specific prediction equation proposed in the study as a valid and accurate alternative to ADP to quantify BF% among Olympic wrestlers.

The relationships between isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of the Turkish National Paralympic Goalball Team.

Goalball is a unique sport for only blind and visually disabled people to prevent physical inactivity and its harmful consequences. Determining the profile of physical fitness parameters and their relationship is crucial for all sports discipline. The purpose of the study is to determine the characteristics and the relationship between isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions. A total of 14 (10 female, four male athletes) goalball athletes were included in the study. Upper-extremity, lower-extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength and pulmonary function tests measurements were performed to the athletes on two different days. The relationship between parameters was evaluated by Spearman correlation test. Strength and pulmonary function parameters were higher in male athletes (P<0.05). A medium/strong/very strong correlation was found between respiratory function and upper extremity isometric muscle strength (r=0.529-0.917, P<0.05). A moderate/strong correlation was found between lower extremity isometric muscle strength and respiratory function (r=0.534-0.867, P<0.05). A moderate correlation was found between trunk isometric muscle strength and respiratory function (r=0.538-0.640, P<0.05). It was seen that respiratory functions were associated with upper-lower extremity and trunk muscle strength. With this result, the idea arises that strength exercises can affect the improvement of respiratory function in individuals with disabilities, which is very important for both overall health and sports performance.

Current Predictive Resting Metabolic Rate Equations Are Not Sufficient to Determine Proper Resting Energy Expenditure in Olympic Young Adult National Team Athletes.

Predictive resting metabolic rate (RMR) equations are widely used to determine athletes' resting energy expenditure (REE). However, it remains unclear whether these predictive RMR equations accurately predict REE in the athletic populations. The purpose of the study was to compare 12 prediction equations (Harris-Benedict, Mifflin, Schofield, Cunningham, Owen, Liu's, De Lorenzo) with measured RMR in Turkish national team athletes and sedentary controls. A total of 97 participants, 49 athletes (24 females, 25 males), and 48 sedentary (28 females, 20 males), were recruited from Turkey National Olympic Teams at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. RMR was measured using a Fitmate GS (Cosmed, Italy). The results of each 12 prediction formulas were compared with the measured RMR using paired t-test. The Bland-Altman plot was performed to determine the mean bias and limits of agreement between measured and predicted RMRs. Stratification according to sex, the measured RMR was greater in athletes compared to controls. The closest equation to the RMR measured by Fitmate GS was the Harris-Benedict equation in male athletes (mean difference -8.9 (SD 257.5) kcal/day), and Liu's equation [mean difference -16.7 (SD 195.0) kcal/day] in female athletes. However, the intra-class coefficient (ICC) results indicated that all equations, including Harris-Benedict for male athletes (ICC = 0.524) and Liu's for female athletes (ICC = 0.575), had a moderate reliability compared to the measured RMR. In sedentary subjects, the closest equation to the measured RMR is the Nelson equation in males, with the lowest RMSE value of 118 kcal/day [mean difference: 10.1 (SD 117.2) kJ/day], whereas, in females, all equations differ significantly from the measured RMR. While Nelson (ICC = 0.790) had good and Owen (ICC = 0.722) and Mifflin (calculated using fat-free mass) (ICC = 0.700) had moderate reliability in males, all predictive equations showed poor reliability in females. The results indicate that the predictive RMR equations failed to accurately predict RMR levels in the participants. Therefore, it may not suitable to use them in determining total energy expenditure.

Mastalgia Due to Degenerative Changes of the Spine.

BACKGROUND: Mastalgia is a common and enigmatic condition; the cause and optimal treatment are still inadequately defined. Cervical radiculopathy, which is the result of cervical nerve root pathology often caused by spaceoccupying lesions such as cervical disc herniation, spondylosis, or osteophytosis, is frequently encountered in physical therapy. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of vertebral pathologies in patients with non-cyclic mastalgia and the efficacy of conservative treatment of these pathologies on relieving breast pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred patients were included in the study, all with breast pain continuing throughout the day and lasting at least three months. Breast and axillary physical examinations, mammographic and/or ultrasonographic evaluations were normal in all the patients. The patients' pain levels were scored using a visual analog scale (VAS). Cervical and thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all the participants. RESULTS: Among 96 patients that had pathological findings on magnetic resonance imaging (96%), 49 women had diffuse annular bulging of the cervical spine, and 47 had cervical disc protrusion. Additionally, 12 patients had thoracic disc protrusion. At the end of the three-month period, the patients who were given only conservative treatment returned for follow-up evaluations. According to the VAS scores, five patients had mild to moderate improvement, 55 showed significant improvement, and 29 achieved complete remission. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that if none of the known causes of breast pain are found in a patient, the patient should be evaluated for vertebral pathologies.

Effects of the Oral Nutritional Supplement Containing Arginine, Glutamine, and Hydroxymethylbutyrate (Abound®) on Healing of Colonic Anastomoses in Rats.

We evaluated the effects of the oral nutritional supplement containing arginine, glutamine, and hydroxymethylbutyrate (Abound®) on healing of colonic anastomoses in experimental rat model. Seventy Wistar-Albino male rats were divided into seven groups. Colon transection and anastomosis were performed in all groups except for the sham group. In groups 2 and 5, rats were fed with standard rat chow after the operation. Oral nutritional supplement was added to standard nutrition for 3 days postoperatively in group 3 and 7 days in group 6 and preoperative 7 days plus postoperative 3 days in group 4 and preoperative 7 days plus postoperative 7 days in group 7. Bursting pressures were measured, adhesions were evaluated, and tissue samples were taken for measurement of tissue hydroxyproline levels and for histopathological examination. The usage of oral nutritional supplement had positive effects on bursting pressures, tissue hydroxyproline levels, and histopathological findings of anastomoses, but feeding with oral nutritional supplement both preoperatively and postoperatively had no additive effect on these parameters when compared with the groups that were fed only postoperatively. The mixture of arginine, glutamine, and hydroxymethylbutyrate may be safely used for achieving better healing results after colonic anastomoses.

Postconditioning attenuates acute intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that postconditioning (POC) would reduce the detrimental effects of the acute intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) compared to those of the abrupt onset of reperfusion. POC has a protective effect on intestinal I/R injury by inhibiting events in the early minutes of reperfusion in rats. Twenty-four Wistar-Albino rats were subjected to the occlusion of superior mesenteric artery for 30 minutes, then reperfused for 120 minutes, and randomized to the four different modalities of POC: (1) control (no intervention); (2) POC-3 (three cycles of 10 seconds of reperfusion-reocclusion, 1 minute total intervention); (3) POC-6 (six cycles of 10 seconds of reperfusion-reocclusion, 2 minutes total intervention); and (4) sham operation (laparotomy only). The arterial blood samples [0.3 mL total creatine kinase (CK) and 0.6 mL malondialdehyde (MDA)] and the intestinal mucosal MDA were collected from each after reperfusion. POC, especially POC-6, was effective in attenuating postischemic pathology by decreasing the intestinal tissue MDA levels, serum total CK activity, inflammation, and total histopathological injury scores. POC exerted a protective effect on the intestinal mucosa by reducing the mesenteric oxidant generation, lipid peroxidation, and neutrophil accumulation. The six-cycle algorithm demonstrated the best protection.

Orally ingested chrysotile asbestos affects rat lungs and pleura.

The authors designed this study to show the effects of orally ingested asbestos on the lungs and pleura. They designated 3 groups of rats: group A (n = 18) was given 1.5 g/L asbestos in water, group B (n = 18) was given 3 g/L asbestos in water, and group C (n = 15), as a control group, was given only water. Histopathological evaluation of lungs and pleura of the rats after 6 months revealed significant mesothelial proliferation and asbestos bodies. After 9 months, more rats exhibited mesothelial proliferation in group B than in group A (p < .05). The number of rats with asbestos bodies in their lungs was greater in group B than in group A. More rats in group B than in group A had asbestos in their spleen. The authors observed mesothelial proliferation in all group B rats at the end of 12 months. Ingested asbestos traveled from the gastrointestinal system to the lungs, likely via a lymphohematological route, leading to mesothelial proliferation, which may lead to malignancies.

Pulmonary embolism in a patient with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome.

Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome (KTWS) is a congenital disorder characterized by cutaneous capillary malformations, venous-lymphatic anomalies, hypertrophy of soft tissue and bone in the area of increased vascularity and arteriovenous fistulas with shunting. In this article we report the case of a 25 year old man with KTWS who had multiple surgical operations because of arteriovenous malformations. He admitted with pulmonary embolism attack to the hospital although he was taking prophylactic heparin treatment. We evaluate the risk of pulmonary embolism in patients with KTWS, being aware of the risk of deep venous thrombosis in progress of the disease and the importance of early diagnosis in prognosis.

Effects of ranitidine on pulmonary function tests of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Since the incidence of peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is more common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than normal population, H(2) receptor blockers are given more extensively to COPD patients. This study evaluated the effects of Ranitidine on pulmonary function tests (PFT) of the patients having COPD and peptic ulcer or GER, and of healthy volunteers. Fifty milligrams of Ranitidine was given intravenously to 30 COPD patients and 25 healthy volunteers. PFT were done before and 15, 30, 60, 120min after Ranitidine injection. Although mean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) and forced midexpiratory flow rate (FEF(25-75%)) of COPD patients were found to be decreased 60 and 120min after Ranitidine injection, the decrements were statistically insignificant. The decrements in PFT of healthy volunteers were also not statistically significant.H(2) receptor blockers can be used safely for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in COPD patients who have mild or moderate obstruction. Minimal decreases in FEV(1) and FVC due to treatment by H(2) receptor blockers may clinically worsen COPD patients who have severe obstruction.

Efficacy of Micronized Flavonoid Fraction in Healing of Clean and Infected Wounds.

Purified micronized flavonoid fraction, comprising 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin, is basically used as a phelebotonic and vasculoprotector agent. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous actions. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of micronized flavonoid fraction in clean and infectious wounds. Sixty Guinea pigs were separated into 2 main groups and 6 subgroups. The first three groups had clean wounds and the other three groups had infected wounds contaminated with S. aureus. Then these main groups were separated into 3 subgroups. The first subgroups was treated with 60 mg/kg/day micronized flavonoid fraction per oral, the second ones was treated with topical 60 mg/kg/day micronized flavonoid fraction, and the third ones had no treatment. Infected wounds were obtained by contamining the wounds with S. aureus. There were no significant differences in wound healing between the groups that have clean wounds (p > 0.05). In the groups with infected wounds, orally and topically treated guina pigs had accelerated wound healing compared to the untreated control group (p < 0.05), confirmed with surface area measurements and histopathological evaluation. Healing showed no difference between the groups treated orally and topically. This study showed that oral or topical administration of micronized flavonoid fraction in the infected wounds is beneficial, while it has no significant effect in clean wounds.