The Professional Level and its Impact on Muscle Mechanical and Functional Performance in Costa Rican Soccer Players / Nivel profesional e impacto en el desempeño mecánico y funcional muscular en los jugadores de fútbol de Costa Rica / Nível profissional e impacto no desempenho mecânico e funcional dos músculos dos jogadores de futebol da Costa Rica

Abstract: This study aimed to compare the mechanical and functional muscle performance of three different competitive soccer teams of the Costa Rica professional league (U17, Pro A, and Pro B). Age 20.09 ± 4.32 years old, weight body mass 70.85 ± 7.45 kg, height 174.56 ± 4.97 cm; body fat percentage 13.9 ± 5.06 %; lean body mass 57.90 ± 4.88 kg; lean body mass right lower limb 10.11 ± 0.87 kg; lean body mass leth lower limb 10.09 ± 0.92 kg. The variables assessed were muscle time of contraction, muscle radial displacement, delay time, squat jump, and countermovement jump. The devices used were dual ray absorptiometry, tensiomyography, and jump platform. There were differences in weight, body mass, and body fat % (Pro A< U17<Pro B). There was a difference in group squat jump performance (Pro A> U17). There were no significant differences in muscle time of contraction, delay time, or radial deformation. The knowledge of differences in both muscle functional and mechanical performance could lead to new training and recovery methods and protocols considering the player's professional levels.

Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el rendimiento muscular mecánico y funcional de tres equipos de fútbol competitivos diferentes de la liga profesional de Costa Rica (U17, Pro A, Pro B). Edad 20.09 ± 4.32 años, ; masa corporal 70.85 ± 7.45 kg, ; altura 174.56 ± 4.97 cm; porcentaje de grasa 13.9 ± 5.06 %; masa magra 57.90 ± 4.88 kg; masa magra extremidad inferior derecha 10.11 ± 0.87 kg; masa magra izquierda miembro inferior izquierdo 10.09 ± 0,92 kg. Las variables evaluadas fueron: tiempo de contracción muscular, desplazamiento radial del músculo, tiempo de retraso, salto en cuclillas y salto de contraataque. Los dispositivos utilizados fueron la absorciometría de doble rayo, la tensiomiografía y la plataforma de salto. Se encontraron diferencias en la masa corporal y la grasa. % (Pro A < U17 < Pro B). Hubo diferencias en el rendimiento del salto en sentadilla por grupos (Pro A > U17). No hubo diferencias significativas en el tiempo de contracción muscular, el tiempo de retraso o la deformación radial. El conocimiento de las diferencias en Ttanto en el rendimiento funcional como en el mecánico del músculo podría conducir a nuevos métodos y protocolos de entrenamiento y recuperación considerando los niveles profesionales del jugador.

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o desempenho mecânico e funcional de três diferentes equipes de futebol competitivas da liga profissional costarriquenha (U17, Pro A, Pro B). Idade 20,09 ± 4,32 anos, massa corporal 70,85 ± 7,45 kg, altura 174,56 ± 4,97 cm; percentual de gordura 13,9 ± 5,06%; massa magra 57,90 ± 4,88 kg; massa magra extremidade inferior direita 10,11 ± 0,87 kg; massa magra membro inferior esquerdo 10,09 ± 0,92 kg. As variáveis avaliadas foram: tempo de contração muscular, deslocamento radial do músculo, tempo de atraso, salto de cócoras e contra salto. Os dispositivos utilizados foram a absorciometria por raios-X com dupla energia, a tensiomiografia e a plataforma de salto. Foram encontradas diferenças na massa corporal e na gordura. % (Pro A <U17 <Pro B). Houve diferenças no desempenho do salto de agachamento por grupo (Pro A> U17). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no tempo de contração muscular, tempo de atraso ou deformação radial. O conhecimento das diferenças tanto no desempenho muscular funcional quanto mecânico poderia levar a novos métodos e protocolos de treinamento e recuperação, considerando os níveis profissionais do jogador.

Antioxidant Activity, Molecular Docking, Quantum Studies and In Vivo Antinociceptive Activity of Sulfonamides Derived From Carvacrol.

The synthesis and antioxidant, antinociceptive and antiedematogenic activities of sulfonamides derived from carvacrol-a druglike natural product-are reported. The compounds showed promising antioxidant activity, and sulfonamide derived from morpholine (S1) demonstrated excellent antinociceptive and antiedematogenic activities, with no sedation or motor impairment. The mechanism that underlies the carvacrol and derived sulfonamides' relieving effects on pain has not yet been fully elucidated, however, this study shows that the antinociceptive activity can be partially mediated by the antagonism of glutamatergic signaling. Compound S1 presented promising efficacy and was predicted to have an appropriate medicinal chemistry profile. Thus, derivative S1 is an interesting starting point for the design of new leads for the treatment of pain and associated inflammation and prooxidative conditions.

2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy Dihydrochalcone Improves the Cognitive Impairment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Structure-activity Relationship Study.

BACKGROUND: Chalcones and dihydrochalcones present potent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, currently considered the most efficient approach for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the potential benefits of 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy dihydrochalcone on the cognitive deficits of animals submitted to the streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's model, as well as evaluating the possible mechanisms of action. METHODS: Learning and memory functions of different groups of animals were submitted to the streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's model (STZ 2.5 mg/mL, i.c.v.) and subsequently treated with 2',6'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy dihydrochalcone (DHMDC) administered at doses of 5, 15, and 30 mg/kg (p.o.), respectively. Rivastigmine (0,6 mg/kg, i.p.) and vehicle were evaluated in aversive memory test (inhibitory avoidance test) and spatial memory test (object recognition test). Molecular docking simulations were performed to predict the binding mode of DHMDC at the peripheral site of AChE, to analyze noncovalent enzyme-ligand interactions. DFT calculations were carried out to study well-known acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and DHMDC. RESULTS: DHMDC markedly increased the learning and memory of mice. STZ caused a significant decline of spatial and aversive memories in mice, attenuated by DHMDC (15 and 30 mg/kg). Furthermore, STZ conspicuously increased lipid peroxidation and compromised the antioxidant levels in mice brains. DHMDC pretreatment significantly increased GSH activity and other oxidative stress markers and decreased TBARS level in the brain of STZ administered mice. AChE activity was significantly decreased by DHMDC in the brain of mice. CONCLUSION: The results together point out that DHMDC may be a useful drug in the management of dementia.

Multiple Coronary Fistulas After Several Penetrating Chest Wounds: A Rare Case of Refractory Heart Failure.

Coronary artery fistulas are rare coronary abnormalities. Most of these fistulas have a congenital origin, and only a few are acquired. We report the case of a patient with late-acquired multiple coronary fistulas secondary to a stab wound, diagnosed in the setting of ischemic heart failure secondary to coronary steal syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Survival after heart transplantation for Chagas cardiomyopathy using a conventional protocol: A 10-year experience in a single center.

BACKGROUND: Heart transplant (HT) remains the most frequently indicated therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure that improves prognosis in Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM). However, the lack of benznidazole therapy and availability of RT-PCR follow-up in many centers is a major limitation to perform this life-saving intervention, as there are concerns related with the risk of reactivation. We aimed to describe the outcomes of a cohort of patients with CCM who underwent HT using a conventional protocol with mycophenolate mofetil, without benznidazole prophylaxis or RT-PCR follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Between 2008 and 2018, 43 patients with CCM underwent HT. A descriptive analysis to characterize outcomes as rejection, infectious and neoplastic complications and a survival analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Median of follow-up was 4.3 (IR 4.28) years. Survival at 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years was 95%, 85%, and 75%, respectively, infections being the main cause of death (60%). Reactivations occurred in only three patients (7.34%) and were not related to mortality. CONCLUSION: This cohort showed a favorable survival and a low reactivation rate without an impact on mortality. Our results suggest that performing HT in patients with CCM following conventional guidelines and recommendations for other etiologies is a safe approach.

AKT1 and AKT2 isoforms play distinct roles during breast cancer progression through the regulation of specific downstream proteins.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms associated with the specific effects of AKT1 and AKT2 isoforms in breast cancer progression. We modulated the abundance of specific AKT isoforms in IBH-6 and T47D human breast cancer cell lines and showed that AKT1 promoted cell proliferation, through S6 and cyclin D1 upregulation, but it inhibited cell migration and invasion through ß1-integrin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) downregulation. In contrast, AKT2 promoted cell migration and invasion through F-actin and vimentin induction. Thus, while overexpression of AKT1 promoted local tumor growth, downregulation of AKT1 or overexpression of AKT2 promoted peritumoral invasion and lung metastasis. Furthermore, we evaluated The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset for invasive breast carcinomas and found that increased AKT2 but not AKT1 mRNA levels correlated with a worse clinical outcome. We conclude that AKT isoforms play specific roles in different steps of breast cancer progression, with AKT1 involved in the local tumor growth and AKT2 involved in the distant tumor dissemination, having AKT2 a poorer prognostic value and consequently being a worthwhile target for therapy.