Modelling performance by continents in swimming.

Introduction: There is a growing interest in the scientific community about the progression and congruity in the performance of talented participants who complete representing different nations in the most important international events. The prediction of incoming performances is nowadays in demand with the objective of returning in talent investment. Talent identification programs have tried to select and develop sports talent over years. However, to our knowledge, there is a lack of research about success in swimming World Championships (WCs) performance considering continents-country and how successful outcomes are influenced by these variables. Therefore, the primary goal is to analyze the effect of early specialization comparing the performance progression model of the countries gathered by continents. Methods: Participant's data from all Junior and Senior WCs between 2006 and 2017 from International Swimming Federation (FINA). One-way ANOVA, ANCOVA and regression model were used to explain whether the variable category, age, best z-score, experience, and continent influences the performance obtained in Absolute WC. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.01) were found between the average performance obtained by the two different categories (junior: swimmers participating in junior WCs before senior WCs; senior: swimmers participating in senior WCs without previous participation in junior WCs), where swimmers from category junior showed significant better performance's times than seniors, except in America. ANCOVA results showed that generally, the greatest differences where in the earliest ages, with best performance registered in category junior in all the continents. Also, the experience was a significant variable in the general model. Conclusion: Swimmers who had participated in junior category prior absolute obtained better performance's times than those swimmers who participated directly in absolute, in the first participation in senior WC. Thus, early specialization is a key factor to obtain better results in senior WCs for all the continents, except in America.

Infección de la herida quirúrgica. Efectividad de los apósitos con polihexametileno biguanida / Surgical site infections. Effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide wound dressings

Objetivo Analizar la efectividad de un apósito de polihexametileno biguanida al 0,2% frente a la infección superficial de la herida quirúrgica en pacientes tras la realización de una colecistectomía laparoscópica. Método Estudio randomizado simple ciego longitudinal con 2 grupos de asignación aleatoria en los que se han incluido a pacientes diagnosticados de colelitiasis y a los que se les va a realizar de manera electiva una colecistectomía laparoscópica. La variable de eficacia principal o variable dependiente es la infección superficial del sitio quirúrgico siguiendo los criterios de los CDC (1999) y como variables independientes la utilización de un apósito de polihexametileno biguanida al 0,2% (grupo A) o apósito de gasa no oclusivo (grupo B). Se utilizó el índice NNIS para evaluar el riesgo de infección. Utilizamos el test χ2 o test de Fisher para evaluar la asociación entre las variables independientes. Resultados Se reclutaron 197 pacientes, 96 (48,7%) del grupo A y 101 (51,3%) del B. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto al género, tiempo empleado para la cirugía (51,4±21,2min vs. 52,6±23,4min para A y B) e índice NNIS en ambos grupos. Aparece una (..) (AU)

Aim To analyze the effectiveness of a 0,2% polyhexamethylene biguanide dressing against the infection of a superficial surgical incision site (ISSIS) after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Method A randomized longitudinal single-blind study was conducted with two randomly assigned groups consisting of patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis soon to undergo an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The dependent variable was ISSIS using the criteria of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) (1999). The independent variables were the use of a 0,2% polyhexamethylene biguanide dressing (Group A), or a non occlusive dressing (Group B). The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) index was used for assessing the risk of infection. The χ2 test or Fisher test was used to evaluate the correlation between the independent variables. Results Of the total 197 cases, 96 (48.7%) were in group A and 101 (51.3%) in group B. No statistical (..) (AU)

[Surgical site infections. Effectiveness of polyhexamethylene biguanide wound dressings]. / Infección de la herida quirúrgica. Efectividad de los apósitos con polihexametileno biguanida.

AIM: To analyze the effectiveness of a 0,2% polyhexamethylene biguanide dressing against the infection of a superficial surgical incision site (ISSIS) after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHOD: A randomized longitudinal single-blind study was conducted with two randomly assigned groups consisting of patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis soon to undergo an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The dependent variable was ISSIS using the criteria of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) (1999). The independent variables were the use of a 0,2% polyhexamethylene biguanide dressing (Group A), or a non occlusive dressing (Group B). The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) index was used for assessing the risk of infection. The χ(2) test or Fisher test was used to evaluate the correlation between the independent variables. RESULTS: Of the total 197 cases, 96 (48.7%) were in group A and 101 (51.3%) in group B. No statistical differences were found between genders, duration of surgery (51.4 ± 21.2 vs 52.6 ± 23.4 minutes, in group A and B, respectively), or the NNIS index in either group. Six patients had an ISSIS (3.04%): 1 in group A (1.04%) and 5 in group B (4.95%), P=.212. CONCLUSIONS: The study was unable to correlate an ISSIS with the type of surgical dressing that was used, although it was not possible to rule out an association, as the study did not have sufficient statistical power.

[Handgrip strength in children and teenagers aged from 6 to 18 years: reference values and relationship with size and body composition]. / Dinamometría en niños y jóvenes de entre 6 y 18años: valores de referencia, asociación con tamaño y composición corporal.

INTRODUCTION: Handgrip strength is an important test to evaluate physical fitness and nutritional status. The main objective of this research is to prepare a reference standard applicable to the Spanish population of both sexes between 6 and 18 years old. At the same time, to extend our knowledge of normal variation of this characteristic with age, gender, size and body composition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 2125 subjects between the 6 and 18 years (1176 boys and 949 girls). The handgrip strength of both hands was taken with a digital adjustable dynamometer. Weight, height, forearm circumference and skin fold thickness were measured mass index, fat free. Body mass, percentage of fat and total, muscle and fat forearm areas were estimated. Ontogenetic and sexual variability of dynamometric force was analysed and a table was produced with the mean, standard deviation and percentile distribution, by hand, age and gender. Multiple correlation analysis was applied to establish the relationship between handgrip dynamometric force, body mass index and body composition variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Handgrip strength increases with age and a significant sexual dimorphism from the age of 12 years is observed. Growth charts with normal values obtained in healthy Spanish children and teenagers could be used as a reference pattern. The correlation between hand static force and fat free mass or arm muscle area is stronger than with direct size variables or body mass index.

First order phase transition in deuterated triglycine selenate under an electric field: experimental study and analysis in the frame of Landau theory.

The influence of electric fields lower than the critical field in the ferroelectric phase transition in deuterated triglycine selenate has been studied by means of thermal and dielectric properties. The latent heat, specific heat and dielectric constant have been measured and compared to the theoretical expectations from the Landau theory under an electric field. A full agreement has been found on cooling experiments.

Dielectric, calorimetric and elastic anomalies associated with the first order [Formula: see text] phase transition in (Ca, Sr)TiO(3) perovskites.

Conduction calorimetry has been used to determine with high precision the latent heat and variation in heat capacity which accompany the first order [Formula: see text] phase transition in perovskites with compositions (Ca(1-x)Sr(x))TiO(3), x = 0.65, 0.68, 0.74 (CST65, CST68, CST74). In CST65 (CST68), the latent heat is dissipated/absorbed over a temperature interval of ∼11 K (∼6 K), which is centred on ∼292 K (∼258 K) during cooling and ∼302 K (∼270 K) during heating. The magnitude of the latent heat diminishes with increasing SrTiO(3) content and was not detected in CST74. Integration of the latent heat and excess heat capacity yields small excess entropies, which are consistent with the structural changes being displacive rather than order-disorder in origin. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy measurements on the same CST65 sample as used for dielectric and calorimetric measurements through the same temperature intervals have allowed quantitative correlations to be made with the bulk modulus, shear modulus and acoustic dissipation parameter, Q(-1). The dielectric anomaly and changes in Q(-1) can be understood as being linear combinations of the properties of the separate I4/mcm and Pbcm phases in proportion to their volume fractions across the two-phase field. A change of only ∼0.5-1 GPa has been detected in the bulk modulus but the shear modulus softens by ∼5-8 GPa as the transition interval is approached from above and below. This shear mode softening presumably reflects clustering and/or phonon softening in both the I4/mcm and Pbcm structures. This pattern of structure-property relations could be typical of first order transitions in perovskites where there is no group/subgroup relationship between the high and low symmetry phases.

Memory effect in triglycine sulfate induced by a transverse electric field: specific heat measurement.

The influence of a transverse electric field on the specific heat of triglycine sulfate (TGS) has been studied. The specific heat of TGS has been measured on heating the sample from the ferroelectric to the paraelectric phase after prolonged application of transverse electric field (i.e. perpendicular to the ferroelectric axis). It is shown that the specific heat of TGS can 'remember' the temperature T(s) at which the transverse field was previously applied.

A pilot experience launching a national dose protocol for vascular and interventional radiology.

The design of a national dose protocol for interventional radiology has been one of the tasks during the European SENTINEL Coordination Action. The present paper describes the pilot experience carried out in cooperation with the Spanish Society on Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI). A prospective sample of procedures was initially agreed. A common quality control of the X-ray systems was carried out, including calibration of the air kerma area product (KAP) meters. Occupational doses of the radiologists involved in the survey were also included in the survey. A total of 10 Spanish hospitals with interventional X-ray units were involved. Six hundred and sixty-four patient dose data were collected from 397 diagnostic and 267 therapeutic procedures. Occupational doses were evaluated in a sample of 635 values. The obtained KAP median/mean values (Gy.cm2) for the gathered procedures were: biliary drainage (30.6/68.9), fistulography (4.5/9.8), lower limb arteriography (52.2/60.7), hepatic chemoembolisation (175.8/218.3), iliac stent (45.9/73.2) and renal arteriography (39.1/59.8). Occupational doses (mean monthly values, in mSv) were 1.9 (over apron); 0.3 (under apron) and 4.5 (on hands). With this National experience, a protocol was agreed among the SENTINEL partners to conduct future similar surveys in other European countries.

[Prospective monitoring of vascular access in hemodialysis by means of a multidisciplinary team]. / Seguimiento prospectivo del acceso vascular en hemodialisis mediante un equipo multidisciplinar.

PURPOSE: Nowadays, expert guidelines recommend the monitoring programs of the vascular access (VA) by a multidisciplinary team. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We present the experience over the last five years, of a prospective VA surveillance by a multidisciplinary team. The quality indicators reached are described as the associated factors for survival of the new VA. RESULTS: Three hundred seventeen VA have been studied, 73% were arteriovenous fistulas(AVF) and the rest were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts at 282 patients. The main causes of dysfunctions were elevated dynamic venous pressure (42.5%) and the decreased blood flow (36.4%) with a 88% of positive predictive value. Over the 5 years there was 88 thrombosis (24 AVF and 64 PTFE grafts), that means a hazard thrombosis global rate of 0.15 access/year, which were distributed in 0.06 for AVF and 0.38 in PTFE grafts. Two hundred and one repairs of VA were done: 66.6% were elective repair after a proper review by the multidisciplinary team and the rest of them were done after the AV thrombosis happened. Urgent rescue surgeries were done in 76% of the thrombosis. 62.5% of the patients did not need a catheter after vascular access thrombosis. The complication relation with AVF and PTFE were 11.4% of the total patients hemodialysis hospitalizations. 65.2% of the VA were new access. 57% of patients were properly reviewed in the pre-dialysis unit at least once and 80% of them start haemodialysis with a mature access. The average survival (Kaplan Meier) of the new AVF was 1,575+/-55 days vs 1,087+/-102 of the PTFE grafts (p < 0.008). The survival after 1, 2 and 3 years for the AVF was 89%, 85% and 83% and for the PTFE graft 3% 67% and 51% respectively. The Cox regression has proved that the type of vascular access is the strongest factor associated to VA survival. The survival added of VA repaired due to dysfunction was 1,062 +/- 97 days vs 707 +/- 132 due to thrombosis, log rank 5.17 (p < 0,02). The increasing risk of those repaired after a thrombosis vs dysfunction is 4.2 p < 0,01. CONCLUSIONS: The monitoring of the vascular access by a multidisciplinary team has reached:low rate of thrombosis, high elective number of repairs of the VA, high urgent rescue surgery after a thrombosis and a few number catheter needed and hospitalizations. AVF are associated with greater survival than PTFE. The VA repair due to dysfunction vs thrombosis had a greater survival as well.

[Nodular pulmonary sarcoidosis, a radiological form of rare presentation or granulomatous vasculitis? A report of 3 cases]. / Sarcoidosis nodular pulmonar, una forma radiológica de presentación infrecuente o una vasculitis granulomatosa? Descripción de tres casos.

Three cases of nodular pulmonary sarcoidosis are presented. Chest roentgenograms demonstrated multiple bilateral nodules and the diagnosis was achieved by means of biopsy specimens after other diseases capable of producing a similar histologic or clinical picture were excluded we discuss the clinical, histologic and radiographic behaviors of nodular sarcoidosis.

[Actinomyces as the etiology of empyema]. / Actinomyces como etiología de empiema.

Thoracic actinomycosis represents 25% of all cases of the disease, whose presentation varies greatly. Pleural involvement is unusual and only rarely is it found as an isolated sign. We describe 2 cases of empyema due to actinomycosis; both cases responded well to surgical drainage and antibiotics.