Características psicológicas relevantes para el rendimiento deportivo: diferencias de género en fútbol juvenil / Características psicológicas relevantes para o desempenho esportivo: diferenças de gênero no futebol juvenil / Psychological characteristics relevant to sports performance: gender differences in youth soccer

El estudio de los factores psicológicos relacionados con el rendimiento deportivo tiene un importante recorrido en la literatura científica. Conocer si existen diferencias de género en deportistas, cuáles son estas, y en qué aspectos se manifiestan es una cuestión que podría ayudar a mejorar la labor de entrenadores y técnicos deportivos. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si existen diferencias de género en el perfil psicológico de futbolistas juveniles relacionado con el rendimiento deportivo. Se utilizó un diseño descriptivo transversal. La muestra objeto de estudio estuvo formada por un total de 329 jugadores juveniles de fútbol (46.8% varones y 53,2% mujeres), con una edad media de 17.02 (±1.50) años. Para la evaluación de las características psicológicas se utilizó el Cuestionario Características Psicológicas Relacionadas con el Rendimiento Deportivo (CPRD). Los resultados de este estudio indican que existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre varones y mujeres en control de estrés (CE), influencia de la evaluación del rendimiento (IER) y en cohesión de equipo (CH), con un tamaño del efecto de .51, .31 y .40 respectivamente. Los jugadores manifiestan puntuaciones mayores que las jugadoras en CE, es decir, gestionan mejor el estrés propio de la competición, y en IER, es decir, los jugadores gestionan mejor que las jugadoras el impactoque supone la evaluación de su rendimiento, el que hacen los otros (entrenadores, compañeros, padres/madres, etc.) y el que se hace a sí mismo. Sin embargo, las jugadoras presentan mejores puntuaciones en CH, es decir, manifiestan una mayor tendencia a trabajar en grupo y fortalecer el equipo. (AU)

The study of psychological factors related to sports performance has an important track record in thescientific literature. Knowing if there are differences between male and female athletes, what they are, and in what aspects they manifest is an issue that could help improve the work of coaches and sports technicians. The aim of this study is to determine if there are gender differences in the psychological profile of youth soccer players related to sports performance. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. The sample under study was formed by a total of 329 youth soccer players (46.8% male and 53,2% female), with an average age of 17.02 (± 1.50) years. The Psychological Characteristics Questionnaire Related to Sports Performance (CPRD) was used to evaluate psychological characteristics. The results of this study indicate that there are statistically significant differences between male and female in stress control (CE), influence of performance evaluation (IER) and in team cohesion (CH), with an effect size of .51, .31 and .40 respectively. The male players show higher scores than the female players in CE, that is, they better manage the stress of the competition, and in IER, that is, the male players manage better than the female players the impact of evaluating their performance, the one that others do (coaches, partners, fathers / mothers, etc.) and the one thatmakes itself. However, female players have better CH scores, that is, they show a greater tendency to work in groups and strengthen the team. (AU)

O estudo de fatores psicológicos relacionados ao desempenho esportivo tem um histórico importante na literatura científica. Saber se existem diferenças entre atletas masculinos e femininos, o que são e em que aspectos eles se manifestam é uma questão que pode ajudar a melhorar o trabalho de treinadores e técnicos esportivos. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar se existem diferenças de gênero no perfil psicológico de jovens jogadores de futebol relacionados ao desempenho esportivo. Foi utilizado um desenho descritivo de corte transversal. A amostra estudada foi composta por um total de 329 jogadores de futebol juvenil (46,8% masculino e 53,2% feminino), com idade média de 17,02 (± 1,50) anos. O Questionário de Características Psicológicas Relacionadas ao Desempenho Esportivo (CPRD) foi utilizado para avaliar as características psicológicas. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que existem diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre meninos e meninas no controle do estresse (EC), influência da avaliação de desempenho (IER) e na coesão da equipe (HC), com um tamanho de efeito de 0,51, 0,31 e 0,40, respetivamente. Os jogadores pequenos apresentam pontuações mais altas do que as jogadoras da CE, ou seja, administram melhor o estresse da competição, e no IER, ou seja, os jogadores pequenos gerenciam melhor do que as jogadoras o impacto de avaliar seu desempenho, o que os outros fazem (treinadores, parceiros, pais / mães, etc.) e o que se faz. No entanto, as jogadoras têm melhores pontuações no HC, ou seja,mostram maior tendência a trabalhar em grupo e fortalecer a equipe. (AU)

Concordant utrophin upregulation in phenotypically discordant DMD/BMD brothers.

Utrophin expression was investigated in two phenotypically discordant Duchenne muscular dystrophy half-brothers. The youngest was wheelchair-bound at age 9, while his mildly affected older brother was able to walk without difficulties at age 15. DNA analysis revealed an out-of-frame exon 2 duplication in the DMD gene, associated with muscle dystrophin protein deficiency. Utrophin localization and quantity was analyzed and compared in both sibs to verify whether this could explain the milder phenotype of the older brother. Immunofluorescence analysis showed a clear sarcolemmal labeling for utrophin in both of them, which was present in regenerating as well as in mature fibers. On western blot analysis, utrophin amount was increased 3.4 and 3.3 fold respectively, as compared to normal controls, while it was increased 1.7 to 4.0 fold in a group of DMD patients within the typical range of clinical progression. These data are in accordance with our previous observations suggesting no correlation between phenotype severity and utrophin up-regulation or sarcolemmal localization in dystrophinopathies. Finding the protective mechanisms in patients with milder course is of utmost interest to direct therapeutic targets.

Transcriptional regulation differs in affected facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients compared to asymptomatic related carriers.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a progressive muscle disorder that has been associated with a contraction of 3.3-kb repeats on chromosome 4q35. FSHD is characterized by a wide clinical inter- and intrafamilial variability, ranging from wheelchair-bound patients to asymptomatic carriers. Our study is unique in comparing the gene expression profiles from related affected, asymptomatic carrier, and control individuals. Our results suggest that the expression of genes on chromosome 4q is altered in affected and asymptomatic individuals. Remarkably, the changes seen in asymptomatic samples are largely in products of genes encoding several chemokines, whereas the changes seen in affected samples are largely in genes governing the synthesis of GPI-linked proteins and histone acetylation. Besides this, the affected patient and related asymptomatic carrier share the 4qA161 haplotype. Thus, these polymorphisms by themselves do not explain the pathogenicity of the contracted allele. Interestingly, our results also suggest that the miRNAs might mediate the regulatory network in FSHD. Together, our results support the previous evidence that FSHD may be caused by transcriptional dysregulation of multiple genes, in cis and in trans, and suggest some factors potentially important for FSHD pathogenesis. The study of the gene expression profiles from asymptomatic carriers and related affected patients is a unique approach to try to enhance our understanding of the missing link between the contraction in D4Z4 repeats and muscle disease, while minimizing the effects of differences resulting from genetic background.

Deficiency of muscle alpha-actinin-3 is compatible with high muscle performance.

Long-distance runners generally have a remarkably high proportion of slow type I fibers in their lower muscle groups. However, the transformation of type II fast fibers to slow type I fibers as a result of exercise has not been demonstrated clearly. We report the analysis of muscle type composition on m. vastus lateralis from six endurance athletes through the expression of fast, slow, and developmental myosin isoforms, and alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) protein. Only one among the marathon runners presented evident type I fiber predominance, and surprisingly, a second athlete showed a deficiency of ACTN3. The deficiency of ACTN3 in the muscle tissue of endurance athletes confirmed the redundancy of this protein for muscle function, even in muscles that are highly required.