Managing Lower Limb Muscle Reinjuries in Athletes: From Risk Factors to Return-to-Play Strategies.

Muscle injuries and subsequent reinjuries significantly impact athletes, especially in football. These injuries lead to time loss, performance impairment, and long-term health concerns. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of muscle reinjuries, delving into their epidemiology, risk factors, clinical management, and prevention strategies. Despite advancements in rehabilitation programs and return-to-play criteria, reinjury rates remain alarmingly high. Age and previous muscle injuries are nonmodifiable risk factors contributing to a high reinjury rate. Clinical management, which involves accurate diagnosis, individualized rehabilitation plans, and the establishment of return-to-training and return-to-play criteria, plays a pivotal role during the sports season. Eccentric exercises, optimal loading, and training load monitoring are key elements in preventing reinjuries. The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting and preventing reinjuries offers a promising avenue, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach to managing these injuries. While current strategies offer some mitigation, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions, possibly leveraging AI, to reduce the incidence of muscle reinjuries in football players. Future research should focus on this direction, aiming to enhance athletes' well-being and performance.

Injury mechanisms and situational patterns of severe lower limb muscle injuries in male professional football (soccer) players: a systematic video analysis study on 103 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to describe the mechanism of injury and situational patterns (based on ball possession and playing action leading to injury) of severe (lay-off time >28 days) lower limb muscle injuries in professional male football (soccer) players during match play. METHODS: Players experiencing a severe muscle injury of the lower limb during Italian first (Serie A) division male football matches over three consecutive seasons (2018-2021) were identified. Video footage was obtained and three raters independently categorised injury mechanism and situational patterns using a standardised checklist. Injury epidemiology (month), timing of injuries within the match and location of injuries on the pitch were also examined. RESULTS: We identified 121 lower limb severe muscle injuries. Videos of sufficient quality were available for 103 (85%) cases, including 61 (60%) hamstring, 17 (16%) calf, 16 (15%) adductor and 9 (9%) quadricep muscle injuries. Nearly two-thirds of injuries involved the dominant/kicking leg (n=65, 63%). Eighty-five (83%) injuries were non-contact and 18 (17%) indirect contact. Four main situational patterns were identified and accounted for 88% of injuries: (1) running/acceleration (n=35, 34%); (2) closed kinetic chain stretching (n=21, 20%); (3) open kinetic chain stretching (n=19, 18%) and (4) kicking (n=16, 16%), with differences between muscle groups. 71% of injuries occurred in the first half of the match (p<0.01), with a gradual increase through the first half. CONCLUSION: Most severe muscle injuries during football matches were non-contact and occurred in the first half during running/acceleration, open and closed kinetic chain stretching, or kicking.

Subfamilial placement of the tribe Finotiini and of the genus Ocneridia (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae).

The genus Finotia was established by Bonnet in 1884 and included in the subfamily Pamphaginae; later, in 1916 Bolívar described the tribe Finotiini to include the genus and differentiate it from the other of the subfamily Pamphaginae, tribe Pamphagini. Differently from previous authors, who agreed with this placement, the present authors examined the phallic complex of Finotia maxima Jannone, 1938, finding out that it has the typical characters present in the subfamily Thrinchinae; thus they move the tribe Finotiini from the subfamily Pamphaginae to that of Thrinchinae. In addition, the genus Ocneridia Bolívar, 1912, differently from other genera within the tribe Pamphagini, lacks of the Krauss' plate; coherently with the tribe placements within the subfamily Pamphaginae, the present authors establish the new tribe Ocneridiini to include the genus Ocneridia.

A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic genus Roeseliana (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae: Platycleidini): a case of ongoing Mediterranean speciation.

The genus Roeseliana presently includes 10 specific or subspecific taxa, but following different authors some of them are considered synonyms. However, the authors who have treated these taxa often did not agree with the synonymies, in particular, concerning some taxa, such as R. fedtschenkoi (Saussure, 1874) and R. roeselii (Hagenbach, 1822). The present authors examined hundreds of specimens of different taxa, for the first time were able to obtain the translation from the Russian of the description of R. fedtschenkoi, compared the main morphological characters used to discriminate different taxa, biometrics, bioacoustics and genetics of some taxa. This allowed them to conclude that it is possible to recognize the following taxa: 1) Roeseliana roeselii (Hagenbach, 1822) widespread in the Palaearctic Region and imported in North America; 2) Roeseliana fedtschenkoi (Saussure, 1874) in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan; 3) Roeseliana pylnovi (Uvarov, 1924) in the Caucasian region; 4) Roeseliana bispina (Bolívar, 1899) in Turkey; 5) Roeseliana azami (Finot, 1892) from the Mediterranean France through Italian peninsula (formerly R. azami minor Nadig, 1961); 6) R. ambitiosa (Uvarov, 1924) on the Balkan peninsula; 7) Roeseliana n. sp. Lemonnier-Darcemont & Darcemont, (in press) on Epirus (Greece and Albania); 8) Roeseliana brunneri Ramme 1951 in north east Italy (Veneto, Friuli and Po Valley); 9) Roeseliana oporina (Bolívar, 1887) in Spain.

The experimental life cycle closure of Andricus truncicolus (Giraud, 1859) (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) and taxonomic description of its sexual generation.

The life cycle of Andricus truncicolus (Giraud, 1869), a species previously known only from its asexual generation, is closed. Laboratory rearing and field sampling have revealed the sexual generation of this species, which develops in a hypertrophic degeneration of the terminal or lateral shoot buds appearing as a muddled agglomerate of leaves on Quercus, section Cerris oaks. We describe for the first time the newly discovered sexual generation of A. truncicolus and provide illustrations and diagnosis for adults and galls of both generations, further observations on biology and information on the species distribution.

High-Performance PCR for Alleles Discrimination of Chromo-Helicase-DNA Binding Protein (CHD1) Gene in Bird Sexing.

Genetic analyses aiming at assessing the presence of specific sequences or alleles are often carried out by PCR. Sexing of most birds is nowadays based on PCR with "universal" primers and relies on the assessment of the presence of the sex-linked CHD1-Z and -W alleles. The entire workflow is relatively time-consuming, especially for batch analyses, whereas methods that allow carrying out the entire procedure in a short time are highly desirable. The only method for outdoor analyses reported so far relies on LAMP; however; it fails to work properly in Procellariiformes. Besides improving the LAMP test; we have developed a PCR-based DNA amplification procedure (named high-performance PCR); whose unique features allow it to outperform standard PCR; making possible the direct, in-tube visual reading of results. We tested it with specifically designed Procellariiformes-targeted primer sets for rapid sexing of the birds using fluorimetric detection. The protocol, combined with rapid DNA extraction, allows for fast reading of results without electrophoresis within less than 1 h from sampling. The technique could be extended to other species, as well as to many other applications.

Biodiversity hotspot in the Sangha Trinational Protected Area revealed through Orthoptera Tettigoniidae.

This paper deals with the study of the Orthoptera Tettigoniidae found in Nouabal-Ndoki National Park (Republic of Congo) and the comparison of the results with those previously found in the neighbouring Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (Central African Republic). The study of specimens allowed for the description of a new tribe Myllocentrini, a new genus Pseudoeurycorypha (type species: P. civilettorum n. sp. from Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Cte dIvoire), and six new species Plangiopsis nouabalensis, Leiodontocercus vicentae, Phlaurocentrum dentatum, Poreuomena derozierae, Tetraconcha maculosa and Tetraconcha laszloi from Republic of Congo. In addition, Phlaurocentrum morettanum n. sp. is described from Cte dIvoire, while Phlaurocentrum morettoi Massa, 2013 from Central African Republic is synonymized with P. lobatum Ragge, 1962 from Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, morphological evidence allows for the inclusion of three genera, Bongeia Sjstedt, 1902, Itokiia Sjstedt, 1902, and Tapiena Bolvar, 1906 (presently Afrotapiena n. gen.; species type: Tapiena minor Bolvar, 1906 from Ghana), in the tribe Plangiopsidini Cadea-Castaneda, 2015 which currently contains Plangiopsis Karsch, 1889 and Plangiola Bolvar, 1906. Moreover, new morphological data on the group of Arantia rectifolia Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, including Arantia tanzanica Hemp & Massa, 2017 and Arantia marginata Massa, 2021, has enabled these two species to be transferred from the subgenus Euarantia Heller, 2014 to Arantia Stl, 1874. The male of Anthracopsis gigliotosi Karny, 1907 is described, and other species of Tettigoniidae are reported for the first time from Republic of Congo. Most of the endemic species or genera are highly vulnerable to extinction due to their small distributional ranges. The results highlight the importance of the Congo River Basin as a biodiversity hotspot and underline the need to find appropriate, additional and urgent conservation measures for this area of tropical forest.

On some interesting Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae and Acrididae from tropical Africa.

The author reports the results of the study of specimens of Orthoptera collected in Cte dIvoire, Sierra Leone and Kenya; two new species are described: Eulioptera bartolozzii n. sp. from Kenya, and Mangomaloba excavata n. sp. from Sierra Leone. Mangomaloba latipennis Chopard, 1954 from Guinea is synonymized with Morgenia rubricornis Sjstedt, 1913 from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Gabon and Cte dIvoire. Further, new distributional data of other five species are reported.

A review of the Odontura (Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae) from Italy, Malta, Algeria and Tunisia.

Taxa belonging to the genus Odontura have been studied since the former half of the 19th century. Species of the group are distributed across the western Mediterranean Basin and the central Mediterranean area, including the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics, Sardinia, the countries of the Maghreb that border the Basin, Sicily and Malta. The present work examines a sizeable series of specimens of the genus Odontura, collected in Italy, Malta, Algeria and Tunisia, including type material of some of the species, and establishes synonymisations and a newly described species. Odontura borrei (described on a female from Constantine, Algeria) is synonymized with Odontura algerica (described on both sexes from Algeria), while Odontura arcuata (described on both sexes from west Sicily) is synonymized with Odontura stenoxypha (described on a female from Sicily), a sub-endemic to Sicily and Malta. Records of the latter from Sardinia belong to Odontura calaritana, while the female recorded from Majorca, previously identified as O. stenoxypha, remains unidentified. On the basis of a wide-ranging assessment of preserved specimens (from museums and private collections) and living material, this contribution describes a new species, Odontura martae sp. nov., from the island of Lampedusa (Italy) and Tunisia, and addresses patterns of geographical distribution in the context of biogeographical processes and associated dynamics.

Acceptability and Practicality of a Quick Musculoskeletal Examination into Sports Medicine Pre-Participation Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Child musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases are common and, even if often benign, sometimes can lead to significant impairment in the future health of children. Italian pre-participation evaluation (PPE), performed by a sports medicine physician, allows for the screening of a wide range of children every year. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the feasibility and the acceptability of pGALS (pediatric Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine) screening, a simple pediatric MSK screening examination, when performed as part of a routine PPE. METHODS: Consecutive school-aged children attending a sports medicine screening program were assessed with the addition of pGALS to the routine clinical examination. Practicability (time taken) and patient acceptability (discomfort caused) were recorded. RESULTS: 654 children (326 male, mean age 8.9 years) were evaluated through pGALS. The average time taken was 4.26 min (range 1.9-7.3 min). Acceptability of pGALS was deemed high: time taken was "adequate" (97% of parents) and caused little or no discomfort (94% of children). Abnormal MSK findings were common. CONCLUSIONS: pGALS is a practical and acceptable tool to perform in sports medicine PPE, even if performed by a non-expert in MSK medicine. Although common, abnormal MSK findings need to be interpreted in the global clinical context and assessment.

Year-round variation in the isotopic niche of Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) breeding in contrasting sea regions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Top marine predators are key components of marine food webs. Among them, long-distance migratory seabirds, which travel across different marine ecosystems over the year, may experience important year-round changes in terms of oceanographic conditions and availability of trophic resources. We tested whether this was the case in the Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), a trans-equatorial migrant and top predator, by sampling birds breeding in three environmentally different regions of the Mediterranean Sea. The analysis of positional data and stable isotopes (δ1³C and δ15N) of target feathers revealed that birds from the three regions were spatially segregated during the breeding period while they shared non-breeding areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Isotopic baseline levels of N and C (meso-zooplankton) were significantly different among marine regions during breeding. Such variation was reflected at the higher trophic levels of pelagic and demersal fish muscles as well as in shearwater feathers grown in the Mediterranean. δ15N- and δ13C-adjusted values of shearwaters were significantly different among populations suggesting that birds from different breeding areas relied on prey species from different trophic levels. Conversely, the non-breeding spatial and isotopic niches overlapped greatly among the three populations. Shearwater trophic niches during breeding were narrower and segregated compared to the non-breeding period, revealing a high plasticity in trophic resource use. Overall, this study highlights seasonal and region-specific use of trophic resources by Scopoli's shearwater, suggesting a broad trophic plasticity and possibly a high adaptability to environmental changes.

RADIOLOGICAL RESULTS OF SEVERE SCFE TREATMENT AT IOT-FMUSP FROM 2012 TO 2018.

Objective: To assess the complications in patients with severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated with the Dunn or modified Dunn procedure from 2012 to 2018 at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo. Methods: Analysis of medical records, preoperative and postoperative radiographs with at least one year of radiographic follow-up of patients with severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Results: We reviewed the complications in 19 operated cases from 2012 to 2018, out of which 36.8% had osteonecrosis of the femoral head, one patient had chondrolysis, and another had postoperative infection. Conclusion: The osteonecrosis rate observed in this series of cases is similar to that described in other orthopedic facilities. We assessed factors that could potentially influence this outcome, including other characteristics of the patient (obesity, endocrine diseases, and history of sports activities) and of the health system. Level of Evidence III, Restropective Case Series.

Objetivo: Avaliar as complicações apresentadas nos pacientes com epifisiolistese grave tratados por meio do procedimento de Dunn ou Dunn Modificado entre 2012 e 2018 no IOT-FMUSP. Métodos: Análise de prontuários, radiografias pré-operatórias e radiografias pós-operatórias com pelo menos 1 ano de seguimento radiográfico dos pacientes com epifisiolistese grave. Resultados: Analisou-se a presença de complicações em 19 casos operados de 2012 a 2018. Desses pacientes, 36,8% apresentaram osteonecrose da cabeça femoral, oi observada condrólise em 1 paciente e infecção pós-operatória em 1 paciente. Conclusão: A taxa de osteonecrose observada nesta série de casos está próxima à descrita em outros serviços. Alguns fatores que potencialmente influenciariam neste desfecho poderiam ter sido avaliados, como outras características do paciente (obesidade, doenças endócrinas e atividade esportiva) e do sistema de saúde. Nível de Evidência III, Série Retrospectiva de Casos .

On some Moroccan Pamphagidae, with the description of a new species of Euryparyphes (Orthoptera: Caelifera).

An update to the distribution records of the Moroccan Pamphagidae is presented. One new species to science, Euryparyphes minor sp. n., is described, and one new combination is proposed.

Andricus cydoniae Giraud, 1859 Junior Synonym of Cynips conifica Hartig, 1843, as Experimentally Demonstrated (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini).

We demonstrated the life cycle closure of Cynips conifica Hartig, 1843 (presently Andricus conificus), previously supposed on the basis of molecular data, and the identity of the sexual generation, through laboratory experiments. As a consequence, Andricus cydoniae Giraud, 1859 became a junior synonym of A. conificus (Hartig, 1843). We provide illustrations and a diagnosis for adults and galls, observations on biology, and information on distribution. Moreover, as sexual galls of A. conificus cannot be distinguished from those of Andricus multiplicatus, a detailed comparison between sexual galls and adults of these two species is reported.

Italian natural history museums need specimen digitization and much more: a reply to Benvenuti et al.

We reply to the comments made by Benvenuti et al. (2022) about our paper on the Italian natural history museums and scientific collections and the need of a centralized hub and repository. While agreeing that digitization is a useful tool to valorize each museum and collection, we still believe that the suggestion of a centralized hub is valid and necessary. This would largely help in boosting coordination among museums, sharing personnel and resources, and in providing a place to deposit scientific collections that do not fit the scope of smaller museums.

Reconnecting research and natural history museums in Italy and the need of a national collection biorepository.

In Italy, differently from other countries, a national museum of natural history is not present. This absence is due, among other reasons, to its historical political fragmentation up to 1870, which led to the establishment of medium-sized museums, mostly managed by local administrations or universities. Moreover, a change of paradigm in biological research, at the beginning of the 20th century, contributed to privilege experimental studies in universities and facilitated the dismissal of descriptive and exploratory biology, which formed the basis of the taxonomic research carried out by natural history museums. Consequently, only a few museums have a provision of curatorial staff, space and material resources adequate to maintain their original mission of discovering the natural world, by conducting a regular research activity accompanied by field campaigns. The creation of a national research centre for the study of biodiversity, facilitating interconnections among the existing natural history museums could be a solution and is here supported, together with a centralised biorepository to host collections and vouchers, to the benefit of current and future taxonomic research and environmental conservation. Such an institution should find place and realisation within the recently proposed National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) planned within the National Plan of Recovery and Resilience (PNRR). Pending upon the creation of this new national centre, a network among the existing museums should coordinate their activities.

Radiological results of severe scfe treatment at iot-fmusp from 2012 to 2018 / Resultados radiológicos do tratamento de epifisiolistese grave no iot-fmusp entre 2012-2018

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the complications in patients with severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated with the Dunn or modified Dunn procedure from 2012 to 2018 at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo. Methods: Analysis of medical records, preoperative and postoperative radiographs with at least one year of radiographic follow-up of patients with severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Results: We reviewed the complications in 19 operated cases from 2012 to 2018, out of which 36.8% had osteonecrosis of the femoral head, one patient had chondrolysis, and another had postoperative infection. Conclusion: The osteonecrosis rate observed in this series of cases is similar to that described in other orthopedic facilities. We assessed factors that could potentially influence this outcome, including other characteristics of the patient (obesity, endocrine diseases, and history of sports activities) and of the health system. Level of Evidence III, Restropective Case Series.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as complicações apresentadas nos pacientes com epifisiolistese grave tratados por meio do procedimento de Dunn ou Dunn Modificado entre 2012 e 2018 no IOT-FMUSP. Métodos: Análise de prontuários, radiografias pré-operatórias e radiografias pós-operatórias com pelo menos 1 ano de seguimento radiográfico dos pacientes com epifisiolistese grave. Resultados: Analisou-se a presença de complicações em 19 casos operados de 2012 a 2018. Desses pacientes, 36,8% apresentaram osteonecrose da cabeça femoral, oi observada condrólise em 1 paciente e infecção pós-operatória em 1 paciente. Conclusão: A taxa de osteonecrose observada nesta série de casos está próxima à descrita em outros serviços. Alguns fatores que potencialmente influenciariam neste desfecho poderiam ter sido avaliados, como outras características do paciente (obesidade, doenças endócrinas e atividade esportiva) e do sistema de saúde. Nível de Evidência III, Série Retrospectiva de Casos .

Congenital Clubfoot - Is the Ponseti Method the Definitive Solution?

Congenital clubfoot is one of the most common deformities at birth. The inadequacy or absence of treatment causes serious limitations for people with this condition. The initial treatment using the Ponseti method ensures functional results superior to other treatment modalities previously proposed. However, recurrences and neglected feet are still a challenge today. An understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, as well as of the anatomy and local biomechanics and a thorough clinical and radiological evaluation of patients are essential to understanding the limits of the method and choosing the best treatment.