Physiological response of high-level female judokas measured through laboratory and field tests. Retesting the validity of the Santos test.

AIM: The aim of the study was to measure the physiological demands of a group of high-level female judokas through laboratory tests and field tests (Tatami) and to retest the validity of the Santos test on a different population. METHODS: Eight high-level female judokas participated in the study. Heart rate (HR), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), blood lactate, anaerobic threshold, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured using laboratory and field tests that shared common characteristics. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) values obtained in the laboratory tests were HRmax 198.3 (4.1) beats.min-1, VO2 max: 40.9 (7.7) mL.kg-1.min-1, lactate max 9.1 (1.4) mmol.L-1, HR at the anaerobic threshold 171.5 (4.8) beats.min-1, lactate threshold 3.8 (0.4) mmol.L-1, and RPE: 17 (1.1). The mean (±SD) values obtained in the field test were HRmax 199.0 (5.0) beats.min-1, VO2 max: 44.8 (7.3) mL.kg-1.min-1, lactate max: 11.8 (1.5) mmol.l-1, HR at the anaerobic threshold 170.5 (3.2) beats.min-1, lactate threshold: 3.8 (0.1) mmol.L-1, and RPE: 18 (1.4) points. There were no significant differences between the data obtained on both tests in any of the parameters, except for the lactate maximum and VO2 max. CONCLUSION: The Santos test is a helpful instrument for judo training in female athletes. Coaches could use it to design specific training protocols that could help to improve their performance in competition.

Functional capacity before and after liver transplantation.

The maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2) max) is a standard tool for preoperative counseling of candidates for lung and heart transplantations, as well as an optional measurement to assess liver or renal transplant patients. Also, it provides an objective tool of the functional capacity of posttransplant patients. Exercise limitation and loss of aerobic capacity are common among patients with end-stage liver disease. The functional capacity of these subjects is decreased, as estimated by measuring the VO(2) max in a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). After transplantation improvement is expected in physical capacity. We sought to describe the influence of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) on the physical fitness of the recipient at 3 and 12 months after transplantation. Since CPET is an objective test, it is an important tool for clinicians to evaluate patients' functional capacity before and after OLT.

[Lymphangioleiomyomatosis: study of 15 patients]. / Linfangioleiomiomatosis: estudio de 15 pacientes.

BACKGROUND: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is an uncommon disease of not well-known evolution. We describe the clinical features and follow-up of a group of patients diagnosed of LAM in a hospital pulmonary transplantation programme. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 15 women (mean age: 43, range: 36-52) diagnosed of LAM, 9 at the Hospital Vall d'Hebron and 6 referred from other hospitals, for preoperative evolution of lung transplantation, were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Dyspnea appeared in all cases and it was the main symptom. Pleural problems in the early evolution of the disease were also very frequent (12 out of 15 patients). For this reason, pleurodesis was performed in 7 patients and pleurectomy in 2 (one of them bilateral). Thoracic CT scan showed very characteristic cystic images and abdominal CT proved the presence of extrathoracic associated angiomyolipomas in one case. In two patients, LAM was diagnosed after studying the explanted lung. These two patients had been previously misdiagnosed of emphysema and pulmonary haemosiderosis. Survival since the beginning of symptoms was 82 and 49%, 5 and 10 years later, respectively. Six out of eight patients who underwent lung transplantation had a long postoperative survival. CONCLUSIONS: LAM seems to be as infrequent in Catalunya as in other countries, even if some cases could be misdiagnosed. Lung transplantation is useful in the advanced stages of the disease and, in our experience, it has improved respiratory insufficiency in half of the patients.

[Psychiatric symptoms in acute myeloblastic leukemia: a clinical case]. / Síntomas psiquiátricos en leucemia mieloblástica aguda: un caso clínico.

The psychiatric manifestations of hematological diseases are interesting because of their diverse presentations, complex treatment, pharmacological interactions, and frequent infectious complications. A patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) presented psychiatric manifestations of sudden onset and psychotic characteristics. The absence of organic lesions in routine neuroimaging studies suggested an added schizophreniform disorder. Further neurological study using more sensitive methods disclosed herpetic encephalitis as the origin of delirium. This case illustrates how early diagnosis, although not always possible, is important if major sequelae are to be avoided. Likewise, it is important to make a through search for organic factors in psychotic pictures that appear in the context of systemic disease.