Selected components of physical fitness in rhythmic and artistic youth gymnast

Purpose

Rhythmic (RG) and artistic gymnastics (AG) are very popular female sports. These two disciplines share some common points but, at the same time, they display some relevant differences in terms of physical and technical characteristics. The aim of this study was as follows: (1) to clarify how gymnastic training background over the years could lead to the development and motor learning of the motor skills and (2) to highlight differences of conditional skills achieved by RG and AG athletes.

Methods

For these aims, 45 athletes were selected, belonging to three balanced groups: promotional (PG, n?=?15), RG (n?=?15), and AG (n?=?15). Participants were tested for joints mobility, balance, explosive strength, speed, and endurance tests.

Results

Statistical analysis showed a good test–retest reliability of the measurements (ICC?>?0.870) and some significant differences between PG, RG, and AG. RG showed higher values in joint mobility tests (coxo-femoral mobility, 166.7?±?6.3°; sit and reach, 20.5?±?1.9 cm; and scapulo-humeral mobility, 45.5?±?4.4 cm) with respect to AG, while AG showed higher values in endurance (1626.7?±?7.4 m), balance (4.33?±?1.35 n/60 s), and explosive strength (164.1?±?11.6 cm) compared to RG (p?<?0.05).

Conclusion

RG and AG seem to be effective in enhancing different and sport-specific physical fitness and conditioning. RG enables, indeed, to develop more joints mobility whereas AG improves more strength, balance, and endurance. However, given the small sample size employed, these results should be replicated by further studies utilizing larger samples.

     

Golimumab and malignancies: true or false association?

Malignancy is one of the comorbidities linked to golimumab, a biological TNF-α blocker. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched different databases and analyzed original publications to elucidate the remaining open question about the real association of malignancies with golimumab therapy. The most frequent cancer in patients treated with golimumab, in association or not with methotrexate, is the lung adenocarcinoma. However, lymphoma is not very commonly represented in these patients. We show that there is no major and evident risk of malignancies associated with golimumab in current scientific literature. An increased risk of malignancies may be associated with golimumab, but this warrants further clinical confirmation. Also, this risk mentioned in different studies must be taken with caution because of number of limits and biases.     

Factors affecting the outcome of ureteroscopy in the management of ureteral stones in children

Purpose  

To identify the factors involved in failure and post-operative complications of retrograde rigid ureteroscopy (URS) in the treatment of ureteric stones in children.     

Sudden cardiac death of rhythmic origin in athletes: literature review

The sudden death in athletes is, in the vast majority of cases, related to ventricular fibrillation, often in a subject with unknown cardiovascular abnormality; this dramatic event has a significant impact on society and the medical profession. We conducted through a literature review an analysis of data on sudden cardiac death of rhythmic origin in athletes; sudden death may be cardiovascular in 95.3% of cases and related to ventricular arrhythmia in 88% cases. The main causes are: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital anomalies of coronary arteries, and arhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia for athletes under 35 years, and atherosclerosis beyond 35 years. Prevention is based on three main areas: the medical assessment and screening for cardiovascular disease; the chain of survival; the education of the athlete and the public. All these measures should improve significantly the survival prognosis of patients suffering from these accidents.     

Effect of endocrine disruptor pesticides: a review

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are compounds that alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system of both wildlife and humans. A huge number of chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors, among them several pesticides. Pesticides are used to kill unwanted organisms in crops, public areas, homes and gardens, and parasites in medicine. Human are exposed to pesticides due to their occupations or through dietary and environmental exposure (water, soil, air). For several years, there have been enquiries about the impact of environmental factors on the occurrence of human pathologies. This paper reviews the current knowledge of the potential impacts of endocrine disruptor pesticides on human health.