Biomechanics of Topspin Forehand Loop in Table Tennis: An Application of OpenSim Musculoskeletal Modelling.

Topspin is one of the most attacking strokes in table tennis, and topspin forehand loop is an effective way to score. The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematics of the lower extremities in topspin forehand loop between different levels via OpenSim Musculoskeletal Modelling. Ten elite athletes (NL1) and ten medium athletes (NL2) performed the topspin forehand loop without muscle and joint injuries. An eight-camera Vicon motion capture system was used to measure the kinematics data. During the topspin forehand loop, the forward phase (FP) and the entire phase (EP) of the NL1 were significantly shorter than that of the NL2. In the sagittal plane, NL1 significantly had greater hip and ankle flexion and extension at range of motion (ROM) but less hip flexion and knee flexion at FP and less ankle flexion at BP than NL2. In the frontal plane, NL1 displayed less ROM in the hip joint and significantly less hip abduction ROM at the backward phase (BP). In the transverse plane, NL1 had a significantly greater ROM in the hip joint and displayed significantly less hip ROM at the BP. The level differences presented in this study could help table tennis athletes to improve performance and coaches to develop technical training.

Chikungunya virus infection in Aruba: Diagnosis, clinical features and predictors of post-chikungunya chronic polyarthralgia.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) emerged in Aruba for the first time in 2014. We studied the clinical presentation of acute CHIKV infection and the contribution of serologic and molecular assays to its diagnosis. In a cohort of confirmed CHIKV cases, we analysed the frequency, duration and predictors of post-chikungunya chronic polyarthralgia (pCHIK-CPA), defined as joint pains lasting longer than 6 weeks or longer than 1 year. METHODOLOGY: Patient sera obtained within 10 days of symptom onset were tested for CHIKV, using an indirect immunofluorescence test for the detection of CHIKV-specific Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and post-hoc, by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CHIKV was isolated from selected samples and genotyped. For confirmed CHIKV cases, clinical data from chart review were complemented by a Telephone survey, conducted 18-24 months after diagnosis. When joint pain was reported, the duration, presence of inflammatory signs, type and number of joints affected, were recorded. Joint involvement was scored according to the 2010 'American College of Rheumatology/ European League Against Rheumatism' criteria for seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (ACR-score). Risk factors for pCHIK-CPA were identified by logistic regression. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Acute CHIKV infection was diagnosed in 269 of 498 sera, by detection of IgM (n = 105), by RT-PCR (n = 59), or by both methods (n = 105). Asian genotype was confirmed in 7 samples. Clinical data were complete for 171 of 248 (69.0%) patients, aged 15 years or older (median 49.4 [35.0-59.6]). The female-to-male ratio was 2.2. The main acute symptoms were arthralgia (94%), fever (85%), myalgia (85%), headache (73%) and rash (63%). In patients with arthralgia (n = 160), pCHIK-CPA longer than 6 weeks was reported by 44% and longer than 1 year by 26% of cases. Inflammatory signs, stiffness, edema and redness were frequent (71%, 39% and 21%, respectively). Joints involved were knees (66%), ankles (50%), fingers (52%), feet (46%), shoulders (36%), elbows (34%), wrists (35%), hips (31%), toes (28.1%) and spine (28.1%). Independent predictors of pCHIK-CPA longer than 1 year were female gender (OR 5.9, 95%-CI [2.1-19.6]); high ACR-score (7.4, [2.7-23.3]), and detection of CHIKV-RNA in serum beyond 7 days of symptom onset (6.4, [1.4-34.1]. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 269 CHIKV patients after the first outbreak of Asian genotype CHIKV in Aruba in 2014-2015. RT-PCR yielded 59 (28%) additional CHIKV diagnoses compared to IgM antibody detection alone. Arthralgia, fever and skin rash were the dominant acute phase symptoms. pCHIK-CPA longer than 1 year affected 26% of cases and was predicted by female gender, high ACR-score and CHIKV-RNA detection beyond 7 days of symptom onset.

Epidemiology of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Aruba.

The epidemiology of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in tropical areas is different compared with developed countries. We investigated the epidemiology of GBS on the Caribbean island of Aruba. Data were collected retrospectively from all 36 patients hospitalized with GBS between 2003 and 2011 in Aruba. We observed a seasonal distribution of GBS cases with a peak in February. The incidence rate (IR) fluctuated heavily between individual years. The overall IR was 3.93/100,000, which is higher than that observed in developed countries. Serological studies indicated a possible relation of GBS cases with dengue virus infections. We also observed a relation between the annual number of dengue cases in Aruba and the number of GBS cases in the same year. We conclude that the epidemiology of GBS in tropical areas can be different from temperate climate regions and that dengue may be a trigger for developing GBS.

Estudio etnobotánico de plantas medicinales en la comunidad campesina de Pelelojo, municipio Urdaneta, estado Aragua, Venezuela / Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the peasant community of Pelelojo, Urdaneta municipality, Aragua state, Venezuela

Se realizó el estudio de las plantas medicinales en la comunidad de Pelelojo, municipio Urdaneta, estado Aragua, con la finalidad de contribuir en el rescate del conocimiento tradicional sobre uso de tales plantas. Para esto, se realizaron encuestas semi-estructuradas a aproximadamente 20% de la población, incluyendo personas de distinto sexo y rangos de edad; además, se colectaron e identificaron las plantas mencionadas por los informantes. Para el análisis cuantitativo, se aplicaron los índices de Friedman, valor de uso y factor de consenso, y se hicieron análisis multivariantes a fin de reconocer patrones de distribución del conocimiento tradicional. Se señala la presencia de 82 especies de uso medicinal, pertenecientes a 74 géneros y 44 familias botánicas, siendo Fabaceae y Malvaceae las mejor representadas; la mayoría de las especies son herbáceas y de origen silvestre. Las partes aéreas de la planta son las más utilizadas en la elaboración de los tratamientos, y el modo de preparación más común es la decocción en agua. El índice de Friedman no fue mayor que 50% en ninguna de las especies mencionadas, lo que indica que el conocimiento tradicional en la comunidad posiblemente se está erosionando. Los valores de uso más altos los presentaron plantas cultivadas, debido probablemente a que son de fácil acceso para la mayoría de la población. Los grupos de enfermedades con un mayor número de plantas utilizadas en su tratamiento, son las infecciosas y gastrointestinales y el factor de consenso fue superior a 0,70 en todas las categorías de uso de plantas establecidas, lo que estaría reflejando un alto grado de acuerdo en la comunidad con respecto a la utilización de las plantas medicinales. No se observó correlación entre la edad y el sexo de los informantes y su conocimiento sobre el uso de las plantas medicinales.

Different modulation of decorin production by lung fibroblasts from patients with mild and severe emphysema.

We have previously reported diminished immunohistochemical staining of decorin in lung tissue from patients with severe emphysema. The aim of this study is to investigate whether this diminished staining is due to a quantitative abnormal production of decorin by pulmonary fibroblasts in vitro. Therefore, we measured decorin (Western blot), collagen type I (ELISA), and fibronectin (ELISA) production by fibroblasts obtained from lung tissue of patients with severe and mild emphysema at basal culture conditions and after modulation with transforming growth factor-beta1, basic fibroblast growth factor, and interferon-gamma. Decorin production at basal culture conditions was significantly higher in fibroblast cultures from patients with severe emphysema compared to fibroblasts from mild emphysema. After stimulation with transforming growth factor-beta1 and basic fibroblast growth factor, decorin production was significantly more reduced in fibroblast cultures from patients with severe emphysema whereas collagen type I and fibronectin production were not affected. We conclude that decorin production by lung fibroblasts of patients with severe emphysema is dysregulated after modulation with cytokines known to be important in smoking associated inflammation. This dysregulation of decorin production may contribute to the impaired lung tissue repair, present in patients with emphysema, since these alterations in the extracellular matrix may cause diminished cytokine binding and neutralization.

Different proliferative capacity of lung fibroblasts obtained from control subjects and patients with emphysema.

To characterize the possible role of a dysregulated proliferative capacity of pulmonary fibroblasts in insufficient tissue repair in lungs from patients with pulmonary emphysema, the authors undertook in vitro proliferative studies with pulmonary fibroblasts obtained from lung tissue of patients with emphysema. A comparison was made with fibroblasts from control subjects. The authors determined the in vitro proliferative capacity of fibroblasts at basal culture conditions and after modulation with interleukin-1beta, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta(1), and basic fibroblast growth factor. Proliferative capacity was determined by measurement of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. BrdU incorporation by fibroblast cultures from both groups was very similar. Fibroblast cultures from control subjects, however, incorporated more BrdU after incubation with interleukin-1beta than cultures from patients with emphysema (P<.05). On the other hand, transforming growth factor-beta(1) decreased incorporation of BrdU stronger in fibroblast cultures from control subjects than from patients with emphysema (P<.05). Thus, the proliferative capacity of fibroblast cultures isolated from lung tissue of patients with pulmonary emphysema is different from that of control subjects. Although the difference is small, it may be an essential contribution to the development of pulmonary emphysema that only occurs after repeated smoke-induced injury over many years of an individual's life.