Reproducibility of performance in three types of training test in swimming.

A variety of testing procedures are used to assess the effects of particular treatments on the training status of athletes. The present study aims to investigate the reproducibility of selected tests in swimming. Sixteen trained swimmers performed three kinds of test: 1) Constant Distance Test (CDT), 2) Constant Time Test (CTT), and 3) Constant Velocity Test (CVT). The analysis of the reproducibility was based on a test-retest procedure. The test-retest performances were highly correlated for the three kinds of test (r = 0.98, 0.98, and 0.93 for CDT, CTT and CVT, respectively). The mean Coefficient of Variation (CV) was computed between test-retest for each subject and each procedure. A repeated measures one-way ANOVA showed that CVT was significantly less reliable (CV = 6.46 +/- 6.24 %) than CDT and CTT (CV = 0.56 +/- 0.6 0 % and 0.63 +/- 0.54 % respectively) (p < 0.001). Psychological factors and a lack of familiarity with CVT (not extensively used during training session) could explain its greater variability. Thus, CDT and CTT seem to be the most reliable tests to detect the smallest meaningful change in the training status of swimmers. Post-hoc power calculations of the experimental design showed the sample size would have to increase to 80, 113, and 228 subjects for CWT, CDT and CPT respectively, to reach a power of 80 %. The minimal detectable differences have to be calculated to ensure a real effect of a particular treatment on a group of swimmers, according to the kind of test used.

Intracyclic velocity variations and arm coordination during exhaustive exercise in front crawl stroke.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of an exhaustive exercise on arm coordination and intracyclic velocity variations (IVV) to better understand the ways in which they are modified under fatigue conditions. Seventeen competitive swimmers performed a 200-m all-out test and a set of two 25-m (before and after the 200-m) at maximal intensity to measure stroking parameters, IVV, and the relative duration of the different parts of the stroke cycle and identify the model of arm coordination by using the index of coordination (IdC). Results showed an increase in the relative duration of the propulsive time, which induced a change in arm coordination as fatigue developed in relation to a decrease in stroke length (SL) and stroke rate (SR) (p<0.05). The evolution of IdC corresponds to a reduction of the non-propulsive lag time between the two arms' propulsive actions. Despite these modifications, IVV were not significantly modified (p<0.05). The present results highlighted that IdC and relative durations of each part of the cycle (particularly the pull phase) could be assessed to complete the "SL x SR" model and to partly understand the technique modifications under fatigue condition.

Separation of human bone marrow cells by sedimentation.

Sedimentation at unit gravity of human bone marrow cells, for 15 h at 4 degrees C on linear density gradient of Ficoll in culture medium ranging from 1.020 to 1.065 g/ml shows that a differential migration of the bone marrow cell sub-populations exists with precise mean densities 1.021 +/- 1 x 10(-3) g/ml for lymphocytes; 1.024 +/- 2.5 x 10(-3) g/ml for non-eosinophil granulocytes; and 1.055 +/- 10 x 10(-3) g/ml for metamyelocytes; 1.030 x 3.5 x 10(-3) g/ml for other myeloid cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes); 1.040 +/- 1.040 +/- 3 x 10(-3) g/ml for eosinophil granulocytes; and 1.055 +/- 10 x 10(-3) g/ml for megakaryocytes. The highest percentages of S phase cell and G2 and M phase cells determined by a cytofluorograph correspond to the peaks of immature myeloid cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes and myelocytes). This method of bone marrow cell separation may be used to study the cell cycle in pathological bone marrows (leukaemia in particular) and to determine the effects and the efficiency of some antimitotics.

[Application of sedimentation at 1 g on a Ficoll gradient to the separation of bone marrow cells]. / Application de la sédimentation à 1 g sur gradient de Ficoll à la séparation des cellules médullaires.

Sedimentation at unit gravity of human bone marrow, during 15 hours at 4 degrees C on a linear density gradient of Ficoll in culture medium ranging from 1.020 to 1.065 g/ml shows that it exists a differential migration of bone marrow cells subpopulation with a precise mean densities : we find successively : 1.021 +/- 1.10(-3) g/ml for the lymphocytes, 1.024 +/- 2.5.10(-3) g/ml for the non eosinophil granulocytes, 1.025 +/- 2.5.10(-3) g/ml for the metamyelocytes, 1.030 +/- 3.5.10(-3) g/ml for the immature myeloid cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes), 1.040 +/- 3.10(-3) g/ml for the eosinophil granulocytes, 1.055 +/- 10.10(-3) g/l for the megakaryocytes. The highest percentages of S phase cells, G2 and M phase cells determinated with a cytofluorograph correspond to peaks of immature myeloid cells (myeloblasts, promyelocytes and myelocytes). This method of bone marrow cells separation may be used to study the cell cycle in pathological bone marrows (leukaemia in particular) and to determine the effects and the efficiency of some antimitotics.