Physical fitness and academic performance in middle school students.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine whether physical fitness is linked to academic success in middle school students. METHODS: The FITNESSGRAM test battery assessed students (n = 838) in the five components of health-related fitness. The Illinois Standardized Achievement Test (ISAT) was used to assess academic achievement in reading and math. RESULTS: The largest correlations were seen for aerobic fitness and muscular endurance (ranging from 0.12 to 0.27, all p < 0.05). Boys in the Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) for aerobic fitness or muscular endurance were 2.5-3 times more likely to pass their math or reading exams. Girls in the HFZ for aerobic fitness were approximately 2-4 times as likely to meet or exceed reading and math test standards. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic capacity and muscular endurance seem to positively affect academic achievement in middle school students.

Comparison of anesthetic effect between 0.375% ropivacaine versus 0.5% lidocaine in forearm intravenous regional anesthesia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ropivacaine was shown to provide superior postblock analgesia to lidocaine in intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) in voluntary studies. The objective of this study was to compare the anesthesia efficacy, postblock analgesia, and local anesthetic-related side effects between ropivacaine and lidocaine when forearm IVRA was used. METHODS: Fifty-one patients undergoing outpatient hand surgery were randomized to receive forearm IVRA with either ropivacaine 0.375% or lidocaine 0.5%. The volume was 0.4 mL/kg up to 25 mL. Sensation to pinching by forceps and motor function was assessed at 5-minute intervals up to 15 minutes. After tourniquet deflation, verbal pain rating score (VRPS) at 15-minute intervals for the first 2 hours and time for first analgesic in the first 24 hours were evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients were excluded from the study with 20 patients remaining in each group. Onset time of anesthesia (6.5 +/- 2.9 minutes v 8.0 +/- 4.1 minutes for lidocaine and ropivacaine groups, respectively) and motor block were similar. In the postoperative period, VPRS was significantly lower in the ropivacaine group in the first 60 minutes (median, 0; P <.05) with significantly more patients in the ropivacaine group pain free (VPRS, 0) up to the first 90 minutes (P >.05). More patients in lidocaine group requested analgesic in the first 2 hours postblock, and only patients in the lidocaine group required supplemental IV morphine in the recovery room. Twenty-four hour analgesic consumption was the same. No local anesthetic-related side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 0.375% ropivacaine provides effective anesthesia and superior postoperative analgesia compared with 0.5% lidocaine when forearm IVRA is used.