Long-term effects of Garcinia cambogia/Glucomannan on weight loss in people with obesity, PLIN4, FTO and Trp64Arg polymorphisms.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are considered major health problems that contribute to increase mortality and quality of life. Both conditions have a high prevalence across the world reaching epidemic numbers. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of the administration of Garcinia cambogia (GC) and Glucomannan (GNN) on long-term weight loss in people with overweight or obesity. METHODS: Prospective, not-randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted. We treated 214 subjects with overweight or obesity with GC and GNN (500 mg twice a day, each) for 6 months evaluating weight, fat mass, visceral fat, basal metabolic rate, and lipid and glucose blood profiles comparing them with basal values. Some patients were carriers of polymorphisms PLIN4 -11482G > A-, fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) -rs9939609 A/T- and ß-adrenergic receptor 3 (ADRB3) -Trp64Arg. RESULTS: Treatment produced weight loss, reducing fat mass, visceral fat, lipid and blood glucose profiles while increasing basal metabolic rate. Results were independent of sex, age or suffering from hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2 or dyslipidemia and were attenuated in carriers of PLIN4, FTO, Trp64Arg polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of GC and GNN reduce weight and improve lipid and glucose blood profiles in people with overweight or obesity, although the presence of polymorphisms PLIN4, FTO and ADRB3 might hinder in some degree these effects. ISRCTN78807585, 19 September 2017, retrospective study.

Complications in the treatment of mandibular condylar fractures: Surgical versus conservative treatment.

OBJECTIVES: In the present article, we aim to review the main intra- and post-operative complications associated with two different therapeutic approaches for treating mandibular condylar fractures: conservative (CTR) and surgical treatment (ORIF, Open Reduction and Internal Fixation). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have carried out a retrospective, meta-analytic, observational study using literature review, covering the period between 2000- September 2017. The data obtained were processed using statistical software SPSS v.0.18 and R v.2.11.1. The chi-squared test was used for comparison of relative frequencies for independent samples. RESULTS: A total of 2458 patients with 2810 fractures were collected for study. Patients treated with CTR and ORIF were an average of 29 years old, of those treated with CTR, 72.37% and 27.63% were male or female respectively and, of those treated with ORIF, 70.36% and 29.64% were male or female respectively. The main complications suffered by CTR and ORIF patients were: asymmetry (10.2%/6.4%), residual pain (6.5%/5.6%), temporomandibular joint and articular imbalance (15.9%/10.3%) and malocclusion (11.1%/4.0%), respectively. We only found significant differences between CTR and ORIF in the number of cases of temporomandibular joint and articular imbalance and malocclusion. Facial nerve damage was found exclusively among ORIF patients (8.6%) of which 8.3% were temporary and 0.3% permanent. CONCLUSIONS: The complications associated with either technique are minimal and infrequent, resulting in successful outcomes with minimal morbidity. CTR are associated with complications deriving from delayed mobilization leading to functional limitation, whereas the main complication associated with ORIF treatment was facial nerve damage.

Efficacy of treadmill exercises on arterial blood oxygenation, oxygen consumption and walking distance in healthy elderly people: a controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical exercise and healthy lifestyle can improve aerobic power of the elderly, although lung capacity gradually deteriorates with age. The aims of the study are: a) to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a treadmill exercise program on arterial blood oxygenation (SaO2), maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and maximum walking distance (MWD) in healthy elderly people; b) to examine the outcome of the program at a supervised short-term and at an unsupervised long-term. METHODS: A prospective, not-randomized controlled intervention trial (NRCT) was conducted. Eighty participants were allocated into two homogeneous groups (training group, TG, n = 40; control group, CG, n = 40). Each group consisted of 20 men and 20 women. Pre-intervention measures of SaO2, VO2max and MWD were taken of each participant 1-week before the training program to establish the baseline. Also, during the training program, the participants were followed up at the 12, 30 and 48th week. The exercise program consisted of walking on a treadmill with fixed 0 % grade of inclination 3 times weekly for 48 weeks; the first 12 weeks were supervised and the remaining 36 weeks of the program were unsupervised. Participants in the control group were encouraged to walk twice a week during 45 min, and received standard recommendations for proper health. RESULTS: Related to the baseline, the SaO2, VO2max, and MWD is greater in the intervention group at the 12(th) (p <.001), 30(th) (p <.001) and 48(th) week (p <.001). Compared with the control group, there was also a significant improvement of SaO2, VO2max, and MWD valuesin the intervention group (p <.001) at the 12(th) (p <.001), 30(th) (p <.001) and 48(th) week (p <.001). Supervised intervention shows greater improvement of SaO2, VO2max, and MWD values than in the unsupervised one. CONCLUSION: These results show that performing moderate exercise, specifically walking 3 days a week, is highly recommended for healthy older people, improving aerobic power. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN12621097 .

Velocity-Based Training of Lower Limb to Improve Absolute and Relative Power Outputs in Concentric Phase of Half-Squat in Soccer Players.

The power production is force-velocity related. We hypothesized that speed-based training of lower limb using half-squat can lead to absolute and relative power improvements in concentric movement with the same external load. One group of 19 soccer players (age = 24.4 years, SD = 3.7 years) participated in a pretest-posttest power training protocol, consistent in 2 training sessions per week during 10 weeks, targeted to work the leg power by performing half-squat with a fixed external load (mean = 71.7, SD = 5.4) at 65% of 1 repetition maximum. Measurements of power (absolute [in watt] and relative [in watt per kilogram]), force (in newton), and velocity (in meter per second) (mean and peak) were made from a concentric movement of a half-squat exercise with a fixed external load. The training protocol increased relative power (mean = 47.5, SD = 47.5, p < 0.001) and absolute power (mean = 169.2, SD = 95.5, p < 0.001). Also, number of repetitions (mean = 2.9, SD = 2.4, p < 0.01), force (mean = 66.6, SD = 36.7, p < 0.001), and velocity (mean = 0.1, SD = 0.1, p < 0.001) were increased. However, only improved velocity was related to the changes in absolute (r = 0.939, p < 0.001) and relative (r = 0.757, p < 0.001) power. The speed-based training combined with moderate to high external load can lead to an improvement of absolute and relative power in concentric phases of half-squat in soccer players. This could be important for improving the performance of the players in the field.

Respuesta fisiológica durante la escalada deportiva / Physiological response during sport climbing

La escalada es una actividad deportiva que consiste en la realización de ascensiones en paredes de fuerte pendiente valiéndose de la fuerza física, la habilidad técnica, la capacidad psicológica y, por lo general, utilizando como única ayuda un calzado especial. La búsqueda de la superación y del rendimiento deportivo, provocan la necesidad de definir y estudiar las características del escalador, así como la mejora de los métodos y técnicas empleados para el entrenamiento. Durante una ascensión, se producen actividades bastantes exigentes, en las que los tiempos de realización oscilan entre 2 y 7 minutos, donde 5/8 del tiempo de trabajo se emplea en posiciones estáticas (descansos, toma de decisiones, aseguramientos, etc.) y el tiempo restante en movimientos de superación. Las sucesivas acciones musculares de sostén (isométricas) y de progresión (isotónicas)en la vertical provocan valores de VO2 en torno a 20-25 ml/kg/min, pudiendo llegar a 30 ml/kg/min, manteniéndose elevados en el tiempo post -ejercicio, existiendo un incremento desproporcionado de la frecuencia cardiaca en relación alVO2. Las pérdidas de resistencia de agarre se han correlacionado con la acumulación de lactato. Los valores alcanzados oscilan entre 2,1 y 6,1 mmol/l, observándose mayores incrementos con la dificultad de la ruta. Parece indicar, que la mayor eliminación de las sustancias metabolizadas, durante las fases de recuperación, aumenta la capacidad de repetir los esfuerzos (AU)

Scaling is a sports activity that consists of the accomplishment of ascents on walls of strong slope using physical force, technical ability, psychological capacity and, generally, using special footwear as the only form of help. The search to overcome and dominate the sport, prompts the need to define and study characteristics of the climber. In doing so, it also provokes the need for improvement in methods and techniques used for training. During an ascent, quite demanding activities take place, in which the time of accomplishment ranges from between 2 to 7 minutes. 5/8 of that working time is spent in static positions (rests, decision making, safety settings, etc.) The remaining time is spent in overcoming movements. The consecutive muscular actions of support (isometric) and progression (isotonic)in the vertical position cause VO2 levels in turn to reach 20-25 ml/kg/min(with the ability to reach30ml/kg/min). These levels remain elevated in post-exercise time. There is an out of proportion increase of heart rate in relation to the VO2. The loss of take hold resistance has been correlated with lactate accumulation. The reached values range from 2.1 and 6.1 mmol/l, observing greater increasing difficulty of the route. This may indicate that the greater clearance of the metabolized substances, during recovery phase, increases the ability of repeating the efforts (AU)

Acute and cumulative effects of different times of recovery from whole body vibration exposure on muscle performance.

This experiment was designed to assess the acute (Study I) and cumulative response (Study II) of muscle performance to differing recovery times after exposure to whole body vibration (WBV). All subjects (mean age 19.7 +/- 1.9) were healthy and physically active. In both studies, subjects were exposed to a WBV bout of 6 exposures of 60 seconds each, with frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 4 mm. In Study I, subjects (n = 30) underwent 3 trials (1 per day) on different days with a 2-day wash-out period between trials; each trial included either a 1, 2, or 3 minutes of recovery between exposures to WBV. All subjects underwent all trials, which were randomly assigned. Jump ability and muscle power were measured before and after each bout. In Study II, subjects (n = 45) underwent 12 sessions of WBV training in 4 weeks (3 bouts/wk). The subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of the following 3 groups: WBV with 1-minute recovery periods between exposures, WBV with 2-minute recovery periods between exposures, or control group. Jump ability, muscle power, and strength were measured before and after each bout. In the acute study (I), recovery times of 1 and 2 minutes enhanced all measured parameters (p < 0.05), with the 2-minute recovery being more effective. In the long-term study (II), however, although both periods also enhanced the measured parameters (p < 0.05), the 1-minute recovery proved more effective because the response was modified by systematic stimulation. In conclusion, 2-minute recovery periods provided the most effective acute enhancement of muscle activation, whereas the 1-minute recovery provided a more effective cumulative enhancement of muscle power and jump ability.

Effects of training exercises for the development of strength and endurance in soccer.

A training program designed to increase strength and aerobic endurance in 1 season was tested on 16 professional soccer players from Spain with a mean age of 28 +/- 3.37 years. The schedule comprised 4 macrocycles of 12 weeks of aerobic endurance and strength training. As much for the strength training as for the aerobic endurance, the program used a sequence of general, special, and specific exercises. Assessments were made with routine tests (i.e., squat jumps [SJs], countermovement jumps [CMJs], and countermovement jumps with arm swing [CMJas]) at the end of each macrocycle, and the Probst test was used to assess aerobic endurance as a function of running speed and distance, at the start and end of the training schedule and at the start of the third macrocycle. Jumps were performed on an infrared platform fitted to the MuscleLab system. The Probst test showed differences between the first evaluation and the second and third evaluations: 3,550 +/- 411.59 m vs. 2,006 +/- 207.20 m (P < 0.01). For 2 of the 3 jumps analyzed, the results were better in the last 2 than in the first 2 evaluations (SJ, 43.13 +/- 3.77 vs. 39.47 +/- 3.4 [P < 0.05]; CMJ, 49.80 +/- 3.77 vs. 46.67 +/- 3.76 [P < 0.05]; CMJas, 56.24 +/- 5.2 vs. 52.98 +/- 4.54 [P > 0.05]). Improvement of aerobic endurance was produced on the first phase of the season as a consequence of the training. To increase strength, it is necessary to augment the number of training sessions of this type. It is convenient to separate aerobic endurance and strength training to create more ample blocks during the last 2 macrocycles.

Influence of vibration training on energy expenditure in active men.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of whole-body vibration on energy expenditure, as well as on exercise intensity, during and immediately after a typical set of exercises for muscle hypertrophy in physically active subjects. Seventeen male university students (mean age 18.3 +/- 0.24 years) volunteered to perform 2 different training exercises: half squat (HS), and half squat with vibration (HSV). Both exercises were performed by all subjects on the vibration platform (with vibration only for HSV), the sequence order being assigned randomly. Energy expenditure (EE), respiratory exchange ratio, perceived exertion (PE), and heart rate were recorded for baseline, exercise, and short-recovery conditions. Training consisted of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of HS and HSV, with a 2-minute recovery interval between sets. Analysis of variance with repeated measurements and Bonferroni correction, as well as effect size were used for statistical calculations. Results indicated that EE and PE were significantly higher in the HSV group, during both exercise and recovery. Heart rate did not differ significantly between groups. Thus, it would appear that HS strength training could be rendered more energy-efficient through the addition of vibration. Moreover, it would be feasible to introduce vibration exercises into regular training programs, particularly those whose key objective is muscle hypertrophy along with fat reduction.

Índices antropométricos de proporcionalidad corporal de jugadores cadetes y juveniles de rugby / Anthropometric indexes of corporal proportionality of under-16 and under-18 rugby players

La mayoría de los deportes se caracterizan por un patrón cineantropométrico determinado, considerado óptimo para el máximo rendimiento deportivo. No obstante, en los deportes de equipo, como es el rugby, la definición de este patrón es difícil de realizar. La especialización por puestos conduce a la identificación de características antropométricas y fisiológicas específicas, según las diferentes posiciones de juego, que son importantes para el rendimiento óptimo. Esto distingue al rugby de otros deportes dónde los datos morfofuncionales homogéneos son más comunes. El objetivo del presente estudio era establecer según las diferentes edades y los distintos puestos los índices antropométricos de proporcionalidad corporal de una población masculina de jugadores de rugby juveniles y cadetes de Andalucía. Se evaluaron a 32 jugadores de rugby, divididos en dos categorías, cadetes (17) y juveniles (15). La obtención de los datos se hizo según el protocolo de la ISAK. Las mediciones se realizaron durante la fase de competición 2004/2005. Los índices antropométricos de proporcionalidad corporal varían ampliamente de los cadetes a los juveniles, principalmente la longitud relativa de la extremidad inferior, el índice córmico, el índice esquelético y el índice acromio iliaco. Los delanteros, tanto cadetes como juveniles, coinciden en la longitud relativa de la extremidad superior, en el índice intermembral, en el índice córmico y en la envergadura relativa. A su vez los tres cuartos, cadetes y juveniles, concuerdan en la longitud relativa de la extremidad superior, en la longitud relativa de la extremidad inferior y en la envergadura relativa. Dentro de los subgrupos la 2ª línea es la que presenta menor variabilidad de una categoría a la otra

Most sports are characterized by a specific kinanthropometric pattern, which is considered optimum to achieve maximum sports performance. Neverthless, in team sports, like rugby, the characterization of this pattern is difficult. The specialization for positions leads to the identification of specific anthropometric and physiologic characteristics that are important for the optimum performance. The objective of the present study was to establish, according to ages and playing positions, the anthropometric index of body proportionality of male population of Andalusian rugby players under-16 and under –18. Thirty-two rugby players were evaluated, divided into two categories, under –16 (17 subjects) and under –18 (15 subjects). The data collection was made according to the ISAK protocol. The measurement were carried out during the 2004/2005 competition season. The anthropometric indexes of body proportionality widely vary between the under –16 and under –18 groups, specifically with regards to the relative longitude of the inferior extremity, the córmico index, the skeletal index and the acromio-iliac index. The forwards, for both the under –16 and under –18 groups, coincide in the relative longitude of the superior extremity, the intermembral index, the córmico index and the relative span. The backs, for both the under –16 and under –18 groups, coincide in the relative longitude of the superior extremity, the relative longitude of the inferior extremity and the relative span. Within the subgroups, the locks show the least variability