Influence of conjugated linoleic acid and vitamin E on performance, energy metabolism, and change of fat depot mass in transitional dairy cows.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and vitamin E as well as their interaction on performance variables and lipomobilization during late pregnancy and early lactation (wk 6 antepartum until wk 10 postpartum). For this purpose, 59 pluriparous German Holstein cows were assigned to 4 dietary groups in a 2 × 2 design with the factors CLA and vitamin E at 2 levels. For this trial, we selected cows with a high body condition score because they are more likely to mobilize fat and consequently are at a higher risk of developing ketosis. Furthermore, concentrate proportions were adjusted to provoke ketosis. Lactation performance variables were analyzed in 3 periods (d 42 antepartum until calving, 1 to 21 d in milk, 22 to 70 d in milk). Dry matter intake and net energy intake were reduced in animals receiving CLA. Milk fat content was reduced in the CLA group compared with the control group (4.83 vs. 5.46% in period 2; 3.36 vs. 4.57% in period 3). In the vitamin E and the CLA + vitamin E groups, reduction of milk fat content was observed in period 3 (3.76 vs. 4.57% compared with the control group). Milk yield was not affected by treatment. ß-Hydroxybutyrate concentrations and liver lipid contents were not influenced by CLA or vitamin E. Moreover, longitudinal changes of adipose tissue depot mass were not affected by dietary treatments. Results suggest that the effects CLA had on milk composition were compensated by an increased milk yield and a decreased dry matter intake. Reduced milk energy output in CLA-treated animals was compensated by a reduced dry matter intake. Therefore, the net energy balance was not affected by either treatment. Consequently, we found no group effect on the mobilization of adipose tissue.

In vivo determination of subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue depots in German Holstein dairy cattle.

Ultrasonography was used as a noninvasive method for quantitative estimation of the subcutaneous and abdominal adipose tissue depots in dairy cattle. The prediction model was created and validated with a total of 29 German Holstein cows; 6 were in early lactation (≤100 d in milk [DIM]) and 16 were in advanced lactation (101 to 292 DIM). Seven cows were nonpregnant and nonlactating and had been off milk for 350 to 450 d. Transcutaneous assessment of the thickness of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal adipose tissue was done at 16 sites on the body surface of all cows. After completion of the ultrasonographic measurements, the cows were slaughtered and the adipose depots were separately weighed. A stepwise multivariate regression analysis of the ultrasonographic variables was performed to estimate the slaughter weights of the different fat depots. Slaughter weights of the fat depots ranged from 5.0 to 43.0 kg for subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), from 13.7 to 98.8 kg for abdominal adipose tissue (AAT), from 3.4 to 30.3 kg for retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT), from 5.2 to 39.6 kg for omental adipose tissue (OMAT), and from 4.0 to 35.8 kg for mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT). The relationship between calculated amount of fat and slaughter weight of fat had coefficients of determination () and root mean square errors (kg) of 0.88 and 3.4, respectively, for SCAT; 0.94 and 6.1, respectively, for AAT; 0.94 and 1.7, respectively, for RPAT; 0.83 and 3.2, respectively, for OMAT; and 0.95 and 1.6, respectively, for MAT. The accuracy of ultrasonographic measurement of the different fat depots appears sufficient for the quantitative assessment of internal and subcutaneous fat stores in cows. This method is noninvasive and therefore allows safe and repeated monitoring of the amount of stored fat in different adipose tissue depots of German Holsteins cows.

[Recreational athletes and doping--a survey in 11 gyms in the area of Frankfurt/Main]. / Doping bei Freizeitsportlern--Eine Untersuchung in 11 Fitnessstudios im Raum Frankfurt am Main.

BACKGROUND: Doping no longer concerns exclusively competitive sports, but also recreational sports. METHOD: Survey of 484 recreational athletes in 11 gyms in the area of Frankfurt/Main. RESULTS: 12.9% of the men and 3.6% of the women reported to take anabolic drugs. Theyconsumed anabolic steroids (100%; 35% p.o., 71% parenterally), stimulants (14%) and growth hormone (5%). Suppliers were friends (39%), sports mates (28%), physicians (28%) and coaches (6%). The acquisition costs amounted to an average intake over 9 weeks to 175 Euro. Information about doping side effects came from literature (67%), physicians (38%), sports mates and the so-called Black Book (14% respectively), coaches, friends and Internet (5% respectively). 2% of the athletes with abuse of doping substances were smokers, 11% had a drink several times a week, 3% also consumed other drugs, 35% had consumed other drugs in the past. Abusers of doping substances primarily intended to increase muscle size (86%) and strength (61%). CONCLUSION: From a sports medical point of view it is concerning that the proportion of doping drugs prescribed by physicians has doubled in the decade after the publication of the predecessor study in Northern Germany despite optimized sports medical and legal education measures.

[Effects of headers on coagulation parameters]. / Zum Einfluss repetitiver Kopfballstossmanöver auf Parameter der Blutgerinnung.

BACKGROUND: This paper is testing the hypothesis whether headers can cause micro-traumata which can be verified in lab test. METHOD: The study examined micro-traumatic effects of headers for a sample of 22 soccer players by the means of blood tests. In the test arrangement, two probands intensively exchanged headers with a standard football (according to official regulations of the German Football Association) fora period of eight minutes.The average number of ball exchanges per series amounted to around 401 headers for each pair. The effects were measured by selected coagulation parameters. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in the concentration of leucocytes and thrombocytes. The variance analysis of coagulation parameters revealed no significant change for fibrinogen concentration, INR and Quick. By contrast, the reduction of aPTT after the headers was significant. CONCLUSION: As for an interpretation of these results, the observed increase of the parameters may be characterised as a reaction to stress. The increase of thrombocytes could be seen as response of the corpuscular coagulation system to traumatisation. As aPTT is significantly reduced post intervention, this furthermore reflects an activation of the plasmic coagulation system induced by trauma.

[Analysis of sports injuries covered by German occupational accident insurance associations at a former district hospital over a period of six years]. / Analyse der berufsgenossenschaftlichen Sportunfälle eines ehemaligen Kreis- krankenhauses uber den Zeitraum von sechs Jahren.

An epidemiological analysis was carried out of 1,126 sports injuries covered by German occupational accident insurance at a small regional hospital over a period of six years, of which 86.6% were allotted to the sport at schools. The types of sport most frequently involved were general fitness sports (n = 486), soccer (n = 137), volleyball (n = 126), gymnastics (n = 125) and basketball (n = 121). In the general fitness sports (n = 228 women/girls, n = 258 men/boys), bruising injuries dominated (47%), followed by sprains (29%), mostly involving the upper extremities (53%). In soccer injuries (proportion of woman = 15%), bruising and injuries to the lower extremities ranked first. Falls (33%) and sprains (31%) were the most common gymnastics injuries. Injuries to the upper extremities were most common in volleyball and basketball with 72% and 68% respectively. The distribution of these sports injuries more or less mirrors the distribution of sports disciplines at schools and institutions like the Federal Border Police. Sporting activity here should include preventive elements such a proprioceptive training.

[A 15-year-old boy with spontaneous pain in the lower leg]. / Knacks beim Kicken. Was war die Ursache für die Spontanfraktur?

On kicking the ball during a football tournament, and with no involvement of any other player, a 15-year-old boy experienced a spontaneous fracture of the tibia with no fragment displacement. The X-ray of the region of the fracture revealed a cystic structure measuring approximately 3 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm. After eight weeks of conservative treatment, radiography showed bony consolidation of the cyst, and the patient was pain-free. The differential diagnosis must give consideration to juvenile and aneurysmal bone cysts, giant cell tumors and malignant tumors (e.g. osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma).

[Stress-induced changes of attention during choking in judo]. / Stressinduzierte Aufmerksamkeitsänderungen beim Würgen im Judo.

The aim of the investigation is the registration and analysis of cognitive parameters in the alarm phase of the stress reaction during a conventional judo cross choking technique. 57 judoka (41 males, 16 females; mean age 23.1 +/- 6.7 years) underwent a standardized cross-choking maneuvre (juji-jime), which lasted for 6 - 8 s until giving up, carried out by a black belt physician. The Stroop inference test was performed before and twice after the intervention. The reading velocity of the interference task was reduced by an average of 77.4 s to a mean of 74.4 s (p < 0.01), and the number of reading errors decreased by a mean from 2.9 to 2.1 (p < 0.01), finally increasing to 2.4 s. The data show the most important improvement in performance in 25 s after choking in the male judoka. In the female judoka increasing performance started already 25 s before choking and continued 25 s after the intervention. The alarm reaction following the potential life threatening stressor with an attack upon the throat improves selective attention before (female subjects) and after choking (female and male subjects) depending on gender.

Influence of moderate altitude on blood lactate and heart rate in a standardized exercise test in healthy volunteers.

Nineteen healthy volunteers were exposed to a standardized exercise test at sea level (SLa), at an altitude of 1700 m before (1700a) and after a moderate 10-day mountain training (1700b), with a final control four weeks later at sea level (SLb). Vital signs, blood lactate and arterial oxygen saturation were determined prior, during or after the exercise test. Whereas systolic blood pressure and heart rate at rest did not change substantially, diastolic blood pressure decreased at the final control (SLb, p<0.05) and oxygen saturation was significantly lower at 1700 m (1700a, 1700b, p<0.01). Lactate at rest increased from 1.16 (SLa) to 1.97 (1700a) mmol/l after acute exposure followed by a slight reduction after adaptation (p<0.05). The mean maximum lactate levels were as follows: 6.03, 10.56, 6.22 and 8.75 (p<0.01). The mean maximum performance increased during the study (225.6, 223.3, 231.6, 248.1 Watt, p<0.01). Lactate versus workload curves did not show a marked shift to the right. No significant changes of maximum heart rates during the exercise test were found. In conclusion, a sojourn at 1700 m provokes an increase of lactate levels with subsequent reduction after acclimatization and has a significant positive impact on the mean maximum performance after moderate mountain training.

[Medical insurance focus on sports disabilities: the knee joint]. / Versicherungsmedizinischer Invaliditätsfokus durch Sportunfälle: Das Kniegelenk.

This retrospective epidemiological study analyzes the distribution of sports invalidism in Berlin and Brandenburg in a period of four years, based on the data material of the German Lloyd sports insurance company and medical expert opinions. Over 600 cases occurred in a period of four years in more than 40 types of sports disciplines; most of them were registered in soccer (57%), followed by handball (13%), volleyball (4%) and judo (4%). Most of disablements were found during competition (63%). Most of incapacities were concerned with the knee joint (48%).

[Epiphysiolysis capitis femoris caused by a repeat minor trauma]. / 14-Jähriger mit Hüftschmerz nach Bagatelltrauma. Bleiben Sie am Ball--sonst wird's kompliziert.

We discuss the case of a 14-year-old boy who, after two episodes of mild recurrent sports trauma, presented with restricted mobility of the right hip due to substantial pain. Radiography revealed an acute slipped capital femoral epiphysis affecting the right femoral head. We report on the successful emergency osteosynthesis, and follow-up. On the basis of the current literature, we also discuss the clinical course of this lesion.

Relation between pharmacodynamic and anthropometric parameters during ergometry at rest and after repeated intake of metoprolol in healthy volunteers: results of a pilot study.

Metoprolol is a widely used beta1-selective beta-blocker in hypertension and tachycardia. The influence on vital signs at rest and during ergometry (exercise heart rate or blood pressure, effect areas above baseline) was investigated in a pilot study with 18 healthy volunteers (mean age 29.1 years) by means of multiple and pairwise correlation analysis. At rest, the difference between predose and day 5 values were not associated with anthropometric characteristics. During ergometry for weight and height significant negative correlations were found corresponding to marked beta-values in the multiple regression models. Therefore heart rate decreases less markedly in slim persons which should be taken into consideration in exercise tests during metoprolol intake.

[Early symptoms and causes of sudden death related to sports activities]. / Vorzeichen und Ursachen des plötzlichen Todes im Zusammenhang mit sportlicher Betätigung.

BACKGROUND: This study provides an overview on presymptoms and causes of sport-related death and suggests preventive measures. METHODS: 29 436 autopsies of the Centre of Legal Medicine at the University of Frankfurt/Main from 1972 to 2001 were analysed and compared with a control group. RESULTS: 96 men (95 %, average age 53.3 years) and 5 women (5 %, average age 36.4 years) were involved in 101 fatalities connected with sports (0.34 % of all autopsies). 78 athletes (77.2 %) died during, 20 (19.8 %) immediately after sport activities. Immediately before death 18 of 50 persons concerned were free of symptoms, twelve complained of nausea and vomiting, seven of vertigo, five of weakness, four of epigastric pain and dyspnoea, three exhibited angina pectoris symptoms. The day before death 7 of 25 athletes had symptoms like angina pectoris, nausea, backache and palpitation. 84 fatalities (83.2 %) were due to coronary heart disease. Seven were due to myocarditis (6.9 %), in four cases (26.7 %) among athletes younger than 36. Among children and adolescents (n = 4) myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and in two cases a valvular defect of the heart were the cause of death. In comparison to controls death in elder athletes due to coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction was high significantly more common and athletes died significantly younger. CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective investigations are needed to provide strategies for prevention.

Influence of choking in Judo on vision in well-trained Judoka: an explorative field study.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of a cross-choking-technique commonly used in Judo on visual acuity. In 156 Judokas, experienced in competition, visual acuity was examined before and after choking (Juji-Jime). The average age of the 46 female and 110 male subjects was 22.8 years (standard deviation 10.5 years). In all examined grades of distance (infinite, 0.55 m and 0.4 m), eye tests showed an improvement of visual acuity after choking on a highly significant scale. In quantitative terms, vision the far sight range was optimized more clearly than in the close ranges. The following mechanisms are discussed as possible causes of the present results: an increase of blinking frequency induced by stress, an optimized tear film covering the cornea, a stenopaeic gap induced by improved blinking, pupillomotor alterations and an improved cerebral processing of visual signals and information. From an evolutionary-biologic perspective, the benefit of this psychophysiological mechanism might consist in an improvement of visual acuity in moments of danger, approaching from a distance and, thus, better chances of survival.

[Seasonal variations in sudden death in sports clubs]. / Saisonale Schwankungen plötzlicher Todesfälle im Vereinssport.

2,825 cases of sudden deaths (2,669 men, 156 women) in sports-clubs between 1981 and 1999 were evaluated retrospectively by means of the cosinor method in order to detect a circannual distribution of occurrence. Deaths due to cardiovascular and traumatic events were additionally studied with regard to seasonal differences of frequency. The number of sudden deaths per month during a period of 19 years could be significantly fitted to a cosine model with a maximum in June, the absolute maximum value being observed in May (n = 317). In particular, accidents were more frequently found in spring and summer.