Sleep-wake cycle of elite athletes prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games / Ciclo de vigilia-sueño de atletas de élite antes de los Juegos Olímpicos de Río 2016 / Ciclo de vigília-sono de atletas de elite antes dos Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016

OBJECTIVE: To analyze chronotype, duration and quality of sleep among elite athletes, to compare differences in sleep variables between sex, and to compare differences between athletes of individual and team sports. METHOD: The sample included 70 Brazilian elite athletes of both sex (male=37; female=33) with a mean age 23.0 ± 4.0 years old. To measure sleep-wake cycle, athletes wore an actigraph on the wrist for 10 days. Moreover, athletes answered the chronotype questionnaire of Horne and Östberg. RESULTS: The most athletes are intermediate-type (n=55, 78.6%), with a mean of 07h:18min of sleep per night. The athletes demonstrated higher sleep fragmentation (39.26 ± 23.66 minutes) and higher sleep latency (30.88 ± 16.19 minutes) during pre-competition training days. Additionally, the athletes of individual sports demonstrated more fragmentation (p < 0.001) and less sleep efficiency (p < 0.001) compared athletes of team sports. However, there was no significant difference in all sleep variables between the male and female sex. CONCLUSION: The overall elite athletes presented poor sleep quality during the training periods prior to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and individual athletes showed higher fragmentation and poorer sleep efficiency compared to team athletes

OBJETIVO: Analizar el cronotipo, la duración y la calidad del sueño entre los atletas de élite, comparar las diferencias en las variables de sueño entre los sexos y comparar las diferencias entre los atletas de los deportes individuales y de equipo. MÉTODO: La muestra incluyó a 70 atletas de élite brasileños de ambos sexos (hombre = 37; mujer = 33) con una edad media de 23.0 ± 4.0 años. Para medir lo ciclo de vigilia-sueño, los atletas usaron un actígrafo en la muñeca durante 10 días. Además, los atletas respondieron el cuestionario cronotipo de Horne y Östberg. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los atletas son de tipo intermedio (n = 55, 78.6%), con una media de 07h: 18min de sueño por noche. Los atletas demostraron una mayor fragmentación del sueño (39.26 ± 23.66 minutos) y una mayor latencia del sueño (30.88 ± 16.19 minutos) durante los días de entrenamiento previo a la competencia. Además, los atletas de deportes individuales demostraron más fragmentación (p <0.001) y menos eficiencia del sueño (p <0.001) en comparación con los atletas de deportes de equipo. Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias significativas en todas las variables de sueño entre el sexo masculino y el femenino. CONCLUSIÓN: Los atletas de élite en general presentaron mala calidad del sueño durante los períodos de entrenamiento previos a los Juegos Olímpicos de Río 2016, y los atletas individuales mostraron una mayor fragmentación y una menor eficiencia del sueño en comparación con los atletas del equipo

OBJETIVO: Analisar o cronotipo, a duração e a qualidade do sono de atletas de elite, comparar as diferenças nas variáveis do sono entre os sexos e as diferenças entre atletas de esportes individuais e coletivos. MÉTODO: A amostra incluiu 70 atletas de elite brasileiros de ambos os sexos (masculino = 37; feminino = 33) com idade média de 23.0 ± 4.0 anos. Para mensurar o ciclo vigília-sono, os atletas usaram um actígrafo no punho por 10 dias. Além disso, os atletas responderam ao questionário de cronotipo de Horne e Östberg. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos atletas é do tipo intermediário (n = 55, 78.6%), com média de 07h:18min de sono por noite. Os atletas demonstraram maior fragmentação do sono (39.26 ± 23.66 minutos) e maior latência do sono (30.88 ± 16.19 minutos) durante os dias de treinamento pré-competição. Além disso, os atletas de esportes individuais demonstraram maior fragmentação (p <0.001) e menor eficiência do sono (p <0.001) em comparação aos atletas de esportes coletivos. No entanto, não houve diferença significativa em todas as variáveis de sono entre os sexos masculino e feminino. CONCLUSÃO: Os atletas de elite em geral apresentaram baixa qualidade do sono durante os períodos de treinamento antes dos Jogos Olímpicos Rio 2016, e os atletas de esportes individuais apresentaram maior fragmentação e menor eficiência do sono em comparação aos atletas de esportivos coletivos

Study on the performance of different craniofacial superimposition approaches (II): Best practices proposal.

Craniofacial superimposition, although existing for one century, is still a controversial technique within the scientific community. Objective and unbiased validation studies over a significant number of cases are required to establish a more solid picture on the reliability. However, there is lack of protocols and standards in the application of the technique leading to contradictory information concerning reliability. Instead of following a uniform methodology, every expert tends to apply his own approach to the problem, based on the available technology and deep knowledge on human craniofacial anatomy, soft tissues, and their relationships. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of different craniofacial superimposition methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches to this type of identification. With all the data generated, some of the most representative experts in craniofacial identification joined in a discussion intended to identify and agree on the most important issues that have to be considered to properly employ the craniofacial superimposition technique. As a consequence, the consortium has produced the current manuscript, which can be considered the first standard in the field; including good and bad practices, sources of error and uncertainties, technological requirements and desirable features, and finally a common scale for the craniofacial matching evaluation. Such a document is intended to be part of a more complete framework for craniofacial superimposition, to be developed during the FP7-founded project MEPROCS, which will favour and standardize its proper application.

Spinal brucellosis: a personal experience of nine patients and a review of the literature.

A retrospective study of patients with spinal brucellosis was performed to outline the syndrome and its treatment, including rehabilitation. The patients were admitted to our spinal cord unit between 1975 and 1990. We studied nine patients (five males and four females), with a mean age of 49 years, and not belonging to any professional risk group except for one patient. At discharge, there was an improvement in sphincter control, execution of daily living activities and walking ability. No improvement was found in the neurological status. In conclusion we emphasize the importance of the prevention, early diagnosis and adequate treatment of the condition to minimise the neurological sequelae.

Incorporation of sulphonated cyclodextrins into polypyrrole: an approach for the electro-controlled delivering of neutral drugs.

The electro-controlled delivery of drugs based on the doping-dedoping mechanism of Electro-Conducting Polymers is restricted to charged substances acting as dopants. In order to overcome this limitation, this study presents an approach where the trapping/delivering is based on host-guest interaction. As an example of a neutral guest, the molecule N-methylphenothiazine (NMP) is encapsulated in the host, heptasulphonated beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CDSO3-), which is tailor-made to dope PPy. The original synthetic method for beta-CDSO3- is based on sulphonation of the periodated beta-CD in the phase transfer medium. As a consequence of their size and of their multicharged character, beta-CDSO3-s are fixed dopants. The stability of the beta-CDSO3- entrapment is checked by Optical Beam Deflection (mirage effect) measurements. The ionic movements associated with the switching of the beta-CDSO3- doped PPy (PPy+, beta-CDSO3-) film appear to be mainly due to cations with this technique. Cyclic voltammetry experiments confirm the entrapment of neutral NMP by simply dipping the PPy+, beta-CDSO3- film in a CH3CN solution containing NMP. Repeated electrochemical cycling of such a reservoir electrode indicates the progressive elimination of NMP from the (PPy+, beta-CDSO3- [NMP]) film.