Purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping (KT) in healthy semi-professional soccer players in both static and dynamic balances thorough a single blinded randomized ...placebo controlled crossover study.
Equipment and methods Fifteen healthy male soccer players from the same team (A.C. Fucecchio) were recruited on a voluntary basis and evaluated in mid-season. A force platform was used to record forces and centre of pressure (CoP) data. Twenty seconds one-legged stance test was used to analyse static balance. For dynamic balancing test, subjects performed maximal vertical jump with both legs, landing on dominant limb, trying to balance as quickly as possible. Tasks were evaluated using CoP derived data as sway area, displacements in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions, total path length. In addition, time-to-stabilisation and jump height were evaluated only for dynamic task. Participants completed proposed tasks in three different conditions: tape, no-tape and placebo conditions, whose sequence was selected using computer-generated randomization.
No significant differences between testing conditions were founded for all parameters investigated (P>0.05).
KT was not effective in improving both static and dynamic balances, otherwise showing no significant difference when compared to no-tape and placebo conditions. This may suggest that KT should not be used when the aim is to improve balance in healthy players focusing on ankle injury prevention.
L’objectif de ce travail était d’examiner les effets du Kinesio Taping (KT) sur les joueurs de football semi-professionnels en bonne santé sur l’équilibre statique et dynamique à travers une seule étude croisée randomisée contrôlée par placebo en aveugle.
Quinze joueurs de football en bonne santé de la même équipe (A. Fucecchio) ont été recrutés sur une base volontaire et évalués en milieu de saison. Une plate-forme de force a été utilisée pour enregistrer les forces et les données du centre de pression. Le test d’équilibre monopodal a été utilisé pour évaluer l’équilibre statique. Pour le test d’équilibre dynamique, les sujets ont été invités à effectuer un saut vertical maximum avec les deux jambes, en se posant sur le membre dominant et en essayant de trouver l’équilibre le plus rapidement possible. Les tests effectués ont été évalués en analysant les données dérivées du mouvement du centre de pression. En particulier, la zone de confiance, les mouvements dans les directions antéro-postérieure et médio-latérale, la longueur totale du trajet ont été évalués. De plus, le temps requis pour la stabilisation et la hauteur de saut n’a été évalué que pour l’essai dynamique. Les participants ont terminé les tâches proposées dans trois conditions différentes: Kinesio Taping®, sans bande et placebo, dont la séquence a été sélectionnée à l’aide d’une randomisation générée par ordinateur.
Aucune différence significative entre les conditions de test n’a été établie pour tous les paramètres étudiés (p>0,05).
Le KT n’a pas été efficace pour améliorer l’équilibre statique et dynamique, aucune différence significative n’ayant été constatée entre les différentes conditions. Cela peut suggérer que le KT ne devrait pas être utilisée lorsque l’objectif est d’améliorer l’équilibre chez les joueurs en bonne santé afin de prévenir les blessures à la cheville.
Diversity and distribution of chironomid fauna (Diptera: Chironomidae) in 36 springs in the Italian Prealps (Veneto and Trentino NE-Italy, 46°N, 10-11°E) was studied in relation to altitude, spring ...type and grade of disturbance. The springs were located between 62 and 1710 m asl of altitude, in three calcareous mountain areas (Mt. Baldo, Mts. Lessini and Mt. Pasubio). They differed in conservation status (natural, moderately and highly disturbed) and belonged to five hydromorphological types (rheocrene, limnocrene, rheohelocrene, rheolimnocrene, rheohygropetric). Each spring was surveyed once, between early summer and autumn, within 50 m of the spring’s source (eucrenal). A total of 4198 chironomid larvae and pupae were sorted from 111 macroinvertebrate samples collected, belonging to five subfamilies (Tanypodinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae), 41 genera and 60 species/groups of species, and three juveniles taxa. As expected, Orthocladiinae accounted for a large part of specimens (88%) and species (74%), with Tvetenia calvescens/bavarica as the most frequent and abundant taxon, shared by pristine and disturbed springs and by all spring types. Most taxa were found in few sites, and frequencies declined gradually for most wider distributed species. A high number (74%) of rare (= present in less than 10% of sites) taxa were found and from one to 23 taxa were identified per spring. Maximum richness occurred in moderately disturbed (Shannon-H = 1.29±0.60) springs, located at medium-high altitude (385-1266 m asl), according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Even the evenness (Equitability-J) was higher as average in these springs. A Cluster Analysis run on Bray-Curtis similarity index highlighted a high similarity i) between the chironomid assemblages of moderately disturbed and natural springs (44 species in each spring group, with 29 species in common), and ii) between rheocrene and rheohelocrene types, thus the springs with the highest microhabitat heterogeneity. High individuality of springs was revealed, and new information about non-biting midges autecology provided. The utility of chironomids as bioindicators of water quality and ecological state of springs was confirmed, with some species e associated with high disturbance level (e.g., Polypedilum nubeculosum gr. to water intake works) and others with pristine conditions (e.g., Pseudodiamesa branickii).
We have previously shown that E1A reactivates the cell cycle in 'irreversibly' growth arrested, terminally differentiated (TD) cells. The molecular events following E1A-mediated reactivation of TD ...skeletal muscle cells have been extensively investigated. However, the long-term fate of the reactivated cells has not been directly determined. In this paper, E1A is used to reactivate TD myotubes derived from established cell lines or primary myoblasts. We show that the reactivated muscle cells continue proliferating beyond the end of the first cell cycle and progress through at least a second one. Experiments performed with an inducible E1A/estrogen receptor chimera indicate that the reactivated cell cycle is self-sustained, since E1A is exclusively necessary to reactivate TD cells, but is dispensable for both the continuation of the first cycle and the progression into the following one. Finally, we report that E1A-mediated reactivation of muscle cells results in apoptotic cell death that can be delayed by the antiapoptotic, adenoviral E1B 55 kDa oncogene.
The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of cave-dwelling arthropod communities in 2 adjacent karst areas with different glacial histories. Endemic and obligate cave-dwelling faunas ...were recorded in 60 caves located in 2 adjacent Prealpine areas (in Veneto, northeastern Italy): the Baldo and Lessinia Mountain groups were compared. During the last glacial period, the Baldo Mountain group was completely surrounded and isolated from the Lessinia group by the Adige glacier, while the Lessinia was only partially surrounded. The effect of glacial isolation, both geographically (cave locations) and elevationally (cave elevation), on the faunal distribution was tested using the number of troglobiont and endemic species collected in each area. The Lessinia hosts a higher number of troglobiont species and a lower number of endemic species compared to those of the Baldo area. Furthermore, results indicated that the similarity in species assemblages in caves was not driven by their geographic location, but by colonization patterns caused by isolation created by the Adige glacier during the last ice age. This suggests that the geographic isolation of the Baldo area during Quaternary climatic fluctuations determined the species which colonized the caves and consequently prevented multiple colonizations during warm periods. Glacier-induced isolation during the last ice age can therefore be considered one of the main factors which determined terrestrial arthropod colonization of caves in the Prealps area.
A growing multicultural society presents healthcare providers with a difficult task of providing appropriate care for individuals who have different life experiences, beliefs, value systems, ...religions, languages, and notions of healthcare. Pediatric palliative care literature addresses cultural issues, religion, and end-of-life care. The purpose of this poster is to review and synthesize how culture and religion can inform and shape pediatric palliative care. Nine online databases were searched for articles published in English between 1980 and 2011. Key terms included: culture, transcultural, spiritual, international, ethnic, customs or religion AND end-of-life, palliative care, death, dying, cancer, or hospice AND children, pediatrics, or pediatric oncology. Reference lists in the retrieved articles were examined for additional studies that fit the inclusion criteria and relevant articles were included for review. In addition, web-based searches of specific journals were conducted. Thirty-seven articles met eligibility criteria. From these, seven distinct themes emerged that have implications for pediatric palliative care. These include: 1) the role of culture in decision-making, 2) faith and the involvement of clergy, 3) communication (spoken and unspoken language), 4) communicating to children about death (truth telling), 5) the meaning of pain and suffering, 6) the meaning of death and dying and 7) location of end-of-life care. A number of potential religious and cultural barriers to Western ideas of appropriate pediatric palliative care emerged from the literature. Greater knowledge and appreciation of the interplay of faith, tradition, values, religion and culture is needed. Future research should include longitudinal studies that reflect how culture, religion and personal values impact meaning-making and adaptation over time. Specific recommendations and talking points are offered for providing thoughtful, knowledgeable, and sensitive end-of-life care to patients and families from many different cultures and value systems. This research was supported by the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Mental Health.
The Chk2 kinase is a tumor suppressor and key transducer of DNA-damage checkpoints. We show that the human Chk2 protein is relatively stable, nuclear, and responding to gamma-radiation throughout the ...cell cycle. Contrary to the retinoblastoma protein-regulated, labile Chk1 kinase restricted to S-G(2) phases, Chk2 remains activatable even in quiescent and differentiating cells. In human tissues, Chk2 is homogeneously expressed in renewing cell populations such as epidermis or intestine, heterogeneous in conditionally renewing tissues, and absent or cytoplasmic in static tissues such as muscle or brain. These data highlight striking differences between Chk2 and Chk1 and show unexpected correlation of Chk2 expression with tissue biology.
Terminal differentiation exerts a remarkably tight control on cell proliferation. However, the oncogenic products of DNA tumor viruses, such as adenovirus E1A, can force postmitotic cells to ...proliferate, thus representing a powerful tool to study progression into S phase. In this study, we identified the gene encoding Np95, a murine nuclear phosphoprotein, as an early target of E1A-induced transcriptional events. In terminally differentiated (TD) cells, the activation of Np95 was specifically induced by E1A, but not by overexpression of E2F-1 or of the cyclin E (cycE)-cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) complex. In addition, the concomitant expression of Np95 and of cycE-cdk2 was alone sufficient to induce S phase in TD cells. In NIH-3T3 cells, the expression of Np95 was tightly regulated during the cell cycle, and its functional ablation resulted in abrogation of DNA synthesis. Thus, expression of Np95 is essential for S phase entry. Previous evidence suggested that E1A, in addition to its well characterized effects on the pRb/E2F-1 pathway, activates a parallel and complementary pathway that is also required for the reentry in S phase of TD cells (Tiainen, M., D. Spitkousky, P. Jansen-Dürr, A. Sacchi, and M. Crescenzi. 1996. Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:5302-5312). From our results, Np95 appears to possess all the characteristics to represent the first molecular determinant identified in this pathway.
Cardiac hypertrophy is induced by a number of stimuli and can lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Present knowledge suggests that cell-cycle regulatory proteins take part in hypertrophy. We ...have investigated if the D-type cyclins are involved in cardiac hypertrophy.
The expression and activity of the D-type cyclins and associated kinases in cardiomyocytes were studied during angiotensin II- and pressure overload-induced hypertrophy in rats (Rattus norvegicus) and in isolated, neonatal cardiomyocytes. Expression of the D-type cyclins was manipulated pharmacologically and genetically in neonatal myocytes.
In the left ventricle, there was a low, constitutive expression of the D-type cyclins, which may have a biological role in normal, adult myocytes. The protein level and the associated kinase activity of the D-type cyclins were up-regulated during hypertrophic growth. The increase in cyclin D expression could be mimicked in vitro in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Interestingly, the cyclin Ds were up-regulated by hypertrophic elicitors that stimulate different signalling pathways, suggesting that cyclin D expression is an inherent part of cardiac hypertrophy. Treatment of myocytes with the compound differentiation inducing factor 1 inhibited expression of the D-type cyclins and impaired hypertrophic growth induced by angiotensin II, phenylephrine and serum. The response to hypertrophic elicitors could be restored in differentiation inducing factor 1-treated myocytes by expressing cyclin D2 from a heterologous promoter.
Our results point to the D-type cyclins as important regulators of cardiac hypertrophy. This supports the notion that cell-cycle regulatory proteins regulate hypertrophic growth.
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