Medicina
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Background and objectives: Para-sports have become increasingly competitive, necessitating greater physical activity; secondary disorder prevention is therefore crucial. Among secondary disorders, the female athlete triad (FAT) is defined as low energy availability (EA), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density (BMD); although studied in able-bodied athletes, reports on female para-athletes are scarce. We retrospectively investigated the FAT in wheelchair basketball players in the Japanese national team. ⋯ Conclusion: Among female wheelchair basketball players with FAT, the total BMD was comparable to that of age-matched controls; however, leg BMD in spinal disorders was significantly lower than that in skeletal disorders. Players with heavy menstrual flow had lower hemoglobin and iron levels. Further research is needed on the FAT to optimize health and sports performance among para-athletes.
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Observational Study
Splenectomy in Lymphoproliferative Disorders: A Single Eastern European Center Experience.
Background and Objectives: Hematological malignancies are usually systemic diseases of life-threatening impact, and frequently require prompt and energetic therapeutic intervention. Due to systemic involvement, the role of surgery is generally limited to diagnostic approaches, and it is very rarely employed as a therapeutic modality. Splenectomy represents an exception to this paradigm, being used both as a diagnostic and tumor debulking procedure, notably in splenic lymphomas. ⋯ Particularly, SMZL patients had a 4.8 times higher rate of CR than other non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients (p = 0.04), a longer progression free survival (73 months vs. 31 months for other small-cell NHLs p = NS) and a 1.5fold lower death rate (p = NS). The procedure was rather safe, with a 38.5% frequency of adverse reactions, mostly minor and manageable. Conclusions: Our data suggest that splenectomy is an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with lymphoid malignancies and splenic involvement, particularly splenic marginal zone lymphoma.
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Celiac disease (CD) is a clinical entity of autoimmune nature, related to the presence of a permanent gluten intolerance that affects genetically predisposed individuals, producing a chronic inflammation process that usually occurs in the small bowel [...].
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Background and Objectives: Rugby players engage in demanding, high loading muscular activity in the spine. Study of the abdominal wall architecture in female rugby athletes is relevant to the possible muscular asymmetry secondary to sport practice and the relationship between the abdominal wall and the pelvic floor muscles. Activation of the transversus abdominis (TrAb) generates an increase in the bladder neck muscle. ⋯ For the IRD thickness, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between groups. Conclusions: An increased TrAb, IO, EO, and RA thickness may be shown in female rugby players versus non-athletic women. Nevertheless, statistically relevant differences were not found for the IRD between both groups.
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Background and Objectives: It is estimated that 28 million people in the UK live with chronic pain. A biopsychosocial approach to chronic pain is recommended which combines pharmacological interventions with behavioural and non-pharmacological treatments. Acupuncture represents one of a number of non-pharmacological interventions for pain. ⋯ Conclusions: The large quantity of RCTs on acupuncture for chronic pain contained within systematic reviews provide evidence that is conflicting and inconclusive, due in part to recurring methodological shortcomings of RCTs. We suggest that an enriched enrolment with randomised withdrawal design may overcome some of these methodological shortcomings. It is essential that the quality of evidence is improved so that healthcare providers and commissioners can make informed choices on the interventions which can legitimately be provided to patients living with chronic pain.