Field study of anthropomorphic and muscle performance changes among elite skippers following a transoceanic race

Background: Ocean racing has become increasingly demanding, both physically and psychologically. The aim of the study was to assess global changes after a transoceanic race. Materials and methods: Eight male sailors were evaluated pre- and post-race through anthropometric measurements (weight, skinfold, girth at different level and estimated body fat percentage), multifrequency tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance, muscular performance, visual analogic scale for perceived fatigue and Critical Flicker Fusion Frequencies for cerebral arousal. Results: Compared to pre-race values, a significant decrease in body weight (–3.6 ± 1.4%, p = 0.0002) and body composition with reduction of body fat percentage (–15.1 ± 3.5%, p < 0.0001) and fat mass (–36.4 ± 31.4%, p = 0.022) was observed. Muscle performance of the upper limb was preserved. In the lower limb, monohulls skippers showed a significant reduction of jump height (–6.6 ± 4.8%, p = 0.022), power (–11.7 ± 7.3%, p = 0.011) and speed (–14.6 ± 7.4%, p = 0.0006) while a multihulls skipper showed a gain in speed (+0.87%), power (+8.52%), force (+11%) resulting in a higher jump height (+1.12%). These changes were inversely correlated with sea days (Pearson r of –0.81, –0.96 and –0.90, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Changes in body weight and composition are consistent with previous data indicating a probable negative energy balance. The main finding demonstrates a difference in muscular conditioning between upper and lower limbs that might be explained by differential workload related to boat architecture (trampolines) or handling

Reproducibility, accuracy and concordance of Accutrend® Plus for measuring circulating lipid concentration in adults

Introduction: The determination of lipid biomarkers by capillary sampling may be useful in the scree-ning, diagnosis and/or personal management of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular risk. It remains unclear whether the use of the Accutrend® Plus system is appropriate. This study aimed to assess its reproducibility, accuracy and concordance for blood lipid profiling in adults. Materials and methods: Fasting capillary total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentration on Accutrend® Plus were compared with their venous analogues obtained by a laboratory reference method in sixty-one adults (27 men and 34 women, aged 33.0 years). Supplementary capillary sam-pling was performed at two consecutive days taking into account macro-nutrient intake. Results: The day-to-day reproducibility of the Accutrend® Plus system proved to be high for TC (ICC = 0.85, P < 0.001), but moderate for TG (ICC = 0.68, P < 0.001). Strong correlations (r ≥ 0.80, P < 0.001) with the reference method were found for TC and TG. Mean difference (limits of agreement) were: 0.26 mmol/L (-0.95, 1.47) for TC, and -0.16 mmol/L (-1.29, 0.98) for TG. The concordance for subject classification according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines was significant (P < 0.001), with substantial agreement for TC (κw = 0.67), and moderate agreement for TG (κw = 0.50). Conclusions: Day-to-day reproducibility of the Accutrend® Plus device for TC and TG is not optimal and lacks accuracy when compared to the reference laboratory method. The concordance between both methods for classifying subjects according to the NCEP is inadequate. Accutrend® Plus device should not be interchangeably used as a substitution for the standard laboratory methods in the diag-nosis of hyperlipidemia

Ultrasound imaging of anatomical variations of humeral insertions of the subscapular muscle

Aims: The purpose of this study was to highlight the variations of the humeral insertion of the muscle in vivo, by means of an ultrasound (US) device to depict anatomical variations that could lead to instability of the scapulohumeral complex. Methods: This prospective study (IRB approval) brings a dynamic imaging of the anatomical variation by US exploration of 193 shoulders to confirm MRI and dissection approaches. Results: The results confirm the previous classification of two different classes of organization. 20% with a non-fibrous bridge over the intertubercular groove (type I and II combined) and 80% with a fibrous bridge over the tendon of the long head of the bicipital tendon muscle (type III and IV combined). Furthermore, statistical analysis (Fisher and Chi square test with a threshold of 95%) showed that this variation is not related to gender, side or laterality. Conclusion: This study shows the same results as obtained by dissection or MRI, meaning that this non-radiating, easy to perform technique can be used as a first approach in a dynamic clinical examination to detect anatomical variations of the subscapular muscle.</jats:p