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Purpose: In modern sprint cycling competitions, the athletes perform a preparatory movement that consists in reaching the backmost standing position, quickly accelerating the body forward at the starting signal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics of backward standing starts in elite cyclists, as well as the effect of initial crank angle. Methods: Video analysis of cycling starts was performed in seven male elite cyclists during 30 m sprints and in 3 starting conditions: seated with a self-selected crank angle (S-ss), backward standing from a self-selected (BSt-ss) or imposed crank angle of 90° (BSt-90°). Average velocity after 5 and 30 m was also measured by means of a photocell system. Results: No differences in starting crank angle were observed between BSt-ss and S-ss (about 64°). The fastest starts were attained in BSt-ss (highest velocity at 5 and 30 m); in this condition, angular downstroke velocity was the highest and the counter movement occurred earlier than in BSt-90°. Significant positive associations were observed between angular velocity in the first downstroke and forward velocity at 5 and 30 m. Conclusions: These findings indicate that backward standing starts improve cycling performance (compared to seated starts), that an initial crank angle < 90° is preferable, and that elite cyclists maintain the initial advantage at least up to a distance of 30 m.

This paper compares cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular parameters across three running aerobic speeds in two conditions that differed from a treadmill's movement: flat condition (FC) and unpredictable roll variations similar to mountain trail running (URV). Twenty well-trained male runners (age 33 ± 8 years, body mass 70.3 ± 6.4 kg, height 1.77 ± 0.06 m, V˙O 2 max 63.8 ± 7.2 mL·kg -1 ·min -1 ) voluntarily participated in the study. Laboratory sessions consisted of a cardiopulmonary incremental ramp test (IRT) and two experimental protocols. Cardiopulmonary parameters, plasma lactate (BLa - ), cadence, ground contact time (GT) and RPE values were assessed. We also recorded surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals from eight lower limb muscles, and we calculated, from the sEMG envelope, the amplitude and width of peak muscle activation for each step. Cardiopulmonary parameters were not significantly different between conditions (V˙O 2 : p = 0.104; BLa - : p = 0.214; HR: p = 0.788). The amplitude ( p = 0.271) and width ( p = 0.057) of sEMG activation peaks did not change between conditions. The variability of sEMG was significantly affected by conditions; indeed, the coefficient of variation in peak amplitude ( p = 0.003) and peak width ( p < 0.001) was higher in URV than in FC. Since the specific physical demands of running can differ between surfaces, coaches should resort to the use of non-traditional surfaces, emphasizing specific surface-related motor tasks that are normally observed in natural running environments. Seeing that the variability of muscle activations was affected, further studies are required to better understand the physiological effects induced by systematic surface-specific training and to define how variable-surface activities help injury prevention.

The "Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori" ( National Tumour Institute) in Milan (Italy) offers mediation services aimed at restoring communication between patients and healthcare professionals, when their relationship has been altered by a conflict during the diagnosis or treatment process. A method derived from transformative mediation is used. The purpose of mediation is not to examine clinical aspects, nor to identify who is right and who is wrong. Individual sessions are often sufficient to reduce litigation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone formation in surgically created defects of rabbit mandibles by synthetic hydroxyapatite of calcium compared to small Intestine Submucosa., Material and Method: 24 mice lineage Wisthar-Furth were used. A bony defect of 0,75 cm x 1,5 cm in mandibular ramus was accomplished in all animals. The hydroxyapatite implants were placed on the left hemimandiblein group I, small Intestine submucosa in group II, and the right served as control. The euthanasia was accomplished in the 40 degrees postoperative day, it was proceeded the macroscopic and histological analysis., Results: medium length in millimeters of the hemimandibless in the hydroxyapatite group was of 3,75, in the small intestine submucosa 3,03 and the control group was of 2,63 (p: 0,022). Histomorphometry study revealed new bone grown in 76,64% of the total area in hydroxyapatite group (p: 0,022). In Small Intestinal submucosa group new bone grown in 63,64% do total (p: 0,0022)., Discussion: satisfactory bone integration was observed of the synthetic hydroxyapatite in that experimental model. Small intestinal submucosa cause osteoinduction, Conclusion: using hydroxyapatite of calcium resulted in formation of significantly larger volume fractions of new bone when compared to small intestinal submucosa group.

Purpose: To assess if there are typical otorhinolaryngological findings in patients addicted to cocaine and/or crack., Methods: Eighteen patients who were addicted to cocaine and/or crack, were studied. Their clinical history was obtained and were submitted to an otorhinolaryngological examination., Results: It was impossible to find out a correlation between the time the patient is addicted to the drug, the amount of drug the patient is used to inhale, the frequency or the last time he used it and the nose and throat symptoms, as well as those factors and the otorhinolaryngological examination., Conclusion: Owing to the unspecificity on clinical findings during the otorhinolaryngological examination, it is necessary that the physician suspects the abuse of drugs when he is performing the clinical history; otherwise, he will not reach this important diagnosis.