Bioelectrical, Anthropometric, and Hematological Analysis to Assess Body Fluids and Muscle Changes in Elite Cyclists during the Giro d’Italia

Impact of dehydration on laparoscopic performance: a prospective, open-label, randomized cross-over trial

INTRODUCTION

During laparoscopic surgery, surgeons may experience prolonged periods without fluid intake, which might impact surgical performance, yet there are no objective data investigating this issue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of prolonged dehydration on laparoscopic surgical performance and tissue handling.

METHODS

A total of 51 laparoscopic novices participated in a single-center, open-label, prospective randomized cross-over trial. All participants were trained to proficiency using a standardized laparoscopic training curriculum. Afterward, all participants performed four different laparoscopic tasks twice, once after 6 h without liquid intake (dehydrated group) and once without any restrictions (control group). Primary endpoints were tissue handling defined by force exertion, task time, and error rate. The real hydration status was assessed by biological parameters, like heart rate, blood pressure, and blood gas analysis.

RESULTS

51 laparoscopic novices finished the curriculum and completed the tasks under both hydrated and dehydrated conditions. There were no significant differences in mean non-zero and peak force between the groups. However, dehydrated participants showed significantly slower task times in the Peg transfer task (hydrated: 139.2 s vs. dehydrated: 147.9 s, p = 0.034) and more errors regarding the precision in the laparoscopic suture and knot task (hydrated: 15.7% accuracy rate vs. dehydrated: 41.2% accuracy rate, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Prolonged periods of dehydration do not appear to have a substantial effect on the fundamental tissue handling skills in terms of force exertion among surgical novices. Nevertheless, the observed impact on speed and precision warrants attention.

Body fluids and muscle changes in trail runners of various distances

Background

This study aims to investigate body fluids and muscle changes evoked by different trail races using anthropometric, bioelectrical, and creatine kinase (CK) measurements.

Methods

A total of 92 subjects (55 men, 37 women) participating in three different races of 14, 35, and 52 km were evaluated before (PRE) and after (POST) the races. Classic bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was applied at the whole-body level (WB-BIVA). Additionally, muscle-localized bioelectrical assessments (ML-BIVA) were performed in a subgroup of 11 men (in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves). PRE-POST differences and correlations between bioelectrical values and CK, running time and race distance were tested.

Results

Changes in whole-body vectors and phase angles disclosed an inclination towards dehydration among men in the 14, 35, and 52 km groups (p < 0.001), as well as among women in the 35 and 52 km groups (p < 0.001). PRE Z/H was negatively correlated with running time in the 35 km men group and 14 km women group (r = -0.377, p = 0.048; r = -0.751, p = 0.001; respectively). POST Z/H was negatively correlated with running time in the 14 km women group (r = -0.593, p = 0.02). CK was positively correlated with distance in men and women (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with reactance and vector length in the 14 km men group (p < 0.05). ML-BIVA echoed the same tendency as the WB-BIVA in the 35 and 52 km runners, with the most notable changes occurring in the calves (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

WB-BIVA and CK measurements underscored a conspicuous trend towards post-race dehydration and muscle damage, displaying a weak association with performance. Notably, ML-BIVA detected substantial alterations primarily in the calves. The study underscores the utility of BIVA as a technique to assess athlete's body composition changes.

Correction: Cebrián-Ponce et al. Bioelectrical, Anthropometric, and Hematological Analysis to Assess Body Fluids and Muscle Changes in Elite Cyclists during the Giro d'Italia. Biology 2023, 12, 450

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