Assessing the Match Physical Responses of International Referees for Footballers with Cerebral Palsy: A Tournaments and Halves Comparative Analysis

Similar to conventional football, the modality dedicated to footballers with cerebral palsy (CP) requires referees who cope with the physical demands imposed during competitive matches to apply the rules of the game. While a significant body of research has explored the physical demands on referees in mainstream football, there is a noticeable lack of data regarding CP football. This study aimed to examine the physical response of international referees participating in different levels of world competitions for footballers with CP. Thirteen international referees, who officiated 49 matches in the men's 2022 World Cup (1st to 15th ranked teams) and 2022 World Championships (16th to 30th ranked teams), participated in this study. A cross-sectional design was used to determine the physical responses and compare the 1st and 2nd halves and the performance in the different tournaments, recording physical variables throughout the matches. Significant higher physical responses were observed in the World Cup in comparison to the World Championship. Overall, high-level tournaments have been shown to elicit more intense physical responses from referees officiating CP football matches compared to lower-level tournaments. For the World Cup, a significantly higher number of accelerations and decelerations were registered in the 1st half compared to the 2nd half. This information may be useful for the strength and conditioning coaches of referees to plan weekly training sessions more specifically and adjust the periodical training load and post-match recovery protocols.

Differences in kinetic characteristics during countermovement jump of football players with cerebral palsy according to impairment profiles

Objectives: The purpose of this study was 1) to determine and compare kinetic parameters during the realization of a countermovement jump (CMJ) between footballers with cerebral palsy (CP) and non-impaired footballers, and 2) to analyze the differences in this action between different players' impairment profiles and a group of non-impaired footballers. Methods: This study involved 154 participants comprising 121 male footballers with CP from 11 national teams and 33 male non-impaired football players recruited as the control group (CG). The footballers with CP were described according to the different impairment profiles (bilateral spasticity = 10; athetosis or ataxia = 16; unilateral spasticity = 77; minimum impairment = 18). All participants performed three CMJs on a force platform to record kinetic parameters during the test. Results: The group of para-footballers presented significantly lower values than the CG in the jump height (p < 0.01, d = -1.28), peak power (p < 0.01, d = -0.84), and the net concentric impulse (p < 0.01, d = -0.86). Concerning the pairwise comparisons between CP profiles and the CG, significant differences were found for the bilateral spasticity, athetosis or ataxia, and unilateral spasticity subgroups compared to the non-impaired players for jump height (p < 0.01; d = -1.31 to -2.61), power output (p < 0.05; d = -0.77 to -1.66), and concentric impulse of the CMJ (p < 0.01; d = -0.86 to -1.97). When comparing the minimum impairment subgroup with the CG, only significant differences were found for jump height (p = 0.036; d = -0.82). Footballers with minimum impairment presented higher jumping height (p = 0.002; d = -1.32) and concentric impulse (p = 0.029; d = -1.08) compared to those with bilateral spasticity. Also, the unilateral spasticity subgroup reports a higher jump height performance than the bilateral group (p = 0.012; d = -1.12). Conclusion: These results suggest that the variables related to power production during the concentric phase of the jump are crucial for the performance differences between groups with and without impairment. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of kinetic variables that would differentiate CP and non-impaired footballers. However, more studies are necessary to clarify which parameters better differentiate among different profiles of CP. The findings could help to prescribe effective physical training programs and support the classifier's decision-making for class allocation in this para-sport.

Treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii severe infections

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen that causes nosocomial infections, especially in intensive care units (ICUs) and immunocompromised patients. A. baumannii has developed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial resistance, associated with a higher mortality rate among infected patients compared with other non-baumannii species. In terms of clinical impact, resistant strains are associated with increases in both in-hospital length of stay and mortality. A. baumannii can cause a variety of infections, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia, bacteremia, and skin wound infections, among others. The most common risk factors for the acquisition of MDR A. baumannii are previous antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation, length of ICU and hospital stay, severity of illness, and use of medical devices. Current efforts are focused on addressing all the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms described in A. baumannii, with the objective of identifying the most promising therapeutic scheme.

Is impaired coordination related to match physical load in footballers with cerebral palsy of different sport classes?

Impaired coordination is a characteristic feature in cerebral palsy (CP) football players. This study aimed to determine the relationships of three coordination tests with match physical load during competition of para-footballers from different sport classes. Records from 259 para-footballers from 25 national teams were obtained in four international competitions held in 2018 and 2019. The three coordination tests were conducted prior to competition (i.e., rapid heel-toe, side-stepping, and split jumps), and physical match load was recorded by GPS devices during the real game: i.e., maximum/mean, total distance, distance covered at different speed zones, number of accelerations/decelerations at different intensities, and player load. FT1 and FT3 players have the lowest and highest performance in all the coordination tests, respectively, but inconclusive between-groups differences were obtained (p=0.022‒0.238). Split jumps and side-stepping tests are associated with the performance of moderate and high accelerations during competition (r = -0.20‒0.71; p<0.01). Significant correlations (r = 0.36‒0.71; p<0.01) were obtained between all the coordination measures. Coordination tests better discriminate those with more severe impairments and some evidence for the validity of the new CP football sport classes is provided. Further research is necessary to identify the portion of the variance in sports performance that coordination explains.

Physical demands of para-footballers with cerebral palsy in a small-sided game

BACKGROUND

Cerebral palsy (CP) Football is a para-sport performed by individuals with physical impairments of athetosis, ataxia, or hypertonia. However, little is known about the physical demands of para-footballers with CP, and no previous study has analysed those demands in a small-sided game (SSG). This study aims to describe physical parameters using a global positioning system device in a SSG played by CP football players.

METHODS

Fourteen male international para-footballers with CP took part in this study, which analysed their performance in an SSG of 3 vs. 3 players plus a goalkeeper per team. Also, a group of 12 football players participated as a control group.

RESULTS

The total distance covered by the CP footballers during the SSG was 1931.1±213.6 m, and the distance covered per minute was 71.2±9.3 m/min, having lower scores than the control group. The maximum speed reached was 20.1±1.8 km/h, with a metabolic power of 6.2±0.9 W/kg and lower scores than the control group. Players with the minimal eligible impairment in this para-sport (i.e., sport class FT8) covered a greater distance in high-speed zones compared to players with more severe impairments.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that para-footballers with CP exhibited lower physical performance in an SSG compared to regular football players. Additional studies are necessary to identify the best format of an SSG for football players with CP and its application for training and evidence-based classification.

Validity and Reliability of a Test Battery to Assess Change of Directions with Ball Dribbling in Para-footballers with Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content and construct validity and between-sessions reliability of four agility tests requiring ball dribbling in football players with cerebral palsy (CP) with implications for classification and training. A sample of 35 football players with CP from three different countries took part in the study. They performed four tests in two sessions 72 h apart: i) 20 m in a straight line, ii) forward slalom with short changes of direction, iii) forward slalom with wide changes of direction and iv) square course. The Kappa coefficient was used to test content validity, obtaining moderate to almost perfect agreement results. Construct validity was also demonstrated with very large to almost perfect correlations between tests and sessions. Good reliability was found using intra-class coefficients (>0.86), standard error of measurement (<10.8%) and Cronbach´s alpha (>0.86). The comparisons between CP profiles (i.e. sport classes) demonstrated that those with mild impairment performed faster, and those with impairment of ataxia and dyskinesia performed worse. The four tests could have applications in classification, but may also be applied by the CP football coaches to improve athlete agility and football skills.

Evaluation of the bilateral function in para-athletes with spastic hemiplegia: A model-based clustering approach

OBJECTIVES

Spastic hemiplegia is one of the most common forms of cerebral palsy, in which one side of the body is affected to a greater extent than the other one. Hemiplegia severity (i.e. moderate vs mild forms) is currently used in some Para sports for classification purposes. This study evaluates the sensitivity of several tests of stability (e.g. one-legged stance test), dynamic balance (side-step test), coordination (rapid heel-toe placements), range of movement (backward stepping lunge), and lower limb power (the triple hop distance and the isometric peak force of the knee extensors) to discriminate between the impaired and unimpaired lower extremities' function in para-athletes with spastic hemiplegia.

METHODS

A sample of 87 international para-athletes with cerebral palsy took part in the study, and their bilateral performance was measured for the abovementioned tests. The tests' sensitivity to discriminate between impaired vs unimpaired legs was assessed using Boruta's method.

RESULTS

The triple hop distance, the magnitude of the mean velocity in the one-legged stance test and the time to perform the rapid heel-toe placement test are the most sensitive variables when performing random forest classifiers. In addition, the study confirms two optimal clusters by Gaussian finite mixture models to represent the athletes' performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Reference scores for the clusters are provided, demonstrating that coordination, balance, and power of the lower limbs are relevant variables for classifying para-athletes with spastic hemiplegia.

Validation of a Physical Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Instrument Toward Inclusion of Students With Disabilities

Acquiring specific training in disability seems to be a key aspect for achieving school inclusion. Teachers who receive such prior training would be more prepared to address diversity in the classroom, which could be related to their perception of self-efficacy. The aim of this study was to validate the Spanish version of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Physical Education Teacher Education Majors toward Children with Disabilities (SE-PETE-D). Two hundred and eighteen in-service physical education teachers participated in this study, with a M age = 38.06 years and M teaching  experience = 11.72 years. To obtain the three subscales resulting from intellectual, physical, and visual disabilities, several exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. The results supported three independent models made up of three factors (intellectual, physical, and visual disabilities). The structure of the models was invariant with respect to gender, the educational stage in which the teaching was taking place, previous teaching experience, previous training, and previous experience in adapted or inclusive physical activity and sports. The subscales presented high reliability values for Cronbach's alpha, and Omega's index ≥0.81. This study provides evidence of the validity and reliability of an instrument to measure the perceived self-efficacy of physical education teachers to include students with disabilities in their classes and is the first study to be applied with in-service teachers. In addition, some methodological and conceptual limitations of the original scale are identified, opening new lines of work in relation to training situations to assess the perception of self-efficacy or the type of disability.

Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management of sedoanalgesia and delirium in critically ill adult patients

Given the importance of the management of sedation, analgesia and delirium in Intensive Care Units, and in order to update the previously published guidelines, a new clinical practice guide is presented, addressing the most relevant management and intervention aspects based on the recent literature. A group of 24 intensivists from 9 countries of the Pan-American and Iberian Federation of Societies of Critical Medicine and Intensive Therapy met to develop the guidelines. Assessment of evidence quality and recommendations was made according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group. A systematic search of the literature was carried out using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library databases such as the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, the National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database and the database of Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS). A total of 438 references were selected. After consensus, 47 strong recommendations with high and moderate quality evidence, 14 conditional recommendations with moderate quality evidence, and 65 conditional recommendations with low quality evidence were established. Finally, the importance of initial and multimodal pain management was underscored. Emphasis was placed on decreasing sedation levels and the use of deep sedation only in specific cases. The evidence and recommendations for the use of drugs such as dexmedetomidine, remifentanil, ketamine and others were incremented.

Differences in Physiological Responses During Wheelchair Basketball Matches According to Playing Time and Competition

PURPOSE

The main purpose of the present study was to determine physiological responses in wheelchair basketball (WB) matches in relation to heart rate (HR), match load (ML), differentiated perceived exertion (dRPE), lactate concentrations (LA), and tympanic temperature (TEMP), while specifying the individual player's playing time during different types of matches.

METHOD

Nine Spanish First Division WB players participated in the study. Three groups were determined for each observation (i.e., HR, ML, dRPE, LA, and TEMP) according to the minutes played by the WB players: players who had played 30 min to 40 min (WB_30-40), those who played 20 min to 30 min, and those who played 0 min to 20 min.

RESULTS

The WB_30-40 group attained statistically significantly higher results in mean HR than the other groups in league and playoff matches (p < .05; Δ% > -25.73%; ES > -1.31, large). With regard to the difference in each variable between league and playoff matches, the differences were highlighted in the WB_30-40 group according to ML (Edwards, p < .05, Δ% = -11.14%, ES = -0.87, large; Stagno's modified TRIMP, p < .05, Δ% = -16.95%, ES = -0.77, large). Tympanic temperature also reached higher values in playoff matches compared with league matches in WB_30-40 (p < .05; Δ% = 1.1%; ES = 0.67, moderate) but not in LA values.

CONCLUSIONS

Coaches should take into account that playoff matches were more demanding than league matches, thus forcing coaches to try to peak WB players' physical performance for the former.

Monitoring Heart Rate Variability Before and After a Marathon in an Elite Wheelchair Athlete: A Case Study

The purpose of this study was to analyze heart rate variability (HRV) oscillations before and after a marathon which involved trans-meridian air travel and substantial time zone differences in a professional wheelchair athlete with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. The natural logarithm of the root mean square difference between adjacent normal R-R intervals (Ln rMSSD) was measured daily on the days before, including and following the race. Relative to baseline, small (-3.8 - -4.6%) reductions in LnRMSSD were observed following relocation and on race-day, indicating only minor effects of travel on cardiac-autonomic activity. On the morning following the marathon, a 23.1% reduction in Ln rMSSD was observed, which returned to baseline by 48 h. The race time set by the athlete was the world-leading time in his class. This case study showed that Ln rMSSD responses to marathon in an elite wheelchair athlete with CMT was similar to those previously reported among unrestricted endurance athletes.

Viral load, tissue distribution and histopathological lesions in goats naturally and experimentally infected with the Small Ruminant Lentivirus Genotype E (subtype E1 Roccaverano strain)

Small Ruminant Lentivirus (SRLV) subtype E1, also known as Roccaverano strain, is considered a low pathogenic virus on the basis of natural genetic deletions, in vitro properties and on-farm observations. In order to gain more knowledge on this atypical lentivirus we investigated the in vivo tropism of Roccaverano strain in both, experimentally and naturally infected goats. Antibody responses were monitored as well as tissue distribution and viral load, evaluated by real time PCR on single spliced (gag/env) and multiple spliced (rev) RNA targets respectively, that were compared to histopathological lesions. Lymph nodes, spleen, alveolar macrophages and mammary gland turned out to be the main tissue reservoirs of genotype E1-provirus. Moreover, mammary gland and/or mammary lymph nodes acted as active replication sites in dairy goats, supporting the lactogenic transmission of this virus. Notably, a direct association between viral load and concomitant infection or inflammatory processes was evident within organs such as spleen, lung and testis. Our results validate the low pathogenicity designation of SRLV genotype E1 in vivo, and confirm the monocyte-macrophage cell lineage as the main virus reservoir of this genotype. Accordingly, SRLV genotype E displays a tropism towards all tissues characterized by an abundant presence of these cells, either for their own anatomical structure or for an occasional infectious/inflammatory status.

Manual Dexterity and Intralimb Coordination Assessment to Distinguish Different Levels of Impairment in Boccia Players with Cerebral Palsy

Background

Boccia is a paralympic sport played by athletes with severe neurological impairments affecting all four limbs. Impaired manual dexterity (MD) and intralimb coordination (ILC) may limit individuals’ ability to perform certain activities such as grasping, releasing, or manipulating objects, which are essential tasks for daily life or to participate in para sports such as boccia. However, there are currently no specific instruments available to assess hand–arm coordination in boccia players with severe cerebral palsy (CP).

Purpose

To design new sport-specific coordination tests to assess impaired MD and ILC in boccia players; afterward, quantify to what extent their coordination is impaired compared to a control group (CG) without neurological impairments.

Methods

Seventy-three recreational boccia players with severe CP (BC1: age = 34.01 ± 16.43 years; BC2: age = 33.97 ± 14.29 years), and 19 healthy adults (age = 27.89 ± 7.08 years) completed the test battery. The Box and Block test (BBT) and Box and Ball test (BBLT) were used to assess MD and four tapping tests to assess upper ILC.

Results

Both MD tests were able to discriminate between sport classes. Boccia players obtained better scores in the BBLT in comparison to the BBT, showing that the BBLT had more appropriate testing features. On the other hand, only one of the ILC tests was able to discriminate between sport classes, displaying the highest practical significance (d = −1.12). Participants with CP scored significantly worse in all the coordination tests compared to the CG.

Conclusion

Using sport-specific equipment facilitated grasp function during the MD assessment. Regarding the ILC, the type of movement (continuous vs. discrete) seems to be more relevant for classification than the movement direction (vertical vs. horizontal) or the presence of a ball.

How does the ball influence the performance of change of direction and sprint tests in para-footballers with brain impairments? Implications for evidence-based classification in CP-Football

The aims of this study were: i) to analyze the reliability and validity of three tests that require sprinting (10 m, 25 m, 40 m), accelerations/decelerations (Stop and Go Test) and change of direction (Illinois Agility Test), with and without ball, in para-footballers with neurological impairments, and ii) to compare the performance in the tests when ball dribbling is required and to explore the practical implications for evidence-based classification in cerebral palsy (CP)-Football. Eighty-two international para-footballers (25.2 ± 6.8 years; 68.7 ± 8.3 kg; 175.3 ± 7.4 cm; 22.5 ± 2.7 kg·m-2), classified according to the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) Classification Rules (classes FT5-FT8), participated in the study. A group of 31 players without CP was also included in the study as a control group. The para-footballers showed good reliability scores in all tests, with and without ball (ICC = 0.53-0.95, SEM = 2.5-9.8%). Nevertheless, the inclusion of the ball influenced testing reproducibility. The low or moderate relationships shown among sprint, acceleration/deceleration and change of direction tests with and without ball also evidenced that they measure different capabilities. Significant differences and large effect sizes (0.53 < ηp2 < 0.97; p < 0.05) were found when para-footballers performed the tests with and without dribbling the ball. Players with moderate neurological impairments (i.e. FT5, FT6, and FT7) had higher coefficients of variation in the trial requiring ball dribbling. For all the tests, we also obtained between-group (FT5-FT8) statistical and large practical differences (ηp2 = 0.35-0.62, large; p < 0.01). The proposed sprint, acceleration/deceleration and change of direction tests with and without ball may be applicable for classification purposes, that is, evaluation of activity limitation from neurological impairments, or decision-making between current CP-Football classes.

Role of vision in sighted and blind soccer players in adapting to an unstable balance task

This study tested whether a compensatory hypothesis exists on postural control during standing unstable balance tasks comparing blind soccer players (n = 7) to sighted soccer players (n = 15) and sighted sedentary individuals (n = 6). All subjects performed a pre-test, a training of ten practice trials on a single day, and a post-test balance test. All tests were performed on an unstable surface placed on a force platform and under closed-eyes conditions, and a final test was performed with open eyes. Balance performance was assessed by resultant distance (RD) and the magnitude of mean velocity (MV) of the centre of pressure (CoP) displacement, and EMG signals from the gastrocnemius lateralis, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris, and peroneus longus were measured with surface electromyography. Principal component analysis (PCA) on EMG muscular activation was used to assess EMG pattern differences during the balance tasks. All groups improved their performance, obtaining low scores for the closed-eyes condition balance task after the training period in RD, VM, and aids received to keep balance in the novel task, and no differences were found between groups or in interaction effects. Sighted individuals and the control group showed significantly lower RD and VM scores under open-eyes conditions than blind participants. As regards neuromuscular behaviour, three principal patterns explained 84.15% of the variability in the measured data. The theoretical improvement of the other senses caused by visual deprivation does not allow blind individuals to obtain better balance than sighted individuals under closed-eyes conditions, thereby reinforcing the prominent role of vision in integrating and processing the other sensory inputs. In addition, blind individuals seem to increase their muscular co-activation as a safety strategy, but this behaviour is not different to that shown by sighted people under closed-eyes conditions.

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses in Sheep: Pathology and Tropism of 2 Strains Using the Bone Marrow Route

The objective of this work was to comparatively study the tissue tropism and the associated pathology of 2 autochthonous small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) field strains using an experimental infection in sheep through the bone marrow. Fifteen male, SRLV-free lambs of the Rasa Aragonesa breed were inoculated with strain 697 (nervous tissue origin, animals A1-A6), with strain 496 (articular origin, animals B1-B6), or with uninfected culture medium (C1-C3). Clinical, serologic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) evaluations were performed periodically. Two lambs from each infected group and a control animal were euthanized at 134, 273, and 319 days postinfection. Tissues were analyzed by gross and histopathologic evaluation; immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, and FoxP3 cell markers; lung morphometric evaluation; and tissue proviral quantification by PCR. All infected animals became positive either by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or PCR, with group B lambs showing the highest serologic values and more consistently positive PCR reactions. Group A lambs showed representative lung lesions but only mild histopathologic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) or in carpal joints. Contrarily, group B lambs demonstrated intense carpal arthritis and interstitial pneumonia but an absence of lesions in the CNS. Proviral copies in tissues were detected only in group B lambs. Experimental infection with these SRLV strains indicates that strain 496 is more virulent than strain 697 and more prone to induce arthritis, whereas strain 697 is more likely to reproduce encephalitis in Rasa Aragonesa lambs. Host factors as well as viral factors are responsible for the final clinicopathologic picture during SRLV infections.

Visual Search Strategies of Experienced and Nonexperienced Swimming Coaches

The aim of this study consists of the application of an experimental protocol that allows information to be obtained about the visual search strategies elaborated by swimming coaches. 16 swimming coaches participated. The Experienced group ( n = 8) had 16.1 yr. ( SD = 8.2) of coaching experience and at least five years of experience in underwater vision. The Nonexperienced group in underwater vision ( n = 8) had 4.2 yr. ( SD = 4.0) of coaching experience. Participants were tested in a laboratory environment using a video-projected sample of the crawl stroke of an elite swimmer. This work discusses the main areas of the swimmer's body used by coaches to identify and analyse errors in technique from overhead and underwater perspectives. In front-underwater videos, body roll and mid-water were the locations of the display with higher percentages of fixation time. In the side-underwater slow videos, the upper body was the location with higher percentages of visual fixation time and was used to detect the low elbow fault. Side-overhead takes were not the best perspectives to pick up information directly about performance of the arms; coaches attended to the head as a reference for their visual search. The observation and technical analysis of the hands and arms were facilitated by an underwater perspective. Visual fixation on the elbow served as a reference to identify errors in the upper body. The side-underwater perspective may be an adequate way to identify correct knee angles in leg kicking and the alignment of a swimmer's body and leg actions.

Contextual Interference in Learning Precision Skills

This research studied the effect of different organisations of practice (blocked and random) on the learning of three different types of throwing. 35 male students practiced three precise throws for 3 wk. Initially the subjects were separated into two groups who trained under different conditions of practice (blocked and random). All subjects improved significantly from initial performance, with both blocked practice and random practice. At the end of acquisition no differences were found between the groups. No significant differences were found on retention tests carried out 48 hr., 4 wk., and 8 wk. after the training period.

Change of Direction Ability Performance in Cerebral Palsy Football Players According to Functional Profiles

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the validity and reliability of the two different change of direction ability (CODA) tests in elite football players with cerebral palsy (CP) and to analyse the differences in performance of this ability between current functional classes (FT) and controls. The sample consisted of 96 international cerebral palsy football players (FPCP) and 37 football players. Participants were divided into four different groups according to the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) classes and a control group (CG): FT5 (n = 8); FT6 (n = 12); FT7 (n = 62); FT8 (n = 14); and CG (n = 37). The reproducibility of Modified Agility Test (MAT) and Illinois Agility Test (IAT) (ICC = 0.82-0.95, SEM = 2.5-5.8%) showed excellent to good values. In two CODA tests, CG performed faster scores compared with FPCP classes (p < 0.01, d = 1.76-3.26). In IAT, FT8 class comparisons regarding the other classes were: FT5 (p = 0.047, d = 1.05), FT6 (p = 0.055, d = 1.19), and FT7 (p = 0.396, d = 0.56). With regard to MAT, FT8 class was also compared with FT5 (p = 0.006, d = 1.30), FT6 (p = 0.061, d = 0.93), and FT7 (p = 0.033, d = 1.01). No significant differences have been found between FT5, FT6, and FT7 classes. According to these results, IAT and MAT could be useful and reliable and valid tests to analyse CODA in FPCP. Each test (IAT and MAT) could be applied considering the cut point that classifiers need to make a decision about the FT8 class and the other FT classes (FT5, FT6, and FT7).

Small ruminant lentivirus infections and diseases

Small ruminant lentiviruses include viruses with diverse genotypes that frequently cross the species barrier between sheep and goats and that display a great genetic variability. These characteristics stress the need to consider the whole host range and to perform local surveillance of the viruses to opt for optimum diagnostic tests, in order to establish control programmes. In the absence of effective vaccines, a comprehensive knowledge of the epidemiology of these infections is of major importance to limit their spread. This article intends to cover these aspects and to summarise information related to characteristics of the viruses, pathogenesis of the infection and description of the various syndromes produced, as well as the diagnostic tools available, the mechanisms involved in transmission of the pathogens and, finally, the control strategies that have been designed until now, with remarks on the drawbacks and the advantages of each one. We conclude that there are many variables influencing the expected cost and benefits of control programs that must be evaluated, in order to put into practice measures that might lead to control of these infections.

Study of reaction time to visual stimuli in athletes with and without a hearing impairment

This study analyzes the differences in manual reaction time (RT) to visual stimuli in two samples of physically active persons: a group of athletes without hearing impairment (n = 79; M age = 22.6 yr., SD = 3.7) and a group of athletes with hearing impairment (n = 44, M age = 25.6 yr., SD = 5.0). Reaction time (RT) was measured and then differences between both groups were assessed by sex, type of sport (individual vs team sports), and competition level. RT to visual stimuli was significantly shorter for athletes with hearing impairment than for those without hearing impairment, with a significant sex difference (shorter RT for males), but no differences regarding type of sport or competition level. Suggestions for further research and sport applications are provided.

Small ruminant lentivirus-induced arthritis: clinicopathologic findings in sheep infected by a highly replicative SRLV B2 genotype

We describe the clinicopathologic features of an arthritis outbreak in sheep induced by small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV), linked to the presence of a new SRLV isolate phylogenetically assigned to caprine arthritis encephalitis virus-like subgroup B2. Thirteen SRLV seropositive Rasa Aragonesa adult ewes were selected from 5 SRLV highly infected flocks (mean seroprevalence, 90.7%) for presenting uni- or bilateral chronic arthritis in the carpal joint. A complete study was performed, including symptomatology, histopathology, immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and microbiology. The carpus was the joint almost exclusively affected, with 10 sheep (76%) showing a moderate increase in carpal joint size (diameter range, 18-20 cm; normal range, 15-16 cm) without signs of locomotion problems and with 3 ewes (23%) showing severe inflammation with marked increase in diameter (21-24 cm), pain at palpation, and abnormal standing position. Grossly, chronic proliferative arthritis was observed in affected joints characterized by an increased thickness of the synovial capsule and synovial membrane proliferation. Microscopically, synovial membrane inflammation and proliferation and hyperplasia of synoviocytes were observed. More positive cases of SLRV infection were detected by immunocytochemistry of articular fluid than of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization also detected positive cells in the subsynovial connective tissue, lung, mediastinal lymph node, mammary gland, and mammary lymph node. All animals were negative for the presence of Mycoplasma or other bacteria in the articular space. The present outbreak likely represents an adaptation of a caprine virus to sheep. Our results underline the importance of the arthritis induced by SRLV in sheep, a clinical form that might be underestimated.

Effects of different contextual interference training programs on straight sprinting and agility performance of primary school students

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a different degree of contextual interference (CI) training program on the change of direction ability (CODA) itself and on the straight sprinting (SSP) performance (5 m and 15 m) in students in the first year of primary school. It also evaluated which CI training program was more effective. Eighty eight students (6.42 ± 0.38 yr) volunteered as participants for the present study. Participants were randomized into 5 different CI training programs (LCI: low contextual interference, MCI: moderate contextual interference, HCI: high contextual interference, VCI: variable contextual interference, and CG: control group) during a 3 week period. Significant CODA improvements (p < 0.05) in pre-post-test were found in MCI (4.39%, ES 0.41) and VCI (9.37%, ES 1. 12) groups. Furthermore, LCI, MCI and HCI groups ameliorated their SSP performance, both in 5 m (5. 92%, ES 0.81; 6.67%, ES 0.90; 8.05%, ES 1.33 respectively) and 15 m SSP (5.86%, ES 0.76; 6.47%, ES 0.80; 2.47% ES 0.41 respectively). These results suggest that training through games of tag (VCI) was the most effective in improving the CODA and training with moderate contextual interference (MCI) was the only type which induced improvements in both capacities (SSP and CODA). Key PointsWe investigated the CODA and SSP performance of students in the first year of primary school and the influence of 5 different training programs on their CODA and SSP ability.Training through games of tag (VCI) was the most effective in improving the CODATraining with moderate contextual interference (MCI) was the only one which induced improvements in both capacities (SSP and CODA).

Successful Visna/maedi control in a highly infected ovine dairy flock using serologic segregation and management strategies

A control system for Visna/maedi virus (VMV) infection based on serologic segregation and management strategies was applied in an infected Spanish dairy Manchega breed sheep flock (n=670) that was affected by a severe respiratory process associated to VMV. The control started in 2004 and consisted on the serological study of animals, segregation in two different flocks (seropositive and seronegative), separate management of flocks, selection of young female lambs for replacement only from seronegative ewes offspring, immediate removal of seropositive animals detected in the seronegative flock and a management tending toward the reduction and final culling of the seropositive flock. The serological control was repeated yearly or twice a year, approximately. Initial VMV seroprevalence of the undivided flock was 66.4% (January 2004) that descended to 47.3%, 12.8%, 2.2% and 0.2% between July 2004 and May 2006. Residual seroprevalence fluctuated slightly thereafter with a peak of 2.2% in April 2008. After segregation, number of animals in the seronegative flock was 378 that descended to 323 in October 2005. Since then, this number has increased steadily reaching 650 sheep in December 2011. The seropositive flock was progressively reduced by culling until its total disappearance in June 2010. This work presents the detailed results obtained in the control strategy against VMV in a single dairy sheep flock by implementing a segregation system based on serologic testing. The system is highly successful, as it reduces to residual levels VMV infection in about two years without the need of culling a high number of animals, as required by other methods. Moreover, the original size flock was been recovered within 8 years and has led to a subjective improvement of animal health and welfare in the flock. The residual seroprevalence could be eliminated at this stage by applying more sensitive molecular or other serological techniques to reach eradication.

An insight into a combination of ELISA strategies to diagnose small ruminant lentivirus infections

A single broadly reactive standard ELISA is commonly applied to control small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) spread, but type specific ELISA strategies are gaining interest in areas with highly prevalent and heterogeneous SRLV infections. Short (15-residue) synthetic peptides (n=60) were designed in this study using deduced amino acid sequence profiles of SRLV circulating in sheep from North Central Spain and SRLV described previously. The corresponding ELISAs and two standard ELISAs were employed to analyze sera from sheep flocks either controlled or infected with different SRLV genotypes. Two outbreaks, showing SRLV-induced arthritis (genotype B2) and encephalitis (genotype A), were represented among the infected flocks. The ELISA results revealed that none of the assays detected all the infected animals in the global population analyzed, the assay performance varying according to the genetic type of the strain circulating in the area and the test antigen. Five of the six highly reactive (57-62%) single peptide ELISAs were further assessed, revealing that the ELISA based on peptide 98M (type A ENV-SU5, consensus from the neurological outbreak) detected positives in the majority of the type-A specific sera tested (Se: 86%; Sp: 98%) and not in the arthritic type B outbreak. ENV-TM ELISAs based on peptides 126M1 (Se: 82%; Sp: 95%) and 126M2 0,65 0.77 (Se: 68%; Sp: 88%) detected preferentially caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAEV, type B) and visna/maedi (VMV, type A) virus infections respectively, which may help to perform a preliminary CAEV vs. VMV-like typing of the flock. The use of particular peptide ELISAs and standard tests individually or combined may be useful in the different areas under study, to determine disease progression, diagnose/type infection and prevent its spread.

Differences in hospital- and ventilator-associated pneumonia due to Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant) between Europe and Latin America: a comparison of the EUVAP and LATINVAP study cohorts

PURPOSE

A comparison is made of epidemiological variables (demographic and clinical characteristics) and outcomes in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) or ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA) in the Latin American VAP (LATINVAP) vs. the European Union VAP (EUVAP) cohorts of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

METHODS

The EUVAP project was a prospective, multicenter observational study reporting 827 patients with HAP/VAP in 27 ICUs from 9 European countries. The LATINVAP project was a multicenter prospective observational study, with an identical design, performed in 17 ICUs from 4 Latin American countries involving 99 patients who developed HAP/VAP. Episodes of VAP/HAP caused by S. aureus, MSSA, and MRSA were compared in both cohorts.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients had S. aureus HAP/VAP in the EUVAP cohort vs. 11 patients in the LATINVAP cohort. More patients had MRSA in the LATINVAP study than in the EUVAP (45% vs. 33%). ICU mortality among patients with MSSA HAP/VAP in EUVAP was 10% vs. 50% for LATINVAP (OR=9.75, p=0.01). Fifteen patients in the EUVAP cohort developed MRSA HAP/VAP as opposed to 5 in LATINVAP. In the EUVAP study there was an ICU mortality rate of 33.3%. In the LATINVAP cohort, the ICU mortality rate was 60% (OR for death=3.0; 95%CI 0.24-44.7).

CONCLUSION

MRSA pneumonia was associated with poorer outcomes in comparison with MSSA. Our study suggests significant variability among European and Latin American ICU practices that may influence clinical outcomes. Furthermore, patients with pneumonia in Latin America have different outcomes.

Visna/Maedi virus genetic characterization and serological diagnosis of infection in sheep from a neurological outbreak

An extensive outbreak characterized by the appearance of neurological symptoms in small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infected sheep has been identified in Spain, but the genetic characteristics of the strain involved and differential diagnostic tools for this outbreak remain unexplored. In this work, 23 Visna-affected naturally infected animals from the outbreak, 11 arthritic animals (both groups presenting anti-Visna/Maedi virus serum antibodies), and 100 seronegative animals were used. Eight of the Visna-affected animals were further studied post-mortem by immunohistochemistry. All had lesions in spinal cord, being the most affected part of the central nervous system in six of them. A representative strain of the outbreak was isolated. Together with other proviral sequences from the outbreak the virus was assigned to genotype A2/A3. In vitro culture of the isolate revealed that viral production was slow/low in fibroblast-like cells but it was high in blood monocyte-derived macrophages. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of the viral genome of this isolate lacked an U3-duplication, but its promoter activity in fibroblast-like cells was normal compared to other strains. Thus, viral production could not be inferred from the LTR promoter activity in this isolate. Analysis of the viral immunodominant epitopes among SRLV sequences of the outbreak and other known sequences allowed the design of a synthetic SU peptide ELISA that detected the Visna affected animals, representing a tool of epidemiological interest to control viral spread of this highly pathogenic strain.

LTR promoter activity of SRLV genotype E, strain Roccaverano

The highly divergent, small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) genotype E Roccaverano strain has a full genome consisting of 8,418 nucleotides, which lack the entire dUTPase subunit of the pol gene, the vpr-like accessory gene, and the 71-bp repeat of the U3 region within the long terminal repeat (LTR). These deletions affect in reverse transcriptase fidelity in non-dividing cells (dUTPase and vpr-like) and in the regulation of viral replication. Surprisingly, this SRLV strain was able to replicate efficiently in non-dividing cells (i.e., blood-derived macrophages), while replication in fibroblastic-like cells was somewhat restricted. To evaluate whether this observation was due to the presence/absence of specific transcription factors within these fibroblasts, U3 transcriptional activity was measured in the different cell types and revealed that both fibroblasts and macrophages were able to activate the viral promoter in the same manner. Among the transcription factor-binding sites present within the U3 region, the highly conserved Ap4 tandem repeat was shown to be sufficient for LTR promoter activity.

Recombinant small ruminant lentivirus subtype B1 in goats and sheep of imported breeds in Mexico

Nucleotide sequences of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) were determined in sheep and goats, including progeny of imported animals, on a farm in Mexico. On the basis of gag-pol, pol, env and LTR sequences, SRLVs were assigned to the B1 subgroup, which comprises caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV)-like prototype sequences mainly from goats. In comparison with CAEV-like env sequences of American and French origin, two putative recombination events were identified within the V3-V4 and V4-V5 regions of the env gene of a full length SRLV sequence (FESC-752) derived from a goat on the farm.

Visna/maedi virus serology in sheep: survey, risk factors and implementation of a successful control programme in Aragón (Spain)

A serological survey of Visna/maedi virus (VMV) infection involving 274,048 sheep from 554 flocks was undertaken during 2002-2007 in Aragón, North-East Spain. One hundred and two of these flocks enrolled in a VMV control programme to reduce seroprevalence by selecting replacement lambs from seronegative dams and gradual culling of seropositive sheep. Twenty-five flocks were also visited to collect flock management and housing data. All study flocks had seropositive animals and 52.8% of animals tested were seropositive. Among flocks that joined the control programme 66 adopted the proposed measures and reduced seroprevalence significantly by between 26.1% and 76.9% whereas the remaining 36 flocks did not apply the measures and seroprevalence significantly increased. Seroprevalence increased with flock size and the number of days the sheep were housed, and decreased with increasing weaning age and shed open area, suggesting a reduced risk of VMV infection in sheep associated with better ventilation. At the end of the period, 24 flocks were certified as VMV-controlled with a seroprevalence <5%, and seven as VMV-free with 0% seroprevalence. These are the first officially recognised VMV-free flocks in Spain and represent a nucleus of VMV-free replacement animals for other flocks. Moreover, they are evidence of the possibility of eliminating VMV infection without resorting to whole-flock segregation or culling of seropositive sheep.

Antibody-based diagnosis of small ruminant lentivirus infection in seminal fluid

Antibody-based diagnosis of small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) has been efficiently achieved using serum and milk, but not semen, for which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been proposed as a confirmatory technique. This work, involving 296 ovine (Ovis aries) and caprine (Capra hircus) semen donors, investigates whether seminal fluid (SF) can be reliably used in antibody-based SRLV diagnosis. First, a gold standard was established to assess the infection status and determine the sensitivity and specificity of three commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in serum testing using Western blot and PCR as confirmatory tests. For SF testing, both gold standard and serum testing results were used as reference. The performance of SF testing was affected not only by the ELISA assay sensitivity (related to antigen spectrum) compared with that of the gold standard (as it occurred in serum testing) but also by SF sample quality and SF working dilution. Nonturbid SF samples, commonly collected in artificial insemination centers (AICs), were required. Compared with serum, SF testing had a decreased sensitivity in two of the ELISA assays (with original serum working dilutions <or=1/20 in serum testing) but reached a similar sensitivity (and specificity) in the assay designed to work at the highest serum dilution (1/500). A SF concentration of about 1/2 (250-fold that used in serum testing) was found optimal in this assay, yielding highly repeatable results that were in almost perfect agreement with those of serum testing (kappa +/- SE, 0.91 +/- 0.81). Thus, SF ELISA can be reliably applied in antibody-based SRLV diagnosis. This information may be useful to control infection in AICs and animal and semen trade programs requiring health-certified quality of semen donors.

Use of B7 costimulatory molecules as adjuvants in a prime-boost vaccination against Visna/Maedi ovine lentivirus

RNA transcripts of the B7 family molecule (CD80) are diminished in blood leukocytes from animals clinically affected with Visna/Maedi virus (VMV) infection. This work investigates whether the use of B7 genes enhances immune responses and protection in immunization-challenge approaches. Sheep were primed by particle-mediated epidermal bombardment with VMV gag and env gene recombinant plasmids together with plasmids encoding both CD80 and CD86 or CD80 alone, boosted with gag and env gene recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara virus and challenged intratracheally with VMV. Immunization in the presence of one or both of the B7 genes resulted in CD4+ T cell activation and antibody production (before and after challenge, respectively), but only immunization with CD80 and CD86 genes together, and not CD80 alone, resulted in a reduced number of infected animals and increased early transient cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) responses. Post-mortem analysis showed an immune activation of lymphoid tissue in challenge-target organs in those animals that had received B7 genes compared to unvaccinated animals. Thus, the inclusion of B7 genes helped to enhance early cellular responses and protection (diminished proportion of infected animals) against VMV infection.

Phylogenetic analysis of SRLV sequences from an arthritic sheep outbreak demonstrates the introduction of CAEV-like viruses among Spanish sheep

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) cause different clinical forms of disease in sheep and goats. So far in Spain, Maedi visna virus-like (MVV-like) sequences have been found in both species, and the arthritic SRLV disease has never been found in sheep until a recent outbreak. Knowing that arthritis is common in goats, it was of interest to determine if the genetic type of the virus involved in the sheep arthritis outbreak was caprine arthritis encephalitis virus-like (CAEV-like) rather than MVV-like. Alignment and phylogenetic analyses on nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences from SRLV of this outbreak, allowed a B2 genetic subgroup assignment of these SRLV, compatible with a correspondence between the virus genetic type and the disease form. Furthermore, an isolate was obtained from the arthritic outbreak, its full genome was CAEV-like but the pol integrase region was MVV-like. Although its LTR lacked a U3 repeat sequence and had a deletion in the R region, which has been proposed to reduce viral replication rate, its phenotype in sheep skin fibroblast cultures was rapid/high, thus it appeared to have adapted to sheep cells. This outbreak study represents the first report on CAEV-like genetic findings and complete genome analysis among Spanish small ruminants.

Analysis of Effects of Distribution of Practice in Learning and Retention of a Continuous and a Discrete Skill Presented on a Computer

This investigation examined the effects of distributed and massed practice on the learning and retention of a discrete computerized skill (Exp. 1) and a continuous computerized skill (Exp. 2). 40 men were randomly assigned to one of four groups, of which two groups took part in Exp. 1 and two groups in Exp. 2. Performance was assessed at various points during acquisition and then on 8 retention tests conducted at varying times after acquisition. Learning curves for practice were highly similar for the two conditions. Participants in the distributed-practice group performed significantly better than those in the massed-practice group at the end of practice on both the discrete and continuous skills. However, participants in the distributed-practice group performed significantly more poorly on retention during 24 hr. and after acquisition. Participants in the massed-practice condition performed significantly better on retention tests than did those who learned in the distributed-practice condition.

Mucosal immunization against ovine lentivirus using PEI-DNA complexes and modified vaccinia Ankara encoding the gag and/or env genes

Sheep were immunized against Visna/Maedi virus (VMV) gag and/or env genes via the nasopharynx-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) and lung using polyethylenimine (PEI)-DNA complexes and modified vaccinia Ankara, and challenged with live virus via the lung. env immunization enhanced humoral responses prior to but not after VMV challenge. Systemic T cell proliferative and cytotoxic responses were generally low, with the responses following single gag gene immunization being significantly depressed after challenge. A transient reduction in provirus load in the blood early after challenge was observed following env immunization, whilst the gag gene either alone or in combination with env resulted in significantly elevated provirus loads in lung. However, despite this, a significant reduction in lesion score was observed in animals immunized with the single gag gene at post-mortem. Inclusion of IFN-gamma in the immunization mixture in general had no significant effects. The results thus showed that protective effects against VMV-induced lesions can be induced following respiratory immunization with the single gag gene, though this was accompanied by an increased pulmonary provirus load.