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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by a single surgeon using a visual field tracking camera: early experience.

BACKGROUND: This report describes a visual field tracking camera for laparoscopic surgery that allows the visual field to be changed without moving the laparoscope. We also report on our early experience with this camera for single-surgeon laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The visual field tracking camera has a tracking mechanism (composed of a zoom lens and a charge-coupled device [CCD] slide mechanism) built into the camera head. The 80 degrees visual field observed with the laparoscope can be expanded using the zoom lens, and the field can be shifted by changing the size of the area being viewed by the CCD. This is accomplished by pushing a switch on the forceps or by verbal command. Cholecystectomy was carried out on 12 patients with gallstones using this camera. The operations were performed by either a single surgeon or two surgeons. Forceps held with a forceps holder were inserted through the right port to lift the fundus of the gallbladder. The single surgeon used the other two ports to resect the gallbladder by the two-handed technique. RESULTS: In all cases, cholecystectomy was completed without any need to move the laparoscope at any point during the operation. Seven operations were performed by a single surgeon. Mainly for education purposes, five other operations were performed by a pair of surgeons. The mean time required for surgery was 76 +/- 17 min. This time did not differ from that of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed during the same period on 22 patients by teams of three surgeons using conventional cameras. CONCLUSIONS: Using the visual field tracking camera, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed without any need to touch the laparoscope. This camera allowed laparoscopic cholecystectomy to be performed by a single surgeon.

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic↗

Magnetic field tracking with MCNP5.

With the introduction of continuous-energy heavy charged particle transport in MCNP5, the need for tracking charged particles in a magnetic field becomes increasingly important. Two methods for including magnetic field effects on charged particles are included in the proton transport version of the code. The first technique utilises transfer maps produced by the beam dynamics simulation and analysis code COSY INFINITY. This method is fast and accurate; however, its use is limited to void cells only and to ensembles of particles with a fairly small energy spread. The second technique, particle ray tracing, is based on an algorithm adopted from the MARS transport code. This method can be applied to both void and material cells and is valid over a very large range of particle energies. Results from tracking particles in a quadrupole 'identity lens' using the two techniques are compared.

Computer Simulation↗

[Injuries in track and field sports].

Acute injuries in track and field sports are rare compared to team or combatant sports (accident rate 0.4%-1%). Acute lesions are most frequent in the muscular system, followed by ruptures of the larger tendons as well as of the ligaments and capsule of the large joints. More frequent are the so-called chronically recurrent microlesions due to false or excessive strain and "endogeneous injuries." Pain at the insertions of the great tendons belongs to this category, for instance achillodynia, the so-called shin splint at the tibia, and jumper's knee involving the patella tendon. Operative treatment of muscle tears is only considered in cases of bigger extent, i.e. in 1/3 of the whole muscle diameter. Disruptions of the great tendons especially at the leg as well as unstable injuries of the capsular ligaments are an indication for reconstructive surgery. In cases of chronic sports injuries due to recurrent overstrain the noxious agent must be eliminated as a preventive step accompanied by some conservative methods of treatment. Stretching and warming up in combination with step-by-step rehabilitation training are of special importance.

Athletic Injuries↗

Medical coverage for track and field events.

Providing medical coverage at a track and field event is similar to other spectator events, but there are some important differences. With simultaneous events occurring over a large area, reliable communication with quick access to all event sites is mandatory. Preparation needs to include a prearranged emergency response plan for each event. Because field events involve throwing heavy and sometimes sharp objects (discus, hammer, shot put, and javelin) or landing in a cushioned pit (high jump, pole vault), sites need well-demarcated, constantly monitored boundaries with properly installed, well-maintained safety equipment. All personnel involved in monitoring these events should be educated on proper procedure in managing potential head or neck injuries. Event officials must also remained focused on their tasks, avoiding the distractions that simultaneous events can cause. Because most events are outdoors, appropriate protection and recovery sites for heat, cold, and sun exposure should be arranged.

Arm Injuries↗

Track and field injuries.

OBJECTIVE: A review of the existing literature on injuries to youth (< or =18 years old) in track and field or athletics. DATA SOURCES: Searches of the Medline and SPORT Discus databases for English language articles through the end of 2003, using the search terms (adolescent or youth) and (track or field or running) and injuries. MAIN RESULTS: Only nine prospective or retrospective studies were found dealing with track and field injuries in children and that stated injury rates or provided enough information to allow the estimation of injury rates. Differences in study design and inconsistencies in the definition of a reportable injury provided major hindrances to making comparisons or combining data across studies. Among the few conclusions that can be drawn are that the lower extremities account for the majority of injuries, and muscle strains and ligament sprains are the predominant types of injury. While a majority of injuries may occur during training, since there is much more exposure during training than during competitions, the risk of injury is about four times higher during competitions. CONCLUSIONS: Informed decisions with regard to preventing injuries in youth track and field are dependent upon the quality of the basic epidemiological data available, and at this time such data are, for the most part, nonexistent. Because of the large numbers of participants and the large number and variety of activities involved in track and field, adequately designed epidemiological research is difficult, but opportunities for research in this sport are available for anyone willing to take on the challenge.

Adolescent↗

Percentage decline in masters superathlete track and field performance with aging.

Masters athletic records in track and field events, published in September 1999, were analyzed to evaluate the percentage decline in maximum physiological performance with increasing age. Records were normalized using the 30s age records as the baseline and studied through to the 90s age range. Track running records declined with age in a curvilinear fashion [y = 1-exp((T-T0)/tau)] whereas the walking and field events declined in a linear manner [y = alpha (T-T'0)]. There were significant differences in the rates of percentage decline in the running events over various distances for both males and females, and significant differences between males and females. Decline with aging was greater for females, and for the longer or endurance running events. There were no differences in the rates of declining function for any of the walking events, and the only jumping event to show a significant difference was the high jump performance, which showed the slowest decline. The walking events declined more slowly than the running events, which declined more slowly than the jumping events. Because of the changes in the weights, heights, and distances at different ages, for both males and females, it was not possible to directly compare rates of decline in the various throwing and hurdling events. The strength-dependent throwing events and the pole vault showed the greatest rates of decline with age. In general terms, men's performance declined to 75% of peak performance in sprint events by the early 70s, in the longer track distances by mid to late 60s, and in field events by mid to late 50s. Women's performance declined to a similar extent by their mid 60s in track events, and by late 40s to early 50s in field events. Some of these differences may be due to differences in training effort and/or other competitive aspects, such as the numbers of athletes involved in the sport, and such differences may be reduced in the future with a more professional approach to these events.

Adult↗

Musculoskeletal disorders in former athletes. A cohort study in 114 track and field champions.

We studied the influence of elite track and field activities on the musculoskeletal system in a cohort of 114 Swedish men 50-80 years of age compared to 355 randomly selected referents in the same age group. Arthrosis of the hip was increased more than threefold among the athletes (8 percent) compared to the referents (2 percent). For other musculoskeletal disorders the distribution was similar between the groups but the prevalence of arthrosis of the knee tended to increase while that of neck/shoulder disorders tended to decrease in the athlete group.

Aged↗

Longitudinal trends in track and field performances.

Previous investigation of aging effects in track and field performances has relied on cross-sectional data. In the present study, the shapes were examined of longitudinal performances on age curves from 81 older, elite, male athletes. The mean duration of the longitudinal span was 5.3 years, and performances were obtained from six events. The prediction made was that the performance on age curves would be curvilinear in shape: attenuated decline was predicted for the early portion of the longitudinal span, due to the effects of accumulated training. After quantification of the curves by application of a second-order polynomial model, the prediction was borne out by overall analysis of the equation coefficients. Other findings indicated discrepancies in the shape of the curves between the long jump and running events, and a failure to obtain effects owing to the ages of athletes.

Adult↗

Ventilatory and heart rate chemosensitivity in track-and-field athletes.

Fifty-four male track-and-field athletes and 18 male non-athletes were examined by isocapnic progressive hypoxia and CO2 rebreathing tests. Ventilatory and heart rate (HR) responses to hypoxia were analysed by a hyperbolic relationship and the ventilatory response to hypercapnia by a linear regression. The results showed that ventilatory sensitivity during hypoxia was significantly attenuated in the long-distance runners and sprinters compared to the non-athletes. Although heart rate sensitivity during hypoxia in none of the athletes showed a significant difference compared to that of the non-athletes, baseline HR in the long-distance runners was significantly lower than that of the non-athletes. None of the athletes showed significant differences in ventilatory sensitivity during hypercapnia compared to the non-athletes.

Adolescent↗

Pneumomediastinum in a female track and field athlete: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: To present the case of an elite female track and field athlete who suffered a pneumomediastinum resulting from a Valsalva maneuver performed while throwing the javelin. BACKGROUND: Episodes of chest pain and labored breathing in athletes may be alarming. Accurate, early diagnosis is enhanced by an awareness of those relatively rare conditions that may cause these symptoms. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: Bronchial injury/fracture, retropharyngeal abscess, acute pulmonary disease, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, cardiac disease, allergic reaction. TREATMENT: The athlete was given intravenous morphine for pain, prescribed oral pain medication, and restricted from strenuous activity for 6 weeks. Aerobic exercise was allowed after pain and air in the neck subsided, which was estimated at 1 week postinjury. UNIQUENESS: This is a rarely reported case of a pneumomediastinum in a female and a track and field athlete. CONCLUSIONS: Medical personnel must be aware of the possibility of pneumomediastinum in track and field athletes and in female athletes and must be knowledgeable in the followup care and the safe return of the athlete to activity.

Journal Article↗

Spirometry and airway reactivity in elite track and field athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize spirometry and to document the incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) during competition in elite track and field athletes. DESIGN: Spirometry was performed in 120 men and 69 women athletes before competition and peak expiratory flows in 50 men and 23 women athletes before and after competition. SETTING: The 1991 (Randalls Island, NY, U.S.A.) and the 1993 (Eugene, OR, U.S.A.) National Track and Field Championships (World Championship team-qualifying meet). PARTICIPANTS: American track and field athletes who met World Championship qualifying standards. MEASUREMENTS: Spirometry (Cybermedic, Inc., Boulder, CO, U.S.A.) and peak expiratory flows (Personal Best, Healthscan Products, Cedar Grove, NJ, U.S.A.)--the best of three reproducible efforts. RESULTS: Male sprinters had lower vital capacities than other track athletes, whereas both male and female field (throwing) athletes had larger vital capacities than both runners and other field athletes. Decreases of 10% peak expiratory flows were found in 10% of men and 26% of women track athletes within 15 min after competition. The incidence was higher in longer-distance events. Most participants did not have a history of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: A higher-than-expected prevalence of EIB was found in high-level track athletes. The results suggest that spirometry and/or peak flows should be measured in track athletes because small decreases in airflow may impair training or performance, a condition that is easily treated.

Adult↗

Life expectancy in Italian track and field athletes.

Nine hundred eighty-three top Italian track and field athletes (700 males and 283 females) were examined for survival, mortality and causes of death for an average follow-up period of 18.6 years starting from their last year of competition as members of the national team. Overall mortality rates were compared to the rates expected on the basis of the life tables for Italian people of the same age, sex and time period. Thirty-four deaths were observed among males (vs 46.6 expected) with a O/E ratio of 0.73, while 3 deaths were observed among women (vs 6.2 expected) with a O/E ratio of 0.48. Neither of these differences was significant, but the O/E ratio for the group as a whole was quite significant (p = 0.0296). Some of the athletes demonstrated behavioural characteristics developed during their active careers that might have contributed to their low mortality rate.

Adolescent↗

Nutritional supplement practices in UK junior national track and field athletes.

METHODS: The nutritional supplementation practices of 32 national track and field athletes competing at the 2004 World Junior Championships were studied using an anonymous questionnaire. Information was sought on the prevalence and type of supplement used, the reasons for use, knowledge of supplements, and sources of information. RESULTS: Use of supplements was widespread with 62% of respondents declaring supplement use. Prevalence in female athletes (75%) was higher than in males (55%) but was not statistically significant. No differences were found for age, training volume, or type of event. Seventeen different supplements were taken, with each athlete using an average of 2.4 products, multivitamins and minerals being the most popular. Reasons for using supplements were for health (45%), to enhance the immune system (40%), and to improve performance (25%). Of all respondents 48% believed they had an average knowledge of supplements, but three quarters felt that they required further information. Those not using supplements were more likely to think supplements were associated with health risks than those taking them (p = 0.03). Most athletes (72%) have access to a sports dietician but underutilise this resource. Coaches (65%) had the greatest influence on supplementation practices, with doctors (25%) and sports dieticians (30%) being less important. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation practices were widespread among the population studied. The findings of this investigation could be used to enable the sports dietician and physician to identify common misconceptions held by adolescent athletes regarding nutritional supplements and to implement educational programs, which should include members of the non-medical support team.

Adolescent↗

Development and testing of passive tracking markers for different field strengths and tracking speeds.

Susceptibility markers for passive tracking need to be small in order to maintain the shape and mechanical properties of the endovascular device. Nevertheless, they also must have a high magnetic moment to induce an adequate artefact at a variety of scan techniques, tracking speeds and, preferably, field strengths. Paramagnetic markers do not satisfy all of these requirements. Ferro- and ferrimagnetic materials were therefore investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer and compared with the strongly paramagnetic dysprosium oxide. Results indicated that the magnetic behaviour of stainless steel type AISI 410 corresponds the best with ideal marker properties. Markers with different magnetic moments were constructed and tested in in vitro and in vivo experiments. The appearance of the corresponding artefacts was field strength independent above magnetic saturation of 1.5 T. Generally, the contrast-to-noise ratio decreased at increasing tracking speed and decreasing magnetic moment. Device depiction was most consistent at a frame rate of 20 frames per second.

Angiography↗

Computer generated track and field scoring tables: III. Model evaluation and analysis.

An investigation is made into the subject of scoring tables for track and field with emphasis on the application of computers to calculate and output the tables. The resulting scoring tables represent an attempt to describe the effective quality of performance for track and field events. This paper is published in three parts. The first part reviewed the historical development of scoring tables. The second part presented a theoretical foundation and the development of a model which could be utilized for all scoring tables. In this final part, the model is evaluated and an analysis of the model validity is made. Sample computer generated scoring tables are included.

Computers↗

The performance of matched-field track-before-detect methods using shallow-water Pacific data.

Matched-field track-before-detect processing, which extends the concept of matched-field processing to include modeling of the source dynamics, has recently emerged as a promising approach for maintaining the track of a moving source. In this paper, optimal Bayesian and minimum variance beamforming track-before-detect algorithms which incorporate a priori knowledge of the source dynamics in addition to the underlying uncertainties in the ocean environment are presented. A Markov model is utilized for the source motion as a means of capturing the stochastic nature of the source dynamics without assuming uniform motion. In addition, the relationship between optimal Bayesian track-before-detect processing and minimum variance track-before-detect beamforming is examined, revealing how an optimal tracking philosophy may be used to guide the modification of existing beamforming techniques to incorporate track-before-detect capabilities. Further, the benefits of implementing an optimal approach over conventional methods are illustrated through application of these methods to shallow-water Pacific data collected as part of the SWellEX-1 experiment. The results show that incorporating Markovian dynamics for the source motion provides marked improvement in the ability to maintain target track without the use of a uniform velocity hypothesis.

Acoustics↗

Musculoskeletal injuries in track and field: incidence, distribution and risk factors.

This study evaluated the incidence, distribution and types of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by 95 track and field athletes in a 12 month period using a retrospective cohort design, and analysed selected training, anthropometric, menstrual and clinical biomechanical risk factors. Overall, 72 athletes sustained 130 injuries giving an athlete incidence rate of 76% and an injury exposure rate of 3.9 per 1000 training hours. The majority of injuries were overuse in nature and approximately one-third of all injuries were recurrent. The risk of injury was not influenced by gender or event group. The most common sites of injury were the leg (28%), thigh (22%) and knee (16%) with the most common diagnoses being stress fractures (21%) and hamstring strains (14%). Injury patterns varied between event groups with middle-distance and distance runners sustaining more overuse injuries, and sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and multi event athletes more acute injuries (p < 0.05). Increasing age, greater overall flexibility and a greater prevalence of menstrual disturbances were associated with a greater likelihood of injury. The results of this study show that track and field athletes are at high risk for musculoskeletal injury and that it may be possible to identify those who are more likely to sustain an injury.

Adult↗

Skeletal maturity and body size of teenage Belgian track and field athletes.

Attained skeletal maturity (TW2 RUS method), skeletal maturity relative to chronological age, and body size of national-level Belgian track and field athletes 15 to 18 years of age were considered. Among the 47 male athletes, 29 (62%) were skeletally mature, while 15 (52%) of the 29 female athletes were skeletally mature. There appeared to be a predominance of skeletally mature individuals among male sprinters and jumpers, while a majority of female sprinters were not skeletally mature. Both skeletally mature and immature individuals were rather evenly represented in the other track and field categories, with the exception of female throwers, who were skeletally mature. Mean statures and weights of skeletally mature and immature 16-, 17-and 18-year-old male athletes did not differ significantly, though the skeletally mature tended to be heavier. In contrast, the skeletally mature female athletes, on the average, were taller and heavier than the skeletally immature, although the differences among the small groups were not statistically significant.

Adolescent↗