Basistests Suisse Sport Test Konzept: Validierung einer sportmotorischen Basistestbatterie für den Schul- und Nachwuchssport

Physical fitness can be evaluated in competitive and school sports with different field tests under different conditions and goals. To produce valid results, a field test must be practical and reach high standards of test criteria (objectivity, reliability, validity). The purpose of this study was to investigate the test criteria and the practicability of a group of field tests called «SUISSE Sport Test Konzept Basis Feldtestbatterie». For 20-m sprint, ventral trunk muscle test, standing long jump, 2-kg medicine ball shot, obstacle course and cooper-test, test quality and practicability were evaluated. 221 children and adolescents from competitive sports and different school levels took part in the study. According to school level, they were divided into 3 groups (P: 7–11.5 y, S1: 11.6–15.5 y, S2: 15.6–21.8 y). Objectivity was tested for time or distance measurement in all tests as well as for error rating in obstacle test. For reliability measurement, 162 subjects performed the field tests twice within a few weeks. For validity results of standing long jump were compared with counter movement jump performance on a force plate. Correlation analysis was performed and level of significance was set for p < 0.05. For accuracy standard error was calculated. All tests achieved sufficient to excellent objectiv - ity with correlation-coefficient (r) lying between 0.85 and 0.99. Reliability was very good (r = 0.84–0.97). In cooper- and trunk test, reliability was higher for athletes than for pupils (trunk test: r = 0.95 vs. r = 0.62, cooper-test: r = 0.90 vs. r = 0.78). In those tests the reliability decreases with increasing age (cooper-test: P: r = 0.84, S1: r = 0.69, S2: r = 0.52; trunk-test: P: r = 0.69, S1: r = 0.71; S2: r = 0.39). Validity for standing long jump was good (r = 0.75–0.86). The standard error of the mean was between 4–8%, with the exception for cooper-test (athletes: 6%, pupils: 11%) and trunk test (athletes: 14%, pupils: 46%). The results show that the evaluated group of field tests is a practicable, objective and reliable tool to determine physical skills in young athletes as well as in a scholar setting over a broad age range. Most of the tests achieved the test criteria with the grades good to excellent. The lower coefficient of reliability for cooper- and trunk test by the pupils could be explained by motivational problems in this setting. For up to 20 subjects, a tester can accomplish the tests within 3 h. Finally, age-dependent grades were elaborated

Bone mineral density in young women with long-standing amenorrhea: limited effect of hormone replacement therapy with ethinylestradiol and desogestrel

To assess bone mineral density (BMD) at different skeletal sites in women with hypothalamic or ovarian amenorrhea and the effect of estrogen-gestagen substitution on BMD we compared BMD of 21 amenorrheic patients with hypothalamic or ovarian amenorrhea with that of a control population of 123 healthy women. All amenorrheic patients were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Division of Gynecological Endocrinology at the University of Berne, a public University Hospital. One hundred and twenty-three healthy, regularly menstruating women recruited in the Berne area served as a control group. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At each site where it was measured, mean BMD was lower in the amenorrheic group than in the control group. Compared with the control group, average BMD in the amenorrheic group was 85% at lumbar spine (p < 0.0001), 92% at femoral neck (p < 0.02), 90% at Ward's triangle (p < 0.03), 92% at tibial diaphysis (p < 0.0001) and 92% at tibial epiphysis (p < 0.03). Fifteen amenorrheic women received estrogen-gestagen replacement therapy (0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel daily for 21 days per month), bone densitometry being repeated within 12-24 months. An annual increase in BMD of 0.2% to 2.9% was noted at all measured sites, the level of significance being reached at the lumbar spine (p < 0.0012) and Ward's triangle (p < 0.033). In conclusion BMD is lower in amenorrheic young women than in a population of normally menstruating, age-matched women in both mainly trabecular (lumbar spine, Ward's triangle, tibial epiphysis) and mainly cortical bone (femoral neck, tibial diaphysis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catheter ablation of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Strategies and results

Catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is a meanwhile established therapy option, which is most frequently performed using radiofrequency ablation. Mid-term success rate of 70 % are achievable with a single ablation procedure. However, the mechanistics of persistent atrial fibrillation are less well understood and catheter ablation is a far more challenging procedure. Different ablation approaches are being performed to treat persistent atrial fibrillation ranging from sole pulmonary vein isolation to additional ablation of fractionated electrograms aiming for termination of atrial fibrillation. Thus far, it has not been investigated which strategy is most successful in treating persistent atrial fibrillation. After extended ablation of atrial fibrillation, occurrence of organized atrial arrhythmias is not uncommon and can be successfully ablated. These consecutive arrhythmias can be considered as a next step towards stable sinus rhythm after repeat ablation. Improvement of mapping methods as well as a better understanding of mechanisms of atrial fibrillation may increase success rate of catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation and may also help to improve success rate of these complex procedures.

Assessing the effectiveness of a long-standing rocky intertidal protected area and its contribution to the regional conservation of species, habitats and assemblages

1. The acceptance of reserves as a useful management strategy relies on evidence of their effectiveness in preserving stocks of harvested species and conserving biodiversity. A history of ad hoc decisions in terrestrial and marine protected area planning has meant that many of these areas are contributing inefficiently to conservation goals. The conservation value of existing protected areas should be assessed when planning the placement of additional areas in a reserve network. 2. This study tested (1) the effectiveness of protection for intertidal molluscs of a marine reserve (Bouddi Marine Extension, NSW, Australia) established in 1971, and (2) the contribution of the protected area to the conservation of regional species, assemblages, and habitats. 3. The shell length and population density of one harvested (Cellana tramoserica), and three non-harvested species (Bembicium nanum, Morula marginalba, Nerita atramentosa) of intertidal molluscs were examined in the protected area and two reference locations over two seasons. 4. The heavily collected limpet C. tramoserica was significantly larger in the protected area and was the only species to exhibit a significant difference. No species significantly differed in population density between the protected area and reference locations. 5. Temporally replicated surveys of macro-molluscs at 21 locations over 75km of coastline identified that the existing protected area included 50% of species, two of five assemblage types and 19 of 20 intertidal rocky shore habitats surveyed in the study region. Reservation of a further three rocky reefs would protect a large proportion of species (71%), a representative of each assemblage and all habitat types. 6. Despite originally being selected in the absence of information on regional biodiversity, the protected area is today an effective starting point for expansion to a regional network of intertidal protected areas.