Taekwondo-specific cardiopulmonary tests enhance the validity of some cardiopulmonary responses and might therefore be considered to optimize routine diagnostic testing and training prescription for this athletic group.

Aims: To study the bladder structure of fetuses with prune belly syndrome (PBS). Methods:We studied three bladders obtained from three male fetuses with PBS and seven bladders from seven male fetuses without anomalies. Each bladder was dissected and embedded in paraffin, from which 5 μm thick sections were obtained and stained with Masson's trichrome (to quantify connective tissue and smooth muscle) and picrosirius red with polarization (to observe collagen). Immunohistochemistry with tubulin (Tubulin, beta III, Mouse Monoclonal Antibody) was applied to observe the bladder nerves. The images were captured with an Olympus BX51 microscope and Olympus DP70 camera. The stereological analysis was done with the Image Pro and Image J programs, using a grid to determine volumetric densities (Vv). Means were statistically compared using the Mann-Whitney test (P < 0.05). Results: Quantitative analysis documented that smooth muscle fibers were significantly smaller (P = 0.04) in PBS fetuses (9.67% to 17.75%, mean = 13.2%) compared to control group (13.33% to 26.56%, mean = 17.43%). The analysis of collagen fibers showed predominance of green in the control group, suggesting collagen type III presence, and predominance of red in the in PBS fetal bladders, suggesting collagen type I presence in this group. The qualitative analysis of the nerves with immunohistochemistry with tubulin showed predominance of nerves in the control group. Conclusion: The bladder in PBS had lower concentrations of smooth muscle fibers, collagen type III, and nerves. These structural alterations can be one of the factors involved in urinary tract abnormality such as distended bladder in patients with PBS.

The objective of this study is to propose and validate an interval taekwondo-specific cardiopulmonary exercise test (ITKDtest) and compare it with running cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and a continuous taekwondospecific cardiopulmonary exercise test (CTKDtest). Fifteen athletes (age 22 6 4 years; body mass 71.1 6 10.2 kg; height 178.14 6 8.3 cm; and body mass index 22.4 6 2.4 kg$m 22 ) performed CPET, CTKDtest, and ITKDtest on a counterbalanced order. Oxygen uptake (V _ O 2 ), heart rate (HR), and ventilatory thresholds (VTs 1 and 2) were measured during the 3 tests. ITKDtest started at 30 kicks per minute and increased 10 kicks each 2 minutes, with a period of passive recovery, lasting 1 minute. Interval protocol design simulated the temporal structure of an official taekwondo fight. Significant difference between specific tests was found for V _ O 2 VT1 (p = 0.03), V _ O 2 VT1 (%V _ O 2 peak) (p = 0.009) , V _ O 2 VT2 (p = 0.005), and V _ O 2 VT2 (%V _ O 2peak ) (p = 0.013). Reliability was considered "excellent" for V _ O 2peak (a = 0.902; SEM = 0.179), "good" for V _ O 2 VT1 (a = 0.708; SEM = 3.823) and HR peak (a = 0.803; SEM = 2.987), and "fair" for V _ O 2 VT2 (a = 0.659; SEM = 4.498) and HR VT2 (a = 0.580; SEM = 8.868). Bland-Altman analyses reported a mean difference of 2.9 6 6.6 ml$kg 21 $min 21 (CPET-ITKDtest) and 1.4 6 6.1 ml$kg 21 $min 21 (CTKDtest-ITKDtest). ITKDtest may be used for measurement of cardiorespiratory variables commonly used in exercise prescription, whereas CTKDtest seems to be a more appropriate method to assess V _ O 2 and HR at VTs.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the structure of the endopelvic fascia in prostates of different weights. METHODS:We studied 10 patients with BPH (prostates>90g); 10 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PAC) (prostates<60g) and five young male cadavers (control group). During the surgery a small sample of endopelvic fascia was obtained. We analyzed elastic fibers, collagen and smooth muscle. The stereological analysis was done with the Image Pro and Image J programs. Means were statistically compared using the one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni test and a p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:The mean of the prostate weight was 122 g in BPH patients, 53.1g in PAC patients and 18.6g in control group. Quantitative analysis documented that there are no differences (p=0.19) in Vv of elastic fibers and in Vv of type III collagen (p=0.88) between the three groups. There was a significant difference (p=0<0.0001) in the quantification of SMC in patients with prostates >90g (mean=9.61%) when compared to patients with prostates <60g (mean=17.92%) and with the control group (mean=33.35%).CONCLUSION: There are differences in endopelvic fascia structure in prostates>90g, which can be an additional factor for preoperatory evaluation of radical prostatectomy.

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