Effects of Chronic Supplementation of L-Arginine on Physical Fitness in Water Polo Players.

Background: Ergogenic nutritional supplementation is sought by professional athletes for improving physical performance; nevertheless, scientific evidence to support the chronic use of L-Arginine among water polo players is missing.

Methods: Seventeen male professional water polo players were randomly assigned to assume 5 grams per day of L-Arginine ( = 9) or placebo ( = 8) for 4 weeks. The players' fitness level was assessed in the maximal speed swimming test.

[An application of mini-invasive surface surgery: the thyroid].

Since its introduction, minimally-invasive surgery has been applied to structures contained in natural cavities such as abdomen, thorax and articulations. At present, its application to surface zones (plastic surgery) gives good results. For this reason, we tried to examine thyroid area through a video-assisted access in a 32 years old woman presenting a nodule with a diameter of about 1 cm, localized in the left parahistmic thyroid area.

Manometric assessment of Heller-Dor operation for esophageal achalasia.

Background/aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes occurring in esophageal motility through a systematic manometric study performed before, during and after Heller-Dor operation (8) and to correlate the possible post-operative symptoms to the manometric and pH-recording patterns detected, in order to provide useful elements that may optimize surgical therapy for esophageal achalasia.

Materials And Methods: Between January 1981 and January 1991, 27 patients affected by esophageal achalasia underwent Heller's operation with Dor's anti-reflux procedure. Assessment involved clinical, radiological and manometric investigations.

[Rationale of the surgical treatment of duodenogastroesophageal reflux].

Patients with "intact stomach" but more frequently patients operated on the esophago-gastric junction, vagus, stomach, can develope a duodeno-gastro-esophageal reflux syndrome. We propose a rationale of the surgical treatment based upon our experiences during these last 15 years in functional studies, mainly manometric, of the entire esophago-gastro-duodeno-jejunal tract. Patients with an intect stomach: a non-demolitive ("functional") technique may be proposed each time a correctable alteration of the gastro-duodenal motility is found during the manometric study.