Background: Improved oxygen uptake improves soccer performance as regards distance covered, involvements with the ball, and number of sprints. Large improvements in oxygen uptake have been shown using interval running. A similar physiological load arising from interval running could be obtained using the soccer ball in training. Objectives: The main aim was to study physiological adaptations to a 10 week high intensity aerobic interval training program performed by professional youth soccer players, using a soccer specific ball dribbling track. Methods: Eleven youth soccer players with a mean (SD) age of 16.9 (0.4) years performed high intensity aerobic interval training sessions twice per week for 10 weeks in addition to normal soccer training. The specific aerobic training consisted of four sets of 4 min work periods dribbling a soccer ball around a specially designed track at 90-95% of maximal heart frequency, with a 3 min recovery jog at 70% of maximal heart frequency between intervals. Results: Mean Vo 2max improved significantly from 63.4 (5.6) to 69.8 (6.6) ml kg 21 min 21 , or 183.3 (13.2) to 201.5 (16.2) ml kg 20.75 min 21 (p,0.001). Squat jump and counter movement jump height increased significantly from 37.7 (6.2) to 40.3 (6.1) cm and 52.0 (4.0) to 53.4 (4.2) cm, respectively (p,0.05). No significant changes in body mass, running economy, rate of force development, or 10 m sprint times occurred. Conclusion: Performing high intensity 4 min intervals dribbling a soccer ball around a specially designed track together with regular soccer training is effective for improving the Vo 2max of soccer players, with no negative interference effects on strength, jumping ability, and sprinting performance.

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SummaryPropofol is frequently associated with pain on injection. Previous studies have suggested that chilling of the propofol decreases pain significantly. This prospective, randomised, double-blind trial was designed to assess the effectiveness of cold propofol compared with propofol premixed with lignocaine in minimising pain on injection. Patients were allocated to one of four groups: propofol lignocaine 0.1 mg.kg ÿ 1 , propofol lignocaine 0.2 mg.kg ÿ 1 , cold propofol and a control group consisting of propofol premixed with normal saline and maintained at room temperature. The results of this study show that cold propofol is associated with a very high incidence of injection pain while lignocaine 0.1 mg.kg ÿ 1 premixed with propofol significantly decreases the incidence of pain (p < 0.001). Increasing the dosage of lignocaine above 0.1 mg.kg ÿ 1 , however, does not significantly decrease the incidence of pain further. The addition of lignocaine also significantly decreases the incidence of excitatory side-effects.Keywords Anaesthetics; intravenous; propofol. Complications; pain. ...................................................................................... Correspondence to: Dr A. K. Parmar Accepted: 20 May 1997 Propofol possesses many characteristics of an ideal intravenous anaesthetic agent, providing a smooth induction and a rapid recovery. However, it has been reported to evoke considerable pain on injection in 10-100% of patients [1][2][3][4]. Numerous methods have been advocated to alleviate this pain. McCrirrick et al. demonstrated that the incidence of pain was decreased significantly when propofol was administered at a temperature of 4 ЊC [5]. A subsequent study, designed to assess the effectiveness of pretreatment with intravenous cold saline, found no statistically significant difference between the following treatment groups: cold propofol, propofol with lignocaine 0.05% and unmodified propofol preceded by cold saline [6]. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of cold propofol compared with propofol premixed with lignocaine in minimising pain associated with the injection of propofol. MethodsApproval for this prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics and Research Committee. The study was undertaken in 153 patients (ASA Class 1 and 2), aged 18-65 years, who presented for elective surgery under general anaesthesia. Written informed consent was obtained from all participating patients. The following groups of patients were not studied: pregnant/lactating mothers, patients with a history of epilepsy or cardiac conduction defects, patients on anti-arrhythmic drugs or analgesics, patients with disorders of lipid metabolism or in conditions where lipid emulsions must be used cautiously and patients with a past history of an adverse response to propofol or lignocaine.Patients were randomly allocated to one of four groups as categorised in Table 1. All mixtures were freshly prepared and were well mixed prior to injection...

The incidence of partial denture design by a group of dentists using a commercial dental laboratory is unacceptably low. Despite evidence advocating the use of gingivally-approaching clasps on teeth anterior to (and including) premolars, there is still an unacceptably high level of the use of occlusally-approaching designs.