The coordination of hip, knee and ankle joint angles during gait in soccer players and controls

Background: Clinical researchers are trying to unravel the impact of different training interventions on the kinematics of human gait. However, the effects of long-term training experience on the kinematics of a healthy gait pattern remains unclear. Here we assess the effect of long-term training experience on joint angle variability during walking. Methods: Hip, knee, and ankle joint angles from fourteen soccer players and sixteen controls were acquired during treadmill and overground walking. Hip-knee coupling, knee-ankle coupling and coupling angle variability (CAV) of the right leg in the sagittal plane were assessed using a vector coding technique. Results: Soccer players showed reduced hip-knee CAV during the mid-stance and terminal-stance phases and reduced knee-ankle CAV during the pre-swing phase of gait compared to the control group. In addition, soccer players less often used an ankle coordination pattern, in which only the ankle joint but not the knee joint rotates. Interpretation: These findings show that soccer players had more stability in the ankle joint during the stance phase of the gait compared to the control group. Future studies can test whether these differences in the coordination of the ankle joint reflect the effects of long-term training on normal gait by comparing knee-ankle coupling and variability before and after exercise training interventions.

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Antibiotics at birth and later antibiotic courses: effects on gut microbiota

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01494-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sofia Ainonen ◽

Mysore V Tejesvi ◽

Md. Rayhan Mahmud ◽

Niko Paalanne ◽

Tytti Pokka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Control Group ◽

List Type ◽

Antibiotic Exposure ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact ◽

Antibiotic Courses ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Abstract Background Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is widely used, but the evidence of the long-term effects on the gut microbiota and subsequent health of children is limited. Here, we compared the impacts of perinatal antibiotic exposure and later courses of antibiotic courses on gut microbiota. Methods This was a prospective, controlled cohort study among 100 vaginally delivered infants with different perinatal antibiotic exposures: control (27), IAP (27), postnatal antibiotics (24), and IAP and postnatal antibiotics (22). At 1 year of age, we performed next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene of fecal samples. Results Exposure to the perinatal antibiotics had a clear impact on the gut microbiota. The abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum was significantly higher in the control group, whereas the relative abundance of Escherichia coli was significantly lower in the control group. The impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than exposure to later courses of antibiotics (28% of participants). Conclusions Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the gut microbiota at the age of 1 year. The timing of the antibiotic exposure appears to be the critical factor for the changes observed in the gut microbiota. Impact Infants are commonly exposed to IAP and postnatal antibiotics, and later to courses of antibiotics during the first year of life. Perinatal antibiotics have been associated with an altered gut microbiota during the first months of life, whereas the evidence regarding the long-term impact is more limited. Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the infant’s gut microbiota at 1 year of age. Impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than that of the later courses of antibiotics at the age of 1 year.

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What is the impact of methotrexate on liver in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? Results of liver SWE performed in a single centre

Modern Rheumatology ◽

10.1093/mr/roab064 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vildan Güngörer ◽

Mehmet Öztürk ◽

Mustafa Yasir Özlü ◽

Şükrü Arslan

Keyword(s):

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽

Shear Wave Elastography ◽

Term Therapy ◽

Control Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 2 ◽

Long Term Therapy ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Objectives Long-term therapy with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in treatment of rheumatic diseases, in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate liver elasticity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who received MTX and compare the results with control group. Methods Liver elasticity was evaluated with shear wave elastography (SWE) technique in 25 patients aged 3–17 years who were followed up with JIA and received MTX and compared with 25 healthy controls of the same age and weight. Factors that had an effect on liver elasticity were examined. Results The mean SWE value of patients was 2.64 ± 2.13 m/s and 24.10 ± 18.50 kPa, whereas 1.83 ± 0.16 m/s and 10.09 ± 1.83 kPa in control group. There was a significant difference in liver elasticity in the patient and control groups. When the patients were evaluated as Group 1 (< 1000 mg) and Group 2 (≥ 1000 mg) according to the cumulative MTX dose, no significant difference was obtained. There was positive correlation between liver elasticity and weekly MTX dose and age. Conclusions Our study revealed that liver elasticity significantly decreased in patients who received MTX when compared with the control group. The elastography technique will be understood better over time and used safely in many areas.

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Impact of long-term supplementation of zinc and selenium on their content in blood and hair in goats

Veterinární Medicína ◽

10.17221/1581-vetmed ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 56 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 63-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

L. Pavlata ◽

M. Chomat ◽

A. Pechova ◽

L. Misurova ◽

R. Dvorak

Keyword(s):

Blood Plasma ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Average Concentration ◽

The Other ◽

Control Group ◽

Selenium Yeast ◽

Hair Samples ◽

The Impact ◽

Se Status

This paper evaluates the impact of long-term supplementation of different forms of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) on the content of these substances in the blood and hair of goats. Two analogous supplementation experiments were performed. 37 goats divided into four groups were used in the first trial with the Zn supplementation. Group A (n = 10) was a control group (with no Zn administered). A further three groups (B, C, D) were supplemented with Zn in various forms. Group B (n = 9) with zinc oxide, Group C (n = 9) with zinc lactate and Group D (n = 9) with zinc chelate. The second trial with Se supplementation was carried out on 20 goats divided into four groups. Group E (n = 5) was a control group. The other three groups were administered Se. Group F (n = 5) was supplied with a selenium lactate-protein complex, Group G (n = 5) with sodium selenite and Group H (n = 5) with selenium yeast. Three months later blood and hair samples were taken from all animals and Zn and Se concentrations were determined in whole blood, plasma, and hair. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was determined in the Se supplementation trial group. At the end of the trial the Zn concentrations in plasma and whole blood were without major differences between the groups. The plasma concentration of Zn did not increase from the initial value at the start of the trial. In hair the average concentration of Zn was 95.2–100.0 mg/kg<br />in all groups. No conclusive relation was confirmed between the values of Zn in hair and its concentration in blood. The Se concentration in whole blood (µg/l) at the end of trial in supplemented groups (F – 188.8 ± 24.6; G – 197.2 ± 10.9; H – 190.1 ± 26.3) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the control group (E – 103.1 ± 23.5). Similarly, the activity of GSH-Px (µkat/l) was significantly higher in all supplemented groups (F – 872.3 ± 94.8; G – 659.5 ± 176.4; H – 839.8 ± 150.8) than in the control group (E – 379.1 ± 63.5). Se content in hair (µg/kg) was higher also in all trial groups (F – 242.3 ± 41.5; G – 200.5 ± 46.9; H – 270.0 ± 106.8) than in the control group (E – 174.7 ± 38.0). However, it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher only in Group F. A conclusive correlation was identified between the Se concentration in whole blood and its content in hair (r = 0.54; P < 0.05; n = 20). Based on the results it can be concluded that none of the supplemented forms of Zn increased its concentration in blood, plasma and hair. On the other hand, the administration of Se led to an increase in the Se concentration in blood, increased the activity of GSH-Px in whole blood and the Se content in hair. Based on the proven correlation and regression relation between the Se concentration in blood and its content in hair, hair can be considered as a suitable material for the diagnosis of long-term Se status in goats. Goats with sufficient Se status are those that have more than 160 µg/kg of Se in hair dry weight.

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Efficacy assessment of radiosynoviorthesis on the progression of radiological osteoarthritic features of hip and ankle joint in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/a-1108-1187 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (03) ◽

pp. 269-275

Author(s):

Imre Szerb ◽

Tamás Gál ◽

Dániel Kiss ◽

Viktória Nagy ◽

László Hangody

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Ankle Joint ◽

Term Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Hip Joints ◽

Study Objective ◽

Long Term Effect ◽

Structural Progression ◽

Ankle Joints

Abstract Objective The study objective was to evaluate the long-term effect of radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) on the progression of radiological and nuclear-medical osteoarthritic features of hip and ankle joint in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Patients and Methods The study included 89 hip joints of 81 patients, of which 48 had osteoarthritis (OA) and 33 had rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In terms of ankle joints, 64 patients were included of which 43 suffered from OA and 21 from RA. The mean follow-up time was 9.2 years for OA and 8.9 years for RA patients. Patients with RA were the active control group. Structural alterations of the hip joints were evaluated following Kellgren-Lawrence score and of ankle joint following Takakura score for both disease entities. For the evaluation of synovitis 2-phase bone scintigraphy was performed. Results RSO could prevent radiologic status deterioration among 70.6 % of hip osteoarthritic patients and 73.7 % among the hip RA patients. No structural progression was observed in 79.1 % of the treated ankle joints in patients with OA and in 85.7 % of the ankle joints in patients with RA.The scintigraphic response rate for the hip joints of OA patients was 68.6 %, 76.3 % for hip joints of RA patients, 83.1 %, ankle joints of OA patients, and 90.4 % ankle joints of RA patients.The radiographic and scintigraphic RSO response rates were not significantly higher for both joints in RA than OA patients. Conclusion RSO can be a good alternative in the treatment of synovitis and prevention of deterioration of inflammatory and radiographic features even in patients suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. RSO may have also a long-term effect to stop or delay progression of both diseases.

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Enhancing Grit Through Functional Imagery Training in Professional Soccer

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.2017-0093 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 220-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jonathan Rhodes ◽

Jon May ◽

Jackie Andrade ◽

David Kavanagh

Keyword(s):

Goal Setting ◽

Sport Performance ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Control Group ◽

Stepped Wedge ◽

Imagery Training ◽

Professional Soccer ◽

Delayed Group ◽

Short Time

Functional imagery training (FIT) extends multisensory imagery training by involving athletes with goal setting and appraisal. The authors measured the effect of FIT on 24 professional soccer players’ grit, a personality trait associated with perseverance for a long-term goal. In a stepped-wedge design, an immediate (n = 9) and a delayed (n = 10) group received FIT at Week 1 or 6 and were measured at Week 12. A self-selected control group (n = 5) received no intervention. The delayed group was also measured at Week 6 just before their intervention, and at Week 18. Grit scores in both intervention groups increased after the intervention, but the control group’s did not. The delayed group increased in grit between Weeks 6 and 12, showing the effectiveness of the intervention over a relatively short time, and continued to improve to Week 18. In the intervention groups, vividness of goal imagery also increased and players perceived that FIT improved sport performance.

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Empathy Intervention to Reduce Implicit Bias in Pre-Service Teachers

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294118767435 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 122 (2) ◽

pp. 670-688 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Denise K. Whitford ◽

Andrea M. Emerson

Keyword(s):

Implicit Bias ◽

Linguistically Diverse ◽

White Female ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Control Group Design ◽

Group Design ◽

Linguistically Diverse Students ◽

The Impact

There have been long-term concerns regarding discriminatory discipline practices used with culturally and linguistically diverse students, with little research on the impact teacher-centered empathy interventions may have on this population. This randomized pretest–posttest control group design investigates the ability of a brief empathy-inducing intervention to improve the implicit bias of pre-service teachers, as measured by the Implicit Association Test. We found the empathy intervention statistically significant at decreasing the implicit bias of White female pre-service teachers toward Black individuals ( F = 7.55, η2 = 0.22, p = 0.01). Implications and future research are discussed, including extended intervention periods.

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One Shot—No Hit? Evaluation of a Stress-Prevention Workshop for Adolescent Soccer Players in a Randomized Controlled Trial

The Sport Psychologist ◽

10.1123/tsp.2019-0106 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 132-142

Author(s):

Johanna Belz ◽

Jens Kleinert ◽

Moritz Anderten

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Perceived Quality ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Control Group ◽

Stress Coping ◽

Quality Of Results ◽

Stress Prevention

Adolescent soccer players experience many stressors and negative stress-related outcomes. Short-term stress-prevention programs are frequently implemented in youth sports, although there is limited evidence of their usefulness and effectiveness. Thus, the present study evaluated the usefulness and effectiveness of a stress-prevention workshop for adolescent soccer players. Ninety-two soccer players (age: M = 15.5 years, SD = 1.43; 31.5% female) were randomly allocated to either an intervention group or an intervention control group. To evaluate effectiveness, stress, coping, and depression were assessed at baseline (t1) and 4 weeks postworkshop (t2). To investigate usefulness, the perceived quality of results was assessed at t2. No intervention effects on stress, coping, and depression emerged, but both groups exhibited high values regarding perceived quality of results. Although one workshop might not be enough to modify stress-related parameters, it may be useful for adolescent soccer players and pave the way for long-term interventions.

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Long-term Stress Distribution Patterns Across the Ankle Joint in Soccer Players: A Computed Tomography Osteoabsorptiometry Study

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967120963085 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 232596712096308

Author(s):

Junki Shiota ◽

Daisuke Momma ◽

Takayoshi Yamaguchi ◽

Norimasa Iwasaki

Keyword(s):

Bone Density ◽

Stress Distribution ◽

Ankle Joint ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Articular Surface ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

High Density ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Subchondral Bone Density

Background: The distribution pattern of subchondral bone density is considered to accurately reflect the stress distribution over a joint under long-term physiologic loading. The biomechanical characteristics of the surface of the ankle joint in soccer players can be determined by measuring this distribution pattern under long-term loading. Purpose: To evaluate the distribution of subchondral bone density across the ankle joint in soccer players and to determine the effects of soccer activities, including kicking motion, on the ankle joint surface under long-term loading conditions by computed tomography (CT) osteoabsorptiometry (CTOAM). Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: CT imaging data were obtained from both ankles of 10 soccer players (soccer group) and 10 nonathletic volunteers (control group). The distribution patterns of subchondral bone density across the articular surface of the ankle joints were assessed by CTOAM. Quantitative analysis was performed of the locations and percentages of high-density areas on the articular surface. Results: Stress distribution patterns over the ankle joint differed between the soccer players and controls. In the soccer players, the high-density areas were found in the anterior part of the distal tibia and proximal talus as well as the distal fibula. The percentages of high-density areas were greater in the soccer players compared with controls ( P < .0001). Conclusion: Stress distribution over the articular surface of the ankle joint was affected by soccer activities. A high stress concentration was seen in soccer players in the anterior part of the tibia and talus and in the fibula; such excessive stress may lead to anterior impingement.

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The Impact of an Educational Program on Improving Diabetes Knowledge and Changing Behaviors of Nurses in Long-Term Care Facilities

The Diabetes Educator ◽

10.1177/014572179502100608 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 541-545 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Monica Turner Parker ◽

Nancy Leggett-Frazier ◽

Pauline A. Vincent ◽

Melvin S. Swanson

Keyword(s):

Treatment Group ◽

Diabetes Care ◽

Educational Program ◽

Long Term Care ◽

Control Group ◽

Term Care ◽

Care Facilities ◽

Group A ◽

The Impact

Nursing staffs from two long-term care facilities attended a multisession educational program about the care of residents with diabetes (treatment group). A control group consisted of the nursing staffs from two other similar facilities who did not participate in the educational program. Both groups were given a knowledge pretest and posttest. A chart review also was conducted following the educational intervention to determine any changes in the diabetes care provided by the treatment group. Following the educational program, the treatment group had a significant increase in their mean score on the knowledge test compared with the control group. However, a. review of the residents' charts revealed no significant increases in specific behaviors related to diabetes care. The findings suggest that, in addition to educational programs, more focused training concerning diabetes care is needed to improve the care of residents with diabetes in long-term care facilities. Implications for diabetes educators are discussed.

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Clinical utility of complex assessment with evoked potentials in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors: comparison of various treatment protocols

BMC Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12885-021-07873-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Slawomir Kroczka ◽

Konrad Stepien ◽

Izabela Witek-Motyl ◽

Kinga Kwiecinska ◽

Eryk Kapusta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Evoked Potentials ◽

Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Harmful Effect ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Joint Analysis ◽

Control Group ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background One of the greatest success of pediatric hematology is a prominent improvement of survival in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Therefore, special attention needs to be paid to long-term side effects of the treatment such as neurotoxicity. One of the few diagnostic methods that allow an objective assessment of sensory systems are evoked potentials (EP). Methods The analyzed group consisted of 167 ALL long-term survivors, aged 4.9–28.4 years, without auditory, visual and sensory deviations. Patients were treated with New York (NY, n = 35), previous modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (pBFM, n = 47) and BFM95 (n = 85) protocols. In order to assess the impact of radiotherapy on recorded EP, a joint analysis of NY and pBFM groups was performed. The control group consisted of 35 patients, aged 6–17 years. The analyzed patients underwent a complex assessment with visual EP (VEP), somatosensory EP (SEP) and brainstem auditory EP (BAEP) in accordance with current standards. Results ALL treatment contributed to the shortening of wave I latency (1.59 vs 1.90, P = 0.003) and prolongation of I-III (2.23 vs 2.04, P = 0.004) and I-V (4.57 vs 4.24, P = 0.002) interwave latencies of BAEP. A significant effect was also noticed in P100 (106.32 vs 101.57, P < 0.001) and N135 (151.42 vs 138.22, P < 0.001) latencies of VEP and N18 amplitude (3.24 vs 4.70, P = 0.007) and P25 latency (21.32 vs 23.39, P < 0.001) of SEP. The distribution of abnormalities between protocols was similar in BAEP (NY - 68.6%, pBFM - 61.7%, BFM95–69.4%, P = 0.650), VEP (NY - 68.6%, pBFM - 42.5%, BFM95–58.3%, P = 0.053) and significantly different for SEP (NY - 62.9%, pBFM - 36.2%, BFM95–53.0%, P = 0.045). The harmful effect of radiotherapy was most clearly marked in numerous disturbances of SEP parameters. Conclusions The presented analysis indicates a high frequency of subclinical abnormalities in EP regardless of the analyzed protocol. To our knowledge current study is the largest and one of the most complex research examining the role of EP in ALL patients. The obtained results indicate the possibility of using a single, objective and non-invasive measurement of EP in ALL survivors in order to stratify the risk of developing sensory abnormalities in adulthood.

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