Why Do Koreans Love Ethnic Players in the MLB? A Focus on Ethnic Identity and Player Identification

Asians hold a collectivistic culture, and they feel attachment to people who have the same ethnic background. This study explored how roles of ethnic identity influenced fan behaviors of Korean audiences toward Hyun-jin Ryu, the Korean Major League Baseball player. The results showed that ethnic identity influenced player identification, which led to attitudes toward the L.A. Dodgers. Congruence mediated the relationship between ethnic identity and player identification. It is also found that transportation mediated the relationship between player identification and attitudes toward the L.A. Dodgers. These results provide a cultural explanation of fan behaviors of ethnic players. Managerial implications can also be found.

THE EFFECTS OF DYNAMIC NEUROMUSCULAR STABILITY EXERCISE ON THE SCOLIOSIS AND PAIN CONTROL IN THE YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS

While the presence of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) has been provided as an important component of the integrated spinal stabilization and associated abdominal stabilization prior to dynamic movement, no previous study has investigated the spinal mechanical effects scoliosis and pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis. This study compared the effects of gymball exercise, with and without DNS core stability exercise, on spine kinematics and pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis. A total of 28 participants with scoliosis were randomized into gymball exercise, with and without DNS core stability exercise. Clinical outcomes included the Cobb’s angle and visual analog scale (VAS). Two-way repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted at [Formula: see text]. Two-way repeated ANOVA showed that gymball with DNS showed superior effects, compared to gymball without DNS, on Cobb’s angle ([Formula: see text]), but not on VAS ([Formula: see text]). Our results provide novel, promising clinical evidence that DNS improved scoliosis kinematics as well as pain control in youth baseball player with scoliosis.

Successful Use of Apixaban for Paget-Schroetter Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient

Paget-Schroetter syndrome (PSS) is a rare syndrome that typically develops in young, healthy males subjected to repetitive overhead motions resulting in compression and thrombosis of the subclavian vein. This “effort thrombosis” typically occurs acutely in patients with specific anatomic variations within the thoracic outlet and is treated by a combination of surgical and pharmacologic interventions. There is a paucity of literature regarding this syndrome, particularly surrounding pharmacotherapy, and in the treatment of pediatric patients. This case report documents the pharmacologic treatment of a 17-year-old, male, baseball player with confirmed PSS. Apixaban was selected as the anticoagulant therapy of choice following the determination of its safety and anticipated efficacy for this pediatric patient. Upon admission, anticoagulation was initiated with intravenous heparin and transitioned to warfarin for 1 dose. On day 2, the patient was discharged with apixaban 10 mg twice daily for 7 days, followed by 5 mg twice daily. One week later, he underwent catheter-directed thrombectomy, followed by thoracic outlet decompression with resection of the first rib. Apixaban therapy was continued for 10 weeks after the procedure to diminish the risk of any further thrombotic events. This pediatric patient with PSS was successfully treated with apixaban in conjunction with surgical management. Treatment with apixaban resulted in continued resolution of thrombus after follow-up, with no complications reported thereafter. Further research is needed to definitively determine the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the use of pediatric anticoagulation, particularly in upper extremity deep vein thrombosis.