Comparing Sex-Specific Outcomes After Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for Patellar Instability: A Systematic Review

Background: The impact of patient sex on outcomes after medial patellofemoral ligament ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) has not been well studied. Purpose: To conduct a systematic review to determine sex-based differences in outcomes after MPFLR for patellar instability and the proportion of studies examining this as a primary or secondary purpose. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic review was performed using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, PubMed Central, Ovid, and Embase databases according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Studies were included if they were written in English, were performed on humans, consisted of patients who underwent MPFLR with allograft or autograft, evaluated at least 1 of the selected outcomes comparing male and female patients, and had statistical analysis available for relevant findings. Excluded were case reports, review studies or systematic reviews, studies that did not evaluate at least 1 sex-specific outcome, studies that included other injuries associated with patellofemoral instability injury, cadaveric studies, and those in which patients underwent concomitant procedures. Results: The initial search yielded 3470 studies; 2647 studies remained after removing duplicates. Of the 401 studies that underwent full-text review, 10 met all inclusion criteria and were included for quantitative analysis. A meta-analysis could not be performed given the heterogeneity within the data set. Of the 2647 studies evaluated in this study, only 2 (0.08%) studies examined the impact of patient sex on MPFLR outcomes as a primary purpose and only 8 (0.30%) studies explored it as a secondary purpose. Conclusion: Only 0.38% of the articles compared outcomes between male and female patients after MPFLR. The limited data available were too heterogenous to draw any concrete conclusions about the impact of patient sex on outcomes after MPFLR. Further research in this area is warranted, as findings may influence treatment plans and improve patient outcomes.

Interactive Retrieval Practice in Renal Physiology Improves Performance on Customized National Board of Medical Examiners Examination of Medical Students

Retrieval practice improves long-term retention. Use of interactive retrieval practice in large group, in-person and online live classes, in combination with outside resources, is unreported for medical physiology classes. The primary study purpose was to compare student cohorts' performance with or without retrieval practice in renal physiology classes, relative to the national average on customized national examinations in renal physiology, non-physiology, and all questions. The secondary purpose was to examine the students' educational experience. For the primary purpose, we used a non-equivalent group, post-test only design. For the secondary purpose, we used cross-sectional and qualitative designs. We analyzed examination results of 684 students in four academic years. For renal physiology questions, students performed significantly better in years with retrieval practice compared to years without it (P < 0.001). There was no change in non-physiology scores over the four years. Performance in all questions, too, significantly improved (P < 0.001). A large majority (86%) of students indicated retrieval practice helped them learn renal physiology. Student ratings of quality in online classes, which featured interactive retrieval practice, were higher than that of in-person classes (P < 0.001). Qualitative analysis revealed students found interactive retrieval practice, scaffolding, outside resources, and the instructor's teaching style helpful. Educators in medical physiology classes can use our findings to implement interactive retrieval practice.

Seeing Red: Effects of Practice Interventions on Woodwind Students’ Accuracy in Performing Articulation

Music reading is a central part of most band programs, yet research about music reading has rarely included articulation markings. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of four experimental practice conditions to a control condition on woodwind players’ performance of slur, accent, and staccato markings. A secondary purpose was to examine the role of working memory in performing articulation. The practice conditions used visual and kinesthetic approaches: colored notation, tracing over articulation marks, and speaking syllables. University woodwind players ( N = 26) practiced short etudes on 1 day, and they returned approximately 24 hours later for retention testing. Participants’ working memory was strongly related to playing articulation on the first day of practice. Woodwind players prioritized playing slurs over accents and staccatos, and there was some support for tracing with color to support accurate performance of articulation.

Cancer Clinical Trials in Africa—An Untapped Opportunity: Recommendations From AORTIC 2019 Conference Special Interest Group in Clinical Trials

Cancer is now a formidable health care burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) due to lifestyle westernization and longer life expectancy. The exponential increase in cancer incidence coupled with high mortality rate is not comparable with that seen in westernized countries. To address global cancer disparity, globalization of cancer clinical trials to involve sub-Saharan Africa can serve as a platform where innovative targeted therapies can be made available to patients in the environ. In the 2019 African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) conference held at Maputo, Mozambique, a group of clinical trialists spanning across multiple continents highlighted the opportunities in Africa for the conduct of cancer clinical trials. The secondary purpose of the meeting was to address the belief that Africa was incapable of conducting interventional cancer trials but showed the in-continent strengths, such as available capacities, trained local clinical trialists with clinical trial experiences, clinical trial consortia, local capabilities, mapping out logistics, ethical consideration, political will, real-time benefits of clinical trials to clinical practice, and future directions for trials.

Exploring Anatomy Background, Perceived Anatomy Preparedness, and Academic Performance Among OT Graduate Students: A Survey Study

Date Presented 04/12/21 The purpose of this study was to explore students’ prior anatomy coursework, their perceived preparedness in anatomy, and their performance in a mandatory human movement course in an OT program. The secondary purpose was to determine student interest in a potential online anatomy review course. More than half the participants felt that they were underprepared for anatomy-related content, indicating that an additional stand-alone anatomy course may be beneficial to students in OT programs. Primary Author and Speaker: Ashleigh Giles Additional Authors and Speakers: Cristin Holland, Susan Agostine Contributing Authors: Stephanie Bristol, John Sideris, Emily Schulze, Yun-Ju Chen, Elizabeth Choi, Aaron Dallman, Linda Watson, Elizabeth Crais, Grace Baranek, and Amanda M. Wiles

Mood Profiling for Sustainable Mental Health Among Athletes

Mood responses are a well-established mental health indicator. Gauging mental health status over time often involves periodic mood assessment using a standardized measure, a process referred to as mood profiling. Comparison of observed mood scores against relevant normative data is central to effective mood profiling. The primary purpose of our study was to improve existing norms for the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) using a large internet sample. The secondary purpose was to discuss how mood profiling can be used to promote sustainable mental health primarily among athletes but also with relevance to non-athletes. The BRUMS was completed via the In The Mood website by 15,692 participants. Significant differences between observed mean scores and existing normative data were evident for all six mood dimensions, prompting norm refinement. Specific group norms were generated to address sex differences in mood responses and differences by athlete/nonathlete status. The revised tables of normative data for the BRUMS should be used by researchers in future investigations of mood responses and by applied practitioners seeking to monitor mood responses as an indicator of mental health status. Applications of mood profiling with elite athletes are exemplified, along with recommendations for using mood profiling in the pursuit of sustainable mental health.

Your Eyes Do Not Lie! Dissecting Humor Effects in Health Messages Using Eye Tracker Technology

In the past decade, humor in scientific research has become more and more popular providing an increase of data identifying the context in which humor is a promising communication strategy in preventive health messages. To avoid the limits of declarative responses usually recorded in past studies, eye tracker technology offers the possibility to assess and dissect the effects of humor on visual attention. In this brief report, we first attempt to extend the results of previous studies by recording eye movements while participants were exposed to humorous and nonhumorous print health ads dealing with tobacco and alcohol consumption. A secondary purpose is specifically to test the visual attention French women devoted to humorous tobacco preventive ads, the worrying results of recent studies urging to find a way to improve tobacco preventive campaigns. Based on three complementary eye-tracking measures (i.e., total dwell time, fixation count, and revisits), the results showed that humorous health messages were scanned longer and more frequently and revisited more often compared to nonhumorous ones. In addition, humor appeared to reduce smokers' avoidance of preventive tobacco messages. The different pattern of visual exploration confirms that humor is a good strategy to grab attention even of individuals who are involved in the health topic addressed. In short, this paper argues for introducing lightness into a very serious subject, health communication, based on the analysis of eye movement evidence.

Latin American apparel: recommendations for successfully entering the Toronto fashion market

Dress has played a vital role as a form of expression for different ethnic groups in the diverse city of Toronto. This is a means by which communities have maintained their relationships to their homelands and preserved memories (Brown, 2012). Latin American fashion’s recent rise in popularity can be seen most obviously in mass-markets throughout the industrialized West (Root, 2005); however, there are only a few Latin American fashion brands available in Toronto. Hence the researcher investigated and established the process for a Latin American fashion apparel brand to successfully enter the Toronto fashion market. The secondary purpose of this major research project is to provide Canadian residents with the opportunity to experience Latin American cultures through fashion. Even though the countries that make up Latin America have their own characteristic cultural traits, this study had hoped to create a framework of recommendations that will serve as a guideline for entrepreneurs and designers (regardless of their Latin American country of origin) on the successful introduction of Latin American fashion apparel brands into the Toronto fashion market. The approach for this project consisted of the implementation of a mix of a qualitative and quantitative methodology. The conclusions and lessons learned can be applied to any Latin American fashion brand entering the Toronto marketplace.

Latin American apparel: recommendations for successfully entering the Toronto fashion market

Dress has played a vital role as a form of expression for different ethnic groups in the diverse city of Toronto. This is a means by which communities have maintained their relationships to their homelands and preserved memories (Brown, 2012). Latin American fashion’s recent rise in popularity can be seen most obviously in mass-markets throughout the industrialized West (Root, 2005); however, there are only a few Latin American fashion brands available in Toronto. Hence the researcher investigated and established the process for a Latin American fashion apparel brand to successfully enter the Toronto fashion market. The secondary purpose of this major research project is to provide Canadian residents with the opportunity to experience Latin American cultures through fashion. Even though the countries that make up Latin America have their own characteristic cultural traits, this study had hoped to create a framework of recommendations that will serve as a guideline for entrepreneurs and designers (regardless of their Latin American country of origin) on the successful introduction of Latin American fashion apparel brands into the Toronto fashion market. The approach for this project consisted of the implementation of a mix of a qualitative and quantitative methodology. The conclusions and lessons learned can be applied to any Latin American fashion brand entering the Toronto marketplace.

The Coach–Athlete Relationship and Self-Talk in Turkish Athletes

Background: The first purpose of the study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire for Sports (ASTQS) in the Turkish language and the secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between the quality of the coach–athlete relationship and athletes’ self-talk. Methods: 477 athletes (females = 252, males = 225) completed the Turkish versions of the Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q) and the ASTQS. Results: ASTQS showed good psychometric properties in the Turkish language. Findings on the construct validity of the scale were consistent with the original scale’s 8-factor structure. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.65 to 0.91. Furthermore, path analysis results showed that closeness had a direct effect on disengagement, psych-up, and anxiety control. The commitment had a direct effect on somatic fatigue, and complementarity had a direct effect on worry, confidence, and instruction. Conclusions: Finally, the results from the present study indicated that the Automatic Self-Talk Questionnaire provided a reliable and valid measure for Turkish athletes. The results revealed the importance of the coach–athlete relationship in sport and its’ role in shaping athletes’ self-talk.