Innovative Blood Antioxidant Test in Standardbred Trotter Horses

In athletic horses, prolonged and intense training gives rise to an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant molecules, leading to oxidative stress. Considering the relation between exercise and oxidative stress in horses, the present work aims to validate the Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test as a tool to verify the influence of taming, training and racing on the total blood antioxidant activity and some haematochemical parameters. Five Italian Standardbred racehorses (two males and three females, aged 12 ± 1 months) from the same training center were selected and monitored upon arrival and during the following year until the racing season. Blood samples were obtained at different timepoints, corresponding to different steps of training. The data showed that KRL values were higher (p < 0.001) before the beginning of the taming period and at 60 days of taming, compared with the training and racing periods; additionally, the total protein value was affected by the training program, whereas no effects of training on muscle enzymes were detected. These results confirm that exercise plays a role in the production of free radicals and show that the KRL test may represent a valid method to determine oxidative stress in athletic horses.

Lexicon, sensory wheel and kit as sensory communication tools: a review

A lexicon comprises a collection of standardized sensory vocabulary of product along with its unambiguous definitions and references. It is widely used as a communication tool among sensory panel and it provides sensory insights to product developers, marketing professionals, and suppliers, across countries or cultures to describe similar products. Specific sensory lexicon have been developed for beverages, dairy, fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains, soy and meat products, and animal feed. Based on its lexicon, a sensory wheel can be established hierarchically as an overview of the entire product’s sensory attributes. Furthermore, an intense training for panels is necessary to get a good sensory judgement. Sensory panel calibration can be performed such as by using sensory kit as a training tools. The aim of this paper is to review the latest developed lexicon, sensory wheel and sensory kit, as well as its application.

Circulating Levels of Bone Markers after Short-Term Intense Training with Increased Dairy Consumption in Adolescent Female Athletes

Thirteen female adolescent soccer players (14.3 ± 1.3 years) participated in a cross-over, double-blind trial examining the effects of Greek yogurt (GY) consumption on bone biomarkers during 5 days of intense soccer training. The study took place over two intervention weeks, which consisted of a pre-training assessment day, 5 training days, and a post-training assessment day. Participants completed the GY condition and a carbohydrate isocaloric placebo control pudding condition (CHO) in random order, 4 weeks apart. Morning, fasted, resting blood samples were collected pre- and post-training in each condition. Total osteocalcin (tOC), undercarboxylated osteocalcin (unOC), C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator nuclear factor kappa-β ligand (RANKL) were measured in serum. The results showed no effects for time (pre- to post-training) or condition, and no interaction for tOC, CTX, OPG, RANKL, and the OPG/RANKL ratio. A time-by-condition interaction (p = 0.011) was observed in unOC, reflecting a post-training decrease in the GY, but not the CHO condition (−26% vs. −3%, respectively). However, relative unOC (% of tOC) decreased post-training (−16%), with no differences between conditions. These findings suggest that short-term high-impact intense training had no direct catabolic impact on bone metabolism, with GY adding no benefit beyond that of the isocaloric CHO control pudding.

Study on RCA and HFMEA in Patient Safety with Measurable Outcomes: A Case Scenario

Introduction: Safety concerns of outborn neonatal infant babies during transportation to the NICU had been a concern. Better team coordination and improvement in the technical competency of the care providers helped implement the ambulance policy. Methods: With the background of the Donabedian model and Juran's Trilogy concepts, process improvisation was performed. The RCA (Root Cause Analysis) and HFMEA (Healthcare Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) as tools were used for better deliverables. Results: The measurable outcomes in terms of time taken for departure before and after were compared, which showed considerable significance. By measuring the baby temperatures, a significant difference was seen in clinical aspects. Discussion: Lack of infrastructure, equipment for neonatal transportation was a challenge that required prioritization of budget allocation. The procurement policy of equipment had to be relooked for user-friendly strategies. Lack of trained staff and doctors, which were major issues, required an intense training and development module. The challenges of hypothermia, ventilation issues during transportation of neonates were of major concern, were tackled using quality tools. Application: To minimize the mortality and morbidity of neonates, infants by Specialized Pediatric Critical Care Transport (SPCCT) ambulance policy was implemented. The value addition was to minimize the risks and prevention of hazards. Conclusion: Improvement in the Technical competency of nurses and caregivers was observed. Nurses were well exposed to handling transporting sick babies. Logistics, equipment handling was performed properly. With better team coordination, the babies were safe. The trust and confidence among the members of the community at large improved. The patient footfall increased in numbers.

Economic Growth, Poverty, Urbanization, and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia: Analysis of Cointegration and Causality

In Indonesia, poverty is still considered a serious problem, even though the number of poor people continues to decline significantly. The research aimed to investigate whether there was cointegration between the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), economic growth, and poverty alleviation or not in Indonesia. Secondary data were compiled from annual data in 2000-2019. Data analysis applied the cointegration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) test. The results show a one-way causality between poverty and economic growth, urbanization and economic growth, the role of SMEs and economic growth, and the role of SMEs and poverty. In addition, the results of the VECM analysis suggest that the role of SMEs has a positive effect on poverty in the first year. It means that it takes a year to find out the impact of the increasing role of SMEs on poverty at the later stage. The research has several implications for government, namely: (i) compiling work programs that touch the community directly and strengthen the development of local wisdom products, (ii) conducting more intense training, (iii) emphasizing on improving the quality and standards of local wisdom products, and (iv) building rural infrastructure that can facilitate the economic processes in the village.

The Reasons for National Athletes with Undergraduate Education to Leave Sports

Background: There are studies in the literature scrutinising the reasons for dropping out of sports in terms of physiological, psychosocial, and surrounding factors. In addition to these, it is a fact that there are athletes who end their sports life immediately after beginning their undergraduate education. At this point, the reasons for students to leave sports during their undergraduate education remains a matter to be discovered. Aim: To this end, this study aims to reveal the factors that cause these persons to leave sports. Methods: This research was conducted through the qualitative research method, utilising the phenomenology design. The participants of the study were eleven former national athletes who left sports after beginning their undergraduate education. The participants were selected by criterion sampling method from purposive sampling methods. The data were obtained through face-to-face interviews composed of semi-structured questions. The data acquired were analyzed by the content analysis method. Results: Five main themes were composed in the study: training, social life, health, psychology, and school. It was observed that the participants failed to balance their school and sports life due to heavy and intense training, socialisation needs, unexpected injuries, nutritional problems, psychological fear of failure, and inability to achieve the success they desire. Conclusion: The study results revealed that the participants decided to leave sports not for a single reason, but as a result of a process during which multiple reasons accumulated. In this context, measures can be taken to facilitate their academic and sports life in order to prevent national athletes from leaving sports. These measures may include enabling them to continue to school where they do sports, providing them with distance education and exam opportunities, and enabling them to better integrate into campus life. In order to prevent early specialisation, long-term athlete development models may also be implemented. Keywords: National athlete, undergraduate students, dropping out of sports

Does the Way We Teach Children Interview Ground Rules Impact the Number of Details They Provide?

<p>Ground rules are instructions commonly provided to children in investigative interviews. The ultimate aim of ground rules is to help children provide accurate accounts and resist acquiescence. Therefore, it is no surprise that research into ground rule use has so far focused on the impact ground rule training has on the accuracy of children’s reports. Yet, the amount of information a child provides is also important when it comes to legal processes ensued when a child reports abuse. This study is unique as it focuses on how ground rule training impacts the amount of information a child provides and whether this varies as a result of more intense training. So far, there is little research available that systematically evaluates multiple training methods within one study. The current study involves a condition with no ground rule training, one with the standard training often suggested in interview protocols, and two more intense training methods informed by relevant learning theories. Children aged between 5 and 12-years-old experienced a live event at their school and were interviewed about this event after a delay of approximately 2-weeks. Results did not support the hypotheses that ground rule training method would impact the number of unique details provided by children and that this relationship would vary across age. Results also showed that children’s accuracy responding to questions used to elicit ground rule responses was not related to the number of details provided. A larger sample is necessary to investigate whether the findings of the current study are accurate when the analyses are satisfactorily powered. Currently, this study suggests that more intense ground rule training does not compromise the richness of children’s reports. Findings also indicate that children’s acquiescence to suggestive, unanswerable or confusing questions is not related to the amount of information they provide when asked answerable questions. </p>

Does the Way We Teach Children Interview Ground Rules Impact the Number of Details They Provide?

<p>Ground rules are instructions commonly provided to children in investigative interviews. The ultimate aim of ground rules is to help children provide accurate accounts and resist acquiescence. Therefore, it is no surprise that research into ground rule use has so far focused on the impact ground rule training has on the accuracy of children’s reports. Yet, the amount of information a child provides is also important when it comes to legal processes ensued when a child reports abuse. This study is unique as it focuses on how ground rule training impacts the amount of information a child provides and whether this varies as a result of more intense training. So far, there is little research available that systematically evaluates multiple training methods within one study. The current study involves a condition with no ground rule training, one with the standard training often suggested in interview protocols, and two more intense training methods informed by relevant learning theories. Children aged between 5 and 12-years-old experienced a live event at their school and were interviewed about this event after a delay of approximately 2-weeks. Results did not support the hypotheses that ground rule training method would impact the number of unique details provided by children and that this relationship would vary across age. Results also showed that children’s accuracy responding to questions used to elicit ground rule responses was not related to the number of details provided. A larger sample is necessary to investigate whether the findings of the current study are accurate when the analyses are satisfactorily powered. Currently, this study suggests that more intense ground rule training does not compromise the richness of children’s reports. Findings also indicate that children’s acquiescence to suggestive, unanswerable or confusing questions is not related to the amount of information they provide when asked answerable questions. </p>

Role of Interleukin-6 in Vascular Health and Disease

IL-6 is usually described as a pleiotropic cytokine produced in response to tissue injury or infection. As a pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6 activates innate and adaptative immune responses. IL-6 is released in the innate immune response by leukocytes as well as stromal cells upon pattern recognition receptor activation. IL-6 then recruits immune cells and triggers B and T cell response. Dysregulated IL-6 activity is associated with pathologies involving chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, including atherosclerosis. However, IL-6 is also produced and released under beneficial conditions, such as exercise, where IL-6 is associated with the anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects coupled with physical adaptation to intense training. Exercise-associated IL-6 acts on adipose tissue to induce lipogenesis and on arteries to induce adaptative vascular remodeling. These divergent actions could be explained by complex signaling networks. Classical IL-6 signaling involves a membrane-bound IL-6 receptor and glycoprotein 130 (gp130), while trans-signaling relies on a soluble version of IL-6R (sIL-6R) and membrane-bound gp130. Trans-signaling, but not the classical pathway, is regulated by soluble gp130. In this review, we discuss the similarities and differences in IL-6 cytokine and myokine signaling to explain the differential and opposite effects of this protein during inflammation and exercise, with a special focus on the vascular system.

#72: Implementing an Algorithm-based Approach for Treatment of Fever and Neutropenia in Pediatric Oncology Patients in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Background Fever and neutropenia (FN) is a frequent complication in pediatric oncology patients, especially in high-risk patients. In our institution, 43% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients in induction have at least one hospitalization for FN. A lack of institutional guidelines has led to misuse of antibiotics, prolonged antibiotic wait time and hospitalizations, and unnecessary venipunctures, among others. Implementing an algorithm has provided us with a baseline of previous FN management, and has led to an improvement in management as a whole and to critical areas such as lowering antibiotic wait time in these patients. Methods Throughout 2017 we created and revised an algorithm for the management of FN based on current international FN guidelines and, tailored to our specific setting and needs. Orientation began 2 months prior to implementation, with intense training of residents, attendings, and nursing staff one month prior, and for the first 2 months of implementation. Active surveillance of adherence and outcomes, plus periodic retraining has been done throughout implementation. Adherence measurements include antibiotic wait time, use of antibiotics according to risk stratification, number of algorithm deviations, and collection of blood cultures. Results Seventy-four patients met inclusion criteria from May 2018 to April 2019. Results were compared between early implementation, (first 3 months: group 1), to the remaining 9 months of the first year (group 2). Time to initial evaluation decreased by 75%, from 76.8 minutes in group 1 to 20.6 minutes in group 2 (P &lt; 0.05). Antibiotic wait time decreased by 54.9%, from 5.18 hours to 2.3 hours (P = 0.0074). Time to blood culture was reduced by 65.3%, from 248 minutes to 85 minutes (P = 0.0040). Incorrect use of antibiotics according to risk stratification decreased by 59.2%, from 42% in group 1 to 17% in group 2 (P = 0.10). Total number of deviations decreased from 1.39 per patient to 1.17 per patient (P = 0.22; Table 1). Conclusions Through initial and periodical training and active surveillance, key targets for adherence showed significant improvement throughout the first year of implementation. Maintaining communication with providers through monthly reports of audits, discussions of cases, and retraining improved awareness and willingness to adhere to protocol. Implementation has been particularly useful to residents and attendings outside of the Oncology Ward, where 49% of FN patients in our hospital are treated. It has provided standardized management, improved detection of cases, and reduced delays in care.