932 research outputs found
Sort by
Combining diabetic foot and retinopathy screening: A step in the right direction? – a feasibility study
Get PDFObjectives:
Peripheral artery disease is a major cardiovascular disease affecting more than 200 million people globally and up to 4 times more frequent in the diabetic population. It can lead to lower extremity amputations or revascularisation and is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and early mortality. This novel cross-sectional study aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of incorporating diabetic foot screening at routine diabetic retinopathy screening appointments.
Methods:
Participants underwent foot screening during the interval between pupil dilatation and retinal photography as part of the eye screening procedure. Lower limb arterial assessment included ankle brachial index, pulse volume waveform and protective light touch sensation.
Results:
Of 364 participants invited, 88% (n = 321) met the inclusion criteria. About 26.4% (n = 86) had asymptomatic peripheral artery disease and 3% (n = 10) had peripheral sensory neuropathy. Binary logistical regression analysis identified age (p < 0.005), existing coronary heart disease (p < 0.005) and gender (p = 0.03) as predictors of peripheral artery disease.
Conclusion:
Incorporating foot examination during eye screening appointments is feasible and was well received by participants and staff alike. Undiagnosed early peripheral artery disease was evident in a third of the study population emphasising the benefit of introducing foot surveillance into eye screening appointments for the early identification of lower limb arterial disease and peripheral sensory neuropath
Global REACH 2018: Renal oxygen delivery is maintained during early acclimatization to 4330 m
Get PDFEarly acclimatization to high-altitude is characterized by various respiratory, hematological, and cardiovascular adaptations that serve to restore oxygen delivery to tissue. However, less is understood about renal function and the role of renal oxygen delivery (RDO2) during high altitude acclimatization. We hypothesized that: 1) RDO2 would be reduced after 12-hours of
high-altitude exposure (high-altitude day1) but restored to sea-level values after one-week (high altitude day7); and 2) RDO2 would be associated with renal reactivity (RR), an index of acid base compensation at high-altitude. Twenty-four healthy lowlander participants were tested at sea-level (344m; Kelowna, Canada), on day1 and day7 at high-altitude (4330m; Cerro de Pasco,
Peru). Cardiac output, renal blood flow, arterial and venous blood sampling for renin angiotensin-aldosterone-system hormones and NT pro-B type natriuretic peptides were collected at each time point. RR was calculated as: (Δ arterial bicarbonate)/(Δ partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide) between sea-level and high-altitude day1, and sea-level and high-altitude day7.
The main findings were: 1) RDO2 was initially decreased at high-altitude compared to sea-level (ΔRDO2: -22±17%, P<0.001), but was restored to sea-level values on high-altitude day7 (ΔRDO2: -6±14%, P=0.36). The observed improvements in RDO2 resulted from both changes in renal blood flow (Δ from high-altitude day1: +12±11%; P=0.008), and arterial oxygen content (Δ
from high-altitude day1 +44.8±17.7%; P=0.006); and 2) RR was positively correlated with RDO2 on high-altitude day7 (r=0.70; P<0.001), but not high-altitude day1 (r=0.26; P=0.29).
These findings characterize the temporal responses of renal function during early high-altitude acclimatization, and the influence of RDO2 in the regulation of acid-base
Antimicrobial activity of enacyloxin IIa and gladiolin against the urogenital pathogens Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma spp
Get PDFAims
To determine the antimicrobial activity of enacyloxin IIa and gladiolin against N. gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma spp.
Methods and Results
The Burkholderia polyketide antibiotics enacyloxin IIa and gladiolin were tested against 14 N. gonorrhoeae and 10 Ureaplasma spp. isolates including multi‐drug resistant N. gonorrhoeae isolates WHO V, WHO X and WHO Z as well as macrolide, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin resistant ureaplasmas. Susceptibility testing of N. gonorrhoeae were carried out by agar dilution, whereas broth micro‐dilution and growth kinetic assays was used for Ureaplasma spp. The MIC range for enacyloxin IIa and gladiolin against N. gonorrhoeae was 0.015 – 0.06 mg/L and 1 ‐ 2 mg/L, respectively. The presence of resistance to front line antibiotics had no effect on MIC values. The MIC range for enacyloxin IIa against Ureaplasma spp. was 4 – 32 mg/L with a clear dose‐dependent effect when observed using a growth kinetic assay. Gladiolin had no antimicrobial activity on Ureaplasma spp. at 32 mg/L and limited impact on growth kinetics.
Conclusions
Enacyloxin IIa and gladiolin antibiotics have antimicrobial activity against a range of antibiotic susceptible and resistant N. gonorrhoeae and Ureaplasma isolates.
Significance and Impact of Study
This study highlights the potential for a new class of antimicrobial against pathogens in which limited antibiotics are available. Development of these compounds warrants further investigation in the face of emerging extensively‐drug resistant strains
Sled-push load-velocity profiling and implications for sprint training prescription in young athletes
Get PDFResisted sled pushing is a popular method of sprint-specific training; however, little evidence exists to support the prescription of resistive loads in young athletes. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and linearity of the force-velocity relationship during sled pushing, as well as the amount of between-athlete variation in the load required to cause a decrement in maximal velocity (Vdec) of 25, 50 and 75%. Ninety (n=90) high school, male athletes (age 16.9 ± 0.9 years) were recruited for the study. All participants performed one un-resisted and three sled-push sprints with increasing resistance. Maximal velocity was measured with a radar gun during each sprint and the load-velocity relationship established for each participant. A subset of 16 participants examined the reliability of sled pushing on three separate occasions. For all individual participants, the load-velocity relationship was highly linear (r > 0.96). The slope of the load-velocity relationship was found to be reliable (CV = 3.1%), with the loads that cause a decrement in velocity of 25, 50 and 75% also found to be reliable (CVs = <5%). However, there was large between-participant variation (95%CI) in the load that caused a given Vdec, with loads of 23-42% body mass (%BM) causing a Vdec of 25%, 45-85%BM causing a Vdec of 50% and 69-131%BM causing a Vdec of 75%. The Vdec method can be reliably used to prescribe sled-push loads in young athletes, but practitioners should be aware that the load required to cause a given Vdec is highly individualized
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016
Get PDFBackground:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, with large epidemics previously described to occur every 4 to 7 years.
Aim:
To better understand the diagnostic methods used to detect M. pneumoniae; to better understand M. pneumoniae testing and surveillance in use; to identify epidemics; to determine detection number per age group, age demographics for positive detections, concurrence of epidemics and annual peaks across geographical areas; and to determine the effect of geographical location on the timing of epidemics.
Methods:
A questionnaire was sent in May 2016 to Mycoplasma experts with national or regional responsibility within the ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections in 17 countries across Europe and Israel, retrospectively requesting details on M. pneumoniae-positive samples from January 2011 to April 2016. The Moving Epidemic Method was used to determine epidemic periods and effect of country latitude across the countries for the five periods under investigation.
Results:
Representatives from 12 countries provided data on M. pneumoniae infections, accounting for 95,666 positive samples. Two laboratories initiated routine macrolide resistance testing since 2013. Between 2011 and 2016, three epidemics were identified: 2011/12, 2014/15 and 2015/16. The distribution of patient ages for M. pneumoniae-positive samples showed three patterns. During epidemic years, an association between country latitude and calendar week when epidemic periods began was noted.
Conclusions:
An association between epidemics and latitude was observed. Differences were noted in the age distribution of positive cases and detection methods used and practice. A lack of macrolide resistance monitoring was noted
Regarding High Intensity Interval Training and Left Ventricular Mechanics
Get PDFThe influence of exercise on the mechanical function of the heart has become a topic of
considerable interest over recent decades. In a recent issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and
Exercise, Huang et al. (2) published a study that investigated the effects of high intensity interval
training (HIIT) on echocardiographic-derived indices of left ventricular (LV) mechanical function
in young, sedentary but otherwise healthy men. We believe that this study has the potential to
further our understanding on how the heart responds to exercise, and it ultimately fits within the
current knowledge on exercise-induced cardiac adaptation in health and disease (4). However,
given the proposed conclusions, we would appreciate additional details from the authors on the
methodology used that may have contributed to some unusual results. Specifically, this letter
serves to highlight our concerns regarding the two most notable findings reported in the paper
by Huang et al (2), namely 1) the unusually large increase in cardiorespiratory fitness following
the HIIT intervention, and 2) the exceptionally low values derived from speckle tracking
echocardiography
Quantifying bi-variate coordination variability during longitudinal motor learning of a complex skill
Get PDFBiofeedback (BFb) can enhance the motor learning process by guiding skill exploration. Too much BFb, however, can foster dependency leading to skill retention deficits once removed. A reducing BFb schedule could negate dependency effects, however limited methodologies exist to assess the effectiveness of an intervention during application. This research proposes a new bi-variate method (CI2Area) to quantify coordination variability (CoordVar) as a measure of skill exploration during a motor learning intervention. Thirty-two participants were introduced to a novel explosive-lunge task. A BFb group (n = 16) were provided with visual BFb on rear hip, knee and ankle joint extension magnitudes and timing during a 26-week reducing schedule BFb intervention. CoordVar of hip-knee and knee-ankle angular velocities were quantified by calculating the area encompassed by the 95% confidence intervals of joint coupling angular-velocity bi-variate plots (CI2Area). Linear regressions were fitted to group and individual CoordVar longitudinal data. The BFb was effective in successfully altering whole limb technique within just two sessions, and these changes were retained. The BFb group demonstrated a continual increase of CoordVar throughout the intervention, showing continual skill exploration strategies, while the Control group remained unchanged. Gradually increasing time between sessions, using a longitudinally reducing BFb schedule, successfully negates dependency effects on BFb while also encouraging motor learning. Manipulating time between sessions allows for the provision of a high frequency of 100% BFb without fostering dependency. The CI2Area method was able to detect individual exploration strategies and could be used in the future to direct individual intervention modifications
Psychometric Properties of an Italian Version of the Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports
Get PDFThe Collective Efficacy Questionnaire for Sports (CEQS; Short, Sullivan, & Feltz, 2005) is a domain-specific instrument for the assessment of collective efficacy across interdependent team sports. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of an Italian version of the CEQS (CEQS-Ita) with 306 athletes. The instrument showed a good level of internal consistency reliability. Construct validity was demonstrated by examining the factor structure, and convergent and discriminant properties of the instrument. Confirmatory Factor Analyses suggested a model with four sub-dimensions: ability, determination, preparation, and unity. Convergent properties of the instrument were demonstrated through positive correlations with all four components of an Italian version of the Group Environment Questionnaire (GEQ; Andreaggi, Robazza, & Bortoli, 2000). Discriminant validity was evidenced by the absence of correlation with cognitive or somatic anxiety measured through an Italian version of the Revised Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (Martinengo, Bobbio, & Marino, 2012)
Reweighted lp Constraint LMS-Based Adaptive Sparse Channel Estimation for Cooperative Communication System
Get PDFThis paper studies the issue of sparsity adaptive channel reconstruction in time-varying cooperative
communication networks through the amplify-and-forward transmission scheme. A new sparsity adaptive system
identification method is proposed, namely reweighted norm ( < < ) penalized least mean square（LMS）algorithm.
The main idea of the algorithm is to add a norm penalty of sparsity into the cost function of the LMS algorithm. By doing
so, the weight factor becomes a balance parameter of the associated norm adaptive sparse system identification.
Subsequently, the steady state of the coefficient misalignment vector is derived theoretically, with a performance upper
bounds provided which serve as a sufficient condition for the LMS channel estimation of the precise reweighted norm.
With the upper bounds, we prove that the ( < < ) norm sparsity inducing cost function is superior to the
reweighted norm. An optimal selection of for the norm problem is studied to recover various sparse channel
vectors. Several experiments verify that the simulation results agree well with the theoretical analysis, and thus
demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has a better convergence speed and better steady state behavior than other LMS
algorithms
Age‐related differences in kinematics and kinetics of sprinting in young female
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the age‐related differences in sprinting performance, kinematic and kinetic variables in girls aged between 7.0 to 15.3 years. Step‐to‐step spatiotemporal variables and ground reaction impulses during sprinting were collected in 94 Japanese girls across a 50 m in‐ground force plate. From the results, a difference in rate of development in sprinting performance in girls over 12.7 years compared with younger girls (YG) was observed. The older girls (OG) became slightly slower each year (−0.09 m/s/year) compared to the YG (0.24 m/s/year) who increased their running speed. Moreover, height increased by 6.3 cm/year in YG and only 3.6 cm/year in OG, while step length during the maximal speed phase increased by 0.07 m/year in YG and plateaued in OG (0.01 m/year). Propulsive impulse during the initial acceleration phase was the only kinetic variable to differ in rate of development between the age groups with an increase of 0.024 Ns/year in the YG compared to −0.010 Ns/year in OG. The development of sprinting ability in Japanese girls was more rapid before age 12.7 years. The difference in rate of development in sprinting ability can be primarily attributed to greater growth rates in YG, contributing to increases in the propulsive impulse during the initial acceleration phase and step length during the maximal speed phase. The limited gains in step length and the propulsive impulse in OG may reflect their reduced growth rate in height and the fact that increases in fat mass with maturation impaired relative force production