BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is considered a public health problem with high worldwide prevalence. One approach to prevention is through the promotion of physical activity, especially exercise, during adolescence. METHODS: This study compared bone variables in different body segments in adolescents according to participation in track and field. The study included 34 adolescents (22 boys), of whom 17 were track and field athletes and 17 were control subjects. Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) and bone mineral content (BMC, g) were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (total body stratified by body segments). Peak height velocity was used to estimate somatic maturation. RESULTS: Athletes had higher BMD (P=0.003) and BMC (P=0.011) values in the lower limbs and higher whole body BMD (P=0.025) than the control group. However, when adjusted for confounding factors, the difference was not maintained. The groups had similar lean soft tissue values (P=0.094). Training overload was positively correlated with BMD in the upper limbs (r=0.504; 95% confidence interval, 0.031-0.793). Although track and field athletes had higher BMD and BMC values in the lower limbs, these differences were not significant when adjusted for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Track and field participation in adolescence appears to influence BMD and BMC in lower limbs, and fat-free mass seems to mediate this effect. Also, higher training loads were found to be positive for bone health in upper limbs.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent ; Athletes ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Density ; Child ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Motor Activity ; Osteoporosis ; Pilot Projects ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Sports ; Track and Field ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVE: The potential of a low-cost, novel Kinect?-based markerless motion analysis system as a tool to measure temporospatial parameters, joint and muscle kinematics, and hand trajectory patterns during the propulsion and recovery phase of wheelchair propulsion (WCP) was determined.

METHODS:Twenty (20) adult male track and field paralympians,(mean age = 36 ± 8.47) propelled themselves on a wheelchair ergometer system while their upper extremity motion was recorded by two Kinect? cameras and processed.

RESULTS: The temporospatial parameters, joint kinematics, and hand trajectory patterns during the propulsion and recovery phase of each participant's WCP cycle were determined and averaged. Average cycle time was 1.45s ± 0.19, average cadence was 0.70 cycles/s ± 0.09, and average speed was 0.76m/s ± 0.32. Average shoulder flexion was 30.99° ± 28.38, average elbow flexion was 24.23° ± 12.25, and average wrist flexion was 12.82° ± 26.78. Eighty five percent (85%) of the participants used a semicircular hand trajectory pattern.

CONCLUSION: The low-cost, novel Kinect?-based markerless motion analysis system had the potential to obtain measurable values during independent wheelchair propu
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Ergometry ; Track and Field ; Para-Athletes

BACKGROUND: Understanding risk factors that increase readmission rates may help enhance patient education and set system-wide expectations. We aimed to provide benchmark data on causes and predictors of readmission following inpatient plastic surgery. METHODS: The 2011 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset was reviewed for patients with both "Plastics" as their recorded surgical specialty and inpatient status. Readmission was tracked through the "Unplanned Readmission" variable. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared using chi-squared analysis and Student's t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis was used for identifying predictors of readmission. RESULTS: A total of 3,671 inpatient plastic surgery patients were included. The unplanned readmission rate was 7.11%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (odds ratio [OR], 2.01; confidence interval [CI], 1.12-3.60; P=0.020), previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (OR, 2.69; CI, 1.21-5.97; P=0.015), hypertension requiring medication (OR, 1.65; CI, 1.22-2.24; P<0.001), bleeding disorders (OR, 1.70; CI, 1.01-2.87; P=0.046), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 3 or 4 (OR, 1.57; CI, 1.15-2.15; P=0.004), and obesity (body mass index > or =30) (OR, 1.43; CI, 1.09-1.88, P=0.011) to be significant predictors of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Inpatient plastic surgery has an associated 7.11% unplanned readmission rate. History of COPD, previous PCI, hypertension, ASA class 3 or 4, bleeding disorders, and obesity all proved to be significant risk factors for readmission. These findings will help to benchmark inpatient readmission rates and manage patient and hospital system expectations.
Dataset ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inpatients* ; Obesity ; Patient Education as Topic ; Patient Readmission ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Quality Improvement ; Risk Factors ; Surgery, Plastic* ; Track and Field

PURPOSE: A number of longitudinal studies have tracked blood pressure over time in children and adults. Although there are a few blood pressure tracking studies for Asian populations, they are all relatively short-term studies with around only 10 years of follow-up. Accordingly, we assessed the stability of blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood over a 24-year follow-up period among participants in the Kangwha Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Kangwha Study was a community-based prospective cohort study that started in 1986 in Kangwha County, South Korea. The study dataset included 14 blood pressure measurements over a 24-year period from 266 (123 male and 143 female) participants who completed the 2010 examination. All participants were 7 years old when the study began and were followed for the next 24 years. RESULTS: The tracking coefficient (95% confidence interval) for systolic blood pressure was 0.81 (0.52-1.11) in men and 0.72 (0.51-0.92) in women; diastolic blood pressure was 0.53 (0.26-0.80) in men and 0.33 (0.15-0.52) in women. After adjusting for body mass index, the tracking coefficient for systolic blood pressure was 0.68 (0.39-0.97) in men and 0.67 (0.44-0.89) in women; diastolic blood pressure was 0.51 (0.24-0.78) in men and 0.33 (0.15-0.51) in women. All tracking coefficients were statistically significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this 24-year longitudinal study, we confirmed the stability of blood pressure tracking from childhood to adulthood for participants in the Kangwha Study.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Track and Field*

Stroke is a major health burden in Thailand. It is the leading cause of death and long term disability in both men and women. Despite the improvement of healthcare system, the mortality rate of stroke is still increasing during the past 5 years. The incidence of stroke in Thailand is now being studied in a large population based cohort. The prevalence of stroke is estimated to be 1.88% among adults 45 years and older. Stroke is more prevalent in men than in women and the mean age of stroke onset is 65 years. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and atrial fibrillation are major risk factors of stroke in the Thai population. Evolution from predominantly rural to urbanized industrial communities result in the increasing prevalence of these risk factors. Similar to other parts of the world, ischemic stroke is the most common stroke type but the proportion of hemorrhagic stroke is higher when compared to Caucasian populations. Among patients with ischemic stroke, lacunar stroke is most common, accounting for almost half followed by atherosclerotic disease. Intracranial atherosclerosis is also prevalent in Thai population. For acute treatment, intravenous thrombolysis has been used in Thailand for over 20 years. Its cost is reimbursed by the national health care system but its use is still limited. With the introduction of the stroke fast track system, prompt stroke treatment across the country is warranted. Stroke unit is now the standard of care in large regional and provincial hospitals.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cause of Death ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dyslipidemias ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Standard of Care ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Thailand* ; Track and Field

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of the specific human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes on severity and prognosis in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) patients. METHODS: The medical records of 446 patients treated with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) were reviewed. The severity of CIN was categorized as CIN1/CIN2 versus CIN3+ including CIN3 and carcinoma in situ (CIS). HPV genotypes were categorized as 1) low risk, 2) intermediate risk, 3) high risk/HPV 16, 4) high risk/HPV 18, and 5) unclassified. Progression was defined as abnormal cytology, including atypical squamous cells, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. The margin status and progression free survival (PFS) by HPV genotypes were analyzed in 355 women with three months or more of post-treatment records. RESULTS: CIN3+ was the most common CIN type (67.7%), and high risk/HPV 16 (26.9%) was the most common genotype. Intermediate risk (P < 0.01), high risk/HPV 16 (P < 0.01) and high risk/HPV 18 (P < 0.01) were significantly more common in women with CIN3+ than CIN1/CIN2. Patients with high risk/HPV 18 showed the highest rate of positive margins (P < 0.01). The margin status proved to be the only statistically significant factor affecting PFS. CONCLUSION: The proportion of positive margins was significantly different by HPV genotypes and highest in high risk/HPV 18 group. CIN patients with high risk/HPV 18 need to be more carefully tracked than patients with the other HPV genotypes.
Carcinoma in Situ ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Genotype* ; Humans* ; Medical Records ; Prognosis* ; Track and Field

Parkinson's disease (PD) a neurodegenerative disorder for which no preventive or long-term effective treatment strategies are available. Epidemiologic studies have failed to identify specific environmental, dietary or lifestyle risk factors for PD. However, oxidative stress in the SN is the most broadly accepted hypothesis for the etiopathology of PD. The Symptoms do not appear until there is a decline of striatal dopamine levels by 80% making it difficult to have early therapeutic interventions. Thus, the present experiment was designed to track down the sequential changes starting from the initiation of motor dysfunction and associated biochemical abnormality in rotenone based PD model. The study also evaluated the neuroprotective efficacy of vitamin E. Rats were treated with rotenone 2 mg/kg b.wt (s.c.) for 35 days. The level of dopamine decreased by 70~80% which was in turn reflected by marked deterioration in motor function such as (Total locomotor activity and catalepsy). Along with these the level of GSH and SOD declined significantly which was associated with elevated lipid peroxidation levels as much as by 60%.Vitamin E co-administration at a dose of 100 I.U/kg b.wt (i.m.) ameliorated rotenone induced changes in motor functions i.e Total locomotor activity and Catalepsy at the end of 5th week. Further, vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and improved associated biochemical parameters i.e SOD and GSH level. Most interestingly the changes appeared as early as 3rd week suggesting that supplementation of vitamin E right at the beginning should be neuroprotective in PD.
Animals ; Catalepsy ; Dopamine ; Life Style ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Motor Activity ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Oxidative Stress ; Parkinson Disease ; Rats ; Risk Factors ; Rotenone ; Substantia Nigra ; Track and Field ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

The development of hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a well-known phenomenon. Despite controversy as to the underlying mechanisms, cortical hyperexcitability appears to be closely related to the interplay between excitatory corticomotoneurons and inhibitory interneurons. Hyperexcitability is not a static phenomenon but rather shows a pattern of progression in a spatiotemporal aspect. Cortical hyperexcitability may serve as a trigger to the development of anterior horn cell degeneration through a 'dying forward' process. Hyperexcitability appears to develop during the early disease stages and gradually disappears in the advanced stages of the disease, linked to the destruction of corticomotorneuronal pathways. As such, a more precise interpretation of these unique processes may provide new insight regarding the pathophysiology of ALS and its clinical features. Recently developed technologies such as threshold tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation and automated nerve excitability tests have provided some clues about underlying pathophysiological processes linked to hyperexcitability. Additionally, these novel techniques have enabled clinicians to use the specific finding of hyperexcitability as a useful diagnostic biomarker, enabling clarification of various ALS-mimic syndromes, and the prediction of disease development in pre-symptomatic carriers of familial ALS. In terms of nerve excitability tests for peripheral nerves, an increase in persistent Na+ conductances has been identified as a major determinant of peripheral hyperexcitability in ALS, inversely correlated with the survival in ALS. As such, the present Review will focus primarily on the puzzling theory of hyperexcitability in ALS and summarize clinical and pathophysiological implications for current and future ALS research.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; Anterior Horn Cells ; Forecasting ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Interneurons ; Peripheral Nerves ; Track and Field ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

BACKGROUND: Visual assessment of wall motion abnormalities (WMA) by 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) is the most semi-quantitative method used to detect coronary artery disease (CAD), but it carries many limitations. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) overcomes these limitations and allows an objective quantification of myocardial deformation. The aim of the study to examine the accuracy of global and segmental longitudinal strain (LS) for the detection of CAD compared with visual assessment of WMA using coronary angiography as a golden standard. METHODS: The study enrolled 25 patients (mean age 51.0 +/- 8.7, 64% are male) referred to coronary angiography with clinical suspicion of CAD. 2DE assessment of WMA and evaluation of LS using STE were performed using left ventricular 17-segments models. Significant CAD was defined as > or = 50% stenosis in one or more major coronary arteries by angiography. RESULTS: Patients were classified into 2 groups: group I included 15 patients with significant CAD and group II included 10 patients with insignificant and/or absence of CAD. WM score was strongly correlated with the global LS in group I and II (R = 0.80, p < 0.0001 and R = 0.88, p < 0.0001 respectively). In all patients, 425 segments were analyzed. WMA was detected in 163 segments of 425 (38.3%) while abnormal LS was detected in 214 segments (50.3%). Compared with coronary angiography, the total sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for visual analysis and STE were (56%, 88.2%, and 60% vs. 68.6%, 77%, and 81.8% respectively). CONCLUSION: Segmental LS is more accurate for the detection of ischemic myocardial segment corresponding to functionally relevant coronary anatomy than visual assessment of WM.
Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels ; Echocardiography* ; Humans ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Track and Field*

Breast cancer cure aims at complete elimination of malignant cells and essentially requires detection and treatment of any micrometastases. Here, we present a review of the current methods in use and the potential role of the quantum dots (QDs) in detection and visualization of sentinel lymph node and micrometastases in breast cancer patients. The traditional histopathological, immunohistochemical, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction procedures being used for micrometastases detection had serious drawbacks of high false negativity, specificity variations and false positivity of the results. Photon emission fluorescence multiplexing characteristics of the quantum dots make them potentially ideal probes for studying the dynamics of cellular processes over time such as continuous tracking of cell migration, differentiation, and metastases. In breast cancer, QDs based molecular and genomic detections had an unparallel high sensitivity and specificity.
Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Movement ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; Nitriles ; Pyrethrins ; Quantum Dots ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Track and Field