Epidemiology of training injuries in amateur taekwondo athletes: a retrospective cohort study

The objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence and describe the pattern and severity of training injuries in taekwondo, and to compare pattern and severity of training injuries with competition injuries. One hundred and fifty-two active Australian amateur taekwondo athletes, aged 12 years or over, completed an online survey comprising questions on training exposure and injury history over the preceding 12 months. The main outcome measures were: overall injury incidence rate per athlete-year; training injury incidence rate per athlete-year, per 1000 athlete-training-sessions, and per 1000 athlete-hours of training; injury severity; and injury proportions by anatomical region and by type of injury. Injury incidence rates were calculated with 95% confidence intervals using standard methods, while injury proportions were compared using Fisher''s exact test. The vast majority (81.5%) of taekwondo injuries in an average athlete-year occurred during training. The training injury incidence rate was estimated to be 1.6 (95% CI: 1.4, 1.9) per athlete-year, 11.8 (95% CI: 10.4, 13.4) per 1000 athlete-training-sessions, and 7.0 (95% CI: 6.1, 7.9) per 1000 athlete-hours of training. Among athletes with five or fewer injuries, the severity and injury pattern of training injuries were, by and large, the same as for competition injuries. Approximately sixty percent (60.3%) of training injuries required treatment by a health professional. Considering the burden of training injuries exceeds that of competition injuries, taekwondo governing bodies and stakeholders are encouraged to devote more efforts towards the identification of risk factors for, and prevention of, training injuries in the sport of taekwondo.     

Effects of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury on plasma metabolomic profile during aging

BackgroundHeart disease is a frequent cause of hospitalization and mortality for elderly patients. A common feature of both heart disease and aging itself is the involvement of metabolic organ alterations ultimately leading to changes in circulating metabolite levels. However, the specific contribution of aging and ischemic injury to the metabolic dysregulation occurring in older adults with ischemic heart disease is still unknown.AimTo evaluate the effects of aging and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury on plasma metabolomic profiling in mice.MethodsYoung and aged mice were subjected to a minimally invasive model of I/R injury or sham operation. Complete evaluation of cardiac function and untargeted plasma metabolomics analysis were performed.ResultsWe confirmed that aged mice from the sham group had impaired cardiac function and augmented left ventricular (LV) dimensions compared to young sham‐operated mice. Further, we found that ischemic injury did not drastically reduce LV systolic/diastolic function and dyssynchrony in aged compared to young mice. Using an untargeted metabolomics approach focused on aqueous metabolites, we found that ischemic injury does not affect the plasma metabolomic profile either in young or old mice. Our data also demonstrate that age significantly affects circulating metabolite levels (predominantly amino acids, phospholipids and organic acids) and perturbs several pathways involved in amino acid, glucid and nucleic acid metabolism as well as pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate salvage pathway in both sham and ischemic mice.ConclusionsOur approach increases our understanding of age‐associated plasma metabolomic signatures in mice with and without heart disease excluding confounding factors related to metabolic comorbidities.     

Late Messinian rodents from Verduno (Piedmont,NW Italy): Biochronological,paleoecological and paleobiogeographic implications

The stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental context of the Verduno fossil vertebrate locality is discussed herein based on its rodent record. The Verduno section crops out in the southern part of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (TPB), and can be included in the Messinian post-evaporitic Cassano Spinola Fm., chronologically corresponding to the so-called Lago-Mare event. Rodents are represented by a relatively rich assemblage. Murids are by far the most diverse and abundant, with at least four taxa, including the common Centralomys benericettii and Paraethomys meini, and the rare Apodemus gudrunae and Occitanomys sp. Cricetids are represented by a single species, Apocricetus cf. A. barrierei. Muscardinus aff. M. vireti appears to be the only glirid present at Verduno. The Verduno rodent assemblage shares some taxa with other Messinian post-evaporitic localities from Italy bearing continental vertebrate remains, such as Brisighella (central Italy) and Moncucco Torinese (NW Italy) (e.g., C. benericettii, P. meini) and, possibly, with Ciabòt Cagna (NW Italy). However, the general structure of these four Messinian assemblages displays substantial differences, which may reflect different palaeoenvironmental conditions.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of plant extracts against Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae causal agent of bacterial canker in kiwifruit

Abstract

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the causal agent of bacterial canker of kiwifruit, is considered the main pathogen of yellow-, green- and red-fleshed kiwifruit. All major kiwifruit producing countries in the world have been affected by this bacterial pathogen, leading to substantial economic losses. The control of bacterial canker of kiwifruit is based only on preventive methods or on the use of copper compounds that can cause phytotoxicity problems. In this study, the in vitro antibacterial activity of seven different plant extracts against eight Psa strains has been evaluated. The inhibition of 100% of the Psa growth was observed, after 24?h, for the extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum roots (POL-roots), Hypericum perforatum roots elicited with chitosan oligosaccharides (HYP-COS roots) and non-fermented grape pomace (ITA-pomace). The strongest antibacterial activity was exhibited by POL-roots, with a geometric mean of minimum inhibitory concentration of 100% of growth (GMMIC₁₀₀) of 105.11 µg/mL after 24?h, and with a GMMIC₁₀₀ value of 148.65 µg/mL after 48?h. Moreover, POL-roots extract showed the best bactericidal activity with a GMMBC of 210.22 µg/mL. No phytotoxic activity was observed up to 15 days in the leaves of Actinidia chinensis “Belen” treated with plant extracts at 500 µg/mL.     

Moral Experiences of Crisis Management in a Child Mental Health Setting: A Participatory Hermeneutic Ethnographic Study

Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry - Restraints and seclusion are routinely used in child mental health settings for conflict and crisis management, but raise significant ethical concerns. Using a...     

Mechanistic Insights into the Modulation of Voltage-Gated Ion Channels by Inhalational Anesthetics

General anesthesia is a relatively safe medical procedure, which for nearly 170 years has allowed life saving surgical interventions in animals and people. However, the molecular mechanism of general anesthesia continues to be a matter of importance and debate. A favored hypothesis proposes that general anesthesia results from direct multisite interactions with multiple and diverse ion channels in the brain. Neurotransmitter-gated ion channels and two-pore K⁺ channels are key players in the mechanism of anesthesia; however, new studies have also implicated voltage-gated ion channels. Recent biophysical and structural studies of Na⁺ and K⁺ channels strongly suggest that halogenated inhalational general anesthetics interact with gates and pore regions of these ion channels to modulate function. Here, we review these studies and provide a perspective to stimulate further advances.     

Prepuberal Stimulation of 5-HT7-R by LP-211 in a Rat Model of Hyper-Activity and Attention-Deficit: Permanent Effects on Attention,Brain Amino Acids and Synaptic Markers in the Fronto-Striatal Interface

The cross-talk at the prefronto-striatal interface involves excitatory amino acids, different receptors, transducers and modulators. We investigated long-term effects of a prepuberal, subchronic 5-HT7-R agonist (LP-211) on adult behaviour, amino acids and synaptic markers in a model for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Naples High Excitability rats (NHE) and their Random Bred controls (NRB) were daily treated with LP-211 in the 5th and 6th postnatal week. One month after treatment, these rats were tested for indices of activity, non selective (NSA), selective spatial attention (SSA) and emotionality. The quantity of L-Glutamate (L-Glu), L-Aspartate (L-Asp) and L-Leucine (L-Leu), dopamine transporter (DAT), NMDAR1 subunit and CAMKIIα, were assessed in prefrontal cortex (PFC), dorsal (DS) and ventral striatum (VS), for their role in synaptic transmission, neural plasticity and information processing. Prepuberal LP-211 (at lower dose) reduced horizontal activity and (at higher dose) increased SSA, only for NHE but not in NRB rats. Prepuberal LP-211 increased, in NHE rats, L-Glu in the PFC and L-Asp in the VS (at 0.250 mg/kg dose), whereas (at 0.125 mg/kg dose) it decreased L-Glu and L-Asp in the DS. The L-Glu was decreased, at 0.125 mg/kg, only in the VS of NRB rats. The DAT levels were decreased with the 0.125 mg/kg dose (in the PFC), and increased with the 0.250 mg/kg dose (in the VS), significantly for NHE rats. The basal NMDAR1 level was higher in the PFC of NHE than NRB rats; LP-211 treatment (at 0.125 mg/kg dose) decreased NMDAR1 in the VS of NRB rats. This study represents a starting point about the impact of developmental 5-HT7-R activation on neuro-physiology of attentive processes, executive functions and their neural substrates.     

Combating malaria vectors in Africa: current directions of research

Vector control remains an important component of malaria control, particularly in Africa where most infant deaths occur. Among the different methods, insecticide-treated bednets seem to be a suitable way to reduce morbidity and child mortality in endemic areas. To facilitate their large-scale use and to investigate alternative vector control methods, the authors propose these current directions of research that are already being explored in Africa through a collaborating network involving several African countries: (1) vector genetics, (2) insecticide resistance and (3) vector control strategies.