The effects of soccer training and timing of balance training on balance ability

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a soccer training session on the balance ability of the players and assess whether the effectiveness of a balance program is affected by its performance before or after the regular soccer training. Thirty-nine soccer players were randomly divided into three subject groups (n=13 each), one control group (C group), one training group that followed a balance program (12 weeks, 3 times per week, 20 min per session) before the regular soccer training (TxB group), and one training group that performed the same balance program after the soccer training (TxA group). Standard testing balance boards and the Biodex Stability System were used to assess balance ability in the C, TxB, and TxA groups at baseline (T0) and after completing the balance program (T12). The same tests and additional isokinetic knee joint moment measurements were carried out in the TxB and TxA groups pre- and post-soccer training. Two main results were obtained: (1) No differences (p>0.05) were found in balance ability and knee joint moment production between pre- and post-soccer training. (2) The balance program increased (p<0.01) the balance ability in the TxB and TxA groups, and the improvement in the TxA group was greater (p<0.05) than that in the TxB group post-soccer training. Result (1) is in contrast to the notion of a link between fatigue induced by a soccer training session or game and injury caused by impaired balance, and result (2) has implications for athletic training and rehabilitation.     

The effect of periodontal therapy on serum TNF-α and HbA1c levels in type 2 diabetic patients

Background:  To determine the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on serum TNF-α and HbA1c levels in poorly and well-controlled type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods:  In total, 45 patients were enrolled in the study; 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with periodontitis (15 with poorly controlled diabetes, HbA1c ≥ 7%, group 1A and 15 with well-controlled diabetes, HbA1c < 7%, group 1B) and 15 patients that were systemically healthy with periodontitis (group 2). The plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, clinical attachment loss, gingival bleeding index, HbA1c value, and circulating TNF-α concentration were measured at baseline and three months after the non-surgical periodontal therapy.
Results:  All periodontal parameters and serum TNF-α levels were significantly decreased three months after the non-surgical periodontal therapy compared to the baseline values in all groups. The HbA1c values were significantly decreased only in well-controlled diabetic patients. We found no significant differences in the periodontal parameters or TNF-α levels at baseline and after three months between the two groups.
Conclusions:  Although non-surgical periodontal therapy eliminates local/systemic infection and inflammation via decreases in TNF-α, it is insufficient for significantly reducing HbA1c levels without strict glycaemic control in poorly controlled diabetic patients in a short time period.     

Echogenicity of prostate cancer correlated with histologic grade and stromal fibrosis: endorectal US studies

In this study an attempt was made to clarify some of the causes of the apparent differences in appearance on ultrasound (US) images of prostate cancer. These differences were correlated with histologic grade and the degree of stromal fibrosis present. Fifty-one cancers (diagnosed and evaluated by means of US-guided biopsy or evaluated by means of radical prostatectomy) were studied. There were 30 hypoechoic, ten echogenically mixed, six isoechoic, and five subtly hyperechoic cancers. The degree of stromal fibrosis was minimal in well-differentiated cancers and increased in poorly differentiated cancers. In addition, the more hypoechoic lesions were, in general, the better-differentiated cancers and had less fibrosis. There was a tendency for the isoechoic cancers and those with subtly hyperechoic areas to more often have poor cellular differentiation and a greater degree of stromal fibrosis, but considerable overlap among histologic types was seen.     

Women's health and the environment: innovations in science and policy

Current scientific findings indicate that environmental factors affect women's health. Specifically, evidence has accumulated on the effects of the environment on reproductive health, cancer, injury, respiratory problems, autoimmune diseases, and other health problems. To review the current state of the science and policies related to women's health and the environment, the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women's Health and the Environment of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Society for Women's Health Research jointly sponsored a conference in 1998 entitled Women's Health and the Environment: Innovations in Science and Policy. The aim of the conference was to provide a forum for scientists to share recent findings, promising avenues of research, methodological barriers, and data gaps about women's susceptibility to environmental agents. The conference generated 22 recommendations for policy, 17 recommendations for communication and training, and 48 recommendations for research to be considered by the federal government. The purpose of this review is to bring to the attention of the scientific community and policymakers the breadth of the women's health implications associated with environmental factors by highlighting key research findings presented at the conference. This review summarizes the current status of science in women's health, it describes relevant activities by the federal government, and it suggests recommendations for future research and policy initiatives in the context of women's health and the environment.     

Impact of season and discharge weight on complications and growth of Kangaroo Mother Care treated low birthweight infants in Mozambique

This study aimed to determine the impact of season and weight at discharge on growth rate and complications in low birthweight infants treated with Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in Maputo, Mozambique. The study population included 246 infants of birthweight < 2000 g. Follow-up until 2400 g was obtained in 64%. There were no seasonal differences in weight gain and the risk of complications of infants treated with KMC in hospital. During the cold season after discharge, the risk of serious complications, including death, was higher (risk ratio 1.96; p = 0:02) and more readmissions occurred (risk ratio 2.77; p = 0:04). We postulate that after discharge mothers are unable to comply with the kangaroo position at all hours of the day and that exposure to low ambient temperatures may explain the more frequent occurrence of complications in the cold season. The weight at discharge did not affect complications or growth rate. We conclude that the current policy to discharge infants when having gained weight on 3 consecutive days, regardless of the actual weight, or whether the weight at birth has been regained, is adequate. In the cold season particularly, more efforts may be needed to ensure compliance with kangaroo position after discharge and to educate mothers on early signs of complications such as bronchopneumonia to encourage timely care seeking. With this method, low birthweight infants can grow adequately.     

湖北贝母属植物化学成分的研究——Ⅹ.紫花鄂北贝母生物碱的分离与鉴定

紫花鄂北贝母FritiItaria ebeiensis var.pvrpvreaG.D.Yu et P.Li系贝母属植物新变种,从它的鳞茎中分离到Ⅰ～Ⅶ个生物碱。经理化常数测定和波谱分析,并与标准品对照,鉴定碱Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ和Ⅳ分别为浙贝甲素(peimine)、浙贝乙素(peiminine)、鄂贝甲素(ebeinine)和鄂贝乙素(ebeinone)。碱Ⅵ为新的异甾生物碱,定名为紫鄂贝碱(ziebeimine),其结构鉴定为5α,14α-cevanine-13,17-dehydro-3α,6β-diol。碱Ⅴ和Ⅶ的结构尚待鉴定。     

Daily Assessment of Stressful events and Coping in early post‐operative recovery after colorectal cancer surgery

This study describes the most stressful events and coping strategies used by patients with colorectal cancer 4–6 weeks after surgery and whether the coping strategies were considered helpful or not. For the investigation of situational coping, an exploratory design was used. One hundred and five patients from three Swedish hospitals were included to fill in the Daily Coping Assessment. Most stressful event, number and types of pre‐defined coping strategies used, and if the coping strategy used was considered helpful or not, were measured for 5 days. Of 523 diary entries, 180 reported no stressful events. The most stressful event, also with worst level of control and expectation, was “Pain,” followed by “Nausea/vomiting.” The areas causing most stressful events were “Bowel‐related” and “Surgery and treatment‐related problems.” Acceptance and Direct action were the most frequently used coping strategies. There was a wide range of perceived helpfulness if coping strategies were placed in relation to specific areas of events. The conclusion was that patients revealed several strategies for coping with stressful events but needed a higher level of preparedness for what might come and therefore need to be given appropriate support to cope during the early recovery phase. Such support is suggested to be person‐centred and oriented towards individually adapting standardised regimens, given the variety of situations to which the stressful events reported in the study were related.     

Evaluation by angiography of the lateral dominance of the drainage of the dural venous sinuses

Summary Venous drainage dominance of the dural venous sinuses may be defined as the drainage only or mainly into one of the transverse sinuses, as shown by bilateral carotid angiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the venous drainage dominance in bilateral carotid angiograms of 189 cases retrospectively. Among these cases 41.3% showed drainage mainly to the right side, 37.6% showed equal drainage to each side, 18.5% showed drainage mainly to the left side, 2.1% showed drainage only to the right side and 0.53% showed drainage only to the left side. Cerebral venous drainage dominance is of great importance and should be considered before operations on patients for radical neck dissection, removal of tumors in the neck that invade the internal jugular vein or tumors of the glomus jugulare which may require ligation of the internal jugular vein.

---

Evaluation angiographique de la prédominance du drainage veineux des sinus dure-mériens

Résumé La prédominance angiographique du drainage des sinus veineux dure-mériens se traduit par le drainage de la substance radioopaque essentiellement ou uniquement par l'un des sinus transverses au cours d'angiographies carotidiennes bilatérales. Le but de ce travail est d'évaluer la prédominance du drainage veineux sur 189 angiographies carotidiennes bilatérales. Dans 41,3% des cas, on note une prédominance à droite. Dans 37,6% des cas, le drainage veineux s'effectue de façon égale des deux côtés. Dans 18,5% des cas, il y a prédominance à gauche. Dans 2,1% des cas le drainage est limité à droite et dans 0,53% des cas il est limité à gauche. La connaissance de cette prédominance du drainage veineux cérébral est capitale pour le chirurgien lors de curage cervical radical, lors d'intervention pour des tumeurs du cou envahissant la veine jugulaire interne ou pour des tumeurs du glomus jugulaire nécessitant la ligature de la veine jugulaire interne.