Longitudinal associations of fundamental movement skills with objectively measured physical activity and sedentariness during school transition from primary to lower secondary school

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate cross-lagged associations of leaping skill and throwing–catching skills with objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (ST) during school transition from upper primary (Grade 6) to lower secondary school (Grade 7).

Students’ Perceptions of Motivational Climate and Enjoyment in Finnish Physical Education: A Latent Profile Analysis

The purpose of this study was to identify student clusters with homogenous profiles in perceptions of task- and ego-involving, autonomy, and social relatedness supporting motivational climate in school physical education. Additionally, we investigated whether different motivational climate groups differed in their enjoyment in PE. Participants of the study were 2 594 girls and 1 803 boys, aged 14-15 years. Students responded to questionnaires assessing their perception of motivational climate and enjoyment in physical education. Latent profile analyses produced a five-cluster solution labeled 1) ‘low autonomy, relatedness, task, and moderate ego climate’ group’, 2) ‘low autonomy, relatedness, and high task and ego climate, 3) ‘moderate autonomy, relatedness, task and ego climate’ group 4) ‘high autonomy, relatedness, task, and moderate ego climate’ group, and 5) ‘high relatedness and task but moderate autonomy and ego climate’ group. Analyses of variance showed that students in clusters 4 and 5 perceived the highest level of enjoyment whereas students in cluster 1 experienced the lowest level of enjoyment. The results showed that the students’ perceptions of various motivational climates created differential levels of enjoyment in PE classes.

Key points

• Latent profile analyses produced a five-cluster solution labeled 1) ‘low autonomy, relatedness, task, and moderate ego climate’ group’, 2) ‘low autonomy, relatedness, and high task and ego climate, 3) ‘moderate autonomy, relatedness, task and ego climate’ group 4) ‘high autonomy, relatedness, task, and moderate ego climate’ group, and 5) ‘high relatedness and task but moderate autonomy and ego climate’ group.
• Analyses of variance showed that clusters 4 and 5 perceived the highest level of enjoyment whereas cluster 1 experienced the lowest level of enjoyment. The results showed that the students’ perceptions of motivational climate create differential levels of enjoyment in PE classes.

Key words: Motivational climate, enjoyment, physical education, clusters     

Miconazole lacquer compared with gel in treatment of denture stomatitis

An open, randomized, controlled study with two parallel treatment groups was done to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single application of a miconazole 55 mg/g denture lacquer applied once on the mucosal denture surface, as comrared with those of a commercially available miconazole 2% gel applied four times daily for 2 wk, in the treatment of Candida -associated denture stomatitis. The efficacy variables were Candida cultures on the Oricult plates taken from the palatal mucosa and the denture surface, erythema of the palatal mucosa, and smears for leukocyte migration into the palatal epithelium taken on entering the study and on days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 after commencement of therapy. On entering the study, all patients had positive cultures of yeast in the samples from the palatal mucosa. Within the first 3 days, all gel patients and 88% of the lacquer patients had fewer than 10 colonies. The gel was statistically significantly more efficient than the lacquer on days 7 and 14. In the samples from the denture surface, all patients had more than 100 yeast colonies at inclusion and, on day 3, approximately 80% in both treatment groups had fewer than 10 colonies. From day 7 onward, the gel was statistically significantly more efficient than the lacquer. The reddening of the palatal mucosa was not statistically significantly different in the treatment groups at any of the examinations, but smears for the determination of leukocyte migration indicated that the gel was statistically significantly more efficient than the lacquer on day 7. One patient in the gel group complained of gastrointestinal disturbance and stopped the treatment. On the basis of these results, it can be concluded that a single application of the miconazole denture lacquer is safe and creates an immediate antimycotic effect. A repeated application of the lacquer is, however, needed to achieve a prolonged effect.     

Effects of radiation fractionation on four squamous cell carcinoma lines with dissimilar inherent radiation sensitivity

Summary The effect of radiation fractionation was investigated using a new 96-well-plate clonogenic assay in four squamous cell carcinoma lines. Earlier experiments had shown that two of the cell lines (UT-SCC-1A and UM-SCC-14A) were inherently relatively sensitive to irradiation, and two (UM-SCC-1 and UM-SCV-1A) relatively resistant. All of the four carcinomas from which the cell lines were established had poor clinical outcome. The radiation doses were given as a single exposure, or split into two or three equal fractions with a 24-h interval. The two inherently sensitive cell lines showed enhanced survival after radiation fractionation as compared with a single dose, whereas the resistant cell lines did not. The result suggests that both the inherent resistance of cancer cells to irradiation and the repair of sublethal radiation damage may lead to treatment failure, and that shortening of the total irradiation time may overcome cancer cell recovery between fractions in some, but not in all carcinomas.Abbreviation SCC squamous cell carcinoma The study was financially supported by the Finnish Cancer Society     

Louse‐borne relapsing fever in Finland in two asylum seekers from Somalia

We report two cases of louse‐borne relapsing fever (LBRF) in young Somali asylum seekers having recently arrived to Finland. They had sought medical attention for a febrile illness. Blood smears were examined for suspected malaria, but instead, spirochete shaped bacteria were observed. The bacteria were confirmed as Borrelia recurrentis by PCR and sequencing. The patients survived, but their treatment was complicated by Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction. We conclude that LBRF must be considered as a diagnostic option in febrile refugees also in the northernmost parts of Europe.