Self-selected speeds and metabolic cost of longboard skateboarding

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine self-selected speeds, metabolic rate, and gross metabolic cost during longboard skateboarding.

Methods

We measured overground speed and metabolic rate while 15 experienced longboarders traveled at their self-selected slow, typical and fast speeds.

Results

Mean longboarding speeds were 3.7, 4.5 and 5.1 m s^?1, during slow, typical and fast trials, respectively. Mean rates of oxygen consumption were 24.1, 29.1 and 37.2 ml kg^?1 min^?1 and mean rates of energy expenditure were 33.5, 41.8 and 52.7 kJ min^?1 at the slow, typical and fast speeds, respectively. At typical speeds, average intensity was ~8.5 METs. There was a significant positive relationship between oxygen consumption and energy expenditure versus speed (R ² = 0.69 (P < 0.001), and R ² = 0.78 (P < 0.001), respectively). The gross metabolic cost was ~2.2 J kg^?1 m^?1 at the typical speed, greater than that reported for cycling and ~50 % smaller than that of walking.

Conclusion

These results suggest that longboarding is a novel form of physical activity that elicits vigorous intensity, yet is economical compared to walking.     

The impact of surgical treatment on the mental health of women with obstetric fistula

Obstetric fistula is estimated to affect 2 million women worldwide and has considerable social and psychological effects on affected individuals. In this prospective study, 51 consecutive women with obstetric fistula admitted to the Barhirdar Hamlin Fistula Centre in the north of Ethiopia were screened using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) for potential mental health disorder before and 2 weeks after fistula surgery. Prior to surgery, all women screened positive. By 2 weeks after, this had dropped to 36% ( P = 0.005). 27% of the 45 women who were cured of their incontinence screened positive, while all 6 of those with severe residual incontinence continued to screen positive. We conclude that surgical treatment of obstetric fistula results in marked improvements in mental heath.     

The circumferential obstetric fistula: characteristics, management and outcomes

Obstetric vesicovaginal fistula is a tragic injury that is widespread in any country where access to emergency obstetric care is limited. More and more people are now interested in treating and caring for these women, but little is known about surgical management, and most operators have developed their own methods through years of experience. One of the more challenging cases to get a functional repair is in those women who have a circumferential defect in the bladder/urethra. This article analyses a series of 77 consecutive circumferential obstetric fistula cases operated in the Barhirdar Hamlin Fistula Centre by the author.     

Antimicrobial Activities of Skincare Preparations from Plant Extracts

In this study, Tithonia diversifolia Helms. (A Gray), Aloe secundiflora (Miller) and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) plant extracts were used to make herbal soaps while Thevetia peruviana (Schum) seed oil was used to make a herbal lotion for skincare. The soaps were tested for the growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The lotion was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and E.coli. Although Tithonia diversifolia soap exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on the test bacterial strains, it had the least inhibition against C. albicans. Results from this study indicated that the ‘Tithonia diversifolia’ soap would have superior skin protection against the tested bacteria but would offer the least skin protection against C. albicans. The herbal lotion inhibited S. aureus and E. coli in a concentration dependent manner, however, the inhibitory effect was more pronounced on S. aureus.     

Avidity of Polyclonal Antibodies to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Bovine Serum Measured Using Bio-Layer Interferometry

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a disease of cloven-hoofed livestock caused by FMD virus (FMDV). FMD can be controlled through the use of inactivated vaccines, and it is well established that the protection afforded by FMD vaccines correlates strongly with neutralising antibody titres. However, the overall strength of binding, referred to as avidity, is also an important parameter with respect to the ability of antibodies to neutralise virus infection, and there is evidence that avidity can affect the level of protection afforded by FMDV vaccines. Here, as an alternative to modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (avidity ELISAs) incorporating a chaotropic wash step, we used bio-layer interferometry (BLI) to measure the avidity of bovine polyclonal antibodies against FMDV capsids. We conducted preliminary experiments using recombinant FMDV capsids, as well as peptides representing antigenic loops, to demonstrate that the binding of monoclonal antibodies targeting specific antigenic sites could be detected using BLI. Subsequent experiments using polyclonal sera derived from FMD vaccinated cattle provided evidence of a positive correlation between the neutralising titre of the serum and the avidity as measured by BLI. Furthermore, we observed an increase in BLI avidity, as well as in the titre, in vaccinated animals upon challenge with the live virus.     

Oropharyngeal decontamination in intensive care patients: less is not more

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common cause of morbidity, antibiotic use, increased length of stay and, possibly, increased mortality in ICU patients. Colonization of the oropharyngeal cavity with potentially pathogenic micro-organisms is instrumental in the pathogenesis of VAP, and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) with antibiotics (AB-SOD) or antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX-SOD), has been associated with reduced incidences of VAP. In a recent issue of Critical Care Scannapieco and colleagues investigated differences in oropharyngeal colonization between mechanically ventilated patients receiving oropharyngeal decontamination with 0.12% CHX-SOD either once or twice daily compared to placebo. CHX-SOD was associated with a reduction in Staphylococcus aureus colonization, but the study was underpowered to demonstrate a reduction in VAP incidence. We urgently need well-designed and adequately powered studies to evaluate the potential benefits of CHX-SOD on patient outcome in ICUs.