A multi-scale analysis of basketball throw in virtual reality for tracking perceptual-motor expertise

To benefit from virtual reality (VR) as a complementary tool for training, coaches must determine the proper tools and variables for tracking sports performance. We explored the basketball shooting at several scales (basket-ball, ball-player, and player systems) by monitoring success-rate, and ball and body kinematics. We measured how these scales of analysis allowed tracking players' expertise and perceptual sensitivity to basket distance. Experienced and novice players were instructed to naturally throw and swish an instrumented ball in a stereoscopically rendered virtual basket. We challenged their perceptual-motor systems by manipulating the distance of the virtual basket while keeping the surrounding environment unchanged. The success-rate accounted for the players' shooting adjustments to the manipulation of basket distance and allowed tracking their expertise. Ball kinematics also reflected the manipulation of distance and allowed detecting gender, but did not reflect the players' expertise. Finally, body kinematics variables did not echo players' adjustments to the distance manipulation but reflected their expertise and gender. The results gained at each scale of analysis are discussed with regard to the simulator's construct, biomechanical, and psychological fidelity.     

A comprehensive view on the quercetin impact on bladder cancer: Focusing on oxidative stress,cellular, and molecular mechanisms

Bladder cancer (BC) is known as a prevalent genitourinary malignancy and has a significant mortality rate worldwide. Despite recent therapeutic approaches, the recurrence rate is high, highlighting the need for a new strategy to reduce the BC cell progression. Quercetin, a flavonoid compound, demonstrated promising anticancer properties and could be used in the management of various malignancies such as BC. This comprehensive review summarized quercetin's cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer activities. The study's findings indicated that quercetin prevents the proliferation of the human BC cell line, promotes apoptosis of BIU-87 cells, reduces the expression of p-P70S6K, and induces apoptosis by p-AMPK. Moreover, quercetin restricts tumor growth through the AMPK/mTOR cascade and prevents colony formation of human BC cells by triggering DNA damage. Studying this review article will help researchers better understand quercetin's functional role in the prevention and treatment of BC.     

The effect of erythroferrone suppression by transfusion on the erythropoietin–erythroferrone–hepcidin axis in transfusion-dependent thalassaemia: A pre–post cohort study

To track post-transfusion changes on the erythropoietin (EPO)–erythroferrone (ERFE)–hepcidin axis, we collected blood samples from 82 regularly transfused patients with β-thalassaemia major (β-TM) immediately before and 4–6 days after transfusion. The post-transfusion haemoglobin, hepcidin, and ferritin levels were increased, while the EPO, ERFE, and soluble transferrin receptor were suppressed. In addition, hepcidin change was inversely associated with erythropoietic change, which was confirmed by an increase in the hepcidin-to-ERFE ratio after transfusion. Age was the main predictor of serum ERFE, followed by EPO, transfusion frequencies, and ferritin. We found ERFE to be a highly sensitive indicator of erythroid activity in β-TM and that the hepcidin-to-ERFE ratio after transfusion may be used as an appropriateness index of serum hepcidin regulation relative to the degree of erythropoiesis.     

Review on challenges for robotic eye surgery; surgical systems,technologies, cost-effectiveness,and controllers

In recent decades, a number of surgical systems have been developed and are applied for a growing variety of surgeries. This review will consider the significant challenges of robotic surgery for the eye. These challenges take into account the different eye diseases, available technologies, and costs in different surgical systems for the eye. The conditions of a suitable controller will be discussed with consideration of relevant control engineering concepts. Comparison is made between the different characteristics of surgical robots for the eye. In this review, some comparisons will be made in eye surgical robots, control algorithms, sensors in surgical robots, communication protocols, and actuators.     

A notable improvement in spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) after delivery in a pregnant woman: A case report

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a rare condition where the CSF pressure is lower than expected. In this report, we introduce a case of SIH in a 32-year-old pregnant woman who came to our emergency department at 32 weeks’ gestation with a postural and bilateral headache. After MRI confirmation, conservative treatment was started for her, and a cesarean section was scheduled. After the operation, CT-myelography and CT-cisternography were performed for the patient to find the source of the CSF leak, which was located in the C3-C5 level. Still, due to the dangerous nature of the operation, the patient continued supportive treatment and had a significant improvement in his next MRI without any invasive procedure.     

Pain,mental health and healthcare utilization: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth with chronic pain,parents and siblings

Background

Paediatric chronic pain was a public health emergency before the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and this problem is predicted to escalate. Pain tends to occur intergenerationally in families, and youth with chronic pain and their parents have high rates of mental health issues, which can further exacerbate pain. Siblings of youth with chronic pain have been largely overlooked in research, as well as the impact of the pandemic on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and healthcare utilization.

Methods

This cross-sectional study examined pain, mental health and healthcare utilization in three groups: youth with chronic pain (n = 357), parents of youth with chronic pain (n = 233) and siblings of youth with chronic pain (n = 156) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

Results

More so than with pain symptoms, the results revealed high levels of mental health symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depressive, and PTSD), particularly in individuals more personally impacted by the pandemic. The largest effect was seen on PTSD symptoms for all groups. For parents with chronic pain, greater personal COVID-19 impact was related to worse pain interference. Reported rates of healthcare utilization were strikingly high, with youth with chronic pain, parents (reporting on behalf of their children with chronic pain), and siblings of youth with chronic pain reporting that most consultations were due to pain.

Conclusions

Longitudinal research assessing these outcomes across continued waves of the pandemic is needed to ensure timely, tailored and equitable access to pain and mental health assessment and treatment.

Significance

This study examined pain, mental health, substance use and healthcare utilization in youth with chronic pain, siblings and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater personal impact of the pandemic was not largely associated with poorer pain outcomes; however, it was associated with mental health, with the largest effect on PTSD symptoms. The high rates and significant association of COVID-19 impact with PTSD symptoms underscore the importance of including PTSD assessment as part of routine screening practices in pain clinics.     

Prevalence and Impact of Fatigue on Quality of Life (QOL) of Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Fatigue is a typical consequence of cancer that can affect one’s quality of life (QOL). The goal of this review is to provide comprehensive data on the impact of fatigue on QOL of cancer patients. Methods: An electronic data search in Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed for relevant papers; those written in English; those reporting quantitative data; and those including more than one hundred patients who received just chemotherapy were included. Studies involving participants that received other kinds of anti-neoplastic therapies were excluded. Results: A total of 35 papers published between January 2000 and December 2021 were retrieved from the search databases of which (11612 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Findings showed that fatigue negatively affected QOL with a pooled prevalence of 49% (95% CI; 25.00-74.00) and the significant heterogeneity between articles was (I²=98%, P <0.001). Further, breast cancer contributed to the majority of selected articles with about 55 % (95%CI; 9:00- 94:00), followed by cancer (unspecified) 44% (95%CI; 5:00 – 92:00). Most studies (71%) (95%CI; 4:00 – 99:00) used the brief fatigue inventory (BFI) tool to assess severity of fatigue and 39% (95%CI; 17:00 -68:00) employed the European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire to evaluate QOL among cancer survivors. Conclusion: The prevalence of fatigue in cancer patients is high and fatigue has a negative impact on QOL of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Directionality, fatigue needs to be addressed and treated properly for better improvement of health status and QOL in cancer patients.