Peak Performance: Characteristics and Key Factors in the Development of the World Top-8 Swimmers Based on Longitudinal Data.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the peak performance characteristics of the world top-8 swimmers and the key factors involved in the journey toward achieving better peak performance. METHODS: The results of the world top-8 swimmers from 2001 to 2022 were collected from the World Aquatics performance database. Progression to peak performance was tracked with individual quadratic trajectories (1191 cases). Utilizing k-means clustering to group competitive feature variables, this study investigated key developmental factors through a binary logistic regression model, using the odds ratio (OR) to represent whether a factor was favorable (OR > 1) or unfavorable (OR < 1). RESULTS: Significant differences (P < .001) in the peak age between men (23.54/3.80) and women (22.31/4.60) were noticed, while no significant differences (P > .05) in the peak-performance window for both sexes appeared. Peak performance occurred at later ages for the sprint for both sexes, and women had a longer duration in peak-performance window for sprint (P < .05). Peak-performance occurred at later ages for the breaststroke and butterfly for both sexes (P < .05). Binary logistic regression revealed that high first-participation performance (OR = 1.502), high major-competition performance (OR = 4.165), early first-major-competition age (OR = 1.441), participation frequency above 4 times/year in both phase 2 (4.3-8.0 times/y, OR = 3.940; 8.1-20.0 times/y, OR = 5.122) and phase 3 (4.1-7.5 times/y: OR = 5.548; 7.7-15.0 times/y: OR = 7.526), and a career length of 10 years or more (10-15 y, OR = 2.102; 16-31 y, OR = 3.480) were favorable factors for achieving better peak performance. CONCLUSIONS: Peak performance characteristics varied across sex, swimming stroke, and race distance in the world top-8 swimmers. Meanwhile, the research indicated that certain specific developmental factors were key conditions for the world top-8 swimmers to achieve better peak performance in the future.

MSCohi-O lenses for long-term retention of mesenchymal stem cells on ocular surface as a therapeutic approach for chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease.

Chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and can lead to vision loss if not diagnosed and treated promptly. Currently, no approved drugs exist for oGVHD treatment. However, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) have known immunoregulatory properties and have been employed in clinical trials for immune-mediated diseases. To address oGVHD, the application of UCMSCs to the ocular surface is a logical approach. Intravenous administration of UCMSCs poses risks, necessitating topical and local delivery. Retaining UCMSCs on the ocular surface remains a challenge. To overcome this, we invented mesenchymal stem cell-coating high oxygen-permeable hydrogel lenses combining UCMSCs and machinery to enable the long-term retention of UCMSCs on the ocular surface. Animal model experiments demonstrated that these lenses effectively retained UCMSCs, providing therapeutic benefits by decreasing corneal inflammation and damage, and inhibiting immune rejection and response, all crucial aspects in oGVHD treatment.