Caffeinated chewing gum improves the batting and pitching performance of female softball players: a randomized crossover study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on female softball pitching and hitting performance in trained female softball fielders and pitchers. METHODS: Twenty-four trained female softball players (10 pitchers and 14 fielders) were divided into a caffeine chewing gum trial (CAF) or a placebo trial (PLA) in a single-blind, randomized, crossover experimental design. Two pieces of gum containing 100 mg of caffeine (CAF) or without caffeine (PLA) were chewed for 10 minutes and then spit out, followed by a 15-minute warm-up. The physical tests included grip strength and countermovement jump (CMJ). The softball-specific tests included pitching or hitting. The two trials were separated by seven days. RESULTS: The CAF trial had significantly higher grip strength than the PAL trial in fielder (P=0.032, Cohen's d=0.29) and pitcher (P=0.016, Cohen's d=0.33). The height of CMJ in fielders was significantly higher in the CAF trial than in the PLA trial (P=0.015, Cohen's d=0.65) but not in pitchers (P=0.596, Cohen's d=0.15). The fielder's average and maximum batting exit speeds were significantly higher in the CAF trial than in the PLA trial (P<0.05). The average and max fastball speeds of the CAF trial were significantly higher than that of the PLA trial in pitchers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that chewing gum containing two pieces of gum containing 100 mg of caffeine effectively improved female softball fielder's batting performance and pitcher's pitching performance.

A study on identifying synergistic prevention and control regions for PM2.5 and O3 and exploring their spatiotemporal dynamic in China.

Air pollutants, notably ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) give rise to evident adverse impacts on public health and the ecotope, prompting extensive global apprehension. Though PM2.5 has been effectively mitigated in China, O3 has been emerging as a primary pollutant, especially in summer. Currently, alleviating PM2.5 and O3 synergistically faces huge challenges. The synergistic prevention and control (SPC) regions of PM2.5 and O3 and their spatiotemporal patterns were still unclear. To address the above issues, this study utilized ground monitoring station data, meteorological data, and auxiliary data to predict the China High-Resolution O3 Dataset (CHROD) via a two-stage model. Furthermore, SPC regions were identified based on a spatial overlay analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The standard deviation ellipse was employed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of SPC regions. Some outcomes were obtained. The two-stage model significantly improved the accuracy of O3 concentration prediction with acceptable R2 (0.86), and our CHROD presented higher spatiotemporal resolution compared with existing products. SPC regions exhibited significant spatiotemporal variations during the Blue Sky Protection Campaign (BSPC) in China. SPC regions were dominant in spring and autumn, and O3-controlled and PM2.5-dominated zones were detected in summer and winter, respectively. SPC regions were primarily located in the northwest, north, east, and central regions of China, specifically in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration (BTH), Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and Anhui provinces. The gravity center of SPC regions was distributed in the BTH in winter, and in Xinjiang during spring, summer, and autumn. This study can supply scientific references for the collaborative management of PM2.5 and O3.

Exploring the association of PM2.5 with lung cancer incidence under different climate zones and socioeconomic conditions from 2006 to 2016 in China.

Air pollution generated by urbanization and industrialization poses a significant negative impact on public health. Particularly, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has become one of the leading causes of lung cancer mortality worldwide. The relationship between air pollutants and lung cancer has aroused global widespread concerns. Currently, the spatial agglomeration dynamic of lung cancer incidence (LCI) has been seldom discussed, and the spatial heterogeneity of lung cancer's influential factors has been ignored. Moreover, it is still unclear whether different socioeconomic levels and climate zones exhibit modification effects on the relationship between PM2.5 and LCI. In the present work, spatial autocorrelation was adopted to reveal the spatial aggregation dynamic of LCI, the emerging hot spot analysis was introduced to indicate the hot spot changes of LCI, and the geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was used to determine the affecting factors of LCI and their spatial heterogeneity. Then, the modification effects of PM2.5 on the LCI under different socioeconomic levels and climatic zones were explored. Some findings were obtained. The LCI demonstrated a significant spatial autocorrelation, and the hot spots of LCI were mainly concentrated in eastern China. The affecting factors of LCI revealed an obvious spatial heterogeneity. PM2.5 concentration, nighttime light data, 2 m temperature, and 10 m u-component of wind represented significant positive effects on LCI, while education-related POI exhibited significant negative effects on LCI. The LCI in areas with low urbanization rates, low education levels, and extreme climate conditions was more easily affected by PM2.5 than in other areas. The results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of lung cancer and related epidemics.

Effect of psycho-educational interventions on quality of life in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were developed for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, ICD recipients' mortality is significantly predicted by their quality of life (QOL). The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of psycho-educational interventions on QOL in patients with ICDs. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL through April 2015 and references of relevant articles. Studies were reviewed if they met following criteria: (1) randomized controlled trial, (2) participants were adults with an ICD, and (3) data were sufficient to evaluate the effect of psychological or educational interventions on QOL measured by the SF-36 or SF-12. Studies were independently selected and their data were extracted by two reviewers. Study quality was evaluated using a modified Jadad scale. The meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager Software Package (RevMan 5). Study heterogeneity was assessed by Q statistics and I 2 statistic. Depending on heterogeneity, data were pooled across trials using fixed-effect or random-effect modeling. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and included 1017 participants. The psycho-educational interventions improved physical component summary (PCS) scores in the intervention groups more than in control groups (mean difference 2.08, 95 % CI 0.86 to 3.29, p < 0.001), but did not significantly affect mental component summary (MCS) scores (mean difference 0.84, 95 % CI -1.68 to 3.35, p = 0.52). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis demonstrates that psycho-educational interventions improved the physical component, but not the mental component of QOL in patients with ICDs.

[Health Technology Dependency: A Concept Analysis].

Health technology dependence is a widely recognized concept that refers to the utilization of technology, including drugs, equipment, instruments, and related devices, to compensate for a physical disability or to prevent the progression of a disability. Although technology may significantly prolong the life of a patient, technology may also increase the psychological pressure of these patients and the burdens of their caregivers. There is a current dearth of related research and discussions related to the concept of "health technology dependency". Therefore, the present paper uses the strategies of concept analysis described by Walker & Avant (2010) to analyze this concept. The characteristic definition of health technology dependence addresses individuals who: (1) currently live with health technology, (2) may perceive physical or psychological burdens due to health technology, and (3) feel physical and psychological well-being when coping positively with their health technology dependency and, further, regard health technology as a part of their body. Further, the present paper uses case examples to help analyze the general concept. It is hoped that nurses may better understand the concept of "health technology dependency", consider the concerns of health-technology-dependent patients and their families, and develop relevant interventions to promote the well-being of these patients and their families.