Relationship between anthropometric and kinematic measures to practice velocity in elite American 100 m sprinters.

BACKGROUND: There exists a paucity of anthropometric and kinematic data for elite United States (US) sprinters and further analysis of how these variables correlate with sprint velocity in practice is warranted. AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationship of anthropometric and kinematic variables and practice sprint velocity of elite sprint athletes when separated by gender. METHODS: Participants included elite US 100 m sprinters (total: n=38, male: n=19, female: n=19). Inclusion criteria were participation in the 100 m semifinals or finals at the US Outdoor National Championships from 2015 to 2019. Anthropometric data and 300 Hz video during maximum velocity sprinting were collected during a practice session and video was digitized to determine the kinematic variables of interest. Relationships with maximal sprint velocity were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Males showed significant unadjusted relationships between practice velocity and step length (r=0.668; P=0.002), horizontal backward foot velocity at touchdown (r=0.459; P=0.048), and upper leg full extension angle (r=-0.585; P=0.009). Multiple regression analysis found that when adjusting for these three variables, step length was the only significant predictor of practice velocity in males which accounted for 44.6% of the variability in practice velocity in males. The females showed a significant relationship between practice velocity and step length (r=0.629; P=0.004) which accounted for 39.5% of the variability in practice velocity. CONCLUSION: These results provide researchers and coaches with important information regarding the anthropometric and kinematic variables related to elite top speed sprinting performance. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: Training focused on increasing step length may be an efficient way to improve velocity in practice.

Genomic Survey of E. coli From the Bladders of Women With and Without Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common human bacterial infections. While UTIs are commonly associated with colonization by Escherichia coli, members of this species also have been found within the bladder of individuals with no lower urinary tract symptoms (no LUTS), also known as asymptomatic bacteriuria. Prior studies have found that both uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains and E. coli isolates that are not associated with UTIs encode for virulence factors. Thus, the reason(s) why E. coli sometimes causes UTI-like symptoms remain(s) elusive. In this study, the genomes of 66 E. coli isolates from adult female bladders were sequenced. These isolates were collected from four cohorts, including women: (1) without lower urinary tract symptoms, (2) overactive bladder symptoms, (3) urgency urinary incontinence, and (4) a clinical diagnosis of UTI. Comparative genomic analyses were conducted, including core and accessory genome analyses, virulence and motility gene analyses, and antibiotic resistance prediction and testing. We found that the genomic content of these 66 E. coli isolates does not correspond with the participant's symptom status. We thus looked beyond the E. coli genomes to the composition of the entire urobiome and found that the presence of E. coli alone was not sufficient to distinguish between the urobiomes of individuals with UTI and those with no LUTS. Because E. coli presence, abundance, and genomic content appear to be weak predictors of UTI status, we hypothesize that UTI symptoms associated with detection of E. coli are more likely the result of urobiome composition.

Twenty-Four-Hour Voiding Diaries Versus 3-Day Voiding Diaries: A Clinical Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if 24-hour versus 3-day voiding diary affects medical decision making for women with urinary incontinence. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients presenting to the OhioHealth Urogynecology Physician group for urinary incontinence from 2009 to 2011. Practice protocol includes patient completion of a 3-day voiding diary before their appointment. Diagnostic and treatment plans were extracted based on the initial patient encounter and 3-day voiding diary. A chart review was then completed with the first 24 hours of the same diaries, principal history, and physical examination data compiled into a separate chart. These charts were then reevaluated by the same physician who initially provided care to the patient but were blinded to their previous orders, impressions, and plans. New plans were then created based on the 24-hour diaries and compared with the original plans. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-six charts were reviewed. There was good agreement between 24-hour and 3-day diaries in recommendations for first-line behavioral modifications (Κ > 0.6) and moderate agreement between diaries in initiation of medical therapy or trial of incontinence pessary (Κ > 0.4). However, 24-hour diaries resulted in a statistically significant increase in invasive diagnostic tests (P < 0.019) and other treatment recommendations when compared with 3-day diaries. CONCLUSIONS: Use of 24-hour diaries may result in increased testing when compared with 3-day diaries. It may be prudent to postpone invasive testing in those patients who initially are noncompliant with a longer diary until a more complete history can be obtained.

Non-additive dietary effects in juvenile slider turtles, Trachemys scripta.

Non-additive dietary effects occur when nutritional gains from a mixed diet are greater than or less than that predicted by summing the gains from individual diet items. Both positive and negative effects occur in adult slider turtles, Trachemys scripta. Such effects may also be important to juvenile T. scripta as they ontogenetically switch from carnivorous to herbivorous diets. The purpose of this study was to determine if juveniles experience non-additive effects and to assess the underlying mechanism. Two feeding trials were conducted. In Trial 1, juveniles were fed 100% duckweed, Lemna valdiviana, 100% grass shrimp, Palaemontes paludosus, or a mixed diet containing 81% duckweed and 19% shrimp. In Trial 2, juveniles were fed 100% duckweed, Lemna minor, 100% cricket, Acheta domesticus, or one of three mixed diets containing duckweed and cricket in varying percentages (22%, 39% and 66% cricket). Similar to adults, a negative non-additive effect was demonstrated on the 19% shrimp and 22% cricket diets. However, the positive effect found in adults was not observed. Intake varied dramatically between the plant and animal diets, resulting in differences in transit time that could explain the non-additive effect. These results offer some insight into understanding ontogenetic diet shifts in turtles.