Effects of acute and multi-day low-dose sodium bicarbonate intake on high-intensity endurance exercise performance in male recreational cyclists.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of acute and multi-day low-dose sodium bicarbonate (SB) intake on high-intensity endurance exercise performance. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, twelve recreational male cyclists (age: 31.17 ± 4.91 years; V ˙ O2peak: 47.98 ± 7.68 ml·kg-1·min-1) completed three endurance performance tests following acute SB (ASB, 0.2 g·kg-1 SB), multi-day SB (MSB, 0.2 g·kg-1·day-1 SB for four days), and placebo (PLA) intake. The high-intensity endurance performance was assessed with a cycling exercise test, wherein participants cycled on a bicycle ergometer at 95% of the predetermined anaerobic threshold for 30 min, followed by a time-to-exhaustion test at 110% of the anaerobic threshold. Data were analyzed using one-way and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant main effects of supplementation protocol were evident in pre-exercise bicarbonate concentrations (F = 27.93; p < 0.01; partial eta squared (η2) = 0.72; false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p value = 0.001). Prior to performance test, blood bicarbonate concentrations were significantly higher in MSB (25.78 ± 1.63 mmol·L-1 [95% CI 26.55-28.44] (p < 0.001; FDR-adjusted p value = 0.001)) and ASB (27.49 ± 1.49 mmol·L-1 [95% CI 24.75-26.81] (p < 0.001; FDR-adjusted p value = 0.007)) compared to PLA (23.75 ± 1.40 mmol·L-1 [95% CI 22.86 to 24.64]). Time-to-exhaustion increased in MSB (54.27 ± 9.20 min [95% CI 48.43-60.12]) compared to PLA (49.75 ± 10.80 min [95% CI 42.89-56.62]) (p = 0.048); however, this increase in MSB did not reach the significance threshold of 1% FDR (FDR-adjusted p value = 0.040). No significant difference was noted in exhaustion times between ASB (51.15 ± 8.39 min [95% CI 45.82-56.48]) and PLA (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both acute and multi-day administration of low-dose SB improves buffering system in cyclists; nevertheless, neither intervention demonstrates sufficient efficacy in enhancing high-intensity endurance performance.

Can the addition of a paracervical block to systemic or local analgesics improve the pain perceived by the patient during hysterosalpingography?

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the addition of a paracervical block to local intrauterine anaesthesia or the use of an intramuscular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug was effective for pain control during and at 30 min after hysterosalpingography (HSG). A total of 120 patients undergoing hysterosalpingography were randomised into four groups. Patients received intramuscular dexketoprofen trometamol with or without a paracervical block or intracavitary lidocaine instillation with or without paracervical block. The primary outcome was the overall pain score from the four stages of the procedure. The lowest pain scores were observed in the patients receiving dexketoprofen trometamol with a paracervical block, whereas the highest pain scores were observed in patients with intracavitary lidocaine instillation without a paracervical block (p = 0.021). No beneficial effect was found when a paracervical block (PCB) was added to either systemic or local analgesics. The combination of intramuscular dexketoprofen and a paracervical block with plain lidocaine produced the best pain relief during the three specified steps and at up to 30 min after the HSG procedure.

Machine learning algorithms to uncover risk factors of breast cancer: insights from a large case-control study.

Introduction: This large case-control study explored the application of machine learning models to identify risk factors for primary invasive incident breast cancer (BC) in the Iranian population. This study serves as a bridge toward improved BC prevention, early detection, and management through the identification of modifiable and unmodifiable risk factors. Methods: The dataset includes 1,009 cases and 1,009 controls, with comprehensive data on lifestyle, health-behavior, reproductive and sociodemographic factors. Different machine learning models, namely Random Forest (RF), Neural Networks (NN), Bootstrap Aggregating Classification and Regression Trees (Bagged CART), and Extreme Gradient Boosting Tree (XGBoost), were employed to analyze the data. Results: The findings highlight the significance of a chest X-ray history, deliberate weight loss, abortion history, and post-menopausal status as predictors. Factors such as second-hand smoking, lower education, menarche age (>14), occupation (employed), first delivery age (18-23), and breastfeeding duration (>42 months) were also identified as important predictors in multiple models. The RF model exhibited the highest Area Under the Curve (AUC) value of 0.9, as indicated by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Following closely was the Bagged CART model with an AUC of 0.89, while the XGBoost model achieved a slightly lower AUC of 0.78. In contrast, the NN model demonstrated the lowest AUC of 0.74. On the other hand, the RF model achieved an accuracy of 83.9% and a Kappa coefficient of 67.8% and the XGBoost, achieved a lower accuracy of 82.5% and a lower Kappa coefficient of 0.6. Conclusion: This study could be beneficial for targeted preventive measures according to the main risk factors for BC among high-risk women.

Risk of subsequent fracture and mortality within 5 years after a non-vertebral fracture.

SUMMARY: The absolute 5-year risk of subsequent non-vertebral fractures (NVFs) in 1,921 patients presenting with a NVF was 17.6% and of mortality was 32.3%. These risks were highest within the first year, indicating the need to study which reversible factors can be targeted to immediately minimise subsequent fracture risk and mortality. INTRODUCTION: NVFs are the most frequent clinical fractures in patients presenting at the emergency unit because of a clinical fracture. The aim of the study was to determine the 5-year absolute risk (AR) of subsequent NVF and mortality in patients at the time they present with a NVF. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2001, 1,921 consecutive patients 50+ years from a level 1 trauma centre were included. All NVFs were confirmed on radiograph reports, and mortality was checked in the national obituary database. Available potential risk factors for a subsequent NVF and mortality (age, sex and baseline fracture location: major-hip, pelvis, multiple ribs, proximal tibia/humerus and distal femur; minor-all others) were expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: The AR for a subsequent NVF was 17.6% and was related to age (HR per decade, 1.44; 95%CI, 1.29-1.60). The AR for mortality was 32.3% and was related to age (HR per decade, 2.59; 95%CI, 2.37-2.84), male sex (HR, 1.74; 95%CI, 1.44-2.10), major fracture at baseline (HR, 5.56; 95%CI, 3.48-8.88; not constant over time) and subsequent fracture (HR, 1.65; 95%CI, 1.33-2.05). The highest risks were found within the first year (NVFs, 6.4%; mortality, 12.2%) and were related to age and, in addition, to baseline fracture location for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Within 5 years after an initial NVF, nearly one in five patients sustained a subsequent NVF and one in three died. One third of subsequent NVFs and mortality occurred within 1 year, indicating the need to study which reversible factors can be targeted to immediately prevent subsequent fractures and mortality.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among schoolchildren in Punjab, Pakistan.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major cause of morbidity worldwide and have been described as an important public health concern. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and identification of risk factors associated with IPIs among 3-15 years old school age children residing in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan from 2011- 2013. A cross sectional school-based study was conducted using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Anthropometric tools and stool tests were used to obtain epidemiological and disease data. The direct wet mount preperation in saline/iodine/haematoxylin stain and Kato-Katz methods were used for stool examination. Data were analysed using appropriate descriptive, univariate and multivariable logistic regression methods. Of the 1,434 children studied (mean age of 8.6±3.6 years) the overall prevalence rate for intestinal parasitic infections was found to be 33.3%. Children infected with single parasite accounted for 27.6% and 5.7% were detected with poly-parasitism. The study showed that helminths (21.4%) were more prevalent than protozoans (17.9%). Ascaris lumbricoides (17.5%), Giardia lamblia (9.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (8.2%), Hymenolepis nana (2.0%), Trichuris trichiura (1.3%) and Taenia saginata (0.7%) were identified in children living in irrigated areas. The multiple logistic regression model indicated that age of the child, gender, family size, source of drinking water, type of milk used, house condition, feeding habit, personal hygiene and socioeconomic status were significantly (p<0.05) associated with the IPIs. Intestinal parasites were prevalent in varying magnitude among the schoolchildren located in irrigated areas. We conclude that there is a need for mass scale campaigns to create awareness regarding health and hygiene in children, and the need for development of effective poverty control programmes because deworming alone is not adequate to control parasitic infections.

Can diffusion weighted MRI differentiate between inflammatory-infectious and malignant pleural effusions?

AIM: To assess exudative pleural effusions with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) in order to determine non-invasive differentiation criteria for inflammatory-infectious and malignant effusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with pleural effusions underwent DW-MRI with 4 different b values (10, 500, 750 and 1000 s/mm2). ADC maps were generated automatically. Signal intensity and ADC values were measured. Following MRI, pleural fluid of 10-15 ml was obtained and analyzed. AUC values were compared for different diffusion levels of ADC and SI measurements. The relationship between ADC values and pleural effusion LDH and total protein levels was examined. RESULTS: The cut-off values obtained from signal intensity and ADC measurements to differentiate exudates with malignant pathology were not found to be statistically significant. In the inflammatory-infectious group, a significant negative correlation was observed between ADC values and pleural fluid LDH measurements in all b values. In the malignant group, a significant positive correlation was observed between ADC values and pleural fluid total protein measurements in b values of 500 and 1000. CONCLUSION: Infectious/inflammatory and malignant effusions overlap strongly and cannot therefore be differentiated using DW MRI.

Effects of step aerobics and aerobic dancing on serum lipids and lipoproteins.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effect of 8 weeks of step aerobics and aerobic dancing on blood lipids and lipoproteins. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Comparative training. SETTING: Two months of physical fitness program. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five sedentary female college student volunteers randomly assigned to one of the three groups as step aerobics (n=15), aerobic dancing (n=15) and the control group (n=15). The step aerobics and aerobic dancing groups participated in sessions of 45 min per day, 3 days per week for 8 weeks with 60-70 percent of their heart rate reserve. MEASURES: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL-C), the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC:HDL-C). RESULTS: At the end of the 8 week period, a significant difference has been found between the step aerobics group and the control group and between the aerobic dancing group and the control group in TC levels (F[2,44]=8.38; p<0.01). A significant difference in HDL-C levels (F[2,44]=3.65; p<0.05) and TC:HDL-C ratio (F[2,44]=11.56; p<0.01) has been found only between the step aerobics group and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that step aerobics training is an effective training mode for modifying lipid and lipoprotein profiles of female college-aged students.

The relationship of self-concept and perceived athletic competence to physical activity level and gender among Turkish early adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-concept and perceived athletic competence of Turkish early adolescents in relation to physical activity level and gender. Self-concept was assessed using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale, and perceived athletic competence was assessed by means of the Athletic Competence subscale of Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Children. In addition, the Weekly Activity Checklist was used for assessing physical activity level. Males and females were assigned to low and high physical activity level groups based on their mean scores. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant main effects for gender and physical activity level, but there was no significant gender by physical activity interaction. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant main effect for physical activity level on perceived athletic competence but not global self-concept. In addition, univariate analysis did not reveal a significant difference in either global self-concept or perceived athletic competence with respect to gender.

[Role of twinkling artifact in characterization of urinary calculi]. / El artefacto de centelleo en la caracterización de los cálculos urinarios.

INTRODUCTION: Stone characterization is becoming important before decision of treatment such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Some studies have reported that the twinkling artifact (color-flow ultrasonography artifact) may be useful to detect urinary stones. This study aims to determine whether the presence or absence of the twinkling artifact is correlated with the chemical composition of the stones. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients with renal stones > 0.5 cm were included in a prospective study. Sixty patients were examined with x-ray film, intravenous pyelography, non-contrast computerized tomography, and color and spectral doppler ultrasonography. The artifact was considered grade 1 when occupied only one portion of the acoustic shadowing and when the artifact occupied the entire acoustic shadowing was considered grade 2. Patients with stones smaller than 2 cm were treated with SWL and patients with stones larger than 2 cm were treated with PCNL. RESULTS: No artifact (grade 0) was detected in 11 subjects, grade 1 in 25 and grade 2 in 24. Significant relationship was found between the increase in twinkling artifact and stone size (p<0.001). When the relation between the composition of the stones and the twinkling artifact was analyzed, artifact was detected nearly in all of the calcium oxalate dihydrate and calcium phosphate stones; whereas the artifact was detected in more than half of the calcium oxalate monohydrate and uric acid stones. In ESWL group it was observed that as the grade of the twinkling artifact increases, the number of required ESWL sessions decreases (p<0.001). In PCNL group twinkling artifact was found in all of the patients (100%) with roughly surfaced stones. CONCLUSION: The roughness of stone surface is the most important factor in terms of formation of the twinkling artifact in kidney stones. This artifact can be of use in anticipating the breakability of the stones of those patients to be treated with applied ESWL. One might anticipate that cases where the size of the stone is larger than 2 cm but no twinkling artifact is detected are calcium oxalate monohydrate, which is one of the stones with highest level of breakability.

El artefacto de centelleo en la caracterización de los cálculos urinarios / Role of twinkling artifact in characterization of urinary calculi

Introducción: La caracterización de los cálculos renales está cada vez cobrando mayor importancia como paso previo a la toma de decisiones terapéuticas tales como la nefrolitotomía percutánea (NLP) y la litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque (LEOC). En algunos estudios se ha publicado que el artefacto de centelleo (artefacto de ecografía de flujo en color) puede ser de utilidad en la detección de piedras en el riñón. En este estudio se pretende dilucidar si la presencia o ausencia del artefacto de centelleo tendría alguna relación con la composición química de los cálculos. Material y método: En un estudio prospectivo se incluyó a pacientes con cálculos renales de ≥ 0,5cm. Se examinó a 70 pacientes mediante rayos X, pielografía intravenosa, tomografía computarizada sin contraste y ecografía doppler espectral y a color. El artefacto se consideró de grado 1 si sólo ocupaba una parte de la sombra acústica, considerándose de grado 2 si ocupaba la totalidad de la sombra. Se trató a los pacientes con cálculos de menos de 2cm con LEOC, y a aquellos con piedras de mayor tamaño se les derivó a tratamiento con NLP. Resultados: No se detectó artefacto alguno (grado 0) en 11 sujetos, detectándose el grado 1 en 25 y el grado 2 en 24. Se encontró una relación significativa entre el aumento en artefactos de centelleo y tamaño del cálculo (p<0,001). Al analizar la relación entre composición de los cálculos y artefacto de centelleo se detectó el artefacto en prácticamente todas las piedras de oxalato de calcio —dihidrato y fosfato de calcio, mientras que en el caso de los cálculos de oxalato de calcio— monohidrato y ácido úrico se detectó el artefacto únicamente en algo más de la mitad de ellos. En el grupo LEOC se observó que, al aumentar el grado del artefacto de centelleo, descendía el número de sesiones de LEOC necesario (p<0,001). En el grupo NLP se encontró el artefacto de centelleo en todos los pacientes (100%) con piedras de superficie irregular. Conclusión: La irregularidad de la superficie lítica es el factor más influyente en la formación del artefacto de centelleo en piedras de riñón. Dicho artefacto puede tener utilidad a la hora de prever la predisposición a la fragmentación de los cálculos en pacientes derivados a tratamiento con aplicación de LEOC. Podría pronosticarse que aquellos casos en los que el tamaño de la piedra fuese de más de 2cm y no se detectase artefacto de centelleo serían de oxalato de calcio - monohidrato, que es una de las piedras con mayor predisposición a la fragmentación (AU)

Introduction: Stone characterization is becoming important before decision of treatment such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). Some studies have reported that the twinkling artifact (color-flow ultrasonography artifact) may be useful to detect urinary stones. This study aims to determine whether the presence or absence of the twinkling artifact is correlated with the chemical composition of the stones. Material and method: Patients with renal stones > 0.5cm were included in a prospective study. Sixty patients were examined with x-ray film, intravenous pyelography, non-contrast computerized tomography, and color and spectral doppler ultrasonography. The artifact was considered grade 1 when occupied only one portion of the acoustic shadowing and when the artifact occupied the entire acoustic shadowing was considered grade 2. Patients with stones smaller than 2cm were treated with SWL and patients with stones larger than 2cm were treated with PCNL. Results: No artifact (grade 0) was detected in 11 subjects, grade 1 in 25 and grade 2 in 24. Significant relationship was found between the increase in twinkling artifact and stone size (p<0.001). When the relation between the composition of the stones and the twinkling artifact was analyzed, artifact was detected nearly in all of the calcium oxalate dihydrate and calcium phosphate stones; whereas the artifact was detected in more than half of the calcium oxalate monohydrate and uric acid stones. In ESWL group it was observed that as the grade of the twinkling artifact increases, the number of required ESWL sessions decreases (p<0.001). In PCNL group twinkling artifact was found in all of the patients (100%) with roughly surfaced stones. Conclusion: The roughness of stone surface is the most important factor in terms of formation of the twinkling artifact in kidney stones. This artifact can be of use in anticipating the breakability of the stones of those patients to be treated with applied ESWL. One might anticipate that cases where the size of the stone is larger than 2cm but no twinkling artifact is detected are calcium oxalate monohydrate, which is one of the stones with highest level of breakability (AU)