Balance, Landing Biomechanics, and Functional Movement Screen Characteristics With and Without Knee Exoskeleton in Military Soldiers.

INTRODUCTION: A light-weight pneumatic-powered knee exoskeleton could augment mobility and lifting capabilities for a variety of occupational settings. However, added weight/bulkiness and artificially produced knee extension torque could compromise sensorimotor characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten healthy participants conducted 3 visits within 10 days to the biomechanics laboratory. Participants were asked to complete the following tasks on each visit: single-leg balance, single-leg drop-landing, and select functional movement tasks. Balance characteristics (the ground reaction forces variability and center-of-pressure velocity) were derived from force plates while knee flexion angles during drop-landing and functional movement tasks were captured using a motion capture system. Descriptive statistics as well as paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare between conditions. Significance was set at P < .05 a priori. RESULTS: During single-leg balance, the ground reaction force variabilities were significantly increased (P = .013-.019) and the center of pressure velocity was decreased (P = .001-.017) when wearing knee exoskeleton. During single-leg drop-landing, the exoskeleton condition showed lower knee flexion angles at the initial contact (P = .004-.021) and peak (P = .006-.010). Additionally, the peak vertical ground reaction force was higher in the exoskeleton condition (P = .007). During functional movement tasks, the exoskeleton condition showed less knee flexion range-of-motion during the overhead squat (P = .007-.033) and hurdle step-over (P = .004-.005). CONCLUSIONS: Participants exhibited stiffer landing technique with the exoskeleton. Given that these compromised sensorimotor characteristics have been associated with musculoskeletal injury risk, modifications to exoskeletons to promote softer landing and greater knee flexion range-of-motion during dynamic activities may be warranted.

Influence of Repetitions-to-Failure Deadlift on Lumbo-Pelvic Coordination, With and Without Body Armor.

ABSTRACT: Ramirez, VJ, Bazrgari, B, Spencer, A, Gao, F, and Samaan, MA. Influence of repetitions-to-failure deadlift on lumbo-pelvic coordination, with and without body armor. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Repetition-to-failure (RTF) deadlift is a training modality for building lifting capacity that is often implemented by service members to maintain a minimum level of physical fitness. Despite its physiological benefits, little is known about the effects of RTF on the biomechanics of lumbar spine. Additionally, the effects of heavy deadlift training with body armor are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RTF deadlift on lumbo-pelvic coordination and posture, with and without body armor. Twenty-three healthy subjects, recreational powerlifters, were recruited for this study. Kinematics of the trunk and pelvis were measured using a 3D motion capture system while subjects conducted RTF deadlifts with a 68-kg low-handle hexagonal bar with and without a simulated body armor (22.68 kg). Lumbo-pelvic coordination was characterized using a vector coding approach and coupling angle variability (CAV) using circular statistics, over 3 equally divided segments of the lifting phase. More specifically, the coupling angle values were used to determine the coordination pattern between the thorax and pelvis. Trunk and pelvis ranges of motion and the amount of in-phase lumbo-pelvic coordination pattern increased with RTF deadlift. Additionally, CAV of the first and the third segments of deadlift cycle increased with RTF deadlift. Increase in variability of lumbo-pelvic coordination and peak trunk flexion (i.e., indication of increased mechanical demand of lifting on the spine), as a result of RTF deadlifting, can have deleterious soft tissue responses and contribute to an increase in risk of lower back injury.

Provider Use of, Attitudes Towards, and Self-efficacy with Key Measurement-based Care Practices in Youth Mental Health Treatment: A Multi-site Examination.

Measurement-based care (MBC) is an underutilized evidence-based practice, and current implementation efforts demonstrate limited success in increasing MBC use. A better understanding of MBC implementation determinants is needed to improve these efforts, particularly from studies examining the full range of MBC practices and that span multiple samples of diverse providers using different MBC systems. This study addressed these limitations by conducting a multi-site survey examining MBC predictors and use in youth treatment. Participants were 159 clinicians and care coordinators working in youth mental health care settings across the United States. Participants were drawn from three program evaluations of MBC implementation. Providers completed measures assessing use of five MBC practices (administering measures, viewing feedback, reviewing feedback in supervision, sharing feedback with clients in session, and using feedback to plan treatment), MBC self-efficacy, and MBC attitudes. Despite expectations that MBC should be standard care for all clients, providers reported only administering measures to 40-60% of clients on average, with practices related to the use of feedback falling in the 1-39% range. Higher MBC self-efficacy and more positive views of MBC practicality predicted higher MBC use, although other attitude measures were not significant predictors. Effects of predictors were not moderated by site, suggesting consistent predictors across implementation settings. Implications of study findings for future research and for the implementation of MBC are discussed.

Nonpharmacological Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injury in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury is an inherent risk for military personnel that can potentially impact job performance, productivity, and military readiness. Evidence is needed to show the efficacy of nonpharmacological, self-managed therapies to reduce MSK symptoms at common injury sites that are feasible for use during expeditionary operations and home stations. This systematic review and meta-analysis identified, summarized, and synthesized available evidence from randomized and non-randomized trials on the effectiveness of self-managed, home-use therapies to improve pain, muscle strength, and physical performance in military personnel with MSK injuries, when compared to controls. METHODS: The electronic databases of MEDLINE ALL Ovid, Embase.com, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Clinicaltrial.gov, and CINAHL Complete via EBSCO were systematically searched for relevant reports published in English. Utilizing the Covidence platform and consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, multiple reviewers, using pre-determined data fields, screened for eligibility, assessed risk of bias (RoB), and performed data extraction. Evaluation of treatment effectiveness was determined using multilevel mixed-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: The database and register search yielded 1,643 reports that were screened for eligibility. After screening of titles/abstracts and full texts, 21 reports were identified for evidence synthesis. Of these, two reports were excluded and two described the same study, resulting in a final list of 18 studies (19 reports). For quality assessment, the overall RoB for the 18 studies was categorized as 33.3% low risk, 55.6% with some concerns, and 11.1% high risk. Across the five domains of bias, 70% of the reports were classified as low risk. This systematic review found that the differences in interventions, outcome measures, and design between the studies were associated with a substantial degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 60.74%), with a small overall improvement in outcomes of the interventions relative to their specific control (standard mean difference 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.45). There were varying degrees of heterogeneity for individual body regions. This was due, in part, to a small number of studies per bodily location and differences in the study designs. For the neck/shoulder, heterogeneity was moderate, with the clearest positive effect being for physical performance outcomes via other medical devices. For the back, there was substantial heterogeneity between studies, with modest evidence that pain was favorably improved by other medical devices and exercise interventions. For the leg, one study showed a clear large effect for other medical devices (shockwave treatment) on pain with substantial heterogeneity. The best evidence for positive effects was for the knee, with mainly negligible heterogeneity and some benefits from bracing, electrotherapy, and exercise. CONCLUSION: Evidence showed small beneficial effects in pain, strength, and physical performance by individual body regions for some interventions, compared to controls. The best evidence for a positive effect was for the knee. The findings suggest that some benefit may be obtained by including several treatments during deployment in austere environments and prolonged casualty care scenarios of military personnel with MSK injuries. Further research is warranted to better assess the potential benefits of using these treatments during deployments in austere environments as part of an individualized, multimodal approach for MSK injuries.

A large clinical trial to improve well-being during the transition to college using wearables: The lived experiences measured using rings study.

INTRODUCTION: The transition to college is a period of elevated risk for a range of mental health conditions. Although colleges and universities strive to provide mental health support to their students, the high demand for these services makes it difficult to provide scalable, cost-effective solutions. OBJECTIVE: To address these issues, the present study aims to compare the efficacy of three different treatments using a large cohort of 600 students transitioning to college. Interventions were selected based on their potential for generalizability and cost-effectiveness on college campuses. METHODS: The study is a Phase II parallel-group, four-arm, randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation that will assign 600 participants to one (n = 150 per condition) of four arms: 1) group-based therapy, 2) physical activity program, 3) nature experiences, or 4) weekly assessment condition as a control group. Physiological data will be collected from all participants using a wearable device to develop algorithmic mental and physical health functioning predictions. Once recruitment is complete, modeling strategies will be used to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of each intervention. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study will provide evidence as to the benefits of implementing scalable and proactive interventions using technology with the goal of improving the well-being and success of new college students.

Compromised neuromuscular function of walking in people with diabetes: A narrative review.

AIM: This review summarizes recent studies that have investigated the neuromuscular dysfunction of walking in people with diabetes and its relationship to ulcer formation. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search in the database (Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest, and PubMed) was performed for articles pertaining to diabetes and gait biomechanics. RESULTS: The Achilles tendon is thicker and stiffer in those with diabetes. People with diabetes demonstrate changes in walking kinematics and kinetics, including slower self-selected gait speed, shorter stride length, longer stance phase duration, and decreased ankle, knee, and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint range of motion. EMG is altered during walking and may reflect diabetes-induced changes in muscle synergies. Synergies are notable because they provide a more holistic pattern of muscle activations and can help develop better tools for characterizing disease progression. CONCLUSION: Diabetes compromises neuromuscular coordination and function. The mechanisms contributing to ulcer formation are incompletely understood. Diabetes-related gait impairments may be a significant independent risk factor for the development of foot ulcers.

Helicobacter pylori infection induces abnormal expression of pro-angiogenic gene ANGPT2 and miR-203a in AGS gastric cell line.

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the stomach and induces an inflammatory response that can develop into gastric pathologies including cancer. The infection can alter the gastric vasculature by the deregulation of angiogenic factors and microRNAs. In this study, we investigate the expression level of pro-angiogenic genes (ANGPT2, ANGPT1, receptor TEK), and microRNAs (miR-135a, miR-200a, miR-203a) predicted to regulate those genes, using H. pylori co-cultures with gastric cancer cell lines. In vitro infections of different gastric cancer cell lines with H. pylori strains were performed, and the expression of ANGPT1, ANGPT2, and TEK genes, and miR-135a, miR-200a, and miR-203a, was quantified after 24 h of infection (h.p.i.). We performed a time course experiment of H. pylori 26695 infections in AGS cells at 6 different time points (3, 6, 12, 28, 24, and 36 h.p.i.). The angiogenic response induced by supernatants of non-infected and infected cells at 24 h.p.i. was evaluated in vivo, using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. In response to infection, ANGPT2 mRNA was upregulated at 24 h.p.i, and miR-203a was downregulated in AGS cells co-cultured with different H. pylori strains. The time course of H. pylori 26695 infection in AGS cells showed a gradual decrease of miR-203a expression concomitant with an increase of ANGPT2 mRNA and protein expression. Expression of ANGPT1 and TEK mRNA or protein could not be detected in any of the infected or non-infected cells. CAM assays showed that the supernatants of AGS-infected cells with 26695 strain induced a significantly higher angiogenic and inflammatory response. Our results suggest that H. pylori could contribute to the process of carcinogenesis by downregulating miR-203a, which further promotes angiogenesis in gastric mucosa by increasing ANGPT2 expression. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Trunk muscle forces and spinal loads during heavy deadlift: Effects of personalization, muscle wrapping, muscle lever arm, and lumbopelvic rhythm.

Heavy deadlift is used as a physical fitness screening tool in the U.S. Army. Despite the relevance of such a screening tool to military tasks performed by Service Members, the biomechanical impact of heavy deadlift and its risk of low-back injury remain unknown. A kinematics-driven musculoskeletal model of spine was implemented to investigate biomechanics of the lower back in a volunteer (23 years old, height of 1.82 m, and body mass of 98.8 kg) during a 68 kg deadlift. In search of protective mechanisms, effects of model personalization and variations in trunk musculature and lumbopelvic rhythm were also investigated. The net moment, compression and shear forces at the L5-S1 reached peaks of 684 Nm, 17.2 and 4.2 kN, respectively. Geometrical personalization and changes in lumbopelvic rhythm had the least effects on predictions while increases in muscle moment arms (40%) had the largest effects that caused, respectively, 32% and 36% decrease in the maximum compressive and shearing forces. Initiating wrapping of back muscles at farther distances from the spine had opposing effects on spinal loads; peak compression at the L5-S1 decreased by 12% whereas shear increased by 19%. Despite mechanisms considered, spinal loads during heavy deadlift exceed the existing evidence concerning the threshold of injury for spinal segments, suggesting the vulnerability to injury. Chronic exposure to such high-spinal loads may lead to (micro) fractures, degeneration, pathoanatomical changes and finally low-back pain.

Non-pharmacological Home Therapies for Subacute Low Back Pain in Active Duty Military Personnel: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) is a major cause of visits to ambulatory care, missed duty time, and disability discharge. The subacute phase of LBP presents an opportune time to prevent chronicity and lessen recurrence. The goal of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine the relative effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training and a progressive exercise program (PEP) on improving physical performance, pain, and torso strength in U.S. service members with subacute LBP, compared to standard primary care management (PCM) alone. METHODS: This is an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol for an RCT conducted with active duty military personnel (n = 128) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, between April 2018 and March 2020. Participants were randomized to receive NMES (n = 43), PEP (n = 42), or PCM (n = 43) for 9 weeks. Outcome measures of physical performance (sit-ups, push-ups, walking, and torso endurance), torso muscle strength (flexion and extension), and pain were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Analysis was intent-to-treat using linear mixed effects models. A sensitivity analysis was performed to address the protocol deviations that occurred in response to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which required rescheduling 17 in-person study visits to home assessments at 9-week testing. RESULTS: Evidence was found for group differences in physical performance for sit-ups and push-ups, with NMES showing greater improvement than PCM. The two groups showed similar improvements in torso muscle strength, although the NMES groups may show better improvement during early treatment. No group differences in pain levels were observed during the intervention, and all groups improved during the course of the study period. The amount of NMES muscle stimulation was directly related to the level of improvement, which was not the case for the hours reported for PEP exercise. CONCLUSION: In an active duty population with subacute LBP, integrating NMES strength training into the rehabilitation therapy may offer a modest benefit for increasing sit-ups and push-ups and improving torso strength.

Mortalidad infantil en Antioquia durante el año 2021: hacia un enfoque sindemico / Infant mortality in Antioquia during 2021: towards a syndemic approach / Mortalidade infantil em Antioquia durante o ano de 2021: rumo a uma abor-dagem sindêmica

En Colombia, la mortalidad infantil ha seguido una tendencia marcada al descenso en los últimos años. Sin embargo, tras la llegada del coronavirus se ha identificado un discreto au-mento en los casos de mortalidad infantil. El objetivo es describir los factores relacionados con la mortalidad infantil y las estrategias implementadas durante el 2021. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, sobre casos confirmados de mortalidad infantil en Antioquia durante el 2021, las fuentes información fueron los reportes de notificación epidemiológica y las transcripciones de las entrevistas de campo de análisis de los eventos. Para el análisis de las fichas epidemiológicas se utilizaron estadísticos descriptivos y para las entrevistas análisis de contenido cualitativo. Resultados: En Antioquia, para el año 2021, se presentaron 43 muertes en menores de 5 años por Insuficiencia Respiratoria Aguda (IRA), Enfermedad Diarreica Aguda (EDA) y Desnutrición (DNT), de los cuales la mayor inciden-cia la aportó la mortalidad por IRA con 24 casos, le sigue la mortalidad por desnutrición con 10 casos y por último, la mortalidad por enfermedad diarreica aguda presentó 9 casos. Se analizaron 10 entrevistas a madres y familiares de los menores fallecidos se identificaron las siguientes categorías de análisis sindemia y mortalidad; salud mental materna y mortalidad infantil; y calidad de la atención en salud. Con base en los problemas identificados se desarr-ollaron dos eventos educativos con enfoque de AIEPI comunitario. Conclusión: Un enfoque de sindemia, posibilita comprender el impacto de la pandemia en la mortalidad infantil, en-tender es el primer paso para intervenir. El aumento de las cifras de mortalidad infantil es solo la punta del iceberg, es necesario considerar otros efectos a largo plazo en la salud infantil

In Colombia, infant mortality has followed a marked downward trend in recent years. How-ever, after the arrival of the coronavirus, a discrete increase in infant mortality cases has been identified. The objective is to describe the factors related to infant mortality and the strategies implemented during 2021. Materials and methods: retrospective descriptive study on confirmed cases of infant mortality in Antioquia during 2021, the sources of in-formation were epidemiological notification reports and transcripts of field interviews for event analysis. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis of the epidemiological records and qualitative content analysis was used for the interviews. Results: In Antioquia, for the year 2021, there were 43 deaths in children under 5 years of age due to Acute Respiratory Insufficiency (ARI), Acute Diarrheal Disease (ADE) and Malnutrition (DNT), of which the highest incidence was contributed by mortality due to ARI with 24 cases, followed by mor-tality due to malnutrition with 10 cases and finally, mortality due to acute diarrheal disease had 9 cases. Ten interviews with mothers and relatives of deceased children were analyzed and the following categories of analysis were identified: syndemic and mortality; maternal mental health and infant mortality; and quality of health care. Based on the problems iden-tified, two educational events were developed with a community IMCI approach. Conclu-sion: A syndemic approach makes it possible to understand the impact of the pandemic on infant mortality, which is the first step to intervene. The increase in infant mortality figures is only the tip of the iceberg; it is necessary to consider other long-term effects on child health.

Na Colômbia, a mortalidade infantil tem seguido uma tendência de queda acentuada nos últimos anos. No entanto, após a chegada do coronavírus, foi identificado um aumento modesto nos casos de mortalidade infantil. O objetivo é descrever os fatores relacionados à mortalidade infantil e as estratégias implementadas durante 2021. Materiais e métodos: estudo descritivo retrospectivo de casos confirmados de mortalidade infantil em Antioquia durante 2021. As fontes de informação foram relatórios de notificação epidemiológica e tran-scrições de entrevistas de campo para análise de eventos. A estatística descritiva foi usada para analisar os registros epidemiológicos e a análise qualitativa de conteúdo foi usada para as entrevistas. Resultados: em Antioquia, para o ano de 2021, houve 43 mortes em crianças menores de 5 anos de idade por Insuficiência Respiratória Aguda (IRA), Doença Diarreica Aguda (DDA) e Desnutrição (DNT), das quais a maior incidência foi contribuída pela mor-talidade por IRA com 24 casos, seguida pela mortalidade por desnutrição com 10 casos e, finalmente, a mortalidade por doença diarreica aguda teve 9 casos. Dez entrevistas com mães e parentes de crianças falecidas foram analisadas e as seguintes categorias de análise foram identificadas: sindemia e mortalidade; saúde mental materna e mortalidade infantil; e quali-dade da assistência médica. Com base nos problemas identificados, foram desenvolvidos dois eventos educacionais com uma abordagem IMCI comunitária. Conclusão: Uma abordagem sindêmica permite compreender o impacto da pandemia na mortalidade infantil, o que é o primeiro passo para a intervenção. O aumento nos números da mortalidade infantil é apenas a ponta do iceberg, outros efeitos de longo prazo na saúde infantil precisam ser considerados.

Home therapies to improve disability, activity, and quality of life in military personnel with subacute low back pain: Secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is an urgent military health concern with implications for fitness, quality of life (QoL) and disability. PURPOSE: This secondary outcome analysis from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine if the addition of neuromuscular electrical stimulation core strength training (NMES) or progressive exercise (PEP)in conjunction with primary care management (PCM) was more effective than PCM alone. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial (RCT assigned 128 service members to the three intervention groups. The outcomes included changes in perceived disability (Oswestry Disability Index), health-related quality of life (SF-12v2), pain during activity (Clinical Back Pain Questionnaire), and daily steps walked in service members with subacute LBP. FINDINGS: Over a 9-week intervention, perceived disability, SF-12v2 physical component summary, and activity associated with pain improved in all groups. Home therapies were helpful to reduce perceived disability, QoL and pain during activity in service members with subacute LBP. DISCUSSION: These non-pharmacological options provide other home-managed approaches for those in the subacute LBP phase.

Unaccompanied migrant children in the United States: Implementation and effectiveness of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The number of unaccompanied children (UC) arriving in the United States (U.S.) from other countries has increased significantly over the past decade. UC report high trauma exposure and greater posttraumatic stress symptoms compared with youth who immigrate with caregivers. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) has demonstrated preliminary effectiveness with UC. However, few studies have treated U.S.-based samples of UC, who emigrate primarily from Central America. METHOD: One hundred thirty-eight UC were referred for treatment and 129 completed a pretreatment assessment including the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Most UC were from Central America (n = 109; 79.0%) and resided in government facilities (n = 76; 55.1%). One hundred twenty-two youth began TF-CBT, had an average of 9.71 sessions (SD = 9.3, range: 1-48), and 41.8% (n = 51) completed treatment. One hundred four youth completed a brief, six-item progress monitoring measure of trauma symptoms, for which 84 had at least two observations during treatment. RESULTS: UC endorsed 3.80 traumatic events on average (SD = 2.38). High rates of violence, physical and sexual abuse, and serious injury were reported. There were significant improvements on most self-report rating scales (p < .05); within-subjects Cohen's d's ranged from .07 to 1.03 for pre- to posttreatment assessments and was d = .44 for the progress monitoring measure. Therapists reported on TF-CBT modifications for UC, including discussing mental health beliefs, navigating roles and relationships, tailoring treatment examples, exploring coping strategies, and addressing immigration factors. CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings support the utility of TF-CBT with UC. Implications for implementation and cultural modifications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effect of Concussion History on Lower Extremity Injury Risk in College Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Collegiate athletes who suffer a concussion may possess prolonged impairments even after clearance for return-to-participation, which may place them at an increased risk of lower extremity injury. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining risk of lower extremity musculoskeletal injury following a concussion in collegiate athletes. Methods: A literature search was performed using the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus. The following search terms were used to identify relevant articles, ["concussion" OR "brain injury" OR "mild traumatic brain injury" OR "mTBI"] AND ["lower extremity injury" OR "musculoskeletal injury"]. Articles were included if they were published between January 2000 and July 2021 and examined collegiate athletes' risk of sustaining a lower extremity musculoskeletal injury following a concussion. Methodological quality of included studies was performed with a modified Downs and Black Checklist. The primary outcome of interest was the risk of sustaining a lower extremity musculoskeletal injury following a concussion. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted in which a summative relative risk (RR) for sustaining a lower extremity injury in athletes with and without a history of concussion was calculated. Results: Seven studies met the eligibility criteria to be included in the systematic review. There were 348 athletes in the concussion group and 482 control athletes in the included studies. Most of the studies were of good or excellent quality. Five of the seven studies were able to be included in the meta-analysis. College athletes who suffered a concussion possessed a 58% greater risk of sustaining a lower extremity musculoskeletal injury than those who did not have a history of a concussion (RR = 1.58[1.30, 1.93]). Conclusions: Lower extremity injury risk is potentially increased in college athletes following a concussion compared to those without a history of a concussion. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanism behind this increased risk. Clinical assessments throughout the concussion return-to-play protocol may need to be improved in order to detect lingering impairments caused by concussions. Level of Evidence: 1.

Racial Socialization Messages in White Parents' Discussions of Current Events Involving Racism With Their Adolescents.

This study presents a thematic analysis of socialization messages about race and racism in White parents' reports of their discussions with adolescents about current events involving racism (e.g., police brutality toward Black Americans). Two samples of White parents of primarily White adolescents ages 14-17 were recruited online in September 2019 (Study 1, N = 123) and June 2020 (Study 2, N = 104). Key themes included color-conscious messages, color-blind messages, endorsing equal treatment, and references to Whiteness. Rates of discussion in 2020 (79-81%) were double that of 2019 (40.2-43.4%). However, color-conscious messages were less common in 2020 compared to 2019, and references to Whiteness were rare in 2020. Color-blind messages were similarly prevalent across both studies.

Effect of High Altitude on the Survival of COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Cohort Study.

Purpose: The effect of high altitude ( ≥ 1500 m) and its potential association with mortality by COVID-19 remains controversial. We assessed the effect of high altitude on the survival/discharge of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for mechanical ventilation compared to individuals treated at sea level. Methods: A retrospective cohort multi-center study of consecutive adults patients with a positive RT-PCR test for COVID-19 who were mechanically ventilated between March and November 2020. Data were collected from two sea-level hospitals and four high-altitude hospitals in Ecuador. The primary outcome was ICU and hospital survival/discharge. Survival analysis was conducted using semi-parametric Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of the study population (n = 670), 35.2% were female with a mean age of 58.3 ± 12.6 years. On admission, high-altitude patients were more likely to be younger (57.2 vs. 60.5 years old), presented with less comorbidities such as hypertension (25.9% vs. 54.9% with p-value <.001) and diabetes mellitus (20.5% vs. 37.2% with p-value <.001), less probability of having a capillary refill time > 3 sec (13.7% vs. 30.1%, p-value <.001), and less severity-of-illness condition (APACHE II score, 17.5 ± 8.1 vs. 20 ± 8.2, p < .01). After adjusting for key confounders high altitude is associated with significant higher probabilities of ICU survival/discharge (HR: 1.74 [95% CI: 1.46-2.08]) and hospital survival/discharge (HR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.18-1.55]) than patients treated at sea level. Conclusions: Patients treated at high altitude at any time point during the study period were 74% more likely to experience ICU survival/discharge and 35% more likely to experience hospital survival/discharge than to the sea-level group. Possible reasons for these findings are genetic and physiological adaptations due to exposure to chronic hypoxia.

Measuring clinician stuck points about trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy: The TF-CBT Stuck Points Questionnaire.

Although evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for youth trauma have been developed, trauma-informed EBTs are rarely used in community settings. Clinician concerns about evidence-based trauma treatment may be a barrier to adoption and delivery. However, few instruments to assess clinician beliefs about specific EBTs, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) are available. This study evaluated an instrument of clinician concerns about TF-CBT, the TF-CBT Therapist Stuck Points questionnaire, in a sample of community mental health clinicians training in a year-long TF-CBT community-based learning collaborative. The 26 items in the instruments, which aim to assess clinician views on child trauma treatment and TF-CBT, indicate preliminary psychometric support (i.e., item-total correlations, internal consistency, negative correlations with measures of attitudes towards evidence-based practice). Scores on the TF-CBT Therapist Stuck Points questionnaire revealed that, on average, clinicians expressed concerns about having children talk about their trauma in session, the effectiveness of certain TF-CBT components, and whether to involve caregivers in treatment. Clinician doubts could be targeted during a TF-CBT implementation effort and clinical supervision to facilitate treatment delivery. Implications for assessing TF-CBT specific beliefs during implementation are discussed.

Clinical characteristics, systemic complications, and in-hospital outcomes for patients with COVID-19 in Latin America. LIVEN-Covid-19 study: A prospective, multicenter, multinational, cohort study.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, and almost 396 million people have been infected around the globe. Latin American countries have been deeply affected, and there is a lack of data in this regard. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and factors associated with ICU admission due to COVID-19. Furthermore, to describe the functional status of patients at hospital discharge after the acute episode of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, multinational observational cohort study of subjects admitted to 22 hospitals within Latin America. Data were collected prospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patients, and multivariate regression was carried out to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 3008 patients were included in the study. A total of 64.3% of patients had severe COVID-19 and were admitted to the ICU. Patients admitted to the ICU had a higher mean (SD) 4C score (10 [3] vs. 7 [3)], p<0.001). The risk factors independently associated with progression to ICU admission were age, shortness of breath, and obesity. In-hospital mortality was 24.1%, whereas the ICU mortality rate was 35.1%. Most patients had equal self-care ability at discharge 43.8%; however, ICU patients had worse self-care ability at hospital discharge (25.7% [497/1934] vs. 3.7% [40/1074], p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that patients with SARS CoV-2 in the Latin American population had a lower mortality rate than previously reported. Systemic complications are frequent in patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19, as previously described in high-income countries.

Low Back Biomechanics during Repetitive Deadlifts: A Narrative Review.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSHeavy deadlifting is used as a screening tool or training protocol for recruitment and retention in physically-demanding occupations, especially in the military. Spinal loads experienced during heavy deadlifts, particularly shearing forces, are well above recommended thresholds for lumbar spine injury in occupational settings. Although members of the noted occupation likely have stronger musculoskeletal systems compared to the general population, experiencing shearing forces that are 2 to 4 times larger than the threshold of injury, particularly under repetitive deadlift, may transform a screening tool or training protocol to an occupationally-harmful physical activity.

TECHNICAL ABSTRACTBackground: Low back pain is a significant problem and one of the primary musculoskeletal conditions affecting active duty service members. There is a need to comprehensively assess the effects of repetitive deadlifts as a physical training modality on lumbar spine loads and the potential mechanisms involved in lumbosacral injuries among soldiers.Purpose: The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize studies of low back biomechanics during repetitive deadlifts as used in training programs to improve lifting capacity.Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for studies of lifting that met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only full text articles in English were included, and their reference lists were further searched.Results: Heavy deadlifts can result in large compressive and shearing spinal loads that range from 5 − 18 kN, and 1.3 − 3.2 kN, respectively. No studies of lower back biomechanics during repetitive deadlifts were found. However, findings of studies that investigated lower back biomechanics during other types of repetitive lifting suggest a high likelihood for adverse changes in lower back biomechanics that can increase risk of lower back injury.Conclusion: Repetitive deadlifting is increasingly implemented as a training modality to develop maximal lifting capacities required in military occupations. Further research is needed to understand the effects of such a training modality on lower back biomechanics and risk of injury.

Money makes the world go 'round: A qualitative examination of the role funding plays in large-scale implementation and sustainment of youth evidence-based practice.

Funding is posited to affect evidence-based practice implementation, yet the complex interplay between financial matters and successful implementation is understudied. This study examined stakeholder perspectives on the impact of funding in evidence-based practice implementation. All participants were key stakeholders (e.g., clinicians, case managers, agency leaders; N = 41) involved in a trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy implementation effort using a community-based learning collaborative model within the community's child welfare system. Semistructured interviews were conducted and qualitatively analyzed as part of a program evaluation of the implementation effort. Funding emerged as a key theme influencing implementation within this program evaluation from the perspective of all stakeholders. Thirty-four participants (83%) independently raised funding as an important factor affecting implementation outcomes across seven specific themes: (a) the impact of privatization, (b) turfism, (c) money as a primary implementation facilitator, (d) implementation costs impacting participation, (e) burden associated with funding evaluation efforts, (f) need for reimbursement practices to align with the use of trauma-informed treatment, and (g) a sense of shared mission to serve clients above money. Recommendations for addressing these challenges are provided. Future research should examine funding qualitatively and quantitatively across diverse communities and funding systems to improve understanding of the impact of funding on implementation and, ultimately, care provided to clients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Validación de una prueba serológica para detectar la infección por Helicobacter pylori en Costa Rica

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium capable to survive and multiply in the gastric mucosa. It is the most prominent factor in the development of chronic atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer, adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma. It is estimated that half the world population is infected. The economic cost and impact on the quality of life caused by H. pylori are important. There are several methods to detect the bacteria, but some are invasive, expensive, or both. Objective: We compare an inexpensive serological test based on ELISA for the detection of IgG, using the urea breath test (PYtest) as the reference method. Methods: The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated. A subset of 45 samples was used for validation of the ELISA test, while the assay was evaluated with 185 additional samples. Results: The cut-off point to discriminate between positive and negative infection status by H. pylori was 0.75, using the optical density ratio of each serum and a positive control. With a higher value of the ratio, the probability of being infected increased. Using this criterion, the test showed a sensitivity of 91.4 % and specificity of 93.7 %. All diagnostic values improved when a gray zone was considered. Conclusion: The serological test developed here is equivalent to the urea breath test. However, the serological test is more accessible to the general population because of its lower cost. This serological test could be used in large-scale clinical research.

Introducción: Helicobacter pylori es una bacteria Gram negativa capaz de sobrevivir y multiplicarse en la mucosa gástrica humana. Es el factor más importante en el desarrollo de gastritis atrófica crónica, úlcera péptica, linfoma MALT y adenocarcinoma. Se estima que la mitad de la población mundial está infectada con esta bacteria. La baja en calidad de vida y el costo económico causados por la infección por H. pylori son importantes. Existen varios métodos para su diagnóstico, pero algunos son invasivos, de alto costo o ambos. Objetivo: Comparar una prueba serológica de bajo costo basada en la técnica de ELISA para detección de IgG, usando la prueba de urea en aliento (PYtest) como método de referencia. Métodos: Se calculó el área bajo la curva ROC, sensibilidad, especificidad y valores predictivos. Se utilizaron 45 muestras de suero para validar la prueba de ELISA, mientras que para su evaluación se usaron otras 185 muestras de suero. Resultados: El punto de corte para discriminar entre positivos y negativos para la infección por H. pylori fue de 0.75 en la razón de densidad óptica entre los sueros de las muestras y el control positivo. A mayor valor de la razón, más probabilidad de ser positivo para la infección. Usando este criterio, la prueba tuvo una sensibilidad del 91.4 % y una especificidad del 93.7 %. Todos los valores diagnósticos mejoran al considerar una zona gris. Conclusiones: En la población estudiada, la prueba serológica se comporta de forma equivalente a la prueba de urea en aliento. Tiene la ventaja de que es más asequible a la población general por su bajo costo. La prueba podría ser usada en investigación clínica a gran escala.