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Gait analysis has proven to be a key process in the functional assessment of people involving many fields, such as diagnosis of diseases or rehabilitation, and has increased in relevance lately. Gait analysis often requires gathering data, although this can be very expensive and time consuming. One of the main solutions applied in fields when data acquisition is a problem is augmentation of datasets with artificial data. There are two main approaches for doing that: simulation and synthetic data generation. In this article, we propose a parametrizable generative system of synthetic walking simplified human skeletons. For achieving that, a data gathering experiment with up to 26 individuals was conducted. The system consists of two artificial neural networks: a recurrent neural network for the generation of the movement and a multilayer perceptron for determining the size of the segments of the skeletons. The system has been evaluated through four processes: (i) an observational appraisal by researchers in gait analysis, (ii) a visual representation of the distribution of the generated data, (iii) a numerical analysis using the normalized cross-correlation coefficient, and (iv) an angular evaluation to check the kinematic validity of the data. The evaluation concluded that the system is able to generate realistic and accurate gait data. These results reveal a promising path for this research field, which can be further improved through increasing the variety of movements and the user sample.
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This article addresses how diverse collective behaviours arise from simple and realistic decisions made entirely at the level of each agent's personal space in the sense of the Voronoi diagram. We present a discrete-time model in two dimensions in which individual agents are aware of their local Voronoi environment and may seek static target locations. In particular, agents only communicate directly with their Voronoi neighbours and make decisions based on the geometry of their own Voronoi cells. With two effective control parameters, it is shown numerically to capture a wide range of collective behaviours in different scenarios. Further, we show that the Voronoi topology facilitates the computation of several novel observables for quantifying discrete collective behaviours. These observables are applicable to all agent-based models and to empirical data.
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This study introduces a lightweight storage system for wearable devices, aiming to optimize energy efficiency in long-term and continuous monitoring applications. Utilizing Direct Memory Access and the Serial Peripheral Interface protocol, the system ensures efficient data transfer, significantly reduces energy consumption, and enhances the device autonomy. Data organization into Time Block Data (TBD) units, rather than files, significantly diminishes control overhead, facilitating the streamlined management of periodic data recordings in wearable devices. A comparative analysis revealed marked improvements in energy efficiency and write speed over existing file systems, validating the proposed system as an effective solution for boosting wearable device performance in health monitoring and various long-term data acquisition scenarios.
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BACKGROUND: Until recently, breastfeeding has been contraindicated for women living with HIV (WHIV) in the U.S. However, given the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding, recommendations have changed to support parental choice to breastfeed through shared decision-making. Although specific guidelines for managing the care of these women and their infants are not yet available, various approaches have been successful without infants acquiring HIV from their virologically suppressed mothers, thus, establishing breastfeeding as a viable option for the rising number of interested WHIV. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to identify factors influencing infant feeding choices decisions among WHIV in a multiethnic and multicultural population. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A qualitative description design was used. WHIV who had given birth within 6 months were recruited using purposeful sampling. Data were collected using a semistructured interview guide in the participant's preferred language. Content analysis was used, and barriers and facilitators were separated and used to generate the themes and categories. In total, 20 participants were interviewed, and from these interviews, 11 barriers and 14 facilitators that influenced the decision to breastfeed were identified. Major barriers were related to the interference with daily activities, fear of transmission, lack of a standardized approach to education, and maternal concerns. Key facilitators included the benefits and advantages of breastmilk, access to more scientific research information on breastfeeding in the context of HIV, advice from a lactation consultant, emotional connection and attachment with the child, support from family and partners, empowering and supporting autonomy and decision-making about infant feeding, providing feeding choices, access to the lived experiences of women who have successfully breastfed their infants, and collaborative relationship with the physician and other healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: The study identified barriers and facilitators to breastfeeding among WHIV that may influence their infant feeding decision-making process. More research is needed to guide the standardization of institutional policies and develop strategies to support breastfeeding in this population.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding , HIV Infections , Qualitative Research , Humans , Breast Feeding/psychology , HIV Infections/psychology , Female , Adult , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control , Infant , Mothers/psychology , Decision Making , Infant, Newborn , Young AdultABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement by Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is rare and its clinicopathologic characteristics have only been described in case reports and small series. We reviewed hematoxylin and eosin and CD1a, S100, and Langerin immunohistochemical-stained slides from 47 patients with well-documented demographic and clinical findings. Our cases included 8 children and 39 adults, with a mean follow-up of 63 months. All pediatric patients had concurrent multisystem LCH, presented with GI symptoms, and showed nonpolypoid lesions. Seven (88%) showed multifocal GI disease, including 5 with multiple GI organ involvement. All sampled lesions from children exhibited infiltrative growth. More than half had died of the disease or manifested persistent LCH at last follow-up. Twenty-five of 39 (64%) adults had LCH involving only the GI tract (single system), with the remaining 14 (36%) exhibiting multisystem disease. Adult single-system GI LCH was typically encountered incidentally on screening/surveillance endoscopy (72%). Most exhibited isolated colorectal involvement (88%) as a solitary polyp (92%), with a well-demarcated/noninfiltrative growth pattern (70%), and excellent prognosis (100%). In comparison, adult patients with multisystem LCH more frequently presented with GI symptoms (92%, P < .001), noncolorectal GI site involvement (50%, P = .02), multifocal GI lesions (43%, P = .005), nonpolypoid lesions (71%, P < .001), infiltrative histologic growth pattern (78%, P = .04), and persistent disease (57%, P < .001). Adult patients with multisystem LCH appear to exhibit similar clinicopathologic features to those of pediatric patients. These results demonstrated that adults with single-system LCH involving the GI tract have an excellent prognosis, whereas multisystem LCH occurring at any age carries an unfavorable prognosis. High-risk features of GI LCH include pediatric age, GI symptomatology, noncolorectal GI involvement, multifocal GI disease, nonpolypoid lesions, and infiltrative growth pattern.
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Wilms tumour (WT) is the most common renal tumour in children, and studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment and markers are limited in number. In this study we investigated the ICIs' related immune landscape by examining the expression of PD-L1, PD-1, CD8 and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins by immunohistochemistry (IHC), tumour mutation burden (TMB), and correlations with histology and clinical outcome. Positive PD-L1 (SP263) expression was defined as modified combined positive score (CPS) ≥1. A total of 59 WTs (from 2000 to 2017), including eight (14.0%) with anaplasia, from 46 patients were analysed (45 primary and 14 metastatic). Thirteen WTs (13/59, 22%) were positive for PD-L1 (8 primary, 5 metastatic; CPS 1.11-3.42). Positive PD-L1 expression was associated with diffuse anaplasia (p<0.05) and significantly shorter progression-free survival (p<0.05) among WTs with favourable histology (n=39). CD8+ lymphocytes were present in all analysed WTs. A subset of CD8+ cells co-expressed PD-1, which was associated with favourable histology and treatment. MMR IHC stains identified two (2/18, 11%) WTs with isolated PMS2 loss. All six WTs analysed for TMB showed low mutation burden. We found CD8+ lymphocytes in all analysed WTs and identified a fraction of WT (17.8% of primary and 35.8% of metastatic) with positive PD-L1 CPS, suggesting potential response to ICIs in some patients.
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Enterococci spp. are Gram-positive bacteria that cause mild to severe infections, many associated with the oral cavity, such as periapical infections and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Many of these infections become serious diseases that are difficult to resolve, specifically when multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains cause them. In recent years, the number of MDR strains of Enterococcus spp. has increased significantly. This increased prevalence of MDR strains produces significant pressure to generate more antimicrobial therapies, but there is a decline in the production of new antibiotics, driving the development of complementary therapies, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT combines a photosensitizer agent (PS), light, and oxygen to cause photooxidative stress in bacterial cells. PDT can eradicate Enterococcus spp. contaminations, improve the classic cleaning processes, and eradicate the bacteria in dental pieces. PDT's effectiveness can be improved with nanoparticles that function as carriers. Our work aims to describe the advances in PDT against Enterococcus spp. as a complement to antibiotic therapy, focusing on infections by Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, dental hygiene, and using nanoparticles to improve the antimicrobial effect. A systematic bibliographic search without a meta-analysis was conducted on various databases, using inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify the most relevant research. Of the 193 non-redundant articles found, 65 were selected for a systematic review, from which a summary table was created and a manual description was made. Photodynamic therapy for treating E. faecium and E. faecalis is a widely studied area, with promising results concerning bactericidal effectiveness and reductions in biofilm formation, particularly in regard to dental hygiene. Because most of the studies were conducted in vitro or ex vivo, the results indicated that there were not sufficient data to initiate clinical trials for safety and efficacy studies on humans.
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Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that typically develops as a bone mass, although up to 30% arise in extraskeletal sites. ES of the gastrointestinal (GI) and hepatobiliary tract is rare and may be misdiagnosed as other, more common neoplasms that occur in these sites. However, the correct classification of extraskeletal ES is important for timely clinical management and prognostication. We reviewed our experience of ES in the GI and hepatobiliary tract in order to further highlight the clinicopathologic features of these neoplasms and document the potential for misdiagnosis in this setting. The archives and consultation files of 6 academic institutions were retrospectively queried for cases of ES occurring in the GI and hepatobiliary tract. The histologic slides and ancillary studies were reviewed and clinical data were retrieved for each case through the electronic medical records, when available. Twenty-three patients with ES in the GI and/or hepatobiliary tract were identified from 2000 to 2022. Of these, 11 were women and 12 were men with a median age of 38 years (range, 2 to 64). Tumor locations included the pancreas (n=5), liver (n=2), stomach (n=3), colorectum (n=3), and small intestine (n=5), as well as tumors involving multiple organs, pelvis and retroperitoneum (n=5). Tumor size varied between 2 cm and 18 cm. Twenty were primary and 3 were metastases. Of the 23 cases, only 17% were initially diagnosed as ES. The most common misdiagnoses involved various forms of neuroendocrine neoplasia due to expression of synaptophysin and other neuroendocrine markers (22%). A wide variety of diagnoses including GI stromal tumor was considered due to aberrant CD117 expression (4%). The diagnosis of ES was ultimately confirmed by detection of the EWSR1 rearrangement in 22 cases. The remaining case was diagnosed using traditional immunohistochemistry. Follow-up information was available in 20 cases, with follow-up time varying between 2 and 256 months. Six patients with follow-up died of disease between 6 and 60 months following initial presentation. Our data indicate ES in the GI and hepatobiliary tract is commonly misdiagnosed leading to a delay in therapy. In light of the attendant therapeutic and prognostic implications, ES should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any GI or hepatobiliary tumor with epithelioid and/or small round cell morphology.
Subject(s)
Biliary Tract Neoplasms , Biomarkers, Tumor , Diagnostic Errors , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Sarcoma, Ewing , Humans , Male , Female , Sarcoma, Ewing/pathology , Sarcoma, Ewing/diagnosis , Sarcoma, Ewing/chemistry , Adult , Middle Aged , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Retrospective Studies , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/pathology , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/diagnosis , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Adolescent , Young Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Immunohistochemistry , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis , Immunophenotyping , RNA-Binding Protein EWS/genetics , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
El síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (SDRA), inicialmente descrito en 1967, se caracteriza por insuficiencia respiratoria aguda con hipoxemia profunda, disminución de la distensibilidad pulmonar e infiltrados bilaterales en la Rx de tórax. En 2012 la definición de Berlín estableció tres categorías con base en la hipoxemia (SDRA leve, moderado y grave), precisando aspectos temporales y permitiendo el diagnóstico con ventilación no invasiva. La pandemia de COVID-19 llevó a reconsiderar la definición, enfocándose en el monitoreo continuo de la oxigenación y la oxigenoterapia de alto flujo. En 2021 se propuso una nueva definición global de SDRA, basada en la definición de Berlín, pero incluyendo una categoría para pacientes no intubados, permitiendo el uso de saturación periférica de oxígeno medida con oximetría de pulso/fracción inspirada de oxígeno (SpO2/FiO2) y la ecografía pulmonar para el diagnóstico, y sin ningún requerimiento de soporte especial de la oxigenación en regiones con recursos limitados. Aunque persisten debates, la evolución continua busca adaptarse a las necesidades clínicas y epidemiológicas, y personalizar tratamientos. (AU)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), first described in 1967, is characterized by acute respiratory failure causing profound hypoxemia, decreased pulmonary compliance, and bilateral CXR infiltrates. After several descriptions, the Berlin definition was adopted in 2012, which established three categories of severity according to hypoxemia (mild, moderate and severe), specified temporal aspects for diagnosis, and incorporated the use of non-invasive ventilation. The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in ARDS management, focusing on continuous monitoring of oxygenation and on utilization of high-flow oxygen therapy and lung ultrasound. In 2021, a New Global Definition based on the Berlin definition of ARDS was proposed, which included a category for non-intubated patients, considered the use of SpO2, and established no particular requirement for oxygenation support in regions with limited resources. Although debates persist, the continuous evolution seeks to adapt to clinical and epidemiological needs, and to the search of personalized treatments. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn , Pulmonary Edema , Respiration, Artificial , HypoxiaABSTRACT
In the pursuit of optimal recovery, the significance of sleep cannot be overstated for elite cyclists, including high-level cyclists within the junior category. This study aims to assess the sleep quality of elite athletes of different categories and disciplines, including junior. The sleep quality of 112 high-level cyclists (males n = 80; females n = 32) participating in endurance and sprint disciplines was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A noteworthy 41% of both elite and junior cyclists displayed poor sleep quality. No significant differences were observed between elite and junior cyclists in terms of sleep quality, but there was a medium effect size, indicating greater sleep efficiency in junior cyclists [0.36 (0.16, 0.53)]. Gender differences were found, with females exhibiting worse PSQI scores (males = 4.00 [2.25]; females 5.00 [3.00]; p = 0.035). Endurance cyclists spent more time in bed compared to cyclists from sprinting disciplines (8:30 [1.00] and 8:00 [1:03], respectively; p = 0.019). These findings reveal poor sleep habits, even among individuals classified as good sleepers by the PSQI, emphasizing the importance of preventing sleep disorders in cyclists. This study provides valuable insights into athlete sleep quality, encompassing various categories, genders, and cycling disciplines. In conclusion, elite cyclists demonstrate suboptimal sleep quality, suggesting the potential for interventions utilizing the PSQI. These findings advocate for the incorporation of sleep quality assessments into routine evaluations for athletes.
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We present a multiscale stochastic analysis of foreign exchange rates using the H-theory formalism, which provides a hierarchical intermittency model for the information cascade in the currency market. We examine the distributions of returns and volatilities for the three most traded currency pairs: euro-U.S. dollar, U.S. dollar-Japanese yen, and British pound-U.S. dollar. We find that these markets have a hierarchy of timescales, with larger markets exhibiting more hierarchy levels. We provide a theoretical framework for understanding why the number of levels in the information cascade increases with market size, in analogy with similar behavior for the energy cascade in turbulence as a function of Reynolds number. We briefly argue that using turbulence-like models for financial markets can also provide valuable insights for developing efficient algorithmic trading strategies.
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Introduction: Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) is a rare complication of type I diabetes mellitus (DM1), resulting in abnormal deposition of glycogen in the liver due to poor glycemic control. Clinical characteristics and natural history of GH are not completely understood in children. In this study, we investigated clinical, biochemical, histologic parameters and outcomes in children with GH. Method: This was a retrospective review of patients less than 18 years old diagnosed with GH and DM. GH was confirmed on liver biopsy. Medical records were reviewed for clinical presentation, laboratory tests, and clinical outcomes. Liver biopsy findings were reviewed by a pediatric pathologist (I. A. G.). Results: Nine children were diagnosed with GH and type 1 DM. The median age at diagnosis of GH was 16 (IQR 14.5-17) years. Duration of diagnosis of DM until GH diagnosis was 7 (IQR 5-11) years. The median frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis before GH diagnosis was three times (IQR 2-5.25). Peak Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) ranged from 115 to 797, and 83-389 units/L, respectively. Only two children had mild fibrosis. Seven of nine had steatosis without steatohepatitis. There was no correlation between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or other laboratory tests and liver fibrosis on biopsy. HbA1c was 11.2 (IQR 10.2-12.8) at GH diagnosis and 9.8 (IQR 9.5-10.8) with normalization of liver enzymes. Conclusion: GH appears to be related to poor glycemic control in teenagers with long-term diabetes. GH presents with high to very high aminotransferase especially AST > ALT and resolves with modestly improved glycemic control. Diffuse hepatocyte swelling, steatosis, minimal fibrosis without hepatocyte ballooning or lobular inflammation are most common histological features.
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OBJECTIVES: Characterize the clinicopathologic features of liver biopsies from patients with celiac disease (CD). METHODS: Single center, retrospective search for liver biopsies from patients with CD. RESULTS: 36 unique patients were included, median age of 46 years (range: 2-75), including 5 pediatric patients, with an overall female predominance (25, 69 %) but in in children a male predominance was seen (p = 0.023). Most cases (75 %) had an underlying condition including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (11 %), AIH/primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) overlap (3 %) and PBC (3 %). The median body mass index was 28, with 4 (11 %) underweight and 22 (61 %) overweight/obese patients. The most common histologic pattern was steatosis (18, 50 %), considered severe in 5 (14 %) and in 7 (19 %) regarded as steatohepatitis. The other histologic patterns included a nonspecific portal and/or lobular inflammation ("celiac hepatitis") in 9 cases (25 %), autoimmune hepatitis (3, 8 %), chronic cholestatic pattern (3, 8 %), chronic hepatitis (1, 3 %), acute lobular hepatitis (1, 3 %) and stablished cirrhosis (1, 3 %). Additionally, 2 of the cases with steatosis show cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: The biopsy findings from patients with CD are heterogenous and in most represent a concomitant underlying disease, particularly metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Additionally, CD injury should remain in the differential diagnosis in liver biopsies with a nonspecific portal and/or lobular inflammation.
Subject(s)
Celiac Disease , Hepatitis, Autoimmune , Liver , Humans , Celiac Disease/pathology , Celiac Disease/complications , Female , Male , Child , Retrospective Studies , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Hepatitis, Autoimmune/pathology , Hepatitis, Autoimmune/complications , Liver/pathology , Biopsy , Aged , Young Adult , Fatty Liver/pathology , Fatty Liver/diagnosis , Fatty Liver/complications , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/pathology , Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary/complicationsABSTRACT
Mucormycosis is an invasive opportunistic fungal infection with high mortality, mainly detected in people with COVID-19, especially those with underlying diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Mucormycosis prevalence is 0.005 to 1.7 cases per million inhabitants, and it has been increasing in countries like India and Pakistan. This mycosis can affect different organs, and clinical manifestations reflect the transmission mechanism. Frequent forms are rhino-orbital-cerebral and pulmonary. This disease should be suspected in patients with necrotic injuries on mucous membranes or skin. We present a case of a patient with diabetes mellitus and diagnosed with oral mucormycosis associated with COVID-19.
La mucormicosis es una infección fúngica oportunista e invasiva, con una elevada tasa de mortalidad. Se ha detectado principalmente en pacientes con COVID-19, especialmente en personas con enfermedades concomitantes como la diabetes mellitus. La prevalencia de las mucormicosis es de 0,005 a 1,7 casos por millón de habitantes y ha ido en aumento en países como India y Pakistán; puede afectar diferentes órganos y su forma clínica refleja el mecanismo de transmisión. Entre las formas frecuentes están la rino-orbital-cerebral y la pulmonar, por ello, debe sospecharse mucormicosis en los pacientes con lesiones necróticas en mucosas o piel. Se presenta el caso de un paciente con antecedentes de diabetes mellitus que fue diagnosticado con mucormicosis oral asociada a la COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mucormycosis , Humans , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Diabetes Complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Mouth Diseases/microbiology , Mucormycosis/complications , Mucormycosis/epidemiology , Mucormycosis/diagnosisABSTRACT
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), first described in 1967, is characterized by acute respiratory failure causing profound hypoxemia, decreased pulmonary compliance, and bilateral CXR infiltrates. After several descriptions, the Berlin definition was adopted in 2012, which established three categories of severity according to hypoxemia (mild, moderate and severe), specified temporal aspects for diagnosis, and incorporated the use of non-invasive ventilation. The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in ARDS management, focusing on continuous monitoring of oxygenation and on utilization of high-flow oxygen therapy and lung ultrasound. In 2021, a New Global Definition based on the Berlin definition of ARDS was proposed, which included a category for non-intubated patients, considered the use of SpO2, and established no particular requirement for oxygenation support in regions with limited resources. Although debates persist, the continuous evolution seeks to adapt to clinical and epidemiological needs, and to the search of personalized treatments.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , Humans , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/therapy , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/etiology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome/epidemiology , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Health Resources , Oxygen Inhalation Therapy , Terminology as Topic , Hypoxia/etiology , Hypoxia/therapyABSTRACT
Pediatric COVID-19 vaccination is effective in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalization, but duration of protection of the original monovalent vaccine during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance merits evaluation, particularly given low coverage with updated COVID-19 vaccines. During December 19, 2021-October 29, 2023, the Overcoming COVID-19 Network evaluated vaccine effectiveness (VE) of ≥2 original monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccine doses against COVID-19-related hospitalization and critical illness among U.S. children and adolescents aged 5-18 years, using a case-control design. Too few children and adolescents received bivalent or updated monovalent vaccines to separately evaluate their effectiveness. Most case-patients (persons with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result) were unvaccinated, despite the high frequency of reported underlying conditions associated with severe COVID-19. VE of the original monovalent vaccine against COVID-19-related hospitalizations was 52% (95% CI = 33%-66%) when the most recent dose was administered <120 days before hospitalization and 19% (95% CI = 2%-32%) if the interval was 120-364 days. VE of the original monovalent vaccine against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 31% (95% CI = 18%-43%) if the last dose was received any time within the previous year. VE against critical COVID-19-related illness, defined as receipt of noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive infusions, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and illness resulting in death, was 57% (95% CI = 21%-76%) when the most recent dose was received <120 days before hospitalization, 25% (95% CI = -9% to 49%) if it was received 120-364 days before hospitalization, and 38% (95% CI = 15%-55%) if the last dose was received any time within the previous year. VE was similar after excluding children and adolescents with documented immunocompromising conditions. Because of the low frequency of children who received updated COVID-19 vaccines and waning effectiveness of original monovalent doses, these data support CDC recommendations that all children and adolescents receive updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect against severe COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , Humans , Adolescent , Child , United States/epidemiology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , mRNA Vaccines , Vaccine Efficacy , SARS-CoV-2 , Hospitalization , RNA, MessengerABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of various contextual factors, such as relative age, biological maturation, or competitive level, on the jumping performance of young football goalkeepers. Vertical jump performance was evaluated in a selection of goalkeepers (n = 110) from U-14 and U-16 category teams. The sample was categorized by relative age, biological maturation, and competitive level. The results revealed a trend in the overall sample towards an overrepresentation of goalkeepers born in the early months of the year. Maturity status influenced the most in jumping performance of young goalkeepers (SJ: F = 11.27, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.187; CMJ: F = 8.72, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.162; AJ: F = 8.37, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.146), while the birth quartile had no effect on the jumping performance in the sample. Statistical differences were significant for SJ and CMJ between competitive level groups in the U-14 group only. (F = 5.37, p = .008, ηp2 = 0.186) and CMJ (F = 4.54, p = .016, ηp2 = 0.159). This study showed a greater association between maturation and jumping performance in young football goalkeepers rather than with relative age, which could influence the selection process in this field position at early ages. (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Athletic Performance/physiology , Soccer , Outflow Velocity MeasurementABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Disparities in the timely diagnosis and care of cancer patients, particularly concerning geographical, racial/ethnic, and economic factors, remain a global health challenge. This study explores the multifaceted interplay between socioeconomic status, health literacy, and specific patient perceptions regarding care access and treatment options that impact cancer care in Uruguay. METHODS: Using the Cancer Health Literacy Test, Spanish Version (CHLT-30-DKspa), and a highly comprehensive questionnaire, we dissected the factors influencing the pathway to diagnosis and route of cancer care. This was done to identify delays by analyzing diverse socioeconomic and sex subgroups across multiple healthcare settings. RESULTS: Patients with lower income took longer to get an appointment after showing symptoms (p = 0.02) and longer to get a diagnosis after having an appointment (p = 0.037). Race/ethnicity also had a significant impact on the length of time from symptoms to first appointment (p =0.019), whereas employment status had a significant impact on patients being susceptible to diagnostic delays beyond the advocated 14-day window (p = 0.02). Higher educational levels were positively associated with increased cancer health literacy scores (p = 0.043), revealing the potential to mitigate delays through health literacy-boosting initiatives. Women had significantly higher self-reported symptom duration before seeking an intervention (p = 0.022). We also found many other significant factors effecting treatment delays and cancer health literacy. CONCLUSIONS: While affirming the global pertinence of socioeconomic- and literacy-focused interventions in enhancing cancer care, the findings underscore a complex, gendered, and perceptually influenced healthcare navigation journey. The results highlight the urgent necessity for strategically crafted, globally relevant interventions that transcend equitable access to integrate literacy, gender sensitivity, and patient-perception alignments in pursuit of optimized global cancer care outcomes.
Subject(s)
Health Literacy , Healthcare Disparities , Neoplasms , Socioeconomic Factors , Humans , Uruguay , Female , Male , Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Adult , Surveys and Questionnaires , Health Services Accessibility , Aged , Socioeconomic Disparities in HealthABSTRACT
Introduction Implant-based breast reconstructions (IBBRs) increased last years despite the growing indications for radiotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer. As a result, complications and reconstructive failures associated to IBBR have increased. Autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) using fat-augmented latissimus dorsi (FALD) has become popular in recent years. Methods We aimed to evaluate conversion to ABR using latissimus dorsi and immediate fat grafting in 61 cases with IBBR failure. Results Immediate reconstruction was found significatively related with an increased number of surgeries resulting from IBBR complications ( p < 0.001). Note that 41% of the cases presented a grade III/IV Baker and Palmer capsular contracture, 29% implant extrusion, and 21% implant infection. Mean survival of the first implant was 16.95 months. ABR process was completed in 47% of cases with a single surgery. Statistically significant differences were observed between this fact and previous IBBR failure due to infection ( p = 0.03) or extrusion ( p = 0.01). Mean volume of fat graft was 429.61 mL, mean length of the surgical procedure was 3.17 hours, and the average length of hospital stay after surgery was 2.67 days. Only 3.3% of the cases developed some major complication. None of the cases presented reconstructive failure. Conclusion FALD is a very safe total ABR technique, an important fact in patients with previous reconstructive failures. The large volume of fat that can be grafted in a single surgery allows the reconstruction of breast in a reasonable size. The reduced length of surgery and hospital stay make the FALD technique an option to consider when an autologous but efficient and safe reconstruction is desired.