Trends and determinants of clinical staff retention in the English NHS: a double retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how demographic, contractual and organisational factors are related to the retention of hospital workers in the English NHS. The study will specifically examine the trends in age-retention profiles. DESIGN: A double retrospective cross-cohort study using administrative data on senior and specialty doctors, nurses and midwives who were included in the 2009 and 2014 payrolls of all English NHS hospital Trusts. These individuals were tracked over time until 2019 to examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the retention of hospital workers in each cohort. Logistic regressions were estimated at the individual worker level to analyse the data. Additionally, a multilevel panel regression was performed using linked payroll-survey data to investigate the association between hospital organisation characteristics and the retention of clinical staff. SETTING: Secondary acute and mental healthcare NHS hospital Trusts in England. PARTICIPANTS: 70 777 senior doctors (specialty and specialist doctors and hospital consultants) aged 30-70, and a total of 448 568 between nurses and midwives of any grade aged 20-70, employed by English NHS Trusts. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Employee retention, measured through binary indicators for stayers and NHS leavers, at 1-year and 5-year horizons. RESULTS: Minority doctors had lower 1-year retention rates in acute care than white doctors, while minority nurses and midwives saw higher retention. Part-time roles decreased retention for doctors but improved it for nurses. Fixed-term contracts negatively impacted both groups' retention. Trends diverged for nurses and doctors from 2009 to 2014-nurses' retention declined while doctors' 5-year retention slightly rose. Engagement boosted retention among clinical staff under 51 years of age in acute care. For nurses over 50, addressing their feedback was positively associated with retention. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic and contractual factors appear to be stronger predictors of hospital staff retention than organisational characteristics.

Cardiac autonomic nervous activity during different sleep stages in individuals with spinal cord injury: The influence of physical training.

OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the influence of physical training on cardiac autonomic activity in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) during different sleep stages. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers were allocated into three groups: 9 sedentary individuals without SCI (control, CON); 8 sedentary tetraplegic individuals with chronic SCI (SED-SCI); 9 physically trained tetraplegic individuals with chronic SCI (TR-SCI). All participants underwent nocturnal polysomnography to monitor sleep stages: wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (N1, N2, and N3 stages), and REM sleep. The electrocardiography data obtained during this exam were extracted to analyze the heart rate variability (HRV). RESULTS: Sleep stages influenced HRV in the time [RR interval and root mean square of successive RR interval differences (RMSSD)] and frequency [low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) powers and LF-to-HF ratio] domains (P < 0.05). SED-SCI individuals showed unchanged HRV compared to CON (P > 0.05). When comparing the TR-SCI and SED-SCI groups, no significant differences in HRV were reported in the time domain (P > 0.05). However, in the frequency domain, more accentuated HF power was observed in TR-SCI than in SED-SCI individuals during the N2 and N3 stages and REM sleep (P < 0.05). Moreover, TR-SCI had higher HF power than CON during the N3 stage (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TR-SCI individuals have greater HF power, indicative of parasympathetic modulation, than sedentary (injured or not injured) individuals during different sleep stages. Therefore, enhanced parasympathetic activity induced by physical training may improve cardiac autonomic modulation during sleep in individuals with chronic SCI.

Reproductive system morphometry and productive parameters of beef heifers according to morphological classification.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of visual morphological classification based on body structure, maturity, and musculosity on the morphometry of the reproduction system and productive parameters of beef heifers. The study was conducted for 84 days, during winter season in Brazil. Thirty non-pregnant Nellore heifers, with an average body weight 338 kg and average age 18 months, were used for the study. The heifers were housed in collective pens and fed corn silage (70%) and concentrate (30%) twice a day. All heifers were weighed weekly without prior fasting. Morphological evaluation of body structure, maturity, and musculosity was conducted in the third-middle of the experimental period by a trained evaluator, adopting a comparative methodology of visual evaluation on a scale from 1 to 6, and the heifers were classified according to the visual assessment. The effects of visual classification, time, and interactions were analyzed, considering significant effects was detected (p < 0.05). The significant (p < 0.05) results obtained were compared using Tukey test. Morphological classification did not influence the morphometry of the reproductive system or implied on time interactions. Body structure, maturity, and musculosity had no effect on dry matter intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass dressing. However, body weight and feed efficiency were influenced by the experimental time. For both variables, significant variations were detected after 63 days of finishing in the feedlot (p < 0.001), indicating that maximum productive efficiency of feedlot-finished Nellore beef heifers was achieved at a mean body weight of 424 kg.

Dietary Inflammatory Index of Obese Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Descriptive Study.

The objective of the present study was to describe the dietary inflammatory profile and its correlations with sleep parameters of obese individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Forty individuals underwent nocturnal polysomnography, anthropometric measurements, body composition by plethysmography, assessment of food consumption by three-day food records, and blood collection for the lipid, glycemic and hormonal profile. Food consumption data were evaluated semiquantitatively, quantitalively assessment, and calculation of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) was perfomed. The results demonstrated a predominantly proinflammatory dietary profile. The participants showed a low intake of fruit and vegetables. Additionally, a low consumption of fiber, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin E was observed, although there was an adequate distribution of macronutrients. In conclusion, although the inflammatory profile did not correlate with OSA, the study showed a directly proportional relationship between adequate dietary patterns and better sleep quality.

BatFly: A database of Neotropical bat-fly interactions.

Global changes have increased the risk of emerging infectious diseases, which can be prevented or mitigated by studying host-parasite interactions, among other measures. Bats and their ectoparasitic flies of the families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae are an excellent study model but, so far, our knowledge has been restricted to fragmented records at a local scale. To help boost research, we assembled a data set of bat-fly interactions from 174 studies published between 1904 and 2022 plus three original data sets. Altogether, these studies were carried out at 650 sites in the Neotropics, mainly distributed in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, southern USA, and Colombia, among other countries. In total, our data set contains 3984 interaction records between 237 bat species and 255 fly species. The bat species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Carollia perspicillata (357), Artibeus jamaicensis (263), and Artibeus lituratus (228). The fly species with the largest number of recorded interactions were Trichobius joblingi (256), Megistopoda aranea (235), and Megistopoda proxima (215). The interaction data were extracted, filtered, taxonomically harmonized, and made available in a tidy format together with linked data on bat population, fly population, study reference, sampling methods and geographic information from the study sites. This interconnected structure enables the expansion of information for each interaction record, encompassing where and how each interaction occurred, as well as the number of bats and flies involved. We expect BatFly to open new avenues for research focused on different levels of ecological organization and spatial scales. It will help consolidate knowledge about ecological specialization, resource distribution, pathogen transmission, and the drivers of parasite prevalence over a broad spatial range. It may also help to answer key questions such as: Are there differences in fly prevalence or mean infestation across Neotropical ecoregions? What ecological drivers explain those differences? How do specialization patterns vary among fly species in the Neotropics? Furthermore, we expect BatFly to inspire research aimed at understanding how climate and land-use changes may impact host-parasite interactions and disease outbreaks. This kind of research may help us reach Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, outlined by the United Nations. The data are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Prevalence and incidence of health problems and their characteristics in Brazilian para athletes: A one-season single-center prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Para athletes experience high prevalence and incidence of health problems related to sport. Despite this, there are few longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, prevalence, incidence, and severity of health problems in para athletes from one of the Brazilian Paralympic Reference Centers during a sports season and to compare the prevalence of health problems between para athletics, para powerlifting, and para swimming. METHODS: This prospective pilot study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems was used to record injuries and illnesses every week for 24 weeks. The characteristics, prevalence, incidence, and severity of health problems were described for each modality. The prevalence of health problems was compared among the three sport modalities. RESULTS: Thirty-five para athletes participated. Most of the injuries occurred in the shoulder, and most illnesses caused respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The average weekly prevalence and the incidence rate of health problems were 40.6% (95% CI 17.0-64.4) and 12.7 (95% CI 9.6-15.9) per 1000 athlete hours, respectively. Para powerlifting had the highest prevalence of all and substantial health problems; para swimming had the lowest prevalence of injuries; and para athletics had the lowest prevalence of illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: This group of Brazilian para athletes showed a high prevalence and incidence of health problems throughout the season. Para athletics, para powerlifting, and para swimming each had a different prevalence of injuries and illnesses.

The Sleep Parameters of Olympic Athletes: Characteristics and Assessment Instruments.

This systematic review aims to identify the sleep parameters of Olympic athletes and the instruments used to assess and monitor the sleep of these athletes. The search was conducted until February 2023 and was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. This systematic review has included studies that investigated at least one of the following sleep parameters: total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE), awakenings after sleep onset (WASO), quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype; the participants were Olympic athletes. The search returned a total of 280 studies. After screening based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, 11 studies were included. The main results demonstrate that Olympic athletes have TST of 06:10 h, SE of 84%, SOL of 28 min, and WASO of 49 min. The most predominant chronotype is indifferent; over half of the athletes have poor sleep quality and complaints. Furthermore, actigraphy was the most used method to assess sleep. It is concluded that Olympic athletes have TST, SE, and WASO poor than the recommended values. In addition, sleep complaints and poor sleep quality were also observed. Among the objective sleep assessment methods, actigraphy was the method most frequently used in this population.

Interdisciplinary Therapy Improves the Mediators of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents with Obesity.

Obesity is associated with inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature mortality, as well as a range of other conditions. Obesity is a growing global problem, not only in adults, but also in children and adolescents. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects of a one-year interdisciplinary intervention on the cardiometabolic and inflammatory profiles of adolescents with obesity. Twenty-two adolescents completed the intervention, which included clinical, nutritional, psychological and physical exercise counselling. Body composition, and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular risk biomarkers were analyzed before and after one year of intervention. Visceral and subcutaneous fat were determined ultrasonographically. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) equation were used to estimate insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity, respectively. A reduction in body mass, adiposity, glucose, and insulin and an improved lipid profile were observed after the therapy. Hyperleptinemia was reduced from 77.3% to 36.4%. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), leptin, the leptin/adiponectin ratio, and the adiponectin/leptin ratio were also significantly improved. Metabolic changes were associated with a reduction in visceral fat and waist circumference, and adiponectin and the leptin/adiponectin ratio were associated with HOMA-IR. The interdisciplinary therapy promoted improvements in hyperleptinemia and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular biomarkers.

Can the inner eye canthus temperature be used as an alternative method to measure core temperature in sleep-deprived individuals?

Core temperature is used in several situations, including studies on biological rhythms and circadian markers of physical performance. Measuring the inner eye canthus (Tco) temperature is a method proposed to identify core temperature, but it has shown little concordance in physical exercise situations and has not yet been used in studies with measurements taken throughout the day. The objective of this study was to compare the measurements and daily behavior of Tco obtained by infrared thermography with rectal temperature (Tre) during a prolonged waking protocol. Eleven male individuals participated in the study, who remained in the laboratory for at least 38 h using an actigraph to determine the wakefulness time and were monitored during the entire period. The Tre and Tco measurements were performed every 3 h. The ANOVA was used for repeated measurements followed by Bonferroni's post-hoc test to find the limits of concordance/proximity, while the Bland and Altman method and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient were used to establish the reliability between the pairs. The significance level adopted was p < 0.05. The results demonstrate significant differences, low levels of concordance and unsatisfactory reliability levels between Tco and Tre at all 13 analyzed moments, in addition to not showing measurement reliability when all data are used together with the 143 temperature measurements. Daily behavior analysis shows moments with similar behavior with an increase in Tco and Tre, but at other times the behavior was the opposite, with a decrease in one measurement and an increase in the other. Based on the results presented, it is not recommended to use the inner eye canthus temperature as a substitute for rectal temperature for measuring core temperature at different times of the day or in sleep-deprived individuals.

Nutritional intake in high-performance para athletes.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the eating habits of para-athletes who attended a specialized training center in Brazil. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Sports Training Center at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Energy, macronutrient (expressed in absolute terms and relative to body weight), fiber, cholesterol, and micronutrient intakes were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire, based on intakes over the preceding 12 mo. Sociodemographic factors were assessed using a purpose-designed survey, which included self-reported weight and height. Differences in nutrient intake based on sex, age, body mass index, and sporting factors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 30 para-athletes (in para athletics, para-powerlifting, para-swimming, and para-taekwondo) were included in the study. The median total energy intake was 4089 (2855-5829) kcal. The median consumption of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats was 512.3 (358.7-853.5), 184.5 (118.5-246.4), and 137.1 (96.8-189.5) g/d, respectively. Adolescent athletes had higher protein intakes than adult athletes (P = 0.02). Para-athletes with a longer sports career had lower consumption of fiber (P = 0.01) and thiamine (P = 0.02). Participants with a higher body mass index had higher intake of alcohol (P = 0.04) and monounsaturated fats (P = 0.01). Higher consumption of alcohol was also reported by older para-athletes (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We identified a higher saturated fat intake in male than in female para-athletes as well as higher protein intake (g/kg) in younger compared with older athletes. In addition, sociodemographic characteristics influenced the dietary intake of some para-athletes, such as length of sports career, age, and income.

Intermittent Fasting Promotes Weight Loss without Decreasing Performance in Taekwondo.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is commonly used by combat sports athletes for weight loss. However, IF can decrease performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of IF on total body mass (TBM) and Taekwondo performance. Nine athletes (seven male, two female; 18.4 ± 3.3 years) underwent 4 weeks of 12 h IF. TBM, countermovement jump (CMJ), mean kicks (MK), and total number of kicks (TNK) were compared weekly. Performance was measured in the fed state (FED) and fast state (FAST). Results showed decreased TBM in week 1 (62.20 ± 6.56 kg; p = 0.001) and week 2 (62.38 ± 6.83 kg; p = 0.022) compared to pre-intervention (63.58 ± 6.57 kg), stabilizing in week 3 (62.42 ± 6.12 kg), and no significant change in week 4 (63.36 ± 6.20 kg). CMJ performance in week 1 was lower in FED (35.26 ± 7.15 cm) than FAST (37.36 ± 6.77 cm; p = 0.003), but in week 3, FED (38.24 ± 6.45 cm) was higher than FAST (35.96 ± 5.05 cm; p = 0.047). No significant differences were found in MK and TNK in FSKTmult. RPE, KDI, and HR were similar between FED and FAST (p < 0.05). [LAC] was higher post-test compared to pre-test (p = 0.001), with higher concentrations in FED than FAST (p = 0.020). BG was higher in FED than FAST (p < 0.05) before physical tests. Therefore, IF promotes decreased TBM without decreasing performance.

Overweight Impairs Postural Control of Female Night Workers.

Objectives To verify the relationships between sleep duration (Total Sleep Time - TST) and postural control of female night workers before and after shift. As well as, to verify if there is an influence of the body mass index (BMI) on the postural control of these female workers before and after shift. Methods A total of 14 female night workers (mean age: 35.0 ± 7.7 years) were evaluated. An actigraph was placed on the wrist to evaluate the sleep-wake cycle. The body mass and height were measured, and BMI was calculated. Postural control was evaluated by means of a force platform, with eyes opened and eyes closed before and after the 12-hour workday. Results There was an effect of the BMI on the velocity and the center of pressure path with eyes opened before ( t = 2.55, p = 0.02) and after ( t = 4.10, p < 0.01) night work. The BMI impaired the velocity and the center of pressure path with eyes closed before ( t = 3.05, p = 0.01; t = 3.04, p = 0.01) and after ( t = 2.95, p = 0.01; t = 2.94, p = 0.01) night work. Furthermore, high BMI is associated with female workers' postural sway ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Therefore, high BMI impairs the postural control of female night workers, indicating postural instability before and after night work.

Current Technologies and Practices to Assess External Training Load in Paralympic Sport: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Knowing the methods to assess the external load in Paralympic sports can help multidisciplinary teams rely on scientific evidence to better prescribe and monitor the athlete's development, improving sports performance and reducing the risk of injury/illness of Paralympic athletes. OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to systematically explore the current practices of quantifying the external load in Paralympic sports and provide an overview of the methods and techniques used. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO was carried out until November 2022. The measures of interest were objective methods for quantifying the external load of training or competition. The inclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: (1) peer-reviewed article; (2) the population were Paralympic athletes; (3) evaluated during training or competition; (4) reported at least one external load measure; and (5) published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Of the 1961 articles found, 22 were included because they met the criteria, and 8 methods were identified to quantify the external load in training or competition in 8 Paralympic sports. The methods varied according to the characteristics of the Paralympic sports. To date, the devices used included an internal radiofrequency-based tracking system (wheelchair rugby) a miniaturized data logger (wheelchair tennis, basketball, and rugby); a linear position transducer (powerlifting and wheelchair basketball); a camera (swimming, goalball, and wheelchair rugby); a global positioning system (wheelchair tennis); heart rate monitors that assess external load variables in set (paracycling and swimming) and an electronic timer (swimming). CONCLUSIONS: Different objective methods were identified to assess the external load in Paralympic sports. However, few studies showed the validity and reliability of these methods. Further studies are needed to compare different methods of external load quantification in other Paralympic sports.

SMAD6 inhibits granulosa cell proliferation and follicle growth rate in carrier and noncarrier heifers of the Trio allele.

In brief: Follicle selection is a key event in monovular species. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the role of SMAD6 in promoting decreased granulosa cell proliferation and follicle growth rate in carriers vs noncarriers of the Trio allele and after vs before follicle deviation. Abstract: Cattle are generally considered a monovular species; however, recently, a bovine high fecundity allele, termed the Trio allele, was discovered. Carriers of Trio have an elevated ovulation rate (3-5), while half-sibling noncarriers are monovular. Carriers of the Trio allele have overexpression in granulosa cells of SMAD6, an inhibitor of oocyte-derived regulators of granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation. In experiment 1, follicle size was tracked for each follicle during a follicular wave. Follicle growth rate was greater before vs after follicle deviation in both carriers and noncarriers. Additionally, follicle growth rate was consistently less in carriers vs noncarriers. In experiment 2, we collected granulosa cells from follicles before and after deviation for evaluation of granulosa cell gene expression. Granulosa cell proliferation was less in carriers vs noncarriers and after vs before follicle deviation (decreased expression of cell cycle genes CCNB1 and CCNA2). The decreased granulosa cell proliferation in noncarriers after deviation was associated with increased SMAD6 expression. Similarly, in experiment 3, decreased expression of SMAD6 in granulosa cells of noncarriers cultured in vitro for 60 h was associated with increased expression of cell cycle genes. This suggests that SMAD6 may not just be inhibiting follicle growth rate in carriers of Trio but may also play a role in the decreased follicle growth after deviation in noncarriers. The hypotheses were supported that (1) follicle growth and granulosa cell proliferation decrease after deviation in both carriers and noncarriers and that (2) granulosa cell proliferation is reduced in carriers compared to noncarriers.

Effect of increased serum progesterone on luteal morphology and function, pregnancy, and gestational loss in Nelore cows.

The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of different strategies for increasing the level of serum progesterone (P4) on luteal morphology and function in bovine females. The effects of increasing P4 on pregnancy rate and gestational loss (GL) in Nelore cows subjected to timed artificial insemination (TAI) were also evaluated. A total of 939 cows were divided into three groups: P4LA (n = 305), 150 mg of long-acting injectable P4 7 days after TAI; GnRH (n = 306), 10 µg of buserelin acetate 7 days after TAI; and control (n = 328), no hormone treatment after TAI. Doppler ultrasound assessments and P4 measurements were performed on days 7 and 16 after TAI. The pregnancy rate and GL as a function of treatment were compared using the SAS GLIMMIX procedure. Corpus luteum (CL) vascular perfusion, volume, and plasma P4 concentration were analysed using the SAS PROC MIXED procedure. No significant difference was found among the treatments in terms of volume, number of pixels, and CL intensity or in the serum P4 concentration at 7 days after ovulation. The CL blood flow at 16 days after ovulation was lower in the P4LA and GnRH groups than that in the control group (p < .01). Serum concentrations of P4 at 16 days after ovulation were higher in the P4LA and GnRH groups than those in the control group (p = .04). A difference in the pregnancy rate (p = .003) and a trend in GL (p = .07) as a function of treatment were found. Overall, long-acting injectable P4 supplementation on day 7 after TAI or GnRH administration affected CL vascularization and increased the serum concentrations of P4 16 days after ovulation, promoting better pregnancy rates than the control.

Active warm-up and time-of-day effects on repeated-sprint performance and post-exercise recovery.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of both an active warm-up and the time-of-day variation on repeated-sprint performance. A second objective was to compare the post-exercise recovery between the experimental conditions. METHODS: Eleven male participants performed ten maximal cycling sprints (6 s each, with a 30-s interval between them) in the morning and late afternoon, either after a warm-up or control condition. The warm-up consisted of cycling for 10 min at 50% of the peak aerobic power. RESULTS: Rest measurements of rectal, muscle, and skin temperatures were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning (p < 0.05), with no significant differences in heart rate (p = 0.079) and blood lactate concentration (p = 0.300). Warm-up increased muscle temperature, heart rate, and lactate, and reduced skin temperature (all p < 0.001), though no significant differences were observed for rectal temperature (p = 0.410). The number of revolutions (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.375), peak (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.375), and mean (p = 0.037, ηp2 = 0.365) power of the first sprint (not the average of ten sprints) were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning, regardless of warm-up. However, beneficial performance effects of warming up were evident for the first (p < 0.001) and the average of ten sprints (p < 0.05), regardless of time of day. More remarkable changes during the 60-min post-exercise were observed for rectal temperature (p = 0.005) and heart rate (p = 0.010) in the afternoon than in the morning. CONCLUSION: Warming-up and time-of-day effects in enhancing muscular power are independent. Although warm-up ensured further beneficial effects on performance than the time-of-day variation, a faster post-exercise recovery was observed in the late afternoon.

The Sleep Parameters of Paralympic Athletes: Characteristics and Assessment Instruments.

CONTEXT: Sleep serves many important functions for athletes, particularly in the processes of learning, memory, recovery, and cognition. OBJECTIVES: Define the sleep parameters of Paralympic athletes and identify the instruments used to assess and monitor sleep Paralympic athletes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This systematic review was carried out based on the PRISMA guidelines. The survey was conducted in April 2020, the searches were carried out again in September 2021 to check whether there were new scientific publications in the area of sleep and Paralympic sport, searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Virtual Health Library (BIREME), and SciELO. This systematic review has included studies that investigated at least one of the following sleep parameters: total sleep time, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, number of awakenings, quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness, and chronotype; the participants were comprised of athletes with disabilities. Studies published at any time in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, were included. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Data extraction and study selection were performed by 2 researchers independently, and a third author was consulted as necessary. The search returned a total of 407 studies. Following the screening based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, a total of 13 studies were considered. Paralympic athletes have a low amount (7.06 h) of sleep with poor quality and sleep latency (28.05 min), and 57.2% have daytime sleepiness, with the majority belonging to the indifferent chronotype (53, 5%). Moreover, 11 studies assess sleep using subjective instruments (questionnaires), and 2 studies used an objective instrument (actigraphy). CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders are common among Paralympic athletes, poor sleep quality and quantity, and high rates of daytime sleepiness. Subjective methods are most commonly used to assess sleep.

Relationship between functional classification, upper extremity muscle strength, and agility in wheelchair rugby athletes / La relación entre la clasificación funcional, la fuerza muscular de las extremidades superiores y la agilidad de los deportistas de rugby en silla de ruedas / A relação entre classificação funcional, força muscular de membros superiores e agilidade de atletas do rúgbi em cadeira de rodas

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare the strength and agility of wheelchair rugby (WR) athletes with different functional classifications (FC) and describe the relationship between agility and upper extremity isometric muscle strength (IMS). A total of 10 WR athletes were analyzed, divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1): FC 0.5 and 1.0; and Group 2(G2): FC 1.5 to 2.5. IMS was evaluated by a dynamometer, and agility by a zig-zag test. Spearman's correlation was used to describe the relationship between IMS and performance on the agility test. In contrast, the t-test was used to compare strength and agility between different FCs (p≤0.05). Shoulder extensor IMS was higher in G2 athletes (p=0.001; d=3.10), which were also more agile than G1 athletes (G1=23.66s>G2=17.55s; p=0.015; d=2.00). Both groups showed a correlation between bilateral shoulder extensor strength and agility (r=−0.721; p=0.019). Athletes with high FC scores are more agile than athletes with low scores and, therefore, have greater movement speed when performing WR tasks. Greater shoulder extensor muscle strength is associated with greater agility in WR athletes.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la fuerza y la agilidad de los deportistas de rugby en silla de ruedas (RSR) desde diferentes clasificaciones funcionales (CF), así como describir la relación entre la agilidad y la fuerza muscular isométrica (FMI) de las extremidades superiores. Se evaluaron a diez deportistas RSR en dos grupos: Grupo 1 (G1): CF 0,5 y 1,0; y Grupo 2 (G2): CF 1,5 a 2,5. En la evaluación de la FMI se utilizó la dinamometría; y en la evaluación de la agilidad, la prueba de zigzag. La correlación de Spearman se utilizó para describir la relación entre la FMI y el rendimiento en la prueba de agilidad, mientras que la prueba t se utilizó para comparar la fuerza y la agilidad entre las diferentes CF (p≤0,05). La FMI de los extensores del hombro fue mayor en el G2 (p=0,001; d=3,10), y este también fue más ágil que el G1 (G1=23,66s>G2=17,55s; p=0,015; d=2,00). Hubo una correlación entre la fuerza muscular bilateral de los extensores del hombro y la agilidad en ambos grupos (r=−0,721; p=0,019). Los deportistas con altas puntuaciones de CF fueron los más ágiles en comparación con aquellos con bajas puntuaciones, por lo tanto, se constata que tienen una mayor velocidad de desplazamiento en la realización de tareas de RSR. Una mayor fuerza muscular de los extensores de hombro se asocia con una mayor agilidad en los deportistas RSR.

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a força e a agilidade de atletas do rúgbi em cadeira de rodas (RCR) por meio de diferentes classificações funcionais (CFs), bem como descrever a relação da agilidade com a força muscular isométrica (FMI) de membros superiores. Foram analisados 10 atletas de RCR, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1 (G1): CF 0,5 e 1,0; e Grupo 2 (G2): CF 1,5 a 2,5. A FMI foi avaliada pela dinamometria, e a agilidade pelo teste em ziguezague. A correlação de Spearman foi utilizada para descrever a relação entre a FMI e o desempenho no teste de agilidade, enquanto o teste t foi usado para comparar a força e a agilidade entre as diferentes CFs (p≤0,05). A FMI dos extensores do ombro foi maior no G2 (p=0,001; d=3,10), que também se mostrou mais ágil que o G1 (G1=23,66s>G2=17,55s; p=0,015; d=2,00). Verificou-se a correlação entre força muscular bilateral de extensores de ombro e agilidade em ambos os grupos (r=−0,721; p=0,019). Atletas com pontuação alta na CF são mais ágeis comparados a atletas com pontuações baixas e, portanto, apresentam maior velocidade de deslocamento ao executar as tarefas do RCR. Maior força muscular dos extensores de ombro é associada à maior agilidade em atletas do RCR.

Does the mycotoxin ingestion by beef heifers on feedlot change the productive parameters?

In intensive beef cattle production systems, silage, corn, soy bean, and their coproducts are commonly used as feed. However, these ingredients are highly susceptible to contamination by fungi and mycotoxins, which may lead to immunological challenges and reduce animal production. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of mycotoxin contamination of diet on intake, digestibility, and performance of heifers. Twenty non-pregnant (Nellore) heifers (age, >18 months; initial body weight, 348±30 kg) were used and randomly distributed in two treatments: (1) control (non-contaminated diet) and (2) zearalenone-contaminated diet (300 ppb). The diet comprised 70% corn silage and 30% concentrate. Individual dry matter intake and digestibility were estimated using external and internal markers. Heifer body weight was evaluated every week without fasting to calculate performance. The experimental design was completely randomized. Each animal was considered one experimental unit. Assumptions were tested for variance analyses (error normality, independence of errors, and homogeneity of variances) (p<0.05). There were no differences in dry matter intake (p=0.96) and digestibility (p=0.62). Performance (kg/day) did not vary as a function of zearalenone ingestion (p=0.68). Therefore, contamination of diet with 300 ppb zearalenone did not affect the intake, digestibility, and performance of feedlot-finished heifers.

The relationship between serum fatty acids and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents.

Depression and obesity are highly prevalent and are considered inflammatory pathologies; in addition, they are also associated with dietary patterns including types of fatty acids (FA). Changes in the FA composition in the brain are determined by changes in the content and quality of dietary and serum FA. The aim of this study was to verify the relationships between serum-free FA, inflammatory processes and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents. This was a cross-sectional study that analysed a database composed of 138 post-pubertal adolescents. Data regarding the depressive symptoms, body composition, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, FA profile, leptin concentration, as well as adiponectin, IL-A, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels of the subjects were collected. A total of 54·6 % of the adolescents presented with depressive symptoms, and there were positive correlations between depressive symptoms and serum saturated fatty acids (SFA) content, body fat, and inflammatory adipokines, such as leptin, IL-6, and the leptin/adiponectin ratio. Moreover, the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms, suggesting that eicosatrienoic acid (C20:2n6) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) are independently associated with depressive symptom scores and can be critical predictors of poor mental health in humans. These results point to the relationship between SFA and depressive symptoms in obese adolescents. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the causality between dietary SFA and depression in obese individuals.