16-day Course Research Articles

THE EFFECTS OF A 16-DAY COURSE ON IMPROVEMENT IN ARMY PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST SCORES

Despite guidelines on the benefits of physical activity on improved quality of life and reduced levels of stress, an increasing number of adults do not meet the guidelines of at least 150-minutes of moderate physical activity per week. This may be a contributing factor relating to a growing population of military personnel who are unable to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). PURPOSE: With this challenge in mind, we aimed to determine how attitudes, motivation, and knowledge of general health and wellness influenced a soldier’s ability to successfully pass the APFT. METHODS: Thirty-six national guard reservist men and women (age = 27 ± 5 yrs; weight = 91.2 ± 17.4 kg; height=1.7 ± 0.1 m) attended a 16-day course on health, wellness, and physical training. During the course, subjects had their body composition assessed via bioelectrical impedance. The APFT was completed five times over the course of four months with the first test occurring at the beginning of the course. At the start of the course and the final APFT, participants completed three questionnaires (BLOCK Fat Dietary Screener, Paffenbarger Physical Activity Questionnaire, and a modified Sports Motivation Scale-II). RESULTS: Passing rate in the APFT increased from 8.3% at the first test to a 22.7% passing rate after four months with the 2-mile run having the highest failure rate of the three events (push-ups, sit-ups, 2-mile run). On average, subjects lost 2.6 ± 3.9 kg which was statistically significant (p < 0.05) and saw a mean reduction of 1.6 ± 2% body fat percentage. There was no change in BLOCK Fat Dietary scores (31.8 ± 11.4 vs. 31.2 ± 12.5, p > 0.05) or the Paffenbarger physical activity index (2,184 ± 1548 vs. 2890 ± 1938 kcal/week, p > 0.05). Intrinsic motivation significantly increased pre to post-testing (12.9 ± 3.4 vs 16.6 ± 4.6, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The educational course was successful in increasing the passing rate of the APFT. More importantly, an increase in intrinsic motivation suggests a greater interest in the variety of training methods included in the curriculum which would decrease the monotony of the training and encourage their improvement in the APFT. Future studies need to explore the challenges of improving the two-mile run.

Gemella haemolysans bacteremia in a patient with secondary peritonitis due to a duodenal ulcer perforation: A case report.

We describe a case of Gemella haemolysans septic shock in a 75-year old Japanese male with a duodenal perforation and secondary peritonitis. Blood cultures on admission were positive for Gram-positive and Gram-variable cocci, and G. haemolysans was identified using whole cell matrix-assisted laser desorpition/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), with a score value of 2.12. The 16S rRNA sequencing was difficult to use as a diagnostic test because there was more than 99% sequence homology with related bacterial strains. Based on both the biochemical profiles and whole groEL sequence, we concluded that the strain in our patient was G. haemolysans. The patient was successfully treated with a 16-day course of antimicrobials. His clinical condition improved, and no evidence of a relapse of the infection was noted. Although MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing are useful for identification of the species, the basic biochemical profile is also important to identify a rare species.

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Introduction: The FDA cautions clinicians that the sensitivity (95% CI: 24-91%) and specificity (95% CI: 69-94%) of Rapid Flu A tests in adults are notoriously poor (FDA, 2013). This is the case of an 18-year-old male admitted from the Emergency Department with a negative Rapid Flu test for ARDS suspected as an inhalation injury (bleach inhalation versus illicit inhalant use). Patient presented with fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and tachypnea and was admitted to an intermediate critical care unit with subsequent ICU transfer for respiratory failure and intubation with a PF ratio of 54 and oxygenation index of 46 with groundglass opacities noted on CT. Extubated after a 16-day course of MV requiring heavy sedation for ventilator synchrony, including high-dose paralytic infusions required to achieve a train of four of 3/4. Large pneumomediastinum and pneumoperitoneum on HD 7 with extensive subcutaneous emphysema resolved without intervention on HD19. Flu A viral cultures from a miniBAL on HD 2 were resulted on HD 11 (variant subtyping not available) and treatment with oseltamivir was initiated. Encephalopathic process identified 2 days after extubation with tonic-clonic seizures with deterioration on HD 26 requiring reintubation for airway protection (2 days). MRI suspicious for acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis treated with IVIG. Patient complained of severe headaches on HD 31 with subsequent progressive left-sided weakness, pronator drift, dysmetria, nystagmus and partial visual field loss noted on HD 33 with a CT revealing 7mm right-to-left midline shift and intraparenchymal hemorrhage and edema. Patient is discharged from the hospital with mild cognitive impairment and left-sided neglect with rehabilitation treatment in progress. The clinical consequences of severe influenza-related infection, in this case an off-season case of untyped flu A, can be broad. In addition to severe respiratory compromise, severe CNS complications and sequelae are noted which are not widely reported in the medical literature. Reference: FDA. (2013). Cautions in using rapid tests for detecting Influenza A viruses. Retrieved August 1, 2013, from http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/TipsandArticlesonDeviceSafety/ucm109385.htm

Treatment with Tigecycline of Recurrent Urosepsis Caused by Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli

A 25-year-old female was admitted to our intensive care unit with septic shock and multiorgan failure caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli originating from the right renal pelvis. A 16-day course of treatment with meropenem reversed the septic condition, but the infection recurred thereafter. The patient recovered fully after therapy was changed to tigecycline.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 inhibition of prostate cancer growth involves suppression of angiogenesis

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) is a multifunctional protein that induces apoptosis utilizing both insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF)-dependent and -independent mechanisms. We investigated the effects of IGFBP-3 on tumor growth and angiogenesis utilizing a human CaP xenograft model in severe-combined immunodeficiency mice. A 16-day course of IGFBP-3 injections reduced tumor size and increased apoptosis and also led to a reduction in the number of vessels stained with CD31. In vitro, IGFBP-3 inhibited both vascular endothelial growth factor- and IGF-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells vascular network formation in a matrigel assay. This action is primarily IGF independent as shown by studies utilizing the non-IGFBP-binding IGF-1 analog Long-R3. Additionally, we used a fibroblast growth factor-enriched matrigel-plug assay and chick allantoic membrane assays to show that IGFBP-3 has potent antiangiogenic actions in vivo. Finally, overexpression of IGFBP-3 or the non-IGF-binding GGG-IGFBP-3 mutant in Zebrafish embryos confirmed that both IGFBP-3 and the non-IGF-binding mutant inhibited vessel formation in vivo, indicating that the antiangiogenic effect of IGFBP-3 is an IGF-independent phenomenon. Together, these studies provide the first evidence that IGFBP-3 has direct, IGF-independent inhibitory effects on angiogenesis providing an additional mechanism by which it exerts its tumor suppressive effects and further supporting its development for clinical use in the therapy of patients with prostate cancer.

Dr. Griffiths Appointed to Committee of White House Conference on Aging / ADA Health Foundation Gets $180,000 in Gifts / Dr. Lathrop, Former ADA Trustee, Dies / U of Minnesota Awards Dr. Tiede Highest Honor / Dr. Goldman of Boston Visits China, Presents 16-Day Course in Shanghai / Court Order Mars Student Campaign to Fluoridate Kansas City (Mo) / Dr.

Dr. Griffiths Appointed to Committee of White House Conference on Aging / ADA Health Foundation Gets $180,000 in Gifts / Dr. Lathrop, Former ADA Trustee, Dies / U of Minnesota Awards Dr. Tiede Highest Honor / Dr. Goldman of Boston Visits China, Presents 16-Day Course in Shanghai / Court Order Mars Student Campaign to Fluoridate Kansas City (Mo) / Dr.

Bilateral Aseptic Necrosis of Femur Following a 16-Day Course of Corticotropin

CIRCUMSTANTIAL evidence relates systemic corticosteroid therapy to aseptic necrosis of bone. Daily doses as low as 5 mg of prednisone have been cited. 1 The shortest period of therapy incriminated to date is 30 days (methylprednisolone, 16 mg/day). 2 Corticotropin has been implicated following treatment courses as brief as 42 days (10 to 20 mg/day of corticotropin). 3 The average interval from onset of steroid therapy to appearance of hip pain is 33 months. 2 This report concerns aseptic necrosis of both femoral heads appearing in a young man nine months after a 16-day course of corticotropin therapy. His primary problem is multiple sclerosis, a disease not known to be associated with aseptic necrosis. Report of a Case A 23-year-old, moderately obese vocational student received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 1970. One of his manifestations was right retrobulbar neuritis with visual acuity of 15/200. Beginning May 28, 1970, he

Bilateral aseptic necrosis of femur following a 16-day course of corticotropin

Bilateral aseptic necrosis of femur following a 16-day course of corticotropin