Physiological Criteria Research Articles

Prognostic factors and models to predict pediatric sepsis mortality: A scoping review.

Several scoring systems are available to assess the severity of sepsis in pediatric patients in diverse settings worldwide. This study investigates the quality and applicability of predictive models for determining pediatric sepsis mortality, especially in acute care and limited-resource settings. Mortality prediction factors and models were searched in four databases using the following criteria: developed for pediatric health care, especially in acute settings, and with mortality as an outcome. Two or more reviewers performed the study selection to ensure no bias occurred. Any disagreements were solved by consensus or by the decision of a third reviewer. The authors extracted the results and mapped the selected studies qualitatively to describe the prognostic properties of the risk factors and models proposed in the study. The final analysis included 28 mortality prediction models. Their characteristics, analysis, and performance measures were summarized. Performance was described in terms of calibration and discrimination, including assessing for risk of bias and applicability. A modified version of the PRISM-III score based on physiologic criteria (PRISM-III-APS) increased its predictive value to 0.85-0.95. The vasoactive-inotropic score at 12 h had a strong independent association with death. Albumin had an excellent predictive value when combined with other variables. Lactate, a biomarker widely measured in patients with sepsis, was highly associated with mortality. The bioimpedance phase angle was not considered applicable in our setting. Measurement using more straightforward methods, such as mid-upper arm circumference, was feasible in numerous health care facilities. Leveraging prognostic models to predict mortality among pediatric patients with sepsis remains an important and well-recognized area of study. While much validation and development work remains to be done, available prognostic models could aid clinicians at the bedside of children with sepsis. Furthermore, mortality prediction models are essential and valuable tools for assessing the quality of care provided to critically ill pediatric patients.

Peri-Intubation Arrest in High Risk vs. Standard Risk Pediatric Trauma Patients Undergoing Endotracheal Intubation

Background: While the anatomically difficult airway has been studied in pediatric trauma patients, physiologic risk factors are poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate if previously published high risk physiologic criteria for difficult airway in medical patients is associated with adverse outcomes in pediatric trauma patients.Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients ≤18 years with traumatic injuries who underwent endotracheal intubation (EI) in a pediatric emergency department (PED) between 2016 and 2021. High risk criteria evaluated included 1) hypotension, 2) concern for cardiac dysfunction, 3) persistent hypoxemia, 4) severe metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.1), 5) post–return of spontaneous circulation. Our primary outcome was peri-intubation cardiac arrest, defined as cardiac arrest within 10 minutes of EI. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital cardiac arrest and mortality and first pass EI success.Results: One third (n = 32; 36.4%) of the 88 patients analyzed had at least one high risk criteria. When compared to the standard risk group, those in the high risk group had a higher incidence of peri-intubation arrest (28.1% vs. 0%, difference: 28.1%, 95% CI: 10.1–46.2), PED/in-hospital arrest (43.8% vs. 3.4%, difference: 38.4%, 95% CI: 17.8–59.0) and in-hospital mortality (33.4% vs. 3.6%, difference: 29.8%, 95% CI: 8.4–46.9). Having multiple high risk criteria progressively increased the odds of post-intubation PED/in-hospital cardiac arrest (1 risk factor: OR = 6.7, 95% CI: 1.5–30.2; 2 risk factors: OR = 12.5, 95% CI: 2.3–70.0; ≥ 3 risk factors: OR = 56.1, 95% CI: 6.0–523.8).Conclusions: The presence of high risk physiologic criteria is associated with increased incidence of peri-intubation, in-hospital arrest, and death in pediatric trauma patients. Children with multiple risk factors are at an incremental risk of cardiac arrest.

Direct Trauma Center Access by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services is Associated With Improved Survival After Severe Injury.

Evaluate the association of survival with helicopter transport directly to a trauma center compared with ground transport to a non-trauma center (NTC) and subsequent transfer. Helicopter transport improves survival after injury. One potential mechanism is direct transport to a trauma center when the patient would otherwise be transported to an NTC for subsequent transfer. Scene patients 16 years and above with positive physiological or anatomic triage criteria within PTOS 2000-2017 were included. Patients transported directly to level I/II trauma centers by helicopter were compared with patients initially transported to an NTC by ground with a subsequent helicopter transfer to a level I/II trauma center. Propensity score matching was used to evaluate the association between direct helicopter transport and survival. Individual triage criteria were evaluated to identify patients most likely to benefit from direct helicopter transport. In all, 36,830 patients were included. Direct helicopter transport was associated with a nearly 2-fold increase in odds of survival compared with NTC ground transport and subsequent transfer by helicopter (aOR 2.78; 95% CI 2.24-3.44, P <0.01). Triage criteria identifying patients with a survival benefit from direct helicopter transport included GCS≤13 (1.71; 1.22-2.41, P <0.01), hypotension (2.56; 1.39-4.71, P <0.01), abnormal respiratory rate (2.30; 1.36-3.89, P <0.01), paralysis (8.01; 2.03-31.69, P <0.01), hemothorax/pneumothorax (2.34; 1.36-4.05, P <0.01), and multisystem trauma (2.29; 1.08-4.84, P =0.03). Direct trauma center access is a mechanism driving the survival benefit of helicopter transport. First responders should consider helicopter transport for patients meeting these criteria who would otherwise be transported to an NTC.

Travel related changes in performance and physiological markers: the effects of eastward travel on female basketball players.

[Purpose] Purpose of this study is to measure the changes in various physiological markers and performance criteria for women basketball players over the course of a travel heavy season. [Participants and Methods] Fifty one Division-II female basketball players and a control group of 54 females joined this study. Measurements began at the beginning of the competitive season and concluded with final measurements at the end of the competitive season. [Results] The female basketball players showed noticeable increases in resting salivary cortisol, visceral trunk fat, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure. These athletes also showed diminishment in isokinetic force of leg muscles, particularly in knee flexion strength. Vertical jump measurements also indicated a slight diminishment. In contrast, the control group experienced none of the same changes. [Conclusion] Over the course of a grueling flight schedule in combination with a full-length basketball season, the female athletes in this study showed significant declinations in many indicators of overall health. It is concluded that resulting prolonged intermittent stress of a travel-heavy season can lead to significant changes in certain physiological markers with notable decreases in isokinetic force of leg muscle.

Physiologic risk factors increase risk of myocardial infarction with transcarotid artery revascularization in prospective trials

ObjectivePatients can be considered at high risk for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) because of either anatomic or physiologic factors and will often undergo transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). Patients with physiologic criteria will be considered to have a higher overall surgical risk because of more significant comorbidities. Our aim was to study the incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), death, and combined end points for patients who had undergone TCAR stratified by the risk factors (anatomic vs physiologic). MethodsAn analysis of prospectively collected data from the ROADSTER (pivotal; safety and efficacy study for reverse flow used during carotid artery stenting procedure), ROADSTER 2 (Food and Drug Administration indicated postmarket trial; postapproval study of transcarotid artery revascularization in patients with significant carotid artery disease), and ROADSTER extended access TCAR trials was performed. All 851 patients were considered to be at high risk for CEA and were included and stratified using high-risk anatomic criteria (ie, contralateral occlusion, tandem stenosis, high cervical artery stenosis, restenosis after previous endarterectomy, bilateral carotid stenting, hostile neck anatomy with previous neck irradiation, neck dissection, cervical spine immobility) or high-risk physiologic criteria (ie, age >75 years, multivessel coronary artery disease, history of angina, congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class III/IV, left ventricular ejection fraction <30%, recent MI, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, permanent contralateral cranial nerve injury, chronic renal insufficiency). For trial inclusion, asymptomatic patients were required to have had ≥80% carotid stenosis and symptomatic patients to have had ≥50% stenosis. The primary outcome measures were stroke, death, and MI at 30 days. The data were statistically analyzed using the χ2 test, as appropriate. ResultsA total of 851 high surgical risk patients were categorized into two groups: those with anatomic-only risk factors (n = 372) or at least one physiologic risk factor present (n = 479). Of the 851 patients, 74.5% of those in the anatomic subset were asymptomatic, and 76.6% in the physiologic subset were asymptomatic. General anesthesia was used similarly in both groups (67.7% anatomic vs 68.1% physiologic). MI had occurred in eight patients in the physiologic group (1.7%), all of whom had been asymptomatic and in none of the anatomic patients (P = .01). The combined stroke, death, and MI rate was 2.1% in the anatomic cohort and 4.2% in the physiologic cohort (P = .10). Stratification of each group into asymptomatic and symptomatic patients did not yield any further differences. ConclusionsThe patients who had undergone TCAR in the present prospective, neurologically adjudicated trial because of high-risk physiologic factors had had a higher rate of MI compared with the patients who had qualified for TCAR using anatomic criteria only. These patients had experienced comparable rates of combined stroke, death, and MI rates. The anatomic patients represented a healthier and younger subset of patients, with notably low overall event rates.

Selection of resistant genotypes of Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) to root and crown rot caused by the pathogen, Phytophthora cactorum, in the lab condition

Phytophthora root and crown rot is a common disease of different hortcrops in rosaceae family including pomefruits and stonefruits. In order to characterize reaction of different quince genotypes to Phytophthora, infected root and crown tissues of apple and quince trees in addition to some soil around them were collected from the orchards and cultured on semi-selective media. Four oomycete isolates out of 20 samples were recovered from which Phytophthora isolates were identified as P. cactorum, using physiological and morphological criteria. Disease resistance evaluation of quince genotypes to P. cactorum was implemented using excised twigs of 24 genotypes in glass bottles containing carrot agar media overlaid with a fresh layer of P. cactorum. The pathogenic isolate of P. cactorum selected from a pathogenicity test on unripe pear fruits. After two weeks of preservation of bottles in dark condition in 25 °C in growth chamber, the extent of necrosis was measured using a digital calipers then it was divided by length of twig to get the necrosis proportion. The genotypes showed a statistically significant different reaction to the pathogen at 1% level. Comparison of means using Duncan multiple range test indicated that the genotype ASP2 with 82% of necrosis proportion was the most susceptible one and PH2 (released as cultivar Behta), Unk and Khosro genotypes with 8, 10 and 13 percent necrosis of twigs were the most resistant genotypes, respectively.

Assessment of the Suitability of Trauma Triage According to Physiological Criteria in Korea

Purpose: A trauma center project for treating patients with trauma has been established in Korea. A trauma team is activated based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) field triage Step 1 for patient triage. Here, we determined if the currently applied criteria were appropriate for the triage of patients with trauma in Korea.Methods: This retrospective study included patients who were taken to the regional trauma center from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019, and were registered in the Korean Trauma database. The rates for undertriage and overtriage were calculated from the in-field and in-hospital triage according to the CDC guidelines Step 1.Results: Among the 9,383 patients transferred to the trauma center, 3,423 were directly transferred from the site and were investigated. The overall rates for undertriage and overtriage of these patients were 28.13% and 30.35%, respectively. For the patients who received in-field triage and were directly transferred to the trauma center, the rates for undertriage and overtriage were 27.92% and 32.39%, and 25.92% and 29.11% for in-hospital triage, respectively. The concordance rate of triage was 87.09%.Conclusion: The current use of in-hospital triage physiological criteria as set out in the CDC guidelines Step 1, indicated an undertriage rate which was high and an overtriage rate within the acceptable range. Further studies on triaging patients with trauma are warranted. Improvements in the guidelines of the trauma center project are necessary and this needs to be supported by resources and training for field personnel.

Identification of potent compounds against SARs-CoV-2: An in-silico based drug searching against Mpro

The worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) along with the various newly discovered major SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.1.28, constitute the Variant of Concerns (VOC). It's difficult to keep these variants from spreading over the planet. As a result of these VOCs, the fifth wave has already begun in several countries. The rapid spread of VOCs is posing a serious threat to human civilization. There is currently no specific medicine available for the treatment of COVID-19. Here, we present the findings of methods that used a combination of structure-assisted drug design, virtual screening, and high-throughput screening to swiftly generate lead compounds against Mpro protein of SARs-CoV-2. Therapeutics, in addition to vaccinations, are an essential element of the healthcare response to COVID-19's persistent threat. In the current study, we designed the efficient compounds that may combat all emerging variants of SARs-CoV-2 by targeting the common Mpro protein. The present study was aimed to discover new compounds that may be proposed as new therapeutic agents to treat COVID-19 infection without any adverse effects. For this purpose, a computational-based virtual screening of 352 in-house synthesized compounds library was performed through molecular docking and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation approach. As a result, four novel potent compounds were successfully shortlisted by implementing certain pharmacological, physiological, and ADMET criteria i.e., compounds 3, 4, 21, and 22. Furthermore, MD simulations were performed to evaluate the stability and dynamic behavior of these compounds with Mpro complex for about 30 ns. Eventually, compound 22 was found to be highly potent against Mpro protein and was further evaluated by applying 100 ns simulations. Our findings showed that these shortlisted compounds may have potency to treat the COVID-19 infection for which further experimental validation is proposed as part of a follow-up investigation.

Helicopter Versus Ground Transport for Trauma Victims: A Scoping Review

<h3>Objectives</h3> Efforts to identify which patients benefit most from Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS) activation can help guide clinical decisions around employing this costly and often risky resource. This scoping review seeks to identify trends in survival outcomes data comparing helicopter and ground emergency services (GEMS) transports directly from trauma scenes to definitive care, critically assess the quality of existing data, and generate questions for further directed study. <h3>Methods</h3> Pubmed was the primary database used for this review. Database search was conducted by a matrix approach utilizing MeSH search terms as well as general keyword search criteria. Included studies were published in 2010 or later and directly compared survival in HEMS and GEMS trauma transports from scene. Studies were evaluated by 3 independent reviewers to ensure inclusion criteria were met. <h3>Results</h3> Forty-one retrospective cohort studies were included for review. HEMS and GEMS survival outcomes were compared overall or based on patient physiologic criteria, injury type, injury severity, and patient age. HEMS activation was associated with improved survival overall in both nation-wide and single-institution studies. When comparing HEMS and GEMS survival based on type of injury, results were mixed with the exception of traumatic brain injury which benefited from HEMS activation across several studies. When patient characteristics were compared, those with unstable vital signs at the trauma scene appeared to benefit from HEMS activation. Patient age (pediatrics patients or those >55 years) was not consistently associated with mortality benefit. <h3>Conclusions</h3> After controlling for injury severity and patient characteristics, HEMS is associated with improved survival in patients transported from trauma scenes. Several studies reported that patients with unstable vital signs on scene and those with traumatic brain injuries benefit most from HEMS activation. The quality of the existing evidence is poor, in large part due to methodological limitations and confounding variables that cannot be controlled for on a trauma scene. Further study is needed to elucidate specific factors that lead to the possible survival benefit of HEMS.

Factors That Influence Teacher Distress

AIM: This study aims to develop a fit model for teacher stress to know what factors influence teacher stress. METHODS: This research uses descriptive quantitative research methods. Subjects in this study amounted to 500 teachers. The method used is the correlational research method with path analysis. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that illness, low salary, workload, bad relationships, abuse victims, emotions and work environment affect teacher stress, physiological, psychological, and cognitive criteria. CONCLUSION: This means that the higher the disorder, the lower the salary, the workload, the bad relationship, the victim of harassment, the emotions and the work environment, the higher the stress on the teacher and the less the disease, the lower the salary, the workload, the bad relationship, the victim of abuse emotions, and work environment lead to the lower teacher stress.

Management factors affecting gestating sows' welfare in group housing systems - A review.

Public concern on the methods of raising food-producing animals has increased, especially in the last two decades, leading to voluntary and mandated changes in the animal production methods. The primary objective of these changes is to improve the welfare of farm animals. The use of gestational stalls is currently a major welfare issue in swine production. Several studies assessed the welfare of alternative housing systems for gestating sows. A comparative study was performed with gestating sows housed in either individual stalls or in groups in a pen with an electronic sow feeder. This review assessed the welfare of each housing system using physiological, behavioral, and reproductive performance criteria. The current review identified clear advantages and disadvantages of each housing system. Individual stall housing allowed each sow to be given an individually tailored diet without competition, but the sows had behavioral restrictions and showed stereotypical behaviors (e.g., bar biting, nosing, palate grinding, etc.). Group-housed sows had increased opportunities to display such behavior (e.g., ability to move around and social interactions); however, a higher prevalence of aggressive behavior, especially first mixing in static group type, caused a negative impact on longevity (more body lesions, scratch and bite injuries, and lameness, especially in subordinate sows). Conclusively, a more segmented and diversified welfare assessment could be beneficial for a precise evaluation of each housing system for sows. Further efforts should be made to reduce aggression-driven injuries and design housing systems (feeding regimen, floor, bedding, etc.) to improve the welfare of group-housed sows.

High-Throughput Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Natural Products for the Identification of Anticancer Agents against MCM7 Protein.

Minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) belongs to the minichromosome maintenance family that is necessary for the initiation of eukaryotic DNA replication. Overexpression of the MCM7 protein is linked to cellular proliferation and is accountable for critical malignancy in many cancers. Mechanistically, the suppression of MCM7 greatly lowers the cellular proliferation associated with cancer. Advances in immunotherapy have revolutionized treatments for many types of cancer. To date, no effective small molecular candidate has been found that can stop the advancement of cancer produced by the MCM7 protein. Here, we present the findings of methods that used a combination of structure-assisted drug design, high-throughput virtual screening, and simulations studies to swiftly generate lead compounds against MCM7 protein. In the current study, we designed efficient compounds that may combat all emerging cancer targeting the common MCM7 protein. For this objective, a molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation-based virtual screening of 29,000 NPASS library was carried out. As a consequence of using specific pharmacological, physiological, and ADMET criteria, four new prevailing compounds, NPA000018, NPA000111, NPA00305, and NPA014826, were successfully selected. The MD simulations were also used for a time period of 50 ns to evaluate for stability and dynamics behavior of the compounds. Eventually, compounds NPA000111 and NPA014826 were found to be highly potent against MCM7 protein. According to our results, the selected compounds may be effective in treating certain cancer subtypes, for which additional follow-up experimental validation is recommended.

Trajectories and Prognostic Significance of 6-Minute Walk Test Parameters in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease: A Multicenter Study

Functional capacity, as measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT), is often reduced in fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study evaluated longitudinal changes and the prognostic significance of 6MWT parameters, and explored change in oxygenation status as a physiological criterion to define disease progression in patients with fibrotic ILD. What are the trajectories and prognostic value of 6MWT parameters in patients with fibrotic ILD? Using prospective registries in Australia and Canada, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF fibrotic ILD were stratified by the presence of criteria for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). The cumulative incidence of exertional and resting hypoxemia and changes in 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and composite indices (distance-saturation product and distance-saturation-oxygen product) were determined, with prognostic significance evaluated at the time of meeting criteria for PPF. New-onset exertional or resting hypoxemia was evaluated as another potential criterion for PPF. Patients with IPF/PPF (n= 126) and non-IPF/PPF (n= 227) had a similar cumulative incidence of exertional hypoxemia and annualized decline in 6MWD and composite indices, which varied across each PPF criterion. Patients with IPF/non-PPF (n= 231) and non-IPF/non-PPF (n= 531) had a significantly lower incidence of hypoxemia than those with IPF/PPF, with an annualized increase in 6MWD and composite indices in the non-IPF/non-PPF group. Exertional or resting hypoxemia at the time of meeting criteria for PPF was independently associated with reduced transplant-free survival in IPF and non-IPF, adjusting for patient demographics and lung function. Adding new-onset exertional or resting hypoxemia as a physiological criterion reduced the median time to development of PPF from 11.2 to 6.7months in IPF and from 11.7 to 5.6months in non-IPF in patients who eventually met both definitions (P< .001 for both). Patients with IPF/PPF and non-IPF/PPF have comparable deterioration in functional capacity. Oxygenation status provides prognostic information in PPF and may assist in defining disease progression in fibrotic ILD.

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Cognitive Assessment During Heat Tolerance Test (HTT)

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) regulations every soldier who had suffered an exertional heat injury (EHI) while exercising during military training, in varying degrees of severity, from heat exhaustion to heatstroke had to take the heat tolerance test (HTT) as part of clearance for back to duty. The criteria to determine the tolerance to heat are based solely on physiological parameters, while no cognitive evaluation is considered in the HTT. PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation and the role of cognitive assessment and mood state with the physiological parameters monitored during the HTT. METHODS: Eighty five post EHI subjects, performed the IDF HTT (treadmill: 5km/h 2% elevation at 40C 40%). Subjects were continuously monitored for body core and skin temperatures, heart rate and sweat rate. Before, during (60 min.) and at the end of the HTT (120 min.) all participants took voluntarily a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), which consisted of visual reaction time test using a laptop (cognitive assessment), and filled the profile of mood states (POMS) questionnaire (mood state assessment). RESULTS: According to the physiological criteria 66 subjects were diagnosed as heat tolerant (HT) and 19 as heat intolerant (HI). Analysis of the POMS revealed, in the different criteria, a lower mood for the HI individuals (p<0.01). PVT resulted with longer reaction time in the HI group (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The adverse effects of heat stress on cognitive performance and mood state during HTT was lower for HT than HI subjects. Cognitive assessment during HTT can be used as an auxiliary tool in the HTT.

Morphological, Molecular, and Pathogenic Characterization of Neofabraea alba, a Postharvest Pathogen of Apple in Serbia

Neofabraea spp. is one of the major causal agents of the postharvest decay of apple fruit. Bull’s eye rot can cause fruit rot, as well as tree canker. In Serbia, during February and March, 2017 and 2018, 56.3% of collected stored rotten apple fruits were found to be infected with Neofabraea spp. Using polymerase chain reaction, phylogenetic analysis, and morphological characterization, Neofabraeaalba was identified as the causal agent of Bull’s eye rot. Twenty-five selected isolates were analyzed by DNA sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer and 16 S mitochondrial ribosomal RNA. The phylogenetic analyses provided information on the distance between Neofabraea spp., while merged phylogenetic tree was required to give insight and clarify the relationships between isolates of Neofabraeaalba. N. alba demonstrated pathogenicity on apple fruit as well as on branches, with significantly different aggressiveness among the isolates. Isolates were able to produce larger cankers and acervuli on apple branches with abundant sporulation All identified isolates were separated into two morphotypes and described based on their macromorphological characteristics on culture media. It was noticed that different culture media, pH, and temperature could affect macromorphological characteristics and development. Representative isolates were able to grow at a temperature range of 0 to 25 °C, above which only one isolate was able to grow on culture media. All isolates showed growth at a pH range of 2–10, with significant differences detected between isolates at different pH values. The type of cultivation medium significantly affected the size and shape of conidia, while the presence of the microconidia was recorded within isolates. The aim of this study was to identify the causal agents of Bull’s eye rot on stored apples in Serbia in the period 2017–2018 and characterize the obtained isolates based on pathogenic, morphological, physiological, and molecular criteria.

Intensified training before Olympic-distance triathlon in recreational triathletes: "Less pain, more gain".

To examine 1) the contribution of physiological performance variables to Olympic-distance (OD) triathlon performance, and 2) the links between an 8-wk intensified training plus competition preceding the main OD triathlon race and the changes in the physiological status in triathletes. An observational longitudinal study. Endurance performance variables during maximal incremental running and cycling tests, and average velocity during an all-out 400-m swimming performance test (V400) were assessed before (T1) and after (T2) the intensified training in 7 recreational-level triathletes. Overall main OD triathlon time was extremely largely (r = -0.94; P = 0.01) correlated with peak running velocity (PRV). Best correlation magnitude between exercise modes' partial race times and the corresponding specific physiological criterion tests was observed for swimming (r = -0.97; P<0.001). Improvement in V400 (2.9%), PRV (1.5%) and submaximal running blood lactate concentration (17%) was observed along the training period, whereas no changes were observed in the cycling endurance performance variables. Higher volume of training plus competition at high intensity zones during cycling, running and swimming were associated with lower improvements or declines in their corresponding exercise mode-specific criterion performance variables (r = 0.81-0.90; P = 0.005-0.037). Results indicate that: 1) PRV is highly associated with overall OD triathlon performance, and 2) spending much time at high relative intensities during swimming, cycling or running may lead, in a dose-response manner, to lower improvements or decreases on those exercise-specific physiological performance variables. This may favor the emergence of overreaching or diminished performance.

Trauma Teams in Aotearoa New Zealand-a national survey.

Improved survival of trauma patients has been shown when a multidisciplinary trauma team is available. The aim of this study is to investigate the composition of trauma teams, trauma call criteria and the role of anaesthetists in trauma care across New Zealand. A survey was distributed using the modified Dillman's technique. Data was collected and aggregated using an online platform. The survey consisted of two streams of questions depending on trauma team availability. Trauma nurse specialists were the first contact point and if not available, direct contact with the hospital was made for completion of the survey. Seventy-five percent of hospitals had a trauma team and trauma call system and correlated to size of the hospital. The number of trauma team members ranged from six to 17, with a median of 10. Trauma call activation criteria encompassed physiological criteria, injury pattern and injury mechanism criteria. Physiological criterial of GCS, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were universally used. Sixty-two percent of trauma teams had involvement of anaesthetists. Trauma teams in New Zealand are common in regional and tertiary trauma hospitals. There is a wide variation in member numbers and criteria to trigger a trauma call. Anaesthetist involvement was in over half of trauma teams with regional variation noted. There is potential for trauma team composition and activation criteria to be standardised in New Zealand.

Effects of Pollen Deprivation in Groups of Tellian (Apis mellifera intermissa) and Saharan (Apis mellifera sahariensis) Honey Bees under Controlled Conditions.

Simple SummaryPollen is a key element in bee nutrition, containing proteins, vitamins and lipids that support the vital functions of bees. Nutritional stress affects bees from the larval to the adult stage, both at the individual and colony levels. To face this type of stress, the bees developed behavioral and physiological mechanisms to fight against it. Such type of response can vary depending on the breed and age of the bees. In this study under controlled conditions, we investigated the impact of a protein-free diet on physiological functions, including survival, hypopharyngeal gland development, hemolymph proteins and ovarian development of two local bees, Apis mellifera intermissa and Apis mellifera sahariensis.Worldwide, honey bees are increasingly faced with periods of pollen scarcity, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, especially of proteins and amino acids. These are essential for the proper functioning of the single organism and the colony. To understand how bees react to protein deficiency, under controlled conditions, we studied the effect of pollen deficiency on the main physiological parameters in two subspecies endemic of Algeria, Apis mellifera intermissa and Apis mellifera sahariensis. Emerging workers of both subspecies were reared with two diets: one was pollen-fed, whereas the other pollen-deprived. Several physiological criteria were measured depending on the type of diet and subspecies: the survival of the bees, the amount of total protein in the hemolymph, hypopharyngeal glands development and the ovary development of workers. These last three parameters were assessed at three different ages (7, 14 and 21 days). At birth, sahariensis workers weighed more than intermissa. With the same protein diet, the average life expectancy of sahariensis was extended by 5.55 days compared to intermissa. Even if deprived of pollen, sahariensis lived longer than intermissa fed with pollen (p < 0.001). In the three age levels, the hypopharyngeal glands were more developed and less affected by pollen deficiency (p < 0.001) in sahariensis than in intermissa (p < 0.001). The total hemolymph protein was higher in intermissa than in sahariensis regardless of the diet, and was also higher in protein-fed than in deprived bees (p < 0.001). The ovaries developed more rapidly with a high proportion in intermissa than in sahariensis (p < 0.05) regardless of the diet, and was also higher in the bees fed with pollen than those deprived (p < 0.05). Pollen deficiency generates physiological alterations and modifications, the amplitude of which varied according to the subspecies of the bee studied.

Effect of L-selectin and some blood physiological criteria in workers of LPG stations

This study was conducted on workers of liquefied petroleum gas stations in the city of Najaf, Iraq, from December 2021 to January 2022. The workers (n=50) exposed to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were compared with individuals who were not exposed (the control group, n=38). The result showed a significant (P&lt;0.05) and clear increase in the level of L-Selectin of workers (0.4845 ± 0.1259 ng/ml) compared to the control group (0.9816 ± 0.01771 ng/ml ). The current study, after conducting a statistical analysis of physiological blood tests, showed a significant( P &lt; 0.05) and clear decrease in the number of red blood cells(RBC), blood platelets(PLT), hemoglobin(HGB), and the percentage of hematocrit (MCT) , as it reached 4.930 ± 0.07 x10^6 cell/ml , 198.2 ± 7.8 x10^3cell/ml , 15.05 ± 0.17 g/dl , and 46.04 ± 0.41% respectively Compared to the control group (5.213 ± 0.06 x10^6 cell/ml , 222.8 ± 9.1 x10^3cell/ml , 15.72 ± 0.13 g/dl , and 49.14 ± 1.64% respectively ) .