Identification Program Research Articles

Identifying what works for whom: Implementation outcomes following iLookOut, a child abuse identification and referral training program.

iLookOut, a web-based child abuse training for early childcare professionals (ECPs), has been shown to improve knowledge and attitudes related to correctly identifying and reporting suspected cases of child abuse. The overarching goal of the present study is to examine "what works for whom" for iLookOut in order to identify strategies for optimizing learner outcomes. This prospective study enrolled 12,705 ECPs who completed iLookOut (November 2014-December 2018). We used structural equation models to test whether learner demographic and professional characteristics were differentially associated with implementation outcomes (i.e., acceptability and appropriateness) and whether these mediated subsequent indicators of training effectiveness (i.e., gains in knowledge). Consistent with previous research, individuals with lower baseline knowledge scores showed greater knowledge gains (β = -.57; p < .001). Greater knowledge gains were seen for learners who reported higher acceptability (β = .08; p < .001) or appropriateness (β = .14; p < .001). Implementation outcomes strongly associated with knowledge gains included acceptability for female learners and appropriateness for learners who had not completed high school or had >15 years of experience in childcare settings. Where mediation was found, for the majority of groups, appropriateness emerged as the driving mediator. Implementation outcomes emerged as important drivers of knowledge change for most groups. The iLookOut Core Training's use of a multimedia learning environment, video-based storylines, and game-based techniques were endorsed by learners and correlated with increases in knowledge. Future work should explore why aspects of the iLookOut training are rated as less acceptable or appropriate by some groups and what changes would improve efficacy for low performing learners.

Comprehensive environmental safety of construction

The relevance of the problem of comprehensive environmental safety in civil engineering is continually increasing for two reasons. Firstly, the rapid population growth dictates the need to escalate the scope and pace of construction. Secondly, the scale of construction is increasing against the background of the growing concern of the population about the deterioration of environmental conditions. The aim of the article is multidimensional analysis of this problem. The present research is of interdisciplinary nature and is based on the critical analysis and synthesis of a great number of heterogeneous materials concerning particular aspects of environmental safety of construction. The basis of environmental safety in civil engineering is timely identification of threats to public health as well as the risks of unacceptable deterioration of environmental conditions in the course of construction of buildings and structures. The solution of this problem should be simultaneously addressed along two different lines. The first one is maintaining external environmental safety. The second direction is internal ecological safety. The systemic solution of the problem can be implemented on the basis of the developed Programme for identification and assessment of factors underlying external and internal environmental safety of construction.

Infezione congenita da citomegalovirus e ipoacusia

Background - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common of congenital infections, with a prevalence of 0.3-1.2% in industrialized countries and is the most frequent non-genetic cause of permanent hearing loss in children, with an incidence ranging from 0.2 to 2%. Since there is no antenatal therapy or vaccine against CMV and since many patients with congenital CMV (cCMV) do not experience sequelae even in the absence of specific therapy, a universal screening programme has not been established. Current protocols provide test for the detection of cCMV in case of failure at newborn hearing screening. Aim - This article aims to analyze the pros and cons of the different screening approaches for cCMV, through an overview of the topic based on the most recent literature. Materials and Methods - The recent national and international literature on cCMV screening has been examined through a narrative review. Results - As part of the screening and early identification programmes for neonatal hearing loss, current procedures include a search for cCMV on urine or saliva within 3 weeks of life, following a positive result (Refer) at newborn audiological screening. This approach enables to recognize cCMV infection in newborns suffering from isolated hearing loss, which is already present at birth, however it does not allow cases of CMV-related hearing loss occurring in the postnatal period or late in childhood to be recognized. A universal newborn cCMV screening, in conjunction with audiological screening, would have the advantage of identifying all infants infected with cCMV, including 10%-15% of asymptomatic conditions at birth who may develop late hearing loss. One of the major obstacles to the establishment of universal cCMV screening is the unknown cost of its application and a clear understanding of the sensitivity and specificity of the cCMV test. Conclusions - Strategies are needed to identify children with congenital CMV infection at risk for developing late-onset hearing loss. A universal newborn screening to ensure timely recognition of children with cCMV, close audiological surveillance and possible early treatment at the onset of the first hearing symptoms should be provided.

PEGASE Program: Identification of babies in the child protection system at risk of developmental delays or disorders and the implementation of a ‘supra‐optimal’ care pathway

AbstractThe importance of the first three years of life for children's development and the consequences for their general health in adulthood have been widely documented in the international literature, including the benefits of early identification and intervention programs. Additionally, convergent research has highlighted wide‐ranging negative trajectories attributable to both the short and long‐term consequences of abuse and neglect and their neurobiological impact on health and development. However, formal identification processes and the use of standardised screening tools in child protection remain relatively rare despite the potential societal impact of child maltreatment in terms of public and economic health. Moreover, delays between the initial identification of mental health problems and health and developmental disorders, and the introduction of appropriate interventions persist. Abused and neglected infants risk an exacerbation of the consequences of early maltreatment due to insufficient access to prompt assessment and treatment, including appropriate responses to their health needs.The aim of this article is to present the PEGASE program, an innovative French program for very young children in care, which is modelled on the care of premature babies. By setting up an early care pathway, it aims to ensure adequate medical follow‐up – both somatic and psychiatric – through standardised examination and tailored interventions in order to limit the adverse health and developmental consequences of abuse. The presentation of the PEGASE program is supplemented by a case study.

PROTECTION OF STATE MANAGEMENT OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OBJECTS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CYBER ATTACKS

Critical infrastructure describes physical assets and cyber systems that are so vital to the nation that their incapacitation or destruction would have an important impact on our physical and economic security or public health and safety. The critical infrastructure of country provides essential services that are the foundation of Ukrainian society. Being in the current state of hybrid war significantly increases the threat to critical infrastructure. National security largely depends on the protection of such facilities. The article proposes a method for managing the protection state against external cyberattacks on information systems of critical infrastructure facilities based on distributive identification and dynamic programming. The essence of the method is to use the distributive identification of the external cyberattacks parameters with the choice of applying measures to protect the system with a complete description of the information system and taking into account the strategies of influence on it based on dynamic programming. Unlike similar methods, the developed method makes a management decision on the security state of information resources with a set of input external cyber attacks parameters based on parallel-distributive identification and dynamic programming. The method allows to increase the reliability of making a management decision on assessing the security state of information resources in the information system of a critical infrastructure facility, provided that the time of making a management decision on assessing the security state is no more than similar methods.

Identification of Stroke with MRI Images Using the Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) Method Based on Texture Features

Research on the Identification of Stroke with MRI Imagery Using the Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) Method Based on Texture Features has been carried out. This study aims to determine the program's best parameters and the highest accuracy level of the stroke identification program. This research was conducted at Haji Sukolilo Hospital - Surabaya by obtaining 57 images of stroke patients and 15 images of regular patients. The study used the intelligence of stroke, tumor, and standard images to determine each category's image characteristics. After knowing the differences in each class, the next process is digital image processing, followed by feature extraction used is the Gray-Level Co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) with four parameters: contrast, correlation, diversity, and homogeneity. These four parameters are the best input parameters with an intelligence rate of 0.100 with a decrease in intelligence rate of 0.100, so the best accuracy value for training is 74.97%, and test data is 78.60%. Regarding the program's ability to correctly identify 11 data from 14 data tested, the program is feasible to be used as a second opinion.

Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus: Relating immune impact of co-morbidity with challenges in disease management in high burden countries

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the causative agent of TB. TB incidence is high in many low resource settings where limited health systems make it difficult for screening of co-morbid conditions. Susceptibility to TB is increased with coincident diabetes mellitus (DM) or prediabetes. DM leads to chronic, subclinical inflammation in the host leading to compromised protective immunity against MTB, impacting TB treatment. This review focuses on the immunological impact of DM and prediabetes on TB infections, highlighting the importance of having effective diagnostic, treatment and management programs for early identification of hyperglycemia in TB patients to improve treatment outcomes. Further, it describes challenges in monitoring of TB and DM co-morbidity in a high-burden setting.

Network analysis of associations between anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance in young canoe sprint athletes: The role of age and sex.

Anthropometric and physical fitness data can predict sport-specific performance (e.g., canoe sprint race time) in young athletes. Of note, inter-item correlations (i.e., multicollinearity) may exist between tests assessing similar physical qualities. However, multicollinearity among tests may change across age and/or sex due to age-/sex-specific non-linear development of test performances. Therefore, the present study aimed at analyzing inter-item correlations between anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data as a function of age and sex in young canoe sprint athletes. Anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data of 618 male and 297 female young canoe sprint athletes (discipline: male/female kayak, male canoe) were recorded during a national talent identification program between 1992 and 2019. For each discipline, a correlation matrix (i.e., network analysis) was calculated for age category (U13, U14, U15, U16) and sex including anthropometrics (e.g., standing body height, body mass), physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle power), and sport-specific performance (i.e., 250 and 2,000-m on-water canoe sprint time). Network plots were used to explore the correlation patterns by visual inspection. Further, trimmed means (μtrimmed) of inter-item Pearson's correlations coefficients were calculated for each discipline, age category, and sex. Effects of age and sex were analyzed using one-way ANOVAs. Visual inspection revealed consistent associations among anthropometric measures across age categories, irrespective of sex. Further, associations between physical fitness and sport-specific performance were lower with increasing age, particularly in males. In this sense, statistically significant differences for μtrimmed were observed in male canoeists (p < 0.01, ξ = 0.36) and male kayakers (p < 0.01, ξ = 0.38) with lower μtrimmed in older compared with younger athletes (i.e., ≥U15). For female kayakers, no statistically significant effect of age on μtrimmed was observed (p = 0.34, ξ = 0.14). Our study revealed that inter-item correlation patterns (i.e., multicollinearity) of anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance measures were lower in older (U15, U16) versus younger (U13, U14) male canoe sprint athletes but not in females. Thus, age and sex should be considered to identify predictors for sport-specific performance and design effective testing batteries for talent identification programs in canoe sprint athletes.

Morphological and Physical Performance-Related Characteristics of Elite Male Handball Players: The Influence of Age and Playing Position

The aim of the present study was to describe the morphological and performance characteristics of elite handball players using data collected over the last two decades within the talent evaluation program of the Slovenian Handball Federation. A total of 1066 elite male handball players selected for one of the Slovenian national teams (U17, U19, U21 or senior) were recruited. The data were collected from 2007/8 to the 2021/22 season. The main effects were observed for: body height, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). The muscle mass percentage differed only between different age categories (p = 0.003; η2 = 0.015), while the fat mass percentage (FM%) differed between playing positions (p &lt; 0.001; η2 = 0.107). Post-hoc comparisons showed that, within senior handball players, pivot players were 6.46 cm (p = 0.009) taller than wing players and heavier than goalkeepers (12.43 kg, p = 0.004), backcourts (13.30 kg, p &lt; 0.001) and wings (17.83 kg, p &lt; 0.001). Moreover, pivots had a greater BMI than goalkeepers (2.3 kg/m2, p = 0.003), backcourts (2.62 kg/m2, p &lt; 0.001), and wings (3.07 kg/m2, p &lt; 0.001), while FM% was significantly higher in pivots compared to wings (4.32%, p = 0.010). Taking into consideration playing positions and age, the main effects were also observed for squat jump height, countermovement jump height, end-running speed, and VO2max (all p &lt; 0.001; η2 = 0.017 to 0.091). Both morphological and performance characteristics clearly differ across playing positions and age categories, which should be a valuable guide for coaches to develop position-specific talent identification programs and training plans.

Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWhile it is necessary to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, efforts including social isolation, restricted travel, and school closures are anticipated to raise the probability of domestic violence (DV). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, pattern, risk factors, and physical health outcomes of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sample. The data collection tool was based on Sect. 11 of the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey, 2014, which is designed to measure domestic violence. We used a Google form-designed questionnaire and distributed the link to social media platforms from May 2020 to June 2020 till the collection of the required sample of 388 completed questionnaires.ResultsThe prevalence of every form of DV was 31%. Emotional violence was the most prevalent (43.5%) followed by physical (38.9%) and sexual violence (17.5%). About 10.5% of women reported suffering from all types of violence. The husband was the most common perpetrator of DV. The determinants of ever experiencing any form of DV were low education level of women (OR = 7.3, 95% CI 2.8–18.8), unemployment (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 4–3.5), husband’s use of alcohol or substance (OR = 14.4, 95% CI 4.1–50.2), and insufficient income (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 2–3.2). The most common health consequences of DV were injuries such as cuts, bruises, and aches.ConclusionsThe prevalence of ever experiencing any form of DV was 31% which is considered high. Emotional violence was the most common whereas sexual violence was the least common. Identifying the risk factors of DV would support the development and implementation of preventive and screening programs for early identification and offering social support to the victims. Policies should be adopted for the early detection and protection of women suffering from violent behaviors. Access to adequate prompt support and health-care services is crucial in order to decrease the consequences of violence. It is necessary to implement alcohol or drug abuse interventions, preventive measures, and screening programs in families to reduce DV.

Coded information storage pulsed laser based on vector period-doubled pulsating solitons

Pulsating soliton is a unique local structure in nonlinear dissipative system. Different from the pulse train with equal amplitude generated by conventional average soliton, the amplitude of pulsating soliton shows a remarkable periodic fluctuation behavior. With the help of the interaction between vector solitons, vector solitons with rich multi-period pulsation phenomena are successfully obtained in the experiment and numerical simulation. Then, based on the phenomenon of multi-period pulsation of vector solitons under polarization modulation, a simple and stable information storage fiber laser is designed. By changing the rotation angle of the polarization controller to adjust the polarization state in the cavity, the regulation of vector period-doubled pulsating soliton is flexibly realized. In addition, an automatic identification program is designed to process the pulse data with binary coding, so as to realize the information storage function based on vector period-doubled pulsating soliton. This result promotes the application prospect of vector solitons in optical communication, information storage and other fields.

Predictors of foaling outcomes in barren and maiden Thoroughbred mares in South Africa.

Population demographics and reproductive performance of Thoroughbred populations have been described, but the most recent assessment of the South African Thoroughbred population was reported two decades ago. Objectives of this study were to report demographic data for selected Thoroughbred breeding populations and to analyse selected mare-level variables in association with foaling outcomes, as predictors of reproductive performance. The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa's stud health scheme requires annual screening of Thoroughbred stallions, maiden and barren mares for venereal pathogens prior to breeding. In 2018 and 2019, 1 065 and 1 207 horses were sampled, respectively. Demographic data were sourced from laboratory sample submission forms that accompanied samples and supplemented by data gathered from the annual Thoroughbred foal identification programme. Univariate analysis of candidate predictors of successful foaling outcomes was performed followed by assessment in a multivariable model.Median ages of mares and stallions tested in 2018 and 2019 were nine and 11 years, respectively. Nearly twice the number of barren compared to maiden mares were tested in each year, and failure to conceive was the most common reported reason for classification as barren. Of mares tested in 2018 and 2019, 68.1% (95% CI 65.1, 70.9) and 63.3% (95% CI 60.4, 66.1), respectively, subsequently produced foals that were presented for identification. Mare age, rather than reproductive status, was a significant predictor of having a foal presented for identification. In conclusion, novel demographic data were described for South African Thoroughbred populations. Seasonal foaling rate as the selected measure of reproductive performance for sampled mares ranged from 63.3% to 68.1% and declined with increasing mare age.

Exploring the associations between behavioral health risk factors, abnormal eating attitudes and socio-demographic factors among Chinese youth: Survey of 7,984 vocational high school students in Hunan in 2020.

This study investigated the associations between behavioral health risk factors (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia, drinking, smoking) and abnormal eating attitudes among Chinese vocational high school students (CVHSS). Potential moderating relationships were also explored with relevant socio-demographic factors of the student's age, sex, rural or urban community, household income, family type and educational level of the father and mother. A total of 7,984 students from three vocational high schools in Hunan, China completed a questionnaire about their socio-demographic characteristics, alcohol use, smoking, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress (21-item version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale), insomnia (8-item Athens Insomnia Scale), and abnormal eating attitudes (19-item Chinese version of Eating Attitudes Test). The prevalence rates for behavioral health problems among these students ranged widely depending on the risk factor: 42.5% insomnia, 41.3% anxiety, 26.2% depression, 14.4% stress, 13.7% drinking, and 8.3% smoking. Additionally, 61.7% of students were at-risk for at least one of these six behavioral health disorders. Abnormal eating attitudes were associated with depression (r = 0.422), anxiety (r = 0.490), stress (r = 0.490), and insomnia (r = 0.375), with all of these relationships being significant (p < 0.01) and large size statistical effects. However, other analyzes found that none of the socio-demographic background factors had meaningful associations with the behavioral health risk factors (0 of 28 tests) and very few background factors were associated with the abnormal eating attitude measures (only 3 of 35 tests). Females had higher levels than males on dieting and bulimia but not on the other two eating attitude components. This study determined that behavioral health risk factors (sleep problems and anxiety in particular) were common among high school students in China and that mental health and sleep disorder risks also tended to co-occur in some students with abnormal eating attitudes. Therefore, prevention and early identification programs for behavioral risk factors are needed for this population. It is important to pay more attention to students with abnormal eating attitude-related symptoms, who may have also underlying mental health problems and need further evaluation.

222 TOWARDS A DELIRIUM FRIENDLY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Abstract Background Delirium affects approx. 10-30 % of patients over the age of 65. Up to 70% of cases are missed in the Emergency Department (ED). Delirium results in increased morbidity, mortality, increased length of stay and decreased functional status with increased discharges to residential care centres. Delirium in the ED is an independent predictor of death within 6 months. Methods We completed an audit which showed 40% of those &amp;gt; 65 years of age in the ED were delirious and 60% of those had dementia. None of these had been identified as delirious prior to review. We have approx. 5,000 patients &amp;gt;75 years of age attending our ED annually (1/7th of presentations). This audit was used as a catalyst for our quality improvement project. We established a steering group with a small quality improvement sub-committee. We combed the literature, identified areas for improvement and costed our project. We also looked at reliance on 1:1 carers for those with delirium and potential benefits to patient, staff and management. Results We used the SPARK ignite programme as a means to gain momentum and also educate ourselves on business management and change management. We competed in the finals with our “delirium package” – focussing on orientation, stimulation, safety and education. These 4 pillars of delirium care have been shown to prevent delirium, reduce hospital stay for those with delirium and also augment their delirium cycle. Competing and winning a prize highlighted the importance of delirium care and brought our project to a bigger stage. Conclusion Due to our multi-disciplinary team composed of non-consultant hospital doctors, advanced nurse practitioners and occupational therapists, we have been able to introduce the national dementia programme for early identification of delirium in the emergency department. We now have a space for managing those with delirium and have received funding to put our package in place. This can be replicated in hospitals around the country highlighting the non-pharmacological treatments for delirium.

Anthropometric characteristics of elite male taekwondo athletes according to weight category and performance level

The aim of this study was to: 1) compare the anthropometric characteristics of elite male taekwondo athletes between selected weight categories using the ‘full’ International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) profile; and 2) compare the index of sitting height/stature ratio, and lower-limb segment lengths between standards of competitors. Thirty-two elite male taekwondo athletes volunteered to take part and they were categorised according to five competition weight categories (&lt;58, &lt;63, &lt;68, &lt;74, and &lt;87kg). Anthropometric measurements were performed according to the ISAK profile protocol (42 measures), and the data were compared between the weight categories. Athletes were also divided into two groups based upon their previous success and selected variables were compared between the groups. Significant differences were identified in a range of anthropometric variables between athletes’ weight categories, including percentage of body fat [%BF], skinfold thickness, measurement girths, lengths and widths, and somatotype components. Such differences were generally more notable between the lighter (&lt;58kg) and heavier (&lt;63, &lt;68, &lt;74, and &lt;87kg) weight categories, with lighter weight categories tending to exhibit lower %BF, skinfold thickness, smaller/shorter specific limb girths, breadths, and lengths, and lower endomorphy when compared with their heavier weight counterparts. International level athletes displayed significantly lower sitting height/ stature ratio, and greater iliospinale and tibiale laterale height than their national level counterparts (p &lt; .05). The findings of this study provide focused reference values to assist preparations for selected weight categories within the sport, and they offer a framework to support talent identification programmes.

Retraction to: Providing a system of continuous recovery during athletes' rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that the structure of an athlete’s recovery is presented as a system of continuous work, which can be implemented by using a mathematical apparatus. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the system of continuous recovery during rehabilitation. METHODS: To solve the problem of control in conditions of uncertainty, the methods of the adaptive systems theory were used. For the statistical approach, requirements were put forward for the structure of the object model, and all uncertain factors and obstacles were assumed to be random in nature. RESULTS: The authors show that the use of a mathematical apparatus can be revealed in the structure of athlete’s injury identification and recovery program. The paper reveals a model for applying calculations for continuous operation in dynamic systems. The authors note that the possibility of rehabilitation according to the proposed model can be both permanent and temporary. CONCLUSION: The process adjustment model can be used when the rehabilitation of athletes affects not only the recovery of damage but also when the process is interrupted.

Rapid assessment of mercury-contaminated sites through the Toxic Site Identification Program (TSIP). Colombia

Mercury concentration measurements were compiled from 72 sites located throughout seven departments of Colombia using field information gathered from 2016–2021 by Pure Earth, an international non-profit organization, and secondary information from previously conducted studies. These measurements and other data such as type of contaminated resource (water, soil), resource use (fishing, agricultural, residential, and industrial), estimated at-risk population, and permissible contamination limits were entered into Pure Earth’s Toxic Site Identification Program (TSIP) database. Using information from the TSIP database, the Blacksmith Index, a contaminated site intervention prioritization index, was calculated for all 72 sites. After applying exclusion criteria to the sites for this study, the results show that approximately 55,095 people are affected by mercury contamination in 44 sites. Of these study sites, the site with the highest Blacksmith Index value and therefore, the highest health risk due to mercury contamination, is La Bocana in the department of Valle del Cauca.

Value generated by the multiplier effect of investments by the pharmaceutical industry in Italy: proposals to promote competitiveness and attractiveness

Pharmaceutical industry investments in Italy must be supported with a reform process that promotes simplifications to generate an attractive ecosystem that can enhance innovation. Key actions include facilitating the start-up of clinical trials, promoting public-private partnerships to support technology transfer, integrating data infrastructures to overcome the logic of silos, expanding programs for prevention and early identification of diseases, simultaneous reimbursement for therapy and diagnostic testing, and launching a structural program for early access to therapies. The total contribution of the sector in the last 10 years to the Italian economy was € 315 bn. Looking at employment (67 thousand people employed in the sector in 2020), it is possible to estimate about 280 thousand jobs activated in Italy just in 2020. An Altems study quantified a leverage effect of 2.77 in terms of benefits to the Italian NHS from direct investment in clinical research, which means that for every € 1 invested by companies in clinical trials, € 1.77 of additional savings were generated for the NHS. Applying the multiplier on R&amp;D investments of the entire pharmaceutical sector in 2020 (€ 1.6 bn), we could estimate approximately € 4.4 bn in benefits for the NHS. In addition to these benefits there are the noneconomic benefits of clinical research, including early access for patients to innovative therapies, resulting in improved clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients and caregivers in general.

Association of hoarding case identification and animal protection programs to socioeconomic indicators in a major metropolitan area of Brazil.

The present study assessed the identification of animal and object hoarding disorder cases by contact and mapping and the presence of animal protection programs in association with seven social–economic indicators of the metropolitan area of the ninth-biggest metropolitan area of Brazil. City Secretaries of Health and Environment provided demographic information and responded to a questionnaire. Overall, a very high level of hoarding case identification per municipality was associated with a higher Human Development Index, population, density, and income and related to distance from Curitiba, the capital of Parana State. Low and very low levels of hoarding case identification were related to greater area, higher Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), inequality, illiteracy, and rural areas. Very high identification level of animal protection programs was also associated with higher HDI, density and population, urban area, and high income, and geographical area. Similarly, low and very low levels of animal protection programs identification were major explained by low income, illiteracy, and distance related to higher population, urbanization, and higher HDI. In summary, better identification of hoarding cases and animal protection programs have shown an association with better socioeconomic indicators and higher population, density, and urban area. Whether municipalities with better human socioeconomic indicators may stimulate society's demands for identification of cases of individuals with hoarding disorder and animal programs should be further established. Regardless, animal health and welfare have been associated with improving human quality of life in a major Brazilian metropolitan area.

Epidemiology of Ankle Ligament Injuries in US High School Athletes

Category: Sports; Ankle; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Foot and ankle injuries account for a large percentage of the over one million injuries sustained by high school level athletes. To date, many studies have examined the epidemiology of lower extremity injuries and ankle sprains, but few studies have classified sprains into subtypes across multiple sports. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of ankle sprain subtypes across 9 common high school sports. Methods: Athlete exposure and injury specific data from 7 seasons (2014 to 2021) were collected using the internet-based High School Reporting Information Online (High School RIO), a national high school sports injury surveillance system, for athletes participating in 1 of 9 sports (boys' and girls' soccer, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' baseball, girls' softball, boys' football, boys' wrestling). Incidence and ligament involvement of foot and ankle injuries were examined, with incidence being calculated as 1 injury per 10,000 athlete exposures (AE). Results: Ankle ligament injuries accounted for 89.0% of the 7,321 foot and ankle injuries across the 9 sports (81-94%). Girls and boys' basketball had the highest incidence of sprains, 3.46 and 3.37 respectively. Ankle ligament injuries accounted for 35.9% of all lower extremity injuries in basketball players. 85.0% of the sprains were classified as lateral ligament, 4.0% medial ligament, 11.5% syndesmosis (8.6% partial and 2.9% complete syndesmosis injuries). Football had the highest percentage of syndesmosis injuries at 11.0%, and the highest incidence of both syndesmosis injuries (0.44) and medial ligament injuries (0.17). Surgical intervention was required in 4.3% of complete syndesmosis injuries and 0.7% of lateral ligament injuries. No differences were found in incidence of ankle ligament injuries comparing pre-COVID-19 seasons (2014-2020) to the 2020-2021 season. Conclusion: Ankle sprains account for a large percentage of foot and ankle injuries sustained by high school level athletes. Syndesmosis injuries occur more commonly in football and are 6 times more likely to require early surgical intervention compared to lateral ligament injuries. Identifying sports commonly involved in these injuries and classifying the sprains is the first step in implementing early identification, rehabilitation, and prevention programs. Future studies should examine the efficacy of injury prevention programs and rates of ankle sprains among high school level athletes.