Aid In Recovery Research Articles

Impact of Intraoperative Prognostic Factors on Urinary Continence Recovery Following Open and Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Background and Objectives: Radical prostatectomy (RP) stands as the predominant instigator of postoperative stress urinary incontinence. Techniques such as the preservation of the neurovascular bundles, bladder neck preservation, and ensuring longer postoperative urethral length have shown positive impacts on continence. The posterior reconstruction is another method that aids in early continence recovery. Anterior suspension as simulator of puboprostatic ligaments is another factor. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Clinic of Urology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, between December 2014 and January 2020, employing a prospective, non-randomized comparative design. Data were meticulously gathered from 192 consecutive patients. The process of regaining continence was monitored at intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. The main criterion for assessing the level of urinary continence was the number of pads used daily. Results: The distribution of overall continence rates in the BNP vs. no-BNP group at 3, 6 and 12 months was 86% vs. 60% (p < 0.0001), 89% vs. 67% (p < 0.0001), 93% vs. 83% (p = 0.022). Continence rates in non-posterior reconstruction group (10%, 22%, 34%, and 54% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months) were statistically significantly lower (p < 0.0001). The patients who underwent urethral suspension exhibited significantly higher rates of overall continence at 1 mo (73% vs. 29%, p < 0.0001), 3 mo (85% vs. 53%, p < 0.001), 6 mo (89% vs. 62%, p < 0.0001), 12 mo (95% vs. 76%, p < 0.0001), and 24 mo (93% vs. 81%, p = 0.007). Patients who underwent urethral suspension had a four-fold greater likelihood of regaining continence (p = 0.015). Conclusions: Patients who underwent urethral suspension or BNP or posterior reconstruction had higher continence rates. Only the urethral suspension was found to be a significant prognostic factor of continence recovery.

Improving psychological and social support needs after traumatic birth: A qualitative study

IntroductionEmergency deliveries increase maternal risk for postpartum depression (PPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One in three women describe their birth experience as traumatic, but patient-centered support needs are unclear. We conducted a qualitative study of women with traumatic birth to identify patient-centered priorities to optimize mental health support. MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with women who experienced an emergency during birth, and who self-identified as experiencing traumatic birth. The Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire and PTSD Checklist were completed. Interviews included open-ended questions about birth events that improved or worsened their delivery experience, perceptions of mental, physical, and emotional support provided by staff, and patient perspectives about psychological and social support referrals after emergent deliveries. ResultsA majority of participants met positive screening criteria for PTSD at the time of interviews. Birth experiences were affected by prenatal expectations, as well as the style and quality of clinical staff communication during and after delivery. There were four key themes central to their experiences and perceptions: (1) Emotional Impact and Intensity, (2) Factors Influencing Birth Experience, (3) Perceived Lack of Emotional Support, and (4) Desire for Post-Birth Follow-Up and Support. Participants almost unanimously desired to be offered psychosocial services after birth trauma. ConclusionThere are significant gaps in emotional support and communication for patients experiencing traumatic births. Offering structured, in-hospital mental health referrals may address immediate psychological needs, aid in trauma recovery, and potentially mitigate long-term mental health consequences. These findings advocate for a more holistic approach to postpartum care that prioritizes both physical and emotional well-being.

Impact of Ethanolic Spice Extracts and Sodium Benzoate on the Physicochemical Properties and Health-Related Quality of Watermelon Juice

Background: Watermelon juice is a refreshing drink to quench the extreme tropical heat thirst. Packed with simple carbs, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, it boosts immunity and aids in the body's recovery from dehydration. Moreover, it’s a delicious and filling drink. A study was carried out to investigate the effects of ethanolic extracts on watermelon juices. Methods: Physicochemical changes such as total soluble solid, vitamin C, acidity, pH, non-enzymatic browning reaction, sensory evaluation, and total viable count were measured at 7-day intervals over 28 days. Results: The findings showed that clove and sodium benzoate had a greater effect on unpasteurized juice than black pepper and sodium benzoate on pasteurized juice. Clove and sodium benzoate outperformed the others in unpasteurized juice. For unpasteurized and pasteurized juice, black pepper and sodium benzoate showed greater results than others. Besides, sodium benzoate (3.10×102, 1.2×102, 0×102, and 1.0×102) and cinnamon (4.0×102, 2.2×102, 3.0×102 and 2.0×102) presented better antimicrobial activity than others for unpasteurized juice. Sodium benzoate (3.0×102, 1.10×102, 0×102, and 2.0×102) and black pepper (1.20×102, 2.1×102, 2.0×102, and 1.10×102) displayed better antimicrobial activity than others for pasteurized juice. For both unpasteurized and pasteurized juice, cinnamon and sodium benzoate were comparatively more popular than others. Conclusions: Based on the findings, these extracts could be employed as natural antimicrobial preservatives instead of artificial preservatives in watermelon juice to increase its shelf life.

Comprehensive Review of Dietary Supplements Used by Athletes: Types and Benefits

Introduction. A dietary supplement is intended to improve nutrition by providing vitamins, minerals, herbs, or amino acids. These supplements are taken orally, labeled as supplements, and are not meant to be a substitute for regular food. The increasing interest in strength training and fitness emphasizes the significance of proper nutrition. Engaging in physical activity reduces the risk of disease and enhances mental health. More research is required to understand the impact of supplements on performance, health, and the gut microbiome. Aim of study. The primary objective of this research is to compile existing data on dietary supplements commonly utilized in sports, including but not limited to creatine, protein, branched-chain amino acids, omega-3 fatty acids, and L-citrulline. Materials and methods. 50 articles pertaining to the issue were subjected to analysis. These articles were sourced from PubMed and Google Scholar, spanning a publication period of 19 years. Conclusions. Creatine supplementation consistently enhances strength, endurance, and lean mass, particularly when combined with resistance and plyometric training, although its impact on fat mass is modest. Whey protein effectively promotes muscle mass and strength, especially in older adults, and aids in recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Branched-Chain Amino Acids can reduce muscle soreness and assist in recovery, but their effects on performance and muscle damage are less pronounced. Omega-3 fatty acids improve muscle recovery and metabolic markers, but exhibit limited synergy with resistance training. L-citrulline elevates arginine levels and improves vascular function, yet its effects on performance are minimal in certain contexts.

Effect of acute supplementation of hibiscus-ginger drink on university athletes’ aerobic power and blood lactate

Background: Sport training places significant demand on athletes, motivating them to seek strategies to enhance performance and maintain competitiveness. The use of ergogenic aids has become prevalent in sport, although not without potential risks. Hibiscus-ginger juice, rich in vitamins and minerals, has been suggested to improve metabolism, aid in post-exercise recovery, reduce inflammation, and enhance athletic performance. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hibiscus ginger juice supplementation on aerobic power and blood lactate levels in athletes. Methods: A pretest-posttest experimental design was employed, involving 28 university athletes aged 20 – 37 years. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group receiving 500 mL of hibiscus-ginger juice daily after training for 24 days, or a control group. Physiological measures of blood lactate levels and aerobic power were assessed on three separate occasions during the study period. Results: Mixed model ANOVA showed no significant differences in blood lactate levels (p = .502) or aerobic power (p = .117). Daily consumption of 500 mL of hibiscus-ginger juice for 24 days did not significantly alter aerobic power or blood lactate levels of athletes. Conclusion: The findings suggest that consuming hibiscus-ginger juice may not provide a performance advantage for athletes compared to those who do not. Keywords: Acute supplementation, aerobic power, blood lactate level, hibiscus-ginger juice, university athletes.

Supplements, Training And Recovery Aids Used By 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup Participants

Supplements, Training And Recovery Aids Used By 2022 Masters Field Hockey World Cup Participants

A retrospective observational study of orbital cellulitis in children - Recent trends

ABSTRACT Purpose: Orbital cellulitis is an acute post-septal orbital infection caused mostly by bacteria. This may result in serious complications including blindness, meningitis, cavernous sinus thrombosis, brain abscess, and even death. The delay in treatment increases morbidity and mortality. The purpose of present study was to review cases of orbital cellulitis in recent years regarding its clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment policy, complications, and disabilities. The outcome of study will help in early diagnosis and better management of orbital cellulitis cases. Materials and Method: Total 20 cases of orbital cellulitis in children from March 2021 to February 2024 were evaluated and analyzed in department of ophthalmology, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna. Result: Total 20 children with ages <18 years were evaluated. The average age of presentation was 7 years (range between 1 year and 17 years). 70% of cases were seen in male children. All patients presented with chemosis, congestion, eyelid swelling, proptosis, and restriction of eye movement. Orbital CT scan diagnosed 100% cases of orbital cellulitis (P < 0.01). In 45% of children, sinusitis was initial site of infection (P < 0.01). Swab culture was positive in 40% of the cases, organism being gram-positive cocci. Complete recovery was seen in 75% with 25% having some deficit in visual acuity or eye movement. Conclusion: Clinical symptoms and signs aided with orbital CT scan help in early diagnosis early detection and aggressive treatment with multidisciplinary approach may limit the complications of orbital cellulitis and also aid in complete recovery without any visual deficit.

Effect of strain ratio and pre-strain on the low-cycle fatigue behavior of 4130X steel at different strain amplitudes

This study investigates the impacts of strain ratio and pre-strain on the low-cycle fatigue properties and microscopic damage mechanisms of 4130X steel across varying strain amplitudes. Under symmetric loading, initial cycles at low strain amplitudes demonstrate clear peak/valley stress hardening followed by cyclic softening in later stages of fatigue. In contrast, the hardening behavior vanishes at higher strain amplitudes. Increasing strain ratio and pre-strain cause the initial hardening behavior at low strain amplitudes to gradually disappear. Additionally, at lower strain amplitudes, fatigue life decreases as strain ratio and pre-strain rise, attributed to substantial tensile mean stress. Microscopic examination reveals that symmetric cyclic loading at low strain amplitudes releases stress concentrations caused by quenched and tempered processing and reduces both dislocation density and localized plastic strain. Conversely, at higher strain ratios and pre-strains, increased tensile mean stresses not only intensify dislocation multiplication, resulting in high dislocation density, but also activate multi-slip system, leading to dislocation cross-slip. Moreover, at a high strain amplitude of 0.45 %, pre-strain aids in martensite recovery and promotes dislocation annihilation during recovery, thus inducing cyclic softening. Finally, the fatigue lives under varied loading conditions are compared with the fatigue design curve prescribed by ASME VIII-II code.

Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms of Carbon Tetrachloride- Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Brief Systematic Review.

The liver plays a critical role in metabolic processes, making it vulnerable to injury. Researchers often study carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in model organisms because it closely resembles human liver damage. This toxicity occurs due to the activation of various cytochromes, including CYP2E1, CYP2B1, CYP2B2, and possibly CYP3A, which produce the trichloromethyl radical (CCl3*). CCl3* can attach to biological molecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, impairing lipid metabolism and leading to fatty degeneration. It can also combine with DNA to initiate hepatic carcinogenesis. When exposed to oxygen, CCl3* generates more reactive CCl3OO*, which leads to lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. At the molecular level, CCl4 induces the release of several inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and NO, which can either help or harm hepatotoxicity through cellular apoptosis. TGF-β contributes to fibrogenesis, while IL-6 and IL-10 aid in recovery by minimizing anti-apoptotic activity and directing cells toward regeneration. To prevent liver damage, different interventions can be employed, such as antioxidants, mitogenic agents, and the maintenance of calcium sequestration. Drugs that prevent CCl4- induced cytotoxicity and proliferation or enhance CYP450 activity may offer a protective response against hepatic carcinoma.

Does dry needling aid in post-training recovery? A critically appraised topic

Clinical scenarioFollowing intense physical training, it is common for athletes to develop muscle soreness, muscle tightness and a sense of fatigue. Minimizing the time spent in this state is advantageous to limit time off from sport, potential injury and lack of mental focus. Clinical questionDoes dry needling aid in post-training recovery in athletes? Summary of key findingsA search was performed for articles exploring the effect of dry needling on exercise/training recovery in athletes. Six articles were included in this critically appraised topic. Three articles were randomized controlled trials, one was a cross-over design, one was a case series, and one was a survey. Five of the six studies demonstrated that dry needling had some sort of positive effect on post-training recovery. One article found DN did not improve muscle soreness after a long distance race. Clinical bottom lineBased on six studies, DN provides mixed results on a variety of physiological and subjective measures. No adverse effects were reported with the use of DN on athletes following post-training. Strength of recommendationIn agreement with the Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, the consistent results from three Level II and two Level III intervention studies designate that there is grade D evidence that DN may aid in some post-training recovery variables.

Examining the Efficacy of Five Lactobacillus Species in Treating and Preventing Atopic Dermatitis: A Systemic Literature Review.

Probiotics have garnered increasing attention, particularly within the realm of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although classified as dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration, probiotics are being explored for their potential to modify immune system responses and aid in disease recovery. This review aims to provide a current understanding of probiotics, specifically various lactobacilli strains, as a therapeutic option in preventing and treating AD. The concept of the gut-skin axis has gained substantial recognition, emphasizing the complex relationship between the gut microbiome and skin health. Dysfunctional gut barriers and metabolites produced by gut microorganisms can exert profound influences on skin conditions, including AD. Lactobacilli species are particularly noteworthy for their resilience and stability within the gastrointestinal tract, making these bacteria ideal candidates for probiotic supplementation. Various lactobacilli strains (Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum,Lactobacillus reuteri, andLactobacillus rhamnosus) were included in this study due to their current uses in mitigating AD symptomatology. This systemic review article aims to shed light on the potential of probiotics as a therapeutic approach for AD, highlighting their stellar safety profile and promising therapeutic efficacy. Given the compelling preliminary findings and the constraints associated with conventional treatments, probiotics, particularly lactobacilli strains, emerge as a considerable alternative or adjuvant option for individuals grappling with AD. Further exploration is imperative to establish probiotics as a promising therapeutic option, providing renewed hope for those seeking effective strategies for managing AD.

Quantifying social capital creation in post-disaster recovery aid in Indonesia: methodological innovation by an AI-based language model.

Smooth interaction with a disaster-affected community can create and strengthen its social capital, leading to greater effectiveness in the provision of successful post-disaster recovery aid. To understand the relationship between the types of interaction, the strength of social capital generated, and the provision of successful post-disaster recovery aid, intricate ethnographic qualitative research is required, but it is likely to remain illustrative because it is based, at least to some degree, on the researcher's intuition. This paper thus offers an innovative research method employing a quantitative artificial intelligence (AI)-based language model, which allows researchers to re-examine data, thereby validating the findings of the qualitative research, and to glean additional insights that might otherwise have been missed. This paper argues that well-connected personnel and religiously-based communal activities help to enhance social capital by bonding within a community and linking to outside agencies and that mixed methods, based on the AI-based language model, effectively strengthen text-based qualitative research.

Islamic faith-based organisations and their role in building social capital for post-disaster recovery in Indonesia.

This paper investigates the role of Islamic faith-based organisations (FBOs) in Indonesia and examines the way in which their disaster recovery aid can be successful or less successful depending on social capital formation in communities affected by a disaster. The paper argues that Islamic FBOs play a prominent role in disaster-affected communities by building new social capital or strengthening existing social capital. Failure to do so may affect a community's recovery and its long-term resilience. Applying a framework that considers three types of social capital-bonding, bridging, and linking-from a comparative perspective, the paper discusses two cases of disaster recovery: one following the earthquake that struck Aceh in 2013; and the other after the Mount Kelud volcanic eruptions in East Java in 2014. In both instances, the findings highlight the importance of the village facilitator, cultural sensitivity, and understanding of local indigenous and religious practices for successful disaster recovery.

Healthcare Waste Management through Multi-Stage Decision-Making for Sustainability Enhancement

The possible threats that healthcare waste management (HWM) poses to the environment and public health are making it more and more crucial for medical facility administrators to be worried about it. This is in line with the global trend towards firms giving sustainability more of a priority. Many organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations, as well as national and state laws, have mandated the proper disposal of infectious and hazardous healthcare waste. To effectively address the complex problem of selecting the best treatment option for HWM, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) procedure must be used. The alternative ranking order method accounting for two-step normalization (AROMAN) methodology is provided in the context of q-rung orthopair fuzzy environment. This method comprises two steps of normalization and is based on the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) paradigm. Whereas the AROMAN methodology uses vector and linear normalization techniques to improve the accuracy of the data for further computations, the CRITIC method assesses the intercriteria correlations and scores the significance of each criterion. The ranking from the proposed method is Al5>Al4>Al3>Al1>Al2. The study’s conclusions indicate that recycling (Al5) is the best option since it lessens trash production, aids in resource recovery, and protects the environment. Using this method helps decision makers deal with subjectivity and ambiguity more skillfully, promotes consistency and transparency in decision making, and streamlines the process of choosing the best waste management system. Sustainable waste management practices have been implemented in the biomedical industry with some success. The proposed technique is a helpful tool for legislators and practitioners seeking to improve waste management systems.

Impact of RMB internationalization on China's competitiveness in financial services trade based on the VAR model: Evidence from China-US.

An increase in a currency internationalization levels can positively impact its credibility in international economic activities, and expand the effective demand and optimize the supply structure for the country's financial service trade. In this way, a state can improve its financial service trade competitiveness in the international market. This study builds a vector autoregressive model based on time-series data of China-US financial services trade from 2010 to 2021, analyzes the impact of different quantitative indicators of RMB internationalization on this trade from the impulse response results, and validates the conclusions using various inspection methods. The results show that the increase in RMB internationalization helps to narrow the China-US financial services trade balance, but with a significant lag. And this effect is heterogeneous in different dimensions, demonstrated by the fact that the development of overseas RMB securities business is more important for the level of RMB internationalization to narrow the China-US financial services trade balance. Finally, among the specific measures to improve its financial services trade, China should focus on developing the international competitiveness of the traditional RMB deposit and loan financial sector, while the competition in the overseas market for high value-added financial businesses must also not be neglected. Furthermore, China needs to implement more targeted RMB internationalization development policies at different levels in the future to provide high-quality financial services to the rest of the world and aid in the economic recovery of the world in the "post-pandemic" era.

Incidence and Management of Pharyngo Cutaneous Fistula Following Total Laryngectomy - A Single Institutional 10 Years Experience.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a common postoperative complication in patients undergoing laryngectomy. Many studies have focused on the predisposing factors and their treatment, but there is still controversy on how to identify high-risk patients.PCF is associated with delay in adjuvant treatment, prolonged hospital stay, and the requirement for additional surgical procedures. The increased incidence of post-laryngectomy PCF in the modern era of organ preservation therapy has driven considerable efforts to develop techniques to avoid and treat this complication. The study aims to analyze the incidence, predisposing factors, management, and outcome of PCF in post laryngectomy patients. We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 72 patients who underwent total laryngectomy during the period from 2013 to 2022 at our institute. Details regarding age, gender, tumor site, comorbidities, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, duration of nasogastric tube feeding, the incidence of PCF and its management, and length of hospital stay. In our analysis of 72 patients, with 38 undergoing upfront laryngectomy and 34 salvage laryngectomy post-chemoradiation, we observed a 23% incidence of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF). Our univariate analysis revealed that low pre-op albumin levels and advanced stage significantly increased the risk of PCF. Specifically, PCF occurred in 16% of upfront laryngectomy patients and increased to 32% in salvage laryngectomy patients, though there was no significant association with pre-operative radiotherapy (RT).Among PCF cases, those from upfront laryngectomy had a mean onset time of 12 days, while salvage laryngectomy cases had a mean onset time of 8 days. The majority of PCF cases (64%) were managed conservatively, with 11% resolving through secondary suturing and 25% requiring surgical repair using local flaps. Notably, 80% of upfront laryngectomy PCF cases were managed conservatively, compared to 54% in salvage laryngectomy cases.The average hospitalization time for PCF patients was significantly longer at 35.6 days, compared to 12 days for non-PCF patients. Importantly, there were no fatal complications related to PCF in either group. Our study found that Pharyngocutaneous Fistula (PCF) occurs in both irradiated and non-irradiated patients, with T staging and pre-op albumin levels being significant risk factors. While PCF in non-irradiated patients can be treated conservatively, those in chemoradiation patients often require surgical intervention. Postoperative nutritional support like Feeding jejunostomy or Peg tube insertion aids in patient recovery from PCF.

Heat Transfer and Thermal Efficiency in Oxy-Fuel Retrofit of 0.5 MW Fire Tube Gas Boiler

Industrial boilers cause significant energy wastage that could be mitigated with oxy-fuel combustion versus traditional air combustion. Despite several feasibility studies on oxy-fuel burners, they are widely avoided in industry due to major infrastructural challenges. This study measured the performance and heat transfer characteristics of each component in a 0.5 MW fire tube gas boiler after retrofitting it with an oxy-fuel burner. Comparisons were drawn across three combustion modes—air combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and oxy-fuel flue gas recirculation (FGR). The Dittus–Boelter equation was employed to predict heat transfer in the fire tube for all combustion modes at full load (100%). Heat transfer in the latent heat section of the economizer was measured and compared with predictions using the Zukauskas equation. With this retrofit, oxy-fuel combustion improved the thermal efficiency by about 3–4%. In oxy-fuel combustion, the flow rate of exhaust gas decreased. When integrated into an existing fire tube boiler, the fire tube’s heat transfer contribution diminished greatly, suggesting the economic viability of a redesigned, reduced fire tube section. Additionally, a new design could address the notable increase in gas radiation from the fire tube in oxy-fuel and FGR, as well as aid in the efficient recovery of condensation heat from exhaust gases.

Global Transcriptomic Profiling of Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Aspergillus flavus Endophthalmitis in a Murine Model.

Fungal endophthalmitis is characterized by chronic inflammation leading to the partial or complete vision loss. Herein, we analyzed the transcriptomic landscape of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) endophthalmitis in C57BL/6 mice to understand the host-pathogen interactions. Endophthalmitis was induced by intravitreal injection of A. flavus spores in C57BL/6 mice and monitored for disease progression up to 72hours. The enucleated eyeballs were subjected to histopathological analysis and mRNA sequencing using the Illumina Nextseq 2000. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed to further annotate the functions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and validation of cytokines was performed in vitreous of patients with fungal endophthalmitis using multiplex ELISA. Transcriptomic landscape of A. flavus endophthalmitis revealed upregulated T-cell receptor signaling, PI3K-AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and NOD like receptor signaling pathways. We observed significant increase in the T-cells during infection especially at 72 hours infection along with elevated expression levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-18, IL-19, IL-23, CCR3, and CCR7. Furthermore, host-immune response associated genes, such as T-cell interacting activating receptor, TNF receptor-associated factor 1, TLR1, TLR9, and bradykinin receptor beta 1, were enriched. Histopathological assessment validated the significant increase in inflammatory cells, especially T-cells at 72 hours post-infection along with increased disruption in the retinal architecture. Additionally, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-1β were also significantly elevated, whereas IL-10 was downregulated in vitreous of patients with Aspergillus endophthalmitis. Regulating T-cell influx could be a potential strategy to modulate the excessive inflammation in the retina and potentially aid in better vision recovery in fungal endophthalmitis.

Role of Music Therapy in Stress Reduction

This study aims to investigate the potential of music therapy as a stress reliever for young adults. Any unpleasant emotion or sensation, including strain and pressure, is referred to as stress. The clinical and evidence-based application of music interventions to fulfill specific goals within a therapeutic alliance by a qualified professional who has completed an approved music therapy program is known as music therapy. Music therapy mediations aim to improve well-being, reduce stress, ease pain, communicate emotions, improve memory, improve communication, and aid in physical recovery. A review of the literature demonstrates that music has a significant impact on a person's psychological state and lowers tension and anxiety.

Analysis of Sleep, Nocturnal Physiology, and Physical Demands of NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Across a Championship Season.

Merrigan, JJ, Stone, JD, Kraemer, WJ, Friend, C, Lennon, K, Vatne, EA, and Hagen, JA. Analysis of sleep, nocturnal physiology, and physical demands of NCAA women's ice hockey across a championship season. J Strength Cond Res 38(4): 694-703, 2024-The aims of this study were to evaluate the (a) relationships between daily physical demands and nighttime sleep, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV); (b) weekly changes in physical demands and sleep; and (c) differences among positions and between training and competition during a competitive season in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women's ice hockey. Twenty-five NCAA Division I women's ice hockey athletes wore a sensor at night to monitor sleep quantity or quality (e.g., time asleep and sleep efficiency) and physiology (e.g., HR and HRV). During training and competitions (31 regular season and 7 postseason), athletes wore performance monitoring systems to assess workload demands (e.g., training impulse and TRIMP). As internal workload (TRIMP, Time >80% of HRmax, Average HR) during training or competition increased, nocturnal HRV decreased, HR increased, and Sleep Duration, Sleep Score, and Readiness Score decreased that night. Across the season, athletes experienced lower HRV, but exhibited longer sleep durations. Training Distance, Duration, Time >80% HRmax, Average HR, and TRIMP decreased, whereas competition Total Distance, Duration, and TRIMP increased across weeks throughout the season. There were differences across positions and season blocks when evaluating these data at the mesocycle level. Athletes slept longer before competition compared with training, but physiological data did not differ. Competitions had greater physiological demands than training. We speculate that the increased focus on sleep hygiene, as evidenced by the increase in sleep over the season, may have served as a recovery aid to combat physiological stress of accumulated demands of competitions that increased over time into postseason tournaments.