Short-term Effects Research Articles

Short-term clinical efficacy of unilateral external fixator combined with percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation in the treatment of type C1 distal radius fractures in elderly patients

To investigate the short-term clinical effect of closed reduction single arm external fixator combined with percutaneous needle fixation in the treatment of C1 distal radius fracture in elderly patients. Between December 2022 and December 2023, a total of 60 elderly patients diagnosed with type C1 distal radius fractures were treated, comprising 9 males and 51 females. The age ranged from 65 to 84 years old, with an average of (72.69±8.14) years old. Among them, there were 18 cases on the left side and 42 cases on the right side. There were 55 cases of falling injury and 5 cases of traffic accident injury. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into observation group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group underwent manual reduction and unilateral external fixator fixation, consisting of 4 males and 26 females. The mean age was (72.54±8.67) years old. The body mass index (BMI) was (20.61±2.17) kg·m-2. There were 10 cases on the left side and 20 cases on the right side. Among them, there were 27 cases of falling injury and 3 cases of traffic accident injury. The observation group was treated with manual reduction and unilateral external fixator combined with percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation, including 5 males and 25 females. The mean age was (72.76±7.23) years old. BMI (20.82±2.03) kg·m-2. The left side was involved in 8 cases and the right side in 22 cases. There were 28 cases of falling injury and 2 cases of traffic accident injury. The changes in radial height, ulnar declination, palmar inclination angle parameters and patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) were assessed on X-ray films before surgery, 2 days after surgery, and 12 weeks after surgery between the two groups. All surgical procedures were successfully completed in both groups without any significant complications. All patients were followed up for a duration from 12 to 20 weeks with an average of(14.50±2.78) weeks. The two groups exhibited significant differences in radial height, palmar inclination angle, and ulnar deviation angle at 2 days and 12 weeks post-operation (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference observed in radial height, palmar inclination, and ulnar deviation between the two groups at 2 days after the operation (P>0.05). There were significant differences in radial height, palmar inclination angle, and ulnar deviation between the two groups at 12 weeks after operation (P<0.05). At 2 days and 12 weeks after the operation, there were significant differences in PRWE scores of the two groups compared with preoperative scores(P<0.05). At 2 days after the operation, there was no significant difference in PRWE score between the two groups (P>0.05). The PRWE score showed a significant difference between the two groups at 12 weeks post-operation(P<0.05). The combination of closed reduction and unilateral external fixator, along with percutaneous pin fixation provides move stable fixation for type C1 distal radius fractures. Gradual removal of external fixator further facilitatse the recovery of wrist joint function.

Short-term effects of meteorological factors on the incidence of mumps: A nationwide time-series analysis in Japan.

Mumps (infectious parotitis) is an acute respiratory illness caused by the mumps virus in humans. While numerous studies have explored the impact of climate variability on mumps incidence in specific cities or regions, few have analyzed nationwide associations across multiple locations. This study aims to systematically assess the short-term effects of meteorological factors on mumps incidence across Japan over a 15-year period. Weekly time-series of mumps cases and meteorological factors in the period 2005-2019 were collated from the 47 Japanese prefectures. A two-stage time-series design was employed. The exposure-response relationships between incidence of mumps, mean temperature, and relative humidity were quantified using a quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model for each prefecture and the estimates from all the prefectures were then pooled using a multivariate mete-regression model to derive nationwide average associations. Between 2005 and 2019, 1,455,583 mumps cases were reported. Our results indicate that increased mean temperature and relative humidity are positively associated with increased mumps incidence in Japan. Specifically, using -1.3°C as the reference temperature, the relative risk (RR) of mumps peaked at 19.4°C, with an RR of 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.24). For humidity, using 45.5% as the reference, the RR peaked at 68.3%, with an RR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02-1.09). Our findings demonstrate the influence of heat and humidity on mumps incidence in Japan and underscore the need for preventive measures to mitigate the impact of climate variability on mumps transmission.

Glucose Lowering through Weight management (GLoW): a randomised controlled trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of a diabetes education and behavioural weight management programme vs a diabetes education programme in adults with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

UK standard care for type 2 diabetes is structured diabetes education, with no effects on HbA1c, small, short-term effects on weight and low uptake. We evaluated whether remotely delivered tailored diabetes education combined with commercial behavioural weight management is cost-effective compared with current standard care in helping people with type 2 diabetes to lower their blood glucose, lose weight, achieve remission and improve cardiovascular risk factors. We conducted a pragmatic, randomised, parallel two-group trial. Participants were adults (≥18 years) with overweight or obesity (BMI≥25 kg/m2) and recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (≤3 years), recruited from 159 primary care practices in England. We randomised participants to a tailored diabetes education and behavioural weight management programme (DEW; delivered by Weight Watchers) or to current standard care diabetes education (DE; Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed [DESMOND] programme), using a computer-generated randomisation sequence in a 1:1 allocation stratified by gender and diabetes duration, unknown to those collecting and analysing the data. Participants could not be blinded due to the nature of the interventions. Participants completed assessments at 0, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was 12 month change from baseline in HbA1c. We also assessed bodyweight, blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL), glucose-lowering medication, behavioural measures (physical activity, food intake), psychosocial measures (eating behaviour, diabetes-related quality of life, wellbeing) and within-trial and modelled lifetime cost effectiveness. We randomised 577 participants (DEW: 289, DE: 288); 398 (69%) completed 12 month follow-up. We found no evidence for an intervention effect on change in HbA1c from baseline to 12 months (difference: -0.84 [95% CI -2.99, 1.31] mmol/mol, p=0.44) or 6 months (-1.83 [-4.05, 0.40] mmol/mol). We found an intervention effect on weight at 6 (-1.77 [-2.86, -0.67] kg) and 12 months (-1.38 [-2.56, -0.19] kg). Participants in DEW had a higher likelihood of achieving diabetes remission than participants in DE (6 months: RR 2.10 [95% CI 1.03, 4.47]; 12 months: RR 2.53 [1.30, 5.16]). DEW was cost-effective compared with DE in within-trial and lifetime analyses, in the latter generating an incremental cost effectiveness ratio of £2290 per quality-adjusted life year gained. A commercial behavioural weight management programme combined with remote dietary counselling after diagnosis of type 2 diabetes did not improve HbA1c up to 12 months post intervention in this trial. The intervention could help people achieve weight loss and be cost-effective compared with current standard National Health Service care. ISRCTN 18399564 FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR; RP-PG-0216-20010), Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00006/6), NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203312).

Effect of customized 3D-printed MARPE appliance on hard tissues, soft tissues, and airway: A prospective CBCT study.

The advances in technology have enabled the customization of appliances including mini-screw-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) appliances for skeletal expansion in young adult patients. The study assessed the short-term effects of customized MARPE appliances on the hard tissues, soft tissues, and airway volume over a period of 6 months. A total of 15 patients in the age range of 15 to 25 years were treated for transverse maxillary deficiency using a three-dimensional (3D) printed customized MARPE appliance. The changes in hard tissues, soft tissues, and airway volume were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography before expansion (T0) and at 6 months post-expansion (T1). The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine files were analyzed for post-expansion changes using the NemoCeph 3D and 3D Slicer 5.6.1 software. An effective skeletal expansion was observed with significant changes in intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar width; and decreased mid-palatal suture density in the anterior region (P < .05). The changes in tooth inclination and alveolar bone thickness were mostly non-significant apart from a significant decrease in buccal bone thickness in the coronal third region (P < .05). There was no significant root resorption or change in airway volumes (P > .05). The philtrum height increased significantly by 1.17 mm (P = .019) with no significant change on right and left sides. Rapid palatal expansion with 3D-printed customized MARPE enables effective and symmetrical expansion with a significant increase in philtrum height and no significant adverse effects in terms of alveolar bone thickness, dental inclination, root resorption, and airway volumes.

Multicentre, multitime, multidimension, prospective follow-up cohort study on patients during the first wave of COVID-19 in China: a study protocol

IntroductionDuring the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the surge of COVID-19 cases was rapid and drastic. Emerging evidence suggests that beyond the acute phase, patients with COVID-19...

Evaluating the added value of multiparametric functional MRI in predicting renal function response to renal artery stenting in severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

To explore the potential of Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Diffusion (IVIM) and Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) in predicting the short-term effectiveness of post-revascularization for severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. A retrospective analysis of 88 cases from October 2018 to February 2023 was conducted. Patients were divided into Responder and Non-Responder groups based on renal function outcomes at their last follow-up. Clinical data were compared between the groups, and preoperative functional MRI images were analyzed. ROIs were outlined for the affected and both kidneys. Measurements included ASL-derived renal blood flow (RBF), IVIM's pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), perfusion fraction (f), true diffusion coefficient (D), and the conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).Multivariate logistic regression identified independent clinical predictors of benefit, and a clinical prediction model was developed. Model performance was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and Decision Curve Analysis(DCA) curves. In the training cohort of 54 non-responders and 34 responders, no quantitative parameters of bilateral kidneys showed statistical significance in predicting Responders (all p > 0.05). Pre-treatment eGFR, presence of diabetes, and the D value of the affected kidney were identified as independent factors for predicting short-term treatment effectiveness. The combined clinical-functional imaging model yielded the higher AUC at 0.796 (95 % CI: 0.690-0.897) . Decision curve analysis further confirmed the better net benefit of combined model. Beyond clinical characteristics, functional MRI had the potential to predict response of stenting for severe atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Surgical treatment for obesity- metabolic surgery

Over the past 20 years, surgical treatment of obesity, or metabolic surgery, has established itself as an extremely efficient and sustainable therapy for treating severely overweight patients. Compared to non-surgical weight reduction procedures, surgical techniques have been shown to be superior in all studies, both in terms of short-term and long-term effectiveness. On the other hand, the invasiveness of the procedures is something that many patients view critically. Many years of experience with the two most commonly used procedures, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and minimally invasive gastric bypass, show that both procedures are associated with very low morbidity. The comparatively high costs of the surgical procedure are more than offset by the long-term savings in other therapeutic needs (diabetes mellitus, hepatic steatosis, arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc.). The S3 guideline for carrying out metabolic surgical procedures has clear specifications for the criteria to be met. Embedding in a multi-modal concept both pre- and post-operatively is obligatory. The following article provides an overview of the indications, treatment, and aftercare in the field of metabolic surgery.

Short-term effects of upstream high bolus dose of tirofiban in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

No-reflow following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is challenging to treat. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of upstream high-bolus-dose tirofiban administration in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) cases undergoing PPCI on top of dual antiplatelet therapy, including ticagrelor, in comparison to selective bailout administration. This hospital-based, randomized, single-blinded prospective interventional study was conducted on 150 patients at Assiut University Heart Hospital. Patients with STEMI within 12 h after symptom onset who underwent PPCI were randomized to an upstream group (n = 75) and a selective bailout group (n = 75) based on the timing of the tirofiban bolus administration (25 µg/kg intravenously over 5 min). The bailout group's thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count was higher than the upstream group's, despite comparable TIMI flow and myocardial blush grade between the two groups, but only approached statistical significance [14.4 (4-36) vs 12.2 (5-55), P = 0.08]. The enzymatic infarct size tended to be lower in the upstream group. All echocardiographic findings were comparable between the two studied groups, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding clinical outcomes. Compared to selective bailout administration, upstream high bolus dose of tirofiban in STEMI patients undergoing primary coronary intervention did not significantly affect angiographic outcomes, left ventricular remodeling, or function, despite smaller infarction size.

Systematic Reviews on the Management of Xerostomia and Hyposalivation-An Umbrella Review.

Dry mouth is moderately prevalent in the older population. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives have been assessed to manage its manifestation. This umbrella review synthesised the evidence on approaches to managing xerostomia and hyposalivation. We searched for systematic reviews of interventions to manage dry mouth in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE, PubMed, Prospero and DARE databases (up to September 2023). References were managed and selected by reading titles and abstracts using Rayyan QCRI. Selection of studies, data extraction and methodological quality assessment (AMSTAR 2) were conducted independently, in duplicate. Data were extracted to a previously tested form that included information about dry mouth causes, interventions, outcomes and findings. There were 3323 records. At the end of the selection process, 48 studies were included and had data extracted. Only three high-quality systematic reviews were found to support methods for managing dry mouth. Limited evidence suggests that topical therapies offer significant palliative or stimulating effects for relieving dry mouth symptoms. Furthermore, low-quality evidence indicates a slight increase in saliva production with acupuncture, dry mouth prevention with amifostine, and saliva stimulation using pilocarpine in patients who have undergone head and neck radiotherapy. Salivary substitutes and stimulants mostly acted as moisturisers and some as saliva stimulants, with short-term effect. More than 80% of the reviews were appraised as 'critically low' quality. Well-designed and well-reported systematic reviews are still needed to increase the level of evidence on dry mouth management methods. Prospero Registration CRD42022325854.

The effects of warming on loggerhead turtle nesting counts.

Global trends in marine turtle nesting numbers vary by region, influenced by environmental or anthropogenic factors. Our study investigates the potential role of past temperature fluctuations on these trends, particularly whether warmer beaches are linked to increased nesting due to higher female production (since sea turtles have temperature-dependent sex determination). We selected the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) due to its wide distribution, strong philopatry and vulnerability to environmental changes. We compiled nest counts per year on 35 globally significant rookeries, analysing trends at regional and individual beach levels. We compiled air (CHELSA) and land surface (MODIS) temperature data sets spanning the last four decades (1979-2023) for each location. To analyse temporal trends in nest counts and temperatures, we used generalised additive models and Mann-Kendall trend tests. Additionally, we correlated nest counts with lagged air temperature variables. We found significant warming at 33 nesting locations, 23 of which also showed significant increases in nest counts. Our results suggest that rising temperatures may be boosting nest numbers in regions of the Caribbean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean (sites in Cayman, Mexico, Brazil, Cyprus and Turkey). Furthermore, while some regions temporarily benefit, continued warming could precipitate long-term population declines. This regional variability helps predict species responses to climate change, with the general global increase in nest counts already indicating short-term warming effects. Nesting count trends might reflect a combination of natural ecological phenomena, conservation efforts, and warming effects. Long-term studies are needed to assess global trends in the sex ratio of hatchlings and the extent to which feminisation is driving nest numbers.

Caffeine and nicotine acutely inhibits flow-mediated vasodilation, but not both are necessarily harmful in the long term.

Today, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a standardized test for the non-invasive assessment of vascular endothelial function in humans. The test is often used to assess the influence of various living conditions on the vascular system. Many factors have a short-term effect on FMD and reduce it. However, not every short-term FMD-reducing effect also signals long-term vascular damage with repeated exposure. The comparison between coffee consumption and smoking will be used to discuss that although both stimulants lead to comparable acute changes in vascular function, they differ in their long-term effects on the vascular system. Therefore, acute FMD effects cannot always be equated with long-term damaging effects.

Management of radiotherapy-induced hyposalivation using photobiomodulation therapy: a case series.

It is not uncommon for individuals receiving radiotherapy for head and cancers to experience dry mouth sensation (xerostomia), salivary hypofunction (hyposalivation) and taste changes. The present study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of biweekly photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in managing these radiotherapy-induced adverse effects and its impact on oral health-related quality of life. Ten patients who developed xerostomia and hyposalivation secondary to radiotherapy for head and neck cancer were included. The study assessments included clinician-based [the stimulated (SSF) and unstimulated salivary flow (USSF) and taste change questionnaire] and patient-based measures [Shortened Xerostomia Inventory (SXI) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-5)]. The 10 participants (males = 5, females = 5) had a mean age of 52 (± 15) years. Half were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. From visits 1 to 8, 80% showed increased USSF and/or SSF, but these were limited and not significant (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, 80% of the patients had lower xerostomia scores, 60% had less dryness frequency, and 40% showed taste improvement. Improvement in oral health-related quality of life was only observed in 30% of the participants. Strong proportional correlations were found between USSF and SSF as well as SXI and OHIP-5 at study visits 1 and 8 (p < 0.05). The findings showed the usefulness of PBMT in reducing xerostomia and taste changes and possibly increasing salivary flow over a 4-week duration. However, randomised clinical trials are needed to assess the long-term effectiveness of PBMT compared to other management options.Clinical study registration: The study was prospectively registered with the US National Library of Medicine's clinical trial registry on 13 September 2022 [ClinicalTrials.gov ref: NCT05538169].

Short-term effect of air pollution on mortality in Thailand: Influence of green areas, weather, demographic, and socioeconomic factors on its heterogeneity

Short-term effect of air pollution on mortality in Thailand: Influence of green areas, weather, demographic, and socioeconomic factors on its heterogeneity

Three-Dimensional Posture Analysis-Based Modifications After Manual Therapy: A Preliminary Study.

Background/Objectives: Manual therapies like Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) and Gentle Touch Intervention (GTI) are widely employed for improving posture and spinal alignment, but their effects as measured using advanced technologies remain underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the short-term postural effects of these interventions using a non-invasive three-dimensional rasterstereography-based approach, focusing on the cervical arrow, lumbar arrow, kyphotic angle, and lordotic angle parameters. Methods: A three-armed randomized controlled trial was conducted with 165 healthy participants. The subjects were divided into control (CTRL), OMT, and GTI groups. Their postural parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Spine3D system by Sensor Medica (Guidonia Montecelio, Italy). The statistical analyses included paired t-tests and an ANOVA, with the significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant reductions in the cervical arrow were observed in both the OMT (p < 0.005) and GTI (p < 0.05) groups, while the kyphotic angle significantly improved only in the GTI group (p < 0.05). No significant changes were found in the lumbar arrow or the lordotic angle across the groups. The control group showed no postural variations, reinforcing the specificity of the interventions. Conclusions: Both OMT and GTI influence spinal posture, particularly in the cervical and thoracic regions. GTI, with its gentle approach, demonstrated unique effects on the thoracic curvature, suggesting neurophysiological mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of manual therapies for posture modulation and suggest future research should explore their long-term benefits and applications in clinical populations.

Assessing XEN microstent's one-year efficacy: independent of site variability.

To evaluate the short-term efficacy of XEN45 Gel Stent (XEN) implantation for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma across two university eye clinics, aiming to assess the impact of varying center-specific protocols during the first postoperative year. We retrospectively examined 282 patients (183 in center 1, 99 in center 2), who underwent XEN microstent implantation for uncontrolled POAG or PEX glaucoma. Parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), IOP-lowering medication count, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and postoperative complications were evaluated over 12mo. Post-implantation, center 1 reported a mean IOP reduction from 25.3±7.4 to 14.1±4.7 mm Hg (P<0.01) and a decrease in IOP-lowering medications from 3.2±1.2 to 1.0±1.3 (P<0.01). Center 2 observed a similar reduction from 24.4±6.5 to 15.1±5.5 mm Hg (P<0.01) and medication decrease from 3.0±1.1 to 1.2±1.0 (P<0.01). BCVA remained stable in both cohorts. The most common complications were hypotony (center 1: 32; center 2: 20) and choroidal detachment (center 1: 22, center 2: 15), with nearly identical needling rates (40% in center 1, 41% in center 2). XEN implantation yields consistent reductions in IOP and medication use across different centers using comparable surgical and postoperative treatment regime. These findings underscore XEN's short-term effectiveness and suggest standardizable outcomes regardless of exact surgical procedure or treatment differences.

Short- But Not Long-Term Effects of Creep Feeding Provided to Suckling Piglets.

Fifty-eight litters (16 from primiparous gilts and 42 from multiparous sows) were used, with a total number of 750 piglets involved in the study. Birth weight was stratified into three groups: low (<1.02 kg; LBW), normal (1.02-1.62 kg; NBW), and high (>1.62 kg; HBW). A creep feeding diet was offered to piglets in a creep feeder in 29 litters from day 7 until their weaning. Piglet mortality was recorded daily. Traceability was ensured up to the point of carcass splitting and subsequent meat analysis. Each carcass was eviscerated and weighed individually. Sixty-nine piglets were selected for the microbiome analysis (35 from the control group and 34 from the creep feeding group). Feces samples from the rectum were obtained at three time points (three days prior weaning, a week after weaning, and before the slaughtering of the pigs). Mortality during lactation was influenced by birth weight, with LBW piglets exhibiting a six-fold higher mortality rate than HBW. Creep feeding did not impact piglet mortality. Heavier piglets demonstrated greater weight gain when subjected to creep feeding, while the growth potential of lighter piglets was reduced. Variation in creep feeding consumption based on birth weight also affected microbiome composition, with high-birth-weight piglets displaying higher alpha diversity than low- and normal-birth-weight piglets seven days after lactation. Alpha diversity is indicative of gut health, with higher values suggesting greater stability and adaptability to different feed sources. In conclusion, the immediate impacts of creep feeding appear to be most prominent during lactation and potentially early postweaning. These short-term effects are modulated by birth weight, with HBW piglets demonstrating the greatest benefits from the implementation of creep-feeding practices.

A wireless optogenetic setup in freely moving mice for evaluation of cortical spreading depolarization in a chronic disease model.

Spreading depolarization (SD) is an electrophysiological phenomenon of massive neuronal depolarization that occurs in a multitude of brain injuries. Clinical studies and experimental data have linked the occurrence of SDs with secondary brain damage. However, there is a translational gap because of methodological limitations between clinical and experimental approaches focusing on short-term effects. Moreover, usage of highly invasive SD triggers has put into question to what extent SDs themselves or the induction method had caused emergence of tissue damage. To overcome this gap, we here show the successful realization of an experimental approach for long-term SD induction in a wireless setup of minimal invasive optogenetic stimulation in freely behaving mice. The proposed method allows for reliable SD induction over the course of three weeks. SD characteristics induced with the wireless setup were comparable to SDs elicited by KCl or cable-bound optogenetic systems. Immunohistological analysis of c-Fos expression revealed neuronal depolarization across the stimulated hemisphere, whereas TUNEL staining revealed no stimulation related apoptosis. Optogenetic SD induction so far relied on cable- or fiber-bound systems which restrict experimental possibilities. The proposed model relies on wireless stimulation that allows SD induction in the home cage. In contrast to existing systems, the wireless setup also allows cage enrichment and group housing, therefore allowing behavioral analyses. This experimental setup has excellent potential to investigate the question of possible long-term SD effects in mouse models of different acute pathologies like traumatic brain injury or migraine.

Short-term effects of brief stair climbing interruptions on postprandial hyperglycemia during prolonged sitting: a randomized cross-over trial

Prolonged sitting can negatively impact postprandial glucose levels and cognitive function. While short bouts of stair climbing are thought to mitigate these risks, the findings remain inconclusive. The present study aimed to explore the effects of stair climbing bouts on postprandial glucose and cognitive functions during prolonged sitting. Twenty-eight sedentary young adults (aged 20–30 years) underwent two intervention visits after standardised lunch for two hours: (1) STAIR: the participants climbed two flight of stairs for two minutes every 30 min; (2) SIT: the participants continued to sit. Blood glucose was measured using capillary finger prick method while attention function was measured using computer-based cognitive tests at baseline, end of 1st hour and 2nd hour. Significant interaction (F2, 54 = 15.96, p < 0.001) was observed for conditions and time. During STAIR visit, significant changes in postprandial glucose at 1st hour (β = − 2.6 mmol/dl, p < 0.001) and 2nd hour (β = 3.0 mmol/dl, p < 0.001). No significant difference in the attention functions with time and conditions was observed. Stair climbing interruptions may serve as a feasible and effective countermeasure to high glycaemic variability or excursions that occur during prolonged sitting after postprandial hyperglycaemia.

Comparison of Short-Term Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, Low-Level Laser Therapy and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of osteoarthritis and a leading cause of chronic pain in adults. This study aimed to compare the short-term effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) on pain, function, and quality of life in patients with knee OA. Methods: A hundred and twenty patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-3 knee OA were randomized into four groups: ESWT (once a week for three sessions), LLLT (twice a week for eight sessions), PEMF (twice a week for eight sessions), and a control group with 30 patients in each group. All participants were instructed in a daily exercise program, including knee joint range of motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises (3 × 10 repetitions). Outcome measures, including the visual analog scale (VAS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Short Form-36 (SF-36), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, were assessed at baseline after treatment and at the third month. Results: There were no significant differences between groups at baseline regarding VAS, WOMAC, SF-36, and TUG scores (p > 0.05). Significant improvements were observed in all parameters post-treatment for all groups (p < 0.001). However, the improvements in the PEMF group were significantly lower than in the ESWT and LLLT groups, particularly for VAS, WOMAC pain, and SF-36 physical function scores (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between ESWT and LLLT (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In the short-term, ESWT, LLLT, and PEMF effectively reduce pain, improve physical function, and enhance quality of life in patients with knee OA, though PEMF showed less pronounced improvements.

Energy availability and macronutrient intake over a 7-day training period in adolescent rugby players.

Understanding the dietary intake of elite adolescent athletes and its adequacy with sport nutrition recommendation is a key issue for health and player development, as well as performance and recovery. Energy availability needs to be considered to ensure optimal health and performance in young athletes. The present study aimed to quantify energy availability, energy expenditure and macronutrient intake in young male rugby union players competing at national level. Twelve male adolescent players (15.6±0.6 years) completed a 7-days prospective observational study (5 days of training and 2 days of full recovery). Total energy expenditure was estimated using indirect calorimetry and heart rate measurement. Energy intake was assessed using weighed food by a dietitian in cafeteria (training days) and image-based dietary (recovery days). Energy availability was calculated using (energy intake-exercise energy expenditure)/fat-free mass. Mean energy availability was 38.5±7.5, 40.2±5.4 and 47.8±5.1 kcal/kgFFM/d on heavy training, moderate training and recovery days, respectively. Players consumed a low carbohydrate (~5.0 g/kg/d), high protein (~2.0 g/kg/d) and high fat (~1.8 g/kg/d) diet on training and recovery days in relation to current international nutritional recommendations for young athletes. Athletes showed sub-optimal energy availability on training days, high energy availability on recovery days and did not comply with carbohydrate intake recommendations on training nor recovery days. These results highlight the short-term inadequacy of energy availability as a result of low carbohydrate intake, warning about the possible adverse short-term metabolic effects on health and performance of young athletes.