Double Test Research Articles

First-trimester prediction of preterm pre-eclampsia and prophylaxis by aspirin: Effect on spontaneous and iatrogenic preterm birth.

To report the predictive performance for preterm birth (PTB) of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) triple test and National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines used to screen for pre-eclampsia and examine the impact of aspirin in the prevention of PTB. Secondary analysis of data from the SPREE study and the ASPRE trial. Multicentre studies. In SPREE, women with singleton pregnancies had screening for preterm pre-eclampsia at 11-13 weeks of gestation by the FMF method and NICE guidelines. There were 16 451 pregnancies that resulted in delivery at ≥24 weeks of gestation and these data were used to derive the predictive performance for PTB of the two methods of screening. The results from the ASPRE trial were used to examine the effect of aspirin in the prevention of PTB in the population from SPREE. Comparison of performance of FMF method and NICE guidelines for pre-eclampsia in the prediction of PTB and use of aspirin in prevention of PTB. Spontaneous PTB (sPTB), iatrogenic PTB for pre-eclampsia (iPTB-PE) and iatrogenic PTB for reasons other than pre-eclampsia (iPTB-noPE). Estimated incidence rates of sPTB, iPTB-PE and iPTB-noPE were 3.4%, 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively. The corresponding detection rates were 17%, 82% and 25% for the triple test and 12%, 39% and 19% for NICE guidelines, using the same overall screen positive rate of 10.2%. The estimated proportions prevented by aspirin were 14%, 65% and 0%, respectively. Prediction of sPTB and iPTB-noPE by the triple test was poor and poorer by the NICE guidelines. Neither sPTB nor iPTB-noPE was reduced substantially by aspirin.

Recreational male athletes’ single leg forward hop and crossover triple hop test kinetics, kinematics, peak frequency and magnitude alterations

Objective: Single-leg forward and crossover triple hop tests are predictors of recovery and return-to-sports after lower extremity injury and treatment. The purpose of the study is to assess the kinematic and kinetic feasibility and repeatability of a motion analysis base for these hop tests in recreational male athletes. Methods: Normal ranges of single- and crossover triple hop tests kinetics, kinematics, peak frequencies and magnitude alterations in spectral distributions were evaluated in 11 recreational male athletes. Ground reaction forces were measured using a force plate. A motion capture system was used to record peak knee flexion-extension angles. Peak frequency and magnitude characteristics in spectral distributions were calculated from these measurements. Results: Ground reaction force normalized to body weight at landing was 2.9±0.1 (N/kg*10) in both legs during repetitions. Average flight over total time was 0.49±0.03 and 0.38±0.01 (s/s) for single and crossover triple hop tests, respectively. Flight, preparatory and total jump times were 0.301±0.020, 0.331±0.033 and 0.641±0.038 s for single, and 0.261±0.014, 0.453±0.024 and 0.701±0.046 s for crossover tests. Knee angle variations except for peak flexion angles were similar in both extremities. Main frequency spectral characteristic was about 2-4 Hz. First and second peak frequencies for the left and right leg were 3.19±0.17 and 7.16±0.17, and 3.15±0.16 and 7.18±0.19 Hz, respectively. Hop tests presented similar flight times during repetitions. This was however different during crossover jumps tests: flight times were shorter while preparatory times were longer. First characteristic frequency and magnitude were common in two tests. Conclusions: Peak flexion and extension angles and second characteristic frequency in single tests were specific to each participant. Hop tests are responsive to different performance metrics and are repeatable and feasible, so these tests can be used to create a comparative database for athletes.

Isorhamnetin Influences the Viability, Superoxide Production and Interleukin-8 Biosynthesis of Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma HT-29 Cells In Vitro.

Isorhamnetin has gained research interest for its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and chemoprotective properties. In this study, human colon adenocarcinoma cells were cultured in the presence or absence of different isorhamnetin concentrations (5-150 μM) for 24 h or 48 h of cultivation to explore the impact on several parameters of viability/proliferation (mitochondrial function using an MTT test, metabolic activity, cell membrane integrity and lysosomal activity using a triple test). The intracellular generation of superoxide radicals using an NBT test and ELISA analysis was performed to observe the biosynthesis of interleukin 8 (IL-8) in cells stimulated with zymosan, as well as in basal conditions. The antiproliferative activity of isorhamnetin was demonstrated by significantly reduced values of mitochondrial and metabolic activity, integrity of cell membranes and lysosomal activity. Its high prooxidant potential was reflected by the significantly elevated generation of superoxides even in cells with low viability status. The anti-inflammatory effect of isorhamnetin was evident due to decreased IL-8 production, and the most significant decline in IL-8 concentration was observed after 24 h treatment in cells with induced inflammation. We demonstrated that isorhamnetin can suppress the proliferation of HT-29 cells, and this effect was correlated with pro-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of isorhamnetin.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, Triple Test and Tru-cut Biopsy in the Detection of Breast Lesion

Background: The majority of breast illnesses manifest as a palpable mass. The vast majority of breast lesions are not malignant, and the vast majority of benign lesions do not progress to cancer; however, the accuracy of diagnosis can be improved by a combination of preoperative tests such as physical examination, mammography, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), and Trucut needle biopsy (TCNB) or core needle biopsy (CNB). FNAC has gained in popularity and is now the primary treatment performed after a history and clinical examination to diagnose solid and cystic breast masses. This study was designed to assess the accuracy of FNAC in comparison to Triple Test and TCNB for the diagnosis of breast masses. Methodology: From January 2023 through May 2023, this study was conducted in the Tezpur Medical College and Hospital. The research included all female patients over the age of 20 with clinically palpable lumps. Palpable breast lumps need a complete clinical breast examination, imaging, and tissue sample for a clear diagnosis to rule out cancer.The Ultrasonography/Mammography, FNAC and tru-cut biopsy procedures were performed concurrently in the same region, and the results were compared to final histopathology as the gold standard. Result: The majority of the patients in the study were in age group of > 60 years. In our study Left breast was involved in 41 (58.5%) patients and right breast in 29 (41.4%) patients. The most frequent site involved was upper outer quadrant in 38 (54.2%). The overall sensitivity of FNAC in our study was 93.75%, tru-cut biopsy is 100% and that of triple test is 100% and specificity for malignancy was 91.6%, 93.6 and 95.6% for FNAC, tru-cut biopsy and triple test respectively. Conclusion: All three techniques have advantages and disadvantages. Core Needle Biopsy cannot be used in place of FNAC, and it is not required to identify all breast lesions. It can be utilised as an adjuvant in circumstances when cytology is definitive and biomarker tests are required. triple test and trucut were more accurate than FNAC in our testing.Trucut biopsy was able to provide histological diagnosis, and the findings were 100% consistent with the final histopathology report.

Using the Recovery Capital Model to Explore Barriers to and Facilitators of Recovery in Individuals with Substance Use Disorder, Psychiatric Comorbidity and Mild-to-Borderline Intellectual Disability: A Case Series.

Recovery capital (RC) encompasses the wide range of resources individuals can employ to recover from Substance Use Disorder (SUD). It consists of five subdomains: human, social, cultural, financial, and community RC. Negative recovery capital (NRC) represents the obstacles to recovery. Research on (N)RC in complex multimorbid populations is scarce. This study offers an initial exploration of the viability of (N)RC in three individuals with SUD, psychiatric comorbidities, and an intellectual disability (a triple diagnosis) in inpatient addiction treatment. We collected case file data, ranked recovery goals, and conducted follow-up interviews. The data were subjected to template analysis, using (N)RC domains as codes. All domains were prevalent and relevant, showing dynamic and reciprocal effects, influenced by critical life events acting as catalysts. Notably, during treatment, patients prioritized individual skill development despite challenges in other domains. RC emerges as a valuable concept for mapping recovery barriers and facilitators in individuals with a triple diagnosis, serving as an alternative to the medical model and complementing the biopsychosocial model. It provides a systematic framework to assess critical factors for recovery in complex cases and accordingly align interventions. Future studies should explore the intersections of NRC domains and the dynamic nature of (N)RC to enhance the understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with a triple diagnosis.

KNOWLEDGE LEVELS, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIORS OF PREGNANTS ABOUT PRENATAL SCREENING TESTS: A SECTIONAL STUDY

Aim: To determine the knowledge levels, attitudes, and behaviors of pregnant women who come to the obstetrics clinic in a university hospital about prenatal screening tests.
 Method: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The population consists of approximately 900 pregnant women who are 28 weeks and beyond, who applied to …….. University Faculty of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinic between October-December 2021. The research questionnaire was applied face to face to those who agreed to participate in the study. The data form consisting of 21 questions included questions about the descriptive characteristics and obstetric histories of pregnant women.
 Results: 254 people participated. The mean gestational week of the participants was 34.9±3.9 (min:28-max:41). The most common screening tests were detailed ultrasound (80.7%) and double screening tests. Those who received information from their obstetrician had a significantly higher rate of having the test. When the participants' knowledge scores about prenatal screening tests are evaluated, respectively; Detailed ultrasound knowledge score was 5.6±0.9, Double test 5.0±1.3, Oral Glucose Tolerance Test 4.8±1.1, and Triple test 4.7±1.2(min:2-max:7). When the reasons for not having prenatal screening tests were questioned, the most common answer for all screening tests was "I don't think the test is necessary". For the OGTT, the second most common reason for not having it done was because they heard from the media that the test was harmful. The fact that the pregnant women had a double and triple screening, went to regular controls and had a high double-triple test knowledge score had a significant effect. Amniocentesis was recommended for 3.5% of the pregnant women based on prenatal test results, but none of them had amniocentesis. In case of unfavorable prenatal test results, the majority of pregnant women were considering continuing the pregnancy.
 Conclusion: In this study, we found that the rate of testing increased with the increasing knowledge level of pregnant women and physician counseling. In this context, health professionals should provide women with the necessary education about screening and diagnostic tests to enable them to make informed decisions.

Screening for pre-eclampsia by maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin at 11-13 weeks' gestation.

To examine the performance of screening for preterm and term pre-eclampsia (PE) at 11-13 weeks' gestation by maternal factors and combinations of maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn), mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and serum placental growth factor (PlGF). This was a case-control study in which maternal serum GlyFn was measured using a point-of-care device in stored samples from a non-intervention screening study of singleton pregnancies at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. In the same samples, PlGF was measured by time-resolved fluorometry. We used samples from women who delivered with PE at < 37 weeks' gestation (n = 100), PE at ≥ 37 weeks (n = 100), gestational hypertension (GH) at < 37 weeks (n = 100), GH at ≥ 37 weeks (n = 100) and 1000 normotensive controls with no pregnancy complications. In all cases, MAP and UtA-PI had been measured during the routine 11-13-week visit. Levels of GlyFn were transformed to multiples of the expected median (MoM) values after adjusting for maternal demographic characteristics and elements of medical history. Similarly, the measured values of MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF were converted to MoMs. The competing-risks model was used to combine the prior distribution of gestational age at delivery with PE, obtained from maternal characteristics, with various combinations of biomarker MoM values to derive the patient-specific risks of delivery with PE or GH at < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks' gestation. Screening performance was estimated by examining the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC) and detection rate (DR) at 10% fixed false-positive rate (FPR). The maternal characteristics and elements of medical history with a significant effect on the measurement of GlyFn were maternal age, weight, height, race, smoking status and history of PE. In pregnancies that developed PE, GlyFn MoM was increased and the deviation from normal decreased with increasing gestational age at delivery. The DR and AUC of screening for delivery with PE at < 37 weeks' gestation by maternal factors alone were 50% and 0.834, respectively, and these increased to 80% and 0.949, respectively, when maternal risk factors were combined with MAP, UtA-PI and PlGF (triple test). The performance of the triple test was similar to that of screening by a combination of maternal factors, MAP, UtA-PI and GlyFn (DR, 79%; AUC, 0.946) and that of screening by a combination of maternal factors, MAP, PlGF and GlyFn (DR, 81%; AUC, 0.932). The performance of screening for delivery with PE at ≥ 37 weeks' gestation was poor; the DR for screening by maternal factors alone was 35% and increased to only 39% with use of the triple test. Similar results were obtained when GlyFn replaced PlGF or UtA-PI in the triple test. The DR of screening for GH with delivery at < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks' gestation by maternal factors alone was 34% and 25%, respectively, and increased to 54% and 31%, respectively, with use of the triple test. Similar results were obtained when GlyFn replaced PlGF or UtA-PI in the triple test. GlyFn is a potentially useful biomarker in first-trimester screening for preterm PE, but the findings of this case-control study need to be validated by prospective screening studies. The performance of screening for term PE or GH at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation by any combination of biomarkers is poor. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Development and Reliability of a Visual-Cognitive Reactive Triple Hop Test.

Current lower-extremity return to sport testing primarily considers the physical status of an athlete; however, sport participation requires continuous cognitive dual-task engagement. Therefore, the purpose was to develop and evaluate the reliability of a visual-cognitive reactive (VCR) triple hop test that simulates the typical sport demand of combined online visual-cognitive processing and neuromuscular control to improve return to sport testing after lower-extremity injury. Test-retest reliability. Twenty-one healthy college students (11 females, 23.5 [3.7]y, 1.73 [0.12]m, 73.0 [16.8]kg, Tegner Activity Scale 5.5 [1.1] points) participated. Participants performed a single-leg triple hop with and without a VCR dual task. The VCR task incorporated the FitLight system to challenge peripheral response inhibition and central working memory. Maximum hop distance, reaction time, cognitive errors, and physical errors were measured. Two identical testing visits were separated by 12 to 17days (14 [1]d). Traditional triple hop (intraclass correlation coefficients: ICC(3,1) = .96 [.91-.99]; standard error of the measurement = 16.99cm) and the VCR triple hop (intraclass correlation coefficients(3,1) = .92 [.82-.97]; standard error of the measurement = 24.10cm) both demonstrated excellent reliability for the maximum hop distance, and moderate reliability for the VCR triple hop reaction time (intraclass correlation coefficients(3,1) = .62 [.09-.84]; standard error of the measurement = 0.09s). On average, the VCR triple hop resulted in a hop distance deficit of 8.17% (36.4 [5.1]cm; P < .05, d = 0.55) relative to the traditional triple hop. Hop distance on the VCR triple hop had excellent test-retest reliability and induced a significant physical performance deficit when compared with the traditional triple hop assessment. The VCR triple hop reaction time also demonstrated moderate reliability.

Platelet and white blood-cell-based ratios: Differential inflammatory markers of severe mental disorders?

IntroductionNeutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR), and platelet/lymphocyte (PLR) ratios, and systemic inflammatory index (SII) represent peripheral markers of inflammation associated with different severe mental disorders. Material and methodsIn this study, these parameters were analyzed in a sample of 622 participants [197 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), 154 with bipolar disorder (BD), 176 with schizophrenia (SCH), and 95 healthy controls (HC)]. Sociodemographic and clinical data of patients were recorded. ResultsDifferences in age and sex were detected among groups (p<0.001), with SCH patients being younger and MDD patients being older. After stratifying by sex, these ratios were compared using the nonparametric ANCOVA (Quade's test) using age as a covariate. In males, no significant statistical differences were found between groups. However, differences were observed in MLR in the subgroup of females [MDD: 0.23 (SD=0.09); BD: 0.23 (SD=0.11); SCH: 0.24 (SD=0.11); HC: 0.29 (SD=0.13); F=5.376, p=0.001]. Post hoc testing revealed that there are MLR differences between HC versus MDD and between HC versus BD, with higher values in HC versus the other two groups. On the other hand, no differences were found in either males or females for any of the studied ratios, among the three diagnostic groups. ConclusionsMLR is reduced in MDD and BD patients versus HC, but exclusively in the female group. However, based on the analyzed indices, it is not possible to differentiate among the three diagnostic groups of patients. As a limitation of this study, note that the effects of psychopharmacological treatments and smoking have not been controlled for.

Molecular identification of blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli found in milk samples from dairy cattle farms in Tulungagung, Indonesia.

Escherichia coli is an opportunistic bacteria that can grow easily, produce toxins, and resist antibiotics. The phenomenon of E. coli developing multidrug resistance is currently the subject of extensive research. The objective of this study was to molecularly identify blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes in multidrug-resistant E. coli found in milk samples from dairy cattle farms in Tulungagung, Indonesia. One hundred and ten milk samples were collected from 45 dairy cattle farms in Tulungagung, Indonesia. Indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer and in citrate tests and triple iron sugar agar tests were used to identify E. coli. Multidrug resistance was determined in isolates through antibiotic sensitivity tests using tetracycline, streptomycin, trimethoprim, chloramphenicol and aztreonam. Extended-spectrum beta lactamase enzyme production was confirmed by double-disc synergy test (DDST). Molecular identification was performed to confirm the blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. One hundred and one (91.82%) E. coli strains were isolated from the samples. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed four (3.96%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) and one (0.99%) ESBL-positive E. coli by DDST confirmation. There were three (77.78%) blaTEM genes and one (0.99%) blaCTX-M gene discovered in the MDR E. coli isolates using PCR for molecular identification. The findings of the blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes encoding ESBL E. coli in dairy cattle milk in Tulungagung, Indonesia is concerning and argues for prompt action to stop the emergence of antibiotic resistance which has an impact on public health.

A Clinico-Pathological Correlation of Breast Lumps in a Tertiary Care Centre

BACKGROUND&#x0D; Breast lump is one of the most prevalent ailments that women face. Mostly these lumps are benign, but breast malignancy is the most common form of cancer and is the second leading cause of malignancy deaths in women. Fibroadenoma is the most common benign breast mass and invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common malignancy. Delay in the detection causes the malignancy to progress to an advanced stage. Early detection of malignancies in initial stages is done using triple test to decrease mortality. Incidence of breast cancer can be reduced by 30% by the routine mammographic screening of healthy women. We wanted to correlate the clinical and pathological diagnosis in patients presenting with palpable breast lumps and assess the reliability of clinical examination as a pre-procedural diagnostic tool in this study.&#x0D; METHODS&#x0D; A prospective observational study was done in a total of 100 women. Detailed clinical history and examination were done and then compared to histopathological results. The final results were statistically analyzed.&#x0D; RESULTS&#x0D; The clinical examination exhibited a sensitivity of 97.96% and a specificity of 96.08% for the identification of cancer when the data were considered collectively. The clinical examination's positive predictive value was 95.84%, and its negative predictive value was 98.08%.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS&#x0D; A significant correlation was also observed between the clinical diagnosis and final pathological diagnosis. So routine clinical examination would definitely be helpful in early diagnosis.

Influence of Antiphospholipid Antibody-Associated Thrombophilia on the Risk of Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review.

Antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-associated thrombophilia has been implicated in various adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and impaired fetal development. This systematic review aimed to elucidate the relationship between aPL-associated thrombophilia and these outcomes, as well as to identify potential modifiers of this relationship such as maternal age, coexisting maternal medical conditions, type of aPL antibodies involved, and the timing of thrombophilia diagnosis during gestation. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus in May 2023, covering literature published within the last 10 years. Eight articles, involving 2935 patients, were eligible for inclusion in the review. Single aCL was the most common type of aPL found in patients, with rates up to 61.0% in some studies, followed by single LA and single ab2GPI. Multiple aPL antibody positivity was found to be associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, with odds ratios ranging from 1.29 to 9.61. Patient characteristics and previous pregnancy history varied significantly across the studies. Risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, thrombosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus were also variable across the studies, but presence of these risk factors did not consistently affect the risk of preterm birth. Furthermore, although a triple positive aPL test was the most important risk factor for preterm birth, it was observed that thrombophilia treatment during pregnancy significantly reduced the risk by 2.44 times (95% CI = 1.18-6.20). This review supports the evidence for aPL-associated thrombophilia being a significant contributor to preterm birth and fetal developmental abnormalities. Further research is required to investigate the exact mechanisms and to determine the best clinical management for patients with aPL-associated thrombophilia during pregnancy.

Diagnostic accuracy of a rapid antigen triple test (SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza) using anterior nasal swabs versus multiplex RT-PCR in children in an emergency department

BackgroundIn children, respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza share similar clinical signs and symptoms. Here we compared the performance of a rapid antigen diagnostic test using a self-collected anterior nasal swab (COVID-VIRO ALL IN TRIPLEX) and multiplex RT-PCR. MethodsFrom October to December 2022, in the emergency pediatrics unit of Orleans Hospital, France, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the triplex test. ResultsFor the 263 children, sensitivity of the test was 88.9% (95%CI 51.8–99.7), 79.1% (95%CI 64.0–90.0), and 91.6% (95%CI 84.1–96.3), for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza, respectively. Specificity was 100% for each virus. For RT-PCR with cycle threshold < 32, sensitivity was 100.0% [95%CI 59.0–100.0], 87.2% [95%CI 72.6–95.7] and 92.3% [95%CI 84.896.9] for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza respectively. ConclusionsThis easy-to-perform triplex test is a considerable advance, allowing clinicians to obtain an accurate diagnosis in most cases of respiratory infection. More data are needed to validate this test in different contexts and across several seasons.

Effectiveness of single leg standing up exercise for recovery of knee muscle strength and lower extremity motion function following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PurposeWe investigated the effectiveness of single-leg standing exercise (SLSE) as a home-based self-exercise for the recovery of knee joint muscle strength and lower limb motor function after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MethodsIn addition to postoperative rehabilitation, 55 patients who underwent ACL repair were asked to begin SLSE as a home-based self-exercise 50 times per day using a platform elevated at 40 ​cm for 2 months, 30 ​cm at 3 months, 20 ​cm at 4 months, and 10 ​cm at 5 months (intervention group). Sixty-four patients who underwent ACL reconstruction and followed the existing rehabilitation protocol were included in the control group. Isokinetic knee extension and flexion at 60° angular velocity at 3, 8, and 10 months after surgery and lower limb motor function performance at 8 and 10 months after surgery were compared within and between the two groups. ResultsKnee extension and flexion muscle strength and lower-extremity motor function recovered over time in both groups. There were no significant differences in knee extension and flexion muscle strength between the two groups at 3 months after surgery. However, knee extension strength, flexion strength, and triple hop test (THT) results were significantly higher in the intervention group (p ​< ​0.01) 8 months after surgery. In addition, knee flexion strength and THT were significantly higher in the intervention group (p ​< ​0.01) 10 months after surgery. ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that SLSE can be an effective exercise for recovering knee joint muscle strength and lower limb motor function.

Predicting the Risk of Injuries Through Assessments of Asymmetric Lower Limb Functional Performance: A Prospective Study of 415 Youth Taekwondo Athletes.

The impact of interlimb asymmetries on sport injuries is unclear because of inconsistent findings, and there is a lack of research on youth athletes and the sport of taekwondo. To examine the effects of functional interlimb asymmetries on noncontact lower limb injuries in youth athletes. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. A total of 415 taekwondo athletes (318 boys and 97 girls) aged 6 to 17 years underwent baseline testing to determine interlimb asymmetries through the single-leg countermovement jump (CMJ), hop, and triple hop tests as well as the Star Excursion Balance Test. The athletes were then evaluated for 12 months to observe the occurrence of noncontact lower limb injuries. During the study, 98 athletes (70 boys and 28 girls) sustained at least 1 noncontact lower limb injury. Athletes with higher interlimb asymmetries in single-leg CMJ height showed a significantly increased risk of noncontact lower limb injuries (boys: odds ratio [OR], 1.053 [95% CI, 1.027-1.080], P < .001; girls: OR, 1.070 [95% CI, 1.016-1.128], P = .011). Asymmetry in single-leg CMJ height of ≥15.28% was found to be the cutoff point for predicting noncontact lower limb injuries in boys (OR, 4.652 [95% CI, 2.577-8.398]; P < .001). This study highlights the utility of interlimb asymmetries in unilateral jump performance as a tool for assessing the risk of noncontact lower limb injuries in youth taekwondo athletes of both sexes. A proper evaluation of interlimb asymmetries may improve prevention strategies for youth athletes.

Effect of individualised strength and plyometric training on the physical performance of basketball players

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to examine the effects of eight weeks of individualised force-velocity imbalance (F-Vimb) training on physical performance in basketball players and to analyse the differences in physical performance between two periods of time (four to eight weeks) with this training. Thirty male players (age, 22.8 ± 5.68 years; height, 1.87 ± 0.07 m; body mass, 86.3 ± 11.1 kg) were divided into an intervention group (INT, n = 15), who performed an individualised training based on individual F-Vimb; and a control group (CON, n = 15), who underwent a non-individualised training programme; both groups performed two days/week of intervention and the same pre-season basketball training. At baseline, at four weeks, and at eight weeks of intervention, an assessment was performed including countermovement-jumps, unilateral drop jumps, triple hop test, force-velocity profile, sprint and change of direction (COD). At four weeks, the INT showed improvements in sprint and vertical jumping actions (≥3.76%, ES ≥0.44, p ≤ 0.02). At eight weeks, the INT continued to improve vertical jumping actions (p < 0.05) and showed improvements in horizontal jumping (6.80%, ES = 0.45, p < 0.01) and COD (≥2.99%, ES ≥0.96, p < 0.01). A significant reduction in F-Vimb was observed for INT (ES = 0.77, p = 0.01). In contrast, none of these changes were observed in CON. Thus, an individualised F-Vimb training intervention improved physical performance after eight weeks, with changes in sprint and vertical jump after first four weeks. Basketball coaches should optimise the force-velocity profile and improve the performance in sport-related actions as jumping and changing direction.

Preclinical Research Tool Innovation in Resource-scarce Setting – A Case Study of a Mouse Anxiety Multi-test Appararus

One of the factors responsible for the high prevalence and attendant socio-economic burden of anxiety disorders is the paucity and slow pace of discovery of new anxiolytic drugs to complement or replace the existing ones due to high attrition rates and poor translation of preclinical anxiolytic drug discovery efforts to clinical usage. This scenario is viewed to arise from certain factors including the inherent anxiety sensitivity idiosyncrasies of most used individual classical anxiety tests/models when used as single assays. This thrust of this study is to invent a mouse multi-test that will be devoid of this limitation. Previous attempts to overcome this limitation by testing and retesting experimental mice on multiple individual paradigms on different times were soon encumbered by one-trial tolerance phenomenon on subsequent trials. Although a multi-test apparatus invented by Ramos comprising a light-dark, plus-, and open-field mazes is largely devoid of the limitations observed with single anxiety apparatuses, the central area of the elevated plus maze in the middle of the triple test still retains some ambiguity and errors in the behavioural thus generated. A novel mouse anxiety multi-test device comprising light-dark maze, zero-maze, and marble-burying mazes, dubbed U. of A. Mouse Anxiety Multi-test, that would be devoid of the limitations of the existing mouse single and multi- anxiety tests on one hand, and would potentially exhibit greater and richer sensitivity to anxiety-related behaviours in the mouse, was conceptualised. The fabrication of this composite anxiety test tool was made from locally sourced materials using simple tools requiring minimal space. The new mouse anxiety triple so generated is cost-effective – costing about 4 percent of the worth of its foreign counterparts. It is environmentally safe, portable, and operationally simple. Initial behavioural assessment of the tool indicate it can generate state anxiety in mice. This innovation is a potential asset to preclinical research in anxiolytic drug discovery. However, there is the need for its further pharmacological evaluation and automation.

Robust optimization of the design of monopropellant propulsion control systems using an advanced teaching-learning-based optimization method

This research proposes a novel approach for the robust optimization of the design of hydrogen peroxide propulsion control systems using the efficient and advanced Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) method. This study adopts a robust design optimization (RDO) formulation that considers both epistemic and aleatory uncertainties, including sparse points and interval data, and uses the Johnson distribution family for uncertainty representation. The maximum likelihood estimation method is applied to determine the distribution parameters, also considering interval data with a nested optimization technique. A novel advanced TLBO method with high accuracy and convergence rate is employed to optimization of this robust design approach. The method’s originality and advancement come from two categories of modifications to the original framework: the structure of the teaching and learning phases and the initialization and search approach. The efficacy and applicability of the proposed Ad-TLBO, respectively, were evaluated using benchmark problems from the CEC2020 competition and three real-world engineering problems, with a comparison to some recently published and the CEC competition’s top-ranked algorithms. The results and statistical analyses of the Quade test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Friedman test show that the proposed Ad-TLBO method outperforms the other algorithms. The proposed optimization method is eventually applied to design a monopropellant propulsion system as the control actuator of a satellite orbital transfer system. It is found that the proposed advanced TLBO is effective in handling uncertainty in real design problems and improves both the convergence rate and accuracy of the optimization process.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis and hepatitis B: a secondary hospital approach in North Bali, Indonesia

Background Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immune virus (HIV), syphilis, and hepatitis B can lead to significant health burdens and even mortality in children. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of triple elimination of MTCT in a secondary hospital in Buleleng, North Bali Method: This study conducted a retrospective review of 345 pregnancy case in Buleleng General Hospital from January to December 2022 Result: In this study, 98.5% of the 345 pregnant women seeking antenatal care were tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Among the tested patients, 100%, 99.7%, and 98.8% were tested for HIV and hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis, and syphilis and hepatitis B, respectively. The prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B was 1.4%, 2.1%, and 4.3 %, respectively. Antiretroviral therapy was administered to 80 % of HIV-positive patients, and 71.4 % of syphilis patients received benzathine penicillin G. Only 6.6% of hepatitis B patients received hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) &amp; hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) examination followed by Lamivudine administration. Conclusion: Early detection of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B in pregnant women is important for preventing MTCT. Coverage of triple elimination screening is in accordance with WHO targets, but further management of hepatitis B needs to be improved

Evaluation of first trimester maternal serum inhibin-A for preeclampsia screening.

International professional organizations recommend aspirin prophylaxis to women screened high risk for preterm preeclampsia (PE) in the first trimester. The UK Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) screening test for preterm PE using mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UTPI) and placental growth factor (PlGF) was demonstrated to have lower detection rate (DR) in Asian population studies. Additional biomarkers are therefore needed in Asian women to improve screening DRs as a significant proportion of women with preterm and term PE are currently not identified. To evaluate maternal serum inhibin-A at 11-13 weeks as an alternative to PlGF or as an additional biomarker within the FMF screening test for preterm PE. This is a nested case-control study using pregnancies initially screened at 11-13 weeks for preterm PE using the FMF triple test in a non-intervention study conducted between December 2016 and June 2018. Inhibin-A levels were retrospectively measured in 1,792 singleton pregnancies, 112 (1.7%) with PE matched for time of initial screening with 1,680 unaffected pregnancies. Inhibin-A levels were transformed to multiple of the expected median (MoM). The distribution of log10 inhibin-A MoM in PE and unaffected pregnancies and the association between log10 inhibin-A MoM and gestational age (GA) at delivery in PE were assessed. The screening performance determined by area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) and detection rates (DRs) at a 10% fixed false positive rate (FPR), for preterm and term PE was determined. All risks for preterm and term PE were based on the FMF competing risk model and Bayes theorem. Differences in AUC (ΔAUC) between different biomarker combinations were compared using the Delong test. McNemar's test was used to assess the off-diagonal change in screening performance at a fixed 10% FPR after adding inhibin-A or replacing PlGF in the preterm PE adjusted risk estimation model. Inhibin-A levels in unaffected pregnancies were significantly dependent on GA, maternal age and weight and were lower in parous women with no previous history of PE. Mean log10 inhibin-A MoM in any-onset PE (p<0.001), preterm (p<0.001) and term PE (p = 0.015) pregnancies were all significantly higher than that of unaffected pregnancies. Log10 inhibin-A MoM was inversely but not significantly correlated (p = 0.165) with GA at delivery in PE pregnancies. Replacing PlGF with inhibin-A in the FMF triple test reduced AUC and DR from 0.859 and 64.86% to 0.837 and 54.05%, the ΔAUC was not statistically significant. AUC and DR when adding inhibin-A to the FMF triple test were 0.814, 54.05% and the -0.045 reduction in AUC was statistically significant (p = 0.001). At a fixed 10% FPR, replacing PlGF with inhibin-A identified 1 (2.7%) additional pregnancy but missed 5 (13.5%) pregnancies which subsequently developed preterm PE identified by the FMF triple test. Adding inhibin-A missed 4 (10.8%) pregnancies and did not identify any additional pregnancies with preterm PE. Replacing PlGF by inhibin-A or adding inhibin-A as an additional biomarker in and to the FMF triple screening test for preterm PE does not improve screening performance and will fail to identify pregnancies that are currently identified by the FMF triple test.