Wilcoxon Test Research Articles

Mastication and oral myofunctional status in excess weight children and adolescents: A cross-sectional observational study.

Masticatory function seems to play a role in the aetiology of obesity. However, literature on the association between oral myofunctional status and overweight and obesity in children and adolescents is scarce and contrasting. To compare masticatory performance, orofacial myofunctional status and tongue strength and endurance between children and adolescents with overweight and obesity and those with normal weight. Thirty children and adolescents with overweight and obesity and 30 subjects with normal weight matched for age and sex were recruited. All subjects were evaluated with the Test of Masticating and Swallowing Solids in Children (TOMASS-C) for masticatory performance and with the Italian Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (I-OMES) for the orofacial myofunctional status. Anterior and posterior maximum tongue pressures and tongue endurance were measured. Parents-reported (PRO) duration of meals was recorded. Data were compared between the groups through the paired samples t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Children and adolescents with overweight showed significantly lower number of bites (p = .033), lower I-OMES scores (p < .05), and shorter meal duration (p = .005) compared to their peers with normal weight. No significant differences were found between the two groups for the number of swallows, the number of masticatory cycles and the total time of the TOMASS-C, and none of the tongue pressure measurements. Eating in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity is characterised by a larger bolus sizes and shorter PRO meal duration. Additionally, overweight and obesity seem to be associated with poorer orofacial skills and structures in the paediatric population.

Different intraoperative joint laxity patterns do not impact clinical outcomes in robotic-assisted medial unicompartmental knee replacement with 1-to-1 surface reconstruction.

Robotic-assisted technology in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (mUKA) allows for customized adjustments of joint laxity through virtual preoperative component positioning before bone preparation. Nevertheless, the optimal balancing curve has yet to be delineated. This study sought to investigate if varying intraoperative knee laxity patterns had any impact on postoperative patient outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted on prospectively collected data from 326 fixed-bearing RAUKA procedures performed between 2018 and 2022 with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients were categorized into three cohorts based on intraoperative joint laxity patterns (millimetres of joint gap during valgus stress) imparted at 20°, 60°, 90°and 120° of knee flexion: cohort 1 < +0.5 mm (tight); cohort 2 between 0.6and 1.9 mm (physiologic); cohort 3 > 2 mm (loose). Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted to assess patient-reported outcome measure(PROM) improvementsand preoperative and postoperative differences across the cohorts. A Spearman's test evaluated the correlation between knee balance at all degrees of flexion and preoperativeand postoperative HKA. No differences in preoperative and postoperative PROMs were identified across the cohorts (p > 0.05). All three cohorts with different joint laxity patterns showed a significant improvement in the postoperative PROMS (p < 0.05). The preoperative or postoperative limb alignment did not significantly affect clinical outcomes relative to different laxity patterns. No differences were found in the outcomes across different joint laxity patterns in robotic-assisted medial UKA using fixed-bearing mUKAs. There was no evident advantage for maintaining a closer to physiologic laxity compared to tighter or looser balancing. Level III therapeutic study.

The components of arginine and methylarginine metabolism are indicative of altered kidney function in intrauterine growth-restricted neonates.

Intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) affects up to 10% of all pregnancies. Severe IUGR is associated with impaired kidney development, reduced nephron endowment, and chronic kidney disease later in life. Currently, no early predictive biomarker exists for detecting altered kidney function in neonates with IUGR. Because nephrons produce key enzymes for the metabolism of arginine and methylarginine components, we quantified and compared the concentrations of arginine and methylarginine metabolites between IUGR and non-IUGR neonates to identify potential biomarkers for the early detection of altered kidney function in IUGR neonates. Seventy-one IUGR and 123 non IUGR neonates were examined. Serum and Urine samples were obtained between 30 h and 5 days of life and between 5 and 70 days of life. Serum concentrations of creatinine, urea, symmetric and asymmetric-dimethylarginine metabolites (SDGV, SDMA, ADGV, and ADMA), guanidino-2-oxo-caproic acid (GOCA), citrulline, homocitrulline, arginine, and homoarginine were quantified using LC-MS/MS and standard clinical laboratory methods. Datasets were compared by Mann-Whitney--Wilcoxon or Chi-square tests for continuous and discrete parameters. P values were corrected for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni method. After Bonferroni correction, we found that serum creatinine, urea, SDGV, ADGV, and GOCA levels were significantly lower in neonates with IUGR. Consequently, the ratios of SDGV/SDMA, ADGV/ADMA, and GOCA/homoarginine were significantly lower in IUGR neonates. Our study suggests that arginine and methylarginine are possible early biomarkers for detecting altered kidney function in IUGR neonates.

Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy as an Intervention for Opioid Cravings and Depression: A Pilot Cohort Study.

Introduction: The opioid crisis, a declared national health emergency, has prompted the exploration of innovative treatments to address the pervasive issues of opioid cravings and associated depression. Aims: This pilot cohort study investigated the efficacy of transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) therapy using the SunPowerLED helmet to alleviate these symptoms in individuals undergoing treatment for opioid addiction at a rehabilitation center in West Virginia. Methods: Employing a quasi-experimental design, this study enrolled participants into two groups: one receiving tPBM therapy alongside standard care and a control group receiving standard care alone. The helmet features include the following: total wavelength = 810 nm, total irradiance = 0.06 W/cm2 (60 m W/cm2), and total fluence = 172.8J/cm2. Results: The results of the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for within-group analysis and Mann-Whitney U tests for between-group comparisons revealed statistically significant reductions in the intensity (W = 7.36, p = 0.012), time (W = 6.50, p = 0.015), frequency (W = 6.50, p = 0.010), and total scores of opioid cravings (W = 7.50, p = 0.009), as well as improvements in depression symptoms (W= 8.00, p = 0.005) within the PBM group compared to the non-PBM group. Discussion: These findings suggest that transcranial PBM therapy could be a promising noninvasive intervention for reducing opioid cravings and depressive symptoms in individuals with opioid use disorder, warranting further investigation through larger randomized controlled trials.

The work Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise program for preventing functional decline in employees aged 55 years and older: development and initial evaluation

BackgroundDespite the global increase in older employees, workplace physical activity interventions (WPAIs) for this target group have not yet been sufficiently developed. The major drawback of existing WPAIs is low adherence due to lack of time or limited motivation. A novel approach could be to integrate tailored neuromotor and strength exercises into everyday working tasks to prevent the functional decline of older employees at the workplace without needing much additional time for training. This approach was tested in the present study by evaluating the proof-of-concept of a novel WPAI based on the Lifestyle-integrated Functional Exercise (LiFE) program integrated into a working environment (wLiFE55 +).MethodsThe proof-of-concept of wLiFE55 + was quantified within a 4-week pre-post exercise intervention study by measuring (1) feasibility including adherence, activity frequency, adverse events and acceptance (integrability of wLiFE55 + activities, perceived improvement and safety, satisfaction, physical demand, personal trainer session, intervention content) and (2) pre-to-post changes in neuromotor function (12-Level Balance Scale, 12-LBS; Community Balance and Mobility Scale, CBM), strength (60sec Chair Stand Test), and PA (1-week activity monitoring). For statistical analysis, the median and interquartile range (IQR) were computed. For pre-to-post changes, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with effect size (r) were also performed.ResultsSeventeen older employees (mean age 59 years, 8 female) were included of which fifteen completed the study. The intervention adherence was 100%, and the activity adherence was 58% (9 out of 12 maximum possible wLiFE55 + activities implemented). Depending on the specific activity, the frequency of practice ranged between 25–75% of the days of the intervention period, and single wLiFE55 + activities were practiced between one and three times per day. No adverse events occurred, and acceptance was high. Pre-to-post increases with medium effect sizes were found for neuromotor function (CBM, 12-LBS) and specific PA variables (total sedentary time, sedentary bouts > 30 min).ConclusionThe results of the study highlight the feasibility of wLiFE55 + in a work setting with older employees. The pre-to-post increases observed in neuromotor measures and reductions in sedentary time suggest that wLiFE55 + may counteract the age-related functional decline in older employees and justifies future studies in this field. The next steps are program adjustments to boost exercise frequency and evaluating wLiFE55 + in a randomized controlled trial.

Orthodontic aligner therapy outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges in oral care. Aligner therapy offers a promising alternative to conventional approaches for this patient group. To evaluate orthodontic aligner therapy outcomes in children with ASD using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index and the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON), and to investigate whether concomitant disorders affect ICON, PAR scores, and treatment duration. Two calibrated observers assessed digital dental casts and intraoral pictures of 37 children with ASD before (T0) and after (T1) their treatment. At T0, the participants' average age was 12.9 years (SD = 1.68); at T1, post-therapy, the average age was 14.9 years (SD = 1.51). All participants underwent orthodontic aligner therapy. Statistical methods employed in this study included descriptive analysis, Wilcoxon tests, and univariate linear regression. Posttreatment, median ICON scores decreased significantly from 74 to 14, and median PAR scores from 36 to 8 (p < .0001), demonstrating "excellent to substantial" improvement in 89.2% (n = 33) of the children. Comorbidities, present in 62% of patients, did not significantly affect treatment duration (22.6 ± 11.02 months). Children with ASD significantly benefit from orthodontic aligner therapy, emphasizing the need for tailored orthodontic care.

Artificial Intelligence Comic Strips (AICS) for Retelling Students’ Experience: Does It Work and How?

Artificial Intelligence Comic Strips (AICS) is a sophisticated combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Comic Strips (CS). The use of AICS in the learning process can help students improve their skills, particularly in writing recount texts. This research was completed to seek an answer if AICS works for teaching writing and improving students’ abilities in composing written experiences and to know how AICS works for teaching writing. The research used a quasi-experimental design, and the main sample was eighth-graders at SMP Negeri 1 Subah. The instruments used were pre-test, post-test, and questionnaire. Data analysis and processing were done with SPSS 27. The implementation of AICS increased the average score of students in the experimental class from the pre-test score (60.359) to the post-test score (81.550). The Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed) value of 0.000 in the Wilcoxon test indicates a highly significant difference between the pretest and post-test results. The questionnaire given to students was divided into 3 parts: students' initial ability in writing recount text, students' knowledge of AI and comic strips, and students' experience in using AICS. The questionnaire's findings indicated that the students agreed that using AICS was enjoyable, helped them develop ideas, and provided them with optimism that they would get high scores. In conclusion, implementing AICS can help students write recount texts and motivate them to learn.

Pengaruh Pemberian Buah Kurma terhadap Peningkatan Kadar Hemoglobin pada Remaja Putri di MTs Negeri 5 Sragen

Anemia is a condition in which there is a decrease in the number of erythrocytes in the blood indicated by a decrease in hemoglobin levels. In 2018 there was an increase of 13.6% from 2017. Which means that 3-4 out of 10 adolescents who experience anemia in adolescent girls, anemia can cause short-term effects such as decreased immunity, impaired concentration, decreased school performance, and menstrual problems. Dates can help prevent anemia because they are rich in iron and calcium, which are important for the formation of red blood cells and bone marrow. This type of research using Pre-experimental design with one group Pretest-Posttest. The population and sample in this study were adolescents with moderate anemia as many as 20 respondents. Sampling technique is Accidental Sampling and data collection is done by observation. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Test. Before given the dates of the lowest hemoglobin levels 8 gr/dl and the highest 10.9 gr/dl, after given the dates of the lowest hemoglobin levels 11 gr/dl and the highest 13.7 gr / dl. Wilcoxon test showed a P-Value of 0.000 that giving dates had a significant effect on increasing hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls in MTs Negeri 5 Sragen in 2024. There Is The Effect Of Giving Dates To Increase Hemoglobin Levels In Adolescent Girls In Mts Negeri 5 Sragen. Giving dates can be used as an additional alternative to iron to prevent anemia in adolescent girls in MTs Negeri 5 Sragen.

Factors influencing young patient arrival date at the orthodontic office: a study of 456 cases

The arrival date young patient's first orthodontic consultation is unrestricted but may influence the choice of treatment plan as well as its modalities. The objective of this study was to determine the factors that influence the date of the first consultation at the orthodontic office: advice from a third party or a health professional, the patient's gender, the socioeconomic level, the actual need for orthodontic treatment, and the vertical and anteroposterior skeletal dysmorphia. Young patient's file younger than 16 years were systematically included. A Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis test was performed in univariate and multivariate analysis. The threshold was 5%. 456 young patients were included. Anteroposterior skeletal discrepancy, referral by an acquaintance, and socioeconomic level appeared to be factors influencing patient arrival date. Gender, actual need for orthodontic treatment, referral from a health professional, and vertical skeletal discrepancy did not influence the arrival date at the office. The date of consultation is not related to the actual orthodontic treatment need. Word-of-mouth seems to play an important role. Patients seem to relate an anteroposterior discrepancy to the need to consult an orthodontist, but do not relate it to vertical discrepancy, although ventilation may be related to severe dysmorphia. This study encourages more communication about orthodontic treatment indications with patients and caregivers.

Evaluating Students' Performance in Consonant Phoneme Identification within Word Structures

The prime objectives of this article are to evaluate the bachelor level first year major English students’ performance in consonant sound identification within word structures, and examine the effectiveness of an intuitive-imitative approach in teaching consonant phonemes of the spellings. To attain these objectives, the researchers employed the one-group pretest posttest research design in which 200 phoneme recognition test items as data collection tools regarding the consonant sounds of English were administered to 30 students at Makawanpur Multiple Campus, Hetauda, Nepal in 2023 before and after teaching them the sounds through the intuitive-imitative approach for 30 teaching periods. Population being low, this study involved the census for collecting data. After observing their performance in consonant phoneme identification, it was found that their performance was bad at identifying the phonemes of the spelling's “g” in “Genre”, “c” in “Cello”, “th” in “Thailand”, etc. Their performance was not so good at identifying the phonemes of the spellings “j” in “Join”, “y” in “Yak”, etc. Their performance was satisfactory in identifying the phonemes of the spelling's “g” in “Gene”, “g” in “Gem”, “n” in “Donkey”, etc. Similarly, they were good at identifying the phonemes of spelling “p” in “Punch”, “b” in “Boat’, “k’ in “Book”, etc. A related samples Wilcoxon signed rank test value (p  .05) implies that there was a significant difference in the median scores of the posttest scores and the pretest scores of the students. It suggests that the intuitive-imitative approach was an effective method of teaching sounds. This article is significant in a phonological process and pronunciation, resulting in phonemic awareness.

Construction 4.0 technology and lean construction ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry: a sociotechnical systems perspective

Purpose This study aims to explore the level of adoption of Construction 4.0 (C4.0) technologies and of Lean Construction (LC) ambidexterity capability in China’s construction industry. By incorporating C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into a sociotechnical systems (STS) framework, this research provides practical insights for construction practitioners and companies seeking C4.0 and LC. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the questionnaire survey method. Data was obtained from Chinese construction professionals working on projects using C4.0 technologies. The data were analysed using mean score ranking and three nonparametric techniques, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Spearman rank correlation. Findings According to the ranking analysis, building information modelling and offsite construction have the highest adoption level, while additive manufacturing and blockchain rank lowest. Digital technology is more widely used in China’s construction industry than in physical technology. Many C4.0 technologies are significantly correlated with LC ambidexterity. Based on the STS perspective, we propose a holistic approach that incorporates C4.0 technologies and LC ambidexterity. Originality/value Conceptually, the study incorporates C4.0 and LC ambidexterity into the STS framework. Empirically, this study fills the gap in the current literature by exploring the level of C4.0 technology adoption in the Chinese construction industry, as well as the level of LC ambidexterity capabilities. Construction companies can use this framework to make strategic decisions regarding investments in LC practices and the adoption of C4.0 technologies, such as investing in staff skill training and new technology deployment to adapt to the ever-changing environment.

Pengaruh Effleurage Massage dan Teknik Relaksasi Nafas dalam terhadap Nyeri Punggung Bawah Ibu Hamil Trimester III

Lower back pain is a common complaint among pregnant women in the third trimester. It is estimated that approximately 70% of pregnant women experience some form of back pain during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum. Non-pharmacological therapies such as deep breathing relaxation techniques and effleurage massage therapy can effectively reduce pain levels in these women. This study employs a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental research method and employs purposive sampling with a sample size of 37 participants. Data analysis includes both univariate and bivariate analyses. Most respondents (64.9%) were aged between 20 and 35 years old. Additionally, the majority (64.9%) were experiencing their first pregnancy. All respondents (100%) were confirmed to have no comorbidities. Furthermore, 73% of the participants had tertiary education (Diploma, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degrees), and 62.2% continued working during pregnancy. The results of the Wilcoxon test indicated a significant effect (p = 0.000 &lt; 0.05), confirming that effleurage massage and deep breathing relaxation techniques effectively reduce lower back pain in pregnant women. This reduction is attributed to the stimulation of tactile fibers in the skin by effleurage massage, which inhibits pain signals. In conclusion, the findings suggest that implementing effleurage massage and deep breathing relaxation techniques is beneficial for alleviating lower back pain in pregnant women. Public health advice advocates for the application of these techniques to manage such pain effectively.

Impact of Periodontal Diseases on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Study with a Condition-Specific Questionnaire in Croatian Population.

The aim of this study was to translate and validate the condition-specific Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) in the Croatian cultural context and assess the impact of periodontal diseases and nonsurgical periodontal therapy on quality of life (QoL). A cross-sectional study was carried out on 150 individuals: 50 periodontally healthy, 50 with gingivitis, and 50 with periodontitis who self-administrated the OHIP. The participants' age ranged between 18 and 71 years, with the median age of 45 (34-57) years. Forty-seven percent of the participants were females. The validity and reliability of the Croatian OHIP version were tested. The impact of gingivitis and periodontitis on QoL was assessed. Changes in QoL induced by nonsurgical periodontal therapy in 20 patients with periodontitis were analyzed. Categorical data were presented by absolute and relative frequencies. The normality of the distribution of continuous variables was tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Continuous data were described by the median and the limits of the interquartile range (IQR). Differences in continuous variables between two independent groups were tested with the Mann-Whitney U test, and between three groups with the Kruskal-Wallis test (post hoc Conover). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to examine the differences in the total score before and after therapy. All p values were two-sided. The level of significance was set at alpha of 0.05. The analysis detected a single-factor structure that explained for the 56.9% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha value was 0.937, which indicated an excellent internal consistency. Overall OHIP score reported a strong correlation with the subjective estimate of periodontal problems (Rho = 0.92; p < 0.001). Test-retest reliability was high (r = 0.984; p < 0.001). The periodontitis group had the highest OHIP score (28 [23-34]), followed by the gingivitis group (14 [12-20]) and the periodontally healthy group (9 [5-11]; p < 0.001). Nonsurgical periodontal therapy significantly improved the QoL in those with periodontitis (p < 0.001). The condition-specific Croatian version of the OHIP instrument can be considered adequate to measure the impact of periodontal diseases on oral health-related QoL. Periodontal diseases, especially periodontitis, have a negative effect on the patient's QoL. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment can improve patients' QoL.

Pengaruh Kompres Bawang Merah Plus Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) Terhadap Penurunan Suhu Tubuh Pasca Imunisasi Difteri Pertusis Tetanus (DPT)

The incidence of fever following DPT (Difteri Pertusis Tetanus) immunisation is relatively high, often necessitating treatment with fever-reducing drugs, which may have adverse effects on infants. Therefore, non-pharmacological methods that are effective, safe, economical, and practical are essential. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of an onion compress combined with virgin coconut oil (VCO) in reducing body temperature in infants following DPT immunization. The study employed a quasi-experimental method with a one-group pre-test and post-test design. The study population consisted of infants who received DPT immunization in the midwife's independent practice (PMB) working area at the Pudak Payung Health Centre, Semarang, with a total sample size of 48 infants selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, analysed using descriptive statistics, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Prior to the intervention, 47 infants (45.92%) exhibited fever, and 1 infant (2.08%) had a high fever post-immunisation. Following the application of the shallot compress with VCO, all infants (100%) showed a reduction in body temperature, with none experiencing fever thereafter. The analysis indicated a significant effect of the onion compress combined with VCO on reducing body temperature (Z = -6.042, p &lt; 0.01). The average body temperature of infants post-DPT immunisation decreased from a mean of 38.5°C before the intervention to 37°C afterwards. In conclusion, the use of an onion compress with VCO effectively reduces body temperature in infants following DPT immunization. This non-pharmacological approach presents a promising alternative to conventional fever management strategies.

Women's empowerment and gender equality programs to support stunting elimination in South Central Timor Regency

Introduction: Stunting remains a significant public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara Province, where it is the most prevalent among all Indonesian provinces at about 42.6 per cent. Empowerment initiatives represent a crucial approach to addressing this issue. Women's empowerment holds profound significance as it governs and nurtures human resources within the household, especially children, who represent the nation's future generation. This community service aims to implement a women's empowerment program by establishing a group of Women Providing Health Information (Perempuan Pemberi Informasi Kesehatan) and enhancing women's access to national health services. Methods: We conducted an experimental quantitative study involving mothers with children aged 12 to 59 months. Inclusion criteria included mothers with children aged 12 to 59 months residing in Kesetnana Village. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. The mothers' classes aimed to enhance mothers' knowledge regarding the first 1000 days of life and the nutritional requirements during this period. The study included 35 participants, with the questionnaire on stunting knowledge serving as the primary instrument. Results: The findings revealed a notable increase in participant knowledge in the post-test compared to the pre-test, with a mean rank of 88.00 and a p-value of 0.000. Conclusions: The results underscore the continued need for a gender- and culture-based approach to health promotion to mitigate the incidence of stunting. Effective health education on stunting reduction requires collaborative efforts between health workers and local communities, with mutual support being essential.

Factors Associated with Readmission within 30 Days of Hospital Discharge of Psychiatric Patients: Case-Control Study

Background: Readmission, defined as any admission after discharge from the same hospital, has negative implications for health outcomes. This study aims to identify the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with hospital readmission among psychiatric patients. Methodology: This case-control study analyzed 202 clinical records of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital between 2019–2021. The sample was selected using simple random sampling. Qualitative variables were presented using frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests for association. Quantitative variables were described using central tendency measures and dispersion of data, investigated with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test as appropriate. Regression analysis was conducted to determine factors linked to readmission. p &lt; 0.05 was considered. Results: Women accounted for a higher readmission rate (59%). Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia had a higher readmission rate (63%), experienced longer transfer times to the hospital during readmissions, and had shorter hospital stays. Polypharmacy and pharmacological interactions were associated with readmission. Olanzapine treatment was identified as a risk factor for readmission (ExpB = 3.203, 95% CI 1.405–7.306, p = 0.006). Conclusions: The findings suggest avoiding polypharmacy and medications with high side effect profiles to reduce readmissions. This study offers valuable insights for clinical decision-making from admission to discharge planning, aiming to enhance the quality of care.

Ovarian Cancer Staging—How CT Scan Descriptions Differ from Surgical Findings

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in women worldwide. Most often, it is detected in an advanced stage due to its insidious onset and lack of symptoms in stages I and II. That is why imaging diagnostics is so important. Therefore, we assessed the consistency of the image seen on CT with the actual image assessed during surgery. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare preoperative evaluation based on CT reports with those obtained during ovarian cancer surgery to determine whether CT is helpful in assessing the possibility of optimal or complete cytoreduction. Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy or laparotomy with cytoreduction. We compared ovarian cancer lesions described by radiologists on CT scans to those described during laparoscopy or laparotomy; the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired observations was used to compare the variables. Results: We observed that the morphology of the tumor, mesenteric infiltration, and the assessment of the involvement of the abdominal, para-aortic, and iliac lymph nodes may differ in CT examination and during surgery. Conclusions: The site of the tumor exit on a CT scan does not always reflect the original site seen during surgery.

Surgically targeted radiation therapy versus stereotactic radiation therapy: A dosimetric comparison for brain metastasis resection cavities

BackgroundSurgically targeted radiation therapy (STaRT) with Cesium-131 seeds embedded in a collagen tile is a promising treatment for recurrent brain metastasis. In this study, the biological effective doses (BED) for normal and target tissues from STaRT plans were compared with those of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) modalities. MethodsNine patients (n=9) with 12 resection cavities (RCs) who underwent STaRT (cumulative physical dose of 60 Gy to a depth of 5 mm from the RC edge) were replanned with CyberKnife® (CK), Gamma Knife® (GK), and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) using an SRT approach (30 Gy in 5 fractions). Statistical significance comparing D95% and D90% in BED10Gy (BED10Gy95% and BED10Gy90%) and to RC + 0 to + 5 mm expansion margins, and parameters associated with radiation necrosis risk (V83Gy, V103Gy, V123Gy and V243Gy) to the normal brain were evaluated by a Wilcoxon-signed rank test. ResultsFor RC+0 mm, median BED10Gy90% for STaRT (90.1 Gy10, range: 64.1-140.9 Gy10) was significantly higher than CK (74.3 Gy10, range:59.3-80.4 Gy10, p=0.04), GK (69.4 Gy10, range: 59.8-77.1 Gy10, p=0.005), and IMPT (49.3 Gy10, range: 49.0-49.7 Gy10, p=0.003), respectively. However, for the RC+5 mm, the median BED10Gy90% for STaRT (34.1 Gy10, range: 22.2-59.7 Gy10) was significantly lower than CK (44.3 Gy10, range: 37.8-52.4 Gy10), and IMPT (46.6 Gy10, range: 45.1-48.5 Gy10), respectively but not significantly different from GK (34.1 Gy10, range: 22.8-47.0 Gy10). The median V243Gy was significantly higher in CK (11.7 cc, range: 4.7-20.1 cc), GK(6.2 cc, range: 2.3-11.9 cc) and IMPT (19.9 cc, range: 11.1-36.6 cc) compared to STaRT (1.1 cc, range: 0.0-7.8 cc) (p<0.01). ConclusionThis comparative analysis suggests the STaRT approach may treat recurrent brain tumors effectively via delivery of higher radiation doses with equivalent or greater BED up to at least 3 mm from the RC edge as compared to EBRT approaches.

Efficacy of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the treatment of pulmonary sequestration in children

ObjectiveThis study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) in the treatment of pulmonary sequestration (PS) in children.MethodsAll video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and RAST performed on...

Comparative Analysis of Adaptations Progress in VO2max, Leg Power, and Agility among Male and Female Sports Science Students

The strength and conditioning program has emerged as a widely adopted, structured exercise intervention aimed at enhancing muscle strength, endurance, speed, power, flexibility, and physical function, all while mitigating the risk of injuries. Several studies, however, have assessed strength and conditioning interventions in general for sports science students at the university. Objectives: Therefore, this study aims to explore the differential effects of a strength and conditioning program incorporating a combination of Continuous Run (CR) and Circuit Training (CT) methods on VO2max, leg power, and agility applied to male and female sports science students. Material and Methods: Utilizing a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest setup spanning from July to October 2022, the study consisted of 8 microcycles (8 weeks) comprising 24 sessions, where each microcycle included 2 active rest days (recovery run). A total of 63 students with bachelor’s degrees in sports science who have recently enrolled as freshmen in the Faculty of Sports Science (n = 39 men; n = 24 women; aged = 18-20 years; mass (kg) man and women = 60 ± 7 and 51 ± 6, Height (cm) men and women = 172 ± 4 and 158 ± 3, and not trained athletes) were selected through purposive sampling and provided informed consent in the present study. Pre- and post-measurements were conducted using the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT), standing broad jump test, and the Illinois agility run test. Descriptive and inferential data analyses (differential pre and post-test using the Wilcoxon test) were performed using SPSS 25 software. Results: Our findings reveal significant improvements in VO2max and leg power following the implementation of a strength and conditioning program that combines circuit training with continuous running for males (from 35.76±5.94 to 41.99±5.35 and 2.175±0.23 to 2.30±0.25, respectively: P&lt;0.05). Meanwhile, for females, (25.97 ± 2.78 to 31.10 ± 3.09; 1.66±0.24 to 1.72±0.17; P&lt;0.05). However, the study does not identify a significant improvement in agility for both male and female participants (17.90±0.95 to 17.69±0.87; P&gt;0.05 and 20.13 ± 1.17 to 19.89 ± 1.19; P&gt;0.05). Conclusions: This investigation provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of an integrated strength and conditioning program using a combination of Continuous Run (CR) and Circuit Training (CT) methods on VO2max and Leg power, for both males and females. Although there were no significant improvements in agility for either males or females, there was an increase in overall averages. The results offer implications for optimizing physical performance and refining training protocols. Therefore, the combination of Continuous Run (CR), circuit training (CT), and Circuit Resistance Training (CRT) has proven to be a practical strategy for enhancing VO2max and leg power. This is particularly relevant for coaches seeking to diversify exercise variations that can be applied to sports science students in the future Keywords: Strength and Conditioning, Circuit Training, Continuous Run, VO2max, Leg Power, Agility, Sports Science Students