[Evidence of reliability for Persian version of the "Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool [CAIT]" in Iranian athletes with lateral ankle sprain]

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of persian version of the "Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool [CAIT]" in Iranian athletes with lateral ankle sprain

Materials and Methods: The present study is a methodological and non-experimental study. After forward and backward translation of CAIT, 46 athletes were selected with convenient nonprobably sampling from Physical Education Faculty of Tehran university and Taekwondo Club. Questionnaire was given to participants who experienced at least one lateral ankle sprain based on doctor's diagnosis. In the second phase [one week later] the questionnaire was distributed among the participants again to test the reliability of the measured between the two tests. After collecting the data, the test-retest reliability of Persian version of the questionnaire was evaluated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire's items

Results: Cronbach's alpha was 0.64, which is close to acceptable level of internal consistency [0.7-0.95]. Factor analysis showed that questionnaires' items can be classified in 4 categories with maximum of 72% variance cover. The test-retest correlation coefficient ICC for the total score of CAIT was 0.95 [P>0.001], indicating excellent reproducibility of the Persian version of the questionnaire. The standard error of measurement [SEM] was 1 and the smallest acceptable change [SDC] was 2.76 with 95% confidence

Conclusion: The results show that the Persian version of the CAIT can be used in athletes with functional ankle instability as a reliable tool to detect instability and assess changes caused by therapeutic interventions

characteristics of rare codon clusters in the genome and proteins of hepatitis C virus; a bioinformatics look

Recent studies suggest that rare codon clusters are functionally important for protein activity. Here, for the first time we analyzed and reported rare codon clusters in Hepatitis C Virus [HCV] genome and then identified the location of these rare codon clusters in the structure of HCV protein. This analysis was performed using the Sherlocc program that detects statistically relevant conserved rare codon clusters. By this program, we identified the rare codon cluster in three regions of HCV genome; NS2, NS3, and NS5A coding sequence of HCV genome. For further understanding of the role of these rare codon clusters, we studied the location of these rare codon clusters and critical residues in the structure of NS2, NS3 and NS5A proteins. We identified some critical residues near or within rare codon clusters. It should be mentioned that characteristics of these critical residues such as location and situation of side chains are important in assurance of the HCV life cycle. The characteristics of these residues and their relative status showed that these rare codon clusters play an important role in proper folding of these proteins. Thus, it is likely that these rare codon clusters may have an important role in the function of HCV proteins. This information is helpful in development of new avenues for vaccine and treatment protocols

[Comparison of core stability between male soccer players with and without hip adductors strain]

More recently, attention has turned to the role of proximal structures in function of lower limb. Decreased lumbo-pelvic [or core] stability has been suggested to contribute to the etiology of lower extremity sport injuries. This is largely due to the closed chain nature of athletic activities. Groin pain is a common complaint for athletes participating in sports such as soccer. Adductor-related groin pain was the most common primary entity in soccer players. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare of core stability between male soccer players with and without hip adductors strain. Various studies have been done for treatment and prevention of recurrent of this lesion and the most important thing in these studies was to keep the integrity of the core stability. Fifty professional soccer players [25 healthy and 25 with adductors strain. mean age: 21.32 +/- 2.73] was studied. Core stability was compared among them by 5 endurance and functional tests. Endurance of back extensors, trunk flexors and lateral flexors were tested by Modified Biering-Sorensen and Mc.Gilltests. In current research, the Double Leg Lowering test is applied to measure the function of the oblique abdominals muscles and the Single Leg Squat test is applied to measure the function of hip abductor and external rotators muscles. Endurance of back extensors, flexors and lateral flexors were significantly lower in the injured soccer players in comparison with the healthy players. Significant decrease in the function of oblique abdominal muscles, hip abductor and external rotator muscles were founded in the injured players [p<0.05]. Decrease of endurance and function in the trunk muscles is probably an important risk factor for hip adductors strain injuries in the soccer players. Increasing the endurance of the core muscles can be reduced the occurrence of hip addactors strain