Exploring the impact of sleep on emotional and physical well-being in professional cricketers: a cohort study over an in-season training period.

Background: Professional athletes navigate a multitude of unique challenges associated to sport-specific factors (e.g., training, travel and competition) and non-sport factors (e.g., performance pressure, stress and anxiety) that can interfere with healthy sleep behaviors. Sleep plays a key role in proper biopsychosocial development as well as short- and long-term biological, physical, psychological, and cognitive health. As poor sleep quality is known to impair proper brain function, this study aimed to investigate the effect of sleep quality on a professional athlete's ability to train, recover, and perform, as well as their overall emotional and physical well-being. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 40 professional male cricket athletes from the Dutch national cricket team (mean age 26.5 ± 5.1 years). The athletes were monitored across a 22 weeks in-season training period. Sleep quality and overall emotional and physical well-being were assessed using daily sleep diaries and questionnaires which scored the readiness to train, stress levels, fatigue, muscle soreness and flu symptoms respectively. Quality of sleep and subsequent association with the consecutive elements of the well-being questionnaire were assessed through statistical using the student t-test and clinical differences with the methodology of Osoba and colleagues: <5% "no change", 5%-10% "little change"; 10%-20% "moderate change"; and >20% "very much change". Results: The results demonstrated that the professional athletes assessed their sleep quality as average with a mean score of 3.4 out of 5. Lower perceived quality of sleep (<75th percentile) was correlated with a decreased readiness to train (mean score 3.2 [IQR: 3.0-4.0] vs. 3.5 [IQR: 3.0-5.0]; P < 0.001) and increased extent of muscle soreness (2.7 [IQR: 2.0-3.0] vs. 2.3 [IQR: 2-3]; P < 0.001), stress level (mean score 2.3 [IQR: 2.0-3.0] vs. 1.9 [IQR: 1.0-2.0]; P < 0.001) and perceived fatigue (mean score 2.9 [IQR: 2.0-3.0] vs. 2.3 [IQR: 2.0-3.0]; P < 0.001). Likewise, in patients with lower perceived quality of sleep, the proportion of players presenting with flu symptoms increased over 4-fold (4.1% vs. 17%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights that good sleep quality positively influences the overall emotional and physical well-being of professional athletes. Our results emphasize the importance of targeted sleep interventions to improve sleep quality and subsequently optimize psychological and physiological wellness.

Pelvic stress fracture in a Dutch U19 cricketer: a case report.

We report a case of a non-traumatic right-sided os ischium fracture and ramus inferior fracture in an 18-year-old cricket athlete of the national Dutch team. Occasionally, apophyseal avulsion fractures of the pelvis occur; however, non-traumatic isolated fractures of the os ischium are rare. This case highlights the treatment and result of an unusual cricket injury.

A technique for optimizing electrode placement for electromyographic control of prostheses.

We present a technique that enables optimization of Electromyographic (EMG) electrode placement for grasp recognition. Previous works have shown that sophisticated control techniques for prosthetic devices are becoming available; however the issue of electrode placement has yet to be addressed. By processing a rich field of data, it is possible to determine which of the data sets will allow for greatest accuracy in prosthetic control. Data has been collected and processed from 128 sites on a human forearm while two different grasps were performed. Using two different feature extraction techniques - integral of absolute value and differential absolute value - the difference in means between performing each grasp type has been analyzed. This resulted in several regions around the wrist and the elbow that would be optimal for this particular setup. While the optimization process has been used here for discrimination between two particular grasps, it has the potential to extend to any desired actuation pattern.

The recovery of horses from inhalant anesthesia: a comparison of halothane and isoflurane.

OBJECTIVE: Recovery is one of the more precarious phases of equine general anesthesia. The quality and rate of recovery of horses from halothane and isoflurane anesthesia were compared to determine differences in the characteristics of emergence from these commonly used inhalant anesthetics. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Prospective, randomized blinded clinical trial. SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 96 Thoroughbred and 3 Standardbred racehorses admitted for elective distal forelimb arthroscopy. METHODS: All horses were premedicated with intravenous xylazine, induced with guaifenesin and ketamine, and maintained on a large animal circle system fitted with an out of the circle, agent specific vaporizer. Recoveries were managed by a blinded scorer with a standardized protocol. A 10 category scoring system was used to assess each horse's overall attitude, purposeful activity, muscle coordination, strength and balance from the time of arrival in recovery to standing. Times to extubation, sternal recumbency and standing were recorded. Median recovery scores and mean times to extubation, sternal and standing were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and student's t test, respectively. RESULTS: The median score for horses recovering from halothane was lower (20.0; range, 10 to 57) than that for horses recovering from isoflurane (27.5; range, 10 to 55). Horses in the two groups were extubated at similar mean times (halothane, 11.3 +/- 5.5 and isoflurane, 9.5 +/- 5.2 minutes) but horses recovering from isoflurane achieved sternal recumbency (halothane, 37.7 +/- 12.1 and isoflurane, 24.7 +/- 8.8 minutes) and stood (halothane, 40.6 +/- 12.9 and isoflurane, 27.6 +/- 9.6 minutes) sooner than those recovering from halothane. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of horses from isoflurane anesthesia was more rapid but less composed than that from halothane. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The quality of recovery following isoflurane was worse than after halothane anesthesia using the criteria chosen for this study. However, the range of recovery scores was similar for both groups and all horses recovered without significant injury.

Temperature-dependent germination traits in oilseed rape associated with 5'-anchored simple sequence repeat PCR polymorphisms.

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that phenotypes differing in germination rate and the presence or absence of secondary dormancy at low temperature were not genetically different. Seed of oilseed rape was germinated at 4, 10 and 19 degrees C, where selections were made in the percentile ranges 1-10 (early), 45-55 (intermediate) and 91-100 (late). Secondary dormancy occurred only in the late selections at the two lower temperatures. Thermal weighting of curves of cumulative germination on time gave circumstantial evidence that early percentiles were similar at all three temperatures and that seeds with secondary dormancy came largely from later percentiles above the 50th. To test for genetic differentiation between phenotypes, 5'-anchored simple sequence repeat primers were used to generate DNA marker profiles of seedlings raised from seed from each category. Principal coordinate analysis, and more detailed comparisons using the most discriminating markers, confirmed that the early germinators at the three temperatures were not associated with different banding profiles, but seeds entering secondary dormancy, particularly at 10 degrees C, were genetically distinct from germinators at the same temperature. Secondary dormant seeds at low temperature appear to originate mainly from the late germinating seed at higher temperature. Effects of temperature history and the requirement for alternating temperatures to break secondary dormancy were quantified. The results confirm the existence of genetically discrete sub-populations differing in ecologically significant traits.

The effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on asthma: management of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis, and asthma.

We attempted to determine the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery in adult patients with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. Fifty asthmatic patients from 17 to 74 years of age with a history of either chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis were examined. Sinonasal disease was confirmed endoscopically and with computerized tomography, and all had failed aggressive medical management of their sinonasal disease before undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery performed by the same surgeon in all cases. The following were compared for 12 months: preoperative and postoperative overall asthma control, peak flow measurements, asthma medication requirements, including the use of oral steroids, and hospitalizations for asthma. Twenty patients felt that their asthma control had improved postoperatively. Twenty per cent used less steroid inhaler, and 28% less bronchodilator inhaler. Of those 23 patients measuring peak flows, seven achieved higher levels and seven noted fewer dips and swings. Significant reductions in oral steroid requirements (p < 0.001) and hospitalization for asthma (p < 0.025) were also recorded postoperatively. Irrespective of whether the patient had chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis, both groups improved postoperatively. The commonest symptoms experienced by the group as whole and by the nasal polyposis patients were hyposmia and nasal obstruction. Postnasal discharge and headache were more important in the chronic rhinosinusitis group. Mean visual analog scores improved for all symptoms; in particular for nasal obstruction and sense of smell. Aggressive management of sinonasal pathology can improve asthma status. No major differences were recorded for outcomes when comparing patients with chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis; in particular there was no evidence for a worsening of asthma after nasal polypectomy.

Gore-tex augmentation grafting in rhinoplasty--is it safe?

OBJECTIVE: The utility of the Gore-tex soft-tissue patch in vascular and hernia surgery over the last 20 years led to its application in facial augmentation and rhinoplasty over the last decade. The early success of initial reported series must be balanced against the long-term problems that have faced all implant materials used in the nose in the past. Gore-tex is attractive to the facial plastic surgeon because of its ease in handling and sculpting, and its plentiful supply. This review analyzes the results of Gore-tex augmentation grafting. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a personal series of 30 rhinoplasty cases with minimum 18 month follow-up, there were three cases of infection, two of which required Gore-tex removal, and one seroma requiring Gore-tax removal. In two other patients, the Gore-tex was associated with excessive scar tissue. CONCLUSION: Our results led to the development of guidelines for Gore-tex usage in the nose. Since adopting these guidelines, the authors have not yet experienced any complications with Gore-tex.

Preparation of (InGa)As/GaAs multilayered materials for TEM by one side non-rotation ion beam thinning.

A technique is described for the preparation of thin specimens for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of (InGa)As/GaAs multilayered materials. In this technique, a shielding method is used for selective-area perforation by ion beam thinning. Thin cross-sectional specimen slices are mechanically pre-thinned to about 30 microns and then thinned by ion sputtering from one side of the specimen at a time without rotation of the specimen stage. No direct ion sputtering occurs at the growth surface of the specimen so that a specimen with thin areas containing the desired near-surface structures can be obtained. The recipe for this technique is given in detail. A patterning method for increasing the size of the thin area for TEM investigation is also described. It is shown that a smooth surface can be obtained by sputtering without rotating the stage if obstacles that produce redeposits onto the sputtered surface are removed.

Extent of DNR policies varies across healthcare settings.

A cross-section random survey of acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, long-term care facilities, and hospices was conducted in 1986 to determine the extent of use, the nature, and the implementation of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policies. Data also were collected to identify the common problems of implementing DNR policies, as well as how conflicts in the use of DNR orders are resolved. The survey found that 30.7 percent of healthcare organizations have a formal policy, 28 percent have an informal policy, and 41.3 percent have no policy. Formal policies were found in 56.9 percent of acute care and 42.9 percent of hospice care settings, compared with 11.4 percent in psychiatric and 20.1 percent in long-term care settings. Although predictors varied across the four settings studied, formal policies were associated with larger organizations, the use of consultation, accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and the presence of an ethics committee. The recognition of a living will plays a small role in the presence of a formal DNR policy. Given the growing concern of the American public and healthcare organizations over DNR orders, the implications of this study call for careful attention to DNR and related medical and ethical issues and the establishment of policies that clearly delineate when, how, and with whom such issues are discussed and resolved.

Mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein syntheses are not required for heat shock acquisition of ethanol and thermotolerance in yeast.

Heat shock acquisition of ethanol- and thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was not inhibited in cells incubated in the presence of cycloheximide or chloramphenicol. Respiratory-deficient (rho-) mutants also characteristically exhibited the heat shock response. It was concluded that mitochondrial and cytoplasmic protein syntheses are not required for heat shock acquisition of ethanol and thermotolerance in yeast.