Is Training to Failure a Safe and Effective Method for Improving Athletic Performance?

Combination of the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method with ionic liquid-dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (QuEChERS-IL-DLLME) was developed as an extraction methodology to determine bisphenol A (BPA) in various canned food samples prior to high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The potential variables affecting the microextraction recovery were considered in the optimization process. Obtained results showed that 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C6mim][Tf2N]) is a better extraction solvent compared with 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C6mim][PF6]) and is more compatible with RP-HPLC. Under the optimum conditions, the method yielded a linear calibration curve ranging from 1.0 to 500 μL−1 with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9993. Enrichment factor for BPA was 98, and limit of detection was 0.1 μg L−1. The relative standard deviation percent (RSD%) for the intra-day and inter-day extraction and determination at 2.0, 20, and 200 μg L−1 levels of BPA was less than 7.2 % (n = 6) and 9.7 % (n = 6), respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for the extraction, cleanup, preconcentration, and determination of the BPA in different canned food samples, and satisfactory results were obtained (relative recovery ≥90 %).

To determine whether the magnitude of improvement in athletic performance and the mechanisms driving these adaptations differ in relatively weak individuals exposed to either ballistic power training or heavy strength training. Relatively weak men (n = 24) who could perform the back squat with proficient technique were randomized into three groups: strength training (n = 8; ST), power training (n = 8; PT), or control (n = 8). Training involved three sessions per week for 10 wk in which subjects performed back squats with 75%-90% of one-repetition maximum (1RM; ST) or maximal-effort jump squats with 0%-30% 1RM (PT). Jump and sprint performances were assessed as well as measures of the force-velocity relationship, jumping mechanics, muscle architecture, and neural drive. Both experimental groups showed significant (P < or = 0.05) improvements in jump and sprint performances after training with no significant between-group differences evident in either jump (peak power: ST = 17.7% +/- 9.3%, PT = 17.6% +/- 4.5%) or sprint performance (40-m sprint: ST = 2.2% +/- 1.9%, PT = 3.6% +/- 2.3%). ST also displayed a significant increase in maximal strength that was significantly greater than the PT group (squat 1RM: ST = 31.2% +/- 11.3%, PT = 4.5% +/- 7.1%). The mechanisms driving these improvements included significant (P < or = 0.05) changes in the force-velocity relationship, jump mechanics, muscle architecture, and neural activation that showed a degree of specificity to the different training stimuli. Improvements in athletic performance were similar in relatively weak individuals exposed to either ballistic power training or heavy strength training for 10 wk. These performance improvements were mediated through neuromuscular adaptations specific to the training stimulus. The ability of strength training to render similar short-term improvements in athletic performance as ballistic power training, coupled with the potential long-term benefits of improved maximal strength, makes strength training a more effective training modality for relatively weak individuals.

BackgroundDermatologic toxicities are the common adverse events (AE) with several chemotherapy agents, but they are usually neglected in the research literature and clinical practice, and there are no clinically safe and effective methods to solve the problem. This study was to determine whether a medicinal and edible decoction YH0618 is effective in accelerating reducing chemotherapy-induced dermatologic toxicity in cancer patients who have completed chemotherapy.MethodsThis was a prospective randomized controlled trial conducted between 2015 and 2017. Cancer patients who have completed chemotherapy (received taxanes or anthracyclines or fluoropyrimidine) within two weeks were enrolled and then they were randomly divided into YH0618 decoction group (n=104) and wait-list control (n=110). The primary end points were the incidence of protocol-specified grade ≥2 dermatologic toxicities after 6-week intervention assessed using the National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) Chinese version 4.0, and changes of fingernails color and skin color evaluated by L*a*b after 6 weeks of intervention. Secondary end points included assessment of quality of life (QOL) and fatigue, and some clinical objective indicators associated with myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.ResultsThe study included 214 participants [mean (SD) age, 52.49 (9.08) years in YH0618 group and 50.44 (9.71) years in wait-list group]. At 6-week, YH0618 significantly reduced the incidence of grade ≥2 in nail discoloration [odds ratio (OR), 0.653; 95% CI, 0.5–0.9; P=0.005] and alopecia (OR, 0.776; 95% CI, 0.6–1.0; P=0.048) compared with control group. Besides, YH0618 increased the L* value and reduced the a* and b* values compared with control group, indicating that YH0618 increased the brightness and reduced hyperpigmentation. YH0618 also significantly reduced chemotherapy-induced fatigue (95% CI, 0.2–4.8; P=0.033).ConclusionsYH0618 may be a safe method in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced dermatologic toxicity especially nail discoloration, alopecia and skin hyperpigmentation, and on improving fatigue.Trial registrationThe trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-15006486.

Although numerous genetic variations have been associated with athletic profiles and performance, there is limited research on the real-world application of genetic insights in elite athlete training. The aim of this study is to present our 1-year training experience with a high-performing open water marathon swimmer, integrating genomic-based decision-making into training interventions. This case study involves a 23-year-old elite open water marathon swimmer whose primary goal was to qualify for the Absolute World Championships in 2024. The athlete had a consistent competitive history but sought optimized training strategies to enhance performance and secure a top position in national and international competitions. To personalize the training plan, twenty genetic polymorphisms were analyzed, guiding adjustments in strength training periodization and endurance capacity development. The interventions included tailored regimens aligned with the athlete's genetic predispositions, aiming to maximize physiological responses, recovery, and performance. Additionally, longitudinal monitoring of training load was conducted to assess adaptation and optimize workload distribution. The outcome was an improvement in athletic performance, highlighted by a top finish among compatriots and qualification for the Absolute World Championships. This case report demonstrates that genetic-based training, when integrated with structured load monitoring, can be an effective strategy to assist sports professionals in planning and optimizing training for high-performance athletes. This approach enhances precision in training interventions, providing valuable support for decision-making in elite sports preparation.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of the lacrimal duct retrograde tube insertion for the treatment of chronic dacryocystitis.Methods Fifty-eight cases (74 eyes) of chronic dacryocystitis in our hospital from October 2010 to October 2012 were treated with lacrimal duct retrograde tube insertion,the final therapeutic effects were observed.Results Surgery for 58 cases (74 eyes) chronic dacryocystitis were successfully completed,surgery time was 20-35min.All patients were followed up for 3-6months and there were no serious complications occurred.The total effective rate was 98.6％.Conclusions Lacrimal duct retrograde catheter is a safe and effective treatment method for the treatment of chronic dacryocystitis,it is a simple,safe,and effective method,and is worth promoting. Key words: Lacrimal duct retrograde tube insertion; chronic dacryocystitis

Influence of wearing mouthguards on performance among athletes: A systematic review.

Abstract. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of the use of artificial intelligence on improving athletic performance. Articles were selected through searches in various electronic databases, with those included following pre-established eligibility criteria. A narrative synthesis was performed. The electronic search resulted in 2,300 articles at first. After checking the titles, abstracts, and exclusion of duplicates, 52 were selected for full reading. After that, 33 articles were excluded. 19 articles were included in this systematic review. The included articles assess both the influence of artificial intelligence on improving team sports performance and individual sports performance. Forty percent of the articles found were observational, with the remaining 60% represented by quasi-experimental articles, indicating that few scientific methods were employed when testing interventions in the samples presented. The results indicate that the use of artificial intelligence has been more frequent in the study of team sports, with few studies using both commercial technologies. Studies demonstrate that despite the increase in research waves and the emergence of artificial intelligence products, many are still poorly understood. Moreover, the lack of proper control patterns also makes the comparison of results difficult. However, given the advances and the numerous possibilities for use, it is important to continue investing in research on artificial intelligence to improve the effectiveness and performance of athletes.

Researchers wonder what it takes to improve athlete performance. Research has suggested that plants reduce anxiety, and reduced anxiety could, in turn, improve athletic performance. Research also shows that plants have psychological and restorative value such as improving coping mechanisms in human subjects as well as the potential to improve concentration and focus attention that could affect performance of athletes. The main objective of this research was to investigate the impact of greenery/landscaping on athletic performance and cognitive and somatic anxiety in track and field athletes. Four university track and field teams and 128 athletes participated in the study. Individual athlete performance and athletes' scores on the competitive state anxiety inventory-2 (CSAI-2) cognitive and somatic anxiety tests were collected from seven track meets that occurred during one spring competition season. Greenness/landscaping level was determined by Likert scale rating averages from professional horticulturists who individually rated each site. A regression analysis found that greenness level was a predictor ( P = 0.000) of best performance by athletes. More of the athletes' best performance marks were at the track and field site that had the highest greenery rating, and many of the athletes' worst performance marks were achieved at the site that had the lowest greenery rating. Results also indicated that all athletes performed better at the more vegetated track and field site regardless of event and level of anxiety. All athletes performed similarly at each of the track and field sites regardless of ethnicity, gender, or grade classification. However, the overall average mean anxiety scores for all the athletes involved in this study were somewhat high in comparison with the instrument-normed scores for both the cognitive and somatic anxiety scales.

ne heavy metal, which is potential as pollutant, is cadmium that has been accumulated in soil and sediment. Although, cadmium is non essential element for plants, it is easily adsorbed and accumulated by various plants. The negative effect of cadmium on plants is that it can prevent the absorption of nutrition so that the plant growth will be inhibited and then the plant will die. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of cadmium to be used as good growth media. Several methods of heavy metal accumulation, such as physical, chemical and biological methods, have been used, but the three methods have been considered as less effective methods. The use of plants to accumulate heavy metals in polluted soil is considered as a good method because the method is a safe method and can increase the soil fertility. In this research, accumulation of cadmium has been conducted by using Ipomeae reptans Poir. Result showed that the highest concentration that can be accumulated by I. reptans Poir was 3317.68 mg/kg of dried mass with the plantation time of 21 days. The increase of concentration in the growth media increased the cadmium concentration accumulated. The high accumulation of cadmium showed that I. reptans Poir is a hyperaccumulator plant for cadmium. The bioconcentration value was higher than 1, whereas the translocation factor was lower than 1 indicating that the accumulation mechanism was phytostabilization. Keywords : cadmium, accumulation, analysis, Ipomoae reptans Poir.

The field of sports psychology is important for improving athlete performance by focusing on psychological aspects that go hand in hand with physical training. This review looks at key psychological concepts and methods, including mental toughness, motivation, stress management, and goal setting, along with their effects on athletic results. Mental toughness, which includes resilience, confidence, and focus, is essential for athletes to perform under pressure and bounce back from setbacks. Techniques like visualization and self-talk are useful for building this trait, helping athletes maintain high performance levels despite difficulties. Motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, drives athletic performance. Intrinsic motivation relates to personal satisfaction and long-term engagement. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is driven by rewards, which can boost short-term performance but may not support long-term commitment. Stress management is crucial because chronic stress can hurt performance. Techniques such as mindfulness, relaxation training, and biofeedback can reduce stress and improve performance. Goal setting, based on Locke and Latham’s SMART criteria, gives athletes clear goals and structured paths to reach them. This enhances motivation and performance. This study looks at the role of sports psychology in improving athlete performance using a mixed-methods approach. It combines quantitative surveys with performance data and qualitative interviews with focus groups. The research examines how sports psychology techniques like mental imagery, goal setting, and relaxation help athletes perform better. Participants will include 150 athletes from various sports for the quantitative part and 20 athletes for qualitative in-depth interviews and focus groups. The study aims to provide clear insights into the effectiveness of sports psychology practices and their impact on performance measures.

Objective: Cervical selective nerve root block (SNRB) is an effective procedure that has long been performed for patients with radiating pain or paresthesia. However, there are several delicate structures around the cervical nerve root, damage to which could lead to irreversible neurovascular injury. Therefore, cervical SNRB requires a high skill level and extensive experience to execute it safely. To overcome these disadvantages, we used biplane computed tomography (CT)-guided fluoroscopy and a needle guidance program to achieve symptom improvement in a safer and shorter procedure. This study aimed to investigate the new method and report on its excellent clinical effects.Methods: A total of 57 patients who experienced radiating pain due to cervical spinal stenosis resulting from a herniated disc were enrolled. From September 2020 to September 2021 subjects underwent a biplane CT-guided fluoroscopic nerve block at an outpatient clinic. All procedures were performed by biplane CT-guided fluoroscopy. We analyzed treatment effects with a numerical rating scale (NRS) at 2 and 4 weeks after the procedure. Logistic regression was performed to reveal the significance of changes in NRS after the injection.Results: Pain improved in 56 of 57 patients (98%) after 2 and 4 weeks of follow-up compared to pre-injection pain. At the 2-week follow-up, the mean reduction based on NRS scores was 3.226 (2.782-3.674, 0; 95% confidence interval [CI], p &lt; 0.001) indicating a 48% decrease in pain scores compared with the initial NRS. The mean reduction in NRS 4 weeks after the procedure was 3.544 (3.090-3.998, 0; 95% CI, p &lt; 0.001) indicating a 52% reduction compared with the initial NRS. The average duration of the procedure was 4 minutes. Conclusion: We demonstrate a clinically effective, safe, and accurate method using a biplane CT-guided fluoroscopy and needle guide program. This new method can be an easy and relatively uncomplicated alternative to treatment for patients with cervical radiculopathy and provides safe and accurate targeting, making it easy for inexperienced surgeons.

The search for new, safe, effective and reversible contraceptive methods for men is being pursued by several agencies. The most likely developments before the year 2000 would appear to be: the introduction of more easily reversed procedures of vas occlusion; hormonal means of sperm suppression based on infrequent injections of androgens either alone or combined with other gonadotrophin-suppressing agents. Methods based on new drugs or vaccines are unlikely to be developed by the end of the decade. Research is needed to understand the basis of the differences in efficacy of contraceptive steroids in men of different ethnic origin. Equally there is a need to monitor the safety and acceptability of hormonal methods for men. New targets for drug intervention should be pursued through support of basic science, taking advantage of modern cellular and molecular biological techniques. Finally, the subject of Andrology needs to be strengthened throughout the world so that scientists in developing countries can participate fully in this work.

Termination of early pregnancy through a combination of the antiprogestin and prostaglandin analogue

Background: Aging is a natural process which occurs with development of human age as the skin becomes thin, dry and loses elasticity mainly in the sun exposed areas.It is caused by intrinsic and extrinsic factors and is affected by genetic, environmental, hormonal and metabolic factors.A lot of methods are used to overcome aging and produce rejuvenation of skin including non invasive, invasive and surgical.Surgical threads are polypropylene sutures which placed under skin and create inflammation and fibrosis around them and restore vitality of skin so they could be a safe and effective method for lifting. Aim of Study:The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of thread lift in mid face lifting. Patients and Methods:The current study included 12 patients with mild to moderate laxity of skin of mid face.Local anaesthesia was injected and threads were inserted under the skin with suitable number for the degree of skin laxity, differ from patient to another.Results: There was improvement in the mid face of patients immediately after the procedure by the mechanical effect of the threads.Further improvement was observed in follow-up after one month and three months with variable degrees.Mild temporary side effects like pain, oedema and ecchymosis, had been reported. Conclusion:Thread lift is a simple, safe and effective method, which produced a long maintained effect compared with other methods of skin lifting.

Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe and effective method for tumor destruction in patients with unresectable liver tumors. However, accurate probe placement using laparoscopic ultrasound guidance is required to achieve complete tumor ablation. This study aimed to develop a perfusable ex vivo tumor-mimic model for laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation training. After rinsing the prepared liver vessels with anticoagulants, porcine livers were perfused. Tumor-mimics were created by injecting a mixture consisting of 3% agarose, 3% cellulose, 7% glycerol, and 0.05% methylene blue, creating hyperechoic lesions in ultrasound. Heparinized porcine blood was used as perfusion medium. Continuous perfusion of the porcine liver was provided by connection of a pump system to the portal vein and the vena cava inferior. Laparoscopic RFA techniques were taught using a laparoscopic pelvi-trainer. A total of 30 laparoscopic ablations were performed in four porcine livers. The simulated "tumors" were clearly visible on laparoscopic ultrasound and not felt during placement of the RFA probe. In addition, color duplex ultrasound showed clear signals indicating for a sufficient liver perfusion. Laparoscopic RFA requires advanced laparoscopic ultrasound skills for an accurate placement of the RFA probe. The perfused tumor-mimic model presented is a safe, easy, effective, and economic method to improve and train laparoscopic RFA skills on porcine liver tissue.