The impact of prior physical conditioning in initial recruit training success: A systematic review

Aim: To determine whether recruits who underwent a physical conditioning program prior to initial tactical training had increased rates of success.Design: Systematic ReviewMethod: A systematic search, following the PRISMA protocol and registered in the Open Science Framework, was conducted to identify relevant studies. Keywords, derived from three themes (physical conditioning, tactical, and recruits), were employed in the search of database CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus, and Web of Science. Studies were screened against inclusion/exclusion criteria with data extracted and analyzed. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used to assess methodological quality of included studies by two authors independently with a Kappa analysis to determine inter-rater agreement.Results: Of 14,411 identified articles, 13 studies informed the review. The mean quality of studies was considered ‘good’ with a Kappa of 0.81 between raters. Seven studies identified that an increase in physical fitness, through use of preconditioning programs, resulted in lower rates of injury. Three studies attributed increased basic training pass rates to physical conditioning programs. However, three studies failed to find a change in attrition rates following the programs.Conclusion: The volume of evidence suggests that programs aimed at increasing muscular conditioning and aerobic endurance prior to tactical training would result in fewer injuries and increased pass rates although reductions in absolute attrition may not change.Key Practice Points:• Recruits are less likely to be injured if they are fitter and / or have completed additional training prior to completing training for a tactical occupation

Ready student one: Simulation-based education, virtual reality, and the perception of stress

Aim: To investigate differences in the physiological perception of physiotherapy student stress undergoing two types of simulated environments.Design: Quasi-experimentalMethods: Students enrolled in a Doctor of Physiotherapy program were subjected to two stressors: a neurological patient simulation (SIM) and a free-roaming virtual reality (VR) immersive gaming scenario. Physiological parameters including respiratory rate, heart rate, skin temperature, salivary cortisol, and α- amylase were collected prior to, immediately post, and 15, 30, and 60 minutes after each scenario. NASA- task load index (TXL) assessed participants’ perceptions of stress prior to, and at the end of, each scenario. Repeated measures linear mixed model analysed the impact of sampling time, stressor, and their interaction on the physiological parameters and NASA-TXL.Results: The VR experience elicited a marked increase in cortisol concentration (1.7nmol/L SE 0.8, p=0.045) from baseline, but not α-amylase, levels immediately after the task. The SIM experience did not influence the concentration of salivary stress markers, although α-amylase concentrations were higher in samples obtained pre-SIM compared to pre-VR samples. NASA-TXL results indicated that students perceived themselves as performing worst and being more stressed, frustrated, and insecure prior to, and after, the SIM compared to the VR task.Conclusion: The SIM scenario had a greater anticipatory perceived stress while the VR immersive gaming experience highlighted greater post-event physiological response to stress

Congenital epulis of the jaw: a series of five cases and review of literature

This article describes five cases of congenital epulis, a rare and benign swelling in the mouth of a newborn, which is not widely known. We present five cases: four cases presented as single pedunculated nodules of the gingiva and in one case two nodules were present. Of all, 50% were located at the maxilla. Excision was performed in four of the five cases and in one case, spontaneous regression was awaited. No recurrence was reported. The characteristic features of congenital epulis are a pedunculated, flesh-pink coloured tumour with a predominant occurrence on the anterior maxillary alveolar ridge in a female newborn. Although the aetiology is unknown, most authors suggest a mesenchymal, rather than an odontogenic, origin. Endogenous hormonal factors might influence growth prenatally. Histological findings include granular cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and small, eccentric nuclei. Despite the fact that the lesion can be a striking sight, spontaneous regression is possible and can be awaited. Indications for non-radical excision under local anaesthesia are severe upper airway obstruction and interference with feeding technique. In conclusion, we provide clinical and histological information about congenital epulis, so that this entity will be more easily recognised and relevant information given to parent

Cada coisa em seu lugar: ensaio de interpretação do discurso de um museu de história

O Museu Histórico Nacional, situado no Rio de Janeiro, foi criado em 1922, como parte das comemorações do Centenário da Independência do Brasil. Ao longo dos seguintes 38 anos, foi dirigido por Gustavo Barroso. Este intelectual, figura bastante típica da “república das letras” brasileira, imprimiu no MHN uma forte marca pessoal, cristalizada no discurso conservador expresso pelas exposições. Baseado nas formulações teóricas de Carlo Ginzburg, conforme apresentadas em um artigo intitulado “Sinais - raízes de um paradigma indiciário”, bem como em diversos textos que abordam museus como discursos, o autor analisa a exposição do MHN nos anos 30, 40 e 50. Apoiando-se também na produção científica dos conservadores, publicada em livros e na revista institucional, os “Anais do Museu Histórico Nacional”, procura ver o circuito como representação das posições ocupadas pelos “agentes ativos da história” - aristocracia, funcionários públicos civis e militares, dentre outras categorias - em relação a uma categoria não claramente definida, o “povo”, que foi representada através da ausência

Co-infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1): does immune activation lead to a faster progression to AIDS?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent data have shown that HTLV-1 is prevalent among HIV positive patients in Mozambique, although the impact of HTLV-1 infection on HIV disease progression remains controversial. Our aim was to determine the phenotypic profile of T lymphocytes subsets among Mozambican patients co-infected by HIV and HTLV-1.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled 29 patients co-infected by HTLV-1 and HIV (co-infected), 59 patients mono-infected by HIV (HIV) and 16 healthy controls (HC), respectively.</p> <p>For phenotypic analysis, cells were stained with the following fluorochrome-labeled anti-human monoclonal antibodies CD4-APC, CD8-PerCP, CD25-PE, CD62L-FITC, CD45RA-FITC. CD45RO-PE, CD38-PE; being analysed by four-colour flow cytometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We initially found that CD4⁺T cell counts were significantly higher in co-infected, as compared to HIV groups. Moreover, CD4⁺T Lymphocytes from co-infected patients presented significantly higher levels of CD45RO and CD25, but lower levels of CD45RA and CD62L, strongly indicating that CD4⁺T cells are more activated under HTLV-1 plus HIV co-infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data indicate that HTLV-1/HIV co-infected patients progress with higher CD4⁺T cell counts and higher levels of activation markers. In this context, it is conceivable that in co-infected individuals, these higher levels of activation may account for a faster progression to AIDS.</p