Effectiveness of Ankle Strengthening using Pilates Reformer vs. Balance Board to Improve Balance in Dancers

This study was conducted to analyze the alignment of various collegiate dancers’ ankles in order to strengthen the muscles surrounding the ankle joint and improve balance. The research was conducted using a pre and post-test consisting of the Star Excursion Balance test and the Stork test. Participants from the Texas A&M dance program that did not have any lower extremity injuries in the six months prior to the study were randomly assigned to either the Pilates intervention group, balance board intervention group, or a control group who continued their regular training regimen. The participants met three times a week for five weeks to go through the intervention exercises. After the intervention period, a post test was conducted to collect data from the same tests used for the pre-test. It was predicted that the balance board group would have the greatest improvement because the exercises were fully weight bearing and challenged their balance more than the reformer group

Effectiveness of Ankle Strengthening using Pilates Reformer vs. Balance Board to Improve Balance in Dancers

This study was conducted to analyze the alignment of various collegiate dancers’ ankles in order to strengthen the muscles surrounding the ankle joint and improve balance. The research was conducted using a pre and post-test consisting of the Star Excursion Balance test and the Stork test. Participants from the Texas A&M dance program that did not have any lower extremity injuries in the six months prior to the study were randomly assigned to either the Pilates intervention group, balance board intervention group, or a control group who continued their regular training regimen. The participants met three times a week for five weeks to go through the intervention exercises. After the intervention period, a post test was conducted to collect data from the same tests used for the pre-test. It was predicted that the balance board group would have the greatest improvement because the exercises were fully weight bearing and challenged their balance more than the reformer group

Understanding Union Commitment Among Young Workers: A Cross-Theoretical Perspective

This study aims to shed light on the main determinants of and barriers to union commitment among young workers and, more generally, the relationship young workers have with union life. So far, the relationship between young workers and unionism has been examined mainly in terms of the challenges of access to unionization that confront young workers, a group generally underrepresented in union membership. The more specific issue of union commitment among young workers, once they become unionized, has remained largely underexplored in the literature. Using quantitative and qualitative data from an empirical survey of young unionized workers in the Quebec public service, our study identifies and compares the main factors that explain union commitment among young unionized workers and the theoretical underpinnings. It also seeks to shed light on the barriers to this commitment and identifies the organizational measures that could facilitate union commitment among young workers, based on the perceptions expressed by young union members. Our findings indicate that unions should adopt multidimensional organizational measures to foster union commitment among young workers, with a first step being to increase personalized contact between local union representatives and young members. Such investments at the local level are critical, as shown by our quantitative and qualitative findings. Thus, any reform or measure aimed at encouraging union involvement of young workers should not be limited merely to structural aspects but should also take into account the attitudinal and relational underpinnings of young workers’ commitment to their union. By shifting the focus from youth unionization to young members’ involvement in union bodies, our study will contribute to debate about union representation and the generational renewal of the labour movement’s activist base.Cette étude vise à mieux comprendre les principaux déterminants et obstacles à l’engagement syndical des jeunes et, plus globalement, la relation qu’ils entretiennent face à la vie syndicale. Jusqu’à présent, la relation entre les jeunes et le syndicalisme a surtout été étudiée sous l’angle des défis qui se posent quant à l’accès à la syndicalisation des jeunes travailleurs, un groupe généralement sous-représenté dans les effectifs syndicaux. La question plus spécifique de l’engagement syndical chez les jeunes, une fois ceux-ci syndiqués, demeure nettement moins explorée dans la littérature. À partir de données quantitatives et qualitatives provenant d’une enquête réalisée auprès des jeunes travailleurs syndiqués dans la fonction publique québécoise, cette étude identifie et compare les principaux déterminants de l’engagement syndical des jeunes syndiqués et leurs fondements théoriques. Sur la base des propos exprimée par les jeunes syndiqués, elle cherche également à comprendre les obstacles à cet engagement et identifie les mesures organisationnelles qui pourraient faciliter l’engagement syndical chez les jeunes travailleurs. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que si les mesures devant être adoptées par les syndicats sont pluridimensionnelles et dépendent des contextes propres à chaque organisation, elles devraient néanmoins avoir pour point de départ de chercher à densifier les rapports personnalisés entre les représentants syndicaux locaux et les jeunes membres. Les résultats quantitatifs et qualitatifs indiquent également que de tels investissements au niveau local sont essentiels et, par conséquent, toute réforme ou mesure visant à encourager l’engagement syndical des jeunes ne devrait pas se limiter aux seuls aspects structurels, mais devrait également tenir compte des fondements attitudinaux et relationnels de l’engagement syndical des jeunes travailleurs. En déplaçant la focale de la syndicalisation des jeunes vers leur engagement au sein des instances syndicales, cette étude contribue au débat sur la représentation syndicale et le renouvellement générationnel de la base militante du mouvement syndical

Longitudinal multi-omics analyses link gut microbiome dysbiosis with recurrent urinary tract infections in women

Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a major health burden worldwide, with history of infection being a significant risk factor. While the gut is a known reservoir for uropathogenic bacteria, the role of the microbiota in rUTI remains unclear. We conducted a year-long study of women with (n = 15) and without (n = 16) history of rUTI, from whom we collected urine, blood and monthly faecal samples for metagenomic and transcriptomic interrogation. During the study 24 UTIs were reported, with additional samples collected during and after infection. The gut microbiome of individuals with a history of rUTI was significantly depleted in microbial richness and butyrate-producing bacteria compared with controls, reminiscent of other inflammatory conditions. However, Escherichia coli gut and bladder populations were comparable between cohorts in both relative abundance and phylogroup. Transcriptional analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed expression profiles indicative of differential systemic immunity between cohorts. Altogether, these results suggest that rUTI susceptibility is in part mediated through the gut-bladder axis, comprising gut dysbiosis and differential immune response to bacterial bladder colonization, manifesting in symptoms

Effect of Tocilizumab vs Usual Care in Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Moderate or Severe Pneumonia

International audienceImportance Severe pneumonia with hyperinflammation and elevated interleukin-6 is a common presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Objective To determine whether tocilizumab (TCZ) improves outcomes of patients hospitalized with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia.Design, Setting, and Particpants This cohort-embedded, investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, bayesian randomized clinical trial investigating patients with COVID-19 and moderate or severe pneumonia requiring at least 3 L/min of oxygen but without ventilation or admission to the intensive care unit was conducted between March 31, 2020, to April 18, 2020, with follow-up through 28 days. Patients were recruited from 9 university hospitals in France. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis with no correction for multiplicity for secondary outcomes.Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to receive TCZ, 8 mg/kg, intravenously plus usual care on day 1 and on day 3 if clinically indicated (TCZ group) or to receive usual care alone (UC group). Usual care included antibiotic agents, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, vasopressor support, and anticoagulants.Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were scores higher than 5 on the World Health Organization 10-point Clinical Progression Scale (WHO-CPS) on day 4 and survival without need of ventilation (including noninvasive ventilation) at day 14. Secondary outcomes were clinical status assessed with the WHO-CPS scores at day 7 and day 14, overall survival, time to discharge, time to oxygen supply independency, biological factors such as C-reactive protein level, and adverse events.Results Of 131 patients, 64 patients were randomly assigned to the TCZ group and 67 to UC group; 1 patient in the TCZ group withdrew consent and was not included in the analysis. Of the 130 patients, 42 were women (32%), and median (interquartile range) age was 64 (57.1-74.3) years. In the TCZ group, 12 patients had a WHO-CPS score greater than 5 at day 4 vs 19 in the UC group (median posterior absolute risk difference [ARD] −9.0%; 90% credible interval [CrI], −21.0 to 3.1), with a posterior probability of negative ARD of 89.0% not achieving the 95% predefined efficacy threshold. At day 14, 12% (95% CI −28% to 4%) fewer patients needed noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or mechanical ventilation (MV) or died in the TCZ group than in the UC group (24% vs 36%, median posterior hazard ratio [HR] 0.58; 90% CrI, 0.33-1.00), with a posterior probability of HR less than 1 of 95.0%, achieving the predefined efficacy threshold. The HR for MV or death was 0.58 (90% CrI, 0.30 to 1.09). At day 28, 7 patients had died in the TCZ group and 8 in the UC group (adjusted HR, 0.92; 95% CI 0.33-2.53). Serious adverse events occurred in 20 (32%) patients in the TCZ group and 29 (43%) in the UC group (P = .21).Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial of patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia requiring oxygen support but not admitted to the intensive care unit, TCZ did not reduce WHO-CPS scores lower than 5 at day 4 but might have reduced the risk of NIV, MV, or death by day 14. No difference on day 28 mortality was found. Further studies are necessary for confirming these preliminary results.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0433180

Effect of anakinra versus usual care in adults in hospital with COVID-19 and mild-to-moderate pneumonia (CORIMUNO-ANA-1): a randomised controlled trial

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Sarilumab in adults hospitalised with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia (CORIMUNO-SARI-1): An open-label randomised controlled trial

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