Isokinetic and functional parameters in patients following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

Both isokinetic testing and functional tests are commonly used to evaluate patients following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACLR). To determine the relationship of scores on an isokinetic test to scores on a variety of lower extremity functional tests ten healthy subjects and eleven ACLR patients at least six months after surgery performed knee isokinetic test at 60 and 180 deg/sec and three functional tests: leg vertical jump, single hop, and triple cross-over hop for distance. Correlation coefficients of isokinetic peak torque to body weight and functional testing were not significant at the P < 0.05 level in patients or control subjects, whi1e ratio of involved to uninvolved knee quadriceps isokinetics peak torque and Limb Symmetry Index (LSI) of functional test were significant at the P < 0.05 level (r=0.54 to 0.97). These results indicate a significant relationship between the LSI of various functional tests and side-to-side ratio of isokinetic testing just in ACLR patients. © 2005 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved

Functional outcome of lower limb following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; a prospective clinical study

Background: Both isokinetic testing and functional tests are commonly used to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients. The object of this study was to evaluate motor performance of the knee and determine the relationship of isokinetic test scores to scores on a variety of lower extremity functional tests. Methods: Ten healthy subjects and eleven ACLR patients at least six months after surgery performed the following: knee isokinetic tests at 60 and 180 deg/sec; three functional tests including leg vertical jump, single hop, and triple cross-over hop for distance. The International Knee Document Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDCSKEF) was used to score the self-assessment of each study participant. Paired T-test was used to compare the involved and uninvolved knee. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between the scores on the isokinetic test and functional tests. Significance was determined by P<0.05. Results: IKDCSKEF score was significantly lower in patients than control subjects. Quadriceps peak torque and functional test scores were significantly lower in the involved knee of the ACLR subjects compared to the uninvolved knee. Correlation coefficients of isokinetic peak torque to body weight and functional testing were not significant in patients or control subjects, whi1e the limb symmetry index (LSI) of the quadriceps isokinetics peak torque to body weight and the LSI of the functional tests were significant (r = 0.54 to 0.97). Conclusion: These results indicate a significant relationship between the LSI of various functional tests and the LSI of isokinetic testing among ACLR patients. Thus, in situations where an isokinetic dynamometer is not available, the LSI of functional tests can be used to estimate quadriceps deficiency for ACLR patients. © 2008, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Effects of fatigue on electromyography activity of biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of soccer players

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fatigue on electromyography activity of biceps femoris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of soccer players. Materials and Methods: In this study timing and electromyography activity of biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius and soleus of soccer players (15 subjects) during different times of football were investigated. Surface electromyography (ME6000) was used to collect data during single leg drop (before the game, after the first and the second half time). Results: Results of this study showed that although fatigue affects muscle's timing but in different periods of time it wasn�t significant (P>0.05). Conspiciously, significant differences were observed for feedforward activity of biceps femoris and soleus (P�0.05), but for medial gastrocnemius it wasn't significant (P>0.05). Also significant differences were observed for feedback activity of soleus muscles (P�0.05), but it wasn�t significant for biceps femoris and medial gastrocnemius (P>0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that fatigue leads to insignificant changes in timing but there were significant differences for feed forward activity of biceps femoris and soleus and feedback activity of soleus. So, during training sessions, trainers should be trying to improve player's tolerance and prevent soccer injuries. © 2019, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Electromyographic responses of vastus muscles to dynamic postural perturbations in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome

Background and Aim: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is among the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the athletes and active individuals. Observation of muscular responses to unexpected perturbations is one of the most common methods to evaluate the neural strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the EMG response of vastus muscles to dynamic postural perturbations in the athletes with PFPS. Material and Method: This study included 10 male athletes with PFPS and 10 healthy male athletes. NPRS scale was used to assess pain. EMG activity of VMO and VL muscles measured during dynamic postural perturbation. The EMG signals were collected using a 16- channel BTS-FREEEMG 300 system, manufactured in Italy. Independent-t test was used for data analysis. Results: RMS values for VMO and VL muscles in PFPS group, were higher than the corresponding values of the control group by 33.59 and 33.35 respectively, in the forward postural perturbation. There was a significant difference in VL muscle RMS values between the two groups (P=0.04). RMS values for VMO and VL muscles in PFPS group were higher than those of the control group by 38 and 49.52 respectively, in the backward postural perturbation and there was a significant difference in VL muscle RMS values between the two groups (P=0.04). Conclusion: The results showed that valtus muscles were more active in response to dynamic postural perturbation in the athletes with PFPS in comparison to the healthy athletes. Patellofemoral pain syndrome and in general joint disorders can lead to dysfunction in the whole sensory-motor system. Therefore, instead of focusing on local symptoms we should examine the whole body in sensory-motor system dysfunction. © 2016, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Scientometric study on non-communicable diseases in Iran: A review article

Background: Non-Communicable disease (NCDs) is a killer of people that needs to urgent actions across the world. Scientific evidence is the critical arm for effective interventions. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the trend of four main NCDs� scientific publication in a 17-yr period, and reflect international collaboration. Methods: This scientometric study on four main NCDs; cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases were carried out through the narrative review in international databases of Scopus from 2000 to 2016. In this way, the number of articles, citations, and international collaboration were assessed, and the frequently used terms on non-communicable diseases were mapped by VOSviewer software. Results: Over the 17 years, 25827 articles about four main NCDs by Iran indexed in Scopus have increasing trend steadily. However, chronic obstructive respiratory publications have slow trend. The number of articles, citations, and h index of cancer-related publications was higher than the others. Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases scientometrics indicators state in next positions, respectively. The most collaborative country was USA in the four areas, and there was not seen region countries� collaboration in top ten levels. The frequently used terms in NCDs� articles in order were diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and breast cancer. Conclusion: Iran provides appropriate face of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases publications in the mirror of NCDs� scientometry. However, there is need for more effort in chronic respiratory diseases researches, and strengthen collaboration with regional countries. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

Multi-ancestry GWAS of the electrocardiographic PR interval identifies 202 loci underlying cardiac conduction

The electrocardiographic PR interval reflects atrioventricular conduction, and is associated with conduction abnormalities, pacemaker implantation, atrial fibrillation (AF), and cardiovascular mortality. Here we report a multi-ancestry (N = 293,051) genome-wide association meta-analysis for the PR interval, discovering 202 loci of which 141 have not previously been reported. Variants at identified loci increase the percentage of heritability explained, from 33.5% to 62.6%. We observe enrichment for cardiac muscle developmental/contractile and cytoskeletal genes, highlighting key regulation processes for atrioventricular conduction. Additionally, 8 loci not previously reported harbor genes underlying inherited arrhythmic syndromes and/or cardiomyopathies suggesting a role for these genes in cardiovascular pathology in the general population. We show that polygenic predisposition to PR interval duration is an endophenotype for cardiovascular disease, including distal conduction disease, AF, and atrioventricular pre-excitation. These findings advance our understanding of the polygenic basis of cardiac conduction, and the genetic relationship between PR interval duration and cardiovascular disease

Pleiotropy among common genetic loci identified for cardiometabolic disorders and C-reactive protein.

Pleiotropic genetic variants have independent effects on different phenotypes. C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with several cardiometabolic phenotypes. Shared genetic backgrounds may partially underlie these associations. We conducted a genome-wide analysis to identify the shared genetic background of inflammation and cardiometabolic phenotypes using published genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We also evaluated whether the pleiotropic effects of such loci were biological or mediated in nature. First, we examined whether 283 common variants identified for 10 cardiometabolic phenotypes in GWAS are associated with CRP level. Second, we tested whether 18 variants identified for serum CRP are associated with 10 cardiometabolic phenotypes. We used a Bonferroni corrected p-value of 1.1×10-04 (0.05/463) as a threshold of significance. We evaluated the independent pleiotropic effect on both phenotypes using individual level data from the Women Genome Health Study. Evaluating the genetic overlap between inflammation and cardiometabolic phenotypes, we found 13 pleiotropic regions. Additional analyses showed that 6 regions (APOC1, HNF1A, IL6R, PPP1R3B, HNF4A and IL1F10) appeared to have a pleiotropic effect on CRP independent of the effects on the cardiometabolic phenotypes. These included loci where individuals carrying the risk allele for CRP encounter higher lipid levels and risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition, 5 regions (GCKR, PABPC4, BCL7B, FTO and TMEM18) had an effect on CRP largely mediated through the cardiometabolic phenotypes. In conclusion, our results show genetic pleiotropy among inflammation and cardiometabolic phenotypes. In addition to reverse causation, our data suggests that pleiotropic genetic variants partially underlie the association between CRP and cardiometabolic phenotypes

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden