Reliability of the running vertical jump test in female team sport athletes

Injury rates to the lower limb have increased over the past 40 years, coinciding with increases in female sport participation rates. Sport specific tests such as the running vertical jump (RVJ) are utilised for injury risk profiling, however the test-retest reliability is unknown. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the thorax, pelvis and lower limb joint angular kinematics and kinetics for the RVJ test in female team sport athletes. Design: Three-dimensional motion capture with force plate integration was utilised as participants performed five trials on each limb on three separate days. Setting: Testing occurred in a biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Thirty-four females (Australian Rules Football = 15, Netball = 12, Soccer = 7) participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), effect sizes and typical errors (TE) of segment and joint angular kinematics and kinetics were calculated. Results: Poor to excellent reliability (ICC = −0.12 – 0.92), small to large effect sizes (0.00–0.90) and TE (0.02–289.24) were observed across segment and joint angular kinematics and kinetics. Conclusions: The RVJ test is recommended when analysing ground reaction forces and joint angular kinematics in female team sport athletes

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

EMG, force and discharge rate analysis of human jaw reflexes in response to axial stimulation of the incisor

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comReflex studies utilising controlled stimulation along the long axis of human incisors are relatively new, and the effects that various stimulus parameters have on the elicited reflexes are not fully understood. Twelve subjects were recruited to determine the effects that contraction level, stimulus force and amount of constant force applied between stimuli have on the reflex response of the masseter muscle. Multi-unit intramuscular electromyogram (EMG) was recorded alongside surface EMG to determine whether any differences existed between the two. Furthermore, cumulative peri-stimulus “dischargegrams” were constructed to determine whether events seen in the EMG corresponded to changes in the discharge rates of the underlying motor units. Axial stimulation of the incisor induced a response in the EMG comprising of peak–trough–peak, with the trough being the most dominant. The bite force record showed only a reduction (relaxation) in response to the stimulation. The most significant experimental factor affecting the reflex occurrence and strength was the stimulus force. Although the latency, duration and occurrence rates were not significantly different, the strength of the responses was greater in intramuscular recordings compared with the surface recordings. Discharge rate analysis showed that approximately two-thirds of the late peaks detected in the EMG did not correspond to an increase in the discharge rates of the underlying units; hence they were due to the clustering of action potentials following the trough and not to a change in the membrane potential of the motoneurone. It was also found that the duration of the trough, as seen by the reduced cumulative discharge rate of the underlying units, was longer than indicated by the EMG.Russell S. A. Brinkworth and Kemal S. Türke

La Vigie marocaine

12 mai 19371937/05/12 (A28,N9288)-1937/05/12