An Online Guided ACT Intervention for Enhancing the Psychological Well-being of Female Soccer Players in Pre-season

This study investigated whether an internet-based intervention aimed at enhancing the psychological well-being of female soccer players before the competitive season could be effective approach to meet the needs of the players. Players (n= 43; 17–26 years old)on the four separated teams in Finland’shighest league were assigned to either a guided six-week online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy intervention (ACTi) or to a control condition (CON). A between-groups pre–post (ACTi vs. CON) design was implemented before the competitive season. Players in the ACTi were offered three group sessions, performed internet-based tasks, and were individually supported by a guide. The results demonstrated that the ACTi players maintained their sports-related well-being (between-group, d = 0.72), while the sports-related well-being of the CON players, especially emotional and social well-being, had declined. In addition, ACTi players’perceived stress (d = 0.60) and depression (d = 0.88) declined, while their psychological flexibility in sports (d = 0.41) increased compared to the CON players. These results suggest that before the competitive season, players’ sports-related well-being decreases. The ACT intervention seemed to prevent this decrease and provide players with the skills to cope with emotional and social stressors related to the competitive season

Screening of community-dwelling older patients by the emergency medical services : An observational retrospective registry study

Background: Inadequate nutrition, falls, and cognitive impairment are common problems among acutely ill older people and are associated with complicated and prolonged health problems and mortality. Objectives: To assess if the emergency medical services can identify patients with nutritional risk, falls risk, and cognitive impairment by using simple screening tools and to assess the prevalence of risks and rate they are reported to the emergency department. Setting: The study was carried out in Espoo, Finland to patients over the age of 70 requiring non-urgent ambulance transfer to the emergency department. Outcome measures: A set of validated electronic screening tools was used to identify patients at nutritional risk, risk of falling and having cognitive impairment. Main results: A total of 488 (8%) out of 5792 patients were screened. Of the patients 60%, (n = 292) had at least one risk: 17% (n = 81) had nutritional risk, 43% (n = 209) falls risk, and 28% (n = 137) cognitive impairment. Twenty-two (5%) were screened positive in all three categories. The observed risk was reported to the emergency department staff in 59% (n = 173) of the patients. Conclusion: The emergency medical services can be used in preventive health care to identify patients having nutritional risk, falls risk, or cognitive impairment.Peer reviewe

Artturi Assists Finnish Advisers and Farmers to Succeed in Grass-Based Dairy Production

Artturi is a collective name for a wide range of services. It is a common tool for different bodies who share an interest in strengthening grass-based dairy production in Finland: research, advisory service and industries. The Service is named after A. I. (Artturi Ilmari) Virtanen, the Finnish scientist who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1945, partly based on his work in developing the ensiling process of grass. The Artturi web site is available in Internet at: http://www.agronet.fi/artturi. Access to Artturi Services is free and no registration is required. The language used is Finnish. During summer 2003, 15,000 visits were recorded at the web site

Näyttöön perustuva tuki- ja liikuntaelinsairauksien kuntoutus

Kelan rahoittaman TULES- eli tuki- ja liikuntaelinsairauksien kuntoutuksen standardien kehittämistä tukevan tutkimuksen (11/2013–8/2014) yhtenä osatavoitteena oli kartoittaa keskeisin tutkimusnäyttö tuki- ja liikuntaelinsairauksien vaikuttavasta kuntoutuksesta. Tämän työpaperin tarkoitus on antaa kuntoutuksen suunnittelijoille ja käytännön työntekijöille tietoa tämänhetkisen TULES-kuntoutuksen tutkimuksen tuloksista. Järjestelmällinen kirjallisuuskatsaus tuo esille vaikuttavaksi osoitettuja kuntoutusmuotoja. Tähän kirjallisuuskatsaukseen on lisäksi kerätty tietoa eri maiden kuntoutussuosituksista alaselän, niskan, olkapään sekä polven ja lonkan TULE-sairauksien osalta sekä kuntouttavan liikuntaharjoittelun perusteista. Järjestelmällinen tiedonhaku suoritettiin viiden vuoden ajalta; vuoden 2009 alusta vuoden 2013 loppuun saakka. Järjestelmällisen katsauksen päätulokset osoittivat aktiiviseen terapeuttiseen harjoitteluun perustuvien ohjelmien olevan vaikuttavia kaikkien katsauksessa mukana olleiden TULE-sairauksien kuntoutuksessa. Lisäksi todettiin manuaalisen terapian olevan vaikuttavaa alaselän ja niskan kuntoutuksessa. Kohtalaista tutkimusnäyttöä löytyi tiettyjen fysikaalisten hoitojen, mm. akupunktion, laserterapian ja pulsoivan magneettiterapian vaikuttavuudesta jokaisessa tutkitussa TULE-sairaudessa. Ohjauksellisista interventioista ainoastaan behavioraalisen terapian vaikuttavuus on osoitettu kohtalaiseksi alaselän kuntoutuksessa. Eri maiden ja yhdistysten suositukset painottavat tutkimusnäytön mukaisesti aktiivista harjoittelua niin selkä-, niska- kuin nivelkuntoutuksessa

Hip and spine bone mineral density are greater in master sprinters, but not endurance runners compared with non-athletic controls

Summary: We examined bone density in older athletes and controls. Sprinters had greater hip and spine bone density than endurance athletes and controls, whereas values were similar in the latter two groups. These results could not be explained by differences in impact, muscle size or power between sprint and endurance athletes. Purpose: We examined the relationship between prolonged participation in regular sprint or endurance running and skeletal health at key clinical sites in older age, and the factors responsible for any associations which we observed. Methods: We recruited 38 master sprint runners (28 males, 10 females, mean age 71 ± 7 years), 149 master endurance runners (111 males, 38 females, mean age 70 ± 6 years) and 59 non-athletic controls (29 males, 30 females, mean age 74 ± 5 years). Dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess hip and spine bone mineral density (BMD), body composition (lean and fat mass), whilst jump power was assessed with jumping mechanography. In athletes, vertical impacts were recorded over 7 days from a waist-worn accelerometer, and details of starting age, age-graded performance and training hours were recorded. Results: In ANOVA models adjusted for sex, age, height, body composition, and jump power, sprinter hip BMD was 10 and 14% greater than that of endurance runners and controls respectively. Sprinter spine BMD was also greater than that of both endurance runners and controls. There were no differences in hip or spine BMD between endurance runners and controls. Stepwise regression showed only discipline (sprint/endurance), sex, and age as predictors of athlete spine BMD, whilst these variables and starting age were predictive of hip BMD. Conclusions: Regular running is associated with greater BMD at the fracture-prone hip and spine sites in master sprinters but not endurance runners. These benefits cannot be explained by indicators of mechanical loading measured in this study including vertical impacts, body composition or muscular output

Quality of work community and workers' intention to retire

Purpose: To study the workers' perception of the quality of work community and its association with intention to retire early, separately among women and men working in Finnish postal service.Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to all Finnish postal services employees aged >= 50 years in 2016 and 44% (n = 2096) replied to the survey (mean age 56.3, 40% women). Employee's intention to retire before statutory retirement was measured on a scale of 1-5 and dichotomized. The quality of work community was defined by four composite variables: equality at work, flexibility at work, supportive work environment and health or other reason and trichotomized by their tercile values. Odds ratio (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of quality of work community with intention to retire were calculated separately for men and women using log binomial regression models adjusted for potential confounders.​​​​​​​Results: About one-third of respondents intended to retire early with no significant gender difference in retirement intention. Low equality at work (women OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.60-4.81; men 2.84, 1.80-4.48) and low flexibility at work (women 3.30, 1.94-5.60; men 2.91, 1.88-4.50) was associated with higher likelihood of intention to retire. Among women intention to retire was found less likely due to low supportive work environment (0.52, 0.31-0.89) and among men due to intermediate health or other reason (0.65, 043-0.98). Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of the quality of work community as well as the promotion of work-related health in order to encourage employees to remain at workforce for longer.</p

Подростки-спортсмены строят двойную карьеру и благополучие в условиях двойного карьерного роста: роль факторов окружающей среды

Рукопись поступила в редакцию: 20.12.2021.Received: 20.12.2021.Цель исследования заключалась в изучении карьерного роста и благополучия спортсменов-подростков в условиях двойного карьерного роста. В исследовании выявлены особенности адаптивности к карьере в старших классах спортивной школы. В статье представлены данные относительно того, в какой степени самооценка и пол связаны с адаптивностью к двойной карьере, определены профили адаптации к карьере спортсменов-подростков, выявлены как ожидания студентов-спортсменов в зависимости от их успехов в спорте и учебе и соответствующие ожидания их родителей связаны с их профилями адаптации к карьере. Получены новые данные относительно того, как организационная культура спортивной школы влияет на построение карьеры спортсменов-подростков.The purpose of the scientific research was to study the career growth and well-being of adolescent athletes in conditions of dual career growth. The study revealed the features of adaptability to a career in high school of sports school. The article presents data on the extent to which self-esteem and gender are associated with adaptability to a dual career, the profiles of adaptation to the career of adolescent athletes have been defined, it is also revealed how the expectations of student-athletes depending on their success in sports and studies and the corresponding expectations of their parents are associated with their profiles of adaptation to a career. The new data on how the organizational culture of a sports school affects the career development of teenage athletes have been obtained

A novel accelerometer-based method to describe day-to-day exposure to potentially osteogenic vertical impacts in older adults: findings from a multi-cohort study

Summary: This observational study assessed vertical impacts experienced in older adults as part of their day-to-day physical activity using accelerometry and questionnaire data. Population-based older adults experienced very limited high-impact activity. The accelerometry method utilised appeared to be valid based on comparisons between different cohorts and with self-reported activity. Introduction: We aimed to validate a novel method for evaluating day-to-day higher impact weight-bearing physical activity (PA) in older adults, thought to be important in protecting against osteoporosis, by comparing results between four cohorts varying in age and activity levels, and with self-reported PA levels. Methods: Participants were from three population-based cohorts, MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), Hertfordshire Cohort Study (HCS) and Cohort for Skeletal Health in Bristol and Avon (COSHIBA), and the Master Athlete Cohort (MAC). Y-axis peaks (reflecting the vertical when an individual is upright) from a triaxial accelerometer (sampling frequency 50 Hz, range 0–16 g) worn at the waist for 7 days were classified as low (0.5–1.0 g), medium (1.0–1.5 g) or higher (≥1.5 g) impacts. Results: There were a median of 90, 41 and 39 higher impacts/week in NSHD (age 69.5), COSHIBA (age 76.8) and HCS (age 78.5) participants, respectively (total n = 1512). In contrast, MAC participants (age 68.5) had a median of 14,322 higher impacts/week. In the three population cohorts combined, based on comparison of beta coefficients, moderate-high-impact activities as assessed by PA questionnaire were suggestive of stronger association with higher impacts from accelerometers (0.25 [0.17, 0.34]), compared with medium (0.18 [0.09, 0.27]) and low impacts (0.13 [0.07,0.19]) (beta coefficient, with 95 % CI). Likewise in MAC, reported moderate-high-impact activities showed a stronger association with higher impacts (0.26 [0.14, 0.37]), compared with medium (0.14 [0.05, 0.22]) and low impacts (0.03 [−0.02, 0.08]). Conclusions: Our new accelerometer method appears to provide valid measures of higher vertical impacts in older adults. Results obtained from the three population-based cohorts indicate that older adults generally experience very limited higher impact weight-bearing PA

Options for early breast cancer follow-up in primary and secondary care : a systematic review

Background Both incidence of breast cancer and survival have increased in recent years and there is a need to review follow up strategies. This study aims to assess the evidence for benefits of follow-up in different settings for women who have had treatment for early breast cancer. Method A systematic review to identify key criteria for follow up and then address research questions. Key criteria were: 1) Risk of second breast cancer over time - incidence compared to general population. 2) Incidence and method of detection of local recurrence and second ipsi and contra-lateral breast cancer. 3) Level 1–4 evidence of the benefits of hospital or alternative setting follow-up for survival and well-being. Data sources to identify criteria were MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL, PSYCHINFO, ZETOC, Health Management Information Consortium, Science Direct. For the systematic review to address research questions searches were performed using MEDLINE (2011). Studies included were population studies using cancer registry data for incidence of new cancers, cohort studies with long term follow up for recurrence and detection of new primaries and RCTs not restricted to special populations for trials of alternative follow up and lifestyle interventions. Results Women who have had breast cancer have an increased risk of a second primary breast cancer for at least 20 years compared to the general population. Mammographically detected local recurrences or those detected by women themselves gave better survival than those detected by clinical examination. Follow up in alternative settings to the specialist clinic is acceptable to women but trials are underpowered for survival. Conclusions Long term support, surveillance mammography and fast access to medical treatment at point of need may be better than hospital based surveillance limited to five years but further large, randomised controlled trials are needed

Evaluation of Aerosol Delivery of Nanosuspension for Pre-clinical Pulmonary Drug Delivery

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are pulmonary diseases that are characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine production, and airway hyper-reactivity. Most of the effector cells responsible for these pathologies reside in the lungs. One of the most direct ways to deliver drugs to the target cells is via the trachea. In a pre-clinical setting, this can be achieved via intratracheal (IT), intranasal (IN), or aerosol delivery in the desired animal model. In this study, we pioneered the aerosol delivery of a nanosuspension formulation in a rodent model. The efficiency of different dosing techniques and formulations to target the lungs were compared, and fluticasone was used as the model compound. For the aerosol particle size determination, a ten-stage cascade impactor was used. The mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) was calculated based on the percent cumulative accumulation at each stage. Formulations with different particle size of fluticasone were made for evaluation. The compatibility of regular fluticasone suspension and nanosuspension for aerosol delivery was also investigated. The in vivo studies were conducted on mice with optimized setting. It was found that the aerosol delivery of fluticasone with nanosuspension was as efficient as intranasal (IN) dosing, and was able to achieve dose dependent lung deposition