Abnormal ECG Findings in Athletes: Clinical Evaluation and Considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation with electrocardiography is normal practice for most sporting bodies. Awareness about sudden cardiac death in athletes and recognizing how screening can help identify vulnerable athletes have empowered different sporting disciplines to invest in the wellbeing of their athletes. RECENT FINDINGS: Discerning physiological electrical alterations due to athletic training from those representing cardiac pathology may be challenging. The mode of investigation of affected athletes is dependent on the electrical anomaly and the disease(s) in question. This review will highlight specific pathological ECG patterns that warrant assessment and surveillance, together with an in-depth review of the recommended algorithm for evaluation

Anterior T-Wave Inversion in Young White Athletes and Nonathletes: Prevalance and Significance

BACKGROUND: Anterior T-wave inversion (ATWI) on electrocardiography (ECG) in young white adults raises the possibility of cardiomyopathy, specifically arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Whereas the 2010 European consensus recommendations for ECG interpretation in young athletes state that ATWI beyond lead V1 warrants further investigation, the prevalence and significance of ATWI have never been reported in a large population of asymptomatic whites. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence and significance of ATWI in a large cohort of young, white adults including athletes. METHODS: Individuals 16 to 35 years of age (n = 14,646), including 4,720 females (32%) and 2,958 athletes (20%), were evaluated by using a health questionnaire, physical examination, and 12-lead ECG. ATWI was defined as T-wave inversion in ≥2 contiguous anterior leads (V1 to V4). RESULTS: ATWI was detected in 338 individuals (2.3%) and was more common in women than in men (4.3% vs. 1.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001) and more common among athletes than in nonathletes (3.5% vs. 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.0001). T-wave inversion was predominantly confined to leads V1 to V2 (77%). Only 1.2% of women and 0.2% of men exhibited ATWI beyond V2. No one with ATWI fulfilled diagnostic criteria for ARVC after further evaluation. During a mean follow-up of 23.1 ± 12.2 months none of the individuals with ATWI experienced an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: ATWI confined to leads V1 to V2 is a normal variant or physiological phenomenon in asymptomatic white individuals without a relevant family history. ATWI beyond V2 is rare, particularly in men, and may warrant investigation

The Female Athlete's Heart: Facts and Fallacies.

Purpose of the review For many years, competitive sport has been dominated by men. Recent times have witnessed a significant increase in women participating in elite sports. As most studies investigated male athletes, with few reports on female counterparts, it is crucial to have a better understanding on physiological cardiac adaptation to exercise in female athletes, to distinguish normal phenotypes from potentially fatal cardiac diseases. This review reports on cardiac adaptation to exercise in females. Recent findings Recent studies show that electrical, structural, and functional cardiac changes due to physiological adaptation to exercise differ in male and female athletes. Women tend to exhibit eccentric hypertrophy, and while concentric hypertrophy or concentric remodeling may be a normal finding in male athletes, it should be evaluated carefully in female athletes as it may be a sign of pathology. Although few studies on veteran female athletes are available, women seem to be affected by atrial fibrillation, coronary atherosclerosis, and myocardial fibrosis less than male counterparts. Summary Males and females exhibit many biological, anatomical, and hormonal differences, and cardiac adaptation to exercise is no exception. The increasing participation of women in sports should stimulate the scientific community to develop large, longitudinal studies aimed at a better understanding of cardiac adaptation to exercise in female athletes

Rationally designed peptides inhibit the formation of α-synuclein fibrils and oligomers

\ua9 2025 The Authors. Parkinson\u27s Disease (PD) is characterized by the pathological aggregation of α-synuclein (αSyn) into oligomers and amyloid fibrils, making αSyn aggregation a key target for drug development. Peptides have gained recent attention as potential agents to inhibit aggregation. Two previously identified peptide inhibitors, discovered through large-scale yeast screening, were used as templates for in silico mutagenesis aimed at designing novel peptides with improved efficacy in inhibiting αSyn aggregation and cytotoxicity. The newly designed peptides underwent in silico docking analysis, and the most promising candidates were tested in vitro and in cellular models. Peptides T02 and T05 emerged as the most effective inhibitors, with T02 binding αSyn monomers and T05 targeting lower-order oligomers. Both peptides reduce αSyn fibril and oligomer formation in vitro and significantly suppress αSyn aggregation and cytotoxicity in yeast and human H4 cells. These novel peptides represent antagonists of αSyn aggregation with promising potential for therapeutic intervention for PD

Situation Analysis of Gum Arabic Production and Practices in North Kordofan, Sudan

There is a great quantity of gum arabic trees in the Gum Arabic belt and plenty of gum Arabic researches were conducted, still there are information gaps in gum production, quality aspects, marketing and adoption of innovations tools.&nbsp; The broad objective of this research was to assess the impact of gum Arabic researches results applied in improving and developing the gum Arabic sector in term of applied of tapping by sunki, tapping direction east and west, bags packaging gum in it, time between picking and second one and tapping operation provided by different institutions in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities - North Kordofan State, Sudan. Primary data was collected through face- to face interview with local farmers. A random sample of 265 respondents was selected from nine gum Arabic producers associations representing the two localities. Secondary data was obtained from thesis, journals, books, reports, web, and other relevant sources. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi- square and likert scale analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The main findings of the research are; there were significance relationship at (p= 0.05) between gum Arabic production techniques applied and production and quality gum with regards to applied tapping by sunki, tapping direction east and west and bags packaging gum in it, time between first picking and second one in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities. The result of binary logistic regression showed that extension and training services are the main determinants factor for adoption of gum production techniques. Drawing from the present empirical findings the taps with sunki, tapping east and west direction, jute bags packaging gum in it and the time between first picking and second one were preferred gum production techniques in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities. Modern and adapted tapping tools should be invented

Situation Analysis of Gum Arabic Production and Practices in North Kordofan, Sudan

There is a great quantity of gum arabic trees in the Gum Arabic belt and plenty of gum Arabic researches were conducted, still there are information gaps in gum production, quality aspects, marketing and adoption of innovations tools.&nbsp; The broad objective of this research was to assess the impact of gum Arabic researches results applied in improving and developing the gum Arabic sector in term of applied of tapping by sunki, tapping direction east and west, bags packaging gum in it, time between picking and second one and tapping operation provided by different institutions in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities - North Kordofan State, Sudan. Primary data was collected through face- to face interview with local farmers. A random sample of 265 respondents was selected from nine gum Arabic producers associations representing the two localities. Secondary data was obtained from thesis, journals, books, reports, web, and other relevant sources. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi- square and likert scale analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The main findings of the research are; there were significance relationship at (p= 0.05) between gum Arabic production techniques applied and production and quality gum with regards to applied tapping by sunki, tapping direction east and west and bags packaging gum in it, time between first picking and second one in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities. The result of binary logistic regression showed that extension and training services are the main determinants factor for adoption of gum production techniques. Drawing from the present empirical findings the taps with sunki, tapping east and west direction, jute bags packaging gum in it and the time between first picking and second one were preferred gum production techniques in Sheikan and Um Ruwaba localities. Modern and adapted tapping tools should be invented

Preparation, characterization and antibacterial effects of eco-friendly gold nanorods

Purpose: To synthesize and characterize eco-friendly gold nanorods (Au-NRs) and to assess their effects against two bacterial strains.Methods: Synthesis of eco-friendly gold nanorods was done from an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by mixing Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts with the latter as a reducing agent. The synthesis was monitored by ultraviolet–visible (UV) spectrophotmetry and a zetasizer, while the morphology of the resulting nanorods was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS). The effect of the prepared eco-nanorods on growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were investigated by agar diffusion method.Results: The synthesized Au-NRs were mostly rod-shaped, with mean size of 96 nm. They exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and  Gram-negative microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus).Conclusion: The findings suggest that the nanoformulation of the biomaterial mix of Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and non-toxic synthesis of Au- NRs which has therpeautic potential.Keywords: Olea europaea, Acacia nilotica, Gold nanorods, Eco-friendly synthesis, Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganism

ZAP-70 Expression in B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Sudanese Patients

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of leukemia in adults. The prognostic impact of ZAP-70 in CLL has been reported in several studies. The aim of conducting this study was to investigate the prevalence of ZAP-70 in Sudanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia attending Khartoum Oncology Hospital.Materials and Methods: A total of 93 newly diagnosed patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in this study. Lymphadenopathy and organomegaly were assessed in all participants using clinical examination, chest radiography, and abdominal ultrasound. Full blood count was carried out by an automated hematology analyzer. ZAP-70 was evaluated using flowcytometry on peripheral blood samples. ZAP-70 was defined as positive expression at a cutoff level of 20%. Results: There were 63 (67.7%) males and 30 (32.3%) females and the median age of the group was 63 years; 68 patients (73.1%) were presented with anemia and 66(70.9%) had lymphadenopath;y. Majority of our patients 35 (37.6%) were in Rai stage IV. ZAP-70 positivity was detected in 21 patients (22.6%). There was no statistically significant association of ZAP-70 with age, sex, lymphadenopathy, organomegaly, hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, platelet count and Rai staging system (p-value &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: Only 21 patients (22.6%) were ZAP-70 positive. There was no association between ZAP-70 and the study variables. Further studies to evaluate prognostic role of ZAP-70 in Sudanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are recommended