Progression of Performance Over Four Decades in Masters’ Athletics

Athletic performance at the highest level of competition has improved in a variety of sports over the last 40 years, most notably in swimming and track. Although improvements in performance have also been observed among masters’ athletes (ages 35 and older), data concerning masters’ athletic performance have only been certain since the 1970’s. Whether the magnitude of improvement in athletic performance from 1970 onward is different between elite and masters’ athletes, as well as between different age groups of masters’ athletes, has yet to be determined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in progression of athletic performance between different age groups of masters’ athletes and elite athletes. METHODS: Track (100m and 400m running) and swimming (100m freestyle) times were collected from the World Masters Track and Field and the USA Swimming database. The time span ranged from 1975 to 2013. Age groups were separated into eight 5-year segments spanning from age 40 to 79 years. The top three times of each age group for each year were selected. Moreover, the top 3 track and field and swimming times of any age were collected for the same years to represent a reference standard from which to compare age-group records. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the age × year × sex interaction with SPSS software. When a significant interaction was present, a comparison of slope between age groups and sexes was performed. RESULTS: There were significant age × year × sex interactions in all athletic events examined. Improvements in race times were significant (p\u3c0.05) in both sexes and for age groups 45 and older. Relative improvements in the 45+ age groups were significantly different from the fastest running times. The general trends were similar for 400m middle-distance running. The progressions of 100m swimming times were significant (p\u3c0.05) for all age groups and for both sexes. Analysis of differences in the slope showed that older athletes and women had a greater slope of improvement in performance during that time. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that there have been significant improvements in athletic performance in masters’ athletes aged 45 and older in the track and field events, and those aged 40 and older in the swimming events in the past thirty nine years

Euscorpius sicanus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Tunisia: DNA Barcoding Confirms Ancient Disjunctions Across the Mediterranean Sea

We used a DNA barcoding marker (mitochondrial cox1) to investigate the controversial natural occurrence of Euscorpius sicanus (C.L. Koch) in North Africa. We tested this hypothesis by comparing a sample collected from a mountain in Tunisia to disjunct populations in Sardinia, Malta, and Greece. Using these samples, and a few additional Euscorpius spp. from southern Europe as outgroups, we reconstructed the maternal phylogeny. We then used a molecular clock to place the phylogeny in a temporal context. The Tunisian sample grouped closest to a specimen from Sardinia, with both being more distantly related to E. sicanus from Malta, which is known to be genetically similar to samples from Sicily. Molecular clock estimates suggest an ancient disjunction across the Mediterranean Sea, with the divergence between samples from Sardinia and Tunisia estimated to have occurred between the Late Miocene and late Pliocene. The divergence date (mean = 5.56 Mya) closely corresponds with the timing of a sudden refilling of the Mediterranean Sea after it had evaporated during the Messinian salinity crisis. This rapid influx of water, in conjunction with tectonic activity, could have sundered connections between Euscorpius in North Africa and what is now the island of Sardinia. These results provide yet another case in which DNA barcodes have proven useful for more than just identifying and discovering species

Intronic NEFH variant is associated with reduced risk for sporadic ALS and later age of disease onset

Neurofilament heavy (NEFH) is one of the critical proteins required for the formation of the neuronal cytoskeleton and polymorphisms in NEFH are reported as a rare cause of sporadic ALS (sALS). In the current study, a candidate tetranucleotide (TTTA) repeat variant in NEFH was selected using an in-silico short structural variant (SSV) evaluation algorithm and investigated in two cohorts of North American sALS patients, both separately and combined (Duke cohort n = 138, Coriell cohort n = 333; combined cohort n = 471), compared to a group of healthy controls from the Coriell Institute biobank (n = 496). Stratification according to site of disease onset revealed that the 9 TTTA allele was associated with reduced disease risk, specifically confined to spinal-onset sALS patients in the Duke cohort (p = 0.001). Furthermore, carriage of the 10 TTTA allele was associated with a 2.7 year later age of disease onset in the larger combined sALS cohort (p = 0.02). These results suggest that the 9 and 10 TTTA motif length may have a protective advantage for potentially lowering the risk of sALS and delaying the age of disease onset, however, these results need to be replicated in larger multicenter and multi-ethnic cohorts

Les cellulites cervico-faciales d’origine dentaire: a propos de 150 cas

Les cellulites cervico-faciales d’origine dentaire sont des infections des tissus cellulo-adipeux, de la face et du cou, ayant des potentialités extensives pouvant parfois être graves et engager le pronostic vital. Le but de ce travail est d’étudier le profil épidémioclinique et paraclinique de nos patients, d’évaluer leur prise en charge thérapeutique et leur évolution. Notre étude est rétrospective et a porté sur 150 cas de cellulites cervico-faciales d’origine dentaire colligés sur 10 ans entre 1997 et 2006. La prise en charge thérapeutique était médico-hirurgicale. Les cellulites cervico-faciales d’origine dentaire sont une pathologie potentiellement grave dont la prise en charge est coûteuse et les répercussions socio-professionnelles et économiques sont lourdes d’où l’intérêt d’une politique de prévention efficace et ciblée visant à réduire la morbidité liée à ces infections.Mots clés : cellulites cervicale et faciale, infections dentaire, prévention

Evaluation des facteurs pronostiques pouvant influencer les resultats d’une septoplastie

Introduction :Une des principales étiologies de l’obstruction nasale est la déviation septale, dont le traitement chirurgical est la septoplastie. mais d’autres étiologies peuvent être à l’origine d’une obstruction nasale, notamment une hypertrophie des cornets, des végétations adénoïdes hypertrophiques, une polypose nasale, etc. Les critères de sélection sur lesquels se base un chirurgien pour décider de pratiquer une septoplastie, sont essentiellement basés sur l’évaluation clinique. Le but de nôtre travail est d’évaluer ces critères cliniques ainsi que les critères dermographiques pouvant influencer les résultats de la septoplastie.Patients et méthodes : On a évalué tous les patients qui ont eu une septoplastie dans les 2 à 10 dernières années. Les données cliniques ont été revues afin de préciser le siège de la déformation septale initiale, sa sévérité dictée par le chirurgien et les résultats fonctionnels de la septoplastie.Résultats et : les patients ayant une déviation septale antérieure ont rapporté le plus d’amélioration après septoplastie. Toutefois il ressort de notre étude qu’une sélection des patients basée uniquement sur l’évaluation clinique par le chirurgien de l’importance de la déviation septale est à l’origine d’un taux important d’insatisfaction des patientsObjective : a common etiology of nasal obstruction is deviation of the nasal septum, for witch septoplasty is the definitive treatment. But nasal obstruction can be caused by other conditions, such as turbinate hypertrophy, adenoid hypertrophy, and nasal polyposis. The surgeons’ selection criteria for septoplasty largely rely on clinical judgment alone. The aim of our study was to evaluate if this clinical criteria and the demographics ones could influence the results of septoplasty.Patients and methods :We evaluate all patients who underwent septoplasty in the past 2 to 10 years. Clinical files were reviewed to establish the initial type of septal deformity, its severity dictated by the surgeon and the functional results of septoplasty.Results and Conclusion : Subjects with anterior septal deformities were shown to benefit the most from septoplasty. However, selection of patients based on clinical evaluation alone does carry a considerable risk of patient dissatisfaction with end results

Facteurs predictifs d’atteinte ganglionnaire centrale dans les cancers differencies de la thyroïde. Analyses univariée et multivariée

Les cancers papillaires et vésiculaires de la thyroïde sont les cancers endocriniens les plus fréquents. L’envahissement ganglionnaire semble peu influencer la survie globale, mais majore les risques de récidive locorégionale et de métastases à distance. Cet envahissement est une complication fréquente des cancers papillaires de la thyroïde, moins rapporté dans les cancers vésiculaires. il implique un évidement ganglionnaire qui n’est pas sans risques. Pour déterminer les moyens de limiter les curages ganglionnaires, nous avons tenté de déterminer les critères per opératoires prédictifs de métastase ganglionnaire centrale et ainsi identifier les patients qui doivent bénéficier de cette procédure. Notre étude est une étude rétrospective portant sur 71 patients (49 femmes et 22 hommes) traités entre 2000 et 2011d’un cancer différencié de la thyroïde de type papillaire ou vésiculaire. Après analyse des critères épidémiologiques, cliniques et anatomopathologiques, nous avons trouvé une association significative entre l’envahissement extra capsulaire, l’envahissement ganglionnaire latéral, la bilatéralité et l’envahissement ganglionnaire central. un évidemment ganglionnaire central prophylactique doit donc être particulièrement considéré chez ces patients.Mots clés : carcinome thyroïdien, évidement ganglionnaire, métastase ganglionnaire.Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas are the most common form of endocrine carcinomas. Lymph node involvement seems to be a low risk factor for death, but it increases the risk for loco-regional recurrences and distant metastasis. Lymph node involvement is a common complication of papillary thyroid carcinoma, less reported in vesicular carcinoma. il involves node dissection and its resulting morbidity. To determine means of limiting lymph node dissections, we attempted to determine intra-operative criteria predictive of node metastasis and soidentify the patients likely to benefit from this procedure. Our study is a retrospective study of 71 patients (49 women and 22 men) treated between 2000 and 2011 from differentiated thyroid cancer (papillary or follicular).After analyses of the demographic, clinical and anatomopathological factors, we found a significant association among extra capsular invasion, lateral lymphnode metastasis, bilaterality, and central compartment lymph node metastasis. A prophylactic neck dissection of the central compartment should be considered particularly in these patients.Keyswords : thyroid carcinoma, lymph node dissection, lymph node metastases

Tuberculose lymphonodale cervicale chez les enfants vaccines par le BCG

La tuberculose ganglionnaire cervicale est une localisation extrapulmonaire relativement fréquente chez l’enfant. Elle pose essentiellement des difficultés de prévention. L’objectif de ce travail est d’étudier les particularités diagnostiques et thérapeutiques chez des enfants vaccinés par le BCG.Matériel et méthodes: Nôtre étude rétrospective porte sur 23 cas de tuberculose ganglionnaire chez des enfants vaccinés, colligés sur une période de 10 ans allant de 2002 à 2011.Résultats : La moyenne d’âge des enfants était de 8 ans. Le délai de consultation était en moyenne de 1 mois. Seize enfants présentaient une polyadénopathie cervicale bilatérale. L’échographie cervicale a objectivé une nécrose intra ganglionnaire dans 17 cas. Le diagnostic de tuberculose ganglionnaire a été confirmé par l’examen anatomopathologique d’une pièce d’adénectomie dans tous les cas. Aucun des enfants n’a présenté de forme grave ou compliquée. Un traitement antituberculeux selon le schéma national a été instauré dans tous les cas. L’évolution a été favorable dans tous les cas.Conclusion : Malgré tous les efforts déployés par notre pays pour la lutte contre la tuberculose, cette dernière sévit toujours à l’état endémique. La vaccination par le BCG a permis de diminuer considérablement le nombre des formes graves mais ne protège pas parfaitement contre cette maladie.MOTS CLES : Tuberculose; enfant; Adénopathie cervicale; Adénectomie.The cervical lymph node tuberculosis is a extrapulmonary form relatively common in children, it poses difficulties essentially preventive. The purpose of this work was to study the diagnostic and therapeutic features in children vaccinated with BCG.Material and Methods: Our study is retrospective including 23 cases of lymph node tuberculosis in vaccinated children, collected over a period of 10 years from 2002 to 2011.Results: The average age of the children was 8 years old. The consultation delay was on average 1 month. Sixteen children had bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound cervical objectified intra nodal necrosis in 17 cases. The diagnosis of lymph node tuberculosis was confirmed by histological examination of a piece of lymphadenectomy in all cases. None of the children presented with severe or complicated form. All patients were treated according to the national scheme. The outcome was favorable in all cases.Conclusion: Despite all efforts by our country in the fight against tuberculosis, the latter sévie still endemic. BCG vaccination has reduced considerably the number of severe but does not protect completely against this disease.KEYWORDS: Tuberculosis; Child; Cerical adenopathy; Adenectomy

Carcinome hybride de la fosse nasale

Hybrid carcinoma is a rare neoplasm, accounting for less than 0.1% of all registered tumors in salivary glands. Up to now, only one case of hybrid carcinoma of the nasal cavity has been described. In this report, we describe a case of hybrid carcinoma composed of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma with an adenoid cystic carcinoma component occurring in the nasal cavity in a 56-year-old woman. Caldwell-Luc means resection was performedand the patient revisited because of the tumor recurrence within two years of evolution. A second surgery was accomplished by means of Red Denker and a adjuvant radiation therapy is envisaged. We have not enough detachmentto speak about actual evolution. It is in our knowledge the second case of hybrid tumor of the nasal cavity described in the literature. Hybrid carcinoma of the nasal cavity is possible although rare. Therefore recognition of other component that is more aggressive and has a worse prognosis has therapeutic and prognostic ramifications.Keywords: Carcinoma; hybrid; tumors of nasal cavity

Utility of pharmacogenetic testing to optimise antidepressant pharmacotherapy in youth: a narrative literature review

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is the study and application of how interindividual differences in our genomes can influence drug responses. By evaluating individuals’ genetic variability in genes related to drug metabolism, PGx testing has the capabilities to individualise primary care and build a safer drug prescription model than the current “one-size-fits-all” approach. In particular, the use of PGx testing in psychiatry has shown promising evidence in improving drug efficacy as well as reducing toxicity and adverse drug reactions. Despite randomised controlled trials demonstrating an evidence base for its use, there are still numerous barriers impeding its implementation. This review paper will discuss the management of mental health conditions with PGx-guided treatment with a strong focus on youth mental illness. PGx testing in clinical practice, the concerns for its implementation in youth psychiatry, and some of the barriers inhibiting its integration in clinical healthcare will also be discussed. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge and application for PGx in psychiatry and summarises the capabilities of genetic information to personalising medicine for the treatment of mental ill-health in youth