Multiple Pregnancy after Gonadotropin-Intrauterine Insemination: An Unavoidable Event?

Objective. Determine which factors predict multiple pregnancy in gonadotropin-intrauterine insemination cycles so that cancellation criteria might be developed. Study Design. Retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing gonadotropin-intrauterine insemination over a continuous 36 month period. Results. No factors examined were able to predict the occurrence of multiple pregnancy. Conclusion. Multiple pregnancy is an unavoidable complication of gonadotropin-intrauterine insemination treatment

Musculoskeletal Strength, Balance Performance, and Self-Efficacy in Elderly Ving Tsun Chinese Martial Art Practitioners: Implications for Fall Prevention

Objectives. To (1) compare the bone strength, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy between Ving Tsun (VT) martial art practitioners and nonpractitioners and (2) identify the associations between lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy among the VT-trained participants. Methods. Thirty-five VT practitioners (mean age ± SD = 62.7 ± 13.3 years) and 49 nonpractitioners (mean age ± SD = 65.9 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study. The bone strength of the distal radius, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy were assessed using an ultrasound bone sonometer, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and the Chinese version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale, respectively. A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to compare all the outcome variables between the two groups. Results. Elderly VT practitioners had higher radial bone strength on the dominant side (P<0.05), greater lower limb muscular strength (P=0.001), better functional balance performance (P=0.003), and greater balance confidence (P<0.001) than the nonpractitioners. Additionally, only the FTSTS time revealed a significant association with the BBS score (r=-0.575, P=0.013). Conclusions. VT may be a suitable health-maintenance exercise for the elderly. Our findings may inspire the development of VT fall-prevention exercises for the community-dwelling healthy elderly

Acute Effects of Tai Chi Training on Cognitive and Cardiovascular Responses in Late Middle-Aged Adults: A Pilot Study

This study explored the immediate effects of Tai Chi (TC) training on attention and meditation, perceived stress level, heart rate, oxygen saturation level in blood, and palmar skin temperature in late middle-aged adults. Twenty TC practitioners and 20 nonpractitioners volunteered to join the study. After baseline measurements were taken, the TC group performed TC for 10 minutes while their cognitive states and cardiovascular responses were concurrently monitored. The control group rested for the same duration in a standing position. Both groups were then reassessed. The participants’ attention and meditation levels were measured using electroencephalography; stress levels were measured using Perceived Stress Scale; heart rate and blood oxygenation were measured using an oximeter; and palmar skin temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer. Attention level tended to increase during TC and dropped immediately thereafter (p<0.001). Perceived stress level decreased from baseline to posttest in exclusively the TC group (p=0.005). Heart rate increased during TC (p<0.001) and decreased thereafter (p=0.001). No significant group, time, or group-by-time interaction effects were found in the meditation level, palmar skin temperature, and blood oxygenation outcomes. While a 10-minute TC training could temporarily improve attention and decrease perceived stress levels, it could not improve meditation, palmar skin temperature, or blood oxygenation among late middle-aged adults

Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy of the cuprate superconductors

This paper reviews the most recent ARPES results on the cuprate superconductors and their insulating parent and sister compounds, with the purpose of providing an updated summary of the extensive literature in this field. The low energy excitations are discussed with emphasis on some of the most relevant issues, such as the Fermi surface and remnant Fermi surface, the superconducting gap, the pseudogap and d-wave-like dispersion, evidence of electronic inhomogeneity and nano-scale phase separation, the emergence of coherent quasiparticles through the superconducting transition, and many-body effects in the one-particle spectral function due to the interaction of the charge with magnetic and/or lattice degrees of freedom. The first part of the paper introduces photoemission spectroscopy in the context of strongly interacting systems, along with an update on the state-of-the-art instrumentation. The second part provides a brief overview of the scientific issues relevant to the investigation of the low energy electronic structure by ARPES. The rest of the paper is devoted to the review of experimental results from the cuprates and the discussion is organized along conceptual lines: normal-state electronic structure, interlayer interaction, superconducting gap, coherent superconducting peak, pseudogap, electron self energy and collective modes. Within each topic, ARPES data from the various copper oxides are presented.Comment: Reviews of Modern Physics, in press. A HIGH-QUALITY pdf file is available at http://www.physics.ubc.ca/~damascel/RMP_ARPES.pd

Response and resistance to BET bromodomain inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous and clinically aggressive disease for which there is no targeted therapy. BET bromodomain inhibitors, which have shown efficacy in several models of cancer, have not been evaluated in TNBC. These inhibitors displace BET bromodomain proteins such as BRD4 from chromatin by competing with their acetyl-lysine recognition modules, leading to inhibition of oncogenic transcriptional programs. Here we report the preferential sensitivity of TNBCs to BET bromodomain inhibition in vitro and in vivo, establishing a rationale for clinical investigation and further motivation to understand mechanisms of resistance. In paired cell lines selected for acquired resistance to BET inhibition from previously sensitive TNBCs, we failed to identify gatekeeper mutations, new driver events or drug pump activation. BET-resistant TNBC cells remain dependent on wild-type BRD4, which supports transcription and cell proliferation in a bromodomain-independent manner. Proteomic studies of resistant TNBC identify strong association with MED1 and hyper-phosphorylation of BRD4 attributable to decreased activity of PP2A, identified here as a principal BRD4 serine phosphatase. Together, these studies provide a rationale for BET inhibition in TNBC and present mechanism-based combination strategies to anticipate clinical drug resistance

Sensory integration and standing balance in adolescent taekwondo practitioners. Pediatric Exercise

Taekwondo (TKD) is a popular sport among adolescents. This study aims to (a) compare the balance performance between adolescent TKD practitioners at different levels of expertise with nonpractitioners and (b) determine the sensory system(s) that contributed to the balance function in adolescents with and without TKD training. Subjects with &gt;5 years of TKD training (n = 11), &lt;4 years of training (n = 10), and no training (n = 10) participated in this study. The sway velocity, somatosensory, vestibular and visual ratios were recorded during standing on a balance testing system. Both short-and long-term TKD practitioners swayed slower than control subjects when standing on one leg (p = .016 and 0.012, respectively). However, only short-term practitioners have better visual ratio (p = .018) and vestibular ratio (p = .029) than control subjects. There was no significant difference in the somatosensory ratio among the 3 groups. We conclude that adolescents undertaking TKD training may have better balance performance than untrained subjects. Taekwondo (TKD) is an Olympic sport and a popular martial art among children and adolescents (17). Despite its combative nature, it is relatively safe because protective gears are mandatory and practitioners must follow strict rules during competitions. According to Pieter, concussion injuries ranged between 5% and 8.8% of all injuries in young male TKD practitioners whereas for females, it ranged between 8.1% and 9.6%. This injury rate was slightly higher than that reported in Judo and karate practitioners. However, more serious injuries like joint dislocation in young TKD practitioners were far lower than those of other martial arts (21). TKD is renowned for its swift kicking techniques and practitioners have many opportunities to stand on one leg during training and sparring (22). Therefore, unilateral stance stability is crucial for TKD practitioners. The ability in balance and postural control is a determining factor for the athletes&apos; performance in competitions but there have been very few studies investigating the effect of TKD training on balance control. Brudnak and colleagues were the first group that reported a beneficial effect of TKD training on single leg standing balance in the elderly population. Fong and Ng are with th

Different Effects of Robot-Assisted Gait and Independent Over-Ground Gait on Foot Plantar Pressure in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Preliminary Study

Background: There is insufficient evidence to establish the optimal treatment protocol for robot-assisted gait training. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of robot-assisted gait and independent over-ground gait on foot pressure and to determine an effective training protocol for improvement of gait pattern in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury due to industrial accidents. Methods: Four patients with incomplete spinal cord injury due to an industrial accident who had gait disturbance underwent measurement of peak foot pressure and stance phase duration using a foot pressure analysis system with robot-assisted gait and independent over-ground gait. Results: The robot-assisted gait condition has lower peak foot pressure and shorter stance phase duration than the independent over-ground gait. Conclusions: In this study, robot-assisted gait was found to limit gait pattern improvement in patients with gait disturbance caused by incomplete spinal cord injury due to industrial accidents. Therefore, future research will be conducted to determine the optimal protocol for robot-assisted gait training for gait pattern improvement

Effects of Pilates on inter-recti distance, thickness of rectus abdominis, waist circumference and abdominal muscle endurance in primiparous women

Abstract Background Pilates is expected to have a positive effect on women with weakened abdominal muscles after childbirth. Pilates may have a beneficial effect on the structure and function of the abdominal muscles in pregnant women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Pilates on inter-recti distance, thickness of the rectus abdominis, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance in primiparous women. Methods Thirty-five primiparous postpartum women were assigned to either the Pilates exercise group (n = 20) or the control group (n = 15). Pilates was undertaken by the exercise group for 50 min/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks. The control group maintained their daily activities without any intervention. The inter-recti distance was measured at three locations along the linea alba, and the thickness of the rectus abdominis was measured using ultrasound. Abdominal muscle endurance was measured using a repeated 1-min curl-up test. Waist circumference was also measured. Results The exercise group showed significant improvements from baseline in inter-recti distance, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance (p < 0.05). The control group showed no significant improvement in these variables. Compared with the control group, the exercise group showed significantly improved performance in terms of inter-recti distance, waist circumference, and abdominal muscle endurance (p < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that Pilates was effective in reducing inter-recti distance and waist circumference and improving abdominal muscle endurance in primiparous postpartum women. Pilates is considered an effective exercise for improving muscle structure and function in primiparous postpartum women, helping in the recovery from, and preventing, diastasis rectus abdominis