Physical and performance correlates of agility in tennis players

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships of body mass index (BMI), years of sport-specific training, power, and reaction time with simple agility measured in tennis players. Thirty participants were recruited from local tennis teams and clubs in Ithaca, NY. Participants performed an Agility T-Test, a 505 Agility Test, a Vertical Jump Test and a Reaction Time Test in the Biomechanics Lab at Ithaca College. Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI, years of training, PPO and reaction time best predicted agility time for both the 505 Agility Test (R2 = 0.48) and Agility T-Test (R2 = 0.64)

Characterization and comparative analysis of ADRs of various ART regimens: experience of our medical college from Western Himalayan region

Background: It is estimated that there are 35.3 million PLHA worldwide and 1.6 million have received ART. ART is freely available in designated ART Centres. HAART (highly active antiretroviral treatment) has significantly reduced AIDS related morbidity and mortality. It involves using three different drugs from two different classes. The main challenge in prescribing HAART is ADRs associated with it affecting patient compliance and treatment outcomes.Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out in the ADR monitoring Centre of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India.Results: The data for ADEs was collected from 108 patients over a period of 17 months. A total of 280 ADEs were reported in 65 females and 43 males. TLE was the commonest regimen in 61 (56%) patients followed by ZLN in 37 (34%). Neurological ADRs were reported in 39.8% cases with TLE that was nearly double as reported with ZLN regimen 20.5%. Dermatological ADRs were highest with other regimens (57.4%) followed by ZLN 20.5%. Similarly the frequency of Gastrointestinal ADR was highest with other regimens. Hematological ADRs were maximum with ZLN (22.9%) followed by TLE (3.3%). Most commonly reported ADRs were dizziness (10.7%), rashes (8.2%), anorexia and dyslipidemia (6.8%), asthenia (6.4%), pruritus (6%), joint pains (4.6%), insomnia, alopecia and vomiting (4.3%), numbness or parasthesia (3.9%), hepatotoxicity (3.6%) and deranged RFTs (1.8%).Conclusions: The real burden of ADRs due to ART cannot be estimated until voluntary and mandatory reporting system of ADRs works efficiently. A structured surveillance of the pharmacovigilance system can help to overcome these hurdles to ensure compliance with ART regimens

Pharmacovigilance analysis in a rural tertiary care hospital in North India: a retrospective study

Background: The main motive of PvPI (Pharmacovigilance Programme of India) is to collect valuable data so that signals can be generated from reported adverse drug events (ADEs). It also tries to establish their causality so that ADEs can be labelled as adverse drug reactions (ADRs) beyond any doubt.Methods: This retrospective observational study done in rural set up tertiary care teaching hospital collected data through voluntary reporting in ADR form of PvPI for period of 6 month. Causality assessment was done using WHO causality assessment scale.Results: In 150 reported cases, majority ADRs were due to tuberculosis, cancer and HIV treatments. Gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system were the major organs involved. Most ADRs occurred within first day of drug intake. Around 15% required hospitalization. 55% ADRs were probable and 41% were possible in nature. Vertigo and depression was most frequent ADR in MDR therapy. Rashes, pruritis, fever and joint pain was frequent in antiretroviral therapy. Dysguesia, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and constipation was frequent in patients taking anticancer drugs. Platins and antibiotics used for cancer therapy cause most cancer treatment ADRs.Conclusions: ADRs add to hospitalization expenses, insurance costs and increase in work loss days besides addition to patient suffering. Prior knowledge can help in better prescriptions and prevent valuable resource loss. Reasons for under-reporting of ADRs can be complacency, ignorance, lack of financial incentives for reporting, fear of litigation, claims of compensation and lack of time in busy hospital schedules

Profile of adverse drug reactions in patients on anti-tubercular drugs in a sub Himalayan rural tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem, with one out of three people in the world are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The prevalence of MDR TB in India is 2-3% among new cases and 12-17% in reinfection cases. One of the reasons for MDR may be noncompliance to treatment due to adverse drug reactions. The present study was conducted to find out ADRs in patients on antitubercular treatment (ATT) under pharmacovigilance programme of India (PvPI).Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. Data was collected through voluntary reporting by health-care professionals (HCP) in standard IPC-PvPI prescribed suspected ADR reporting form and analyzed for 100 patients on ATT. Causality assessment was done using WHO causality assessment scale.Results: The maximum ADRs were reported in adults with a mean age of 40.79±16.79 years. Males (n=66) outnumbered females (n=34). There were 62% MDR-TB on DOTS-plus regimen, followed by 35% on Cat1 ATT for pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases and XDR-TB accounted for 3% of the total cases. The commonest ADRs in patients on MDR treatment were related to CNS 44 (27.5%), followed by Gastrointestinal system 31 (19%), psychiatric 20 (12.5%) otovestibular 13 (8%) and ophthalmic ADRs being the least in frequency 1 (0.6%). In contrast patients on Cat 1 ATT the ADRs involving Gastrointestinal system 44 (44%) followed by CNS 12 (12%), psychiatric 0% and ADRs related to otovestibular manifestations being the least 1 (1%) frequency.Conclusions: ADRs involving different organ systems were seen in both categories with varied frequency. Adverse drug reactions add to hospitalization expenses, insurance costs and increase in work loss days besides addition to patient suffering and loss of compliance. Prior knowledge can help in better prescriptions and prevent valuable resource loss

Phase 2 of extracellular RNA communication consortium charts next-generation approaches for extracellular RNA research.

The extracellular RNA communication consortium (ERCC) is an NIH-funded program aiming to promote the development of new technologies, resources, and knowledge about exRNAs and their carriers. After Phase 1 (2013-2018), Phase 2 of the program (ERCC2, 2019-2023) aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge and technology to enable rigorous and reproducible methods for separation and characterization of both bulk populations of exRNA carriers and single EVs. ERCC2 investigators are also developing new bioinformatic pipelines to promote data integration through the exRNA atlas database. ERCC2 has established several Working Groups (Resource Sharing, Reagent Development, Data Analysis and Coordination, Technology Development, nomenclature, and Scientific Outreach) to promote collaboration between ERCC2 members and the broader scientific community. We expect that ERCC2\u27s current and future achievements will significantly improve our understanding of exRNA biology and the development of accurate and efficient exRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic, and theranostic biomarker assays