The influence of perceptual training on volleyball performance among adolescent females

This study investigated the influence of perceptual training on volleyball serve-reception performance. The subjects were ten female high-school volleyball players. Subjects were randomly assigned in equal numbers to a control or an experimental group. Both groups were tested on two occasions, prior to and following a three-week perceptual training intervention. The pre- and post-training testing sessions consisted of a volleyball serve-reception test and a perceptual-motor test that simulated the serve-reception. At the end of the post-training session, a transfer serve-reception test was conducted. The results showed a significant positive relationship between years of experience playing competitive volleyball and performance score obtained in the pre-training serve-reception test. No relationship existed between performance score and starting age. Also, no significant relationships were found between the performance score obtained for the pre-training perceptual-motor test and the amount of competitive playing experience or, starting age. The results of a 2 x 2 (Time x Group) repeated measures MANOVA, incorporating the dependent variables of mean performance score for the serve-reception test and the standard deviation of the movement time elapsed prior to intercepting the ball, indicated that perceptual training was not significantly related to performance on a serve-reception test. Two separate 2 x 2 (Time x Group) repeated measures ANOVAs, analyzing the performance scores obtained for the pre- and post-training perceptual-motor test under two different viewing conditions (long vs. short) did not reveal any differences between the groups for either viewing condition. The transfer serve-reception test also did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, the results indicated that the three-week perceptual training-program used in this study did not lead to significant improvements in volleyball serve-reception performance among adolescent female players. In future research, a motor component should be incorporated in the perceptual training-program to allow for the coupling of perception and action. Alternatively, a perceptual-motor adjustment period could be provided to facilitate the recoupling of perception and action following a perceptual training period

A survey of risk tolerance to multiple sclerosis therapies

OBJECTIVE: To determine tolerance to various risk scenarios associated with current multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. METHODS: People with MS from the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis Registry\u27s online cohort and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society were invited to complete a questionnaire on tolerance to real-world risks associated with a hypothetical therapy. Multiple risks levels were presented, including skin rash, infection, kidney injury, thyroid injury, liver injury, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). RESULTS: Both PML and kidney injury had the lowest risk tolerance (RT) at 1:1,000,000, and thyroid and infection risks had the highest tolerance at 1:1,000. Men, younger individuals, and participants with greater disability reported a higher tolerance to all risk scenarios. Those who were currently taking an MS therapy reported higher tolerance than those not taking any therapy. Participants taking infusion therapies reported high tolerance to all risks, and those taking injectables reported a lower tolerance. CONCLUSION: People with MS displayed a wide range of RT for MS therapies. Our study identified sex, age, disability, and current disease-modifying therapy use to be associated with RT

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Apoe Epsiolon-4 is Associated With Exacerbation of Cognitive Decline in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background: In previous studies we and others have demonstrated an association with apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 genotype and the presence of cognitive deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). In this follow-up study, we have assessed whether APOE ε4 status exacerbates progression of cognitive deficits in MS. Methods: A total of 197 patients with MS were assessed for APOE genotype, and baseline cognitive performance was measured using a standardized battery of tests. One hundred seventy patients (86.3%) were clinically followed up for 1 year and were assessed for progression of cognitive deficits. Results: The APOE ε4 allele was present in 24.7% of patients. During 1-year follow-up, significant progression of cognitive deficits was found in APOE ε4 carriers (P=0.001) after logistic regression analysis controlling for sex, ethnicity, age, education, disease duration, severity, and subtype. Conclusions: APOE ε4 carriers with MS have worsening progression of cognitive deficits than noncarriers. APOE ε4 carrier status predicts cognitive decline in verbal learning and memory