Comparative analysis of anxiety assessment methods in athletes

Objective: to identify the most effective method for anxiety assessment in athletes. Materials and methods: the selective criteria were formulated and comparative analysis of 9 most commonly used methods of assessing the level of anxiety was made. 79 athletes of combat sports were tested (34 men, 45 women) in the preparative period of training with Lusher's color test and the integrative anxiety test by A.P. Bizyuk, L.I. Wasserman, B.V. Iovlev. Results: among nine methods most frequently mentioned in the literature, Lusher's color test with the calculation of diagnostic coefficients and the integrative anxiety test by A.P. Bizyuk, L.I. Wasserman, B.V. Iovlev were most consistent with the stated criteria. There were significant correlations between the calculated indices of Luscher's color test, which have physiological explanation: the correlation between the vegetative coefficient and the total deviation from the autogenic norm, mental working capacity, situational anxiety, and between total deviation from the autogenic norm and mental performance, sex (increase in the deviation from the autologous norm corresponds to a decrease in mental performance, an increase in the level of anxiety, parasympathetic tone, and need for rest and energy accumulation). The athletes have the low level of situational anxiety and an average level of personal anxiety if compared with average population values. Conclusions: the findings complement the results of other researchers who also confirmed the validity of use of color test and integrative anxiety test in professional sports to identify the threatening breakdown of mental adaptation and psycho-correction work among athletes

The study of the structure of anxiety in athletes

Objective: to study the structure of disorders caused by anxiety in athletes. Materials and methods: the objects of the first task of the research were different terminological definitions and classifications of anxiety disorders. Comparative analysis of the definitions and concepts used in psychology, physiology, sports medicine, theory and methodology of physical education has been carried out. The second task was to determine the leading factors characterizing the psychological status of athletes, and to give them the descriptive characteristics. A factor analysis was conducted on the results of testing 79 athletes of combat sports (34 men, 45 women) using the M Luscher color test and the integrative anxiety test by AP Bizyuk, LI Wasserman, BV Iovlev. Results: Luscher's test scores (total deviation from the autogenous rate, mental performance, vegetative coefficient) explained only 14.5% of the total variance. Simultaneously, the indicator of situational anxiety from Luscher's test was not included in any factor. The informativeness of more detailed integrative anxiety test was significantly higher: its indicators were included in 3 factors, explaining totally 49.5% of the total variance, as well as in the general factor, which explains 33% of the total variance. Conclusions: the emotional component (emotions which cause situational anxiety) contributes largely to the total anxiety level, some smaller contribution accounts for the social components (fear of condemnation, dependence on the opinions of others), finally, the personal anxiety contributes to it even less

Durvalumab, with or without tremelimumab, plus platinum-etoposide in first-line treatment of extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: 3-year overall survival update from CASPIAN

Background: In the phase III CASPIAN study, first-line durvalumab in combination with etoposide plus either cisplatin or carboplatin (EP) significantly improved overall survival (OS) versus EP alone in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus EP numerically improved OS versus EP, but did not reach statistical significance. Here we report updated OS in censored patients after median follow-up of >3 years. Patients and methods: 805 patients with treatment-naïve ES-SCLC were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 to durvalumab plus EP, durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus EP, or EP. The two primary endpoints were OS for durvalumab plus EP versus EP and for durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus EP versus EP. Results: As of 22 March 2021 (median follow-up 39.4 months, 86% maturity), durvalumab plus EP continued to demonstrate improved OS versus EP: hazard ratio (HR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-0.86; nominal P ¼ 0.0003]; median OS was 12.9 versus 10.5 months, and 36-month OS rate was 17.6% versus 5.8%. Durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus EP continued to numerically improve OS versus EP: HR 0.81 (95% CI: 0.67-0.97; nominal P ¼ 0.0200); median OS was 10.4 months, and 36-month OS rate was 15.3%. Twenty-seven and nineteen patients in the durvalumab plus EP and durvalumab plus tremelimumab plus EP arms, respectively, remained on durvalumab treatment at data cut-off. Conclusions: Three times more patients were estimated to be alive at 3 years when treated with durvalumab plus EP versus EP, with the majority still receiving durvalumab at data cut-off, further establishing durvalumab plus EP as first-line standard of care for ES-SCLC

NUTRITIONAL AND ENTERIC INEFFICIENCY AT COMPLICATED TRAUMA OF CERVICAL REGION OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN

The aim of research was the analysis of nutritional and enteric inefficiency at complicated trauma of cervical region of vertebral column. Material and Methods. The retrospective observational investigation has been carried out. Medical records of 29 patients with complicated trauma of cervical region of vertebral column for 2017-2016 years have been analyzed. Results. Disorder of motor-evacuation function of digestive tract was revealed in 37 % of cases on the first day after accident. Maximal intensity of enteroparesis and minimal level of total protein were registered on 7-10 days. The albumin level has been progressively decreased till 15 days. The erosion of gastric and duodenum mucosa was revealed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 50 % of patients on the first day. The basal metabolism value detected by indirect calorimetry was 30-50 % higher than value calculated by formula

Structural aspects of an aluminium-based composite material strengthened with SiC particles

Translated from Russian (Report of the E.O. Paton Electric Welding Inst., Kiev, 1996)Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9023.190(VR-Trans--9050)T / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Reappraisal of the Concept of Accelerated Aging in Neurodegeneration and Beyond

Background: Genetic and epigenetic changes, oxidative stress and inflammation influence the rate of aging, which diseases, lifestyle and environmental factors can further accelerate. In accelerated aging (AA), the biological age exceeds the chronological age. Objective: The objective of this study is to reappraise the AA concept critically, considering its weaknesses and limitations. Methods: We reviewed more than 300 recent articles dealing with the physiology of brain aging and neurodegeneration pathophysiology. Results: (1) Application of the AA concept to individual organs outside the brain is challenging as organs of different systems age at different rates. (2) There is a need to consider the deceleration of aging due to the potential use of the individual structure–functional reserves. The latter can be restored by pharmacological and/or cognitive therapy, environment, etc. (3) The AA concept lacks both standardised terminology and methodology. (4) Changes in specific molecular biomarkers (MBM) reflect aging-related processes; however, numerous MBM candidates should be validated to consolidate the AA theory. (5) The exact nature of many potential causal factors, biological outcomes and interactions between the former and the latter remain largely unclear. Conclusions: Although AA is commonly recognised as a perspective theory, it still suffers from a number of gaps and limitations that assume the necessity for an updated AA concept