COMPARISON OF STATIC BALANCE MEASURES WITH HEIGHT AND WEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS BETWEEN TAEKWONDO AND HANDBALL PLAYERS

This study aimed to compare the static balance of taekwondo athletes and handball players. Considering the body size might affect the sway during static balance testing as the inverted pendulum model demonstrated. The static balance of the subjects was evaluated by the Bidex Balance System. The results showed that the APSI, MLSI and OSI of taekwondo athletes were significantly lower than those of the handball players. Moreover, the three stability indices of the two groups of athletes were significantly correlated with height and weight, but not age. The data showed that body size were positively related to the sway in the static balance testing. The taekwondo athletes were lighter than the handball players in average, nevertheless, lower height-and-weight adjusted stability indices of the taekwondo athletes were found

Reappraisal of the effectiveness of 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scans for selective voiding cystourethrography in children with a first febrile urinary tract infection

AbstractRecent studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the ability of technetium-99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) renal scans for identifying high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children with a first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). This study aimed to reevaluate the effectiveness of 99mTc-DMSA renal scans for selective voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in children with a first febrile UTI. The medical records of children aged ≤ 5 years who were admitted with a first febrile UTI were retrospectively reviewed. Ultrasonography (US) and DMSA renal scans were performed within 3–5 days after admission, and VCUG was performed 7–10 days after antibiotics treatment. A total of 653 children were enrolled for analysis, including 579 patients aged < 2 years (Group A) and 74 patients aged 2–5 years (Group B). In Group A, DMSA scans were abnormal for 346 patients (59.8%), and normal for 233 patients (40.2%). High-grade VUR was present in 99 of 346 patients (28.9%) with abnormal DMSA scans, but present in only 16 of 233 patients (6.9%) with normal DMSA scans (p < 0.001). Regarding the prediction of high-grade VUR, the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) for the DMSA scans were 86.1% and 93.1%, respectively. In Group B, DMSA scans were abnormal for 36 patients (48.6%), and normal for 38 patients (51.4%). High-grade VUR was present in 12 of 36 patients (33.3%) with abnormal DMSA scans, whereas none of the 38 patients with normal DMSA scans had high-grade VUR (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and NPV of the DMSA scans were both 100%. Using the selective VCUG strategy, approximately 40% of Group A patients and 50% of Group B patients could be spared an unnecessary VCUG, respectively. Our study results suggest that 99mTc-DMSA renal scans are effective in identifying children with a first febrile UTI for selective VCUG

AMP-activated protein kinase activation mediates CCL3-induced cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in human chondrosarcoma

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3), also known as macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, is a cytokine involved in inflammation and activation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. CCL3 has been detected in infiltrating cells and tumor cells. Chondrosarcoma is a highly malignant tumor that causes distant metastasis. However, the effect of CCL3 on human chondrosarcoma metastasis is still unknown. Here, we found that CCL3 increased cellular migration and expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in human chondrosarcoma cells. Pre-treatment of cells with the MMP-2 inhibitor or transfection with MMP-2 specific siRNA abolished CCL3-induced cell migration. CCL3 has been reported to exert its effects through activation of its specific receptor, CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). The CCR5 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor or siRNA also attenuated CCL3-upregulated cell motility and MMP-2 expression. CCL3-induced expression of MMP-2 and migration were also inhibited by specific inhibitors, and inactive mutants of AMPK, p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 or p38-MAPK), and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) cascades. On the other hand, CCL3 treatment demonstrably activated AMPK, p38, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, the expression levels of CCL3, CCR5, and MMP-2 were correlated in human chondrosarcoma specimens. Taken together, our results indicate that CCL3 enhances the migratory ability of human chondrosarcoma cells by increasing MMP-2 expression via the CCR5, AMPK, p38, and NF-κB pathways

THE EFFECTS Of VOLLEYBALL ATTACKING ON SCORE POINTS: A CASE STUDY OF 2014 TVL IN TAIWAN

Volleyball is a sport in which team tactical and players' attacking skills determine to score points. Therefore, an effective team tactical is achieved by main spikers' and middle blockers' skills. To name but a few, delayed spike, open spike and back-row spike are main spikers' skills, yet quick spike, and individual time difference attack are associated with middle blockers'. Under this aspect, a case study of male teams of Taiwan Top Volleyball League (TVL) was yield out, which aimed at exploring the effects of team tactical and players attacking skills on score points. The results indicated that the attacking point ratio of main spikers and middle blockers in the champion team was higher than others. This was because the middle blockers gave cover to main spikers as attacking. By doing so, it promoted point ratio to main spikers. Furthermore, it found that to strengthen main spikers and middle blockers' skills would increase team's attacking point ratio

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Caused by Enteroviral Infection

A 4-year-old boy presented with enteroviral infection complicated with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Enterovirus RNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of both blood and kidney biopsy specimens. A survey of the complement system did not reveal a specific complement defect. Supportive therapy with blood components transfusion, plasma therapy, and immunosuppressants was administered, however, renal function did not recover. The results of this report demonstrate that the enterovirus is the cause of aHUS

The Effects of Green Energy Production on Farmland: A Case Study in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Taiwan enacted the Act of Renewable Energy in the year 2009 which promotes energy safety, green economy, and a sustainable environment, and with that the government envisages a contribution of photovoltaic energy of up to 20% by the year 2025. In this study we look into the motivation and background of this energy policy, plans for implementation and associated challenges, and its actual consequences for farmland use and farmers. In addition, we take a look into the implementation of mixed-use farmland in which agricultural activity and photovoltaic installations are planned to coexist in order to increase land value and productivity. We furthermore report on some of our findings related to a field survey conducted in Taiwan’s corn chamber of Yunlin County which has been facing a number of socioeconomic challenges

High serum levels of procalcitonin and soluble TREM-1 correlated with poor prognosis in pulmonary tuberculosis

SummaryObjectivesComparisons of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) would expand our knowledge of which biomarker is the best predictor for outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 243 PTB patients, in whom PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 measurement were performed to evaluate their prognostic value for 6-month mortality.ResultsSerum PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels on diagnosis of PTB were significantly higher in nonsurvivors (2.22 ± 6.22 vs. 0.13 ± 0.31 ng/mL, P = 0.043; 42.1 ± 59.4 vs. 12.5 ± 29.1 mg/L, P = 0.004; 332 ± 362 vs. 128 ± 98 pg/mL, P = 0.001, respectively) as compared with 6-month survivors. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, PCT ≧0.5 ng/mL (hazard ratio 4.13, 95% CI, 1.99–8.58) and sTREM-1 ≧129 pg/mL (hazard ratio 3.39, 95% CI, 1.52–7.58) remained independent mortality predictors. Serum PCT and sTREM-1 levels above the cutoffs were also associated with the presence of disseminated tuberculosis.ConclusionsAmong PTB patients, higher PCT, CRP, and sTREM-1 levels are observed in nonsurvivors than in 6-month survivors. Serum levels of PCT and sTREM-1 over the cutoffs are independently associated with a poor outcome. In addition, higher PCT and sTREM-1 levels would raise the clinical suspicion of disseminated tuberculosis

Seismic behavior of pile in liquefiable soil ground by centrifuge shaking table tests

Dramatic failure of pile foundations caused by the soil liquefaction was founded and leading to many studies on the seismic behavior of pile. The failures were often accompanied with settlement, lateral displacement and tilting of superstructures. Therefore soil-structure interaction effects must be properly considered in the design of pile. Two centrifuge models were conducted by shaking table at an acceleration field of 80 g. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seismic response of piles attached with different tip mass and embedded in liquefied or non-liquefied deposits. From the results, it was found that the maximum bending moment of pile occurs at the depth of 4 m and 5 m for dry sand and saturated sand models, respectively. The more tip mass leads to the more permanent lateral displacement and the more residual bending moment

Application of Scutellariae radix

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis, a host-adapted pathogen of swine, usually causes septicemia. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains have been widely studied in recent years for their probiotic properties. In this study, a mouse infection model first screened for potential agents against infection, then a pig infection model evaluated effects of LAB strains and herbal plants against infection. Scutellariae radix (SR) and Gardeniae fructus (GF) showed abilities to reduce bacteria shedding and suppressing serum level of TNF-α induced by infection in swine. Bioactivities of SR and GF were enhanced by combining with LAB strains, which alone could speed up the bacteria elimination time in feces and boost immunity of infected pigs. Baicalein and genipin exhibited stronger cytotoxicity than baicalin and geniposide did, as well as prevent Salmonella from invading macrophages. Our study suggests LAB strains as exhibiting multiple functions: preventing infection, enhancing immunity to prepare host defenses against further infection, and adjusting intestinal microbes’ enzymatic activity in order to convert herbal compounds to active compounds. The SR/GF-LAB strain mixture holds potential infection-prevention agents supplied as feed additives