Neuropsychological outcome following minimal access subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy.

PURPOSE: The present study provides a detailed account of neurocognitive outcome following minimal access subtemporal selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) and establishes rates of neurocognitive decline in the largest sample to date. Use of a subtemporal surgical approach to SAH has been proposed to possibly reduce the risk for postoperative neurocognitive decline since lateral neocortical tissues is not resected and the temporal stem is preserved. The current study extends prior research with subtemporal SAH patients to include not only group level analyses but also analyses based on reliable change data. METHODS: Neurocognitive comparisons are made between 47 patients that underwent subtemporal SAH. Statistical comparisons were made between neurocognitive performance at the group level and with use of reliable change scores. RESULTS: Approximately 75% of patients were seizure free postoperatively. At the group level, there were no significant postoperative changes. For the left SAH patients, reliable change scores demonstrated a decline in approximately one third of patients for memory, verbal intellect, and naming. Right SAH patients showed decline primarily in memory. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated good seizure control following subtemporal SAH with greatest risk for neurocognitive decline following dominant SAH and best cognitive outcome following non-dominant SAH. Findings demonstrated the importance of reliable change analyses that make individual based comparisons and take into account measurement error. Despite preservation of the lateral neocortical tissue and the temporal stem, subtemporal SAH presents a risk for cognitive decline in a notable portion of patients

Transformed Minds

In this brief collection of essays, professors who teach in the Department of History and Government at Cedarville University explore the biblical foundation for the academic disciplines unique to their Department. The Excerpt (above) contains the full text of the book.https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/1182/thumbnail.jp

The Effect of Varied Recumbent Stepping Conditions on Lower Extremity Muscle Activity

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 9, 2022. The purpose of this study was to measure lower extremity muscle activity during recumbent stepping under varied conditions. We hypothesized that different stepping conditions would lead to significant changes in muscle activity. Fifteen healthy adults (4 men, 11 women; mean age 24.5 ± 7.7 yrs) provided informed consent to participate. During a single session, electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activity of the tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastroc (MG), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles as a percent of maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) during five different stepping conditions: 1) Stepping with no foot strap (SnS), 2) Stepping with a strap (SS), 3) Pulling with toes with a strap (PullTS), 4) Pushing with heel with a strap (PushHS) and, 5) Pushing with toes with a strap (PushTS). There were significant differences (p \u3c 0.05) in muscle activity between stepping conditions for the TA, MG and RF muscles. TA muscle activity was greatest (21.3 ± 13.7%MVC) during the PullTS condition, MG activity was greatest (7.4 ± 3.4%MVC) during the PushTS condition, and RF activity was greatest (12.9 ± 6.1%MVC) during the PullTS condition. There were no significant differences for the BF between conditions. Different recumbent stepping conditions can significantly alter lower extremity muscle activity with the largest changes observed in the ankle muscles. Therefore, when prescribing recumbent stepping exercise, clinicians should be aware of how factors such as stepping direction, the use of a foot strap, and verbal cueing can alter lower extremity muscle recruitment to optimize therapeutic benefit

Increasing Efforts to Reduce Cervical Cancer through State-Level Comprehensive Cancer Control Planning

Reducing cervical cancer disparities in the U.S. requires intentional focus on structural barriers such as systems and policy which impact access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment. Such changes are difficult and often politicized. State comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans are vehicles that, if designed well, can help build collective focus on structural changes. Study objectives were to identify the prioritization of cervical cancer in state CCC plans, the conceptualization of HPV within these plans, and the focus of plans on structural changes to reduce cervical cancer disparities. Data were gathered by systematic content analysis of CCC plans from 50 states and the District of Columbia from February-June 2014 for evidence of cervical cancer prioritization, conceptualization of HPV, and focus on structural barriers to cervical cancer vaccination, screening or treatment. Findings indicate that prioritization of cervical cancer within state CCC plans may not be a strong indicator of state efforts to reduce screening and treatment disparities. While a majority of plans reflected scientific evidence that HPV causes cervical and other cancers, they did not focus on structural elements impacting access to evidence-based interventions. Opportunities exist to improve state CCC plans by increasing their focus on structural interventions that impact cervical cancer prevention, detection, and treatmentparticularly for the 41% of plans ending in 2015 and the 31% ending between 2016-2020. Future studies should focus on the use of policy tools in state CCC plans and their application to cervical cancer prevention and treatment

Evaluation of adherence to reporting guidelines among immunology journals: A meta-epidemiological study

Background: Reporting guidelines and trial registration policies have been used to reduce bias and improve the quality of published research. It is unclear how well immunology and allergy journals adhere to the use of these reporting tools. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the policies of immunology and allergy journals regarding reporting guideline appropriation and clinical trial registration.Methods: A web-engine search was performed to identify the top 100 immunology and allergy journals to be included in the study per the 2021 Scopus CiteScore tool. Search returns were screened for inclusion criteria and data was extracted in a masked, duplicate manner. Statements regarding clinical trial registration and the use of reporting guidelines outlined by the Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research (EQUATOR) were extracted from each journal's “Instructions for Authors” section on their respective websites. Statements were recorded as “Not Mentioned”, “Recommended”, “Does Not Require”, or “Required.” Each journal was contacted by email to confirm what article types are accepted.Results: Of the 100 journals analyzed, 54 followed recommendations by the EQUATOR Network. Ninety five journals failed to mention QUOROM. Conversely, CONSORT was recommended by 58 journals and required by 11. PRISMA was only required by six journals and recommended by 32. Only 41 journals specifically required clinical trial registration and 24 failed to mention registration at all.Conclusion: Our results indicated there to be inconsistencies in the adoption of reporting guidelines and clinical trial registration policies. Nearly half of the top 100 immunology and allergy journals did not mention an EQUATOR statement and less than half required clinical trial registration. We recommend that the editors of immunology and allergy journals encourage the use of reporting guidelines and clinical trial registration policies to improve transparency and mitigate the potential for biases

Topographic Rise in the Northern Smooth Plains of Mercury: Characteristics from Messenger Image and Altimetry Data and Candidate Modes of Origin

MESSENGER observations from orbit around Mercury have revealed that a large contiguous area of smooth plains occupies much of the high northern latitudes and covers an area in excess of approx.6% of the surface of the planet [1] (Fig. 1). Smooth surface morphology, embayment relationships, color data, candidate flow fronts, and a population of partly to wholly buried craters provide evidence for the volcanic origin of these plains and their emplacement in a flood lava mode to depths at least locally in excess of 1 km. The age of these plains is similar to that of plains associated with and postdating the Caloris impact basin, confirming that volcanism was a globally extensive process in the post-heavy bombardment history of Mercury [1]. No specific effusive vent structures, constructional volcanic edifices, or lava distributary features (leveed flow fronts or sinuous rilles) have been identified in the contiguous plains, although vent structures and evidence of high-effusion-rate flood eruptions are seen in adjacent areas [1]. Subsequent to the identification and mapping of the extensive north polar smooth plains, data from the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) on MESSENGER revealed the presence of a broad topographic rise in the northern smooth plains that is ~1,000 km across and rises more than 1.5 km above the surrounding smooth plains [2] (Fig. 2). The purpose of this contribution is to characterize the northern plains rise and to outline a range of hypotheses for its origin

The Effect of the Crow Hop on Elbow Stress During an Interval Throwing Program

BACKGROUND: Postoperative rehabilitation protocols after ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction typically involve a structured interval throwing program. In an effort to minimize torque placed on the UCL, athletes are often instructed to throw with a crow hop, even at short throwing distances. However, the effect of the crow hop on medial elbow stress is unknown. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose was to determine whether elbow stress differs with and without a crow hop across the throwing distances of a typical interval throwing program. We hypothesized that crow hop throws would generate lower torque on the elbow than standing throws at each distance of the interval throwing program. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Healthy high school and collegiate pitchers and position players were recruited from the surrounding area. Each player was outfitted with a wearable athletic sleeve and device that recorded elbow torque (Newton-meters), arm slot (degrees), arm speed (revolutions per minute), and shoulder rotation (degrees). Ball velocity (miles per hour) was measured using a radar gun. Players were instructed to perform 3 crow hop throws and 3 standing throws at distances of 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 feet. A repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare ball velocity, elbow torque, arm slot, arm speed, and shoulder rotation between crow hop and standing throws at each throwing distance. RESULTS: Twenty athletes participated in this study (average age, 17.8 years; range, 15-25 years). The average medial elbow torque increased at each distance for both crow hop and standing throws at distances of 30, 45, 60, and 90 feet (P \u3c .05), after which there were no significant increases in elbow torque (P \u3e .05). The average torque was higher for crow hop throws than standing throws at distances of 30 feet (13.9 N·m vs 12.0 N·m; P = .002), 45 feet (21.8 N·m vs 19.3 N·m; P = .005), and 60 feet (28.0 N·m vs 24.5 N·m; P = .02). CONCLUSION: Crow hop throws generated greater medial elbow torque than standing throws at distances up to 60 feet; however, there were no differences in elbow torque at distances greater than 60 feet between the 2 throw types. For both crow hop and standing throws, elbow stress increased at each distance interval up to 90 feet before plateauing at distances greater than 90 feet. The crow hop throwing technique does not reduce medial elbow stress during a simulated interval throwing program, and it may actually increase torque at shorter throwing distances. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of our study indicate that it would be prudent for players to initially perform standing throws at shorter distances and only later be allowed to employ a natural crow hop at greater distances to minimize torque placed on the medial elbow during UCL rehabilitation protocols

Family medicine journals’ adherence to reporting guidelines and trial registration: A systematic review

Reporting guidelines have been developed as a method of mitigating inadequate reporting quality. Reporting guidelines such as the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for randomized control trials have shown to improve the completeness of reporting in CONSORT-endorsing journals. Additionally, requiring the registration of clinical trials and systematic reviews have similarly demonstrated a reduced risk of overall bias in comparison to trials and reviews that were not registered. To our knowledge, the rate of endorsement and requirement of the two aforementioned tools in family medicine journals has not been ascertained. Thus, our objective was to determine the frequencies of recommendation or requirement of reporting guidelines for common study types within Family Medicine journals. In addition, we also sought to assess the rate of recommendation or requirement to register clinical trials and systematic reviews. We conducted a systematic review of family medicine journals’ policies and guidelines for authors in order to examine guideline use and adherence. Using the 2021 Scopus CiteScore tool, we identified 44 active, peer-reviewed journals in the “Family Practice” subcategory as of December 2022. Prior to data collection, email correspondence to the Editors-in-Chief was sent once a week for three weeks, to determine if the journal had any unaccepted article types. In a masked, duplicate fashion, statements regarding the requirement/recommendation of reporting guidelines for popular study designs were extracted from each journal’s “instructions to authors” webpage. Statements regarding clinical trial registration were obtained in a similar manner. Our search identified 44 journals that were included for data collection. The most commonly recommended guidelines were CONSORT (29/44, 65%), PRISMA (26/44, 59%), and STROBE (26/44, 59%). The most commonly required guidelines were PRISMA (7/44, 16%) and CONSORT (6/44, 14%). The least required guidelines were SPIRIT (1/44, 2.4%), SRQR (1/44, 2.5%), ARRIVE (1/44, 2.5%), and CHEERS (1/44, 2.7%). PRISMA and STROBE guidelines were more likely to be recommended or required in journals that mentioned the EQUATOR network (p < 0.001). With respect to study registration, twenty-nine out of the forty-four (66%) journals either recommended (4/44, 9%) or required (25/44, 57%) clinical trial registration. Although CONSORT, PRISMA, and STROBE guidelines were recommended or required by more than half of our included journals, a majority of the journals did not mention many of the other reporting guidelines. Explicit endorsement or requirement of study registration, as well as appropriate reporting guidelines, is necessary to improve the quality of research published in family medicine journals. Therefore, we recommend journal editors make an effort to impose tighter instructions to prospective authors by recommending/requiring these tools