Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Strength Cond Res 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of León, León, Spain; and.

Abstract: Ferioli, D, Conte, D, Scanlan, AT, and Vaquera, A. Technical-tactical demands of 3 × 3 international basketball games according to game outcome, player sex, and competition phase. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2022-Despite the popularity of 3 × 3 basketball rapidly growing on a global scale, a paucity of data exist on player demands during competition, particularly considering various factors. Read More

Clin Obes 2022 May 25:e12528. Epub 2022 May 25.

Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The BODY-Q is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess outcomes in patients undergoing weight loss and/or body contouring surgery (BC) following massive weight loss. Normative values for the BODY-Q are needed to improve data interpretation and enable comparison. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine normative values for the BODY-Q. Read More

Brain Commun 2022 6;4(3):fcac092. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.

Deep brain stimulation is a treatment option for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The precise mechanism of neuromodulation in epilepsy is unknown, and biomarkers are needed for optimizing treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the neural network associated with deep brain stimulation targets for epilepsy and to explore its potential application as a novel biomarker for neuromodulation. Read More

BMC Public Health 2022 May 24;22(1):1040. Epub 2022 May 24.

University Hospital of Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Background: General population normative values for the widely used health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), are available for a range of countries. These are mostly countries in northern Europe. However, there is still a lack of such normative values for southern Europe. Read More

Vaccine 2022 May 19. Epub 2022 May 19.

Hampden-Sydney College, United States.

COVID-19 vaccine rates provide a unique opportunity to explore vaccine hesitancy and potential interactions between social capital and individual, normative values, namely for public health and/or personal freedom. While economists and public health scholars realize the independent effects social capital and stringent public health rules have on prevalence and mortality rates, few recognize how these factors influence vaccination rates. We advance this literature with a novel framework to analyze these interactions. Read More

Qual Quant 2022 May 19:1-17. Epub 2022 May 19.

WSB University in Gdansk, Aleja Grunwaldzka 238A, 80-266 Gdansk, Poland.

The main aim of the article is to present two new innovative concepts of reliability of a functioning manufacturing system in the process of making bread in small-scale bakeries. Reliability is understood as one of the representations of an operator acting on specific streams in time t to t. One of these represents the global reliability of a system as a function of parallel action of all the streams of the system in time t to t and is denoted as P . Read More

J ISAKOS 2022 Apr 4. Epub 2022 Apr 4.

Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.

Objectives: Trunk kinematics can contribute to lower extremity biomechanical risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, normative trunk kinematics during unilateral athletic tasks in a large population of "healthy" (no history of ACL injury and no known future ACL injury) women's soccer players have not been well-described. This study's purposes were to describe trunk kinematics in a population of 37 healthy collegiate women's soccer players completing a step-down, a deceleration, and a 90° cut, and to provide a reference for normative values. Read More

Hum Brain Mapp 2022 May 23. Epub 2022 May 23.

Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Accelerated maturation of brain parenchyma close to term-equivalent age leads to rapid changes in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of neonatal brains, which can complicate the evaluation and interpretation of these scans. In this study, we characterized the topography of age-related evolution of diffusion metrics in neonatal brains. We included 565 neonates who had MRI between 0 and 3 months of age, with no structural or signal abnormality-including 162 who had DTI scans. Read More

Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med 2022 May 20. Epub 2022 May 20.

Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale is widely used by clinicians in evaluation of nasal airway obstruction (NAO). To determine normative values for the NOSE scale among both symptomatic and asymptomatic members of the general U.S. Read More

Sports Biomech 2022 May 19:1-10. Epub 2022 May 19.

American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, AL, USA.

The purpose of this study was to compare baseball pitching kinematics measured with marker-less and marker-based motion capture. Two hundred and seventy-five fastball pitches were captured at 240 Hz simultaneously with a 9-camera marker-less system and a 12-camera marker system. The pitches were thrown by 30 baseball pitchers (age 17. Read More

BMC Med 2022 May 20;20(1):177. Epub 2022 May 20.

Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, CIC 1414 [(Centre d'Investigation Clinique de Rennes)], F-35000, Rennes, France.

Background: Transparency and reproducibility are expected to be normative practices in clinical trials used for decision-making on marketing authorisations for new medicines. This registered report introduces a cross-sectional study aiming to assess inferential reproducibility for main trials assessed by the European Medicines Agency.

Methods: Two researchers independently identified all studies on new medicines, biosimilars and orphan medicines given approval by the European Commission between January 2017 and December 2019, categorised as 'main studies' in the European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs). Read More

J Nutr Health Aging 2022 ;26(5):452-460

Sabrina Fernandes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil,

Background: Currently, different cutoff points for handgrip strength (HGS) have been used to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia. In addition, the variability of equipment and protocols for this assessment can significantly influence the early detection of this important public health problem. Thus, this review aims to identify the different cutoff points for HGS adopted for older men and women in screening for sarcopenia. Read More

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Gynecologic Endocrinology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Objective: To determine the quality of life (QoL) in Thai women with various types of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 353 AUB patients between November 2010 and January 2012. They were grouped according to the duration of symptom (i. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2022 May 18. Epub 2022 May 18.

Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Introduction/aims: Diaphragm ultrasound is increasingly used in the diagnosis of diaphragm dysfunction and to guide respiratory management in patients with neuromuscular disorders and those who are critically ill. owever, the association between diaphragm ultrasound variables and demographic factors like age, sex and body mass index (BMI) are understudied. Such relationships are important for correct interpretation of normative values and comparison with selected patients groups. Read More

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol 2022 May 18:306624X221099490. Epub 2022 May 18.

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Practice frameworks are a unique type of theory that bridge the gap between abstract explanatory theories, knowledge categories, normative assumptions, and treatment theories. The values component of practice frameworks is particularly critical as it frames the problem space (niches) within which practitioners engage in practice tasks, for example, moral repair, risk reduction, or community integration. It also picks out the specific kinds of entities and their relationships that researchers are most interested in. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2022 May 17. Epub 2022 May 17.

Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), 1-5 Oba Akinjobi Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT), a simple, reliable and valid test that uses the distance walked in six minutes (six-minute walk distance, 6MWD) to quantify functional capacity, is widely used in the management of chronic disorders. However, the absence of reference standards from sub-Saharan African, including Nigerian, school-aged children limits its utility in this age-group.

Objectives: To develop normative values and equations for the 6MWD of school-aged Nigerian children. Read More

Ophthalmol Retina 2022 May 14. Epub 2022 May 14.

Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore; Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program (Eye ACP), Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. Electronic address:

Objective: To describe the normative quantitative parameters of macular retinal vasculature and their systemic and ocular associations, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Design: Population based cross sectional study SUBJECTS: Adults above 50 years old were recruited from the third examination of the population-based Singapore Malay Eye Study.

Methods: All participants underwent standardized comprehensive examination and Spectral domain-OCTA (Optovue, USA) of the macula. Read More

J Orthop Res 2022 May 17. Epub 2022 May 17.

Laboratory of Biomechanical Orthopedics, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 09, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Theobjective of this study was todetermine the normativebone mineral density (BMD) of cortical and trabecular bone regions in the adult glenoid and itsdependence on the subject's age andsex.We analyzed computed tomography (CT) scans of 450 shoulders (317 males, 18-69 years)withoutany signs of glenohumeral joint pathology. Glenoid BMD was automaticallyquantified in six volumes of interest (VOIs): cortical bone (CO), subchondral cortical plate (SC), subchondral trabecular bone (ST), and three adjacent layers of trabecular bone (T1, T2, T3). Read More

Clin Nutr 2022 Apr 30;41(6):1328-1334. Epub 2022 Apr 30.

School of Nutrition, Federal University of Goiás, St. 227, Block 68, Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-080, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Muscle quality index (MQI) is used to measure the quality of the muscles. It is defined as the ratio of muscle strength per unit of muscle mass, but since this might vary by rage and ethnicity, we aimed to develop sex, and population-specific normative data and cutoff values for MQI (extremally low and low) using the arm or appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) obtained from a population-representative sample.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included data from 4849 volunteers (aged 20-59 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014. Read More

J Voice 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Speech Therapy and at the Postgraduate Program in Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Introduction: Teachers face vocal problems related to long periods of speech and increased sound pressure, as well as environmental noise, inadequate posture and tension of the cervical muscles.

Objective: To verify the results of self-assessment of teachers with normal larynges and vocal and musculoskeletal complaints, and compare them with the reference values.

Methods: Fifty-seven teachers, aged between 21 and 60 years (average 40. Read More

Dysphagia 2022 May 13. Epub 2022 May 13.

Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University Hospital of Trieste ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34100, Trieste, Italy.

Swallowing disorders are common in neurological diseases, with dysphagia representing one of the most prevalent complications that may cause poor quality of life, reduce independence, and increase mortality. Rapid identification of dysphagia is necessary to reduce the risk of penetration and aspiration, and to early start rehabilitation protocols. Among the methods that can be used to evaluate dysphagia and its components, ultrasound imaging has been suggested to support the evaluation of dysphagia by providing measures of both static and dynamic anatomical components. Read More

Ind Health 2022 May 11. Epub 2022 May 11.

National Institute of Mental Health And Neurosciences, India.

An imbalance in the keyorganizational psychology constructs viz. "Workload", "Reward", "Community","Control", "Values" and "Fairness" are potential factors leading to negativeoccupational mental health, i.e. Read More

Cien Saude Colet 2022 May 1;27(5):1895-1909. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Campus Centro Oeste. Divinópolis MG Brasil.

The present study aims at analyzing the regionalization of the services carried out by the Psychosocial Care Network (RAPS in Portuguese) in the state of Minas Gerais (MG) in Brazil, yielding indicators that may enhance the SUS strategic management towards the strengthening of the psychosocial care provided by the state. It is a cross-sectional study, based on the data collected in May 2019 from government websites, considering the state's Macro-Regions and Health Regions as units of analysis. Indicators of service coverage in relation to the population in accordance to normative parameters determined by the Ministry of Health for a better understanding of the effective coverage were produced, and a general indicator (iRAPS) of the supply of services in this network in Minas Gerais state was validated. Read More

Cureus 2022 Apr 6;14(4):e23886. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Medical Education and Simulation, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.

Background: Anthropometric indices are used as predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The most used indices are body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC); however, there are limitations regarding their validity to address different body shapes, fat and lean mass distribution. A body shape index (ABSI) has been proposed as an alternative parameter to reflect differences in body shape and potentially be more useful for predicting CVD. Read More

Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2022 May 6;10(5):e4311. Epub 2022 May 6.

Adolescent Breast Center, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.

Background: Adolescence is a challenging time, and an increasing number of young people are seeking plastic surgery. With the rise of health-related quality of life studies in plastic surgery, it is critical to understand the natural variation and changes in health-related quality of life for this population.

Methods: In this longitudinal, cohort study validated surveys were administered to cisgender participants aged 12-21 years: Short-Form 36v2, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Breast-Related Symptoms Questionnaire, and Eating-Attitudes Test-26. Read More

J Magn Reson Imaging 2022 May 10. Epub 2022 May 10.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Background: Measurement of atrial volumes by MRI is becoming increasingly important in pediatric cardiac disorders. However, MRI normal values for atrial volumes in children are lacking.

Purpose: To establish pediatric reference values for atrial volumes. Read More

BMJ Simul Technol Enhanc Learn 2021 29;7(6):581-585. Epub 2021 Jun 29.

School Of Allied Health Professions, Keele University, Keele, UK.

Background: Age simulation can have a positive effect on empathic understanding and perception of ageing. However, there is limited evidence for its ability to replicate objectively the physical and functional challenges of ageing.

Objective: To observe whether age suit simulation can replicate in healthy young adults the physical and physiological balance disturbance and falls risk experienced by older adults. Read More

Acta Orthop Belg 2022 Mar;88(1):1-9

The key element for differentiation between normal anatomical variants and pathological deformities is the prior definition of normal ranges for anthropometric parameters of acetabulum according to each age group. Aim of the present study is to analyze the development of the acetabulum in children/adolescents by accurate anthropometric measurements using 3D-CT scans and determine the variations occurring depending on age, gender and/or side. This retrospective observational study included 85 patients (170 hips) under 15 years of age (0-15) undergoing 1. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2022 May 5;16(1):180. Epub 2022 May 5.

Genetic Department, Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans, Orléans, France.

Background: Mutations in the genes encoding the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, especially KCNMA1 encoding its α-subunit, have been linked to several neurological features, including intellectual disability or autism. Associated with neurodevelopmental phenotypes, sensory function disturbances are considered to be important clinical features contributing to a variety of behavioral impairments. Large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels are important in regulating neurotransmission in sensory circuits, including visual pathways. Read More

Biomed Phys Eng Express 2022 May 11;8(4). Epub 2022 May 11.

Research Core of Robotic Rehabilitation and Biofeedback, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.

In this study, the performance of a two-dimensional Hénon map in predicting the interactive dynamics of the knee and hip joints emerging during a normative sit-to-stand movement was evaluated. The instantaneous values of the knee and hip joints were the model inputs, and the next values of the knee and hip joints were predicted by the Hénon map. The map predicted the desired relative behavior of the joints, showing synergetic coordination between the joints. Read More