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Pose® Method gait retraining has been claimed to modify running form and prevent injury. This study examined the running biomechanics before and after Pose® Method gait retraining. Fourteen runners underwent a 4-week Pose® Method gait retraining program delivered by a certified coach. Paired t-tests were employed to compare vertical average (VALR) and instantaneous loading rates (VILR), lower limb kinematics, footstrike angle and trunk flexion in the sagittal plane before and after the training. Kinetically, there were no significant differences in the VALR (p= 0.693) and VILR (p= 0.782) before and after the training. Kinematically, participants exhibited greater peak hip flexion (p= 0.008) and knee flexion (p= 0.003) during swing. Footstrikeangle also reduced significantly (p= 0.008), indicating a footstrike pattern switch from rearfoot strike to midfoot strike. There was no significant difference in the trunk flexion in the sagittal plane after training (p= 0.658). After a course of Pose® Method gait retraining, runners demonstrated a footstrike pattern switch and some kinematics changes at the hip and knee joint during swing. However, injury-related biomechanical markers (e.g., VALR and VILR) and the trunk kinematics remained similar after training. Runners may consider other gait retraining programs for impact loading reduction.

Objective MicroRNA-122 (miR-122) has been identified as a biomarker of liver diseases. However, the miR-122 detection accuracy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is inconclusive. Methods We conducted a systematic literature search of Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase to identify studies related to the diagnostic value of miR-122 in HCV-related HCC. We analyzed the results and validated them using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results Six articles were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 354 cases and 420 controls. The pooled specificity, sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve were 0.87, 0.83, 5.1, 0.16, 32, and 0.92, respectively. Additional sub-group analyses showed that results for plasma were more sensitive than those for serum. In addition, miR-122 was better at distinguishing between HCV-associated HCC and healthy people or those with HCV than between those with HCV-associated HCC and HCV-related cirrhosis. Small samples (≤100) had better diagnostic odds ratios than larger samples (>100). Analysis of data from TCGA confirmed that miRNA-122 had a high diagnostic value. Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrates that miR-122 may be a useful diagnostic biomarker for HCV-associated HCC.

Running-related injuries among trail runners are very common and footwear selection may modulate the injury risk. However, most previous studies were conducted in a laboratory environment. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of two contrasting footwear designs, minimalist (MIN) and maximalist shoes (MAX), on the running biomechanics of trail runners during running on a natural trail. Eighteen habitual rearfoot strike trail runners completed level, uphill and downhill running at their preferred speeds in both shod conditions. Peak tibial acceleration, strike index and footstrike pattern were compared between the two footwear and slopes. Interactions of footwear and slope were not detected for all the selected variables. There was no significant effect from footwear (

This paper focuses on biofilms of Lactobacillus spp. - a type of normal flora isolated from healthy human vaginas of women of childbearing age; thereupon, it broadens the research scope of investigation of vaginal normal flora. The static slide culture method was adopted to foster biofilms, marked by specific fluorescence staining. Laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the microstructure of the biofilms. Photographs taken from the microstructure were analysed to calculate the density of the biofilms. The body of Lactobacillus spp., though red, turned yellow when interacting with the green extracellular polysaccharides. The structure of the biofilm and aquaporin within the biofilm were imaged. Lactobacillus density increases over time. This study provides convincing evidence that Lactobacillus can form biofilms and grow over time in vitro. This finding establishes an important and necessary condition for selecting proper strains for the pharmaceutics of vaginal ecology.