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Context: Imbalances in upper-extremity soft tissue stiffness may play a role in the development of shoulder and elbow musculoskeletal injuries in tennis players. Ultrasound shear wave elastography provides quantifiable and specific data regarding muscle stiffness. The purpose of this study was to compare tendon and muscle stiffness in healthy tennis players to nontennis players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The shear wave modulus, measured in kilopascals, was obtained for the dominant pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and common wrist-extensor tendon using 2-dimensional shear wave elastography ultrasound imaging (GE Logiq S8, L9 linear transducer). Independent t test was run to compare age, body mass index, and the activity index score between both groups. Within-day intrarater reliability was assessed using a within-examiner intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [3, 1]) with 95% confidence intervals. A multivariate general linear model was run to compare the mean differences between the tennis and nontennis players for each of the soft tissues. Results: Twenty-six individuals (13 tennis players and 13 nontennis players) were recruited. Within-day ICCs were very good (ICC >.78 for the pectoralis musculature) and excellent (ICC >.94 for the common wrist extensor). Common extensor tendon stiffness was significantly higher in tennis players compared to nontennis players (mean difference = 114.8 [61.8], confidence interval, −22.8 to 252.5 kPa for the dominant arm [P =.039]). Mean pectoralis major and minor stiffness differences were not significant (P >.214). Conclusions: Common wrist-extensor stiffness in healthy recreational tennis players is higher than those who do not play tennis. Therefore, clinicians may need to facilitate a greater soft tissue stiffness response with resistance training when rehabilitating recreational tennis players as compared to those not playing tennis. Additional normative data on a larger sample of recreational tennis players should be collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated effects of Positive Action (PA), a school-based social-emotional and character development program, on self-esteem levels and processes among minority, low-income, urban youth. A matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 14 Chicago Public Schools with outcomes assessed longitudinally for a cohort of youth followed from Grades 3 to 8. A total of 1,170 students participated in the study (53% female, 48% African American, and 27% Hispanic). Students in PA schools had more favorable change and endpoint scores on indices of self-esteem in the domains of peer and school and use of both adaptive and (to a lesser extent) maladaptive processes for developing and maintaining self-esteem. These results align with areas of emphasis within the PA program and illustrate how important areas of impact on self-esteem-related outcomes may be overlooked without differentiated assessments of both self-esteem levels and processes. [The initial phase on this project (R305L030072), a component of the Social and Character Development (SACD) Research Consortium, was a collaboration among IES, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention, Mathematica Policy Research Inc. (MPR), and awardees of SACD cooperative agreements (Children's Institute, New York University, Oregon State University, University at Buffalo--SUNY, University of Maryland, University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, and Vanderbilt University).]

Objective: To determine the relationship between comorbid sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and hospitalization rates related to diabetes mellitus (DM) and atherosclerotic disease (AD). Methods: This study used a retrospective cohort design from a large medical claims database with 5 years of data between 2018 and 2022. The presences of SDB, DM, and AD were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and relevant Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Hospitalizations related to DM and AD were identified primarily using Place of Service (POS) code 21. Propensity-score matching was first used on data from the entire 5-year period to select matched controls (unadjusted n = 883,910, adjusted n = 888,619) compared to those diagnosed with SDB (n = 519,818) on hospitalization rates during the concurrent 5-year period. A second analysis used propensity-score matching on data from year 1 only to select matched controls (unadjusted n = 248,848, adjusted n = 260,298) compared to those diagnosed with SDB in year 1 (n = 193,671) on hospitalization outcomes in the subsequent 4-year period. Results: Odds ratios (ORs) revealed a significant association between SDB diagnosis and hospitalizations related to DM (OR 1.23–1.71), AD (OR: 1.08–1.34), and either condition (OR 1.17–1.49) in both analyses. Post hoc analysis revealed sex differences in the relationship between SDB and future hospitalizations, with females showing a pattern of significantly elevated risk across all future hospitalization outcomes (OR: 1.25–1.44), whereas males were found to have a significant relationship between SDB diagnosis and future DM hospitalization only (OR 1.10). Conclusions: These findings provide real-world evidence that comorbid SDB increases the risk for hospitalizations related to chronic cardiometabolic conditions. Sex is a potential moderator of this relationship and should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Imbalances in soft tissue stiffness (STS) of the pectoralis and common wrist extensors (CWEs) can adversely alter upper extremity function. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has the capacity to provide precise, repeatable, objective data on STS. The purpose of this study was to determine the between-day intrarater reliability for the pectoralis and CWE tendon stiffness as measured by SWE. Methods: STS measured by the shear wave modulus (kilopascals (kPa)) was captured bilaterally on the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and CWE tendon using 2D SWE ultrasound imaging (GE Logiq S8, 9 L transducer) on two separate days. Within examiner intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC (3, 3)) with 95% confidence intervals, standard error of the measure, and minimal detectable changes were calculated. Results: The investigators recruited 10 healthy participants (mean age = 23.50 ± 1.43). Between day intrarater reliability values were obtained for the dominant pectoralis major ICC = 0.70 (−0.15, −0.93), nondominant pectoralis major ICC = 0.63 (−0.30, −0.91), dominant pectoralis minor ICC = 0.72(−0.04, −0.93), nondominant pectoralis minor ICC = 0.75(0.08, −0.94), dominant CWE tendon ICC = 0.75(−0.08, −0.94), and nondominant CWE tendon ICC = 0.75(−0.12, −0.94). Discussion: Our data demonstrate acceptable reliability but future studies should include methods that control for variables known to effect STS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated effects of "Positive Action," a school-based social-emotional and character development intervention, on indicators of positive youth development (PYD) among a sample of low-income, ethnic minority youth attending 14 urban schools. The study used a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled design at the school level. A multiple-measure self-report protocol assessed four key strengths and resources for PYD: self-concept, peer affiliations, ethics, and social skills. Students (n = 1,170) were assessed from grades 3 to 8; the duration of the intervention, with drop-outs and late entrants, was included in analyses. Growth curve analyses revealed evidence of favorable program effects on each of the four types of resources. The study contributes to PYD research by providing evidence for school-based interventions in low-income, urban contexts for ethnic minority youth.

Context: There is a lack of consensus on the best management approach for lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET). Recently, scapular stabilizer strength impairments have been found in individuals with LET. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of local therapy (LT) treatment to LT treatment plus a scapular muscle-strengthening (LT + SMS) program in patients diagnosed with LET. Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Setting: Multisite outpatient physical therapy. Patients: Thirty-two individuals with LET who met the criteria were randomized to LT or LT + SMS. Interventions: Both groups received education, a nonarticulating forearm orthosis, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and thermal modalities as needed. Additionally, the LT + SMS group received SMS exercises. Main Outcome Measure: The primary outcome measure was the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation; secondary outcomes included global rating of change (GROC), grip strength, and periscapular muscle strength. Outcomes were reassessed at discharge, 6, and 12 months from discharge. Linear mixed-effect models were used to analyze the differences between groups over time for each outcome measure. Results: The average duration of symptoms was 10.2 (16.1) months, and the average total number of visits was 8.0 (2.2) for both groups. There were no significant differences in gender, age, average visits, weight, or height between groups at baseline (P >.05). No statistical between-group differences were found for any of the outcome measures. There were significant within-group improvements in all outcome measures from baseline to all follow-up points (P <.05). Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that both treatment approaches were equally effective in reducing pain, improving function, and increasing grip strength at discharge as well as the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Our multimodal treatment programs were effective at reducing pain and improving function up to 1 year after treatment in a general population of individuals with LET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: School-based social-emotional and character development (SECD) programs can influence not only SECD but also academic-related outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of one SECD program, Positive Action (PA), on educational outcomes among low-income, urban youth. Methods: The longitudinal study used a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled design. Student-reported disaffection with learning and academic grades, and teacher ratings of academic ability and motivation were assessed for a cohort followed from grades 3 to 8. Aggregate school records were used to assess standardized test performance (for entire school, cohort, and demographic subgroups) and absenteeism (entire school). Multilevel growth-curve analyses tested program effects. Results: PA significantly improved growth in academic motivation and mitigated disaffection with learning. There was a positive impact of PA on absenteeism and marginally significant impact on math performance of all students. There were favorable program effects on reading for African American boys and cohort students transitioning between grades 7 and 8, and on math for girls and low-income students. Conclusions: A school-based SECD program was found to influence academic outcomes among students living in low-income, urban communities. Future research should examine mechanisms by which changes in SECD influence changes in academic outcomes.

Researchers in the field of bioinformatics have developed a number of analytical programs and databases that are increasingly important for advancing biological research. Because bioinformatics programs are used to analyze, visualize, and/or compare biological data, it is likely that the use of these programs will have a positive impact on biology education. Over the past years, we have been working to help biology instructors introduce bioinformatics activities into their curricula by providing them with instructional materials that use bioinformatics programs and databases as educational tools. In this study, we measured the impact of a set of these materials on student learning. The activities in these materials asked students to use the molecular structure visualization program Cn3D to locate, identify, or analyze diverse features in DNA structures. Both the experimental groups of college and high school students showed significant increases in learning relative to control groups. Further, learning gains by the college students were correlated with the number of activities assigned. We conclude that working with Cn3D was important for improving student understanding of DNA structure. This study is one example of how a bioinformatics program for visualization can be used to support student learning. (Contains 7 figures.)