Effects of purposeful soccer heading on circulating small extracellular vesicle concentration and cargo

Background:Considering the potential cumulative effects of repetitive head impact(HI)exposure,we need sensitive biomarkers to track shortand long-term effects.Circulating small extracellular vesicles(sEVs)(<200 nm)traffic biological molecules throughout the body and may have diagnostic value as biomarkers for disease.The purpose of this study was to identify the microRNA(miRNA)profile in circulating sEVs derived from human plasma following repetitive HI exposure.Methods:Healthy adult(aged 18-35 years)soccer players were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups:the HI group performed 10 standing headers,the leg impact group performed 10 soccer ball trapping maneuvers over 10 min,and the control group did not participate in any soccer drills.Plasma was collected before testing and 24 h afterward,and sEVs were isolated and characterized via nanoparticle tracking analysis.Next-generation sequencing was utilized to identify candidate miRNAs isolated from sEVs,and candidate microRNAs were analyzed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction.In silico target prediction was performed using TargetScan(Version 7.0;targetscan.org)and miRWalk(http://mirwalk.umm.uni-heidelberg.de/)programs,and target validation was performed using luciferase reporter vectors with a miR-7844-5p mimic in human embryonic kidney(HEK)293T/17 cells.Results:Plasma sEV concentration and size were not affected across time and group following repetitive HI exposure.After 24 h,the HI read count from next-generation sequencing showed a 4-fold or greater increase in miR-92b-5p,miR-423-5p,and miR-24-3p and a 3-fold or greater decrease in miR-7844-5p,miR-144-5p,miR-221-5p,and miR-22-3p.Analysis of quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that leg impact did not alter the candidate miRNA levels.To our knowledge,miR-7844-5p is a previously unknown miRNA.We identified 8 miR-7844-5p mRNA targets:protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1B(PPP1R1B),LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domains 1(LIMS1),autophagy-related 12(ATG12),microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta(MAP1LC3B),integrin subunit alpha-1(ITGA1),mitogenactivated protein kinase 1(MAPK1),glycogen synthase kinase 3b(GSK3b),and mitogen-activated protein kinase 8(MAPK8).Conclusion:Collectively,these data indicate repetitive HI exposure alters plasma sEV miRNA content,but not sEV size or number.Furthermore,for the first time we demonstrate that previously unknown miR-7844-5p targets mRNAs known to be involved in mitochondrial apoptosis,autophagy regulation,mood disorders,and neurodegenerative disease.

The Effects of Xbox Kinect Active Video Gaming on Executive Function, Inhibition, in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sedentary video gaming (SVG), active video gaming (AVG), and brisk walking (WLK) on inhibition and reaction time using the Flanker task in boys with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We had 9 participants with ASD and 10 age-matched participants without ASD perform 20-minute bouts of each activity, and then had them take the Flanker test. Dependent measures were reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC). A Chi-Square analysis revealed that the ASD and TD groups significantly differed in the percent of participants who improved in both of these measures. Next, we looked at each of the conditions exclusively within the ASD group and compared congruent and incongruent trials. In the AVG condition, participants improved a significantly higher percentage on ACC. In the SVG condition, participants improved a significantly higher percentage on incongruent in RT;for ACC, a higher percentage improved on the congruent trials. In WLK, participants improved a significantly higher percentage in RT in the congruent condition.

The Impact of Fidget Spinners on Fine Motor Skills in Individuals with and without ADHD: An Exploratory Analysis

Fidget spinners have been marketed as repetitive motion devices that improve attention and motor performance, and as such, they have become quite appealing to individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). To date, no studies have explored changes in brain activity that may occur due to fidgeting in ADHD. Our aim was to use functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the performance of a standardized fine motor skills test after using a fidget spinner. Eight right-handed adults with ADHD and eight age and gender matched adults without ADHD (4F/4M, 4 control/4 fidget) performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) while their brain oxygenation was monitored using fNIRS. Relative neural efficiency (RNE) and involvement (RNI) were calculated and analyzed for all subtasks of PPT including the less cognitively demanding fine motor subtasks and more complex assembly tasks. The fidget spinner improved both task performance and RNE in the ADHD group but not the non-ADHD group for the less cognitively demanding subtasks. Our results indicate Fidget spinners may improve both relative neural efficiency and fine motor performance in adults with ADHD for less cognitively demanding tasks.

English professional football players concussion knowledge and attitude

Background： Concussions are a common pathology in football and multiple misconceptions exist amongst the players and managers. To address these misconceptions, and potentially reduce concussion associated sequela, effective educational interventions need to be developed. However, the current knowledge and attitude status must be ascertained to appropriately develop these interventions. The purpose of this study was to assess the concussion knowledge and attitude of English professional footballers. Methods： Twenty-six participants from one English Football League Championship club completed the study. A mixed methods approach included the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey （RoCKAS） and a semi-structured interview. The RoCKAS contains separate knowledge （055） and attitude （15-75） scores and was followed by a semi-structured interview consisting of concussion knowledge, attitude, and behavior related questions. Results： The mean score on the RoCK.AS knowledge was 16.4± 2.9 （range 11-22） and the attitude score was 59.6 ± 8.5 （range 41-71）. The interview responses identified inconsistencies between the RoCKAS and the intended behaviors, endorsing multiple concussion misconceptions, and revealed barriers to concussion reporting. Conclusion： The results of this study suggest that Championship Level English footballers have moderate concussion knowledge, safe attitudes, and good concussion symptom recognition when assessed with pen and paper questionnaires. However, within the semi-structured interview many respondents reported unsafe concussion behaviors despite accurately identifying the potential risks. Further, multiple barriers to concussion reporting were identified which included perceived severity of the injury, game situations, and the substitution rule. These findings can help form the foundation of educational interventions to potentially improve concussion reporting behaviors amongst professional footballers.

Effects of contact/collision sport history on gait in early-to mid-adulthood

Background:To determine the effect of contact/collision sport participation on measures of single-task(ST)and dual-task(DT)gait among early-to middle-aged adults.Methods:The study recruited 113 adults(34.88±11.80 years,(mean±SD);53.0%female)representing 4 groups.Groups included(a)former non-contact/collision athletes and non-athletes who are not physically active(n=28);(b)former non-contact/collision athletes who are physically active(n=29);(c)former contact/collision sport athletes who participated in high-risk sports and are physically active(n=29);and(d)former rugby players with prolonged repetitive head impact exposure history who are physically active(n=27).Gait parameters were collected using inertial measurement units during ST and DT gait.DT cost was calculated for all gait parameters(double support,gait speed,and stride length).Groups were compared first using one-way analysis of covariance.Then a multiple regression was performed for participants in the highrisk sport athletes and repetitive head impact exposure athletes groups only to predict gait outcomes from contact/collision sport career duration.Results:There were no significant differences between groups on any ST,DT,or DT cost outcomes(p>0.05).Contact/collision sport duration did not predict any ST,DT,or DT cost gait outcomes.Conclusion:Years and history of contact/collision sport participation does not appear to negatively affect or predict neurobehavioral function in early-to mid-adulthood among physically active individuals.

Evidence of a conservative gait strategy in athletes with a history of concussions

Background：A history of 3 or more concussions is frequently associated with numerous short-and long-term neuropathologies.Impairments in postural control are a known acute consequence of concussion;however,limited evidence exists on the effects of multiple concussions on gait.The purpose of this study was to assess gait stepping characteristics in collegiate aged student-athletes based on concussion history.Methods：There were 63 participants divided into 3 even groups based on concussion history：≥3 concussions,1–2 concussions,and 0 concussion.All participants completed 10 trials of gait on a 4.9 m instrumented walkway.The dependent variables of interest included both gait stepping characteristics（step velocity,length,and width,double support time,and the percentage of the gait cycle in stance） and coefficien of variability（CoV） measures（step length,time,and width）.The gait stepping characteristics were compared firs with a MANOVA with follow-up 1-way ANOVAs and Tukey post hoc tests as appropriate.The Co V measures were compared with 1-way ANOVAs and Tukey post hoc tests.Results：There were main effects for group for step velocity,length,width,and double support time.Overall,the 0 concussion group displayed typical healthy young gait parameters and performed significant y better than either concussion group.The 0 concussion group had a significant y greater step length Co V,but there were no differences in the step time or width Co V.Conclusion：This findin provides evidence of subtle impairments in postural control during gait among individuals with prior history of concussion which could be an early indicator of future neurological deficiencies The limited difference in the variability measures is consistent with prior static stance studies and could suggest the individuals constrain their motor systems to reduce variability.Taken together,these findi gs suggest a conservative gait strategy which is adopted by individuals with a history of concussions.