Body composition plays a key role in overall health and sports performance and its assessment is an important part of many athletic programs. The purpose of this study was to describe longitudinal changes in body composition for collegiate female soccer players in order to provide data to inform future training and nutrition interventions for this population. A linear mixed-model (LMM) approach was used to analyze four years of pre- and post-season body composition data, including total mass, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass, and body fat percentage (%BF) for 49 athletes. Athletes gained an average of 0.5 kg FFM during the season (p < 0.05) and increased total mass, FFM, fat mass, and %BF (2.5 kg, 1.1 kg, 1.7 kg, and 1.7%, respectively; p < 0.05) over four years. Freshmen experienced a 1.5 kg gain in total mass pre- to post-season (p < 0.05), while no changes in total mass or body composition were seen in other grade levels. Gains in %BF during the off season between Freshman and Sophomore years represented negative changes in body composition that should be addressed further. These results can help interdisciplinary athlete care teams optimize training programs in this population by understanding what changes are expected over multiple years. Normalizing these changes may also help the promotion of realistic body composition goals and the development of positive training and dietary habits.

Background: Diagnostic performance of tongue swab Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been evaluated for triage of symptomatic tuberculosis (TB). It is unknown whether performance differs for detection of asymptomatic TB in community-based screening. Methods: Tongue swabs were collected from adult household contacts of persons with TB (HHC cohort), and symptomatic adults presenting with presumptive TB (clinic cohort), at six South African sites. Drug-susceptible pulmonary TB was defined by positive sputum Xpert Ultra (excluding trace) or liquid culture, which were performed in all participants. Tongue swabs from participants with and without TB, matched by propensity score, were tested by high-volume quantitative PCR (qPCR) and, in the clinic cohort, also by sequence-specific magnetic capture (SSMaC) with qPCR. Results: The clinic cohort included 217 participants with TB (100% symptomatic) and 437 participants without TB. The HHC cohort included 44 participants with TB (84.1% asymptomatic) and 136 participants without TB. In the clinic cohort, sensitivity of SSMaC with qPCR was 73.2% (specificity 94.6%), but not significantly higher than high-volume qPCR (63.8%; P = .14) (specificity 94.4%). Sensitivity of high-volume qPCR in the clinic cohort (63.8%) was significantly higher than the HHC cohort (34.1%; P = .0007) (specificity 91.9%). Among HHC, high-volume qPCR sensitivity was 35.1% for asymptomatic TB, 52.2% for TB with abnormal chest radiograph, and 100% for TB with high sputum Xpert Ultra grade. Conclusions: Sensitivity of tongue swab high-volume qPCR in community-based, household screening for asymptomatic TB was low, approximately half that of facility-based triage for symptomatic TB, but increased with radiographic severity and sputum bacillary load.

Food literacy, the interrelated knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to successfully navigate a complex food-choice environment, has yet to be formally explored in athletes. However, it is important for this population to understand and apply specialized food-related recommendations to optimize health and performance outcomes. The goal of this study was to develop and test the validity of the Sports Food Literacy Assessment Tool (SFLAT) to evaluate food literacy concepts relevant to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes. The SFLAT was developed based on current food literacy definitions, items from validated food literacy and sports nutrition knowledge assessment tools, and current sports nutrition recommendations. Content validity was assessed using a 2-round modified Delphi expert panel of Registered Dietitians (RDs, n = 16) who gave comments and rated items based on importance. Content Validity Ratios (CVRs) were calculated for each item based on these ratings and used along with participant comments to improve items after each round of rating. In-depth interviews (n = 5) and written comments (n = 6) from collegiate athletes were used to assess face validity, and feedback was used to improve item wording and clarity. The first draft of the SFLAT contained demographic, food frequency, behavior frequency, self-efficacy, and nutrition knowledge questions. The expert panel of RDs had 2 to 27 years of experience working with NCAA Division I athletes. Their expert feedback led to addition, adjustment, and removal of items, and an increase in average CVR of the SFLAT from 0.58 to 0.68. Comprehension was high among face validity participants, all of which were NCAA Division 1 collegiate athletes. Comments were used to make minimal wording changes and combine two questions. The final draft of the SFLAT contained 108 items. The SFLAT has adequate content and face validity and, with further reliability tests, may be used to identify gaps in food choice-related knowledge, skills, and behaviors specific to collegiate athletes, which can inform the development of more effective nutrition interventions in this population. No funding.