The aim of this study was to examine the factors affecting the shuttle walking test (SWT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 29 patients with COPD (the COPD group) and a healthy group (HG) of 34 women aged between 55 and 74 years were included in the study. After the pulmonary function profiles of the participants were assessed, and the SWT was performed. Walking distances, walking speeds, and SWT levels (SWT-L) were determined with the SWT. Before and after the SWT, the heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation level (SPO₂), and Borg scale (perceived exertion (BSe) and dyspnea (BSd)) results were analyzed with a paired sample t-test. The dyspnea levels during activity of daily living were determined with the Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale, and the relationship between MRC dyspnea (MRCD) and walking distance, speed, and SWT-L was tested using multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation analysis. The walking distance, speed, and SWT-L were lower in the COPD group (p < 0.001) than in the HG. The HR values before and after the SWT changed significantly in the COPD group and the HG (p< 0.001), and the effect size was higher in the COPD group. Although the BSe and BSd results before and after the SWT in the COPD group increased significantly (p < 0.001), they did not change in the HG. There was a highly negative correlation between MRCD and walking distance, speed, and SWT-L in the COPD group (p = 0.002, p = 0.000, and p = 0.001, respectively), but no correlation was found in the HG. The results showed that the HR, perceived exertion, and dyspnea levels of women with COPD whose respiratory functions were lower than the HG were significantly affected on the SWT.

Detection of common bile duct dilatation on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography by deep learning - Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Background and Study Aim. The relationship between the 2nd digit (2D) and the 4th digit (4D) provides much preliminary information about the physiological, psychological, and psychomotor characteristics of individuals. Although there are many studies on the 2D:4D ratio, the number of studies investigating the ratio in different sports is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio, posterior thigh muscle length, and handgrip strength in different sports. Material and Methods. 63 athletes aged 18-29 years from football, volleyball and basketball participated in this study (nFutbol=20, nVoleybol=21, nBasketbol=22). Right and left hand width and length, 2D, 4D, 2D:4D ratio, grip strength, and hamstring muscle length of the participants were determined. When examining the relationship between the parameters, hand grip strength and hamstring muscle length, Pearson correlation analysis was performed. Results. In the study, there was a high correlation between right and left hand width, length, 2D, and 4D measurements and handgrip strength of volleyball and basketball players (p<.05). There was also a high correlation between left 2D:4D ratio in basketball players and handgrip strength (p<.05). There was a moderate correlation between football players’ 2D length of the football players and the length of the hamstring muscle (p<.05). In volleyball and basketball branches, no parameter was associated with hamstring muscle length in volleyball and basketball players. Sport age and right hand 2D:4D ratio were associated in football (p<.05). For volleyball, athletic age was associated with left hand width and length and 2D and 4D measures (p<.05). In basketball, athletic age was associated with left hand width and length. Conclusions. The results of the study suggest that some of the right and left hand measurements can be used to predict performance indicators such as hand grip and hamstring muscle length in the sports of football, volleyball, and basketball.

Aim: Shoulder joint is important for the functional capacity of the upper extremity. A big part of the functionality in this joint is created by rotator cuff muscles. Rotator cuff injuries are the primary reason for shoulder induced pain and injuries. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of kinesio-taping in addition to conventional physiotherapy methods on upper extremity function, quality of life and emotional state in patients with chronic rotator cuff syndrome. Material and Method: Our study was conducted on 92 (64 female-28 male) patients with rotator cuff syndrome (RCS). The patients were randomly grouped in two. The first group was given conventional therapy, while kinesio taping was applied to the second group twice a week in addition to conventional physiotherapy techniques. Each patient was assessed before and after treatment with DASH (the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) scale, SF-36 (short form-36) scale, VAS (visual analogue scale) score and BECK depression inventory. Each group was compared in terms of treatment efficiency both within the group and with the other group and statistical analyses were made. Results: Statistically significant decrease was found in both groups in terms of both pre-treatment and post-treatment DASH and VAS assessments. SF-36 scores were found to increase statistically significantly. When post-treatment scores were compared, statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was found in both groups in terms of BECK depression inventory scores. Conclusion: It was concluded that when applied in addition to conventional physiotherapy techniques in clinic, kinesio taping treatment was an effective treatment method in terms of developing upper extremity functions, increasing quality of life in patients and decreasing pain.

Background: The present study was conducted to estimate gender from 2D:4D ratio and hand mor-phometry taken from participants by using machine learning (ML) algorithms. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on 88 men and 96 women be-tween the ages of 18 and 30 who did not have any pathology, deformity or surgical interventions on their hands. Hand width (HW), hand length (HL), second digit length (2D), and fourth digit length (4D) of the individuals were measured as the right (R) and left (L) side by using digital calliper and recorded in Excel. In addition, the ratio between the second digit and fourth digit (2D:4D) of each individual was also recorded. Results: As a result of ML modelling, 0.92 accuracy was obtained with Random forest (RF) algorithm. With RF algorithm, all of the 16 women and 18 of the 21 men in the test set were estimated accu-rately. With SHAP analyzer of RF algorithm, HW-L parameter was found to have the highest contri-bution in estimating gender. The accuracy rates of the other ML models used in the study were found to vary between 0.78 and 0.89. Conclusions: It was found that 2D:4D ratio and hand morphometry measurements, which are fre-quently preferred in gender determination, have higher accuracy rate when examined with ML algorithms. In our study, we concluded that using 2D:4D ratio and hand morphometry in estimating gender provides accurate and reliable data.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to quantitatively and noninvasively evaluate the changes in the Genioglossus (GG) and Geniohyoid (GH) muscles in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) using ultrasonography (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods: This prospective study included 94 adults (18–73 years) who underwent polysomnography (27 normal; 67 OSA). GG and GH muscle thickness was measured with US, and stiffness with SWE. Participants were grouped as non-OSA (Group 0) and OSA (Group 1). OSA patients were further divided by apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) into mild, moderate, and severe (Groups 1–3), forming four groups including controls. Results: No significant differences were observed in genioglossus or geniohyoid muscle thickness between groups. Shear wave elastography revealed significantly higher stiffness values for both the genioglossus and geniohyoid muscles bilaterally in OSA patients compared with non-OSA individuals (approximately 2.7 m/s vs. 2.4–2.5 m/s, p < 0.01). Geniohyoid muscle stiffness on both sides increased progressively with OSA severity, with significantly higher values in severe compared with mild OSA (p < 0.05). In contrast, genioglossus stiffness did not differ significantly across OSA severity subgroups. Conclusions: In patients with OSA, GH and GG muscle thickness remains unchanged, but their stiffness measured by SWE increases. GH stiffness also rises with increasing disease severity. These results indicate that GG and GH muscle stiffness may serve as useful noninvasive markers for OSA.