In professional soccer, increasing amounts of data are collected that harness great potential when it comes to analysing tactical behaviour. Unlocking this potential is difficult as big data ...challenges the data management and analytics methods commonly employed in sports. By joining forces with computer science, solutions to these challenges could be achieved, helping sports science to find new insights, as is happening in other scientific domains. We aim to bring multiple domains together in the context of analysing tactical behaviour in soccer using position tracking data. A systematic literature search for studies employing position tracking data to study tactical behaviour in soccer was conducted in seven electronic databases, resulting in 2338 identified studies and finally the inclusion of 73 papers. Each domain clearly contributes to the analysis of tactical behaviour, albeit in - sometimes radically - different ways. Accordingly, we present a multidisciplinary framework where each domain's contributions to feature construction, modelling and interpretation can be situated. We discuss a set of key challenges concerning the data analytics process, specifically feature construction, spatial and temporal aggregation. Moreover, we discuss how these challenges could be resolved through multidisciplinary collaboration, which is pivotal in unlocking the potential of position tracking data in sports analytics.
Objectives were to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected glucose (RPG) supplementation on milk production, post-absorptive metabolism, and inflammatory biomarkers in transition dairy cows. ...Fifty-two multiparous cows were blocked by previous 305-d mature-equivalent milk (305ME) yield and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous treatments: (1) control diet (CON; n = 26) or (2) a diet containing RPG (pre-fresh 5.3% of dry matter and 6.0% of dry matter postpartum; n = 26). Cows received their respective dietary treatments from d −21 to 28 relative to calving, and dry matter intake was calculated daily during the same period. Weekly body weight, milk composition, and fecal pH were recorded until 28 d in milk (DIM), and milk yield was recorded through 105 DIM. Blood samples were collected on d −7, 3, 7, 14, and 28 relative to calving. Data were analyzed using repeated measures in the MIXED procedure (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) with previous 305ME as a covariate. Fecal pH was similar between treatments and decreased (0.6 units) postpartum. Dry matter intake pre- and postpartum were unaffected by treatment, as was milk yield during the first 28 or 105 DIM. Milk fat, protein, and lactose concentration were similar for both treatments. Blood urea nitrogen and plasma glucose concentrations were unaffected by treatment; however, results showed increased concentration of circulating insulin (27%), lower nonesterified fatty acids (28%), and lower postpartum β-hydroxybutyrate (24%) in RPG-fed cows. Overall, circulating lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and haptoglobin did not differ by treatment, but at 7 DIM, RPG-fed cows had decreased lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and haptoglobin concentrations (31 and 27%, respectively) compared with controls. Supplemental RPG improved some biomarkers of post-absorptive energetics and inflammation during the periparturient period, changes primarily characterized by increased insulin and decreased nonesterified fatty acids concentrations, with a concomitant reduction in acute phase proteins without changing milk production and composition.
IntroductionIn the past decades, short-term results after solid organ transplantation have markedly improved. Disappointingly, this has not been accompanied by parallel improvements in long-term ...outcomes after transplantation. To improve graft and recipient outcomes, identification of potentially modifiable risk factors and development of biomarkers are required. We provide the rationale and design of a large prospective cohort study of solid organ transplant recipients (TransplantLines).Methods and analysisTransplantLines is designed as a single-centre, prospective cohort study and biobank including all different types of solid organ transplant recipients as well as living organ donors. Data will be collected from transplant candidates before transplantation, during transplantation, at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years, and subsequently every 5 years after transplantation. Data from living organ donors will be collected before donation, during donation, at 3 months, 1 year and 5 years after donation, and subsequently every 5 years. The primary outcomes are mortality and graft failure. The secondary outcomes will be cause-specific mortality, cause-specific graft failure and rejection. The tertiary outcomes will be other health problems, including diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and cardiovascular disease, and disturbances that relate to quality of life, that is, physical and psychological functioning, including quality of sleep, and neurological problems such as tremor and polyneuropathy.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the relevant local ethics committee. The TransplantLines cohort study is designed to deliver pioneering insights into transplantation and donation outcomes. The study design allows comprehensive data collection on perioperative care, nutrition, social and psychological functioning, and biochemical parameters. This may provide a rationale for future intervention strategies to more individualised, patient-centred transplant care and individualisation of treatment.Trial registration number NCT03272841.
Abstract
Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) have impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and suffer from intestinal dysbiosis. Increasing evidence shows that gut health and HRQoL are tightly ...related in the general population. Here, we investigate the association between the gut microbiome and HRQoL in KTR, using metagenomic sequencing data from fecal samples collected from 507 KTR. Multiple bacterial species are associated with lower HRQoL, many of which have previously been associated with adverse health conditions. Gut microbiome distance to the general population is highest among KTR with an impaired physical HRQoL (
R
= −0.20,
P
= 2.3 × 10
−65
) and mental HRQoL (
R
= −0.14,
P
= 1.3 × 10
−3
). Physical and mental HRQoL explain a significant part of variance in the gut microbiome (
R
2
= 0.58%, FDR = 5.43 × 10
−4
and
R
2
= 0.37%, FDR = 1.38 × 10
−3
, respectively). Additionally, multiple metabolic and neuroactive pathways (gut brain modules) are associated with lower HRQoL. While the observational design of our study does not allow us to analyze causality, we provide a comprehensive overview of the associations between the gut microbiome and HRQoL while controlling for confounders.
The kidney is one of the most sensitive organs to cadmium-induced toxicity, particularly in conditions of long-term oxidative stress. We hypothesized that, in kidney transplant recipients, ...nephrotoxic exposure to cadmium represents an overlooked hazard for optimal graft function. To test this, we performed a prospective cohort study and included 672 outpatient kidney transplant recipients with a functioning graft of beyond one year. The median plasma cadmium was 58 ng/L. During a median 4.9 years of follow-up, 78 kidney transplant recipients developed graft failure with a significantly different distribution across tertiles of plasma cadmium (13, 26, and 39 events, respectively). Plasma cadmium was associated with an increased risk of graft failure (hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.56‒2.47 per log2 ng/L). Similarly, a dose-response relationship was observed over increasing tertiles of plasma cadmium, after adjustments for potential confounders (donor, recipient, transplant and lifestyle characteristics), robust in both competing risk and sensitivity analyses. These findings were also consistent for kidney function decline (graft failure or doubling of serum creatinine). Thus, plasma cadmium is independently associated with an increased risk of long-term kidney graft failure and decline in kidney function. Further studies are needed to investigate whether exposure to cadmium represents an otherwise overlooked modifiable risk factor for adverse long-term graft outcomes in different populations.
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ABSTRACT
Background
Fatigue and impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are common among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). We hypothesized that both may partially be attributable to poor ...sleep.
Methods
Cross-sectional and longitudinal data of KTR enrolled in the TransplantLines Biobank and Cohort Study were used. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Individual strength (i.e. a composite of fatigue, concentration, motivation and physical activity), societal participation and HRQoL were assessed using validated questionnaires.
Results
We included 872 KTR (39% female, age 56 ± 13 years) and 335 healthy controls. In total, 33% of male KTR and 49% of female KTR reported poor sleep quality, which was higher compared with male and female healthy controls (19% and 28%, respectively, P < .001 for both). In logistic regression analyses, female sex, anxiety, active smoking, low protein intake, physically inactive lifestyle, low plasma magnesium concentration, using calcineurin inhibitors, not using mTOR inhibitors and using benzodiazepine agonists were associated with poor sleep quality. In adjusted linear regression analyses, poor sleep was strongly and independently associated with lower individual strength standardized β (st.β) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45 to 0.74, P < .001, poorer societal participation (frequency: st.β = −0.17, 95% CI −0.32 to −0.01, P = .04; restrictions: st.β = −0.36, 95% CI −0.51 to −0.21, P < .001; satisfaction: st.β = −0.44, 95% CI −0.59 to −0.28, P < .001) and lower HRQoL (physical: st.β = −0.53, 95% CI −0.68 to −0.38, P < .001; mental: st.β = −0.64, 95% CI −0.78 to −0.50, P < .001). The associations with poorer societal participation and lower HRQoL were strongly mediated by individual strength (P < .001 for all), yet the suggested direct effects of poor sleep quality on HRQoL remained significant (Pphysical = .03, Pmental = .002). Longitudinal data of 292 KTR showed that sleep quality improves after kidney transplantation in males (P < .001), but not in females (P = .9).
Conclusions
Poor sleep quality is common among KTR, and may be a potential target to improve fatigue, societal participation and HRQoL among KTR.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
In order to get insight in the level of exposure to pathogenic
Leptospira under the moderate sea climate conditions in the Netherlands, healthy dogs and horses were tested for antibodies using the ...Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). 55% of 198 dogs tested had agglutinating antibodies against one or more pathogenic serovars with serovar Copenhageni, the common cause of Weil's disease in dogs and humans, being predominant. Of a total 112 horses tested 79% had agglutinating antibodies against one or more pathogenic serovars, again with serovar Copenhageni predominating. Some dogs may have been vaccinated, but the low prevalence of anti-serovar Canicola antibodies and the results of an unvaccinated group suggest that this did not really influence the outcome. Horses, however, are never vaccinated. Results demonstrate that exposure to, and subclinical infections with, serovar Copenhageni and other pathogenic serovars commonly occur in dogs and horses in the Netherlands. Humans share part of their biotope with these species and are therefore also exposed, although probably to a lesser extent as a result of their less intimate contact with the environment.
Purpose
In a search for potentially modifiable factors to improve long-term outcome among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), we hypothesized that boron exposure is associated with improved long-term ...outcome in KTR.
Methods
We determined 24 h urinary boron excretion using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as a measure of boron exposure in 693 stable KTR (57% male, mean age 53y), enrolled in the TransplantLines Food and Nutrition Biobank and Cohort Study. Dietary intake was assessed using validated food-frequency questionnaires.
Results
Linear regression analyses showed that dietary intake of fruit, wine and nuts were key determinants of boron excretion. In addition, boron excretion was negatively correlated with homocysteine and inflammatory parameters. In total, 73 (32%), 47 (20%) and 30 (13%) KTR died among the lowest, middle and highest tertiles of 24 h urinary boron excretion, respectively (
P
log-rank
< 0.001). Cox regression analyses showed that high boron excretion was strongly associated with lower risk of mortality, independent of age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate and history of cardiovascular disease (HR per doubling: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.66,
P
< 0.001).
Conclusion
Boron may be an overlooked target to improve long-term survival among KTR and potentially other patients, likely through pathways other than inflammation or the methionine-homocysteine cycle that were previously suggested. Interventional trials are warranted to confirm the potential of dietary boron supplementation in KTR and other patient populations.
Gut dysbiosis has been associated with impaired outcomes in liver and kidney transplant recipients, but the gut microbiome of lung transplant recipients has not been extensively explored. We assessed ...the gut microbiome in 64 fecal samples from end-stage lung disease patients before transplantation and 219 samples from lung transplant recipients after transplantation using metagenomic sequencing. To identify dysbiotic microbial signatures, we analyzed 243 fecal samples from age-, sex-, and BMI-matched healthy controls. By unsupervised clustering, we identified five groups of lung transplant recipients using different combinations of immunosuppressants and antibiotics and analyzed them in relation to the gut microbiome. Finally, we investigated the gut microbiome of lung transplant recipients in different chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) stages and longitudinal gut microbiome changes after transplantation. We found 108 species (58.1%) in end-stage lung disease patients and 139 species (74.7%) in lung transplant recipients that were differentially abundant compared with healthy controls, with several species exhibiting sharp longitudinal increases from before to after transplantation. Different combinations of immunosuppressants and antibiotics were associated with specific gut microbial signatures. We found that the gut microbiome of lung transplant recipients in CLAD stage 0 was more similar to healthy controls compared to those in CLAD stage 1. Finally, the gut microbial diversity of lung transplant recipients remained lower than the average gut microbial diversity of healthy controls up to more than 20 years post-transplantation. Gut dysbiosis, already present before lung transplantation was exacerbated following lung transplantation.IMPORTANCEThis study provides extensive insights into the gut microbiome of end-stage lung disease patients and lung transplant recipients, which warrants further investigation before the gut microbiome can be used for microbiome-targeted interventions that could improve the outcome of lung transplantation.
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