Background Sport injuries have been common among athletes across the globe for decades and have the potential to disrupt athletic careers, performance, and psyche. Many health professionals and organizations have undertaken injury mitigation strategies to prevent sport injuries through protective equipment, training protocols, and a host of other evidence-based practices. Many of these specialized training methods were disrupted due to protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This research examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in relation to the prevalence of athletic injuries in the National Football League (NFL). Objective During the COVID-19 pandemic, NFL teams and athletes across all levels of sport were reported to have reduced training in preparation for their seasons due to protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study compares the prevalence of injury during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 NFL seasons, with the aim to determine the potential causes of the differences in injury prevalence. Methods Official injury reports from each team were counted during the 17-week regular season of each year (2018, 2019, and 2020). The data were analyzed using an unpaired t test to compare the injury prevalence between each of the three seasons. Results The 2018 season produced a total of 1561 injuries and a mean of 48.8 injuries per team. The 2019 season produced a total of 1897 injuries and a mean of 59.3 injuries per team, while the 2020 season produced a total of 2484 injuries and a mean of 77.6 injuries per team. An unpaired t test was performed using the data to compare the mean number of injuries per team during each of the seasons. Comparison of the 2020 season against the 2019 season showed a statistically significant difference (P<.001); comparison of the 2020 season to the 2018 season found a statistically significant difference (P<.001); and comparison between the 2019 and the 2018 seasons found a statistically significant difference (P=.03). Conclusions Although the 2019 and 2018 seasons showed a statistically significant difference (P=.03), this difference is not as large when we compare the 2020 seasons versus the 2019 (P<.001) and 2018 (P<.001) seasons. The astronomical increase in injury prevalence during the 2020 season over the previous years raises the possibility that there was a reduced physiological adaptation to stress, due to the limited amount of training as a result of the closure of practice facilities in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Key Points Question How is initiation of tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes, cigarettes, and other tobacco products, at an early age associated with children’s neurocognitive functions? Findings In this national cohort study of 17 073 children with neuroimaging outcomes, a significant association was found of early-age initiation of tobacco use with lower crystalized cognition composite score and impaired brain development in total cortical area and volume. Region of interest analysis also revealed smaller cortical area and volume across frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. Meaning These findings suggest that initiation of tobacco use is associated with inferior neurocognitive functions; evidence-based intervention strategies and tobacco control policies should prevent tobacco initiation at a young age.

This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of Crassula ovata (C. ovata) against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. About 1-3g samples of C. Ovata leaf samples were extracted with 95 % ethanol and the extract infused into paper discs by soaking and drying. The dried discs were screened against various strains of bacteria and the antimicrobial effects of the infused agents determined by measuring zones of inhibition due to the agents infused into the discs. By the zones of inhibition, C. ovata showed antimicrobial activity against the following gram-negative bacteria: E. coli (14 mm mean zone of clearing), P. vulgaris (13 mm mean zone of clearing), E. cloacae (16 mm mean zone of clearing), and K. pneumoniae (13 mm mean zone of clearing). C. ovata showed antimicrobial activity against the following gram-positive bacteria: S. aureus (22 mm mean zone of clearing) and S. agalactiae (8 mm mean zone of clearing). C. ovata did not show antimicrobial activity against S. pyogenes. By its antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, C. ovata displayed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, S. agalactiae, P. vulgaris, E. cloacae, and K. pneumoniae. C. ovata may have the potential to serve as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial in the future. Further testing should be done to investigate the toxicities and side effects of C. ovata. Further testing must also be done with C. ovata against drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

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This work uncovered the antibacterial properties of Nasturtium against gram-positive Streptococcus agalactiae. Certain strains of Streptococcus have demonstrated antibiotic resistance. Streptococcus agalactiae commonly infects the elderly, neonates, and pregnant women, which makes this a pathogen of concern. Samples of Nasturtium leaves and flowers were extracted using 95% ethanol as extraction solvent and filtered. The filtrate was impregnated into sterile discs. Discs infused with extracts or extraction solvent as control, were placed on S. agalactiae plated plates. Clear zones around disc indicating bacterial susceptibility were measured. Nasturtium demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. agalactiae with a mean zone of inhibition of 20 mm. This suggest nasturtium can potentially be developed as an antibacterial agent against S. agalactiae.