Efficacy of peroneal nerve functional electrical stimulation (FES) for the reduction of bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease: an assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial (STEPS II)-study protocol.

Introduction: Difficulty with walking can lead to reduced quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease (pwPD); improving walking is considered a treatment priority. Drug therapies can control PD symptoms; however, pwPD often still experience mobility problems.Functional electrical stimulation (FES) induces movement in weak muscles via external electrical stimulation.

Prevalence of low energy availability and burnout syndrome in female athletes.

Background: Optimal athletic performance requires balancing training with adequate recovery and energy intake. Failure to do this can result in low energy availability (LEA). This study investigated the prevalence of LEA and burnout syndrome in an athletic population and explored potential relationships between these conditions.

Glucagon Receptor Deficiency Causes Early-Onset Hepatic Steatosis.

In this study, we investigated a consanguineous family in whom normal-weight individuals had hepatic steatosis and cirrhosis. Using whole-exome sequencing we found two rare homozygous variants in the glucagon receptor (GCGR) gene that cosegregated with the phenotype. In cells, the GCGR mutations result in a loss of function and increased lipid accumulation.

Dietary Recommendations for Body Mass and Composition Manipulation in Male and Female Athletes: a Scoping Review of Consensus Statements, Position Stands and Practice Guidelines from International Expert Groups.

Background: Body mass and composition (fat and fat-free mass) manipulation is a common practice in sport, yet it can pose significant risks to athlete health and wellbeing. Practitioners must continually adapt to the growing body of evidence to implement safe, effective and context-specific practice.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to summarise dietary recommendations for altering body mass or composition in male and female, adult non-disabled athletes and appraise how these expert-group led recommendations have evolved over time.

Multidimensional profiling of rugby league players: A systematic scoping review and expert Delphi consensus.

Player profiling can aid talent identification and development by highlighting strengths and weaknesses, and evaluating training interventions. However, there is currently no consensus in rugby league on the qualities, skills, and characteristics (i.e.

Binding kinetics, bias, receptor internalization and effects on insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo of a novel GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist, HISHS-2001.

Aims: The use of incretin analogues has emerged as an effective approach to achieve both enhanced insulin secretion and weight loss in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Agonists which bind and stimulate multiple receptors have shown particular promise. However, off-target effects remain a complication of using these agents, and modified versions with optimised pharmacological profiles and/or biased signalling are sought.

Fluorescent GLP1R/GIPR dual agonist probes reveal cell targets in the pancreas and brain.

Dual agonists targeting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) are breakthrough treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity. Compared to GLP1R agonists, dual agonists show superior efficacy for glucose lowering and weight reduction. However, delineation of dual agonist cell targets remains challenging.

Impacting the rugby tackle: risk factors and mechanisms for concussion and musculoskeletal tackle-related injury - a systematic review and Delphi consensus to inform intervention strategies for risk reduction.

To (1) systematically review the literature to identify which match-related risk factors and mechanisms of rugby tackle events result in musculoskeletal injury, concussion, head injury assessments, and head impacts or head accelerations; and (2) identify the perceived importance and feasibility of potential intervention strategies for tackle-related injury reduction in the rugby codes.A systematic search was performed using Preferred Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Risk factors/mechanisms associated with tackle injuries across the rugby codes were extracted.

GLP-1R associates with VAPB and SPHKAP at ERMCSs to regulate β-cell mitochondrial remodelling and function.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists (GLP-1RAs) ameliorate mitochondrial health by increasing mitochondrial turnover in metabolically relevant tissues. Mitochondrial adaptation to metabolic stress is crucial to maintain pancreatic β-cell function and prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D) progression. While the GLP-1R is well-known to stimulate cAMP production leading to Protein Kinase A (PKA) and Exchange Protein Activated by cyclic AMP 2 (Epac2) activation, there is a lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking GLP-1R signalling with mitochondrial and β-cell functional adaptation.

Clarifying the Taxonomy of the Finch Louse Fly Ornithomya Fringillina (Curtis) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) - An Analysis of Morphotypes.

Background: The louse flies in the genus Ornithomya Latreille are avian ectoparasites. The patterns of alar microtrichia on the wings of the Ornithomyae are commonly used to help distinguish the various species, with the patterns in most species found to be constant between individuals. The Finch Louse Fly Ornithomya fringillina (Curtis) in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Isle of Man, is unusual in that the several patterns have been described.

Tackle characteristics associated with concussion in elite men's rugby union: unpicking the differences between tacklers and ball-carriers.

Objective: To identify characteristics of tackling, of being tackled and interactions between tackle characteristics that are associated with concussion.

Methods: A case-control study in male professional rugby union players in England over five seasons (2016/2017 to 2020/2021) analysed characteristics of tackles that led to a clinically diagnosed concussion (cases), and a control group of tackles that did not result in a concussion. ORs were plotted against the overall frequency of each tackle characteristic.

Head Acceleration Event Exposure During Elite Men's and Women's Rugby Union Training.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and magnitude of head acceleration events (HAEs) during elite men's and women's rugby union training for different contact training levels and drill types.

Method: Data were collected during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons from 203 men and 125 women from 13 clubs using instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) during in-season training. One author reviewed the training videos to identify the contact level and drill type.

Reduced head-to-head contact rates in elite-level women's rugby league following a season-long tackle technique coaching intervention.

Objective: Within women's rugby league (n=12 teams), we (1) identified modifiers for head-to-head contacts informed by sport partners (eg, players, coaches, match officials); (2) compared head-to-head contact and concussion rates to the previous two seasons following a one-season tackle technique coaching intervention and (3) explored barriers and enablers of the intervention.

Methods: A multi-method design was used. Part 1: Mitigation strategies were identified by sport partners reviewing footage of head-to-head contacts, informing the development of a coach-targeted tackle technique intervention.

Detection of West Nile virus via retrospective mosquito arbovirus surveillance, United Kingdom, 2025.

In March 2025, as part of ongoing enhanced surveillance for mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) RNA was detected in two pools of female collected in July 2023 in Nottinghamshire, England. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of a 402 bp fragment indicate clustering with WNV lineage 1a. The exact origin of this virus remains unclear, but this finding indicates a historic WNV presence in the United Kingdom.

Falling and Landing Framework (FLF): A Consensus on a Novel Falling and Landing Video Analysis Framework for Use Across Rugby Codes.

Understanding how players experience head-acceleration events (HAE) whilst playing rugby is a priority area of research. In both rugby union and league, video analysis frameworks have been developed to comprehensively define key features of contact events. However, these frameworks were developed prior to recent advances in our understanding regarding the proportion of HAEs that occur due to head-to-ground mechanisms and do not consider important post-contact variables.

Contact and Head Acceleration Characteristics of a Women's Rugby Union Team During an International Tournament.

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of contact and head acceleration event (HAE) exposure in an international women's rugby union team, across an international tournament, encompassing match and training contexts. Using a retrospective case study design, the contact and HAE exposure of 28 women's rugby union players were assessed using video analysis and instrumented mouthguards (iMGs). In a three-week tournament, three matches and 16 training sessions were coded using consensus operational definitions, and synchronized with iMG data.

'We're All (Cauliflower) Ears': A Delphi Study Including Staff and Players to Co-Construct Sports Science and Medicine (Performance and Wellbeing) Research Priorities for Premiership Rugby.

Sports invest in research to optimise performance and enhance athlete wellbeing. Involving stakeholders allows research priorities to be determined, maximising the adoption and relevance of research findings. A three-round modified Delphi process was used to establish wellbeing and performance research priorities for Premiership Rugby (Professional men's rugby union competition in England).

Challenge Accepted: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Applications of the Challenge Point Framework.

The Challenge Point Framework (CPF) guides practice design for optimal motor skill learning. The CPF's use and prevalence has not been reported. This review's aims are to - (i) identify research areas that use the CPF, (ii) determine the CPF's prevalence across research areas and (iii) summarise applications of the CPF across research areas.

Instrumented Mouthguards in Men's Rugby League: Quantifying the Incidence and Probability of Head Acceleration Events at a Group and Individual Level.

Background: There is growing concern that exposure to head acceleration events (HAEs) may be associated with long-term neurological effects.

Objectives: To quantify the incidence and probability of HAEs during men's professional rugby league match-play on a group and individual basis using instrumented mouthguards (iMGs).

Methods: A total of 91 men's professional rugby league players participating in the 2023 Super League season wore iMGs, resulting in the collection of 775 player matches (mean 8.

Exploring the role of diet in reducing cancer risk in UK firefighters: Mediterranean pattern and the potential for targeted nutritional strategies.

Firefighters face significantly elevated cancer risks due to chronic exposure to carcinogenic fire effluents and occupational stressors. In 2022, the World Health Organization classified firefighting as a carcinogenic occupation, linking it to increased incidences of cancers, including mesothelioma, bladder, prostate, colon and melanoma. Drawing on UK-specific data where possible, this narrative review explores how dietary strategies, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may complement existing protective measures in mitigating these risks.

The 'Where, What, How and Who' of Head Accelerations in Rugby Union. Head Acceleration Events From Men's and Women's Northern and Southern Hemisphere Competitions.

This study aimed to quantify and compare mean head acceleration event (HAE) incidence within and between men's and women's rugby union competitions; quantify the incidence of HAEs during all contact-events and describe individual player incidence. Players competing during the 2022/2023 season in women's (337 players; Premiership Women's Rugby, Farah Palmer Cup) and men's (371 players; Premiership Rugby, Currie Cup and Super Rugby) competitions wore instrumented mouthguards (iMGs). Mean HAE incidences using peak linear (PLA) and peak angular acceleration (PAA) were quantified by sex, positional groups and individual players per competition and for contact-events across a range of magnitude thresholds.

Combining evidence and practice to optimise neck training aimed at reducing head acceleration events in sport: a systematic review and Delphi-consensus study.

Head acceleration events (HAEs) can potentially have adverse consequences for athlete brain health. In sports, in which head injuries have the highest incidence, identifying strategies to reduce HAE frequency and magnitude is a priority. Neck training is a potential strategy to mitigate against the magnitude of HAEs.

Evaluating the Probability of Head Acceleration Events in Elite Men's and Women's Rugby Union Match-Play: The Impact of Tackle Height and Body Position.

Background: Head acceleration events (HAEs) are an increasing concern in collision sports owing to potential negative health outcomes.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the probabilities of HAEs in tackles of differing heights and body positions in elite men's and women's rugby union.

Methods: Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) were worn in men's (n = 24 teams, 508 players, 782 observations) and women's (n = 26 teams, 350 players, 1080 observations) rugby union matches.

Disclosure of possible concussions in National Rugby League Women's Premiership players.

Objectives: This study investigated the disclosure and reasons for non-disclosure of possible concussions and their symptoms in National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) Premiership players in Australia.

Design: Cross sectional survey.

Methods: During the 2022 NRLW season, NRLW players were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, online survey exploring (i) player demographics, (ii) rugby playing history, (iii) concussion disclosure, and (iv) instances of, and reasons for, non-disclosure of possible concussions to medical staff during the past two seasons.