SUNY Broome Robotics Team finding success this season
The team traveled to Bloomsburg, PA last weekend to compete in the 12th Annual Rage in the Cage robotic tournament.
19 robotic teams from across the region participated in the competition, showing off their design and manufacturing skills. Inspired by the show BattleBots, students used STEM objectives to create functioning robots used for combat.
SUNY Broome submitted three robots, ultimately taking second place in the competition.
Justin Ondrako, a student majoring in Manufacturing Technology, says participating in competitions is just as educational as it is fun.
'It's fun when you put stuff together and see if it works. And if it doesn't work, you go back and you try it again. You get to repeat, and when they work, you're like 'Oh my God, it freaking worked.' So, when we put them into the arena and you see your robot get destroyed, like, alright this is even more fun because I get to repair it and I get to learn from this experience,' said Ondrako.
The team has won first place multiple times in the past.
Ondrako says the team's success is largely due to the leadership of Professor Gary DiGiacomo.
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SUNY Broome Robotics Team finding success this season
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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Traumatic brain injuries linked to faster aging in post-9/11 veterans, new study finds
New research published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation could help identify veterans at risk for health problems Research Highlights: More than half of post-9/11 veterans studied had suffered at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) and showed faster biological aging. TBIs sustained during military deployment showed stronger links to accelerated aging compared to injuries outside military service. Compared to men, women veterans showed significantly stronger links between deployment-related TBIs and accelerated aging. FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post 9/11 veterans who sustained one or more traumatic brain injuries show faster biological aging compared to veterans without a TBI, according to new research published today in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation. In more than 1,000 veterans studied, deployment-related traumatic brain injuries had stronger links to accelerated aging than injuries outside military service, particularly among women. More recent injuries also showed stronger associations with aging than injuries prior to military service. 'This is one of the first studies to examine whether traumatic brain injury is associated with biological aging broadly, and the results suggest experiencing a TBI, including a mild concussion, may help identify veterans at risk of faster aging,' says lead author Kyle Bourassa, Ph.D., staff psychologist in Research Service at the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System and senior research fellow in the Department of Psychology at Georgetown University. Nearly 5 million Americans have served in the armed forces since September 11, 2001, participating in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This post-9/11 population faces increased risks for traumatic brain injuries, psychiatric disorders and suicide, compared to earlier generations of veterans. Research has shown that brain injury can evolve into a lifelong health condition that impairs the brain and other organ systems and may persist or progress over a person's lifetime. Previous research has linked TBI to poor brain health in the form of cognitive decline and dementia risks, but scientists still aim to understand why these problems develop. The new study examined whether accelerated biological aging could help explain these health consequences. Biological aging measures the rate at which a person's body declines over time, but some people age biologically faster than others. Researchers used blood samples to assess aging markers that predict future health problems, including chronic disease and early death. The findings suggest TBIs, particularly those sustained during deployment, may put veterans at a higher risk for age-related health complications as they grow older. Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study analyzing blood samples from 1,152 post-9/11 veterans with an average age of 37 years enrolled in a long-term study with the Veterans Affairs VISN 6 Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness research, Education and Clinical Center. In this multi-site study, participants underwent clinical interviews about their history of traumatic brain injuries, including when and how the injuries occurred. Scientists used blood samples to measure epigenetic changes – chemical modifications to DNA that respond to environmental factors – to assess biological aging rates. Unlike permanent genetic traits, these epigenetic changes can be influenced by factors like injuries or stress, making them potentially reversible. The aging measure, called DunedinPACE, predicts future health outcomes. Key Findings TBI prevalence: More than half (51.2%) of the 1,152 veterans studied experienced at least one traumatic brain injury, with 299 reporting multiple injuries. Deployment-related injuries: Among the 590 veterans with TBI, more than one in four (27.3%) sustained an injury during military deployment. Co-occurring conditions: Nearly one-third of all participants (31.6%) had received a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis, and veterans with multiple TBIs were more likely to have developed PTSD. Deployment vs. non-deployment associations: Deployment-related TBIs were associated with accelerated aging, whereas traumatic brain injuries experienced outside of military service were not. Gender differences: Women veterans showed significantly stronger links between deployment-related TBIs and accelerated aging compared to men. Bourassa believes the findings could help identify approaches to improve health for people with a traumatic brain injury saying, 'We know more work is needed, but our findings highlight the importance of integrating TBI screenings and tailored interventions into veteran health care frameworks, which could help address the long-term health consequences associated with military service-related brain injuries.' 'This study provides further evidence that TBI can be a risk factor for abnormal aging, but what is important is what we can do about it,' observed John Corrigan, Ph.D., National Research Director for the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) and editor-in-chief of the Journal for Head Trauma Rehabilitation. 'Having a TBI should be a reason to take better care of your brain through diet, exercise, sleep, stress management and other brain healthy behaviors. BIAA promotes identification of TBI with programs like Concussion Awareness Now, so people can learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion and ways to make healthy choices moving forward.' Scientists noted several important limitations to the research. Because it was a cross-sectional study, the findings cannot prove that TBI caused faster aging, only that the two are linked. Additionally, researchers assessed a participant's TBI history through self-reported clinical interviews, which can be subject to recall bias. Bourassa noted their study team is conducting a new study using a more detailed method of assessing TBI to attempt to address this limitation. The study also focused on post-9/11 veterans, which may limit how the findings apply to other veteran populations or civilians with traumatic brain injuries. Future studies should examine whether the findings can be replicated in other groups and explore what biological processes lead to accelerated aging following a TBI. Scientists also need to better understand why deployment-related injuries might show stronger associations with aging for women veterans. Co-authors are Sarah L. Martindale, Ph.D.; Melanie E. Garret, M.S.; VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup; Allison E. Ashley-Koch; Jean C. Beckham, Nathan A. Kimbrel, Jared A. Rowland; Ph.D. Financial disclosures or conflicts of interest can be found in the full article. ABOUT THE BRAIN INJURY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA The Brain Injury Association of America is the country's oldest and largest nationwide brain injury advocacy organization. BIAA's mission is to improve the quality of life of people affected by brain injury across their lifespan through advancing prevention, awareness, research, treatment, education, and advocacy. BIAA is dedicated to increasing access to quality health care and raising awareness and understanding of brain injury. Find more information online at our website or follow us on social media. CONTACT: CONTACT: Robin Lindner (336) 926-8000 robin@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Medscape
08-08-2025
- Medscape
Does Getting Fit Guard Against Colorectal Cancer?
Evidence continues to mount that building cardiovascular fitness can help lower an individual's risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). The latest study — a sweeping analysis of 643,583 individuals, with more than 8000 cases of CRC and 10 years follow-up — found a consistent, inverse, and graded association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the risk for the development of CRC — a benefit similar for men and women and across races. CRC risk was 9% lower for each 1-metabolic equivalent (MET) task increase in CRF, objectively measured by an exercise treadmill test. When assessed across CRF categories, there was a progressive decline in CRC risk with higher CRF, Aamir Ali, MD, and colleagues with Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, found. Compared with the least fit individuals (METs, 4.8), the CRC risk was 14% lower in those falling in the low-fit CRF category (METs, 7.3), 27% lower for moderately fit people (METs, 8.6), 41% lower for fit individuals (METs, 10.5), and 57% lower for high-fit individuals (METs, 13.6). Moderate CRF is attainable by most middle-aged and older individuals, by engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking, which aligns with current national guidelines, the authors said. The study was published online on July 28 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The results dovetail with earlier work. For example, in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, men with high mid-life CRF had a 44% lower risk for CRC and a 32% lower risk of dying from cancer later in life men with low CRF. A recent meta-analysis for the World Cancer Research Fund estimated a 16% lower risk for colon cancer in people with the highest levels of recreational physical activity relative to those with the lowest levels. A recent UK Biobank analysis using accelerometers linked higher daily movement to a 26% reduction in risk across multiple cancers, including bowel cancer. Taken together, the data suggest that 'the more you exercise, the better your overall health is going to be — not just your cardiac fitness but also your overall risk of cancer,' Joel Saltzman, MD, medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland, noted in an interview with Medscape Medical News . Can You Outrun CRC Risk? In the US, CRC is the second leading cause of cancer mortality, accounting for 51,896 deaths in 2019. The economic burden of CRC in the US is significant, topping $24 billion annually. And while the incidence of colon cancer has decreased in older individuals during the past 3 decades, the incidence in younger adults has nearly doubled during the same period, 'underscoring the limitations of screening programs and the critical need for risk factor modification,' Ali and colleagues wrote. 'There is good evidence that exercise and healthy lifestyle/diet have significant benefit overall and as well for some potential risk reduction for colon cancer,' David Johnson, MD, professor of medicine and chief of gastroenterology, Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, told Medscape Medical News. 'There are clearly suggestions of why this makes sense via the beneficial effects of exercise and physical activity in CRC pathways including but not limited to regulation of inflammation and aberrant cell growth/cancer pathways,' Johnson said. He emphasized, however, that exercise and lifestyle are not the best way to prevent CRC. 'Appropriate screening, in particular by colonoscopy (by skilled physicians who meet high-quality performance national benchmarks) to detect and remove precancerous polyps, is the best approach for prevention,' Johnson said. 'At this point — albeit exercise is potentially helpful and a great general recommendation — my most current advice as an expert in the field, is that you cannot outrun CRC risk,' Johnson said. Can You Outrun CRC Recurrence? Prevention aside, the data thus far are even more supportive of risk reduction for patients who have had CRC and are targeting reduction of recurrence, Johnson said. Perhaps the most compelling study was recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The CHALLENGE trial enrolled patients with resected stage II or III colon cancer who had completed their adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with recurrences within a year of diagnosis were excluded, as they were more likely to have highly aggressive, biologically active disease. Participants were randomized to receive healthcare education materials alone or in conjunction with a structured exercise program over a 3-year follow-up period. The focus of the exercise intervention was increasing recreational aerobic activity over baseline by at least 10 METs — essentially the equivalent of adding about 45-60 minutes of brisk walking or 25-30 minutes of jogging three to four times a week. At a median follow-up of nearly 8 years, exercise reduced the relative risk for disease recurrence, new primary cancer, or death by 28% ( P = .02). 'This benefit persisted — and even strengthened — over time, with disease-free survival increasing by 6.4 and 7.1 percentage points at 5 and 8 years, respectively,' Johnson noted in a Medscape commentary. The CHALLENGE results are 'very compelling,' Bishal Gyawali, MD, PhD, associate professor of oncology at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, noted in a separate Medscape commentary. 'If you compare these results with results from other trials, you'll see that this is a no-brainer. If this were a drug, you would want to use it today,' Gyawali said. Saltzman told Medscape Medical News patients often ask him what they can do to help prevent their cancer from coming back. 'I would sort of say, 'Well, eat a healthy diet and exercise,' but I didn't have a lot of good evidence to support it.' The CHALLENGE study provides 'the proof in the pudding.' With these strong data, 'it almost feels like I should be able to write a prescription for my patient to join an exercise program and that their insurance should cover it,' Saltzman said.
Medscape
23-07-2025
- Medscape
Behavioral Therapy as First-Line for Bladder Control in PD?
TOPLINE: Structured behavioral therapy focused on pelvic floor muscle exercise was noninferior to treatment with solifenacin for alleviating overactive bladder symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), new research showed. Because it was also associated with fewer side effects, especially falls, researchers recommended the behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment option. METHODOLOGY: This 12-week randomized noninferiority trial was conducted between 2018 and 2023 within four Veterans Affairs healthcare systems in the US. Overall, 77 patients diagnosed with PD and overactive bladder symptoms, as measured with an International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire overactive bladder module (ICIQ-OAB) symptom score ≥ 7, were included. All participants (mean age, 71 years; 84% men; 90% White individuals) were randomly assigned to receive either pelvic floor muscle exercise-based behavioral therapy with urge suppression training (n = 36) or 5 mg solifenacin daily with need-based titration up to 10 mg daily (n = 41). The primary outcome was ICIQ-OAB symptom score at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes were ICIQ-OAB bother and quality of life scores and drug-related adverse events. TAKEAWAY: At 12 weeks, clinically significant improvement in ICIQ-OAB scores was observed across both treatment groups within a noninferiority margin of 15% (drug vs behavioral therapy: mean ICIQ-OAB score, 5.8 vs 5.5; P = .02). Both groups also had a reduction in symptom frequency, which was associated with a reduction in bother scores and an improvement in overactive bladder-related quality of life. Compared with the behavioral therapy group, the solifenacin group had a greater number of adverse events, including dry mouth (P = .002) and pain or burning during urination (P = .03). They also had a greater number of falls (6 vs 0). IN PRACTICE: 'The finding of increased falls in the solifenacin therapy group reinforces the need to carefully consider the risk-benefit ratio of medications for urinary symptoms, especially given the increased risk of falls among persons with PD. Results of this study suggest that behavioral therapy is an effective treatment option for persons with PD,' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Camille P. Vaughan, MD, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology in the Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta. It was published online on July 14 in JAMA Neurology. LIMITATIONS: The follow-up duration was limited to 12 weeks, restricting insight into longer-term outcomes. The cohort predominantly had male participants, reducing the generalizability of the findings, and the study relied on patient-reported data. Additionally, a higher dropout in the drug group led to nonrandom missing data, potentially biasing comparisons. DISCLOSURES: The study was funded by a grant from Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development. Two investigators reported receiving grants from various sources during the conduct of the study. The other nine investigators reported having no relevant financial relationships. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
