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Journal of Biomechanics Nov 2020Performance during seated balancing is often used to assess trunk neuromuscular control, including evaluating impairments in back pain populations. Balancing in less...
Performance during seated balancing is often used to assess trunk neuromuscular control, including evaluating impairments in back pain populations. Balancing in less challenging environments allows for flexibility in control, which may not depend on health status but instead may reflect personal preferences. To make assessment less ambiguous, trunk neuromuscular control should be maximally challenged. Thirty-four healthy subjects balanced on a robotic seat capable of adjusting rotational stiffness. Subjects balanced while rotational stiffness was gradually reduced. The rotational stiffness at which subjects could no longer maintain balance, defined as critical stiffness (k), was used to quantify the subjects' trunk neuromuscular control. A higher k reflects poorer control, as subjects require a more stable base to balance. Subjects were tested on three days separated by 24 hours to assess test-retest reliability. Anthropometric (height and weight) and demographic (age and sex) influences on k and its reliability were assessed. Height and age did not affect k; whereas, being heavier (p < 0.001) and female (p = 0.042) significantly increased k. Reliability was also affected by anthropometric and demographic factors, highlighting the potential problem of inflated reliability estimates from non-control related attributes. k measurements appear reliable even after removing anthropometric and demographic influences, with adjusted correlations of 0.612 (95%CI: 0.433-0.766) versus unadjusted correlations of 0.880 (95%CI: 0.797-0.932). Besides assessment, trainers and therapists prescribing exercise could use the seated balance task and k to precisely set difficulty level to a percentage of the subject's stability threshold to optimize improvements in trunk neuromuscular control and spine health.
Topics: Body Weight; Female; Humans; Postural Balance; Posture; Reproducibility of Results; Robotics; Torso
PubMed: 32961424
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.110038 -
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2014Diagnostic effectiveness of Ioflupane I 123 injection (DaTSCAN™, DaTscan™, or [123I]FP-CIT or ioflupane [(123)I]) SPECT imaging, was assessed in patients with...
Association between Hoehn and Yahr, Mini-Mental State Examination, age, and clinical syndrome predominance and diagnostic effectiveness of ioflupane I 123 injection (DaTSCAN™) in subjects with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndromes.
INTRODUCTION
Diagnostic effectiveness of Ioflupane I 123 injection (DaTSCAN™, DaTscan™, or [123I]FP-CIT or ioflupane [(123)I]) SPECT imaging, was assessed in patients with clinically uncertain parkinsonian syndrome (CUPS).
METHODS
We investigated the association between subject's Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), age, and motor symptom subgroups and diagnostic performance of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging. Phase 4 study data were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy in 92 CUPS subjects, using 1-year clinical diagnosis after ioflupane [(123)I] imaging as reference standard.
RESULTS
Diagnostic effectiveness of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging was high in all subgroups: 91% to 100% for H&Y low (<2) and high (≥2) stage subjects; 93% to 96% for MMSE low (<29) or high (≥29) scores; 91% to100% in both age subgroups (younger [<68] and older [≥68]); and 92% to 100% in subjects with both tremor dominant and balanced motor signs. Specificity of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging for bradykinetic rigid or posturally (BRP) unstable motor subtype was lower, but better than for baseline clinical diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
Strongest diagnostic performance of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging for clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome (PS) or non-PS was associated with tremor and balanced motor dominance rather than with BRP dominance. High diagnostic effectiveness of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging and favourable performance relative to final clinical diagnosis at 1 year post-scan in subjects with CUPS was demonstrated. This study suggests that the diagnostic performance of ioflupane [(123)I] imaging in CUPS remains high at all stages of disease, including early stage, and across both age groups and cognitive state (MMSE).
PubMed: 25478029
DOI: 10.1186/s13195-014-0067-0 -
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2018The aims of this study were to assess the knowledge and attitude toward corneal donation among Jordanian population and to report the reasons which may influence...
PURPOSE
The aims of this study were to assess the knowledge and attitude toward corneal donation among Jordanian population and to report the reasons which may influence subject's decision and attitude toward corneal donation.
METHODS
A self-designed questionnaire was developed. The participants were asked about reasons for both willingness and unwillingness to donate their corneas. These reasons were stated in the questionnaire and the participants had to express their agreement by one of five options: strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, or strongly agree.
RESULTS
A total of 500 participants (218 males and 282 females) completed the questionnaire. The average age (±SD) of the study participants was 32.8 (±11.7) years. About 67.2% of the subjects were willing to donate their corneas, whereas 32.8% were not willing to do so. The main motive for willingness was doing a good deed by helping others to see. On the other hand, fear of the body being treated badly and that other organ might be taken than the ones specified for donation were the main reasons for unwillingness to donate corneas. The age of participants, gender, and the monthly income did not significantly influence the willingness to donate (>0.05). However, the level of education had a significant influence on people's decision to donate their corneas.
CONCLUSION
Many Jordanians have positive attitude toward corneal donations. Ethical factors need to be addressed to promote for corneal donation. In addition, increasing the awareness of donation and its benefits may help increase the supply of corneal tissues.
PubMed: 30349179
DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S181022 -
Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands) Dec 2013Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Higher PWV values have been observed in Africans; however, there are no established...
Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk. Higher PWV values have been observed in Africans; however, there are no established age- and gender-adjusted reference values for this population. Therefore, PWV was measured using a validated device (Complior SP) in 544 subjects recruited from an occupational cohort of employees of a public university in Angola. Since high blood pressure (BP) is an important factor influencing PWV, a subsample of 301 normotensive subjects (aged 22-72 years) was selected for this study. A subset of 131 individuals without CV risk factors was considered the healthy group (HG), while the entire group (n = 301) comprised the less healthy group (LHG). Predictors of PWV were evaluated using multiple regression analyses and age- and gender-specific percentile tables and curves were constructed. Age and PWV means were 36 ± 9.7 years and 6.6 ± 1.0 m/s in the HG, respectively, and 39.9 ± 10.2 years and 7.3 ± 1.3 m/s in the LHG. Age and plasma uric acid (UA) were the only significant PWV predictors in the HG, while age, mean BP (MBP), and gender showed significant prediction of PWV in the multiple regression analysis in the LHG. Age- and gender-adjusted reference values of PWV were provided for healthy and less healthy normotensive Africans. Considering the small sample size of our cohort, these preliminary results should be used cautiously until data on robust sample of the general population can be obtained.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aging; Angola; Blood Flow Velocity; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Pulse Wave Analysis; Reference Values; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 23319362
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-012-9504-9 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Nov 2021Reduction in skin elasticity due to aging causes skin sagging and wrinkles. Although there are various objective and reliable techniques for measuring skin elasticity,...
BACKGROUND
Reduction in skin elasticity due to aging causes skin sagging and wrinkles. Although there are various objective and reliable techniques for measuring skin elasticity, it is difficult to obtain a visual representation of skin elasticity with them. Therefore, we developed a novel device, the Swing anglemeter, and analyzed its effectiveness for measuring skin elasticity of the cheek.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-five healthy Korean women (age, 23-60 years) participated. The Swing anglemeter works by dropping a rubber ball on a subject's cheek, which draws a curve as it collides with the cheek. After recording the movement of the ball using the slow-motion function on a mobile phone, we defined the maximum angle at which the ball bounces off the skin as the elastic angle, using frame-by-frame video analysis. Changes in the elastic angle were assessed according to age, and correlation with the Ballistometer results (Dia-stron Ltd., Andover, UK) was analyzed for validation.
RESULTS
Elastic angles differed significantly (P < .001) according to age. A negative correlation was found between the elastic angle and age (r = -.799, P < .001). Compared with the Ballistometer measurements, the elastic angle was negatively correlated with alpha (r = -.570, P < .001); it was positively correlated with the mean coefficient of restitution and area (r = .602, P < .001 and r = .535, P < .001, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The elastic angle is a useful parameter for reflecting skin elasticity, both quantitatively and visually. Our method can help subjects understand their skin elasticity status. Therefore, we expect the device will be utilized in various fields within the cosmetic industry.
Topics: Adult; Aging; Cheek; Elasticity; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Skin Abnormalities; Skin Aging; Young Adult
PubMed: 34080757
DOI: 10.1111/srt.13051 -
The Application of Clinical Genetics 2016Previous studies on genetic testing of chromosomal abnormalities in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) found that ~80% have negative genetic test...
BACKGROUND
Previous studies on genetic testing of chromosomal abnormalities in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) found that ~80% have negative genetic test results (NGTRs) and ~20% have positive genetic test results (PGTRs), of which ~7% were probable de novo mutations (PDNMs). Research suggests that parental age is a risk factor for an ASD diagnosis. This study examined genotypic variation in ASD and its relationship to parental age and phenotype.
METHODS
Phenotype was derived from detailed clinical information, and genotype was derived from high-resolution blood chromosome and blood whole-genome copy number variant genetic testing on a consecutive cohort (born: 1983-2009) of subjects diagnosed with ASD (N=218).
RESULTS
Among the subjects examined, 80.3% had NGTRs and 19.7% had PGTRs, of which 6.9% had PDNMs. NGTR subjects were born more recently (the risk of PDNMs decreasing by 12% per more recent birth year) and tended to have an increased male-female ratio compared to PDNM subjects. PDNM subjects had significantly increased mean parental age and paternal age at subject's birth (the risk of a PDNM increasing by 7%-8% per year of parental or paternal age) compared to NGTR subjects. PGTR and NGTR subjects showed significant improvements in speech/language/communication with increasing age. PGTR subjects showed significant improvements in sociability, a core feature of an ASD diagnosis, with increasing age, whereas NGTR subjects showed significant worsening in sociability with increasing age.
CONCLUSION
This study helps to elucidate different phenotypic ASD subtypes and may even indicate the need for differential diagnostic classifications.
PubMed: 27555794
DOI: 10.2147/TACG.S112712 -
Arhiv Za Higijenu Rada I Toksikologiju Dec 2007Contemporary lifestyle and different life circumstances often require that individuals restrict their sleep duration and change their sleep schedule. That often leads to... (Review)
Review
Contemporary lifestyle and different life circumstances often require that individuals restrict their sleep duration and change their sleep schedule. That often leads to sleep deprivation. Former studies showed that sleep deprivation effects on the physiological and psychological functioning of an individual depended on numerous factors such as type of sleep deprivation, previous sleep duration, time of day when the effects were examined, characteristics of tasks performed, and the subject's motivation. This paper discusses the effects of sleep deprivation and the existence of stable individual differences in those effects, named "vulnerability to sleep loss". Recent studies indicate that some characteristics of the subjects could help predict systematic and robust sleep deprivation effects, such as age, sex and personality characteristics. Furthermore, the article discusses the importance of individual differences in specific characteristics related to sleep and wakefulness like those in preferred circadian phase, sleep need, individual level of sleepiness, and the ability to fall asleep quickly. So far, studies of individual characteristics did not result in consistent conclusions about their predictive importance for vulnerability to sleep loss. Further studies directed at this problem could help identify individuals who are more vulnerable to sleep loss, and contribute to personal and public safety of night work.
Topics: Circadian Rhythm; Humans; Mental Processes; Psychomotor Performance; Sleep Deprivation
PubMed: 18063529
DOI: 10.2478/v10004-007-0037-z -
Psychiatry Investigation Sep 2017To elucidate the association between periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) and mortality.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the association between periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) and mortality.
METHODS
Nocturnal polysomnographic recordings of 1,344 subjects obtained from 1995 to 2008 were reviewed. The subjects were divided into four groups based on PLMS and insomnia: reference group (PLMS≤5), insomnia group (PLMS≤5 with insomnia symptoms), 5
15 group. We searched each subject's Identification Number in the death records from the Statistics of Korea, the national bureau of statistics, to determine deaths in the cohort that occurred prior to December, 2013. Cox-proportional hazard regression and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses were used to compare mortality among the four groups. RESULTS
Hazard ratios (HRs) in the 5
15 groups were significantly higher than that in the reference group before adjusting for age and gender [HR, 3.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.73-6.55; p<0.001; HR, 5.77; 95% CI, 3.24-10.29; p<0.001]. Only the PLMS>15 group had a higher mortality rate than that in the reference group after adjusting for age, gender, and sleep efficiency (HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06-2.21; p=0.033). CONCLUSION
These results suggest that PLMS may be associated with increased mortality.
PubMed: 29042893
DOI: 10.4306/pi.2017.14.5.669 -
Physiological Research Aug 2022Irisin is a myokine secreted during exercise. It has drawn the attention of researchers as it regulates several effects of exercise that are considered beneficial. It... (Review)
Review
Irisin is a myokine secreted during exercise. It has drawn the attention of researchers as it regulates several effects of exercise that are considered beneficial. It has also been proposed as a therapeutic tool to treat metabolic disorders. In recent years, the effect of different types of training on circulating irisin has been studied in large populations. An overall beneficial result has been shown, however, the outcome of the investigations has raised some controversy. Herein we evaluated the existing literature on the effects of different types of training on the circulating irisin levels in healthy subjects and in those displaying different metabolic condition. We conducted queries in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for literature published between January 2010 and January 2021. Thirty-seven original articles were retrieved and they were included in this review. Any letter to the editor, meta-analyses, reviews, and systematic review articles were excluded. From these 37 articles, 19 of them reported increased levels of circulating irisin. The interventions encompassed aerobic, resistance, combined, circuit, and interval training types. Such increase of circulating irisin was reported for healthy subjects and for those displaying different metabolic condition. A training that is steadily kept with a moderate to high intensity, including that characterized by brief highly intense intervals, were distinguishable from the rest. Nevertheless, the training effectiveness as evaluated by the increased circulating irisin levels depends on the subject's metabolic condition and age.
Topics: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Exercise; Fibronectins; Humans; Metabolic Syndrome; Overweight
PubMed: 35770469
DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934896 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2020This study shows accommodative accuracy and distance accommodation facility in myopic children do not play a role in myopia progression. In 144 subjects, the monocular...
This study shows accommodative accuracy and distance accommodation facility in myopic children do not play a role in myopia progression. In 144 subjects, the monocular distance accommodative facility (DAF) and continuous accommodative stimulus-response curves (ASRCs) were measured at the enrolment. Retrospective and prospective refraction with regard to the enrolment visit were obtained from the outpatient database system based on noncycloplegic subjective spherical equivalent refraction (SER). The rate of myopic progression at enrolment was the first derivative of the Gompertz function, which was fitted with each subject's longitudinal refractive error data, including at least four records of SER with an interval of more than 6 months between each visit. A mixed linear model for multilevel repeated-measures data was used to explore the associations between the rate of myopia progression and accommodative parameters. The mean rate of myopia progression at enrolment was -0.61 ± 0.31 D/y with a mean age of 12.27 ± 1.61 years. By adjusting for age and SER, it was shown that the myopic progression rate was not associated with the accommodative lag (F = 0.269, P = 0.604), accommodative lag area (F = 0.086, P = 0.354), slope of ASRC (F = 0.711, P = 0.399), and DAF (F = 0.619, P = 0.432).
Topics: Accommodation, Ocular; Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; China; Disease Progression; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Humans; Male; Myopia; Refraction, Ocular
PubMed: 32694658
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68859-6