Test-Retest Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change for the 10-Meter Walk Test in Older Adults With Parkinson's disease.

Background And Purpose: Measurement of gait performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be challenging because of the daily fluctuations in performance and the progressive nature of the condition. The 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) is commonly used to measure gait speed of individuals with gait limitations. Existing research on the 10MWT in individuals with PD controls for many variables inherent to this condition, rendering the results of this test in settings where these variables are not controlled questionable.

Sex differences in the response to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 deletion and caspase inhibition after stroke.

Background And Purpose: Emerging data suggest that the molecular cell death pathways triggered by ischemic insults differ in the male and female brain. Cell death in males is initiated by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activation; however, manipulation of this pathway paradoxically increases ischemic damage in females. In contrast, females are exquisitely sensitive to caspase-mediated cell death.

Pathways to ischemic neuronal cell death: are sex differences relevant?

We have known for some time that the epidemiology of human stroke is sexually dimorphic until late in life, well beyond the years of reproductive senescence and menopause. Now, a new concept is emerging: the mechanisms and outcome of cerebral ischemic injury are influenced strongly by biological sex as well as the availability of sex steroids to the brain. The principal mammalian estrogen (17 beta estradiol or E2) is neuroprotective in many types of brain injury and has been the major focus of investigation over the past several decades.

Akt1 gene deletion and stroke.

Activation of Akt has been implicated as a major contributor to neuronal survival after an ischemic insult. Numerous neuroprotective agents have been shown to augment Akt activity, suggesting that this protein represents a major mechanism of cellular salvage after injury. Estrogen is known to augment Akt, but the possibility that Akt plays a differential role in the male and female brain has yet to be evaluated.

Acute effects of cold exposure on central aortic wave reflection.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute cold exposure on the timing and amplitude of central aortic wave reflection and central pressure. We hypothesized that cold exposure would result in an early return of reflected pressure waves from the periphery and an increase in central aortic systolic pressure as a result of cold-induced vasoconstriction. Twelve apparently healthy men (age 27.

Effects of moderate-velocity strength training on peak muscle power and movement velocity: do women respond differently than men?

The effects of a 10-wk unilateral knee extension strength training (ST) program on peak power (PP) and peak movement velocity (PV), at given absolute (force load) and relative (same % of 1 repetition maximum) resistances (loads), were examined in 30 older men [64 yr (7 SD)] and 32 older women [62 yr (6 SD)]. PP increased significantly in both men and women at the same absolute (P < 0.001) and relative loads (P < 0.

Augmentation index and systolic load are lower in competitive endurance athletes.

Background: Arterial stiffness increases with age, and chronic endurance exercise has been shown to attenuate increases in arterial stiffness in older individuals. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of varying fitness levels on wave reflection in young healthy adults.

Methods: A total of 32 subjects (16 competitive endurance athletes and 16 recreationally active subjects) underwent brachial artery blood pressure (BP) measurement (by sphygmomanometry) and central aortic pressure (by noninvasive radial artery applanation tonometry and use of a generalized transfer function) measurements at rest.