Lighting and perceptual cues: effects on gait measures of older adults at high and low risk for falls.

Background: The visual system plays an important role in maintaining balance. As a person ages, gait becomes slower and stride becomes shorter, especially in dimly lighted environments. Falls risk has been associated with reduced speed and increased gait variability.

Effects of nitric oxide and angiotensin II and their interaction on water uptake in Rana catesbeiana.

Nitric oxide and angiotensin II are involved in regulation of water uptake at the pelvic patch of empty-bladder Rana catesbeiana. In whole animal studies, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase decreased water uptake by 25% and decreased the sodium content of skin from the pelvic patch region by 30%. The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase also had no effects on permeability of isolated, unperfused skin from the pelvic patch region.