The effects of various stair-climbing exercises on functional mobility and trunk muscle activation in community-dwelling older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Stair-climbing (SC) is an essential daily life skill, and stair-climbing exercise (SCE) serves as a valuable method for promoting physical activity in older adults. This study aimed to compare the impact of SCEs with heel contact (HC) and heel off (HO) during SC on functional mobility and trunk muscle (TM) activation amplitudes in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: In the pilot randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated to either the HC group (n = 17; mean age 75.

The Antioxidant Effect of Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Aloe vera Peels for Wound Healing.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from plants have emerged as potential candidates for cosmetic and therapeutic applications. In this study, we isolated EVs from Aloe vera peels (A-EVs) and investigated the antioxidant and wound healing potential of A-EVs.

Methods: A-EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and tangential flow filtration and were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis.

Cytotoxicity of alloying elements and experimental titanium alloys by WST-1 and agar overlay tests.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of nine types of pure metals using 36 experimental prosthetic titanium-based alloys containing 5, 10, 15, and 20wt% of each substituted metal.

Methods: The cell viabilities for pure metals on Ti alloys that contain these elements were compared with that of commercially pure (CP) Ti using the WST-1 test and agar overlay test.

Results: The ranking of pure metal cytotoxicity from most potent to least potent was: Co>Cu>In>Ag>Cr>Sn>Au>Pd>Pt>CP Ti.

Modulation of physical properties of polyvinylsiloxane impression materials by filler type combination.

Polyvinylsiloxanes (PVS), used as dental impression materials, were formulated with the variation of loading combination of six types of fillers including nano-sized fumed silica. The fillers were blended with three types of silicone polymers together with cross-linker and inhibitor in base paste and with plasticizer and platinum catalyst in catalyst paste. By replacing parts of crystalline quartz with other fillers, the setting time became much faster.

Impacts of problem-based professionalism course in dental education.

Purpose: This study explores the effects of a professionalism course based on problem-based learning (PBL) for 2nd year dental students on professional role concept and on ethical reasoning. It also investigates students' attitudes toward professionalism development program.

Methods: The experimental group (n=36) participated in the 5-week professionalism course, which uses PBL approach while the control group (n=89) did not receive the professionalism instruction during the same period.