Fear-related visual stimuli do not promote internal focus of attention in older adults.

Background: The influence of internal focus (IF) on postural balance needs to be determined when assessing fall risk in older adults. Moreover, the mechanism through which IF is triggered should be elucidated.

Research Question: Does fear unrelated to threats to postural balance modulate IF during postural control?

Methods: The participants were 16 community-dwelling older adults.

Differences in the Relationships Between Muscle Strength, Muscle Mass, Balance Function, and Quality of Life for Middle-Aged and Older Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in muscle strength, muscle mass, balance function, and quality of life (QOL) among middle-aged breast cancer survivors (BCSs) and older BCSs.

Methods: The study included 53 middle-aged (<65 years old) BCSs and 49 older (≥65 years old) BCSs. Muscle strength was evaluated via handgrip and knee extensor strength, and muscle mass was assessed using a body composition test.

Relationship between balance function and QOL in cancer survivors and healthy subjects.

A previous study reported that cancer survivors exhibit decreased postural stability compared to age-matched controls. Another study showed that cancer survivors have a lower quality of life (QOL) compared to healthy subjects, and there was a significant relationship between muscle strength and QOL in cancer survivors. We aimed to investigate differences in the associations between balance function and QOL in cancer survivors and healthy subjects.

Folding Latency of Fluorescent Proteins Affects the Mitochondrial Localization of Fusion Proteins.

The discovery of fluorescent proteins (FPs) has revolutionized cell biology. The fusion of targeting sequences to FPs enables the investigation of cellular organelles and their dynamics; however, occasionally, such fluorescent fusion proteins (FFPs) exhibit behavior different from that of the native proteins. Here, we constructed a color pallet comprising different organelle markers and found that FFPs targeted to the mitochondria were mislocalized when fused to certain types of FPs.

Assessment of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Timed Up and Go test, and body sway test between cancer survivors and healthy participants.

Background: Cancer survivors experience late and long-term effects of treatment; also, the disease itself might be responsible for persisting functional impairments. The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle strength, balance function using the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Timed Up and Go test with single and cognitive dual tasks and body sway in breast cancer survivors and healthy women and non-breast cancer survivors and healthy participants.

Methods: Twenty-six cancer survivors and 19 healthy participants were assessed for grip and knee extension strength with the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Timed Up and Go, and body sway test performance.