[Physical activity and exercise for rehabilitation of type 2 diabetes].

Background: Along with diet and medication, exercise is the third cornerstone of type 2 diabetes treatment. However, current guidelines do not provide detailed information for designing effective exercise interventions.

Objective: Based on a review of the health-enhancing effects of endurance and resistance training, recommendations for exercise interventions for persons with type 2 diabetes and different comorbidities are derived to optimize the benefits of exercise.

Physical activity, exercise, and sarcopenia - future challenges.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that the etiology of sarcopenia is multi-causal and very complex process. The degradation of muscle mass leads to a loss of strength, later on to a decreased functional status, impaired mobility, a higher risk of falls, and eventually an increased risk of mortality. Present guidelines state that physical inactivity or a decreased physical activity level is a part of the underlying mechanisms of sarcopenia and therefore physical activity can be seen as an important factor to reverse or modify the development of sarcopenia.

Multiple sclerosis relapses are not associated with exercise.

Since multiple sclerosis (MS) often affects physically active young individuals, it is important to know if exercise can result in increased disease activity. Therefore we used a self-report questionnaire to examine the relationship of different levels of sports activity and relapses in 632 patients with MS. In order to analyse whether subjective recall might have biased the results, we performed, in a subgroup of our sample, an objective assessment of clinical data and physical fitness parameters.

Functional muscle power testing in young, middle-aged, and community-dwelling nonfrail and prefrail older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the stair climb (SC) and sit-to-stand (STS) transfer test for functional power assessment in young, middle-aged, and community-dwelling nonfrail and prefrail older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Sport science institute providing health-related exercise programs for older people.

An interdisciplinary intervention to prevent falls in community-dwelling elderly persons: protocol of a cluster-randomized trial [PreFalls].

Background: Prevention of falls in the elderly is a public health target in many countries around the world. While a large number of trials have investigated the effectiveness of fall prevention programs, few focussed on interventions embedded in the general practice setting and its related network. In the Prevent Falls (PreFalls) trial we aim to investigate the effectiveness of a pre-tested multi-modal intervention compared to usual care in this setting.

A bio-psycho-social exercise program (RÜCKGEWINN) for chronic low back pain in rehabilitation aftercare--study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: There is strong, internationally confirmed evidence for the short-term effectiveness of multimodal interdisciplinary specific treatment programs for chronic back pain. However, the verification of long-term sustainability of achieved effects is missing so far. For long-term improvement of pain and functional ability high intervention intensity or high volume seems to be necessary (> 100 therapy hours).

Dually inducible TetON systems for tissue-specific conditional gene expression in zebrafish.

Systems for spatial and temporal control of gene expression are essential for developmental studies and are of particular importance for research in adult model organisms. We present two modified dually inducible TetON systems for tissue-specific conditional control of gene expression in zebrafish based on (i) a tetracycline inducible transcriptional activator (TetActivator) fused to the ligand binding domain of a mutated glucocorticoid receptor (TetA-GBD) and (ii) a TetActivator fused with a domain of the Ecdysone receptor (TetA-EcR). Both systems showed strong induction of tetracycline-responsive promoters upon administration of the appropriate ligands (doxycycline and dexamethasone for TetA-GBD, and doxycycline and tebufenozide for TetA-EcR), and undetectable leakiness when compared with classical TetActivators.

Hypothyroidism of gene-targeted mice lacking Kcnq1.

Thyroid hormones T3/T4 participate in the fine tuning of development and performance. The formation of thyroid hormones requires the accumulation of I(-) by the electrogenic Na(+)/I(-) symporter, which depends on the electrochemical gradient across the cell membrane and thus on K(+) channel activity. The present paper explored whether Kcnq1, a widely expressed voltage-gated K(+) channel, participates in the regulation of thyroid function.

[DGRW-update: exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation--effects, quality, perspectives].

Exercise therapy constitutes the better part of rehabilitative treatment. However, in rehabilitation research the scientific analysis of exercise therapy only plays a minor role. Taking the theoretical model of rehabilitation and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) into account, we propose a heuristic model of aims and effects of exercise therapy and define a system of methodological target setting.

Balance training for neuromuscular control and performance enhancement: a systematic review.

Objective: As a result of inconsistencies in reported findings, controversy exists regarding the effectiveness of balance training for improving functional performance and neuromuscular control. Thus, its practical benefit in athletic training remains inconclusive. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of training interventions in enhancing neuromuscular control and functional performance.

The Fried frailty criteria as inclusion criteria for a randomized controlled trial: personal experience and literature review.

Background: among current operational definitions of frailty, the criteria proposed by Fried and colleagues have attracted great scientific interest. However, these criteria have usually been applied in epidemiological and only rarely in interventional studies.

Objective: the present paper aims at testing the applicability of the Fried frailty criteria in the context of the recruitment process of a randomized controlled trial in prefrail older persons, and it discusses the respective scientific literature.

Chromatin modifiers, cognitive disorders, and imprinted genes.

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Kernohan et al. link the chromatin regulatory proteins ATRX, MeCP2, CTCF, and cohesin with silencing of H19 and other imprinted genes during critical stages of postnatal brain development, perhaps suggesting a common etiology for several human diseases that exhibit defects in brain development and function.

Assessing a risk tailored intervention to prevent disabling low back pain--protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Although most patients with low back pain (LBP) recover within a few weeks a significant proportion has recurrent episodes or will develop chronic low back pain. Several mainly psychosocial risk factors for developing chronic LBP have been identified. However, effects of preventive interventions aiming at behavioural risk factors and unfavourable cognitions have yielded inconsistent results.

H19 imprinting control region methylation requires an imprinted environment only in the male germ line.

The 2.4-kb H19 imprinting control region (H19ICR) is required to establish parent-of-origin-specific epigenetic marks and expression patterns at the Igf2/H19 locus. H19ICR activity is regulated by DNA methylation.

Dose-response relationship of resistance training in older adults: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the dose-response relationship of resistance training (RT) to improve strength and function in older adults.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in relevant databases and study reference lists to identify randomized controlled trials. Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of different doses of strength training in older people (65 yr and older) on strength and functional outcomes were eligible.

Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention: a systematic review.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of proprioceptive/neuromuscular training in preventing sports injuries by using the best available evidence from methodologically well-conducted randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials without randomization.

Methods: Two independent researchers performed a literature search in various electronic databases and reference lists. The reviewers independently assessed trials for inclusion criteria and methodological quality and extracted the data.

Neuromuscular training for rehabilitation of sports injuries: a systematic review.

Purpose: Although proprioceptive and neuromuscular exercises are considered to be part and parcel of rehabilitation programs after sport injuries, there is an uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of corresponding training interventions. The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of proprioceptive and neuromuscular training (PT/NT) for the treatment of ankle, knee, and shoulder joint injuries.

Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a literature search in various databases and reference lists of articles.

Enhanced insulin sensitivity of gene-targeted mice lacking functional KCNQ1.

The pore-forming K+-channel alpha-subunit KCNQ1 is expressed in a wide variety of tissues including heart, skeletal muscle, liver, and epithelia. Most recent evidence revealed an association of the KCNQ1 gene with the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. KCNQ1 participates in the regulation of cell volume, which is, in turn, critically important for the regulation of metabolism by insulin.

Effect of whole-body CT during trauma resuscitation on survival: a retrospective, multicentre study.

Background: The number of trauma centres using whole-body CT for early assessment of primary trauma is increasing. There is no evidence to suggest that use of whole-body CT has any effect on the outcome of patients with major trauma. We therefore compared the probability of survival in patients with blunt trauma who had whole-body CT during resuscitation with those who had not.

[Multiple sclerosis and exercise : effects of physical activity on the immune system].

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory CNS disease which accounts for functional impairment and lasting disability in young adults. Current studies demonstrate that physical activity in patients with MS counteracts depression and fatigue and may improve quality of life. Interventional studies have described a reduction of the functional impairment in MS patients.

Catecholamine-synthesizing cells in the embryonic mouse heart.

The heart is a primary source of epinephrine and norepinephrine during embryonic development, yet little is known about the cardiac cells that produce these catecholamine hormones. To identify when and where catecholamine-synthesizing cells are found in the embryonic heart, we developed a novel mouse genetic model by "knocking-in" the Cre-recombinase gene to the locus encoding for the epinephrine biosynthetic enzyme, phenylethanolamine n-methyltransferase. When crossed with ROSA26 reporter mice, the beta-galactosidase gene is activated in adrenergic cells.

Expression of the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 in mammalian taste bud cells and the effect of its null-mutation on taste preferences.

Vertebrate taste buds undergo continual cell turnover. To understand how the gustatory progenitor cells in the stratified lingual epithelium migrate and differentiate into different types of mature taste cells, we sought to identify genes that were selectively expressed in taste cells at different maturation stages. Here we report the expression of the voltage-gated potassium channel KCNQ1 in mammalian taste buds of mouse, rat, and human.

Magnetic resonance imaging in early stage charcot arthropathy: correlation of imaging findings and clinical symptoms.

Objective: To report on qualitative and quantitative MRI findings in early stage of diabetic osteoarthropathy (CA) and correlation with clinical symptoms.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data of 13 patients (mean age = 61.2 years) with Charcot arthropathy (CA, Eichenholtz 0) were compared with findings in native and contrast-enhanced MRI.

[Reality of treatment of osteoporotic fractures in German trauma departments. A contribution for outcome research].

The implementation of clinical pathways has a proven positive effect on the diagnostic workup and initiation of therapy in osteoporotic fracture patients. Unlike in most countries, fracture care in Germany is provided by so-called trauma surgeons. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the trauma surgeon for correct diagnostic workup and therapy initiation after a fragility fracture.