Single or Multiplayer Mode? Examining the Effects of Exergames in Improving Physical Health and Well-Being Among Older Adults.

This study assesses the impact of single-player and multiplayer exergaming modes on improving exercise intentions, reduction of fear of falling, and emotional well-being among older adults, primarily from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds-a group often underrepresented in exergame research. We engaged 48 participants, primarily from low-SES communities in Singapore for a 4-week community-based exergaming intervention. Participants were divided into four groups as follows: (1) conventional exercise alone, (2) exergames alone, (3) exergames with a health coach, and (4) exergames with a peer.

Prevalence and factors of verbal learning and memory dysfunction in patients with epilepsy - A single centre study.

The objective of this study is to determine prevalence and factors leading to verbal learning and memory dysfunction among patients with epilepsy. A total of 211 subjects were recruited. Their verbal memory was assessed by Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT).

Emergence of breath testing as a new non-invasive diagnostic modality for neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are incapacitating disorders that result in progressive motor and cognitive impairment. These diseases include Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's, Huntington's, Friedreich's ataxia, and prion disease. Dementia causing NDDs impose a high social and economic burden on communities around the world.

Assessment of antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of orthodontic stainless steel brackets coated with different phases of titanium oxide: An in-vitro study.

Introduction: Our objective was to assess the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of orthodontic stainless steel brackets coated with different phases of photocatalytic titanium oxide.

Methods: From a total sample of 115 brackets, 68 orthodontic stainless steel brackets were coated with titanium oxide using a radiofrequency magnetron sputtering machine. The coated brackets were then converted into 34 each of the anatase and rutile phases of titanium oxide.

Obliquity of the Stapes in Otosclerosis: A New Radiological Sign.

Introduction Observing the obliquity of stapes by closely scrutinizing the HRCT temporal bone in otosclerosis revealed a reliable and consistent finding. This finding can add to the existing radiological criteria in diagnosis of otosclerosis. Objective The objective of this study is to establish the obliquity of stapes in otosclerosis by radiological measurements using HRCT temporal bone by comparing: (a) the distance between the horizontal (tympanic) segment of facial nerve and stapes head in otosclerotic ears (study group) with non-otosclerotic ears (control group); and (b) the angle subtended by stapes with promontory in the study and control groups.

A comprehensive mapping of the structure and gene organisation in the sheep MHC class I region.

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a chromosomal region that regulates immune responsiveness in vertebrates. This region is one of the most important for disease resistance because it has been associated with resistance or susceptibility to a wide variety of diseases and because the MHC often accounts for more of the variance than other loci. Selective breeding for disease resistance is becoming increasingly common in livestock industries, and it is important to determine how this will influence MHC polymorphism and resistance to diseases that are not targeted for selection.

Predictive mutational bioinformatic analysis of variation in the skin and wool associated corneodesmosin (CDSN) gene in sheep.

Corneodesmosin (CDSN) is an important component of the desmosome in the epidermal cornified stratum and inner root sheath of hair follicles. DNA from a sheep BAC clone previously identified by us to contain CDSN was PCR amplified using cattle-derived primers and the product sequenced. A region of 4579 bp containing CDSN was shown to contain two exons separated by one intron and spanning 3683 bp.

Conserved haplotype blocks within the sheep MHC and low SNP heterozygosity in the Class IIa subregion.

This report describes single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the sheep major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and class III regions and provides insights into the internal structure of this important genomic complex. MHC haplotypes were deduced from sheep family trios based on genotypes from 20 novel SNPs representative of the class II region and 10 previously described SNPs spanning the class III region. All 30 SNPs exhibited Hardy-Weinberg proportions in the sheep population studied.

An increasingly notorious mimicker of testicular tumours; crossing borders.

Data from the WHO state that up to 85% of cases of human schistosomiasis are from Africa. The common sites of this parasitic infection are the intestine and bladder. Testicular schistosomiasis is extremely rare but the number of reported cases worldwide has doubled over the past decade.

Polymorphism of sheep MHC Class IIb gene TAPASIN.

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is one of the most gene dense regions in the genome and studies in several species have shown significant associations between the MHC and disease. The endoplasmic reticular glycoprotein, tapasin, is involved in the MHC class I antigen presentation pathway. Sheep TAPASIN is located in the class IIb region of the MHC.