The effects of visual cues from optical stimulation devices on gait disturbance in patients with Parkinson's disease.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal visual cues for gait disturbance in patients with Parkinson's disease based on the luminous duration and the individual patient preferences for a wearable visual cue device. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-four patients with Parkinson's disease walked while wearing only a visual cue device in the control condition. They then walked while the device was set to two stimulus conditions: the luminous duration at 10% and 50% of the individual gait cycle.

Validity of temporo-spatial characteristics of gait as an index for fall risk screening in community-dwelling older people.

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify kinematic gait indicators for a fall risk screening test through quantitative comparisons of gait characteristics measured using mobile inertial sensors between faller and non-faller groups in a population of community-dwelling older people. [Participants and Methods] We enrolled 50 people aged ≥65 years who used long-term care prevention services, interviewed them to determine their fall history during the past year, and divided them into faller and non-faller groups. Gait parameters (velocity, cadence, stride length, foot height, heel strike angle, ankle joint angle, knee joint angle, and hip joint angle) were assessed using the mobile inertial sensors.

Comparison of the effects of external focus of attention with metaphor and internal focus of attention on temporal changes in seating pressure during sitting motion in community-dwelling elderly people.

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the optimal method of attention focus in which temporal changes in the seating pressure can induce effective sitting motion in order to prevent osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly. [Participants and Methods] This study included 101 community-dwelling elderly people. The participants were seated in a chair with a force plate under two conditions: external focus of attention with metaphor and internal focus of attention.

Measuring social interdependence in collaborative learning: instrument development and validation.

Background: In health professions education, several collaborative learning approaches have been used. As collaborative learning has a theoretical background of social interdependence theory, a theory informed and valid instrument to measure social interdependence is required to evaluate and compare several learning approaches. The aim of this study was to develop an instrument (the SOcial interdependence in Collaborative learning Scale; SOCS) to measure students' perceived social interdependence in collaborative learning and validate it.

The β-Secretase BACE1 in Alzheimer's Disease.

BACE1 (beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1) was initially cloned and characterized in 1999. It is required for the generation of all monomeric forms of amyloid-β (Aβ), including Aβ, which aggregates into bioactive conformational species and likely initiates toxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD). BACE1 concentrations and rates of activity are increased in AD brains and body fluids, thereby supporting the hypothesis that BACE1 plays a critical role in AD pathophysiology.

Effects of sudden unexpected mechanical perturbation training aimed at the primary prevention of inversion ankle sprain on reactiveness of ankle movement and cortical activity in normal young adults.

[Purpose] To determine the effects of sudden unexpected mechanical perturbation training aimed at the primary prevention of inversion ankle sprain on the reactiveness of ankle eversion movement and cortical activity. [Participants and Methods] Sixty healthy participants were randomly allocated equally into 1) the sudden unexpected mechanical perturbation training group, 2) self-paced training group, or 3) control group. The first two groups performed each course of training 3 days per week for 4 weeks.

Enhancement of motor skill learning by a combination of ideal model-observation and self-observation.

[Purpose] In sports physical therapy, video of a patient's movement or of a skilled model's movement has been used as observational learning methods for injury prevention and movement modification. Positive effects of model video observation have been reported. This study aimed to clarify the effect on motor skill learning using a combination of model-observation and self-observation, which is thought to act as an enhanced method for active error detection by comparing model-observation and self-observation alone for acquisition of correct sports movement.

The effect of different imitation models on theaccuracy and speed of imitation of movement.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy, speed and subjective ease of imitation of movement using three different imitation models. [Subjects] Thirty-four right-handed healthy males participated in this study. [Methods] The imitation task chosen for this study was an asymmetric combined motion of the upper and lower limbs.

Characteristics of trunk control during crook-lying unilateral leg raising in different types of chronic low back pain patients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Objective: To quantitatively clarify the characteristics of trunk control during unilateral leg-raising movement in different types of nonspecific chronic low back pain (NS-CLBP) patients who were identified by aggravation of symptoms during trunk movement.

Summary Of Background Data: Although there is a need to classify NS-CLBP patients for clinical decision making in physical therapy, the characteristics of trunk control during unilateral leg-raising movement in different types of NS-CLBP patients have not been quantitatively analyzed in previous studies by simultaneously measuring the lumbar spine movement, trunk muscle activity, and leg movement.

Analysis of pelvic movement in the elderly during walking using a posture monitoring system equipped with a triaxial accelerometer and a gyroscope.

The incidence of falls in the elderly is increasing with the aging of society and is becoming a major public health issue. From the viewpoint of prevention of falls, it is important to evaluate the stability of the gait in the elderly people. The pelvic movement, which is a critical factor for walking stability, was analyzed using a posture monitoring system equipped with a triaxial accelerometer and a gyroscope.

Characteristic Immune Response in Peyer's Patch Cells Induced by Oral Administration of Bifidobacterium Components.

We demonstrate immunomodulatory effects, especially those involving murine intestinal IgA secretion, in Peyer's patch cells following oral administration of Bifidobacterium immunomodulator (BIM) derived from sonicated B. pseudocatenulatum 7041. BALB/c mice were administered BIM orally for 7 consecutive days.

Synthesis and pharmacological profile of serofendic acids A and B.

We present efficient syntheses of serofendic acids A and B (SA-A and SA-B), novel neuroprotective substances isolated from fetal calf serum. Biological and pharmacological evaluation showed that SA-A and SA-B have potent protective action against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity, but do not interact directly with glutamate receptors. A pharmacokinetic study showed that they have good oral bioavailability in rats.

Property analysis of ectopic calcification in the carpal tunnel identification of apatite crystals: a case report.

Introduction: A 64-year-old woman presented with symptoms of subacute exacerbation of a year-long carpal tunnel syndrome that was caused by a large calcified mass in the tunnel.

Conclusion: The resected mass consisted of very tiny rods, and x-ray diffraction analysis, as well as the component analysis using energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis, revealed the mass to be most compatible with apatite. The back-scattered electron images suggested that precipitation might be a mechanism for development of the calcified mass.

Dietary fructooligosaccharides induce immunoregulation of intestinal IgA secretion by murine Peyer's patch cells.

Probiotic supplements induce immunological responses in the host, and dietary fructooligosaccharides (FOS) stimulate the growth of selected intestinal microflora. In this study we investigated the immunological influences of orally administrated FOS. BALB/c mice were orally administered 0-7.

Discovery of novel neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channel blockers based on emopamil left hand as a bioactive template.

A series of novel neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) blockers, with inhibitory activity at low micromolar and moderate solubility in water, was discovered by constructing and screening a focused library based on emopamil (1) left hand (ELH) as a bioactive template.

Vein grafting with telescoping anastomoses for repair of a double-cut artery.

The rat femoral artery was cut in two places, and the telescoping anastomosis technique was used for all vascular repairs in combination with vein grafting, to determine whether the telescoping technique could safely be used more than three times for repair of an artery that has been injured at two places. One cut was repaired with vein grafting, and the other with either a telescoping anastomosis (the triple group) or with a second vein grafting (the quadruple group). The patency rate 3 weeks postoperatively was 86.

Practical synthesis of chiral emopamil left hand as a bioactive motif.

An asymmetric synthesis of (2S)-2-(2-isopropyl)-5-hydroxy-2-phenylpentanenitrile (emopamil left hand, 2) has been completed by use of the MAD (methyl aluminum bis(4-methyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide)-induced rearrangement of a chiral epoxyalcohol as the key reaction. The stereochemistry of the chiral quaternary center was confirmed by transformation of 2 to (S)-noremopamil. This method requires minimal purification procedures and affords high chemical and optical yields.