Could questions on activities of daily living estimate grip strength of older adults living independently in the community?

The aim of this study was to identify questions that could estimate grip strength. Twenty-six questions about the degree of perceived difficulty performing manual tasks as well as two questions concerning self-rated grip strength were developed and completed by 123 community-dwelling older adults, followed by grip strength measurements using a Martin vigorimeter. Multiple regression analyses with all of the participants revealed that the question about the difficulty of opening a jar (question 4) was most associated with grip strength.

Normal human epithelial cells regulate the size and morphology of tissue-engineered capillaries.

The survival of thick tissues/organs produced by tissue engineering requires rapid revascularization after grafting. Although capillary-like structures have been reconstituted in some engineered tissues, little is known about the interaction between normal epithelial cells and endothelial cells involved in the in vitro angiogenic process. In the present study, we used the self-assembly approach of tissue engineering to examine this relationship.

Real-time PCR assay for detection of fluoroquinolone resistance associated with grlA mutations in Staphylococcus aureus.

Resistance to fluoroquinolones among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus has become a clinical problem. Therefore, a rapid method to identify S. aureus and its susceptibility to fluoroquinolones could provide clinicians with a useful tool for the appropriate use of these antimicrobial agents in the health care settings.