Association between lifestyle and skin moisturizing function in community-dwelling older adults.

The skin's moisturizing function declines with age, resulting in skin dryness in around 40% of older people. Various lifestyle habits may affect the skin moisturizing function, however it is not clear which ones are particularly relevant. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2023, involving individuals aged 65 years and over.

Cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has no effect on contraction-induced facilitation of corticospinal excitability.

This study aimed to investigate whether the cerebellum contributes to contraction-induced facilitation (CIF) of contralateral corticospinal excitability. To this end, repetitive cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to test whether it modulates CIF. Overall, 20 healthy young individuals participated in the study.

Effects of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), as a neurological intervention for degenerative cerebellar ataxia (DCA) based on preregistration (PROSPERO: CRD42023379192).

Objective: We aimed to explore clinical outcomes and examine the parameters associated with NIBS efficacy in DCA patients.

Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, CHINAL, and PEDro databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Tests of abnormal gaze behavior increase the accuracy of mild cognitive impairment assessments.

Tests to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) should have high sensitivity and accuracy. Previously, we reported on a cognitive composition test (CCT) that we developed to detect MCI. In this study, we compared gaze behavior parameters, namely, gaze fixation duration and gaze-shift frequency, during the CCT in participants with MCI and healthy controls (HC) to determine whether these parameters would accurately detect MCI in older adults.

Innervation of the human sternoclavicular joint.

The sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) functions as the basal joint of the entire upper limb and must move in the proper pattern for normal scapular motion. Afferent sensations from joints, such as proprioception and pain sensation, are important for maintaining the proper motion and condition of joints. Detailed anatomical data are useful for discussing injuries or surgeries that impair the afferent nerve to the SCJ.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation focusing on patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb: a randomized sham-controlled parallel trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of navigation-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex in patients with neuropathic pain in the upper limb. This randomized, blinded, sham-controlled, parallel trial included a rTMS protocol (10-Hz, 2000 pulses/session) consisting of five daily sessions, followed by one session per week for the next seven weeks. Pain intensity, as well as pain-related disability, quality of life, and psychological status, were assessed.

The Potential of Exercise on Lifestyle and Skin Function: Narrative Review.

Background: The skin is an important organ of the human body and has moisturizing and barrier functions. Factors such as sunlight and lifestyle significantly affect these skin functions, with sunlight being extremely damaging. The effects of lifestyle habits such as smoking, diet, and sleep have been studied extensively.

Effects of the walking independence on lower extremity and trunk muscle activity during straight-leg raising following incomplete cervical cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to compare the acceleration and surface electromyography (EMG) of the lower extremity and trunk muscles during straight-leg raising (SLR) in patients with incomplete cervical cord injury according to their levels of walking independence. Twenty-four patients were measured acceleration and EMG during SLR held for 10 s. Data were analyzed separately for the dominant and nondominant sides and compared between the nonindependent (NI) and independent (ID) groups based on their levels of walking independence.

Effects of regular exercise on skin moisturizing function in adults.

Among lifestyle habits, the effect of exercise on skin moisturizing function has not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the effect of regular exercise on skin moisturizing function. The participants were 30-64 years old with no history of skin diseases and no exercise habits at the start of the study.

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.

Depressive symptoms, right ventricular function, and muscular strength are associated with peak oxygen uptake in patients with implantable left ventricular assist devices.

Background: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is among the most effective treatment options for patients with severe heart failure. Although previous studies have examined the factors related to peak oxygen uptake (peak VO ), they were limited by the few patients involved and their focus on medical and physical functions. Therefore, this study comprehensively examined the factors associated with peak VO , which is an important prognostic factor in patients with implantable LVADs.

Supporters' experiences of sensory characteristics of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in after-school daycare centres: A qualitative study.

Aim: To examine how supporters working at after-school daycare centres, who are involved in the lives of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in the community, pay attention to the sensory characteristics of these children and provide support.

Design: A qualitative descriptive design.

Methods: Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 supporters in after-school daycare centres.

Attempt to Make the Upper-Limb Item of Objective Fugl-Meyer Assessment Using 9-Axis Motion Sensors.

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) has been used as a functional assessment of upper-limb function in stroke patients. This study aimed to create a more objective and standardized evaluation based on an FMA of the upper-limb items. A total of 30 first-ever stroke patients (65.

Cerebellar TMS Induces Motor Responses Mediating Modulation of Spinal Excitability: A Literature Review.

Since individuals with cerebellar lesions often exhibit hypotonia, the cerebellum may contribute to the regulation of muscle tone and spinal motoneuron pool excitability. Neurophysiological methods using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the cerebellum have been recently proposed for testing the role of the cerebellum in spinal excitability. Under specific conditions, single-pulse TMS administered to the cerebellar hemisphere or vermis elicits a long-latency motor response in the upper or lower limb muscles and facilitates the H-reflex of the soleus muscle, indicating increased excitability of the spinal motoneuron pool.

Sex-related Differences in Exercise Capacity Trends and Determinants after Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether longitudinal changes in exercise capacity in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) differ by sex and clarified what contributed to these differences.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the differences in each variable between men and women in 156 patients with AMI (mean age: 65 ± 12 years; 82.0% male) who participated in a 3-month cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program and could be followed-up for exercise capacity 12-months after AMI onset.

Usefulness of the Cognitive Composition Test as an Early Discriminator of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the preliminary stage of dementia, which is a serious social problem worldwide. This study aimed to investigate whether the Cognitive Composition Test (CCT) is effective for the early diagnosis of MCI. A total of 104 older adults underwent the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Trail Making Test Parts A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B), and our newly prototyped cognitive composition test (CCT).