Reliability and validity of center of pressure measures for balance assessment in older adults.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of center of pressure-based parameters for balance assessment. [Subjects and Methods] Two hundred and forty older adults were evaluated using a force platform and the Berg Balance Scale at 1-week intervals. The intra-class correlation coefficient and the Pearson correlation coefficient were used to test reliability and validity respectively. [Results] The reliability of the 12 selected center of pressure measures was satisfactory (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.75-0.99) and the validity between the parameters and the Berg Balance Scale was moderate to good (r = -0.62 to -0.88). [Conclusion] Center of pressure-based parameters are reliable and valid measures in older adults.

Effects of the visual-feedback-based force platform training with functional electric stimulation on the balance and prevention of falls in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Force platform training with functional electric stimulation aimed at improving balance may be effective in fall prevention for older adults. Aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the visual-feedback-based force platform balance training with functional electric stimulation on balance and fall prevention in older adults. METHODS: A single-centre, unblinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred and twenty older adults were randomly allocated to two groups: the control group (n = 60, one-leg standing balance exercise, 12 min/d) or the intervention group (n = 60, force platform training with functional electric stimulation, 12 min/d). The training was provided 15 days a month for 3 months by physical therapists. Medial-lateral and anterior-posterior maximal range of sway with eyes open and closed, the Berg Balance Scale, the Barthel Index, the Falls Efficacy scale-International were assessed at baseline and after the 3-month intervention. A fall diary was kept by each participant during the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: On comparing the two groups, the intervention group showed significantly decreased (p < 0.01) medial-lateral and anterior-posterior maximal range of sway with eyes open and closed. There was significantly higher improvement in the Berg Balance Scale (p < 0.05), the Barthel Index (p < 0.05) and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (p < 0.05), along with significantly lesser number of injurious fallers (p < 0.05), number of fallers (p < 0.05), and fall rates (p < 0.05) during the 6-month follow-up in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the visual feedback-based force platform training with functional electric stimulation improved balance and prevented falls in older adults.

Osteopontin gene polymorphism in association with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: Osteopontin (OPN) is one kind of cytokine which can play a number of roles in promoting activation of T lymphocyte, regulating balance between Th1 and Th2, participating in cell-induced immunologic response and stimulating B lymphocyte to express multi-clone antibodies. Some researches have showed that OPN may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate possible association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 9250 in exon 7 of the OPN gene (OPN gene 9250) with SLE in Chinese patients. METHODS: Totally 158 patients (18 males and 140 females) fulfilled the revised criteria for SLE by the American College of Rheumatology in 1982 and 180 healthy volunteer controls (34 males and 146 females), all from the south of China, consented to participate in the study. OPN gene 9250 polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: The frequency of TT genotype of the OPN gene 9250 was significantly lower (52.5% vs 70%, P < 0.05) and the frequency of TC genotype of the OPN gene 9250 was significantly higher (43.7% vs 29.4%, P < 0.05) in SLE patients than in controls. There were significant differences in OPN gene 9250 allele and phenotype frequencies between the SLE patients and controls (P < 0.05). When the SLE patients and controls were separated into men and women, significant differences of frequencies were noted in TT genotype, TC genotype and allele of the OPN gene 9250 in women (P < 0.05) but not in men (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: OPN gene 9250 polymorphism appears to be associated with susceptibility to SLE in Chinese Han ethnic population.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Dialysis patient-perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale.

BACKGROUND: Perceptions of exercise benefits and barriers affect exercise behavior. Because of the clinical course and treatment, dialysis patients differ from the general population in their perceptions of exercise benefits and barriers, especially the latter. At present, no valid instruments for assessing perceived exercise benefits and barriers in dialysis patients are available. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Dialysis patient-perceived Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (DPEBBS). METHODS: A literature review and two focus groups were conducted to generate the initial item pool. An expert panel examined the content validity. Then, 269 Chinese hemodialysis patients were recruited by convenience sampling. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test construct validity. Finally, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed. RESULTS: The expert panel determined that the content validity index was satisfactory. The final 24-item scale consisted of six factors explaining 57% of the total variance in the data. Confirmative factor analysis supported the six-factor structure and a higher-order model. Cronbach's alpha was 0.87 for the total scale, and 0.84 for test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The DPEBBS was a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating dialysis patients' perceived benefits and barriers to exercise. The application value of this scale remains to be investigated by increasing the sample size and evaluating patients undergoing different dialysis modalities and coming from different regions and cultural backgrounds.

[Association of osteopontin gene polymorphism with lupus nephritis in Chinese Han population].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 9250 in exon 7 of osteopontin gene (OPN gene 9250) with lupus nephritis (LN) in southern Chinese patients. METHODS: Altogether 109 patients with LN (12 males and 97 females) diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria (revised in 1982) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 180 healthy ethnically matched controls (34 males and 146 females), all Han people living in South China, were enrolled in this study with informed consent. Blood samples from all subjects were collected in EDTA tube for genomic DNA extraction according to the standard isolation procedures. OPN gene 9250 polymorphism was typed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: All the genotype frequencies of OPN gene 9250 were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Compared with the controls, LN patients showed significantly lower frequency of TT genotype of OPN gene 9250 (70% vs 51%, P<0.05) and significantly higher frequency of TC genotype (29.4% vs 45%, P<0.05). There were significant differences in OPN gene 9250 allele and phenotype frequencies between LN patients and the controls (P<0.05). Compared with the female controls, the frequency of TT genotype of OPN gene 9250 was significantly lower in female LN patients (68.5% vs 54%, P<0.05), and there was a significant difference in OPN gene 9250 allele frequency between them (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: OPN gene 9250 polymorphism appears to be associated with the susceptibility to LN in southern Chinese Han population.