[Influence of the dementia stage on motor skills in senior citizens]. / Einfluss des Demenzgrades auf die motorischen Fähigkeiten von Senioren.

BACKGROUND: The progressive course of dementia is not only manifested in the increasing impairment of cognitive functions but also in the motor skills of those affected and also impairs their mobility and independence in coping with everyday tasks. The present study investigated whether and to what extent there is a difference in selected skills of motor performance depending on the stages of dementia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 32 senior citizens with mild dementia (group A; 84.3 ± 6.1 years) and 27 senior citizens with moderate dementia (group B; 85.6 ± 5.5 years), whose classification was based on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE). The following motor tests were used: the hand dynamometer test (general strength), the drop bar test (motor reaction ability), frailty and injuries: cooperative studies of intervention techniques (FICSIT­4; balance), the timed up-and-go test (TUG) and the modified chair rising test (CRT; both assess mobility and transfer performances in everyday life). RESULTS: Group A, in contrast to group B, showed significantly better motor performance in all motor tests except the drop bar test. The largest differences were found in the CRT (p = 0.000) and TUG (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: In terms of overall strength, balance and mobility, people with more advanced dementia showed lower performance. Therefore, subsequent studies investigating the impact of dementia on motor skills should always include a classification of dementia levels. Intervention programs should contain physical activities that focus on increasing general strength as well as balance.

Changes in Selected Cognitive and Motor Skills as Well as the Quality of Life After a 24-Week Multidimensional Music-Based Exercise Program in People With Dementia.

The loss of independence is one of the greatest consequences of dementia. Multidimensional music-based exercise programs could counteract. The present study investigates the effects of such a program on people with dementia and bases on a 24-week intervention with three measurement time points. Sixty-nine people with dementia were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 43) and control group (n = 26). The following outcome parameters were measured: leg strength, gait, grip strength, balance, reaction time, selected cognitive abilities, and quality of life. A mixed ANOVA with repeated measurement showed significant interaction effects between group and time. After 24-weeks in contrast to the control group the intervention group significantly improved in leg strength (P = .001), balance (P = .001), gait (P = .001), grip strength (right P = .002, left P = .011), reaction time (P = .003), global cognition (P = .039), verbal fluency (P = .002), attention (P = .013) and quality of life (P = .011). In conclusion, the program enhanced selected cognitive and motor skills and quality of life.

Musical feedback system Jymmin® leads to enhanced physical endurance in the elderly-A feasibility study.

Background and objectives: Active music-making in combination with physical exercise has evoked several positive effects in users of different age groups. These include enhanced mood, muscular effectivity, pain threshold, and decreased perceived exertion. The present study tested the applicability of this musical feedback system, called Jymmin ®, in combination with strength-endurance exercises in a population of healthy older adults. Research design and methods: Sixteen healthy, physically inactive older adults (5 males, 11 females) at the mean age of 70 years performed physical exercise in two conditions: A conventional work-out while listening passively music and a Jymmin ® work-out, where musical sounds were created with one's work-out movements. According to the hypothesis that strength-endurance is increased during musical feedback exercise, parameters relating to strength-endurance were assessed, including exercise duration, number of repetitions, perceived exertion (RPE), and participants' mental state (Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire; MDMQ). Results: Results show that participants exercised significantly longer while doing Jymmin ® (Mdn = 248.75 s) as compared to the conventional work-out (Mdn = 182.73 s), (Z = 3.408, p = 0.001). The RPE did not differ between conventional work-out and the Jymmin ® condition, even though participants worked out significantly longer during the Jymmin ® condition (Mdn = 14.50; Z = -0.905; p = 0.366). The results of the MDMQ showed no significant differences between both conditions (Z = -1.037; p = 0.300). Discussion and implications: Results show that participants could work out longer while showing the same perceived exertion, relating to increased physical endurance. Music feedback work-out encouraged a greater degree of isometric contractions (muscle actively held at fixed length) and, therefore, less repetitions in this condition. In addition to the previously described effect on muscle effectivity, this non-stereotypic contraction pattern during music feedback training may have enhanced endurance in participants supporting them to better proportion energetic reserves during training (pacing). Clinical trial registration: Identifier: DRKS00023645.

Corrigendum: Musical feedback system Jymmin® leads to enhanced physical endurance in the elderly-A feasibility study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.915926.].

3D heterostructures and systems for novel MEMS/NEMS.

In this review, we consider the application of solid micro- and nanostructures of various shapes as building blocks for micro-electro-mechanical or nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS). We provide examples of practical applications of structures created by MEMS/NEMS fabrication. Novel devices are briefly described, such as a high-power electrostatic nanoactuator, a fast-response tubular anemometer for measuring gas and liquid flows, a nanoprinter, a nanosyringe and optical MEMS/NEMS. The prospects are described for achieving NEMS with tunable quantum properties.

Loss of the serine protease HTRA1 impairs smooth muscle cells maturation.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction is a hallmark of small vessel disease, a common cause of stroke and dementia. Two of the most frequently mutated genes in familial small vessel disease are HTRA1 and NOTCH3. The protease HTRA1 cleaves the NOTCH3 ligand JAG1 implying a mechanistic link between HTRA1 and Notch signaling. Here we report that HTRA1 is essential for VSMC differentiation into the contractile phenotype. Mechanistically, loss of HTRA1 increased JAG1 protein levels and NOTCH3 signaling activity in VSMC. In addition, the loss of HTRA1 enhanced TGFß-SMAD2/3 signaling activity. Activation of either NOTCH3 or TGFß signaling resulted in increased transcription of the HES and HEY transcriptional repressors and promoted the contractile VSMC phenotype. However, their combined over-activation led to an additive accumulation of HES and HEY proteins, which repressed the expression of contractile VSMC marker genes. As a result, VSMC adopted an immature phenotype with impaired arterial vasoconstriction in Htra1-deficient mice. These data demonstrate an essential role of HTRA1 in vascular maturation and homeostasis by controlling Notch and TGFß signaling.

Increased excitability in serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus in the 6-OHDA mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

The serotonin system has recently been demonstrated to have an important role in Parkinson's disease, in particular in response to L-DOPA treatment. It has been shown that central serotonin neurons convert peripherally administered L-DOPA to dopamine. Striatal dopamine release by these serotonin neurons is believed to be a main player in the induction of the troublesome L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias, which develops in patients within 5-10 years after the use of the drug. Electrophysiological characterization of midbrain dopamine neurons and dorsal raphe nucleus serotonin neurons has further revealed close interaction between these two cells groups. These data indicate that the loss of dopamine neurons and fibers alone and following L-DOPA treatment might change the electrophysiological properties of the serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Although in vivo data have indicated changes in firing properties following dopamine depletion by 6-OHDA, the data have been conflicting. We therefore investigated the electrophysiological properties of serotonin neurons following dopamine degeneration and L-DOPA treatment in the 6-OHDA-lesion mouse model of Parkinson's disease using in vitro patch clamp technique in acute slices. We found that 6-OHDA lesions alone significantly increased spontaneous and maximal firing discharges of serotonin neurons, which were accompanied by respective changes in the action potential waveforms. L-DOPA treatment did not reverse this increase in spontaneous frequency, but partially normalized AP properties. Our data demonstrate that the intrinsic excitability of serotonin neurons is altered in response to both dopamine degeneration as well as subsequent L-DOPA treatment. This lesion- and treatment-induced plasticity of the serotonin might contribute to its role in L-DOPA induced dyskinesia.

A regulatory potential of the Xist gene promoter in vole M. rossiaemeridionalis.

X chromosome inactivation takes place in the early development of female mammals and depends on the Xist gene expression. The mechanisms of Xist expression regulation have not been well understood so far. In this work, we compared Xist promoter region of vole Microtus rossiaemeridionalis and other mammalian species. We observed three conserved regions which were characterized by computational analysis, DNaseI in vitro footprinting, and reporter construct assay. Regulatory factors potentially involved in Xist activation and repression in voles were determined. The role of CpG methylation in vole Xist expression regulation was established. A CTCF binding site was found in the 5' flanking region of the Xist promoter on the active X chromosome in both males and females. We suggest that CTCF acts as an insulator which defines an inactive Xist domain on the active X chromosome in voles.