Age-related changes in muscle strength and spinal kyphosis angles in an elderly Japanese population.

Lumbar kyphosis and the decreased mobility of the lumbar spine increase the risk of falls and impair both the quality of life and the ability to perform activities of daily living. However, in the elderly Japanese population, little is known about the age-related changes and sex-related differences in muscle strength, including of the upper and lower extremities and back extensors. An adequate kyphotic or lordotic angle has also not been determined. In this study, we evaluated the age-related changes in muscle strength and spinal kyphosis in 252 males and 320 females ≥50 years of age. Grip, back extensor, hip flexor, and knee extensor strength; thoracic and lumbar kyphosis; and spinal inclination in the neutral standing position were assessed, together with the range of motion of the thoracic and lumbar spine and spinal inclination. Grip strength, back extensor strength, and the strength of the hip flexors and knee extensors decreased significantly with aging, both in males (P<0.0001) and in females (P=0.0015 to P<0.0001). The lumbar but not the thoracic kyphosis angle decreased significantly with aging, only in females (P<0.0001). Spinal inclination increased significantly with aging in both males (P=0.002) and females (P<0.0001). Back extensor strength and the thoracic kyphosis angle were significant variables influencing the lumbar kyphosis angle in both sexes. Spinal inclination correlated significantly with both the lumbar kyphosis angle and hip flexor strength in males, as well as with the lumbar kyphosis angle in females.

Spectroscopic study on appearances of make-up skins using a visible RGB-LED OCT.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Facial foundation is very effective to correct color irregularities of the skin surface and to protect the skin from harmful light. This depends strongly on both the optical properties and the coating condition of foundation on the skin surface. METHODS: We constructed the full-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) (FF-OCT) microscope with visible light sources of RGB LEDs. The commercially available skin replicas were used as the model of skin in the experiment, which were composed of two layers, a thin polyurethane film transcribed from cheek surface of a female and a beige-colored silicone substrate. The foundations were applied to the skin replicas under the constant pressure. RESULTS: A topographic image provides spectroscopic information of reflected light and effectiveness of correction of surface irregularities by applying the foundation. A tomographic image demonstrates the spectroscopic degree of light penetration into the skin tissue. It is shown that the reflectivity increases consistently with thickness of the applied foundation because light reflected from the surface and diffusively reflected from the inside of the tissue increases as the surface becomes flat applying the foundation. CONCLUSION: We confirmed experimentally the potential of the spectroscopic FF-OCT microscopy in investigating both qualitatively and quantitatively the effectiveness of facial foundation.