Methodological tools used for tripping gait analysis of elderly and prosthetic limb users: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Tripping during walking is known to be the predominant cause of falls in elderly and prosthetic limb users. To standardise measurements and analysis of trips, it is critical to summarise the methods used in laboratory-controlled trials. AIM: The aim of this study was to reach a clearer standardisation measurement and analysis of trips during elderly and prosthetic gait through a systematic review. METHODS: Studies that assessed elderly and prosthetic tripping gait characteristics were included in this review. The search resulted in an initial yield of 2493 unique articles after duplicates were removed (PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct). Title analysis resulted in 1697 articles excluded and 659 articles were assessed for further eligibility on the basis of the abstract. 174 articles were excluded based on a full-text appraisal. The final yield was 21 unique articles that met all the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The findings revealed a number of inconsistencies among the studies, namely ambiguity in relation to gait speed, differences in overground and treadmill locomotion. Subsequently, different experimental setups such as trip inducement strategies may influence the collected data, and thus have implications for study outcomes. CONCLUSION: A gold standard should be set to have better standardised results, thus creating a more robust and holistic approach towards the rehabilitation of prosthetic gait and in the elderly.

Influence of drinking water composition on quantitation and biological activity of dissolved microcystin (cyanotoxin).

Toxic cyanobacteria in aquatic environments have been implicated in many poisoning incidents of livestock, wildlife, and domestic animals. Microcystins (MCYSTs) in water supplies represent a risk to public health. This work investigated the effect of water composition on the quantitation and biological activity of MCYSTs analyzed by different methods (HPLC, ELISA, and protein phosphatase 1 inhibition assay). Different MCYST concentrations were added to deionized water and quantified, confirming the efficiency of these analytical methods. MCYST concentrations diluted in drinking water had reduced detection by all methods tested. The drinking water used contained a free chlorine concentration of 2.5 mg/L and an Fe concentration of 0.45 mg/L, and the conductivity was 69.8 microS cm(-1), whereas in deionized water, free chlorine and Fe were not detectable, and the conductivity was 1.6 microS cm(-1). Drinking water also interfered with the biological activity of MYCSTs, as these toxins showed reduced protein phosphatase-1 inhibition. A free chlorine concentration of 2.5 mg/L in deionized water was completely effective in preventing any detection of 10 microg/L of added MCYSTs. Fe and Al ions also were very effective in reducing MCYST detection. The chemical composition of drinking water thus affected MCYST detection, indicating a significant reduction in quantitation of this molecule either because of its decomposition or through complexation with metal ions.