Phenotyping Superagers Using Resting-State fMRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Superagers are defined as older adults with episodic memory performance similar or superior to that in middle-aged adults. This study aimed to investigate the key differences in discriminative networks and their main nodes between superagers and cognitively average elderly controls. In addition, we sought to explore differences in sensitivity in detecting these functional activities across the networks at 3T and 7T MR imaging fields. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five subjects 80 years of age or older were screened using a detailed neuropsychological protocol, and 31 participants, comprising 14 superagers and 17 cognitively average elderly controls, were included for analysis. Participants underwent resting-state-fMRI at 3T and 7T MR imaging. A prediction classification algorithm using a penalized regression model on the measurements of the network was used to calculate the probabilities of a healthy older adult being a superager. Additionally, ORs quantified the influence of each node across preselected networks. RESULTS: The key networks that differentiated superagers and elderly controls were the default mode, salience, and language networks. The most discriminative nodes (ORs > 1) in superagers encompassed areas in the precuneus posterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction, temporal pole, extrastriate superior cortex, and insula. The prediction classification model for being a superager showed better performance using the 7T compared with 3T resting-state-fMRI data set. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the functional connectivity in the default mode, salience, and language networks can provide potential imaging biomarkers for predicting superagers. The 7T field holds promise for the most appropriate study setting to accurately detect the functional connectivity patterns in superagers.

Muscular function and functional mobility of faller and non-faller elderly women with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Falls are a major concern in the elderly population with chronic joint disease. To compare muscular function and functional mobility among older women with knee osteoarthritis with and without a history of falls, 15 elderly women with a history of falls (74.20 +/- 4.46 years) and 15 without a history of falls (71.73 +/- 4.73 years) were studied. Muscular function, at the angular speed of 60, 120, and 180 masculine/s, was evaluated using the Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. The sit-to-stand task was performed using the Balance Master System and the Timed Up and Go test was used to determine functional mobility. After collection of these data, the history of falls was investigated. A statistically significant difference was detected in the time taken to transfer the center of gravity during the sit-to-stand test (means +/- SD; non-fallers: 0.35 +/- 0.16 s; fallers: 0.55 +/- 0.32 s; P = 0.049, Student t-test) and in the Timed Up and Go test (medians; non-fallers: 10.08 s; fallers: 11.59 s; P = 0.038, Mann-Whitney U-test). The results indicated that elderly osteoarthritic women with a history of falls presented altered functional mobility and needed more time to transfer the center of gravity in the sit-to-stand test. It is important to implement strategies to guarantee a better functional performance of elderly patients to reduce fall risks.

Muscular function and functional mobility of faller and non-faller elderly women with osteoarthritis of the knee

Falls are a major concern in the elderly population with chronic joint disease. To compare muscular function and functional mobility among older women with knee osteoarthritis with and without a history of falls, 15 elderly women with a history of falls (74.20 ± 4.46 years) and 15 without a history of falls (71.73 ± 4.73 years) were studied. Muscular function, at the angular speed of 60, 120, and 180°/s, was evaluated using the Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. The sit-to-stand task was performed using the Balance Master System and the Timed Up and Go test was used to determine functional mobility. After collection of these data, the history of falls was investigated. A statistically significant difference was detected in the time taken to transfer the center of gravity during the sit-to-stand test (means ± SD; non-fallers: 0.35 ± 0.16 s; fallers: 0.55 ± 0.32 s; P = 0.049, Student t-test) and in the Timed Up and Go test (medians; non-fallers: 10.08 s; fallers: 11.59 s; P = 0.038, Mann-Whitney U-test). The results indicated that elderly osteoarthritic women with a history of falls presented altered functional mobility and needed more time to transfer the center of gravity in the sit-to-stand test. It is important to implement strategies to guarantee a better functional performance of elderly patients to reduce fall risks.

Transferencia da posicao sentada pra em pe: estudo comparativo entre idosas assintomaticas e idosas com osteoartite e correlacao entre tempo da tarefa e funcao muscular / Sit-to-stand transfer: comparasion between asymptomatic and osteoarthritic elderly women and correlation between movement time and muscle function

Em idosos, a capacidade de se levantar de uma posicao sentada sentada em um menor tempo associa-se a menos comorbidades ec para realizar essa atividade. Forca e potencia de extensores e plexores de joelho sao importantes. ao aumentar a velocidade do levantar

Relacao isquiotibiais/quadriceps em mulheres idosas utilizando o dinamometro isocinetico / Isokinetic hamstring/quadriceps ratio in elderly women

A relacao entre o torque isocinetico maximo dos isquiotibiais e o torque isocinetico maximo do quadriceps (relacao IQT/QUA) e um parametro utilizado para descrever o equilibrio muscular da articulacao do joelho. Uma alteracao desse equilibrio predispoe a articulacao ou o grupo muscular mais fraco a lesao. A obtencao de valores de referencia da relacao IQT/QUA de idosas e importante, p[ois possibilita comparacoes entre individuos dessa faixa etaria. O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer valores normativos para a relacao IQT/QUA de idosas nao-institucionalizadas que vivem na regiao metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Este foi um estudo transversal de uma amostra composta por 47 idosas voluntarias (69,11+-3,64 anos). Como nao houve diferenca estatisticamente significativa entre os membros, foram descritos apenas a media, o desvio padrao, o coeficiente de variacao (CV) e o erro estimado (EE) da relacao IQT/QUA do membro inferior dominante, nas velocidades angulares de (60s e 180s), utilizando o dinamometro isocinetico Biodex System 3 Pro. Na velocidade de 60s, a media foi de 47,95+-10,99(por cento); o Cv, 22,91; e o EE, 6,85. Na velocidade de 180s a media foi 59,59+-13,40(por cento); o Cv, 22,49; e o EE, 6,43. Assim, o valor da relacao foi maior com o aumento da velocidade. Os resultados aqui encontrados, aliados a outros de diferentes regioes, podem ser considerados referencia para idosas vivendo na comunidade, o que podera direcionar a reabilitacao, tornando-a mais efetiva. Alem disso, esses dados permitirao comparacoes com futuros estudos que envolvam populacoes de idosas comunitarias, institucionalizadas ou com alguma doenca

Hipertensao portal. Anastomose esplenorrenal distal seletiva. / Portal hypertension. Splenorenal anastomosis selective distal

Os autores apresentam uma casuistica de 70 pacientes com anastomose esplenorrenal distal seletiva, operados em periodo de 19 meses. Realizaram-se 17 cirurgias em carater de urgencia, 25 casos eletivamente e 28 preventivamente. A biopsia hepatica revelou um predominio de hipertensao portal de causa esquistossomotica em 82,35%, porem houve conco casos de cirrose - 7,35%.Apenas um caso nao se beneficiou com a cirurgia. Houve trombose de anastomose e a hemorragia persistiu, necessitando reintervencao. Nao houve recidiva hemorragica tardia. E ausente a encefalopatia neste material. A mortalidade global foi de 10%.Os autores enfatizam a diminuicao da morbilidade e mortalidade pos-operatoria com a aquisicao de maior experiencia com o metodo. Acreditam ser esta a melhor cirurgia no momento, para o tratamento da hipertensao portal

Manutencao em laboratorio de Anopheles albitarsis e Anopheles aquasalis por copulacao induzida. / Laboratory maintence of Anopheles albitarsis and Anopheles aquasalis by induced copulation

Introduzimos a tecnica da copulacao induzida para a manutencao e criacao em cativeiro, do Anopheles albitarsis e do A. aquasalis, objetivando facilitar futuros trabalhos com estas especies de dificil cruzamento espontaneo em laboratorio