Best Core Stabilization for Anticipatory Postural Adjustment and Falls in Hemiparetic Stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of conventional core stabilization and dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) on anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) time, balance performance, and fear of falls in chronic hemiparetic stroke. DESIGN: Two-group randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest design. SETTING: Hospital rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Adults with chronic hemiparetic stroke (N=28). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly divided into either conventional core stabilization (n=14) or DNS (n=14) groups. Both groups received a total of 20 sessions of conventional core stabilization or DNS training for 30 minutes per session 5 times a week during the 4-week period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electromyography was used to measure the APA time for bilateral external oblique (EO), transverse abdominis (TrA)/internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) activation during rapid shoulder flexion. Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) were used to measure trunk movement control, balance performance, and fear of falling. RESULTS: Baseline APA times were delayed and fear of falling was moderately high in both the conventional core stabilization and DNS groups. After the interventions, the APA times for EO, TrA/IO, and ES were shorter in the DNS group than in the conventional core stabilization group (P<.008). The BBS and TIS scores (P<.008) and the FES score (P<.003) were improved compared with baseline in both groups, but FES remained stable through the 2-year follow-up period only in the DNS group (P<.003). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first clinical evidence highlighting the importance of core stabilization exercises for improving APA control, balance, and fear of falls in individuals with hemiparetic stroke.

The Influence of Assay Design, Blinding, and Gymnema sylvestre on Sucrose Detection by Humans.

The detection and grading of tastes corresponding to different taste modalities can be tested in engaging laboratory sessions using students themselves as test subjects. This article describes a series of experiments in which data pertaining to the detection of salty and sweet tastes are obtained, and the ability of the herb Gymnema sylvestre to disrupt the detection of sucrose is quantified. The effects of blinding and different assay designs on EC50 estimation are also investigated. The data obtained allow for substantial data analysis, including non-linear regression using fixed and free parameters to quantify dose-response relationships, and the use of often under-utilized permutation tests to determine significant differences when the underlying data display heteroscedasticity.

Hair diameter evaluation in different regions of the safe donor area in Asian populations.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about how hair diameter differences within the safe donor area. Thicker or thinner hair may be needed depending on the recipient area, hairline design, and surgical purpose. METHODS: Thirty-eight non-alopecic subjects (19 males and 19 females) were evaluated. The safe donor area was defined as the area contained within 28 cm from the horizontal plane of the upper border of the hair rim to the vertical line of the bilateral external acoustic meatus. Seven zones were defined starting 2 cm on each side (bilateral 4 cm) from the mid-occiput to the temporal side. The diameters of 10 randomly selected anagen hairs were measured from each of the seven zones. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in hair diameter by zone between males and females (P < 0.0001). In general, hair diameter tended to decrease from zone 3 to 7. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that safe donor areas between zones 4 and 7 could be useful for specific hair transplantation surgeries requiring thinner hair, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and female hairline correction surgery, whereas hair from zones 1-3 could be more useful for those requiring thicker hair, such as male and female pattern hair loss. Our data could be clinically valuable for planning hair transplant surgery and choosing the most optimal donor region.

Cross-cultural validation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life in Korea.

Patients' responses to quality-of-life questionnaires are dependent on the cultural milieu. The aims of this study were to translate the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life questionnaire, which was developed in the West, into Korean and to validate the translated questionnaire in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Translation of the original questionnaire was performed according to accepted linguistic validation guidelines. Korean patients had no difficulty understanding the questions. Data from the translated questionnaire were well correlated with results from the SF-36 questionnaire and reflected the stress status of the patients as measured on the Perceived Stress Scale. Some questionnaire items seemed, on first analysis, to be problematic in this subset of patients, but these results may relate, in part, to cultural differences between Korea and the West. We conclude that the translated questionnaire is reliable and offers an accurate measure of quality of life for Korean patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

(S,S)-formoterol increases the production of IL-4 in mast cells and the airways of a murine asthma model.

BACKGROUND: Racemic formoterol is an equimolar mixture of (R,R)- and (S,S)-formoterol. Several studies have shown (S,S)-formoterol to have proinflammatory effects. We previously reported that (S)-albuterol increased the secretion of histamine and interleukin (IL)-4 in murine mast cells. We thus hypothesized that (S,S)-formoterol promotes asthma by enhancing IL-4 production in mast cells of the asthmatic airway. METHODS: Murine and human mast cells were stimulated by high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) cross-linking or with phorbol myristate acetate/calcium ionophore A23187 (PMA/A23187). Jurkat T cells were stimulated with PMA. Cells were pretreated with either (R,R)- or (S,S)-formoterol. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were pretreated with (R,R)- or (S,S)-formoterol before each intranasal OVA challenge for 10 days. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained from the mice. The levels of IL-4, histamine and PGD(2) were measured. Early and late allergic responses (EAR and LAR, respectively) to OVA challenge and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were measured. RESULTS: (S,S)-formoterol enhanced the production of IL-4, histamine, and PGD(2) in mast cells, whereas (R,R)-formoterol had no effect. Neither (S,S)- nor (R,R)-formoterol had effect on IL-4 production in Jurkat T cells. In OVA-challenged mice, (S,S)-formoterol increased IL-4 secretion, whereas (R,R)-formoterol had no effect. Finally, (S,S)-formoterol enhanced the inflammatory changes in the peribronchial and perivascular areas without affecting EAR, LAR or AHR, whereas (R,R)-formoterol reduced EAR, LAR and AHR as well as cellular infiltration in the lung tissue of these mice. CONCLUSION: (S,S)-formoterol may exert adverse effects in asthma control by activating mast cells to produce proinflammatory mediators such as IL-4.