Introduction: There is limited information regarding the effects of interactive virtual reality (VR) games on psychological and physical well-being among adults with physical disabilities. We aimed to examine the impact of VR games on psychological well-being, upper limb motor function and reaction time in adults with physical disabilities. Methods: Fifteen participants completed the intervention using Wii VR games in this pilot study. Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and Capabilities of Upper Extremity (CUE) questionnaires were used to measure psychological well-being and upper limb motor function respectively. Upper limb reaction time was measured using reaction time test. Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in DASS questionnaire and average reaction time score after intervention. Conclusion: There is a potential for using interactive VR games as an exercise tool to improve psychological wellbeing and upper limb reaction time among adults with disabilities.

Space traveling is imperative for mankind in the future. Expectedly, hibernation will become an option for space traveler to overcome the endless voyage. With regard to some of the studies pointed out that during hibernation, muscle will undergo atrophy and meantime neurogenesis will reduce, these obstacles were frequently related with stem cell regeneration. Thus, investigation on whether hibernation will lead to dysfunction of stem cell becomes an important issue. By going through four main systems in this article, such as, hematopoietic system, skeletal muscle system, central nervous system and orthopedic system, we are expecting that stem cells regeneration capacity will be affected by hibernation. To date, these researches are majorly the read-out from short term or seasonal hibernating mammals. Proposing and creating a simulated long-term hibernation animal model is turning essential for the further investigation on the effect of longer period of hibernation to human stem cells.
Adult Stem Cells ; Adult ; Arousal ; Atrophy ; Central Nervous System ; Hematopoietic System ; Hibernation ; Humans ; Mammals ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Neurogenesis ; Orthopedics ; Regeneration ; Seasons ; Stem Cells ; Torpor

Objective To compare the pedaling force and lower extremity electromyography (EMG) with different cadences (60, 75, 90 r/min) and diverse cycling intensities (50%, 65%, 80% POV) and study the different influence on exerciser's pedaling force and lower extremity EMG. Methods Twelve healthy males participated in this study, and underwent two stages. In stage 1 the power output test at VO2max (POV) was got by cycle ergometer. In stage 2, nine conditions (3 kinds of intensities × 3 kinds of cadences) were completed respectively by using counter-balance design to record the changes for their pedaling force and lower extremity EMG. Results The negative pedaling work was significantly increased with the cadence increasing, and the appearing time of the peak pedaling force was significantly shifted forward in the cycle. When the crank angle was at 270°, the average increase of the pedaling force with the cadence increasing could obtain 1.84 times higher. In general, the firing rate of lower extremity muscular activation would be increased with the cadence increasing. Conclusions The cadence has greater effect on the pedaling force and lower extremity EMG. The tendency of pedaling force was shifted forward and the pattern of pedaling force became smoother with the cadence increasing. There are no significant differences among the diverse intensities. Based on the pedaling efficiency in this study, the optimal cadence for untrained people should be 60 r/min.

To determine the role of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we explored the clinical characteristics of patients with DM and compared risk factors such as age, glycemic control, and medications to those without DM.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that had affected more than eight million people worldwide by June 2020. Given the importance of the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) for host immunity, we retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 in patients with diabetes.