PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the differences in functional fitness between older adults who were at risk of falling and those who were not. METHODS: A total of 104 older adults aged 65-74 years were recruited from a local community senior center. They were independent older adults without a history of falls in the preceding 12 months. Falling risk status was assessed using the Fall Risk Test. Five dimensions of functional fitness with seven testing parameters (i.e., 30-second chair stand test, 30-second arm curl test, 2-minute step test, chair sit and reach test, back scratch test, 8-foot up and go test, and body mass index) were evaluated by the Senior Fitness Test. RESULTS: Only 78 participants completed all the tests, of which 48 participants were identified with risk of falling, and 30 participants were free from risk of falling. Results from multivariate analysis of variance found significant differences on the combined outcome variables, especially in the 8-foot up and go test, 2-minute step test, and 30-second arm curl test. Results from discriminant analysis found a significant discriminant function among all the seven testing parameters, where the 8-foot up and go test, and the 2-minute step test contributed most. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who are at the early stage of risk of falling tend to have lower functional fitness capacities, especially in agility and dynamic balance, aerobic endurance as well as in a combined relationship among all the testing parameters.
*Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/*physiology ; Female ; Hong Kong ; Humans ; Male ; *Physical Fitness ; Risk Factors

This review introduced the application of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the identification of species, production area and processing method as well as quality evaluation of Chinese materia medica (CMM). By comparing with other authentication methods of CMM, the NIRS technology showed great advantages in exclusive identification of CMM, both identification and quality evaluation of CMM as well as identification of famous-region medicinal material. Finally, the future direction of the authentication of CMM by NIRS technology was suggested.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Primary intraventricular hemorrhage is a rare type of non-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage neurological disorder.Not only has it higher mortality and morbidity,but also complicated etiologies.However,there is still lack of standard diagnostic techniques and treatment methods for decreasing mortality rate and improving prognosis of primary,intraventricular hemorrhage.Rational use of ultra-early hemostatic therapy and acute surgery therapy are considered as clinical treatment strategies to increase survival rate and improve the quality of life for primary intraventricular hemorrhage patients.This paper aims to give review on some etiology,diagnosis and therapy methods of primary intraventricular hemorrhage,and to provide new ideas for the treatment.

Objective To study the influence of high-fluoride on thyroid function and brain damage. Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were randondy divided, according to weight and gender into 3 groups(12 rats each), i.e. control group, high fluoride group, and high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group. The rats were fed with normal tap water containing no more than 5 mg/L NaF and the tap water added 100,100 mg/L NaF, respectively. After 7 months of experiment, the rats in high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group were given with 0.04% thyroid tablet( 1.8 ml·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) by gastric perfusion for three weeks. The contents of TT_3 and TT_4 in serum were detected by radio-immunological assay; the histomorphology in thyroids and brains were observed under microscopy; and the protein level of NMDAR2B subunit of glutamate receptor in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 was measured by immunohistochemistry. Results As compared to the values of TT_3 and TT_4 in serum of rats in control group[ (0.97 ± 0.15), (84.03 ± 12.45)nmol/L], TT_3 and TT_4 in high fluoride group were obviously lower [(0.24 ± 0.07), (15.16 ± 2.08)nmol/L, all P < 0.01]; while no changes in TT_3 and TT_4 were detected in high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group[ (1.02 ± 0.19), (85.63 ± 9.55)nmol/L, all P < 0.05] as compared to controls, but higher than those in high fluoride group(all P < 0.01 ). The pathological changes including partial hyperplasy, arrangement disorder, atrophy, and decreased colloid of the thyroid follicular epithelial cells in high fluoride group were observed under microscopy. In high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group, the degree of the thyroid cellular hyperplasy was relatively slight as compared to high fluoride group. The swelling and disarrangement of neurons in the hippocampus were observed in high fluoride group, whereas the changes of the neurons were not so obvious in high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group. The grey values of NMDAR2B positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 in high fluoride group(167.05 ± 7.31 ) were significantly increased as compared to controls (92.53 ± 9.67 ) or high fluoride plus thyroid tablet treatment group( 101.66 ± 12.21, all P < 0.01 ). Conclusions High fluoride can induce the decreased function and changed histomorphology in thyroid and result in pathological damages in the brains of rats. However, treated with thyroid tablet to those having damages induced by high fluoride, the thyroid function and morphology can be normal, and the brain damages can be alleviated. The results indicate that hypothyroidism caused by high fluoride might be an important participating factor in brain damages caused by fluorosis.

ObjectiveTo study the influence of Jiuqiang Naoliqing (JNQ) on the expression of calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP)and Synapsin Ⅰ in brain of the spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR). MethodsThe rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Wistar group, SHR group, lower dose of JNQ treated SHR group and higher dose of JNQ treated SHR group. The expression of CGRP and Synapsin Ⅰ in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex were determined by immunohistochemistry after treatment for 3 weeks. ResultsCompared with the Wistar group, the expression of CGRP and Synapsin Ⅰ in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex of SHR group significantly decreased. The treatment with lower dose of JNQ significantly enhanced the expression of CGRP in cortex(P<0.05 vs SHR).The treatment with higher dose of JNQ significantly enhanced not only the expression of CGRP in the dentate gyrus, CA1 subfield of hippocampus and cortex, but also that of Synapsin Ⅰ in the CA1 subfield of hippocampus selectively in comparison with SHR group. ConclusionJNQ may improve the micro circulation in brain by up regulating the expression of CGRP and enhance the modulating function of central nervous system by up regulating the expression of Synapsin Ⅰ in spontaneous hypertension rats.

Electronic skin has shown great application potential in many fields such as healthcare monitoring and human-machine interaction due to their excellent sensing performance, mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This paper starts from the materials selection and structures design of electronic skin, and summarizes their different applications in the field of healthcare equipment, especially current development status of wearable sensors with different functions, as well as the application of electronic skin in virtual reality. The challenges of electronic skin in the field of wearable devices and healthcare, as well as our corresponding strategies, are discussed to provide a reference for further advancing the research of electronic skin.
Humans ; Wearable Electronic Devices ; Virtual Reality

Clinical Trials as Topic ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Patient Satisfaction ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome