Effects of regular exercise and dual tasking on spatial and temporal parameters of obstacle negotiation in elderly women.

This study investigated the effects of regular exercise and dual tasking on bilateral spatial and temporal parameters of obstacle negotiation in elderly women. Sedentary (n=12) and physically active (n=12) elderly women volunteered to participate in this study. Gait kinematics were recorded during obstacle crossing when performing a dual task and when not performing a dual task. Physically active participants crossed obstacles more safely, in terms of clearance or distance to or over the obstacle, both with and without dual tasking, and usually for both lead and trail legs. Performing the dual task increased toe distance, and decreased heel distance and gait speed in the active participants, and increased toe clearance and heel distance, and decreased gait speed in the sedentary participants. Differences between preferred and non-preferred leg were accentuated for toe clearance in the lead limb. These results suggest that specialized exercises may not be needed for improvement in obstacle avoidance skills in the elderly, and participation in multi-activities, including aerobic exercises, may be sufficient.

Platelet-derived growth factors and receptors in Canine Lymphoma.

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) belong to a family of polypeptide growth factors that signal through cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors to stimulate growth, proliferation and differentiation. Platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) are also considered important targets for specific kinase inhibitors in the treatment of several human tumours. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-α and PDGFR-ß in canine lymphoma by determining gene and protein expression in lymph nodes of dogs with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and in healthy control dogs. One lymph node was also studied at the end of therapy in a subset of dogs in remission for DLBCL. In controls, PDGF-A, PDGFR-α and PDGFR-ß mRNA levels were significantly higher than in DLBCLs, PTCLs and T-LBLs. However, PDGFR-α and PDGFR-ß were minimally expressed by lymphocytes and plasma cells in normal lymph nodes as determined by immunohistochemistry, while neoplastic B and T cells showed the highest score (P <0.05). This discordant result may be compatible with the constitutive expression of these molecules by endothelial cells and fibroblasts in normal lymph nodes, thereby influencing gene expression results. Furthermore, these cells were not included in the immunohistochemical analysis. Similarly, dogs with DLBCL that were in remission at the end of therapy showed significantly higher gene expression of PDGFs and receptors than at the time of diagnosis and with an opposite trend to the protein assay. PDGF-B protein and mRNA were overexpressed in PTCLs and T-LBLs when compared with DLBCLs and controls (P <0.05). Additionally, there was a correlation between protein expression of PDGF-B and both PDGFRs in PTCLs and T-LBLs, suggesting an autocrine or paracrine loop in the aetiology of aggressive canine T-cell lymphomas. These data provide a rationale for the use of PDGFR antagonists in the therapy of aggressive T-cell lymphomas, but not in DLBCLs.