ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on postural balance and attentional capacities in older adults. SETTING: the Neurophysiology department of a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen males aged between 65 and 80 years were asked to perform a postural balance protocol and a simple reaction time (SRT) test in four testing phases: one week before Ramadan (BR), during the second (SWR) and the fourth week of Ramadan (FWR) and 3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). MEASUREMENTS: Postural balance measurements were recorded in the bipedal stance in four different conditions: firm surface/eyes open (EO), firm surface/eyes closed (EC), foam surface/EO and foam surface/EC using a force platform. RESULTS: Results of the present study demonstrated that center of pressure (CoP) mean velocity (CoPVm), medio-lateral length (CoPLX) and antero-posterior length (CoPLY) were significantly higher during the SWR than BR. Likewise, values of CoPVm and CoPLX increased significantly during the FWR compared to BR. The CoPLX decreased significantly in the FWR compared to the SWR. Values of CoPVm and CoPLX were significantly higher AR in comparison with BR. In addition, SRT values increased significantly during the SWR and the FWR than BR. CONCLUSION: Ramadan fasting affects postural balance and attentional capacities in the elderly mainly in the SWR and it may, therefore, increase the risk of fall and fall-related injuries. More than three weeks are needed for older adults to recover postural balance impairment due to Ramadan fasting.
Subject(s)
Attention/physiology , Fasting/adverse effects , Postural Balance/physiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Synopsis Effect of topical treatment on pilar keratine synthesis in the rat The synthesis of keratin in pre-pubic Wistar rats has been studied under the influence of topic application of a lotion containing vegetable extracts. Changes of keratin synthesis in the rat was judged by the incorporation of a tagged precursor in the rat hair: cystein S-35 administered orally. Two protocols were followed each giving similar results. The first method concerned the regularity of hair growth with one sample taken per animal, and the second required multiple sampling in the same animal. Treatments with daily applications were in the range of 7-21 days. Results were analysed statistically in comparison with untreated zones. The excipient was tested separately in parallel. This rigorous procedure was essential, since the variations between individuals was wide in spite of the rats having been selected from the same litter. Daily application of the lotion showed an increase starting on the seventh day of the synthesis of keratin; the activity of the hair samples was already increased at this time by 90 to 400% (0.05>P>0.01). After 15 days increase reached > 1000% (P<0.05). Increase found for rats treated with the excipient do not reach significance. The hair growth cycle being 21 to 30 days, further continuation of the treatment gave only relatively weak stimulation of the keratin synthesis, the passage into the telogen phase slowing the synthesis of keratin whether it was produced from bulbar pre-keratin or synthesised in the hair itself.
ABSTRACT
Thirty patients were examined by 4 procedures, conventional angiography (C.A.), peripheric intravenous digital subtraction angiography (D.S.A.), ultrasonography and Doppler on femoral artery bifurcation. These arteries are divided into several sections on which findings were classified into three or five categories. There is an excellent correlation between conventional and digital angiograms. Various results of D.S.A. versus C.A. were obtained in 2% of these sections. More differences were noticed between C.A. and Doppler (7%), C.A. and ultrasonography (10%). There is a positive correlation of D.S.A. versus C.A. With Doppler and ultrasonography, arterial map is difficult to establish especially in case of many stenoses of the iliac arteries or thrombosis on femoral superficialis arteries.
