Balance and Fall Risk Assessment in Community-Dwelling Older Adults after Recovery from COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 atypical symptoms in older persons include falls, confusion, dizziness, and unusual weariness. Falls and their consequences are among the most prevalent causes of disability among older adults, significantly lowering quality of life and resulting in the loss of independence as well as impaired psychosocial functioning. The study purpose was to examine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease on balance in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Sixty-four older adults aged ≥ 60 years from both sexes, 31 treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection and 33 matched normal controls participated in the study. The Biodex Stability System (BSS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used for evaluation of balance and fall risk. The correlation between the Biodex overall stability index and the Berg Balance Scale score was investigated. RESULTS: When compared to controls, the SARS-CoV-2 group had significantly higher values of the Biodex overall stability index (OSI) (p = 0.011), anterior-posterior stability index (APSI) (p = 0.013), mediolateral stability index (MLSI) (p = 0.018), and fall risk index (FRI) (p = 0.008), as well as statistically lower scores on the Berg balance scale (p = 0.003). A moderate negative correlation was found between the two assessment tools in the SARS-CoV-2 group. CONCLUSION: Balance impairment and an increased risk of falling are among the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in community-dwelling older adults.

Efficacy of telehealth core exercises during COVID-19 after bariatric surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery (BS) is presently the most durable and effective intervention to address severe obesity. BS results in significant weight loss and body composition changes, with reductions in both fat mass and lean mass. Conequently, muscle tissue wasting and a reduction in muscle strength and endurance seem to take place. Some studies have evaluated the impact of resistance training on changes in lean body mass and muscle strength either alone or along with protein supplementation in the first year after BS. However, the effects of core stabilization training on core endurance, postural control, and aerobic capacity in patients after BS have not been evaluated. AIM: This study assessed the effect of a home telehealth core stabilization exercise program on core stability, postural control, and aerobic capacity in patients after BS. DESIGN: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Home-based exercise program. POPULATION: Patients after BS. METHODS: Fifty-four patients who underwent BS randomly assigned into study and control groups. The study group followed a telehealth supervised home core stabilization program for 8 weeks, while the control group did not receive any form of exercises. Core endurance tests, postural stability, and aerobic capacity were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted between groups at baseline (P>0.05). The outcome of the group comparisons showed significant improvement in core endurance tests, postural stability, and aerobic capacity in the study group. Between groups comparision showed that the study group scores significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). However, the control group showed non-significant changes in any measured variables after eight weeks (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Eight weeks of a home-based telehealth core exercise program improves core endurance, postural stability, and aerobic capacity in patients after BS. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: The core stabilization exercise is an important rehabilitation program that should be implemented after BS. Telehealth is an alternative rehabilitation tool during the COVID -19 pandemic.

Quantitative Assessment of Sensory Integration and Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Cross-Sectional Study.

Postural stability is dependent on the interpretation of external inputs acquired by sensory information processes, such as visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems, in order to accomplish neuromuscular control, balance maintenance, and appropriate motor response. A defect in any of these systems, or in the integration of information given by these systems, might threaten their capacity to maintain balance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the sensory integration and balance using the Biodex balance system (BBS) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the static posture. Seventy-four children from both sexes, 38 with ASD matched with 36 typically developed (TD) children as a control group, were included in the study. Using the Biodex balance system, the postural sway was evaluated through the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (m-CTSIB) during quiet standing. In this test, four different situations were considered from standing position: eyes open/firm surface, eyes closed/firm surface, eyes open/foam surface, and eyes closed/foam surface. ASD children showed a significant increase in postural sway under all tested conditions when compared to the TD children group, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory inputs were disrupted (p-value < 0.05). These results provide evidence that postural stability decreased in ASD children. Under static postural challenges, the current study's findings imply that children diagnosed with ASD have postural control deficiencies, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory input was disrupted. Further research must be conducted to find the best balance training program for ASD cases using the Biodex balance system and considering its impact on motor skills.

Imaging features of non-epithelial tumours of the larynx.

Neoplasms of the head and neck most commonly seen within the larynx are likely malignant and epithelial in origin. Although uncommon, non-epithelial types are occasionally encountered in clinical practice. Owing to the rare nature of these entities, they can lead to diagnostic and treatment uncertainty. We present our two-centre experience of nine different types of non-epithelial laryngeal tumours in this review, highlighting characteristic imaging features and discussing the recommended management strategies emerging.

Arthroscopy of septic carpitis in donkeys (Equus asinus).

Experimental septic arthritis was induced in the radiocarpal joint of 18 donkeys by intra-articular injection of Staphylococcus aureus (3-4X10(6) CFU). The inoculated animals were divided into three groups (6 donkeys in each group). The arthroscopic examination was carried out before induction of septic carpitis and 3 days (group I), 14 days (group II), and 28 days (group III) after induction of infection. The arthroscopic examination of group I revealed hyperemia of synovial membrane and hypertrophied villi. In group II, severe hyperemia of synovial membrane, hypertrophied villi, pannus in the joint cavity and beginning of articular cartilage erosion were found. In group III, severe hyperemia of synovial membrane, hypertrophied villi and more prominent articular cartilage erosion were present.

Prevention of skin tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in mice by black seed oil.

The effect of topical application of black seed oil on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin tumors in BALB/c mice was investigated. Topical application of chemically extracted oil (C.O.) and naturally extracted oil (N.O.) highly prevented the appearance of skin tumors in experimental animals. Skin tumors (papillomas and carcinomas) were initiated by application of 300 mu g DMBA (on days 1,8) followed by applying 0.5 mg croton oil, biweekly until the end of the experiment (25 weeks). The application of N.O. completely prevented the appearance of skin tumors in mice of group 3 versus a tumor incidence of 78.9% in animals of group 1 (carcinogenic control) (cc). Painting the skin of mice with C.O. (group 2) significantly reduced the tumor incidence to 14.2%. Moreover, a significant decrease was observed in number of mice bearing tumors, and number of tumors per mouse in group 2. Multiplicity was also decreased but insignificantly in the same group. The treatment with C.O. and N.O. insignificantly increased the rate of mice survival as compared to that of animals of group 1.

Inhibition of mammary-gland tumorigenesis in the rat by caraway seeds and dried leaves of watercress.

The effect of consumption of caraway seeds and dried leaves of watercress on 7,12-dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary gland tumorigenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats was determined. At 6 weeks of age, animals were fed a basal (control) diet and experimental diets containing caraway or watercress (20%). Animals were maintained on their diets till termination of the experiment (25 weeks after DMBA). At 8 weeks of age, all rats were given DMBA 10 mg, one dose, p.o. in oily formulation). Neither caraway nor watercress affected the body weight or the rate of growth of animals. By week 25 after DMBA, 77% of the control rats developed mammary tumors, with a mean of 2.27 tumors per rat. Caraway decreased significantly (P<0.05) the percentage of rats with tumors (42.8% protection) and the mean number of tumors per rat (50.6% protection) and increased significantly (P<0.05) the mean latency period of tumor appearance. Watercress, though decreased the percentage of rats with tumors (28.5% protection) and the mean number of tumors per rat (31.7% protection), this decrease was significant (P < 0.05) during some week intervals only. The increase in the mean latency period of tumor appearance by watercress was not significant. The results of this study suggest that caraway and watercress possess chemopreventive effects against DMBA-induced mammary gland tumorigenesis in rats.