Effects of a short eight Tai Chi-forms for the pre-frail elderly people in senior living communities.

PURPOSE: To investigate effects of a short 8-form Tai Chi exercise on physical function, fear of falling, and depression in pre-frail elderly people living in senior communities. METHODS: This 8-week randomized controlled trial was conducted in senior living communities with qualified pre-frail elderly subjects in a Tai Chi group (TCG, n= 32) and a control group (CG, n = 33). The TCG received TC intervention: three times/week, 60 min each; while the CG did usual care only. Assessments of the 30-s chair rise test (CRT), 4.5-m walking speed (WS), fear of falling (FOF), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), were all applied at baseline, end of 4th week, and end of 8th week. RESULTS: Between-group comparison at the 4th week showed significantly better outcomes in CRT (TCG: 14.56 ± 1.87; CG: 11.48 ± 2.83; P< .001) and WS (TCG: 4.28 ± 0.69; CG: 5.11 ± 1.16; P = .001) in the TCG than those in the CG, but not in FOF (TCG: 0.56 ± 0.56; CG: 0.79 ± 0.89; P = .228) and GDS (TCG: 7.91 ± 5.54; CG: 9.58 ± 6.85; P = .285). However, at the 8th week, significant differences (P< .001) were found in all four assessments: (1) CRT: TCG vs CG: 17.28 ± 2.00 vs 11.36± 2.94; (2) WS: TCG vs CG: 3.94 ± 0.59 vs 5.17 ± 1.22; (3) FOF: TCG vs CG: 0.16 ± 0.37 vs 1.00 ± 0.90; and (4) GDS: TCG vs CG: 3.84 ± 3.60 vs 9.97 ± 6.80, and the intervention effect of 8 weeks was better than at 4 weeks. For within-group comparison of the TCG, significant improvements were identified in CRT (P< .001), WS (P = .008), and FOF (P = .002); but not in GDS, P = .121 at the 4th week, and also in CRT (P< .001), WS (P< .001), FOF (P< .001), and GDS (P< .001) at the 8th week. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the CG for pre- and post-comparison (CRT: P = .891; WS: P = .984; FOF: P = .636; GDS: P = .822). CONCLUSION: This short-form TC exercise could improve physical function (the lower limbs' strength and gait speed), fear of falling, and depression.

Giant Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of the Head and Neck: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma with high mortality, low morbidity, and poor prognosis. The MPNST occurs mostly in the limbs and torso, and rarely in the head and neck. However, MPNST is insensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and complete surgical resection with negative margin is the most important and effective strategy. We present a case of MPNST in the head and neck. The tumor invades the left temporal bone, petrous bone, and mastoid bone, and compression changes in the focal cerebellum and sigmoid sinus. The patient underwent the left temporal region tumor resection + surgical reconstruction with temporalis muscle flap and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Adjuvant radiotherapy (55 Gy) was given after surgery, and there were no local recurrence and distant metastasis after 31-month follow-up.