Exercise, nutrition, and medication considerations in the light of the COVID pandemic, with specific focus on geriatric population: A literature review.

The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has spread across the world, causing causalities and inflicting chronic complications in those who survive the infection. Disruptions in the immune system and lowered physical levels caused by quarantine protocols are the major causes of chronic dysfunction and impaired life independency, especially in elderly patients. Multiple exercise suggestions and novel program delivery methods, including telerehabilitation/tele-exercise programs, home-gym strategies, and exergames, have emerged. Patients with underlying obesity, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, or binge-eating problems are at a high risk of serious infection and sequela. Adequate education and coping strategies can lessen the potential infection complications and improve the quality of life. Acknowledging the possible benefits and risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug usage in chronic pain patients, and the supplementation of vitamin D may also aid in treating post-infected patients.

Achilles tendon tear following shock wave therapy for calcific tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is becoming a popular method for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. We herein report a case of Achilles tendon rupture possibly related to ESWT. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old female was treated with a calcaneal osteotomy due to Haglund's disease on the right. However, she developed chronic calcific Achilles tendinopathy postoperatively, and during the following 2 year period after surgery she received various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and one injection of corticosteroids. She was subsequently treated with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), but persistent pain, local swelling and redness over posterior right ankle were noted. Two months after ESWT she experienced an Achilles tendon tear and received Achilles tendon reconstruction. CONCLUSION: While ESWT is generally considered safe, physicians should be aware of potential major complications.

Health services utilization and cost utility analysis of a walking program for residential community elderly.

Promoting the health and improving the ability and confidence of the elderly to live independently can reduce health care expenditures and increase the health of society as a whole. However, the evidence to promote physical activity in order to promote health among the aged population is weak, especially in regards to the economic evaluation of a walking program. These researchers confirmed that the cost utility of a 12-week walking training program is acceptable. Therefore, an outpatient clinic-based walking program for older adults is worth promoting. Cost utility analysis is the critical evaluation method in exercise programs. Health professionals are encouraged to apply the integrated indicators such as the Health Utility Index and the Incremental Cost Utility Ratio to clarify the effects of health-promotion interventions.

Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensis, sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from oil-polluted site produces extracellular surface activity.

During screening for biosurfactant-producing bacteria, a strain designated J36T was isolated from oil-polluted site near Kaohsiung city located in southern Taiwan. Cells of this organism were gram-negative rods motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Strain J36T grew well in complex media under optimum conditions of 35 degrees C and pH 7. The extracellular products of the strain expressed emulsification activity. During cultivation on olive oil as the sole carbon and energy source, the culture supernatant of strain J36T reduced surface tension of the medium from 68 to 32.6 dyne/cm. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicates that strain J36T is a member of Xanthomonas group within the gamma-Proteobacteria. The organism belongs to the genus Pseudoxanthomonas and represents a novel species within this genus according to phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, DNA-DNA similarity data, whole-cell protein analysis, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as fatty acid compositions. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain J36T were 15:0 iso (about 26%), 17:1 iso omega9c (about 25%), and 15:0 anteiso (about 10%). Its DNA base ratio was 60.1 mol% G+C. We propose to classify strain J36T (= BCRC 17375T = LMG 22530T) as Pseudoxanthomonas kaohsiungensis sp. nov.