Jacobs Publishers

Yoga is widely publicized in the West, but due to a certain misrepresentation of its purpose, people involved in the practice
of yoga are at risk of getting health problems. Therefore, it is necessary to alert people to the possible dangers of awakening
kundalini, give training to yoga teachers, and create help services related to the awakening of kundalini. In this article,
we presented the Kundalini Emergency – Portugal service, its intervention protocol, the most mentioned symptomatology
by its clients, some difficulties experienced during the first 10 years of service, and we gave some advice to yoga teachers.

Compared to concentric exercise, eccentric cycling is characterized by a lower cardiovascular and metabolic cost. However,
its effects on the autonomic nervous system and the effects of pedalling frequency are little known. Eleven healthy subjects
participated in this study. Cardiorespiratory variables were assessed during concentric and eccentric cycling performed with 3
different pedalling frequencies and post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation (heart rate recovery during the first 60 seconds
of recovery and its normalized value; HRR60 and nHRR60) was studied. Cardiorespiratory responses were significantly lower
during eccentric than concentric cycling. Heart rate recovery metrics were lower after eccentric than concentric cycling. In particular nHRR60 was 0.19 ± 0.11 vs 0.26 ± 0.11, after eccentric vs concentric exercise at 30 revolutions per minute respectively;
0.13 ± 0.22 vs 0.28 ± 0.11 at 40 rpm and; 0.12 ± 0.14 vs 0.26 ± 0.10 at 60 rpm showing an attenuated post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation after eccentric exercise. While no change was observed during concentric exercise, increasing the pedalling
frequencies lowered the cardiopulmonary solicitation during eccentric cycling. A trend for a delayed post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation was also observed when the pedalling frequency increased (p = 0.057). These results highlighted that eccentric cycling imposed a greater strain on the autonomic nervous system than concentric cycling at the same power output despite
a lower cardiorespiratory requirement

Background
It has been reported that preoperative depression status affects the postoperative outcome significantly in patients with
lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) treated with surgery. However, characteristics of patients with LSS that might respond to
physical therapy are not known.
Objective
To evaluate which patients with LSS are responded to physical therapy using multimodal assessments of physical and
psychological factors.
Methods
Patients presenting with bilateral symptoms of neurogenic claudication caused by central LSS were enrolled. Patients were
treated with physical therapy once a week for 6 weeks. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Zurich Claudication
Questionnaire (ZCQ); visual analog scale of low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness; Japanese Orthopaedic Association
Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire; Pain Catastrophizing Scale; Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Self-Rating Questionnaire for Depression (SRQ-D); and Biodex isokinetic dynamometer at baseline and 6 weeks
after intervention. According to Stucki’s criteria for the satisfaction scores of the ZCQ subscales completed after intervention,
patients were divided into the satisfied group (Group I) and the unsatisfied group (Group II). The characteristics of those
patients with LSS who can obtain satisfactory results with our physical therapy programs were clarified.
Results
Groups I and II had 25 and 13 patients, respectively. There were no differences in the demographic data and MRI findings
between the two groups. At baseline, however, there was a significant difference in the SRQ-D (Group I, 7.2± 4.1 points vs.
Group II, 10.9± 2.9 points). Improvements in pain, and disability, and pain catastrophizing favored the Group I at 6 weeks
after the interventions

Summary
The material about the “Imperfect Hips” is based on 29 years of observations conducted in the years 1985-2014 and [N]
552 cases. The arthrosis of the hips has multifactorial causes, but in the paper authors described one - the biomechanical
influences in development of this illness. The causes of “imperfect hips” on the left side (left hips) are linked with insufficiently cured hip dysplasia in childhood. The causes of the “Imperfect Hips” on the right side (right hips) are connected with
“The Syndrome of Permanent Standing ‘at ease’ on the Right Leg” (SofSRL). In all the cases of “Imperfect Hips” it is important
to introduce the prophylactics methods very early, that is at the age of 40 or 50. Presented methods are simple and effective.
The basis of such prophylactics is the following: 1/ changing of the position of standing – we advise – standing in abduction
of 20 – 30 degree and in internal rotation of 20 - 30 degree, 2/ changing of walking – gait with feet apart 30 cm; 3/ sitting – in
internal rotation of hips (knees together – feet apart) and 4/ sleeping – in flexion and abduction of the affected hip
(like a baby – but only with one leg). As an additionally treatment we advise stretching exercises in kinesiotherapy and
physiotherapy

Although older adults are at greater risk for poor health, obesity, and inactivity, few interventions target this group. Moreover,
even fewer studies target ethnic minorities, who are at elevated risk for poor outcomes. This study aimed to test the effectiveness
of an exercise and nutritional education intervention with peer support for diverse, chronically ill, community-dwelling older
adults. This pilot study used a pre/post cohort study design with four-month follow-up. Sixty-two individuals aged 60 and older,
with two or more chronic conditions, and who had been admitted to the hospital or emergency department within the previous
six months were enrolled. Participants received 16 weeks of exercise and nutritional counseling (32, bi-weekly sessions), provided in a group environment, with homework that included eating and exercise assignments and encouraged connecting with
classmates between class sessions. At the end of the 16-week course, significant reductions in weight (p<.001), body mass index
(p<.001), waist circumference (p=.046), systolic (p=.003) and diastolic blood pressure (p<.001), and total cholesterol (p=.042)
were observed. Results add to growing evidence suggesting that multidisciplinary models may be effective in improving physical
and clinical health of chronically ill older adults. Additionally, our study suggests ethnically diverse older adults can be effectively engaged in exercise and nutritional programs

Introduction
High expiratory flow plays an important role in expelling foreign substances and excessive mucus from the lungs and airways
in order to minimize the risk of infection. Activity of the abdominal muscles is important for the generation of high expiratory flow. This muscle group includes the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transverse
abdominis (TrA). However, little is known about the contribution of each abdominal muscle to forced expiration.
Objective
The aim of the present study was to determine whether abdominal muscle thickness at rest is correlated with peak expiratory flow (PEF) in elderly subjects.
Methods
The present study examined whether PEF was associated with the thickness of specific abdominal muscles in 24 elderly
women who could walk independently. Muscle thickness was measured at rest in the supine position. The thicknesses of the
right RA, EO, IO, and TrA were measured using B-mode ultrasound at the end of a relaxed expiration in the supine position.
PEF was obtained using a peak flow meter in the sitting position. The correlation between normalized PEF and normalized
abdominal muscle thickness was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results
Correlation coefficients when comparing PEF and the RA, EO, IO, and TrA were 0.434 (P = 0.034), 0.323 (P = 0.124), 0.539
(P = 0.007), and 0.470 (P = 0.021), respectively

Introduction: Research has shown that assisted jumping results in an acute performance enhancement, however the underlying mechanisms of this are unclear.
Purpose: To investigate lower body muscle activation and jump performance following assisted jumping.
Methods: Eight collegiate female volleyball players (19.11 ± 1.05 yrs.; 175.99 ± 7.52 cm; 75.47 ± 10.88 kg) completed 2 experimental conditions (0% bodyweight or 40% bodyweight reduction (BWR)). For assisted jumping, participants wore a harness
with elastic cords stretched to the ceiling by a rope and attached to their hips. In each trial, participants performed 5 plyometric
countermovement jumps (CMJ), rested for 1 minute, then performed 3 individual bodyweight CMJ separated by 15 seconds rest.
Electromyography was used to measure concentric and eccentric root mean square (RMS) amplitude of the gluteus maximus,
vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius lateralis prior to take-off. Vertical jump performance variables of impulse, jump height, takeoff velocity, relative ground reaction force, and relative peak power were collected on a force plate.
Results: ANOVA for EMG RMS showed no 3 way interaction but there was a 2 way interaction of muscle x action for each muscle. Concentric actions of all muscles were greater than eccentric: gluteus maximus concentric 0.11 ± 0.03mV vs. eccentric 0.02
± 0.01mV; vastus lateralis concentric 0.43 ± 0.09mV vs. eccentric 0.10 ± 0.03mV and gastrocnemius lateralis concentric 0.29 ±
0.08mV vs. eccentric 0.06 ± 0.04mV. There was no main effect for any performance variable.
Conclusions: Based on the findings of the current study, there does not appear to be an acute PAP effect of assisted jumping on
subsequent bodyweight countermovement vertical jumping in highly trained female volleyball players.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is the non-pharmacological treatment method aimed at alleviating symptoms, enhancing exercise capacity and improving health-related quality of life. It specifically acts in cystic fibrosis by improving sputum clearance, stimulating patients to be more physically active and self-confident. Physiotherapists play a central role in this process by delivering to
the patients and actively teaching them physical exercises, a suitable method of airway clearance technique, and by encouraging
self-adherence, a key action towards short and long-term results. There are fragile and dependent children, complex debilitated
adults by multiple comorbidities, all of them needing complete assessment, correct follow-up and warm support. They will be
mentioned the current used airway clearance techniques, together with their indications, limits and sometimes side effects.

sive vaginal electrical stimulation were given. Exercises were
learned during the first session for performance at home. The
sample size was calculated as 32 patients with a power of 80%
and significance of 5%. Wilcoxon and McNemar tests were
used to compare results.
Results
33 women, 7 with stress urinary incontinence and 26 with
mixed urinary incontinence, were studied. There was a significant reduction in the number of episodes of urinary incontinence and improvements in pelvic floor muscle activity and
quality of life, although results on the pad test did not reach
significance.
Conclusions: the protocol of passive electrical stimulation in
combination with pelvic floor muscle training at home proved
effective for improving the stress component of urinary incontinence and should be included as part of routine treatment of
women with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Background: Non-contact lower-limb injuries are common across skill levels and within both genders for sport. With the incidence of injuries increasing in the second half of the competition and latter portions of tournaments, there is a potential that
altered neuromuscular function and biomechanical processes are developing with the onset of fatigue. Additionally, athletes are
often required to perform high velocity unilateral movements throughout the duration of the sport. A large imbalance between
legs will increase the potential for injury when relied on as the sole source for power production or force dissipation, such as
when taking off or landing from a single-leg jump.
Purpose: To quantify the Average Symmetry Index (ASI) between legs when performing single-leg countermovement jumps
before and immediately following a 60-second continuous jumping fatigue protocol.
Methods: ASI magnitudes were determined for 5 subjects (3 males and 2 females) while performing 3 maximal single-leg countermovement jumps on each leg. Participants then performed 60 seconds of continuous submaximal double leg jumping, followed immediately by a second bout of 3 maximal single-leg countermovement jumps on each leg. Paired t-tests were used to
determine if power output values and ASI magnitudes varied substantially pre- and post the fatiguing bout.
Results: Significant differences were found to be present when comparing the mean power output pre-and post-fatigue for the
non-dominant leg (p = 0.05) After the 60-second fatiguing bout, subjects’ power output in the non-dominant leg was significantly less than prior to the 60-second bout (p = 0.05). ASI power output was also found to be significantly higher for the pre-fatigue
condition when compared to the post-fatigue (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The initial findings of this study indicate that there is
the potential to be over looking athletes that may truly be in the high risk category as the game or match continues if testing is
only conducted in a pre-fatigue condition. Being able to identify such athletes in order to develop training protocols to help minimize asymmetries is essential in optimizing performance while minimizing injury. Future research will investigate additional
characteristics previously identified as those that predispose athletes to non-contact lower body injury in pre-and post-fatigue
conditions across multiple directions (vertical, horizontal and lateral).

Introduction: Physical exercise is recommended to tackle obesity. However, obese individuals often do not closely adhere to
training programmes. Intermittent exercise might be a means to improve compliance, although little is known about the effects
of this type of exercise according to obesity class.
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an intermittent exercise programme on obese women according
to their obesity class.
Method: Fifty-three obese and sedentary women were divided into two groups: a training group (moderate obesity, n = 4; severe
obesity, n = 14; morbid obesity, n = 13) and a control group (moderate obesity, n = 5; severe obesity, n = 9; morbid obesity, n =
8). The training group performed 32 min of intermittent exercise 3 days per week for 10 weeks, whereas the control group was
untrained. Before and after the intervention period, anthropometric and physiological data were collected and 6-min walking
test performance was assessed for between-group comparisons.
Results: The main results showed that after the programme, the training group had significantly reduced body mass (103.9 ±
14.6 vs 101.1 ± 14.4 Kg), body mass index (39.5 ± 4.8 vs 38.5 ± 4.8 Kg.m-2), resting heart rate (75 ± 8 vs 70 ± 7 bpm), and systolic
blood pressure (135 ± 13 vs 130 ± 10 mmHg). Moreover, the maximal 6-min walking distance after the intervention period was
significantly increased in the training group (389 ± 63 vs 436 ± 61 m). However, these beneficial effects did not depend on obesity
class.
Conclusion: A training programme based on intermittent exercise has beneficial effects on anthropometric and physiological
measures and 6-min walking test performance. However, these effects do not depend on the obesity class.

Introduction
Visceral amebiasis of the elderly is rare even in areas of high endemicity such as the Ivory Coast. Its atypical clinical presentation
leads to the use of sensitive and specific serological tests as the best diagnostic means.
Clinical case
We report 2 cases of hepatic amebiasis in two septuagenarians with pleural extension in one and Pleuropulmonary in the other.
The abscessed hepatic formations were found in both cases, one with a pleural effusion syndrome associated with an abscess of
the lung; in the other only a pleural effusion syndrome. These patients had had an ultrasound-guided pleural and hepatic puncture. Diagnostic confirmation is provided by the amoebic serology (latex and / or indirect immunofluorescence) highly positive
in both cases.
The healing obtained by the initiated treatment of nitroimidazole and tissue amebicides also helped confirm the diagnosis.
Conclusion
A satisfactory geriatric assessment in elderly carriers of visceral amebiasis can lead to diagnostic errors. Serological tests may
help correct the diagnosis and an appropriate management can effectively reduce mortality

Population ageing is an important issue globally. Abuse of the elderly is an important social and public health issue arising from
this increase in longevity. Most of the literature on elder abuse is based on studies conducted in developed countries and very
little is known about elder abuse in developing countries. There is also cultural variation how abuse of the elderly is perceived.
The volume of the elderly population is increasing rapidly in developing countries while traditional social support systems
are deteriorating each day due to urbanization and modernization. Subsequently, elderly individuals are at a high risk of being
abused. Studies show that the abuse of the elderly has an impact on the health and well-being of elders and can lead to increased
health care costs nationwide. It is imperative that international and state organizations as well as every member of society take
action to solve the hidden elder abuse issue through comprehensive research so that the elderly can enjoy their remaining years.

Abstract
Background: Adults’ Suicide is a major public health issue among older adults, who have a high rate of completing suicide. In
2014, the highest suicide rate was among people 85 years or older.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of anxiety, depression, and coping strategies on suicidal ideation
in older adults in the U.S.
Methods: This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive research design. Data were collected using structured questionnaires.
The sample consisted of 51 community-dwelling older adults. The software SPSS 23 was used for data analysis. Descriptive data
analysis techniques, including Pearson Correlation, Stepwise Multiple Regression, and ANOVA, were used to answer the research
questions.
Results: The mean age was 73.16 (SD = 7.41), range (64-91); 54.9% were male and 45.1% were female. The following variables
were significantly related to older adults’ suicidal ideation: anxiety (r = 0.546, p = 0.000), depression (r = 0.678, p = 0.000),
problem focused disengagement coping (r = -0.486, p = 0.000), emotional focused engagement coping (r = 0.472, p = 0.000), and
emotional focused disengagement coping (r = 0.350, p = 0.012). The results of Multiple Regression indicated that depression (ß
= 0.583, p ≤ 0.001) and emotional focused engagement coping strategies (ß = 0.229, p ≤ 0.05) were significant predictors of older
adults’ suicidal ideation. There were significant differences of anxiety, depression, and coping strategies between high suicidal
ideation (scores = 4-7) group 3 and low suicidal ideation (scores = 0-2) group 1. Group 3 had higher level of anxiety and depression than Group 1. Group 1 had higher scores on using problem-focused disengagement coping strategies and lower scores on
using emotion-focused engagement coping strategies than Group 3.
Conclusions: The findings indicate that older adults with higher levels of anxiety and depression, or using emotional focused
coping strategies had higher scores on suicidal ideation. Older adults who used problem focused coping strategies had lower
scores on suicidal ideation

Abstract
Peripheral arterial disease is associated with cognitive impairments and carotid intima-media thickness alterations, but little is
known about the relationship between intima-media thickness and cognition in geriatric patients with peripheral arterial disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing 26 geriatric individuals with peripheral arterial disease and 26 controls.
Both groups had a similar composition in terms of age and gender. Both groups were referred for a detailed clinical examination, assessing the ankle-brachial index and intima-media thickness, as well as neuropsychological testing, using Digit Span,
Controled Oral Word Association Test letters (FAS) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Geriatric patients with peripheral arterial
disease showed a set of cognitive impairments regarding attention, working memory, and mental flexibility. Moreover, lower values of the ankle-brachial index were independently associated with a lower level of abstract thinking. When adjusted further for
intima-media thickness, no differences in cognitive performance or associations with ankle-brachial index remained significant.
Therefore, the role of this marker could be crucial to explain our results. Further and prospective studies are required however
to disentangle the real role of intima-media thickness on cognition, especially in geriatric patients with PAD.

Objectives: To assess associations between falls risk and [1] consensus-defined orthostatic hypotension (cOH), [2] standing blood pressure (BP) levels, [3] BP changes with standing, [4] combined standing BP levels and BP changes with standing. Design: Observational study of normative aging. Setting: Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging Participants: Participants >65 years with first visits evaluating orthostatic hypotension (OH) and self-reported falls (2004-2010). Measurements: BP was measured supine and 3 minutes after standing. A drop in systolic BP (SBP) >20mmHg or a drop in dia-stolic BP (DBP) >10mmHg upon standing defined cOH. Participants self-reported the number of falls experienced in the previous 12 months. Statistical Analysis: Logistic and multinomial logistic regressions reporting odds ratios (OR) examined relations of falls to cOH, continuous standing SBP and DBP, or changes (drops) in BPs (SBP and DBP) upon standing in separate models. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, impaired vision, use of anti-hypertensive medications, diabetes and use of anti-depressant medications. Modification of relations of SBP drops to falls by attained standing SBP were examined using interaction terms.

The paper explores how mounting elderly are facing lack of leisure and recreations in Iran in general and in Tehran in particular. Though their number is increasing, and their life patterns changing as compared with the past aging people, yet they lack leisure services. Income, neighborhood and social status all influence what an older person chooses to do. Those with low income, and little education, and those with high income, or middle income and more education show different involvement in leisure pursuits. Some theories of aging describe leisure activity of the elderly people as those that they did in their middle age. Though the elderly are largely in need of increasing welfare services and leisure, yet there are not sources enough to meet such needs. Increasing life expectancy everywhere including Iran means that the elderly would need more leisure for now and for the years to come. However, in Iran retirement diminishes family's income which eventually leads to lower budget to spend on leisure pursuits. Similarly, death of a spouse is followed by shortage of leisure for the other. After reviewing the background theories and literature , some 452 questionnaires were completed, and through which various queries were examined. In the process of referral, the researcher could find 272 live aging men against 402 aging women on a random basis. However, though in theory people are expected to have more fun and leisure during their old age, yet it does not happen so in Iran in most cases due to shortage of funds and financial resources. Because of considerable socio-cultural change in recent years, the elderly much feel detached from the family network, i.e. the network which was used for their leisure time according to the erstwhile standards. The unprecedented population aging in Iran especially in Tehran followed by shortage of leisure among them is a new phenomenon. In this process, we need invention rather than imitation. That is, we cannot look to the past for ways to create a good old age today. However, to prevent the elderly from social exclusion, leisure pursuits need to be provided for them. Aims The main objective of the present paper is to reflect an image of the elderly people in Iran as far as their leisure in general is concerned. With aging, there is a definite shift in time allocation from paid work to leisure activities. We will see how satisfactory and adequate this shift is. Many countries in the developing world including Iran have failed to plan for the changing shape of the population into old age. The present work will try to reflect an overall picture of the aging people who are mostly grandparents too. The paper will find out how retirement brings a change to family life which needs new alternatives. In this study, indicators such as income, welfare, insurance, safety etc. among the elderly will be investigated too. Generally speaking, the extent and quality of help, and social work services needed by the elderly are different. Social work agencies, like most others, have failed to plan for the changing shape of the population, so agencies and services are being adapted in the midst of overwhelming demands on what little help is available [6]. As aging and longevity are gradually increasing in Iran, the present study aims to find out the health and socio-economic conditions of the elderly people. Though there are very few sources and scientific documents on the elderly in Iran, the author is trying to create views and literature on the topic by collecting data and using relevant materials through referring to foreign resources. While the concept of "Third Age" was not very popular in the past, it has found its deep meaning during the twentieth century, in which industry and medicine created miracles-leading to aging and increase in the number of the elderly. While in the past, the elderly were very influential over the youth, social structure of the family was such that, almost every decision-making of the younger generations was directed by the authority of the elderly [7], yet, in the course of time, and due to rise in educational status of children and youth, the authority of the elderly over children and grandchildren declined. This means, a decline of care services by the youth and the grandchildren towards the elderly and the grandparents. The present work tries to reflect a perspective of the elderly with special reference to their own lives, i.e. their safety and quality of life. Increasing life expectancy everywhere including Iran means that couples are likely to remain married for longer time; letting them likely appear as grandparents.

Magnetite nanoparticles have been chosen in the CosmoPHOS-nano project as one of three types of phthalocyanine conjugated
carrier particles because of their magnetic properties and biocompatibility. The main challenge was the dye-conjugation of the
nanoparticles. This article does not focus on the magnetic properties but rather on the possibilities of using these conjugates
in the Life- Science. Monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles, 15 nm in diameter, were prepared by thermal decomposition of
iron(III) oleate in high boiling octadecene in presence of oleic acid as a stabilizer. Ligand exchange of oleic acid by aspartic acid
enables water solubility. Next, amino groups were present at the outer nanoparticle’s surface which allows for further attachment of the phthalocyanine Pc 4 by standard conjugation techniques. Pc 4 producing singlet oxygen through illumination at 670
nm in water was investigated as a photosensitizer. Further photodynamic cell-killing experiments with these dye-conjugated
carriers on mouse macrophage cell lines showed high efficacy with IC50-values down to 0.03 ng/µl Pc 4, i.e. 1.9 ng/µl Fe3
O4
.

In past reports, Donor-Chromophore-Acceptor (D-C2+-A2+) triad species have served as molecular level sensors which can
optically detect magnetic fields. Upon photoexcitation of the chromophore (C2+), a series of electron transfer steps occur
which generate a biradical cation Charge Separated State (CSS, D+•-C2+-A+•). A fluid solution environment is required in
order for the CSS to form. The CSS can be detected and monitored by time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. The
lifetime of the photoexcited CSS (�CSS) exhibits a corresponding magnetic field effect (MFE), wherein it increases and becomes
strongly bi-exponential with increasing field strength. In this work, the �CSS is observed upon incorporating the D-C2+-A2+
triads in polymer encapsulated reverse micelle composite (PERMC) materials. The D-C2+-A2+ triads are sequestered inside
the micellar fluid domains within the macroscopic solid. Such PERMCs are prepared by the radical polymerization of the
styrene:divinylbenzene nonpolar phase of composite precursor reverse micellar solutions (CPRMSs). The radii of AOT micelles that sequester triads in the CPRMSs are on the order of 4.0 nm as determined by elevated temperature dynamic light
scattering (DLS) particle sizing. Tapping mode-atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) imaging on cryo-cut PERMCs shows
the presence of spherical-shaped micellar imprints which confirms that the micelles are still intact even after the nonpolar
phase of the CPRMS is polymerized. Under no applied field, the �CSS of triad sequestered-PERMCs is increased by a factor of
ten relative to that of bulk solution conditions. This is plausibly due to the expected lower frequency of collisional encounters between the oxidized donor (D+•) and reduced acceptor (A+•) constituting the �CSS within the reverse micelle. A fraction
of the �CSS population corresponding to the triad-sequestered PERMCs exhibits a MFE wherein the slow component of the �CSS
increases by an order of magnitude at fields of 500 mT with respect to those of 0 mT. The relative difference in magnitude of
this response is analogous to that observed in bulk solution.

The fastest growing age group in America is adults aged 85 years and over. The number of adults in this age group is expected to continue to increase from 5.1 million (in 2012) to 14.1 million in 2040. This nearly triples the number of older Americans in the 85+ age group over the next couple of decades (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). This oldest old group has reported some positive changes in patterns of aging compared to past decades. A study was conducted to explore the current health concerns of the oldest old group. A convenience sample of 12 volunteers in Northwest Indiana, ages 85-99, with an average age of 89.4, was interviewed. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes and patterns using qualitative techniques. Major themes of positive aging that emerged included: staying active and engaged, staying healthy, and addressing fears. Findings were consistent with existing research that suggests that very old adults with positive health perceptions demonstrate inner strength, resilience, a distinctive lifestyle, stable social support, and a positive mental outlook. The purpose of this paper is to present the health concerns and perceptions of an oldest-old group. The findings from this study will also be compared with those from various international studies on perceptions of health among the oldest old.

Since the 1970’s, nuclear medicine clinics around the world have employed radioactive-nanoparticles for many different
diagnostic studies in man. Currently the most important application of γ-emitting nanoparticles is to map the lymphatic
system in cancer patients, and the β-emitting particulate agents are for treating arthritic joints. This review summarizes
the current developments in diagnostic lymphoscintigraphy that employ radioactive nanoparticles, with a special emphasis
on 99mTc-antimony trisulfide colloid, and it also describes the key cellular and molecular events in vivo during an immune
response

This paper aims to synthesize and characterize an effective intumescent fire protective coating that incorporates halloysite as fire-retardant additive. The effect of the fire-retardant additives and their concentration on the fire protection performance of epoxy-carbon fibre composites were studied using cone calorimetry according to ISO-5660-1. Different modes of degradation, depending on the type and concentration of the additives were identified by analyzing the SEM images and cone calorimetry results. The fire behavior produced by the intumescent paints has demonstrated improvement of epoxy-carbon fibre composites thermal stability and fire performance.

We previously developed a radioimmunoassay for digoxin using an antiserum raised against digoxin 3'-hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin. In the present study, we aimed to establish an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring serum digoxin level in patients, using digoxin 3'-hemisuccinate-β-D-galactosidase as an enzyme-labeled antigen. The developed enzyme immunoassay showed a quantification range of 0.2 to 10 ng/ml and exhibited high specificity for digoxin, with low levels of cross-reaction to dihydrodigoxin (12.3%), digitoxin (7.84%), digoxigenin bisdigitoxoside (0.31%), digoxigenin monodigitoxoside (0.19%), and digoxigenin (0.05%). Compared with a commercial anti-digoxin antiserum clinically used to monitor digoxin concentration in human serum, our antiserum showed much higher specificity for intact digoxin. Intra-assay and inter-assay variations were less than 9.3% and 8.8%, respectively. Recovery was within the range of 96.0-105.0%. Mean digoxin concentrations measured in serum samples (n=42) from digoxin-treated patients by EIA using the new antiserum and the commercial anti-digoxin antiserum were 1.26 and 1.39 ng/ml, respectively. The present EIA, which is superior to RIA in terms of convenience and disposal of waste materials, is expected to be practically useful to monitor intact digoxin in human serum.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are gradually emerging as a new option for possible use in neural prosthesis, drug delivery, cancer treatment, bioengineering, gene therapy and regeneration therapy. With an increase in the development and application of CNT-based medicinal products, the potential hazards of CNTs to biological systems are getting greater public attention. A lack of toxicity information and safety standards has hampered possible applications of the CNT-based products in humans and animals. Since many CNT-based products are designed for the central nervous systems (CNS) applications (neural pros-thesis, drug delivery and regeneration therapy), it is important to understand the danger these nanotubes may pose to the CNS. Therefore, the aims of article is to review the adverse effects of different forms of CNTs on the CNS, the role of protein corona in CNTs' toxicity, the challenges the adverse effects pose in applications of the CNT-based products, and possible mechanism for the evolution of CNTs's neurotoxicity. The information presented in this review will be useful in designing more effective and safer CNT-based products.

This study explored differential symptom endorsement on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), associated item severity ratings, and assessed the impact of item complexity on caregiver responses between two samples of family dementia caregivers: an African-American (n = 8) and a non-Hispanic White comparison group (n = 6). Semi-structured interviews were performed to explore patterns of endorsement and symptom interpretation. The two groups responded in substantially different ways on three of the nine PHQ-9 items. The implications of both the qualitative and quantitative findings on assessing caregiver depression are discussed. Future directions for research on evaluation of family caregiver depression and instrument use/restructuring are also addressed.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have a great biomedical potential, even though their toxicology in vitro remain still controversial. Since it is well known that nanotube aggregates are more toxic than monodispersed nanotubes, the aim of our study was, firstly, to provide a new method that makes the nanotubes themselves monodispersed. Then, we determined the cytotoxicity of pristine, as well as functionalized MWCNTs with hydroxyl (MWCNTs-OH) and carboxyl (MWCNTs-COOH) groups on the human cancer cell lines MCF-7, Caco-2, and HL-60 and normal human dermal fibroblasts (HFs). All three types of nanotubes, at the highest concentrations, led to a delay of cell cycle and a slight increase of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, while only MWCNTs-OH led to a slowing down of cell cycle in Caco-2 cell line. In HL-60 and HFs no effect was shown. Moreover, we observed that not only MCF-7 cells but also Caco-2 cells and HFs were able to internalize all types of nanotubes. The absence of apoptosis in Caco-2, HL-60 and HFs, and the low degree of apoptosis in MCF-7, led us to assume that MWCNTs, MWCNTs-COOH, and MWCNTs-OH are not cytotoxic in our in vitro systems. This could be due to the high degree of solubilization of the nanotubes; so that, methods that increase nanotubes dispersion are desirable for future biomedical applications.

The fastest growing age group in America is adults aged 85 years and over. The number of adults in this age group is expected to continue to increase from 5.1 million (in 2012) to 14.1 million in 2040. This nearly triples the number of older Americans in the 85+ age group over the next couple of decades (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). This oldest old group has reported some positive changes in patterns of aging compared to past decades. A study was conducted to explore the current health concerns of the oldest old group. A convenience sample of 12 volunteers in Northwest Indiana, ages 85-99, with an average age of 89.4, was interviewed. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes and patterns using qualitative techniques. Major themes of positive aging that emerged included: staying active and engaged, staying healthy, and addressing fears. Findings were consistent with existing research that suggests that very old adults with positive health perceptions demonstrate inner strength, resilience, a distinctive lifestyle, stable social support, and a positive mental outlook. The purpose of this paper is to present the health concerns and perceptions of an oldest-old group. The findings from this study will also be compared with those from various international studies on perceptions of health among the oldest old.

Background Mild dehydration can affect a person's daily life, especially among the elderly. Although it is currently impossible to identify the state of predehydration (PD), we defined PD as the suspected loss of body fluids, not accompanied by subjective symptoms , in which the serum osmotic pressure is above the standard limit of 292 mOsm/kg H 2 O. The goal of this study was to develop an assessment method based on the results of sensitivity testing among individuals from elder-care institutions.

Background: One of the most frustrating problems in the treatment of infertility is that of poor ovarian response to stimulation. It would therefore be advantageous to have a genetic marker that could predict low ovarian reserve at a young age before the impact of low ovarian reserve affects a woman's fertility. Since both BMP15 and GDF9 gene mutations have been reported in women with premature ovarian failure , the purpose of the present study is to investigate the correlation between low ovarian reserve BMP15 c. A704G(p. Y235C) , BMP15 c.T443C (p.L148P), GDF9 c.C557A (p. S186Y) ,and GDF9 c. A199C (K67E) polymorphisms .

Background: Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a genetic test that sequences all protein-coding regions, exons, in a pa-tient's genome to identify disease causing mutations. Patients who present with complex phenotypes, may have had previous genetic testing and spent significant time searching for a diagnosis, known as a diagnostic odyssey and WES may help to end the search. WES can also detect secondary findings and/or genetic variants in disease associated genes with uncertain clinical significance. This study is a retrospective chart review designed to describe the diagnostic odyssey of patients who have had WES testing ordered through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC)

Escherichia coli is responsible for significant losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed to determine the prevalence,
serotypes, the virulence-associated genes and the antimicrobials susceptibility of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains.
A total of 1200 samples were collected from 200 birds (60 recently dead, 80 diseased and 60 apparent healthy broilers).
Standard disc diffusion method used for determination of antimicrobials susceptibility. PCR used for the detection of virulence genes. Bacteriological examination revealed that E. coli was recovered from 842 samples with overall prevalence of
70.16%. Incidence of E. coli from fresh heart blood samples was 75%, from liver 83%, from kidney 64%, from spleen 57%,
from small intestine74.5% and from bone marrow was 67.5 %. E. coli isolates belonged to Serotypes O111, O44, O55, O142,
O128, O158, O157, O29 and O115. The antimicrobials susceptibility profile of the isolates showed resistance to Ampicillin,
Neomycin, Doxycycline and Oxytetracycline, while ciprofloxacin and Erythromycin were effective against the isolates. PCR
assay was carried out to detect the presence of phoA, iss and iutA gene, all serovars had the three genes except (O29) not
possess iss gene. High prevalence of multidrug resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) among broilers.

This study explored differential symptom endorsement on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), associated item severity ratings, and assessed the impact of item complexity on caregiver responses between two samples of family dementia caregivers: an African-American (n = 8) and a non-Hispanic White comparison group (n = 6). Semi-structured interviews were performed to explore patterns of endorsement and symptom interpretation. The two groups responded in substantially different ways on three of the nine PHQ-9 items. The implications of both the qualitative and quantitative findings on assessing caregiver depression are discussed. Future directions for research on evaluation of family caregiver depression and instrument use/restructuring are also addressed.

Background: Malnutrition is related not only to a decrease in longevity but also to admission to hospitals or nursing homes.
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary intake of home health care patients and to
seek a nutritional intervention point to preventing malnutrition.
Methods: Twenty-two home health care patients (9 males and 13 females, mean age 70.3 ± 17.7 years) receiving homevisit nursing care service were included in this study. We assessed their nutritional status (MNA®-SF and anthropometric
measurements), nutritional intake (self-administered and photographic diet records), dietary variety (the dietary variety
score [DVS]) and activities of daily living (ADL). Patients were classified into three groups as well-nourished (WN), at risk
of malnutrition (AR), and malnourished (M) according to the MNA®-SF score. We compared each measurement across the
three groups.
Results: Overall, 46.5% and 36.4% of all subjects were classified as M and AR, respectively. Among indicators of nutritional
status and nutritional intake, there were significant differences between each group in the MNA®-SF score, anthropometric
measurements, ADL, energy intake. AR subjects were not remarkably emaciated; however, their dietary intake was similar
to that of WN subjects. The DVS tended to decrease in order from WN to AR and then to M. Additionally, there was a positive
correlation between the MNA®-SF score and DVS (r = 0.682, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: According to the classification of home care patients by the MNA®-SF, 36.4% and 46.5% of home health care patients in this study were considered to be at risk of malnourishment or malnourished, respectively. Additionally, the dietary
variety of at-risk patients declined earlier than the change of anthropometric measurements and nutritional intake.

The use of alcohol, tobacco products, and various classes of prescription drugs (e.g., opioids, stimulants, and benzodiaz-epines) are common among older adults. Projections from the US and Europe estimate the number of older adults with substance problems in need of treatment will more than double over the next few years. There is a need for practitioners to identify substance misuse and problems among the elderly and to enhance their care responses to this growing health concern. The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the factors that may influence the use and progression into further involvement with alcohol and drugs among the elderly and recommend what we can do as care providers that may help mitigate both the immediate and long-term substance use involvement among seniors. Misuse and progression to substance use disorders can be influenced by individual-level susceptibility (e.g., physiological changes and genetic vulnerability), properties of the substance (e.g., reinforcing properties), and social environmental factors (e.g., prescribing practices). Practitioners should ask all elderly patients about their substance use as well as the context in which they are using to prevent further involvement and the emergence of problems related to use. Assessment and inquiry should be followed by education, counseling , and support as indicated. Given the likely impact of substance use problems in older people on social and healthcare services, as well as on their own quality of life, there is a need for better education, recognition, and care plans to curb and prevent the emergence of substance use problems in older adults.

Anti-aging medicine is a clinical specialty is founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases. It is a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy lifespan in humans. As such, anti-aging medicine is based on principles of sound and responsible medical care that are consistent with those applied in other preventive health specialties. Today, thousands of physicians and practitioners in private medical offices, as well as at some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals around the world, now embrace the anti-aging medical model. Undeniably, anti-aging medicine is achieving demonstrable and objective results that beneficially impact the degenerative diseases of aging. Anti-aging medicine is transforming healthcare, one practice at a time. In this article, the authors establish the background, history, and accomplishments of the anti-aging medical model, and discuss future developments in this fast-growing clinical specialty.