How SWEET It Is: Fellowship and Continuity in a Church-Based Fall Prevention Program with African American Elders in the Northeastern United States

Deaths from unintentional injuries are the seventh leading cause of death among older adults and falls account for the largest percentage of these deaths, with individuals aged ≥85 particularly vulnerable. Physical activity can reduce frailty and prevent falls; however, many elders are not physically active and women, ethnic minorities, and those with low education levels are the least active. Moreover, experiences of racial discrimination can lead to increased stress and unhealthy adaptive behaviors, and the cumulative effects of age and race related stressors have been shown to negatively impact the physical and mental health of elderly African Americans. Thus, participation in public health research has been deemed essential to identify effective interventions that will improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities among African American elders. We discuss a the creation and implementation of a fall-prevention exercise program created for older African Americans based in a Black Church in Philadelphia that has been a successful university/community partnership for the last 8 years. A qualitative evaluation of participant experience was carried out using focus groups to examine why there has been such a high degree of compliance. Key themes related to the program’s sustainability are physical and psychosocial benefits of attendance, fellowship among exercise participants and a therapeutic alliance with the instructor. It is our hope that this discussion and evaluation can inform other faith and community-based health promotion programs for minority elders, while also contributing to on-going efforts to reduce health disparities among at risk populations

Integration of multifunctions with respect to a multimeasure

We define the bilinear integral of a measurable multifunction with respect to a multimeasure and study the properties of the resulting set-valued set function

Ultrasound study of the asymptomatic shoulder in patients with a confirmed rotator cuff tear in the opposite shoulder

Objective. To document the incidence of asymptomatic rotator cuff tears in patients with a confirmed symptomatic tear in the opposite shoulder, and to identify ultrasound findings that may distinguish symptomatic from asymptomatic tears. Design. When patients are referred for an ultrasound examination for the confirmation of symptomatic rotator cuff tear the opposite shoulder is often used for comparison. However, patients often have a similar tear on the asymptomatic side. Fifty patients with a confirmed symptomatic rotator cuff tear and an asymptomatic shoulder on the opposite side were chosen for inclusion. The patients were examined using a Siemens Sonoline Elegra 7.5 MHz linear multi-frequency probe. The appearance of the rotator cuff, long head of the biceps and the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (SASD bursa) were documented. The antero-posterior (AP) dimension of the supraspinatus muscle and fat between the trapezius and supraspinatus muscles were measured, which indicated if a tear was acute or chronic. The width and length of the rotator cuff tear were measured. Setting. Division of Sports Medicine, University of Pretoria. Results. Fifty-four per cent of the asymptomatic shoulders had tears. We found that the symptomatic tears were larger, appeared more chronic and had an associated biceps tendinopathy and glenohumeral joint effusion. Conclusion. As other authors have found, the high incidence of asymptomatic tears indicates that rotator cuff tears can be regarded as a natural correlate of aging and that bilateral tears are common. Initial treatment should be conservative, but larger tears may benefit from early surgery before becoming chronic and causing glenohumeral dysfunction. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 19 (1) 2007: pp. 23-2

Spatial trends in tourism within South Africa : the expected and the surprising

Abstract: Several researchers have highlighted the spatial imbalances of the tourism sector in South Africa. It has been noted that this sector is highly concentrated spatially in terms of its distribution and in relation to its potential local impacts across the country. Although it is broadly understood that the tourism sector is geographically uneven, the lack of sector comparative data at municipal level may inhibit the wide spread use of geographically comparative analyses of the contribution of the various dimensions of tourism in the South African space economy. The aim of this paper is to provide an indication of the value of such comparative analyses of the spatial trends and impacts of the tourism sector in local economies in South Africa. The discussion of the tourism space economy is based on an analysis of a local tourism database which contains details of the tourism performance of all local authorities in the country focussing on the period from 2001 to 2011. Whilst the study confirms the important role of metropolitan areas, secondary and coastal cities and typical tourism destinations in the tourism space economy, it also highlights the significance of some local places/economies that are not traditionally associated with tourism, as well as illustrating the significance of tourism spend in the local economies of a range of municipalities that might not be part of the ‘top’ tourist destinations in South Africa

Ultrasound study of the asymptomatic shoulder in patients with a confirmed rotator cuff tear in the opposite shoulder

Objective. To document the incidence of asymptomatic rotator cuff tears in patients with a confirmed symptomatic tear in the opposite shoulder, and to identify ultrasound findings that may distinguish symptomatic from asymptomatic tears. Design. When patients are referred for an ultrasound examination for the confirmation of symptomatic rotator cuff tear the opposite shoulder is often used for comparison. However, patients often have a similar tear on the asymptomatic side. Fifty patients with a confirmed symptomatic rotator cuff tear and an asymptomatic shoulder on the opposite side were chosen for inclusion. The patients were examined using a Siemens Sonoline Elegra 7.5 MHz linear multi-frequency probe. The appearance of the rotator cuff, long head of the biceps and the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (SASD bursa) were documented. The antero-posterior (AP) dimension of the supraspinatus muscle and fat between the trapezius and supraspinatus muscles were measured, which indicated if a tear was acute or chronic. The width and length of the rotator cuff tear were measured. Setting. Division of Sports Medicine, University of Pretoria. Results. Fifty-four per cent of the asymptomatic shoulders had tears. We found that the symptomatic tears were larger, appeared more chronic and had an associated biceps tendinopathy and glenohumeral joint effusion. Conclusion. As other authors have found, the high incidence of asymptomatic tears indicates that rotator cuff tears can be regarded as a natural correlate of aging and that bilateral tears are common. Initial treatment should be conservative, but larger tears may benefit from early surgery before becoming chronic and causing glenohumeral dysfunction. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 19 (1) 2007: pp. 23-2

To incise or not and where: SET-domain methyltransferases know

The concept of the histone code posits that histone modifications regulate gene functions once interpreted by epigenetic readers. A well-studied case is trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4me3), which is enriched at gene promoters. However, H3K4me3 marks are not needed for the expression of most genes, suggesting extra roles, such as influencing the 3D genome architecture. Here, we highlight an intriguing analogy between the H3K4me3-dependent induction of double-strand breaks in several recombination events and the impact of this same mark on DNA incisions for the repair of bulky lesions. We propose that Su(var)3–9, Enhancer-of-zeste and Trithorax (SET)-domain methyltransferases generate H3K4me3 to guide nucleases into chromatin spaces, the favorable accessibility of which ensures that DNA break intermediates are readily processed, thereby safeguarding genome stability

Locally applied Simvastatin improves fracture healing in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, statins, are widely prescribed to lower cholesterol. High doses of orally administered simvastatin has previously been shown to improve fracture healing in a mouse femur fracture model. In this study, simvastatin was administered either subcutaneously or directly to the fracture area, with the goal of stimulating fracture repair at acceptable doses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Femur fractures were produced in 70 mature male Balb-C mice and stabilized with marrow-nailing. Three experiments were performed. Firstly, 20 mice received subcutaneous injections of either simvastatin (20 mg) or vehicle. Secondly, 30 mice were divided into three groups of 10 mice receiving continuous subcutaneous delivery of the vehicle substance, the vehicle with 5 mg or with 10 mg of simvastatin per kg bodyweight per day. Finally, in 20 mice, a silicone tube was led from an osmotic mini-pump to the fracture area. In this way, 10 mice received an approximate local dose of simvastatin of 0.1 mg per kg per day for the duration of the experiment and 10 mice received the vehicle compound. All treatments lasted until the end of the experiment. Bilateral femurs were harvested 14 days post-operative. Biomechanical tests were performed by way of three-point bending. Data was analysed with ANOVA, Scheffé's post-hoc test and Student's unpaired t-test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With daily simvastatin injections, no effects could be demonstrated for any of the parameters examined. Continuous systemic delivery resulted in a 160% larger force at failure. Continuous local delivery of simvastatin resulted in a 170% larger force at failure as well as a twofold larger energy uptake.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study found a dramatic positive effect on biomechanical parameters of fracture healing by simvastatin treatment directly applied to the fracture area.</p

Effect of kinesio taping on explosive muscle power of gluteus maximus of male athletes

OBJECTIVE: To determine the short-term effect of kinesio tape on the explosive gluteus maximus power of male athletes, comparing a recommended application pattern with a placebo. METHODS: Sixty healthy university male athletes participated in this double-blinded randomised controlled trial. Those athletes with musculoskeletal injury 6 weeks prior to screening, serious medical condition(s) in the previous 6 months, or metabolic conditions affecting joint integrity were not selected. A different investigator from the one who administered the intervention randomly allocated participants to groups. Allocation was concealed. Group A (n=30) received a recommended Y-strip kinesio tape application and group B (n=30) a neutral placebo application. Height displacement during a counter-movement jump was measured with a reliable Vertec apparatus. Measurements were recorded at baseline, immediately after strapping and 30 minutes later. Participants and raters were blinded to group assignment. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance for repeated measures were used to determine the effect of time and group on the measurements. Post hoc analysis was done using the Tukey’s method. RESULTS: Time (before, immediately after and 30 minutes after taping) had a significant effect on the measurements. All the measurements after intervention (either immediately or 30 minutes after) had significant differences compared with baseline (95% CI [0.59, 2.29] and [1.50, 3.2] respectively.) CONCLUSION: The recommended application type of taping with kinesio tape was equally effective in significantly improving the explosive power of the gluteus maximus in male athletes immediately after and 30 minutes after taping in both groups.Hitech Therapy for sponsoring the Kinesio Tex Tape.http://www.journals.co.za/sama/m_sajsm.htm