Association between Toe Pressure Strength in the Standing Position and Maximum Walking Speed in Older Adults

Background Considering concerns about conventional toe grip strength, we devised a method to measure toe pressure strength in the standing position, which is close to the actual motion. This study examined the association between toe pressure strength in the standing position and walking speed among older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study included 150 community-dwelling older adults (81±8 years, 73% female) who participated in the physical fitness test. We analyzed the correlation between the participants’ maximum walking speed and physical function. Furthermore, we performed regression analysis with the maximum walking speed as the dependent variable to examine the association with toe pressure strength in the standing position. We also examined the association between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position by introducing a covariate. Results Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position, with a moderate effect size (r=0.48, p<0.001). Moreover, multiple regression analysis with covariates showed an association between maximum walking speed and toe pressure strength in the standing position (standardization factor=0.13, p<0.026). Conclusion Toe pressure strength in the standing position was associated with maximum walking speed. This finding clarifies the significance of assessing toe pressure strength in the standing position and suggests that enhanced toe pressure strength in the standing position may increase maximum walking speed

Symptomatic periesophageal vagal nerve injury by different energy sources during atrial fibrillation ablation

BackgroundSymptomatic gastric hypomotility (SGH) is a rare but major complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, but data on this are scarce.ObjectiveWe compared the clinical course of SGH occurring with different energy sources.MethodsThis multicenter study retrospectively collected the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with SGH after AF ablation.ResultsThe data of 93 patients (67.0 ± 11.2 years, 68 men, 52 paroxysmal AF) with SGH after AF ablation were collected from 23 cardiovascular centers. Left atrial (LA) ablation sets included pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone, a PVI plus a roof-line, and an LA posterior wall isolation in 42 (45.2%), 11 (11.8%), and 40 (43.0%) patients, respectively. LA ablation was performed by radiofrequency ablation, cryoballoon ablation, or both in 38 (40.8%), 38 (40.8%), and 17 (18.3%) patients, respectively. SGH diagnoses were confirmed at 2 (1–4) days post-procedure, and 28 (30.1%) patients required re-hospitalizations. Fasting was required in 81 (92.0%) patients for 4 (2.5–5) days; the total hospitalization duration was 11 [7–19.8] days. After conservative treatment, symptoms disappeared in 22.3% of patients at 1 month, 48.9% at 2 months, 57.6% at 3 months, 84.6% at 6 months, and 89.7% at 12 months, however, one patient required surgery after radiofrequency ablation. Symptoms persisted for &gt;1-year post-procedure in 7 patients. The outcomes were similar regardless of the energy source and LA lesion set.ConclusionsThe clinical course of SGH was similar regardless of the energy source. The diagnosis was often delayed, and most recovered within 6 months, yet could persist for over 1 year in 10%

Tryptophan Photoproduct FICZ Upregulates IL1A, IL1B, and IL6 Expression via Oxidative Stress in Keratinocytes

Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), generates the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL1A, IL1B, and IL6. 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) is a tryptophan-derived photoproduct that is induced by UVB irradiation and activates the AHR. However, its role in upregulating proinflammatory cytokine expression has never been investigated. Here, we demonstrated that FICZ enhanced ROS generation in human HaCaT keratinocytes in an AHR-dependent manner. FICZ also upregulated the expression of IL1A and IL1B, as well as the expression of IL6 and the production of its protein product, in an AHR- and ROS-dependent fashion. Here, we demonstrate that the actions of FICZ can substitute for the hazardous effects of UVB exposure, contributing to the further understandings of the mechanisms which UVB harms organisms