The effect of an exercise program on the health-quality of life in older adults

INTRODUCTION: An essential public health goal is to reduce age-related disabilities in the elderly. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise program on health-quality of life (HQL) in older adults. METHODS: Subjects were sixty healthy adult volunteers over the age of �� years. None of the subjects had any experience in exercise programs but were physically active and able to perform activities of daily living independently. The subjects were randomly assigned into one of two groups each with �� people: test (exercise) group and control (no exercise) group. The test group was taken into a � - week aerobic exercise program. The exercises included a �- �� minute circulatory warm-up, a �� minute walking and a �-�� minute stretching/cool-down period. The exercises were performed three times per week under supervision of an experienced instructor. No exercise program was prescribed for the control group. Both groups were assessed before and after the exercise program. The LEIPAD questionnaire was used to measure HQL. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvements in all domains of the LEIPAD questionnaire whilst the level of HQL did not change and none of the scores obtained by the LEIPAD was significant. Measures of HQL improved with exercise so that there were no HQL changes in the control but significant changes were observed in the exercise group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that an exercise program has resulted in a signific

Antiphospholipid antibodies: Paradigm in transition

OBJECTIVES: This is a critical review of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL). Most prior reviews focus on the aPL syndrome (APS), a thrombotic condition often marked by neurological disturbance. We bring to attention recent evidence that aPL may be equally relevant to non-thrombotic autoimmune conditions, notably, multiple sclerosis and ITP. ORGANIZATION: After a brief history, the recent proliferation of aPL target antigens is reviewed. The implication is that many more exist. Theories of aPL in thrombosis are then reviewed, concluding that all have merit but that aPL may have more diverse pathological consequences than now recognized. Next, conflicting results are explained by methodological differences. The lupus anticoagulant (LA) is then discussed. LA is the best predictor of thrombosis, but why this is true is not settled. Finally, aPL in non-thrombotic disorders is reviewed. CONCLUSION: The current paradigm of aPL holds that they are important in thrombosis, but they may have much wider clinical significance, possibly of special interest in neurology

Epilepsy in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Background: Regarding the unexpected frequency of epilepsy in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), this study was conducted to assess the impression of Duchenne - related epilepsy. Methods: After definite diagnosis of DMD in 57 children attended to neurology clinics, a questionnaire including demographic variables and data related to symptom presentations was completed for each one. If history of epilepsy was present, complementary information on the background of epilepsy (based on history taking and Paraclinical data) was obtained. Results: Among 54 patients with DMD, seven cases (12.3%) had the history of epilepsy versus 0.4 - 0.5% in general population (p<0.001). Known causes of epilepsy were ruled out in these patients. From 7 patients with epilepsy, 6 cases had mild mental retardation and one of them had normal mental status. Conclusion: Our data suggests that epilepsy may be a rare associated feature of DMD. Absence of dystrophin in the central nervous system (CNS) may cause suppression of inhibitory synapses in cortex and hypocampus which in turn brings epileptic foci into play. Keywords: Epilepsy, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), Dystrophin

Morphometric Changes of the Socket after Site Preservation Using Nanobone and Collagen Membrane or Stypro Versus Extraction Alone

Statement of Problem: The long-term success of a dental implant relies on implant osseointegration into native and viable bone, implant placement in an ideal position, and optimal hard and soft tissue contour. This requires the presence of sufficient alveolar bone volume, good alveolar ridge (Practically with no sign of atrophy) and good surgical technique. Objectives: The aim of this randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate morphometric changes after different alveolar ridge preservation procedures. Materials and Methods: In this study, 33 patients who had single-rooted premolar, which needed to be extracted, were recruited. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups and after tooth extraction the following treatments were administered: in group A: NanoBone and a collagen membrane; in group B: NanoBone and Stypro; and in group C: natural healing. The following clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and 6 months after the extraction: buccolingual width, midbuccal height (with the use of a custom made stent) and width of keratinized gingiva. For data analysis, Paired t-test,one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s tests were used. Results: The average reduction in the buccolingual width, midbuccal height and keratinized gingiva was as follows: group A: 1.18±0.6, 0.64±0.92 and 3.45±1.75 mm; group B: 2.18±0.75, 0.73±0.78 and 4.73±0.9 mm; and group C: 1±0.89, 2.36±1.21 and 5±0.63 mm, respectively. Moreover, a significantly reduced resorption was found in both the buccolingual width and the width of keratinized gingiva in group A as compared to groups B and C (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the use of collagen membrane+Nano bone (group A) can significantly reduce the horizontal resorption of the alveolar ridge and keratinized tissue more effectively than stypro+Nano bone (group B ) and blood clot alone and natural healing (group C)

The levels of soluble forms of CD21 and CD83 in multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which immune system plays a crucial role in progression of the disease. An enormous amount of research has been shown that immune mediators such as cytokines and chemokines are the culprits of MS propagation suggesting that modulation of such molecules may pave the path to hinder the disease development. It has been shown that both CD21 and CD83 contribute to the resolution of inflammation occurred in MS. CD21 and CD83 have also been ascribed to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection (the prime suspect of MS causality) and the levels of vitamin D, respectively. Hence, in this study, we measured the serum concentrations of soluble forms of CD21 and CD83 in 255 patients with MS divided into two groups who were receiving interferon-beta (185 MS patients) and fingolimod (70 MS patients) in comparison to 384 healthy individuals. The levels of EBV titers including anti-VCA IgM, anti-VCA IgG and anti-EBNA-1 IgG were also measured. The results showed that the concentration of soluble CD21 (sCD21) was markedly decreased in serum samples of MS patients with respect of controls. Contrarily, the level of soluble CD83 (sCD83) was elevated in MS patients compared to healthy individuals. In addition, the levels of sCD21 and sCD83 were correlated with the titers of EBV. The data showed the significant association between the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and the levels of both sCD21 and sCD83. It seems that both sCD21 and sCD83 might be good candidate for disease monitoring and can be considered potential biomarkers for the disease activity. © 201