PrimerStation: a highly specific multiplex genomic PCR primer design server for the human genome

PrimerStation () is a web service that calculates primer sets guaranteeing high specificity against the entire human genome. To achieve high accuracy, we used the hybridization ratio of primers in liquid solution. Calculating the status of sequence hybridization in terms of the stringent hybridization ratio is computationally costly, and no web service checks the entire human genome and returns a highly specific primer set calculated using a precise physicochemical model. To shorten the response time, we precomputed candidates for specific primers using a massively parallel computer with 100 CPUs (SunFire 15 K) about 3 months in advance. This enables PrimerStation to search and output qualified primers interactively. PrimerStation can select highly specific primers suitable for multiplex PCR by seeking a wider temperature range that minimizes the possibility of cross-reaction. It also allows users to add heuristic rules to the primer design, e.g. the exclusion of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in primers, the avoidance of poly(A) and CA-repeats in the PCR products, and the elimination of defective primers using the secondary structure prediction. We performed several tests to verify the PCR amplification of randomly selected primers for ChrX, and we confirmed that the primers amplify specific PCR products perfectly

Age and sex differences in various stepping movements of the elderly.

金沢大学人間社会研究域人間科学系Aim: This study aimed to examine sex and age differences of various stepping movements in the elderly and to clarify useful stepping movements for evaluation of their dynamic balance. Methods: Two hundred and eighty-six healthy elderly subjects who could walk independently (male mean age = 71.2 ± 7.1 years; female mean age = 71.5 ± 6.0) performed the following stepping tests: back and forth; up and down with a 5 cm tall step; and in-place stepping matching three tempos (44, 66 and 132 b.p.m.). Step number, single and double support times in the former two stepping tests, and time difference between metronome sound and grounding time in the latter tempo stepping tests were selected as evaluation parameters. Results: An insignificant sex difference was found in all parameters. Hence, the data of men and women was pooled to examine age differences. Significant age differences were found in the step number and double support time of back and forth and up and down stepping tests and in the time difference of three tempo stepping tests. The step number in younger age groups and the support times in older age groups tended to be larger. Conclusion: No sex difference was found in evaluation parameters of all stepping tests, and all parameters tended to be superior in the younger elderly. The elderly experienced more difficulty matching slow tempos than fast tempos in the in-place stepping test. The back and forth, up and down and in-place matching tempo stepping tests may be useful for evaluating dynamic balance ability of the elderly. © 2008 Japan Geriatrics Society

Severity of injuries associated with falls in the community dwelling elderly are not affected by fall characteristics and physical function level

Many elderly people experience difficulty with independent living after injuries associated with falls. This study aimed to examine the influence of fall characteristics and physical function level on the severity of fall related injuries. The surveys were conducted in 1955 community dwelling elderly. The questions regarded the following: fall experience within the past year, fall direction, fall cause, injured parts and degree of injury, and an activity of daily living (ADL) questionnaire from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Japan. Data of 1850 subjects with available and complete responses were used for analysis. Three hundred and eighty-six (20.9%) elderly people experienced a fall within the past year and 257 (66.7%) were injured. ADL score was significantly higher in the elderly without fall experience than the elderly with fall experience. No significant difference was found in frequency of fall cause and fall direction between the elderly with and without injuries caused by falling. Significant correlations were found between fall direction and fall cause and injured parts (φ=. 0.49 and 0.32). ADL score of the elderly who fell by leg backlash was significantly lower than that of the elderly who fell by tripping, slipping and staggering. A decrease of ADL affects the rate of falls in the elderly, but not the degree of injury. Fall characteristics may not be related to the extent of fall injury. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Comparison of oxygenation kinetics measured by different placements of the NIRS probe during sustained isometric gripping

金沢大学人間社会研究域人間科学系福井大学医学部The purpose of this study was to compare oxygenation kinetics measured by slightly different placements of a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) probe during sustained isometric gripping. Oxygenation kinetics of sixteen young adult males was measured with two NIRS probes attached to the flexor carpiradialis muscle during gripping for 3 min. One probe (channel 1) was attached at one-third the length of a line from the medial epicondyle of the humerus to the styloid process of radius. Another probe (channel 2) was attached at the palmaris longus. Although the cross-correlation coefficients for the two probe placements regarding oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb/Mb), deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxy-Hb/Mb) and tissue oxygenation saturation (StO2) were low (rxy, 0.119-0.405), Pearson\u27s correlation coefficients for the times to reach almost steady state for these parameters were very high (oxy-Hb/Mb, r=0.878; deoxy-Hb/Mb, r=0.769; StO2, r=0.843; p<0.05). The difference of oxygenation kinetics between the probe placements may reflect the difference of fiber recruitment characteristics in the flexion muscle group. In conclusion, to obtain a stable measurement, it is important that the NIRS probe is placed at the same anatomical point. © Springer-Verlag Italia 2007