Age-related differences in maximum voluntary lip-closing force and ability to control lip-closing force

ObjectivesDeterioration of lip function in the elderly is a form of oral hypofunction. It is important to understand age-related changes in lip function to improve oral health. This study aimed to quantitatively compare the maximum lip-closing force (LCF) and the ability to control LCF during voluntary lip-pursing movements between elderly and young adults and clarify the influence of aging on both measurements.MethodsUsing a multidirectional LCF measurement system, we measured six-directional maximum LCFs (upper, upper right, lower right, lower, lower left, upper right) of 20 healthy elderly men (69.6 ± 4.2 years) and 20 healthy young men (25.1 ± 3.8 years). The ability to control the LCF in each direction was assessed based on the accuracy rate. The directional LCF and the ability to control LCF were compared between the elderly and young adults.ResultsThe maximum directional LCF in the elderly adults was significantly smaller than that in the young adults in three directions from the lower lip; moreover, the accuracy rate of the elderly adults was significantly lower than that of young adults in five of the six directions.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the influence of aging on the accuracy of LCF may be different from that on muscle strength. Hypofunction of the lips due to aging may result not only from decreased muscle strength but also from reduced LCF accuracy.     

Retraction: A reduction state potentiates the glucocorticoid response through receptor protein stabilization

Retraction: The above article in Genes to Cells (doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2443.2007.01131.x ), published online on 2 November 2007 in Wiley Online Library ( http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editor in Chief, Mitsuhiro Yanagida, and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd. The retraction has been agreed to due to lack of the gel images for the lanes 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10 of ‘GR’ and lanes 1, 2, 9 and 10 of ‘Brg‐1’ in Figure 3(D) and the multiple usage of the gel images in Figure 3(B) and (C).     

Recent progress in porphyrin- and phthalocyanine-containing perovskite solar cells

In this review, we summarize the application of porphyrins and phthalocyanines in perovskite solar cells to date. Since the first porphyrin- and phthalocyanine-based perovskite solar cells were reported in 2009, their power conversion efficiency has dramatically increased from 3.9% to over 20%. Porphyrins and phthalocyanines have mostly been used as the charge selective layers in these cells. In some cases, they have been used inside the perovskite photoactive layer to form two-dimensional perovskite structures. In other cases, they were used at the interface to engineer the surface energy level. This review gives a chronological introduction to the application of porphyrins and phthalocyanines for perovskite solar cells depending on their role. This review article also provides the history of porphyrin and phthalocyanine derivative development from the perspective of perovskite solar cell applications.

In this review, we summarize the application of porphyrins and phthalocyanines in perovskite solar cells to date.     

Fecoflowmetric Analysis of Anorectal Motor Function in Postoperative Anal-Preserving Surgery Patients With Low Rectal Cancer Comparison With the Wexner Score and Anorectal Manometry

The aim of this study was to elucidate whether fecoflowmetry (FFM) could evaluate more detailed evacuative function than anorectal manometry by comparing between FFM or anorectal manometric findings and the clinical questionnaires and the types of surgical procedure in the patients who received anal-preserving surgery. Fifty-three patients who underwent anal-preserving surgery for low rectal cancer were enrolled. The relationships between FFM or the manometric findings and the clinical questionnaires and the types of procedure of anal-preserving surgery were evaluated. There were significant differences between FFM markers and the clinical questionnaire and the types of the surgical procedure, whereas no significant relationship was observed between the manometric findings and the clinical questionnaire and the types of the surgical procedure. FFM might be feasible and useful for the objective assessment of evacuative function and may be superior to manometry for patients undergoing anal-preserving surgery.Key words: Anorectal manometry, Anal-preserving surgery, Fecoflowmetry, Incontinence, Rectal cancerSphincter preservation has been one of the key issues of rectal cancer surgery. Low anterior resection (LAR)¹ and internal and external sphincter resection (ISR and ESR) are anal-preserving surgeries.^2,3 The aim of these procedures is to restore the normal process of defecation, along with its function, and to improve the quality of life of patients by avoiding permanent colostomy. However, anal-preserving surgery is often associated with evacuative dysfunction and various degrees of incontinence.^4–7Most studies that have assessed the evacuation function have used clinical questionnaires, which are subjective and may vary according to the patient perception.⁷ There are many factors that can affect the evacuative function, such as the stool consistency, rectal capacity, anal sphincters, pelvic floor muscles, and intra-abdominal pressure. Although manometry with or without the clinical score has also commonly been used, fecoflowmetry (FFM) has been reported to be more accurate and useful for assessing the postoperative anorectal motor function.^8–13 FFM was first introduced by Shafik and is a dynamic method for examining the anorectal motor activity that simulates the natural act of defecation.¹⁴ Some studies have shown its usefulness in postoperative patients with anorectal disease,^8–11 but only a few studies have been performed to examine the evacuative function following anal-preserving surgery.^12,13 The aim of this study was to evaluate the evacuative function in the postoperative period following anal-preserving surgery in patients with low rectal cancer using FFM, and to compare the results with the Wexner score and anorectal manometry.¹⁵     

Characteristic features of folate-deficient neurological diseases in the elderly

Background:  Folic acid (folate) deficiency causes neurological disorders in aged people, the characteristic features of which were examined.
Methods:  Serum folate levels were determined in 343 neurological patients by chemiluminescence. We found 36 folate-deficient patients (10.5%) who were divided into elderly ≥ 65 years old (12 cases) and younger group, < 65 years old (24 cases), and were administered folate (15 mg/day) for 60 days.
Results:   Serum folate levels were not different between the elderly and younger group, while folate levels were lower in elderly females than elderly males. Neuropathy was more frequent in elderly male than elderly female patients. Elderly neurological patients with neuropathy more readily responded to folate supplementation than those without neuropathy. Folate-deficient patients with dementia were older than those without dementia, although nine younger patients had dementia and four of nine cases showed frontal dementia. Anemia or female sex was more frequent and neuropathy was less frequent among elderly patients with central nervous system involvement. Serum folate levels were lower in elderly anemic than nonanemic patients. Tube feeding was more frequent in elderly folate-deficient neurological patients than in younger ones. Folate therapy was less effective in elderly patients with dementia, although three cases improved. Elderly folate-deficient patients treated with tube feeding did not respond to the folate supplement.
Conclusion:   Folate deficiency was not rare among aged neurological patients, and its features were different from younger patients. Since folate-deficient neuroencephalopathies are responsive to folate supplementation in the elderly, the examination of elderly patients' serum folate level is valuable.     

A case of psittacosis showing a localized peripheral air-space consolidation]

A 29-year-old man was admitted with fever and anorexia. Radiographic examinations of the chest showed a localized peripheral non-segmental air-space consolidation in the right lower lobe. He had a history of exposure to parakeets, and psittacosis was diagnosed based on the elevated serum complement fixation titer against Chlamydia psittaci. The common radiographic finding of psittacosis is ground-glass attenuation radiating from the hilar areas. We report a rare case of psittacosis presenting a localized consolidation, clearly limited to the subpleural region of the lung.     

Late giant coronary aneurysm associated with a fracture of sirolimus eluting stent: a case report

A 73-year-old female underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) because of stable angina. An elective PCI for the RCA lesion was first performed with deploying sirolimus eluting stents (SES). Three weeks later, PCI was also provided in the residual LAD lesion. Eight months later, she presented with new angina. CAG revealed an in-stent restenosis in the mid LAD and a large eccentric saccular coronary aneurysm (17 mm x 9 mm) at the proximal RCA. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) showed absence of stent struts around the orifice of aneurysm, which suggested a fracture of SES stent. The entry of coronary aneurysm was finally sealed with a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent. This report documented a rare case of late giant coronary artery aneurysm associated with a fracture of SES.     

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Is Associated With Adverse Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients

Background

It is widely recognized that overt hyper- as well as hypothyroidism are potential causes of heart failure (HF). Additionally it has been recently reported that subclinical hypothyroidism (sub-hypo) is associated with atherosclerosis, development of HF, and cardiovascular death. We aimed to clarify the effect of sub-hypo on prognosis of HF, and underlying hemodynamics and exercise capacity.