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Results for “Balance ability”

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PubMed1979

Non-progressive evolution, the Red Queen hypothesis, and the balance of nature.

The Red Queen hypothesis, or the ability organisms have to control and regulate the available trophic energy, is a recently proposed parameter for measuring fitness. Firstly, this hypothesis is analysed in terms of its heuristic power. Secondly, the claimed causal dependence between this parameter and a, still controversial, law of constant extinction is judged to be unjustified, however reasonable such a claim appears to be. Finally, the ubiquity of competition in nature which is seemingly required by the Red Queen and supposedly realized at the expense of a mutualistic alternative, is deemed to be a questionable assumption.

Biological Evolution↗

PubMed2006

Granzyme B proteolyzes receptors important to proliferation and survival, tipping the balance toward apoptosis.

Granzyme B is critical to the ability of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes to induce efficient cell death of virally infected or tumor cell targets. Although granzyme B can cleave and activate caspases to induce apoptosis, granzyme B can also cause caspase-independent cell death. Thirteen prospective granzyme B substrates were identified from a cDNA expression-cleavage screen, including Hsp70, Notch1, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1), poly-A-binding protein, cAbl, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H', Br140, and intersectin-1. Validation revealed that Notch1 is a substrate of both granzyme B and caspases, whereas FGFR1 is a caspase-independent substrate of granzyme B. Proteolysis of FGFR1 in prostate cancer cells has functionally relevant consequences that indicate its cleavage may be advantageous for granzyme B to kill prostate cancer cells. Therefore, granzyme B not only activates pro-death functions within a target, but also has a previously unidentified role in inactivating pro-growth signals to cause cell death.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1988

Hemoglobin: a lifesaver and an oxidant. How to tip the balance.

Hemoglobin solutions were assessed in terms of their ability to promote lipid peroxidation, which was quantitated by measuring the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) under specified conditions in murine brain homogenates. Solutions designed for use in acute treatment of hypovolemic shock and trauma should incorporate ingredients specifically aimed at decreasing oxygen and lipid radical mediated injury occurring secondary to ischemia and reperfusion. A number of strategies aimed at decreasing the oxidant effect of hemoglobin solutions and other blood and plasma substitutes have been evaluated. These include use of the naturally occurring anti-oxidants in human plasma, specifically transferrin and ceruloplasmin. Similarly, certain iron chelators, such as deferoxamine (Desferal, Ciba-Geigy), effectively prevent molecular and cellular damage caused by iron catalyzed formation of oxygen derived radicals.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Attentional demands of postural control: the ability to selectively allocate information-processing resources.

Most studies have suggested the process of recovering body stability requires information-processing resources, but whether adults have the ability to selectively allocate resources to maintain balance is not known. Using a variable priority dual-task paradigm the present experiment investigated the extent to which young adults are able to shift attention between a postural task and a visual spatial memory task. Our results demonstrated a significant difference in verbal response time dependent on instructional set (focus on visual spatial memory versus postural task) but no difference in body sway measurement, indicating the ability of young adults to modulate visual spatial memory task, but not postural task focus. This suggests the existence of a hierarchy within attentional tasks with postural stability being a priority to stabilize gaze and head position.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Relating surfactant properties to activity and solubilization of the human adenosine a3 receptor.

The effects of various surfactants on the activity and stability of the human adenosine A3 receptor (A3) were investigated. The receptor was expressed using stably transfected HEK293 cells at a concentration of 44 pmol functional receptor per milligram membrane protein and purified using over 50 different nonionic surfactants. A strong correlation was observed between a surfactant's ability to remove A3 from the membrane and the ability of the surfactant to remove A3 selectively relative to other membrane proteins. The activity of A3 once purified also correlates well with the selectivity of the surfactant used. The effects of varying the surfactant were much stronger than those achieved by including A3 ligands in the purification scheme. Notably, all surfactants that gave high efficiency, selectivity and activity fall within a narrow range of hydrophile-lipophile balance values. This effect may reflect the ability of the surfactant to pack effectively at the hydrophobic transmembrane interface. These findings emphasize the importance of identifying appropriate surfactants for a particular membrane protein, and offer promise for the development of rapid, efficient, and systematic methods to facilitate membrane protein purification.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed1998

[Overdenture prostheses on implants versus complete dentures].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the treatment outcome of implant retained overdentures (IRD) versus complete dentures (CD) in which the outcome assessment focuses on the patient's subjective evaluation ('denture-satisfaction and chewing ability'). DESIGN: A multicenter randomized clinical trial (prospective). SETTING: The department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry of the University of Nijmegen, the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Nijmegen and the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics of the University Hospital Groningen. METHODS: In this study 151 patients with severely resorbed mandibles participated, treatment had been assigned according to a balanced allocation method. Denture satisfaction and chewing ability were assessed using questionnaires before and 1 year after treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment all patients were dissatisfied with their mandibular denture and they could hardly chew tough or had food. One year after treatment the IRD-group was satisfied with their mandibular denture, whereas only one third of the CD-group was satisfied. With respect to the chewing ability the IRO-group scored significantly better than the CD-group (p < or = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: For patients with a severely resorbed mandible, overdentures retained by dental implants appear to provide a more satisfactory solution to their denture-related problems.

Alveolar Bone Loss↗

PubMed1987

Rate of aging and dietary restriction: sensory and motor function in the Fischer 344 rat.

Sensory and motor task performance was assessed at 3 to 4 month intervals in chronically underfed and ad libitum-fed control rats from maturity into senescence. Diet-restricted rats weighed less than controls and lived significantly longer. Diminished body mass improved the underfed rats' abilities to hang suspended from a wire, to maintain balance on a narrow beam, and to descend from a wire mesh pole in a coordinated fashion. Underfed rats, however, lost these abilities at the same rate as did control rats. Undernutrition did not affect the startle response to acoustic stimulation, nor did it influence auditory or visual lead stimulus inhibition of the startle response. Both groups of animals showed progressive, age-related losses of sensory-motor function which proceeded at the same rate in each group. Life-prolonging undernutrition did not appear to retard aging of these simple, reflexive behaviors.

Aging↗

PubMed1981

Trace minerals, amino acids, and plasma proteins in adult men fed wheat diets.

In summary, the ingestion by adult men of an all-plant diet supplying 46 gm. protein per day, primarily as bread made from white wheat four, over a period of 74 days, resulted in positive balances for copper, iron, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc. Iron balances were significantly decreased by the isonitrogenous substitution of pinto beans or peanut butter for 20 percent of the nitrogen supplied by white bread. When pinto beans or white rice substituted for 20 percent of the nitrogen of white bread, the retention of molybdenum was lower and the retention of selenium was greater. Although the men were nitrogen balance and total plasma protein concentrations were normal, the ingestion of diets providing 46 gm. protein, from all-plant sources resulted in significantly lower plasma albumin, with corresponding elevations in alpha, beta and gamma globulins. However, the substitution of pinto beans for a portion of the white bread improved plasma albumin and alpha-globulin levels. Routine clinical data obtained on patients who previously consumed strictly vegetarian diets should include determinations of plasma albumin. The ability of the subjects to maintain nitrogen balance on protein intakes of 46 gm. per day from all-plant sources appeared to be correlated with decreases in the urinary excretion and plasma concentration of alpha-aminobutyric acid, a metabolite of methionine and threonine, suggesting conservation of methionine or re-utilization of this metabolite. The possible mechanism of this adaptation to minimal protein intake, or dietary protein from all-plant sources, is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Exercise training for rehabilitation and secondary prevention of falls in geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of an exercise protocol designed to improve strength, mobility, and balance and to reduce subsequent falls in geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls. DESIGN: A randomized controlled 3-month intervention trial, with an additional 3-month follow-up. SETTING: Out-patient geriatric rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-seven female geriatric patients (mean age 82 +/- 4.8 years; range 75-90) admitted to acute care or inpatient rehabilitation with a history of recurrent or injurious falls including patients with acute fall-related fracture. INTERVENTION: Ambulatory training of strength, functional performance, and balance 3 times per week for 3 months. Patients of the control group attended a placebo group 3 times a week for 3 months. Both groups received an identical physiotherapeutic treatment 2 times a week, in which strengthening and balance training were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Strength, functional ability, motor function, psychological parameters, and fall rates were assessed by standardized protocols at the beginning (T1) and the end (T2) of intervention. Patients were followed up for 3 months after the intervention (T3). RESULTS: No training-related medical problems occurred in the study group. Forty-five patients (79%) completed all assessments after the intervention and follow-up period. Adherence was excellent in both groups (intervention 85.4 +/- 27.8% vs control 84.2 +/- 29.3%). The patients in the intervention group increased strength, functional motor performance, and balance significantly. Fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions were reduced significantly. Improvements persisted during the 3-month follow-up with only moderate losses. For patients of the control group, no change in strength, functional performance, or emotional status could be documented during intervention and follow-up. Fall incidence was reduced nonsignificantly by 25% in the intervention group compared with the control group (RR:0.753 CI:0.455-1.245). CONCLUSIONS: Progressive resistance training and progressive functional training are safe and effective methods of increasing strength and functional performance and reducing fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions during ambulant rehabilitation in frail, high-risk geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2006

Balance and gait improved in patients with MS after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to have movement difficulties, and the effect of physiotherapy for this group of patients has been subjected to limited systematic research. In the present study physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, applied to MS patients with balance and gait problems, was evaluated. The ability of different functional tests to demonstrate change was evaluated. METHOD: A single-subject experimental study design with ABAA phases was used, and two patients with relapsing-remitting MS in stable phase were treated. Tests were performed 12 times, three at each phase: A (at baseline); B (during treatment); A (immediately after treatment); and A (after two months). The key feature of treatment was facilitation of postural activity and selective control of movement. Several performance and self report measures and interviews were used. RESULTS: After intervention, improved balance was shown by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in both patients, and improved quality of gait was indicated by the Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment (RVGA). The patients also reported improved balance and gait function in the interviews and scored their condition as 'much improved'. Gait parameters, recorded by an electronic walkway, changed, but differently in the two patients. Among the physical performance tests the BBS and the RVGA demonstrated the highest change, while no or minimal change was demonstrated by the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that balance and gait can be improved after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, but this should be further evaluated in larger controlled trials of patients with MS.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Cellular dysmetabolism: the dark side of HIV-1 infection.

The progression to disease in subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) cannot be explained solely on the basis of the infecting HIV-1 species. There is recent evidence that abnormalities in the cellular metabolism are crucial to the progression of the infection through common pathways that involve the induction of apoptosis and oxidant stress. Conversely, the low propensity of lymphocytes to undergo apoptosis, a normal redox status, and a balanced ceramide metabolism appear to predict a slow progression, or the non-progression at all, of the infection. It is likely that the ability of the host to maintain over time a balanced cellular metabolism despite the chronic infection with the virus contributes to the especially favourable outcome of an otherwise fatal infection seen in a discrete subgroup of HIV-1-infected individuals (long-term non-progressors) who might never experience any of the adverse effects of HIV-1 infection and will never demonstrate disease progression. Furthermore, this background supports the hypothesis that adjunctive therapies directed at correcting certain abnormalities of cellular metabolism seen in the infected host should be given in combination with antiretroviral drugs in order to slow the progression of the infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1991

Effects of a high-linoleate and a high-alpha-linolenate diet on the learning ability of aged rats. Evidence against an autoxidation-related lipid peroxide theory of aging.

This study examined the effect of dietary alpha-linolenate (18:3n-3)/linoleate (18:2n-6) balance on brain lipid compositions and brightness-discrimination learning ability in aged rats. An alpha-linolenate-rich diet with a peroxidizability index (PI) of 142 and a linoleate-rich diet with a PI value of 80 were used. Long-term feeding of these diets induced a significant difference in the n-3/n-6 ratios of highly unsaturated fatty acids in brain, but the PI values and the conjugated diene contents were similar between the two dietary groups. Rats fed the alpha-linolenate-rich diet had a longer mean survival time and an increased learning ability in senescence. These results contradict an autoxidation-related lipid peroxide theory of aging, and indicate that the aging process must also be considered in terms of n-3/n-6 balance of dietary fats.

Aging↗

PubMed2004

Establishment and maintenance of the P cytotype associated with telomeric P elements in Drosophila melanogaster.

P elements inserted near the left telomere of the X chromosome are associated with the P cytotype, a maternally transmitted condition that strongly regulates the activity of the P transposon family in some strains of Drosophila. The regulatory abilities of two such elements, TP5 and TP6, are stable in homozygous stocks over many generations. However, these regulatory abilities are attenuated when the telomeric P elements are transmitted through heterozygous females, and they are utterly lost when the elements are transmitted through males. Paternally transmitted telomeric P elements reacquire regulatory ability when they pass through a female germ line. This reacquisition is enhanced if the females in which it occurs came from mothers who carried a telomeric P element. The enhancement has two components: (1). a strictly maternal effect that is transmitted to the females independently of the mother's telomeric P element ("presetting" or the "pre-P cytotype") and (2). a zygotic effect associated with inheritance of the mother's telomeric P element. One telomeric P element can enhance the reacquisition of another's regulatory ability. When X chromosomes that carry telomeric P elements are extracted through males and made homozygous by using a balancer chromosome, most of the resulting stocks develop strong regulatory abilities in a few generations. However, some of the stocks do not attain the regulatory ability of the original population.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Adapting human postural reflexes following localized cerebrovascular lesion: analysis of bilateral long latency responses.

The symmetry and adaptability of long latency stretch responses was studied in a group of 4 adult hemiplegics and 5 normals of similar age. Subjects stood on a moveable platform which directly rotated the ankles unexpectedly during a series of horizontal anterioposterior (AP) translations. When the platform was rotated toes-up, long latency discharge of gastrocnemius and hamstring muscles enhanced loss of balance by pulling the body backwards. Toes-down platform rotation elicited a reflex response from tibialis anterior and quadriceps which inappropriately pulled the body forward. Attenuation of these long latency responses was necessary to minimize functional destabilization. Normal and stroke subjects demonstrated appropriate suppression of long latency responses, but the magnitude of attenuation was not uniform in hemiplegics. Adaptation was decreased in the proximal synergists compared to normal. Latency of muscle activation in the paretic limb was prolonged, and a preference for initial non-paretic limb activation was evident. Both lower extremities in hemiplegics showed a disruption of timing between distal and proximal synergists. These results suggest that stroke victims retain or recover the ability to modulate stretch reflex activity for balance. Temporal and spatial response asymmetries surface as critical factors underlying disequilibrium associated with localized cerebrovascular lesion.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Balance control and adaptation during vibratory perturbations in middle-aged and elderly humans.

The objective was to investigate if healthy elderly people respond and adapt differently to postural disturbances compared to middle-aged people. Thirty middle-aged (mean age 37.8 years, range 24-56 years) and forty healthy elderly subjects (mean age 74.6 years, range 66-88 years) were tested with posturography. Body sway was evoked by applying pseudorandom vibratory stimulation to the belly of the gastrocnemius muscles of both legs simultaneously. The tests were performed both with eyes open and eyes closed. The anteroposterior body sway was measured with a force platform and analyzed with a method that considers the adaptive changes of posture and stimulation responses. The results showed that middle-aged people generally used a different postural control strategy as compared to the elderly. The elderly responded more rapidly to vibratory perturbation, used more high-frequency (>0.1 Hz) motions and the motion dynamics had a higher degree of complexity. Moreover, the elderly had diminished ability to use visual information to improve balance control. Altogether, despite having an effective postural control adaptation similar to that of middle-aged people, the elderly had more difficulty in withstanding balance perturbations. These findings suggest that the balance control deterioration associated with aging cannot be fully compensated for by postural control adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1996

Acute high environmental temperature and calcium-estrogen relationship in the hen.

Much is known about the effects of high environmental temperature (HT) on egg production, but very little is understood about the mechanisms that underlie them. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of acute heat stress on circulating estradiol, on calcium uptake by gut tissue, on bone resorption, and on the dynamic relationship between estradiol and calcium in the hen during one ovulatory cycle. In one study, hens were moved individually and randomly into a hot [HT: temperature (T) = 35 C, relative humidity (RH) = 50%; n = 18] or a control, thermoneutral (TN: T = 23 C, RH = 50%; n = 18) environment immediately after a mid-sequence oviposition and brachial vein cannulation. Blood samples (2 mL) were collected every 3 h for 21 h for ionized calcium (Ca2+) and pH determinations and from which aliquots were frozen for 17 beta-estradiol (E2), total calcium (TCa), and inorganic P analysis. Excreta and urine were assayed for TCa and hydroxyproline (OHPr), respectively. A second study was conducted to determine the effects of HT (T = 35, H = 50%, 12 h) vs TN (T = 23 C, RH = 50%, 12 h) on the ability of duodenal cells to take up calcium (CaT). Blood pH and calcium responded to HT as expected (pH increased, Ca2+ decreased, and TCa decreased) and the cyclic pattern of Ca2+ in blood was abolished. The ratio of Ca2+:TCa decreased sharply at approximately the onset of shell calcification in control hens, but in HT hens there was no clear change in the ratio of any point in the cycle. The pattern of E2 typical of hens under normal conditions was significantly depressed in plasma of HT hens. Calcium uptake by duodenal epithelial cells of HT hens was lower than in TN hens. There was a clear inverse correlation between blood Ca2+ and urine OHPr in TN hens (r2 = -73, P = 0.0021) but not in HT hens (r2 = -27, P = 0.32). In addition to alterations in acid-base balance and the status of Ca2+, diminished ability of duodenal cells to transport calcium may be a critical factor in the detrimental effects of heat stress on egg production (numbers), eggshell characteristics, and skeletal integrity often documented in the laying hen.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed2003

Comprehensive analysis of human subtelomeres with combined binary ratio labelling fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Cryptic subtelomeric chromosome rearrangements play an important role in the aetiology of mental retardation, congenital anomalies, miscarriages and neoplasia. To facilitate a comprehensive molecular-cytogenetic analysis of these extremely gene-rich and mutation-prone chromosome regions, novel multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) techniques are being developed. As yet, subtelomeric FISH methods have either had limited multiplicities, making it necessary to perform many hybridisations per patient, or a limited scope of analysable chromosome mutation types, thus not detecting some aberration types such as pericentric inversions or very small aberrations. COBRA (COmbined Binary RAtio) labelling is a generic multicolour FISH technique that combines ratio and combinatorial labelling to attain especially high multiplicities with few fluorochromes. The Subtelomere COBRA FISH method ("S-COBRA FISH") described here detects efficiently all 41 BAC and PAC FISH probes necessary for a complete subtelomere screening in only two hybridisations. It was applied to the analysis of 10 cases with known and partially known aberrations and successfully detected balanced and unbalanced translocations, deletions and an unbalanced pericentric inversion in a mosaic situation. The ability of S-COBRA FISH to efficiently detect all types of balanced and unbalanced subtelomeric chromosome aberrations makes it the most comprehensive diagnostic procedure for human subtelomeric chromosome regions described to date.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

PubMed1978

[Nutritional study of spun soy proteins].

Most of metabolic studies in man concerning the ability of soya proteins to obtain an equilibrated nitrogen balance have been made with extruded products. Because of the extending development of spun proteins, it seems necessary to study the protein quality of this type of product. A preliminary study in rat (C.E.P. method) was conducted to improve the nutritional value by complementation of the fibers by the way of binder. The metabolic utilization of this protein was evaluated in human subjects during two periods of 10 days. Soya protein cover respectively 78 and 48% of the total protein intake. Under these experimental conditions in which soya proteins constitute an important percentage of the total protein intake, the mean nitrogen balance is near to be equilibrated and the nitrogen utilization does not present any significative difference between the periods. Parallely to the suppression of animal proteins, the introduction of insatured lipids in the diet, has allowed, moreover, to decrease the concentration of the lipidic parameters of the subjects. This study demonstrated the dietetic interest and the ability of the studied product to provide the supplying of the nitrogen balance.

Animals↗