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Loads on the spine (LOS) play an important role in back injuries. Numerous studies have focused only on one lifter who carried a single object. This current study aimed to classify lifting strategies using the pelvic angle at the beginning of the lift and compare LOS between the freestyle and recommended lifting methods to lift a patient off the floor (50 kg) using a stretcher with two lifters. Each pair of 88 participants were asked to lift a stretcher off the floor with the freestyle and recommended lifting methods. The results showed that the pelvic angle can be divided into four types and LOS was high in types III and IV. This study suggests that LOS of the lifter would decrease by performing at least a semi-squat posture and an anterior pelvic tilt of 10‒20 degrees.

Background Serious haze episodes have been a seasonal event in Chiang Mai province for more than a decade. In 2008, local government agencies introduced comprehensive measures to control haze and limit its impacts on public health. This study assessed the acute effects of ambient air pollutants on all-cause mortality before and after the introduction of those haze control measures. Methods We obtained daily mortality counts and data on mass concentrations of particulate matter

The custom-designed robotic gait aid "I-Walk" was developed to enhance ambulation and facilitate cost-effective repetitive training. However, empirical evidence regarding its impact on cardiovascular endurance remains scarce. This study assessed the beneficial effects of 8 weeks of I-Walk gait training on walking endurance and aerobic capacity in 11 subacute stroke patients 45 to 70 years of age within 6 months of their first stroke. They were randomly assigned to the Control Group (n = 5) and the I-Walk Gait Training Group (n = 6). All underwent a daily 60-min session, 3 d·wk-1 for 8 wks. The program included a 30-min PT session, and 30 min of gait training (overground or using the I-Walk). Walking distance and aerobic capacity were measured using the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) before and after the intervention. After the 8 weeks of I-Walk Gait Training, the average walking distance increased by 60 m (P = 0.039) with a mean peak VO2 increase of 1.38 ml·kg-1 ·min-1 (0.11-2.65 ml·kg-1 ·min-1, P = 0.039) vs. an average increase of 44 m (P = 0.107) with overground training. The I-Walk with a conventional PT program increased the 6MWT performance in the subacute stroke patients with progressive improvement over the intervention period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Salsolinol, an endogenous neurotoxin, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson?s disease (PD). In the present study, we have investigated the effects of salsolinol on the activation of two different signaling pathways that involve c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor-?B, (NF-?B) in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Salsolinol treatment caused upregulation in the levels of c-Jun and phosphorylated c-Jun. It also caused degradation of I?B? and translocated the active NF-?B into the nucleus. The binding activity of NF-?B to DNA was enhanced by salsolinol in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, salsolinol decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased pro-apoptotic protein Bax, while enhancing the release of cytochrome-cfrom mitochondria. Mitochondrial complex-I activity was significantly decreased and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in salsolinol treated cells. These results partly suggest that salsolinol-induced JNK and NF-?B signaling pathways may be involved in induction of apoptosis in human dopaminergic neurons, as seen in Parkinson?s disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]