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A 55‐year‐old Japanese woman with a history of hypertension and right putaminal hemorrhage developed simultaneous hemorrhages in the left thalamus and putamen and died 24 h later. There were no vascular anomalies in the brain. Synaptophysin immunostaining combined with eosin azure 50 (EA50) staining clearly identified the hematoma and the surrounding brain structures. In the right cerebral hemisphere, a cystic lesion as a sequela of the usual type of hypertensive putaminal hematoma was evident. In the left cerebral hemisphere, two fresh hematomas were evident. One was a thalamic hematoma, which had destroyed the dorsal and medial structures of the thalamus, and the other was an unusual putaminal hematoma, which had destroyed the entire putamen and crossed the internal capsule and caudate nucleus. α‐Smooth muscle actin immunostaining combined with EA50 and Victoria bleu staining demonstrated three ruptured arteries associated with fibrin aggregates in the anterior thalamic nucleus and anterior putamen. Some circular structures composed of fibrin, suggesting the presence of ruptured arteries in the neighborhood, were evident in the thalamus and putamen. In the putamen, ruptured arteries and circular structures were present in the lateral to medial areas. Fibrin aggregates in the anterior thalamic nucleus were more numerous than those in the putamen. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that: (i) the artery with numerous fibrin aggregates in the anterior thalamic nucleus had ruptured first, followed by the arteries distributed in other parts of the thalamus and putamen; (ii) the unusual putaminal hematoma was attributable to rupture of the arteries around the center of the putamen, which are not responsible for the usual type of hypertensive putaminal hematoma; and (iii) it is suggested that even if hypertensive hemorrhage occurs simultaneously in the ipsilateral putamen and thalamus, the usual type of hypertensive mixed‐type hematoma does not form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, children in Japan were restricted from sports and outdoor activities. Regular physical activity is essential for healthy growth and development in children, with recommendations advocating for activities such as strength training. However, the long-term effects of the restrictions have not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an "exercise class", specifically a dance program, designed to improve motor function in elementary school children affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which may have compromised their motor function. Methods: The dance program was developed by a sports science teacher, a professional dancer, and a physical therapist, and it was evaluated in a community-based participatory study. Trained dance instructors conducted one-hour dance sessions in a medical center, held once a week for two months from June to August 2023. A physical therapist and dance instructors led the elementary school children. Outcome measures included grip strength, lower extremity muscle strength, back muscle strength, dynamic balance function during movement, physical activity time, and body fat percentages. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Twenty-four children aged 6–9 years participated in the exercise class over a two-month period. Improvement was observed in grip strength, lower extremity muscle strength, and dynamic balance function during movement. However, physical activity time, body fat percentages, and back muscle strength did not change. Conclusions: The results indicated a significant improvement in motor skills. Dance is an inexpensive program that elementary school children can enjoy while improving their motor skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Proprioceptive function declines with age, leading to falls, pain, and difficulties in performing activities of daily living among older adults. Although individuals with low back pain (LBP) exhibit decreased lumbosacral proprioception in various postures, the mechanism by which reduced proprioceptive function causes LBP remains uncertain. Vibratory stimulation may enhance proprioceptive function; however, its efficacy in treating LBP has not been investigated. Thus, we investigated the feasibility of improving proprioceptive function and its effect on alleviating chronic LBP in older patients through targeted vibratory therapy (TVT) administration. Methods: This single arm designed trial included older patients aged >65 years with non-specific chronic LBP. TVT involved applying vibratory stimulation, matching the frequency of dysfunctional receptors, for 1 min daily over 14 days to activate proprioceptors; patients performed TVT three times daily at home. In cases of reduced proprioceptive function at multiple sites, TVT was aimed at the lowest frequency band value. LBP and proprioceptive function were evaluated at 2 weeks after TVT and at 2 weeks after the end of TVT in patients with declined proprioception in the trunk or lower extremities. Results: Overall, 56 patients with chronic LBP were enrolled; 32 patients were recruited for treatment based on a proprioceptive dysfunction diagnosis and 24 patients were recruited with a normal diagnosis with no significant differences observed between the two sets of patients in sarcopenia-related factors and clinical proprioception-related characteristics. No patient had any adverse events. Two weeks after TVT, the numerical pain rating scale score improved to <3 points in 78.1% of patients, with 73.1% of patients achieving a score of ≤ 3 points. Proprioceptive function improved in 81.3% of cases, and engagement in activities of daily living improved significantly. Conclusions: TVT demonstrated efficacy in improving proprioception and alleviating LBP in older patients with impaired proprioceptive function without affecting non-targeted proprioceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-back pain is common among school-aged children. Decreased trunk flexibility in childhood influences low-back pain in adulthood. Previous studies examining the association between low-back pain and trunk flexibility in children are insufficient. Examining this association among elementary school children may help to better understand trunk flexibility in children with low-back pain and to modify the management of inflexibility. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of low-back pain and its relationship with physical function among elementary school students. School-aged children aged 6–12 years were recruited in Japan between May 2018 and March 2023. Fingertip-to-floor distance, back muscle strength, pelvic tilt angle during gait, and the visual analog scale for low-back pain were measured. In addition, factors independently related to low-back pain were determined through logistic regression analysis. Low-back pain was reported in 9.6% of the 394 participants (boys, 191; girls, 203). All children with low-back pain presented with back pain when they moved; however, the pain was non-specific. Logistic regression analysis showed that the fingertip-to-floor distance was an independent risk factor for low-back pain (odds ratio, 0.921; p = 0.007). The odds ratios calculated in the logistic regression analysis confirmed that low-back pain frequency increased as the fingertip-to-floor distance decreased. The risk of low-back pain was associated with inflexibility, regardless of sex and muscle strength. These findings suggest that children with low-back pain must increase their trunk and lower extremity flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining proprioceptive function is associated with problems such as lower back pain and falls. Therefore, we developed a vibration device using sweep frequency to evaluate several proprioceptors with different response frequency ranges. This study aimed to elucidate the biological responses of healthy individuals to vibratory stimulation at different sites and frequency ranges and to propose cutoff values to determine the decline in proprioceptive function. Mechanical vibration was separately applied to the lower legs and lower back, and proprioceptive function was evaluated by defining the ratio of the center of pressure (CoP) in the anteroposterior direction during mechanical vibration to that during no vibration in the three frequency ranges. The cut-off value was defined as the mean value, with the standard deviation subtracted for each indicator. The cut-off values were higher in the lower legs than in the lower back at all frequency ranges and in the 30–53 Hz and 56–100 Hz frequency ranges for both the lower legs and lower back. In healthy individuals, 9.9% and 8.6% were below the cut-off values in the 30–53 Hz and 56–100 Hz frequency ranges for the lower legs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Amyloid-β (Aβ) is a brain protein that causes Alzheimer's disease. We have revealed that extracorporeal blood Aβ-removal systems evoked a large Aβ influx into the blood. This study investigated the system that is more effective in evoking Aβ influx. Methods: Aβ removal activities were compared between hexadecyl-alkylated cellulose beads (HexDC) and fragments of polysulfone hollow fibers (PSf-HFs) in mini-columns to eliminate the filtration effect. Then, adsorptive filtration systems were adapted for PSf hemodialyzers to enhance Aβ adsorption on micropores in the wall of hollow fibers. Plasma Aβ concentrations of patients with renal failure were analyzed during treatment with PSf hemodialyzers alone for 8 h or tandemly connected HexDC and PSf hemodialyzers for 4 h. Results: In the in vitro study, Aβ removal efficiency for HexDC was approximately 100% during the 60 min treatment, whereas the removal efficiency for PSf-HF fragments gradually decreased. However, PSf hemodialyzer in adsorptive filtration systems removed Aβs comparably or more than HexDC. Aβ influx into the blood increases time-dependently. Concomitant use of HexDC and PSf hemodialyzer evoked a larger Aβ1– 40 influx than that of PSf hemodialyzer alone. However, Aβ1– 42 influx by PSf hemodialyzer alone was similar to or a little larger than influx by the combined system. Both systems evoked almost doubled Aβ influx than estimated Aβs existing in the normal brain during the 4 h treatment. Conclusion: PSf hemodialyzer alone for a longer period and concomitant use of HexDC and PSf hemodialyzer for a shorter time effectively evoked a larger Aβ influx. To evoke Aβ1– 42 influx, PSf hemodialyzer alone was effective enough. These findings of devices and treatment time may lead to optimal clinical settings for therapy and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Reduced proprioception affects fall risks in elderly people with lumbar spondylosis. The decrease in proprioception in the trunk or lower legs may contribute to a decline in postural stability. We aimed to investigate the association between proprioceptive postural stability and fall risks in elderly individuals with lumbar spondylosis. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, the centre-of-pressure displacement was determined in elderly individuals with lumbar spondylosis during upright stance while standing on a Wii Balance Board with their eyes closed (fall-risk group, n = 55; non-fall-risk group, n = 60). Vibratory stimulations at 30 Hz were applied to the lumbar multifidus and gastrocnemius to evaluate the relative contributions of proprioceptive signals used in postural control (relative proprioceptive weighting ratio). Results: Compared with the non-fall-risk group, the fall-risk group displayed a high relative proprioceptive weighting ratio (p = 0.024). Relative proprioceptive weighting ratio (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.004–1.109) was independently associated with fall risks after adjusting for confounding factors. Among variables related to fall risk, the relative proprioceptive weighting ratio was a significant factor (p < 0.035). Conclusion: The fall-risk group of elderly individuals with lumbar spondylosis was dependent on the ankle strategy. The fall risk in elderly people with lumbar spondylosis could be due to over-dependence on the input from muscle spindles in the gastrocnemius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional decline in proprioceptors in patients with low back pain (LBP) by evaluating the entire range of response frequencies of proprioceptors. In previous studies, the function of proprioceptors was only evaluated by single frequency vibrations. However, because it is assumed that individual differences exist in response frequencies of proprioceptors, we developed a method using vibration with sweep frequency covering the entire range of response frequencies of proprioceptors. The center of pressure was determined in 35 elderly patients with non-specific LBP (NSLBP) and 28 elderly individuals with non-LBP (NLBP) during upright stances on a balance board without vision. Local vibratory stimulations to lower leg or trunk muscles were continuously varied between 27 and 272 Hz over 60 s to evaluate the proprioceptive predominance of a body location using the relative proprioceptive weighting ratio (RPW). Compared with the NLBP group, the NSLBP group exhibited a lower RPW value for the Vater-Pacini corpuscles. Thus, the NSLBP group relied more on the input of Vater-Pacini corpuscles in the trunk. A reduction in lower leg sensitivity at the Vater-Pacini corpuscles in the NSLBP group was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activation of Mg-implanted GaN has been investigated by the combination of thermal and laser annealing. The laser annealing was carried out using third harmonic generation ( λ = 355 nm) of a Nd:YAG laser. Mg ion activation and reduction of implanted-defects after various annealing processes have been analyzed with Raman spectroscopy. The sample that was thermally annealed at 700 °C for 20 min; followed by laser annealing, with energy density of 0.35 mJ cm−2, is found to be effective for p-type conversion in electrical characteristics. The value for sheet resistance and hole mobility is 1.7 × 103 Ω/□ and 40 cm2 Vs−1; respectively. Positron annihilation revealed that the vacancy clusters created in the sub-surface region, by thermal annealing dissolved following laser annealing, leading to the p-type conversion of GaN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the effects of multiwall carbon nano tubes (MWCNT) implanted in lymph nodes of lung tissues in rats. According to the authors, histological analysis and microscopic studies were done on the rats that were administered with MWNCT after sacrificing them on regular intervals of dose administration. According to the results presented, translocation of MWNCT was observed and phagocytic reactions were mediated by nodal macrophages.

Fused fiber couplers were fabricated by controlling the coupler waist profile, and the wavelength and the polarization dependences against the waist profile were investigated experimentally. In case of the strongly fused coupler, the coupling is a little stronger for the x-polarized light than the y-polarized light, and the wavelength dependence increases with fusing more strongly in spite of the shorter effective coupler length. In case of the weakly fused coupler having a dumbbell profile with a narrow neck, the wavelength and the polarization dependences increase rapidly with narrowing the neck, and the wavelength dependence and the coupling become much larger for the y-polarized light. The wavelength dependence becomes smallest around a dumbbell profile with the aspect ratio of 1.94. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study conducted on Male Fischer 344 Rats in order to examine pulmonary toxicity of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by intratracheally instilling them with MWCNT suspension. It offers extrapolation of the conclusions of this study to potential inhalation exposure of humans to MWCNT at workplaces. It suggests a need to establish an occupational standard for airborne carbon nanotubes aerosol in workplace air with regards to MWCNT exposure.

The article discusses a study that examines the characteristics of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) suspended in a phosphate-buffered saline for an intratracheal instillation. The researchers investigate the contents of metal impurities, length and width distribution and dispersion of MWCNT in the lung tissue. The study reveals that well-dispersed, long and thin MWCNT fibers show asbestos-like pathogenicity in the lung.

Male Wistar rats were exposed by inhalation to N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 0 (control), 200 or 400 ppm (v,v) for 6 hr/day. 5 days, week and 4 weeks, and each inhalation group received DMF-formulated drinking water at 0, 800, 1,600 or 3,200 ppm (w/w) for 24 hr/day, 7 days week and 4 weeks. Both the combined inhalation and oral exposures and the single-route exposure through inhalation or ingestion induced centrilobular hypertrophy and single-cell necrosis of hepatocytes, increased plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), increased percentage of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive hepatocytes without glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive liver foci, and increased relative liver weight. Those hepatic parameters of the DMF-induced effects were classified into hypertrophic, necrotic and proliferative responses according to the pathological characteristics of affected liver. While magnitudes of the hypertrophic and necrotic responses were linearly increased with an increase in amounts of DMF uptake in the single route exposure groups, those dose-response relationships tended to level off in the combined exposure groups. Saturation of the hypertrophic and nectoric responses at high dose levels might be attributed to suppression of the metabolic conversion of DMF to its toxic metabolites Percentage of PCNA-stained hepatocytes classified as the proliferative response was increased more steeply in the combined-exposure groups than in the single-route exposure groups. It was suggested that the proliferative response of hepatocytes to the combined exposures would be greater than that which would be expected under an assumption of additivity for the component proliferative responses to the single-route exposures through inhalation and ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the two types of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive hepatocytes found after the 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin (TBDD) which were given to 15 Wistar rats of both sexes. Result says, GST-P-positive hepatocelllular foci and the GST-P-positive area are the two detected forms of GST-P. Moreover, elaborations of the materials and methods used in the study are also presented.

The article examines the carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity of 1,4-dichloro-2-nitrobenzene in rats and mice. A dose-related increase in combined incidences of renal cell adenomas and carcinomas was noted. Signs of chronic toxicity were characterized by centrilobular hyperthrophy of hepatocytes with nuclear atypia in mice.

Presents information on a study which examined the ovarian structural features reflecting repeated pregnancies and parturitions in a viviparous scorpion, Liocheles australasiae. Materials; Methodology; Results and discussion.

Various factors significantly affect the risk of falls among older adults with lumbar spondylosis. However, the relationship between falls and trunk muscle strength in older men is poorly explored. Thus, we aimed to investigate the relationship between back muscle strength and fall risk in older men and women with lumbar spondylosis. Based on self-reported fall scores, 39 outpatients were classified into two groups. Back and abdominal muscle strength, among other data, were compared between the two groups. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between fall scores and selected variables. Back (r = −0.491, p = 0.002) and abdominal muscle strength (r = −0.415, p = 0.009) were related to the fall score. Furthermore, back and abdominal muscle strength were related to the fall score in women with a high risk of falls, whereas back muscle strength, erector spinae, and lumbar multifidus cross-sectional areas, and visual analog scale were related to the fall score in men with a high risk of falling. Back muscle strength and fall scores may be useful to assess the risk of falls in older patients with lumbar spondylosis. However, evaluating this relationship may require separate sex-specific analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postural instability owing to poor proprioception is considered a main cause of low back pain and falls. However, the effect of local vibratory stimulation on a poor proprioceptor on proprioceptive control strategy has yet to be evaluated. Therefore, in this study, we proposed an evaluation method of the immediate effect on proprioceptive control strategies by applying local vibratory stimulation to the poor proprioceptor. First, using our device, we determined the poor proprioceptors in each of six elderly patients with non-specific low back pain. Furthermore, we applied local vibratory stimulation to the poor proprioceptor. Finally, we compared the proprioceptive control strategy before and after applying local vibratory stimulation. As a result, the proprioceptive control strategy improved for three patients with impaired muscle spindles that responded to a higher frequency (p < 0.05). Thus, the impaired proprioceptive control strategy caused by a decline in the muscle spindle responding to a higher frequency might be improved by local vibratory stimulation. Furthermore, it was shown that our developed device and protocol might be used to evaluate proprioceptive control strategies within multiple frequency ranges, as well as activate a poor proprioceptor based on diagnosis and improve the proprioceptive control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess differences in somatosensory control strategies between older patients with sagittal imbalance and young adults during postural tasks. The center of pressure displacement in 27 older patients with sagittal imbalance and 27 young adults was determined upon standing blindfolded on a balance board. Vibratory stimulation at 56 to 100 Hz was applied bilaterally to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles (GS) and lumbar multifidus to evaluate the contributions of proprioceptive signals to postural control. Data of older patients and young adults were compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test or independent sample t-tests. Compared with the young adults, the older patients were significantly more reliant on the GS (p < 0.005) for their postural control and showed a higher relative proprioceptive weighting ratio (RPW) (p = 0.038). The postural strategy adopted by the older patients depended on the level of proprioceptive stimulation applied to the GS, and the postural control strategy of the ankle correlated with RPW. Overall, this study identifies RPW as a novel measure of postural strategy in older patients with sagittal imbalance and provides an understanding of strategies used to maintain balance, which may assist in developing preventative measures to reduce the risk of falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between back muscle strength and proprioception or mechanoreceptor control strategies used for postural balance in elderly adults with lumbar spondylosis. The displacement of the center of pressure (COP) excursion was determined in 24 elderly adults with lumbar spondylosis and 24 healthy young adults while the participants were standing upright on a balance board with their eyes closed. Vibratory stimulations of 30, 60, and 240 Hz were applied to the gastrocnemius (GS) and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscles to evaluate the effect of different proprioceptive signals on postural control. Back muscle strength was evaluated. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between back muscle strength and significant COP excursion. Compared with young adults, elderly adults with lumbar spondylosis showed an increase in COP excursion displacement when a vibratory stimulation of 240 Hz was applied to the GS (P = 0.002) and LM muscles (P < 0.001). LM stimulation at 240 Hz was significantly associated with back muscle strength (P = 0.038). Postural control assessment with 240-Hz mechanoreceptor stimulation of the trunk could be a good indicator of postural instability due to over-dependence on mechanoreceptors and back muscle weakness in elderly adults with lumbar spondylosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) is an oxygenated gasoline additive synthesized from ethanol and isobutene that is used to reduce CO2 emissions. To support the Kyoto Protocol, the production of ETBE has undergone a marked increase. Previous reports have indicated that exposure to ETBE or methyl tertiary-butyl ether resulted in liver and kidney tumors in rats and/or mice. These reports raise concern about the effects of human exposure being brought about by the increased use of ETBE. The present study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxicity of ETBE using micronucleus induction of polychromatic erythrocytes in the bone marrow of male and female rats treated with ETBE in the drinking-water at concentrations of 0, 1,600, 4,000 or 10,000 ppm or exposed to ETBE vapor at 0, 500, 1,500 or 5,000 ppm for 13 weeks. There were no significant increases in micronucleus induction in either the drinking water-administered or inhalation-administered groups at any concentration of ETBE; although, in both groups red blood cells and hemoglobin concentration were slightly reduced in the peripheral blood in rats administered the highest concentration of ETBE. In addition, two consecutive daily intraperitoneal injections of ETBE at doses of 0, 250, 500 or 1,000 mg/kg did not increase the frequency of micronucleated bone marrow cells in either sex; all rats receiving intraperitoneal injections of ETBE at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg died after treatment day 1. These data suggest that ETBE is not genotoxic in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subchronic oral toxicity of 1,4-dioxane was examined by administering 1,4-dioxane in drinking water at 6 different concentrations of 0 (control), 640, 1,600, 4,000, 10,000 or 25,000 ppm (wt/wt) to F344 rats and BDF(1)mice of both sexes for 13 weeks. Food and water consumption and terminal body weight were decreased dose-dependently in rats and mice. A dose-dependent increase in the relative weights of kidney and lung was noted in rats and mice, while the relative liver weight was increased only in rats. Increases in plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and a decrease in plasma glucose were noted primarily in the rats and mice dosed 25,000 ppm. Histopathological examination revealed that 1,4-dioxane affected the upper and lower respiratory tracts, liver, kidneys and brain in rats, while only the former two organs were affected in mice. Nuclear enlargement occurred in the respiratory, olfactory, tracheal and bronchial epithelia of the 1,4-dioxane-dosed rats and mice. The 1,4-dioxane-induced hepatic lesions were characterized by centrilobular swelling and necrosis in rats and mice and by glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive altered hepatocellular foci in rats, which are known as preneoplastic lesions. A no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) was determined at 640 ppm for both rats and mice, since the nuclear enlargement in the nasal respiratory epithelium and the centrilobular swelling of hepatocytes in rats and the nuclear enlargement in the bronchial epithelium in mice were observed at 1,600 ppm. The NOAEL value corresponded to the estimated 1,4-dioxane intake of 52 mg/kg/day in rats and 170 mg/kg/day in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dose- and time-dependent effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin (TBDD) on the liver were examined by single administration of TBDD by gavage to male and female rats. Fifteen Wistar rats of each sex per group received 0, 10, 30, 100 or 300 µg TBDD/kg body weight. Rats surviving to scheduled necropsy on Day 2, 7 or 36 after the TBDD administration were examined for hepatic histopathology, activities of hepatic microsomal enzymes and serum levels of lipids, total cholesterol and transaminases and hepatic concentrations of TBDD. Tigroid basophilic cytoplasm and hepatocellular hypertrophy were observed at 10 µg/kg on Day 2 or 7 through 36, whereas degenerative and aggressive lesions such as necrosis, fibrosis, multinucleated hepatocytes and disarrangement of hepatocytes occurred later at higher dose levels. Persistently increased activities of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), increased serum levels of total cholesterol and phospholipid and increased relative liver weight were observed in all groups dosed 10 µg/kg and above, suggesting that hepatic microsomal monooxygenases and basophilic cytoplasm of hepatocytes were early and sensitive indicators among those TBDD-induced effects. A dose-dependent increase in liver concentrations of TBDD on Day 2 was followed by logarithmic decreases in TBDD concentrations against the days elapsed after the TBDD administration. An elimination half-life (t1/2) of TBDD from the liver was estimated to range from 12 to 16 days. It was suggested that females were more susceptible to TBDD than males, and that acute hepatotoxicity of TBDD was as potent as that of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] Although standing balance and functions of each proprioceptor decline with age in older adults, data regarding the types and percentages of proprioceptors susceptible to decline are unavailable. In this study, we investigated the rate of decline in each proprioceptor area in older adults and also the effect of aging on the association between postural balance and proprioception. [Participants and Methods] This study performed between November 2012 and July 2022 included both young and older adults. Vibration stimuli were applied to the gastrocnemius and lumbar multifidus muscles at 30-250 Hz to assess the effects of the easily attenuated proprioceptors. The independent t-test showed a decline in proprioception in older adults. A χ 2 test was performed to determine proprioceptors that were susceptible to attenuation in older adults. [Results] The results revealed that many older adults had reduced muscle spindles (low and high frequencies) in their lower legs and trunk (low frequency). [Conclusion] Proprioceptive ability is lower in older adults than in younger individuals. Therefore, activation programs to treat the reduced intrinsic receptive responsiveness may be required for rehabilitation of older adults., Competing Interests: Authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (2024©by the Society of Physical Therapy Science. Published by IPEC Inc.)