This study aims to investigate the effects of High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) on muscle strength, proprioception, cutaneous sensitivity and their relationship with static/dynamic balance in older adults with a history of falls. In this randomized, double-blind trial, 30 older adults with a history of falls were assigned to an active (a-tDCS, n = 15) or sham (s-tDCS, n = 15) group. The 4-week intervention consisted of 12 sessions (three times weekly). The a-tDCS group received 2 mA of continuous stimulation targeting the sensorimotor cortex for 20 min per session, whereas the s-tDCS group received current only during the initial and final 30-second ramp-up/down periods. Balance, muscle strength, proprioception and cutaneous sensitivity were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Significant interactions were identified in RMSML (p = 0.009, η_p^2 = 0.222), DC scores (p = 0.046, η_p^2 = 0.134), peak hip abduction torque (p = 0.007, η_p^2 = 0.231), and ankle inversion proprioception threshold (p = 0.038, η_p^2 = 0.144). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the a-tDCS group demonstrated a significant reduction in RMSML (p = 0.034, d = 0.577) and ankle inversion threshold (p = 0.010, d = 1.040), alongside significant increases in DC scores (p = 0.002, d = 0.863) and hip abduction torque (p = 0.008, d = 0.740) compared to baseline. No significant improvements were observed in cutaneous sensitivity (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis in the a-tDCS group revealed a significant negative correlation between the change in RMSML and the change in peak hip abduction torque (r = -0.649, p = 0.009). A 4-week HD-tDCS intervention significantly improves static and dynamic balance, hip strength, and ankle inversion proprioceptive in older adults with a history of falls. Improved static balance is positively correlated with increased hip abduction strength.

BACKGROUND:This study aimed to investigate the effects of tactile and vibratory plantar stimulation on balance, proprioception, and tactile sensitivity in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). METHODS:Forty individuals with CAI were randomly assigned to receive either tactile or vibratory plantar stimulation for five minutes. Static and dynamic balance, proprioception, and plantar tactile thresholds were assessed before and immediately after stimulation, as well as at 30 min and 60 min post-stimulation. FINDINGS:Both types of stimulation significantly improved static balance (mean velocity in the anterior-posterior (p = 0.008) and medial-lateral (p = 0.003) directions) and proprioception (inversion kinesthesia: p = 0.002; position sense: p = 0.007), with effects lasting up to 30 min. Vibratory stimulation resulted in significantly greater improvement in dynamic balance at all time points (p < 0.05) and produced a greater reduction in tactile threshold at the heel immediately post-stimulation (p < 0.001) compared to tactile stimulation. INTERPRETATION:A five-minute session of plantar stimulation - particularly vibratory stimulation - can immediately enhance balance, proprioception, and plantar sensitivity in CAI patients, with some effects persisting up to 60 min. These findings support the use of sensory stimulation as a potential treatment for CAI, though further research is needed to determine long-term efficacy and optimal protocols.

Background:Falls are a major concern in geriatric health, and impairments in executive function (EF), gait, and postural control are important fall-related risk factors. Interactive motor-cognitive training (IMCT) has shown promise as an intervention to mitigate these risks. This study aims to assess the acute effects of IMCT programs with three levels of cognitive load (high, medium, and low) on EF, spatio-temporal gait parameters, and postural control in middle-aged and older adults. Methods:In this single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 42 participants (58.1 ± 9.9 years) were randomly allocated to a low cognitive load group (LCG), medium cognitive load group (MCG), or high cognitive load group (HCG). Each group completed a 30-min IMCT session using the SpeedCourt system. EF, postural control, and single/dual-task gait performance were assessed before and after the intervention. Results:Multivariate analysis showed significant between-group differences in EF (Pillai V = 0.804, p = 0.015, ηp 2  = 0.402) and gait performance (Pillai V = 1.201, p < 0.001, ηp 2  = 0.601); no significant changes were observed in postural control (Pillai V = 0.543, p = 0.323, ηp 2  = 0.271). The MCG showed greater improvement in Stroop neutral reaction time than the LCG and HCG, while 2-back accuracy improved relatively more in the LCG. The MCG also showed greater improvement in dual-task gait velocity, whereas the LCG showed a greater increase in correct responses during dual-task walking. Discriminant function analysis identified Stroop neutral reaction time, 2-back accuracy, gait velocity, and correct responses as the most sensitive variables. Conclusion:A single session of IMCT with different cognitive loads was associated with immediate changes in selected EF and dual-task gait outcomes in middle-aged and older adults. Moderate cognitive load appeared most favorable for processing-speed-related Stroop performance and dual-task gait velocity, whereas low cognitive load was associated with greater gains in dual-task correct responses.

Purpose: The possible effects of Tai Chi exercise on neural coordination during walking in older adults remain unclear. This study aimed to compare cortical functional connectivity (FC) and corticomuscular coupling (CMC) during walking among older Tai Chi practitioners, older brisk walkers, and non-exercise controls. Methods: A total of 62 participants were recruited in this study, including older Tai Chi practitioners (n=20), older brisk walkers (n=22), and non-exercise controls (n=20). Participants performed a walking test during which data were collected. The FC was measured using cortical oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) concentration via a functional near-infrared spectroscopy device, and CMC was calculated between HbO2 signals and surface electromyography signals. Results: The Tai Chi practitioners showed greater FC in right primary motor cortex-left supplementary motor area (rM1-lSMA, p=0.006, d=1.081), right primary motor cortex-right supplementary motor area (rM1-rSMA, p=0.003, d=1.318), right primary motor cortex-left primary somatosensory cortex (rM1-lS1, p=0.002, d=1.150), and rM1-rS1 (p=0.011, d=1.015) compared with the non-exercise controls, and greater FC in rM1-rS1 (p=0.015, d=0.856) compared with the brisk walkers. In addition, the Tai Chi practitioners demonstrated greater CMC in the left tibialis anterior-right supplementary motor area (lTA-rSMA, p=0.015, d=0.991), lTA-rS1 (p=0.006, d=1.096), lMG-rSMA (p=0.002, d=1.118), right medial gastrocnemius-right supplementary motor area (rMG-rSMA, p=0.015, d=0.962), and rMG-rS1 (p=0.017, d=0.939) compared to the non-exercise controls. Conclusion: Older Tai Chi practitioners exhibited greater functional connectivity and corticomuscular coupling, which may contribute to improved postural control and reduced fall risk in older adults.

Dual-task (DT) walking poses great challenges to gait control in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the integrated adaptive characteristics of cortical, muscular, and gait responses under DT interference remain insufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to compare gait performance, cortical activation, and muscle activation characteristics between older adults with MCI and cognitively intact controls during DT walking. A total of 25 MCI older adults and 25 cognitively intact controls were recruited and completed single-task (ST) and DT walking tests. The DT condition involved performing a continuous subtraction task (subtracting 3 from a random number between 400 and 500) while walking. Data were collected using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a 3D motion capture system, and surface electromyography to quantify cortical activation, gait parameters, and lower-limb muscle activation. Under the DT walking condition, the MCI group showed significant gait impairments, including decreased gait speed, increased step width, and altered gait variability. Among the examined bilateral cortical regions, significant Group × Task interaction effects in cortical activation were observed in the left prefrontal cortex, left primary motor cortex, and left supplementary motor area, indicating altered task-related cortical activation patterns in older adults with MCI during DT walking. In addition, rectus femoris activation was significantly higher in the MCI group than in controls during DT walking. DT walking induced noticeable gait impairments in older adults with MCI, which were accompanied by adjustments in cortical control patterns and increased muscular activation. However, these potential compensatory responses, characterized by increased muscle activation and altered cortical regulation, appeared insufficient to fully mitigate the negative effects of cognitive load on gait performance, suggesting reduced gait automaticity in older adults with MCI. ChiCTR2500105909, 7/14/2025.

Open reusable biomechanical datasets from generally healthy children and adolescents remain limited, particularly for studies requiring full-body three-dimensional motion capture with synchronized ground reaction force data. Here we describe a laboratory dataset from 43 participants aged 13–18 years, containing more than 4,600 C3D motion-capture records and corresponding force-platform files across locomotor, obstacle-crossing, jumping, functional-screening, sit-to-stand, active range-of-motion, and simulated abnormal-gait tasks. The simulated abnormal-gait trials comprise genu-varum and stroke-like compensation conditions performed by healthy participants, rather than recordings of patients with gait pathology. These simulations have not been clinically validated and should not be used for pathological normative modeling or as diagnostic reference data; instead, they are intended as controlled movement-variation conditions for methodological development and benchmarking. Trial-level metadata, task-standardization tables, marker-label documentation, quality-control reports, manuscript tables, and reproducibility scripts accompany the dataset. The release is intended to support pediatric and adolescent movement research, sports biomechanics, clinical screening method development, musculoskeletal modeling, ground reaction force estimation, and machine-learning benchmarks, with key limitations for reuse documented in the Technical Validation and Usage Notes sections.

BACKGROUND:Physical inactivity is a critical global public health concern. While guidelines often focus on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, step-based targets are more feasible for contemporary lifestyles and provide a practical tool for clinicians and nurses to support patient education, lifestyle counseling, and long-term health management. However, evidence linking wearable device-measured daily steps to a broad spectrum of specific incident disease phenotypes remains limited. OBJECTIVE:To systematically examine the associations between accelerometer-derived daily step counts and the risk of more than 400 incident diseases. DESIGN:A prospective, population-based cohort study using a Phenome-Wide Association Study approach. SETTING:The UK Biobank, a large-scale resource with participants from England, Wales, and Scotland. PARTICIPANTS:We included 61,047 to 69,853 UK Biobank participants providing a full week of acceleration data between 2013 and 2015. METHODS:Daily steps were calculated using the validated Verisense algorithm from seven-day accelerometer data. Disease phenotypes were derived from electronic health records and categorized via Phecode Map v1.2 based on standard International Classification of Disease, 10th revision codes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze 435 disease phenotypes (grouped by Phecodes) with ≥120 events. Models were adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, smoking, alcohol, body mass index, deprivation, and self-reported health. Dose-response relationships were explored using restricted cubic splines. RESULTS:During a median follow-up of 7.9 years, an increase of 5000 steps/day was associated with a lower risk of 64 incident diseases (HR range: 0.57 to 0.95). The strongest inverse associations were observed for type 2 diabetes (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76-0.84), acute renal failure (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.78-0.86), Parkinson's disease (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.49-0.67), essential hypertension (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.91-0.95), and cholelithiasis (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.71-0.83). For these conditions, the minimum dose for substantial benefit ranged from 8697 to 13,240 steps/day. Conversely, five conditions showed higher risk with increased steps, primarily musculoskeletal issues like internal derangement of the knee (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.23) and osteoarthrosis (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.24). The remaining 366 disease phenotypes showed no significant associations. CONCLUSIONS:Higher daily step counts are associated with a 5% to 43% lower risk for a wide array of diseases across the human phenome. These findings support the use of step-based metrics as a simple, effective tool for clinical monitoring and health promotion, providing accessible alternatives to traditional intensity-based physical activity guidelines and offering potential applications for healthcare professionals in patient counseling and lifestyle management.

This exploratory pilot study aimed to compare gait performance and sensorimotor cortical oxygenation during level overground walking between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and children with typical development (TD), and to examine relationship between gait parameters and cortical activation. Eight children with spastic CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I–II; age 13.88 ± 1.25 years) and eight age-matched children with TD (age 13.75 ± 1.49 years) were recruited. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were obtained using a 12-camera motion capture system during 10 m overground walking at a self-selected speed. Changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (ΔHbO₂) over predefined bilateral sensorimotor regions of interest were recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Group differences in gait outcomes were analysed using Mann–Whitney U tests, while fNIRS outcomes were analysed using independent-samples t-tests. Associations between ΔHbO₂ and gait parameters were examined using Spearman correlation analysis with false discovery rate correction. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Compared with children with TD, children with CP showed significantly longer stride time, slower gait speed and shorter stride length, whereas no significant difference was found in stride width. ΔHbO₂ in the bilateral sensorimotor cortices (SMC) was significantly higher in children with CP than in children with TD. In the CP group, stride width was significantly negatively correlated with left SMC, whereas none of the other gait results were significantly correlated with SMC activation parameters. In the TD group, gait speed and stride length were positively correlated with left SMC, with no significant correlations observed for other gait parameters. These findings reflect the distinctive characteristics of cortical activation and its association with gait performance in children with CP, providing a theoretical basis for the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies.

Stair descent in high heels is risky for young women. Existing studies have focused on level walking, but research on stair descent biomechanics with different heel heights is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of heel heights on the biomechanical parameters of the lower limbs, joint stiffness and work pattern in young women during stair descent. Twenty-five young women walked downstairs wearing high heels heights (1 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, and 7 cm). Kinematic and kinetic data of the lower limb joints were synchronously collected using the Vicon infrared motion capture system and AMTI force plates. The ankle stiffness decreased at 3 cm (P = 0.035), 5 cm (P < 0.001) and 7 cm (P < 0.001), compared with a heel height of 1 cm. The ankle joint net work significantly decreased at 7 cm compared with 1 cm (P = 0.017) and 3 cm (P = 0.003). The work contribution of the ankle joint significantly decreased at 7 cm compared with 1 cm (P = 0.017) and 3 cm (P = 0.003). Young women wearing 7 cm heels significantly affected ankle biomechanics during stair descent, reducing ankle net work, work contribution, and stiffness. Therefore, it is recommended that young women prioritize footwear with heel heights below 7 cm during stair descent.

Sarcopenia emerges as a predominant health concern among the older adults, it makes the identification of relational factors crucial. Nut, a universally consumed dietary component, is posited to confer benefits to the musculoskeletal system. This study aimed to elucidate the association between nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults. Data concerning nut consumption and sarcopenia were sourced from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The analysis incorporated 14,281 participants furnishing valid responses. This research employed logistic regression to investigate the association between nut consumption and sarcopenia. A total of 14,181 older adults (mean age = 84.86 ± 11.47 years and 55.08% were female) were included in this study. This study found an inverse association between nut consumption and sarcopenia in Chinese older adults, with higher nut consumption associated with a lower prevalence of sarcopenia, even after controlling for confounders. Compared with the nut consumption group of occasionally/rarely or never, the adjusted ORs of sarcopenia for at least once per month, at least once per week, and almost every day were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.91), 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69, 0.95), and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.77), respectively. Moreover, the result also displayed there is a significant interaction of nut consumption with gender (P-value = 0.016). This study identified an inverse association between nut consumption and sarcopenia. Introducing nut into the dietary regimen might present an accessible approach to bolster musculoskeletal health among the older adults.

To ascertain whether COVID-19 infection affects sperm quality and measure the scale of the effects. A cross sectional study and a longitudinal study were conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (from September 7th 2022 to late January 2023) in China. 604 patients participated in the cross sectional study; 140 in the longitudinal study with 149 unaffected natural controls. The cross sectional study included participants who produce semen sample after COVID-19. The longitudinal study included COVID-19 positive participants who could provide semen samples before and after the infection. In addition, patients unaffected by the infection who could provide two consecutive semen samples over the same period were included as controls for the longitudinal study. Conventional sperm quality parameters including sperm count, motility, morphology and more recent parameters such as sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and sperm chromatin immaturity were observed. In the cross sectional study, the exposure group demonstrated significantly lower total sperm count (159.58 × 106 vs. 185.42 × 106, P = 0.042), lower percentage of grade A sperms (5.37% vs. 8.45%, P = 0.009), lower progressive motility (24.74 ± 14.96% vs. 28.73 ± 16.65%, P = 0.023), lower total motility (32.04 ± 18.03% vs. 36.91 ± 20.86%, P = 0.022), and higher sperm DFI (17.50% vs. 11.75%, P = 0.030) than the controls. In the longitudinal study, after the infection, patients showed lower total sperm count (131.80 × 106 vs. 173.63 × 106, Δd = -20.49 × 106, P = 0.018 ), lower percentage of grade A sperms ( 2.61% vs. 8.50%, Δd = -3.18%, P < 0.001), lower progressive motility (19.82 ± 13.68% vs. 24.88 ± 14.97%, Δd = -5.07 ± 11.94%, P < 0.001) and lower total motility (26.64 ± 17.35% vs. 32.25 ± 18.69%, Δd = -5.62 ± 14.30%, P < 0.001) and higher DFI (32.10 ± 21.30% vs. 26.49 ± 18.54%, Δd = 5.61 ± 13.71%, P < 0.039) than before the infection, while the negative controls showed the opposite changes. Finally, in the longitudinal study, after the infection, 59.29% of the COVID-19 positive patients showed deteriorated sperm concentration, 57.86% deteriorated total sperm count, 71.43% Grade A sperm, 65.00% progressive motility, 69.29% total motility, and 75.00% sperm DFI, while the changes in negative controls were all less than 40% (P < 0.002). COVID-19 was associated with poor sperm quality. The findings would be useful for clinicians to manage men with fertility problems who suffered COVID-19.

BACKGROUND:The medication patterns and trends among bipolar disorder patients in mainland China remain unclear. This study, as the first attempt in northeast China, is designed to clarify the medication patterns and elucidate medication trends of bipolar disorder patients from 2013 to 2022. METHODS:The study included 1812 bipolar disorder patients from a large psychiatric center who received treatment from 2013 to 2022. We examined the episode types of patients and medications for treatment of bipolar disorder, including lithium, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and sedative-hypnotics. Trends of episode types, medication, and combinations were analyzed using the Cochran-Armitage Trend test. Patterns of medication use were analyzed using the association rule mining method. RESULTS:Among the patients, manic/hypomanic episode accounted for 63.11 % to 75.39 % from 2013 to 2022. Antipsychotics had the highest usage rate (2022: 97.84 %) and showed a significant increasing trend. Lithium had the lowest usage rate (2022: 7.91 %), with no significant trend. Furthermore, combination therapy, particularly three medications, was the major treatment regimen. The proportion of patients receiving combination therapy involving three types of medications ranged from 46.07 % to 64.03 %. The most common pattern for manic/hypomanic patients was sedative-hypnotics + anticonvulsants + antipsychotics, whereas the preferred medication pattern for depressive patients was antipsychotics + antidepressants + sedative-hypnotics. CONCLUSIONS:In China, manic/hypomanic episodes remained the predominant episode type. Combination therapy, particularly with three medications, was most commonly used for treatment of bipolar disorder patients and the patterns were episode-specific. Lithium remained the least commonly prescribed medication for both episode types.

Background This study aimed to explore the lower limb coordination and brain activation in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) during walking, and to investigate their relationship. Methods 8 adolescents with spastic CP were recruited as the CP group and 8 typically developing (TD) adolescents as the control group. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and the Vicon motion capture system were used to collect hemodynamic signals and kinematic data during walking, respectively. Results The mean absolute value of the continuous relative phase (MACRP) values of hip-knee joint was lower but deviation phase (DP) values of hip-knee and knee-ankle joints was higher. The activation levels of the supplementary motor area (SMA), the pre-central gyrus (PRG), the post-central gyrus (POG), and the superior parietal lobe (SPL) were higher. The DP of hip-knee joint was positively correlated with the SPL (channels 9,18) and right POG (channel 17), whereas the DP of the knee-ankle joint was positively correlated with the right POG (channel 17). In the control group, the MACRP of knee-ankle joint was positively correlated with the right PRG and POG (channel 15). The DP of hip-knee joint was positively correlated with the right SMA (channel 12) but negatively correlated with the left SPL (channel 9). Conclusion Adolescents with CP exhibit a higher variability in hip-knee and knee-ankle joints in the coordination patterns and greater demand for activation of the sensorimotor cortex during walking. The over-activation of the parietal cortex may lead to increased variability in the coordination patterns of individuals with CP.

AIMS:Multimorbidity, especially physical-mental multimorbidity, is an emerging global health challenge. However, the characteristics and patterns of physical-mental multimorbidity based on the diagnosis of mental disorders in Chinese adults remain unclear. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2004 to April 2005 among 13,358 adults (ages 18-65years) residing in Liaoning Province, China, to evaluate the occurrence of physical-mental multimorbidity. Mental disorders were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (version 1.0) with reference to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd Edition Revised), while physical diseases were self-reported. Physical-mental multimorbidity was assessed based on a list of 16 physical and mental morbidities with prevalence ≥1% and was defined as the presence of one mental disorder and one physical disease. The chi-square test was used to calculate differences in the prevalence and comorbidity of different diseases between the sexes. A matrix heat map was generated of the absolute number of comorbidities for each disease. To identify complex associations and potential disease clustering patterns, a network analysis was performed, constructing a network to explore the relationships within and between various mental disorders and physical diseases. RESULTS:Physical-mental multimorbidity was confirmed in 3.7% (498) of the participants, with a higher prevalence among women (4.2%, 282) than men (3.3%, 216). The top three diseases with the highest comorbidity rate and average number of comorbidities were dysphoric mood (86.3%; 2.86), social anxiety disorder (77.8%; 2.78) and major depressive disorder (77.1%; 2.53). A physical-mental multimorbidity network was visually divided into mental and physical domains. Additionally, four distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified: 'Affective-addiction', 'Anxiety', 'Cardiometabolic' and 'Gastro-musculoskeletal-respiratory', with the digestive-respiratory-musculoskeletal pattern being the most common among the total sample. The affective-addiction pattern was more prevalent in men and rural populations. The cardiometabolic pattern was more common in urban populations. CONCLUSIONS:The physical-mental multimorbidity network structure and the four patterns identified in this study align with previous research, though we observed notable differences in the proportion of these patterns. These variations highlight the importance of tailored interventions that address specific multimorbidity patterns while maintaining broader applicability to diverse populations.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of heel height on patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS) in young women during stair descent. A total of 25 healthy females were recruited. They were instructed to descend a six-step staircase while wearing heeled shoes of different heel heights: flat heel (1 cm), low heel (3 cm), medium heel (5 cm), and high heel (7 cm). Then, PFJS was calculated using kinematic and kinetic data obtained from a biomechanical model of the patellofemoral joint. Compared with the flat heel condition, the high, medium, and low heel conditions resulted in significant increases in peak PFJS (Phigh = 0.001, Pmedium < 0.001, Plow = 0.018), peak patellofemoral joint reaction force (PFJRF) (Phigh < 0.001, Pmedium < 0.001, Plow = 0.039), peak quadriceps force (Phigh < 0.001, Pmedium < 0.001, Plow = 0.026), and peak knee extensor moment (Phigh = 0.004, Pmedium < 0.001, Plow = 0.017); in addition, the knee flexion angle (Phigh < 0.001, Pmedium = 0.025) and patellofemoral joint contact area (Phigh < 0.001, Pmedium = 0.037) at the time of peak PFJS between the high and medium heel conditions showed a significant increase. The increase in PFJS was mainly driven by an increase in PFJRF, owing to increased knee extensor moments and knee flexion angle. Our findings support the premise that wearing high-heeled shoes with a height of 3 cm or more may be a contributing factor with respect to the development of patellofemoral pain.

The time-varying effective reproduction number Re(t) is essential for designing and adjusting public health responses. Retrospective analysis of Re(t) helps to evaluate health emergency capabilities. We conducted this study to estimate the Re(t) of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Shenyang, China. Data on the daily incidence of this Corona Virus Disease 2019 outbreak between March 5, 2022, and April 25, 2022, in Shenyang, China, were downloaded from the Nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System. Infector-infectee pairs were identified through epidemiological investigation. Re(t) was estimated by R-studio Package "EpiEstim" based on Bayesian framework through parameter and nonparametric method, respectively. About 1134 infections were found in this outbreak, with 20 confirmed cases and 1124 asymptomatic infections. Fifty-four infector-infectee pairs were identified and formed a serial interval list, and 15 infector-infectee pairs were included in the generation time table. Re(t) calculated by parameter and nonparametric method all peaked on March 17, 2022, with a value of 2.58 and 2.54 and decreased to <1 after March 28, 2022. There was no statistical difference in the Re(t) distribution calculated using the 2 methods (t = 0.001, P > .05). The present study indicated that the decisive response of Shenyang, China, played a significant role in preventing the spread of the epidemic, and the retrospective analysis provided novel insights into the outbreak response to future public health emergencies.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a 16-week Tai Chi practice on strength, tactile sensation, kinesthesia, and static postural control among older adults of different age groups. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. Thirteen participants aged 60-69 years (60-69yr), 11 aged 70-79 years (70-79yr), and 13 aged 80-89 years (80-89yr) completed 16 weeks of 24-form Tai Chi practice. Their ankle and hip peak torque, tactile sensation, ankle and knee kinesthesia, and the root mean square of the center of pressure (Cop-RMS) were measured before (week 0) and after (week 17) practice. Results: 80-89yr showed less ankle plantar/dorsiflexion and hip abduction peak torques (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p = 0.001), and a greater ankle plantar/dorsiflexion kinesthesia (p < 0.001, p = 0.002) than 60-69yr and 70-79yr. Greater ankle plantar/dorsiflexion and hip abduction torques (p = 0.011, p < 0.001, p = 0.045), improved arch and heel tactile sensation (p = 0.040, p = 0.009), and lower knee flexion/extension kinesthesia (p < 0.001, p = 0.044) were observed at week 17. The significant group*practice interaction for the fifth metatarsal head tactile sensation (p = 0.027), ankle plantar/dorsiflexion kinesthesia (p < 0.001, p = 0.004), and the CoP-RMS in the mediolateral direction (p = 0.047) only in 80-89yr revealed greater improvement at week 17. Conclusion: Tai Chi practice increased strength, tactile sensation, kinesthesia, and static postural control among older adults. Tai Chi practice improved tactile, kinesthesia sensations, and static postural control among older adults over 80, who presented with worse strength and kinesthesia than their younger counterparts. Tai Chi practice offers a safe exercise option for those aged over 80 to encourage improvements in sensorimotor control.

OBJECTIVE:This study investigated the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the frontal ankle motor control in individuals with chronic ankle instability during drop landing. DESIGN:This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Thirty-six individuals with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to each group. Participants received 6-wk neuromuscular electrical stimulation intervention and sham stimulation in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation and control groups, respectively. Data were collected at week 0 and week 6 . A mixed-effects model and analysis of covariance were employed to investigate the between-group differences in continuous and discrete outcome variables at week 6 , with the outcome variables at week 0 as covariates. RESULTS:Compared to control group, neuromuscular electrical stimulation group exhibited a 2.66° (2.45, 2.86) reduction in frontal ankle inversion angle, a 47.41°/sec (-16.05, -78.77) decrease in peak ankle inversion angular velocity, and a 0.43 Nm/kg (0.18, 0.68) increase in peak ankle eversion moment during drop landing at week 6 . CONCLUSIONS:Applying 6-wk neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the fibularis longus resulted in decreased ankle inversion angle and ankle inversion angular velocity and increased peak ankle eversion moment during drop landing. Consequently, neuromuscular electrical stimulation could be considered an effective modality for individuals with chronic ankle instability to enhance the frontal ankle movement patterns and overall ankle motor control.

Abstract Objective Self-rated health (SRH) has been documented as an important predictor of quality of life among the elderly and its risk factors are vision-specific among elderly males. The aim of this study was to clarify vision-specific risk factors to SRH among elderly females without dementia in Chinese urban areas. Methods From March to November 2012, 2147 elderly women in Liaoning Province of China were selected using a stratified sampling method. After cognitive screening, 1956 participants without dementia were finally enrolled. A questionnaire including SRH, visual ability and factors including demographic characteristics, physical conditions, lifestyle factors, social psychological status and social activities were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to clarify the association of SRH with risk factors, while stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the vision-specific associations with SRH. Results The mean age was 73.6 ± 5.82 (mean ± SD). The percentages of good SRH in good and impaired visual ability groups were 36.2% and 24.4%, respectively. Most characteristics between elderly females with different visual abilities were significantly different. Visual ability had interactions with physical conditions, lifestyle factors and social activities to affect SRH. Among elderly females with good visual ability, depressive symptoms, rather than chronic disease had the strongest association with good SRH followed by marital status, regular diet, going out alone to distant places, taking a walk, smoking and alcohol consumption. In the impaired visual ability group, going out alone to distant places had the strongest association with good SRH followed by chronic disease, filial piety, taking a walk, participating in entertainment, ethnicity, quality of sleep, worrying about falling and alcohol consumption. Conclusions Good SRH status was at a low level especially among elderly females with impaired visual ability and the risk factors differed between elderly females with different visual abilities. Social psychological status was crucial for SRH among elderly females with good visual ability whereas physical conditions were prominent for impaired visual ability group.