Flexibility of the shoulder joint measured as range of abduction in a large representative sample of men and women over 65 years of age

In a representative survey of 1000 elderly men and women aged over 65 years living in their own homes, assessments have been made of flexibility measured as range of shoulder abduction in addition to health status, psychological well-being and reported customary activity. The results for shoulder abduction were approximately normally distributed and the mean values (+/- 1 standard deviation) were as follows: - in men aged 65-74 years, 129 (+/- 14) degrees and aged over 74 years, 121 (+/- 19) degrees; in women aged 65-74 years, 124 (+/- 19) degrees and aged over 74 years, 114 (+/- 22) degrees. These mean values are about 30 degrees less than those accepted for younger subjects. Nearly half the distribution falls below the accepted threshold level of 120 degrees for adequate function. There were significant effects of sex and age (P less than 0.001); women had poorer flexibility and the reduction with age amounted to 10 degrees per decade. Multiple regression analysis showed that the effect of age was accounted for in part by health, strength and customary use. The effects of use were most marked in those with some disability. This suggests that maintained or increased use could offset some of the age-related loss of the range of shoulder movement.     

Effect of Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera on plant growth and essential oil yield in Thymus vulgaris in vitro and in vivo experiments

Thymus vulgaris of family Lamiaceae is one of the most plants in pharmacy industries. In this study effect of Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera on growth and development plant, yield and composition of the essential oil in a completely randomized design were evaluated in vitro and in pot culture experiments. Plants were studied by means of plant height, shoot fresh and dry weights, number of shoots, root length, root fresh and dry weights and essential oil analyses. The oil was extracted from the dry matter of shoots by hydro distillation, and their composition was determined by GC/MS. In vitro and in vivo cultures showed that plant height and root length increased in pots inoculated with S. vermifera and P. indica. Maximum fresh and dry weight (shoot and root), number of shoots were observed in pots inoculated with P. indica. In thyme inoculated with S. vermifera and P. indica oil yield increased as compared to non-inoculated control plants. GC and GC/MS revealed that the level of thymol was enhanced as the effect of S. vermifera and P. indica.     

Diazinon-induced ulcerative keratitis in C57bl/6 mice

As a well-known organophosphate insecticide, diazinon (DZN) has been used for several decades in agriculture. The major signs of ophthalmic toxicity of DZN have been reported to be cholinergic overstimulation (lacrimation, myosis). Here, we report, for the first time, ulcerative keratitis in C57bl/6 mice secondary to sub-acute exposure to DZN. Four groups of female C57bl/6 mice were administered intraperitoneally either DZN (1, 5, 25 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 14 consecutive days. Then, histopathological examinations on mice eyes were performed using light microscope and scored for corneal keratitis. Furthermore, blood cholinesterase activity, and hematologic examinations were performed. Data indicated a significant ulcerative keratitis with prompt vision loss in mice exposed to 25 and 5 mg/kg/day (P < 0.05) doses. These results suggest that diazinon might induce ulcerative keratitis secondary to its immunosuppresive effects at high doses in C57bl/6 mice.