[Purpose] This study aims to provide information on safe walker-aided walking by analyzing elderly subjects’ walking with a walker pocket of different weights attached at different locations. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty elderly right-handed males participated in the study, and a walking analyzer was used to examine their walking with a pocket attached to the left, center, and right side of the walker. The weight of the pocket was set at three levels relative to the average weight of the subject group: 0% (without pocket), 2.5% (2 kg), and 5.5% (4 kg). [Results] In terms of the pocket location, step width was the narrowest when the pocket was attached to the right side, while the other elements of walking did not change. In terms of the pocket weight, all elements of walking showed changes. A heavier pocket led to a shorter step length and stride, a greater step width, and longer time. [Conclusion] When elderly people use a pocket-attached walker, the pocket is recommended to be attached to the right side of the walker, and its weight should be kept under 5.5% of the user’s weight to ensure safe walking.

A synthetic method for 2-bromoimidazoles is developed from Rh-catalyzed cyclization of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles with bromocyanides. Cu-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition followed by Rh-catalyzed cyclization starting from alkynes, N-sulfonylazides, and bromocyanides is also demonstrated for de novo synthesis of 2-bromoimidazoles in one pot. Moreover, this work was successfully employed to introduce diverse functional groups to the 2-position of imidazoles via cross-coupling reaction.

Synthesis of 2-Bromoimidazoles from Alkynes, N-Sulfonylazides, and Bromocyanides. -The title compounds are obtained by Rh-catalyzed cyclization of triazoles with bromocyanide (II). The one-pot synthesis of the title compounds by Cu-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition followed by Rh-catalyzed cyclization starting from alkynes, N-sulfonylazides, and bromocyanide is also demonstrated. Furthermore, the imidazoles are successfully employed in cross-coupling reactions to introduce diverse functional groups to position C-2 of the imidazoles. -(LEE, E.; RYU, T.; SHIN, E.; SON, J.-Y.; CHOI, W.; LEE*, P. H.; Org. Lett. 17 (2015) 10, 2470-2473, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.5b00977 ; Dep. Chem., Kangwon Natl. Univ., Chuncheon 200-701, S. Korea; Eng.) -H. Toeppel 38-144

The research subjects included 10 male adults and 10 elderly people. The subjects used a twowheeled walker for the walking analysis, and a firm velcro-type pocket that can be attached to the walker aid was used for weight loading. The size of the external loads was set at 2kg, which corresponds to approximately 2.5% of the mean body weight of the subjects. The pocket was attached to the left, center, and right sides of the walker aid. Stride length, stride, step width, and time were investigated according to the location change.RESULTS: No statistical differences were observed in all the walking factors among the adults and elderly people regardless of the changes in the location of the walker pocket.