Spinal mobility and back extensor strength (BES) are important in determining quality of life (QOL) for elderly people. However, the impact of spinal factors on falls remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify spinal factors related to falls in elderly people, including deformity of spinal curvature, spinal mobility and BES. Subjects comprised 92 elderly people divided into 3 groups: subjects without a history of falls or fear of falls (Non-falls group, n = 40); subjects with a history of fear of falls or requiring any support when walking (Fear of falls group, n = 36); and subjects with a history of falls (Falls group, n = 16). Kyphotic angles and mobility of the thoracic and/or lumbar spine, and spinal inclination were measured using a computer-assisted device. Postural imbalance was evaluated using a computerized stabilometer. Isometric BES was also measured. Angle of lumbar kyphosis, spinal inclination, and postural imbalance were significantly higher in the Falls group (p < 0.05) compared to those in the Non-falls group. Mobility of the lumbar spine and BES were significantly lower in the Falls group (p < 0.05) than in the Non-falls group. Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for age, gender, height, and body weight showed grip strength (p = 0.0028), BES (p = 0.0052), lumbar kyphosis (p = 0.0057), spinal inclination (p = 0.0378), mobility of lumbar spine (0.027), and mobility of spinal inclination (p = 0.0282) were significantly associated with presence/absence of falls in elderly individuals.

No abstract

No abstract

BackgroundCalcification of the yellow ligament sometimes compresses the spinal cord and can induce myelopathy. Usually, the calcification does not induce acute neck pain. We report a case of a patient with acute neck pain caused by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate in a calcified cervical yellow ligament.Case presentationA 70-year-old Japanese woman presented with acute neck pain. She had a moderately high fever (37.5 °C), and her neck pain was so severe that she could not move her neck in any direction. Computed tomography showed a high-density area between the C5 and C6 laminae suspicious for calcification of the yellow ligament. Magnetic resonance imaging showed intermediate-signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and high-signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging surrounding a low-signal region on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging with cord compression. There was a turbid, yellow fluid collection in the yellow ligament at the time of operation. Histologically, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals were found in the fluid, and she was diagnosed as having a pseudogout attack of the yellow ligament.ConclusionsPseudogout attack of the cervical yellow ligament is rare, but this clinical entity should be added to the differential diagnosis of acute neck pain, especially when calcification of the yellow ligament exists.

Abstract. The encephalographic (EEG) properties of zaleplon were investigated in comparison with those of other sedative hypnotics in conscious rats with chronically implanted electrodes. The oral administration of zaleplon (0.25 -1.0 mg / kg), triazolam (0.0625 -0.25 mg / kg), zopiclone (1.0 -4.0 mg/ kg), brotizolam (0.0625 -0.25 mg / kg), and nitrazepam (0.125 -0.5 mg / kg) lengthened the total sleep in a dose-dependent manner. On distribution of sleep-wakefulness stages, zaleplon, in particular, increased the slow wave deep sleep (SWDS), whereas triazolam, brotizolam, and nitrazepam increased the slow wave light sleep (SWLS) in a dose-dependent manner. Zopiclone significantly increased the SWDS at a dose of 2 mg / kg and both the SWLS and the SWDS at a dose of 4 mg / kg. All tested hypnotics caused no influence on fast wave sleep (FWS) at doses tested. The appearance of the sleep-inducing activity of zaleplon was more rapid than those of any compounds tested, and zaleplon significantly increased the relative EEG power density in the delta frequency band over that of triazolam at 20 and 30 min after the administration in the spectral analysis. Therefore, the present findings suggest that the non-benzodiazepine zaleplon can be expected to exhibit high practical potential as a hypnotic and is characterized by an increase in SWDS with rapid onset of hypnotic action.