This study aimed to compare body sway characteristics of the healthy elderly and the disordered elderly. The subjects were 38 healthy elderly and 24 disordered elderly with disequilibrium. The latter consisted of two groups: 12 elderly with vestibular organ or central nervous systems disorder (central nervous disorders), and 12 elderly with disorder in other systems (other disorders). The measurement device can calculate the center of foot pressure (CFP) of vertical loads from the values of three vertical load sensors, which are located at the corners of an isosceles triangle on a level surface. The data sampling frequency was 20 Hz. Four body sway factors with high reliability (unit time sway, frontback sway, left-right sway, and high frequency band power) were used to evaluate body sway. As compared with healthy people, central nervous disorders had larger unit time sway, high frequency band power, and left-right sway factors. Other disorders were larger in unit time sway and high frequency band power factors. Central nervous disorders, as compared with other disorders, had larger unit time sway and left-right sway factors. Disorders produced large and fast sway, and central nervous disorders in particular showed a marked sway in the left-right direction. The existence of disease influenced body sway more than decline in various functions related to posture control with aging, because even with the same elderly, disorders showed a larger body sway.

Purpose The present quasi experimental study investigated the efficacy of an exercise class at a community clinic for middle aged and elderly patients with lifestyle related diseases who were being treated at the clinic.Methods The study examined two groups of subjects an intervention group of 56 patients who participated in the exercise class and a control group of 56 outpatients matched with the intervention group for age, gender, and BMI. Lifestyle related disease indicators, physical activity, behavior modification stage, exercise induced changes in subjective symptoms, and change in lifestyle were assessed. Ranging from mild to moderate in intensity, the exercise regimen consisted primarily of aerobic exercises, with some resistance exercises. No restrictions were placed on number of repetitions or duration of exercise.Results Significant declines in BMI, blood pressure, and HbA 1c were observed in the intervention group. Physical activity for the intervention group increased by an average of 5.9 METs hours week. The subjects reported significant improvements in behavior modification stage and gave high marks for the exercise induced changes in subjective symptoms.Conclusions For middle aged and elderly patients with lifestyle related diseases, participation in an exercise class held at a community clinic visited periodically by the patients improved behavior modification stage, BMI, blood pressure, and HbA 1c . The results suggest that exercise classes held at community outpatient clinics visited at regular intervals by patients can be useful in improving lifestyle related diseases.Key words lifestyle related disease, middle aged and elderly, general internal medicine clinic, exercise class, physical activity 1 2

An 8-year-old boy who had undergone excision of the left appendix testis for torsion of the left appendix testis about one and a half years previously was brought to our department on February 18, 1991 because of right scrotal pain of 4 days' duration. Palpation revealed induration with tenderness of the superior portion of the right testicle. A scrotal ultrasonographic tomogram revealed a shadow probably representing an enlarged appendix testis. The patient was diagnosed as having torsion of the right appendix testis. There was refractory pain, and there was possibility of reactive epididymitis. So the patient underwent excision of the right appendix testis, two right appendices testis, which had enlarged to 5 mm in diameter were found, histopathological examination revealed slight bleeding and marked edema of the stroma, which may have been caused by torsion of the appendix testis. Scrotal pain subsided postoperatively. Bilateral torsion of the appendix testis is very uncommon, and our case is the 14th case reported. Torsion of the appendix testis occasionally develops. Torsion of the appendix testis occasionally develops bilaterally. When a small, tender mass at the superior pole of testis, torsion of the appendix testis should be considered.

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