Watkinsivey0373
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases, as well as for the regeneration and healing of burns and wounds. MSCs have an immunomodulatory effect and influence the phenotype and functions of immune cells, including macrophages, which in turn prime and license the MSCs. We discuss the new findings on the feedback loop between MSCs and macrophages and its consequences on the outcome of MSC therapies.The notions of positional information and positional value describe the role of cell position in cell development and pattern formation. Despite their frequent usage in literature, their definitions are blurry, and are interpreted differently by different researchers. Through reflection on previous definitions and usage, and analysis of related experiments, we propose three clear and verifiable criteria for positional information/value. Then we reviewed literature on molecular mechanisms of cell development and pattern formation, to search for a possible molecular basis of positional information/value, including those used in theoretical models. We conclude that although morphogen gradients and cell-to-cell contacts are involved in the pattern formation process, complete molecular explanations of positional information/value are still far from reality.
The objectives of this study were to describe sitting, standing, and stepping patterns for people with lower limb amputation (LLA) and to compare sitting, standing, and stepping between people with dysvascular LLA and people with traumatic LLA.
Participants with dysvascular or traumatic LLA were included if their most recent LLA was at least 1 year earlier, they were ambulating independently with a prosthesis, and they were between 45 and 88 years old. Sitting, standing, and stepping were measured using accelerometry. Daily sitting, standing, and stepping times were expressed as percentages of waking time. Time spent in bouts of specified durations of sitting (<30, 30-60, 60-90, and >90 minutes), standing (0-1, 1-5, and >5 minutes), and stepping (0-1, 1-5, and >5 minutes) was also calculated.
Participants (N = 32; mean age = 62.6 [SD = 7.8] years; 84% men; 53% with dysvascular LLA) spent most of the day sitting (median = 77% [quartile 1 Q1-quartile 3 Q3 = 67%-84%]), followed by standing of physical therapy after LLA.
High levels of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity patterns may place people with LLA at greater mortality risk relative to the general population. Interventions to minimize sedentary behaviors and increase physical activity are potential strategies for improving poor outcomes of physical therapy after LLA.
Limited data exists on the disease course of Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) to guide clinical trial design.
A prospective database of patients meeting NF2 diagnostic criteria, reviewed between 1990-2020, was evaluated. Follow-up to first vestibular schwannoma (VS) intervention and death was assessed by univariate analysis and stratified by age at onset, era referred and inheritance type. Interventions for NF2-related tumours were assessed. Cox regression was performed to determine the relationship between individual factors from time of diagnosis to NF2-related death.
Three-hundred-and-fifty-three patients were evaluated. selleckchem During 4643.1 follow-up years from diagnosis to censoring 60 patients (17.0%) died. The annual mean number of patients undergoing VS surgery or radiotherapy declined, from 4.66 and 1.65 respectively per 100 NF2 patients in 1990-1999 to 2.11 and 1.01 in 2010-2020, as the number receiving bevacizumab increased (2.51 per 100 NF2 patients in 2010-2020). Five patients stopped bevacizumab to remove growing meningioma or spinal schwannoma. 153/353 (43.3%) had at least one neurosurgical intervention/radiation treatment within 5 years of diagnosis. Patients asymptomatic at diagnosis had longer time to intervention and better survival compared to those presenting with symptoms. Those symptomatically presenting <16 and >40 years had poorer overall survival than those presenting at 26-39 years (P=0.03 and P=0.02 respectively) but those presenting between 16-39 had shorter time to VS intervention. Individuals with de novo constitutional variants had worse survival than those with de novo mosaic or inherited disease (P=0.004).
Understanding disease course improves prognostication, allowing for better informed decisions about care.
Understanding disease course improves prognostication, allowing for better informed decisions about care.
For people with ataxia, there are validated outcome measures to address body function and structure (BFS) impairments and participation; however, no outcome measure exists for upper extremity (UE) activity level in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the action research arm test (ARAT), a measure of UE activity validated for other neurological conditions, might be a useful outcome measure for capturing UE activity limitations in ataxia.
A total of 22 participants with ataxia were evaluated to assess construct validity of the ARAT; 19 of the participants were included in the interrater reliability assessment. Participants received a neurologic examination and completed a battery of outcome measures, including the ARAT. ARAT performance was video recorded and scored by 4 additional raters.
For construct validity, Spearman rho showed a significant moderate relationship between the ARAT and BSF outcome measures. A small, nonsignificant relationship was noted for the ARAT and to assess UE activity limitations to help design a treatment program.
People with ataxia may have difficulty with daily tasks that require reaching. The ARAT is an outcome measure that clinicians can use to assess UE activity limitations to help design a treatment program.
Serratus anterior (SA) muscle activation may be decreased with subacromial pain syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of real-time ultrasound (RTUS) visual feedback increased activation of SA in adults with painful shoulders in comparison to manual facilitation alone.
This assessor-blinded, 2-period, randomized cross-over trial was conducted in a university medical imaging laboratory. Adults with mild-moderate unilateral subacromial pain received both interventions in random order with at least 1-week washout between interventions. Fourteen participants were randomized to receive manual facilitation with RTUS first, and 13 were randomized to receive manual facilitation alone first. Fifteen repetitions of a supine ``serratus punch were facilitated by RTUS visual feedback with manual facilitation or by manual facilitation alone. Levels of SA activation via surface electromyography were normalized to a maximum voluntary isometric contraction.
A total of 25 participants completed the full trial of both interventions.
