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05). In the walking variables, the step length difference changes after training between the two groups showed a significant difference (p less then .05). In the experimental group, the step length difference increased after the intervention compared to that before the intervention (+4.55 cm), whereas that of the control group decreased (-1.25 cm). Significance In severe stroke patients, underwater gait training can be effective for improving balancing ability, but it may be less effective on the improvement of gait function than overground walking. Clinical trial registration number KCT0002587 (https//cris.nih.go.kr).Background Human babies are carried by their caregivers during infancy, and the use of ergonomic aids to wear the baby on the body has recently grown in popularity. However, the effects of wearing or holding a baby in-arms on an individual's mechanics during gait and a common object retrieval task are not fully understood. Research question What are the differences in 1) spatiotemporal, lower extremity kinematics, and ground reaction force variables during gait, and 2) technique, center of mass motion, and kinematics during an object retrieval task between holding and wearing an infant mannequin? Methods In this prospective biomechanics study, 10 healthy females performed over-ground walking and an object retrieval task in three conditions, holding (1) nothing (unloaded), (2) an infant mannequin in-arms, and (3) an infant mannequin in a baby carrier. Mechanics were compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Results During gait, greater vertical ground reaction force and impulse and braking force was found during the in-arms and carrier conditions compared to unloaded. Significant but small ( less then 5°) differences were found between conditions in lower extremity kinematics. Increased back extension was found during carrier and in-arms compared to unloaded. Step length was the only spatiotemporal parameter that differed between conditions. During object retrieval, most participants used a squatting technique to retrieve the object from the floor. They maintained a more upright posture, with less trunk flexion and anteroposterior movement of their center of mass, and also did not try to fold forward over their hips during the two loaded conditions. Lower extremity kinematics did not differ between unloaded and carrier, suggesting that babywearing may promote more similar lower extremity mechanics to not carrying anything. Significance Holding or wearing an infant provides a mechanical constraint that impacts the forces and kinematics, which has implications for caregivers' pain and dysfunction.Background Previous studies have reported good test-retest reliability for peak knee adduction moment (KAM) during walking. However, reliability of other KAM measurements has not been established. Research question What is the test-retest reliability of peak KAM, KAM impulse, and KAM loading rate measurements during walking in knee-healthy individuals? Methods Data from 32 knee-healthy participants were analysed in this test-retest reliability study. Various KAM measurements were reported for two sessions with kinematic and kinetic data obtained from a motion capture system synchronised with force plates, with a median of 1 week between sessions. Results For all KAM measures, intra-class correlation coefficients were above 0.90 and their lower bound 95 % confidence limits exceeded 0.81. However, absolute measurement variability differed across measures, with normalized SEM (8 %-15 %), normalized MDC95 (20 %-40 %), intra-session MAD (10 %-18 %), and inter-session MAD (12 %-22 %) varying over a 2-fold range. Overall and first peak KAM, KAM impulse over 50 % stance, and KAM loading rate (15 frame window) showed ≤10 % and ≤15 % intra- and inter-session MAD, respectively. Significance This study provided previously undefined test-retest reliability estimates for various KAM measures during walking. Researchers and clinicians should not assume that the various aspects of the KAM curve share similar reliability.Background Dynamic balance control degrades during pregnancy, but it is not yet understood why. Mechanical aspects of the body should directly affect walking balance control, but we have recently published papers indicating that weight gains during pregnancy explain very little dynamic balance changes. Our goal was to determine if lower extremity joint kinematic changes are an indicator of walking balance control. This information is vital to understanding the route by which pregnancy increases fall risk. Methods Twenty-three pregnant women were tested at five different times in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. Participants performed walking trials at a self-selected pace. Motion capture was used to measure joint kinematics (discrete and coordination variables) and body center of mass motion. Changes over time were statistically analyzed. Correlations between kinematics and walking balance were modelled with hierarchical multiple regression models. Results As pregnancy progresses, it appears that a more flexed hip posture could be driving lower extremity kinematic changes toward increased coordination between joints and increased knee and ankle motions. Walking balance changes were also detected through increased COM motion (lateral range of motion and velocity) in the lateral directions. However, there was little correlation between kinematic and balance changes (r2 0.7). Significance Our findings suggest that walking balance control is not altered by a common kinematic change between all pregnant women. While increased lateral center of mass motion should be expected with pregnancy, the kinematics leading to this increase may be person-specific. The cause of dynamic imbalance in each pregnant women (physiological, mechanical, and neurocognitive) may play an important role in determining the kinematic means by which lateral center of mass motion increases.Background Zinc deficiency is easily treated and has been associated with worse outcomes in hospitalized patients. Zinc testing is time-consuming and relatively costly. We identified every zinc level measured at our teaching hospital and quantified how much zinc variation is explained by other hospital factors. Methods We linked tables from our hospital data warehouse from 1996 to 2019 to identify all patients who had at least 1 serum zinc measured during their admission. We determined the status of factors that could influence zinc levels including severity of illness, presence of bleeding or inflammation, and factors influencing zinc absorption. Results We identified only 318 adult patients having zinc measurement during their hospitalization. Selleckchem Ruboxistaurin Patients were elderly (median age 71 [IQR 56-78]) and arrived by ambulance 45% of the time. Zinc was measured a median of 5 days into the hospitalization (IQR 3-13) with 154 (51.6%) recording a low level. Almost half of patients were missing at least one covariable laboratory test.