A comparison of machine learning approaches for the quantification of microglial cells in the brain of mice, rats and non-human primates.

Microglial cells are brain-specific macrophages that swiftly react to disruptive events in the brain. Microglial activation leads to specific modifications, including proliferation, morphological changes, migration to the site of insult, and changes in gene expression profiles. A change in inflammatory status has been linked to many neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Characterisation of functional deficits induced by AAV overexpression of alpha-synuclein in rats.

Background: In the last decades different preclinical animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) have been generated, aiming to mimic the progressive neuronal loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) cells as well as motor and non-motor impairment. Among all the available models, AAV-based models of human alpha-synuclein (h-aSYN) overexpression are promising tools for investigation of disease progression and therapeutic interventions.

Objectives: The goal with this work was to characterise the impairment in motor and non-motor domains following nigrostriatal overexpression of h-aSYN and correlate the behavioural deficits with histological assessment of associated pathology.

Lateralized deficits after unilateral AAV-vector based overexpression of alpha-synuclein in the midbrain of rats on drug-free behavioral tests.

Background: Preclinical rodent models of Parkinson's aim to recapitulate some of the hallmarks of the disease as it presents in humans, including the progressive neuronal loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain as well as the development of a behavioral phenotype. AAV vector-based models of alpha-synuclein overexpression are a promising tool to achieve such animal models with high face and predictive validity.

Objective: We have developed a preclinical rodent model of Parkinson's disease using an AAV-vector based overexpression of human alpha-synuclein.

Development of postural stability in children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study.

The purpose was to investigate the effects of age on postural stability for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-nine children with mild ASD were assigned into one of the three groups: 6-8 years (U8), 9-11 years (U11) and 12-14 years (U14). Participants stood barefoot with both feet on a force platform and maintained stationary for 15 seconds during eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions.

Age-related gait development in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: A better understanding of gait development and asymmetries in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may improve the development of treatment programs and thus, patient outcomes.

Research Question: Does age affect walking kinematics and symmetry in children with ASD?

Method: Twenty-nine children (aged 6-14 years old) with mild ASD (level one) were recruited and assigned to one of the three groups based on their ages: 6-8 years (U8), 9-11 years (U11) and 12-14 years (U14). Walking kinematics were captured using an inertia measurement unit system placed bilaterally on participants' foot, lower leg, upper leg, upper arm, pelvis, and thoracic spine.