Publications by authors named "D B Franz"
Objective: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) results from overactivity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Sirolimus and everolimus are mTOR inhibitors that treat most facets of TSC but are understudied in infants. We sought to understand the safety and potential efficacy of preventative sirolimus in infants with TSC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) targeting globus pallidus internus (GPi) is a recognised therapy for drug-refractory dystonia. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully understood. This study explores how pallidal DBS alters spatiotemporal pattern formation of neuronal dynamics within the cerebellar cortex in a dystonic animal model, the dt hamster.
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- Postoperative muscle weakness, particularly in quadriceps, affects gait biomechanics in patients after ACL reconstruction, but it's uncertain if this weakness hinders their ability to adjust their gait using real-time biofeedback.
- This study involved 35 individuals who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction and aimed to assess the relationship between quadriceps strength and their ability to modify vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) through a biofeedback intervention during walking trials.
- Results indicated no significant connection between quadriceps strength and the participants' ability to adjust their gait as measured by changes in peak vGRF, suggesting that achieving full quadriceps strength may not be essential to benefit from gait biofeedback after ACL reconstruction.
Metallic and nonmetallic nanoparticles are bioactive compounds that exhibit broad resistance to bacteria, fungi, and even viruses. In this paper, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) based on betaine, glucose, and ethylene glycol was used to obtain suspensions of silver, copper, and selenium nanoparticles. Depending on the nanoparticle precursor used, Ag, Cu, and Se nanoparticles (NPs) with an average particle size of 50-100 nm were prepared, and the properties of the products were confirmed by the STEM, XPS, DLS, and UV-VIS methods.
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- Epilepsy is common in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), and this study evaluates the effectiveness of cenobamate (CBM) as an additional treatment for seizures in this group.
- A review identified 54 patients treated with CBM, revealing that while many experienced a reduction in seizures, the rates of significant improvement (≥50% reduction) and complete seizure freedom were lower compared to other studies.
- Common side effects included sedation and gastrointestinal issues, suggesting further focus is needed on adjusting concurrent medications to improve treatment retention and outcomes.