Sensorimotor outcomes in adrenomyeloneuropathy show significant disease progression.

Current outcomes used to evaluate adrenomyeloneuropathy are limited by rater bias, not sensitive to preclinical changes, and require years to decades to detect disease progression. Quantitative outcomes are needed that detect meaningful change in a short time period over a broad range of disability. The study aim was to track sensorimotor outcomes in adults with adrenomyeloneuropathy and evaluate differences in progression between men and women.

Adapted Resistance Training Improves Strength in Eight Weeks in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.

Hip weakness is a common symptom affecting walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is known that resistance strength training (RST) can improve strength in individuals with MS, however; it remains unclear the duration of RST that is needed to make strength gains and how to adapt hip strengthening exercises for individuals of varying strength using only resistance bands. This paper describes the methodology to set up and implement an adapted resistance strength training program, using resistance bands, for individuals with MS.

A home balance exercise program improves walking in people with cerebellar ataxia.

Background: Physical therapy intervention is the primary treatment for gait ataxia and imbalance in individuals with cerebellar damage. Our aim was to determine if a home balance exercise program is feasible for improving locomotor and balance abilities in these individuals.

Methods: A total of 14 patients with cerebellar ataxia participated in a 6-week individualized home-based balance exercise program and attended 5 testing sessions (2 pretraining, 1 midtraining, 1 posttraining, and 1 one-month follow-up visit).

Strength: a relevant link to functional performance in the neurodegenerative disease of adrenomyeloneuropathy.

Background: With progressive abnormalities in leg strength, tone, and sensation, adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) is a differential diagnosis for multiple sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraparesis. AMN pathology has been linked to weakness, making it a relevant model to evaluate the relationship between neurodegeneration and disability. Quantifying symptom severity in AMN is essential for treatment development in rehabilitative management.

Relationship of androgens to body composition, energy and substrate metabolism and aerobic capacity in healthy, young women.

Objective: To evaluate the role of physiologic levels of androgens and their precursors in the regulation of body composition, energy and substrate metabolism and aerobic capacity in healthy, cycling, premenopausal women.

Experimental: We evaluated 30 young (27±1 year) premenopausal, non-obese (23±0.5 kg/m(2)), normally-cycling women, without clinical or chemical evidence of hyperandrogenism or hyperinsulinemia, for parameters of total and regional body composition, glucose tolerance, aerobic capacity and resting energy expenditure and substrate oxidation.

Excellent embryo quality obtained from vitrified oocytes.

Oocyte vitrification has the potential to expand tremendously the reproductive options for women desiring fertility preservation. Indeed, the number of publications regarding the reliability and efficiency of oocyte vitrification has increased exponentially over the past decade. The application of the technique to standard reproductive technologies depends on not only oocyte survival, but also the developmental potential and clinical outcomes from the resultant embryos.

Can spasticity and dystonia be independently measured in cerebral palsy?

Selecting and evaluating appropriate treatments for children with cerebral palsy has been challenging. One difficulty is in the ability to quantify the presence and importance of coexisting motor signs. This study presents quantitative measures developed to assess spasticity and dystonia.

The consumer cost of calcium from food and supplements.

Nutritional authorities encourage consumers to include calcium-rich foods in their daily diets. However, consumer purchases are driven not only by health considerations and dietary preferences, but also by cost. This study assessed the cost of calcium from a wide variety of food sources, as well as supplements, based on retail prices in Seattle, San Francisco, Raleigh, NewYork City, and Washington, D.