Prenatal Trimethyltin Exposure Induces Long-Term DNA Methylation Changes in the Male Mouse Hippocampus.

Trimethyltin (TMT) is an irreversible neurotoxicant. Because prenatal TMT exposure has been reported to induce behavioral changes, this study was conducted to observe gender differences and epigenetic changes using a mouse model. In behavioral testing of offspring at 5 weeks of age, the total times spent in the center, corner, or border zones in the male prenatal TMT-exposed mice were less than those of control unexposed mice in the open-field test.

Effect of Gait Training Program with Mechanical Exoskeleton on Body Composition of Paraplegics.

Purpose: To identify the effect of a 52-weeks gait training program with an exoskeletal body-powered gait orthosis on the body composition of paraplegics.

Patients And Methods: Ten subjects with spinal cord injury at the thoracolumbar spine level for more than 2 years participated and were divided into exercise (n=5) and nonexercise (n=5) groups. A gait training program comprising stages 1-6 with customized exoskeletal body-powered gait orthosis was conducted for 52-weeks.

Acute Valproate Exposure Induces Sex-Specific Changes in Steroid Hormone Metabolism in the Cerebral Cortex of Juvenile Mice.

Valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic and mood stabilizer, modulates neurotransmission and gene expression by inhibiting histone deacetylase activity. It is reported that VPA may affects the steroid hormone level. In this study, VPA-induced acute metabolic alterations were investigated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in prepubertal mice brain.

Evaluation of Calf Muscular Function During the Recovery Phase After the Repair of an Achilles Tendon Rupture.

During the recovery phase after the repair of an Achilles tendon rupture, measuring calf muscular function is important for predicting prognosis. Tensiomyography (TMG) is a selective and non-invasive diagnostic method for skeletal muscular contractile properties based on the displacement of the muscle belly. Tensiomyography gives information about maximal displacement of the muscle belly (Dm), delay time, contraction time (Tc), sustain time, and relaxation time.