Hindlimb stretching alters locomotor function after spinal cord injury in the adult rat.

Background: Stretching is a widely accepted standard-of-care therapy following spinal cord injury (SCI) that has not been systematically studied in animal models.

Objective: To investigate the influence of a daily stretch-based physical therapy program on locomotor recovery in adult rats with moderate T9 contusive SCI.

Methods: A randomized treatment and control study of stretching in an animal model of acute SCI.

A molecular technique for the detection and differentiation of Demodex mites on cats.

Background: Demodex gatoi causes a pruritic dermatitis in cats. Diagnosis requires the demonstration of mites using superficial skin scrapings or faecal flotation, which can be insensitive.

Hypothesis/objectives: The goal of this study was to develop a molecular method to diagnose D.