Fourier Phase Analysis of Dynamic Antral Contraction Scintigraphy: New Software, Reference Values, and Comparisons to Conventional Gastric Emptying.

Dynamic antral contraction scintigraphy (DACS) has been used to evaluate for gastric dysmotility by measuring antral contraction frequency and ejection fraction (EF). Fourier phase image analysis has the potential to assess gastric antral contractions for dyssynchrony as has been used for analyzing nuclear cardiology ventriculography (multigated acquisition studies) for cardiac dyssynchrony. The aims of this study were to determine whether Fourier phase analysis helps to characterize antral motility physiology, whether Fourier phase analysis correlates with conventional gastric emptying scintigraphy (GES), and which DACS parameters may aid in diagnosing gastric dysmotility, particularly delayed gastric emptying (GE).

A permutation test for assessing the presence of individual differences in treatment effects.

An important goal of personalized medicine is to identify heterogeneity in treatment effects and then use that heterogeneity to target the intervention to those most likely to benefit. Heterogeneity is assessed using the predicted individual treatment effects framework, and a permutation test is proposed to establish if significant heterogeneity is present given the covariates and predictive model or algorithm used for predicted individual treatment effects. We first show evidence for heterogeneity in the effects of treatment across an illustrative example data set.

Acute hospital staff's attitudes towards dementia and perceived dementia knowledge: a cross-sectional survey in Ireland.

Background: Little is known about staff's attitudes in Irish acute hospital settings towards people living with dementia and their perceived dementia knowledge. The aim of this study was to understand the general level of dementia knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in different types of hospital staff, as well as to explore the potential influence of previous dementia training and experience (having a family member with dementia) and the potential moderating effects of personal characteristics. This data was required to plan and deliver general and targeted educational interventions to raise awareness of dementia throughout the acute services.

Assessing the impact of dementia inclusive environmental adjustment in the emergency department.

Objectives: Acute hospitals, in particular the emergency department, can be disorienting for people living with dementia. As part of a larger project to improve care for people living with dementia, dementia-inclusive modifications were made to two emergency department bays in a large acute care hospital in Ireland. Modifications to spatial configuration included noise reduction, altered lighting and the addition of an orientation aid and fixed seating for relatives.

Estimated Physical Activity in Adolescents by Wrist-Worn GENEActiv Accelerometers.

Background: Reports of physical activity (PA) measured via wrist-worn accelerometers in adolescents are limited. This study describes PA levels in adolescents at baseline of an obesity prevention and weight management trial.

Methods: Adolescents (n = 930) at 8 high schools wore an accelerometer for 7 days, with average acceleration values of <50 mg, >150 mg, and >500 mg categorized as sedentary, moderate, and vigorous PA, respectively.

Muscle synergies for predicting non-isometric complex hand function for commanding FES neuroprosthetic hand systems.

Objective: Myoelectric controlled neuroprostheses can restore hand function to mid-cervical level (C5/C6) paralyzed individuals through voluntary control. However restored functionality is limited due to the small number of available voluntary electromyographic (EMG) signals after paralysis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether dynamic hand function could be reduced to as few as three degrees of freedom using the time-invariant muscle synergy model thereby showing the feasibility of synergy-based neuroprosthetic control.

First-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-based compound binds to a pharmacologically distinct TRH receptor subtype in human brain and is effective in neurodegenerative models.

JAK4D, a first-in-class thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-based compound, is a prospective therapeutic candidate offering a multifaceted approach to treating neurodegeneration and other CNS conditions. The purpose of these studies was to determine the ability of JAK4D to bind to TRH receptors in human brain and to evaluate its neuropharmacological effects in neurodegenerative animal models. Additionally, JAK4D brain permeation was examined in mouse, and initial toxicology was assessed in vivo and in vitro.

Contributions to muscle force and EMG by combined neural excitation and electrical stimulation.

Objective: Stimulation of muscle for research or clinical interventions is often superimposed on ongoing physiological activity without a quantitative understanding of the impact of the stimulation on the net muscle activity and the physiological response. Experimental studies show that total force during stimulation is less than the sum of the isolated voluntary and stimulated forces, but the occlusion mechanism is not understood.

Approach: We develop a model of efferent motor activity elicited by superimposing stimulation during a physiologically activated contraction.

Informatics-assisted protein profiling in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

One of the causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is due to mutations in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1). The mutant protein exhibits a toxic gain of function that adversely affects the function of neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex. A proteomic analysis of protein expression in a widely used mouse model of ALS was undertaken to identify differences in protein expression in the spinal cords of mice expressing a mutant protein with the G93A mutation found in human ALS.

Selective recruitment of the triceps surae muscles with changes in knee angle.

The muscles of the triceps surae group are important for performance in most sports and in the performance of activities of daily life. In addition, hypertrophy and balance among these muscles are integral to success in bodybuilding. The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle utilization patterns of the 2 major muscles of the triceps surae group, the soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius (lateral head = LG and medial head = MG), and the tibialis anterior (TA) as an antagonist muscle to the group.