Speed-dependent changes in the arm swing during independent walking in individuals after stroke.

Background: Increasing one's walking speed is an important goal in post-stroke gait rehabilitation. Insufficient arm swing in people post-stroke might limit their ability to propel the body forward and increase walking speed.

Purpose: To investigate the speed-dependent changes (and their contributing factors) in the arm swing of persons post-stroke.

Checks and balances: a meta-analysis on the known-groups validity of functional postural control tests in children.

Introduction: Pediatric physical therapists commonly treat children with postural control deficits. Ideally, pediatric functional postural control tests should therefore be able to identify postural control deficits in children with various disorders. Despite a plethora of available tests, evidence for their validity - especially known-groups - remains scarce.

Induction of Superior Systemic and Mucosal Protective Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 by Nasal Administration of a VSV-ΔG-Spike Vaccine.

The emergence of rapidly spreading variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a major challenge to vaccines' protective efficacy. Intramuscular (IM) vaccine administration induces short-lived immunity but does not prevent infection and transmission. New vaccination strategies are needed to extend the longevity of vaccine protection, induce mucosal and systemic immunity and prevent viral transmission.

Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI.

Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair.

Social responsiveness in children with developmental coordination disorder.

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in performing motor tasks. Research suggests social skills are also altered.

Objective: To investigate (1) whether the presence of DCD affects social responsiveness, (2) whether the co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects social responsiveness in children with DCD, and (3) whether there is an association between motor performance and social responsiveness in children with DCD.

Essential role for Batf3-dependent dendritic cells in regulating CD8 T-cell response during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits robust CD8 T-cell responses, yet the identity of the mechanisms playing dominant roles in initiating the virus-specific CD8 T-cell responses are largely unknown. In the present study, we interrogate the contribution of the cDC1 subset to SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T-cell immunity. For this purpose, we used a novel murine line which combines the SARS-CoV-2 susceptible K18-hACE2 transgenic and the Batf3 deficient mice which lack the cDC1 subset.

Identification of T-Cell Epitopes Using a Combined In-Silico and Experimental Approach in a Mouse Model for SARS-CoV-2.

Following viral infection, T-cells are crucial for an effective immune response to intracellular pathogens, including respiratory viruses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diverse assays were required in pre-clinical trials to evaluate the immune response following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and assess the response following exposure to the virus. To assess the nature and potency of the cellular response to infection or vaccination, a reliable and specific activity assay was needed.

Muscle morphology and architecture of the medial gastrocnemius between typically developing children with different ancestral background.

Muscle ultrasonography is frequently used to improve the understanding of musculoskeletal impairments in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). So far, most studies on muscle morphology and architecture have included typically developing children and children with SCP with similar ancestry, being mainly Caucasian. Less is known about differences in muscle morphology between children with different ancestral backgrounds.

Multichannel bridges and NSC synergize to enhance axon regeneration, myelination, synaptic reconnection, and recovery after SCI.

Regeneration in the injured spinal cord is limited by physical and chemical barriers. Acute implantation of a multichannel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) bridge mechanically stabilizes the injury, modulates inflammation, and provides a permissive environment for rapid cellularization and robust axonal regrowth through this otherwise inhibitory milieu. However, without additional intervention, regenerated axons remain largely unmyelinated (<10%), limiting functional repair.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition in metastatic uveal melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) has historically been associated with short survival and limited effective treatments. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been trialed in mUM; however, robust conclusions regarding their efficacy are difficult to draw given small study sizes and heterogeneous patient populations. Five databases were searched using a combination of 'ICI' and 'mUM' headings, and data on patient demographics, objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were extracted.

Electromyographic biofeedback-driven gaming to alter calf muscle activation during gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Background: Children with cerebral palsy often show deviating calf muscle activation patterns during gait, with excess activation during early stance and insufficient activation during push-off.

Research Question: Can children with cerebral palsy improve their calf muscle activation patterns during gait using one session of biofeedback-driven gaming?

Methods: Eighteen children (6-17 y) with spastic cerebral palsy received implicit game-based biofeedback on electromyographic activity of the calf muscle (soleus or gastrocnemius medialis) while walking on a treadmill during one session. Biofeedback alternately aimed to reduce early stance activity, increase push-off activity, and both combined.

The influence of wearing an ultrasound device on gait in children with cerebral palsy and typically developing children.

Background: Ultrasonography with motion analysis enables dynamic imaging of medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles and tendons during gait. This revealed pathological muscle-tendon dynamics in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) compared to typically developing (TD) children. However, wearing an ultrasound probe on the lower leg could interfere with gait and bias muscle length changes observed with ultrasound.

Reliability of 3D freehand ultrasound to assess lower limb muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy and typical development.

This study investigated the reliability of 3-dimensional freehand ultrasound (3DfUS) to quantify the size (muscle volume [MV] and anatomical cross-sectional area [aCSA]), length (muscle length [ML], tendon length [TL], and muscle tendon unit length [MTUL]), and echo-intensity (EI, whole muscle and 50% aCSA), of lower limb muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) and typical development (TD). In total, 13 children with SCP (median age 14.3 (7.

Associations between muscle morphology and spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Introduction: Due to the heterogeneous clinical presentation of spastic cerebral palsy (SCP), which makes spasticity treatment challenging, more insight into the complex interaction between spasticity and altered muscle morphology is warranted.

Aims: We studied associations between spasticity and muscle morphology and compared muscle morphology between commonly observed spasticity patterns (i.e.

Revising the stretch reflex threshold method to measure stretch hyperreflexia in cerebral palsy.

Hyper-resistance is an increased resistance to passive muscle stretch, a common feature in neurological disorders. Stretch hyperreflexia, an exaggerated stretch reflex response, is the neural velocity-dependent component of hyper-resistance, and has been quantitatively measured using the stretch reflex threshold (i.e.

Personalisation of Plantarflexor Musculotendon Model Parameters in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Neuromusculoskeletal models can be used to evaluate aberrant muscle function in cerebral palsy (CP), for example by estimating muscle and joint contact forces during gait. However, to be accurate, models should include representative musculotendon parameters. We aimed to estimate personalised parameters that capture the mechanical behaviour of the plantarflexors in children with CP and typically developing (TD) children.

Prolonged Protective Immunity Induced by Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection of K18-hACE2 Mice.

Longevity of the immune response following viral exposure is an essential aspect of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mild SARS-CoV-2 infection of K18-hACE2 mice was implemented for evaluating the mounting and longevity of a specific memory immune response. We show that the infection of K18-hACE2 mice induced robust humoral and cellular immunity (systemic and local), which persisted for at least six months.

Developmental Coordination Disorder before the Age of Three: A Longitudinal Retrospective Study in a Belgian Center for Developmental Disabilities.

This study aimed to explore the association between developmental coordination disorder (DCD) diagnosed after the age of three and both a standardized motor test—the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS)—and non-standardized observation of movement quality carried out before the age of three. Children at risk or with developmental concerns were studied retrospectively. Children were excluded in case of a diagnosis, excluding DCD, e.

The reliability of measuring medial gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit lengths during gait.

Background: Ultrasound imaging combined with 3D motion analysis allows for in-vivo assessment of muscle-tendon unit lengths during gait. The clinical relevance of analysing the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and Achilles muscle-tendon junction (MTJ), MG mid-muscle belly fascicles (FAS) and muscle thickness was shown. However, their reliability error estimations over the gait cycle is unknown.

Implementation of Adenovirus-Mediated Pulmonary Expression of Human ACE2 in HLA Transgenic Mice Enables Establishment of a COVID-19 Murine Model for Assessment of Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

HLA transgenic mice are instrumental for evaluation of human-specific immune responses to viral infection. Mice do not develop COVID-19 upon infection with SARS-CoV-2 due to the strict tropism of the virus to the human ACE2 receptor. The aim of the current study was the implementation of an adenovirus-mediated infection protocol for human ACE2 expression in HLA transgenic mice.

The Contribution of Decreased Muscle Size to Muscle Weakness in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Muscle weakness is a common clinical symptom in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). It is caused by impaired neural ability and altered intrinsic capacity of the muscles. To define the contribution of decreased muscle size to muscle weakness, two cohorts were recruited in this cross-sectional investigation: 53 children with SCP [median age, 8.

Reliability of Processing 3-D Freehand Ultrasound Data to Define Muscle Volume and Echo-intensity in Pediatric Lower Limb Muscles with Typical Development or with Spasticity.

This investigation assessed the processer reliability of estimating muscle volume and echo-intensity of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and semitendinosus. The muscles of 10 typically developing children (8.15 [1.

Mice with induced pulmonary morbidities display severe lung inflammation and mortality following exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Mice are normally unaffected by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection since the virus does not bind effectively to the murine version of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor molecule. Here, we report that induced mild pulmonary morbidities rendered SARS-CoV-2-refractive CD-1 mice susceptible to this virus. Specifically, SARS-CoV-2 infection after application of low doses of the acute lung injury stimulants bleomycin or ricin caused severe disease in CD-1 mice, manifested by sustained body weight loss and mortality rates greater than 50%.

Neutralizing Monoclonal Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Isolated from Immunized Rabbits Define Novel Vulnerable Spike-Protein Epitope.

Monoclonal antibodies represent an important avenue for COVID-19 therapy and are routinely used for rapid and accessible diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants emphasized the need to enlarge the repertoire of antibodies that target diverse epitopes, the combination of which may improve immune-diagnostics, augment the efficiency of the immunotherapy and prevent selection of escape-mutants. Antigen-specific controlled immunization of experimental animals may elicit antibody repertoires that significantly differ from those generated in the context of the immune response mounted in the course of disease.