Understanding the transmission routes of arboviruses is key to determining their epidemiology. Here, we tested whether West Nile viruses (WNVs) are transmitted through mosquito excreta. First, we observed a high concentration of infectious units per excreta, although viruses were short lived.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFunctional and pathological recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) is often incomplete due to the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system (CNS), which is further impaired by several mechanisms that sustain tissue damage. Among these, the chronic activation of immune cells can cause a persistent state of local CNS inflammation and damage. However, the mechanisms that sustain this persistent maladaptive immune response in SCI have not been fully clarified yet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Repeated sub-concussive head impacts are a growing brain health concern, but their possible biomarkers remain elusive. One impediment is the lack of a randomised controlled human experimental model to study their effects on the human brain.
Objectives: This work had two objectives.
With increased age, walking without tripping requires greater cognitive demand. Therefore, it may be beneficial for training interventions to address and incorporate aspects of cognitive load. The purpose of this study was to compare a semi-immersive virtual reality treadmill training (VRTT) and conventional treadmill training (CTT) on obstacle clearance and trip hazard in older adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The purpose of this study was to determine if demographic variables and measures of cognitive function, functional mobility, self-reported balance self-efficacy, and self-reported physical activity can predict gait speed variability during single-task walking (STGSCV), during cognitive-motor dual-tasking (DTGSCV), and dual-task effect on gait speed variability (DTEGSCV) in older adults.
Methods: In 62 older adults, demographics were recorded and cognitive function (including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA), functional mobility, balance self-efficacy (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, ABC), and self-reported physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, PASE) were assessed. Three linear regression models were used to determine whether the functional mobility tests, PASE score, ABC score, and tests of cognitive function predicted gait speed variability outcomes (STGSCV, DTGSCV, DTEGSCV), with demographics included as covariates.