Functional Mixed-Effects Modeling of Longitudinal Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Electrical Impedance Myography Data Using State-Space Approach.

Objective: Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a quantitative and objective tool to evaluate muscle status. EIM offers the possibility to replace conventional physical functioning scores or quality of life measures, which depend on patient cooperation and mood.

Methods: Here, we propose a functional mixed-effects model using a state-space approach to describe the response trajectories of EIM data measured on 16 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and 12 healthy controls, both groups measured over a period of two years.

Differential effect of common laboratory treatments on hypoosmotic swelling responses of human spermatozoa.

Purpose: The impact of some of the common laboratory interventions on the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) responses of human-spermatozoa was investigated.

Methods: The semen samples underwent different laboratory treatments prior to the standard HOS test, which involved incubation of sperm in the hypoosmotic solution. Fresh semen served as a control for all treatment groups and underwent the same HOS procedure.

Assessment of the relationship of sperm morphology with seminal and other clinical conditions of semen donors.

The occurrence of abnormal forms of spermatozoa in human semen is quite common. According to WHO, semen is considered normal even if it contains 50% morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. This study assessed whether the sperm morphology maintains any relation with the relevant clinical conditions of the semen donor.

The prevalence of rheumatologic disorders in patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries. The authors studied 40 consecutive patients with chest pain presenting at an Internal Medicine Clinic who had undergone coronary angiography and were found to have < 30% stenosis of all major coronary arteries. Patients with any known noncardiac cause of chest pain were excluded from the study.