Excitability changes in the sciatic nerve and triceps surae muscle after spinal cord injury in mice.

Background: From the onset to the chronic phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), peripheral axons and muscles are subjected to abnormal states of activity. This starts with very intense spasms during the first instant of SCI, through a no activity flaccidity phase, to a chronic hyperactivity phase. It remains unclear how the nature of this sequence may affect the peripheral axons and muscles.

Quantifying established clinical assessment measures using 3D-movement analysis in individuals with Down syndrome.

Purpose: A movement protocol for quantifying functional limitation in people with Down syndrome (DS) during the execution of a series of range of motion (ROM) tasks has been developed as a new assessment approach, combining quantitative measures of movement analysis and functional mobility with clinically established qualitative motor skill assessments.

Methods: Fifteen subjects with DS and 11 subjects with typical development were evaluated using this movement protocol.

Results: The results revealed longer durations in execution across all tasks in the DS group and were most likely due to low muscular tone and poor coordination.

A large scale study of the psychometric characteristics of the IBR Modified Overt Aggression Scale: findings and evidence for increased self-destructive behaviors in adult females with autism spectrum disorder.

The psychometric characteristics of the IBR Modified Overt Aggression Scale were studied in over 2,000 people with Intellectual Disability (ID). Reliability ranged from good to excellent. Aggression toward others and objects was highest in the youngest adults, in those in the moderate to severe range of ID, and in those with an autism spectrum diagnosis.

Increased amyloid beta protein levels in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.

Background: Persons with Down syndrome (DS) (40 years and older) have neuropathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer disease (AD). Soluble forms of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) end at C-terminal residues 40 and 42. The presence of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 allele is a significant risk factor for the development of sporadic AD.

The effects of pulsed auditory stimulation on various gait measurements in persons with Parkinson's Disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine the Functional Ambulation Performance Score (FAP; a quantitative gait measure) in persons with Parkinson's Disease (PD) using the auditory stimulation of a metronome (ASM). Participants (n = 16; 5F/11M; range 60--84 yrs.) had a primary diagnosis of PD and were all independent ambulators.