Enrichment and analysis of Alzheimer's Abeta1-42 peptide in human plasma and whole blood.

The Abeta1-42 fragment from the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) has presented considerable challenges from an analytical perspective. It is present at low levels in the circulation and can bind to proteins which mask its presence in assays. A number of therapeutic strategies target the lowering of this peptide, necessitating more robust and sensitive methods for its measurement.

Hand rehabilitation following stroke: a pilot study of assisted finger extension training in a virtual environment.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the impact of assisted motor training in a virtual environment on hand function in stroke survivors.

Participants: Fifteen volunteer stroke survivors (32-88 years old) with chronic upper extremity hemiparesis (1-38 years post incident) took part.

Method: Participants had 6 weeks of training in reach-to-grasp of virtual and actual objects.

Integration of augmented reality and assistive devices for post-stroke hand opening rehabilitation.

Impairment of hand function is prevalent among stroke survivors, motivating the search for effective rehabilitation therapy. Recent studies have suggested that for upper extremity functional recovery, repetitive training with virtual reality is helpful. Repetitive training can be facilitated with assistance from mechanical devices.

Exaggerated interlimb neural coupling following stroke.

The patterns of interlimb coupling were examined in 10 stroke survivors with chronic hand impairment. In particular, the potential roles of postural state and motor tasks in promoting the flexed posture of the upper extremity were assessed. Through the use of electromyography analysis, joint angle measurements and a novel biomechanical apparatus to perturb the digits of the hand into extension, measurements of muscle activity and joint position were compared during multiple postural states, locomotion and voluntary muscle activity.

A high-yield method to extract peptides from rat brain tissue.

A process to extract and enrich extracellular peptides and proteins from tissues should have broad utility in the burgeoning proteomics field. To address this need, a novel three-step protocol was developed to extract polypeptides from whole tissue samples and enrich the extracellular components. The initial homogenization of rat brain was carried out at neutral pH to optimize protein and peptide stability and solubility.