Gait-like vibration training improves gait abilities: a case report of a 62 year old person with a chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

The purpose of this single-subject case study was to quantify the effect of gait-like vibration training on gait abilities after an incomplete spinal cord injury. A 62 year old male with a chronic AIS D spinal cord injury at T11 completed nine sessions of gait-like vibration training in a standing position. Self-selected gait speed and distance covered within 6 minutes were determined before and after training to evaluate the impact of training on gait performance. Associated changes in gait kinematics were assessed with a 3D motion analysis system. Results showed an improvement of gait speed (0.26 m/s vs 0.35 m/s) and distance (23 m vs 37m) after nine gait-like vibration training sessions (+34.6%; +60.9%). In addition, more bilateral hip extension and larger left hip range of motion improved hip-knee cyclograms. Gait-like vibration training improved gait abilities in a person with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

Les posteffets moteurs posturaux : mécanismes sous-jacents et exploitation thérapeutique chez les personnes amputées

Thèse diffusée initialement dans le cadre d'un projet pilote des Presses de l'Université de Montréal/Centre d'édition numérique UdeM (1997-2008) avec l'autorisation de l'auteur

Activity monitor placed at the non-paretic ankle is accurate in measuring step counts during community walking in post-stroke individuals : a validation study

Background: Different environmental factors may affect the accuracy of step-count activity monitors (AM). However, the validationconditions for AM accuracy largely differ from ecological environments.Objectives: To assess and compare the accuracy of AM in counting steps among poststroke individuals: during different locomotortasks, with AM placed at the nonparetic ankle or hip, and when walking in a laboratory or inside a mall.Design: Validation study.Settings: Laboratory and community settings.Participants: Twenty persons with chronic hemiparesis, independent walkers.Methods: First session: participants performed level walking (6-minute walk test [6MWT]), ramps, and stairs in the laboratory withAM placed at the nonparetic ankle and hip. Second session: participants walked a mall circuit, including the three tasks, with AMplaced at the nonparetic ankle. The sessions were video recorded.Main Outcome Measurements: Absolute difference between the steps counted by AM and the steps viewed on the video recordings(errors, %); occurrence of errors greater than 10%.Results: Median errors were similar for the 6MWT (0.86 [0.22, 7.70]%), ramps (2.17 [0.89, 9.61]%), and stairs (8.33 [2.65, 19.22]%)with AM at the ankle. Step-count error was lower when AM was placed at the ankle (8.33 [ 2.65, 19.22]%) than at the hip (9.26[3.25, 42.63]%, P = .03). The greatest errors were observed among the slowest participants (≤0.4 m/s) on ramps and stairs, whereassome faster participants (>1 m/s) experienced the greatest error during the 6MWT. Median error was slightly increased in the mallcircuit (2.67 [0.61, 12.54]%) compared with the 6MWT (0.50 [0.24, 6.79]%, P = .04), with more participants showing errors >10% dur-ing the circuit (7 vs 2, P = .05).Conclusions: Step counts are accurately measured with AM placed at the nonparetic ankle in laboratory and community settings.Accuracy can be altered by stairs and ramps among the slowest walkers and by prolonged walking tasks among faster walkers.Level of Evidence: III

More symmetrical gait after split-belt treadmill walking does not modify dynamic and postural balance in individuals post-stroke

Spontaneous gait is often asymmetrical in individuals post-stroke, despite their ability to walk more symmetrically on demand. Given the sensorimotor deficits in the paretic limb, this asymmetrical gait may facilitate balance maintenance. We used a split-belt walking protocol to alter gait asymmetry and determine the effects on dynamic and postural balance. Twenty individuals post-stroke walked on a split-belt treadmill. In two separate periods, the effect of walking with the non-paretic, and then the paretic leg, on the faster belt on spatio-temporal symmetry and balance were compared before and after these perturbation periods. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a motion analysis system and an instrumented treadmill to determine symmetry ratios of spatiotemporal parameters and dynamic and postural balance. Balance, quantified by the concepts of stabilizing and destabilizing forces, was compared before and after split-belt walking for subgroups of participants who improved and worsened their symmetry. The side on the slow belt during split-belt walking, but not the changes in asymmetry, affected balance. Difficulty in maintaining balance was higher during stance phase of the leg that was on the slow belt and lower on the contralateral side after split-belt walking, mostly because the center of pressure was closer (higher difficulty) or further (lower difficulty) from the limit of the base of support, respectively. Changes in spatiotemporal parameters may be sought without additional alteration of balance during gait post-stroke

Propagation ultrasonore dans des gels modélisant les tissus biologiques

Dans le cadre de l'application à la destruction des tumeurs cancéreuses par ultrasons de forte intensité (projet ANR cavitherapus), nos travaux portent sur l'étude de la propagation des ondes ultrasonores dans des gels qui se comportent comme des tissus biologiques. Afin de valider un modèle\ud de propagation acoustique, une étude expérimentale des propriétés acoustiques et thermiques de différents gels est menée

Which trunk inclination directions best predict multidirectional-seated limits of stability among individuals with spinal cord injury?

Objective: To determine which trunk inclination directions most accurately predict multidirectional-seated limits of stability among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Predictive study using cross-sectional data. Setting: Pathokinesiology Laboratory. Participants: Twenty-one individuals with complete or incomplete sensorimotor SCI affecting various vertebral levels participated in this study. Interventions: Participants were instructed to lean their trunk as far as possible in eight directions, separated by 45°intervals, while seated on an instrumented chair with their feet positioned on force plates. Outcomes measures: Eight direction-specific stability indices (DSIs) were used to define an overall stability index (OSI) (limits of stability). Results: All DSIs significantly correlated with the OSI (r = 0.816-0.925). A protocol that only tests the anterior, left postero-lateral, and right lateral trunk inclinations accurately predicts multidirectional-seated postural stability (R 2 = 0.98; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Multidirectional-seated postural stability can be predicted almost perfectly by evaluating trunk inclinations performed toward the anterior, left postero-lateral, and right lateral directions

Patterns of chromosomal copy-number alterations in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

International audienceBackground: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC) are relatively rare malignant tumors associated with a poor prognosis. Recent studies using genome-wide sequencing technologies have mainly focused on identifying new driver mutations. There is nevertheless a need to investigate the spectrum of copy number aberrations in order to identify potential target genes in the altered chromosomal regions. The aim of this study was to characterize the patterns of chromosomal copy-number alterations (CNAs) in ICC. Methods: 53 patients having ICC with frozen material were selected. In 47 cases, DNA hybridization has been performed on a genomewide SNP array. A procedure with a segmentation step and a calling step classified genomic regions into copy-number aberration states. We identified the exclusively amplified and deleted recurrent genomic areas. These areas are those showing the highest estimated propensity level for copy loss (resp. copy gain) together with the lowest level for copy gain (resp. copy loss). We investigated ICC clustering. We analyzed the relationships between CNAs and clinico-pathological characteristics. Results: The overall genomic profile of ICC showed many alterations with higher rates for the deletions. Exclusively deleted genomic areas were 1p, 3p and 14q. The main exclusively amplified genomic areas were 1q, 7p, 7q and 8q. Based on the exclusively deleted/amplified genomic areas, a clustering analysis identified three tumors groups: the first group characterized by copy loss of 1p and copy gain of 7p, the second group characterized by 1p and 3p copy losses without 7p copy gain, the last group characterized mainly by very few CNAs. From univariate analyses, the number of tumors, the size of the largest tumor and the stage were significantly associated with shorter time recurrence. We found no relationship between the number of altered cytobands or tumor groups and time to recurrence. Conclusion: This study describes the spectrum of chromosomal aberrations across the whole genome. Some of the recurrent exclusive CNAs harbor candidate target genes. Despite the absence of correlation between CNAs and clinico-pathological characteristics, the co-occurence of 7p gain and 1p loss in a subgroup of patients may suggest a differential activation of EGFR and its downstream pathways, which may have a potential effect on targeted therapies

Simulation Modifies Prehension: Evidence for a Conjoined Representation of the Graspable Features of an Object and the Action of Grasping It

Movement formulas, engrams, kinesthetic images and internal models of the body in action are notions derived mostly from clinical observations of brain-damaged subjects. They also suggest that the prehensile geometry of an object is integrated in the neural circuits and includes the object's graspable characteristics as well as its semantic properties. In order to determine whether there is a conjoined representation of the graspable characteristics of an object in relation to the actual grasping, it is necessary to separate the graspable (low-level) from the semantic (high-level) properties of the object. Right-handed subjects were asked to grasp and lift a smooth 300-g cylinder with one hand, before and after judging the level of difficulty of a “grasping for pouring” action, involving a smaller cylinder and using the opposite hand. The results showed that simulated grasps with the right hand exert a direct influence on actual motor acts with the left hand. These observations add to the evidence that there is a conjoined representation of the graspable characteristics of the object and the biomechanical constraints of the arm

Un vase «oeuf» en porcelaine de Sèvres (1819) des collections de la duchesse de Berry

Duclos Cyril. Un vase «oeuf» en porcelaine de Sèvres (1819) des collections de la duchesse de Berry. In: Sèvres. Revue de la Société des Amis du musée national de Céramique, n°24, 2015. pp. 87-88

Les serre-bijoux de Marie-Joséphine-Louise de Savoie

Duclos Cyril. Les serre-bijoux de Marie-Joséphine-Louise de Savoie. In: Versalia. Revue de la Société des Amis de Versailles, n°15, 2012. pp. 101-106