Participation sociale de jeunes adultes ayant un trouble de l’acquisition de la coordination (TAC) et exploration de leurs besoins en termes de ressources d’information

Problématique : Le trouble de l'acquisition de la coordination (TAC) affecte la réalisation de nombreuses habitudes de vie, autant chez l'enfant que chez l’adulte. Toutefois, peu d’études ont décrit les défis vécus par les jeunes adultes et aucune n’a examiné leurs besoins en termes de ressources d’information. Cette étude exploratoire vise à identifier les principaux défis liés à la participation sociale des jeunes adultes ayant un TAC ainsi que les ressources d’information pouvant les aider. Méthodologie : Des jeunes adultes, âgés entre 18 et 25 ans et ayant un TAC, ainsi que des parents de jeunes adultes correspondant à ces critères ont été recrutés. Un questionnaire inspiré de la Mesure des habitudes de vie (MHAVIE) abrégée a été élaboré en collaboration avec l'Association Québécoise pour les Enfants Dyspraxiques (AQED). Les données obtenues ont été interprétées à l'aide de médianes et d’étendues, et d’une analyse thématique. Résultat : Trois jeunes adultes et trois parents ont participé à cette étude. Le travail est ressorti dans les habitudes de vie les plus atteintes, tant chez les jeunes adultes que chez les parents. Les habitudes de vie les moins satisfaisantes étaient les déplacements selon les jeunes adultes, et le travail et l’habitation selon les parents. Concernant les ressources d'information, les conséquences possibles du TAC sur la santé mentale et les stratégies pour faciliter l'intégration aux études et au travail ont été priorisées par les jeunes adultes et les parents. Le site Internet était la modalité préférée par les jeunes adultes, tandis que les parents privilégiaient le groupe de discussion. Discussion : Malgré le petit échantillon, cette étude a permis d’explorer, pour une première fois au Québec, la participation sociale de jeunes adultes ayant un TAC et leurs besoins en termes de ressources d’information. Ces connaissances permettront de développer une ressource d’information mieux adaptée à cette étape de vie, en collaboration avec l’AQED.Abstract : Problematic: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects the realization of many life habits, both with children and adults. However, few studies have described the challenges faced by young adults and none have examined their needs in terms of information resources. The purpose of this exploratory study is to identify the main challenges related to the social participation of young adults with a DCD as well as the information resources that can help them. Methodology: Young adults, aged between 18 and 25 with a DCD, and parents of young adults meeting these criteria were recruited. A survey inspired by the Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H) was developed in collaboration with the Quebec Association for Dyspraxic Children. The data obtained was interpreted using medians and scopes, and a thematic analysis. Results: Three young adults and three parents participated in this study. Work came up in the most affected life habits of both young adults and parents. The least satisfactory life habits were travel by young adults, and work and housing by parents. Concerning information resources, young adults and parents prioritize the potential consequences of DCD on mental health and strategies to facilitate integration into school and work. The website was the preferred modality for young adults, while the parents favoured the focus group. Discussion: Despite the small sample, this study explored, for the first time in Quebec, the social participation of young adults with a DCD and their needs in terms of information resources. In collaboration with the Quebec Association for Dyspraxic Children, this knowledge will allow to develop an information resource better adapted to this stage of life

In Vitro Red Blood Cell Segregation in Sickle Cell Anemia

Red blood cells in sickle cell anemia (sRBC) are more heterogeneous in their physical properties than healthy red blood cells, spanning adhesiveness, rigidity, density, size, and shape. sRBC with increased adhesiveness to the vascular wall would trigger vaso-occlusive like complications, a hallmark of sickle cell anemia. We investigated whether segregation occurs among sRBC flowing in micron-sized channels and tested the impact of aggregation on segregation. Two populations of sRBC of different densities were separated, labeled, and mixed again. The mixed suspension was flowed within glass capillary tubes at different pressure-drops, hematocrit, and suspending media that promoted or not cell aggregation. Observations were made at a fixed channel position. The mean flow velocity was obtained by using the cells as tracking particles, and the cell depleted layer (CDL) by measuring the distance from the cell core border to the channel wall. The labeled sRBC were identified by stopping the flow and scanning the cells within the channel section. The tube hematocrit was estimated from the number of fluorescence cells identified in the field of view. In non-aggregating media, our results showed a heterogeneous distribution of sRBC according to their density: low-density sRBC population remained closer to the center of the channel, while the densest cells segregated towards the walls. There was no impact of the mean flow velocity and little impact of hematocrit. This segregation heterogeneity could influence the ability of sRBC to adhere to the vascular wall and slow down blood flow. However, promoting aggregation inhibited segregation while CDL thickness was enhanced by aggregation, highlighting a potential protective role against vaso-occlusion in patients with sickle cell anemia

Maximum Spherical Mean Value (mSMV) Filtering for Whole Brain Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping

To develop a tissue field filtering algorithm, called maximum Spherical Mean Value (mSMV), for reducing shadow artifacts in quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of the brain without requiring brain tissue erosion.Residual background field is a major source of shadow artifacts in QSM. The mSMV algorithm filters large field values near the border, where the maximum value of the harmonic background field is located. The effectiveness of mSMV for artifact removal was evaluated by comparing with existing QSM algorithms in numerical brain simulation as well as using in vivo human data acquired from 11 healthy volunteers and 93 patients. Numerical simulation showed that mSMV reduces shadow artifacts and improves QSM accuracy. Better shadow reduction, as demonstrated by lower QSM variation in the gray matter and higher QSM image quality score, was also observed in healthy subjects and in patients with hemorrhages, stroke and multiple sclerosis. The mSMV algorithm allows QSM maps that are substantially equivalent to those obtained using SMV-filtered dipole inversion without eroding the volume of interest.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure

Predicting consequences of POP-induced disruption of blubber glucose uptake, mass gain rate and thyroid hormone levels for weaning mass in grey seal pups

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are endocrine disruptors that alter adipose tissue development, regulation and function. Top marine predators are particularly vulnerable because they possess large fat stores that accumulate POPs. However, links between endocrine or adipose tissue function disruption and whole animal energetics have rarely been investigated. We predicted the impact of alterations to blubber metabolic characteristics and circulating thyroid hormone (TH) levels associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on suckling mass gain and weaning mass in wild grey seal pups. Glucose uptake by inner blubber was a strong predictor of whole animal mass gain rate, which in turn, resulted in heavier weaning mass. Weaning mass was predicted to increase by 3.7 ± 1.59 (sem) %, through increased mass gain rate, in the absence of the previously reported suppressive effect of dioxin-like PCB (DL-PCBs) on blubber glucose uptake. PBDEs were, conversely, associated with faster mass gain. Alleviation of this effect was predicted to reduce weaning mass by 6.02 ± 1.86% (sem). To better predict POPs effects on energy balance, it is crucial to determine if and how PBDEs promote mass gain in grey seal pups. Weaning mass was negatively related to total T3 (TT3) levels. A 20% (range = 9.3–31.7%) reduction in TT3 by DL-PCBs partially overcame the effect of DL-PCB -mediated reduction in blubber glucose uptake. Overall, DL-PCBs were thus predicted to reduce weaning mass by 1.86 ± 1.60%. Organohalogen impacts on whole-animal energy balance in grey seal pups appear to partially offset each other through opposing effects on different mechanisms. POP effects were generally minor, but the largest POP-induced reductions in weaning mass were predicted to occur in pups that were already small. Since weaning mass is positively related to first-year survival, POPs may disproportionately affect smaller individuals, and could continue to have population-level impacts even when levels are relatively low compared to historical values. Our findings show how in vitro experiments combined with measurements in vivo can help elucidate mechanisms that underpin energy balance regulation and help to quantify the magnitude of disruptive effects by contaminants and other stressors in wildlife

In-Home Delivery of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy via Virtual Reality Gaming

Purpose: People with chronic hemiparesis are frequently dissatisfied with the recovery of their hand and arm, yet many lack access to effective treatments. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CI therapy) effectively increases arm function and spontaneous use in persons with chronic hemiparesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and measure safety and outcomes of an in-home model of delivering CI therapy using a custom, avatar-based virtual reality game. Methods: Seventeen individuals with chronic hemiparesis participated in this pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design study. The 10-day intervention had three components: 1) high-repetition motor practice using virtual reality gaming; 2) constraint of the stronger arm via a padded restraint mitt; and 3) a transfer package to reinforce arm use. Feasibility of the intervention was evaluated through comparison to traditional CI therapy and through participants’ subjective responses. The primary outcome measures were the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and the Motor Activity Log quality of movement scale (MAL-QOM). Results: On average, participants completed 17.2 ± 8 hours and 19,436 repetitions of motor practice. No adverse events were reported. Of 7 feasibility criteria, 4 were met. WMFT rate and MAL-QOM increased, with effect size (Cohen’s d) of 1.5 and 1.1, respectively. Conclusions: This model of delivering CI therapy using a custom, avatar-based virtual reality game was feasible, well received, and showed preliminary evidence of being a safe intervention to use in the home for persons with chronic hemiparesis