The effect of vestibular stimulation exercises on balance in children with Down syndrome.

Children with Down Syndrome (DS) are delayed in motor development and coordination which contributes to poor balance. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the utilization of vestibular stimulation exercises would influence balance in children with DS. Methods: Eighteen participants (13years ±4.923) completed the study. Group one consisted of 10 (6 male, 4 female) participants with DS and ranged in age from 5-14 years. Group two consisted of eight (4 male, 4 female) participants with DS and ranged in age from 15-20 years. Eight subtests of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) were used for pre and post-testing focusing on bilateral coordination, balance, running speed and agility, upper limb coordination, and strength. The intervention, the vestibular stimulation exercises, consisted of 15 exercise stations performed 2 times per week for 6 weeks. A trained instructor accompanied each subject during participation to reduce risk of injury. Results: Results indicated that group one had significant improvements in upper limb coordination (P=0.013) and speed and agility (P=0.001). Group two showed significant improvements in balance (P=0.009), upper limb coordination (P=0.003), and speed and agility (P=0.002). Conclusion: An early intervention that utilizes vestibular stimulation exercises may improve balance in children with Down Syndrome

The Need for Regulation of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing in the United States: Assessing and Applying the German Policy Model

In 2008, Time Magazine declared 23andMe’s retail DNA test the “Invention of the Year.” The actual value of this and other direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) genetic tests remains to be seen, however, and government agencies worldwide have been left to decide if and how strictly to regulate this relatively new but growing field of genetic technology. This Note explores the ever-evolving genetics testing industry, specifically DTC tests that are manufactured and marketed by private companies. Part I evaluates the arguments in favor of DTC genetic testing, and Part II assesses the concerns held by those opposed to DTC testing. After giving an overview of the current United States regulatory framework in Part III, Part IV outlines a selection of regulatory recommendations published by various American and international genetics organizations and governmental agencies. Part V then examines Germany’s regulatory approach, which results in an effective ban on DTC genetic testing. Ultimately, after addressing some proposed solutions, Part VI advocates for a regulatory approach in the United States comparable to Germany’s, though less strict and more nuanced

Research poster: Tree population dynamics at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: Influences of environmental stress and disturbance

Research poste

Risk behaviors in a rural community with a known point-source exposure to chronic wasting disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The emergence and continuing spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids has now reached 14 U.S. states, two Canadian provinces, and South Korea, producing a potential for transmission of CWD prions to humans and other animals globally. In 2005, CWD spread for the first time from the Midwest to more densely populated regions of the East Coast. As a result, a large cohort of individuals attending a wild game feast in upstate New York were exposed to a deer that was subsequently confirmed positive for CWD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighty-one participants who ingested or otherwise were exposed to a deer with chronic wasting disease at a local New York State sportsman's feast were recruited for this study. Participants were administered an exposure questionnaire and agreed to follow-up health evaluations longitudinally over the next six years.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results indicate two types of risks for those who attended the feast, a <it>Feast Risk </it>and a G<it>eneral Risk</it>. The larger the number of risk factors, the greater the risk to human health if CWD is transmissible to humans. Long-term surveillance of feast participants exposed to CWD is ongoing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The risk data from this study provide a relative scale for cumulative exposure to CWD-infected tissues and surfaces, and those in the upper tiers of cumulative risk may be most at risk if CWD is transmissible to humans.</p