An investigation of the effects of dual-task balance exercises on balance, functional status and dual-task performance in children with Down syndrome

PurposeTo investigate the effects of dual task (DT) balance exercises on functional status, balance, and DT performance in children with Down Syndrome (DS).MethodsParticipants were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG; n = 13) and control group (CG;n = 14). WeeFIM was used to measure the functional independence level and balance was evaluated using the Pediatric Balance Scale. DT performance was assessed using Timed Up and Go, Single Leg Stance, Tandem-Stance and 30 s Sit to Stand tests without concomitant task, with motor task or cognitive task. The IG received 16 sessions of DT training twice a week for 8 weeks.ResultsFunctional level, balance, and DT performance improved significantly in the IG, whereas only balance improved in the CG. Significantly better results were achieved in the IG, as demonstrated by greater pre/post-treatment changes.ConclusionDT balance exercises improved functional level, balance and DT performance of children with DS

Ammonia Nitrogen Excretion Rate - An Index For Evaluating Protein Quality Of Three Feed Fishes For The Black Sea Turbot

Total ammonia nitrogen excretion rates were measured in young Black Sea turbot (74.79 g avg wt) reared in brackish water (17 ppt salinity) at 11±0.3°C. Duplicate groups of turbot were fed a fixed quantity of teleosts, either anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus), goby (Gobius sp.) or whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Feeds were offered to the turbot as wet feed. Cumulative ammonia-N excretion over a 6-hour period was significantly lower (p<0.05) in fish fed goby (3.64±0.27 mg- N/100 g fish) and whiting (3.83±0.13 mg-N/100 g fish) than that in fish fed anchovy (4.48±0.06 mg-N/100 g fish). The ammonia-N excretion rate in all groups peaked two hours after feeding, but the peak value in the group fed anchovy was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in the other two groups. No differences were observed among diets in samples taken 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours after feeding. Significantly lower excretion levels in the goby and whiting groups could be relat- ed to the protein quality of these species which may be higher than that of the anchovy for tur- bot nutrition

Reliability of the smartphone application inclinometer and flexicurve in measuring thoracic kyphosis

Introduction: This study examined the inter-and intra-rater reliability of the smartphone inclinometer app (SPI) and flexicurve (FC) for assessing the kyphotic angle in individuals with thoracic kyphosis (TK). Methods: This study was conducted with 60 subjects (35 males, 25 females) aged 18 to 25 who presented to Kalyon Medical Center, Gaziantep, Turkey, between December 2021 and March 2022. The subjects were evaluated by two independent assessors using FC and SPI to measure the TK angle. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was analysed at a 95% confidence interval. The level of agreement between the methods was checked using Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Inter-and intra-rater measurements were strongly correlated (ICC 0.945 and 0.964, respectively). On the Bland-Altman plots, the FC showed poor agreement with the SPI app (mean difference, 19.81?? ?? 2.8??). The mean kyphotic angles were 45.15 ?? 6.07?? and 25.34 ?? 4.96??, respectively, as measured by the SPI and FC. Conclusion: This study demonstrated good intra-and inter-rater reliability of the SPI app and FC for the measurement of the spinal curvature (TK) angle in the sagittal plane. A weak agreement was discerned between the SPI and FC methods

The Outcomes of an Individualized Physical Therapy Program in CALFAN Syndrome: A Case Report

Purpose: This case report investigated the effectiveness of an individualized physical therapy program in CALFAN syndrome. Case Description: A 13-year-old girl participated in physical therapy, which included trunk stabilization, balance training, and functional exercises for 12 weeks. Assessments: The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale; Trunk Impairment Scale; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; Functional Independence Measure for Children; Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire; 9-Hole Peg Test; and Cobb measurement were used as outcome measures. Results: Positive changes were observed in the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale; Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; Trunk Impairment Scale; Functional Independence Measure; and the 9-Hole Peg Test. The Cobb angle was increased by 2° in the thoracic region and reduced by 11° in the lumbar region. Conclusions: Physical therapy improved quality of life, functional independence, trunk control, and upper extremity performance. What This Adds to Evidence: This case report is the first to support the effectiveness of physical therapy for a child with CALFAN syndrome. © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved

The prevalence and risk factors of retinopathy and nephropathy in prediabetic population

Aim There are very few studies in which retinopathy is determined by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) in prediabetics. We aimed to determine the frequency of retinopathy with a sensitive method and its relation to nephropathy in the prediabetic population. Materials and methods We selected 30 impaired fasting glucose (IFG), 30 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 30 IFG + IGT prediabetic patients, who were admitted to Ege University Faculty of Medicine between January 2019 and September 2019. Demographic and comorbidity profiles and laboratory data were collected. Microalbumin/creatinine ratio in spot urine was examined. FFA was performed in 86 eligible patients. Results Sixteen (18.6%) of the 86 patients included in our study had very mild non-proliferative retinopathy according to FFA findings. Nephropathy was detected in 13 (15.1%) of 86 patients. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was found to be significantly associated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum uric acid level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and anti-hyperlipidemic drug use. A significant relationship was found between diabetic nephropathy and systolic blood pressure, serum uric acid levels, and eGFR levels. Conclusion Our findings suggest the incidence of both retinopathy and nephropathy (18.6% and 15.1%, respectively) may be higher than expected in prediabetic patients. In addition, we describe that there may be a relationship between macrovascular complications and microvascular complications in patients with prediabetes.Ege University Scientific Research Project Unit [20250]This study was funded by the Ege University Scientific Research Project Unit with the number of 20250

Exploring the effect of basalt fibers on maximum deviator stress and failure deformation of silty soils using ANN, SVM and FL supported by experimental data

Because the experimental trials in civil engineering field are difficult and time-consuming, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques is attracting considerable attention, with their use enabling successful results to be more easily obtained. In this study, we investigated the effect of fiber size, fiber amount, water content, and cell pressure on maximum deviator stress (MDS) and failure deformation (FD) of basalt fiber (BF) -reinforced, unsaturated silty soils using three AI techniques: the artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and fuzzy logic (FL). The numerical analyses and experiments were conducted using varying amounts (1, 1.5, and 2%) and lengths (6, 12, and 24 mm) of BF, and a total of 180 samples were prepared for the detailed investigation. In order to compare model performances, R-2 and MAPE goodness-of-fit metrics were used. The experimental results revealed that the addition of BF generally increased the MDS of the soils, which corresponds to the shearing resistance. According to AI models result, FL outperformed the SVM and ANN, with a R-2 value of 0.938, especially in FD prediction. The sensitivity analysis was performed to ascertain the effect of the inputs on the MDS and FD response variables. Results revealed that fiber length and cell pressure have substantial influence in MDS estimations.Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange [PPI/APM/2019/1/00003]Declarations The scientific collaborations of this article have been improved by the support of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange under Grant No. PPI/APM/2019/1/00003. Besides, the authors would like to express their gratitude to Sakarya University geotechnical engineering laboratory for their contributions to the experimental studies. Please find our paper titled ?Investigation of the effect of basalt fiber size on maximum deviator stress (MDS) and failure defor-mation (FD) of silty soils: A predictive study using AI techniques?. We are submitting for possible publication in Advances in Engineering Software

Prevalence of and risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Multi-center, controlled trial

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common problem in multiple sclerosis (MS), may occur either in early or late phase of the disease, and impairs quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CI and related risk factors in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients in Turkey