A full-body motion capture gait dataset of 138 able-bodied adults across the life span and 50 stroke survivors

\ua9 2023, The Author(s).This reference dataset contains biomechanical data of 138 able-bodied adults (21–86 years) and 50 stroke survivors walking bare-footed at their preferred speed. It is unique due to its size, and population, including adults across the life-span and over 70 years, as well as stroke survivors. Full-body kinematics (PiG-model), kinetics and muscle activity of 14 back and lower limbs muscles was collected with a Vicon motion capture system, ground-embedded force plates, and a synchronized surface EMG system. The data is reliable to compare within and between groups as the same methodology and infrastructure were used to gather all data. Both source files (C3D) and post-processed ready-to-use stride-normalized kinematics, kinetics and EMG data (MAT-file, Excel file) are available, allowing high flexibility and accessibility of analysis for both researchers and clinicians. These records are valuable to examine ageing, typical and hemiplegic gait, while also offering a wide range of reference data which can be utilized for age-matched controls during normal walking

The biomechanical fingerprint of hip and knee osteoarthritis patients during activities of daily living

Background: Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease affecting the hip and knee joint and is characterized by load-mediated pain and decreased quality of life. Dependent on involved joint, patients present antalgic movement compensations, aiming to decrease loading on the involved joint. However, the associated alterations in mechanical loading of the ipsi- and contra-lateral lower limb joints, are less documented. Here, we documented the biomechanical fingerprint of end-stage hip and knee osteoarthritis patients in terms of ipsilateral and contralateral hip and knee loading during walking and stair ambulation. Methods: Three-dimensional motion-analysis was performed in 20 hip, 18 knee osteoarthritis patients and 12 controls during level walking and stair ambulation. Joint contact forces were calculated using a standard musculoskeletal modelling workflow in Opensim. Involved and contralateral hip and knee joint loading was compared against healthy controls using independent t-tests (p &lt; 0.05). Findings: Both hip and knee cohorts significantly decreased loading of the involved joint during gait and stair ambulation. Hip osteoarthritis patients presented no signs of ipsilateral knee nor contralateral leg overloading, during walking and stair ascending. However, knee osteoarthritis patients significantly increased loading at the ipsilateral hip, and contralateral hip and knee joints during stair ambulation compared to controls. Interpretation: The biomechanical fingerprint in knee and hip osteoarthritis patients confirmed antalgic movement strategies to unload the involved leg during gait. Only during stair ambulation in knee osteoarthritis patients, movement adaptations were confirmed that induced unbalanced intra- and inter-limb loading conditions, which are known risk factors for secondary osteoarthritis.</p

The biomechanical fingerprint of hip and knee osteoarthritis patients during activities of daily living

Background: Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease affecting the hip and knee joint and is characterized by load-mediated pain and decreased quality of life. Dependent on involved joint, patients present antalgic movement compensations, aiming to decrease loading on the involved joint. However, the associated alterations in mechanical loading of the ipsi- and contra-lateral lower limb joints, are less documented. Here, we documented the biomechanical fingerprint of end-stage hip and knee osteoarthritis patients in terms of ipsilateral and contralateral hip and knee loading during walking and stair ambulation. Methods: Three-dimensional motion-analysis was performed in 20 hip, 18 knee osteoarthritis patients and 12 controls during level walking and stair ambulation. Joint contact forces were calculated using a standard musculoskeletal modelling workflow in Opensim. Involved and contralateral hip and knee joint loading was compared against healthy controls using independent t-tests (p &lt; 0.05). Findings: Both hip and knee cohorts significantly decreased loading of the involved joint during gait and stair ambulation. Hip osteoarthritis patients presented no signs of ipsilateral knee nor contralateral leg overloading, during walking and stair ascending. However, knee osteoarthritis patients significantly increased loading at the ipsilateral hip, and contralateral hip and knee joints during stair ambulation compared to controls. Interpretation: The biomechanical fingerprint in knee and hip osteoarthritis patients confirmed antalgic movement strategies to unload the involved leg during gait. Only during stair ambulation in knee osteoarthritis patients, movement adaptations were confirmed that induced unbalanced intra- and inter-limb loading conditions, which are known risk factors for secondary osteoarthritis.</p

Determination of hand grip strength and its correlates during pregnancy : a cross-sectional study

Background: Pregnancy results in many changes, including reduced hand grip strength (HGS). However, good HGS is required for physical functions such as carrying and breastfeeding the baby after birth. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that may predict HGS during pregnancy. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study approved by the Research Ethics Committees of Kano State Ministry of Health and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, north-west, Nigeria. Pregnant women at the designated hospitals were included in the study if they had no serious comorbidities or any known neurological condition that affects the hands and the neck. Demographic characteristics and independent (predictor) variables (age, weight, height, BMI, maternity leave status, number of full-term deliveries, number of preterm deliveries, number of live births, number of abortuses, gravidity, trimester, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, inter arm systolic BP difference [IASBP], inter arm diastolic BP difference [IADBP], and heart rate) of each of the participants were recorded by experienced therapists. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient and standard multiple regression. Result: One hundred and sixty-one pregnant women with mean age, 25.04 ± 4.83 years participated in the study. In the dominant hand, 120 participants (74.5%) had weak grip strength. In the non-dominant hand, 135 participants (83.9%) had weak grip strength. For the dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was significant, 28.5%, F(11, 161) = 1.187, R2 = 0.081, p = 0.300 . In the final model, none of the variables significantly predicted HGS. However, systolic blood pressure contributed to the model more than any other variable (Beta = -0.155). For the non-dominant hand, the total variance explained by the whole model was not significant, 33.1%, F(11, 161) = 1.675, R2 = 0.111, p = 0.089 . In the final model, only systolic blood pressure (Beta = -0.254, p = 0.023) significantly predicted hand grip strength. Conclusion: Cardiovascular events or changes during pregnancy (such as change in systolic blood pressure) may be related to HGS in pregnant women. It is therefore, important for clinicians to pay attention to this, in planning rehabilitation strategies for pregnant women

Establishing the phenotypic spectrum of ZTTK syndrome by analysis of 52 individuals with variants in SON

Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim (ZTTK) syndrome, an intellectual disability syndrome first described in 2016, is caused by heterozygous loss-of-function variants in SON. Its encoded protein promotes pre-mRNA splicing of many genes essential for development. Whereas individual phenotypic traits have previously been linked to erroneous splicing of SON target genes, the phenotypic spectrum and the pathogenicity of missense variants have not been further evaluated. We present the phenotypic abnormalities in 52 individuals, including 17 individuals who have not been reported before. In total, loss-of-function variants were detected in 49 individuals (de novo in 47, inheritance unknown in 2), and in 3, a missense variant was observed (2 de novo, 1 inheritance unknown). Phenotypic abnormalities, systematically collected and analyzed in Human Phenotype Ontology, were found in all organ systems. Significant inter-individual phenotypic variability was observed, even in individuals with the same recurrent variant (n = 13). SON haploinsufficiency was previously shown to lead to downregulation of downstream genes, contributing to specific phenotypic features. Similar functional analysis for one missense variant, however, suggests a different mechanism than for heterozygous loss-of-function. Although small in numbers and while pathogenicity of these variants is not certain, these data allow for speculation whether de novo missense variants cause ZTTK syndrome via another mechanism, or a separate overlapping syndrome. In conclusion, heterozygous loss-of-function variants in SON define a recognizable syndrome, ZTTK, associated with a broad, severe phenotypic spectrum, characterized by a large inter-individual variability. These observations provide essential information for affected individuals, parents, and healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate clinical management

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe