Functional Performance Tests Research Articles

Associations between Testing and Game Performance in Ice Hockey: A Scoping Review

Background: Despite the exhaustive body of literature on the demands of ice hockey, less is known about the relationships between functional performance testing protocols (on ice and off ice) and performance in a game situation. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of these associations. Methods: This review aims to identify on- and off-ice testing currently used in the scientific literature and their possible transfer to game performance as well as identifying research gaps in this field. Results: The 17 selected studies showed that off-ice and on-ice fitness test results can be modestly transferred to the player’s selection as well as global and advanced performance indicators. Conclusion: This review of the literature reinforces the importance of strength and conditioning coaches administering previously validated fitness tests. Regarding the academic research, it is also proposed to use performance markers that are directly related to the players’ on-ice performance to represent more accurately the relationship between the players’ fitness level and their work output. Three research gaps were also identified in relation to targeted populations, choice of performance markers and data measurement methods.

CORR Insights®: Military Service Members with Major Lower Extremity Fractures Return to Running with a Passive-dynamic Ankle-foot Orthosis: Comparison with a Normative Population.

CORR Insights®: Military Service Members with Major Lower Extremity Fractures Return to Running with a Passive-dynamic Ankle-foot Orthosis: Comparison with a Normative Population.

Gait function improvements, using Cardiff Classifier, are related to patient-reported function and pain following hip arthroplasty.

Summarizing results of three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis into a comprehensive measure of overall gait function is valuable to discern to what extent gait function is affected, and later recovered after surgery and rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate whether preoperative gait function, quantified and summarized using the Cardiff Classifier, can predict improvements in postoperative patient-reported activities of daily living, and overall gait function 1 year after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Secondly, to explore relationships between pre-to-post surgical change in gait function versus changes in patient-reported and performance-based function. Thirty-two patients scheduled for THA and 25 nonpathological individuals were included in this prospective cohort study. Patients were evaluated before THA and 1 year postoperatively using 3D gait analysis, patient-reported outcomes, and performance-based tests. Kinematic and kinetic gait parameters, derived from 3D gait analysis, were quantified using the Cardiff Classifier. Linear regressions investigated the predictive value of preoperative gait function on postoperative outcomes of function, and univariate correlations explored relationships between pre-to-post surgical changes in outcome measures. Preoperative gait function, by means of Cardiff Classifier, explained 35% and 30% of the total variance in change in patient-reported activities of daily living, and in gait function, respectively. Moderate-to-strong correlations were found between change in gait function and change in patient-reported function and pain, while no correlations were found between change in gait function and performance-based function. Clinical significance: Preoperative gait function predicts postsurgical function to a moderate degree, while improvements in gait function after surgery are more closely related to how patients perceive function than their maximal performance offunctional tests.

Limb Dominance Effects On Seated Single Arm Shot Put Limb Symmetry Indices Following Shoulder Rehabilitation

The seated single arm shot put test (SSASPT) is one of the few upper extremity functional performance tests (UEFPT) available with good psychometric properties to assist clinicians with return to activity (RTA) decisions. Previous investigations have demonstrated SSASPT limb symmetry indices (LSI) in healthy persons to range from 103% to 111%, favoring the dominant (D) limb. Typically, most clinical RTA guidelines recommend that an injured shoulder achieve a 90-100% UEFPT LSI. To date, SSASPT LSI have not been examined in patients with shoulder pathologies. PURPOSE: To evaluate a LSI in patients being discharged from rehabilitation following shoulder injuries or surgeries. We hypothesized there would be LSI differences between the D and nondominant (ND) limbs. METHODS: Six Board Certified Clinical Specialist Physical Therapists who regularly use SSASPT as part of their RTA criteria from 6 different clinical sites provided SSASPT scores on 78 patients being discharged from rehabilitation following shoulder injury or surgery. LSI were computed from the SSASPT scores (injured/uninjured *100) and patients were grouped according to whether the involved shoulder was on the D (n = 44) or ND (n = 34) limb. An independent t-test compared LSI between the two groups while a chi square compared the number of patients in each group with LSI <90%, 90-100%, 100-110% and > 110%. RESULTS: LSI for the D shoulder group (105.0 ± 11.0%) were significantly greater (P < .001, 95% CIdiff = 10.8 to 21.2%) than the ND group (89.0 ± 12.1%). Significant group differences (P < .001) were also revealed in the LSI intervals. While 55.9% of the ND shoulder patients demonstrated LSI <90%, 77.3% of D shoulder patients demonstrated LSI >100%. CONCLUSIONS: The results supported our hypothesis. Based on the significant limb LSI differences, we recommend when establishing RTA criteria for the SSASPT following shoulder injury or surgery, the D versus ND limb be considered. Specifically, the D limb should strive to be ~105%, whereas the ND limb should be ~100%. The results also indicate the ND arm may require more rehabilitation because many ND injured patients demonstrated LSI <90%. There is a need for more research to confirm the results of this study, as well as consider other RTA metrics.

Normative Reference of the Single Leg, Medial Countermovement Jump in Adolescent Youth Ice Hockey Players.

Functional performance tests provide quantitative information on specialized sport movements and are important for documenting training and fatigue. The single leg, medial countermovement jump provides objective measures of frontal plane force, velocity and power, and is relevant for ice hockey players given the similar lateral movement to ice skating. This study measured normative single leg, medial countermovement jump parameters (i.e., vertical and lateral maximum force, average concentric power and average concentric power during the last 100 ms) amongst male youth ice hockey players and assessed interlimb asymmetry in these healthy athletes. Ninety-one elite youth players participated in the study. Participants completed three right and three left jumps. Non-parametric tests were performed to evaluate between-jump and between-group comparisons. Many differences in jump force and power parameters were observed between the 10U/11U and 12U/13U age groups, and the 12U/13U and 14U/15U age groups, but differences were not as consistent between older or younger players. The average asymmetry index for each age group was less than 15% for force parameters, while the power parameters had larger asymmetry indices (between 9% and 22%). Our results provide age-specific reference values and asymmetry indices for male elite youth ice hockey players aged 10–18 years performing the single leg, medial countermovement jump.

The acute effect of two massage techniques on functional capability and balance in recreationally trained older adult women: A cross-over study

With aging comes a reduction in neuromuscular and neuromotor function. Different strategies have been used to mitigate these functional losses. Certain manual therapy techniques and interventions have been explored with regard to their ability to improve functional capability and balance in an older adult population. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute effects of two massage techniques on functional capability and balance performance in recreationally trained older adult women. Twenty-eight older adult women (66.74 ± 4.61 years) completed three interventions: a) stick massage followed by functional capability and balance performance tests (MMS), b) manual massage followed by functional capability and balance performance tests (MM), c) no MMS or MM (control condition (CC)) – only performed the functional capability and balance performance tests. Functional capability was assessed by four tests that are part of the Senior Fitness Test: the 6-min walk (W6), the chair sit-and-reach (CSR), the 8-foot up-and-go (8FUG), and the 30s-chair stand (30s-CS). Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between MM and MMS compared to CC among 30s-CS, W6, CSR, and 8FUG. BBS showed a significant difference between MM and CC (p = 0.041). Both MM and MMS demonstrated significant acute improvements in the functional capability of recreationally trained elderly women and may be included in an exercise program.

Postural orientation, what to expect in youth athletes? A cohort study on data from the Malm\xf6 Youth Sport Study

BackgroundStudies investigating postural orientation in uninjured youth athletes are scarce. Understanding how postural orientation during functional performance tests change with age in uninjured athletes has the potential to enhance awareness of changes in performance after injury and to set realistic goals for injured athletes. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore postural orientation during functional tasks at early adolescence, and changes in postural orientation from early to middle adolescence and relate this to sex, type of sport and right leg lean body mass (RLLBM).MethodsIn this cohort study 144 (38% female) youth athletes (mean age 13.5 years, SD 0.3) were included at baseline and 86 of these at follow up 2 years later. Four functional performance tests were visually evaluated for Postural Orientation Errors (POEs) with an ordinal scale, ranging from 0 (good) to 2 (poor), yielding a maximum total POE score of 51, and RLLBM by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.ResultsImprovements were observed in the total POE score from baseline to follow-up, median difference − 10 and − 7 (p < 0.001) for female and male athletes, respectively. At follow-up, female athletes had lower total POE score (median 18) than males (median 24) (p = 0.01). There were no differences in POE scores between sports type (team, individual, aesthetic) (p = 0.20–0.98) and no relationship between total POE score and RLLBM (rs = 0.09, p = 0.42).ConclusionsPOEs appear to be quite common in young athletic population, but improvements are achieved over time. At mid-adolescence, female athletes seem to have less POEs than males. Neither sport type nor RLLBM seem to influence postural orientation.

The Reliability of Common Functional Performance Tests within an Experimental Test Battery for the Lower Extremities.

The main aim of this study was to determine the test–retest reliability of an experimental functional test battery: Y-balance test (YBT), single-leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ), single-leg hop for distance (SLH), side-hop (SH), speedy-jump (SJ), agility-T (AT), and lower extremity functional test (LEFT). Secondary aims were (1) to determine the mean range for the limb symmetry index (LSI) and (2) to detect significant differences in performance between test–retest sessions. Twenty-two healthy adults (14 males, 8 females; age 23.3 ± 3.9) were tested by the same rater during two different sessions (T1–T2), with a seven-day interval, under the same conditions. Reliability analysis showed good-to-excellent reliability (0.89 < ICC < 0.97; 0.80 < α < 0.98) for the test battery. LSI ranged from 95.9 ± 6.7% (SH-T1) to 104.4 ± 12.5% (SLCMJ-T2). Repeated measures ANOVA detected significant performance differences between sessions in the LEFT (p = 0.009) and for non-dominant sides in the SLH (p = 0.015), SH (p = 0.007), and SJ (p = 0.011). The high reliability of the test battery suggests a potential use in clinical sports practice. The LSI range of ≥95% was proposed as a benchmark for healthy adults. Learning effect seems to have played a crucial role in the T2 improvements of the non-dominant side for hop performances (SLH, SH, SJ) and speed performance (LEFT).

A Spanish Neuropsychological Battery Discriminates Between the Behavioral Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia in a Colombian Sample.

The differential diagnosis among the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia FTD (bvFTD) and the linguist one primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is challenging. Presentations of dementia type or variants dominated by personality change or aphasia are frequently misinterpreted as psychiatric illness, stroke, or other conditions. Therefore, it is important to identify cognitive tests that can distinguish the distinct FTD variants to reduce misdiagnosis and best tailor interventions. We aim to examine the discriminative capacity of the most frequently used cognitive tests in their Spanish version for the context of dementia evaluation as well as the qualitative aspects of the neuropsychological performance such as the frequency and type of errors, perseverations, and false positives that can best discriminate between bvFTD and PPA. We also described mood and behavioral profiles of participants with mild to moderate probable bvFTD and PPA. A total of 55 subjects were included in this cross-sectional study: 20 with PPA and 35 with bvFTD. All participants underwent standard dementia screening that included a medical history and physical examination, brain MRI, a semistructured caregiver interview, and neuropsychological testing. We found that bvFTD patients had worse performance in executive function tests, and the PPA presented with the lower performance in language tests and the global score of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). After running the linear discriminant model, we found three functions of cognitive test and subtests combination and three functions made by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) language subtest and performance errors that predicted group belonging. Those functions were more capable to classify bvFTD cases rather than PPA. In conclusion, our study supports that the combination of an individual test of executive function and language, MoCA's subtest, and performance errors as well have good accuracy to discriminate between bvFTD and PPA.

The Implementation Analysis Of Lamport Scheme With Sha-256 On Mobile E-Office

Electronic administration system is one of the best solutions in the current digital era, electronic-based systems are considered to make it easier for an organization to process data and can reduce the possibility of data loss due to human error or natural disasters. The current administrative data management application is called the Electronic Office (E-Office). The E-Office handles data for incoming mail, outgoing mail and mail disposition. There are frequent delays in receiving information and validating letter files that are still carried out using physical files, so the mobile e-office is a solution that can be used by an agency to make it easier for workers to access information more quickly and can be done anywhere. Data security is an important thing that needs to be considered in an electronic transaction, so this research will add data security to the mobile e-office using sha-256 and lamport schemes. We present data on the results of this mobile e-office test on mobile devices and virtual private servers (vps), the data is in the form of functional application performance testing results and records of processing time performed by mobile and vps devices. From this data an analysis will be carried out to determine the appropriateness of the devices that can be used in running a mobile e-office.

A Comparison of Resting Scapular Posture and the Davies Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test.

BACKGROUNDIn orthopaedic practice, it is well established that weak scapular stabilizers and an unstable scapula is related to shoulder dysfunction. Faulty scapular position has been linked to decreased scapular stability and is thought to be a result of weak or unbalanced timing in the recruitment of scapulothoracic dynamic stabilizing muscles. Kibler has described a four-type classification of scapulothoracic dysfunction. Functional performance testing is used to objectively measure activities that simulate various desired activities. The reliability of assessing the four static scapular positions may be important in diagnosing shoulder dysfunction. An understanding of the scapular position and its relationship to functional performance testing is needed.PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to determine if a static scapular test, the Kibler scapula classification, in healthy participants affects the ability to perform a closed chain functional test that involves the use of the scapula and the upper extremity, the Davies Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST). A secondary analysis was performed to evaluate the reliability of a student physical therapist and an experienced physical therapist to identify scapular type by observation.STUDY DESIGNMulticenter, single session descriptive cohortMETHODSSixty-one healthy participants (33 males, 28 females; mean age 24.19±2.61) completed testing across two locations in one testing session. Blood pressure and heart rate as well as height and weight were measured for each participant. Participants were classified by visual observation of Kibler scapular classification. The average number of CKUEST touches, a normalized score, and a power score were calculated for each participant. Three trials were performed and participants were required to take a 45-second rest break between each CKCUEST trial.RESULTSOne way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences in Type I and Type IV Kibler scapula classification for the CKCUEST power score, however when an ANCOVA controlled for body mass index, there was no statistically significant difference. A strong correlation r=.94 was observed between student and experienced physical therapist in evaluating all four types of Kibler scapular classification.CONCLUSIONSVisually observed Kibler scapular position does not affect the ability to perform the Davies CKCUEST in healthy young adults. The ability to identify Kibler scapular position was reliable between student and experienced physical therapists. Additional studies are required to identify the usefulness of the Kibler scapular position classification.LEVEL OF EVIDENCE2b: Individual Cohort Study

The Test Re-Test Reliability of A Novel Single Leg Hop Test (T-Drill Hop Test).

BackgroundFunctional training and testing are an important part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program stressing the neuromuscular system in ways that simulate athletic performance to help determine criteria for return to sport. There are numerous single leg hop tests that have been used for these purposes, however, the validity and clinical relevance has been questioned. Many of the functional performance tests assess only the sagittal plane or forward direction and may only partially assess a person’s athletic abilities. There is a need for reliable and valid functional tests to assess in a multi-directional manner.Purpose/HypothesisThe purpose of this study is to determine the test re-test reliability of a novel multi-directional timed single leg hop test (T-Drill Hop Test) for use in rehabilitation and performance assessments.Study DesignCross-sectional reliability study.MethodsFifty healthy recreationally active college age subjects, (23 males and 27 females) between the ages of 18 and 35, (mean age 23.48 with SD 3.82) consented to perform the test. The subjects hopped along a 10ft. x 10ft. “T” shaped course. Subjects performed two timed maximum effort trials of the T-Drill Hop Test on each leg with an interval of 3-7 days between the two testing days. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) were calculated to determine intersession reliability.ResultsThe inter-rater reliability (ICC’s) for the entire group of 50 subjects ranged between .98 and 1.00 suggesting excellent reliability. The bilateral comparison, utilizing paired t-tests, of the T-Drill Hop Test demonstrated no significant differences between the time scores for the dominant and non-dominant legs for either males or females (p>.05).ConclusionThis study demonstrates the T-Drill Hop Test has excellent test re-test reliability. These results are important prior to validation and utilization as a clinical functional performance test.Levels of EvidenceLevel 2

Cycle Sprint Test for the Evaluation of Lower Limb Muscle Power After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Proof-of-Concept Study

BackgroundLower limb muscle power is emerging as an important determinant of patient function after knee injury or surgery. This study tested proof of concept of a cycle sprint test for the evaluation of lower limb muscle power, as an outcome measure for patients having total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsThirty-two patients were enrolled, of which 16 completed all follow-ups (3, 6, and 12 months). All patients completed the Oxford Knee Score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaires, a 10-m walk test, and 30-second sit-stand test. A trainer-mounted road cycle fitted with an instrumented crank was used for the cycle sprint test. Maximum muscle power was measured from 3, 10-second maximal efforts. ResultsSignificant improvements in Oxford Knee Score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores relative to baseline were achieved at each follow-up (P < .001), and functional test performance improved significantly at 6 and 12 months (P < .001). Compared with the baseline of 268W, muscle power was significantly lower at 3 months (239W, −13%, P < .05) and significantly higher at 12 months (308W, +12%, P < .05). ConclusionThe concept of muscle power measurement using a cycle sprint test before and after TKA has been demonstrated in this study. Identification of individuals with lower limb muscle power deficits after TKA may inform rehabilitation programs and enhance long-term outcomes.

Adherence and characteristics of participants enrolled in a standardised programme of patient education and exercises for low back pain, GLA:D\xae Back \u2013 a prospective observational study

BackgroundLow back pain is often long-lasting, and implementation of low-cost interventions to improve care and minimise its burden is needed. GLA:D® Back is an evidence-based programme consisting of patient education and supervised exercises for people with low back pain, which was implemented nationwide in primary care clinics in Denmark. To assess how the intervention was received and factors influencing adherence to the program, we aimed to evaluate participants’ adherence to the intervention and identified characteristics related to the completion of GLA:D® Back. Specifically, we investigated: 1) level of attendance of participants enrolled in the programme, and 2) participant-related factors associated with low attendance.MethodsPrimary care clinicians delivered GLA:D® Back, a standardised 10-week programme of 2 educational and 16 supervised exercise sessions, to patients with low back pain. Attendance was defined as low, medium or high based on self-reported number of attended sessions. Additional participant-reported data included demographic characteristics, pain, prognostic risk profiles, self-efficacy, illness-beliefs, function and clinician-reported physical performance tests. Results for high, medium, low, and unknown attendance were reported descriptively. Odds ratios for low attendance compared to medium/high attendance were calculated by including all baseline factors in a mixed-model logistic regression model.ResultsOf 1730 participants, 52% had high, 23% medium, and 25% low levels of attendance. Level of attendance was not strongly associated with participants’ individual factors, but in combination, prediction of low attendance was fair (AUC 0.77; 95% CI 0.74–0.79). The strongest indicator of low attendance was not completing the baseline questionnaire.ConclusionsMost participants of a 10-week low back pain programme attended almost all session. Non-response to the baseline questionnaire was strongly associated with low attendance, whereas individual patient characteristics were weakly related to attendance. Not completing baseline questionnaires might be an early indicator of poor adherence in programs for people with persistent low back pain.Trial registrationThe Health Research Ethics for Southern Denmark decided there was no need for ethical approval (S-20172000-93). The Danish data collection has obtained authorisation from the Danish Data Protection Agency as part of the University of Southern Denmark’s institutional authorisation (DPA no. 2015-57-0008 SDU no. 17/30591). The trial was registred at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03570463.

A - 20 Connectivity between Default Mode and Salience Networks is Associated with Decreased Attention and Inhibitory Control

Abstract Objective To determine the association of default mode (DMN) and salience (SAL) network connectivity to executive function test performance. We hypothesized that intranetwork connectivity of the DMN and SAL would be uncorrelated to executive function, whereas increased internetwork connectivity would be associated with lower executive function. Methods Twelve physically active and healthy young adults (7 females, 5 males; age: 23.41 ± 2.74 years) were recruited for this study. Participants completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and three executive function tests administered through the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery. Demographically-corrected T-scores were calculated from the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (FICA), Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS), and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PCPS). The relationship between intra- and internetwork connectivity of the DMN and SAL networks and performance. Results Independently, the DMN and SAL networks demonstrated weak correlations to DCCS (SAL: r = 0.45, p = 0.14; DMN: r = 0.13, p = 0.69), FICA (SAL r = −0.10, p = 0.95; DMN: r = 0.31, p = 0.33), and PCPS (SAL r = 0.10, p = 0.79; DMN: r = 0.22, p = 0.50). However, connectivity between the SAL and DMN networks demonstrated a moderate correlation to FICA performance (r = −0.61, p = 0.02). Conclusions Greater connectivity between the DMN and SAL networks demonstrated the strongest association to attention and inhibitory control performance in physically active, young adults. This relationship suggests greater connectivity of task-negative networks to task-positive networks may interfere with ongoing processing of visuospatial attention and inhibition. Future studies should examine this relationship in athletes who sustain a head injury.

Reliability of the Single-Leg, Medial Countermovement Jump in Youth Ice Hockey Players.

Appropriate performance tests are critical for documenting training, fatigue and injury-related changes. Functional performance testing can provide quantitative information on specialized sport movements. The single-leg, medial countermovement jump is an objective measure of frontal plane force, velocity and power, and is particularly applicable for ice hockey players given that ice skating involves applying lateral forces. This study assessed the short-term reliability (10 days) of the single-leg, medial countermovement jump performed by ten competitive male youth ice hockey players. Each participant performed three right and three left maximal single-leg, medial countermovement jumps from force plates. Measured variables included lateral and vertical takeoff velocity, lateral and vertical maximal force, maximal force above bodyweight, lateral and vertical peak concentric power, average concentric power, and average concentric power during the last 100 ms of push-off. Relative reliability was quantified by intraclass correlations. Absolute reliability and the smallest real difference were also calculated. The single-leg, medial countermovement jump had moderate-to-excellent test–retest reliability (ICC: 0.50–0.98) for all twelve variables of interest. These results suggest that the single-leg, medial countermovement jump is a reliable test for assessing frontal plane force, velocity and power in ice hockey players, and is a valid functional performance test for this population given the similarity to ice skating.

Characterizing the executive functioning associated with dispositional mindfulness

Previous research shows that dispositional mindfulness is related to cognitive aspects. The relationship between executive functions and dispositional mindfulness is poorly studied. The aim of this work is to characterize the executive functioning associated with dispositional mindfulness. Dispositional mindfulness was evaluated in 90 undergraduates through the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. In addition, inhibition (Stroop task), cognitive flexibility (rule shift cards), processing speed (digit symbol substitution test), planning (zoo map test) and abstract reasoning (similarities test) were used to evaluate executive function. A multiple hierarchical regression analysis was carried out to predict dispositional mindfulness based on performance in the executive function tests and the individual’s age and sex. Age and sex accounted for 0.7% of dispositional mindfulness. Inhibition and cognitive flexibility accounted for 10.8% and 6%, respectively, of dispositional mindfulness, while processing speed and abstract reasoning explained 3.5% and 0.8%, respectively. Lastly, planning accounted for 0% of dispositional mindfulness. Individual differences in self-reported dispositional mindfulness may be caused by differences in executive performance. The good management of cognitive flexibility, the ability to inhibit and the ability to process stimuli more quickly play a crucial role in attending to current experience.

Functional performance tests in interstitial lung disease: Impairment and measurement properties

BackgroundThere is limited information regarding impairment in functional performance tests and their measurement properties in ILD. The present study aimed to verify the impairment and measurement properties of functional performance tests in ILD. MethodsILD and healthy individuals underwent assessments of pulmonary function, peripheral muscle strength (handgrip force and maximum isometric contraction of quadriceps femoris – MIVCq) and exercise capacity (6-min walk test – 6MWT). Functional performance was assessed by timed-up-and-go with usual (TUGu) and fast (TUGf) gait speeds, 4-m gait speed (4MGS), sit-to-stand in 30 s (30sec-STS), 1 min (1min-STS) and with 5 repetition (5rep-STS) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Functional performance was compared between groups, validity (correlation with 6MWT and MIVCq) and reliability of tests were checked in subjects with ILD (intra- and inter-rater agreement analysis). ResultsSeventy-six participants (40 ILD [25 women, 61 ± 11 years, FVC 75 ± 17 %pred] and 36 healthy [22 women, 61 ± 9 years, FVC 97 ± 11 %pred]) were included. Functional performance in ILD was worse than in healthy individuals in all tests, except for the 30sec-STS (p = 0.13). Pre-specified validity criteria were reached for TUGu, TUGf, 4MGS and 5rep-STS (−0.69 < r < 0.55; p < 0.05 for all). Except for 4MGS and SPPB, all tests showed good to excellent inter-rater (0.85 < ICC<0.93; p < 0.05 for all) and all tests showed good to excellent intra-rater (0.83 < ICC< 0.94; p < 0.05 for all) reliability. ConclusionsSubjects with ILD present worse functional performance than healthy individuals. According to reliability and validity results, TUGu, TUGf and 5rep-STS seem to be the most appropriate tests to evaluate functional performance in ILD.

Prenatal transplantation of human amniotic fluid stem cell could improve clinical outcome of type III spinal muscular atrophy in mice

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a single gene disorder affecting motor function in uterus. Amniotic fluid is an alternative source of stem cell to ameliorate SMA. Therefore, this study aims to examine the therapeutic potential of Human amniotic fluid stem cell (hAFSC) for SMA. Our SMA model mice were generated by deletion of exon 7 of Smn gene and knock-in of human SMN2. A total of 16 SMA model mice were injected with 1 × 105 hAFSC in uterus, and the other 16 mice served as the negative control. Motor function was analyzed by three behavioral tests. Engraftment of hAFSC in organs were assessed by flow cytometry and RNA scope. Frequency of myocytes, neurons and innervated receptors were estimated by staining. With hAFSC transplantation, 15 fetuses survived (93.75% survival) and showed better performance in all motor function tests. Higher engraftment frequency were observed in muscle and liver. Besides, the muscle with hAFSC transplantation expressed much laminin α and PAX-7. Significantly higher frequency of myocytes, neurons and innervated receptors were observed. In our study, hAFSC engrafted on neuromuscular organs and improved cellular and behavioral outcomes of SMA model mice. This fetal therapy could preserve the time window and treat in the uterus.

Sleep disturbances in autism spectrum disorder without intellectual impairment: relationship with executive function and psychiatric symptoms

The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, frequently accompanied by medical and psychiatric pathology. One of the most commonly found problems associated with ASD is sleep disturbances, which are estimated to affect approximately 80% of the people with ASD, not only during childhood but also in the adolescence and adult stages. Nevertheless, the relationship of these sleep difficulties with autism severity, as well as other associated impairments such as executive functioning and psychiatric disorders (eg, depression), has not yet been widely studied. The main objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between sleep disturbances, subjective measures of executive function, and psychiatric pathology in the ASD population. To reach that goal, a group of 89 participants with ASD (44 children/adolescents and 45 adults) was recruited and evaluated with self-reported measures of executive function performance and psychiatric pathology tests. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association between sleep disturbances and psychiatric symptoms in both ASD groups, with greater sleep disturbances predicting more severe psychiatric pathology. No significant association was found with executive function in any group. Limitations included a small sample size and lack of objective measures. Sleep problems seem to be associated with the severity of psychiatric pathology throughout the lifespan, increasing the chance of developing psychiatric symptoms when they were present. Improving sleep quality in ASD at all ages may result in preventing and/or decreasing psychiatric pathology in this population.