Stable Deficits Research Articles

PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA SECONDARY TO PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE BY SPOUSE: A CASE REPORT

Schizophrenia, which is distinguished by psychotic symptoms and frequently leads to social and vocational decline, persists to be a challenge in terms of its aetiology and treatment. Physical and emotional abuse from the partner can lead to paranoid schizophrenia. Paranoid schizophrenia patient shows disturbed thought process due to several causative agents such as chemical and structural dysfunction and environmental influences. Further patient have poor insight, experience disorder of thought and have negative symptoms. A 32 year old female patient was brought to psychiatric department by her mother with the presenting complaints of acute symptoms which include delusion of percussion, delusion of reference, delusion of infidelity, auditory hallucination, suspicious behavior and restlessness. Prior to the current situation patient have taken I week of treatment and visit the psychiatrist for follow up. Clinical features and mental status examination met the criteria for paranoid schizophrenia and administration of antipsychotics to the patient. The client was under the observation for 1 week. The drug therapy was helpful to the client. The course of the disorder in the client was ‘episodic with stable deficit’. The symptoms of the client were reduced and she was stable.

Effects of cavity length on operating characteristics of a ramjet rotating detonation engine fueled by liquid kerosene

Our very recent work has experimentally demonstrated the successful operation of a liquid-kerosene-fueled ramjet/air-breathing rotating detonation engine with a cavity-based annular combustor. As a follow-up study, the present work aims to further reveal the effects of cavities on the initiation and propagation characteristics of detonation, and various cavity lengths ranging from 30 mm to 90 mm were employed in the combustor. An air-heater was designed to provide an incoming flow at a total temperature of 860 K, which resembles the specific flight Mach number of 4 at an altitude of 20 km. The total mass flow rate of the incoming air flow was kept at 1.0 kg/s. The results indicate that a sufficient cavity length, which is found to be around 45 mm in minimum, is necessary to achieve the successful initiation of the rotating detonation waves. By increasing the cavity length to 75 mm and 90 mm, the fuel-lean detonation limits in terms of equivalence ratios (ER) can be extended from 0.8 to 0.7. The maximum propagation stability and minimum velocity deficit of 39.1 % (with respect to the ideal Chapman-Jouguet velocity) were achieved when the cavity length was 75 mm with the ER of 0.95. The optical observation indicates that detonation mainly occurs downstream of the cavity. The detonability of the kerosene/air mixture can be enhanced by the preheating of the permanent flame, and better enhancement is provided by larger cavity lengths. However, when the cavity length reaches 90 mm, part of the mixture is pre-ignited and consumed by deflagration. Therefore, the propagation velocity and stability of the rotating detonation wave increase as the cavity is lengthened from 45 mm to 75 mm, while showing a decrease when the cavity length reaches 90 mm. It is suggested that better detonation performance can be achieved by placing the permanent flame in a proper axial position through changing the cavity length. In addition, the increase of the cavity length is beneficial to alleviate the disturbance of the upstream oblique shock wave on the incoming flow in the isolator.

Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation over the Primary Motor Cortex in Improving Postural Stability in Healthy Young Adults.

Simple SummaryTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used as an adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to improve postural control and lower limb function. This study explored the effects of sham and anodal tDCS over the leg region of M1 on static and dynamic postural stability in healthy young adults. Jump-landing tasks were used to examine dynamic postural stability. Static postural stability was assessed by a single-leg stand on force plates with open eyes. Anodal tDCS had an immediate improving effect on static and dynamic postural stability, and might evolve as an adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to enhance postural deficits in the future.Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) is of increasing interest to improve motor performance in healthy adults and patients with respective deficits. This study aimed to examine whether tDCS over M1 can improve static and dynamic postural stability in young healthy adults. Seventeen healthy participants (mean age = 25.14 ± 2.50 (standard deviation, SD) years) received sham and anodal tDCS (2 mA) over the vertex at the Cz electrode position for 15 min. Static and dynamic postural stability were evaluated before and immediately after tDCS. The center of pressure (COP) sway area (COPSA) and COP maximum displacements to medio-lateral (COPML) and antero-posterior directions (COPAP) were used to evaluate static postural stability. The anterior–posterior stability index (APSI), medial–lateral stability index (MLSI), vertical stability index (VSI), dynamic postural stability index (DPSI), and time to stabilization (TTS) in forward (FL), 45° anterior lateral (LL), and 45° anterior medial (ML) direction landing, as well as the Y-balance composite score (YBTCS) were used to assess dynamic postural stability. The results showed that the LL-TTS (p = 0.044), non-dominant leg COPSA (p = 0.015), and YBTCS (p < 0.0001) were significantly improved in the real stimulation as compared with the sham stimulation session, and anodal tDCS significantly changed dominant leg COPAP (p = 0.021), FL-APSI (p < 0.0001), FL-TTS (p = 0.008), ML-TTS (p = 0.002), non-dominant leg YBTCS (p < 0.0001), and dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in all obtained balance values in the sham stimulation session, except for non-dominant leg YBTCS (p = 0.049). We conclude that anodal tDCS over M1 has an immediate improving effect on static postural stability and dynamic performance in young healthy adults. This makes tDCS a promising adjuvant rehabilitation treatment to enhance postural stability deficits in the future.

85. The neurology stability epidural compression assessment: a new score to establish the need for surgery in spinal metastases

85. The neurology stability epidural compression assessment: a new score to establish the need for surgery in spinal metastases

A clinical review: schizophrenia, transsexualism or their combination?

The change in the position of transsexualism in the new ICD classification, the hot debate about the psychopathological structure of this phenomenon and its relation to other mental disorders determine the relevance of considering the following clinical case.A detailed clinical description demonstrates the possibility of combining two initially independent disorders - transsexualism and schizophrenia - which gave a bright individual color to the clinical picture and caused difficulties both in the medical and legal aspects of patient care.At the age of 25, a patient with clinical signs of transsexualism developed acute paraphrenia psychosis. Without medical assistance, according to the mechanisms of sanogenesis, the severity of the condition decreased, but the psychotic state was not recovered. Features of the onset and dynamics of psychosis typical for the continuous type of paranoid schizophrenia (acuteness of development and absence of signs of syndromotaxis) allow us to attribute it to episodic with progressive or stable deficit paranoid schizophrenia variant. It is noteworthy that after the onset of psychosis, the stereotype of the development of birth-assigned gender rejection syndrome did not undergo significant changes: the formation of crossdressing, inverse psychosexual identity and inverse gender identity were finally completed; mimicry reactions became bright, self-destructive tendencies began to appear more and more clearly, and the patient applied for permission to change gender.In the described clinical situation, the primary task is to overcome the acute schizophrenia psychosis. After solving this problem, the secondary prevention and rehabilitation program development becomes more important. Formally, the patient does not have the right to change sex, since she suffers from schizophrenia, which is a contraindication for sex transformation. In the state of psychosis, the patient essentially loses her civil procedural capacity. Informally, the question remains relevant.

Challenging the Vestibular System Affects Gait Speed and Cognitive Workload in Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Healthy Adults.

People with persistent symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) report imbalance during walking with head movements. The purpose of this study was (1) to compare usual walk gait speed to walking with head turns (HT) between people with mTBI and controls, (2) to compare the cognitive workload from usual walk to HT walk between groups, and (3) to examine if gaze stability deficits and mTBI symptoms influence gait speed. Twenty-three individuals (mean age 55.7 ± 9.3 years) with persistent symptoms after mTBI (between 3 months to 2 years post-injury) were compared with 23 age and sex-matched controls. Participants walked a 12-inch wide, 60-foot walkway when looking ahead and when walking with HT to identify letters and their colors. Gait speed during usual walk and HT walk were calculated. Pupillary responses during both walks were converted to the Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA) as a measure of cognitive workload. Gaze stability was examined by the dynamic visual acuity (DVA) test in the yaw plane. The post-concussion symptom scale (PCSS) was used to collect symptom severity. Within group analysis showed that gait speed was lower during HT walk compared to usual walk in the people with mTBI (p < 0.001) as well as in controls (p < 0.001). ICA was higher with HT compared to usual walk in the mTBI group in the right eye (p = 0.01) and left eye (p = 0.001), and in controls in the right eye (p = 0.01) and left eye (p = 0.01). Participants in the mTBI group had slower usual (p < 0.001), and HT gait speed (p < 0.001) compared to controls. No differences were noted in ICA in the right or left eye during usual walk and HT walk between groups (p > 0.05). DVA loss in the yaw plane to the right and left was not different between groups (p > 0.05) and were not correlated with gait speed. PCSS scores were correlated with usual walk (r = −0.50, p < 0.001) and HT gait speed (r = −0.44, p = 0.002). Slower gait speed, poorer stability, and higher cognitive workload during walking with head turns may reduce community participation in people with mTBI and persistent symptoms.

Return to Sport Testing After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery in Adolescent Patients

Background:Readiness for return to sport (RTS) after surgery can be assessed using strength and functional performance testing. However, data regarding RTS testing after arthroscopic shoulder stabilization in adolescent patients is limited.Purpose:To investigate the results of strength and functional RTS testing following arthroscopic stabilization in adolescent patients with shoulder instability.Methods:A retrospective review of medical records was performed to identify adolescent patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder stabilization and subsequent RTS testing between April 2017 and April 2020. Surgeries were performed by a single sports medicine fellowship-trained surgeon; RTS assessments were performed at the primary institution’s sports rehabilitation clinic by a licensed physical therapist. Patient demographics, operative details, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) (VAS, Tegner, ASES, QuickDASH), and RTS testing results were collected. PROMs were obtained at the time of the RTS test. The recovery of muscle strength was defined by a limb symmetry index (LSI) ≥90%. Differences between the involved and uninvolved limbs were analyzed. Correlations between RTS testing results and PROMs were examined.Results:24 patients (62.5% male) were identified with mean age of 15.5 years (range, 13-21 years). Football was the most common primary sport played (33.3%). 58.3% of patients underwent surgery on their dominant shoulder. 21 patients had isolated anterior repairs, two had combined anterior/posterior repairs, and one had an isolated posterior repair. RTS testing was performed at a mean of 6.02 ± 0.64 months postoperatively. All PROMs improved significantly from pre-operative to the time of RTS testing (p<0.0001). All patients (n=24) failed at least one component of the RTS testing (Table 1). Pre-operative Tegner scores were positively correlated with involved isokinetic external rotation symmetry (r=0.383, p<0.05) and with closed kinetic chain upper extremity stability test (CKCUEST) performance (r=0.577, p<0.005). Post-operative Tegner and ASES scores were positively correlated with involved isometric internal rotation LSI (r=0.418, p<0.05) and CKCUEST performance (r=0.383, p<0.05), respectively. Isometric External Rotation LSI was positively correlated with the Isokinetic External Rotation LSI at 180°/sec for the surgical limb (r=0.57, p<0.01).Conclusion:At 6-months postoperative, shoulder strength and stability deficits persist in the surgical limb of adolescent patients. PROMs improve significantly from pre-operative to time of RTS testing. Tegner and ASES scores may be associated with objective shoulder strength and stability measurements.Table 1.Return-to-Sport Pass Criteria and Percentage of Patients Who Passed

Retinal ultrastructural, electrophysiological, and microvascular morphological outcomes in diabetic macular edema treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.

Investigation of retinal ultrastructural, electrophysiological, and microvascular morphological changes, as well as correlations between these changes and visual outcome in naïve diabetic macular edema (DME) patients after intravitreal bevacizumab therapy (IVBT). This prospective interventional study enrolled 31 DME patients' eyes treated with monthly IVBT for three months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured, and fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), microperimetry, as well as optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were performed before and after IVBT. Patients were grouped based on BCVA improvement after three consecutive IVBT: group 1: > 10 letters, group 2: ≤ 5 letters, and group 3: between 6 and 10 letters. Mean BCVA increased significantly from 34.2 to 39.9 letters (p < 0.001). Central macular thickness decreased significantly from 335.1 to 276.4μm (p < 0.001). Fixation stability, retinal sensitivity, and local deficit all improved significantly (p < 0.001 for all). There was no statistically significant change in IOP (p = 0.665). Although OCTA parameters did not change significantly, lower foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, higher foveal vessel density 300μm area around FAZ and deep plexus vascular density were associated with highly improved BCVA, retinal sensitivity, and local deficit. Also, there were no significant intergroup differences in gender, age, baseline BCVA, HbA1c, IOP, phakic/pseudophakic lens ratio, concomitant hypertension, and superficial capillary plexus vascular density. IVBT was associated with significantly improved BCVA, retinal ultrastructural integrity, and electrophysiological patterns in naive DME patients. Improvements in retinal electrophysiology correlated with ultrastructural improvements, which could be predicted using OCTA.

Effect of Combined Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise Protocols on the Postural Stability of Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain. A Secondary Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial.

Postural stability is a little-studied factor in non-specific chronic neck pain; the causes that can alter it are unknown. The relationship with chronic pain could be a determining factor for its deficit. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sustained pain and a postural stability deficit. A randomized and blinded clinical trial (double-blind; placebo control; 12 weeks follow-up) was conducted with a total of 69 subjects divided into three groups, two experimental (manual therapy and specific exercise) and a control treatment, and carried out over a treatment period of three weeks with a follow-up after 12 weeks. Their postural stability was assessed through the overall balance index (OBI). The postural stability of subjects with non-specific chronic neck pain improved in the experimental treatments. There were no statistically significant differences between the experimental groups. This trial found that manual therapy and therapeutic exercise significantly improved OBI compared to the control group. Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry, RBR-2vj7sw.

A pilot study on the feasibility and effectiveness of treadmill-based perturbations for assessing and improving walking stability in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundFalls risk is elevated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the contributing factors. Here, we examined the feasibility of, and initial responses to, large walking perturbations in COPD, as well as the adaptation potential of people with COPD to repeated walking perturbations that might indicate potential for perturbation-based balance training in COPD. Methods12 participants with COPD undergoing inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation and 12 age-gender-matched healthy control participants walked on an instrumented treadmill and experienced repeated treadmill-belt acceleration perturbations (leading to a forward balance loss). Three-dimensional motion capture was used to quantify the stability of participants body position during perturbed walking. Feasibility, stability following the initial perturbations and adaptation to repeated perturbations were assessed. FindingsUsing perturbations in this manner was feasible in this population (no harness assists and participants completed the minimum number of perturbations). No clear, specific deficit in reactive walking stability in COPD was found (no significant effects of participant group on stability or recovery step outcomes). There were mixed results for the adaptability outcomes which overall indicated some adaptability to repeated perturbations, but not to the same extent as the healthy control participants. InterpretationTreadmill-based perturbations during walking are feasible in COPD. COPD does not appear to result in significant deficits in stability following sudden perturbations and patients do demonstrate some adaptability to repeated perturbations. Perturbation-based balance training may be considered for fall prevention in research and practice in people with COPD.

A Mathematical Model of MMT (Modern Monetary Theory) with Profit Return

Even in perfect competition there is a positive profit return if the good is produced with decreasing returns to scale technology. Using a two-periods overlapping generations (OLG) model with production under perfect competition with decreasing returns to scale technology in which the economy grows by technological progress and the older generation consumers receive the profit returns, we consider the problem of budget deficit under economic growth. We will show the following results. 1) We need a budget deficit to achieve full employment under constant price when the economy grows by technological progress. 2) If the budget deficit exceeds the level necessary to maintain full employment in a growing economy under constant price, inflation will be triggered. We need a stable budget deficit to prevent further inflation. 3) If the budget deficit is insufficient to maintain full employment, it will cause a recession with involuntary unemployment. We can overcome a recession and restore full employment caused by insufficient budget deficit by a budget deficit larger than the one necessary and sufficient to maintain full employment without a recession. We should not offset the deficit created to overcome the recession by subsequent surpluses because we can maintain full employment through constant budget deficits. Also, we show that in each case the budget deficit equals the difference between the net savings of the younger generation consumers and that of the older generation consumers.

Mathematical Model of MMT with Profit Return under Monopolistic Competition

Even under constant returns to scale technology there is a positive profit return if the goods are produced in monopolistic competition. By a two-periods overlapping generations (OLG) model with production in monopolistic competition under constant returns to scale in which the economy grows by technological progress and the older generation consumers receive the profits, we consider the problem of budget deficit. We show that the budget deficit equals the difference between the net savings of the younger generation consumers excluding the profits received in the future and that of the older generation consumers in each of the following cases. Also, the following results will be proved. 1) A budget deficit is necessary to realize full employment with constant price when the economy grows. 2) If the budget deficit exceeds the level necessary and sufficient to maintain full employment in a growing economy with constant price, inflation will occur. A stable budget deficit is necessary to prevent further inflation. 3) If the budget deficit is insufficient to maintain full employment, a recession with involuntary unemployment occurs. We can overcome a recession and restore full employment making a budget deficit larger than the one necessary and sufficient to maintain full employment without a recession. Since we can maintain full employment by constant budget deficits, we should not offset the deficit created for overcoming the recession by budget surpluses.

Evaluation of frequency of depression in a subset of population with idiopathic parkinsonism in a tertiary care hospital

Objectives. To determine the frequency of depression in patients with idiopathic parkinsonism presenting to a tertiary care Hospital in Karachi. Material and methods. This case study was conducted at the neurology department Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi (JPMC). The duration of the study was six months from 22nd January 2019 to 2nd June 2019. A total of 114 patients of parkinsonism (idiopathic Parkinson’s disease) were included in this study. Patients were assured of confidentiality. They were given questionnaire with Beck depression inventory while waiting in the neurology outpatient clinic. Questionnaire was taken back after 25 minutes. Patient score more than 9 was diagnosed as depression. The identified depressed patient was offered treatment. Results. Frequency of depression in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease was observed in 48.25% (55/114) cases. Conclusions. It is concluded that our study indicates the burden of depression in Parkinson disease (PD) patients. However, even with stable or mild deficit in motor function, the wide prevalence of depression indicates that it should be suspected and treated. Over the past several years, systematic studies of depression and its treatment have contributed significantly to this most challenging psychiatric problem in PD. Hence, there is a need of policy for screening and prompt treatment of such patients so they could lead to enhance quality of life.

Very Simple Mathematical Model of MMT (Modern Monetary Theory)

The purpose of this paper is to provide a concise theoretical and mathematical foundation for the major parts of the debate in the recently discussed school of economics called Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), while maintaining the basics of the neoclassical microeconomic framework, such as utility maximization of consumers using budget constraints and utility functions, and equilibrium of demand and supply of goods under perfect competition with constant returns to scale technology. By a two-periods overlapping generations (OLG) model in which the economy grows by technological progress, we will show that: 1) We need a budget deficit to achieve full employment with constant price when the economy grows by technological progress. This budget deficit should not be offset by future surplus; 2) A budget deficit that exceeds the level necessary to maintain full employment in a growing economy with constant price will cause inflation. A stable budget deficit is required to prevent further inflation; 3) A budget deficit that is insufficient to maintain full employment will cause a recession with involuntary unemployment. A budget deficit larger than the one necessary and sufficient to maintain full employment without a recession can overcome a recession caused by insufficient budget deficit and restore full employment. The deficit created to overcome the recession should not be offset by subsequent surpluses, since full employment can then be maintained through constant budget deficits.

A-8 Developmental Cognitive Phenotypes in First-Episode Psychosis and Longitudinal Cognitive Change Following Antipsychotic Treatment

Abstract Objective The present study applied a developmentally based subgrouping procedure previously examined in chronic psychosis patients to a sample of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and examined change in cognition following treatment with antipsychotic medication. Method Medication naïve FEP patients (n = 119; age = 27.96; 63.9% male; 62.2% White, 32.8% Black, 5.0% Other) recruited during initial hospitalization were categorized into groups based on 1) estimated premorbid intellectual ability and 2) the discrepancy between predicted (modeled on 151 healthy controls) and current cognitive ability. Consistent with findings from chronic psychosis samples, groups were characterized as Preserved (n = 46; average premorbid, no discrepancy), Deteriorated (n = 44; average premorbid, significant discrepancy), and Compromised (n = 29, low premorbid and current cognitive ability). A mixed analysis of variance was used to examine change in a composite cognitive score derived from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 months. Results There was a significant group by time interaction [Figure 1; F(5.4142.4) = 2.81, p = 0.02] in which the Preserved group performed similar to healthy controls across all time points, the Compromised group demonstrated stable deficits after treatment, and the Deteriorated group diverged from the Compromised group at 6 weeks and 12 months. Discussion There is considerable cognitive heterogeneity in FEP at baseline and after initiation of antipsychotic medication. Findings of cognitive improvement in the Deteriorated group after treatment initiation suggests a differential response to antipsychotic medications that was not found in the Compromised or Preserved groups. Future work may benefit from examining medication and symptom severity as potential factors contributing to the unique change observed in the Deteriorated group.

Characterizing gaze and postural stability deficits in people with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundPeople with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) experience a wide range of symptoms that can alter function and limit activity and community participation. Symptoms including sensory changes, weakness, fatigue and others have been well documented. However, symptoms related to changes in vestibular related function, including gaze and postural stability have not been fully explored. While some recent studies have begun to provide insight into these deficits in PwMS and have explored the use of rehabilitation paradigms for their management, much remains unknown about the full extent of these deficits. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the presence of gaze and postural stability deficits in measures across the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (WHO ICF) and to examine how deficits in domains of body structure and function and activity contribute to participation level limitations. MethodsBaseline data from 41 PwMS (mean(SD) age = 53.9(11.2), 78% female) enrolled as part of a randomized clinical trial were used in this analysis. Measures of gaze and postural stability from the ICF domains of body structure and function (Vestibular ocular reflex [VOR] gain and postural sway area), activity (computerized dynamic visual acuity [cDVA] and MiniBEST test), and participation (Dizziness handicap inventory [DHI] and Activities Balance Confidence [ABC] scale) along with demographic data were used to characterize the sample. To explore relationships between ICF domains for gaze and postural stability, univariate correlations were performed between measures from each domain using Pearson's correlations. Separate multivariate regression models examined how measures from the body structure and function and activity domains contributed to the variance in the participation level outcomes. Variance explained by the models was quantified using R-squared statistic and contribution of the independent variables were quantified using the beta coefficient (p < 0.05). ResultsCorrelation analysis demonstrated significant relationships in the postural stability measures across domains. Specifically, between postural sway area on a firm surface and MiniBEST test score (r = -.48;p < 0.01) and MiniBEST test score and ABC score (r = 0.5;p < 0.01). Significant correlations were also found between the gaze stability measures of horizontal and vertical VOR gain (r = .68;p < 0.001), horizontal VOR gain and dynamic visual acuity (r = .38;p = 0.02), and vertical VOR gain and dynamic visual acuity (r = .54;p < 0.001). Regression models assessing postural stability, found that only the MiniBEST score significantly contributed to the variance in ABC score (p = 0.01) and the full model explained 34% of the variance in ABC score. Regression modeling of gaze stability outcomes did not produce any variable that significantly contributed to the variance in DHI score and the full model explained 18% of the variance in DHI score. ConclusionsPwMS in this sample demonstrated deficits in gaze and postural stability across the domains of the WHO ICF compared to past samples of PwMS and healthy cohorts. Correlation between measures in the different domains were present, but no strong relationship between measures of body structure and function, activity and participation level outcomes were observed. This lack of relationship across the domains is likely contributed to the relatively small sample size, the high level of variability observed in the outcomes, and the diverse presentation often seen in PwMS.

Loss of Motor Stability After Sports-Related Concussion: Opportunities for Motor Learning Strategies to Reduce Musculoskeletal Injury Risk.

Current best practices to direct recovery after sports-related concussion (SRC) typically require asymptomatic presentation at both rest and during a graduated exercise progression, and cognitive performance resolution. However, this standard of care results in a significantly elevated risk for musculoskeletal (MSK) injury after return-to-sport (RTS). The elevated risk is likely secondary to, in part, residual neurophysiological and dual-task motor stability deficits that remain despite RTS. These deficits present as a loss of autonomous control of gait and posture and an increased need for cognition for motor stability. Thus, the incorporation ofstrategies that can enhance motor stability and restore autonomous control of gait and posture during SRC recovery and RTS progression may facilitate areduction of the elevated risk of secondary MSK injury. We provide a theoretical framework for the application of motor learning principles to restore autonomous gait and postural stability after SRC via incorporation, or targeted manipulation, of external focus, enhanced expectations, autonomy support, practice schedule variability, and dual-task strategies during rehabilitation and RTS training.

Are Core Stability Tests Related to Single Leg Squat Performance in Active Females?

Core stability (CS) deficits can have a significant impact on lower limb function. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between two dynamic core exercise assessments and dynamic knee valgus during single-leg squats. In total, 20 physically active female students participated in this study. The OCTOcore smartphone application assesses CS during two dynamic exercise tests, the partial range single-leg deadlift (SLD) test and the bird-dog (BD) test. A two-dimensional assessment of a single-leg squat test was used to quantify participants’ hip frontal angle (HFASLS) and knee frontal plane projection angle (FPPASLS). Ankle dorsiflexion was evaluated through the weight-bearing dorsiflexion test. The correlational analyses indicated that the HFASLS was significantly related to the partial range single-leg deadlift test (r = 0.314, p < 0.05) and ankle dorsiflexion (r = 0.322, p < 0.05). The results showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the CS test between cases categorised as dynamic knee valgus (>10°) and normal (≤10°). The CS deficit may influence the neuromuscular control of the lumbopelvic-hip complex during single-leg movements. The link between CS and kinematic factors related to knee injuries was only observed when CS was measured in the SLD test but not in the BD test.

Focal Ischemic Injury to the Early Neonatal Rat Brain Models Cognitive and Motor Deficits with Associated Histopathological Outcomes Relevant to Human Neonatal Brain Injury

Neonatal arterial ischemic stroke is one of the more severe birth complications. The injury can result in extensive neurological damage and is robustly associated with later diagnoses of cerebral palsy (CP). An important part of efforts to develop new therapies include the on-going refinement and understanding of animal models that capture relevant clinical features of neonatal brain injury leading to CP. The potent vasoconstrictor peptide, Endothelin-1 (ET-1), has previously been utilised in animal models to reduce local blood flow to levels that mimic ischemic stroke. Our previous work in this area has shown that it is an effective and technically simple approach for modelling ischemic injury at very early neonatal ages, resulting in stable deficits in motor function. Here, we aimed to extend this model to also examine the impact on cognitive function. We show that focal delivery of ET-1 to the cortex of Sprague Dawley rats on postnatal day 0 (P0) resulted in impaired learning in a touchscreen-based test of visual discrimination and correlated with important clinical features of CP including damage to large white matter structures.

Does Budget Deficit and Political Stability Effect Real Exchange Rate in South Asian Countries?

The study investigates the effect of political stability and budget deficit on the real exchange rate. We used a panel data set of south Asian countries, including Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and India. We applied the panel unit root test, Kaos panel Cointegration and fully modified the least square in the study to reach robustness of findings. Findings reveal that real exchange rate(RER) and political stability are positively related. It supports the argument that political stability attracts foreign investment, appreciates local currency, and leads to higher RER. However, results reveal that the budget deficit is not related to RER. This study provides new empirical evidence to policymakers and government officials that political stability encourages foreign investors and appreciates exchange rate.