Automatic identification of gait events using an instrumented sock

In addition of the potential of using textile-based transducers in future devices, I also think in a possible help to assess gait objectively (to help improve the measurement of the ICARS scale)

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2011, 8:32 doi:10.1186/1743-0003-8-32
Published: 27 May 2011, OPEN ACCESS

Stephen J Preece, Laurence P J Kenney, Matthew J Major, Tilak Dias, Edward Lay and Bosco T Fernandes

Background
Textile-based transducers are an emerging technology in which piezo-resistive properties of materials are used to measure an applied strain. By incorporating these sensors into a sock, this technology offers the potential to detect critical events during the stance phase of the gait cycle. This could prove useful in several applications, such as functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems to assist gait.
Methods
We investigated the output of a knitted resistive strain sensor during walking and sought to determine the degree of similarity between the sensor output and the ankle angle in the sagittal plane. In addition, we investigated whether it would be possible to predict three key gait events, heel strike, heel lift and toe off, with a relatively straight-forward algorithm. This worked by predicting gait events to occur at fixed time offsets from specific peaks in the sensor signal.
Results
Our results showed that, for all subjects, the sensor output exhibited the same general characteristics as the ankle joint angle. However, there were large between-subjects differences in the degree of similarity between the two curves. Despite this variability, it was possible to accurately predict gait events using a simple algorithm. This algorithm displayed high levels of trial-to-trial repeatability.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the potential of using textile-based transducers in future devices that provide active gait assistance.

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Translating Stem Cell Research Into Therapies

Medical News Today, Article Date: 26 May 2011

The perspective on translating neural stem cell research into clinical therapeutics is part of a special issue of Neuron devoted to neural stem cells and neurogenesis

Original scientific paper: Translating Stem Cell Studies to the Clinic for CNS Repair: Current State of the Art and the Need for a Rosetta Stone
Karen Aboody, Alexandra Capela, Nilofar Niazi, Jeffrey H. Stern, and Sally Temple

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DNA Dynamics Is Likely to Be a Factor in the Genomic Nucleotide Repeats Expansions Related to Diseases

PLoS ONE 6(5): e19800. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0019800
Alexandrov BS, Valtchinov VI, Alexandrov LB, Gelev V, Dagon Y, et al. 2011

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract
Trinucleotide repeats sequences (TRS) represent a common type of genomic DNA motif whose expansion is associated with a large number of human diseases. The driving molecular mechanisms of the TRS ongoing dynamic expansion across generations and within tissues and its influence on genomic DNA functions are not well understood. Here we report results for a novel and notable collective breathing behavior of genomic DNA of tandem TRS, leading to propensity for large local DNA transient openings at physiological temperature. Our Langevin molecular dynamics (LMD) and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations demonstrate that the patterns of openings of various TRSs depend specifically on their length. The collective propensity for DNA strand separation of repeated sequences serves as a precursor for outsized intermediate bubble states independently of the G/C-content. We report that repeats have the potential to interfere with the binding of transcription factors to their consensus sequence by altered DNA breathing dynamics in proximity of the binding sites. These observations might influence ongoing attempts to use LMD and MCMC simulations for TRS–related modeling of genomic DNA functionality in elucidating the common denominators of the dynamic TRS expansion mutation with potential therapeutic applications.

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Effects of Erythropoietin on Frataxin Levels and Mitochondrial Function in Friedreich Ataxia - a Dose-Response Trial.

Cerebellum. 2011 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]

Nachbauer W, Hering S, Seifert M, Steinkellner H, Sturm B, Scheiber-Mojdehkar B, Reindl M, Strasak A, Poewe W, Weiss G, Boesch S.
Source
Department of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Keywords: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), frataxin, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO), dose-response interactions, single doses (5,000, 10,000 and 30,000 IU), serum erythropoietin levels, iron metabolism, mitochondrial function, ataxia rating did not reveal clinical improvement, ferritin decrease.

Stem cell technology for neurodegenerative diseases

Annals of Neurology, (2011) DOI: 10.1002/ana.22487

J. Simon Lunn PhD, Stacey A. Sakowski PhD, Junguk Hur PhD, Eva L. Feldman MD PhD,
Department of Neurology – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Keywords: stem cell technologies, neurodegenerative diseases, stem cell therapies.

First step in a possible therapeutic approach using stem cells for Friedreich's ataxia

Sent by: Dr. Jonathan Jones, Neuroscience Institute, Miguel Hernández University, San Juan, Alicante, 03550 SPAIN

The Experimental Embryology lab in the Neuroscience Institute in Alicante, Spain, is researching on the possible use of bone marrow and/or adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia. To this end, stem cells are injected intrathecally into the spinal cord of a FA mouse model, where the cells will attach to the dorsal root ganglion. Here, the cells will release trophic factors to protect the large sensory neurons from death, which is reflected in an improvement in motor skills. This is a first step in a possible therapeutic approach using stem cells for Friedreich's ataxia.

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More information about the project (Spanish)

Research Fellowship: Visual dissection of GAA-mediated mechanisms of FRDA repression and identification of novel candidate factors involved in frataxin function

Principal Researchers: Dr Michele Lufino and Dr Richard Wade-Martins,
Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford.

Developing a Balanced Business Model for Gene Therapy

HUMAN GENE THERAPY 22:1–4 (June 2011),DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.2504

"Research and outcomes like these give hope not only to patients, but to doctors who have spent years developing gene therapies for diseases that have not responded as well to traditional therapy.The promise shown by the results also create hope that gene therapy can finally emerge as avibrant segment, after years in which biopharma companies, physicians, insurers, and government regulators have struggled to develop a sustainable business model."

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Friedreich's Ataxia: Phenotypic variability: 4-case reports (two sets of siblings)

Published in Fisioterapia. 2010;32:190-4. - vol.32 núm 04
Gago Fernández, I.; Seco Calvo, J.

Keywords: clinical phenotype, Friedreich's Ataxia, activities of Daily Life, Health Quality of Life, Questionnaire of Health, multisystem involvement, phenotypic variability.

An investigation to determine the efficacy and safety of lentivirus mediated FXN gene delivery for the correction of Friedreich ataxia

Principal researchers: Dr Mark Pook and Dr Michael Themis Brunel University,
Uxbridge, UK