Implementation of EMG- and Force-Based Control Interfaces in Active Elbow Supports for Men With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Feasibility Study.

While there is an extensive number of studies on the development and evaluation of electromyography (EMG)- and force-based control interfaces for assistive devices, no studies have focused on testing these control strategies for the specific case of adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). This paper presents a feasibility study on the use of EMG and force as control interfaces for the operation of active arm supports for men with DMD. We have built an experimental active elbow support, with a threefold objective: 1) to investigate whether adult men with DMD could use EMG- and force-based control interfaces; 2) to evaluate their performance during a discrete position-tracking task; and 3) to examine users' acceptance of the control methods. The system was tested in three adults with DMD (21-22 years). Although none of the three participants had performed any voluntary movements with their arms for the past 3-5 years, all of them were 100% successful in performing the series of tracking tasks using both control interfaces (mean task completion time EMG: [Formula: see text] , force: [Formula: see text] ). While movements with the force-based control were considerably smoother in Subject 3 and faster in Subject 1, EMG based-control was perceived as less fatiguing by all three subjects. Both EMG- and force-based interfaces are feasible solutions for the control of active elbow supports in adults with DMD and should be considered for further investigations on multi-DOF control.

Plant-derived phenolics inhibit the accrual of structurally characterised protein and lipid oxidative modifications.

Epidemiological data suggest that plant-derived phenolics beneficial effects include an inhibition of LDL oxidation. After applying a screening method based on 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine-protein carbonyl reaction to 21 different plant-derived phenolic acids, we selected the most antioxidant ones. Their effect was assessed in 5 different oxidation systems, as well as in other model proteins. Mass-spectrometry was then used, evidencing a heterogeneous effect on the accumulation of the structurally characterized protein carbonyl glutamic and aminoadipic semialdehydes as well as for malondialdehyde-lysine in LDL apoprotein. After TOF based lipidomics, we identified the most abundant differential lipids in Cu(++)-incubated LDL as 1-palmitoyllysophosphatidylcholine and 1-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Most of selected phenolic compounds prevented the accumulation of those phospholipids and the cellular impairment induced by oxidized LDL. Finally, to validate these effects in vivo, we evaluated the effect of the intake of a phenolic-enriched extract in plasma protein and lipid modifications in a well-established model of atherosclerosis (diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in hamsters). This showed that a dietary supplement with a phenolic-enriched extract diminished plasma protein oxidative and lipid damage. Globally, these data show structural basis of antioxidant properties of plant-derived phenolic acids in protein oxidation that may be relevant for the health-promoting effects of its dietary intake.

Axenfeld-Rieger ocular anomaly and retinoblastoma caused by constitutional chromosome 13q deletion.

Axenfeld-Rieger (AR) ocular anomaly might be due to deletions of different chromosomes. No association between AR, mental retardation, and retinoblastoma has been described. We report a 2-month-old female with general development delay and dysmorphic features. AR anomaly was detected, and a retinoblastoma (RB) was diagnosed in a very early stage. De novo 13q deletion was identified. Systemic chemotherapy, focal cryotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, brachytherapy, and intra-arterial chemotherapy were needed to control the RB. This is the first report of an association of AR, 13q deletion, and retinoblastoma, to be disclosed in patients born with such ocular and dysmorphic features.