Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Mostrar: 20 | 50 | 100
Resultados 1 - 20 de 48
Filtrar
Más filtros

Banco de datos
Tipo del documento
Intervalo de año de publicación
1.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry ; 33(1): 139-149, 2024 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36695897

RESUMEN

Recently, there has been an increase in telemedicine applied to child neuropsychiatry, such as the use of online platforms to collect remotely case histories and demographic and behavioral information. In the present proof-of-concept study, we aimed to understand to what extent information parents and teachers provide through online questionnaires overlaps with clinicians' diagnostic conclusions on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Moreover, we intended to explore a possible role that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) symptoms played in this process. We examined parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires collected remotely and an on-site evaluation of intelligence quotients from 342 subjects (18% females), aged 3-16 years, and referred for suspected ADHD. An easily interpretable machine learning model-decision tree (DT)-was built to simulate the clinical process of classifying ADHD/non-ADHD based on collected data. Then, we tested the DT model's predictive accuracy through a cross-validation approach. The DT classifier's performance was compared with those that other machine learning models achieved, such as random forest and support vector machines. Differences in ASD symptoms in the DT-identified classes were tested to address their role in performing a diagnostic error using the DT model. The DT identified the decision rules clinicians adopt to classify an ADHD diagnosis with an 82% accuracy rate. Regarding the cross-validation experiment, our DT model reached a predictive accuracy of 74% that was similar to those of other classification algorithms. The caregiver-reported ADHD core symptom severity proved the most discriminative information for clinicians during the diagnostic decision process. However, ASD symptoms were a confounding factor when ADHD severity had to be established. Telehealth procedures proved effective in obtaining an automated output regarding a diagnostic risk, reducing the time delay between symptom detection and diagnosis. However, this should not be considered an alternative to on-site procedures but rather as automated support for clinical practice, enabling clinicians to allocate further resources to the most complex cases.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad , Trastorno del Espectro Autista , Trastorno Autístico , Neuropsiquiatría , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/diagnóstico , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/diagnóstico , Aprendizaje Automático Supervisado , Preescolar , Adolescente
2.
Nat Mater ; 20(8): 1106-1112, 2021 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34083775

RESUMEN

Spin qubits are considered to be among the most promising candidates for building a quantum processor. Group IV hole spin qubits are particularly interesting owing to their ease of operation and compatibility with Si technology. In addition, Ge offers the option for monolithic superconductor-semiconductor integration. Here, we demonstrate a hole spin qubit operating at fields below 10 mT, the critical field of Al, by exploiting the large out-of-plane hole g-factors in planar Ge and by encoding the qubit into the singlet-triplet states of a double quantum dot. We observe electrically controlled g-factor difference-driven and exchange-driven rotations with tunable frequencies exceeding 100 MHz and dephasing times of 1 µs, which we extend beyond 150 µs using echo techniques. These results demonstrate that Ge hole singlet-triplet qubits are competing with state-of-the-art GaAs and Si singlet-triplet qubits. In addition, their rotation frequencies and coherence are comparable with those of Ge single spin qubits, but singlet-triplet qubits can be operated at much lower fields, emphasizing their potential for on-chip integration with superconducting technologies.

3.
Phys Rev Lett ; 128(12): 126803, 2022 Mar 25.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35394319

RESUMEN

The spin-orbit interaction permits to control the state of a spin qubit via electric fields. For holes it is particularly strong, allowing for fast all electrical qubit manipulation, and yet an in-depth understanding of this interaction in hole systems is missing. Here we investigate, experimentally and theoretically, the effect of the cubic Rashba spin-orbit interaction on the mixing of the spin states by studying singlet-triplet oscillations in a planar Ge hole double quantum dot. Landau-Zener sweeps at different magnetic field directions allow us to disentangle the effects of the spin-orbit induced spin-flip term from those caused by strongly site-dependent and anisotropic quantum dot g tensors. Our work, therefore, provides new insights into the hole spin-orbit interaction, necessary for optimizing future qubit experiments.

4.
Neurol Sci ; 41(1): 131-138, 2020 Jan.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31478151

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic cervical dystonia (ICD) is a focal dystonia affecting neck muscles. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is the first-line treatment of ICD and different physical therapies (including exercise) are often proposed as adjunct treatments. However, the actual effectiveness of exercise in ICD is unclear. The aim of the current work is to assess the potential effectiveness of the Sensorimotor Perceptive Rehabilitation Integrated (SPRInt) exercise program as adjunct therapy for ICD. METHODS: Fifteen ICD patients received BoNT injections in the neck muscles and, 12 weeks later, received BoNT a second time and SPRInt started. SPRInt consists in 18 exercise sessions in which augmented feedback of movement (including visual and acoustic feedback) is extensively used. Dystonia burden was measured by the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS). Patients were evaluated immediately before, 6 and 12 weeks after each BoNT injection. RESULTS: Six weeks after the first BoNT injection (i.e., at BoNT peak effect), TWSTRS total score was better than baseline and remained improved at 12 weeks. TWSTRS disability domain slightly improved 6 weeks after the first BoNT injection, but after 6 more weeks returned to its baseline level. Disability improved more at SPRInt end (i.e., 6 weeks after the second BoNT injection), being even lower than after toxin alone. With a single-subject analysis, 4/10 patients who did not improve disability after BoNT improved after SPRInt plus BoNT. CONCLUSIONS: SPRInt plus BoNT can be more effective than BoNT alone in improving cervical dystonia patients' difficulties in the activities of daily living. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03247868 (https://register.clinicaltrials.gov).


Asunto(s)
Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/administración & dosificación , Terapia por Ejercicio/métodos , Retroalimentación Sensorial/fisiología , Fármacos Neuromusculares/administración & dosificación , Tortícolis/fisiopatología , Tortícolis/terapia , Actividades Cotidianas/psicología , Adulto , Anciano , Retroalimentación Sensorial/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Humanos , Inyecciones Intramusculares , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tortícolis/psicología
5.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry ; 28(4): 571-583, 2019 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30246216

RESUMEN

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) dietary supplementation on behavior and cognition in school-aged, drug-naïve children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 50 participants with ADHD aged 7 to 14 were enrolled in a 6-month randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial and received either DHA or placebo. The primary outcome measure was the change in the ADHD rating scale IV Parent Version-Investigator (ADHD-RS-IV) after 4 and 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included Conners Parent Rating Scale-revised, other behavioral rating scales including quality of life and global functioning, and computerized cognitive tasks. Baseline assessment also addressed the blood fatty acids profile. No superiority of DHA supplement to placebo was observed on ADHD-RS-IV, the a priori primary outcome. DHA supplementation showed a significant, nonetheless quite small, effect on children's psychosocial functioning, emotional problems, and focused attention. Neither major nor minor adverse events were reported throughout the trial. This study shows that 6-month DHA supplementation has no beneficial effect on the symptoms of ADHD in school-aged, drug-naïve children with an established diagnosis of ADHD. Nevertheless, the 6 months treatment with supplemental DHA appears to have small positive effects on other behavioral and cognitive difficulties, which, in light of the absence of side-effects, could be reasonably followed up in future intervention studies. ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01796262 : The Effects of DHA on Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (DADA)).


Asunto(s)
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/tratamiento farmacológico , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/psicología , Conducta Infantil/efectos de los fármacos , Conducta Infantil/psicología , Cognición/efectos de los fármacos , Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos/administración & dosificación , Adolescente , Atención/efectos de los fármacos , Atención/fisiología , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/diagnóstico , Niño , Cognición/fisiología , Suplementos Dietéticos , Método Doble Ciego , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Padres/psicología , Calidad de Vida , Resultado del Tratamiento
6.
Phys Rev Lett ; 120(13): 137702, 2018 Mar 30.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29694195

RESUMEN

In a semiconductor spin qubit with sizable spin-orbit coupling, coherent spin rotations can be driven by a resonant gate-voltage modulation. Recently, we have exploited this opportunity in the experimental demonstration of a hole spin qubit in a silicon device. Here we investigate the underlying physical mechanisms by measuring the full angular dependence of the Rabi frequency, as well as the gate-voltage dependence and anisotropy of the hole g factor. We show that a g-matrix formalism can simultaneously capture and discriminate the contributions of two mechanisms so far independently discussed in the literature: one associated with the modulation of the g factor, and measurable by Zeeman energy spectroscopy, the other not. Our approach has a general validity and can be applied to the analysis of other types of spin-orbit qubits.

7.
Nano Lett ; 17(2): 1001-1006, 2017 02 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28080065

RESUMEN

We report on dual-gate reflectometry in a metal-oxide-semiconductor double-gate silicon transistor operating at low temperature as a double quantum dot device. The reflectometry setup consists of two radio frequency resonators respectively connected to the two gate electrodes. By simultaneously measuring their dispersive responses, we obtain the complete charge stability diagram of the device. Electron transitions between the two quantum dots and between each quantum dot and either the source or the drain contact are detected through phase shifts in the reflected radio frequency signals. At finite bias, reflectometry allows probing charge transitions to excited quantum-dot states, thereby enabling direct access to the energy level spectra of the quantum dots. Interestingly, we find that in the presence of electron transport across the two dots the reflectometry signatures of interdot transitions display a dip-peak structure containing quantitative information on the charge relaxation rates in the double quantum dot.

8.
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry ; 26(9): 1011-1030, 2017 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27988864

RESUMEN

Over the last 15 years, considerable interest has been given to the potential role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for understanding pathogenesis and treatment of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. This review aims to systematically investigate the scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis on the omega-3 PUFAs deficit as a risk factor shared by different pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders. Medline PubMed database was searched for studies examining blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) status in children with neuropsychiatric disorders. Forty-one published manuscripts were compatible with the search criteria. The majority of studies on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism found a significant decrease in DHA levels in patients versus healthy controls. For the other conditions examined-depression, juvenile bipolar disorder, intellectual disabilities, learning difficulties, and eating disorders (EDs)-the literature was too limited to draw any stable conclusions. However, except EDs, findings in these conditions were in line with results from ADHD and autism studies. Results about EPA levels were too inconsistent to conclude that EPA could be associated with any of the conditions examined. Finally, correlational data provided, on one hand, evidence for a negative association between DHA and symptomatology, whereas on the other hand, evidence for a positive association between EPA and emotional well-being. Although the present review underlines the potential involvement of omega-3 PUFAs in the predisposition to childhood neuropsychiatric disorders, more observational and intervention studies across different diagnoses are needed, which should integrate the collection of baseline PUFA levels with their potential genetic and environmental influencing factors.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/tratamiento farmacológico , Trastorno Autístico/tratamiento farmacológico , Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos/uso terapéutico , Ácido Eicosapentaenoico/uso terapéutico , Trastornos Mentales/metabolismo , Neuropsiquiatría/métodos , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos/metabolismo , Ácido Eicosapentaenoico/metabolismo , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Trastornos Mentales/patología , Factores de Riesgo
9.
Int J Mol Sci ; 18(12)2017 Dec 04.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29207548

RESUMEN

In this systematic review, we will consider and debate studies that have explored the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in three major, and somehow related, developmental psychiatric disorders: Autism, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity disorder and Psychosis. The impact of ω-3 PUFAs on clinical symptoms and, if possible, brain trajectory in children and adolescents suffering from these illnesses will be reviewed and discussed, considering the biological plausibility of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids, together with their potential perspectives in the field. Heterogeneity in study designs will be discussed in the light of differences in results and interpretation of studies carried out so far.


Asunto(s)
Ácidos Grasos Omega-3/uso terapéutico , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/tratamiento farmacológico , Trastorno Autístico/tratamiento farmacológico , Ácidos Docosahexaenoicos/uso terapéutico , Ácido Eicosapentaenoico/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Trastornos Psicóticos/tratamiento farmacológico
10.
J Neuromuscul Dis ; 2024 Apr 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38578898

RESUMEN

Background: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease in which lack of the dystrophin protein causes progressive muscular weakness, cardiomyopathy and respiratory insufficiency. DMD is often associated with other cognitive and behavioral impairments, however the correlation of abnormal dystrophin expression in the central nervous system with brain structure and functioning remains still unclear. Objective: To investigate brain involvement in patients with DMD through a multimodal and multivariate approach accounting for potential comorbidities. Methods: We acquired T1-weighted and Diffusion Tensor Imaging data from 18 patients with DMD and 18 age- and sex-matched controls with similar cognitive and behavioral profiles. Cortical thickness, structure volume, fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity measures were used in a multivariate analysis performed using a Support Vector Machine classifier accounting for potential comorbidities in patients and controls. Results: the classification experiment significantly discriminates between the two populations (97.2% accuracy) and the forward model weights showed that DMD mostly affects the microstructural integrity of long fiber bundles, in particular in the cerebellar peduncles (bilaterally), in the posterior thalamic radiation (bilaterally), in the fornix and in the medial lemniscus (bilaterally). We also reported a reduced cortical thickness, mainly in the motor cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampal area and insula. Conclusions: Our study identified a small pattern of alterations in the CNS likely associated with the DMD diagnosis.

11.
Proc Inst Mech Eng H ; 237(2): 199-208, 2023 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36727607

RESUMEN

Dynamic balance disorders are common impairments in People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) leading to gait disorders and a higher risk of falling. However, the assessment of dynamic balance is still challenging and instrumented indexes provide objective and quantitative data of CoM movement and Base of Support, which are considered that are two key factors describing dynamic balance. This study aims at validating recent instrumented indexes based on the inverted pendulum model and characterizing dynamic balance disorders in PwMS. We clinically assessed 20 PwMS and we collected instrumented gait data through an optoelectronic system. Data from 20 Healthy Subjects (HS) were also considered as normative reference. Margin of Stability by HoF (MoS_Hof) and by Terry (MoS_Terry) at midstance, and Foot Placement Estimator (DFPE) at heel strike were calculated in mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions, for both less affected and most affected sides for PwMS and for dominant and non-dominant side for HS. MoS_HOF well discriminated between PwMS and HS, followed by MoS_TERRY in ML direction (Mos_HOF: PwMS = 130.0 ± 27.2 mm, HS = 106.5 ± 18.6 mm, p < 0.001, MoS_TERRY: PwMS = 75.1 ± 24.3 mm, HS = 56.5 ± 23.4 mm, p < 0.02). MoS_HOF and MoS_TERRY discriminated between sides in both directions in PwMS. DFPE did not discriminate between groups and sides. Moderate correlations were found between all three indexes and clinical balance scales (from r = 0.02 to r = 0.66), energy recovery (from r = -0.77 to r = -0.11), single stance time (from r = -0.11 to r = 0.80) and step length (from r = -0.83 to r = -0.20). MoS_HOF resulted in the best index to describe dynamic balance disorders in PwMS: they keep CoM position far from the lateral and as close as possible to the anterior boundary of the Base of Support as preventive strategies to control balance perturbations. Furthermore, PwMS seem to use different preventive strategies in accordance with the specific lower limb impairments. This alters the physiological gait mechanisms increasing the energy expenditure and decreasing gait quality and dynamic balance.


Asunto(s)
Esclerosis Múltiple , Humanos , Estudios Transversales , Equilibrio Postural/fisiología , Caminata/fisiología , Marcha/fisiología
12.
Autism Res ; 16(8): 1550-1560, 2023 08.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37530700

RESUMEN

It is still unclear whether and to what extent the motor difficulties are specific to autism. This study aimed to determine whether a multimodal assessment of motor skills could accurately discriminate autistic children from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and typically developing (TD) peers. Seventy-five children, aged 7-13, equally divided into three groups, were assessed with the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (DCDQ), the movement assessment battery for children 2 (MABC2), the sensorimotor subtests of NEPSY-II, and the kinematic analysis of a reach-to-drop task. Principal component analysis (PCA) on DCDQ subscales revealed one factor-Caregiver Report-, whereas MABC2/NEPSY-II scores identified three factors-namely, Object Interception and Balance, Motor Imitation, and Fine-Motor Skills-. Lastly, PCA on kinematic variables identified four factors: PC1, loaded by the parameters of velocity and acceleration throughout the task, PC2 and PC3 involved the temporal parameters of the two submovements, and PC4 accounted for the wrist inclination at ball drop. When comparing autistic and TD children, Caregiver Report and Motor Imitation factors predicted membership with 87.2% of accuracy. In the model comparing ADHD and TD groups, Caregiver Report and Fine-Motor Skills predicted membership with an accuracy of 73.5%. In the last model, the Object Interception and Balance factor differentiated autistic children from ADHD with an accuracy of 73.5%. In line with our previous findings, kinematics did not differentiate school-aged autistic children from ADHD and TD peers. The present findings show that specific motor profiles in autism and ADHD can be isolated with a multimodal investigation of motor skills.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad , Trastorno del Espectro Autista , Trastorno Autístico , Trastornos de la Destreza Motora , Niño , Humanos , Trastorno Autístico/diagnóstico , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/diagnóstico , Trastornos de la Destreza Motora/diagnóstico , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/diagnóstico , Destreza Motora
13.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 30(52): 111676-111692, 2023 Nov.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37828261

RESUMEN

Although heritability estimates suggest a role for genetic components, environmental risk factors have been described as relevant in the etiology of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several studies have investigated the role of toxicological pollution, i.e., air pollution, heavy metals, POPs, and phthalates. Clear evidence for association of ADHD and environmental factors has not been provided yet. To answer this, we have assessed all available systematic reviews and meta-analyses that focused on the association between pollutant exposure and either ADHD diagnosis or symptoms. More than 1800 studies were screened of which 14 found eligible. We found evidence of a significant role for some pollutants, in particular heavy metals and phthalates, in the increased risk of developing ADHD symptoms. However, at the current stage, data from existing literature also do not allow to weight the role of the different environmental pollutants. We also offer a critical examination of the reviews/meta-analyses and provide indications for future studies in this field. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022341496.


Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad , Contaminantes Ambientales , Metales Pesados , Humanos , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/inducido químicamente , Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad/epidemiología , Revisiones Sistemáticas como Asunto , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisis
14.
Hum Brain Mapp ; 33(9): 2005-34, 2012 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21761507

RESUMEN

The insular cortex of macaques has a wide spectrum of anatomical connections whose distribution is related to its heterogeneous cytoarchitecture. Although there is evidence of a similar cytoarchitectural arrangement in humans, the anatomical connectivity of the insula in the human brain has not yet been investigated in vivo. In the present work, we used in vivo probabilistic white-matter tractography and Laplacian eigenmaps (LE) to study the variation of connectivity patterns across insular territories in humans. In each subject and hemisphere, we recovered a rostrocaudal trajectory of connectivity variation ranging from the anterior dorsal and ventral insula to the dorsal caudal part of the long insular gyri. LE suggested that regional transitions among tractography patterns in the insula occur more gradually than in other brain regions. In particular, the change in tractography patterns was more gradual in the insula than in the medial premotor region, where a sharp transition between different tractography patterns was found. The recovered trajectory of connectivity variation in the insula suggests a relation between connectivity and cytoarchitecture in humans resembling that previously found in macaques: tractography seeds from the anterior insula were mainly found in limbic and paralimbic regions and in anterior parts of the inferior frontal gyrus, while seeds from caudal insular territories mostly reached parietal and posterior temporal cortices. Regions in the putative dysgranular insula displayed more heterogeneous connectivity patterns, with regional differences related to the proximity with either putative granular or agranular regions.


Asunto(s)
Corteza Cerebral/fisiología , Vías Nerviosas/fisiología , Adulto , Mapeo Encefálico , Corteza Cerebral/anatomía & histología , Imagen de Difusión Tensora , Lateralidad Funcional , Humanos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Modelos Estadísticos , Fibras Nerviosas/fisiología , Vías Nerviosas/anatomía & histología
15.
ACS Nano ; 16(3): 3538-3545, 2022 Mar 22.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35099941

RESUMEN

Setting up strong Josephson coupling in van der Waals materials in close proximity to superconductors offers several opportunities both to inspect fundamental physics and to develop cryogenic quantum technologies. Here we show evidence of Josephson coupling in a planar few-layer black phosphorus junction. The planar geometry allows us to probe the junction behavior by means of external gates, at different carrier concentrations. Clear signatures of Josephson coupling are demonstrated by measuring supercurrent flow through the junction at milli-Kelvin temperatures. Manifestation of a Fraunhofer pattern with a transverse magnetic field is also reported, confirming the Josephson coupling. These findings represent evidence of proximity Josephson coupling in a planar junction based on a van der Waals material beyond graphene and will expedite further studies, exploiting the peculiar properties of exfoliated black phosphorus thin flakes.

16.
Sci Rep ; 12(1): 5090, 2022 03 24.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35332258

RESUMEN

Smoothness (i.e. non-intermittency) of movement is a clinically important property of the voluntary movement with accuracy and proper speed. Resting head position and head voluntary movements are impaired in cervical dystonia. The current work aims to evaluate if the smoothness of voluntary head rotations is reduced in this disease. Twenty-six cervical dystonia patients and 26 controls completed rightward and leftward head rotations. Patients' movements were differentiated into "towards-dystonia" (rotation accentuated the torticollis) and "away-dystonia". Smoothness was quantified by the angular jerk and arc length of the spectrum of angular speed (i.e. SPARC, arbitrary units). Movement amplitude (mean, 95% CI) on the horizontal plane was larger in controls (63.8°, 58.3°-69.2°) than patients when moving towards-dystonia (52.8°, 46.3°-59.4°; P = 0.006). Controls' movements (49.4°/s, 41.9-56.9°/s) were faster than movements towards-dystonia (31.6°/s, 25.2-37.9°/s; P < 0.001) and away-dystonia (29.2°/s, 22.9-35.5°/s; P < 0.001). After taking into account the different amplitude and speed, SPARC-derived (but not jerk-derived) indices showed reduced smoothness in patients rotating away-dystonia (1.48, 1.35-1.61) compared to controls (1.88, 1.72-2.03; P < 0.001). Poor smoothness is a motor disturbance independent of movement amplitude and speed in cervical dystonia. Therefore, it should be assessed when evaluating this disease, its progression, and treatments.


Asunto(s)
Trastornos Distónicos , Tortícolis , Movimientos de la Cabeza , Humanos
17.
Autism ; 26(8): 2165-2174, 2022 11.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35249372

RESUMEN

LAY ABSTRACT: This study adds to a growing body of research documenting feeding problems in autistic children. Our results indicate that children aged 1.5-5 years with feeding problems may present with elevated internalizing difficulties and alterations in sensory processing when compared to same-age children without feeding problems. Our study also proposes that sensory processing may be an important, mediating factor in the relationship between autism features and feeding problems. The present work suggests, therefore, that implementers should thoroughly consider the sensory profile of autistic children prior to intervening on feeding behaviors. In particular, based on these preliminary findings, feeding interventions could benefit from environments designed to support children who can find them noisy and overwhelming.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno del Espectro Autista , Trastorno Autístico , Niño , Humanos , Conducta Alimentaria
18.
Neuroimage ; 54(3): 2176-84, 2011 Feb 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20933092

RESUMEN

We propose the use of force-directed graph layout as an explorative tool for connectivity-based brain parcellation studies. The method can be used as a heuristic to find the number of clusters intrinsically present in the data (if any) and to investigate their organisation. It provides an intuitive representation of the structure of the data and facilitates interactive exploration of properties of single seed voxels as well as relations among (groups of) voxels. We validate the method on synthetic data sets and we investigate the changes in connectivity in the supplementary motor cortex, a brain region whose parcellation has been previously investigated via connectivity studies. This region is supposed to present two easily distinguishable connectivity patterns, putatively denoted by SMA (supplementary motor area) and pre-SMA. Our method provides insights with respect to the connectivity patterns of the premotor cortex. These present a substantial variation among subjects, and their subdivision into two well-separated clusters is not always straightforward.


Asunto(s)
Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador/métodos , Corteza Motora/fisiología , Algoritmos , Inteligencia Artificial , Mapeo Encefálico/métodos , Análisis por Conglomerados , Simulación por Computador , Interpretación Estadística de Datos , Imagen de Difusión Tensora , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Vías Nerviosas/fisiología , Adulto Joven
19.
Hum Mov Sci ; 77: 102802, 2021 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33894651

RESUMEN

Motor abnormalities are generally observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and motor difficulties are certainly evident during the early years of life and may thus precede social-communication impairments. The main aim of the present study was to examine ASD subtypes based on the relationship between motor skills and social communication abilities. Motor skills and social communication abilities were evaluated through the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Version and the Psychoeducational Profile-Third Edition. In addition, social communication abilities were classified according to the Autism Classification System of Functioning: Social Communication-ACSF:SC criteria. We found that children with ASD presented poorer motor skills than their TD peers, and motor impairments correlated with poorer social communication abilities in children with ASD. In addition, children with lower social and communication functioning showed a more prominent impairment in manual dexterity and fine motor skills than children with better social and communication functioning. In conclusion, we suggest that stratifying children with ASD based on motor and social endophenotypes may be useful to understand the neurobiological mechanisms of ASD and lead to new types of treatment.


Asunto(s)
Trastorno del Espectro Autista/fisiopatología , Comunicación , Pruebas de Inteligencia , Destreza Motora/fisiología , Habilidades Sociales , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/clasificación , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/diagnóstico , Niño , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Fenotipo
20.
Proc Inst Mech Eng H ; 235(9): 1079-1087, 2021 Sep.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34112028

RESUMEN

Maintaining a stable gait requires a dynamic balance control, that can be altered in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Stroke (ST), and Parkinson's disease (PD). The understanding of the strategy for Center of Mass (CoM) positioning adopted by patients during walking is important to be able to program treatments aimed at improving gait control and preventing falls. Forty-four persons with a mild-to-moderate neurological disorder (20 with MS, 14 with ST, 10 with PD) underwent clinical examination and gait analysis. Ten Healthy Subjects (HS) walking at matched speed provided the normative data. Dynamic balance was assessed using the margin of stability (MoS). It was calculated as the distance between the extrapolated Center of Pressure and the extrapolated CoM at mid-stance. The MoS values for lower limbs were calculated in patients and compared with speed-matched values of HS. Persons with neurological disorder showed increased MoS in the medio-lateral direction with respect to HS. Within-group comparison analysis showed a symmetry between lower limbs in HS (Mean (95%CI) [mm], dominant vs non-dominant limb, 43.3 (31.9-54.6) vs 42.9 (28.8-56.9)) and PD (less affected vs more affected limb, 71.1 (59.8-82.5) vs 72.5 (58.5-86.6)), while a significant asymmetry was found in MS (54.4 (46.4-62.4) vs 81.1 (71.2-91.1)) and ST (52.1 (42.6-61.7) vs 74.7 (62.8-86.6)) participants. The history of falls was comparable among PD, MS, and ST groups, and the MoS in the frontal plane showed a strong correlation with these records. Objective assessment of MoS revealed pathology-specific strategies showing different impacts in MS, ST, and PD on the ability to control CoM information to manage the balance between limbs during gait. MoS evaluation will provide useful information to address a tailored rehabilitation program and to monitor disease progression.


Asunto(s)
Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso , Equilibrio Postural , Accidentes por Caídas/prevención & control , Fenómenos Biomecánicos , Marcha , Humanos , Caminata
SELECCIÓN DE REFERENCIAS
DETALLE DE LA BÚSQUEDA