Early Spontaneous Movements and Sensory Processing in Preterm Infants.

IMPORTANCE: Preterm infants are at higher risk of motor development abnormalities and sensory processing difficulties. Few studies have examined both movement development and sensory processing in the early months of life, and the results are controversial. OBJECTIVE: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated (1) differences in early spontaneous movements and sensory processing between preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation and those born at 32 to 36 wk gestation when they reached corrected (postterm) age 3 to 5 mo and (2) the relationship between early spontaneous movements and sensory processing. PARTICIPANTS: We included 50 preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation and 61 preterm infants born at 32 to 36 wk gestation. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We assessed early spontaneous movements, including fidgety movements, using the General Movements Assessment (GMA), which provides the Motor Optimality Score (MOS), and sensory processing using the Infant Sensory Profile-2. RESULTS: The preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation had lower MOS results (p = .035) and more sensory processing difficulties (p = .006) than those born at 32 to 36 wk gestation. We found no significant relationship between early spontaneous movements and sensory processing (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Preterm infants born at <32 wk gestation are at increased risk for motor development abnormalities and sensory processing difficulties. What This Article Adds: Assessment of both motor development and sensory processing can play a crucial role in identifying infants who need early intervention.

Early spontaneous movements and spatiotemporal gait characteristics in preterm children.

This study aimed to analyze spatiotemporal gait characteristics of preterm children from 3 to 4 years of age according to different gestational age groups and to examine the relationship between the detailed general movements assessment and spatiotemporal gait characteristics. A total of 74 preterm children, 32 extremely preterm and very preterm (EP-VP, < 32 weeks gestational age) and 42 moderate to late preterm (MLP, 32 to < 37 weeks gestational age), were included in this prospective study, along with 38 term children. Early spontaneous movements of preterm children were assessed from videos at 9-20 weeks post-term according to the general movements assessment, which determines the Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R). The spatiotemporal gait characteristics of all children were evaluated using the GAITRite®electronic walkway at self-selected walking speeds. EP-VP children walked with shorter step lengths (p = 0.039), and MLP children walked with greater step length variability (p = 0.003) than their term peers. The MOS-R results were related to step length (r = 0.36, p = 0.042), step length variability (r = -0.56, p = 0.001), and base of support (r = -0.37, p = 0.038) in EP-VP children. The MOS-R subcategories, age-adequate movement repertoire, and postural patterns were related to some of the spatiotemporal gait characteristics, including step length, step length variability, and base of support (p < 0.05).  Conclusion: EP-VP and MLP children might catch up to their term peers at 3 to 4 years of age in terms of most gait parameters. In addition to the MOS-R, age-adequate movement repertoire and postural patterns of preterm children without cerebral palsy in early life may be a marker of later neurodevelopmental dysfunction. What is Known: • Preterm children walk with a wider step width, a greater step length asymmetry and step time, and a shorter stride length at 18 to 22 months of age compared with term children at a self-selected speed, while these differences disappear in children 4.5-5 years old and older. What is New: • Early spontaneous movements were related to some spatiotemporal gait characteristics. • Preterm children might catch up to term children at 3-4 years of age in spatiotemporal gait characteristics while walking at a self-selected speed.

Supervised exercises have superior effects compared to home-based exercises for patients with knee osteoarthritis following platelet-rich plasma injection.

The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapist-supervised and home-based exercises after platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injection in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty women (mean age = 57.83 ± 7.26 years; mean weight = 72.13 ± 15.54 kg; mean height = 158.40 ± 4.49 cm; mean body mass index = 28.75 ± 6.18 kg/m2) were included. Patients randomized either supervised or home-basedexercise-group after PRP. Both groups performed 6-week (3 times/week) exercise. Pain, hip and knee muscle strength, and knee functions were assessed before and after exercise. The median improvement in the pain from baseline to 6th week was 3.80 (2.85-5.55) point in-supervised-exercise-group while it was 0.60 (-0.10-2.55) point in home-based-exercise-group (p = 0.002). The median improvement in knee function was 22.91 (13.02-30.20) in supervised-exercise-group overtime (p < 0.001). There was no improvement in knee function following home-based exercises (p = 1.000). The supervised-exercise-group revealed a significant improvement in hip (median difference = 32.00 (8.30-88.95), p = 0.011); quadriceps (median difference = 32.10 (21.65-60.05), p = 0.001) and hamstring (median difference = 27.90 (7.95-37.65), p = 0.022) strength overtime. The physiotherapist-supervised exercises after PRP had better effects on pain and knee function than the home-based exercises.

RIPK2 NODs to XIAP and IBD.

The receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs) are key regulators of inflammatory signalling and cell death pathways triggered by innate immune receptors, and RIPKs have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for treatment of immune-related disorders. RIPK2 mediates signalling responses initiated by the bacterial-sensing pattern recognition receptors nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing proteins 1 and 2 (NOD1/2), which play a key role in regulation of intestinal immunity and inflammation. Modification of RIPK2 by non-degradative ubiquitin chains generated by the E3 ubiquitin ligase XIAP and other ligases govern NOD1/2 signalling. Recent advances suggest that the interaction between RIPK2 and XIAP is a druggable protein-protein interaction to modulate NOD1/2-dependent immune responses. Here, we discuss the mechanistic function of RIPK2 in immune signalling, its clinical relevance, and the on-going efforts to target RIPK2 in inflammatory bowel disease and beyond.

[A case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum in a non-endemic province (Ankara) of Turkey]. / Ülkemizin Endemik Olmayan Bir Ilinde (Ankara) Saptanan Leishmania infantum'a Bagli Bir Kütanöz Leysmanyazis Olgusu.

Southeastern Anatolia and the Mediterranean regions of Turkey are known as endemic areas for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). In this report, a 64 years-old male patient with CL caused by Leishmania infantum has been presented. The patient who was inhabiting in Ankara (Central Anatolia region, Turkey) complained from a lesion on his right ring finger for the last six months. He has a cat and has been engaged with gardening. Overall, he was healthy with the exception of hypertension and glucose intolerance. The patient had not left Ankara since the last seven months, however, he had previously been to the Aegean coast during his summer holiday. The examination of the 4th phalanx of his right hand revealed the presence of a 3 x 3 cm erythematous, slightly swollen lesion, at the center of which 1.5 x 1.5 cm ulcerative area covered with a hemorrhagic crust, was detected. Neither axillary or cervical lymphadenopathy, nor hepatosplenomegaly could be observed. The routine examinations, including complete blood count, serum biochemistry, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasonography were within normal limits. Giemsa stained smears prepared from aspiration of the lesion revealed amastigote-like organisms and leishmania promastigotes were grown in NNN media. PCR amplification of the specimen indicated the presence of a positive DNA band of 420 bp specific for Leishmania spp. The serum sample of the patient revealed positivity for leishmaniasis by the rapid rK39 test and immunofluorescence antibody (IFAT) test. The organism was identified as L.infantum by PCR-RFLP applied to the cultivated organism. The examination of his cat's serum for leishmaniasis by IFAT and PCR, were negative. The exact way of transmission had not been confirmed for the patient. However, when long incubation period of CL was considered, the transmission might probably occurred during his summer stay in the Aegean coast. This case was presented to withdraw attention to a delayed diagnosis of CL which developed in a non-endemic area and which was due to L.infantum instead of the more common L.tropica species.