Foot rotation asymmetry in Down syndrome and the relationship with crawling and walking onset: a cross-sectional study / A marcha de base alargada na síndrome de Down e a relação com o engatinhar e os primeiros passos: um estudo transversal

INTRODUCTION: Down syndrome individuals have different gait patterns, which include specific characteristics such as foot rotation asymmetryOBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between this asymmetry and the hands-and-knees crawling pattern before gait acquisition in Down syndrome children, as well as the possible association of this gait to gender, ethnicity, comorbidities, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy interventionsMETHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 361 children with or without foot rotation asymmetry were selected. An online questionnaire was administered to the parents or guardians of those childrenRESULTS: Hands-and-knees crawling decreased the prevalence of foot rotation asymmetry in Down syndrome children. The longer it took for walking onset, the higher the prevalence of this asymmetry. Indeed, for each month of delay, there was a 7% increase in prevalence. There was a significant relationship between orthopedic alterations in knees or flat feet and foot rotation asymmetry. There was no significance related to gender, ethnicity, other comorbidities, physiotherapy, or occupational therapy interventionsCONCLUSION: The findings in this study revealed that foot rotation asymmetry might be related to the acquisition of motor skills, hands-and-knees crawling and the walking onset

INTRODUÇÃO: As pessoas com síndrome de Down (SD) apresentam diferentes padrões de marcha, incluindo algumas características específicas como a marcha de base alargadaOBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a relação entre a marcha de base alargada e a aquisição motora engatinhar em quatro apoios adquiridas antes da marcha em crianças com SD, bem como a provável associação desta marcha com gênero, etnia, comorbidades e tratamentos de fisioterapia e terapia ocupacionalMÉTODO: Neste estudo transversal, foram selecionados 361 indivíduos que apresentaram ou não marcha de base alargada. Um questionário on-line foi administrado para pais / responsáveis destas criançasRESULTADOS: O engatinhar em quatro apoios diminuiu a prevalência da marcha de base alargada em crianças com SD. Quanto maior o tempo em meses para os primeiros-passos, maior a prevalência de base alargada, sendo que, a cada mês de atraso, a prevalência aumenta em 7%. Foi observada significância entre as alterações ortopédicas em joelhos e pés planos e a marcha de base alargada. Não foi encontrada significância relacionada a gênero, etnia, outras comorbidades, fisioterapia ou terapia ocupacionalCONCLUSÃO: Os achados deste estudo mostraram que o aparecimento da base alargada pode estar relacionado às aquisições motoras, engatinhar em quatro apoios, e aos primeiros passos

PYGM mRNA expression in McArdle disease: Demographic, clinical, morphological and genetic features.

INTRODUCTION: McArdle disease presents clinical and genetic heterogeneity. There is no obvious association between genotype and phenotype. PYGM (muscle glycogen phosphorylase gene) mRNA expression and its association with clinical, morphological, and genetic aspects of the disease as a set have not been studied previously. METHODS: We investigated genetic variation in PYGM considering the number of PTCs (premature termination codon) per sample and compared mRNA expression in skeletal muscle samples from 15 patients with McArdle disease and 16 controls to PTCs number and different aspects of the disease. RESULTS: The main variant found was c.148C>T (PTC-premature termination codon). Patients with two PTCs showed 42% mRNA expression compared to the control group. Most cases showed an inversely proportional relation among PTCs and mRNA expression. Association between mRNA expression and other aspects of the disease showed no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05). DISCUSSION: mRNA expression is not useful as a predictor factor for the prognosis and severity of the disease. Different mechanisms as post-transcriptional events, epigenetics factors or protein function may be involved.