Dataset Information

Vibration-induced motor responses of infants with and without myelomeningocele.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The severity of myelomeningocele (MMC) stems both from a loss of neurons due to neural tube defect and a loss of function in viable neurons due to reduced movement experience during the first year after birth. In young infants with MMC, the challenge is to reinforce excitability and voluntary control of all available neurons. Muscle vibration paired with voluntary movement may increase motoneuron excitability and contribute to improvements in neural organization, responsiveness, and control.

Objectives

This study examined whether infants with or without MMC respond to vibration by altering their step or stance behavior when supported upright on a treadmill.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study.

Methods

Twenty-four 2- to 10-month-old infants, 12 with typical development (TD) and 12 with MMC (lumbar and sacral lesions), were tested. Infants were supported upright with their feet in contact with a stationary or moving treadmill during 30-second trials. Rhythmic alternating vibrations were applied to the right and left rectus femoris muscles, the lateral gastrocnemius muscle, or the sole of the foot. Two cameras and behavior coding were used to determine step count, step type, and motor response to vibration onset.

Results

Step count decreased and swing duration increased in infants with TD during vibration of the sole of the foot on a moving treadmill (FT-M trials). Across all groups the percentage of single steps increased during vibration of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle on a moving treadmill. Infants with MMC and younger infants with TD responded to onset of vibration with leg straightening during rectus femoris muscle stimulation and by stepping during FT-M trials more often than older infants with TD.

Conclusions

Vibration seems a viable option for increasing motor responsiveness in infants with MMC. Follow-up studies are needed to identify optimal methods of administering vibration to maximize step and stance behavior in infants.

SUBMITTER: Saavedra SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3317481 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Vibration-induced motor responses of infants with and without myelomeningocele.

Saavedra Sandra L SL Teulier Caroline C Smith Beth A BA Kim Byungji B Beutler Benjamin D BD Martin Bernard J BJ Ulrich Beverly D BD

Physical therapy 20120106 4

<h4>Background</h4>The severity of myelomeningocele (MMC) stems both from a loss of neurons due to neural tube defect and a loss of function in viable neurons due to reduced movement experience during the first year after birth. In young infants with MMC, the challenge is to reinforce excitability and voluntary control of all available neurons. Muscle vibration paired with voluntary movement may increase motoneuron excitability and contribute to improvements in neural organization, responsivenes ...[more]

PMID: 22228610

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Project description:BackgroundOne of the greatest impediments to cancer immunotherapy is the paucity of antigens that are tumor specific, sufficiently immunogenic, and shared among patients. Mucosa-restricted antigens that are expressed by tumor cells represent a novel class of vaccine targets that are characterized by immunologic privilege, which limits systemic tolerance to those antigens, and immunologic partitioning, which shields mucosae from systemic autoimmune responses. Here we defined the immunogenicity and antitumor efficacy of guanylyl cyclase C (GCC), a protein that is normally restricted to intestinal mucosa and universally expressed by metastatic colorectal cancer.MethodsBALB/c mice (n = 197) were immunized with recombinant GCC-expressing viral vectors before (prophylactic) or after (therapeutic) a lethal challenge of GCC-expressing mouse colon cancer cells, and antitumor efficacy was monitored by quantifying metastasis and survival. Induction of autoimmunity was monitored by histopathology. Induction of GCC-specific B-cell and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and ELISpot, respectively. Tolerance to GCC was quantified by comparing responses in GCC-deficient (n = 45) and wild-type (n = 69) C57BL/6 mice. Statistical tests were two-sided.ResultsImmunization with GCC-expressing viral vectors reduced the formation of metastases to liver (control vs GCC: mean = 30.4 vs 3.55 nodules, difference = 26.9 nodules, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.47 to 45.3 nodules; P = .008) and lung (control vs GCC: mean = 263 vs 55.7 nodules, difference = 207, 95% CI = 163 to 251; P < .001) and extended the median survival of mice with established lung metastases following therapeutic immunization (control vs GCC: 29 vs 38 days, P = .024), without autoimmunity. Antitumor efficacy reflected asymmetrical tolerance that was characterized by CD8(+) T-cell, but not CD4(+) T-cell or antibody, responses.ConclusionsImmunologic partitioning together with immunologic privilege highlight the potential of mucosa-restricted antigens, particularly GCC, as therapeutic targets for metastatic cancer.

Dataset Information

Vibration-induced motor responses of infants with and without myelomeningocele.

Background

Objectives

Design

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Vibration-induced motor responses of infants with and without myelomeningocele.

Similar Datasets

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