Rural and urban differences in prenatal exposure to essential and toxic elements.

Excess or inadequate levels of inorganic ions may induce significant acute and long-term irreversible dysfunction in humans. The fetus and placenta are particularly vulnerable to toxins due to the immaturity of the blood-brain barrier and diminished biotransformation enzymatic activity. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 172 pregnant women, 79 rural, and 93 urban. Umbilical cord blood was collected at the time of delivery and analyzed for 20 inorganic elements. Significant differences were found between urban and rural samples for two elements where copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) were higher in urban samples. No marked differences between groups occurred for: arsenic, barium, cadmium, calcium, cobalt, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, selenium, strontium, or zinc. All samples were devoid of platinum, silver, thallium or uranium. Data demonstrated significant differences in urban and rural prenatal exposure to Cu and Mo. Further study is needed to determine if there is a causal link between neonatal outcomes and prenatal exposure to these elements.

Hippocampal volumes in patients with chronic combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review.

The authors and others have recently demonstrated that veterans with chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD) have a twofold increased risk of dementia. To understand this increased incidence, they performed a systematic review of the literature on neuroanatomical differences between veterans with chronic CR-PTSD and control subjects (22 included studies). The hippocampus was most commonly and consistently reported to differ between groups, thereby suggesting the hypothesis that PTSD is associated with smaller hippocampi, which increases the risk for dementia. However, an alternate hypothesis is that smaller hippocampal volumes are a preexisting risk factor for PTSD and dementia. Studies are clearly needed to differentiate between these important possibilities.

Over-ground and robotic-assisted locomotor training in adults with chronic stroke: a blinded randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to compare the effectiveness of robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill training using the Lokomat(®) to over-ground gait training (OGT) in adults with chronic stroke. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to the Lokomat(®) or OGT interventions. Both protocols included 40 sessions over 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures were the 10-meter walk test and 6-minute walk distance. Secondary measures included the Functional Independence Measure(TM) locomotion score, Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Motor Score (FM-LE), Barthel Index, and Stroke Impact Scale. Blinded assessors tested the participants at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Eleven Lokomat(®) and nine OGT participants completed the study. Within group differences in the FM-LE score and Barthel Index occurred over time from baseline to post-intervention and baseline to 3-month follow-up. No other within group differences and no between group differences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although walking measures did not show significant changes between groups, LE motor function and physical functional levels improved over time within both groups. The Lokomat(®) may allow aggressive locomotor training, particularly for the lower functioning patients who wish to improve walking ability due to apparent eased therapist physical burden, when compared to OGT, although an increased risk of skin breakdown is present.

Management of skin-related adverse events during locomotor training with robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill: A case report.

The purpose of this case report is to describe attempts to prevent skin-related adverse events from occurring and protect the skin once breakdown occurred in a person with chronic stroke during locomotor training. There is scant literature in how to address skin during locomotor training with the Lokomat(®), particularly when a patient presents with sensory deficits and frail skin. The patient was a 75-year-old male survivor of stroke who participated in the Lokomat(®) group of a randomized clinical pilot study comparing locomotor training with the Lokomat(®) and conventional means. He had diminished sensation to light touch and proprioception on his left leg with skin on both lower legs presenting as thin, flaky, and virtually hairless. Although much effort was put towards prevention of skin breakdown, he developed numerous skin-related adverse events during his training. However, his skin healed completely with reduced training intensity and initiation of "pre-wrapping" his lower legs with Akton(®) viscoelastic polymer sheets and elastic bandages. Significant improvements were noted in his Functional Improvement Measure(™) locomotion score and Stroke Impact Scale domains of strength, participation/role function, and total recovery, though not in his 10-m walk test velocity or 6-min walk test. The Akton(®) sheets and team approach between study team, patient, and his wife allowed simultaneous safe continuation of locomotor training with the Lokomat(®) and healing of his skin breakdown.