Search

Background: Physical therapy interventions play a crucial role in the daily care of patients recovering from severe stroke. However, the efficacy of these interventions and associated modalities, including duration, intensity, and frequency, have not been fully elucidated. In 2020, a systematic review reported the beneficial effects of physical therapy for patients with severe stroke but did not assess therapeutic modalities. We aim to update the current evidence on the effects of physical therapy interventions and their modalities in relation to the recovery phase in people with severe stroke in a hospital or inpatient rehabilitation facility., Methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and three other relevant databases between December 2018 and March 2021 and updated the search between April 2021 and March 2023., Clinicaltrials: gov and ICTRP for searching trial registries helped to identify ongoing RCTs since 2023. We included individual and cluster randomized controlled trials in the English and German languages that compared physical therapy interventions to similar or other interventions, usual care, or no intervention in a hospital or rehabilitation inpatient setting. We screened the studies from this recent review for eligibility criteria, especially according to the setting. Critical appraisal was performed according to the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool 2.0. The data were synthesized narratively., Results: The update identified 15 new studies, cumulating in a total of 30 studies (n = 2545 participants) meeting the eligibility criteria. These studies reported 54 outcomes and 20 physical therapy interventions. Two studies included participants during the hyperacute phase, 4 during the acute phase,18 during the early subacute phase, and 3 in the late subacute phase. Three studies started in the chronic phase. Summarised evidence has revealed an uncertain effect of physical therapy on patient outcomes (with moderate to low-quality evidence). Most studies showed a high risk of bias and did not reach the optimal sample size. Little was stated about the standard care and their therapy modalities., Discussion: There is conflicting evidence for the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in patients with severe stroke. There is a need for additional high-quality studies that also systematically report therapeutic modalities from a multidimensional perspective in motor stroke recovery. Due to the high risk of bias and the generally small sample size of the included studies, the generalizability of the findings to large and heterogeneous volumes of outcome data is limited., Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021244285., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Channel catfish and blue catfish are the most important aquacultured species in the USA. The species do not readily intermate naturally but F 1 hybrids can be produced through artificial spawning. F 1 hybrids produced by mating channel catfish female with blue catfish male exhibit heterosis and provide an ideal system to study reproductive isolation and hybrid vigor. The purpose of the study was to generate high-quality chromosome level reference genome sequences and to determine their genomic similarities and differences., Results: We present high-quality reference genome sequences for both channel catfish and blue catfish, containing only 67 and 139 total gaps, respectively. We also report three pericentric chromosome inversions between the two genomes, as evidenced by long reads across the inversion junctions from distinct individuals, genetic linkage mapping, and PCR amplicons across the inversion junctions. Recombination rates within the inversional segments, detected as double crossovers, are extremely low among backcross progenies (progenies of channel catfish female × F 1 hybrid male), suggesting that the pericentric inversions interrupt postzygotic recombination or survival of recombinants. Identification of channel catfish- and blue catfish-specific genes, along with expansions of immunoglobulin genes and centromeric Xba elements, provides insights into genomic hallmarks of these species., Conclusions: We generated high-quality reference genome sequences for both blue catfish and channel catfish and identified major chromosomal inversions on chromosomes 6, 11, and 24. These perimetric inversions were validated by additional sequencing analysis, genetic linkage mapping, and PCR analysis across the inversion junctions. The reference genome sequences, as well as the contrasted chromosomal architecture should provide guidance for the interspecific breeding programs., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Evaluation of the current physical therapy practice for German stroke rehabilitation with respect to the 'Rehabilitation of Mobility after Stroke (ReMoS)' guideline recommendations and the associated implementation factors., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study employing an online survey was performed among German physical therapists in 2019. The survey consisted of three sections with open and closed questions: 1) self-reported use of ReMoS recommendations, 2) barriers of guideline use and 3) socio-demographic characteristics. The benchmark level for guideline adherent physical therapy was set at > 80%., Results: Data from 170 questionnaires were eligible for analysis. Participants' mean age was 41.6 years, 69.4% were female, while 60.1% had no academic degree. The ReMoS guideline was unknown to 52.9% of the responders. Out of all the 46 ReMoS guideline recommendations, only 'intensive walking training without a treadmill' was reported to be performed in a guideline adherent manner. Respondents usually denied any personal limitations, such as limited knowledge, or that the ReMoS guideline did not fit their routine practice., Conclusions: Among German physical therapists, the ReMoS guideline is not well-known and many interventions are not performed as recommended, illustrating the discrepancies between the ReMoS guideline recommendations and current physical therapy practice. Interventions aimed at overcoming this gap should consider both knowledge of existing barriers and facilitators of guideline usage., Trial Registration: The study was retrospectively registered to the German Clinical Trials Register ( DRKS00026681 )., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is a predominantly late stage, devastating complication of a variety of malignant solid tumors. Diagnosis relies predominantly on neurological, radiographic, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessments. Recently, liquid biopsy tests derived from CSF has shown to be a feasible, noninvasive promising approach to tumor molecular profiling for proper brain cancer diagnostic treatment, thereby providing an opportunity for CSF-based personalized medicine. However, LM is typically misleadingly assumed to originate from only one primary tumor type., Case Presentation: In this case report, we provide first evidence of the co-occurrence of LM originating from more than one primary tumor types., Discussion and Conclusions: Based on this patient case profile, the co-occurrence of LM from two or more primary tumor types should be accounted for when deriving diagnostic conclusions from liquid biopsy tests.

Background: Molecularly targeted therapies using receptor inhibitors, small molecules or monoclonal antibodies are routinely applied in oncology. Verification of target expression should be mandatory prior to initiation of therapy, yet, determining the expression status is most challenging in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) where most patients are not eligible for second-line surgery. Because very little is known on the consistency of expression along the clinical course we here explored common drug targets in paired primary vs. recurrent GBM tissue samples., Methods: Paired surgical tissue samples were derived from a homogeneously treated cohort of 34 GBM patients. All patients received radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. Verification of common drug targets included immunohistological analysis of PDGFR-β, FGFR-2, FGFR-3, and mTOR-pathway component (phospho-mTOR Ser2448 ) as well as molecular, MLPA-based analysis of specific copy number aberrations at the gene loci of ALK, PDGFRA, VEGFR2/KDR, EGFR, MET, and FGFR1., Results: Paired tumor tissue exhibited significant changes of expression in 9 of the 10 investigated druggable targets (90%). Only one target (FGFR1) was found "unchanged", since dissimilar expression was observed in only one of the 34 paired tumor tissue samples. All other targets were variably expressed with an 18-56% discordance rate between primary and recurrent tissue., Conclusions: The high incidence of dissimilar target expression status in clinical samples from primary vs. recurrent GBM suggests clinically relevant heterogeneity along the course of disease. Molecular target expression, as determined at primary diagnosis, may not necessarily present rational treatment clues for the clinical care of recurrent GBM. Further studies need to analyze the therapeutic impact of longitudinal heterogeneity in GBM.

Background: Critical illness myopathy (CIM) and polyneuropathy (CIP) are a common complication of critical illness. Both cause intensive-care-unit-acquired (ICU-acquired) muscle weakness (ICUAW) which increases morbidity and delays rehabilitation and recovery of activities of daily living such as walking ability. Focused physical rehabilitation of people with ICUAW is, therefore, of great importance at both an individual and a societal level. A recent systematic Cochrane review found no randomised controlled trials (RCT), and thus no supporting evidence, for physical rehabilitation interventions for people with defined CIP and CIM to improve activities of daily living. Therefore, the aim of our study is to compare the effects of an additional physiotherapy programme with systematically augmented levels of mobilisation with additional in-bed cycling (as the parallel group) on walking and other activities of daily living., Methods/design: We will conduct a prospective, rater-masked RCT of people with ICUAW with a defined diagnosis of CIM and/or CIP in our post-acute hospital. We will randomly assign patients to one of two parallel groups in a 1:1 ratio and will use a concealed allocation. One intervention group will receive, in addition to standard ICU treatment, physiotherapy with systematically augmented levels of mobilisation (five times per week, over 2 weeks; 20 min each session; with a total of 10 additional sessions). The other intervention group will receive, in addition to standard ICU treatment, in-bed cycle sessions (same number, frequency and treatment time as the intervention group). Standard ICU treatment includes sitting balance exercise, stretching, positioning, and sit-to-stand training, and transfer training to get out of bed, strengthening exercise (in and out of bed), and stepping and assistive standing exercises. Primary efficacy endpoints will be walking ability (defined as a Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) level of ≥3) and the sum score of the Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit (FSS-ICU) (range 0-22 points) assessed by a blinded tester immediately after 2 weeks of additional therapy. Secondary outcomes will include assessment of sit-to-stand recovery, overall limb strength (Medical Research Council, MRC) and grip strength, the Physical Function for the Intensive Care Unit Test-Scored (PFIT-S), the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL-Index) assessed by a blinded tester. We will measure primary and secondary outcomes with blinded assessors at baseline, immediately after 2 weeks of additional therapy, and at 3 weeks and 6 months and 12 months after the end of the additional therapy intervention. Based on our sample size calculation 108 patients will be recruited from our post-acute ICU in the next 3 to 4 years., Discussion: This will be the first RCT comparing the effects of two physical rehabilitation interventions for people with ICUAW due to defined CIP and/or CIM to improve walking and other activities of daily living. The results of this trial will provide robust evidence for physical rehabilitation of people with CIP and/or CIP who often require long-term care., Trial Registration: We registered the study on 6 April 2016 before enrolling the first patient in the trial at the German Clinical Trials Register ( www.germanctr.de ) with the identifier DRKS00010269 . This is the first version of the protocol (FITonICU study protocol).

Background: Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) is the second most important legume crop in the world after soybean. Consequently, yield losses due to fungal infection, like Uromyces appendiculatus (bean rust), have strong consequences. Several resistant genes were identified that confer resistance to bean rust infection. However, the downstream genes and mechanisms involved in bean resistance to infection are poorly characterized., Results: A subtractive bean cDNA library composed of 10,581 unisequences was constructed and enriched in sequences regulated by either bean rust race 41, a virulent strain, or race 49, an avirulent strain on cultivar Early Gallatin carrying the resistance gene Ur-4. The construction of this library allowed the identification of 6,202 new bean ESTs, significantly adding to the available sequences for this plant. Regulation of selected bean genes in response to bean rust infection was confirmed by qRT-PCR. Plant gene expression was similar for both race 41 and 49 during the first 48 hours of the infection process but varied significantly at the later time points (72-96 hours after inoculation) mainly due to the presence of the Avr4 gene in the race 49 leading to a hypersensitive response in the bean plants. A biphasic pattern of gene expression was observed for several genes regulated in response to fungal infection., Conclusion: The enrichment of the public database with over 6,000 bean ESTs significantly adds to the genomic resources available for this important crop plant. The analysis of these genes in response to bean rust infection provides a foundation for further studies of the mechanism of fungal disease resistance. The expression pattern of 90 bean genes upon rust infection shares several features with other legumes infected by biotrophic fungi. This finding suggests that the P. vulgaris-U. appendiculatus pathosystem could serve as a model to explore legume-rust interaction.

Background: The Cotton Microsatellite Database (CMD) http://www.cottonssr.org is a curated and integrated web-based relational database providing centralized access to publicly available cotton microsatellites, an invaluable resource for basic and applied research in cotton breeding., Description: At present CMD contains publication, sequence, primer, mapping and homology data for nine major cotton microsatellite projects, collectively representing 5,484 microsatellites. In addition, CMD displays data for three of the microsatellite projects that have been screened against a panel of core germplasm. The standardized panel consists of 12 diverse genotypes including genetic standards, mapping parents, BAC donors, subgenome representatives, unique breeding lines, exotic introgression sources, and contemporary Upland cottons with significant acreage. A suite of online microsatellite data mining tools are accessible at CMD. These include an SSR server which identifies microsatellites, primers, open reading frames, and GC-content of uploaded sequences; BLAST and FASTA servers providing sequence similarity searches against the existing cotton SSR sequences and primers, a CAP3 server to assemble EST sequences into longer transcripts prior to mining for SSRs, and CMap, a viewer for comparing cotton SSR maps., Conclusion: The collection of publicly available cotton SSR markers in a centralized, readily accessible and curated web-enabled database provides a more efficient utilization of microsatellite resources and will help accelerate basic and applied research in molecular breeding and genetic mapping in Gossypium spp.