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Capabilities for continuous monitoring of pressures and temperatures at critical skin interfaces can help to guide care strategies that minimize the potential for pressure injuries in hospitalized patients or in individuals confined to the bed. This paper introduces a soft, skin-mountable class of sensor system for this purpose. The design includes a pressure-responsive element based on membrane deflection and a battery-free, wireless mode of operation capable of multi-site measurements at strategic locations across the body. Such devices yield continuous, simultaneous readings of pressure and temperature in a sequential readout scheme from a pair of primary antennas mounted under the bedding and connected to a wireless reader and a multiplexer located at the bedside. Experimental evaluation of the sensor and the complete system includes benchtop measurements and numerical simulations of the key features. Clinical trials involving two hemiplegic patients and a tetraplegic patient demonstrate the feasibility, functionality and long-term stability of this technology in operating hospital settings.

Background: The clinical spectrum of Rett syndrome (RTT; Mendelian Inheritance in Man [MIM] #312750) in males is considered to be wider than previously expected. Therefore, the existence of RTT with a normal male karyotype is still controversial. Here, we report the first case of a male patient presenting with an early seizure type of Rett‐like phenotypes with a missense variant of MECP2. Method: An 8‐month‐old male was admitted to the pediatric department due to an initial seizure event following aspiration pneumonia and was referred to our clinic for the evaluation of unexplained neuroregression. Genomic DNA was prepared from venous blood by standard procedures and was processed at the Yale Center for Genome Analysis (YCGA) for whole exome sequencing (WES). Processing of sequence data, variant calling, and the identification of de novo mutations were then performed. Direct Sanger sequencing was performed following PCR amplification. Result: In this patient with a normal karyotype, WES analysis led to the identification of a novel, de novo missense variant of MECP2 (p.Arg133His) that is not observed in the normal population. Conclusion: This rare case of an p.Arg133His hemizygous MECP2 missense mutation could guide future treatment and follow‐up plans for RETT‐like phenotypes. This is the first case of male patient showing early seizure type of Rett‐like phenotypes by a missense variant on MECP2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the angular components of the affected foot associated with valgus deformity of the unaffected foot and to redefine the actual leg-length inequality in unilateral cerebral palsy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiologic images of 76 patients with unilateral cerebral palsy. Weight-bearing plain radiography of both feet of each subject was obtained. Angular measurements focused on the collapse of the longitudinal arch, hind foot valgus and forefoot abduction. Patients were divided into two groups: with and without valgus deformity of the unaffected side. Leg-length discrepancy and pelvic obliquity angle were measured Among 76 patients, 40 (52%) had valgus deformities of the unaffected side. Independent t-test revealed no significant differences in age, affected side, type of deformity on the affected side, or application of bilateral biomechanical foot orthosis between patients with or without valgus deformity of the unaffected side. Patients with valgus deformity had significantly increased voluntary ankle dorsiflexion greater than neutral on the affected side, leg-length discrepancy and lateral talocalcaneal angle (P < 0.05). Laterally measured foot angles of both feet were significantly correlated. The optimal cut-off points for predicting valgus deformity were leg-length discrepancy >10 mm or affected limb/unaffected limb-length index <0.98. Leg-length discrepancy and lateral talocalcaneal angle of the affected foot were significantly increased in patients with valgus deformity of the unaffected side. The optimal cut-off point for predicting valgus deformity of the unaffected foot would be useful in clinical practice.

Objectives: In the subjects with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), The difference of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function according to supine and sitting position were investigated whether there are changes in the tendency., Methods: Twenty-three subjects with high cervical SCI and 23 subjects with low cervical and thoracic SCI were evaluated. The reference neurological level of injury for dividing the groups was fifth cervical vertebrae (C5). SCI severity was classified as motor-complete SCI. The supine and sitting forced vital capacity (FVC), percent of the predicted FVC (FVC%), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), MEP / MIP ratio, and peak cough flow (PCF) were compared., Results: The significantly higher FVC, FVC% in the low cervical and thoracic SCI group was identified in the supine position than the sitting position. The same tendency was observed in the high cervical SCI group. In the comparison of respiratory muscle strength, higher values of supine MEP and MIP were found only in the high cervical SCI group. PCF is more positively correlated with MIP than with MEP in all groups., Conclusion: We found that the supine position is more advantageous for the strong breathing and larger lung capacity in patients with high cervical SCI. The positive correlation between PCF and MIP in the patients with high cervical SCI was also confirmed. These results may be used to establish a pulmonary rehabilitation strategy for patients with high cervical SCI.