Sit-to-Stand Movement in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: Relationship With Knee Extensor Torque and Social Participation.

Sit-to-stand movement in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: Relationship with knee extensor torque and social participation.

Res Dev Disabil. 2013 Apr 11; 34(6): 2023-2032
Santos AN, Pavão SL, Santiago PR, Salvini TD, Rocha NA

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sit-to-stand (STS) movement, knee extensor torque and social participation in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Seven spastic hemiplegic CP patients (8.0±2.2 years), classified by the Gross Motor Function Classification System as I and II, and 18 typical children (8.4±2.3 years) participated in this study. Trunk, hips, knees, and ankles angles and temporal variables of STS movement were obtained by means of kinematics evaluation. Isokinetic evaluation was performed at 60°/s in the concentric passive mode to measure knee extensors torque. Social participation was assessed by the Assessment of Life Habits for Children (LIFE-H) scale. Results showed that children with spastic hemiplegic CP have lower knee extensor torque in the affected limb and restriction in social participation in dimensions related with fine motor control and language skills when compared to their typical peers. Except for ankle excursion in frontal plane, and ankle excursion and range in transverse plane, patients were similar to typical children regarding the strategies adopted to perform the STS movement, as well as in the participation dimensions related with gross motor function. Moreover, we found a significant non-linear correlation between knee extensors torque and some lower limb and trunk angles for children with CP. Therefore, during evaluation and rehabilitation processes, impairments in body functions and structures should be related with how much they affect a child’s ability to perform functional activities, so rehabilitation protocols could be focused on individual needs. HubMed – rehab

Normal reactions to orthostatic stress in Rett syndrome.

Res Dev Disabil. 2013 Apr 11; 34(6): 1897-1905
Larsson G, Julu PO, Witt Engerström I, Sandlund M, Lindström B

The aim of this study was to investigate orthostatic reactions in females with Rett syndrome (RTT), and also whether the severity of the syndrome had an impact on autonomic reactions. Based on signs of impaired function of the central autonomic system found in RTT, it could be suspected that orthostatic reactions were affected. The orthostatic reactions in 21 females with RTT and 14 normally developed females matched by age were investigated when they rose from a sitting position, and during standing for 3min. Reactions of the heart, the blood pressure and the time for recovery of systolic blood pressure, were studied in real time, heartbeat by heartbeat, simultaneously. There was no difference between participants with RTT and the normally developed controls regarding general orthostatic reactions (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure) when getting up from a sitting position, and when standing erect for 3min. In the specific immediate response by the heart to standing up, the 30:15 ratio, significantly lower values were found for females with RTT. In the RTT group, the maximum fall of systolic blood pressure showed a tendency to a larger decrease, and the initial decrease in systolic blood pressure was significantly faster. The time for recovery of systolic blood pressure from standing erect did not differ between groups. At baseline the females with RTT had significantly lower systolic blood pressure and a tendency to a higher heart rate. The results do not indicate any autonomic limitations for people with RTT in getting up from a sitting position and standing. The participants with RTT had normal orthostatic reactions indicated by the heart and blood pressure responses when standing erect for 3min. A faster initial drop in systolic blood pressure in people with RTT was notable. HubMed – rehab

Agreement in quality of life assessment between adolescents with intellectual disability and their parents.

Res Dev Disabil. 2013 Apr 10; 34(6): 1863-1869
Golubovi? S, Skrbi? R

Intellectual disability affects different aspects of functioning and quality of life, as well as the ability to independently assess the quality of life itself. The paper examines the agreement in the quality of life assessments made by adolescents with intellectual disability and their parents compared with assessments made by adolescents without intellectual disability and their parents. Participants included 67 adolescents with intellectual disability and the same number of their parents. Control group consisted of 122 typically developed adolescents and an equal number of their parents. In order to assess the quality of life we used The PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale questionnaire, for adolescents aged between 13 and 18 and their parents. Agreement in assessing quality of life between adolescents and parents was analyzed using t-test, Kappa Statistics and Pearson correlation. The agreement between adolescents with intellectual disability and their parents was found to be acceptable (k=0.43), while the agreement between adolescent from control group and their parents was judged to be good (k=0.84). Correlations between adolescents with intellectual disability and their parents varied across subscales from weak (r=0.31) on the physical health subscale to moderate (r=0.56) on the social subscale. Adolescents with intellectual disability were less satisfied with their social functioning. The highest agreement, as well as the lowest means value was found on the social agreement scale. Assessment of the quality of life by both adolescents and their parents provides a comprehensive insight into functioning and different aspects of quality of life in these adolescents. HubMed – rehab

Predictors of response to palliative care intervention for chronic nausea in advanced cancer outpatients.

Support Care Cancer. 2013 Apr 16;
Rhondali W, Yennurajalingam S, Chisholm G, Ferrer J, Kim SH, Kang JH, Filbet M, Bruera E

PURPOSE: Nausea is a frequent and distressing symptom in advanced cancer patients. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine predictors of response to palliative care consultation for chronic nausea in advanced cancer outpatients. METHODS: Eligible patients included were outpatient supportive care center seen consecutively for an initial consultation and who had one follow-up visit within 30 days of the initial consultation. We reviewed the medical records of 1,273 consecutive patients, and 444 (35 %) were found to meet the eligibility criteria. All patients were assessed using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS). Nausea response was defined as an improvement of at least 30 % between the initial visit and the first follow-up. We used logistic regression models to assess the possible predictors of improvement in nausea. RESULTS: Overall, 112 of 444 patients (25 %) experienced moderate/severe chronic nausea (ESAS item score ?4/10). Higher baseline nausea intensity was significantly related to constipation (r?=?0.158; p?=?0.046) and all the symptoms assessed by the ESAS (p?HubMed – rehab