Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Building The Plane While It’S Flying: Implementation Lessons From Integrating A Co-Located Exercise Clinic Into Oncology Care, Mary A. Kennedy, Sara Bayes, Robert U. Newton, Yvonne Zissiadis, Nigel A. Spry, Dennis R. Taaffe, Nicolas H. Hart, Daniel A. Galvão

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Despite its therapeutic role during cancer treatment, exercise is not routinely integrated into care and implementation efforts are largely absent from the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate a strategy to integrate the workflow of a co-located exercise clinic into routine care within a private oncology setting in two clinics in the metropolitan region of Western Australia.

Methods:

This prospective evaluation utilised a mixed methods approach to summarise lessons learned during the implementation of an integrated exercise workflow and supporting implementation plan. Data collection was informed by the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. Reports …

Effects Of A Nurse-Led Tai Chi Programme On Improving Quality Of Life, Mental Wellbeing, And Physical Function Of Women With Breast Cancer: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Carol Chunfeng Wang, Sadie Geraghty, Caitlin Fox-Harding, Calvin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives:

Quality of life, mental wellbeing, and physical function deteriorate among women with breast cancer. Tai Chi is a moderate form of exercise that may be effective in improving the mental and physical wellbeing, therefore, the quality of life of women with breast cancer. This protocol paper outlines a trial to determine the therapeutic effects of a Tai Chi programme on breast cancer management.

Methods:

The study will be an interventional, single-blind, double-armed, randomized, and controlled trial involving a 12-week Tai Chi programme for women with breast cancer. Forty participants aged 18 years and above who are diagnosed with breast …

“Machine-Dependent”: The Lived Experiences Of Patients Receiving Hemodialysis In Pakistan, Haseeba Shouket, Eyal Gringart, Dierdre Drake, Ulrich Steinwandel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis in Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 24 patients and six healthcare professionals, each participated in a semi-structured interview. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze interviews’ data. Two superordinate themes, “The experience of hemodialysis” and “The conceptualizations of hemodialysis” as well as six sub-themes were identified. The experience of hemodialysis was related to, the implications of HD procedure on everyday life, social, cognitive, emotional, financial, and occupational influences. While all participants recognized the importance of hemodialysis for their survival, their conceptualizations of the treatment varied. …

Identifying Modifiable Features Of Home Bowel Cancer Screening Kits To Facilitate Use: Consumer Perspectives, Belinda C. Goodwin, Bianca Viljoen, Larry Myers, Michael J. Ireland, Jeff Dunn, Suzanne K. Chambers, Nicholas Ralph, Joanne F. Aitken

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives:

Despite the widely publicised health benefits of participation in bowel cancer screening, only 43.5% of recipients participate in the Australian National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP). Through consultation with kit recipients, this study aimed to identify features of home bowel screening kits that could be modified to increase their use.

Method:

Participants (n = 25) were presented with nine different bowel cancer screening kits and asked to identify features of each kit that might prevent or promote their use. Responses were coded using content analysis, and a narrative synthesis is presented summarising preferences relating to each element of the …

Improving Musculoskeletal Injury Surveillance Methods In Special Operation Forces: A Delphi Consensus Study, Joanne Stannard, Caroline F. Finch, Lauren V. Fortington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Musculoskeletal injury mitigation is a priority in military organisations to protect personnel health and sustain a capable workforce. Despite efforts to prevent injury, inconsistencies exist in the evidence used to support these activities. There are many known limitations in the injury surveillance data reported in previous Special Operation Forces (SOF) research. Such studies often lack accurate, reliable, and complete data to inform and evaluate injury prevention activities. This research aimed to achieve expert consensus on injury surveillance methods in SOF to enhance the quality of data that could be used to inform injury prevention in this population. A Delphi study …

Nexus Between Constructs Of Social Cognitive Theory Model And Diabetes Self-Management Among Ghanaian Diabetic Patients: A Mediation Modelling Approach, Yaa Obirikorang, Emmanuel Acheampong, Enoch Odame Anto, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Eric Adua, John Taylor, Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo, Sylvester Yao Lokpo, Evans Asamoah Adu, Bernard Adutwum, Enoch Ofori Antwi, Emmanuella Nsenbah Acheampong, Michael Adu Gyamfi, Freeman Aidoo, Eddie-Williams Owiredu, Christian Obirikorang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The promotion of Diabetes Self-Management (DSM) practices, education, and support is vital to improving the care and wellbeing of diabetic patients. Identifying factors that affect DSM behaviours may be useful to promote healthy living among these patients. The study assessed the determinants of DSM practices among Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using a model-based social cognitive theory (SCT). This cross-sectional study comprised 420 (T2DM) patients who visited the Diabetic Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi-Ghana. Data was collected using self-structured questionnaires to obtain socio-demographic characteristics, T2DM-related knowledge, DSM practices, SCT constructs; beliefs in treatment effectiveness, level …

Perspectives On Wider Integration Of The Health-Assistive Smart Home, Gordana Dermody, Jenna Mikus, Davina Porock, Dov Sugarman, Naeem K. Janjua, Christopher How, Roschelle Fritz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Most older adults desire to be as independent as possible and remain living in their ancestral home as they age. Aging-in-place maximizes the independence of older adults, enhancing their wellbeing and quality of life while decreasing the financial burden of residential care costs. However, due to chronic disease, multimorbidity, and age-related changes, appropriate conditions are required to make aging-in-place possible. Remote monitoring with smart home technologies could provide the infrastructure that enables older adults to remain living independently in their own homes safely. The health-assistive smart home shows great promise, but there are challenges to integrating smart homes on a …

Speaking Of Online Learning: Alternative Practice-Based Learning Experiences For Speech Pathologists In Australia, Ghana And Hong Kong, Jemma Skeat, Josephine Ohenewa Bampoe, Susan Booth, Emily Brogan, Maya Conway, Rachel Davenport, Simone Howells, Peggy Kan, Michelle Krahe, Sally Hewat, Abigail Lewis, Alex Little, Joanne Walters, Gwendalyn Webb, Nikki Worthington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Speech Pathology programs usually send students to workplaces to learn clinical skills necessary for practice. During COVID-19, programs needed to respond quickly to ensure that students continued to gain the necessary experiences and skills required to progress through their program and graduate as clinicians, while simultaneously complying with COVID-19 requirements. Case studies from seven different universities in Australia, Ghana and Hong Kong described the diverse ways in which placements were adapted to be COVID-safe, taking into account local needs. Some practices which had been included in placement education prior to the pandemic, such as telepractice and simulation-based learning, were extended …

Squat And Countermovement Jump Performance Across A Range Of Loads: A Comparison Between Smith Machine And Free Weight Execution Modes In Elite Sprinters, Irineu Loturco, Michael R. Mcguigan, Tomás T. Freitas, Fábio Y. Nakamura, Daniel A. Boullosa, Pedro L. Valenzuela, Lucas A. Pereira, Fernando Pareja-Blanco

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The aims of this study were to: 1) provide and compare the height achieved during Smith machine (SM) and free weight (FW) loaded jumps executed over a wide spectrum of loads (40–120 % of body mass [BM]); and 2) test the difference between loaded and unloaded squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) attempts in ten highly trained male sprinters. On the first visit, athletes performed unloaded SJ and CMJ, loaded SJ with loads corresponding to 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 % BM, and loaded CMJ at 100% BM using an Olympic barbell (FW). On the second visit, they …

Needs And Views On Healthy Lifestyles For The Prevention Of Dementia And The Potential Role For Mobile Health (Mhealth) Interventions In China: A Qualitative Study, Jinxia Zhang, Esmé Eggink, Xiaoyu Zhang, Xingming Li, Bin Jiang, Hongmei Liu, Siqi Ge, Wei Zhang, Jihui Lyu, Yixuan Niu, Yueyi Yu, Haifeng Hou, Xizhu Xu, Xiaoyan Ye, Wenzhi Wang, Ruben Terlou, Edo Richard, Wei Wang, Youxin Wang, Eric P. Moll Van Charante, Song Manshu, Prodemos Consortium

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives:

Over the coming decades, China is expected to face the largest worldwide increase in dementia incidence. Mobile health (mHealth) may improve the accessibility of dementia prevention strategies, targeting lifestyle-related risk factors. Our aim is to explore the needs and views of Chinese older adults regarding healthy lifestyles to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia through mHealth, supporting the Prevention of Dementia using Mobile Phone Applications (PRODEMOS) study.

Design:

Qualitative semi-structured interview study, using thematic analysis.

Setting:

Primary and secondary care in Beijing and Tai’an, China.

Participants:

Older adults aged 55 and over without dementia with an increased dementia risk, …

Shorter Cwr Cycling Tests As Proxies For Longer Tests In Highly Trained Cyclists, Chantelle Du Plessis, Mark Andrews, Lachlan J.G. Mitchell, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Trish King, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research Datasets

Severe-intensity constant work rate (CWR) cycling tests simulate the high-intensity competition environment and are useful for monitoring training progression and adaptation, yet impose significant physiological and psychological strain, require substantial recovery, and may disrupt athlete training or competition preparation. A brief, minimally fatiguing test providing comparable information is desirable.

Purpose: To determine whether physiological variables measured during, and functional decline in maximal power output immediately after, a 2-min CWR test can act as a proxy for 4-min test outcomes.

Methods: Physiological stress (V̇O₂ kinetics, heart rate, blood lactate concentrations ([La^-]_b)) was monitored and …

Injury Surveillance In Community Cricket: A New Inning For South Africa, Benita Olivier, Oluchukwu L. Obiora, Candice Macmillan, Caroline Finch

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Published injury rates amongst elite and club-level youth cricketers highlight the need to implement injury risk-reducing strategies amongst the youth cricketing population. Data from sports injury surveillance systems are a prerequisite for the development and evaluation of strategies to reduce injury risk. Therefore, collecting injury surveillance data is a positive move towards reducing injuries in cricket. In South Africa, a systematic, standardised, evidence-informed injury surveillance system currently does not exist for community levels of play, namely, in cricket-playing high schools and cricket clubs. Although injury surveillance systems exist at elite levels, the obvious differences in elite versus community cricket settings …

Bridging The Gap Between Clinical Service And Academic Education Of Hand-Splinting Practice: Perspectives And Experiences Of Thai Occupational Therapists, Anuchart Kaunnil, Veerawat Sansri, Surachart Thongchoomsin, Kannika Permpoonputtana, Mandy Stanley, Piyawat Trevittaya, Chirathip Thawisuk, Peeradech Thichanpiang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A gap in knowledge about current splinting practice exists between the educational program and clinical service. To bridge this gap, we investigated the perspectives and experiences of Thai occupational therapists regarding contemporary hand splinting practices in clinical use. A mixed-method study was designed. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. In the first quantitative phase, a survey questionnaire was mailed to occupational therapists. The questions were regarding contemporary hand splinting practices in clinical use at seven hospitals in the capital city of Bangkok and outskirt areas. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were completed to explore expert occupational therapists' …

Comparison Of The Cardiometabolic Profiles Of Adolescents Conceived Through Art With Those Of A Non-Art Cohort, L. A. Wijs, D. A. Doherty, J. A. Keelan, P. Burton, J. L. Yovich, L. Beilin, T. A. Mori, R. C. Huang, L. A. Adams, John K. Olynyk, O. T. Ayonrinde, B. Penova-Veselinovic, R. J. Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

STUDY QUESTION: Is the cardiometabolic health of adolescents conceived through ART worse than that of their counterparts conceived without ART? SUMMARY ANSWER: The majority of cardiometabolic and vascular health parameters of adolescents conceived through ART are similar or more favourable, than those of their counterparts of similar age and conceived without ART. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: It has been proposed that the cardiometabolic health of offspring conceived with ART may be unfavourable compared to that of their counterparts conceived without ART. The literature pertaining to cardiometabolic health of offspring conceived after ART is contradictory, but generally suggests unfavourable cardiometabolic health …

Environmental Health Responses To Covid 19 In Western Australia: Lessons For The Future, Jacques Oosthuizen, Melissa Stoneham, Toni Hannelly, Edmore Masaka, Giverny Dodds, Victor Andrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic tested the health system of Western Australia (WA) and the relatively new overarching legislative framework that guided the state-wide public health response to the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the experiences and roles of environmental health officers (EHOs) in WA during the management of COVID-19 and to identify any policy changes that are needed to facilitate the rapid deployment of EHOs during a future public health crisis. An online survey with 78 respondents was administered and analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. It was found that participants believed there was inadequate resourcing, workforce shortages, increased workloads, …

European Epidemiological Patterns Of Cannabis- And Substance-Related Body Wall Congenital Anomalies: Geospatiotemporal And Causal Inferential Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As body wall congenital anomalies (BWCAs) have a long history of being associated with prenatal or community cannabis exposure (CCE), it was of interest to investigate these epidemiological relationships in Europe given the recent increases in cannabis use prevalence, daily intensity, and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency. Methods: This study makes use of BWCA data from Eurocat, drug exposure data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and income from the World Bank. Results: The mapping analysis showed that BWCARs increased in France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The bivariate mapping analysis showed that the BWCA rates (BWCAR) and the …

Evidence For Global Health Care Interventions For Preterm Or Low Birth Weight Infants: An Overview Of Systematic Reviews, Karen Edmond, Natalie Strobel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Contex: Twenty-four research questions (framed as population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) for global health care interventions for preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants were identified at a World Health Organization guideline development group expert meeting in December 2020. Objective: To describe which systematic reviews had addressed these research questions in the last 3 years. Data sources: Medline (Ovid); the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review Protocols; and the PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews databases from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 were used.Randomized controlled trials or observational studies. Two reviewers independently …

Flavonoid Intakes Inversely Associate With Copd In Smokers, Nicola P. Bondonno, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Daniel Bech Rasmussen, Cecilie Kyrø, Aedin Cassidy, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua R. Lewis, Kevin D. Croft, Gunnar Gislason, Augustin Scalbert, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Anja Olsen, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Higher flavonoid intakes are beneficially associated with pulmonary function parameters; however, their association with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. This study aimed to examine associations between intakes of 1) total flavonoids, 2) flavonoid subclasses and 3) major flavonoid compounds with incident COPD in participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health study. Methods: This prospective cohort included 55 413 men and women without COPD, aged 50-65 years at recruitment. Habitual flavonoid intakes at baseline were estimated from a food frequency questionnaire using Phenol-Explorer. Danish nationwide registers were used to identify incident cases of COPD. Associations were modelled …

Sibling Concordance In Symptom Onset And Atrophy Growth Rates In Stargardt Disease Using Ultra-Widefield Fundus Autofluorescence, Rachael C. Heath Jeffery, Jennifer A. Thompson, Johnny Lo, Tina M. Lamey, Terri L. Mclaren, John N. De Roach, Dimitar N. Azamanov, Ian L. Mcallister, Ian J. Constable, Fred K. Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To investigate concordance in symptom onset, area of dark autofluorescence (DAF), and growth rate (GR) between Stargardt disease siblings at an age-matched time point. Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal study of sibling pairs with identical biallelic ABCA4 variants, age at symptom onset, best-corrected visual acuity, atrophy area, and effective radius of DAF on ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence were recorded. Absolute intersibling differences for both eyes were compared with absolute interocular differences using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Overall 39 patients from 19 families were recruited. In 16 families, age-matched best-corrected visual acuity and DAF were compared between siblings. In 8 families, …

Voluntary Activation Of Muscle In Humans: Does Serotonergic Neuromodulation Matter?, Justin J. Kavanagh, Janet L. Taylor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ionotropic inputs to motoneurones have the capacity to depolarise and hyperpolarise the motoneurone, whereas neuromodulatory inputs control the state of excitability of the motoneurone. Intracellular recordings of motoneurones from in vitro and in situ animal preparations have provided extraordinary insight into the mechanisms that underpin how neuromodulators regulate neuronal excitability. However, far fewer studies have attempted to translate the findings from cellular and molecular studies into a human model. In this review, we focus on the role that serotonin (5-HT) plays in muscle activation in humans. 5-HT is a potent regulator of neuronal firing rates, which can influence the force …

Why Do Men With Prostate Cancer Discontinue Active Surveillance For Definitive Treatment? A Mixed Methods Investigation, Megan Mcintosh, Melissa J. Opozda, Michael O’Callaghan, Andrew D. Vincent, Daniel A. Galvão, Camille E. Short

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To explore the personal and/or medical reasons patients on active surveillance (AS) have, or consider having, further definitive treatment for their prostate cancer. Research suggests up to 50% of patients on AS will discontinue within 5 years, though reasons for discontinuation from the patient's perspective is under-explored. Methods: Prostate cancer patients who were or had been on AS for at least 6 months were recruited. A questionnaire assessed reasons for receiving/considering definitive treatment and the extent to which reasons were personal or medical. Clinical information was extracted from a state-level population registry. A subset of participants were interviewed to …

A Scoping Review Of Non-Pharmacological Health Education Provided To Families Of Children With Idiopathic Childhood Constipation Within Primary Health Care, Davina Houghton, Diana Arabiat, Deborah Ireson, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Idiopathic childhood constipation is a prevalent condition that initially brings the child under the care of the primary health care team. Although it is acknowledged that health education is crucial to reducing chronicity, the range of evidenced-based non-pharmacological health education provided to families has not previously been reviewed. For this scoping review, 4 research questions sought to identify papers that provide information on the utilization of guidelines, the range of health education, who provides it, and whether any gaps exist. Methods: Following a registered protocol and using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping …

Show, Attend And Detect: Towards Fine-Grained Assessment Of Abdominal Aortic Calcification On Vertebral Fracture Assessment Scans, Syed Zulqarnain Gilani, Naeha Sharif, David Suter, John T. Schousboe, Siobhan Reid, William D. Leslie, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

More than 55,000 people world-wide die from Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) each day. Calcification of the abdominal aorta is an established marker of asymptomatic CVD. It can be observed on scans taken for vertebral fracture assessment from Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry machines. Assessment of Abdominal Aortic Calcification (AAC) and timely intervention may help to reinforce public health messages around CVD risk factors and improve disease management, reducing the global health burden related to CVDs. Our research addresses this problem by proposing a novel and reliable framework for automated “fine-grained” assessment of AAC. Inspired by the vision-to-language models, our method performs sequential …

A Myc-Znf148-Id1/3 Regulatory Axis Modulating Cancer Stem Cell Traits In Aggressive Breast Cancer, Mijeong Kim, Manjot Singh, Bum-Kyu Lee, Moira Hibbs, Kirsty Richardson, Lesley Ellies, Larissa Wintle, Lisa M. Stuart, Jenny Y. Wang, Dominic C. Voon, Pilar Blancafort, Jianlong Wang, Jonghwan Kim, Peter J. Leedman, Andrew J. Woo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The MYC proto-oncogene (MYC) is one of the most frequently overexpressed genes in breast cancer that drives cancer stem cell-like traits, resulting in aggressive disease progression and poor prognosis. In this study, we identified zinc finger transcription factor 148 (ZNF148, also called Zfp148 and ZBP-89) as a direct target of MYC. ZNF148 suppressed cell proliferation and migration and was transcriptionally repressed by MYC in breast cancer. Depletion of ZNF148 by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and CRISPR/Cas9 increased triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell proliferation and migration. Global transcriptome and chromatin occupancy analyses of ZNF148 revealed a central role in inhibiting cancer …

Changes In Body Composition In Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma And The Relationship With Activity Levels And Dietary Intake, Emily Jeffery, Y. C. Gary Lee, Robert U. Newton, Philippa Lyons-Wall, Joanne Mcveigh, Deirdre B. Fitzgerald, Leon Straker, Carolyn J. Peddle-Mcintyre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Skeletal muscle loss is common in advanced cancer and is associated with negative outcomes. In malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), no study has reported body composition changes or factors associated with these changes. This study aimed to describe changes in body composition over time and its relationship with activity levels, dietary intake and survival.

Methods:

The study was a secondary analysis of data collected from a longitudinal observational study of patients with MPM. Participants completed 3-month assessments for up to 18 months. Participants with two dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were included. Changes in appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) and …

Comparison Of Weightlifting, Traditional Resistance Training And Plyometrics On Strength, Power And Speed: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Stephanie J. Morris, Jon L. Oliver, Jason S. Pedley, G. Gregory Haff, Rhodri S. Lloyd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Weightlifting training (WLT) is commonly used to improve strength, power and speed in athletes. However, to date, WLT studies have either not compared training effects against those of other training methods, or been limited by small sample sizes, which are issues that can be resolved by pooling studies in a meta-analysis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of WLT compared with traditional resistance training (TRT), plyometric training (PLYO) and/or control (CON) on strength, power and speed.

Methods:

The systematic review included peer-reviewed articles that employed a WLT intervention, a comparison group …

The Impact Of Skeletal Muscle Disuse On Distinct Echo Intensity Bands: A Retrospective Analysis, Zachary S. Logeson, Rob J. Maclennan, Gerard Kyle B. Abad, Johnathon M. Methven, Molly R. Gradl, Matheus D. Pinto, Ronei S. Pinto, Matt S. Stock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Echo intensity (EI) is a novel tool for assessing muscle quality. EI has traditionally been reported as the mean of the pixel histogram, with 0 and 255 arbitrary units (A.U.) representing excellent and poor muscle quality, respectively. Recent work conducted in youth and younger and older adults suggested that analyzing specific EI bands, rather than the mean, may provide unique insights into the effectiveness of exercise and rehabilitation interventions. As our previous work showed deterioration of muscle quality after knee joint immobilization, we sought to investigate whether the increase in EI following disuse was limited to specific EI bands. Thirteen …

Quadriceps Muscle Fatigue Reduces Extension And Flexion Power During Maximal Cycling, Steven J. O'Bryan, Janet L. Taylor, Jessica M. D'Amico, David M. Rouffet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

To investigate how quadriceps muscle fatigue affects power production over the extension and flexion phases and muscle activation during maximal cycling.

Methods:

Ten participants performed 10-s maximal cycling efforts without fatigue and after 120 bilateral maximal concentric contractions of the quadriceps muscles. Extension power, flexion power and electromyographic (EMG) activity were compared between maximal cycling trials. We also investigated the associations between changes in quadriceps force during isometric maximal voluntary contractions (IMVC) and power output (flexion and extension) during maximal cycling, in addition to interindividual variability in muscle activation and pedal force profiles.

Results:

Quadriceps IMVC (−52 ± 21%, …

Walking Improvement In Chronic Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury With Exoskeleton Robotic Training (Wise): A Randomized Controlled Trial, Dylan J. Edwards, Gail Forrest, Mar Cortes, Margaret M. Weightman, Cristina Sadowsky, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Kimberly Furman, Amy Bialek, Sara Prokup, John Carlow, Leslie Vanhiel, Laura Kemp, Darrell Musick, Marc Campo, Arun Jayaraman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Study design:

Clinical trial.

Objective:

To demonstrate that a 12-week exoskeleton-based robotic gait training regimen can lead to a clinically meaningful improvement in independent gait speed, in community-dwelling participants with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

Setting:

Outpatient rehabilitation or research institute.

Methods:

Multi-site (United States), randomized, controlled trial, comparing exoskeleton gait training (12 weeks, 36 sessions) with standard gait training or no gait training (2:2:1 randomization) in chronic iSCI ( > 1 year post injury, AIS-C, and D), with residual stepping ability. The primary outcome measure was change in robot-independent gait speed (10-meter walk test, 10MWT) post 12-week intervention. Secondary …

Reduction Of Plasmid Vector Backbone Length Enhances Reporter Gene Expression, Carly Boye, Sezgi Arpag, Michael Francis, Scott Declemente, Aislin West, Richard Heller, Anna Bulysheva

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Gene therapy has a wide range of applications for various types of pathologies. Viral methods of gene delivery provide high levels of gene expression but have various safety concerns. Non-viral methods are largely known to provide lower levels of expression. We aim to address this issue by using plasmid DNA with smaller backbones to increase gene expression levels when delivered using non-viral methods. In this study we compare gene expression levels between two vectors with firefly luciferase encoding gene insert using liposome complexes and gene electrotransfer as delivery methods. A 2-fold reduction in plasmid vector backbone size, disproportionately enhanced gene …