Comparing body posture and postural control in children with intellectual disability and dyslexia to typically developing children using technology‑based assessments

Background/Aims

Children with intellectual disability and dyslexia have poor academic and behavioural skills related to social participation, as well as poor motor skills compared to typically developing children. Most training programmes for these children focus on the academic and behavioural aspects of special education, overlooking musculoskeletal and motor development needs. The aim of this study was to investigate body posture and postural control in children with intellectual disability and dyslexia compared to typically developing children using technology-based assessments.

Methods

A total of 77 children (36 with dyslexia, 21 with intellectual disability and 20 typically developing children) took part in the study. The PostureScreen Mobile app was used to evaluate body posture and the Fizyosoft Balance System was used to assess postural control.

Results

Significant postural differences were observed in children with intellectual disability when compared to typically developing children. Head, shoulder and knee translations in the sagittal plane were significantly higher in children with intellectual disability than typically developing children. Centre of pressure velocities were significantly higher in children with dyslexia. Centre of pressure displacements showed non-significant differences in the children with dyslexia compared to the children with intellectual disability and typically developing children.

Conclusions

The present study found that children with dyslexia had poor postural control and children with intellectual disability had poor quality of posture compared to typically developing children. The authors believe that motor and physical assessments with objective outcome measurements should be conducted for children with dyslexia and intellectual disability to help improve their motor development.

Cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of Turkish version of Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for children with congenital talipes equinovarus

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire (OxAFQ) to provide cultural adaptation.

METHODS

This study involved translation, back translation, and cross-cultural adaptation. Forty-nine patients with congenital talipes equinovarus were evaluated using the Turkish version of OxAFQ. Turkish version of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) was used as a gold standard to validate the Turkish version of the OxAFQ. The validation was assessed with Spearman correlation analysis by using CHAQ. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed with Cronbach alpha (internal consistency) and exploratory factor analysis.

RESULTS

High validity was found between OxAFQ and CHAQ (r = -0.422-0.292) (p < 0.01). Reliability analysis showed that OxAFQ had a high level of Cronbach alpha (α = 0.88-0.96) and internal consistency (ICC = 0.90-0.96).

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of OxAFQ is a valid, reliable and useful quality of life questionnaire in patients with congenital talipes equinovarus and it is proper for use by health professionals and researchers.

GC/MS Analysis of Alkaloids in Galanthus fosteri Baker and Determination of Its Anticholinesterase Activity

Objectives

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are well known for their wide range of pharmacological activities. Galanthamine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, is an effective, selective, reversible, and competitive cholinesterase inhibitor marketed under different commercial names in several countries for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this work was to study the alkaloid profiles of the aerial parts and bulbs of both flowering and fruiting periods of Galanthus fosteri Baker (Amaryllidaceae), as well as analyzing their inhibitory activities on both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) for the first time.

Materials and Methods

The alkaloid profiles of the four samples were determined by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and AChE and BuChE inhibition assays were performed by the modified Ellman method.

Results

Totally, 22 compounds with mass spectral characteristics of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were detected in the extracts. Significant AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities were observed in the tested samples (IC₅₀ between 0.189 and 91.23 μg/mL).

Conclusion

This study shows that G. fosteri, collected from Akdağ, Amasya (Turkey), is a potential source of diverse chemical structures of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids with cholinesterase inhibitory properties.

Video game-based therapy for the non-dominant hand improves manual skills and grip strength

The study was designed to investigate the effect of virtual reality-supported training on manual skills and grip strength in the non-dominant hand in healthy participants. Thirty participants were randomized into two groups: ErgoActive group (n=15) and control group (n=15). The ErgoActive study group received 8 weeks of training with leap motion controller-based virtual reality games. The training was done 1 day per week for 30min. The participants' hand function was evaluated using the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), while grip strength was evaluated with a Jamar Hand Dynamometer and Pinchmeter. After 8 weeks, the ErgoActive and control groups had significantly different JTHFT, Jamar and Pinchmeter results (P<0.05). When leap motion controller-based virtual reality applications are used, healthy subjects have increased manual skills and grip strength in their non-dominant hand. These virtual reality games are an effective and fun way of improving patients' hand functions.

Characterization of phenolic profile by LC-ESI-MS/MS and enzyme inhibitory activities of two wild edible garlic: Allium nigrum L. and Allium subhirsutum L

In our study, Allium nigrum L. and Allium subhirsutum L. were investigated in terms of phenolic profile, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and tyrosinase inhibitory potentials. The colorimetric analysis revealed that the highest levels of total phenol (45.6, 15.8 mg GAE/g extract, respectively) and total flavonoid contents (8.2, 5.7 mg QE/g extract, respectively) were found in the bulbs of both plants. About 30 compounds were determined by LC-ESI-MS/MS with validated method and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (2,188.4 μg/g extract) and p-coumaric acid (1,700.8 μg/g extract) were major phenolic acids. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (998.3 µg/g extract) and genistein (159.3 μg/g extract) which are neuroprotective compounds were the predominant flavonoids for A. nigrum and A. subhirsutum, respectively. Enzyme inhibitory activities of samples were performed by spectrophotometrically with 96-well microplate reader. All samples showed anti-AChE, anti-BuChE, and anti-tyrosinase activities and the aerial part of A. nigrum was the most potent (IC₅₀ 6.1, 3.27, 22.31 µg/ml, respectively). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Many Allium species, especially those cultivated, are consumed in different countries as food in different ways. In the literature, studies on these species have generally focused on organosulfur compounds of the species. In our present study, phenolic compounds having a wide range of biological activities were determined in different parts of the two Allium species consumed as food. We also investigated in vitro cholinesterases and tyrosinase inhibition activities of these species. A correlation was observed between phenolic compounds and enzyme inhibition activities. These results were further explored and confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA revealed that samples were discriminated from each other according to phenolic compounds and enzyme inhibitory potencies. Conclusively, this study determines that the chemical profiles and biological activities of A. nigrum and A. subhirsutum.