
The Efficacy of Myofascial Chain Release Techniques in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome....
Patellofemoral Pain SyndromeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of myofascial release techniques applied on the superficial anterior myofascial chain of the body on pain, functional status, posture, biomechanical and viscoelastic properties of myofascial tissues in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. There will be two groups in this study. Each group will consist of 30 patients aged 25-50 years with patellofemoral pain syndrome. A total of 60 participants will take part in the study. Conventional physiotherapy will be applied to the control group, while myofascial release techniques will be applied to the experimental group in addition to conventional physiotherapy. Treatment programs will be applied to both groups 2 days a week for 6 weeks. Postural problems that can be seen in the superficial anterior myofascial chain line will be evaluated. These problems: forward head, q-angle, genu varum, genu valgum, foot postural problems and pelvic tilt. In addition to all these assessments, knee pain, lower extremity functionality and biomechanical properties of the anterior myofascial tissue will be evaluated.

Low-dose PCSK9 Inhibitor Combined With Stains on Serum Lipids in Chinese Population With Acute Coronary...
Acute Coronary SyndromeA total of 100 patients aged 18-85 years old with a definite diagnosis of ACS were admitted to the Department of Cardiovascular, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. These patients had fasting serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) >1.8mmol/L (70mg/dL) and were divided into three groups according to the lipid-lowering regimen used: a total of 50 people in the statin-only group received a daily oral medium-dose statin (atorvastatin 20mg qn or rosuvastatin 10mg qn); a total of 30 people in the statin + one injection group per month received oral atorvastatin 20mg qn or rosuvastatin 10mg qn + once a month, subcutaneous injection of 1 injection of PCSK9 inhibitor each time; the remaining 20 people were divided into statin + two injections per month group, oral atorvastatin 20mg qn or rosuvastatin 10mg qn + twice a month, subcutaneous injection of 1 injection of PCSK9 inhibitor each time. We followed up the blood lipid levels of these patients at different time points (one month,three month, six month), including TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C,taking the LDL-C reduction ≥50% from the baseline, LDL-C<1.8mmol/L (70mg/dL), and LDL-C<1.4mmol/L (55mg/dL) as the the compliance standard, the blood lipid compliance rates of the three groups at the 6th month of treatment were calculated respectively. The adverse drug reactions of the patients during follow-up were recorded.

Assessing Malleability of Spatial Abilities in Down Syndrome
Down SyndromeBased on available literature and our own preliminary research, the researchers have concluded that persons with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit difficulties in utilizing the specific spatial abilities of mental rotation and perspective taking and performing complex spatial tasks such as wayfinding and environmental learning. A weakness in spatial abilities may have many direct applications to daily life, ranging from activities such as tying shoes to using hand tools and navigating the environment. Spatial abilities also serve as a cognitive foundation for many other complex skills such as solving mathematical problems and using spatial language for giving and receiving directions. Moreover, spatial abilities are used in a variety of specialty jobs such as grocery stocking, packaging, and assembling, which are among the most commonly reported jobs for adults with DS. Hence, a new focus on spatial ability and its modifiability in persons with DS is clearly warranted. The primary goal of the research proposed in this application is to evaluate the malleability of mental rotation and perspective taking in people with DS through providing intentional experience with numerous spatial activities. Two groups of participants will be tested over the course of the project: adolescents and young adults with DS and typically developing (TD) children. Following an initial evaluation of performance on the two abilities, participants will receive up to eight sessions of spatial activity experience utilizing puzzle construction, block building, and computer search tasks. Following the experience sessions, spatial abilities of participants will be re-evaluated. These data will be used to investigate two specific aims. First, the researchers investigate whether spatial abilities of persons with DS can be modified by experience with spatial activities. Second, the researchers investigate whether the degree of modification observed for persons with DS can reduce performance differences between them and TD children. The researchers also consider whether performance on the PPVT, Raven's matrices, and Chronological Age are associated with any benefits from spatial ability experience.

Metabolic Study of Cockayne Syndrome
Cockayne SyndromeCockayne syndrome (CS) is related to defective DNA transcription and/or repair and belongs to the family of Nucleotide Excision Repair. It is an autosomal recessive multisystemic disorder characterized by mental retardation, microcephaly, severe growth failure with lipoatrophia, sensorial impairment, cutaneous photosensitivity, dental decay, enophtalmios. The disease is progressive causing severe impairments but there's currently no therapeutics for the disease. Growth failure, feeding difficulties and lipoatrophia are prognostic keys of CS but physiopathology is unknown. According to preliminary assays, our goal is to test the hypothesis that cachexia is due to hypometabolism. We also want to test the potential link between this basal metabolism modification and mitochondrial dysfunction and somatotrope axis, and correlation between the basal metabolism degree and global severity of the disease.

Clinical and Genomic Registry of MDS in Asia
Myelodysplastic SyndromesMyelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of clonal haematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective haematopoiesis leading to cytopenia, with a significant risk of progression to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Progression to AML and resistance to hypomethylating agents (HMA) are important unmet clinical needs. The pathophysiology of MDS and its progression to AML involve cytogenetic, genetic and epigenetic aberrations, and hence better understanding of the molecular landscape of MDS has important clinical implications. Also, future treatment strategies for MDS may involve exploitation of genetic information in designing more effective therapy encompassing single agents or combinatorial approaches. The proposed cohort study aims to establish a registry of clinical and genomic registry of MDS and secondary AML in Asian patients, which allows the establishment of the mutational profile of patients and prognostic model for survival, as well as exploration of treatment strategies and prediction for treatment response.

Identification of Predictors for Coronary Plaque Erosion in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome...
Acute Coronary SyndromeThe purpose of this study is to perform pooled analysis with data collected from 5 previously published studies and 8 unpublished datasets collected from international sites. The main goal of this study is to identify the predictors of plaque erosion.

The ILERVAS Project: Assessing the Prevalence of Subclinical Vascular Disease and Hidden Kidney...
AtherosclerosisChronic Kidney Diseases3 moreBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death despite huge primary and secondary prevention policies with a strong economic burden. The primary objectives of the ILERVAS project are: (i) to identify unknown factors involved in the presence of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and hidden kidney disease in a low/moderate cardiovascular risk population; (ii) to identify unknown factors involved in the progression of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and hidden kidney disease in a low/moderate cardiovascular risk population; (iii) to Assess of the impact of arterial ultrasound on cardiovascular events and mortality in a low/moderate cardiovascular risk population. METHODS: Randomized intervention study. From 2015 to 2018, 16,660 participants (8,330 in the intervention group (Mobile Unit Follow-up Group) and 8,330 in the no intervention group (Electronic Medical History Follow-up Group )) aged between 45 and 70 years without a previous history of cardiovascular disease and with at least one cardiovascular risk factor will be randomly selected across the province of Lleida, Spain.

The International Registry for Leigh Syndrome
Leigh SyndromeLeigh Disease3 moreThe purpose of this study is to develop a database containing clinical and laboratory information for patients with Leigh syndrome. The goal is to provide a greater understanding of Leigh syndrome allowing further characterization of this disease.

The Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project
LeukodystrophyWhite Matter Disease20 moreThe Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project (MDBP) seeks to collect and analyze clinical data and biological samples from leukodystrophy patients worldwide to support ongoing and future research projects. The MDBP is one of the world's largest leukodystrophy biorepositories, having enrolled nearly 2,000 affected individuals since it was launched over a decade ago. Researchers working in the biorepository hope to use these materials to uncover new genetic etiologies for various leukodystrophies, develop biomarkers for use in future clinical trials, and better understand the natural history of these disorders. The knowledge gained from these efforts may help improve the diagnostic tools and treatment options available to patients in the future.

Effects of Blueberry on Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Syndrome
Gut MicrobiotaMetabolic SyndromeThere is growing evidence that nutritional intervention with dietary polyphenols can positively modulate the gut microbiota to improve cardiometabolic health. Whether the beneficial effects of blueberries on obesity and the metabolic syndrome can be linked to their potential impact on the gut microbiota and intestinal integrity remains speculative at this time. Moreover, the mechanisms of action underlying health benefits associated to blueberry consumption are still unknown. The investigators are thus proposing to combine the study of metagenomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics to test whether a prebiotic activity of highbush blueberries can play a role in the prevention of obesity-linked metabolic syndrome in a clinical setting.