Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with the non‑progressive damage of upper motor neurons, which is manifested by a variety of
symptoms, particularly motor and functional deficits. During the rehabilitation of patients with CP, attention is paid to improving
mobility which can have a significant impact on the child’s development. The effectiveness of rehabilitation depends on the plasticity
of the nervous system, which may be genetically determined. Of importance are the various polymorphisms of the brain derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene. It has been shown that the Val/Val genotype may predispose children to greater improvements in
function and its maintenance. However, subjects with the Met allele showed a reduced tendency to improve their motor functions
but had significantly better results on indirect tests assessing gait function. Fifty subjects with CP participated in this study. They were
divided into two groups by genotype and examined on their rehabilitation progress in terms of improved gait function. The results
correlated with other studies describing the relationship between the BDNF genotype and learning motor functions in CP, and with
numerous studies on the relationship between BDNF genotype and neuroplasticity in stroke patients. This research provides a basis for
the identification of genetic biomarkers in patients with CP which can be used to predict the effects of rehabilitation therapy and help
with the development of personalized treatments.
1. These results correlate with the outcomes of other studies on the relationship between sensory impairment and motor skills. 2. The study may contribute to the identification of more predictors of the effectiveness of rehabilitation of patients with CP, which can be used in the longer term to forecast the effects of therapy and the development of personalized medicine, as manifested in comprehensive therapeutic approaches (e.g. supplemented with sensory integration therapy).
Sleep is a very important aspect of human life, as it is responsible for regulation of the circadian cycle, body regeneration and reduction of harmful metabolites. Sleep deprivation can be associated with chronic stress, which can have an extremely negative impact on bodily function. The presented study covered 220 students of medical faculties; their correlations between the sleep quality and the level of perceived stress were analyzed. Sleep quality was measured using the PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and perceived stress was measured using PSS-10 (10-Item Perceived Stress Scale). A high correlation was shown between the PSQI and PSS-10 results (rs = 0.60), which means that people who were characterized by a low sleep quality also showed a high level of perceived stress. Among the PSQI components that were the most correlated with PSS-10, can be counted in such components as C1 (subjective sleep quality, rs = 0.50), C2 (sleep latency, rs = 0.51), and C7 (daytime dysfunctions, rs = 0.52). Mobile phone usage at bedtime has also been demonstrated to correlate with poor sleep quality. The study shows a significant relationship between sleep quality and the level of perceived stress, which has also been shown in other studies.
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