Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and a chronic inflammatory response. Sphingolipid metabolites are associated with the generation or perpetuation of low-grade chronic inflammation critical in atherosclerosis, obesity and cancer. Dietary sphingolipids, however, can suppress intestinal inflammation. We hypothesized that dietary sphingomyelin (SM) from bovine milk can modulate the inflammatory signature and improve muscle function in mdx mice, a model of DMD. C57BL10 (WT) and mdx mice were fed AIN 76A diet ± 0.1% SM for 7 weeks starting at age 4 weeks (n=10/group: WT, WT + S, mdx, mdx + S). At ages 5, 7, and 9 weeks, ankle flexor torque was determined in vivo. Mice were euthanized at 11 wks. Serum creatine kinase and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) contractile properties in vitro were determined; Tibialis Anterior (TA) inflammatory markers were profiled by qRT-PCR; TA sections were stained with H&E and immunohistochemistry for p-Akt was performed. At age 9 weeks, in vivo ankle flexor torque at stimulation frequencies 50-150 Hz was greater in mdx+S vs. mdx (P=0.0160) and WT (P<0.0001). At 11 wks, only WT+S EDL stress in vitro was greater than all other groups at 50-150 Hz. The in vitro relative stress-frequency relationship of mdx+S EDL was left shifted from the other treatment groups. Inflammatory genetic markers were increased in mdx+S mice. These data suggest treatment of mdx mice with 0.1% SM improves ankle flexor torque in vivo, causes a left shift of the stress-frequency relationship in vitro, and modulates the inflammatory gene signature. / Master of Science

This written thesis gives an account of the creative production of Two Fingers: Michael's Struggle, a twenty-nine minute documentary video that explores the life of Michael Alan Rasch who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It explains in detail the process of pre-production, production, and post-production of the documentary. It also discuses the integration of theories applied in the documentary. Two Fingers shows that although Michael has lived with the disease almost his entire life, his perspective and attitude are more about living and enjoying life. Through it, the filmmaker intends the viewer to gain a tremendously important lesson about the human spirit.

<p>Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe hereditary disorder caused by a loss of dystrophin, an essential musculoskeletal protein. Decades of promising research have yielded only modest gains in survival and quality of life for these patients and there have been no approved gene therapies for DMD to date. There are two significant hurdles to creating effective gene therapies for DMD; it is difficult to deliver a replacement dystrophin gene due to its large size and current strategies to restore the native dystrophin gene likely require life-long administration of a gene-modifying drug. This thesis presents a novel method to address these challenges through restoring dystrophin expression by genetically correcting the native dystrophin gene using engineered nucleases that target one or more exons in a mutational hotspot in exons 45-55 of the dystrophin gene. Importantly, this hotspot mutational region collectively represents approximately 62% of all DMD mutations. In this work, we utilize various engineered nuclease platforms to create genetic modifications that can correct a variety of DMD patient mutations.</p><p>Initially, we demonstrate that genome editing can efficiently correct the dystrophin reading frame and restore protein expression by introducing micro-frameshifts in exon 51, which is adjacent to a hotspot mutational region in the dystrophin gene. Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) were engineered to mediate highly efficient gene editing after introducing a single TALEN pair targeted to exon 51 of the dystrophin gene. This led to restoration of dystrophin protein expression in cells from DMD patients, including skeletal myoblasts and dermal fibroblasts that were reprogrammed to the myogenic lineage by MyoD. We show that our engineered TALENs have minimal cytotoxicity and exome sequencing of cells with targeted modifications of the dystrophin locus showed no TALEN-mediated off-target changes to the protein coding regions of the genome, as predicted by in silico target site analysis. </p><p>In an alternative approach, we capitalized on the recent advances in genome editing to generate permanent exclusion of exons by using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) to selectively remove sequences important in specific exon recognition. This strategy has the advantage of creating predictable frame restoration and protein expression, although it relies on simultaneous nuclease activity to generate genomic deletions. ZFNs were designed to remove essential splicing sequences in exon 51 of the dystrophin gene and thereby exclude exon 51 from the resulting dystrophin transcript, a method that can potentially restore the dystrophin reading frame in up to 13% of DMD patients. Nucleases were assembled by extended modular assembly and context-dependent assembly methods and screened for activity in human cells. Selected ZFNs had moderate observable cytotoxicity and one ZFN showed off-target activity at two chromosomal loci. Two active ZFN pairs flanking the exon 51 splice acceptor site were transfected into DMD patient cells and a clonal population was isolated with this region deleted from the genome. Deletion of the genomic sequence containing the splice acceptor resulted in the loss of exon 51 from the dystrophin mRNA transcript and restoration of dystrophin expression in vitro. Furthermore, transplantation of corrected cells into the hind limb of immunodeficient mice resulted in efficient human dystrophin expression localized to the sarcolemma. </p><p>Finally, we exploited the increased versatility, efficiency, and multiplexing capabilities of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to enable a variety of otherwise challenging gene correction strategies for DMD. Single or multiplexed sgRNAs were designed to restore the dystrophin reading frame by targeting the mutational hotspot at exons 45-55 and introducing either intraexonic small insertions and deletions, or large deletions of one or more exons. Significantly, we generated a large deletion of 336 kb across the entire exon 45-55 region that is applicable to correction of approximately 62% of DMD patient mutations. We show that, for selected sgRNAs, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing displays minimal cytotoxicity and limited aberrant mutagenesis at off-target chromosomal loci. Following treatment with Cas9 nuclease and one or more sgRNAs, dystrophin expression was restored in Duchenne patient muscle cells in vitro. Human dystrophin was detected in vivo following transplantation of genetically corrected patient cells into immunodeficient mice. </p><p>In summary, the objective of this work was to develop methods to genetically correct the native dystrophin as a potential therapy for DMD. These studies integrate the rapid advances in gene editing technologies to create targeted frameshifts that restore the dystrophin gene around patient mutations in non-essential coding regions. Collectively, this thesis presents several gene editing methods that can correct patient mutations by modification of specific exons or by deletion of one or more exons that results in restoration of the dystrophin reading frame. Importantly, the gene correction methods described here are compatible with leading cell-based therapies and in vivo gene delivery strategies for DMD, providing an avenue towards a cure for this devastating disease.</p> / Dissertation

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal, muscle-wasting disorder due to mutations/deletions in the dystrophin gene. Whilst improvements in palliative care have increased the life expectancy of patients, cardiomyopathy and respiratory complications are still the leading causes of death. A potential therapy for the treatment of DMD is antisense oligonucleotides (AOs), which modulate dystrophin pre-mRNA splicing to restore the dystrophin reading frame and generate a truncated functional protein. Conjugation of AOs to cell penetrating peptides (CPP), such as Pip5e-, significantly improves delivery to skeletal muscles and to the heart, which is imperative given the impact of cardiomyopathy to mortality. However, it should be noted that the contribution of skeletal muscles, such as the core respiratory muscle, the diaphragm, in dystrophic cardiopulmonary function is poorly understood. The specific aims of the work in this thesis were to (i) understand the effect of the diaphragm on cardiac function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (ii) screen a number of derivatives of Pip5e (Pip6) in an effort to discover further promising peptides and define the properties integral to heart penetrating capacity, and (iii) assess whether Pip6-PMOs restore cardiac function (MRI) following a repeat, low dose regimen. In short, the specific restoration of dystrophin in the diaphragm of the dystrophic mouse model, the mdx mouse, did not improve cardiac function, highlighting the importance of a body-wide therapy. The screening of multiple Pip5e-PMO derivatives revealed 3 promising peptides with improved cardiac splicing capacity; however, serial deletions of amino acids from the central core resulted in the diminution of dystrophin restoration, possibly due to a reduction in hydrophobicity. Finally, the Pip6-PMO treatment regimen substantially restored dystrophin protein (28% in heart) and stabilised cardiac function, even with an increased work load. In conclusion, this study illustrates the importance of a body-wide treatment, such as the CPP strategy (Pip-PMO). These Pip-PMO conjugates demonstrate high dystrophin restoration in a number of muscles, including cardiac muscle, and have a beneficial effect on cardiac function.

Background: Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, collectively referred to as dystrophinopathies, are recessive X-linked disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness and ultimately cardiac and respiratory failure. Immediate family members are often primary caregivers of individuals with a dystrophinopathy. Methods: We explored the impact of this role by inviting primary caregivers (n = 209) of males diagnosed with childhood-onset dystrophinopathy who were identified by the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet) to complete a mailed questionnaire measuring perceived social support and stress, spirituality, and family quality of life (FQoL). Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined associations between study variables using the Double ABCX model as an analytic framework. Results: Higher stressor pile-up was associated with lower perceived social support (r = -0.29, p <.001), availability of supportive family (r = -0.30, p <.001) or non-family (r = -0.19, p <.01) relationships, and higher perceived stress (r = 0.33, p <.001); but not with spirituality (r = -0.14, p > 0.05). FQoL was positively associated with all support measures (correlations ranged from: 0.25 to 0.58, p-values 0.01-0.001) and negatively associated with perceived stress and control (r = -0.49, p <.001). The association between stressor pile-up and FQoL was completely mediated through global perceived social support, supportive family relationships, and perceived stress and control; supportive non-family relationships did not remain statistically significant after controlling for other mediators. Conclusions: Findings suggest caregiver adaptation to a dystrophinopathy diagnosis can be optimized by increased perceived control, supporting family resources, and creation of a healthy family identity. Our findings will help identify areas for family intervention and guide clinicians in identifying resources that minimize stress and maximize family adaptation.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar a influência da Fisioterapia como coadjuvante no tratamento da Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne. Utilizou-se um protocolo de atividades físicas direcionadas para as alterações músculo-esqueléticas características da patologia, no modelo Golden Retriever Muscular Dystrophy (GRMD), através de uma analogia entre as duas espécies. Foram selecionados seis animais machos e distróficos, do grupo do Canil GRMD / USP. A confirmação da patologia foi realizada pela análise do DNA, realizada no Centro de Estudos do Genoma Humano - IB / USP. As idades variaram entre seis e treze meses no início da pesquisa (média de 10,16 &plusmn; 3,43 e média de peso 18,86 &plusmn; 3,04 kg). A primeira coleta foi realizada em Setembro / 2005 e a coleta II, após seis meses (março / 2006). Buscou-se levantar dados a respeito do desempenho funcional dos animais, amplitude de movimento articular (ADM) e, análise histopatológica da musculatura esquelética, com a quantificação da área de colágeno em relação à área total de tecido muscular. A avaliação funcional mostrou que entre as idades de seis e doze meses, a fraqueza muscular começou a se refletir em perdas funcionais importantes. A partir dos doze meses, observa-se uma maior estabilidade nos graus de dificuldade para o desempenho funcional. Os valores, em graus, obtidos na avaliação da ADM das articulações do joelho (107,83&ordm; &plusmn; 4,49), tarso (114,16&ordm; &plusmn; 15,3) e carpo (151,16&ordm; &plusmn; 11,05) dos animais GRMD foram significativamente diferentes quando comparados aos valores médios para as mesmas articulações dos animais normais da mesma raça (115,89º &plusmn; 8,71; 123,57&ordm; &plusmn; 8,69; 131,42&ordm; &plusmn; 8,48, respectivamente). Não foi encontrada diferença significativa entre as médias da articulação cotovelo do grupo distrófico (120&ordm; &plusmn; 9,48) comparados com animais normais da mesma raça (119,82&ordm; &plusmn; 8,65) (p &lt; 0.05). A média dos valores da ADM do joelho e cotovelo da coleta I e II se manteve, no grupo tratado e não tratado. Houve aumento na média da articulação do tarso no grupo tratado da coleta II (141,66&ordm; &plusmn; 7,63) em relação à coleta I (115,83&ordm; &plusmn; 13,83). No carpo houve manutenção da ADM no grupo tratado comparando as duas médias. A média da área de deposição de colágeno na coleta I e II para o grupo não tratado se manteve, havendo aumento significativo da área de colágeno para os animais do grupo tratado pela Fisioterapia (p &lt; 0.05). Observa-se que os mesmos animais que tiveram ganho de função com a Fisioterapia, tiveram maior área de colágeno depositado. A aplicação fisioterapêutica no modelo GRMD favoreceu o ganho funcional em relação à macro estrutura articular e muscular, porém a degeneração da ultra estrutura manteve o curso da doença. / The aim of this research was investigates the Physiotherapy influence as a complementary treatment in the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A physical activities protocol was used focusing the skeletal muscle alterations, characteristics from the pathology, in the GRMD model through an analogy between these species. Six males and dystrophic animals from the GRMD kennel/USP were selected. The pathology confirmation was done by the DNA analysis in the Center of Human Genome - IB / USP. The younger dog was six months and the older one, thirteen (mean age 10,16 &plusmn; 3,43 and mean weigh 18,86 &plusmn; 3,04 kg). The first collect was in september 2005 and the collect II after six mounths (march/2006). Data about the animals functional status, joint range of movement (ROM) and skeletal muscle histopathological analysis was get. The functional assessment showed that between the six and twelve months of age, the muscular weakness started to reflects in important functional lost. From twelve months, there is a major stability of the difficult degrees to realize the functional activities. The values from the ROM assessment of the knee (107,83&ordm; &plusmn; 4,49), tarsal (114,16&ordm; &plusmn; 15,3) and carpal joint (151,16&ordm; &plusmn; 11,05) from the GRMD animals were statistically different compared to the mean values of the same joints in normal dogs of the same breed (115,89&ordm; &plusmn; 8,71; 123,57&ordm; &plusmn; 8,69; 131,42&ordm; &plusmn; 8,48, respectively). There was no difference between the mean from the elbow joint of the dystrophic group (120&ordm; &plusmn; 9,48) when compared with normal dogs from the same breed (119,82&ordm; &plusmn; 8,65) (p &lt; 0.05). The mean value from the knee and elbow joint in the collect I and II was the same, in the treated and no treated group. There was a mean improvement from the tarsal joint of the treated group in the collect II (141,66&ordm; &plusmn; 7,63) related to collect I (115,83&ordm; &plusmn; 13,83). In the carpal joint, there was a stable median in the treated group between the two means (collect I and II). The mean from the deposition area of collagen in the collect I and II in relation of no treated group was the same. There was a significant increased of the collagen area to the animals from the treated group by the physiotherapy (p &lt; 0.05). The same animals that had a improvement in the function with the physiotherapy had a bigger collagen area deposition. The physiotherapy application in the GRMD model leads to a better functional status to the joint and muscular gross structure, but the ultra structure degeneration had a maintenance of the pathology course.

INTRODUÇÃO : Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma doença genética, o que acarreta alteração da produção de distrofina, importante no reforço mecânico da membrana sarcolemal das fibras musculares. Degeneração progressiva e irreversível é inicialmente de predomínio proximal da musculatura esquelética. Qualidade de Vida (QV) inclui subjetividade, multidimensionalidade, presença de aspectos negativos e positivos diante da percepção e da expectativa individual de vida, com influência cultural. JUSTIFICATIVA: Não há estudos específicos para a DMD que apontem a análise da QV em diferentes faixas etárias evolutivas, sob diversos domínios, ou mesmo que indiquem precisamente qual domínio e idade específica devem receber maior atenção preventiva e terapêutica. OBJETIVOS: A partir da aplicação de três questionários de QV em diferentes fases evolutivas e domínios, objetivamos comprovar a praticidade e eficácia do Questionário Life Satisfaction Index for Adolescents - LSI-A, comparando-o aos Autoquestionnaire Qualitè de Vie Enfant Imagè - AUQUEI e Medical Outcomes Studies 36-item Short-Form - MOS SF-36. Essa pesquisa também possibilitará uma análise que subsidie o acompanhamento clínico, a prevenção das complicações, quando possível, e a corticoterapia paliativa. METODOLOGIA: Noventa e cinco pacientes foram divididos em 04 grupos, de acordo com as idades proporcionais às etapas da evolução da doença, por ocasião do início do acompanhamento: entre 5 e 7 anos (grupo A); entre 8 e 10 anos (grupo B); entre 11 e 13 anos (grupo C); 13 a 17anos de idade (grupo D). Os questionários (AUQEI, SF-36 e LSI-A) foram aplicados aos três, seis meses, 9 meses e até completar um seguimento de 12 meses da medicação. Na aplicação dos questionários, avaliamos a concordância entre dois observadores (confiabilidade inter-observador) e a concordância entre as observações feitas por um mesmo observador, em diferentes ocasiões. RESULTADOS: Os dados recolhidos e estaticamente representados denotam o grau de significância, ou qualidade de vida, do paciente nos diversos setores de sua vida, abordados em cada domínio dos questionários adotados. A média de significância geral foi detectada, mediante o questionário AUQEI, principalmente no grupo B. No SF-36, dos 8 domínios, somente 4 acusaram significância, e preponderantemente nos grupos B e C. Já no LSI-A, a significância foi geral à todos os grupos (A, B, C e D). CONCLUSÃO: Logo, pudemos inferir que os aspectos clínicos quando considerados em maior peso, como no SF- 36 e no AUQEI, mostram valores muito negativos na QV. O contrário foi constatado no questionário LSI-A, o qual atende, em sua natureza, às exigências de uma avaliação de qualidade de vida para crianças com Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne, pois abarca uma diversidade maior de circunstâncias na vida do paciente. / INTRODUTION: The Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease, which leads in changes in production of the dystrophin, important on reinforce mechanic of the sarcolemal membrane of the muscles fibers. The degeneration progress and irreversible is initially of the predominance proximal of the skeletal muscle. Quality of Life (QoL) includes subjectivity, multidimensionality, and presence of negatives and positives aspects in front of perception and expectation personal of life with cultural influence. JUSTIFICATION: there are no specific studies to the DMD, which had indicate a analysis of QoL into different ages and level evolutionary, under various domains, or studies which indicate which domain and specific age need to receive more preventive and therapeutic attention. OBJECTIVES: After of the application of three QoL questionnaires about different evolutionary phases and domains, we pretend to comprove the practicality and effectiveness of the Life Satisfaction Index for Adolescents LSI-A questionnaire, it comparing it to the Autoquestionnaire Qualitè de Vie Enfant Imagè - AUQUEI e Medical Outcomes Studies 36-item Short-Form - MOS SF-36. It is possible in this study also a analysis to the clinic support, prevention of the complications, and if enable, the palliative steroids therapy. METHODS: Ninety-five patients were divided into 04 groups, of according with the ages, proportional to the stages of the development of the disease at the initially of the accompaniment: between 5 and 7 years (group A), 8 and 10 years (group B), 11 and 13 years (group C); since 13 years of age (group D). The questionnaires (AUQEI, SF-36 and LSI-A) were applied to the three, six, nine months, and until they had completed a following of 12 months of medication. In the application of the questionnaires, we evaluated the concordance between two observers (inter-observer reliability), agreement between the observations made by the same observer on occasions different. RESULTS: The data collected and represented statically denotes the degree of significance or patients Qol in different areas of your life, all they mentioned in the domains of the QoL questionnaires used. The average of the overall significance was detected by the questionnaire AUQEI, especially in group B. In the SF-36, of the eight domains, only four had significance, and mainly in groups B and C. Already in the LSI-A, the significance was general for all groups (A, B, C and D). CONCLUSION: We infer that the clinical aspects, when considered in greater weight like on the SF-36 and AUQEI show negative values very in QOL. The opposite was noted in the LSI-A questionnaire, which serves in its nature to the requirements of an evaluating of QoL for children with DMD, because it covers the great diversify of circumstances in the patient life.

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é causada por mutações no gene distrofina que codifica a proteína distrofina, responsável pela manutenção da membrana da fibra muscular. Além do comprometimento muscular, a doença tem sido associada a déficits cognitivos e problemas de comportamento. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivos: avaliar sintomas do transtorno do espectro do autismo (TEA) em uma amostra formada por pacientes com DMD de acordo com os critérios diagnósticos do DSM V; identificar a proporção de pacientes com indício de deficiência intelectual (DI); examinar a possibilidade de prejuízos das funções executivas (flexibilidade e planejamento) nesses pacientes e verificar possiveis associações das mutações downstream ao exon 45 (inicial da isoforma cerebral da distrofina Dp140) a sintomas de autismo, deficiencia intelectual ou déficits nas funções executivas. O estudo seguiu metodologia de pesquisa exploratória. Participaram do estudo 67 pacientes com DMD com idades de 5 a 17 anos (Média= 10,74 e DP= 3,2) e 19 controles com idades de 04 a 14 anos (Média=8,73 e DP= 2,94). A bateria de avaliação incluiu a Escala de Avaliação do Autismo na Infância (CARS) para avaliação dos sintomas de autismo, o Teste das Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven para exame de inteligencia não verbal e subtestes da bateria Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) para avaliação das funções executivas de flexibilidade (Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift - IED) e planejamento (Stockings of Cambridge - SOC). A Escala de Brooke foi utilizada para avaliação do comprometimento motor dos membros superiores dos pacientes com DMD. Dentre os pacientes submetidos à escala CARS e ao teste de Raven, 20% atingiram o ponto de corte para autismo (7% com risco para TEA somente e 13% com risco para TEA e DI) e 19% apresentou classificação de inteligência indicativa de deficiência intelectual (sem risco para TEA). Em análise dos grupos de pacientes com DMD com e sem risco para autismo, observou-se diferença significativa em 14 das 15 questões da escala CARS (p<0,05, teste t). Mediante análise qualitativa, verificou-se que o grupo com risco para TEA apresentou médias mais altas em relação aos grupos com risco para DI e risco para DI e TEA nas questões referentes à resposta emocional, comunicação verbal, resposta intelectual e às impressões gerais do avaliador da escala CARS. O grupo sem risco para TEA apresentou escores mais elevados quanto às respostas emocional e intelectual. No grupo sem risco para TEA, observou-se correlação negativa entre idade e a questão de comunicação verbal da escala CARS, evidenciando melhora desta capacidade conforme o aumento da idade (p<0,05, correlação de Pearson). Em análise subseqüente com três grupos (TEA, DI, TEA + DI), o grupo com risco para TEA apresentou escores mais elevados (indicativos de maior intensidade de sintomas de autismo) na questão referente a medo e nervosismo, enquanto o grupo com risco para TEA e DI obteve maiores pontuações nas questões de resposta auditiva e comunicação verbal da escala CARS (p<0,05, teste de Kruskal-Wallis). O grupo com risco para DI obteve escores mais baixos (indicativos de menor intensidade de sintomas de autismo) nas questões referentes à imitação, resposta emocional, uso corporal, uso de objetos, paladar, olfato e tato, comunicação não verbal e impressões gerais do examinador (p<0,05). Conforme as análises de mutações genéticas, o grupo com mutações downstream ao exon 45 apresentou maior propensão para deficiência intelectual conforme a questão referente à resposta intelectual da escala CARS. Quanto à análise de funções executivas, o grupo com DMD apresentou prejuízos nas capacidades de flexibilidade cognitiva (teste IED) e planejamento (teste SOC) em relação ao grupo controle (p<0,05, teste de Mann-Whitney). Os déficits de planejamento não foram atribuídos a dificuldades motoras, uma vez que não houve IX diferença significativa entre grupos quanto aos tempos de resposta no teste SOC. O estudo mostrou evidencias da associação da Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne ao Transtorno do Espectro Autista, à deficiência intelectual e a prejuízos em funções executivas. Os resultados suportam achados prévios da associação entre mutações distais do gene distrofina e prejuízo intelectual. A escala CARS mostrou-se sensível na diferenciação entre casos de autismo e deficiência intelectual em pacientes com DMD. Estudos futuros são necessários para a elucidação de características de autismo em pacientes com DMD com e sem o diagnóstico desse transtorno do desenvolvimento / Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that encodes the dystrophin protein, which is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the muscle fiber membrane. In addition to muscle impairment, the disease has been associated to cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. The objectives of the present study were: to evaluate patients with DMD for symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the DSM-V criteria; to identify the proportion of patients with evidence of intellectual disability (ID) in this sample; to examine the possibility of impairment of executive functions (flexibility and planning) in these patients and to verify possible associations between mutations downstream from exon 45 (first exon for the brain isoform D140) and symptoms of autism, intellectual disability or deficits in executive functions. The study followed exploratory research methodology. Sixty seven patients with DMD with ages ranging from 5 to 17 years (mean = 10.74 and SD = 3.2) and 19 controls aged 04 to 14 years (Mean = 8.73 and SD = 2.94) participated in the study. The assessment battery included the the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for assessing symptoms of autism, the Raven\'s Colored Progressive Matrices Test for nonverbal intelligence evaluation, and subtests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) for assessment of flexibility (Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift - IED) and planning (Stockings of Cambridge - SOC). The Brooke Scale was used to assess motor impairment in the upper limbs of DMD group. Among the patients who were evaluated with the CARS scale and the Raven\'s test, 20% reached the cut-off point for autism (7% at risk for only ASD and 13% at risk for ASD and ID). 19% presented evidence of intellectual disability (no risk for ASD). Comparison analysis between patients with and without risk for autism revealed significant difference in 14 of the 15 CARS scale itens (p<0.05, t-test). Qualitative analysis showed that the group with risk for ASD presented higher means in relation to the groups at risk for ID and risk for ID and ASD with higher CARS scores in the scalesitens related to emotional response, verbal communication, intellectual response and to the general impressions of the examiner. The non-risk group presented higher scores regarding emotional and intellectual responses. In this group, a negative correlation was observed between age and verbal communication suggesting improvement in this capacity in older patients (p <0.05, Pearson\'s correlation). In the subsequent analysis considering three groups at risk for (a) ASD only, (b) ID only, and (c) ASD and ID, patients at risk for ASD presented higher scores (indicating higher severity of symptoms of ASD) on the item concerning fear and nervousness, while the group at risk for ASD and ID obtained higher scores on the items regarding auditory response and verbal communication (CARS scale, p <0.05, Kruskal-Wallis test). The group at risk for only ID showed significant lower scores (suggesting lower severity of symptoms) on items related to imitation, emotional response, body use, object use, taste, smell and touch, nonverbal communication and general impressions of the examiner (p <0.05). Analyzes of genetic features showed that patients with mutations downstream from exon 45 presented higher propensity to intellectual deficiency according to the item concerning intellectual response (CARS scale). Executive functions analyses revealed impairments in cognitive flexibility (IED) and planning (SOC) among DMD patients in relation to the control group (p <0.05, Mann-Whitney test). Planning deficits were not attributed to motor difficulties, since there was no significant difference between groups regarding the response times in the SOC tasks. The study showed evidence of the association of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Autistic XI Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disability and impairment in executive functions. The present results support previous findings regarding the association between distal mutations in the dystrophin gene and intellectual impairment. The CARS scale was sensitive to differentiation between autism and intellectual disability in patients with DMD. Future studies are needed to elucidate autism characteristics in DMD patients with and without the diagnosis of this developmental disorder

A distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é a miopatia mais comum em humanos. Constitui urna doença genética de herança recessiva, ligada ao cromossomo X, caracterizada por necrose e regeneração muscular. O modelo animal da distrofia muscular de Duchenne mais estudado é o camundongo mdx, porém, um modelo canino da raça Golden Retriever com mutação semelhante tem se mostrado superior ao mdx, pois apresenta impressionantes similaridades fenotípicas e genotípicas com a DMD em humanos. Procurando contribuir com estas pesquisas, voltou-se para o exame ultra-sonográfico abdominal e pélvico, nestes cães, tanto sadios, como portadores e afetados pela distrofia muscular progressiva, para verificar se existiam diferenças e/ou semelhanças entre os dados obtidos. Ao exame ultra-sonográfico pôde-se observar hepatomegalia, aumento de calibre dos ramos da veia hepática e da espessura pancreática, alteração topográfica de órgãos, ecotextura parenquimal grosseira, alterações do conteúdo da vesícula biliar e vesícula urinária, bem como menores dimensões esplênicas, aorticas, prostáticas e testiculares, nos cães afetados pela distrofia muscular progressiva quando comparados aos demais animais estudados. A hiperecogenicidade hepática e o aumento de linfonodos mesentéricos foram observados em grande parte dos animais tanto sadios, como portadores e afetados. / Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the commonest inherited neuromuscular disease. This disease is an inherited recessive X -linked disorder and is characterized by muscle necrosis and regeneration. The most ftequent1y studied animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the mdx mouse, but, a dog model (Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy) with a similar mutation may be a superior model being closer phenotypically and genotypically to DMD. Abdominal and pelvic ultrasonography was performed in healthy Golden Retriever dogs, carriers and affected by gradual muscular dystrophy to verify similarities or differences among them. Ultrasonographic examination in affected dogs documented an enlarged liver, hepatic veins and pancreas; displaced organs; parenchyma coarser echotexture; decreased spleen, aorta, prostate gland and testes and content alterations in gallbladder and urinary bladder. Hyperechoic liver and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes were documented in many healthy Golden Retriever dogs, carriers and affected by gradual muscular dystrophy.

Introdução: A distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é causada pela deleção ou deficiência do gene que codifica a proteína distrofina. Com a evolução da doença, ocorre um grande comprometimento na marcha com consequente perda da capacidade de deambulação, fato que causa grande impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes e de seus cuidadores. Recomendações para uso noturno da órtese suropodálica, também chamada AFO (Ankle-Foot Orthosis), já estão bem estabelecidos na literatura científica, porém o uso durante a deambulação ainda é incipiente. Recentemente, o uso da AFO articulada diurna foi avaliado e indicado como importante aliado no tratamento da reabilitação desses pacientes, capaz de minimizar as compensações características da doença e prolongar a marcha. Ainda assim, questões como o tempo recomendado para uso diário e efeitos do uso do dispositivo, a médio e longo prazo, aguardam investigações mais precisas . Objetivo: Identificar as adaptações cinemáticas e cinéticas da marcha de pacientes com DMD que fizeram uso da órtese tipo AFO articulada diurna durante dois períodos de três meses, pelo uso progressivo e livre, respectivamente. Método: A amostra foi composta por 8 pacientes deambuladores diagnosticados com DMD, de 6 a 10 anos de idade. As avaliações foram compostas por testes de força, medida da amplitude de movimento, teste de caminhada dos 10 metros, testes funcionais cronometrados, aplicação da escala de Medida da Função Motora (MFM) e análise cinética e cinemática da marcha, com órtese (CO) e sem órtese (SO). Cada voluntário participou de 4 avaliações ao longo de um período de 6 meses e fez um auto-relato do número de quedas. No período entre 1ª avaliação (AV1) e a 2ª avaliação (AV2) o paciente fez uso diurno da órtese durante 2 horas/dia que foi incrementado para 4 horas/dia (2º mês) e 6 horas/dia (3º mês), momento que foi realizada a 3ª avaliação (AV3). Entre o 3º e 6º mês, o voluntário ficou livre para usar, ou não, a AFO diurna. Ao final desse período, foi realizada a 4ª avaliação (AV4). Para análise dos dados, foi utilizado o teste de regressão linear com efeitos mistos (efeitos aleatórios e fixos) obtidas com o auxílio do Software SAS® 9.3. Os dados obtidos em nosso estudo foram comparados com dados normativos da literatura. Para os dados cinemáticos e cinéticos da marcha foram obtidas as médias, de 3 avaliações, dos picos máximos e mínimos dos parâmetros de cada fase da marcha (apoio e balanço) para cada paciente com e sem órtese. Posteriormente, foram calculadas as médias e os intervalos de confiança de cada grupo, com e sem órtese. Resultados: Os testes cronometrados demonstraram redução do tempo de subida de 4 degraus, sem órtese, quando comparados os tempos de execução na AV1 em relação à AV3 e na AV1 em relação à AV4 (p<0.05). A análise comparativa das médias de força muscular indicou que houve aumento significativo da força de flexores de joelho da AV3 para AV4, dos extensores de joelho da AV1 para AV3 e dos dorsiflexores da AV1 para AV3 e da AV1 para AV4 (p<0,05). A análise dos parâmetros espaço-temporais indicou diminuição da largura da passada (p<0.05) quando comparada a AV1 em relação à AV4 na situação sem órtese (AV1 vs AV4). Quando comparamos dados do grupo CO em relação ao grupo SO, pode ser observado que o grupo CO apresentou maior tempo do ciclo da marcha na AV1 (p<0.01), maior tempo de duplo apoio na AV1 (p<0.01), na AV2 (p<0.01) e na AV3 (p=0.02). Nas avaliações cinética e cinemática, a análise comparativa entre as condições com e sem órtese, na fase de apoio da marcha, indicou redução significativa dos seguintes 11 parâmetros, para condição CO: amplitude de abdução e adução (p=0.0002) e absorção de potência de quadril (p<0.0001), geração de potência de potência de tornozelo (p<0.0001). Outros parâmetros apresentaram aumento significativo na condição CO quando comparado à condição SO, fase de apoio: máximo momento extensor (p<0.0001) e geração de potência (p=0.0035) de quadril, máximo momento flexor (p<0.0001) e amplitud e de geração e absorção de potência (p<0.0001) de joelho, máximo ângulo de dorsiflexão (p<0.0001), máximo momento flexor plantar (p<0.0001) e absorção de potência (p<0.0001) de tornozelo. Na fase de balanço houve redução significativa para máximo momento extensor (p<0.0001) e geração de potência (p<0.0001) de quadril. Nesta mesma fase foi observado aumento significativo para máximo ângulo de flexão (p<0.0001) do joelho, máximo ângulo de dorsiflexão (p<0.0001), máximo momento flexor plantar (p<0.0001) e amplitude de momento dorsiflexor e flexor plantar (p<0.0001) do tornozelo. Foi observado ainda, na fase de balanço da marcha, aumento significativo na geração de potência de tornozelo (p=0.0251) nas AV1, AV3 e AV4, na condição CO quando comparada à condição SO. O efeito de interação das fases de apoio e balanço também indicou que a condição SO apresentou máximo ângulo de inclinação pélvica superior quando comparado à condição CO, nas AV2 (p=0.0011), AV3 (p=0.0024) e AV4 (p=0.0191). Conclusão: O uso diurno e progressivo da órtese AFO articulada, em situação de carga, provoca alterações biomecânicas positivas na marcha de pacientes com DMD que repercutem minimizando o número de quedas e favorecendo a funcionalidade geral das crianças . / Introduction: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is caused by deletion or deficiency in the gene that encodes the protein dystrophin. The clinical evolution of this disease includes significant gait impairment with consequent loss of walking ability, and this fact causes negative impact on the quality of life of the affected ones and their caregivers. It has already been well established that there are beneficial effects of nocturnal use of Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO), nevertheless, the discussion about the daytime use of articulated AFO is rare. Recently, the daytime use of AFO was evaluated and indicated as an important ally in the treatment of these patients, capable of minimizing the biomechanical compensations and prolonging gait cycle. Even so, some issues such as the recommended time and effects for daily use, in the medium and long term, await more precise investigation. Objective: To identify the effects of daytime use of articulated AFO on spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters of DMD patients, during two periods of three months, by progressive and free use, respectively. Methods: Eight walking patients diagnosed with DMD between the ages of 6 and 10 years old were evaluated. The data were obtained according to the isometric muscle strength, joint range of motion, timed functional score, the Motor Function Measure (MFM) scale and gait analysis parameters, with (CO) and without (SO) AFO. Four evaluations were carried out over a period of six months and each volunteer self-reported your number of falls. During the first (AV1) and second (AV2) evaluation, patients u sed the daytime orthosis during two hours per day. This time was increased to four hours per day in the second month and six hours per day in the third month, then when the third (AV3) evaluation was conducted. Between third and sixth month, the use of the orthosis was optional. By the end of month six, the fourth (AV4) evaluation was conducted. The data were analyzed using the mixed linear regression model (Random and Fixed Effects) through the Software SAS® 9.3. The results obtained in the present study are compared with literature data. The means of 3 evaluations for the spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait data were obtained, for the maximum and minimum peaks of the parameters of each phases in a gait cycle (stance and swing) for each patient with and without orthosis. In the end, the means and the confidence interval were calculated for each group, with and without AFO. Results: The timed tests showed a reduction in time for climbing 4 steps without AFO, when compared the AV1 and AV3 runtime in relation to AV1 and AV4 runtime (p<0.05). The comparation of muscle strength showed a significant increase in knee flexor strength from AV3 to AV4, knee extensors from AV1 to AV3 and dorsiflexors from AV1 to AV3 and from AV1 to AV4 (p<0.05). The analysis of s patiotemporal parameters indicates a decrease in the width stride (p<0.05) between AV1 and AV4 without orthosis (AV1 vs AV4). When comparing CO with SO, CO group presented longer gait cycle in AV1 (p<0.01), longer double support phase in AV1 (p<0.01), AV2 (p<0.01) and AV3 (p=0.02). In the kinetic and kinematic evaluations, the comparative analysis between the conditions with and without orthosis in the gait stance phase indicated a significant reduction of the following parameters for the CO condition: adduction-abduction range of motion (p = 0.0002) and hip power absorption (p<0.0001) and ankle power generation (p <0.0001). Other parameters showed a significant increase in the CO condition when compared to the SO in stance phase: peak extensor moment (p<0.0001) and hip power 14 generation (p=0.0035), peak flexor moment (p<0.0001) and power generation and absorption range of motion (p<0.0001), peak dorsiflexion angle (p<0.0001), peak plantar-flexor (p<0.0001) and ankle power absorption (p<0.0001). In the swing phase, a significant reduction in the extension angle (p<0.0001) and hip power generating (p<0.0001). Also in swing phase, a significant increase for peak knee flexion (p<0.0001), peak dorsiflexion range of motion (p<0.0001), peak plantar flexor moment (p<0.0001) and ankle joint dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor range of motion (p<0.0001) were observed. Besides this, in the gait swing phase was observed significant increase in ankle power generation (p=0.0251) in AV1, AV3 and AV4 in the condition CO when compared to the SO condition. The interaction effect of stance and swing phases also indicated that the SO condition presented higher pelvic tilt angle when compared to the CO condition, in AV2 (p=0.0011), AV3 (p=0.0024) and AV4 (p=0.0191). Conclusion: Thus, the progressive use of Articulated Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) in loading response phase can change the gait pattern of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This result turn to positivity when the temporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters are evaluated.