Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental syndrome (OCNDS) is a rare disorder characterized by hypotonia, developmental delay, dysmorphic features, and more. It is caused by pathogenic variants on CSNK2A1, the α subunit of protein kinase CK2. CK2 is considered a master regulator involved in many cell functions from cell differentiation and proliferation to apoptosis. Here, we create a potential zebrafish model of OCNDS with CK2 inhibition and characterize fibroblast cells with, K198R, D156E, and R47G variants of CSNK2A1. RNAseq results display a wide range of effects notably in the Myosin Protein superfamily, Insulin-like Growth Factor family, and in proteins related to mitochondrial function and cell metabolism. Factors in cell growth and metabolism across the nervous system and neuromuscular interactions appear to be most affected with similarities in markers to oncogenic states in some cases.

Falls are known to be a common occurrence and a costly one as well, as they are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths and millions of other injuries worldwide. Falls often occur due to an increase in trunk flexion angle, so this experiment aims to reduce the trunk flexion received while stepping over an obstacle. To achieve this a soft actuator was attached to the trunk and pressure was sent as subjects walked and stepped over an obstacle presented on a treadmill. The pressure is meant to stiffen the back which should in theory reduce the trunk flexion angle and lower the chances of falling. In this experiment, two groups were tested: three participants from a control group (healthy young adults) and three participants from an experimental group (healthy elderly adults). Since elderly adults have the highest fall risk due to overall lack of stability, they are the experimental group and the focus for this experiment. The results from the study showed that elderly adults had a beneficial effect with the soft actuator as there was a noticeable difference in trunk flexion when the device was attached. The experiment also supported prior research that stated that trunk flexion was greater in elderly adults than younger adults. Despite the positive results, further studies should be done to prove that the soft devices influence lowering trunk flexion angle as well as to see if the device has any noticeable effect on younger adults.