Community integration and its predictors in people with stroke: a multicenter longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the community integration of patients following stroke and determine the predictors of their level of community integration at 1-year follow-up. DESIGN: A multicenter, longitudinal, and observational study. SUBJECTS: Sixty-five inpatients (41 men) with a mean age of 56.9 (standard deviation = 17.0) years, who had their first stroke at least 1 month prior to this study were recruited from 4 rehabilitation inpatient wards in China. METHODS: In the initial assessment, the participants were evaluated using the Community Integration Questionnaire, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, the Berg Balance Scale, the Modified Barthel Index, the Mini Mental State Examination, and the Modified Ashworth Scale. In the follow-up assessments, which were conducted via telephone no less than 1 year after discharge, the participants were evaluated using the Community Integration Questionnaire and also assessed for other disease-related conditions. RESULTS: The participants' scores on the Community Integration Questionnaire in the follow-up assessment were significantly greater than those at the initial assessment (p < 0.05). In addition, the participants' Community Integration Questionnaire scores in the follow-up assessment were significantly correlated with their ages, numbers of years of education, and Modified Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale, Mini Mental State Examination scores in the initial assessment (p < 0.05), and marginally significantly correlated with their scores on Fugl-Meyer Assessment in the initial assessment (p = 0.058). The participants' ages, numbers of years of education, and Modified Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale, Mini Mental State Examination, Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores in the initial assessment were predictive of their Community Integration Questionnaire scores at follow-up, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.254 to 0.056 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The level of community integration of the participants was generally low, but it was greater at 1-year follow-up than it was initially. Balance function and daily living ability may be key predictors of community integration of patients following stroke.

Translation and concurrent validity, sensitivity and specificity of Chinese version of Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test in people with a first cerebral infarction.

Purpose: This study aimed to translate the English version of the Short Orientation-Memory-Concentration (SOMC) test into a Chinese version, denoted the C-SOMC test, and to investigate the concurrent validity, sensitivity, and specificity of the C-SOMC test against a longer and widely used screening instrument in people with a first cerebral infarction. Methods: An expert group translated the SOMC test into Chinese using a forward-backward procedure. Eighty-six participants (67 men and 19 women, mean age = 59.31 ± 11.57 years) with a first cerebral infarction were enrolled in this study. The validity of the C-SOMC test was determined using the Chinese version of Mini Mental State Examination (C-MMSE) as the comparator. Concurrent validity was determined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Univariate linear regression was used to analyze items' abilities to predict the total score on the C-SOMC test and the C-MMSE score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of the C-SOMC test at various cut-off values distinguishing cognitive impairment from normal cognition. Results: The total score for the C-SOMC test and the score for item 1 on this test exhibited moderate-to-good correlations with the C-MMSE score, with respective ρ-values of 0.636 and 0.565 (P < 0.001). The scores for each of items 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 yielded fair correlations with C-MMSE score, with ρ-value from 0.272 to 0.495 (P < 0.05). The total score on the C-SOMC test and the item score were good predictors (adjusted R2 = 0.049 to 0.615) of the C-MMSE score, and six items were good predictors (adjusted R2 = 0.134 to 0.795) of the total score. The AUC was 0.92 for the C-SOMC test. A cut-off of 17/18 on the C-SOMC test gave optimal performance: correct classification of 75% of participants, with 75% sensitivity and 87.9% specificity. Conclusion: The C-SOMC test demonstrated good concurrent validity, sensitivity and specificity in a sample of people with a first cerebral infarction, demonstrating that it could be used to screen for cognitive impairment in stroke patients.

The Impact of Cognitive Function on Virtual Reality Intervention for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation of Patients With Subacute Stroke: Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial With 6-Month Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is among the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide. Motor impairments after stroke not only impact the individuals quality of life but also lay substantial burdens on the society. Motor planning is a key component of cognitive function that impacts motor control. Hand movements such as grasping or reaching to grasp require the application of correct force and the coordination of multiple limb segments. Successful completion of hand motor task requires a certain degree of cognitive function to anticipate the requirement of the task. Cognitive function may thus be a confounding factor to rehabilitation outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the impact of cognitive function on functional outcomes in people with subacute stroke after VR intervention. METHODS: Patients with stroke were first stratified into cognitively normal (CN) and cognitively impaired (CI), followed by allocation to the VR or control group (CG). Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Barthel Index (BI), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were recorded at baseline, 3 weeks after the intervention, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention. The between-group and within-group differences were assessed by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The between-group comparison indicated that FMA-UE, BI, and IADL (time effect P<.001 for all) scores improved significantly in both groups after the intervention. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that FMA-UE, BI, and IADL (time effect P<.001 for all) were significantly different in each subgroup after the intervention. For BI score, the ANOVA results showed obvious interaction effects (treatment × time × cognitive effect, P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: VR intervention was as effective as traditional conventional therapy in improving upper limb function regardless of the cognitive functional level. Patients with stroke with impaired cognitive function may gain more improvement in upper limb function and independency in performing activities of daily living after a VR-based intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-IOC-15006064; https://tinyurl.com/4c9vkrrn.

Spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic assessment of the effects of a foot drop stimulator for home-based rehabilitation of patients with chronic stroke: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Gait disability affects the daily lives of patients with stroke in both home and community settings. An abnormal foot-ankle position can cause instability on the supporting surface and negatively affect gait. Our research team explored the ability of a portable peroneal nerve-targeting electrical stimulator to improve gait ability by adjusting the foot-ankle position during walking in patients with chronic stroke undergoing home-based rehabilitation. METHODS: This was a double-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Thirty-one patients with chronic stroke and ankle-foot motor impairment were randomized to receive 3 weeks of gait training, which involved using the transcutaneous peroneal nerve stimulator while walking (tPNS group; n = 16, mean age: 52.25 years), or conventional home and/or community gait training therapy (CT group; n = 15, mean age: 54.8 years). Functional assessments were performed before and after the 3-week intervention. The outcome measures included spatiotemporal gait parameters, three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data on the ankle-foot joint, and a clinical motor and balance function assessment based on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) and Berg Balance scales (BBS). Additionally, 16 age-matched healthy adults served as a baseline control of three-dimensional gait data for both trial groups. RESULTS: The FMA-LE and BBS scores improved in both the tPNS groups (p = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively) and CT groups (p = 0.034 and 0.028, respectively) from before to after training. Participants in the tPNS group exhibited significant differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters, including double feet support, stride length, and walking speed of affected side, and the unaffected foot off within a gait cycle after training (p = 0.043, 0.017, 0.001 and 0.010, respectively). Additionally, the tPNS group exhibited significant differences in kinematic parameters, such as the ankle angle at the transverse plane (p = 0.021) and foot progression angle at the frontal plane (p = 0.009) upon initial contact, and the peak ankle joint angle at the transverse plane (p = 0.023) and foot progression angle (FPA) at the frontal and transverse planes (p = 0.032 and 0.046, respectively) during gait cycles after 3 weeks of training. CONCLUSIONS: Use of a portable tPNS device during walking tasks appeared to improve spatiotemporal gait parameters and ankle and foot angles more effectively than conventional home rehabilitation in patients with chronic stroke. Although guidelines for home-based rehabilitation training services and an increasing variety of market devices are available, no evidence for improvement of motor function and balance was superior to conventional rehabilitation. Trial registration Chictr, ChiCTR2000040137. Registered 22 November 2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=64424.

Responsiveness and Predictive Ability of the Chinese Version of the Action Research Arm Test in People with Cerebral Infarction.

PURPOSE: To detect the responsiveness and predictive ability of the Chinese version Action Research Arm Test (C-ARAT) in participants within the first 3 months after cerebral infarction. METHODS: Ninety-seven individuals (75 men, mean age 59.87 ± 10.94 years) with a first cerebral infarction were enrolled in this study. The participants were evaluated by two outcome measures: C-ARAT and the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index (BI) at five time points: 0D, 3W, 3M, 6M and 1Y after enrolment. The standardised response mean (SRM) and the Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyse responsiveness. Predictive validity was determined by using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The predicted performance of C-ARAT on activities of daily living (ADLs) was measured by linear regression model. Floor and ceiling effects were estimated by counting the proportion of subjects falling outside the 5% lower or upper boundary, respectively. RESULTS: The C-ARAT showed moderate to large responsiveness in detecting changes over time (SRM = 0.58-0.84). The C-ARAT subscales showed small to large responsiveness (SRM = 0.44-0.90). The C-ARAT at 0D showed moderate to good correlation with the BI scores at 3W, 3M and 6M (ρ = 0.561-0.624, p < 0.001), and exhibited fair correlation with the BI score 1Y after enrolment (ρ = 0.384, p < 0.05). C-ARAT was a good predictor (adjusted R 2 = 0.185-0.249) of BI within 3M follow-up. The C-ARAT total score showed a notable floor effect at 0D and 3W and a notable ceiling effect at 3M, 6M and 1Y. CONCLUSION: The results of this study support the use of the C-ARAT as a measurement of upper extremity function in individuals with a first cerebral infarction.

Inter-rater and Intra-rater Reliability of the Chinese Version of the Action Research Arm Test in People With Stroke.

Purpose: To detect the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Chinese version of the Action Research Arm Test (C-ARAT) in patients recovering from a first stroke. Methods: Fifty-five participants (45 men and 10 women) with a mean age of 58.67 ± 12.45 (range: 22-80) years and a mean post-stroke interval of 6.47 ± 12.00 (0.5-80) months were enrolled in this study. To determine the inter-rater reliability, the C-ARAT was administered to each participant by two raters (A and B) with varying levels of experience within 1 day. To determine intra-rater reliability, rater A re-administered the C-ARAT to 33 of the 55 participants on the second day. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots were used to analyse the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. Results: Regarding inter-rater reliability, the total, grasping, gripping, pinching, and gross movement scores received respective ICCs of 0.998, 0.997, 0.995, 0.997, and 0.960 (all p < 0.001), indicating excellent inter-rater reliability in stroke patients. Regarding intra-rater reliability, the corresponding ICCs were 0.987, 0.980, 0.975, 0.944, and 0.954 (all p < 0.001), again indicating excellent intra-rater reliability. The Bland-Altman plots yielded a mean difference of 0.15 with 95% limits of agreement (95%LOA) ranging from -2.16 to 2.46 for the inter-rater measurements and a mean difference of -1.06 with 95%LOA ranging from -6.43 to 4.31 for the intra-rater measurement. The C-ARAT thus appeared to be a stable scoring method. Conclusions: The C-ARAT yielded excellent intra-rater and inter-rater reliability for evaluating the paretic upper extremities of stroke patients. Therefore, our results supported the use of the C-ARAT in this population.

Translation and Initial Validation of the Chinese Version of the Action Research Arm Test in People with Stroke.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to translate the English version of the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) into Chinese and to evaluate the initial validation of the Chinese version (C-ARAT) in patients with a first stroke. METHODS: An expert group translated the original ARAT from English into Chinese using a forward-backward procedure. Forty-four patients (36 men and 8 women) aged 22-80 years with a first stroke were enrolled in this study. The participants were evaluated using 3 stroke-specific outcome measures: C-ARAT, the upper extremity section of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (UE-FMA), and the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). Internal consistency was analysed using Cronbach's α coefficients and item-scale correlations. Concurrent validity was determined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Floor and ceiling effects were considered to be present when more than 20% of patients fell outside the preliminarily set lower or upper boundary, respectively. RESULTS: The C-ARAT items yielded excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's α of 0.98 (p < 0.001) and item-total correlations ranging from 0.727 to 0.948 (p < 0.001). The C-ARAT exhibited good-to-excellent correlations with the UE-FMA and WMFT functional ability (WMFT-FA) scores, with respective ρ values of 0.824 and 0.852 (p < 0.001), and an excellent negative correlation with the WMFT performance time (WMFT-time), with a ρ value of -0.940 (p < 0.001). The C-ARAT subscales generally exhibited good-to-excellent correlations with stroke-specific assessments, with ρ values ranging from 0.773 to 0.927 (p < 0.001). However, the gross subscale exhibited moderate-to-good correlations with the UE-FMA and WMFT-FA scores, with respective ρ values of 0.665 and 0.720 (p < 0.001). No significant floor effect was observed, and a significant ceiling effect was observed only on the WMFT-time. CONCLUSIONS: The C-ARAT demonstrated excellent internal consistency and good-to-excellent concurrent validity. This test could be used to evaluate upper extremity function in stroke patients without cognitive impairment.

Combining Movement-Related Cortical Potentials and Event-Related Desynchronization to Study Movement Preparation and Execution.

This study applied a comprehensive electroencephalography (EEG) analysis for movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs) and event-related desynchronization (ERD) in order to understand movement-related brain activity changes during movement preparation and execution stage of unilateral wrist extension. Thirty-four healthy subjects completed two event-related potential tests in the same sequence. Unilateral wrist extension was involved in both tests as the movement task. Instruction Response Movement (IRM) was a brisk movement response task with visual "go" signal, while Cued Instruction Response Movement (CIRM) added a visual cue contenting the direction information to create a prolonged motor preparation stage. Recorded EEG data were segmented and averaged to show time domain changes and then transformed into time-frequency mapping to show the time-frequency changes. All components were calculated and compared among C3, Cz, and C4 locations. The motor potential appeared bilaterally in both tests' movement execution stages, and Cz had the largest peak value among the investigated locations (p < 0.01). In CIRM, a contingent negative variation (CNV) component presented bilaterally during the movement preparation stage with the largest amplitude at Cz. ERD of the mu rhythm (mu ERD) presented bilateral sensorimotor cortices during movement execution stages in both tests and was the smallest at Cz among the investigated locations. In the movement preparation stage of CIRM, mu ERD presented mainly in the contralateral sensory motor cortex area (C3 and C4 for right and left wrist movements, respectively) and showed significant differences between different locations. EEG changes in the time and time-frequency domains showed different topographical features. Movement execution was controlled bilaterally, while movement preparation was controlled mainly by contralateral sensorimotor cortices. Mu ERD was found to have stronger contra-lateralization features in the movement preparation stage and might be a better indicator for detecting movement intentions. This information could be helpful and might provide comprehensive information for studying movement disorders (such as those in post-stroke hemiplegic patients) or for facilitating the development of neuro-rehabilitation engineering technology such as brain computer interface.

The Crucial Changes of Sit-to-Stand Phases in Subacute Stroke Survivors Identified by Movement Decomposition Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect the key changes during sit-to-stand (STS) movement cycle in hemiparetic stroke survivors using a five-phase kinematic and kinetic analysis. METHODS: Twenty-five subacute stroke survivors and 17 age-matched healthy adults participated in this study. The kinematic and kinetic parameters during STS cycle were measured using three-dimensional motion analysis system with force plates. The five standard phases of STS cycle were identified by six timing transitional points. RESULTS: Longer total time as well as larger changes were observed at the initial phase (phase I, 0.76 ± 0.62 VS 0.43 ± 0.09 s; p = 0.049) and at the end of hip and knee extension phase (phase IV, 0.93 ± 0.41 VS 0.63 ± 0.14 s; p = 0.008) in the stroke group than healthy group. Time to maximal knee joint moment was significantly delayed in the stroke group than in the control group (1.14 ± 1.06 VS 0.60 ± 0.09 s, p < 0.001). The maximal hip flexion was lower during the rising phase from seated position on the affected side in the stroke group than in the control group (84.22° ± 11.64°VS 94.11° ± 9.40°; p = 0.022). Ground reaction force was lower (4.61 ± 0.73 VS 5.85 ± 0.53 N, p < 0.001) in the affected side of the stroke group than in the control group. In addition, knee joint flexion was significantly lower at just-standing phase (T4) and at end point (T5) (5.12° ± 5.25° VS 8.21° ± 7.28°, p = 0.039; 0.03° ± 5.41° VS 3.07° ± 6.71°, p = 0.042) on the affected side than the unaffected side. Crucial decrease of knee joint moment at abrupt transitory (T2) and the maximal moment was also observed on the affected side in comparison with the unaffected side (0.39 ± 0.29 VS 0.77 ± 0.25 Nm/kg, p < 0.001; 0.42 ± 0.38 VS 0.82 ± 0.24 Nm/kg, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of movement decomposition analysis provided useful information to clinical evaluation of STS performance, and may potentially contribute to the design of rehabilitation intervention program for optimum functional recovery of STS after stroke.

Relative and Absolute Interrater Reliabilities of a Hand-Held Myotonometer to Quantify Mechanical Muscle Properties in Patients with Acute Stroke in an Inpatient Ward.

INTRODUCTION: The reliability of using MyotonPRO to quantify muscles mechanical properties in a ward setting for the acute stroke population remains unknown. AIMS: To investigate the within-session relative and absolute interrater reliability of MyotonPRO. METHODS: Mechanical properties of biceps brachii, brachioradialis, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior were recorded at bedside. Participants were within 1 month of the first occurrence of stroke. Relative reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Absolute reliability was assessed by standard error of measurement (SEM), SEM%, smallest real difference (SRD), SRD%, and the Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement. RESULTS: ICCs of all studied muscles ranged between 0.63 and 0.97. The SEM of all muscles ranged within 0.30-0.88 Hz for tone, 0.07-0.19 for decrement, 6.42-20.20 N/m for stiffness, and 0.04-0.07 for creep. The SRD of all muscles ranged within 0.70-2.05 Hz for tone, 0.16-0.45 for decrement, 14.98-47.15 N/m for stiffness, and 0.09-0.17 for creep. CONCLUSIONS: MyotonPRO demonstrated acceptable relative and absolute reliability in a ward setting for patients with acute stroke. However, results must be interpreted with caution, due to the varying level of consistency between different muscles, as well as between different parameters within a muscle.

Between-days intra-rater reliability with a hand held myotonometer to quantify muscle tone in the acute stroke population.

A myotonometer can objectively quantify changes in muscle tone. The between-days intra-rater reliability in a ward setting for the acute stroke population remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the device's between-days intra-rater reliability when used in a ward setting for acute stroke participants. Muscle tone of biceps brachii, brachioradialis, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior was recorded in the ward at bedside by one physiotherapist on two consecutive days. This study included participants who were within 1 month of their first stroke occurrence. Participants who were medically unstable or who suffered from brain stem injury were excluded. Reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest real difference (SRD), and the Bland-Altman limits of agreement. The results indicated excellent between-days intra-rater reliability (ICC > 0.75). SEM and SRD show small differences between measurements. The Bland-Altman analysis indicated a tendency of overestimation of the rectus femoris. MyotonPRO demonstrated acceptable reliability when used in a ward setting in those patients with acute stroke. However, results should be interpreted with caution, due to the limitations of the study and the varying level of consistency observed between different muscles.

The Difference of Neural Networks between Bimanual Antiphase and In-Phase Upper Limb Movements: A Preliminary Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Most daily movements require some degree of collaboration between the upper limbs. The neural mechanisms are bimanual-condition specific and therefore should be different between different activities. In this study, we aimed to explore intraregional activation and interregional connectivity during bimanual movement by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Ten right-handed, normal subjects were recruited. The neural correlates of unimanual (right side) and bimanual (in-phase and antiphase) upper limb movements were investigated. Connectivity analyses were carried out using the psychophysiological interaction (PPI) model. The cerebellum was strongly activated in both unimanual and bimanual movements, and the cingulate motor area (CMA) was the most activated brain area in antiphase bimanual movement. Moreover, compared with unimanual movement, CMA activation was also observed in antiphase bimanual movement, but not in in-phase bimanual movement. In addition, we carried out the PPI model to study the differences of effective connectivity and found that the cerebellum was more connected with the CMA during antiphase bimanual movement than in-phase bimanual movement. Our findings elucidate the differences of the cerebellar-cerebral functional connectivity between antiphase and in-phase bimanual movements, which could be used to facilitate the development of a neuroscience perspective on bimanual movement control in patients with motor impairments.

Prospective clinical study of rehabilitation interventions with multisensory interactive training in patients with cerebral infarction: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Multisensory interactive training has an increasingly prominent role in stroke rehabilitation. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate its efficacy on gait improvement, upper limb and lower limb functional improvement, global motor function and cognitive improvement. A recent Cochrane review confirmed that published studies on virtual reality (VR) training have the limitations of lack of powered sample size, did not evaluate the benefits over a long-term period and lacked trial quality on cognitive function. Another systematic review also concluded that the evidence for the use of VR in gait and balance improvement is limited. This study investigates the effects of multisensory training on gait pattern, upper and lower limb biomechanics, upper limb gross and fine motor functions, and lower limb functional recovery over a medium- to long-term period. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-four acute stroke patients will be recruited from a single centre over a period of 6 years. Participants will be randomly assigned to either conventional therapy or conventional therapy with VR training. Outcomes will be recorded at baseline, post intervention and at 3, 6 and 12 months post intervention. Primary outcome measure is gait speed. Secondary outcome measures include kinematic data of upper and lower limb motion, muscle tone, Action Research Arm Test and Short Orientation Memory Concentration Test. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will provide in-depth understanding of the effect of early VR interventions on gait, upper and lower limb biomechanics and how it may relate to changes in functional outcomes and muscle tone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No.: ChiCTR-IOC-15006064 ). Registered on 11 May 2015.

Effect of Virtual Reality on Postural and Balance Control in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Literature Review.

Objective. To critically evaluate the studies that were conducted over the past 10 years and to assess the impact of virtual reality on static and dynamic balance control in the stroke population. Method. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials published between January 2006 and December 2015 was conducted. Databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies must have involved adult patients with stroke during acute, subacute, or chronic phase. All included studies must have assessed the impact of virtual reality programme on either static or dynamic balance ability and compared it with a control group. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Results. Nine studies were included in this systematic review. The PEDro scores ranged from 4 to 9 points. All studies, except one, showed significant improvement in static or dynamic balance outcomes group. Conclusions. This review provided moderate evidence to support the fact that virtual reality training is an effective adjunct to standard rehabilitation programme to improve balance for patients with chronic stroke. The effect of VR training in balance recovery is less clear in patients with acute or subacute stroke. Further research is required to investigate the optimum training intensity and frequency to achieve the desired outcome.

Sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of the ethanol fraction from Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum is the product of raw Rhizoma Pinellia processed with alkaline solution and Licorice, which had been widely used for treatment of insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of ethanol fraction from Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatum (EFRP) and to determine whether these effects were related to GABAergic mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities of EFRP were investigated with locomotion activity, pentobarbital-induced sleeping and nikethamide (NKTM)-induced convulsion tests, respectively. Additionally, the effects of flumazenil (an antagonist of GABA(A) receptor) and L-malic acid (blocker of synthetic enzyme for GABA) on the hypnotic activity of EFRP were evaluated. RESULTS: EFRP at dose of 12 g/kg significantly inhibited the locomotion activity of mice. EFRP showed synergic effect on pentobarbital-induced sleeping by increased numbers of mice falling asleep, reduced the sleep latency and prolonged the sleeping time. L-malic acid and flumazenil inhibited the augment effects of EFRP on pentobarbital-induced sleeping. EFRP promoted a significant protection to NKTM-induced convulsion, by prolonged the death latency and decreased mortality. CONCLUSION: EFRP possessed sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant activities and these activities may be related to the GABAergic system.

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of chromium(III) malate complex in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The synthesis, characterization, anti-hyperglycemic activity, oxidative DNA damage capacity, and acute toxicity of chromium(III) malate complex [Cr2(LMA)3] were described. [Cr2(LMA)3] was synthesized in a single-step reaction by chelating chromium(III) with L-malic acid in aqueous solution. Based on elemental analysis, thermodynamic analysis, and spectroscopy studies, the molecular formula of [Cr2(LMA)3] was inferred as Cr2(C4H4O5)3·5H2O. Daily treatment with 2.85-17.10 mg/kg body mass of [Cr2(LMA)3] in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 2 weeks indicated that low-molecular-weight organic chromium complex [Cr2(LMA)3] had better bioavailability and more beneficial influences on the improvement of controlling blood glucose, serum lipid, and liver glycogen levels compared with CrCl3·6H2O. [Cr2(LMA)3] did not cause oxidative DNA damage under physiologically relevant conditions. Acute toxicity studies revealed no-measurable toxicity of the [Cr2(LMA)3]. Collectively, these results suggest that [Cr2(LMA)3] may represent a novel, proper chromium supplement with potential therapeutic value to control blood glucose and serum lipid in diabetes.