ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the lower limb muscle activation strategy of healthy middle-aged and old women during stair ascent and descent with surface electromyography. MethodsFrom August, 2021 to February, 2022, 20 healthy middle-aged and old women were measured the surface electromyography root mean square (RMS) and integrated electromyography (iEMG) of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus during stair ascent and descent, and co-contraction ratio was calculated. ResultsDuring stair ascent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, rectus femoris and vastus medialis was higher at starting stage than at following stage (|t| > 6.650, P < 0.001), while the RMS of biceps femoris and semitendinosus was lower (t > 3.559, P < 0.01); and the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps was lower at starting stage than at following stage (t > 8.185, P < 0.001). During stair descent, the RMS of bilateral vastus lateral, vastus medialis, biceps femoris and semitendinosus was higher at following stage than at starting stage (t > 2.345, P < 0.05), as well as the co-contraction ratio of hamstrings/quadriceps (t > 2.405, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe activities of the muscles around the knees are almost symmetrical during stair ascent and descent for healthy middle-aged and old women. The activation and co-contraction ratio of quadriceps and hamstring are various at starting/following stages.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the clinical utility of tongue pressure resistance feedback training in the treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.Methods:Twenty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. Both groups were given conventional swallowing rehabilitation training, while the experimental group was additionally provided with tongue pressure resistance feedback training. Before and after the treatment, MBSImp analysis and the Rosenbek penetration aspiration scale were used to quantify the control of the tongue, food delivery, oral residue, laryngeal elevation, hyoid bone movement, epiglottis turnover, larynx closure, vestibular larynx closure, pharyngal peristalsis and contraction, opening of the upper esophageal sphincter UES, contraction of the base of the tongue, pharyngeal residue and aspiration.Results:No significant differences were observed between the two groups before the intervention. Afterward the average pharyngeal period and aspiration score of the experimental group had decreased significantly compared with the control group′s values.Conclusions:Tongue pressure resistance feedback training is effective in improving pharyngeal swallowing and reducing the risk of aspiration after swallowing.
ABSTRACT
Immunotherapy, as a new method to inhibit tumor growth, has attracted wide attention. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) enhance the ability of T cells to recognize and kill tumor cells by inhibiting the activity of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1). Since immune checkpoints (CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1) play a crucial role in regulating the body's tolerance to its own antigen, ICIs may cause the loss of normal tolerance of body structure and leading to immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Colitis is one of the common irAEs. This article reviewed advances in research on incidence, symptoms, diagnosis, risk factors, pathogenesis and treatment of ICIs-related colitis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of hierarchical executive function training on executive dysfunction among stroke survivors.Methods Thirty-six recovering stroke survivors with executive dysfunction were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=18) and a control group (n=18).Both groups received routine rehabilitation training and medication for three weeks,but the experimental group also received working memory training,inhibitory control training,set shifting training,and central executive function training.Before and after the training,everyone's cognitive functioning was screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),and executive functioning was evaluated using the digit span test (DST),the color trail test (CTT),the complex fluency test and the simple fluency test.Results Before the training there were no significant differences in clinical indicators between the two groups.After the treatment,the average MoCA,DST,CTT complex fluency test and simple fluency test scores of the experimental group had all improved significantly,but no significant improvement in any of the measurements was observed in the control group except for a significant improvement in their average MoCA score.Conclusion Hierarchical executive function training can improve the sub-components of executive function among recovering stroke survivors,including working memory,set shifting and fluency.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of bilateral arm training on cortical reorganization in cerebral infarction patients using blood oxygen level-dependent functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI).Methods Fourteen cerebral infarction subjects with moderate to severe upper limb impairment participated in this randomized and single-blinded training study.Subjects in the bilateral arm training group (n =7) practiced bilateral symmetrical or opposite activities,while the control group (n =7) performed conventional,mainly unilateral,arm training.Those in both groups received fMRI scans before and after the training with passive elbow movement as the task in the imaging.Results Both groups had significant improvements in their average scores on the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment and in their modified Barthel index scores after the treatment,and there were no significant differences between the two groups.Brain activation had increased in both groups after the treatment,especially in the bilateral training group.After the treatment,the first motor area (M 1),the first somatosensory area and the supplementary motor area on both sides were activated in the bilateral training group.Moreover,for patients in the bilateral training group with injuries of moderate severity,the M1 of the opposite side tended to be activated,while for those more severely injured the same side had a tendency to be activated.Conclusion Convalescing subcortical infarction patients with moderate to severe upper limb impairment benefit from bilateral arm training in terms of motor activity and performing activities in daily life.It may be related to the normalization of inhibition between the hemispheres of the bilateral cerebral cortex and the reconnection of ipsilateral corticospinal pathways.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of hierarchical executive function training on executive dysfunction among stroke survivors.Methods Thirty-six recovering stroke survivors with executive dysfunction were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=18) and a control group (n=18).Both groups received routine rehabilitation training and medication for three weeks,but the experimental group also received working memory training,inhibitory control training,set shifting training,and central executive function training.Before and after the training,everyone's cognitive functioning was screened using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA),and executive functioning was evaluated using the digit span test (DST),the color trail test (CTT),the complex fluency test and the simple fluency test.Results Before the training there were no significant differences in clinical indicators between the two groups.After the treatment,the average MoCA,DST,CTT complex fluency test and simple fluency test scores of the experimental group had all improved significantly,but no significant improvement in any of the measurements was observed in the control group except for a significant improvement in their average MoCA score.Conclusion Hierarchical executive function training can improve the sub-components of executive function among recovering stroke survivors,including working memory,set shifting and fluency.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the influence of hepatosteatosis on pancreatic β-cell function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods A total of 213 subjects with T2DM from Metabolic Disease Hospital,Tianjin Medical University from January 2013 to December 2013 were included in the study.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was diagnosed with abdominal ultrasonography.Patients were divided into two groups:T2DM with NAFLD and T2DM without NAFLD.ALT,AST,γ-glutamyltransferase,serum lipid,glycosylated hemoglobin A1 c (HbA1c),fructosamine,fasting glucose,insulin and 2 hours plasma glucose,insulin after 75g glucoseload were detected.The insulin resistance and β-cell function were assessed by HOMA-IR and HOMA-β.Results Among the 213 T2DM subjects,51％ (108 cases) were with NAFLD.The HOMA-IR [4.76 (2.83,7.21) vs 2.79 (1.76,4.37),P ＜ 0.05] and HOMA-β [49.18 (37.78,85.09) vs 29.50 (18.09,45.54),P ＜ 0.05] were significantly higher in T2DM with NAFLD than those in T2DM alone.Within subjects with T2DM and NAFLD,the HOMA-IR [6.28 (2.87,8.17) vs 2.95 (2.07,3.66) P ＜ 0.05] and HOMA-β [59.18 (37.78,85.09) vs 30.59 (28.56,34.49),P ＜ 0.05] levels were higher in subjects with normal liver function than those with abnormal liver function.Conclusions T2DM patients with NAFLD have severer insulin resistance than those without NAFLD.The β-cell function of those patients was compensatory increased,which was decreased in subjects with abnormal liver function.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate activation patterns in the motor cortex of patients with cerebral infarction by blood oxygen level dependent-functional magnetic resonance imaging ( BOLD-fMRI) , and to explore the brain's functional reorganization mechanism. Methods Sixteen patients ( 12 men and 4 women, age 37 to 80, mean 61.0±11.3) who had suffered a subcortical infarction within the previous 3 months were studied. All the patients received fMRI scanning during passive flexion-extension movement of both the affected and unaffected wrist separately.Brain functional mapping was acquired with SPM2 software. Activation patterns in the brain were compared between the affected and unaffected hands. Results The volume and intensity of the activated areas were diverse, but showed some order. When the affected hand moved, the fMRI map showed general hyperactivation. When the unaffected hand moved, the contralateral M1 and S1 were activated. Conclusions After cerebral infarction, the brain cortex showed compensatory changes. As the main motor cortex (M1) was deactivated, the subsidiary motor areas such as the PMC, SMA, CMA, IPL, PFC and CRB were activated. The activated motor areas could shift to the area around the lesion, and the non-motor area was activated also.