Impairments and Compensations of Static Balance and Plantar Load Distribution in Patients With Chronic Stroke: An Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore impairment and compensation characteristics of static balance and plantar load distribution in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: We recruited 68 patients who had chronic stroke who could stand independently (stroke group) and 30 healthy individuals (control group) with the Zebris FDM platform. Static balance parameters, including center of pressure (COP) ellipse sway area, COP path length, and angle-θ between y and major axis, were compared between 2 groups under standard standing posture. In the stroke group, balance parameters were re-tested under their preferring standing posture. Plantar load distribution was also assessed. Another 8 patients with chronic stroke who could not stand independently and had to rely on a crutch were enrolled to analyze the characteristics of balance compensation. RESULTS: In the stroke group, the ellipse sway area, COP path length, and angle-θ were significantly larger than those of the control group. Sixty-one (89.7%) patients preferred standing with the affected foot outward-forward supporting, and their preferring standing balance was better than that of standard standing. All patients who could not stand independently tended to compensate for balance with a crutch supporting laterally and also preferred standing with a typical posture- the affected foot was outward-forward. CONCLUSIONS: In patients post stroke, static balance is impaired mainly at the lateral direction, and patients commonly locate the crutch laterally for compensation of lateral balance. Patients preferred standing with the affected foot outward-forward supporting, and their preferring standing balance was better than that of standard standing, which challenged the necessity of training standing symmetrically.

An integrated microbiome and metabolomic analysis identifies immunoenhancing features of Ganoderma lucidum spores oil in mice.

Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst. is a valuable dietary supplement used worldwide for promoting health as well as a medicinal fungus for handling fatigue, immunological disorders, and cancer. Previous studies have revealed the immunoenhancing effect of G. lucidum and the polysaccharide extract, with potential involvement of gut microbiome. The oil of G. lucidum spores (GLSO)is one of the well-known G. lucidum-related products. However, there is little evidence supporting the immune promotion activity and the underlying mechanisms. The present study aims to investigate the immunoenhancing effect of GLSO in mice. GLSO enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell cytotoxicity of mice. Further microbiome and metabolomics studies showed that GLSO induced structural rearrangement of gut microbiota, mediating alterations in a wide range of metabolites. By clustering, multivariate and correlation analysis, the immunoenhancing effect of GLSO was found to be highly correlated with elevated abundance of several bacterial genera (Lactobacillus, Turicibacter and Romboutsia) and species (Lactobacillus_intestinalis and Lactobacillus_reuteri), and decreased level of Staphylococcus and Helicobacter, which resulted in the regulation of a range of key metabolites such as dopamine, prolyl-glutamine, pentahomomethionine, leucyl-glutamine, l-threonine, stearoylcarnitine, dolichyl ß-d-glucosyl phosphate, etc. These results provide new insights into the understanding of the modulatory effect of GLSO on immune system.

Decoding unconstrained arm movements in primates using high-density electrocorticography signals for brain-machine interface use.

Motor deficit is among the most debilitating aspects of injury to the central nervous system. Despite ongoing progress in brain-machine interface (BMI) development and in the functional electrical stimulation of muscles and nerves, little is understood about how neural signals in the brain may be used to potentially control movement in one's own unconstrained paralyzed limb. We recorded from high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) electrode arrays in the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) of a rhesus macaque and used real-time motion tracking techniques to correlate spatial-temporal changes in neural activity with arm movements made towards objects in three-dimensional space at millisecond precision. We found that neural activity from a small number of electrodes within the PMv can be used to accurately predict reach-return movement onset and directionality. Also, whereas higher gamma frequency field activity was more predictive about movement direction during performance, mid-band (beta and low gamma) activity was more predictive of movement prior to onset. We speculate these dual spatiotemporal signals may be used to optimize both planning and execution of movement during natural reaching, with prospective relevance to the future development of neural prosthetics aimed at restoring motor control over one's own paralyzed limb.

[Study on metabolites from a sponge-derived fungus].

We have carried out the investigation on a sponge-derived fungus,which was identified as Emericella variecolor from the south sea of China. Two new chemical constituents,(+)-2-acetyl-dihydroterrein (1) and (+)-3-acetyl-dihydroterrein (2),with four known compounds,anditomin (3),andilesin A (4),andilesin C (5) and andilesin B (6),were isolated from this fungus by column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and ODS. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including NMR,HR-ESI-MS,and CD.

[Glycosides from Machilus wangchiana].

Ten glycosidic compounds were isolated from an ethanol extract of Machilus wangchiana by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase flash chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis (IR, MS, and NMR) as icariside B1 (1), boscialin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), pisumionoside (3), isolariciresinol-9'-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside (4), 5'-methoxyisolariciresinol-9'-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside (5), lyoniresinol-9'-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside (6), (E) -4-hydroxyphenylprop-7-ene 4-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (7), (E) - 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylprop-7-ene 4-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6) -ß-D-glucopyranoside (8), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylprop-8-ene 4-O-ß-D-xylopyraosyl-(1 --> 6) -ß-D-glucopyranoside (9), and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenylprop-8-ene 4-O-α-L-rhamnpyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-ß-D- glucopyranoside (10), respectively.

[Steroids and aromatic derivatives from Euphorbia micractina].

From an ethanol extract of Euphorbia micractina roots, seven steroids fifteen aromatic derivatives were isolated by a combination of various chromatographic techniques, including column chromatography over macroporous resin, silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis as stigamast-5-ene-3beta, 7alpha-diol(1), stigamast-5-ene-3beta,7beta-diol(2), stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol-7-one(3), stigmast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one(4), stigmast-1, 4-dien-3-one(5), stigmast-3,6-dione(6), beta-sitosterol(7), scopoletin(8), aesculetin(9), 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin(10), quercetin(11), 3,3', 4'-tri-O-methylellagic acid(12), p-hydroxyphenylethyl anisate(13), m-hydroxyphenylethyl alcohol(14), (E)-cinnamic acid(15), (E)-ferulic acid(16), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid(17), vanillic acid(18), p-hydroxybenzoic acid(19), ethyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (20), ethyl gallate(21), and methyl gallate(22). These compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.

[Flavonoids from root of Machilus wangchiana].

Twelve flavonoids were isolated from an ethanol extract of Machilus wangchiana by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase flash chromatography and HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis (IR, MS, and NMR) as (+)-catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), 3'-O-methyl-(+)-catechin (3), 3'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin (4), 3, 5, 7, 2', 5'-pentahydroxy flavan (5), (-)-naringenin (6), (-)-eriodictyol (7), (-)-liquiritigenin (8), (2R,3R)-(+)-dihydrokaempferol (9), (2R,3S)-(-)-dihydro- kaempferol (10), (2R, 3R)-(+)-taxifolin (11), and quercetin (12). Compounds 1-10 are isolated from the genus Machilus for the first time.

Diterpenoids with diverse skeletons from the roots of Euphorbia micractina.

Twelve new minor diterpenoids, possessing 5/6/8 (1 and 2), 5/6/7/3 (3-9), and 5/6/6/4 (10-12) fused-ring skeletons, as determined by spectroscopic analysis, were isolated from an ethanol extract of the roots of Euphorbia micractina, together with 25 known compounds. The structures of the diterpene skeletons are rare and have been found only in compounds isolated from Euphorbia micractina and Euphorbia villosa. On the basis of the octant rule for cyclohexanones, the absolute configurations of 1-12, as well as of the known euphactins A-D and euphoractins A-D (13-15), could be assigned by circular dichroism spectroscopy. In addition, the co-occurring jolkinol B (16) was chemically transformed to euphoractin E (17), supporting the absolute configuration assignment and the biogenetic relationship between the different types of diterpenes. Compound 9 showed activity against HIV-1 replication in vitro, with an IC50 value of 8.8 ± 0.6 µM.

Phenylpropene diglycosides from the bark of Machilus wangchiana.

Five new phenylpropene diglycosides (1-5), together with three known analogs, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of the bark of Machilus wangchiana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. In the preliminary assay, compounds 2 and 5-8 reduced dl-galactosamine (GalN)-induced hepatocyte (WB-F344 cells) damage with 37-41% inhibitions at 10 µM.

Chemical constituents of the bark of Machilus wangchiana and their biological activities.

Eleven new metabolites, butanolides 1-6, lignan derivatives 7-9, sesquiterpene 10, and 3',4'-seco-flavane derivative 11, have been isolated from an ethanol extract of Machilus wangchiana. Twenty known compounds, including ginkgolides A and B (16 and 17), were also isolated. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 7, 8a, 8b, 9, 11, (+)-guaiacin (12), meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (13), and hamabiwalactone A (15) showed potent in vitro activities against the release of beta-glucuronidase in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF), with 42.5-75.6% inhibition at 10(-5) M. Compounds 8, 8a, 8b, 9, and 11 reduced dl-galactosamine (GalN)-induced hepatocyte (WB-F344 cells) damage with 39.4 +/- 6.3% to 53.6 +/- 3.5% inhibition at 10(-4) M. Isomahubannolide-23 (14) was cytotoxic against human stomach cancer (BGC-823) and ovarian cancer (A2780) cell lines, with IC(50) values of 0.13 and 2.66 muM, respectively.

Chemical Constituents of the Roots of Euphorbia micractina.

Nine minor new tirucallane (1-7) and euphane (8 and 9) triterpenoids including five hydroperoxides, together with 18 known compounds, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots of Euphorbia micractina. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical analysis. In the in vitro assays, betulin (10) showed a selective cytotoxic activity against A2780 ovarian cells with an IC(50) value of 6.1 microM and inhibitory activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with an IC(50) value of 15.3 microM. Jolkinol B (11) showed a potent activity against HIV-1 replication with an IC(50) value of 12.6 muM. However, compounds 1-9 and the other known compounds were inactive in the three assays used.

Chemical constituents of Heteroplexis micocephala.

Eleven new compounds including two sesquiterpenes with an unusual 2,2,5,9-tetramethylbicyclo[6.3.0]undecane carbon skeleton (1 and 2), five phytane-type diterpene dilactones (3-7), an ent-clerodane diterpene dilactone (8), and three phenylpropenol esters (9-11), together with a diacylphenol (12) and 38 known compounds, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of Heteroplexis micocephala. Their structures including absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical analyses. In the in vitro assays, compound 6 showed a selective cytotoxic activity against A2780 with an IC(50) value of 4.37 microM, while sinapyl diangelate (13) showed a potent activity inhibiting HIV-1 replication with an IC(50) value of 4.04 microM.

[Distributions and environmental impacts of selenium in wastes of coal from a power plant].

Samples of coals, fly ashes, slags and tiny fly ashes with different sizes, collected from a large power plant, were studied. It shows that Se tends not to be enriched in coarse fly ash and slag, but to be enriched in fine fly ashes especially in fine fly ash with size > 19.0 microm. This kind of distribution is shaped by: 1) volatility and organic-occurrence of Se in coal; 2) residence time in flue gases; 3) morphology of particles [holes on the surface of particles ( > 19.0 microm) may adsorb more Se]. Sequence leaching test shows that Se is mainly organic-bonded (69.7%) in coal. Mass balance calculation of burned coal indicates that 16.5% of Se in coal may be disposed into air directly. The environmental impacts of Se in fine fly ashes can be ignored because of its small proportion and distributional character (mainly in particles with sizes > 19.0 microm). Se in slag may cause little environmental impacts. Se in coarse fly ash is partially mobile and may be used to benefit the soil which is lack of Se.