Magnetic resonance imaging findings in painful hemiplegic shoulder patients with or without subluxation: A retrospective cohort study.

The relationship between hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) and subluxation is unclear. This study aimed to determine the differences of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in HSP patients with or without subluxation after stroke, and to analyze the etiology of shoulder pain. This retrospective study included 53 patients with HSP after stroke from September 2013 to February 2020. Patients underwent MRI of the shoulder because of shoulder pain. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, stroke duration, body mass index, stroke type, visual analog scale score, Brunnstrom stage, and MRI arthrography findings of the affected shoulder, were recorded. Patients were classified into the glenohumeral subluxation (GHS) group (n = 27) or non-glenohumeral subluxation (nGHS) group (n = 26). We found that patients with HSP may be prone to bursa effusion, rotator cuff injury, ligament injury, and cartilage injury, even though there was no significant difference between the GHS and nGHS groups. MRI revealed 14 cases of long bicipital tendon-glenoid labrum injury (51.8%) in the GHS group and 6 cases (23.1%) in the nGHS group (p = 0.030). We also found 10 cases (37%) of glenoid labrum injury in the GHS group and 2 cases (7.7%) in the nGHS group (p = 0.026). Eight cases (29.6%) and 1 case (3.8%) of bone marrow edema were found in the GHS and nGHS groups, respectively (p = 0.033). Compared with painful hemiplegic shoulder patients without subluxation, patients with subluxation may be more susceptible to some injuries, such as long bicipital tendon-glenoid labrum injury, glenoid labrum injury, and bone marrow edema. During rehabilitation, physicians need to pay attention to these injuries.

Regional brain atrophy in patients with chronic ankle instability: A voxel-based morphometry study.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether brain volume changes occur in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) using voxel-based morphometry and assessing correlations with clinical tests. Structural magnetic resonance imaging data were prospectively acquired in 24 patients with CAI and 34 healthy controls. CAI symptoms and pain intensity were assessed using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and visual analog scale (VAS). The gray matter volume (GMV) of each voxel was compared between the two groups while controlling for age, sex, weight, and education level. Correlation analysis was performed to identify associations between abnormal GMV regions and the FAAM score, AOFAS score, VAS score, disease duration, and body mass index. Patients with CAI exhibited reduced GMV in the right precentral and postcentral areas, right parahippocampal area, left thalamus, left parahippocampal area, and left postcentral area compared to that of healthy controls. Furthermore, the right parahippocampal (r = 0.642, p = 0.001), left parahippocampal (r = 0.486, p = 0.016), and left postcentral areas (r = 0.521, p = 0.009) were positively correlated with disease duration. The left thalamus was positively correlated with the CAIT score and FAAM activities of daily living score (r = 0.463, p = 0.023 and r = 0.561, p = 0.004, respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the local GMV of the right and left parahippocampal areas (r = 0.487, p = 0.016 and r = 0.763, p < 0.001, respectively) and the AOFAS score. Neural plasticity may occur in the precentral and postcentral areas, parahippocampal area, and thalamus in patients with CAI. The patterns of structural reorganization in patients with CAI may provide useful information on the neuropathological mechanisms of CAI.

Effects of Different Static Progressive Stretching Durations on Range of Motion, Myofibroblasts, and Collagen in a Posttraumatic Knee Contracture Rat Model.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different durations of static progressive stretching (SPS) on posttraumatic knee contracture in rats, including range of motion (ROM), gait analysis, myofibroblast proliferation, and collagen regulation. METHODS: The posttraumatic knee contracture model was established, and male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the 20-minute SPS treatment, 30-minute SPS treatment (S30), 40-minute SPS treatment, untreated, immobilization, and control groups. At Week 1, 2, and 4 of treatment intervention, joint ROM and gait were measured and compared. Knee joint samples stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome were used to observe alterations in pathological structures. Collagen density and cell numbers in the posterior joint capsule were used to assess joint capsule fibrosis and inflammation. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression. RESULTS: The S30 group improved the most; ROM, stance, mean intensity, print area, and stride length were 115 (SD = 5) degrees, 0.423 (SD = 0.074) seconds, 156.020 (SD = 7.952), 2.116 (SD = 0.078) cm2, and 11.758 (SD = 0.548) cm, respectively. The numbers of myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, and inflammatory cells decreased, and collagen proliferation was significantly suppressed in the S30 group compared with the other groups. CONCLUSION: S30 significantly improved posttraumatic knee contracture in rats, with reduced type I collagen and α-smooth muscle actin expression, decreased the numbers of myofibroblasts and inflammatory cells, suppressed fibrotic and inflammatory changes in the joint capsule, and increased joint mobility. This study provided basic evidence for an optimal standard-of-care treatment approach for posttraumatic knee joint contracture in rats, which may have significance for humans.

[Research advances in pathomechanism and treatment of joint contracture].

Joint contracture is one of the common musculoskeletal disorders. It has seriously disturbed patients' activities of daily living in various aspects. The pathogenesis of it is eager to explore to distinct degree. Nowadays the thickeness and fibrosis of joint capsular is redarded as the major reason to joint contracture. It is reported that excessive fibroblasts and myofibroblasts activity, collagen hyperplasia, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in these fibrotic condtions lead to the contracture. In addition, upregulators of myofibroblast and collagen synthesis, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were shown to be increased. Altered levels of cytokines were also thought to play a role in this process as elevated levelsof tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and abnormal distribution tissue inhibitors of MMPs(TIMPs) were demonstrated in contracted capsules. At present, the methods for clinical treatment of joint contracture mainly include two major categories:stretching therapy, physical factor therapy, exercise therapy, botulinum toxin injection and other non-surgical treatments, arthroscopic lysis, open lysis, and other surgical treatments. Surgical treatment is performed when non-surgical treatment is difficult to achieve further improvement. It has a good effect on mild to moderate joint contracture, but it is difficult to completely restore joint activity for serious joint contracture. Although clinical treatment methods are diverse, the clinical effects are staggered and the effectiveness of their treatment is controversial. Joint contracture is an important challenge faced by orthopedics and rehabilitation physicians, therapists and patients. The review summarized the pathogenesisand treatment of joint contracture and provided a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

[The Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Static Progressive Stretching in Different Durations on Traumatic Knee Contracture in Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of static progressive stretching (SPS) in different durations on traumatic knee contracture in rats. METHODS: Seventy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, including surgical modeling group ( n=50), control group (CON, no surgery, no treatment, n=10) and trauma without immobilization group (TRA, no treatment, n=10). The knee contracture model was established, and 50 surgical modeling rats were randomly divided into five groups including static progressive stretching treatment for 20 minutes group (S20 min, n=10), treatment for 30 minutes group (S30 min, n=10), treatment for 40 minutes group (S40 min, n=10), untreatment group (UNT, no SPS, n=10) and modeling group (MOD, n=10, euthanized after immobilization for histological staining and Western blot). Individuals in the S20 min, S30 min, and S40 min groups were anesthetized and submitted to SPS. One treatment session took place every other day. A total of 8 sessions were given till the final treatment session on the day 16. On the day 0, 8, and 16 of intervention, the range of joint motion (ROM) and gait analysis were measured and compared. After the ROM measurements and gait analysis, the rats were euthanized on the day 16 and the samples were stained with HE and Masson methods. The changes of pathological organization were observed. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: ① ROM：the ROM of S30 min group recovered similar to that of the S20 min and S40 min groups after 8 days of treatment ( P>0.05), and was the best among all the surgical modeling groups after 16 d of treatment ( P<0.05). The ROM of S20 min, S30 min and S40 min groups significantly improved on the day 8 and day 16 comparing with that on day 0 ( P<0.01). ② Gait analysis: the stands in the S30min group improved best on the day 8 and day 16 ( P<0.05) , and better than that on day 0 ( P<0.05). The stride length of the S30 min group progressed similar to that of the S40 min group on the day 8 ( P>0.05), and there was no difference among three groups on the day 16 ( P>0.05). The stride length of the S30 min group appeared to recover more quickly on the day 8 ( P<0.05), and those of S20 min and UNT groups recovered significantly on the day 16 ( P<0.05). In addition, the swings in the S30 min group improved best ( P<0.05), and it appeared to recover better on the day 16 ( P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in terms of the swing speed among the four surgical modeling groups on the day 8 ( P>0.05). The swing speed of the S30min group increased most than those of the other three groups ( P<0.05), and it was much better on the day 8 and day 16 comparing with that on the day 0 ( P<0.05 ). ③ HE and Masson staining: the fibrosis and inflammation of the S30min group were significantly suppressed comparing to the other groups on the day 16. ④ Western blot: The protein expression levels of TGF-ß1 and IL-6 were significantly lower than those in the other intervention groups including the S20 min, S40 min and UNT groups on the day 16 ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Static progressive stretching treatment for 30 min could significantly improve the traumatic knee contracture in rats. The mechanism may be that the SPS decreased the expressions of TGF-ß1 and IL-6, reduced the adhesion and inflammation of joint capsule. Therefore it relieved the pain and increased the joint mobility by reconstructing the structure of the capsule and suppressing the fibrotic changes.

Radiofrequency ablation micro-dissecting of eyelid nevus with XL-RFA device under operating microscope.

AIM: To study the effect of an innovative micro-dissection procedure by radiofrequency ablation (MRA) in removing eyelid nevus. METHODS: Fifty-six consecutive outpatients with eyelid nevus were treated with MRA using a monopolar device. The effect of MRA was determined after following-up for 6mo to 5y. RESULTS: Fifty-two cases (52 eyes, 92.9%) were cured once, and 4 cases (4 eyes, 7.1%) received second treatment for small residual. All cases healed well after surgery, with no pigmentation, no scars, no loss of eyelashes, no deformation of eyelid margin. There was no visual impairment after healing. CONCLUSION: MRA of eyelid nevus using the XL-RFA device is highly efficient without significant complications.

Study on Language Rehabilitation for Aphasia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to update our clinical recommendations for evidence-based language rehabilitation of people with aphasia, based on a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to 2015. DATA SOURCES: Articles referred to in this systematic review of the Medline and PubMed published in English language literatures were from 1998 to 2015. The terms used in the literature searches were aphasia and evidenced-based. STUDY SELECTION: The task force initially identified citations for 51 published articles. Of the 51 articles, 44 studies were selected after further detailed review. Six articles, which were not written in English, and one study related to laryngectomy rehabilitation interventions, were excluded from the study. This study referred to all the important and English literature in full. RESULTS: Aphasia is the linguistic disability, which usually results from injuries to the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The rehabilitation of aphasia is until in the process of being debated and researched. Evidence-based medicine (EBM), EBM based on the clinical evidence, promotes the practice of combining the clinicians' first-hand experience and the existing objective and scientific evidence encouraging making decisions based on both empirical evidence and the scientific evidence. Currently, EBM is being gradually implemented in the clinical practice as the aim of the development of modern medicine. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the research for the aphasia rehabilitation mainly focuses on the cognitive language rehabilitation and the intensive treatment and the precise treatment, etc. There is now sufficient information to support evidence-based protocols and implement empirically-supported treatments for linguistic disability after traumatic brain injury and stroke, which can be used to develop linguistic rehabilitation guidelines for patients with aphasia.

Paclitaxel reduces formation of hypertrophic scars in the rabbit ear model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The onset and progression of pathological scarring involves multiple cytokines and complex mechanisms. However, hyperplasia of fibroblasts and neovascularization plays important roles, which can be inhibited by paclitaxel. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of paclitaxel in the treatment of hypertrophic scars on rabbit ears. METHODS: Rabbit ear models of hypertrophic scars were established to observe the therapeutic effects of paclitaxel at different concentrations (12 mg/L, 24 mg/L, 48 mg/L, 96 mg/L, 18 mg/L, 54 mg/L, 162 mg/L, 486 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 150 mg/L, 750 mg/L, 3,750 mg/L). The outcome measures included hypertrophic index (HI), density of fibroblasts, density of collagenous fibers, and microvessel density. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, the concentrations of 96 mg/L, 150 mg/L, and 162 mg/L significantly reduce the formation of hypertrophic scars in the rabbit ear models. However, local necrosis was found in the rabbit ear models treated with paclitaxel solution >400 mg/L. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel has strong inhibitory effects on the hyperplasia of fibroblasts, deposition of collagen, and microangiogenesis in hypertrophic scars on rabbit ears within the concentration range from 48 mg/L to 162 mg/L, without causing local necrosis.