Pain in the enthesis of levator ani muscle: A novel source of chronic pelvic pain.

BACKGROUND: Managing chronic pelvic pain (CPP) remains a challenge due to its diverse range of causes. A newly identified anatomical entity known as the enthesis of the levator ani muscle (LAM) and its associated disorders might play a role. This paper describes a novel insight into CPP's origin, aiming to improve accurate diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Data were collected from medical records (paper or electronic) retrospectively. The study included 112 patients meeting the criteria, divided into chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and non-CPP groups. Clinical symptoms, including location of LAM enthesis, referred pain from pain in LAM enthesis, and related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) were discussed. To identify differences in symptoms between the groups, a chi-squared test and descriptive analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Bimanual examination revealed tender sites in the attachment of the LAM to the pubic bone. LAM enthesis pain presumably caused referred pain in at least 10 areas, primarily in the lower abdominal quadrate (40.2% to 47.3%) followed by the inguinal area (8.9% to 15.1%). Multiple LUTSs were observed, including urinary frequency (72.3%), urgency (42.9%), nocturia (53.6%), residual urine sensation (64.3%), urinary incontinence (30.3%), painful bladder (34.8%), and weak urine stream (47.9%). Patients in the CPP groups experienced significant residual urine sensation (53.6%) and bearing-down sensation (42%) compared to the non-CPP group. CONCLUSION: Pain in LAM enthesis is a novel cause of pelvic pain and LUTSs that warrants attention for the evaluation and management of CPP.

Effects of Strengthening Exercises on Human Kinetic Chains Based on a Systematic Review.

Kinetic chains (KCs) are primarily affected by the load of different activities that recruit muscles from different regions. We explored the effects of strengthening exercises on KCs through muscle activation. Four databases were searched from 1990 to 2019. The muscles of each KC, their surface electromyography (sEMG), and the exercises conducted were reported. We found 36 studies that presented muscle activation using the percent (%) maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) or average sEMG for nine KCs in different regions. The % MVIC is presented as the following four categories: low (≤20%), moderate (21~40%), high (41~60%), and very high (>60%). Only four studies mentioned muscle activation in more than three KCs, while the remaining studies reported inconsistent sEMG processing, lacked normalization, and muscle activation in one or two KCs. The roles of stabilizers and the base of support in overhead throwing mobility using balance exercises were examined, and the concentric phase of chin-up and lat pull-down activated the entire KC by recruiting multiple muscles. Also, deep-water running was shown to prevent the risk of falls and enhance balance and stability. In addition, low-load trunk rotations improved the muscles of the back and external oblique activation. Based on this study's findings, closed-chain exercises activate more groups of muscles in a kinetic chain than open-chain exercises. However, no closed or open chain exercise can activate optimal KCs.

Beneficial carry-over effects of chronic at-home genital nerve stimulation on incontinence in individuals with spinal cord injury: A pragmatic trial.

BACKGROUND: Genital nerve stimulation (GNS) is a promising, but under-researched, alternative treatment for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in those with spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVES: To investigate the urodynamic, quality-of-life (QOL) and carry-over effects of GNS when applied at home for 2 weeks by participants with incomplete SCI and NDO during activities of daily living. METHODS: Seven men and 1 woman participated in this 1-month protocol study. Urodynamic and QOL data were gathered during week 1 (baseline measurements), followed by 2 weeks of daily GNS at home using a portable device. GNS was applied either on-demand or thrice daily, depending on the individual's sensation. At week 4, post-stimulation tests were repeated to record any carry-over effect from the GNS. Participants maintained voiding diaries throughout the study. Assessments were carried out at the end of each protocol period in a randomized order. Clinical procedures were conducted at Taipei Medical University Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan). RESULTS: Everyone completed the study but only 7 of the 8 participants completed their voiding diary. Two weeks after GNS, average cystometric bladder capacity was increased by 30 % compared to baseline (P< 0.05). A 1-week carry-over effect was demonstrated as this capacity remained, on average, 35 % greater than baseline in week 4 after GNS was stopped (P< 0.05). Incontinence frequency significantly decreased by the end of week 3 (P< 0.05) but no significant improvements were recorded for either detrusor pressure or bladder compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic at-home GNS improved cystometric bladder capacity and reduced urinary incontinence for individuals with incomplete SCI and NDO. A carry-over effect of 1 week was observed following GNS treatment. The use of portable GNS treatment that can be applied by the individual at home merits further investigation as alternative treatment for NDO in those with SCI.

Transcranial burst electrical stimulation contributes to neuromodulatory effects in the rat motor cortex.

Background and objective: Transcranial Burst Electrical Stimulation (tBES) is an innovative non-invasive brain stimulation technique that combines direct current (DC) and theta burst stimulation (TBS) for brain neuromodulation. It has been suggested that the tBES protocol may efficiently induce neuroplasticity. However, few studies have systematically tested neuromodulatory effects and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms by manipulating the polarity of DC and TBS patterns. This study aimed to develop the platform and assess neuromodulatory effects and neuronal activity changes following tBES. Methods: Five groups of rats were exposed to anodal DC combined with intermittent TBS (tBES+), cathodal DC combined with continuous TBS (tBES-), anodal and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS+ and tDCS-), and sham groups. The neuromodulatory effects of each stimulation on motor cortical excitability were analyzed by motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) changes. We also investigated the effects of tBES on both excitatory and inhibitory neural biomarkers. We specifically examined c-Fos and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD-65) using immunohistochemistry staining techniques. Additionally, we evaluated the safety of tBES by analyzing glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. Results: Our findings demonstrated significant impacts of tBES on motor cortical excitability up to 30 min post-stimulation. Specifically, MEPs significantly increased after tBES (+) compared to pre-stimulation (p = 0.026) and sham condition (p = 0.025). Conversely, tBES (-) led to a notable decrease in MEPs relative to baseline (p = 0.04) and sham condition (p = 0.048). Although tBES showed a more favorable neuromodulatory effect than tDCS, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between these two groups (p > 0.05). Additionally, tBES (+) exhibited a significant activation of excitatory neurons, indicated by increased c-Fos expression (p < 0.05), and a reduction in GAD-65 density (p < 0.05). tBES (-) promoted GAD-65 expression (p < 0.05) while inhibiting c-Fos activation (p < 0.05), suggesting the involvement of cortical inhibition with tBES (-). The expression of GFAP showed no significant difference between tBES and sham conditions (p > 0.05), indicating that tBES did not induce neural injury in the stimulated regions. Conclusion: Our study indicates that tBES effectively modulates motor cortical excitability. This research significantly contributes to a better understanding of the neuromodulatory effects of tBES, and could provide valuable evidence for its potential clinical applications in treating neurological disorders.

Prediction of Spasticity through Upper Limb Active Range of Motion in Stroke Survivors: A Generalized Estimating Equation Model.

BACKGROUND: We aim to study the association between spasticity and active range of motion (ROM) during four repetitive functional tasks such as cone stacking (CS), fast flexion-extension (FFE), fast ball squeezing (FBS), and slow ball squeezing (SBS), and predicted spasticity models. METHODS: An experimental study with control and stroke groups was conducted in a Medical Center. A total of sixty-four participants, including healthy control (n = 22; average age (years) = 54.68 ± 9.63; male/female = 12/10) and chronic stroke survivors (n = 42; average age = 56.83 ± 11.74; male/female = 32/10) were recruited. We employed a previously developed smart glove device mounted with multiple inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors on the upper limbs of healthy and chronic stroke individuals. The recorded ROMs were used to predict subjective spasticity through generalized estimating equations (GEE) for the affected side. RESULTS: The models have significant (p ≤ 0.05 *) prediction of spasticity for the elbow, thumb, index, middle, ring, and little fingers. Overall, during SBS and FFE activities, the maximum number of upper limb joints attained the greater average ROMs. For large joints, the elbow during CS and the wrist during FFE have the highest average ROMs, but smaller joints and the wrist have covered the highest average ROMs during FFE, FBS, and SBS activities. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, it is concluded that CS can be used for spasticity assessment of the elbow, FFE for the wrist, and SBS, FFE, and FBS activities for the thumb and finger joints in chronic stroke survivors.

Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Transspinal Electrical Stimulation on Corticospinal Excitability for Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and transspinal electrical stimulation (tsES) have been proposed as a novel neurostimulation modality for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). In this study, we integrated magnetic and electrical stimulators to provide neuromodulation therapy to individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). We designed a clinical trial comprising an 8-week treatment period and a 4-week treatment-free observation period. Cortical excitability, clinical features, inertial measurement unit and surface electromyography were assessed every 4 weeks. Twelve individuals with iSCI were recruited and randomly divided into a combined therapy group, a magnetic stimulation group, an electrical stimulation group, or a sham stimulation group. The magnetic and electric stimulations provided in this study were intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and 2.5-mA direct current (DC) stimulation, respectively. Combined therapy, which involves iTBS and transspinal DC stimulation (tsDCS), was more effective than was iTBS alone or tsDCS alone in terms of increasing corticospinal excitability. In conclusion, the effectiveness of 8-week combined therapy in increasing corticospinal excitability faded 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. According to the results, combination of iTBS rTMS and tsDCS treatment was more effective than was iTBS rTMS alone or tsDCS alone in enhancing corticospinal excitability. Although promising, the results of this study must be validated by studies with longer interventions and larger sample sizes.

Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Visual Feedback Training in Improving Neuroplasticity and Lower Limb Function after Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study.

After a stroke, sustained gait impairment can restrict participation in the activities listed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model and cause poor quality of life. The present study investigated the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and visual feedback training (VF) training in improving lower limb motor performance, gait, and corticospinal excitability in patients with chronic stroke. Thirty patients were randomized into three groups that received either rTMS or sham stimulation over the contralesional leg region accompanied by VF training groups in addition to the conventional rehabilitation group. All participants underwent intervention sessions three times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures included the motor-evoked potential (MEP) of the anterior tibialis muscle, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test scores, and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity scores. After the intervention, the rTMS and VF group had significantly improved in MEP latency (p = 0.011), TUG scores (p = 0.008), and BBS scores (p = 0.011). The sham rTMS and VF group had improved MEP latency (p = 0.027). The rTMS and VF training may enhance the cortical excitability and walking ability of individuals with chronic stroke. The potential benefits encourage a larger trial to determine the efficacy in stroke patients.

Core Stabilization Exercise in Prenatal and Postnatal Women With Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect size of core stabilization exercise for prenatal and postnatal women through measures of urinary symptoms, voiding function, pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance, quality of life, and pain scores. DESIGN: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. Randomized controlled trials were selected and subjected to meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment. RESULTS: Ten randomized controlled trials were selected, and 720 participants were included. Ten articles using seven outcomes were analyzed. Relative to the control groups, the core stabilization exercise groups exhibited superior results for urinary symptoms (standardized mean difference = -0.65, 95% confidence interval = -0.97 to 0.33), pelvic floor muscle strength (standardized mean difference = 0.96, 95% confidence interval = 0.53 to 1.39), pelvic floor muscle endurance (standardized mean difference = 0.71, 95% confidence interval = 0.26 to 1.16), quality of life (standardized mean difference = -0.9, 95% confidence interval = -1.23 to 0.58), transverse muscle strength (standardized mean difference = -0.45, 95% confidence interval = -0.9 to -0.01), and voiding function (standardized mean difference = -1.07, 95% confidence interval = -1.87 to 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Core stabilization exercises are safe and beneficial for alleviating urinary symptoms, improving quality of life, strengthening pelvic floor muscles, and improving transverse muscle function in prenatal and postnatal women with urinary incontinence.

System Based on Artificial Intelligence Edge Computing for Detecting Bedside Falls and Sleep Posture.

Bedside falls and pressure ulcers are crucial issues in geriatric care. Although many bedside monitoring systems have been proposed, they are limited by the computational complexity of their algorithms. Moreover, most of the data collected by the sensors of these systems must be transmitted to a back-end server for calculation. With an increase in the demand for the Internet of Things, problems such as higher cost of bandwidth and overload of server computing are faced when using the aforementioned systems. To reduce the server workload, certain computing tasks must be offloaded from cloud servers to edge computing platforms. In this study, a bedside monitoring system based on neuromorphic computing hardware was developed to detect bedside falls and sleeping posture. The artificial intelligence neural network executed on the back-end server was simplified and used on an edge computing platform. An integer 8-bit-precision neural network model was deployed on the edge computing platform to process the thermal image captured by the thermopile array sensing element to conduct sleep posture classification and bed position detection. The bounding box of the bed was then converted into the features for posture classification correction to correct the posture. In an experimental evaluation, the accuracy rate, inferencing speed, and power consumption of the developed system were 94.56%, 5.28 frames per second, and 1.5 W, respectively. All the calculations of the developed system are conducted on an edge computing platform, and the developed system only transmits fall events to the back-end server through Wi-Fi and protects user privacy.

Effect of Robot-Assisted Gait Training on Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: In recent meta-analyses, robot-assisted gait training for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have yielded limited clinical benefits compared with conventional overground gait training. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training for patients with MS on clinical outcomes through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We searched for relevant studies in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database databases from their inception to April 7, 2022. We selected studies that (1) included participants with MS, (2) used robot-assisted gait training as the intervention, (3) included conventional overground gait training or another gait training protocol as control treatment, and (4) reported clinical outcomes. Continuous variables are expressed as standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 software. RESULTS: We included 16 studies enrolling 536 participants. Significant improvement was observed in the intervention group, with low heterogeneity at the end of the intervention with regard to walking velocity (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.15, 0.60]), walking endurance (SMD: 0.26, 95% CI [0.04, 0.48]), mobility (SMD: -0.37, 95% CI [-0.60, -0.14]), balance (SMD: 0.26, 95% CI [0.04, 0.48]), and fatigue (SMD: -0.27, 95% CI [-0.49, -0.04]). The results of subgroup analyses revealed improvements in these outcomes for the intervention group using grounded exoskeletons. No significant differences were noted in all the outcomes between the groups at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted gait training with grounded exoskeletons exerts a positive short-term effect and is an adequate treatment option for patients with MS.

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on improving performance of delayed- reinforcement attentional set-shifting tasks in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder rat model.

Behavioral flexibility (or set-shifting), which is regulated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), is often impaired in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by poor inhibitory control and reinforcement learning. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a means of noninvasive brain stimulation and a potential therapeutic tool for modulating behavioral flexibility. Animal studies can pave the way to know if tDCS application can potentially benefit rule- and goal-based activities in ADHD. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and inbred Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as an animal model of ADHD and controls, respectively, and their strategy set-shifting abilities, including initial discrimination, set-shifting, and reversal learning tasks under 0-s or 15-s reinforcer delivery delay conditions, were evaluated. The tDCS treatment had a limited effect on the performance of the SHRs and WKY rats in initial discrimination task under 0-s delay condition. Under the 15-s delay condition, the SHRs had longer lever-press reaction times and/or more trial omissions than the WKY rats did when completing set-shifting and reversal-learning tasks. Among the SHRs, tDCS treatment improved the rats' reaction times and/or reduced their trial omissions in the set-shifting and reversal-learning tasks. Although tDCS may improve delayed reinforcement learning set-shifting performance in SHRs, further studies are required to clarify the responsible mechanism.

A time-course study of urodynamic analyses in rat models with dopaminergic depletion induced through unilateral and bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine injections.

BACKGROUND: Bladder dysfunction is a common non-motor disorder in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study attempted to determine the bladder dysfunction with disease progression in the PD rat model produced from unilateral/bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). METHODS: Cystometrographic (CMG) and external urethral sphincter electromyographic (EUS-EMG) measurements were scheduled in a time-course manner to determine the disease timing, onset, and severity. Animals were allotted into normal control, unilateral, bilateral 6-OHDA injected groups and subjected to scheduled CMG, EUS-EMG analyses at weeks 1, 2, and 4. RESULTS: The urodynamic results concluded that voiding efficiency (VE) was reduced in both unilateral and bilateral PD rats at all-time points. VE had decreased from 57 ± 11% to 31 ± 7% in unilateral PD rats and in bilateral PD rats, a decreased VE of 20 ± 6% was observed compared to control and unilateral PD rats. The EMG results in unilateral PD rats indicated declines in bursting period (BP) (3.78-2.94 s), active period (AP) (93.38-88.75 ms), and silent period (SP) (161.62-114.30 ms). A sudden reduction was noticed in BP (3.62-2.82 s), AP (92.21-86.01 ms), and SP (128.61-60.16 ms) of bilateral PD rats than in control and unilateral PD rats. Histological evidence exhibited a progressive dopaminergic neurons (DA) depletion in the substantia nigra (SN) region in 6-OHDA lesioned rats. CONCLUSION: The experimental outcomes strongly implied that significant variations in bladder function and VE decline were due to the depletion of DA neurons in the SN region of the brain.

Hemodynamics and Tissue Optical Properties in Bimodal Infarctions Induced by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion.

Various infarct sizes induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) generate inconsistent outcomes for stroke preclinical study. Monitoring cerebral hemodynamics may help to verify the outcome of MCAO. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in brain tissue optical properties by frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS), and establish the relationship between cerebral hemodynamics and infarct variation in MCAO model. The rats were undergone transient MCAO using intraluminal filament. The optical properties and hemodynamics were measured by placing the FD-NIRS probes on the scalp of the head before, during, and at various time-courses after MCAO. Bimodal infarction severities were observed after the same 90-min MCAO condition. Significant decreases in concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin ([HbO]) and total hemoglobin ([HbT]), tissue oxygenation saturation (StO2), absorption coefficient (µa) at 830 nm, and reduced scattering coefficient (µs') at both 690 and 830 nm were detected during the occlusion in the severe infarction but not the mild one. Of note, the significant increases in [HbO], [HbT], StO2, and µa at both 690 and 830 nm were found on day 3; and increases in µs' at both 690 and 830 nm were found on day 2 and day 3 after MCAO, respectively. The interhemispheric correlation coefficient (IHCC) was computed from low-frequency hemodynamic oscillation of both hemispheres. Lower IHCCs standing for interhemispheric desynchronizations were found in both mild and severe infarction during occlusion, and only in severe infarction after reperfusion. Our finding supports that sequential FD-NIRS parameters may associated with the severity of the infarction in MCAO model, and the consequent pathologies such as vascular dysfunction and brain edema. Further study is required to validate the potential use of FD-NIRS as a monitor for MCAO verification.

Physical Agent-Based Treatments for Overactive Bladder: A Review.

Almost one-fifth of the people in the world experience a decrease in quality of life due to overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. The main bothersome symptoms are urgency accompanied by urinary frequency and nocturia. This chronic, disabling condition is first managed by reducing fluid intake and pelvic floor muscle training, supplemented with antimuscarinic drugs, if necessary. However, refractory cases often still occur. In more severe cases, invasive surgical interventions can be considered; yet, the success rate is still inconsistent, and there is a high complication rate. This condition is frustrating for patients and challenging for the medical staff involved. Although its pathophysiology has not been fully elucidated, peripheral autonomic somatic and sensory afferent receptors are considered to be involved in this condition. Hence, currently, physical agent-based treatments such as neuromodulation have taken a significant place in the third-line therapy of OAB. The efficacy and safety profiles of electrical and magnetic stimulation continue to evolve. Physical-based agents provide an appealing option owing to their effectiveness and minimal side effects. In addition, more physical therapies using light and shock energy are currently being investigated. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of these modalities is an extremely important aspect to provide the most suitable modalities for patients.

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current with Electrical Theta Burst on Post-Stroke Motor Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: High-definition transcranial electrical theta burst superimposing direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS-eTBS) not only incorporates the therapeutic advantages of tDCS and TBS but enhances stimulation focality and practicality. However, the applicability of this innovative neuromodulatory device in post-stroke rehabilitation remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the HD-tDCS-eTBS on upper extremity (UE) motor function in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: A patient-blinded, randomized controlled study was conducted. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned into either the active HD-tDCS-eTBS group or sham HD-tDCS-eTBS group. Both groups received 20 minutes of active/sham HD-tDCS-eTBS combined with 30 minutes of conventional UE rehabilitation each time, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Outcome measures including the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity, Wolf Motor Function Test, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, Finger-Nose Test, and Modified Ashworth Scale were assessed before and immediately after the intervention period. RESULTS: Spasticity of shoulder adductor (P = .05), elbow extensor (P = .04), and thumb flexor (P < .01) were significantly reduced in the active HD-tDCS-eTBS group versus the sham group. Nonsignificant trends in the improvements of most other outcome measures were in favor of the active HD-tDCS-eTBS group with moderate to large effect sizes (P = .06-.26, ηp2 = 0.06-0.16). No severe adverse events except for slight skin redness under the stimulus electrode was detected after the HD-tDCS-eTBS. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that HD-tDCS-eTBS is safe and has therapeutic potential for post-stroke UE motor rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04278105).

Motor Neuroplastic Effects of a Novel Paired Stimulation Technology in an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Animal Model.

Paired stimulation of the brain and spinal cord can remodel the central nervous tissue circuitry in an animal model to induce motor neuroplasticity. The effects of simultaneous stimulation vary according to the extent and severity of spinal cord injury. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the significant effects on an incomplete SCI rat brain and spinal cord through 3 min and 20 min stimulations after 4 weeks of intervention. Thirty-three Sprague Dawley rats were classified into six groups: (1) normal, (2) sham, (3) iTBS/tsDCS, (4) iTBS/ts-iTBS, (5) rTMS/tsDCS, and (6) rTMS/ts-iTBS. Paired stimulation of the brain cortex and spinal cord thoracic (T10) level was applied simultaneously for 3−20 min. The motor evoked potential (MEP) and Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores were recorded after every week of intervention for four weeks along with wheel training for 20 min. Three-minute stimulation with the iTBS/tsDCS intervention induced a significant (p < 0.050 *) increase in MEP after week 2 and week 4 treatments, while 3 min iTBS/ts-iTBS significantly improved MEP (p < 0.050 *) only after the week 3 intervention. The 20 min rTMS/ts-iTBS intervention showed a significant change only in post_5 min after week 4. The BBB score also changed significantly in all groups except for the 20 min rTMS/tsDCS intervention. iTBS/tsDCS and rTMS/ts-iTBS interventions induce neuroplasticity in an incomplete SCI animal model by significantly changing electrophysiological (MEP) and locomotion (BBB) outcomes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of phonophoresis on patients with knee osteoarthritis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effect of phonophoresis when various gel types were used. Medline (using PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were used to search for relevant studies from the date of their inception to June 28, 2021. We included studies that were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), included patients with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, included treatment with either phonophoresis or therapeutic ultrasound with placebo gel, and reported clinical and functional outcomes. Continuous variables are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. We initially retrieved 2176 studies and finally analyzed nine RCTs including 423 patients. The intervention group significantly outperformed the control group in pain scores with NSAID gel (SMD = - 0.53, 95% CI [- 1.02, - 0.05], I2 = 73%) and in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) function score with corticosteroid gel (SMD = - 0.96, 95% CI [- 1.47, - 0.44], I2 = 20%). Phonophoresis alleviated pain and improved functional performance. Because of some limitations of this study, additional high-quality, large-scale RCTs are required to confirm the benefits.

Adjustable Parameters and the Effectiveness of Adjunct Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Individuals with Chronic Stroke.

The aims of this study were (1) to compare the effect of robot-assisted gait orthosis (RAGO) plus conventional physiotherapy with the effect of conventional therapy alone on functional outcomes, including balance, walking ability, muscle strength, daily activity, and cognition, in chronic stroke patients, and (2) to determine the association of adjustable parameters of RAGO on functional outcomes. Adjustable parameters of RAGO included guidance force, treadmill speed, and body-weight support. This retrospective cohort study enrolled 32 patients with chronic stroke. Of these, 16 patients received RAGO plus conventional physiotherapy (RAGO group), and 16 patients received conventional physiotherapy alone (control group). Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale, walking ability using the Functional Ambulation Category, muscle strength using the Motricity Index, daily activity using the Barthel Index, and cognition using the Mini-Mental State Examination. The scores were assessed before and after training. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Berg Balance Scale increased significantly in both groups, whereas improvements in the Motricity Index and the Barthel Index were only observed in the RAGO group after intervention. During RAGO training, reducing guidance force and body-weight support assistance was associated with improvements in the Barthel Index, whereas higher treadmill walking speed was associated with improvements in the Berg Balance Scale. Our study found that RAGO combination therapy resulted in improvements in more functional outcomes than did conventional training alone. The adjustable parameters of the RAGO training were partly associated with training outcomes.

A Facile, Fabric Compatible, and Flexible Borophene Nanocomposites for Self-Powered Smart Assistive and Wound Healing Applications.

Smart fabrics that can harvest ambient energy and provide diverse sensing functionality via triboelectric effects have evoked great interest for next-generation healthcare electronics. Herein, a novel borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite is developed as a promising triboelectric material with tailorability, durability, mechanical stability, and flexibility. The addition of borophene nanosheets enables the borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite to exhibit tunable surface triboelectricity investigated by Kelvin probe force microscopy. The borophene/ecoflex nanocomposite is further fabricated into a fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (B-TENG) for mechanical energy harvesting, medical assistive system, and wound healing applications. The durability of B-TENG provides consistent output performance even after severe deformation treatments, such as folding, stretching, twisting, and washing procedures. Moreover, the B-TENG is integrated into a smart keyboard configuration combined with a robotic system to perform an upper-limb medical assistive interface. Furthermore, the B-TENG is also applied as an active gait phase sensing system for instantaneous lower-limb gait phase visualization. Most importantly, the B-TENG can be regarded as a self-powered in vitro electrical stimulation device to conduct continuous wound monitoring and therapy. The as-designed B-TENG not only demonstrates great potential for multifunctional self-powered healthcare sensors, but also for the promising advancements toward wearable medical assistive and therapeutic systems.

Designing and Pilot Testing a Novel Transcranial Temporal Interference Stimulation Device for Neuromodulation.

Transcranial temporal interference stimulation (tTIS) has been proposed as a new neuromodulation technology for non-invasive deep-brain stimulation (DBS). However, few studies have detailed the design method of a tTIS device and provided system validation. Thus, a detailed design and validation scheme of a novel tTIS device for animal brain stimulation are presented in this study. In the proposed tTIS device, a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) was used to generate a sine wave potential of different frequencies, which was converted to an adjustable sine wave current. A current transformer was used to produce electrical isolation of different channels, which eliminated the current crosstalk between channels and greatly increased the load capacity by amplifying the output voltage. Several in vitro experiments were first conducted to validate the tTIS device. Our results indicated that the error percentages of the stimulation currents were within ±2%. Current crosstalk between channels was almost completely eliminated. Then, in vivo electric field measurement shows that the 2-pole arrangement may provide better cortical targeting than the 4-pole mode. A pilot animal experiment was conducted in which evoked motion and electromyographic activation of the contralateral forelimb were observed, which indicated that the 2-pole tTIS had successfully activated the primary motor cortex in a rat. Motor activation induced by the 2-pole tTIS demonstrated the feasibility and safety potential when applying our tTIS device for neuromodulation.