Effectiveness of virtual reality in the treatment of hand function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Study DesignSystematic review.IntroductionChildren with cerebral palsy (CP) may have limited use of their hands for functional activities and for fine motor skills. Virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new and innovative approach to facilitate hand function in children with CP.Purpose of the StudyThe primary purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of VR as an intervention to improve hand function in children with CP compared to either conventional physiotherapy or other therapeutic interventions. The secondary purpose was to classify the outcomes evaluated according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) dimensions.MethodsA International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO)-registered literature search was carried out in August 2015 in MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, HealthSTAR, AMED, BNI, Embase, PsycINFO, PEDro, Cochrane Central Register, DARE, OTSeeker, REHABDATA, HaPI, CIRRIE, and Scopus. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, and their methodological qualities were examined using the Cochrane collaboration's risk of bias (RoB) tool. A narrative synthesis was performed.ResultsThe 6 RCTs published on this topic provide conflicting results. Four studies reported improved hand function (2 low RoB, 1 high RoB, and 1 unclear RoB), whereas 2 studies reported no improvement. All of the RCTs reported the activity element of ICF, but no study explicitly described the effect of VR intervention based on the ICF model.ConclusionThe role of VR ti imrpove hand fucntion in children with CP is unclear due to limited evidence; use as an adjunct has some support.     

Peritoneal dialysis improves lung function in rats with lung injury induced by shock wave

Objective To prove the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis on shock wave-induced acute lung injury of rats, and analyze its mechanisms. Methods Forty-five adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, sham operation (Sham) group and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group. Sham group and PD group did abdominal catheterization before blast injury. The 55 kg shock wave (bst-I) was used to induce lung blast injury. After one hour of blast injury, PD group was given 2.5% peritoneal dialysate 20 ml to stay abdomen, which was released 30 min posted, repeated 12 cycles. After 6 hours of peritoneal dialysis, all of the rats were sacrificed. Partial damaged tissues in lung were used to evaluate the pathomorphologic changes by HE staining, and the remnants were used to measure the lung water content. Lung function was detected by blood gas analyzer and small animal detector from the arterial blood gas. The levels of serum inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were tested by ELISA. Results The relative integrity of alveolar structure, interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in PD group were significantly improved than those in control group. The lung water content of PD group was significantly lower than that of control group (P＜0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 in serum of PD group were significantly lower than those in control group (all P＜0.05). The blood oxygen saturation, oxygen partial pressure, oxygenation index, vital capacity, functional residual volume and maximum mid-expiratory flow rate in PD group were significantly higher than those in control group (all P＜0.05). Conclusions Through reducing pulmonary edema and inflammatory factors, peritoneal dialysis can improve lung function in shock wave -induced acute lung injury of rats.     

Lasting improvements in left spatial neglect following a protocol combining neck-muscle vibration and voluntary arm movements: a case-study

Purpose: Beyond promising experimental results of sensory passive stimulations in spatial cognition disorders, some questions still remain regarding interests of these stimulations during the daily activities in neglect. The aim of this case-study was to evaluate the effects of a protocol combining left neck-muscle vibration with daily simple movements, like arm pointing movements, on perceptivo-locomotor deficits in a left spatial neglect patient.

Materials and methods: Two neuropsychological tests, one subjective straight-ahead pointing (SSA) test and one wheelchair navigation test were carried out before the combination protocol, immediately after, 1?h later, and 24?h later.

Results: The results showed a reduction of neglect spatial bias following the protocol lasted at least 24?h in all the tests (except for the SSA test due to the unavailability of the pointing device).

Conclusions: The range of improvements in the symptoms of spatial neglect suggests that this therapeutic intervention based on the combining neck-muscle vibration to voluntary arm movements could be a useful treatment for this condition. One of future investigation axes should be the development of a vibratory tool in order to facilitate the combining this proprioceptive stimulation to daily activities.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Spatial neglect is a perplexing neuropsychological syndrome, affecting different domains of spatial cognition and impacting also the functional domain.

• The treatments based on neck-muscle vibration are simple to use, non-invasive and requires none active participation of patient.

• A therapeutic intervention based on the combining left neck-muscle vibration and voluntary arm movements in a left-spatial-neglect show a lasting reduction of symptoms especially in daily activities.

• The combination of treatments based on the Bottom–Up approach opens innovative perspectives in rehabilitation.

     

The impact of stenosis and translation on spinal cord injuries in traumatic cervical facet dislocations

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Although facet dislocations account for only 6% of cervical trauma, the consequences are often devastating. Cervical facet dislocations are associated with a disproportionate amount of spinal cord injuries; however, neurologic examination of patients is often difficult, as patients commonly present with reduced levels of consciousness. There are limited studies that have investigated the impact of spinal canal diameter and translation on neurologic injury following facet dislocations.

止消通脉清热饮治疗冠心病合并糖尿病疗效及对患者心功能和血清孤独G蛋白偶联受体配体-12水平的影响

目的:探讨止消通脉清热饮对冠心病合并糖尿病患者心功能、血糖及血清孤独G蛋白偶联受体配体-12(Apelin-12)水平的影响。方法:选择冠心病合并糖尿病患者80例,随机分为观察组和对照组各40例。对照组给予辛伐他汀、单硝酸异山梨酯及盐酸二甲双胍治疗,观察组在对照组用药基础上给予止消通脉清热饮治疗。比较两组治疗前后心功能指标(LVEF、CO),血糖指标(FBG、2hPG),血清Apelin-12及BNP因子变化。结果:治疗1、2、4周后,两组中医症状积分下降,观察组更明显(P<0.05)。治疗前,两组LVEF、CO、FBG、2hPG、Apelin-12及BNP比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05); 治疗后,两组LVEF、CO、Apelin-12均升高,FBG、2hPG、BNP均降低(P<0.05); 观察组治疗后LVEF、CO、Apelin-12均高于对照组,FBG、2hPG、BNP均低于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组治疗后生活质量明显优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:止消通脉清热饮可显著改善冠心病合并糖尿病患者心功能,降低血糖水平,提高血清Apelin-12浓度。     

补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗重症肌无力疗效及对患者免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗对重症肌无力(MG)疗效及对免疫功能的影响。方法:随机分配84例MG病例为西药组和针药组,每组各42例,西药组给予常规西药治疗,即泼尼松片中剂量冲击,小剂量隔日维持治疗,针药组基于以上用药基础给予补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗,治疗3个月后,统计两组治疗前后的中医证候积分,评估两组中医证候疗效,对比治疗前后的颈部血管流速、T淋巴细胞亚群水平和血清可溶性白细胞介素6受体水平。结果:治疗后,两组中医证候积分显著降低,针药组的变化幅度大于西药组(P<0.05); 针药组的中医证候总有效率低于西药组(P<0.05); 治疗后,两组颈内动脉(ICA)、颈总动脉(CCA)、颈外动脉(ECA)显著提高(P<0.05),两组T淋巴细胞中CD₃⁺、CD₄⁺亚群所占比和CD₈⁺、CD₄⁺比值显著降低(P<0.05),两组血清slL-6R水平均显著降低(P<0.05),以上指标针药组变化幅度大于西药组(P<0.05)。结论:补脾益肾方联合温针灸治疗能缓解MG患者的中医证候症状,提高疗效,促进其颈部血管循环,纠正患者自身机体免疫功能紊乱。     

参芪复方对2型糖尿病GK大鼠胰岛β细胞功能的影响

目的:以自发性2型糖尿病GK大鼠为研究对象,应用全基因组表达谱芯片技术,旨在探讨参芪复方调节胰岛细胞功能的分子机制,为中医药防治2型糖尿病提供理论依据。方法:GK大鼠每日给予高脂饲料喂养,连续4周,随机从GK大鼠中选取大鼠检测随机血糖,验证2型糖尿病模型成功。实验分为4组,空白组,模型组,参芪复方组(1.44 g?kg~(-1)),西格列汀组(16 mg·kg~(-1)),于灌胃前、灌胃4周、灌胃8周测早上8:00各组大鼠尾尖血糖;灌胃8周后,运用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)检测大鼠血清胰岛素(INS)水平;采用原位末端标记(TUNEL)荧光法定量检测并观察胰岛β细胞凋亡情况;运用全基因组表达谱芯片技术对各组大鼠胰腺组织进行差异基因检测;采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测关键差异基因的mRNA转录水平。结果:与空白组比较,灌胃前、灌胃4周、灌胃8周,GK大鼠各组血糖显著升高(P0.01);灌胃4,8周,与模型组比较,各药物干预组大鼠血糖均显著较低(P0.01)。灌胃8周,与空白组比较,模型组大鼠INS水平显著较低(P0.01);与模型组比较,参芪复方组具有INS水平更高的趋势,西格列汀组INS水平显著较高(P0.01)。灌胃8周,与空白组比较,模型组大鼠胰岛β细胞凋亡数明显升高(P0.05);与模型组比较,参芪复方组、西格列汀组大鼠胰岛β细胞凋亡数均明显较低(P0.05,P0.01)。基因芯片及Real-time PCR检测均显示磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶受体1(PIK3R1)在参芪复方组/模型组中表达上调,在西格列汀组/模型组、模型组/空白组中表达下调;蛋白激酶B1(Akt1)在参芪复方组/模型组、西格列汀组/模型组中表达上调,在模型组/空白组中表达下调。结论:参芪复方可减少胰岛β细胞凋亡,增加胰岛素分泌,上调基因PIK3R1,Akt1的表达,推测具有养阴益气活血功效的参芪复方可能通过上调基因PIK3R1,Akt1的表达,抑制胰岛β细胞凋亡,改善胰岛β细胞功能,调节胰岛素分泌,从而防治2型糖尿病。