Evaluation of admittance control as an alternative to passive arm supports to increase upper extremity function for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The degree of upper extremity active range of motion provided by an admittance control robot compared with a commercially available passive arm support for individuals with DMD who have limited arm function was investigated in this study. The reachable workspace evaluation was used to assess active range of motion provided by both devices. A visual analog scale was also used to secure participant-reported outcome measures. The admittance control robot significantly increased reachable surface area scores compared with the passive arm support for the dominant arm (Wilcoxon T = 5, P = .022, r² = 0.263) and for the nondominant arm (paired-samples t test, t(9) = 4.66, P = .001, r² = 0.71). The admittance control robot also significantly decreased participant-reported exertion compared with the passive arm support. Results of this study substantiated the benefits of admittance control for individuals with DMD compared with a commercially available passive arm support.     

Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Protects against High Fat/Cholesterol Diet-Induced Obesity and Atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 Mice

This study concerns obesity-related atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and chronic inflammation. We studied the anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerosis effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and explored their underlying mechanisms. We established an animal model of high fat/cholesterol-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice fed for 13 weeks. We divided the mice into five groups: control (CON), high fat/cholesterol (HFCD), HFCD with 3 mg/kg/day gallic acid (HFCD + G), and HFCD with PEITC (30 and 75 mg/kg/day; HFCD + P30 and P75). The body weight, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were significantly lower in the HFCD + P75 group than in the HFCD group. Hepatic lipid accumulation and atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta were significantly lower in both HFCD + PEITC groups than in the HFCD group, as revealed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. To elucidate the mechanism, we identified the expression of genes related to inflammation, reverse cholesterol transport, and lipid accumulation pathway in the liver. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), liver-X-receptor α (LXR-α), and ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1) were increased, while those of scavenger receptor A (SR-A1), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were decreased in the HFCD + P75 group compared with those in the HFCD group. Moreover, PEITC modulated H3K9 and H3K27 acetylation, H3K4 dimethylation, and H3K27 di-/trimethylation in the HFCD + P75 group. We, therefore, suggest that supplementation with PEITC may be a potential candidate for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis and obesity.     

应用计算机流体力学技术评估症状性颅内动脉狭窄患者卒中复发风险的研究

目的 评估基于计算机流体力学（computational fluid dynamics，CFD）技术的无创血流动力学参数与缺血性卒中复发之间的关系。      

早期卧位踏车训练对下肢重度烧伤患者的效果

目的探讨早期卧位踏车训练在下肢重度烧伤患者功能康复中的临床效果。方法2016年10月至2017年12月,下肢重度烧伤患者30例分为对照组和观察组,各15例。对照组采用常规综合康复,观察组此基础上增加早期卧位踏车训练。入院时和住院治疗6周后,采用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)、疼痛数字评分法(NRS)、Berg平衡量表(BBS)和6分钟步行测试进行评定。结果治疗后,两组SAS、SDS、NRS评分均明显降低(t>3.636,P<0.01),观察组低于对照组(t>2.319,P<0.05);观察组BBS评分和6分钟步行距离高于对照组(t>2.541,P<0.05)。结论早期卧位踏车训练对下肢重度烧伤患者功能恢复有一定促进作用。     

骨科下肢手术中应用不同剂量的右美托咪定辅助低位硬膜外麻醉对术中、术后不良反应的影响

目的探讨骨科下肢手术中应用不同剂量的右美托咪定辅助低位硬膜外麻醉对术中、术后不良反应的影响。方法选取我院90例骨科下肢手术患者,依据右美托咪定用药剂量分为甲组、乙组及丙组,各30例;选取同期于我院行生理盐水辅助低位硬膜外麻醉的30例骨科下肢手术患者为对照组。比较四组患者不良反应发生情况、镇静情况及认知功能。结果丙组不良反应总发生率高于甲组、乙组和对照组(P<0.05)。用药10 min(T1)、30 min(T2)、60 min(T3)及120 min(T4)时,甲组、乙组、丙组的Ramsay镇静评分均高于用药前(T0),且均高于对照组,同时乙组高于甲组,丙组高于甲组和乙组(P<0.05)。术后次日,甲组、丙组的MMSE评分均低于术前,且均低于乙组和对照组(P<0.05)。结论骨科下肢手术患者行右美托咪定辅助低位硬膜外麻醉时,右美托咪定的泵注量选择0.6μg/kg可达到较佳麻醉效果。     

温阳散瘀方联合贝前列素钠片治疗下肢动脉粥样硬化性闭塞症的临床研究

目的观察温阳散瘀方辅助贝前列素钠片治疗下肢动脉粥样硬化性闭塞症的效果。方法采用简单随机抽样方法从2016年3月至2018年4月于该院接受诊治的下肢动脉粥样硬化性闭塞症患者中选取86例纳入研究,依据随机数字表法进行分组,对照组43例患者接受贝前列素钠片治疗,研究组43例患者接受温阳散瘀方联合贝前列素钠片治疗,治疗6周后评价两组临床疗效,测定两组患者血脂水平、踝肱指数(ABI)、6min步行试验(6-MWT)、无痛行走距离、超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)以及血液流变学相关指标。结果研究组临床总有效率(88.37%)明显高于对照组(69.77%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后两组患者总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平均明显下降(P<0.05),且组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后研究组ABI、6-MWT、无痛行走距离和hs-CRP水平均明显优于对照组(P<0.05);治疗后两组血液流变学相关指标均明显下降(P<0.05),且组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论温阳散瘀方辅助贝前列素钠片应用于下肢动脉粥样硬化性闭塞症的临床治疗,在平衡血脂水平、改善血液流变学相关指标方面效果明显,可有效改善ABI、6-MWT、无痛行走距离和hs-CRP等指标,增进疗效。