Effects of an Eating Ability Promotion Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectiveTaiwan is projected to become a super-aged society in 2026. Taiwan's government introduced an innovative preventive care policy to improve aging-related conditions in 2017. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of an eating ability promotion program (EAPP) on the physical and mental performance of community-dwelling older adults.DesignSingle-masked, cluster randomized trial.SettingTwo community care stations in Taichung, Taiwan.ParticipantsVolunteers were recruited from these 2 community care stations. The 70 participants were aged ≥60 years, able to walk independently and take care of themselves, and understood Mandarin or Taiwanese.InterventionThe volunteers were randomly assigned to an intervention; 40 participated in EAPP training courses (experimental group) and 30 participated in originally scheduled activities only (control group). EAPP training courses were conducted in the care stations 4 hours per week for 12 weeks (for a total of 48 hours).MeasuresThe physical performance outcomes were oral health, nutritional status, and fragility, assessed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Mini Nutritional Assessment, and the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures fragility index, respectively. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini-Cog test. Measurements were performed at baseline, at the end of the 12-week intervention, and 1 month later.ResultsFollowing the EAPP intervention, controlling for baseline differences, the oral health (F = 33.29, P < .001), nutritional status (F = 7.30, P = .009), and scale of fragility (F = 19.05, P < .001) of the participants in the experimental group were significantly better than those reported in the control group.Conclusions and ImplicationsResults of this preliminary study suggest that the EAPP intervention may be an effective approach for improving oral health, nutritional status, and fragility in community-dwelling older adults. This training course, which provides clear and concise information regarding eating ability strategies, should undergo further evaluation and, if demonstrated to be effective and cost-effective in broader trials, may be useful in promoting healthy living.     

Interrelationships Between BDNF,Superoxide Dismutase,and Cognitive Impairment in Drug-Naive First-Episode Patients With Schizophrenia

The pathogenesis and etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ) remains unclear. Accumulating studies showed that complex interrelationships between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and an imbalanced redox system has a crucial role in the psychopathology of SCZ. However, the influence of the interrelationships of BDNF and superoxide dismutase (SOD) on cognitive impairment and clinical symptomatology in drug-naive first-episode (DNFE) SCZ patients has not been studied thoroughly. Serum BDNF levels, plasma total SOD, manganese-SOD (Mn-SOD), copper/zinc-containing SOD (CuZn-SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in 327 DNFE patients with SCZ and 391 healthy controls. Cognitive functions were measured using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological status (RBANS) and clinical symptoms were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Compared with the controls, the DNFE patients had increased activities of total SOD and CuZn-SOD, and reduced levels of BDNF and MDA. BDNF levels were positively correlated with CuZn-SOD activity in patients. In addition, we found that elevated Mn-SOD and CuZn-SOD activities were related to PANSS depression factor. Moreover, an interactive effect of BDNF levels and Mn-SOD activity was associated with attentional index score in the patients. Therefore, our findings suggested that interrelationships between BDNF and antioxidant mechanisms might underlie the pathological mechanisms of cognitive impairments and symptomatology in the DNFE patients with SCZ.     

深蹲动作下三连杆模型的对比分析

目的 探讨三连杆模型用于深蹲动作互动动力学分析的合理性，明确三连杆模型与Visual 3D计算关节力矩的差异来源。方法 选取8名受试者，通过Vicon获取深蹲动作运动学数据，采用拉格朗日第二类方程建立三连杆动力学方程，基于Mathematica编程计算获取关节力矩，与Visual 3D下肢链节段模型计算结果进行对比分析，并采用复相关系数（coefficient of multiple correlation, CMC）评价两者的相似程度。结果 8名受试者髋、膝关节CMC均大于0.85，踝关节CMC在0.50～0.85之间，三连杆动力学方程和Visual 3D计算的关节力矩在髋、膝关节处高度相似，在踝关节处仅呈现中度相似性。结论 三连杆模型可用于深蹲动作的关节力矩分析以及进一步的环节互动动力学分析，但应当考虑由地面反作用力引起的互动力矩（外力矩）对踝关节力矩的影响。     

互动式歌唱表演对轻中度阿尔茨海默病患者抑郁、精神行为和运动训练参与率的影响

目的 观察互动式歌唱表演对轻中度阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者抑郁、精神行为症状及运动训练参与率的影响。方法 选取符合入组条件≥60周岁AD患者63例，随机分为研究组（31例）和对照组（32例）。所有受试患者常规药物治疗及常规运动训练，对照组接受被动性音乐治疗，研究组接受以互动歌唱为主的主动性音乐治疗，1次/d，每次1小时，每周训练5天，持续干预6个月。于治疗前、治疗1个月后、治疗3个月后、治疗6个月后分别采用康奈尔痴呆抑郁量表（CSDD）评分、阿尔茨海默病病理行为（BEHAVE AD）评分、参与率进行评估。结果 治疗1个月、3个月后，研究组CSDD评分较治疗前均降低（P<0.05）；治疗6个月后，研究组患者CSDD评分较治疗前、治疗1个月、3个月后均显著降低（P<0.05），且与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗1个月、3个月后，研究组BEHAVE AD评分较治疗前均降低（P<0.05）；治疗6个月后，研究组患者BEHAVE AD评分较治疗前、治疗1个月、3个月后均显著降低（P<0.05），且与对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗6个月后，两组运动训练参与率组间比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 互动式歌唱表演可能对改善轻中度AD患者的抑郁和精神行为症状有着积极的疗效，同时对提高受试者运动训练的参与率可能有着更积极的疗效。     

Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in biliary tract cancers: A review of current evidences and future perspectives

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of invasive neoplasms, with increasing incidence and dismal prognosis. In advanced disease, the standard of care is represented by first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine. In subsequent lines, no clear recommendations are currently available, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic approaches.The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is a core regulator of cell metabolism, growth and survival, and is involved in BTCs carcinogenesis and progression. Mutations, gene copy number alterations and aberrant protein phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, mTOR and PTEN have been thoroughly described in BTCs and correlate with poor survival outcomes.Several pre-clinical evidences state the efficacy of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors in BTCs, both in vitro and in vivo. In the clinical setting, initial studies with rapamycin analogs have shown interesting activity with an acceptable toxicity profile. Novel strategies evaluating AKT and PI3K inhibitors have risen serious safety concerns, pointing out the need for improved patient selection and increased target specificity for the clinical development of these agents, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy.This review extensively describes the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in BTCs and examines the rationale of its targeting in these tumors, with particular focus on clinical activity, toxicities and perspectives on further development of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors.     

脑电仿生电刺激联合虚拟情景互动训练对脑卒中患者上肢功能及ADL的影响

目的:探讨脑电仿生电刺激联合虚拟情景互动训练对脑卒中患者上肢功能及日常生活能力(ADL)的影响。方法:将64例脑卒中患者按随机数表法分为观察组和对照组各32例,对照组给予常规康复训练,观察组在常规康复训练基础上增加脑电仿生电刺激和虚拟情景互动训练,分别于治疗前和治疗6周后采用简化Fugl-Meyer上肢运动功能评分(FMAUE)、Brunnstrom分期和改良Barthel指数(MBI)评定患者的上肢运动功能和日常生活自理能力。结果:两组患者治疗前各项评分差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗6周后,两组FMA-UE、Brunnstrom和MBI评分较治疗前均有显著改善,且观察组各项评分改善情况优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:脑电仿生电刺激联合虚拟情景互动训练能有效提高脑卒中患者的上肢运动功能,提高其生活质量。     

基于UMU互动移动学习的案例教学在呼吸内科规培带教中的应用

目的　探讨UMU互动移动学习的案例教学在呼吸内科规培带教中的应用效果。方法　选取2019年6月至2020年6月期间在第三军医大学大坪医院呼吸内科轮转的规培学员80名作为研究对象,将其分为观察组(n=42)和对照组(n=38)。对照组采取传统教学,观察组采取UMU互动移动学习的案例教学。比较两组学员培训后考核成绩、核心能力达标情况以及教学满意度。利用SPSS 20.0软件进行卡方检验和t检验。结果　观察组学员专业理论知识得分、病例分析能力得分和临床操作技能得分均高于对照组(P<0.05);观察组学员核心能力总达标率为95.24%,高于对照组学员核心能力总达标率78.95%(P<0.05);观察组教学满意度为100%,高于对照组教学满意度84.21%(P<0.05)。结论　将UMU互动移动学习的案例教学应用于呼吸内科规培带教中,不仅有利于提高教学质量,同时还有利于培养规培学员的核心能力、临床思维能力以及解决问题的能力,具有更高的教学满意度。     

Feasibility of a Kinect®-based rehabilitation strategy after burn injury

Introduction

The advent of consoles that deliver both interactive games and therapy may augment rehabilitation options in burn patients. The Jintronix software combines therapy-specific software and interactive gaming as a form of coaching and records patient performance on the Kinect^® platform. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of a set of Jintronix games and therapy modules in hospitalized adult burn patients.