Outcomes after occupational therapy intervention for traumatic brachial plexus injury: A prospective longitudinal cohort study

Study DesignProspective longitudinal cohort study.IntroductionTraumatic brachial plexus injuries (BPIs) can be devastating and negatively impact daily function and quality of life. Occupational therapists play an important role in rehabilitation; however, studies identifying outcomes are lacking.PurposeThis study aims to describe outcomes including motor recovery, upper limb function, participation, pain, and quality of life for people receiving occupational therapy intervention.MethodsA convenience sample of English-speaking adults (n = 30) with a traumatic BPI, attending the clinic between December 1, 2014, to November 30, 2016, participated. Participants received occupational therapy focusing on sensorimotor retraining and activity-based rehabilitation. Data on active range of motion (goniometry), strength (Medical Research Council (MRC)), upper-limb function (UEFI15, QuickDASH), participation (PSFS), pain (Brief Pain Inventory), and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) were collected at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.ResultsElbow flexion strength showed significant improvement at all time-points, average increase 2.17 (MRC) (95% confidence interval: 1.29-3.04; P < .001) and mean final MRC grading 3.86 (standard error: 0.44). Significant improvements at 12 months were seen in: shoulder abduction strength and range, flexion strength and range, external rotation range; elbow extension strength and flexion range; thumb flexion and extension strength. Upper limb function (QuickDASH) showed significant improvement (mean change = 18.85; 95% confidence interval: 4.12-33.59; P = .02). Forearm protonation range and finger flexion strength were significantly worse. Remaining outcomes did not show significant improvement.ConclusionsOccupational therapy with surgical intervention can improve strength, range, and upper limb function with people following traumatic BPI. Further investigations into impact on participation, pain, and quality of life are required.     

The differential roles of contralesional frontoparietal areas in cortical reorganization after stroke

BackgroundStudies examining the contribution of contralesional brain regions to motor recovery after stroke have revealed conflicting results comprising both supporting and disturbing influences. Especially the relevance of contralesional brain regions beyond primary motor cortex (M1) has rarely been studied, particularly concerning the temporal dynamics post-stroke.MethodsWe, therefore, used online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) interference to longitudinally assess the role of contralesional (right) frontoparietal areas for recovery of hand motor function after left hemispheric stroke: contralesional M1, contralesional dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC), and contralesional anterior intraparietal sulcus (IPS). Fourteen stroke patients and sixteen age-matched healthy subjects performed motor tasks of varying complexity with their (paretic) right hand. Motor performance was quantified using three-dimensional kinematic data. All patients were assessed twice, (i) in the first week, and (ii) after more than three months post-stroke.ResultsWhile we did not observe a significant effect of TMS interference on movement kinematics following the stimulation of contralesional M1 and dPMC in the first week post-stroke, we found improvements of motor performance upon interference with contralesional IPS across motor tasks early after stroke, an effect that persisted into the later phase. By contrast, for dPMC, TMS-induced deterioration of motor performance was only evident three months post-stroke, suggesting that a supportive role of contralesional premotor cortex might evolve with reorganization.ConclusionWe here highlight time-sensitive and region-specific effects of contralesional frontoparietal areas after left hemisphere stroke, which may influence on neuromodulation regimes aiming at supporting recovery of motor function post-stroke.     

健康教育对恢复期精神疾病病人的康复作用

目的 探讨健康教育对恢复期精神疾病病人的康复作用.方法 将124例恢复期精神疾病病人随机分为观察组和对照组各62例.对照组按常规抗精神病药物治疗,观察组在此基础上实施健康教育,分别于治疗前及治疗后6周采用BPRS、NOSIE量表进行效果评定.结果 观察组病人BPRS评分明显低于对照组(p＜0 01),NOSIE评分高于对照组(p＜0.05).结论 对恢复期精神疾病病人实施健康教育,有助于改善病人的精神症状,减轻焦虑、抑郁情绪,增强社会功能,减少复发,降低残疾程度.     

乙状结肠两种造口方式术后排便功能及并发症的观察和对比

目的对两种乙状结肠造口术后造口功能及并发症进行观察对比。方法回顾性分析我们自1996年～2006年行Miles手术腹壁永久性造口512例的临床资料。结果经腹膜外结肠造口288例,发生造口并发症23例,并发症发生率为7.99%;经腹膜内结肠造口224例,发生造口并发症76例,并发症发生率为33.93%。经腹膜外结肠造口者术后2年造口功能优良率为56.25%,经腹膜内结肠造口者为30.80%(P<0.01)。结论经腹膜外结肠造口功能恢复及术后并发症发生率均优于经腹膜内结肠造口。     

鼻内镜鼻窦手术后应用香菊片对粘膜转归的影响

目的 观察内镜鼻窦手术后应用香菊片对术腔粘膜转归的影陶。方法 Ⅱ型鼻窦炎、鼻息肉患者180例作为治疗组，行内镜鼻窦手术后，在常规辅助治疗基础上加用香菊片口服，并设ll0例Ⅱ型鼻窦炎、鼻息肉患者作为对照组，对比观察术腔清洁时间、术腔上皮化时间及术后复发率。结果 治疗组术腔清洁时间平均为：Ⅰ期1．5周，Ⅱ期1．8周，Ⅲ期2．1周；对照组Ⅰ期2．0周，Ⅱ期2．5周，Ⅲ期3．3周，差异有显著性意义(P＜0．01)。治疗组术腔上皮化时间平均为：Ⅰ期7．0周，Ⅱ期7．5周，Ⅲ期7．8周；对照组Ⅰ期8．0周，Ⅱ期8．4周，Ⅲ期9．0周，差异有显著性意义(P＜0．01)。治疗组术后复发率为4．4％，明显少于对照组7．3％。结论 内镜鼻窦手术后，应用香菊片对鼻腔功能的恢复具有良好的疗效，并能减少复发率，可做为常规药物应用临床。     

通过三年资料实证医院检验科常规项目全成本

目的弄清医院常规检验项目的实际成本,为医院及卫生主管部门进行科学管理和政府物价部门制订科学合理的收费价格体系提供科学依据。方法对某二级甲等医院检验科3年中所开展的全部7大类16个项目组169个检验项目的成本按耗材、设备折旧、劳务费、房屋折旧、业务费与后勤管理费共5大类进行实证分析。结果该科的成本构成比是:耗材成本34.1%、设备折旧24.3%、劳务费30.0%、房屋折旧4.0%、业务费与后勤管理费7.6%;检验项目的每项次平均成本为7.17元;成本最低的两类检验项目是生化及定性免疫,其项次成本分别为3.18元和4.25元;最高的则为微生物和血库,项次成本分别为48.63元和35.21元;项次成本过百元的有7项,多为输血项目;5至10倍于平均成本的28项,2至5倍于全科平均成本的22项,其余112项介于全科平均成本上下。结论实证研究是准确掌握检验项目成本的有效方法。     

脊柱后结构在胸腰段脊髓神经损伤及爆裂骨折分类中的作用

目的观察脊柱后结构在脊髓神经组织损伤中的作用,为脊髓神经损伤程度评估和预测脊髓神经功能恢复的可能性及进一步完善分类提供依据。方法实验采用高速准静态轴向加载法复制脊椎爆裂型骨折模型,检测椎管内压力变化及脊柱后结构损伤程度。对127例胸腰椎爆裂骨折合并截瘫患者的脊髓神经损伤程度及脊髓神经功能恢复情况与后结构损伤的相关性进行回顾性研究。结果实验证实后柱有损伤者椎管内压力变化峰值较小,无损伤者峰值较大。55例后结构损伤患者中伴脊髓神经损伤38例(69.09%),其中24例(63.16%)神经功能得到恢复,而72例无后结构损伤者有52例(72.22%)合并脊髓神经损伤,其中20例(38.46%)有神经功能改善。两组之间差异有显著性,提示无后结构损伤患者脊髓神经损伤和功能缺失的程度更重。结论无后结构损伤时脊髓神经损伤和功能缺失的程度明显高于有后结构损伤者,脊柱后结构的完整与否对脊髓神经损伤程度起着重要作用,可作为伤情评估、功能恢复预测和完善Denis分类的有效尺度。     

Neuroprotection with felbamate: a 7- and 28-day study in transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils

The use of glutamate antagonists and GABA agonists may protect neurons from the effects of transient ischemia. Felbamate is a new antiepileptic drug with glutamate antagonist and GABA agonist properties, We tested the efficacy of felbamate in a gerbil model of transient forebrain ischemia. Damage assessment was done with silver staining at 7 and 28 days after 5 min of bilateral carotid occlusion, Cerebral cortex, hippocampus (CA1 and CA4), thalamus and striatum were evaluated on a 4-point scoring system, The animals sacrificed at 28 days were also tested in a water-maze task to assess recovery of function, The initial dose of felbamate (300 mg/kg) was given 30 min before the ischemic insult in one set of animals and 30 min after the insult in another set of animals. There were 8 animals tested per group (total: 48 animals). There was significant neuronal protection with the use of felbamate, both before and after ischemia in all regions of the brain. Protection was seen in animals sacrificed at 7 and 28 days, Protection was moderate when felbamate was used before ischemia. It was highly significant when felbamate was given 30 min after the insult. Behavioral studies however did not show any difference in the felbamate treated animals versus the saline treated controls. The structural protection with felbamate was very significant when used in the post-ischemic period. This window for protection merits further evaluation in relation to the clinical setting of stroke.     

Electrode recovery potential

In some instances the same electrodes are used for stimulation and then for recording a bioelectric event immediately after the stimulus. However, after the current pulse there remains an electrode potential that decays quasiexponentially. We have designated this falling potential the electrode-recovery potential. This study investigated the recovery potentials of single electrodes of rhodium, stainless steel, platinum and platinum-iridium in contact with 0.9% saline at room temperature (25°C) over a current density ranging from 0.1 to 100 mA/cm² using a constant-current pulse. In all cases, with increasing current density, there was a decrease in the time for the electrode potential to fall to one half of the immediate post-stimulus value. Above about 20 mA/cm² the decrease in recovery time was smooth with increasing current density. Below 20 mA/cm², the recovery time was slightly irregular. The shortest recovery times were for platinum and platinum-iridium. The largest decrease in recovery time with increasing current density was for stainless steel, which decreased 10 fold from 0.1 to 100 mA/cm². The recovery time for rhodium decreased about three-and-one half fold over the same current density range. It was found that the waveform of the recovery potential is not a simple exponential because the Warburg and Faradic components of the electrode-electrolyte interface are current-density dependent. In general, for all current densities studied (0.1–100 mA/cm²), there was a sudden initial fall in electrode potential with cessation of current flow, followed by a very gradual nonexponential decrease in potential.