Upper Limb Isokinetic Strengthening Versus Passive Mobilization in Patients With Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To assess the benefit of isokinetic strengthening of the upper limb (UL) in patients with chronic stroke as compared to passive mobilization.

Rhythm Perception and Production Abilities and Their Relationship to Gait After Stroke

Objectives

To assess rhythm abilities, to describe their relation to clinical presentation, and to determine if rhythm production independently contributes to temporal gait asymmetry (TGA) poststroke.

Extent to Which Caregivers Enhance the Wheelchair Skills Capacity and Confidence of Power Wheelchair Users: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

To test the hypothesis that caregivers enhance the wheelchair skills capacity and confidence of the power wheelchair users to whom they provide assistance, and to describe the nature of that assistance.

超声影像设备质量保证用体模国产化和标准化的迄今发展

体模、试件是超声影像设备性能检测和质量保证的关键技术手段。本文描述其国产化、标准化的发展历程和现状,并为此阐释了若干重要定义,归纳了表征超声影像设备技术性能的主要参数。     

Development of a multiparametric in vitro model of skin sensitization

Most animal experiments on cosmetics safety are prohibited and since March 2013, this obligation includes sensitization tests. However, until now there has been no validated alternative in vitro method. In this work, 400 compounds used in the cosmetic industry were selected to cover the greatest diversity of structures, biological activities and sensitizing potential. These molecules were submitted to a series of tests aimed at reproducing essential steps in sensitization and to distinguish between sensitization and irritations, i.e., transcutaneous permeation (factor A), haptenation (factor B), sensitization cytokines production (factor C) and acute toxicity (factor D). The transcutaneous diffusion was measured on human skin explants using Franz cells. Haptenation was tested in solution on human serum albumin. Sensitization cytokine production was investigated by measurement of interleukin‐18 release by keratinocytes. Acute toxicity was determined using an 3‐(4,5‐Dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide⁷⁵ cell viability test. As only sufficiently stable, soluble and detectable compounds are usable, 33, 72, 68 and 68 molecules were finally tested on factors A, B, C and D, respectively, and 32 were completely screened by the four factors. The individual correlation of the four factors with the reference in vivo tests was limited but the combination of these factors led to a correlation between in vivo and in vitro assays of 81.2% and the safety of the test (risk of false negative) reached 96.8%. The techniques employed are simple and inexpensive and this model of four tests appears as a promising technique to evaluate in vitro the skin sensitization potential of unknown molecules. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does a combined intervention program of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and intensive occupational therapy affect cognitive function in patients with post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis?

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(LF-r TMS) to the contralesional hemisphere and intensive occupational therapy(i OT) have been shown to contribute to a significant improvement in upper limb hemiparesis in patients with chronic stroke. However, the effect of the combined intervention program of LF-r TMS and i OT on cognitive function is unknown. We retrospectively investigated whether the combined treatment influence patient's Trail-Making Test part B(TMT-B) performance, which is a group of easy and inexpensive neuropsychological tests that evaluate several cognitive functions. Twenty-five patients received 11 sessions of LF-r TMS to the contralesional hemisphere and 2 sessions of i OT per day over 15 successive days. Patients with right- and left-sided hemiparesis demonstrated significant improvements in upper limb motor function following the combined intervention program. Only patients with right-sided hemiparesis exhibited improved TMT-B performance following the combined intervention program, and there was a significant negative correlation between Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale total score change and TMT-B performance. The results indicate the possibility that LF-r TMS to the contralesional hemisphere combined with i OT improves the upper limb motor function and cognitive function of patients with right-sided hemiparesis. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of improved cognitive function.     

Rasch analysis of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–computer adaptive test (PEDI‐CAT) item bank for children and young adults with spinal muscular atrophy

Introduction: In this study we evaluated the suitability of a caregiver‐reported functional measure, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory–Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI‐CAT), for children and young adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods: PEDI‐CAT Mobility and Daily Activities domain item banks were administered to 58 caregivers of children and young adults with SMA. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate test properties across SMA types. Results: Unidimensional content for each domain was confirmed. The PEDI‐CAT was most informative for type III SMA, with ability levels distributed close to 0.0 logits in both domains. It was less informative for types I and II SMA, especially for mobility skills. Item and person abilities were not distributed evenly across all types. Conclusions: The PEDI‐CAT may be used to measure functional performance in SMA, but additional items are needed to identify small changes in function and best represent the abilities of all types of SMA. Muscle Nerve 54 : 1097–1107, 2016     

麝香草酚《中国药典》2015年版微生物限度检查法方法学研究

目的:建立麝香草酚《中国药典》2015年版微生物限度检查方法。方法:需氧菌总数检查为薄膜过滤法,冲洗量为800ml;霉菌和酵母菌总数检查为薄膜过滤法,冲洗液为p H 7.0无菌氯化钠-蛋白胨缓冲液,冲洗量为800 ml;大肠埃希菌检查、金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌检查均为薄膜过滤法,冲洗液为p H7.0无菌氯化钠-蛋白胨缓冲液,冲洗量为800 ml。结果:在三次独立平行的试验中,5株试验菌的回收比值0.5~2.0。结论:该方法消除了样品的抑菌性,可用于该品种的微生物限度检查。     

Evaluation of the genetic stability of Sabin strains and the consistency of inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine made from Sabin strains using direct deep-sequencing

Inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine made from Sabin strains (sIPV) has been encouraged to introduce in the “Global Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan” and increasingly used worldwide. Attenuated Sabin strains used in manufacture of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and sIPV may regain full or partial neurovirulence during growth in vaccine recipients and the vaccine manufacturing processes. Ensuring the molecular consistency of sIPV batches and that no mutation accumulates beyond the level present in past batches are important for quality control of vaccine manufacture process. Direct deep-sequencing allows the construction of a library of virus RNA and the detection of genetic mutations throughout the viral genome. In the present study, direct deep-sequencing was conducted to detect molecular mutations in virus passages, multiple sIPV monovalent lots, and virus monovalent lots from different polio type III strains. The results indicated that direct deep-sequencing can be used to identify and quantify small amounts of mutant viruses in vaccine preparations, trace the source of a specific virus seed, and monitor the batch-to-batch consistency of vaccines, suggesting that this technique could be suitable for the quality control and consistency monitoring of sIPV production.