How does the motor relearning program improve neurological function of brain ischemia monkeys?

The motor relearning program can significantly improve various functional disturbance induced by ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. However, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In injured brain tissues, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament protein changes can reflect the condition of injured neurons and astrocytes, while vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor changes can indicate angiogenesis. In the present study, we induced ischemic brain injury in the rhesus macaque by electrocoagulation of the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery. The motor relearning program was conducted for 60 days from the third day after model establishment. Immunohistochemistry and single-photon emission CT showed that the numbers of glial fibrillary acidic protein-, neurofilament protein-, vascular endothelial growth factor- and basic fibroblast growth factor-positive cells were significantly increased in the infarcted side compared with the contralateral hemisphere following the motor relearning program. Moreover, cerebral blood flow in the infarcted side was significantly improved. The clinical rating scale for stroke was used to assess neurological function changes in the rhesus macaque following the motor relearning program. Results showed that motor function was improved, and problems with consciousness, self-care ability and balance function were significantly ameliorated. These findings indicate that the motor relearning program significantly promoted neuronal regeneration, repair and angiogenesis in the surroundings of the infarcted hemisphere, and improve neurological function in the rhesus macaque following brain ischemia.

Data⁃Based Feedback Relearning Algorithm for Robust Control of SGCMG Gimbal Servo System with Multi⁃source Disturbance

Single gimbal control moment gyroscope(SGCMG)with high precision and fast response is an important attitude control system for high precision docking,rapid maneuvering navigation and guidance system in the aerospace field.In this paper,considering the influence of multi-source disturbance,a data-based feedback relearning(FR)algorithm is designed for the robust control of SGCMG gimbal servo system.Based on adaptive dynamic programming and least-square principle,the FR algorithm is used to obtain the servo control strategy by collecting the online operation data of SGCMG system.This is a model-free learning strategy in which no prior knowledge of the SGCMG model is required.Then,combining the reinforcement learning mechanism,the servo control strategy is interacted with system dynamic of SGCMG.The adaptive evaluation and improvement of servo control strategy against the multi-source disturbance are realized.Meanwhile,a data redistribution method based on experience replay is designed to reduce data correlation to improve algorithm stability and data utilization efficiency.Finally,by comparing with other methods on the simulation model of SGCMG,the effectiveness of the proposed servo control strategy is verified.

Efficacy of early intervention of motor relearning program on post-stroke hemiplemia:A randomized controlled observation

BACKGROUND： Previous studies believed that the effect of rehabilitation training within 6 months after stroke （early rehabilitation training） is usually unsatisfactory. The rehabilitation training when acute stroke is stabilized may be better for the recovery of limb function. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of the rehabilitation training of motor relearning program plus Bobath technique on the motor function of limbs, nerve function and activities of daily life （ADL） in patients with acute stroke hemiplegia. DESIGN： A randomized controlled observation SETTING： Department of Neurology, Yaan People＇s Hospital PARTICIPANTS： A total of 150 patients with acute post-stroke hemiplegia were selected from the Department of Neurology, Yaan People＇s Hospital from March 2000 to October 2002. The patients were all accorded with the diagnostic standards about stroke set by the Fifth National Academic Meeting for Cerebrovascular Disease （1996）, confirmed by CT and MRI, and they were all informed with the interventions and the items of evaluation. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into training group （n=78） and control group （n=72） at admission. METHODS ： ① Interventions： All the patients were given routine treatments for stroke, including managin blood pressure, maintaining the balance of hydrolyte and electrolure, reducing intracranial pressure by dehydration, and venous injection of citicoline, besides those in the training group received rehabilitation training by motor relearning program and Bobath technique. The rehabilitation training began after the vital signs became stable within 24 hours to 3 days after attack for the patients with cerebral infarction and 48 hours to 5 days after at- tack for those with cerebral hemorrhage respectively, three times a day in the morning, at noon and in the evening respectively, 30 minutes for each time, they were trained for 1 month. Lying position： The patients should keep the anti-spasm posture in the supine position, contralateral and ipsilateral lying positions, and the postures should be changed regularly; The patients should exercise each joint passively; turn the body over and move actively; They should also performed the bringing training, and the weight loading training for the affected upper limb. Sitting position： The patients should finish the conversion from a lying position to a sitting one independently. Standing position： The patients should finish the conversion from a sitting position to a standing one independently; They also took weight loading training for the affected lower limb. The walking training should be performed when the affected lower limb could support 2/3 of body mass. Walking training： In a standing position supported by the affected lower limb, the unaffected one stepped in small range forward and backward; Each process of balancing and controlling standing position was trained by supporting the body mass by the affected lower limb; In swinging position, the independent movement of the ipsilateral knee joint was trained in alternation of flexion and extension. ② Evaluation of limb function, ADL and nerve function： The motor function of the affected limb was evaluated with the Fugl-Meyer assessment （FMA）, the total score of the motor function of upper and lower limbs was 100 points, the higher the score, the better the limb function. ADL were assessed with the modified Barthel index （MBI）, the total score was 100 points, the higher the score, the better the independence and the smaller the dependence. The severities of neurological deficit were assessed with neurological deficit score （NDS）, the total score ranged 0-45 points, the higher the score, the severer the neurological deficit. ③ Statistical analysis： The ttest was applied to compare the differences of the measurement data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The changes of nerve function, motor function and ADL in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia after motor relearning program training were observed. RESULTS： All the 150 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were involved in the analysis of results. ① The scores of NDS, FMA and MBI before intervention in the training group were （25±9）, （23±23）, （20±16） points, which were close to those in the control group [（24±8）, （24±21）, （24±20） points, P 〉 0.05]. ② The NDS score after intervention in the training group was obviously lower than that in the control group [（10±7）, （18±9） points, t=4.07, P 〈 0.01], but the FMA and MBI scores were markedly higher than those in the control group [（72±28）, （80±24） points; （43±28）, （40±24） points, t=3.99, 6.50, P 〈 0.01]. CONCLUSION ： The comprehensive rehabilitation of motor relearning program plus Bobath technique at early period can remarkably improve the motor function of the affected limbs, nerve function and ADL in patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.

Motor relearning program and Bobath method improve motor function of the upper extremities in patients with stroke

BACKGROUND: In the natural evolution of cerebrovascular disease, unconscious use of affected extremity during drug treatment and daily life can improve the function of affected upper extremity partially, but it is very slow and also accompanied by the formation of abnormal mode. Therefore, functional training should be emphasized in recovering the motor function of extremity. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of combination of motor relearning program and Bobath method on motor function of upper extremity of patients with stroke. DESIGN: Comparison of therapeutic effects taking stroke patients as observation subjects. SETTING: Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Beijing Jingmei Group. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 120 stroke patients, including 60 males and 60 females, averaged (59±3) years, who hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Beijing Jingmei Group between January 2005 and June 2006 were recruited. The involved patients met the following criteria: Stroke attack within 2 weeks; diagnosis criteria of cerebral hemorrhage or infarction made in the 4th National Cerebrovascular Disease Conference; confirmed by skull CT or MRI; Informed consents of therapeutic regimen were obtained. The patients were assigned into 2 groups according to their wills: rehabilitation group and control group, with 30 males and 30 females in each group. Patients in rehabilitation group averaged (59±2)years old, and those in the control group averaged (58±2)years old. METHODS: ① Patients in two groups received routine treatment in the Department of Neurology. When the vital signs of patients in the rehabilitation group were stable, individualized treatment was conducted by combined application of motor relearning program and Bobath method. Meanwhile, training of activity of daily living was performed according to the disease condition changes of patients at different phases, including the nursing and instruction of body posture, the maintenance of good extremity position, bed exercise, bedside sit up and sitting position balance, sit up exercise, dynamic and static balance exercise, walking exercise, active training and passive training. The strength, time and speed of training were increased gradually according to their physical abilities. Patients were trained 45 to 60 minutes once, 5 times a week, within 2 weeks. ② Evaluation criteria of therapeutic effect: The motor function of upper extremity was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer method on the day of beginning and end of treatment. Higher points indicated better function of upper extremity. ③ t test and paired t test were used for comparing the difference of intergroup and intragroup measurement data, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in Fugl-Meyer scoring of two groups before and after treatment. RESULTS: Totally 120 stroke patients participated in the final analysis. Before treatment, Fugl-Meyer scoring was close between rehabilitation group and control group [(14.47±2.38),(14.16±2.39) points, P > 0.05]; Fugl-Meyer scoring of rehabilitation group after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment and that of control group[(37.93±2.67),(18.36±2.43) points, t =11.053, 5.408, P < 0.01]; There were no significant differences in Fugl-Meyer scoring between before treatment in the control group and control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined application of motor relearning program and Bobath method can significantly improve the motor function of upper extremity of patients with stroke.

Effect of Motor Relearning Combined with t DCS on Motor Function of Lower Extremities and Gait in Patients with Cerebral Infarction and 3D Gait Analysis

[Objectives]To observe the effect of motor relearning combined with transcranial direct current stimulation on the motor function of lower extremities in patients with cerebral infarction,and to observe its effect on gait by 3D gait analysis.[Methods]60 patients with cerebral infarction who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the order of treatment(n=20).Group A received motor relearning treatment,group B received transcranial direct current stimulation treatment,group C received motor relearning combined with transcranial direct current stimulation,and the curative effect was observed after 5 courses of treatment.[Results]Before treatment,FMA,MBI,spatio-temporal parameters for 3D gait analysis(gait frequency,gait cycle,stride length,gait speed,stride length deviation,double support)and lower limb joint motion parameters(affected side stride length,maximum hip flexion,maximum hip extension,maximum knee flexion,maximum knee extension,stance phase,swing phase)were compared among the three groups.After treatment,the FMA and MBI of the three groups increased,and the spatio-temporal parameters for 3D gait analysis(gait frequency,gait cycle,gait speed,double support)and the lower limb joint motion parameters(affected side stride length,maximum hip flexion,maximum hip extension,maximum knee flexion,swing phase)were all improved,while the spatio-temporal parameters(stride length and stride length deviation)and the lower limb joint motion parameters(maximum knee extension and stance phase)decreased.Compared with those before treatment,there were significant differences among the three groups(P<0.05).Through the comparison between groups,it was found that the FMA,MBI,spatio-temporal parameters for 3D gait analysis(gait frequency,gait cycle,gait speed,double support)and lower limb joint motion parameters(affected side stride length,maximum hip flexion,maximum hip extension,maximum knee flexion,swing phase)in group C were significantly higher than those in group A and B,while the spatio-temporal parameters(stride length and stride length deviation)and lower limb joint motion parameters(maximum knee extension and stance phase)in group C were significantly lower than those in group A and group B,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Motor relearning combined with transcranial direct current stimulation could increase MBI and FMA,improve gait spatio-temporal parameters and lower limb joint motion parameters,and correct abnormal gait in patients with cerebral infarction.

An EMG-Based Biomimetic Variable Stiffness Modulation Strategy for Bilateral Motor Skills Relearning of Upper Limb Elbow Joint Rehabilitation

Bilateral rehabilitation systems with bilateral or unilateral assistive robots have been developed for hemiplegia patients to recover their one-side paralysis.However,the compliant robotic assistance to promote bilateral inter-limb coordination remains a challenge that should be addressed.In this paper,a biomimetic variable stiffness modulation strategy for the Variable Stiffness Actuator(VSA)integrated robotic is proposed to improve bilateral limb coordination and promote bilateral motor skills relearning.An Electromyography(EMG)-driven synergy reference stiffness estimation model of the upper limb elbow joint is developed to reproduce the muscle synergy effect on the affected side limb by independent real-time stiffness control.Additionally,the bilateral impedance control is incorporated for realizing compliant patient-robot interaction.Preliminary experiments were carried out to evaluate the tracking performance and investigate the multiple task intensities’influence on bilateral motor skills relearning.Experimental results evidence the proposed method could enable bilateral motor task skills relearning with wide-range task intensities and further promote bilateral inter-limb coordination.

Learn to Unlearn for Transformative Learning:An Epistemological Look

The present work corresponds to a reflection about several theories and approaches of the learning and their relevance in the training of social agents,reflection that emerges from the practice of the training,and attending to the fact that the meaning of what it implies to learn and how it is that is learned is not at the center of the discussion in universities in Latin America,which emphasizes more what to teach rather than how to teach.