Application of cross-migration theory in limb rehabilitation of stroke patients with hemiplegia

BACKGROUND Stroke is a common cause of neurological dysfunction,often resulting in hemiplegia.Thus,rehabilitation of limb function in stroke patients is an important step towards accelerating recovery and improving quality of life.AIM To investigate whether unilateral strength training in hemiplegic stroke patients could lead to cross-migration,an increase in bilateral muscle strength,and an improvement in lower limb motor function.METHODS We randomly divided 120 patients with hemiplegic stroke into two groups:Eexperimental and control groups,with 60 patients in each group.Both groups received routine rehabilitation treatment,while the experimental group additional-ly received ankle dorsiflexion resistance training on the healthy side for 6 wk.We measured the maximum voluntary contract(MVC),changes in surface electromyography(EMG),and the lower limb motor function using the simplified Fugl Meyer Motor Function Assessment Scale(FMA)before and within 1 wk after training.RESULTS The FMA score in the experimental group improved significantly compared to both their pre-training score and the control group's post-training score(P<0.05).The integrated EMG of the anterior tibialis muscle and pulmonary intestine muscle in the experimental group were significantly different after training than before(P<0.05).Furthermore,the MVC of the anterior tibialis muscle on both the healthy and affected sides and the MVC of the pulmonary intestine muscle on both sides showed significant improvement compared with before training and the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ankle dorsiflexion resistance training on the healthy side in hemiplegic stroke patients can increase strength in the opposite tibialis anterior muscle and antagonist's muscle,indicating a cross-migration phenomenon of strength training.Furthermore,this type of training can also improve lower limb motor function,providing a new exercise method for improving early ankle dorsiflexion dysfunction.

c.753＿754delAG, a novel CFTR mutation found in a Chinese patient with cystic fibrosis: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis(CF)is rare in Asian populations relative to the Caucasian population.In this paper,we report the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR)variation in a family of Chinese CF patients,and systematically review the previous literature.CASE SUMMARY Here we report a 30-month-old Chinese girl who was diagnosed with CF based on her history and symptoms such as recurrent productive cough,wheezing with repeated infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and parasinusitis.Chest computed tomography(CT)scanning revealed obvious exudative lesions and bilateral bronchiectasis.Liver CT scanning revealed a low-density lesion in the left lobe of the liver.A diagnosis of CF was made based upon CFTR gene tests.The CFTR gene was sequenced using the blood samples of her and her parents and showed a heterozygous novel missense mutation of c.753_754delAG in exon 7.In addition,a heterozygous c.1240 C>T mutation was found in exon 10 of the CFTR.The mutation c.753_754delAG was verified to have been inherited from her mother,and the c.1240 C>T mutation was from her father who was diagnosed with congenital absence of vas deferens.CONCLUSION A novel mutation of CFTR,c.753_754delAG,was found in a Chinese CF child.c.2909G>A is the most common mutation among Chinese CF patients.

Multisystem smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome in a Chinese girl:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome(MSMDS) is a rare genetic disease worldwide. The main mutation is the actin alpha 2(ACTA2) gene p.R179 H. In this paper, we report a Chinese MSMDS patient and systematically review the previous literature.CASE SUMMARY Here, we report a 9.6-month-old Chinese girl who was diagnosed with MSMDS based on her history and symptoms, such as recurrent cough, wheezing, and complications with congenital fixed dilated pupils. Chest high-resolution computed tomography revealed inhomogeneous lung transparency, obvious exudative lesions, and some lung fissures that were markedly thickened. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging excluded bleeding and infarction but showed abnormal signals in the centrum ovale majus and bilateral periventricular regions. Echocardiography only showed patent foramen ovale, and no patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary artery dilatation, or pulmonary hypertension was found. Bronchoscopy indicated moderate bronchial malacia. These examinations in conjunction with the typical eye abnormality suggested a diagnosis of MSMDS, and sequencing of exon 6 of the ACTA2 gene demonstrated the heterozygous mutation c.536 G>A, p.R179 H. However, her parents' gene analyses were normal.CONCLUSION MSMDS is a rare genetic disease mainly caused by the mutation of the ACTA2 gene p.R179 H. Early genetic diagnosis should be performed for children presenting with congenital fixed dilated pupils and patent ductus arteriosus.During the process of diagnosis and treatment, clinicians should be on high alert for cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and pulmonary complications.

Heterogeneous layered structure in thermal barrier coatings by plasma spray-physical vapor deposition

The unique columnar structure endows thermal barrier coatings(TBCs)prepared by plasma spray-physical vapor deposition(PS-PVD)with high thermal insulation and long lifetime.However,the coating delamination failure resulting from an intra-column fracture(within a column rather than between columns)is a bottleneck in the solid dust particle impact environment for aero-engine.To clarify the intra-column fracture mechanism,a basic layer deposition model is developed to explore a heterogeneous weak-to-strong layered structure formed by a local transient in-situ deposit temperature.During the PS-PVD,an in-situ deposit surface is continuously updated due to constantly being covered by vapor condensation,showing a transient temperature,which means that the in-situ deposit surface temperature rises sharply in short period of 0.2 s of depositing a thin layer during a single pass.Meanwhile,the increasing temperature of the in-situ deposit surface results in an experimentally observed heterogeneous weak-to-strong structure,showing a continuous transition from a porous weak structure at the bottom region to a dense strong structure at the top region.This structure easily makes the intra-column fracture at the porous weak region.The results shed light on improving TBC lifetime by restraining the intra-column fracture.

Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition toward advanced thermal barrier coatings:a review

Plasma spray–physical vapor deposition(PS–PVD)is a unique technology that enables highly tailorable functional films and coatings with various rare metal elements to be processed.This technology bridges the gap between conventional thermal spray and vapor deposition and provides a variety of coating microstructures composed of vapor,liquid,and solid deposition units.The PS–PVD technique serves a broad range of applications in the fields of thermal barrier coatings(TBCs),environmental barrier coatings(EBCs),oxygen permeable films,and electrode films.It also represents the development direction of high-performance TBC/EBC preparation technologies.With the PS–PVD technique,the composition of the deposition unit determines the microstructure of the coating and its performance.When coating materials are injected into a nozzle and transported into the plasma jet,the deposition unit generated by a coating material is affected by the plasma jet characteristics.However,there is no direct in situ measurement method of material transfer and deposition processes in the PS–PVD plasma jet,because of the extreme conditions of PS–PVD such as a low operating pressure of*100 Pa,temperatures of thousands of degrees,and a thin and high-velocity jet.Despite the difficulties,the transport and transformation behaviors of the deposition units were also researched by optical emission spectroscopy,observation of the coating microstructure and other methods.This paper reviews the progress of PS–PVD technologies considering the preparation of advanced thermal barrier coatings from the perspective of the transport and transformation behaviors of the deposition units.The development prospects of new high-performance TBCs using the PS–PVD technique are also discussed.

A new species of Aequales,genus Gieysztoria(Rhabdocoela:Dalyelliidae) from China

A new species of Aequales group, namely Gieysztoria shiyanensis Wang ＆ Xia, sp. nov., is described from China. The new species is diagnosed by a sclerotic stylet with a belt attaching 15 fang-like spines. A worldwide list of Aequales group and a key to species of Gieysztoria in China are provided.