Biofeedback therapy improves motor function following stroke Meta-analysis of 14 articles from Chinese Medical Institutions

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate feasibility of biofeedback therapy in China Medical Institutions to improve dysfunction following stroke. DATA SOURCE： A computer-based online search of publications was conducted using the Vip and PubMed Databases to identify publications that addressed biofeedback. The search key words included ＂electromyogram＂, ＂biofeedback＂, and ＂stroke＂. In total, 81 articles were retrieved. DATA SELECTION： Studies closely related to biofeedback, or studies with contents recently published in the same study field or in authorized journals, were included. Duplicated articles were excluded. Following full-text retrieval of selected articles, a total of 14 articles were collected, which addressed randomized, controlled trials of biofeedback therapy for dysfunction after stroke. Methodological quality was assessed for randomized, controlled trials using criteria from Cochrane reviewers＇ handbook. Results were analyzed using Revman 4.2 software. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Outcomes and evaluation indices were expressed by odds ratio （OR）, weighted mean difference （WMD）, and 95% confidence interval （95% CO. Potential publication bias was presented using the funnel plot. RESULTS： The study included 14 randomized, controlled trials of 1 147 patients. Following biofeedback therapy, meta-analysis results demonstrated that： （1） The total effective rate was significantly greater in the biofeedback therapy group compared with the control group [OR = 3.46, 95% Cl （2.09, 5.73）, P = 0.62]. （2） Electromyogram changes were better in biofeedback therapy patients compared to the control group [WMD= 22.31, 95% C/（17.19, 27.43）, P〈 0.001]. （3） Motor function was better in biofeedback therapy patients compared with the control group [WMD = 12.43, 95% CI （6.71, 18.16）, P 〈 0.001]. （4） Daily living activities were better in biofeedback therapy patients compared with the control group [WMD= 18.11, 95% C/（15.77, 20.44）, P= 0.36]. （5） Joint range of motion was better in biofeedback therapy patients compared with the control group [WMD = 6.43, 95% Cl （4.44, 8.41）, P = 0.77]. Sensitivity analysis also demonstrated similar results after eliminating articles that described unknown diagnostic criteria and statistical methods. CONCLUSION： Following stroke, biofeedback therapy for dysfunction was shown to result in significant and valid outcomes, increased motor function and electromyogram values, improved joint range of motion, and improved daily living activities.

Experimental and Numerical Study on the Gas Explosion in Urban Regulator Station

Regulator station is an important part in the urban gas transmission and distribution system.Once gas explosion occurs,the real explosion process and consequences of methane gas explosion in the regulator station were not revealed systematically.In this study,a full-scale experiment was carried out to simulate the regulator station explosion process,and some numerical simulations with a commercial CFD software called FLACS were conducted to analyze the effect of ignition and vent conditions on the blast overpressure and flame propagation.The experimental results demonstrated that the peak overpressure increased as the distance from the vent increased within a certain distance.And the maximum overpressure appeared 3 m away from the door,which was about 36.6 kPa.It was found that the pressure-time rising curves obtained from the simulation are basically the same as the ones from the experiment,however,the time of reaching the peak pressure was much shorter.The numerical simulation results show that the peak overpressures show an increase trend as the ignition height decreased and the vent relief pressure increased.It indicates that the damage and peak overpressure of gas explosion could be well predicted by FLACS in different styles of regulator station.In addition,the results help us to understand the internal mechanism and development process of gas explosion better.It also offers technical support for the safety protection of the urban regulator station.

Efficacy of Yinzhihuang Granules and Entecavir on Hepatitis B-induced Cirrhosis

[Objectives]This study aimed to observe the efficacy and safety of Yinzhihuang granules and entecavir in the treatment of hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis.[Methods]Total 80 patients with decompensated hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis were evenly and randomly divided into two groups,treatment group and control group.The patients in the treatment group were given orally with 0.25 mg entecavir and 5000 mg Yinzhihuang granules once a day,and those in the control group were given orally with 0.5 mg entecavir once a day.The levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),hyaluronic acid(HA)and HBV DNA,the Child-Pugh score,and the positive situation of HBeAg in different groups were observed before treatment and 12,24,48 and 96 weeks after the treatment,respectively.[Results]The serum ALT,AST,HA and HBV DNA levels,the HBeAg positive rate,and the Child-Pugh score in the treatment and control groups were significantly improved after the treatment(P<0.05).The improvement of the above indicators in the treatment group at week 96 was significantly better than that in the control group(P<0.05).[Conclusions]The combination of Yinzhihuang granules and entecavir is superior to entecavir in the treatment of decompensated hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis.

Meta-analysis of transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat post-stroke dysfunction

OBJECTIVE： To evaluate the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation （TMS） on post-stroke dysfunction. DATA SOURCES： A computer-based online search of the VIP and PubMed databases was performed to identify TMS studies published between January 1989 and December 2010 using the key words ＂transcranial magnetic stimulation, stroke＂ in Chinese and English. A total of 61 articles were collected. STUDY SELECTION： Repetitive articles were excluded. Articles published recently in the authoritative journals of the same domain were selected. The full-text of selected articles was searched. A total of seven articles were randomized controlled experiments regarding the application of TMS in the treatment of post-stroke dysfunction. The methodology quality of included articles was evaluated according to standards of Cochrane Reviewer＇s Handbook system and analyzed using RevMand4.2 software. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Therapeutic effects and difference evaluation indices were represented by odds ratios, weighted mean difference （WMD） and 95% confidence interval （CO. Potential publication bias was described using a funnel plot. RESULTS： A total of seven randomized, controlled studies were included involving 281 patients. Following TMS treatment, meta-analysis results revealed that scores in the Mini-Mental State Examination were higher in the TMS group compared with the control group [WMD = 3.96, 95% CI （2.44, 5.49）, P = 0.08]; scores in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression were significantly lower in the TMS group compared with the control group [WMD = 6.21,95% C （ 7.55, 4.87）, P = 0.92] scores in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale were lower following TMS treatment compared with the control group [WMD = 0.89, 95% C （ 1.98, 0.19）, P = 0.04]. Performance of patients undergoing TMS treatment was better than the controls in the line bisection test [WMD = 0.78, 95% Cl （ 1.43,-0.12）, P = 0.005] and line cancellation test [WMD = 0.47, 95% CI （ 0.78, 0.15）, P 〈 0.000 01]. Sensitivity analysis produced identical results after eliminating articles with unknown diagnostic standards or statistical methods. CONCLUSION： TMS effectively improved post-stroke dysfunction, manifested by improved cognitive function and memory performance compared with controls.