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.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on tooth-related pain and somatosensory function evoked by orthodontic treatment

Low-level laser therapy(LLLT) may have an effect on the pain associated with orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of LLLT on pain and somatosensory sensitization induced by orthodontic treatment. Forty individuals(12–33 years old; mean ± standard deviations: 20.8 ± 5.9 years) scheduled to receive orthodontic treatment were randomly divided into a laser group(LG) or a placebo group(PG)(1:1). The LG received LLLT(810-nm gallium-aluminium-arsenic diode laser in continuous mode with the power set at 400 mW, 2 J·cm–2) at 0 h, 2 h, 24 h, 4 d, and 7 d after treatment, and the PG received inactive treatment at the same time points. In both groups, the non-treated side served as a control. A numerical rating scale(NRS) of pain, pressure pain thresholds(PPTs), cold detection thresholds(CDTs), warmth detection thresholds(WDTs), cold pain thresholds(CPTs), and heat pain thresholds(HPTs) were tested on both sides at the gingiva and canine tooth and on the hand. The data were analysed by a repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA). The NRS pain scores were significantly lower in the LG group(P = 0.01). The CDTs,CPTs, WDTs, HPTs, and PPTs at the gingiva and the PPTs at the canine tooth were significantly less sensitive on the treatment side of the LG compared with that of the PG(P < 0.033). The parameters tested also showed significantly less sensitivity on the nontreatment side of the LG compared to that of the PG(P < 0.043). There were no differences between the groups for any quantitative sensory testing(QST) measures of the hand. The application of LLLT appears to reduce the pain and sensitivity of the tooth and gingiva associated with orthodontic treatment and may have contralateral effects within the trigeminal system but no generalized QST effects. Thus, the present study indicated a significant analgesia effect of LLLT application during orthodontic treatment.Further clinical applications are suggested.

Effects of cancer therapy on hippocampus-related function

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are widely used to treat primary and metastatic cancers.Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that these types of treatment can effectively and successfully extend the lifespan of cancer patients,but they are also associated with various neurological complications such as cognitive deficits, seizures, and emotional problems （Taphoorn and Klein, 2004; Yang and Moon, 2013; Son et al., 2015b）.

Non-pharmacological treatments in the irritable bowel syndrome

INTRODUCTIONThe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characteried by chronic lower abdominal pain and disordered defaecation associated with bloating ,tenesmus and extra-intestinal symptoms including and functional upper gastrointestinal symptoms .Currently there is nounifying hypothesis which adepuately explains the pathogenesis of the disorder although a number of physiological and psychological abmormalites have been described.

Value of quality of life analysis in liver cancer: A clinician's perspective

Health related quality of life(HRQOL) is increasingly recognized as an important clinical parameter and research endpoint in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). HRQOL in HCC patients is multifaceted and affected by medical factor which encompasses HCC and its complications, oncological and palliative treatment for HCC, underlying liver disease, as well as the psychological, social or spiritual reaction to the disease. Many patients presented late with advanced disease and limited survival, plagued with multiple symptoms, rendering QOL a very important aspect in their general well being. Various instruments have been developed and validated to measure and report HRQOL in HCC patients, these included general HRQOL instruments, e.g., Short form(SF)-36, SF-12, Euro Qo L-5D, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment 100(WHOQOL-100), World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment abbreviated version; general cancer HRQOL instruments, e.g., the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer(EORTC) QLQ-C30, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy(FACT)-General, Spitzer Quality of Life Index; and liver-cancer specific HRQOL instruments, e.g., EORTC QLQ-HCC18, FACT-Hepatobiliary(FACT-Hep), FACT-Hep Symptom Index, Trial Outcome Index. Important utilization of HRQOL in HCC patients included description of symptomatology and HRQOL of patients, treatment endpoint in clinical trial, prognostication of survival, benchmarking of palliative care service and health care valuation. In this review, difficulties regarding the use of HRQOL data in research and clinical practice, including choosing a suitable instrument, problems of missing data, data interpretation, analysis and presentation are examined. Potential solutions are also discussed.

Health-related quality of life in patients that have undergone liver resection:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Mortality after hepatectomy has decreased,and the quality of various surgical approaches to hepatectomy have been evaluated.Various assessments of quality of life(QOL)after hepatectomy have been developed and investigated in different clinical settings.AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine two clinical topics:Laparoscopic hepatectomy vs open hepatectomy,and preoperative QOL status vs postoperative QOL status.METHODS A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE,including the Cochrane Library Central.The following inclusion criteria were set for inclusion in this meta-analysis:(1)Studies comparing preoperative QOL and postoperative QOL;and(2)Studies comparing QOL between laparoscopic hepatectomy and open hepatectomy.RESULTS A total of 8 articles were included in this meta-analysis.QOL was better after laparoscopic hepatectomy than after open hepatectomy.CONCLUSION The outcomes of evaluations of QOL after hepatectomy can depend on the type of questionnaire used,the timing of the assessment,and the etiology of the hepatic disease.

Call for Papers:Special Issue—Functional Materials,Nanocarriers,and Formulations for Targeted Therapy

Guest editors:Prof.Zhonggao Gao,Institute of Materia Medica,Beijing,China Prof.Han Chang Kang,The Catholic University of Korea,Bucheon,Republic of Korea Article deadline:15 December 2015Publishing date:25 March 2016In this special issue of Functional Materials,Nanocarriers,and Formulations for Targeted Therapy。

Prolonging the plasma circulation of proteins by nano- encapsulation with phosphorylcholine-based polymer

Short in vivo circulation is a major hindrance to the widespread adoption of protein therapeutics. Protein nanocapsules generated by encapsulating proteins with a thin layer of phosphorylcholine-based polymer via a two-step encapsulation process exhibited significantly prolonged plasma half-life. Furthermore, by constructing nanocapsules with similar sizes but different surface charges and chemistry, we demonstrated a generic strategy for prolonging the plasma half-life of therapeutic proteins. In an in vitro experiment, four types of bovine serum albumin （BSA） nanocapsules were incubated with fetal bovine serum （FBS） in phosphate buffer saline （PBS）; the cell uptake by HeLa cells was monitored to systematically evaluate the characteristics of the surface chemistry during drculation. Single positron emission tomography-computed tomography （SPECT） was employed to allow real-time observation of the BSA nanoparticle distribution in vivo, as well as quantification of the plasma concentration after intravenous administration. This study offers a practical method for translating a broad range of proteins for clinical use.