Objective To investigate the serum lipids levels of Chinese men with chronic paraplegia.Methods A total of 650 male paraplegics admitted to the China Rehabilitation Research Center (CRRC) for rehabilitation therapy from Jan 2004-Dec 2008 were investigated. The inclusion criteria were a definite paraplegic history (T2-L5 spinal cord injury); complete data; age 18-60 years; and no history of stroke. TG, TC, LDL and HDL serum lipid profiles were studied. Results These male paraplegics showed significantly higher mean TG and TC levels and lower mean HDL levels than the nation-wide averages for similar males ( TG 1.72 mmol/L vs. 1.36 mmol/L; TC4.42 mmol/L vs. 4.30 mmoL/L; HDL 0.99 mmol/L vs. 1.18 mmol/L). No difference in average LDL levels was found. TG, TC and LDL levels were correlated positively with age, but HDL was not. Duration of paraplegia correlated positively with HDL levels, but negatively with LDL. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 67% , and the prevalence of low HDL was 64%. Conclusions The serum lipid profiles of the young male paraplegics showed a high prevalence of dislipidemia, significantly low HDL levels with a high prevalence of low HDL, and no correlation with age. TG, TC and LDL levels increased with age. The duration of paraplegia was correlated positively with HDL but negatively with LDL, probably due to increased exercise of the upper limbs.

Objective To develop a prediction model for functional gain in the activities of daily living (ADL) after stroke rehabilitation. Methods Logistic regression was applied to 896 patient records from two hospitals. Functional gains in ADL were measured using a modified Barthel index (MBI). Results Five parameters were screened in the logistic regression model. The equation was: Logit( P/Y =1)=6.259+1.048 ( first onset to admission interval)+1.242(MBI score at admission)+0.300(number of comorbidities)+1.095(retired cadre dummy)+ 0.906(worker dummy) + 1.384 (professional dummy). This formulation accounted for about 78% of the variance in the data. Conclusions MBI score at admission, the interval between first onset and admission, comorbidities, job status and occupation are the main factors predicting functional ADL gains after stroke. The model can be used to predict outcomes for individual stroke patients at admission to rehabilitation.

Objective To investigate any effects of rubbing acupoints on the right leg on activation and deactivation responses in the human cerebellum. Methods Ten male, healthy, right-handed subjects were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while their Zusanli (ST36) , Yanglingquan (GB34),Fenglong (ST40) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints on the right lower extremity were stimulated. A block-designed method was applied. A piece of sponge was used to rub all the above-mentioned acupoints for stimulation. The mean values of the activation and deactivation signals in different cerebellar zones induced by stimulating each acupoint were calculated.Results Each acupoint could modulate cerebellum function in its specific way, but all acupoints induced the largest mean values in the Vermis Crus I area. The largest deactivation effects for all acupoints except Sanyinjiao were located in the Vermis VI area. For each acupoint, left and right side activation effects of the 20 zones of the cerebellum were basically consistent, though the mean values of most zones were higher on the right side. Conclusions The four acupoints studied not only shared common modulating effects, but also showed point-specific influence on cerebellum function. The effects exerted by each acupoint on the Vermis were greater than that on the cerebellar hemispheres. The phenomena observed in this study could contribute to acupoint selection during rehabilitation.

Objective To assess differences in brain activation between active and passive movement of the right hand using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI). Methods Nine healthy adult right handed volunteers were studied. fMRI was performed with active and passive finger-to-finger movement. Results Right hand active and passive movement produced significant activation in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex ( SMC ), the contralateral premotor cortex ( PMC ), bilaterally in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and in the ipsilateral cerebellum. The activated brain areas were centered on the contralateral SMC and PMC and located more forward during active movement than during passive movement. The contralateral SMC was the most strongly and the most frequently activated brain area. The contralateral posterior parietal cortex (PPC) was less relevant to the hand movements. Unlike active movement, passivemovement activated more areas in the posterior central gyrus than in the anterior central gyrus. Conclusions Both active and passive movement significantly activate the brain areas which are responsible for hand movement, but there are some differences in the locations of the cortex areas activated and in the incidence activation except in the contralateral SMC.

Objective To investigate effects of magnetic stimulation on apoptosis of nerve cells and the production of inducible nitric oxidate synthase (iNOS) after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Thirty-two SpragueDawley male rats were randomly divided into a magnetic stimulation group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16).SCI models were established by spinal cord transection in both groups. Rats were sacrificed at the 6th, 12th, 24th and 72nd hour post-injury, but the rats in the stimulation group received magnetic stimulation before being sacrificed.Apoptosis index (AI) and iNOS-positive cells rate were recorded at each time point. Results Apoptotic cells could be observed by the 6th hour post-injury, and were elevated from the 24th to the 72th hour. iNOS-positive cells were few at the first two time points, but had increased significantly at the 24th and 72nd hour post-injury. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis index of the stimulation group decreased a little at the 6th and 12th hour, but not significantly. The difference was quite significant at the 24th and 72nd hour, however, and the AI in the stimulation group decreased much more than that in the control group. There was little difference in the rate of iNOS-positive cells between the control and stimulation groups at any time point. Conclusions Magnetic stimulation could inhibit neural apoptosis and protect neurons from secondary SCI, but it has little effect on iNOS production.

Objective To study the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on learning and memory, and angiogenesis and the dendritic structure of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons after cerebral infarction. Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a sham operated group, a model group and a TMS group (n = 16). Rat models of focal cerebral infarction were established with unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) suture occlusion in the model and TMS groups. The rats of the TMS group were given 4 weeks of TMS treatment beginning 1 day after the infarction (2 times per day, 30 pulses per time). Their learning and memory abilities were tested with a Y-maze. Angiogenesis and the dendritic structure of their hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons were detected after 4 weeks. Results Compared with the model group, learning and memory improved significantly in the TMS group. The average microvessel density of the hippocampus in the TMS group was significantly more than in the model group. The total length of apical dendrites of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in TMS group was significantly longer than in the model group. Conclusions The improved learning and memory observed following TMS treatment are likely to be related to changes in angiogenesis, the dendritic.structure of the hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons, and enhanced synaptic plasticity.

Objective To explore the effects of movement on hippocampal β-amyloid protein ( Aβ ) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in senescence-accelerated and senescence-prone (SAMP8) mice, and the mechanism by which movement improves learning and memory in mice with a model of Alzheimer's disease. Methods Forty 3-month-old SAMP8 mice were divided randomly into a movement group and a control group. The movement group was trained with a running wheel 10 min daily, 5 days a week in the first month, and 20 min daily in the second month. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed under the microscope after HE staining. The expression of Aβ in the hippocampus was detected by immumohistochemical methods and APP mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR two months later. Results HE staining showed neuron degeneration and death, chromatin condensation and vacuolar degeneration in the hippocampus of the 5-mouth-old SAMP8 mice of the control group. The movement group showed less neuron degeneration and death, and the morphology of most cells was normal The expression of Aβ in the hippocampus of the 5-month-old SAMP8 mice in the movement group was significantly lower than that in the control group. APP mRNA expression levels in the movement group were also significantly lower.Conclusions Movement can delay neuron degeneration and down-regulate Aβ and APP mRNA expression levels in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice. It may be an important mechanism by which movement improves learning and memory in mice with a model of Alzheimer's disease.

Objective To investigate the prognostic factors of life and functional outcome of the first hemiparetic stroke patients. Methods One hundred and eighteen stroke subjects were registered prospectively. The Barthel index (BI) , Rankin scale (RS) , Mortricity index(MI) , Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) , Montgomery-Asberg depression scale (MADRS) and a scale of general state and risk factors were used to evaluate at the 48th hour, the 15th day and the 90th day after stroke. Results The patients' performance, as demonstrated by their scores with all the evaluation instruments, changed significantly at all the time points of evaluation after stroke (P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference between the performance at the 48th hour and the 15th day after stroke ( P ＞ 0.05 ). But at the 90th day after stroke, the activity of daily living performance and the depression status recovered significantly (P ＜ 0.01 ). Logistic regression analysis showed that, such factors as pneumonia, urinary incontinence within 48th hour and deep sensation disturbance might adversely influence patients' activity of daily living performance at the 90th day after stroke; the muscle strength of upper extremities at the 48th hour, and MMSE scores at the 15th day after stroke acted as the protective factors. Conclusions The stroke patients improved significantly with regard to their clinical and functional manifestations when evaluated 90 days after stroke onset. The main factors influencing the activity of daily living performance 90 days after stroke onset included deep sensation disturbance,pneumonia, urinary incontinence and muscles strength of upper extremities at 48th hour, and MMSE scores at the 15th days after onset.

Objective To study the clinical features of visual dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and related factors. Methods Between 2006 and 2009, one hundred and sixty-three children (aged 4 to 108months, mean age 29.05 ± 20.51 months) with CP at Qingdao's Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children were enrolled into this study, including 117 boys and 46 girls. All the children were retrospectively reviewed for perinatal risk factors. Ophthalmologists examined their visual parameters, including refraction, visual acuity, eye position and movement, and fundoscopy. Results Among the 163 children, 61 had visual dysfunctions, an occurrence rate of 37.4%. They included refractive errors in 39 (23.9%) , strabismus in 50 (30.7%) , abnormal eye movement in 26(15.9%) , and abnormal fundoscopic findings in 13 (7.9%). Thirty-seven children's visual acuity was examined,and 19 of them (51.4%) had low visual acuity. Patients who showed periventicular leukomalacia (PVL) or lesions in the occipital lobe on MRI examination had a high incidence of visual dysfunction. Preterm and low birth-weight were risk factors for visual dysfunction in these CP children. Conclusions Visual dysfuntion is a common complication in CP children. Early ophthalmological assessment and intervention are important for CP children.

Objective To analyze the comorbidities and gross motor function classifications (GMFCs) of premature children with cerebral palsy (CP) in terms of neurological subtype and gestational age in search of some relationship. Methods Children with cerebral palsy treated at the Qingdao Children's Hospital from 2006 to mid2009 received intelligence capacity tests, ophthalmological consultations, language/speech tests, brainstem auditory evoked potential measurements, electroencephalograms and GMFC evaluations. All of the children were stratified according to neurological subtype, gestational age, comorbidities and gross motor function classification. Results Of all 258 children, spastic diplegic cerebral palsy predominated (183 case, 70.9% ). 124 cases (48.1% ) had visual disorders, 121 (46.9%) had language or speech disorders and 103 (39.9%) showed mental retardation. The frequencies of individual comorbidities were distributed disproportionately between the different neurologic subtypes.GMFC levels also differed with the different CP types. The GMFC levels of diplegics were significantly better than those of the other types. The distribution of comorbidities such as visual disorders, language or speech disorders, and mental retardation was not related to gestational age or type of CP. Conclusions There is some correlation between the neurological subtype, comorbidities and the GMFC levels. But there is no significant correlation between gestation age and the severity of CP.