Objective To observe the thermal thresholds in normal subjects and their relation with gender and site.MethodsThe thresholds of sensation of cold,warm,cold pain and hot pain in 20 healthy subjects were measured at 10 sites of upper limbs with the TSA-Ⅱ Neurosensory Analyzer under the Limits model.ResultsThere was no remarkable differences between the thresholds of sensation of cold and warm,but obvious differences between the sensation of cold pain and hot pain in different skin sites,as well as between the males and females,left and right in some sensation and some sites.ConclusionFor the normal people,there is a certain relationship among thermal threshold and gender or site of body.

Occupational therapy provides protective and corrective non-surgical measures for carpal tunnel syndrome. The information gained from the assessment process can help the occupational therapists determine the targets and treatment options, including the nerve-gliding exercises, tendon-gliding exercises, production or select splints, modification of tasks resulting in patients with exacerbations, modification of equipment and environment, transformation of daily necessities. The education would cover the pathophysiology of carpal tunnel syndrome, treatment options (conservative management and surgery), posture and activity modification principles. This information can also be provided in the form of an education booklet which participants will be encouraged to review at home.

Objective To investigate the psychological conditions and the quality of life of premenopausal breast cancer patients. Methods 5 Level-Three Grade-I hospitals in Beijing were selected to conduct outpatient surveys on premenopausal breast cancer patients who returned for further consultation between October 2010 to September 2012. Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) as well as Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) were used. Investigated breast cancer patients were divided into two groups: long-term condition group (more than 3 years after surgery) and short-term condition group (less than 3 years after surgery).Differences between the two groups in SAS, SDS and FACT-B were compared. Results 65 quality questionnaires returned, including 35 from the long-term condition group and 30 from the short-term condition group. The scores of SAS and SDS were significantly lower in the long-term condition group than in the short-term condition group (P<0.001). The scores of FACT-B was significantly higher in the long-term condition group than in the short-term condition group (P<0.001). Conclusion The breast cancer patients more than 3 years after surgery are in better psychological status and quality of life.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mood states, cognitive performance and the factors related to cognitive function of patients with complete spinal cord injury. MethodsA total of 60 male patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital from November, 2020 to March, 2022 were selected as SCI group, and 30 healthy males were selected as the control group. They were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment Beijing Version (MoCA), Digital Span Test (DST) of Wechsler Memory Scale, Symbol Digit Modalities Test-Oral Version (SDMT), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test-30 min recall (CFT), Stroop Color-Word Test Chinese Version (CWT), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). ResultsCompared with the control group, the SDMT and CFT scores were significantly lower (t > 3.052，P < 0.01); the reflect and square root transformation of MoCA score, the square root transformation of Stroop interference effects time consuming, HAMA score and HAMD score were higher (|t| > 2.542, |Z| > 7.676, P < 0.05) in SCI group. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that age, education level, HAMD score and sleep disorder were significantly correlated with the scores of cognitive function in SCI group. ConclusionThere are more intensive anxiety and depression in patients with complete SCI. The patients with complete SCI present cognitive impairment, especially in information processing speed, visuospatial ability and visual memory, and executive function. Age, education level, depression and sleep disorder are the related factors of cognitive impairment in patients with complete SCI.

Spinal cord injury is a catastrophic injury causing lifelong severe disabilities, and poses a great burden to the individuals, families and society. In order to promote the standardization in treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury, the consensus on the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of traumatic spinal cord injury was suggested by experts, who came from authoritative multicenter in China. The expert consensus, which formed a standardization process from the first aid clinical treatment to rehabilitation of spinal cord injury, shall give a better practical guide for clinic and rehabilitation physicians.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of cathodic transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) on upper limb and finger dysfunction after right brain injury (RBI). MethodsFrom October, 2020 to May, 2022, 40 RBI patients in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 20 patients in each group. All the patients accepted conventional drug treatment, conventional rehabilitation treatment and functional occupational therapy. The cathode electrode was placed in the M1 area of the uninjured side of brain, then the control group received sham stimulation and the experimental group received stimulation, for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and -Finger, and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the scores of FMA-UE, FMA-Finger and MBI improved in the two groups (t > 5.627, P < 0.001), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.161, P < 0.05). ConclusionctDCS can effectively improve the motor function of upper limbs and fingers of RBI patients, and improve the ability of activities of daily living.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of upper limb exergames on cognitive function, upper limb motor function and activities of daily living in stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment. MethodsFrom August, 2020 to November, 2021, 50 troke patients with mild cognitive impairment in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly allocated to control group (n = 25) and experimental group (n = 25). Both groups received traditional occupational therapy. Additional functional occupational therapy was provided to the control group, and upper limb exergames were provided to the experimental group, for four weeks. They were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after the treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the scores of MoCA, FMA-UE and MBI improved in both groups (|t| > 3.354, |Z| > 4.379, P < 0.01), and the scores increased in five MoCA cognitive domains in the control group (except map naming and abstract thinking) (|Z| > 2.000, P < 0.05) and in six MoCA cognitive domains in the experimental group (except map naming) (|Z| > 2.646, P < 0.01). After treatment, the scores of MoCA, MoCA five cognitive domains (except map naming and abstract thinking) and FMA-UE were better in the experiment group than in the control group(|Z| > 1.982, t = 3.565, P < 0.05). ConclusionUpper limb exergames can facilitate the recovery of cognitive function, upper limb motor function and activities of daily living in stroke patients with mild cognitive impairment.

ObjectiveTo explore the neuromuscular control mechanism of training strategies based on mirror neuron system (MNS): action observation (AO), action execution (AE) and action imitation (AO+AE) using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and surface electromyography (sEMG). MethodsFrom July, 2022 to February, 2023, 64 healthy adults were asked to finish four tasks: watching landscape video (control), watching landscape video and acting right wrist and hand extension (AE), watching right wrist and hand extension video (AO), and watching right wrist and hand extension video and acting right wrist and hand extension (AO+AE). A block design was adopted, five times a task in a block, eight cycles, random orders in videos and tasks. The activation of each channel and regions of interest (ROI, namely BA40, BA44, BA45, BA46, BA6 and BA7) in left MNS regions was detected with fNIRS synchronously, as well as the average electromyography (AEMG) of extensor digitorum and extensor carpi radialis with sEMG. ResultsCompared with the control condition, MNS activated in AO, AE and AO+AE conditions, and the intensities mildly increased in turn. Compared with the control condition, 15 channels activated in AO condition, 15 channels activated in AE condition, and all 20 channels activated in AO+AE condition; and the activation intensities of most channels were AO+AE > AE > AO. Four ROI, BA40, BA46, BA6 and BA7, activated in AO condition, all the six ROI activated in AE and AO+AE conditions, and the activation intensities of most ROI were AO+AE > AE > AO. The standardized AEMG of extensor digitorum and extensor carpi radialis were higher in AO+AE condition than in AE condition (|t| > 4.24, P < 0.001). ConclusionMNS has been activated during action observation, execution and imitation, and the ranges and intensities of activation increase in turn. The target muscles activate more during imitation than during execution. Synchronous application of fNIRS and sEMG is feasible in the study of neural mechanism of rehabilitation strategies based on mirror neuron theory.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of repetitive facilitative exercise (RFE) on the hand function of stroke patients with hemiplegia during recovery period. MethodsFrom January to December, 2022, 80 stroke patients with hemiplegia following hand dysfunction during recovery period in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 40) and experimental group (n = 40). Both groups received routine rehabilitation, the control group added functional occupational therapy, and the experimental group added RFE, for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Simple Test for Evaluating Hand Function (STEF) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. ResultsOne case dropped down in the experimental group. After treatment, all the scores increased in both groups (|t| > 12.698, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.302, P < 0.05). ConclusionRFE could promote the recovery of hand function and activities of daily living in patients with hemiplegia during stroke recovery period.

ObjectiveTo observe the differences of brain functioning between dominant and non-dominant hemispheres during rehabilitation for subacute stroke based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). MethodsFrom September, 2019 to June, 2020, ten subacute stroke inpatients with left hemiplegia (non-dominant hemisphere group) and 16 with right hemiplegia (dominant hemisphere group) from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital received the same unilateral task-oriented occupational therapy for upper limbs, for four weeks. They were assessed with Action Research Arm Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities and grip strength before and after treatment, and scanned with fNIRS to the β value of bilateral sensorimotor cortex, premotor cortex and prefrontal cortex according to the changes of oxyhemoglobin concentration. ResultsAll the indexes of assessment improved in the both groups after treatment (|t| > 3.253, P < 0.05), while the scores of Action Research Arm Test and grip strength improved more in the dominant hemisphere group than in the non-dominant hemisphere group (|t| > 2.154, P < 0.05). For the β value of fNIRS, there was no main effect on time, region and groups (F < 0.542, P > 0.05), and the interactive effect between region and group was significant (F = 4.226, P < 0.01): In the dominant hemisphere group, the β value was higher in the ipsilateral premotor cortex than in the contralateral cortex (P = 0.030), and it was less in the contralateral prefrontal cortex than in the ipsilateral sensorimotor cortex (P = 0.024), ipsilateral premotor cortex (P = 0.003) and ipsilateral prefrontal cortex (P = 0.018). ConclusionFor the subacute stroke patients with right hemiplegia, the activation of brain regions is different between dominant and non-dominant hemispheres during the rehabilitation of upper limb and hand.