OBJECTIVE:To prepare gelatin drug carrier with biocompatible sugars as crosslinking agents and study its drug release characteristics.METHODS:Gelatin discs and microspheres cross-linked by glucose,dextran,oxidized glucose,and oxidized dextran were prepared and their swelling kinetics were determined as well.The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading rate were determined by UV spectrophotometry with aspirin and bovine serum albumin(BSA)as drug models respectively.The release rates of gelatin microspheres in simulated body were determined.RESULTS:The swelling degrees of gelatins cross-linked by glucose,oxidized glucose,dextran,and oxidized dextran were 204%,246%,166%,and 233%,respectively.The average drug-loading rate of aspirin gelatins was 8.73% as compared with 4.05% of BSA gelatin microspheres,with the average encapsulation rate of 62.55% vs.31.40%.The accumulate release rates in 2 h were 30%,14%,76%and 73% for aspirin gelatin microspheres as compared with 97.2%,86.6%,60.8% and 50.1% for BSA.CONCLUSION:All of 4 kinds of sugars can replace chemical crosslinkers for the preparation of gelatin microspheres.The natural sugar gelatin microspheres were superior to oxidized sugar in sustained release effect.

Objective To explore the effects of upper limb robot-assisted therapy on motor function and activities of daily living in con-valescent stroke patients. Methods From June to September, 2016, 12 chronic stroke patients at their first-ever stroke were enrolled and ran-domized into experimental group (n=6) and control group (n=6). Both groups received routine rehabilitation. Additional robot-assisted thera-py was provided to the experimental group, and additional repetitive movement training was provided to the control group, 20 minutes a day, five days a week for four weeks. Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Func-tional Independent Measure (FIM) were used to assess the motor function of the upper limbs and hands, the muscular tension of shoulder and elbow, and activities of daily living (ADL) before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the scores of FMA-UE and FIM were bet-ter in both groups (Z>2.032, P<0.05), and no significant difference was found between two groups (t<0.723, P>0.05), however, the scores were a little bit higher in the experimental group than in the control group. After treatment, for the experimental group, the MAS scores of shoulder abduction/adduction and elbow flexion/extension improved (Z>2.121, P<0.05);for the control group, the MAS scores of shoulder abduction/adduction improved (Z>2.000, P<0.05), but the MAS scores of elbow flexion/extension were not significantly different (Z<1.890,P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the MAS scores of shoulder abduction/adduction and elbow flexion/extension between two group (Z<1.734, P>0.05). The moving trail recorded by the computer, gradually became a regular pattern from the mass, saying the motor control ability became better. Conclusion Upper limb robot-assisted therapy can promote the recovery of the motor function of upper limbs and ADL in convalescent stroke patient, similar to the repetitive movement training.