Objective To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) on patients with swallowing disorders after stroke and to assess the value of surface electromyography (sEMG).Methods Forty stroke survivors with swallowing disorders were divided into a treatment group (20 cases) and a control group (20 cases) using a random number table.All of the patients were given routine medication and conventional swallowing training lasting 2 weeks,on the basis of which the patients in the treatment group were also given electrical stimulation.The seriousness of their swallowing disorders was evaluated and surface electromyographs were recorded for both groups before and after the 2 weeks of treatment.Results After treatment,the average dysphagia rating in the treatment group was significantly higher than before treatment,and significantly higher than that of the control group.sEMG of the suprahyoid muscles showed that the swallowing duration of both groups had significantly improved,but the values of the treatment group were significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions NMES plus conventional swallowing training can significantly improve swallowing function for patients with swallowing disorders after stroke.sEMG can be regarded as an effective method for assessing swallowing disorders.

Objective To explore the effect of computer-aided cognitive training on cognitive function and auditory event-related potential P300 in patients with vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND).Methods Sixty VCIND patients were randomly divided into two groups namely a training group and a control group,each of 30.Both groups were given routine drug treatment and the traditional rehabilitation training.At the same time,the training group was additionally given 40min computer-aided cognitive training once a day,six times a week,lasing 4 weeks.Before and after four weeks of treatment,the cognitive function,the ability of daily life (ADL) and P300 of the two groups were assessed using mini-mental state examination(MMSE),the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA),Barthel Index (BI) and Motor evoked potential instrument respectively.Results Before treatment,no significant difference was found in the average MoCA,MMSE and BI scores of the two groups.After treatment,improvement was observed in the total MoCA scores (22.40 ± 4.38),as well as the average score,of visual space and executive function (3.27 ± 0.58),attention (4.30 ± 1.60),language (2.67 ± 0.48),delayed memory (3.67±0.80),MMSE (22.03 ±3.55) and BI (82.17±11.28) in the training group compared with the control group.Before treatment,there was no significant difference in the P300 latency and amplitude between the two groups.After treatment,however,the P300 latency of the training group decreased to(352.1 ± 30.68) ms,significently lower than the control group [(356.45 ± 40.30) ms] and that before treatment.Meanwhile,the amplitude rose to(8.65 ± 1.18)μV,significantly higher than the control group [(8.65 ± 1.18) μV] and that before treatment.Conclusion Computer-aided cognitive training can effectively improve the cognitive function of patients with VCIND and promote their ADL.

Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture applied to the Jialianquan points in treating post-stroke oropharyngeal dysphagia.Methods:Forty-five stroke survivors with oropharyngeal dysphagia were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group ( n=15), a neuromuscular electrical stimulation group ( n=15) and a control group ( n=15). All groups received 30 minutes of routine swallowing function training 5 times a week for 3 weeks. The electroacupuncture group was additionally provided with 30 minutes of electroacupuncture applied to the Jialianquan (CV23) points, and the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group instead received 30 minutes of neuromuscular electrical stimulation over the bilateral submental muscles. Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies were performed before and after the 3 weeks of treatment. Standardized swallowing assessment was conducted producing functional oral intake scale ratings, modified barium swallow impairment profiles and the penetration-aspiration scale scores. Surface electromyography was also employed to evaluate submental muscle functioning through measuring the swallowing time, average EMG (AEMG) value and peak amplitude. Results:After the treatment, significant improvement was observed in all of the evaluations with both groups, but the average scores were significantly better in the electroacupuncture and neuromuscular electrical stimulation groups compared with the control group and significantly better in the electroacupuncture group than in the neuromuscular electrical stimulation group.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at the Jialianquan point can significantly improve the swallowing of stroke survivors with oropharyngeal dysphagia. It is more effective than neuromuscular electric stimulation.

Objective:To observe any effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the cognition of stroke survivors and the integrity of their white matter fibers.Methods:Thirty persons with post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=15) and a control group ( n=15). In addition to basic drug therapy and routine cognition training, the experimental group received 20 minutes of tDCS daily, 5 days per week for 3 weeks, while the control group received sham tDCS stimulation. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ cognitive functioning was evaluated using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA). Their ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was quantified using the modified Barthel index (MBI). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was employed to observe any changes in the integrity of their white matter fibers. Results:The average MMSE, MOCA and MBI scores of both groups had improved significantly after the treatment, but the improvement in the experimental group was significantly greater than among the controls. The average fractional anisotroposy value of the affected inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus in both groups was positively correlated with the group′s average MMSE score and MoCA score.Conclusion:tDCS can effectively improve the cognition and functioning in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors. Its mechanism may be related to improving the integrity of the white matter fibers involved.

Objective:To observe any effect of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of a cerebellar hemisphere on the walking of stroke survivors with lower limb dysfunction, and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with walking dysfunction were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 15. Before their daily routine rehabilitation, the control group received fake iTBS while the experimental group was given 600 pulses of iTBS over 200s. The experiment continued 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) were used before and after the treatment to evaluate the subjects′ balance, lower extremity motor function, walking and ability in the activities of daily living. Gait analysis was also performed. The amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and the cortical silent period (CSP) were also noted to assess corticospinal excitability.Results:After the treatment, the average BBS, FMA-LE and MBI scores, FAC grading, stride length, stride speed, stride frequency, and the percentage of swing period in the walking cycle, as well as MEP amplitude and latency had improved significantly in the experimental group. All were then significantly better, on average, than in the control group. The control group also demonstrated significant improvement in all of the outcomes except the percentage of swing period in the walking cycle.Conclusion:iTBS of the cerebellum can improve the walking of stroke survivors with lower limb dysfunction. The mechanism may be related to the cerebellar regulation of spinal cord excitation of the cerebral cortex.

Objective:To observe any relationship between corticospinal tract integrity and the upper limb motor function of stroke survivors treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).Methods:Bilateral corticospinal tracts (CSTs) were reconstructed in ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke survivors with upper limb motor dysfunction using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Thirty patients with good CST integrity (rFA>0.5) and 30 with rFA≤0.5 were further divided into a high frequency rTMS group (HF, n=10), a low frequency group (LF, n=10), and a control group ( n=10). All groups were given routine rehabilitation, while the high and low frequency groups were additionally provided with 5Hz and 1Hz rTMS respectively applied over the M1 area of the contralesional hemisphere. Before and after 3 weeks of treatment, all of the subjects were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity scale (F-M UE), the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results:For the high CST integrity group, significant improvement was observed in the average scores of all measurements, with the average FMA-UE, WMFT and MBI scores of the LF group [(38.10±5.71), (43.20±5.32) and (78.00±11.35)] significantly better than those of the other 2 groups. Among the low CST integrity group, the HF subgroup showed greater improvement than the other 2 on average.Conclusions:For patients with good CST integrity, LF-rTMS over the contralesional cortex is superior to HF-rTMS in promoting upper limb motor function, while for patients with low CST integrity HF-rTMS over the contralesional cortex has a better effect than LF-rTMS or sham stimulation in terms of improving upper limb motor function after a stroke.

BACKGROUNDApical abscess is an inflammatory process in the peri-radicular tissues caused by biofilms in the necrotic root canal systems. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the bacterial colonization is required for a better understanding of the pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of bacterial infection of root canals of teeth with apical abscesses and to determine whether histological and microbiological findings correlated with clinical conditions.

METHODSEighteen samples from 18 teeth with apical pathological lesions were analyzed. Nine patients with acute apical abscesses experienced severe pain, and nine patients were asymptomatic with a sinus tract. After extraction, each affected root was divided into two halves. One half was processed for histobacteriologic analysis and examined using light microscopy, and the other half was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the patterns of microbial colonization of the root canals.

RESULTSThe appearance of each sample subjected to SEM was consistent with the histobacteriologic findings despite the presence or absence of clinical symptoms. Intraradicular biofilms comprising cocci, rods, and/or filaments of amorphous materials were observed in the apical third of the main root canals in all samples. The bacterial biofilms covering the main root canal walls also penetrated the dentinal tubules to varying depths. The morphologies of biofilms varied, and a unique pattern of intraradicular infection was not identified.

CONCLUSIONIntraradicular infections formed complex and variable multispecies biofilms and their presence did not correlate with clinical symptoms.

Abscess ; microbiology ; Aged ; Bacterial Infections ; microbiology ; Biofilms ; growth & development ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Middle Aged