The analysis of stable nitrogen isotopic composition (δ15 N) of individual amino acid was recognized as an effective method for estimating the trophic level of organisms and detecting the nitrogen flow in food webs. In this study, we evaluated a two-stage procedure of esterification followed by acylation, in which biological samples underwent hydrolysis in acid and the released individual amino acids were derivative into the corresponding N-pivaloyl-iso-propyl ( NPP ) esters for gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometric ( GC-C-IRMS) analysis. A total of 13 kinds of individual amino acid derivatives were baseline separated on a nonpolar gas chromatography column (DB-5ms). The amount of sample for each test was not less than 20 ng N on column. High correlations were observed between the δ15 N values respectively obtained by GC-C-IRMS and element analysis-isotope ration mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS). Furthermore, the mean precision of this method was better than 1‰. Cation-exchange chromatograph was used to purify the samples, and the difference of the detection δ15 N values before and after purification by the resin was within 1‰. This method was applied to estimate the trophic level of various natural freshwater organisms from Aha Lake. The present study provided a new idea for the application of stable nitrogen isotope (δ15 N ) in the trophic level estimation of organisms and metabolism analysis of amino acid.

Objective To study the effects of dynamic,support-inducing exercise on the support,balance and gait ability of patients with moderate-to-severe hemiplegia after stroke.Methods Fourteen stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group (7 cases to each).The patients in the experimental group received both dynamic,support-inducing exercise and routine exercises,while the patients in the control group received routine exercises only.Before training and after 40 and 60 days of training,their functional capacity was evaluated with the Chinese stroke scale (CSS) for neurological deficits,Berg's balance scale (BBS) and using functional ambulation categories (FACs).Results Before training there was no inter-group difference in average CSS or BBS scores or in FACs.For the experimental group there were significant intra-group differences compared with 0th day in all three items at both time points.At days 40 and 60 there were also significant intra-group differences in BBS scores and FACs in the control group,and CSS scores improved significantly only in the experimental group.At day 40 there were significant inter-group differences in average CSS,BBS and FAC results.However,by day 60 a significant difference persisted only in average CSS scores.Conclusions Dynamic,support-inducing exercise can improve support,balance and gait in patients with moderate-to-severe hemiplegia after stroke.

Objective:To investigate the effect of whole body vibration (WBV) on balance and walking ability after a stroke.Methods:Thirty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group ( n=15) and an experimental group ( n=15). Both groups received 30 minutes of routine rehabilitation training twice a day, 6 days a week for 2 weeks. The experimental group was additionally provided with 14 minutes of 10Hz WBV with an amplitude of 4mm every day during the 2 weeks. Before and after the intervention, balance was quantified using the front-behind inclination angle (F-BIA), the left-right inclination angle (L-RIA) and the single-leg stance time of the hemiplegic side (SSTHS). Walking efficiency was quantified using the 10 metre walk test (10MWT) and the 3 metre timed up-and-go test (3TUG). Results:There was a significant improvement in all of the measurements in both groups after the intervention, but the improvements in average L-RIA, SSTHS, 10 MWT and 3TUG results in the experimental group were significantly greater than those in the control group.Conclusions:Supplementing routine therapy with WBV can improve balance and walking ability after a stroke more effectively than routine therapy alone.

Objective:To observe the effect of gaze stabilization exercises on the balance of stroke patients.Methods:Forty stroke patients were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=20) and a control group ( n=20). Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the experimental group was additionally provided with gaze stabilization exercises, once a day, five days a week, for a total of four weeks. Each session lasted 30 minutes. Before and after the four weeks, both groups were evaluated in terms of their envelope ellipse area and the plantar pressure distribution on the affected side in static standing and using the anterior-posterior center of pressure displacement velocity (AP-COPV). They were also assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the timed up-and-go test (TUGT), and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC). Results:After the gaze stabilization exercises, the average envelope ellipse area, the plantar pressure distribution of the affected side with the eyes open and closed, AP-COPV, BBS score, TUGT time and ABC score of the experimental group were significantly superior to the control group′s averages and to the results four weeks previously.Conclusions:Gaze stabilization exercises can improve balance, weight shifting and one-leg standing after a stroke. That should enhance balance confidence and reduce the risk of falling.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on stroke patients with lateropulsion. MethodsFrom February to October, 2023, 30 stroke patients with lateropulsion in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were divided into control group (n = 15) and experimental group (n = 15) randomly. The control group received routine rehabilitation and sham galvanic vestibular stimulation, and the experimental group received routine rehabilitation and true galvanic vestibular stimulation, for two weeks. They were assessed with Scale for Contraversive Pushing (SCP), subjective visual vertical (SVV), Line Cancellation Test (LCT), Star Cancellation Test (SCT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Holden Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and Barthel Index (BI) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in both groups after intervention (|t| > 2.461, Z > 3.000, P < 0.05), except the SVV orientation, SVV certainty and SCT in the control group; while the SCP, SVV certainty, LCT and FAC were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.189, Z = -2.862, P < 0.05), and the differences before and after intervention were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.382, P < 0.05), except LCT. SCP was correlated with SVV orientation, SVV certainty, SCT, BBS, BI and FAC (|r| > 0.381, P < 0.05). ConclusionGalvanic vestibular stimulation can improve the lateropulsion, balance, walking function and activities of daily living in stroke patients, which may be related to improvement for spatial cognitive function, especially vertical perception.

COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread across the globe, posing an enormous threat to public health and safety. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in combination with Western medicine (WM), has made important and lasting contributions in the battle against COVID-19. In this review, updated clinical effects and potential mechanisms of TCM, presented in newly recognized three distinct phases of the disease, are summarized and discussed. By integrating the available clinical and preclinical evidence, the efficacies and underlying mechanisms of TCM on COVID-19, including the highly recommended three Chinese patent medicines and three Chinese medicine formulas, are described in a panorama. We hope that this comprehensive review not only provides a reference for health care professionals and the public to recognize the significant contributions of TCM for COVID-19, but also serves as an evidence-based in-depth summary and analysis to facilitate understanding the true scientific value of TCM.

Objective To systematically analyze the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Competency Framework (RCF) theoretical framework, methodology and its application in the field of rehabilitation.Methods We systematically analyzed RCF conceptual framework and key characteristics, and discussed how to apply the RCF in the fields of human resource planning, education program and curriculum system, and vocational competency standards and certification criteria for rehabilitation human resources.Results The RCF encompasses five domains, naming practice, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, and research. Rehabilitation professionals' performance is the result of the interaction of their core values and beliefs, competencies, activities, knowledge, and skills. The RCF can be used to plan rehabilitation human resources, establish competency-based rehabilitation education programs and curriculum systems, and develop competency certification standards and licensure accreditation standards.Conclusion This study analyzed background, content and implementation framework of RCF, and systematically discussed the theories and methods related to how to use the RCF to construct national rehabilitation human resources development plans, develop rehabilitation education programs and curriculum systems based on the RCF, and establish certification and assessment standards for rehabilitation human resources.