ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of strengthening internal and external abdominal oblique muscles on sitting balance in stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods60 cases of patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 30 cases in each group. Control group patients were treated with conventional treatment. Internal and external abdominal oblique muscles training were accepted in treatment group in addition. Before and 1 month after treatment, all the patients were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment of balance function and muscle strength. ResultsAfter treatment, the Fugl-Meyer assessment scores of balance, muscle strength were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group（P＜0.01）. ConclusionMuscle strengthen training in internal and external abdominal oblique muscles will promote sitting balance in hemiplegic patients.

Objective To evaluate the effects of rheumatoid arthritis treated with modified Duhuo-Jisheng decoction and western conventional treatment. Methods 120 patients with heumatoid arthritis of our hospital from January 2010 to 2013 August were recruited and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 60 patients in each group. The control group was treated with oral intake of Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine and Meloxicam in acute stage and oral intake of diclofenc in stable stage, while the treatment group was further added modified Duhuo-Jisheng decoction on the basis of the control group. TCM symptom score, arthritis symptom score, symptomatic relief time, ESR, CRP, RF were observed after 3 months’ treatment. Results After 3 mouths’ treatment, the total effective rate was 90.0%(54/60) in the study group and 70.0%(42/64) in the control group. There was no significant difference(χ2=4.193,P<0.05) between the two groups. CRP,ESR, RF[The treatment group respectively(22.06±10.31)mg/L, (25.18±17.80)mm/h, (28.19±4.17)IU/L,the control group respectively (14.11±7.32)mg/L, (24.16±22.09)mm/h, (36.08±5.24)IU/L]decreased after the treatment in both groups compared with the values before the treatment[The treatment group respectively (82.16± 21.37)mg/L, (68.84±9.71)mm/h, (84.92±15.31)IU/L,the control group respectively (52.46±22.26)mg/L, (62.72±33.31)mm/h, (85.17±14.23)IU/L, P<0.01],while the decrease of CRP in the treatment group was much obvious than the control group(P<0.05),but the change of ESR had no statistical significance between the two group after the treatment(P>0.05);Number of joint tenderness, The number of swollen joints, Time of morning stiffness, Dual hands grip strength , 20 m walking time decreased obviously in both groups after the treatment[After the treatment, the treatment group respectively (3.43 ± 1.46), (2.95 ± 1.35), (19.32 ± 16.54)min,(79.35±22.14)mmHg,(19.32±4.81)s,the control group respectively (4.63±4.21), (3.55±2.47), (21.23 ± 19.37)min,(77.81 ± 16.22)mmHg,(25.15 ± 5.81)s before the treatment, the treatment group respectively(10.71±5.12), (7.95±3.97), (109.32±68.52)min, (47.12±18.22)mmHg, (36.21±6.62)s, the control group respectively (11.54±5.32), (7.64±4.01), (96.02±58.39)min, (49.67±16.48)mmHg, (36.33± 7.23)s](P<0.05). Conclusion Duhuo-Jisheng decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of aged patients with osteoporosis and reduce the levels of their ESR, CRP, and RF.

INTRODUCTIONWith the global outbreak of Zika virus and its association with microcephaly, an up-to-date fetal head circumference (HC) nomogram is crucial to offer a reference standard in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This study was conducted to revise the local fetal HC nomogram.

MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this retrospective study, ultrasound data was used for construction of the fetal HC nomogram from a total of 6155 pregnancies in the ethnic Chinese population with low risk profile at KK Women's and Children's Hospital over a 10-year period. Regression model was fitted to calculate the mean and standard deviation of HC at each gestational age (GA). Comparison of HC between ethnic groups (no significant differences) and genders were made. The revised chart was compared with another commonly used reference chart (Hadlock). In an independent test population, different reference charts were used to estimate number of cases with microcephaly.

RESULTSA statistically significant difference of HC between the genders was observed across all gestational ages. Gender-specific reference charts and equation were computed. Our revised fetal HC chart showed a different distribution from the Hadlock chart. Compared with the gender-specific charts, the Hadlock HC chart would significantly under-report microcephaly cases in male fetuses, and tend to over-report in female fetuses.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides a new set of gender-specific fetal HC charts in the Singaporean population for antenatal ultrasound surveillance of microcephaly.