The main objectives of this study was to compare the sensorimdt afar Performance of the unaffected upper extremity of elderly stroke patients with that of healthy elderly people. Methods: The groupof stroke patients was of 30 hemiplegic subjects who had had a cerebrovasculai accident at least 6 monthsearlier. A group of 30 healthy subjects matched for age and sex was used for comparison. The main parameters of the performance of the unaffected upper extremity of the stroke subjects and of the same side of the healthy subjects were measured with valid,reliable instruments. Some variables potentially related to theunaffected upper extremity were also measured:length of time since the stroke,activity level,etc.Results;Statistical analyses showed significant deficits in the unaffected upper extremity of hemiplegic subjecs compared with normal subjects with regard to the following parameters: gross manual dexterity, fine manualdexterity, motor coordination,global performance (P<0. 05 to P<0. 0001 ). No significant clinical or statistical difference was found for grip strength,two-- point discrimination and kindethesia.-- Conclusions: Manyfactors (frequency of use of the unaffected hand sensorimotor interaction task,sevrity of the the deficits in corticifugal projection and deficits in postural stabilization)could interact to provide the clinical picture obtainedin the present study.

Objective To explore the characteristics of prospective memory ( PM ) deficit in acute stroke patients with cognitive impairment.MethodsSixty patients suffering from acute stroke who met the inclusion criteria in screening with the neurobehavioral cognitive status examination (NCSE) were enrolled into the experimental group. Sixty healthy participants who matched the experimental group in gender distribution and average age and education level were assigned as a control group. All the participants completed several neuropsychological evaluations,including the Chinese version of the Cambridge prospective memory test ( C-CAMPROMT), the Chinese version of the Rivermead behavior memory test (C-RBMT), a digit-span test (DS), the Chinese version of Stroop's word-color test (C-SWCT) and a color trail test (CTT).ResultsTime-based PM (TBPM) scores in the control group were significantly higher than in the experimental group. At the intention initiation stage TBPM scores in the control group were also significantly better than in the experimental group. The TBPM performance of the experimental group was significantly worse than that of the controls when PM performance was compared with other cognitive functions controlled for.ConclusionsThe acute stroke patients with cognitive impairment showed greater TBPM performance deficits than the controls. This may have resulted from impairment at the intention initiation stage. TBPM deficits may exist independently. If so, they could serve as an assessment of cognitive impairment after stroke.

Objective To compare the effects of semi conductor laser nasal cavity irradiation with He Ne laser intravenous irradiation therapy on patients with brain lesion. Methods Ninety six cases of cerebral infarction(CI), traumatic brain injury(TBI) were randomly divided into semi conductor laser group (group A, n =50, ?=650nm , 2.4mW, 30mins/nasal cavity), He Ne laser group (group B, n =46, ?=632.8nm, 2.5mW, 40mins/ intermedia cubiti vein or basilic vein). The changes of the blood lipids, hemorheology parameters, scores with Fugl Meyer movement scale and Barthel index assessment were compared after the semi conductor laser and He Ne laser irradiation. Results After laser irradiation,The CHOL, TG, LDL, ESR and HCT were significantly reduced in both groups( P 0.05). The brain damage area was reduced in all the patients as revealed by CT examination. Conclusion The influence of the two kinds of laser irradiation therapies is similar when applied in patients with brain injury. But semi conductor laser nasal cavity irradiation is a simple, safe, inexpensive therapy for the patients.

Objective To assess the contraction and coordination changes in the anterior and posterior thigh muscles of patients recovering from cerebral infarction,and to provide objective references for targeted rehabilitation programs. Methods Eighteen cerebral infarction patients with mild hemiparesis (the patient group) and eighteen age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (the healthy group) were investigated. The surface-electromyographic (sEMG) signals of their vastus medialis,rectus femoris,vastus lateralis,biceps femoris,semitendinosus and semimembranosus were recorded during knee joint flexion and extension in the prone position.The sEMG signals from both legs were recorded for the patient group,but only from the left leg in the healthy group.The standardized root mean square (stRMS) signals and the co-contraction ratios (CRs) were compared and analysed, Results The stRMSs of the rectus femoris,vastus lateralis and vastus medialis on the patients' affected side during knee extension were significantly higher than those in the healthy group at baseline and follow-up.The stRMSs of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus-semimembranous on the patients' unaffected side were significantly higher than those of the affected side and the healthy group during knee flexion at baseline.The CRs during knee flexion on the patientsˊ affected side at baseline and follow-up were significantly higher than those of the unaffected side at baseline. Conclusions After cerebral infarction,the functioning of both the anterior and posterior thigh muscles on the affected side are impaired.The rectus femoris are the most severely impaired knee extensors,and the biceps femoris,semitendinosus and semimembranous are impaired equally in knee flexion.The thigh flexors and extensors lose their normal antagonist-agonist contraction modes.The functions of both the anterior and posterior thigh muscles should be emphasized during rehabilitation to improve abnormal contraction.

Objective To test the reliability and validity of the brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for Chinese stroke patients using Rasch model analysis. Methods The body functions of 38 Chinese stroke patients were measured using the brief ICF core sets. The qualifiers of the 20items were measured by two raters and analyzed using FACETS statistical software. The intra-rater reliability and validity were tested by using the separation index and separation reliability and fit analysis. Results The brief ICF core sets had good internal consistency and reliability (person separation index = 6.02, person separation reliability = 0.94 ) with these Chinese patients. The raters showed significantly different strictness in rating, but their ratings had good internal self-consistency. The construct validity was good for the body functions of the ICF component ( separation index = 10.50, separation reliability = 0.80) , but misfitting and overfitting were found in items b117, b152and b755. Conclusion The body function of the brief ICF core sets has good reliability and validity for Chinese stroke patients. A many-facet Rasch measurement model can provide comprehensive information and has good application prospects for testing the reliability and validity of ICF core sets.

AIM To determine whether botulinum toxin A (BTXa) is an effective and safe treatment for lower limb spasticity and improve walking ability after stroke or traumatic brain injury. METHODS 27 cases with stroke or traumatic brain injury affecting the muscles of lower extremity were selected to receive local intramuscular injection. The injected dose is between 50～100 U?(muscle) -1. All patients received rehabilitation therapy that focused on walking training. Patients were assessed at entry, and 2, 4 weeks post-treatment. The muscle tone was assessed by the modified Ashworth Scale, the changes of time-distance parameters was measured by footprint gait analysis. The correlation relationship between muscles tone and gait parameters was analysed. RESULTS Compared to pretreatment values, the total muscles spasticity, walking distance, and speed were significantly improved in all groups respectively, decrease in the modified Ashworth Score (P

Objective To observe the effects of bolus volume on pharyngeal and upper esophageal sphincter pressures and durations in healthy volunteers by using high-resolution manometry (HRM).Methods Twentyfour health subjects were recruited and asked to swallow three volumes of bolus (3 ml,5 ml and 10 ml) in the neutral head position.Pressure and duration measurements were acquired by utilizing a high-resolution solid-state manometer,with an emphasis on the hypopharynx and upper esophageal sphincter (UES).Variables including UES residual pressure,UES relaxation duration,maximum hypopharygeal pressure and hypopharyngeal pressure duration were analyzed across bolus volumes and consistencies by using three-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to investigate influence of bolus volume.Results UES residual pressure [-1.71 mmHg(3 ml thick liquid)vs.-4.68 mmHg(10 ml thick liquid)],UES relaxation duration[590.45 ms(3 ml thick liquid) vs.702.49 ms (10 ml thick liquid)],maximum hypopharygeal pressure [169.91 mmHg (3 ml thick liquid) vs.204.42 mmHg (10 ml thick liquid)] and hypopharyngeal pressure duration(P ＜0.05) varied significantly across bolus volumes when swallowing water or thick liquid.The UES relaxation duration,UES residual pressure and maximum hypopharyngeal pressure had a direct positive relationship with bolus volume.There was significant differences with regard to UES relaxation duration [685.75 ms(3 ml paste)vs.772.27 ms (10 ml paste)] but not to UES residual pressure (P ＞ 0.05) and maximum hypopharyngeal pressure (P ＞ 0.05) across bolus volume when swallowing paste.Conclusions Difference in hypopharyngeal pressure and duration,UES residual pressure and duration were detected across varying bolus volumes.Consideration of these variables is paramount in understanding normal and pathological swallowing.

Objective To examine the inter- rater reliablity of Myoton-3 Myometer in assessment of muscle tone in healthy subjects.Methods 20 healthy volunteers were assessed their muscle tone of biceps brachii and flexor carpi radialis muscles in relaxed state with Myoton-3 by 2 testers within 24 h. The frequency of damping oscillations (F value) measured by Myoton-3 was as the characteristic of the muscletone. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were performed. Results The ICC was 0.72~0.88 and 0.79~0.89 in triple scan and ten-time scan pattern, respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic errors between testers. ConclusionThe Myoton-3 Myometer is reliable between testers for measuring the muscle tone in healthy adults.

ObjectiveTo study the effects and feasibility of balloon dilatation on cricopharyngeal achalasia in children with dysphagia. MethodsOne 21-month-old child was reported. ResultsAfter 14 times dilatation therapy, the video fluoroscopic swallowing study showed that the bolus can pass the cricopharyngeus. The residuals in the epiglottis and piriform sinuses reduced. No bucking and aspiration happened and the cricopharygeus muscle relaxed normally. The gastric tube can be removed and the child got full per-oral nutrition. ConclusionBalloon dilatation is effective to relax the cricopharygeus muscle and improve the swallowing function of children with dysphagia because of cricopharyngeal achalasia.