Objective:To seek a correlation between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and skill in the activities of daily living (ADL) after an ischemic stroke.Methods:Ninety ischemic stroke survivors were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). Fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid using gas chromatography. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to identify SCFAs that correlated with the total BI score. Linear regressions were evaluated to explore the correlation between the total BI score and SCFAs.Results:The concentrations of propionic and butyric acids in the feces were found to correlate significantly with the total BI scores. Data including propionic acid and butyric acid levels, age, gender, body mass index, disease duration, any history of hypertension or diabetes, and other SCFAs were included in the regression models. Propionic and butyric acid levels were found to be potentially useful predictors of total BI scores.Conclusions:The concentration of propionic and butyric acids in the feces after an ischemic stroke can predict the survivor′s total BI score. Those concentrations could therefore be useful for predicting ADL ability.

Objective:To investigate the effect of drospirenone and ethinylestradiol in the treatment of ovulation induction in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).Methods:A randomized controlled clinical study analyzed the clinical data of 130 POI patients who underwent assisted reproductive treatment at the Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Seventh Medical Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Sixth Medical Center of Chinese people's Liberation Army General Hospital from December 2021 to November 2022. The subject-centered randomization method was used to conceal the allocation, and there was no blinding. The patients in experimental group was given drospirenone and ethinylestradiol as pretreatment, while control group was not treated. The main observation indicator of the follicle recovery growth rate and the secondary observation indicators of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before and after pretreatment, the number of eggs retrieved, the proportion of eggs retrieved, and other embryo laboratory-related indicators were compared between the two groups.Results:The recovery rate of follicular growth in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant [50.77% (33/65) vs. 15.38% (10/65), P<0.001, rate difference =35.38%, 95% CI: 19.44%-48.98%]. The levels of FSH [17.70 (8.15, 27.00) U/L] decreased significantly and estradiol [24.00 (15.00, 90.47) ng/L] increased significantly in the experimental group after preconditioning with spironolone ethinylestradiol compared with those before preconditioning [30.30 (25.95, 48.05) U/L, P<0.001; 15.00 (15.00, 24.00) ng/L, P<0.001], the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion:The spironolone ethinylestradiol can effectively inhibit the level of FSH and increase the level of estradiol in patients with POI, and increase the probability of ovarian growth and development during ovulation induction therapy.

Objective:To investigate the effect of drospirenone and ethinylestradiol in the treatment of ovulation induction in patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).Methods:A randomized controlled clinical study analyzed the clinical data of 130 POI patients who underwent assisted reproductive treatment at the Department of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Seventh Medical Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Sixth Medical Center of Chinese people's Liberation Army General Hospital from December 2021 to November 2022. The subject-centered randomization method was used to conceal the allocation, and there was no blinding. The patients in experimental group was given drospirenone and ethinylestradiol as pretreatment, while control group was not treated. The main observation indicator of the follicle recovery growth rate and the secondary observation indicators of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels before and after pretreatment, the number of eggs retrieved, the proportion of eggs retrieved, and other embryo laboratory-related indicators were compared between the two groups.Results:The recovery rate of follicular growth in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant [50.77% (33/65) vs. 15.38% (10/65), P<0.001, rate difference =35.38%, 95% CI: 19.44%-48.98%]. The levels of FSH [17.70 (8.15, 27.00) U/L] decreased significantly and estradiol [24.00 (15.00, 90.47) ng/L] increased significantly in the experimental group after preconditioning with spironolone ethinylestradiol compared with those before preconditioning [30.30 (25.95, 48.05) U/L, P<0.001; 15.00 (15.00, 24.00) ng/L, P<0.001], the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion:The spironolone ethinylestradiol can effectively inhibit the level of FSH and increase the level of estradiol in patients with POI, and increase the probability of ovarian growth and development during ovulation induction therapy.

Objective:To explore any effect of supplementing telerehabilitation with wearable technology on the upper limb functioning and activity of stroke survivors.Methods:Fifty family-based stroke survivors were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 25. In addition to routine medication, the control group was given routine rehabilitation guidance at home, while the experimental group was guided using telerehabilitation and wearable technology. The guidance lasted 20 minutes, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, both groups′ upper limb motor functioning was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FMA-UE). The modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used to quantify hemiplegic muscle spasms, and ability in the activities of daily living was quantified using the modified Barthel index (MBI). A wireless motion capture system generated average trace error (ATE) and test execution time data.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups before the experiment. After the 8 weeks, significant improvement was observed in both groups′ average FMA, MAS and MBI scores, with those of the experimental group significantly better, on average, than those of the control group. There was also a significant improvement in the average ATE and time data in both groups, with significantly better results in the treatment group.Conclusions:Telerehabilitation based on wearable technology can distinctly improve upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after a stroke.

Objective:To explore any effect of supplementing telerehabilitation with wearable technology on the upper limb functioning and activity of stroke survivors.Methods:Fifty family-based stroke survivors were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 25. In addition to routine medication, the control group was given routine rehabilitation guidance at home, while the experimental group was guided using telerehabilitation and wearable technology. The guidance lasted 20 minutes, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Before and after the intervention, both groups′ upper limb motor functioning was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FMA-UE). The modified Ashworth scale (MAS) was used to quantify hemiplegic muscle spasms, and ability in the activities of daily living was quantified using the modified Barthel index (MBI). A wireless motion capture system generated average trace error (ATE) and test execution time data.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups before the experiment. After the 8 weeks, significant improvement was observed in both groups′ average FMA, MAS and MBI scores, with those of the experimental group significantly better, on average, than those of the control group. There was also a significant improvement in the average ATE and time data in both groups, with significantly better results in the treatment group.Conclusions:Telerehabilitation based on wearable technology can distinctly improve upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living after a stroke.

Balance impairment is a common complication after stroke, which often leads to difficulty in walking function recovery and high risk of fall, seriously affecting the independent activity ability and quality of life of stroke patients. Accurate assessment of balance is conducive to better formulation of rehabilitation plans, evaluation of rehabilitation effects, and guidance of safer daily living activities of stroke patients. This article reviews the research progress of various methods for accurate assessment of balance function in patients with stroke.

Objective:To observe any effect of dynamic motor instability training on the balance and postural control of stroke survivors.Methods:Forty stroke survivors with poor balance were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, each of 20. In addition to routine rehabilitation, the observation group was given 20 minutes of dynamic motor instability training, 5 days a week for 8 weeks, while the control group underwent routine rehabilitation for the same length of time. Before and after the intervention, surface electromyogram of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and erector spinae were recorded during perturbation. Activation time and the intensity of the anticipatory and complementary postural adjustments (APAs and CPAs) were also observed. Balance and lower limb motor functioning were assessed using the Berg balance scale (BBS), the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), and GaitWatch analysis.Results:After the treatment the average activation time of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris in the affected side and those of the biceps femoris [(-84.31±5.74)s] and erector spinae in the intact side in APAs were all significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group, while the average activation intensity of the rectus femoris and erector spinae was significantly greater. There was no significant difference in the activation intensity of each muscle group in CPAs after the treatment. After the intervention the average BBS score, FMA-LE score, stride length and walking speed of the observation group all were significantly better than the control group′s averages.Conclusions:Supplementing traditional rehabilitation training with dynamic motor instability training can further improve the posture control of stroke survivors and promote recovery of their balance and walking ability.

Objective:To explore any effect of blood flow restriction during exercise on knee proprioception and motor coordination after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Methods:Thirty patients recovering from ACL reconstruction were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 15. Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training, while the experimental group was additionally provided with 45 minutes of training with blood flow restriction, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The blood flow restriction training involved constant pressure in the groin while the patient performed knee flexion and extension resistance training, squats, alternate knee flexion and extension and ergometer cycling. Before and after the intervention, both groups′ knee function, proprioception and lower limb motor coordination were evaluated using the Lysholm knee scale, the Humac isokinetic measurement system and surface electromyography.Results:Before the experiment there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements. After the intervention, both groups′ average Lysholm score had improved significantly, and errors in reproducing a knee angle had decreased significantly. Significantly better improvement was observed in the observation group than in the control group. That group′s average coordinated contraction rate on the affected side in extension and flexion was also significantly better than the control group′s ave-rage. Indeed, there were no significant differences in the contraction rates between the healthy and affected sides.Conclusions:Training with restricted blood flow can significantly improve knee function, proprioception and motor coordination after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Objective:To observe any effects of contralateral repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor cortex on the swallowing and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:A total of 83 stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an ipsilesional stimulation group ( n=22), a contralesional stimulation group ( n=21), a bilateral stimulation group ( n=20), and a control group ( n=20). In addition to their conventional dysphagia training, those in the three stimulation groups received 3Hz rTMS while the control group was given fake stimulation. The treatment was administered daily for 20 minutes, 6 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically and using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS). The oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing were evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Brain stem conduction was assessed using BAEPs. Results:After treatment the average DOSS scores of all 4 groups were significantly better than before the treatment. The average DOSS scores of the contralesional and bilateral sti-mulation groups were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The sub-item and total VDS scores of all 4 groups had decreased significantly, but the average score of the bilateral stimulation group was significantly lower than the control group′s average. Ipsilesional stimulation significantly improved the VDS sub-item scores for the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation, and pharyngeal transit time compared with the control group. In the contralesional stimulation group the average total score and the VDS sub-item scores for apraxia, premature bolus loss, oral transit times, the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, vallecular residue, laryngeal elevation, coating on the pharyngeal wall, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly lower than those of the control group, on average. After the treatment the latencies of BAEP waves I, III and V and the I-III, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals had decreased significantly in all four groups, but the average latencies and intervals of the bilateral and contralesional groups were significantly shorter than those of the control group. The latencies and intervals of the bilateral stimulation group were then significantly shorter than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group on average. The average latency of wave V in the bilateral stimulation group (6.53±0.73ms) was significantly shorter than that in the contralesional stimulation group after the treatment.Conclusion:Bilateral rTMS over the swallowing motor cortex combined with conventional dysphagia training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors.

Objective:To explore the effect of blood flow restriction training on the quadriceps femoris and on knee stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Methods:Forty patients recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 20. In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the control group was given routine knee flexion and extension strength training, while the experimental group trained for an additional 20 minutes doing knee flexion and extension resistance training with the blood pressure in their groins at 70% of their individual arterial occlusive pressure. (The mean pressure was (123±11.23)mmHg). The training lasted 8 weeks, three times a week. Knee function and hamstring and quadriceps peak torque were assessed before and after the intervention using a Lysholm scale and Humac Norm isokinetic muscle strength tests.Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements before the training. After the intervention, all of the measurements had improved significantly in both groups, with the average Lysholm score, H/Q% and peak torque of the experimental group significantly better than the control group′s averages.Conclusions:Blood flow restriction training can improve the effectiveness of quadriceps femoris strength, knee stability and knee function training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.