Objective:To investigate the efficacy of two types of micro-focused ultrasound devices combined with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection for facial rejuvenation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted, including 60 female patients aged 28-70 (41.3±7.9) years, who received facial rejuvenation treatment at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, from April 2023 to April 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment method: the control group (received only micro-focused ultrasound treatment, n=30) and the combined group (received both micro-focused ultrasound and BoNT-A injection, n=30). Additionally, patients were further categorized into four subgroups based on the type of micro-focused ultrasound device used: Peninsula Microultra? (PM) device group ( n=15), Intelligent Ultrasound? (IU) device group ( n=15), PM device + BoNT-A injection group ( n=15), and IU device + BoNT-A injection group ( n=15). The severity of facial wrinkles was assessed using the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS), the Merz aesthetic scale (MAS), and the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) at baseline and 6 months post-treatment. Adverse event rates were also recorded. Results:At 6 months post-treatment, the combined group showed significantly lower WSRS and MAS scores than the control group (both P<0.001). No significant differences were found between the PM and IU device groups, or between the PM + BoNT-A and IU + BoNT-A groups regarding WSRS and MAS scores (all P>0.05). Self-reported GAIS improvement was 56.7% (17/30) for the control group and 80.0% (24/30) for the combined group, with the combined group showing superior results ( P=0.015). The physician-assessed GAIS improvement was 70.0% (21/30) for the control group and 96.7% (29/30) for the combined group, again with the combined group showing superior results ( P=0.007). No significant differences were found in self-reported or physician-assessed GAIS improvement between the PM and IU device groups, or between the PM + BoNT-A and IU + BoNT-A groups (all P>0.05). No severe adverse reactions, such as blisters, scabbing, purpura, bruising, scarring, peripheral facial paralysis, allergies, muscle weakness, dysphagia, or dysphonia, were observed in any patient. Conclusion:The combination of micro-focused ultrasound and BoNT-A injection for facial rejuvenation is more effective than micro-focused ultrasound alone, while there are no significant differences in efficacy between the two micro-focused ultrasound devices.

BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence has indicated that early reinforcement of correct posture is particularly important for improving abnormal gait in stroke patients.Wearable exoskeleton-assisted training can improve patients'walking function in a short period of time,and can also assist the coordinated movement of muscles around the pelvis,hip,knee,and ankle joints,control the walking trajectory of the lower limbs,and improve walking ability in patients with stroke.OBJECTIVE:To explore the improvement of abnormal gait in stroke patients by a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback,and to explore the rehabilitation mechanism.METHODS:A total of 52 patients in the recovery period of stroke admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from January 2023 to January 2024 were included in this study and randomly divided into an experimental group(n=26)and a control group(n=26)using a random number table method.Based on conventional rehabilitation training,the patients in the experimental group participated in training using a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback(15 minutes per day,6 times per week),while those in the control group were given conventional gait therapy(15 minutes per day,6 times per week).Training in each group lasted for 4 weeks.Before and after training,the lower limb motor function scores,gait parameters(step length,step speed,step width)and gait symmetry were compared between the two groups,and the brain functional connectivity values of the prefrontal motor area,the primary motor cortex and the sensorimotor area were detected using portable near-infrared spectroscopy.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After training,lower limb motor function scores,gait parameters and gait symmetry were significantly improved in the two groups(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the experimental group was superior to the control group in terms of gait parameters and gait symmetry(P＜0.05).Brain functional connectivity values of the right sensorimotor area-left prefrontal motor area and right sensorimotor area-right prefrontal motor area were significantly increased in the two groups after training(P＜0.05).The functional connectivity values of the left sensorimotor area-right primary motor cortex and left sensorimotor area-left primary motor cortex in the experimental group were increased after training(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the functional connectivity values of the left sensorimotor area-right primary motor cortex and left sensorimotor area-left primary motor cortex were increased in the experimental group after training(P＜0.05).To conclude,based on conventional rehabilitation training,a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback can not only effectively improve the abnormal gait of stroke patients,but also activate the functional sensorimotor areas of the brain associated with abnormal gait.

BACKGROUND:Increasing evidence has indicated that early reinforcement of correct posture is particularly important for improving abnormal gait in stroke patients.Wearable exoskeleton-assisted training can improve patients'walking function in a short period of time,and can also assist the coordinated movement of muscles around the pelvis,hip,knee,and ankle joints,control the walking trajectory of the lower limbs,and improve walking ability in patients with stroke.OBJECTIVE:To explore the improvement of abnormal gait in stroke patients by a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback,and to explore the rehabilitation mechanism.METHODS:A total of 52 patients in the recovery period of stroke admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from January 2023 to January 2024 were included in this study and randomly divided into an experimental group(n=26)and a control group(n=26)using a random number table method.Based on conventional rehabilitation training,the patients in the experimental group participated in training using a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback(15 minutes per day,6 times per week),while those in the control group were given conventional gait therapy(15 minutes per day,6 times per week).Training in each group lasted for 4 weeks.Before and after training,the lower limb motor function scores,gait parameters(step length,step speed,step width)and gait symmetry were compared between the two groups,and the brain functional connectivity values of the prefrontal motor area,the primary motor cortex and the sensorimotor area were detected using portable near-infrared spectroscopy.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After training,lower limb motor function scores,gait parameters and gait symmetry were significantly improved in the two groups(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the experimental group was superior to the control group in terms of gait parameters and gait symmetry(P＜0.05).Brain functional connectivity values of the right sensorimotor area-left prefrontal motor area and right sensorimotor area-right prefrontal motor area were significantly increased in the two groups after training(P＜0.05).The functional connectivity values of the left sensorimotor area-right primary motor cortex and left sensorimotor area-left primary motor cortex in the experimental group were increased after training(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the functional connectivity values of the left sensorimotor area-right primary motor cortex and left sensorimotor area-left primary motor cortex were increased in the experimental group after training(P＜0.05).To conclude,based on conventional rehabilitation training,a wearable exoskeleton with posture feedback can not only effectively improve the abnormal gait of stroke patients,but also activate the functional sensorimotor areas of the brain associated with abnormal gait.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of two types of micro-focused ultrasound devices combined with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection for facial rejuvenation.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted, including 60 female patients aged 28-70 (41.3±7.9) years, who received facial rejuvenation treatment at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, from April 2023 to April 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment method: the control group (received only micro-focused ultrasound treatment, n=30) and the combined group (received both micro-focused ultrasound and BoNT-A injection, n=30). Additionally, patients were further categorized into four subgroups based on the type of micro-focused ultrasound device used: Peninsula Microultra? (PM) device group ( n=15), Intelligent Ultrasound? (IU) device group ( n=15), PM device + BoNT-A injection group ( n=15), and IU device + BoNT-A injection group ( n=15). The severity of facial wrinkles was assessed using the wrinkle severity rating scale (WSRS), the Merz aesthetic scale (MAS), and the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) at baseline and 6 months post-treatment. Adverse event rates were also recorded. Results:At 6 months post-treatment, the combined group showed significantly lower WSRS and MAS scores than the control group (both P<0.001). No significant differences were found between the PM and IU device groups, or between the PM + BoNT-A and IU + BoNT-A groups regarding WSRS and MAS scores (all P>0.05). Self-reported GAIS improvement was 56.7% (17/30) for the control group and 80.0% (24/30) for the combined group, with the combined group showing superior results ( P=0.015). The physician-assessed GAIS improvement was 70.0% (21/30) for the control group and 96.7% (29/30) for the combined group, again with the combined group showing superior results ( P=0.007). No significant differences were found in self-reported or physician-assessed GAIS improvement between the PM and IU device groups, or between the PM + BoNT-A and IU + BoNT-A groups (all P>0.05). No severe adverse reactions, such as blisters, scabbing, purpura, bruising, scarring, peripheral facial paralysis, allergies, muscle weakness, dysphagia, or dysphonia, were observed in any patient. Conclusion:The combination of micro-focused ultrasound and BoNT-A injection for facial rejuvenation is more effective than micro-focused ultrasound alone, while there are no significant differences in efficacy between the two micro-focused ultrasound devices.

Objective:To explore any effect of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the upper limb motor function and cerebral cortex activation of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group, each of 30. In addition to routine rehabilitation training (including drug therapy, comprehensive hemiplegic limb training and physical factor therapy), the intervention group received 15 minutes of rTMS daily, five days a week for 4 weeks while the control group was given false rTMS. Upper limb motor function was evaluated before and after the treatment using the Fugl Meyer upper limb motor function rating scale (FMA-UE). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to detect and compare the activation (β values) of the prefrontal cortex, the motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex in the 2 groups. The correlation between the FMA-UE scores and the β values was quantified.Results:①There was no significant difference in the average FMA-UE scores between the two groups before the treatment. Afterward, though both groups′ average scores had increased significantly, there was significantly greater improvement in the treatment group. ②There was also no significant difference in average β value between the two groups before the experiment, but afterward the average βs of channels 27 and 13 in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group. Moreover, in patients with lesion in the left brain, the β-values of CH27 and CH13 were also significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05). ③The FMA-UE scores of the intervention group were moderately correlated with the CH27 and CH13 β values, but those of the control group were only weakly correlated with the β values of CH27. Conclusion:Transcranial magnetic stimulation activates a lesioned left brain region, improving upper limb motor function. The improvement is correlated with the activation of the left prefrontal cortex and the left primary somatosensory cortex.

Objective To discuss the clinical feature ,diagnosis and treatment of the occult cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea after tracheotomy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury .Methods The clinical data of 18 cases of the occult cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea after tracheotomy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury were retro -spectively analyzed .Results 15 cases showed involuntary swallowing movements ,frequent stimulus-likecough, abnormal increased secretions in the oral and nasal;3 cases performance of aspiration ,hypoxemia ,respiratory distress . After a three -dimensional thin skull CT , cisternography , nasal endoscopic examination can confirm the diagnosis . After the treatment with replacing the tracheostomy tube with a balloon ,continuous lumbar drainage ,endoscopic repair leak,the cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea were cured .Conclusion Patients with occult cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea performance the diversity and easily missed ,early detection and timely treatment can prevent cerebrospinal fluid rhi-norrhea delayed healing and intracranial infection and promote patient recovery .