ObjectiveTo explore the effect of elbow-wrist functional orthosis on plantar pressure distribution and balance function in stroke patients with hemiplegia. MethodsFrom June, 2024 to April, 2025, 60 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia were recruited from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, and Shanghai Hebin Rehabilitation Hospital. They were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and intervention group (n = 30). The control group received routine neurological rehabilitation, while the intervention group received additional training with an elbow-wrist functional orthosis on the affected side, for eight weeks. Before and after intervention, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) of the elbow joint, plantar pressure symmetry index (SI), plantar contact area and mean plantar pressure were recorded, and balance and mobility were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT). ResultsTwo cases dropped out in the control group. After treatment, MAS grades of the elbow joint, forefoot SI, affected side plantar pressure area, BBS scores, TUGT and 10MWT of both groups improved (|Z| > 3.969, |t| > 3.528, P < 0.01), while the hindfoot SI and average pressure of the affected foot improved in the intervention group (∣t∣ > 4.264, P < 0.001). Except for TUGT and 10MWT, the intervention group was superior to the control group (∣Z∣ > 2.030, ∣t∣ > 2.096, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe elbow-wrist functional orthosis can enhance balance function in stroke patients with hemiplegia by reducing upper-limb spasticity, optimizing center-of-gravity distribution, and improving postural control.

Objective:To evaluate the structural and functional changes of the left atrium in amateur ultra-marathon runners using ultrasound three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging technology.Methods:From June 2023 to June 2024，90 amateur marathon athletes were retrospectively recruited，including 44 amateur ultra-marathon（running distance ≥50 km）athletes（Ultra-marathon，UM group）and 46 amateur classic marathon（running distance<50 km）athletes（Marathon，M group）. Another 39 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations in Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital at the same time were selected as the control group. The distance，running age of amateur marathon runners were recorded. All subjects which underwent conventional echocardiography combined with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography（3D-STE）obtained left atrial volume and functional parameters，including two-dimensional ultrasound indicators such as left atrial anterior posterior diameter（LAd），left ventricular end-diastolic diameter（LVEDd），left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF），early diastolic peak velocity at the mitral valve orifice（E），and early diastolic peak velocity at the lateral mitral annulus（e'），E/e'，left atrial minimum，maximum，presystolic volumes（LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA），left atrial maximum volume index（LAVImax），left atrial emptying volume（LAEV），overall left atrial ejection fraction，active and passive ejection fraction（LAEF，LAaEF，LApEF），left atrial expansion index（LAEI），left atrial reservoir period，conduit period，systolic long axis and circumferential strain（LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c，LASct-c）. The differences in left atrial parameters among three groups were compared and the relevant factors affecting LAEF were analyzed.Results:There were statistically significant differences in LAd，LVEDd，LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA，LAVImax，and LAEV among the three groups（all P<0.05），and there were statistically significant differences in pairwise comparisons between the groups（all P<0.05）. Compared with the control group，LAEF，LApEF，LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c and LASct-c were significantly reduced in the M and UM groups（all P<0.05），while there were no statistically significant differences in these parameters between the UM and M groups（all P>0.05）；There were no statistically significant differences in IVSd，LVEF，E/e'，LAEI，and LAaEF among the 3 groups（all P>0.05）.There were no statistically significant differences in IVSd，LVEF，E/e'，LAaEF and LAEI among the 3 groups（all P>0.05）. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only weekly running volume was an independent predictor of decreased LAEF in amateur marathon runners. The repeatability test indicated good consistency within and between observers. Conclusions:Amateur marathon runners have varying degrees of damage to their left atrial reservoir function，conduit function，and contraction function，with amateur ultra-marathon runners showing more significant damages，3D-STE technology can evaluate the structural and functional changes in the left atrium in amateur ultra-marathon athletes，and assist clinical understanding of atrial adaptation in amateur ultra- marathon athletes.

Objective:To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided scalp nerve block (SNB) combined with dexmedetomidine on cerebral blood flow after craniotomy in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:A randomized controlled design was conducted. Patients aged 25-65 years, with ASA physical status I–III and Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 9-12, who underwent craniotomy for acute TBI at Kunshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between January 2024 and February 2025 were selected. Patients with unstable vital signs, cranial tumors, cardiovascular diseases, local anesthetic allergies, or infections at the puncture site were excluded. Using a random number table, patients were divided into two groups: the ultrasound-guided SNB combined with dexmedetomidine group (SD group) and the dexmedetomidine-alone group (D group). General clinical data, peak systolic velocity (PSV), mean blood flow velocity (MBFV), intracranial pressure (ICP), S100 calcium-binding protein beta (S-100β protein), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, and postoperative complications were compared. Dynamic changes in PSV and MBFV were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, while inter-group comparisons used independent sample t-tests. Results:A total of 79 patients were included, with 40 in the SD group and 39 in the D group. There were no significant differences in general clinical data between the two groups (all P>0.05). In the D group, PSV and MBFV at T 1 and T 2 were significantly higher than at T0 [(125.04±20.43) cm/s vs. (126.83±21.76) cm/s vs. (110.63±18.49) cm/s, P=0.001; (61.75±8.34) cm/s vs. (62.81±8.54) cm/s vs. (57.82±6.93) cm/s, P=0.017], whereas no significant differences were observed in the SD group (all P>0.05). PSV, MBFV, ICP, S-100β protein, and NSE levels at T1 and T2 in the SD group were lower than those in the D group (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative hypertension, agitation, and the use rate of vasoactive drugs were also lower in the SD group compared to the D group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The application of ultrasound-guided SNB combined with dexmedetomidine in TBI patients after craniotomy can help stabilize cerebral blood flow and ICP, mitigate neuronal injury, and reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND:Protein is one of the essential nutrients for the human body and is a key component of human cell tissue.Protein supplementation can promote the synthesis of myofibrillar protein and play a key role in strength training.However,the interaction mechanism and signaling pathway between protein and exercise are still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of interaction between exercise and protein,and to optimize the benefits of protein supplementation on exercise performance.METHODS:Using"sports,proteins,amino acids,polypeptide,interaction mechanisms,signaling pathway"as Chinese and English search terms,we searched WanFang Data,CNKI,VIP,and PubMed databases respectively.Articles were screened according to the inclusion criteria,and finally 73 articles were included in the review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Current research on protein supplementation promoting exercise performance mainly focuses on promoting muscle growth,endurance improvement,and body recovery through protein supplementation,but there are differences in the existing experimental results.The interaction mechanism between protein molecules and proteins in the body is not yet clear.The research on the interaction mechanism between exercise and peptides is still in its infancy.Exercise can stimulate the full absorption of external protein intake,which can affect the mechanism of protein molecules in the body.Supplementing peptide nutrition can more accurately affect the body's state,thus better eliminating the phenomena of"sub-health"and"modern diseases."Therefore,studying the interaction mechanism between exercise and proteins is particularly important,delving into the specific mechanisms by which amino acids act on the body,and further exploring the interaction mechanism between exercise and peptides.

Objective:To evaluate the structural and functional changes of the left atrium in amateur ultra-marathon runners using ultrasound three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging technology.Methods:From June 2023 to June 2024，90 amateur marathon athletes were retrospectively recruited，including 44 amateur ultra-marathon（running distance ≥50 km）athletes（Ultra-marathon，UM group）and 46 amateur classic marathon（running distance<50 km）athletes（Marathon，M group）. Another 39 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examinations in Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital at the same time were selected as the control group. The distance，running age of amateur marathon runners were recorded. All subjects which underwent conventional echocardiography combined with three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography（3D-STE）obtained left atrial volume and functional parameters，including two-dimensional ultrasound indicators such as left atrial anterior posterior diameter（LAd），left ventricular end-diastolic diameter（LVEDd），left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF），early diastolic peak velocity at the mitral valve orifice（E），and early diastolic peak velocity at the lateral mitral annulus（e'），E/e'，left atrial minimum，maximum，presystolic volumes（LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA），left atrial maximum volume index（LAVImax），left atrial emptying volume（LAEV），overall left atrial ejection fraction，active and passive ejection fraction（LAEF，LAaEF，LApEF），left atrial expansion index（LAEI），left atrial reservoir period，conduit period，systolic long axis and circumferential strain（LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c，LASct-c）. The differences in left atrial parameters among three groups were compared and the relevant factors affecting LAEF were analyzed.Results:There were statistically significant differences in LAd，LVEDd，LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA，LAVImax，and LAEV among the three groups（all P<0.05），and there were statistically significant differences in pairwise comparisons between the groups（all P<0.05）. Compared with the control group，LAEF，LApEF，LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c and LASct-c were significantly reduced in the M and UM groups（all P<0.05），while there were no statistically significant differences in these parameters between the UM and M groups（all P>0.05）；There were no statistically significant differences in IVSd，LVEF，E/e'，LAEI，and LAaEF among the 3 groups（all P>0.05）.There were no statistically significant differences in IVSd，LVEF，E/e'，LAaEF and LAEI among the 3 groups（all P>0.05）. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only weekly running volume was an independent predictor of decreased LAEF in amateur marathon runners. The repeatability test indicated good consistency within and between observers. Conclusions:Amateur marathon runners have varying degrees of damage to their left atrial reservoir function，conduit function，and contraction function，with amateur ultra-marathon runners showing more significant damages，3D-STE technology can evaluate the structural and functional changes in the left atrium in amateur ultra-marathon athletes，and assist clinical understanding of atrial adaptation in amateur ultra- marathon athletes.

BACKGROUND:Protein is one of the essential nutrients for the human body and is a key component of human cell tissue.Protein supplementation can promote the synthesis of myofibrillar protein and play a key role in strength training.However,the interaction mechanism and signaling pathway between protein and exercise are still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the mechanism of interaction between exercise and protein,and to optimize the benefits of protein supplementation on exercise performance.METHODS:Using"sports,proteins,amino acids,polypeptide,interaction mechanisms,signaling pathway"as Chinese and English search terms,we searched WanFang Data,CNKI,VIP,and PubMed databases respectively.Articles were screened according to the inclusion criteria,and finally 73 articles were included in the review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Current research on protein supplementation promoting exercise performance mainly focuses on promoting muscle growth,endurance improvement,and body recovery through protein supplementation,but there are differences in the existing experimental results.The interaction mechanism between protein molecules and proteins in the body is not yet clear.The research on the interaction mechanism between exercise and peptides is still in its infancy.Exercise can stimulate the full absorption of external protein intake,which can affect the mechanism of protein molecules in the body.Supplementing peptide nutrition can more accurately affect the body's state,thus better eliminating the phenomena of"sub-health"and"modern diseases."Therefore,studying the interaction mechanism between exercise and proteins is particularly important,delving into the specific mechanisms by which amino acids act on the body,and further exploring the interaction mechanism between exercise and peptides.

Objective To investigate the effects of different ratios of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(ω-3 PUFA)on depression and cognitive impairment in patients with major depression.Methods A randomized,double-blinded controlled trial was used to randomly assign patients with depression to a cognitive improvement group,a depression improvement group,and a placebo group.The cognitive improvement group took 1388 mg of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)and 692 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA)every day and the depression improvement group took 1248 mg of EPA and 832 mg of DHA every day.The placebo group took the same dose of soybean oil for 12 weeks,during which psychiatric medication was maintained.The 24-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-24)was used to evaluate depressive symptoms,and the standardized MATRICS consensus cognitive battery(MCCB)was used to evaluate cognitive function after 6 weeks and 12 weeks,respectively.Results The study recruited a total of 46 patients with depression including 22 in the cognitive improvement group,12 in the depression improvement group,and 12 in the placebo group.After 6 weeks of treatment,the HAMD-24 scores were significantly lower in the depression improvement group(19.00±10.70)and cognitive improvement group(16.58±9.39)than in the placebo group(31.10±10.03)(P<0.01).After 12 weeks of treatment,HAMD-24 scores were significantly lower in the depression improvement group(13.58±8.43)than in the placebo group(28.10±15.04)(P=0.02).No significant interaction effect was found on the cognitive assessment scores in any dimension after 6 weeks and 12 weeks of treatment(P>0.05).The incidence rate of adverse events in the depression improvement group was 16.7%(2/12),and no adverse events were reported in the other two groups.There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events among the three groups(P=0.13).Conclusion Treatment with ω-3PUFA for 6 weeks can improve the depressive symptoms of patients with depression.The formula with a higher ratio of EPA exhibits higher effectiveness while the two groups of ω-3PUFA formulas with different ratios do not improve cognitive function.

Objective:To assess the left ventricular(LV) structure and systolic function in amateur marathon runners using real-time three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(3D-STE) and analyze its correlation with the running volume.Methods:A total of 84 amateur marathon runners were recruited between January 2019 and October 2021 in Hangzhou and were divided into short-term (ST) group(≤6 months) and more extended-term(MET) group(>6 months–2 years) based on their time of participating in the marathon. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled from the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University during the same period as a control group. The running volume of ST and MET runners were recorded, LV end-diastolic volume(EDV), end-systolic volume(ESV), LV mass(LVM), LV ejection fraction(LVEF), LV global longitudinal strain(GLS), global circumferential strain(GCS), global radial strain(GRS), global area strain (GAS), twist, and torsion were measured by conventional echocardiography and 3D-STE. The differences of those parameters among the three groups were compared. The correlation between 3D-STE parameters and the running volume was further analyzed.Results:In ST amateur marathon runners, LV EDV was higher compared with controls( P<0.05). Compared with ST and control groups, LV EDV, ESV, and LVM of MET runners were increased(all P<0.05). In addition, compared with control group, GLS of MET runners was increased( P<0.05). The LVEF, GCS, GRS, GAS, twist, and torsion showed no statistically significant differences among the three groups(all P>0.05). In amateur marathon runners LV EDV, ESV, LVM had statistically significant positive correlations with an average weekly running volume and total running volume (all P<0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the total running volume was an independent correlation factor in LV EDV of amateur marathon runners (β=0.618, P<0.01). Conclusions:Amateur marathon runners participating in a short term marathon mainly show an increase in LV EDV, the longitudinal systolic function of the LV can be enhanced in the early stage of the marathon.

Objective:To assess the left ventricular (LV) systolic function in amateur marathoners by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.Methods:A total of 59 amateur marathon runners were recruited from January 2019 to June 2020 in Hangzhou and were divided into group A (>2-5 years) and group B (>5 years) based on their time of participating in marathon. Thirty-one healthy volunteers were enrolled from Affiliate Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University during the same period as a control group. Conventional echocardiography combined with two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging were applied to all the subjects to obtain interventricular septum diastolic thickness (IVSd), LV posterior wall thickness(PWd), LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), relative wall thickness(RWT) and LV mass(LVM), LV end-diastolic volume(EDV), LV end-systolic volume(ESV) and stroke volume(SV), LV ejection fraction(LVEF), LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), and global circumferential strain (GCS). Pre-marathon, 1 hour and 4th day post-marathon echocardiography were performed in amateur marathon runners.Results:Compared with the control group, group A amateur marathon runners showed significant increases in IVSd, PWd, LVEDd, RWT and LVM(all P<0.05); In addition, the IVSd, PWd, LVEDd, RWT, LVM, EDV, ESV and SV in group B runners were further increased compared to those of group A runners (all P<0.01). The LVEF and pre-marathon GCS showed no statistically significant differences among the three groups (all P>0.05), while the pre-marathon GLS showed a statistically significant difference among the three groups ( P<0.01). Compared with group A runners, the pre-marathon, 1 hour and 4th day post-marathon GLS and 1 hour post-marathon GCS were significantly decreased in group B runners (all P<0.01); In intra-group comparison, 1 hour post-marathon GLS was significantly decreased in relative to pre-marathon and 4th day post-marathon GLS in both group A and B (all P<0.05). One hour post-marathon GCS was significantly decreased compared with pre-marathon GCS in group B ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Amateur runners who have participated in long time marathon have reduced LV longitudinal strains and transient post-marathon decreases in LV systolic function.

Objective: To investigate the value of combination of A²DS² score, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) predicting stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Suqian People's Hospital of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group from March 2015 to March 2019 were enrolled retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation of A²DS² scores as well as PCT and CRP levels with SAP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the individual and combined predictive values of A²DS² scores, PCT and CRP levels for SAP. Results: A total of 332 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, and 58 of them developed SAP (17.5%). After adjusting for age, smoking, and hyperlipidemia, the A²DS² score (odds ratio [OR] 1.613, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.092-2.389), PCT (OR 8.047, 95% CI 3.012-16.138) and CRP (OR 1.409, 95% CI 1.064-2.672) were the independent predictors of SAP occurrence. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of A²DS² score, PCT and CRP alone, and the combination of the three for predicting SAP were 0.811, 0.825, 0.804 and 0.910, respectively. When the three are jointly used to predict SAP, the area under the curve is significantly higher than the individual prediction (all P<0.001). Conclusions The combination of A²DS² score, PCT and CRP can improve the ability to predict SAP.