Objective:To observe any effect of dual-task training on abnormal gait and fall risk among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 90 stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group, a cognitive dual-task group, and a motor dual-task group, each of 30. All 3 groups received conventional post-stroke medication and rehabilitation training, but the cognitive and motor dual-task groups received cognitive or motor dual-task training as well. Before and after 4 weeks of the training, everyone′s balance, walking and lower limb motor functioning were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go test (TUGT) and the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE). Additionally, three-dimensional gait analysis was performed to document gait speed, bilateral spatial asymmetry, bilateral temporal asymmetry, and the dual-task cost (DTC) of gait speed.Results:Significant improvement was observed in the average BBS scores, TUGT times, FMA-LE scores, gait speed, DTC of gait speed, bilateral spatial asymmetry ratios, and bilateral temporal asymmetry ratios of all 3 groups after the experiment. The averages of the cognitive dual-task group were then significantly better than the control group′s averages. The motor dual-task group′s average BBS score (42.67±7.87), TUGT time [(22.30±8.53)s], gait speed (0.58±0.2m/s), DTC of gait speed (19.02±5.99%), and bilateral spatial asymmetry ratio (19.79±10.41%) were then significantly better than the control group′s averages but not significantly different from those of the cognitive dual-task group.Conclusions:Dual-task training can significantly improve the balance, walking and lower limb motor function of stroke survivors, correcting their abnormal gait patterns and consequently reducing their fall risks.

Objective:To construct the risk prediction model for early-onset peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) in peritoneal dialysis patients based on six machine learning algorithms.Methods:This study was retrospective. Convenience sampling was used to select peritoneal dialysis patients who were regularly followed up in the Department of Nephrology of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from December 2009 to August 2023 to collect general information, primary diseases, and laboratory indicators of the study population. It was randomly divided into a modeling set and validation set in the ratio of 7∶3. With the occurrence of early-onset PDAP as the dependent variable, the risk prediction model of early-onset PDAP in peritoneal dialysis patients was constructed based on six machine learning algorithms, namely, Logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and artificial neural network, respectively. Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ( AUC) , accuracy, and F1 score to select the optimal model. Results:The final data of 890 peritoneal dialysis patients were analyzed, of which 86 patients developed early-onset PDAP, and the incidence of early-onset PDAP was 9.66%. The four prediction models, Logistic regression, support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting, and random forest, had high accuracy with AUC values of 0.703, 0.729, 0.782, and 0.814, respectively, with the random forest model having higher AUC value, accuracy, and F1 score. Further ranking of the importance of risk factors for early-onset PDAP based on the random forest model showed that the top five characteristic variables were C-reactive protein, triglycerides, platelet, ferritin, and leukocyte, in that order. Conclusions:The risk prediction model for early-onset PDAP in peritoneal dialysis patients constructed based on the random forest model has optimal performance, which can help medical and nursing staff assess and prevent early-onset PDAP at an early stage.

Objective:To construct the risk prediction model for early-onset peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) in peritoneal dialysis patients based on six machine learning algorithms.Methods:This study was retrospective. Convenience sampling was used to select peritoneal dialysis patients who were regularly followed up in the Department of Nephrology of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from December 2009 to August 2023 to collect general information, primary diseases, and laboratory indicators of the study population. It was randomly divided into a modeling set and validation set in the ratio of 7∶3. With the occurrence of early-onset PDAP as the dependent variable, the risk prediction model of early-onset PDAP in peritoneal dialysis patients was constructed based on six machine learning algorithms, namely, Logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, extreme gradient boosting, and artificial neural network, respectively. Model performance was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ( AUC) , accuracy, and F1 score to select the optimal model. Results:The final data of 890 peritoneal dialysis patients were analyzed, of which 86 patients developed early-onset PDAP, and the incidence of early-onset PDAP was 9.66%. The four prediction models, Logistic regression, support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting, and random forest, had high accuracy with AUC values of 0.703, 0.729, 0.782, and 0.814, respectively, with the random forest model having higher AUC value, accuracy, and F1 score. Further ranking of the importance of risk factors for early-onset PDAP based on the random forest model showed that the top five characteristic variables were C-reactive protein, triglycerides, platelet, ferritin, and leukocyte, in that order. Conclusions:The risk prediction model for early-onset PDAP in peritoneal dialysis patients constructed based on the random forest model has optimal performance, which can help medical and nursing staff assess and prevent early-onset PDAP at an early stage.

Objective:To observe any effect of dual-task training on abnormal gait and fall risk among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 90 stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group, a cognitive dual-task group, and a motor dual-task group, each of 30. All 3 groups received conventional post-stroke medication and rehabilitation training, but the cognitive and motor dual-task groups received cognitive or motor dual-task training as well. Before and after 4 weeks of the training, everyone′s balance, walking and lower limb motor functioning were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Up and Go test (TUGT) and the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE). Additionally, three-dimensional gait analysis was performed to document gait speed, bilateral spatial asymmetry, bilateral temporal asymmetry, and the dual-task cost (DTC) of gait speed.Results:Significant improvement was observed in the average BBS scores, TUGT times, FMA-LE scores, gait speed, DTC of gait speed, bilateral spatial asymmetry ratios, and bilateral temporal asymmetry ratios of all 3 groups after the experiment. The averages of the cognitive dual-task group were then significantly better than the control group′s averages. The motor dual-task group′s average BBS score (42.67±7.87), TUGT time [(22.30±8.53)s], gait speed (0.58±0.2m/s), DTC of gait speed (19.02±5.99%), and bilateral spatial asymmetry ratio (19.79±10.41%) were then significantly better than the control group′s averages but not significantly different from those of the cognitive dual-task group.Conclusions:Dual-task training can significantly improve the balance, walking and lower limb motor function of stroke survivors, correcting their abnormal gait patterns and consequently reducing their fall risks.

Objective To observe among stroke survivors the timing of muscle activation at the stance phase during walking using the surface electromyography ( sEMG) combined with 3D gait analysis. Methods Twenty stroke survivors assessed as at Brunnstrom stages Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ were assigned to groups designated Ⅲ, Ⅳ and V. sEMG and 3D gait analysis were used to assess the activation timing of the bilateral rectus femoris ( RF) and biceps femoris ( BF) , the tibialis anterior ( TA) and the gastrocnemius medialis ( GM) . The activation timing and the dura-tion of activation of the muscles were compared among the 3 groups, as well as with those of healthy muscles. Results The onset time of the RF on the affected side was significantly later than on the healthy side, while that of the GM was significant earlier. The durations of BF and GM activation on the affected side were significantly shorter than on the unaffected side in group III. The onset times of the TA and GM on the affected side were significantly ear-lier than on the healthy side in group IV, as was the onset time of the TA of the affected side in group V. The average RF and BF onset times on the affected side in group Ⅳ were significantly earlier than in group Ⅲ. The onset time of the TA on the unaffected side and the average BF onset time on the affected side in group Ⅴ were significantly later than in group IV. The onset time of the RF and TA on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ and the onset time of the GM on the affected side were significantly later than in group III, while the onset time of the BF and TA on the affected side was significantly earlier. The average duration of BF activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ was significant-ly shorter than that of group Ⅲ. The average duration of TA activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅴ was signifi-cantly shorter than that of group IV. The duration of RF activation on the affected side in group Ⅴ was significantly shorter than that in group Ⅲ, and the same was true of the RF, BF, TA and GM activation times on the healthy side. Conclusions There are significant differences in the onset and duration of muscle activation when stroke survivors at different stages of recovery walk. Some muscles are activated too early and others are over-activated. These abnormali-ties gradually disappear with the recovery of motor function.

Objective To observe the effect of core stability training on lumbar disc herniation using changes in surface-electromyography signals from the core muscles.Methods Sixty patients with lumbar disc herniation were equally divided into an experimental group who were given the core stability training in addition to their regular physical therapy and a control group given the regular physical therapy only.The total course of treatment was 8 weeks.Each patient was assessed before the experiment and after 4 and 8 weeks of the intervention using the numeric rating scales of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association,the Oswestry disability index and integrated electromyogram (iEMG),root mean square (RMS) and medium frequency (MF) of the electromyographic signals from the rectus abdominis,obliqus externus abdominis,erector spinae,lumbar multifidus and gluteus medius muscles.Results No significant differences between the two groups were observed in any of the measurements before or after four weeks of the treatment.After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,both groups had significant improvements in all of the measurements compared with before the experiment.Between 4 and 8 weeks the experimental group showed significant improvement in all of the measurements which was not matched in the control group.By the end of the treatment,all of the measurements of the experimental group were,on average,significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions Both core stability training and regular physical therapy have similar effects on patients with lumbar disc herniation in the short term.However,continued core stability training improves the ability of core muscles and relieves pain and dysfunction better than prolonged regular physical therapy.

Objective To understand the mental health status of officers and soldiers (OSs) in a Chinese army unit,and analyze its relationship with Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection.Methods Cross sectional extraction of 1293 male soldiers from a certain unit of Chinese army in September 2015,aged 17-37 years old,average age 20.5 ± 3.2.Using the symptom self rating scale (SCL-90) to conduct a psychological evaluation,comparison between the evaluation results and the Chinese military norm was conducted to understand the mental health status of OSs in the unit.13C-urea breath test was used to detect H.pylori infection,and the relationship between the positivity rate of various factors,the SCL-90 score and H.pylori infection were analyzed.Ninety OSs who had desire to eradicate H.pylori serves as the experimental group,and 90 H.pylori-infected OSs as control group.The experimental group received quadruple-drug eradication therapy,control group received no drug treatment.SCL-90 scores before and after the treatment were compared,and SCL-90 scores after treatment in the experimental group and those in the control group were also compared for analyzing the relationship between the OSs psychological status and H.pylori infection.Results The SCL-90 score of the OSs was lower than the norm of Chinese army,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The psychological screening positive rate was higher in H.pylori-positive OSs than H.pylori-negative those and the positive rates of psychological screening factors somatization,interpersonal sensitivity,hostility and paranoid were higher in H.pylori-positive OSs than in H.Pylorinegative those,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).After the eradication of H.pylori in the experimental group these factor scores were lower than those before eradication.Compared with control group SCL-90 scores,soldiers somatization,interpersonal sensitivity,anxiety,hostility,paranoid factor score in experimental group after treatment were lower,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mental health is better in OSs in this unit,the negative mental status is obvious in H.pylori-infected OSs than in H.pylori-negative those,and to eradicate H.pylori can improve their psychological state.

Objective To explore the effects of continuous rehabilitation nursing on the postoperative functional recovery of patients with minimally invasive lumbar disc herniation.Methods Totally 115 postoperative patients with minimally invasive lumbar disc herniation who were admitted into the rehabilitation center of Shaoxing People′s Hospital of Zhejiang Province for rehabilitation exercise between March 2011 and March 2016 were selected by convenience sampling method and were divided into the control group (n=58) and the observation group (n=57) by random number table. Patients in two groups were given grade-one and grade-two rehabilitation nursing. After discharged from hospital,patients in the observation group were given continuous rehabilitation nursing in their family or community,while patients in the control group,whose continuous rehabilitation nursing was suspended,were required to do exercise at home. Then the scores of Oswstry disability index (ODI) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association score(JOA) before operation,one month after operation and three months after operation in two groups were observed,and the effects of their three-month′ nursing and treatment were compared.Results The ODI scores of the control group before operation,one month after operation and three months after operation were [(37.59±6.03),(8.31±2.75),(1.95±1.16)],and those of the observation group were [(38.61±5.69),(7.95±2.06),(1.18±0.85)] (t=0.882,0.641;P>0.05);the score of the observation group three months after operation was lower than that of the control group (t=16.571,P<0.01). The JOA scores of the control group before operation,one month after operation and three months after operation were [(11.43±2.17),(18.60±2.20),(21.87±2.07)],and those of the observation were [(10.79±2.02), (18.96±3.54),(27.14±2.36)] (t=1.697,0.434;P>0.05);the observation group′s score three months after operation was higher than that of the control group (t=161.998,P<0.01). As for the effects of two groups three months after treatment,the total efficacy of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (91.2% vs 74.1%) (Z=3.087,P<0.01).Conclusions Normalized continuous rehabilitation nursing can help to improve the lumbar and spinal cord functions of patients with minimally invasive lumbar disc herniation after operation and enhance their rehabilitation efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies (anti-TGAb and anti-TPOAb) in cord blood of infants of mothers complicated with hypothyroidism and the influencing factors of neonatal thyroid function. Methods Clinical data of 67 singleton pregnant women complicated with hypothyroidism in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Thyroid function and its autoantibody levels in maternal, cord blood and neonatal serum at 5-7 d after birth were compared. Umbilical TSH level and its affecting factors were also investigated. The results of TSH was expressed as median (25th-75th percentile). Results (1) Umbilical TSH levels were elevated in 9. 0% (6/67) of all infants born to mothers complicated with hypothyroidism. (2) No correlation was found in TSH levels between cord blood and venous blood in neonates 5-7 d after birth. Umbilical TSH levels were significantly higher in infants born vaginally than in those born abdominally [10. 20(6. 10-12. 80) mU/L vs 5. 86(4.02-7.74) mU/L,P=0.001]. Higher umbilical TSH levels were also detected in those complicated with fetal distress and preterm birth compared with those withoutere [fetal distress: (10. 36(6. 61-13. 37) mU/L and 6. 89(4. 18-9. 70) mU/L, P = 0. 046; preterm birth: 8. 90(7. 60-10. 33) mU/L and 6.84(4.17-9. 80) mU/L,P=0. 046,0. 049)]. (3) The anti-TGAb levels in cord blood were positively correlated with that in neonatal serum at 5-7 d after birth (r=0. 960, P = 0. 000), and the same was true for anti-TGPOAb levels (r= 0. 975, P = 0. 000). Maternal thyroid autoantibody levels (anti-TGAb and anti-TPOAb) had significant effect on umbilical antibody levels (P = 0. 003 and 0. 000, respectively), but not on the neonatal TSH levels (P>0. 05). Conclusions Umbilical TSH levels are affected by many delivery factors which may limit its prediction role on congenital hypothyroidism. However, there is an increased risk of elevated umbilical TSH, anti-TGAb and anti-TPOAb levels among these patients which may increase the risk of congenital hypothyroidism. Further follow up of these infants is warranted.

The nucleocapsid protein (N protein) has been found to be an antigenic protein in a number of coronaviruses. Whether the N protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is antigenic remains to be elucidated. Using Western blot and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), the recombinant N proteins and the synthesized peptides derived from the N protein were screened in sera from SARS patients. All patient sera in this study displayed strong positive immunoreactivities against the recombinant N proteins, whereas normal sera gave negative immunoresponses to these proteins, indicating that the N protein of SARS-CoV is an antigenic protein. Furthermore, the epitope sites in the N protein were determined by competition experiments, in which the recombinant proteins or the synthesized peptides competed against the SARS-CoV proteins to bind to the antibodies raised in SARS sera. One epitope site located at the C-terminus was confirmed as the most antigenic region in this protein. A detailed screening of peptide with ELISA demonstrated that the amino sequence from Codons 371 to 407 was the epitope site at the C-terminus of the N protein. Understanding of the epitope sites could be very significant for developing an effective diagnostic approach to SARS.
Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes ; chemistry ; immunology ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; chemistry ; immunology ; Peptide Fragments ; chemical synthesis ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism