Objective:To observe any effect of dynamic instability training on the balance and posture control of persons with chronic ankle instability (CAI).Methods:Thirty persons with CAI were divided at random into a control group and an observation group, each of 15. Both groups received routine rehabilitation interventions (including ankle strength training, kinesio taping, and vibration training), while the observation group additionally underwent 20 minutes of dynamic instability training daily, 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, everyone′s balance was evaluated using the Berg balance scale (BBS) and the star moving balance test (SEBT). Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to collect electromyograms of the affected peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and medialis femoris muscles of both groups within 100ms before and after landing in the jump-landing test. The intensity of muscle activation was thus analyzed.Results:After the treatment there was significant improvement in the average BBS scores, anterior medial SEBT, medial SEBT and posterior medial SEBT results of both groups. On average, all three SEBT results [(80.27±4.06)cm, (90.27±4.06)cm and (97.73±3.47)cm respectively] were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group. The standardized integrated electromyographs of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and medialis femoris muscles on the affected sides showed significant improvement compared with before the treatment, but there too the observation group′s results were significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions:Combining dynamic instability training with conventional rehabilitation can further improve the balance and postural control of persons with chronic ankle instability.

Objective:To observe any effect of dynamic instability training on the balance and posture control of persons with chronic ankle instability (CAI).Methods:Thirty persons with CAI were divided at random into a control group and an observation group, each of 15. Both groups received routine rehabilitation interventions (including ankle strength training, kinesio taping, and vibration training), while the observation group additionally underwent 20 minutes of dynamic instability training daily, 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, everyone′s balance was evaluated using the Berg balance scale (BBS) and the star moving balance test (SEBT). Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to collect electromyograms of the affected peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and medialis femoris muscles of both groups within 100ms before and after landing in the jump-landing test. The intensity of muscle activation was thus analyzed.Results:After the treatment there was significant improvement in the average BBS scores, anterior medial SEBT, medial SEBT and posterior medial SEBT results of both groups. On average, all three SEBT results [(80.27±4.06)cm, (90.27±4.06)cm and (97.73±3.47)cm respectively] were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group. The standardized integrated electromyographs of the peroneus longus, tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and medialis femoris muscles on the affected sides showed significant improvement compared with before the treatment, but there too the observation group′s results were significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions:Combining dynamic instability training with conventional rehabilitation can further improve the balance and postural control of persons with chronic ankle instability.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance combined with renal damage is named monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance.There are few reports about IgA vasculitis in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.Here,we report a case of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance,who had manifestations of IgA vasculitis,including purpura,gastrointestinal bleeding and joint pain.The patient had elevated serum creatinine levels,prompting further investigation through immunofixation electrophoresis and bone marrow aspiration biopsy.Immunofixation electrophoresis showed IgA-λ-type monoclonal immunoglobulin,while the bone marrow aspiration biopsy suggested plas-macytosis.Kidney biopsy indicated membranous hyperplastic glomerulonephritis,light and heavy chain deposition,IgA-λ.The patient was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance.In light of the elevated serum creatinine,the patient was treated with chemotherapy regimen(bortezomib+cy-clophosphamide+dexamethasone).After chemotherapy,there was no significant improvement in the patient's renal function.Subsequently,the patient experienced abdominal pain,skin purpura,joint pain and severe gastrointestinal bleeding.Gastroenteroscopy did not find the exact bleeding position.Angiography revealed hyperplasia of left jejunal artery.Surgical operation found that the bleeding site was located between the jejunum and ileum,where scattered hemorrhagic spots and multiple ulcers were present on the surface of the small intestine,with the deepest ulcers reaching the serosal layer.And the damaged intestine was removed during the operation.Intestinal pathology showed multiple intestinal submu-cosal arteritis,rusulting in intestinal wall necrosis and multiple ulcers.Considering intestinal lesions as gastrointestinal involvement of IgA vasculitis,methylprednisolone was used continually after the opera-tion,and the patient's condition was improved.However,after half a year,the patient suffered a severe respiratory infection and experienced a recurrence of serious gastrointestinal bleeding.It was considered that the infection triggered the activity of IgA vasculitis,accompanied by gastrointestinal involvement.Fi-nally,the patient died from gastrointestinal bleeding.The present case represented a patient with mono-clonal gammopathy of renal significance and IgA vasculitis,prominently presenting with renal insufficien-cy and severe gastrointestinal bleeding,making the diagnosis and treatment process complex.Patients with IgA monoclonal gammopathy who presented with abdominal pain,purpura,and arthralgia should be vigilant for the possibility of concomitant IgA vasculitis.The treatment of cases with IgA vasculitis com-bined with monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance was rather challenging.Plasma cell targeting therapy might be an effective regimen for IgA vasculitis with monoclonal gammopathy.However,patients with poor renal response to the treatment indicated poor prognosis.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and myasthenia gravis(MG)are two distinct autoimmune diseases.Compared with the general population,the incidence of RA is notably higher among patients with MG.Similarly,the rate of MG in patients diagnosed with RA is also significantly increased.In this report,we presented an elderly female patient with a history usage of long-term glucocorticoid and con-ventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs(csDMARDs),whose RA symptoms remained inadequately controlled.She later exhibited drooping of the right eyelid and double vision,leading to a diagnosis of ocular myasthenia gravis(OMG).Then,we made a literature review and found that the RA patients with co-existing MG were relatively more common in middle-aged and elderly women,and most of them did not have thymoma.Thymoma wasn't found in our patient,which was consistent with the cli-nical characteristics of RA complicated with MG reported in previous reports.In addition,there was li-mited treatment experience in patients with both RA and MG.The treatment stratergies for RA or MG in-cluded glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.Among the 18 patients we analyzed,8 patients expe-rienced relief after csDMARDs,while other 8 patients received biologics or targeted DMARDs,including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors(TNFi)in 5 cases,JAK inhibitors in 2 cases,and B-cell depletion thera-py(rituximab)in 2 cases.What called for special attention was that one RA patient was diagnosed with MG after using 23 months of methotrexate and 6 weeks of etanercept(TNFi),with rituximab 1 000 mg for the first time,followed by 500 mg every 6 months,and finally both RA and MG were well controlled.For the patient in this study,MG symptoms improved with increased dosage of prednisone.In order to tapper the dose of glucocorticoid,it was necessary for more potent immunosuppressant for both RA and MG.Given her history of cardiac conditions,JAK inhibitors were not considered,and due to the uncer-tain efficacy of TNFi,we chose to administer low-dose rituximab(100 mg).Subsequent follow-up re-vealed stable conditions for both RA and MG,allowing for discontinuance of glucocorticoid after 5 months.It reflected the potential efficacy and cost-effectiveness of low-dose,long-interval rituximab in treating RA patients combined with MG,while it also minimized infection risks.However,the duration for subsequent infusions remained uncertain and required further observation.In conclusion,RA com-bined with MG is rare.For patients exhibiting poor responses to csDMARDs,low-dose,long-interval rituximab might be a promising treatment option.

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 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.

BACKGROUND: Human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) has been used extensively to differentiate acute bacterial infection from febrile diseases as a biomarker to reflect the activation of the neutrophil. The serum HNL levels in the adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients with and without infection, as well as the healthy controls (HCs), were analyzed statistically in this study to evaluate the value of HNL for the diagnosis of AOSD. METHODS: A total of 129 AOSD patients were enrolled, from whom blood samples were drawn and the AOSD diagnosis was confirmed through the review of the medical records, where the systemic score, demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were also collected for the patients; in addition, a total of 40 HCs were recruited among the blood donors from the healthcare center with the relevant information collected. The HNL test was done for the blood samples with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the analyses were done for the correlations of HNL with clinical manifestations and diagnostic effectiveness. RESULTS: The serum HNL increased significantly in the patients with only AOSD as compared with that in the HCs (139.76 ± 8.99 ng/mL vs . 55.92 ± 6.12 ng/mL; P  < 0.001). The serum HNL level was correlated with the white blood cell (WBC) count ( r  = 0.335, P  < 0.001), neutrophil count ( r  = 0.334, P  < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r  = 0.241, P  = 0.022), C-reactive protein ( r  = 0.442, P  < 0.0001), and systemic score ( r  = 0.343, P  < 0.0001) in the AOSD patients significantly. Patients with fever, leukocytosis ≥15,000/mm 3 , and myalgia in the HNL-positive group were observed relatively more than those in the HNL-negative group ( P  = 0.009, P  = 0.023, and P  = 0.007, respectively). HNL was a more sensitive indicator than ferritin and C-reactive protein (CRP) to differentiate the AOSD patients with bacterial infection from AOSD-only patients, and the Youden index was 0.6 for HNL and 0.29 for CRP. CONCLUSION Serum HNL can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of the AOSD, and HNL is also observed to be associated with the disease activity.
Adult ; Humans ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset/diagnosis* ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; Neutrophils/metabolism* ; Clinical Relevance ; Biomarkers ; Bacterial Infections

Objective : To investigate the correlation between nocturnal sleep duration combined with snoring in the first trimester of pregnancyand small for gestational age(SGA) ，large for gestational age(LGA) ． Methods : Multi- variate Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between nocturnal sleep duration ，snoring， their combined effects and SGA，LGA. Results : Compared to nocturnal sleep duration 7 to 9 h in the first trimester of pregnancy，sleep duration＜7 h was positively correlated with SGA in male newborn( OR = 4. 22，95% CI : 1. 69 - 10. 52) ; After stratified by snoring，the sleep duration of snoring women＜7 h was positively correlated with SGA ( OR = 5. 68，95% CI : 1. 02－31. 51) ，and the sleep duration of non-snoring women＜7 h was positively correlated with LGA ( OR = 2. 10，95% CI : 1. 16 －3. 81) ． Conclusion Sleep duration＜7 h in the first trimester of preg- nancy is a risk factor for SGA and LGA，and snoring may enhance the association between sleep duration＜7 h in the first trimester of pregnancy and SGA．Pregnant women should keep adequate nocturnal sleep duration to reduce the risk of abnormal neonatal weight.

Higher alcohols that contain more than two carbon atoms have better fuel properties than ethanol, making them important supplements and alternatives to fossil fuels. Using microbes to produce higher alcohols from renewable biomass can alleviate the current energy and environmental crises, and has become a major future direction for green biomanufacturing. Since natural microbes can only produce a few higher alcohols in small amounts, it is necessary to reconstruct the synthetic pathways for higher alcohols in model industrial strains through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to overcome the metabolic bottlenecks. A series of milestones have been accomplished in past decades. The authors of this review have witnessed the entire journey of this field from its first success to the leaping development. On the 30th anniversary of the founding of the discipline of metabolic engineering, this review dates back to the great milestones in achieving heterologous production of higher alcohols in non-native strains. The design and optimization of high alcohol biosynthetic pathways, the expansion of feedstock, the engineering of host strains and the industrialization process are summarized. This review aims to draw further attention to microbial synthesis of higher alcohols, inspire the development of novel techniques and strategies of metabolic engineering, and promote the innovation and upgrade of China's biofuel industry.
Alcohols ; Biofuels ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Ethanol ; Metabolic Engineering ; Synthetic Biology