ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the efficacy of a flat ground exoskeleton robot in improving the walking ability of stroke survivors.Methods:Fifty-eight stroke survivors with mobility difficulties were randomly divided into a robot group ( n=29) and a control group ( n=29). In addition to routine rehabilitation, the control group received conventional walking training, while the robot group underwent exoskeleton robot-assisted gait training. The 30-minute training sessions were held twice a day, 5 days per week for 5 weeks. Before as well as after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, everyone′s walking ability was tested using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and functional ambulation scale (FAC). General lower limb motor function was quantified using the Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity assessment (FMA-LE). Moreover, gait analysis was conducted before and after 4 weeks of treatment. Results:After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, the average 6MWT times of both groups were significantly better than before the treatment, with the improvement of the robot group significantly greater than that of the control group after 2 weeks. After 2 and 4 weeks the average FMA-LE and FAC scores of both groups had improved significantly compared with before treatment. After 4 weeks the stride frequency and gait cycle of both groups had improved significantly.Conclusions:Exoskeleton robot-assisted gait training can improve walking ability and lower limb motor function of stroke survivors about as well as conventional walking training.
ABSTRACT
Objective To visualize blood flow changes in verruca vulgaris noninvasively with laser speckle contrast analysis (LSCA), and to evaluate the relationship of size and location of warts with efficacy of laser treatment. Methods Pulsed dye laser(PDL)was used to treat 30 verruca vulgaris lesions in 17 patients. In order to evaluate therapeutic effect of PDL, LSCA was performed to observe blood flow in warts and their surrounding normal skin, and to calculate speckle flow index (SFI)values before laser treatment, and at 10 minutes as well as on 3 weeks after laser treatment. Results Before PDL treatment, SFI values were significantly higher in warts than in their surrounding normal skin (11.600 ± 1.190 vs. 5.280 ± 0.481, t = 8.169, P < 0.01). Compared with those before the treatment, SFI values in warts significantly decreased at 10 minutes(3.112 ± 0.484, t = 4.407, P < 0.01)and on week 3(7.315 ± 1.083, t = 3.294, P < 0.01)after the treatment, and were significantly higher on week 3 than at 10 minutes (t = 4.646, P < 0.01). SFI values in surrounding normal skin significantly increased at 10 minutes after the treatment compared with those before the treatment (20.260 ± 2.063 vs. 5.296 ± 0.708, t = 6.770, P < 0.01), but were significantly lower on week 3 than at 10 minutes (4.941 ± 0.616, t = 6.964, P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between SFI values in surrounding normal skin on week 3 after the treatment and those before the treatment (t = 0.378, P = 0.707). The efficacy of laser treatment was associated wart size and location. Changes of blood flow(|ΔSFI|)were significantly higher in warts measuring less than 0.5 cm2 in size than in those equal to or more than 0.5 cm2 (t = 2.287, P < 0.05), and significantly differed among warts at different sites (F =15.71, P < 0.01). The greatest changes of blood flow in warts were observed on fingers, followed by the dorsum of feet, toes, palms and soles and periungual areas. Conclusions Blood flow in verruca vulgaris is markedly increased compared with that in normal skin. PDL can clear verruca vulgaris by solidifying and gasifying capillaries. LSCA may be used to evaluate the efficacy of laser on verruca vulgaris more quantitively by monitoring regional blood flow.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Posterior arch length deficiency is closely related to the formation and development of malocclusion. OBJECTIVE:To measure the posterior arch length in individual normal occlusions of adults in Lanzhou. METHODS:A total of 102 current col ege students with individual normal occlusions, with a mean age of (19.33±2.67) years (range 18-24 years), including 47 males and 55 females from Gansu Province, were chosen to take lateral cephalograms. Al research objects were divided into three groups according to mandibular plane angle:high angle group (Frankfort mandibular-plane angle>32°), low angle group (Frankfort mandibular-plane angleRESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Posterior arch length of maxil ary arch was slightly longer in male group than that in female group, and the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The posterior arch length of mandibular arch was slightly longer in male group than that in female group, but the difference was no significant (P>0.05). Comparison between groups revealed that the posterior arch length of low angle mandibular arch was significantly longer than that of high angle mandibular arch in male group, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The results indicate that the gender wil not influence the development of posterior arch length. Different vertical facial types and different genders have different posterior arch length in individual normal occlusions of adults