ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of hand robot-assisted training based on motor imagery on upper limb function of stroke patients.Methods From November, 2016 to May, 2018, 55 hemiplegic patients with upper limb dysfunction were randomly assigned to control group (n = 25) and experimental group (n = 30). The control group received routine hand motor training, while the experimental group received hand robot-assisted training, for four weeks. They were assessed with simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) before treatment (t0), one week of treatment (t1), immediately after treatment (t2) and 2 months after treatment (t3).Results The score of WMFT improved in the experimental group at t1 (P ＜ 0.05), with no significant difference between groups (Z =-0.901, P＞ 0.05). The scores of FMA, WMFT and MBI improved in both groups at t2 and t3 (P ＜ 0.05), and the scores of FMA and MBI improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (Z＞-2.073, t＞ 2.034, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Hand robot-assisted training based on motor imagery can promote recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients more effective than routine hand function training.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the anti-motion sickness efficacy and influence on the blood level of some hormones of a Chinese prescription composed of 10 herbs such as spina date seed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the report by Cramptom and Lucot, SD rats and Beagle dogs were rotated around a horizontal axis, and the rat behavior of pica for Kaolin and the latency to vomit in dog were observed. In addition, guinea pigs were rotated around a vertical axis, and the nystagmus was recorded. Blood levels of corticosterone, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in rats were measured with radioimmunoassay. The influences of the extracted mixture of herbs on these variables were simultaneously investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, oral administration of the extracted mixture of herbs: (1) significantly inhibited the rat behavior of pica for Kaolin and prolonged the latency to vomit in dog dose-dependently; (2) decreased the frequency of nystagmus and mean slow phase speed in rat; (3) reduced the elevation of corticosterone, ACTH, CRH and AVP in rat blood induced by rotatory stimulation; and (4) these effects of the extracted mixture of herbs were almost identical to dimenhydrinate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) The extracted mixture of Chinese Medicinal Herbs we used could inhibit motion sickness effectively. (2) This drug could reduce the blood levels of hormones of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and AVP elevated by provocative rotatory stimulation.</p>