Cortical Reorganization Following Psychoeducational Counselling and Residual Inhibition Therapy (RIT) in Individuals with Tinnitus

Abstract Introduction Psychoeducational counselling and residual inhibition therapy (RIT) are traditional approaches used in many clinics to manage tinnitus. However, neurophysiological studies to evaluate posttreatment perceptual and functional cortical changes in humans are scarce. Objectives The present study aims to explore whether cortical auditory-evoked potentials (CAEPs; N1 and P3) reflect the effect of modified RIT and psychoeducational counselling, and whether there is a correlation between the behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Methods Ten participants with continuous and bothersome tinnitus underwent a session of psychoeducational counselling and modified RIT. Perceptual measures and CAEPs were recorded pre- and posttreatment. Further, the posttreatment measures were compared with age and gender-matched historical control groups. Results Subjectively, 80% of the participants reported a reduction in the loudness of their tinnitus. Objectively, there wasasignificant reductioninthe posttreatment amplitude of N1 and P3, with no alterations in latency. There was no correlation between the perceived difference in tinnitus loudness and the difference in P3 amplitude (at Pz). Conclusion The perceptual and functional (as evidenced by sensory, N1, and cognitive, P3 reduction) changes after a single session of RIT and psychoeducational counselling are suggestive of plastic changes at the cortical level. The current study serves as preliminary evidence that event-related potentials (ERPs) can be used to quantify the physiological changes that occur after the intervention for tinnitus.

Effects of acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy on lower limb motor function after stroke: an fNIRS study / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture and rehabilitation therapy on lower limb motor function, and to explore a cortical mechanism using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods From December, 2020 to July, 2021, 24 stroke patients with lower limb motor dysfunction in our hospital were randomly divided into rehabilitation group (n = 12) and acupuncture-rehabilitation group (n = 12), and received routine rehabilitation training and acupuncture-rehabilitation intervention for four weeks, respectively. The control group included ten healthy subjects matched the patients. Before and after intervention, the lower limb motor function of the patients was assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), and all the subjects accepted fNIRS examination. The functional intensity and lateralization index (LI) of supplementary motor area (SMA), premotor cortex (PMC) and sensory motor cortex (SMC) were calculated based on oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2). Results There was no significant difference in FMA-LE score between the rehabilitation group and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group before the intervention (P > 0.05). After four weeks of intervention, FMA-LE scores improved in both groups (t > 3.770, P 0.05). After intervention, the average functional connection increased in both groups (t > 2.178, P < 0.05), and the functional connection of the affected PMC of acupuncture-rehabilitation group increased (P < 0.05). The LI in SMC increased in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the change of functional connection of the affected PMC and the change of FMA-LE scores in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (r = 0.579, P < 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture with rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the lower limb motor function and asymmetrical activation of SMC in stroke patients. The recovery of lower limb motor function may be related to the enhanced activation of affected PMC.

Current situation of remote pharmaceutical care at home and abroad / 中国药房

Remote pharmaceutical care refers to the process that pharmacists provide pharmaceutical care to patients remotely through information technology. Remote pharmaceutical care in China starts late and develops slowly. Therefore ，this paper discusses the pharmaceutical care modes that pharmacists at home and abroad can provide under the remote mode by collecting literature. The results show that foreign remote pharmaceutical care starts early and is relatively mature. The service mainly included remote follow-up and intervention ，24-hour online prescription and order review ，24-hour online drug reorganization ，and guidance on rational drug use in remote areas or community hospitals. The service population covers patients with cardiovascular disease ， diabetes，asthma，AIDS and so on. Some hospitals have established an integrated pharmaceutical care system of “Internet+Medical Consortium”in China ，with which pharmacists can provide patients with pharmaceutical care such as remote follow-up and intervention，drug consultation and so on. With the promotion of telemedicine ，domestic pharmacists can gradually expand the scope of services ，expand pharmaceutical services such as remote consultation and remote popular science push ，and realize the sharing of high-quality pharmaceutical care for the whole people.

Non-communicable disease care and management in two sites of the Cape Town Metro during the first wave of COVID-19: A rapid appraisal

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including type-2 diabetes and hypertension, have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Maintaining quality care for these conditions is important but data on the impact of COVID-19 on NCD care in South Africa are sparse. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on facility and community-based NCD care and management during the first COVID-19 wave. Setting: Two public health sector primary care sites in the Cape Town Metro, including a Community Orientated Primary Care (COPC) learning site. Methods: A rapid appraisal with convergent mixed-methods design, including semi-structured interviews with facility and community health workers (CHWs) (n = 20) and patients living with NCDs (n = 8), was used. Interviews were conducted in English and Afrikaans by qualified interviewers. Transcripts were analysed by thematic content analysis. Quantitative data of health facility attendance, chronic dispensing unit (CDU) prescriptions and routine diabetes control were sourced from the Provincial Health Data Centre and analysed descriptively. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: disruption (cancellation of services, fear of infection, stress and anxiety), service reorganisation (communication, home delivery of medication, CHW scope of work, risk stratification and change management) and outcomes (workload and morale, stigma, appreciation and impact on NCD control). There was a drop in primary care attendance and an increase in CDU prescriptions and uncontrolled diabetes. Conclusion: This study described the service disruption together with rapid reorganisation and change management at primary care level during the first COVID-19 wave. The changes were strengthened by the COPC foundation in one of the study sites. The impact of COVID-19 on primary-level NCD care and management requires more investigation.

Significance of affected side sensorimotor area in recovery of upper limb motor function after subcortical cerebral infarction / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To explore the value and significance of sensorimotor cortex (SMC) in the recovery of upper limb motor function after cerebral infarction in the striatum with blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).Methods:A total of 17 patients with primary onset of striatal intracapsular infarction (SCI) with unilateral severe upper limb paralysis, who were strictly screened from the Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from June 2015 to December 2017, were selected as research subjects, and 15 healthy volunteers were selected as controls. BOLD-fMRI under the passive finger extension (FE) task on the hemiplegic side was performed within one week, one month and three months after the onset of the disease. The activation of SMC was observed by SPM8 software. The activation of corresponding brain activation areas in BOLD-fMRI was observed by Xjview software and compared with the standard brain activation areas dynamically. The upper limb section of the Fugl-Meyer Scale (FM-UL) was used to track the motor function of the upper limb. The upper limb motor function of the selected patients was evaluated before functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning, at one month and three months after onset of the disease.Results:In the controls, fMRI showed that the main brain activation areas were located in the contralateral SMC and bilateral supplementary motor area. According to the activation time course of the affected side SMC and the comparison results with the standard brain activation area, the study patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (six patients), in which the activation intensity of SMC was stronger than that of standard brain activation area in the early stage of onset; group 2 (five patients), in which the activation intensity of SMC in the affected side was stronger than that in the standard brain activation area at one month after onset; group 3 (six patients), in which the activation intensity of SMC in the affected side increased gradually in three months, but still did not exceed the standard brain activation area. The activated voxel values of the affected side SMC in group 1 patients at the first time, one month and three months were 3 570.2±1 125.9, 1 205.8±328.2 and 1 121.5±407.5, respectively, the difference within the group being statistically significant ( F=12.8, P=0.001); the activated voxel values of the affected SMC in group 2 patients were 556.2±171.7, 648.6±177.3 and 993.2±182.9, respectively, and the differences within the group were statistically significant ( F=6.5, P=0.018); the activated SMC values of the affected SMC in group 3 patients were 520.0±375.9, 573.5±375.0 and 680.9±359.8, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference within the group ( P>0.05). The three times FM-UL scores corresponding to group 1 patients were (10.0±3.3) points, (52.3±4.6) points and (63.7±2.9) points; the three times FM-UL scores corresponding to group 2 patients were (10.6±5.7) points, (36.6±2.4) points and (59.2±3.1) points; and the three times FM-UL scores corresponding to group 3 patients were (9.2±4.0) points, (12.5±3.0) points and (13.3±5.0) points; FM-UL scores in group 1 and group 2 patients showed statistically significant differences within the groups ( F=348.4, 183.6; P<0.001), whereas that in group 3 patients showed no statistically significant difference within the group ( P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the initial FM-UL score among the groups ( P>0.05), while the differences among the groups at one month and three months were statistically significant ( F=191.7,304.5; P<0.001). Conclusions:The survival of SMC on the affected side after cerebral infarction is a prerequisite for the rehabilitation of limb motor function. Its early activation cannot predict the clinical prognosis, but the dynamic enhancement of SMC activation on the affected side is related to the rehabilitation speed of the affected limb.

Biological Mechanism of Specific Relationship between Gan (Liver) Meridian of Foot-Jueyin and Genitals / 中国结合医学杂志

From the perspective view of Chinese medicine, the Gan (Liver) meridian of Foot-Jueyin starts from the great toe, running upward along the medial side of the thigh to the perineal area, where it curves around the external genitalia and goes up to the lower abdomen. In clinical practice, acupoints in the feet of the Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin are used to treat the genitourinary and external genitalia diseases. Studies have shown that reproductive system diseases have specific pathological reactions in the places (radial side of tibia and foot) where Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin passes by. Why does this happen? In this article, we begin by briefly reviewing the evidences linking foot and genitalia. We then explore the potential mechanism of the relationship between genitals and the Gan meridian of Foot-Jueyin. The brain cerebral cortex is characterized by cortical interactions. Numerous studies show that different cerebral cortex function areas (especially the adjacent areas) are overlapping and interact with each other. Finally, we presume that there is a specific connection between the feet and the genitals. Physiologically in the cortical homunculus, the genital area lies adjacent or overlapped to the foot areas, the two areas may interact with each other. The functional reorganization between different areas of the cerebral cortex under pathological conditions may be the underlying mechanism of the relationship between the feet and the genitals.

Discussion of Enlightenment from the Reorganization of CDRH Regulatory for Medical Device / 中国医疗器械杂志

This study introduces the establishment and the situation before and after the reorganization of Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). Meanwhile, it sorted out the important changes in this reorganization of CDRH. CDRH optimizes regulatory decisions by integrating pre-marketing and post-marketing professionals for the total product lifecycle of medical devices, based on product line guidelines. Taking the sutatus of Chinese medical device supervision into consideration, this study put forward some thoughts on scientific supervision.

Application of task-state fMRI in evaluating disease severity and prognosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Blood oxygenation level dependent functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI) has proven to be a powerful tool for studying the functional change of the brain. In task-state fMRI study, the functional reorganization of sensory and motor cortex has been observed in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the correlations between task-state fMRI measurements with clinical symptoms and surgical outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy undergoing posterior cervical decompression (cervical spondylotic myelopathy group) and forty-five healthy volunteers (normal group) were recruited from January 2018 to January 2019. All subjects underwent fMRI and performed a finger-tapping paradigm with the right hand. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was used to evaluate the function of the spinal cord. Japanese Orthopaedic Association score recovery rate less than 50% was defined as a poor result. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was significantly improved after surgery in the cervical spondylotic myelopathy group compared with that before surgery (P 0.05). Before surgery, VOA ratio (left precentral gyrus/left postcentral gyrus) was significantly higher in the cervical spondylotic myelopathy group than in normal group (P 0.05). VOA ratio was significantly decreased compared with that preoperatively (P < 0.05). (4) Correlation analysis revealed that the VOA in the left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus and VOA ratio were significantly correlated with preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score recovery rate (P < 0.05). The absolute value of correlation coefficient of VOA ratio with preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and postoperative recovery rate was largest. (5) Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve value for the VOA ratio was 0.803, indicating strong predictive discrimination, and the cut-off value was 3.621. The area under the curve value for Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was 0.751, and the cut-off value was 8. The predictive effect of VOA ratio was higher than Japanese Orthopaedic Association score. (6) The results indicate that the VOA in the left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus was negatively correlated with severity of clinical symptoms (Japanese Orthopaedic Association score). Preoperative VOA ratio can effectively predict the recovery of spinal cord function after operation in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Motor Evoked Potentials in the Upper Extremities of Children with Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the reorganization of corticospinal pathways innervating upper extremity muscles in patients with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Thirty-2 patients (17 male, 15 female) with spastic hemiplegic CP were enrolled. The average age (mean ± standard deviation) was 7.5 ± 4.6 (range: 2–17) years. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the unaffected and affected motor cortices in turn, and bilateral electromyographic recordings were made from the first dorsal interossei (FDI), the biceps brachii (BB), and the deltoid muscles during rest. The onset latency, central motor conduction time, and peak-to-peak amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured for each muscle bilaterally. Whilst TMS of both affected and unaffected hemispheres elicited contralateral MEPs in all muscles, the number of MEPs evoked from the affected hemisphere was less than from the unaffected hemisphere for FDI and BB. TMS responses to stimulation of the affected side showed prolonged latency and reduced amplitude. The amplitudes of MEPs increased with age whereas the latencies were relatively constant. These results suggest that the corticospinal pathways to the proximal and distal muscles of the upper extremity undergo sequential maturation and reorganization patterns.

The effects of motor imagery training and conventional therapy on the functioning of stroke survivors: A resting-state fMRI study / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To measure the efficacy of combining motor imagery training ( MIT) with convention-al therapy in improving stroke patients′upper-extremity function. And to seek a cortical reorganization mechanism as-sociated with the improvement using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging ( rs-fMRI) . Methods Ten stroke survivors were selected as an experimental group. They were given motor imagery training for four weeks ( 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) and conventional rehabilitation therapy ( 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week) . Another 10 healthy counterparts were the control group. Before and after the four weeks of treatment, both groups were as-sessed using the upper extremity Fugl-Meyer assessment ( FMA-UE) and the modified Barthel index ( MBI) . Moreo-ver, rs-fMRI was conducted to assess functional connectivity between cortical regions and the ipsilesional primary mo-tor cortex ( M1) before and after the intervention. The laterality index ( LI) of the primary motor or sensory cortex was also calculated. Results After the intervention, the average FMA-UE and MBI scores of the experimental group had increased significantly. After MIT and conventional therapy there was increased functional connectivity between the ip-silesional and contralesional M1 areas, and between the ipsilesional M1 and contralesional primary sensory cortex ( S1) and frontal lobe, the functional connection between the ipsilesional M1 and the ipsilesional paracentral lobule and the anterior cingutate was also increased. More specifically, the LI relating M1 and S1 decreased after the inter-vention, tending toward the normal level. LIMI decreased significantly. Conclusion The 4-week regimen of motor imagery training and conventional therapy resulted in functional improvement in the upper limbs and greater ability in the activities of daily living. The observed improvements may be due to cortical reorganization, including better func-tional connectivity between the bilateral M1 areas and increased connectivity between the ipsilesional M1 area and some non-motor areas. There is some recovery of symmetry in the bilateral primary motor cortex.

The Function of the Vitamin D Receptor and a Possible Role of Enhancer RNA in Epigenomic Regulation of Target Genes: Implications for Bone Metabolism

Vitamin D (VD) is essential for bone health, and VD or its analogues are widely used in clinics to ameliorate bone loss. The targets and mode of VD anti-osteoporotic actions appear to be different from those of other classes of drugs modulating bone remodeling. VD exerts its biological activities through the nuclear VD receptor (VDR)-mediated transcriptional regulation of target mRNA and non-coding RNA genes. VD-induced gene regulation involves epigenetic modifications of chromatin conformation at the target loci as well as reconfiguration of higher-order chromosomal organization through VDR-mediated recruitment of various regulatory factors. Enhancer RNAs (eRNA), a class of non-coding enhancer-derived RNAs, have recently emerged as VDR target gene candidates that act through reorganization of chromatin looping to induce enhancer-promoter interaction in activation of mRNA-encoding genes. This review outlines the molecular mechanisms of VD actions mediated by the VDR and suggests novel function of eRNAs in VDR transactivation.

Value of brain fMRI and spine DTI in predicting functional outcomes for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective@#To explore the correlations relating functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters with pre-operative neurological status and post-operative outcomes for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).@*Methods@#Eighty-seven CSM patients treated with surgical decompression and 38 healthy counterparts were enrolled as the CSM and control groups respectively. DTI and fMRI of the cervical spine were performed while the subjects performed a finger-tapping task with their right hands before the operation and 6 months later. The control group was evaluated only when they were enrolled. All of the patients were given systematic rehabilitation treatment after the surgery. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system for CSM was used to evaluate neurological status, and a JOA recovery rate <50% was defined as a poor recovery.@*Results@#Compared with the healthy controls, the pre-operative patients showed significantly higher volume of activation (VOA) in the left precentral gyrus (PrCG), but that had decreased significantly 6 months after the surgery. Before the surgery, the patients′ fractional isotropy (FA) was significantly less than that of the controls, but it had increased significantly 6 months after the operation. There was no difference in VOA in the left postcentral gyrus (PoCG) between the CSM patients and the controls before the surgery. The VOA ratio (PrCG/PoCG), VOA-PrCG, VOA-PoCG and FA were significantly correlated with both the JOA scores and recovery rates. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed for the predictive ability with respect to surgical outcomes. The largest area under the ROC curve was observed for the VOA ratio (0.805), followed by FA (0.740), and the VOA-PrCG (0.715). The fMRI and DTI showed better potential for predicting functional outcomes than with standard MRI parameters. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the VOA ratio and FA were independently associated with poor outcomes.@*Conclusions@#fMRI and DTI parameters may be more valuable than conventional MRI results for neurological assessment and prognosis with CSM patients. They can also provide references for making up rehabilitation plans.

Value of brain fMRI and spine DTI in predicting functional outcomes for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the correlations relating functional MRI ( fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging ( DTI) parameters with pre-operative neurological status and post-operative outcomes for patients with cervi-cal spondylotic myelopathy ( CSM ) . Methods Eighty-seven CSM patients treated with surgical decompression and 38 healthy counterparts were enrolled as the CSM and control groups respectively. DTI and fMRI of the cervical spine were performed while the subjects performed a finger-tapping task with their right hands before the operation and 6 months later. The control group was evaluated only when they were enrolled. All of the patients were given systematic rehabilitation treatment after the surgery. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association ( JOA) scoring system for CSM was used to evaluate neurological status, and a JOA recovery rate <50％ was defined as a poor recovery. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the pre-operative patients showed significantly higher volume of acti-vation ( VOA) in the left precentral gyrus ( PrCG) , but that had decreased significantly 6 months after the surgery. Before the surgery, the patients' fractional isotropy ( FA) was significantly less than that of the controls, but it had increased significantly 6 months after the operation. There was no difference in VOA in the left postcentral gyrus (PoCG) between the CSM patients and the controls before the surgery. The VOA ratio (PrCG/PoCG), VOA-PrCG, VOA-PoCG and FA were significantly correlated with both the JOA scores and recovery rates. Receiver oper-ating characteristic ( ROC) curve analyses were performed for the predictive ability with respect to surgical out-comes. The largest area under the ROC curve was observed for the VOA ratio (0.805), followed by FA (0.740), and the VOA-PrCG (0.715). The fMRI and DTI showed better potential for predicting functional outcomes than with standard MRI parameters. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that the VOA ratio and FA were independ-ently associated with poor outcomes. Conclusions fMRI and DTI parameters may be more valuable than conven-tional MRI results for neurological assessment and prognosis with CSM patients. They can also provide references for making up rehabilitation plans.

Quantidade de Treino e Reorganização de Classes de Equivalência com Crianças / Training Quantity and Reorganization of Equivalence Classes with Children

Resumo Investigou-se o efeito da revisão da linha de base na formação, reorganização e restabelecimento de classes de equivalência. Quatro crianças (5-6 anos) realizaram duas condições (Com e Sem Revisão das relações treinadas antes dos testes), com variação da ordem de exposição. Na Fase 1, foram treinadas as relações de linha de base (AC, BC e AD) e testadas as que evidenciam classes de equivalência. Na Fase 2, apenas a relação AD foi revertida e realizados os testes de reorganização. Na Fase 3, os treinos e testes da Fase 1 foram repetidos. Verificou-se que para três participantes, apenas da Condição Com Revisão, que as classes foram reorganizadas, conforme o treino de reversão, se restabeleceram com o retorno à linha de base.

Abstract The effects of baseline review trials were investigated in the formation, reorganization and reestablishment of equivalence classes. Four children (5-6 years old) were exposed to two conditions (With Review and Without Review of the trained relations before the tests) in different orders. In Phase 1, baseline relations (AB, BC and AD) were trained and relations that showed evidence of equivalence were tested. In Phase 2, only relation AD was reversed and reorganization tests were conducted. In Phase 3, the training and tests conducted in Phase 1 were repeated. For three participants, only in the With Review condition, classes were reorganized, as expected from the reversal training, and were reestablished upon return to baseline.

Effect of Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Reorganization of Aphasia after Stroke: A Study Based on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To investigate the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the brain functional reorga-nization of aphasia after stroke, with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods From January, 2017 to February, 2018, six eligible stroke patients with aphasia were recruited in experimental group, and nine age-gender matched healthy adults were recruited in healthy control group. Subjects in both groups received task-fMRI, and the experimental group was assessed with Chinese version of Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) examination before and after rTMS treatment. Four patients underwent rTMS at the right inferior frontal gyri pars triangularis marked by neuro-navigation-guided system, 1 Hz, five times per week for two weeks. The fMRI data were processed by SPM 12. The differences of brain activation and voxel changes be-tween two groups were compared. The fMRI data including the differences in brain activation, voxel volume and activation voxel indices (AVI) and WAB scores were analyzed before and after rTMS. Results The cerebral hemisphere activation in the experimental group was higher than that of the healthy control group, including the regions of interest (ROI) such as bilateral supplementary motor area and middle frontal gyrus, and the non-ROI (n-ROI) such as left praecuneus, left postcentral gyrus, right hippocampus, right paracingulate cor-tex, etc., while the activation reduced in the areas of left pars triangularis and n-ROI such as left calcarine fissure cortex, left gyrus lingualis, the right anterior cingulate and the paracingulate cortex. Cases 1 and 2 had shorter course of disease, smaller lesion volume, and activation increased in bilateral cerebral hemispheres before treat-ment. AVI showed that their hemispheric dominance was right, and activation reduced in bilateral cerebral hemi-sphere after treatment, but the high-efficiency language function area of ROI, such as the left pars triangularis, turned from inactive to active, and the hemispheric dominance lateralized from right to left, with the improve-ment of language function. For the case 3 and case 4, the disease courses were longer, the lesions sizes were larg-er, and both cerebral hemisphere activations were reduced before treatment. AVI showed that the hemispheric dominance of case 3 was right and was left in case 4. After treatment, bilateral cerebral hemispheres were activat-ed more than before, and the hemispheric dominance of language function was in the right hemisphere; the left middle frontal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus were activated from no activation before treatment in case 3. The activation of the supplemental motor area on the right side was increased. In case 4, there was no activa-tion in ROI before treatment. After treatment, the bilateral supplementary motor area, right pars opercularis, and the right middle temporal gyrus were activated. Conclusion Low-frequency rTMS could improve the language function by optimizing bilateral cerebral hemisphere brain areas related with language function in patients with aphasia after stroke.

The effect of constraint-induced aphasia on language recovery and functional reorganization of the brain in Broca's aphasia after a stroke / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Ohjective To explore the impact of constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) on language function and neural activity in patients with chronic Broca's aphasia.Methods Two chronic aphasics whose use of language was recovering after standard language therapy were selected to receive 1.5 h of CIAT twice daily for two weeks (30 hours in total).Before and after the CIAT they were tested using a block-designed picture-naming task,fMRIs were taken and their use of language was examined.Results The language function assessments showed relatively large improvements in the subjects' use of language after 4 weeks of conventional language training,but not much further change after 8 and 12 weeks.After the two weeks of CIAT,their language function improved further to a certain extent.fMRI showed increased activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus with or without enhanced activation in the left hemisphere,and reduced activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus.Conclusions Functional reorganization induced in the brain by CIAT was associated with up-regulation of the left inferior frontal gyrus or down-regulation of the right inferior frontal gyrus.Even the whole language network may have been modified.

Reorganizing Hospital Space: The 1894 Plague Edpidemic in Hong Kong and the Germ Theory / 의사학

This paper examined whether the preventive measures taken by the Hong Kong's colonial authorities were legitimate during the 1894 Hong Kong plague epidemic, and illuminated the correlation between the plague epidemic and hospital space in Hong Kong in the late 19th century. The quarantine measures taken by the colonial authorities were neither a clear-cut victory for Western medicine nor for a rational quarantine based on scientific medical knowledge. Hong Kong's medical officials based on the miasma theory, and focused only on house-to-house inspections and forced quarantine or isolation, without encouraging people to wear masks and without conducting disinfection. Even after Hong Kong plague spread, the Hong Kong's colonial authorities were not interested in what plague bacilli were, but in where they were to be found and how to prevent and control an outbreak of the disease. The germ theory brought significant changes to the disease classification system. Until the 1890s, Hong Kong's colonial authority had classified cause of death mainly on the basis of symptoms, infectious diseases, parts of the body and diseases of systems. Microbiological analysis of the cause of death in Hong Kong was started by Hunter, a bacteriologist, in 1902. He used bacteriological tests with a microscope to analyze the cause of death. New disease recognition and medical recognition brought large changes to hospital space as well. In particular, from the 1880s to the early 1900s, Western medical circles witnessed shifts from miasma theory to the germ theory, thereby influencing Hong Kong's hospital spaces. As the germ theory took ground in Hong Kong in 1894, the bacteriological laboratory and isolation ward became inevitable facilities, and hospital space were reorganized accordingly. However, the colonial authorities and local elites' strategy was different. As a government bacteriologist, Hunter established a central facility to unify several laboratories and to manage urban space from ouside the hospital. On the contrary, the Tungwah Hospital tried to transform hospital space with isolation ward and Receiving Ward System as the eclectic form of Chinese and Western medicine. The 1894 Hong Kong plague promoted the introduction of germ theory and the reorganization of hospital space.

Study of brain cortical reorganization changes preoperatively andpostoperatively in cervical spondylotic myelopathy by fMRI / 安徽医科大学学报

Objective To study cerebral cortical activation preoperatively and postoperatively in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and discuss effect of the surgery on cortical reorganization in functional recovery.Methods 19 cases with CSM intrial group underwent cervical vertebra canal decompression surgery according to clinical routine.Cases in trial group completed clinical assessment using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores (mJOA) prior to decompression and 12 months following surgery, and underwent cerebral functional MRI and conventional MRI in the same time.19 controls also carried out cerebral functional MRI and conventional MRI.All subjects performed a finger-tapping paradigm with right hand during processing functional MRI.The imagings and data of trial group were divided into preoperative group and postoperative group in accordance with the time of completed and than analysed.Results The mJOA score of postoperative group was increased significantly (P<0.001).Cortical volume of activation (VOA) of preoperative group was significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05).VOA was lower in the postoperative group, but still significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05).The preoperative group was able to detect and activate the signal only in the left precentral gyrus.The postoperative group was able to detect and activate the signal in the l left postcentral gyrus, the premotor area and the supplementary motor area, and the right cerebral cortex could also detect a small amount of activation signal.Conclusion CSM patients undergo cerebral cortical remodeling, causing sensory and motor function activation areas to expand and shift.The changes of cortical reorganization after cervical vertebra canal decompression surgery are associated with functional recovery.The surgical treatment may promote the compensating cortical reorganization.

Job rotation of Nursing professionals among the sectors of a hospital: a management tool in conflict resolution / Rotación de profesionales de Enfermería entre sectores de un hospital: instrumento de gestión en la resolución de conflictos / Rodízio de profissionais de Enfermagem entre setores de um hospital: ferramenta gerencial na resolução de conflitos

ABSTRACT Objective: to reveal the feelings and perceptions of nursing professionals who underwent the process of job rotation among sectors of a hospital as a management tool in conflict resolution. Method: a qualitative study carried out with 22 professionals, nurses and nursing technicians, using the focus group technique and content analysis based on the theoretical reference of Symbolic Interaction. Results: the job rotation process was positive regarding factors that help in resolving conflicts such as: increased knowledge and skills, recognition of the activities performed by peers, and improved interpersonal relationships, in addition to reducing resistance when working in other sectors. However, this process elicited anxiety, fear, frustration, sadness, distress, and insecure feelings attributed to ineffective communication and to the lack of the team's participation in developing the proposal. Conclusion: job rotation is an important strategy for reducing conflict; however, it is essential that managers share this proposal with the team before implementing it.

RESUMEN Objetivo: desvelar los sentimientos y percepciones de profesionales de enfermería sometidos al proceso de rotación entre sectores de un hospital como instrumento de gestión en la resolución de conflictos. Metodo: estudio cualitativo se ellevó a cabo con 22 profesionales, enfermeros y técnicos de enfermería, utilizando la técnica de grupo focal y análisis de contenido, con base en el referencial teórico del interaccionismo simbólico. Resultados: el proceso de rotación fue positivo para factores que auxilian en la resolución de conflictos como: aumento de conocimientos y habilidades, reconocimiento de las actividades desarrolladas por sus pares, mejora en el relacionamiento interpersonal, además de reducir resistencia al actuar en otros sectores. No obstante, suscitó sentimientos de ansiedad, miedo, frustración, tristeza, angustia e inseguridad, atribuidos a la comunicación ineficaz y a la falta de participación del equipo en la elaboración de la propuesta. Conclusión: la rotación es una estrategia importante para la reducción de conflictos, sin embargo, es fundamental que los gestores compartan esa propuesta con el grupo antes de implementarla.

RESUMO Objetivo: desvelar sentimentos e percepções de profissionais de enfermagem submetidos ao processo de rodízio entre setores de um hospital como ferramenta gerencial na resolução de conflitos. Método: estudo qualitativo, realizado com 22 profissionais enfermeiros e técnicos de enfermagem, utilizando-se grupo focal e análise de conteúdo, com base no referencial teórico do Interacionismo Simbólico. Resultados: o rodízio foi positivo para fatores que auxiliam a resolução de conflitos: aumento de conhecimentos e habilidades, reconhecimento das atividades desempenhadas pelos pares, melhora no relacionamento interpessoal, além de reduzir a resistência ao se atuar em outros setores. Contudo, suscitou sentimentos de ansiedade, medo, frustração, tristeza, angústia e insegurança atribuídos à comunicação ineficaz e à falta de participação da equipe na elaboração da proposta. Conclusão: o rodízio é uma estratégia importante para a redução de conflitos, todavia é fundamental que os gestores compartilhem essa proposta com a equipe antes de implementá-la.

Central Sensitization In Chronic Low Back Pain: A Narrative Review.

Objective: The aim of this narrative review is to examine the available literature related to central sensitization (CS) and altered central pain processing in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Methodology: Literature was searched using many electronic databases. Additionally, reference list of most prominent articles were searched to increase the search accuracy, as much as possible. Studies which are evaluating the concept of CS in conservatively treated CLBP patients were included. Results: Results of studies evaluating the responsiveness to various types of stimuli in CLBP patients are contradictory. Some studies in CLBP patients have showed increased pain responses after sensory stimulation of body parts outside the painful region, when some other studies report no differences between patients and healthy controls. Studies evaluating the integrity of the endogenous pain inhibitory systems describe unchanged activity of this descending inhibitory system. Conversely, studies examining brain structure and function in connection with experimentally induced pain provide initial proof for changed central pain processing in CLBP patients. Also inappropriate beliefs about pain, depression and/or pain catastrophizing, may lead to the development of CS. Conclusion: Most of the literatures suggest that the CNS becomes centrally sensitized in a subgroup of patients with CLBP. However, the significance of this involvement is just starting to become clearer. This could be an active topic of future research. More studies are necessary for providing definite evidence for the clinical importance of CS.