Kinesio taping methods for stroke survivors with shoulder-hand syndrome / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective:To observe the effects of different kinesio taping methods on hand swelling, shoulder pain, upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors with shoulder-hand syndrome.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors with shoulder-hand syndrome were randomly divided into groups A, B, C and a control group, each of 15. In addition to routine rehabilitation training and drug treatment, as well as claw-shaped and I-shaped taping of the hand and wrist, group A received I-shaped kinesio taping, B received Y-shape and C received I-shape plus Y-shaped taping of the shoulder. Before and after 4 weeks, the drainage method was employed to calculate the difference in volume between the two hands. Their temperatures were also measured. The subjects reported shoulder pain using a visual analog scale (VAS). Upper limb motor functioning was quantified using Fugl-Meyer scores, and difficulties in the activities of daily living were evaluated using the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results:Before the treatment there were no significant differences among the four groups in terms of any of the measurements. Afterward the treatment, significant improvement was observed in the volume and temperature differences between hands, as well as in the VAS, FMA and MBI scores. After the treatment, group C′s average FMA score was significantly higher than those of the other groups. There was no significant difference in MBI scores among the four groups.Conclusions:Supplementing rehabilitation training with I-shaped plus Y-shaped kinesio taping can effectively reduce the volume and temperature differences between the hands, relieve shoulder pain, and improve effectiveness in the activities of daily living of persons with shoulder-hand syndrome after a stroke. Hand-claw and wrist-I taping also have some effect.

Identification of biomarkers in urine of rats with spleen Qi deficiency and biological significance / 中国中药杂志

To identify biomarkers for spleen Qi deficiency by analyzing small molecule metabolites in urine, in order to expound the relationship between biomarkers and metabolic pathways. The spleen Qi deficiency model was established through dietary restriction and overstrain. All of the rats received D-xylose absorption experiment and blood routine test. Urine samples were collected in the next day. The urine samples were analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS to obtain the dataset of urine metabolic group. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partialleast squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other multivariate statistical methods were employed to evaluate the quality of the dataset and screen out potential biomarkers of spleen Qi deficiency. The results of D-xylose absorption and blood routine demonstrated that the spleen Qi deficiency model was successfully established. In positive ion mode and negative ion mode, PCA and OPLS-DA score plots could clearly distinguish model group and blank group. According to S-plot of OPLS-DA, VIP value, t-test and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), 24 biomarkers, including phenylalanine, succinic acid, aconitic acid, isocitrate acid, betaine, kynurenine, indole, creatine, creatinine, orotic acid, xanthine, and xanthurenic acid, were identified as associated with the spleen Qi deficiency, mainly involving energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, purine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism. Urine metabolomics method combined with online software package for data processing and analysis metabolic pathway can provide new methods and ideas for studies for spleen Qi deficiency and other traditional Chinese medicine symptoms.

The Frequency and Aspects of Ptosis in Korean Old Age

PURPOSE: To study the frequency and aspects of ptosis in Koreans aged 50 years or older. METHODS: In this study, 377 elderly people visiting retirement center were included. Margin-reflex distance 1 (MRD1) and palpebral fissure (PF) were evaluated with an attempt to eliminate eyebrow elevation. Levator function (LF) was measured with Berke's method. If the measured MRD1 was less than 2 mm, ptosis was diagnosed and its frequency, relation to sex, age, levator function and superior deep sulcus were investigated. RESULTS: There was a correlation between decreasing MRD1, PF and LF with increasing age. Ptosis was observed in 207 subjects (54.9%), and its frequency was augmented as age increased. Although it was not statistically significant, the levator function of those with ptosis (10.0+/-1.9 mm) was lower than those without ptosis (11.3+/-1.9 mm). Questionnaires were administered and 196 respondents (51%) said that their eyelid droop had become more pronounced over time. Among these respondents, 33 (16.1%) indicated that their droopy eyelid causes discomfort by blocking their vision. Their MRD1 was 1.2+/-1.0 mm, which was significantly lower than that of the other 163 respondents (1.8+/-1.1 mm, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Koreans aged 50 years or older showed a very high frequency (54.9%) of ptosis and as age increased, the frequency of ptosis also increased. Surgical correction is recommended when the ptosis causes patient discomfort due to impaired vision.

The Frequency and Aspects of Ptosis in Korean Old Age

PURPOSE: To study the frequency and aspects of ptosis in Koreans aged 50 years or older. METHODS: In this study, 377 elderly people visiting retirement center were included. Margin-reflex distance 1 (MRD1) and palpebral fissure (PF) were evaluated with an attempt to eliminate eyebrow elevation. Levator function (LF) was measured with Berke's method. If the measured MRD1 was less than 2 mm, ptosis was diagnosed and its frequency, relation to sex, age, levator function and superior deep sulcus were investigated. RESULTS: There was a correlation between decreasing MRD1, PF and LF with increasing age. Ptosis was observed in 207 subjects (54.9%), and its frequency was augmented as age increased. Although it was not statistically significant, the levator function of those with ptosis (10.0+/-1.9 mm) was lower than those without ptosis (11.3+/-1.9 mm). Questionnaires were administered and 196 respondents (51%) said that their eyelid droop had become more pronounced over time. Among these respondents, 33 (16.1%) indicated that their droopy eyelid causes discomfort by blocking their vision. Their MRD1 was 1.2+/-1.0 mm, which was significantly lower than that of the other 163 respondents (1.8+/-1.1 mm, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Koreans aged 50 years or older showed a very high frequency (54.9%) of ptosis and as age increased, the frequency of ptosis also increased. Surgical correction is recommended when the ptosis causes patient discomfort due to impaired vision.

Ocular Hypertensive Response to Topical Dexamethasone Ointment in Children

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate and the degree of the ocular hypertensive response to dexamethasone ointment in children undergoing eyelid surgery. METHODS: Dexamethasone ointment (Dexcosil(R)) was applied three times a day for the first week and twice a day for the second to third week postoperatively to children undergoing epiblepharon surgery. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured on the day before surgery, postoperative day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 2 weeks thereafter until the IOP reached preoperative levels. Peak IOP, IOP net increase and time to reach a peak IOP were analyzed. Dexamethasone ointment was discontinued if the IOP was 25 mmHg or more. RESULTS: A total of 96 children (mean age, 6.5+/-2.7 years) were included. Preoperative mean IOP was 13.6+/-2.9 mmHg (range 7-19). After dexamethasone ointment treatment, the children showed a significant rise in IOP as compared with the preoperative values. The peak IOP was 20.6+/-4.9 mmHg (range 11-39) and the time to reach peak IOP was 8.5+/-5.9 days. The low responders (delta IOP or =16) comprised 8.3% (8/96) of patients. A net increase in IOP was significantly higher in children 5 years old or less as compared with those older than 5 years (age5, 6.3+/-4.4 mmHg; p=0.015, unpaired t-test). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular hypertensive response after dexamethasone ointment to the eyelids occurred frequently in children, especially those 5 years old or younger.