ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on upper limb motor recovery during post-stroke rehabilitation. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Four inpatient rehabilitation facilities. SUBJECTS: A total of 204 stroke patients with unilateral upper limb motor impairment were randomly 1:1 allocated to TEAS or sham TEAS group. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups received conventional physical and occupational therapies. TEAS and sham TEAS therapy were administered to two acupoints (LI10 and TE5) with a pulse duration of 300 µs at 2 Hz on the affected forearm for 30 times over 6 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: The upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer score (primary outcome), manual muscle testing, modified Ashworth scale, Lindmark hand function score, and Barthel index were evaluated by blinded assessors at baseline, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 18 weeks. RESULTS: The number of patients who completed the treatment was 99 and 97 in the TEAS and the sham group. No significant between-group difference was found in the Upper-Extremity Fugl-Meyer score, Modified Ashworth Scale, Lindmark hand function score, and Barthel Index after intervention and during follow-up. However, the TEAS group exhibited 0.29 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.55) greater improvements in Manual Muscle Testing of wrist extension than the sham group (p = 0.037) at 18 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of TEAS therapy to hemiplegic forearm could not improve the upper extremity motor recovery. However, TEAS on the forearm might provide potential benefits for strength improvement of the wrist.
Subject(s)
Stroke Rehabilitation , Stroke , Humans , Acupuncture Points , Single-Blind Method , Treatment Outcome , Stroke/complications , Stroke/diagnosis , Upper Extremity , Recovery of FunctionABSTRACT
A novel copper(II)-ß-cyclodextrin and CuO functionalized graphene oxide composite (CD-CuO/NH2-GO) was successfully synthesized by reacting mono-6-O-toluenesulfonyl-copper(II)-ß-cyclodextrin with amino and CuO functionalized graphene oxide. The characterization results showed that the CD-CuO/NH2-GO was well-characterized and has a BET surface area of 746.5 m2â¯g-1 and good thermal stability, and CD and CuO were uniformly dispersed. The unique structure of CD-CuO/NH2-GO is conducive to the synergistic effect of the different components, especially for the inclusion ability of CD. Benefiting from that, CD-CuO/NH2-GO could quickly and efficiently remove the thiophenic sulfides, which are difficult to be economically removed by hydrodesulfurization. The removal efficiency for the three sulfides was in the order of benzothiophene > dibenzothiophene > thiophene. The desulfurization process of benzothiophene has the fastest desulfurization rate (0.121 gâ¯mg-1â¯min-1) and maximum sulfur capacity (12.75 mg Sâ¯g-1). The different molecular inclusion ability of CD for the thiophenic sulfides demonstrates the difference in the desulfurization of CD-CuO/NH2-GO. The work highlights the synthesis and the potential application in fuel desulfurization of supramolecular GO composite nanomaterials.
ABSTRACT
A novel method was developed to monitor the reaction process and evaluate the sulfonation level in the sulfonation of phthalic anhydride by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The product peak was identified in chromatograms through product analysis and by comparing its retention time with that of standard compounds. By comparing the hydrolysis and alcoholysis methods, optimized pretreatment of the sample was found for RP-HPLC. Based on the determined percentages of phthalic anhydride and sulfonated phthalic anhydride in the mixture, the degree of sulfonation was calculated. When the sulfonation degree of phthalic anhydride was in the range of 2.8-71%, the recovery of 97-104% was achieved, and the procedure was rapid and accurate.
ABSTRACT
Three solid bases, with three kinds of activated carbon as supporters and alkaline materials as active components, were tested for hydrogen sulfide removal in light oil. The solid bases have high intensity and greater adsorption capacity for hydrogen sulfide removal and are more easily regenerated.
