Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Action Observation Training in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

This study presents the results of a randomized controlled trial utilizing a 2 x 2 factorial design, comparing the effects of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and action observation training (AOT) intervention methods on spasticity, balance function, and motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). The study aimed to investigate whether the combination of the two interventions produces greater improvement than either treatment alone or conventional treatment. Subject children in this study, in accordance with the random number table, were randomly divided into four groups: conventional group, rTMS group, AOT group, and combined intervention group. All the children in the four groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment, on the basis of which they were given different therapeutic programs of rehabilitation measures. The conventional group had no other treatment while the rTMS group received rTMS, the AOT group received AOT and the combined intervention group was given a combined intervention of rTMS and AOT. They were trained five days per week for 12 weeks. Changes in scores of spasticity, balance function, walking ability, and gross motor function were assessed at the onset of the training program and upon completion of 12 weeks of treatment. A total of 64 Children with SCP completed the study, and their results were analyzed. The total gross motor function efficiency of 87.50% in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of 25.00% in the conventional group, 62.50% in the rTMS group, and 68.75% in the AOT group. The preliminary results showed that combined intervention of rTMS and AOT could effectively improve the balance function and motor function of children, and the therapeutic effect of the combined intervention was better than that of conventional treatment, rTMS or AOT alone. Finally, clinical efficacy and optimal treatment parameters of the combined intervention were clarified to provide a clinical basis for therapists to conduct lower limb function rehabilitation for children with SCP.

Roles of dissolved humic acid and tannic acid in sorption of benzotriazole to a sandy loam soil.

To clarify the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sorption of organic pollutants, batch experiments on effects of two representatives of DOM (dissolved humic acid (HA) and tannic acid (TA)) on sorption of benzotriazole (BTA) to a sandy loam soil were conducted. Both HA and TA promoted BTA sorption to soil. Strong positive correlation between sorbed amount of BTA and DOM confirmed the contribution of cumulative sorption by HA or TA in enhancing BTA binding. TA promoted BTA sorption more obviously than HA by providing more sites. For HA with complex structure composed of heterogeneous fractions, its high molecular weight (>3200 Da) fraction could be preferentially sorbed by soil, and it can enhance BTA sorption more obviously than the low molecular weight fraction. The promoting effect of HA on BTA sorption decreased with pH increasing from 6.5 to 10.5 due to reduced sites and electrostatic repulsion between anionic BTA, HA and soil. Sorption of neutral BTA to soil affected by DOM could be well predicted by a modified Freundlich model with Kd (L kg-1) deviations less than 0.2 log unit.