Correlation study between motor rehabilitation level and psychological state in patients with limb movement disorders after stroke

BACKGROUND

The psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders undergoes a series of changes that affect rehabilitation training and recovery of limb motor function.

AIM

To determine the correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with limb movement disorders after stroke.

METHODS

Eighty patients with upper and lower limb dysfunction post stroke were retrospectively enrolled in our study. Based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores measured before rehabilitation, patients with HADS scores ≥ 8 were divided into the psychological group; otherwise, the patients were included in the normal group. Motor function and daily living abilities were compared between the normal and psychological groups. Correlations between the motor function and psychological status of patients, and between daily living ability and psychological status of patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

After 1, 2, and 3 wk of rehabilitation, both the Fugl-Meyer assessment and Barthel index scores improved compared to their respective baseline scores (P < 0.05). A greater degree of improvement was observed in the normal group compared to the psychological group (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between negative emotions and limb rehabilitation (-0.592 ≤ r ≤ -0.233, P < 0.05), and between negative emotions and daily living ability (-0.395 ≤ r ≤ -0.199, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is a strong correlation between motor rehabilitation and the psychological state of patients with post stroke limb movement disorders. The higher the negative emotions, the worse the rehabilitation effect.

An Ultrasound Model to Predict the Short-Term Effects of Endovascular Stent Placement in the Treatment of Carotid Artery Stenosis

Purpose: The present study aimed to explore the predictive ability of an ultrasound linear regression equation in patients undergoing endovascular stent placement (ESP) to treat carotid artery stenosis-induced ischemic stroke.

Methods: Pearson's correlation coefficient of actual improvement rate (IR) and 10 preoperative ultrasound indices in the carotid arteries of 64 patients who underwent ESP were retrospectively analyzed. A predictive ultrasound model for the fitted IR after ESP was established.

Results: Of the 10 preoperative ultrasound indices, peak systolic velocity (PSV) at stenosis was strongly correlated with postoperative actual IR (r = 0.622; P < 0.01). The unstable plaque index (UPI; r = 0.447), peak eccentricity ratio (r = 0.431), and plaque stiffness index (β; r = 0.512) moderately correlated with actual IR (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the resistance index (r = 0.325) and the dilation coefficient (r = 0.311) weakly correlated with actual IR (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between actual IR and the number of unstable plaques, area narrowing, pulsatility index, and compliance coefficient. In combination, morphological, hemodynamic, and physiological ultrasound indices can predict 62.39% of neurological deficits after ESP: fitted IR = 0.9816 – 0.1293β + 0.0504UPI – 0.1137PSV.

Conclusion: Certain carotid ultrasound indices correlate with ESP outcomes. The multi-index predictive model can be used to evaluate the effects of ESP before surgery.

Effect of Notch1 gene on remyelination in multiple sclerosis in mouse models of acute demyelination

This study aims to explore the effects of Notch1 gene on remyelination in multiple sclerosis (MS). A mouse model of acute demyelination was successfully established and the model mice were grouped as cuprizone (CPZ) group, CPZ + small interfering RNA (siRNA)-Notch1 (siNotch1) group, and CPZ + siRNA negative control (NC) group. Meanwhile, another 3 groups (control, control + siNotch1, and control + siRNA NC) were established in normal mice. The changes of weight and maintenance time in rotating drum of mice were observed. Western blot analysis for the protein expressions related to Notch signaling pathway and oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation in the corpus callosum of the mice. After model establishment, the weight of CPZ-induced demyelinated mice was decreased. During the repair period, the balance ability and movement of the mice was recovered, especially for those injected with siNotch1 plasmid. After model establishment, the number of myelinated axons was decreased. In comparison with the CPZ and CPZ siRNA NC groups, the CPZ + siNotch1 group had a decrease in the number of premature OLs, but increase in mature OLs, and a decrease in oligodendrocyte precursor cells and astrocytes. The expressions of proteins related to Notch signaling pathway, such as HES, Jagged-1 were decreased in the CPZ + siNotch1 group in contrast to the CPZ and CPZ + siRNA groups, but the OL-related transcription factor Sox10 was increased in the CPZ + siNotch1 group than in the CPZ + siRNA NC and CPZ groups, and Id2 was decreased. Our study provided evidence that the inhibition of Notch1 gene could accelerate remyelination in MS.

[Expression and clinical significance of HMGA2 in renal carcinoma]

Objective: To detect the high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) expression in renal carcinoma, and to explore the relationship with clinicopathological features and its significance for prognosis. Methods: 50 renal carcinoma specimens, 50 corresponding adjacent normal kidney tissue samples, and 40 benign renal tumor specimens were used in this study. The expressions of HMGA2 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical assays, and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis in the renal carcinoma patients was analyzed. Results: The RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression levels of HMGA2 mRNA in the renal carcinoma, benign renal tumor tissues, and adjacent normal renal tissues were 0.84±0.23, 0.19± 0.06 and 0.08±0.04, respectively, and the expression in renal carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups (P<0.01). The Western blot results showed that the relative expression levels of HMGA2 protein in the renal carcinoma, benign renal tumor tissues, and adjacent normal renal tissues were 0.91±0.24, 0.12±0.04 and 0.03±0.01, respectively, and the expression in renal carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than those of the other 2 groups (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression of HMGA2 protein exhibited brown and tan granular, which mainly distributed in the cell nuclei. Among the 50 cases of renal carcinoma, 34 cases exhibited positive expression, with a positive rate of 68.0%. Among the 40 cases of benign tumor tissues, 3 cases had positive expression, with a positive rate of 7.5%, while among the 50 cases of adjacent normal renal tissues, there was only 1 case exhibiting positive expression of HMGA2 protein, with a positive rate of 2.0%. The protein expression of HMGA2 was significantly higher in the renal carcinoma than in the benign tumors and normal renal tissues (P=0.004). There was no statistically significant difference in the association of HMGA2 protein expressions with age, sex, tumor size and histological type (P>0.05), while significant difference did exist in the association with different statuses of TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The median time to progression (TTP) in 34 HMGA2 protein-positive patients was (22.36±1.48) months and that of 16 HMGA2 protein-negative patients was (34.55±1.87) months (P<0.05). Conclusions: HMGA2 plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and development of renal carcinoma, and may be used as an important predictor for estimating the prognosis of renal carcinoma. HMGA2 might become a new diagnostic and prognostic marker for renal carcinoma.

A new area in the human brain associated with learning and memory: immunohistochemical and functional MRI analysis

Previous studies identified a new brain area, the marginal division (MrD), at the caudomedial border of the neostriatum in the brain of the rat, cat and monkey. The MrD was distinguishable from the rest of the striatum by the presence of spindle-shaped neurons, specific connections, and dense immunoreactivity for neuropeptides and monoamines in fibers, terminals and neuronal somata. Behavioral testing demonstrated that the MrD contributes to learning and memory in the rat. In the present study, the structure and the function of the MrD were investigated in the human brain. The presence of spindle-shaped neurons and the distribution of neurotransmitters in the MrD were evaluated by immunocytochemical methods. The function of the MrD was identified with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of healthy volunteers tested with an auditory digital working memory task. Highly active areas were observed in the prefrontal cortex and MrD with left sided predominance during performance of the task, but other parts of the neostriatum were not excited and the MrD was not activated in a control test of non-working memory. The results of the present investigation therefore indicate the existence of a new area associated with learning and memory function in the human brain. The MrD probably plays an important role in the execution of digital working memory and appears to link the limbic system and the basal nucleus of Meynert. The MrD may also be involved in the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease.

[Study of the bone formation and osteogenesis after transplantation of human periosteal mesenchymal stem cells]

OBJECTIVE

To study the bone formation and osteogenesis after transplantation of human periosteal mesenchymal stem cells(PMSC).

METHODS

Suspension of PMSC which obtained from cell culture of periosteal segments in vitro were injected into the backs of nude mice subcutaneously, and the fracture site of neck of femur in old person.

RESULTS

Subdermal nodules were observed by naked eyes after 11 days of transplantation. 4 weeks later, their anatomic diameter reached 2-7 mm(averaged 3.6 mm). It was proved that the subdermal nodules were trabecular ball trapped with fibrous tissue. The nodules were investigated by human special apoB gene with PCR, and the test of anti-human-tissue precipitin reaction(AHTPR). The results of PCR and AHTPR were positive reaction. There were no subdermal nodules formed in the sites of injection of frozen-melted PMSC or culture medium. The new callus in the sites of fracture were tested by PCR test, and two kinds of apoB gene products were detected.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that the implanted PMSC could form new bone directly in nude mice, and the cells of donor and recipient all could form new bone.

[Evaluation of combined use of ultrasonography and beta-hCG determination in diagnosis of pelvic lesions of malignant trophoblastic disease]

The results of combined use of ultrasonography and beta-hCG determination for diagnosis of pelvic lesions of malignant trophoblastic disease in 73 cases were reported. Abnormal ultrasonograms and elevated beta-hCG levels were found in 53 of 55 cases of invasive mole and all 20 cases of choriocarcinoma. The location and extent of the pelvic lesions were clearly defined by ultrasonography. Moreover, there was a high correlation rate between ultrasonograms and beta-hCG levels. Surgico-pathological diagnosis was available in 17 cases. Based on these data, the authors emphasize that in improving the accuracy of diagnosis and locating the pelvic lesions ultrasonography in combination with beta-hCG determinations should be used as a routine procedure in suspected cases of pelvic lesion of malignant trophoblastic disease.