Tactile perception and manual dexterity in computer users

Recent studies suggest that sensory input generated during highly repetitive tasks can degrade the sensory representation of the hand and eventually lead to sensory and motor problems. In this study, we investigated whether early changes in tactile perception and manual dexterity could be detected in persons exposed to computer tasks. Performance in tests designed to assess tactile perception (grating orientation task for spatial acuity and roughness discrimination) and manual dexterity (grooved pegboard test) was compared between two groups of healthy individuals, matched for age, gender, and experience, who differed in terms of computer habits. One group consisted of frequent users (FU, > 2 h/day, n = 36) and the other of non or occasional users (OU, < 2 h/day, n = 28). Comparison of performance between groups with subjects sorted by gender revealed significant differences ( t -test, p < 0.05) in female, but not male, participants. Grating resolution thresholds at the tip on the second and fifth digits were, on average, 40% higher in female FU ( n = 13) than in female OU ( n = 10) and performance scores on the dexterity test were significantly higher for the left hand. The results of this study indicate that early signs of deterioration in hand function can be present in persons constantly exposed to computer tasks and that these signs are more readily apparent in women than in men. The loss of tactile spatial acuity found in female FU possibly reflect an early consequence of the degraded sensory representation of the hand resulting from constant repetitions of fine motor tasks.     

2014-2016年南充市儿童手足口病重症流行病学调查及危险因素分析

摘要 目的：了解南充市儿童重症手足口病流行病学特征及其相关危险因素，为降低儿童重症手足口病发病率提供依据。方法：对中国"疾病监测信息报告管理系统"中确诊的南充市（顺庆区、高坪区、嘉陵区、阆中市）2014-2016年儿童手足口病的病例信息进行研究，分析该市儿童手足口病疫情、时间分布、地区分布和人群分布特征，并应用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析儿童重症手足口病危险因素。结果：2014-2016年顺庆区、高坪区、嘉陵区、阆中市共报告儿童手足口病8068例，其中重症病例426例，占5.28%。全年均有手足口病发生，4~7月为手足口病发病高峰期，2014年峰值明显高于2015年、2016年，重症手足口病时间分布和发病高峰期与以上相同。顺庆区、高坪区、嘉陵区、阆中市均有手足口病发生，阆中市重症病例比例均高于其他辖区，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。男性患儿重症病例构成比较高，不同性别患儿重症病例构成比比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；重症病例主要集中在1~3岁儿童，不同年龄段重症病例构成比比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），重症病例主要分布在散居儿童和农村儿童，不同生活方式、不同家庭住址重症病例构成比比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；重症病例主要分布在3~6天时间间隔的就诊患儿，不同就诊时间间隔重症病例构成比比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic分析显示：年龄为1-3岁、散居、家庭住址为农村是重症手足口病的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：年龄为1-3岁、散居、家庭住址为农村是重症手足口病的危险因素，应在流动人口集中、生活条件较差的地区开展手足口病的宣传教育，提高人们对手足口病防治的认知，对于1-3岁儿童应作为疾病重点防控对象，提高家长疾病防控意识，以降低重症手足口病的发病率。     

The effects of post-stroke upper-limb training with an electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot

Loss of hand function and finger dexterity are main disabilities in the upper limb after stroke. An electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot had been developed for post-stroke rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the hand robot assisted whole upper limb training was investigated on persons with chronic stroke (n = 10) in this work. All subjects attended a 20-session training (3–5 times/week) by using the hand robot to practice object grasp/release and arm transportation tasks. Significant motor improvements were observed in the Fugl-Meyer hand/wrist and shoulder/elbow scores (p < 0.05), and also in the Action Research Arm Test and Wolf Motor Function Test (p < 0.05). Significant reduction in spasticity of the fingers as was measured by the Modified Ashworth Score (p < 0.05). The training improved the muscle co-ordination between the antagonist muscle pair (flexor digitorum (FD) and extensor digitorum (ED)), associated with a significant reduction in the ED EMG level (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease of ED and FD co-contraction during the training (p < 0.05); the excessive muscle activities in the biceps brachii were also reduced significantly after the training (p < 0.05).     

手外伤激光照射康复护理观察研究

目的：探讨激光照射对手外伤患者的康复效果。方法：随机选取87例手外伤患者为观察组,采用激光照射与作业疗法,支具、心理疗法相结合;对照组63例,只采用作业疗法、支具及心理疗法。观测伤部疼痛减轻及消退情况,肿胀消退时间,康复治疗2月进行手功能评定。结果：观察组疼痛消失时间,肿胀消退时间,手功能康复均优于对照组,两组比较,差异均具有显著意义。结论：手外伤术后患者激光照射治疗能明显缩短手康复时间,提高康复质量。     

Exogenous Glycine Betaine Reduces Drought Damage by Mediating Osmotic Adjustment and Enhancing Antioxidant Defense in <i>Phoebe hunanensis</i>

Drought stress negatively impacts growth and physiological processes in plants. The foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) is an effective and low-cost approach to improve the drought tolerance of trees. This study examined the effect of exogenously applied GB on the cell membrane permeability, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant enzyme activities of Phoebe hunanensis Hand.-Mazz under drought stress. Two levels (0 and 800 mL) of water irrigation were tested under different applied GB concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 mM). Drought stress decreased the relative water content by 58.5% while increased the electric conductivity, malondialdehyde, proline, soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase) by up to 62.9%, 42.4%, 87.0%, 19.1%, 60.5%, 68.3%, 71.7%, and 83.8%, respectively, on the 25^th day. The foliar application of GB, especially at 100 mM, increased the relative water content of P. hunanensis leaves under drought stress. The concentration of GB from 50 to 100 mM effectively alleviated the improvement of cell membrane permeability and inhibited the accumulation of membrane lipid peroxidation products. Under drought stress, the concentrations of proline, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars in the leaves of P. hunanensis increased as the applied GB concentration was increased and the water stress time was prolonged. Exogenously applied GB decreased oxidative stress and improved antioxidant enzyme activities as compared with treatments without GB application. Furthermore, the physiological and biochemical indexes of P. hunanensis showed a certain dose effect on exogenous GB concentration. These results suggest that GB helps maintain the drought tolerance of P. hunanensis.     

窄谱中波紫外线联合复方甘草酸苷片治疗手部湿疹的疗效观察及对外周血IFN-γ、IL-4水平的影响

目的：探讨窄谱中波紫外线（NB—UVB）联合复方甘草酸苷片治疗手部湿疹的的疗效及其对外周血疗效观察IFN-γ、IL-4水平的影响。方法：选取手部湿疹患者160例,随机分为观察组与对照组,每组各80例。对照组给予尿素乳膏涂于患处,观察组采用NB-UVB皮损局部照射联合复方甘草酸苷片治疗,均连续治疗4周。治疗前后观察临床表现、EASI评分、血清IFN-γ、IL-4,记录不良反应。结果：治疗后,观察组与对照组总有效率分别为90．00％、72．50％（P〈0．05）,EASI评分均不同程度的降低（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）,且观察组EAsI评分低于对照组（P〈0．05）;观察组血清WN-γ水平降低,几4升高（P〈0．05）,且与对照组相应指标比较,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组均未见明显的不良反应。结论：窄谱中波紫外线联合复方甘草酸苷片治疗手部湿疹具有较高的临床总有效率,改善了手部湿疹的皮损状况,调节了Th1／Th2细胞因子趋于平衡,且具有较高的安全性,对手部湿疹的临床治疗具有一定的指导意义。     

Towards broadly protective polyvalent vaccines against hand,foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by multiple enterovirus infections is a serious health threat to children in the Asia–Pacific region. This article reviews progresses in the development of vaccines for HFMD and discusses the need for polyvalent HFMD vaccines for conferring broad-spectrum protection.     

Right handedness of Homo heidelbergensis from Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain) 500,000 years ago

Handedness is a product of brain specialization, which in turn seems to be responsible for the higher cognitive capabilities of humans, such as language and technology. Handedness in living humans is well established and shows the highest degree of manual specialization. Studies on hand laterality in nonhuman primates, particularly in chimpanzees, remain a matter of controversy as results tend to vary depending on factors such as the tasks performed and the environment in which the individuals live. Studies in several disciplines have attempted to determine where in the course of human evolution handedness established itself, with evidence collected from sources such as paleoneurological analyses, stone tool flaking, zooarchaeological studies and dental wear analyses, the last one of which have proven the most reliable source of information. Here we report an experimental and paleoanthropological study on hand laterality of a sample of 28 hominids from Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca, Spain), dated at about 500,000 years ago, and compare our results with dental microwear analysis in other fossil samples such as that from Krapina (Croatia), as well as modern traditional societies. Our results indicate that European Middle Pleistocene Homo heidelbergensis was already as right-handed as modern populations.