Changes in Blood-Brain Barrier Nutrient Transport in the Offspring of Iodine-Deficient Rats and Their Preventability

Thyroid hormones affect the structure and function of biological membranes. Whether or not they affect the Blood-Brain Barrier nutrient transport, the rate limiting membrane transport regulating nutrient supply to brain is to be established yet. That the impaired brain development and function seen in iodine deficiency could be due to such an effect has been assessed in situ by the brain uptake index (BUI) method in Wistar/NIN rat pups born to dams subjected to dietary iodine deficiency/rehabilitation for different times. Compared to controls (C), there was a significant decrease in the BUI values of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) and L-leucine (Leu) in the pups (D1) born to dams chronically fed low iodine test (LIT) diet through their active growth and subsequent pregnancy and lactation. Surprisingly transport of L-Tyrosine (Tyr) and sucrose (the background marker) was not altered, nor was the BBB transport of all these nutrients affected by feeding LIT diet during the mothers' gestation (D2) and lactation (D3) only. The hypothyroidism in D1 pups was only moderate and preventable by rehabilitation of mothers with control diet from conception (R1) or parturition (R2), as were the changes in BBB nutrient transport. The results suggest that chronic material dietary iodine deficiency impairs BBB nutrient transport in the offspring and this could be prevented by their rehabilitation with iodine.     

Adequacy of rehabilitation monitoring practices in the Western Australian mining industry

Summary Currently in Western Australia (WA) there are no mandated standards for assessing rehabilitation success for the mining industry. We argue a case for focusing on the creation of near‐natural, self‐sustaining, functional ecosystems as the primary objective for rehabilitation programs and where this is not achievable, mines should plan to be ‘environmentally neutral’ by undertaking some improvements to degraded landscapes. We suggest that flora and fauna monitoring are appropriate tools for managers and regulators to obtain information on the extent to which a rehabilitated area has achieved a near natural, self‐sustaining, functional ecosystem similar to that in the adjacent undisturbed area. This monitoring can also be used for completion criteria and closure plans. We report results from a short questionnaire sent to mine site environmental managers to assess the extent of flora and fauna monitoring in rehabilitation areas. Survey results highlighted the need for a more systematic and consistent approach to the monitoring of flora and fauna in rehabilitated mining areas in WA. Of 36 respondents, 23 mines monitored flora, three monitored fauna and two monitored both.     

Tracking growth and survival of rescued boulder corals

Patterns of survivorship and growth of rescued boulder corals from two vessel groundings in Biscayne National Park, Homestead, Florida, U.S.A., were evaluated over 5 years and compared to nearby undamaged reference corals. The rescued colonies had been dislodged but reattached in situ 10–12 years later (hereafter termed “restored” corals). Change in live coral tissue area was assessed using novel contoured tissue measurements which proved useful in detecting small changes in tissue area for slow‐growing coral species. At the initial survey, restored boulder corals had a higher level of partial mortality (33.8 ± 3.1%, mean ± SE) relative to reference corals (19.9 ± 2.5%), likely a result of prolonged detachment. During the course of the 5‐year monitoring period, whole‐colony mortality was greater for restored corals (13.1%) compared to reference corals (3.3%). For surviving corals, restored coral growth and recent mortality rates were similar to reference corals even though restored corals, especially those of Dichocoenia stokesii, had greater disease prevalence (19.7%) than reference corals (6.6%). These results suggest that dislodged boulder coral rescue following an acute disturbance can be an effective tool in stemming tissue loss. If dislodged corals were reattached in a more timely manner, we predict that the survival and tissue growth would be greater.     

肾炎康复片对慢性肾小球肾炎患者血清FN、IL-2及胱抑素C 水平的影响

目的:探讨肾炎康复片对慢性肾小球肾炎患者血清粘连蛋白(fibronectin,FN)、白介素-2(interleukin-2,IL-2)及胱抑素C水平影响。方法:收集我院慢性肾小球肾炎患者80例,随机分为实验组和对照组。两组患者均予低盐优质蛋白饮食、控制血压、预防感染等常规治疗。对照组予以贝那普利治疗,实验组在对照组基础上加用肾炎康复片。两组患者分别于治疗前、后各进行一次血清FN、IL-2、胱抑素C水平测定;血压,肾功能血清肌酐(SCr)、尿素氮(BUN),24 h尿蛋白测定。结果:治疗后两组患者血清FN、IL-2水平均上升,胱抑素C水平均下降(P0.05),与对照组比较,实验组三项指标均变化更明显(P0.05);治疗后两组患者血压、血清肌酐、尿素氮、24 h尿蛋白水平均下降(P0.05),与对照组比较,实验组四项指标均较低(P0.05)。结论:肾炎康复片可更显著升高慢性肾小球肾炎患者血清FN、IL-2水平,降低胱抑素C水平,对患者血压控制,肾功能修复及减少尿蛋白有重要作用。     

Assessment of isometric muscle strength and rate of torque development with hand-held dynamometry: Test-retest reliability and relationship with gait velocity after stroke

Isometric rate of torque development examines how quickly force can be exerted and may resemble everyday task demands more closely than isometric strength. Rate of torque development may provide further insight into the relationship between muscle function and gait following stroke. Aims of this study were to examine the test-retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry to measure isometric rate of torque development following stroke, to examine associations between strength and rate of torque development, and to compare the relationships of strength and rate of torque development to gait velocity. Sixty-three post-stroke adults participated (60 years, 34 male). Gait velocity was assessed using the fast-paced 10 m walk test. Isometric strength and rate of torque development of seven lower-limb muscle groups were assessed with hand-held dynamometry. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for reliability and Spearman’s rho correlations were calculated for associations. Regression analyses using partial F-tests were used to compare strength and rate of torque development in their relationship with gait velocity. Good to excellent reliability was shown for strength and rate of torque development (0.82–0.97). Strong associations were found between strength and rate of torque development (0.71–0.94). Despite high correlations between strength and rate of torque development, rate of torque development failed to provide significant value to regression models that already contained strength. Assessment of isometric rate of torque development with hand-held dynamometry is reliable following stroke, however isometric strength demonstrated greater relationships with gait velocity. Further research should examine the relationship between dynamic measures of muscle strength/torque and gait after stroke.     

A computational method for reliable gait event detection and abnormality detection for feedback in rehabilitation

In this paper, a gait event detection algorithm is presented that uses computer intelligence (fuzzy logic) to identify seven gait phases in walking gait. Two inertial measurement units and four force-sensitive resistors were used to obtain knee angle and foot pressure patterns, respectively. Fuzzy logic is used to address the complexity in distinguishing gait phases based on discrete events. A novel application of the seven-dimensional vector analysis method to estimate the amount of abnormalities detected was also investigated based on the two gait parameters. Experiments were carried out to validate the application of the two proposed algorithms to provide accurate feedback in rehabilitation. The algorithm responses were tested for two cases, normal and abnormal gait. The large amount of data required for reliable gait-phase detection necessitate the utilisation of computer methods to store and manage the data. Therefore, a database management system and an interactive graphical user interface were developed for the utilisation of the overall system in a clinical environment.     

肺康复训练联合规律性有氧运动疗法对稳定期COPD患者心肺运动功能、生活质量和Th17/Treg细胞亚群失衡的影响

摘要 目的：观察肺康复训练联合规律性有氧运动疗法对稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者心肺运动功能、生活质量和Th17/Treg细胞亚群失衡的影响。方法：选取2019年6月-2021年6月期间于我院接受治疗的80例稳定期COPD患者,根据随机数字表法分为观察组（40例,肺康复训练联合规律性有氧运动疗法）、对照组（40例,接受肺康复训练）,比较两组患者心肺运动功能、运动耐量、生活质量和Th17/Treg细胞亚群失衡相关指标。结果：两组干预3个月后最大分钟通气量（VEmax）、峰值摄氧量（PeakVO₂）升高,且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预3个月后无氧阈时二氧化碳通气当量（VE/CO₂ at AT）下降,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预3个月后圣?乔治呼吸问卷（SGRQ）评分降低,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预3个月后6 min步行试验（6MWT）距离、运动时间延长,且观察组长于对照组（P<0.05）。两组干预3个月后Treg含量升高,且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）;两组干预3个月后Th17/Treg比值、Th17含量下降,且观察组低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：肺康复训练联合规律性有氧运动疗法用于稳定期COPD患者,可改善其心肺运动功能,提高运动耐量,提高生活质量,同时还可调节Th17/Treg细胞亚群失衡。     

术中保温联合早期系统化康复训练对老年全髋关节置换术患者凝血功能、康复效果和生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：观察术中保温联合早期系统化康复训练对老年全髋关节置换术（THA）患者凝血功能、康复效果和生活质量的影响。方法：选择我院2018年8月～2021年8月期间收治的80例老年THA患者,按随机数字表法将其分为对照组（40例）和观察组（40例）。对照组患者接受早期系统化康复训练,观察组患者接受术中保温联合早期系统化康复训练,对比两组术中低体温发生率、凝血功能、康复效果和生活质量。结果：观察组的术中低体温发生率明显低于对照组（P<0.05）。观察组的下床活动时间、住院时间短于对照组（P<0.05）。两组术后8周Harris髋关节功能评分均升高,且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。对照组术后7 d凝血酶原时间(PT) 、活化部分凝血活酶时间( APTT) 及凝血酶时间( TT) 、纤维蛋白原（FIB）均升高（P<0.05）,观察组术前、术后7 d PT、APTT、TT、FIB组内对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）,观察组术后7 d PT、APTT、TT、FIB低于对照组（P<0.05）。对照组术后6个月躯体职能、角色职能、情绪职能、认知职能、社会职能评分升高,且观察组高于对照组（P<0.05）。结论：术中保温联合早期系统化康复训练可促进老年THA患者康复,有效保护机体凝血功能,促进患者生活质量提高,效果显著。