Evaluation of post-stroke spasticity from the subacute to chronic stages: A clinical and neurophysiologic study of motoneuron pool excitability.

Spasticity measured using clinical scales, such as the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), may not sufficiently evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and predict prognosis. This study aimed to compare changes in H-reflex excitability in the spastic and unimpaired upper and lower limbs of patients with acute and chronic stroke. We also investigated the relationship between the degree of spasticity as assessed by the MAS and motor neuron pool excitability with by analyzing H-reflex excitability.

Regulation of extracellular and intracellular prolactin on cell proliferation and survival rate through GHR/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in NSCLC.

Styrene increases serum prolactin (PRL) concentration. Hyperprolactinemia is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients, but the mechanism of PRL action is unclear. The aims of this study were to (i) investigate the mechanism of PRL-action receptor in NSCLC cells (ii) measure whether PRL was secreted by NSCLC cells and its stimulatory mechanism in vitro and in vivo.

Downregulation of testosterone production through luteinizing hormone receptor regulation in male rats exposed to 17α-ethynylestradiol.

The pharmaceutical 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is considered as an endocrine-disrupting chemical that interferes with male reproduction and hormonal activation. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying EE2-regulatory testosterone release in vitro and in vivo. The results show that EE2 treatment decreased testosterone release from rat Leydig cells.

Dysregulated immunological and metabolic functions discovered by a polygenic integrative analysis for PCOS.

Research Question: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disease and its pathophysiology is still unclear. This polygenic study may provide some clues.

Design: A polygenic, functionome-based study with the ovarian gene expression profiles downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including 48 PCOS and 181 normal control samples.

17α-Ethynylestradiol and 4-nonylphenol stimulate lung adenocarcinoma cell production in xenoestrogenic way.

Lung cancer has been one of the major cancers leading to mortalities worldwide. In addition to smoking, estrogen is considered to play an important role in the lung cancer development because women have a higher proportion of adenocarcinoma than men. In the environment, there are many metabolites and waste products that mimic human estrogen structurally and functionally.

Stimulatory Effect of Intermittent Hypoxia on the Production of Corticosterone by Zona Fasciculata-Reticularis Cells in Rats.

Hypoxia or intermittent hypoxia (IH) have known to alter both synthesis and secretion of hormones. However, the effect of IH on the production of adrenal cortical steroid hormones is still unclear. The aim of present study was to explore the mechanism involved in the effect of IH on the production of corticosterone by rat ZFR cells.

Interactive Effect of Corticosterone and Lactate on Regulation of Testosterone Production in Rat Leydig Cells.

The increasing intensity of exercise enhanced corticosterone and lactate production in both humans and rodents. Our previous studies also demonstrated that lactate could stimulate testosterone production in vivo and in vitro. However, the production of testosterone in response to combined corticosterone and lactate on Leydig cells, and underlying molecular mechanisms are remained unclear.

Induction of renal senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) expression by testosterone and its contribution to urinary calcium absorption in male rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of androgen, mainly testosterone, in the expression of renal senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) in male rats. We found that the renal SMP30 expression was up-regulated by endogenous testosterone stimulation during puberty. Interestingly, androgen-deficient orchidectomized (ORX) rats exhibited lower SMP30 mRNA and protein expression in the kidney, and that was restored by testosterone propionate (TP) replacement.

Attenuation of exercise effect on inflammatory responses via novel role of TLR4/PI3K/Akt signaling in rat splenocytes.

Moderate exercise diminishes proinflammation cytokine production in various types of immune cells, but the intracellular signaling pathways involved are not completely understood. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, a crucial downstream protein of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), may modulate inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of exercises on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response in splenocytes and to explore potential mechanisms of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Effects of acrolein on the production of corticosterone in male rats.

Acrolein, an α, β-unsaturated aldehyde, exists in a wide range of sources. Acrolein can be not only generated from all types of smoke but also produced endogenously from the metabolism by lipid peroxidation. The cellular influence of acrolein is due to its electrophilic character via binding to and depleting cellular nucleophiles.

Role of testosterone in regulating induction of TNF-α in rat spleen via ERK signaling pathway.

Spleen is a pivotal organ for regulating immune homeostasis. It has been shown that testosterone diminishes secretion of various inflammatory molecules under multiple conditions. However, the mechanisms of action of endogenous testosterone affecting immune responses in the spleen remain unknown.

Effects of acrolein on aldosterone release from zona glomerulosa cells in male rats.

A positive correlation between smoking and hypertension has been well established. Acrolein is a major toxic volatile compound found in cigarette smoke. Human exposure to low levels of acrolein is unavoidable due to its production in daily activities, such as smoke from industrial, hot oil cooking vapors, and exhaust fumes from vehicles.

Effects of Computer-Aided Interlimb Force Coupling Training on Paretic Hand and Arm Motor Control following Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: We investigated the training effects of interlimb force coupling training on paretic upper extremity outcomes in patients with chronic stroke and analyzed the relationship between motor recovery of the paretic hand, arm and functional performances on paretic upper limb.

Design: A randomized controlled trial with outcome assessment at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention.

Setting: Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University.

Efficacy of informed versus uninformed physiotherapy on postoperative retear rates of medium-sized and large rotator cuff tears.

Background: It is important to perform the first 12 weeks of rehabilitation without risk of tearing a cuff tendon from its repair site. Our hypothesis was that performing early postoperative rehabilitation with a limitable pendulum exercise device can produce lower retear rate outcomes when it is combined with safe, informed physiotherapy compared with a standardized protocol of rehabilitation performed at home.

Methods: By using an asymmetric arm support brace and an advanced accelerometer, we attempted to determine the benefits of small pendulum exercises (proposed by Long et al).

Effectiveness of hyaluronic acid administration in treating adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: Adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder presents with an insidious onset of pain and progressive limitation of shoulder movement.

Objectives: To investigate whether intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) administration alone is superior to conventional therapies and whether the addition of intra-articular HA administration to conventional therapies improves clinical outcomes in patients with AC.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched without language restrictions in July 2014 with a priori defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Effect of swimming on the production of aldosterone in rats.

It has been demonstrated that exercise is one of the stresses known to increase the aldosterone secretion. Both potassium and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels are shown to be correlated with aldosterone production during exercise, but the mechanism is still unclear. In an in vivo study, male rats were catheterized via right jugular vein (RJV), and divided into four groups namely water immersion, swimming, lactate infusion (13 mg/kg/min) and pyruvate infusion (13 mg/kg/min) groups.

Validity and reliability of a novel device for bilateral upper extremity functional measurements.

Background And Objective: This study was designed to establish the validity and reliability of a new device that measures bilateral shoulder and elbow range of motion (ROM) and grip force performance in vivo. A further aim was to investigate the control of inter-limb grip force coordination during isometric force-maintenance tasks. Validity of the ROM and grip force measurements was examined using a validated clinical goniometer and standard weights.

Influence of aging on bimanual coordination control.

Degeneration in the neuromuscular system due to aging can affect daily activities that need to be controlled by bimanual coordination with both hands. However, little is known about the influence of aging on grip strength and bimanual coordination control between hands. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of aging on the maximum grip force output and capacity of coordination control of two hands.

Tension pneumocephalus as a complication of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a patient with chronic traumatic brain injury.

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy has not been accepted as a standard therapy for traumatic brain injuries, it has been used, along with rehabilitative exercises, for traumatic brain injuries, and the standard protocol has a low risk of complications. We report a case of chronic traumatic brain injury that progressed to tension pneumocephalus after hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The patient was a 25-yr-old man who presented with left occipital bone fracture and subarachnoid and subdural hemorrhage after being hit by a car.

Conduction and morphological changes in wrist nerves immediately after bilateral sanding exercises in hemiparetic subjects.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of bilateral upper-extremity sanding exercises on conduction and morphologic characteristics of the median and ulnar nerves at the wrist in hemiparetic subjects and control subjects.

Design: Case control study using a pretest-post-test design.

Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation department affiliated with a teaching hospital.

Ultrasonographic guided botulinum toxin type A treatment for plantar fasciitis: an outcome-based investigation for treating pain and gait changes.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonographic guided botulinum toxin type A injections into the plantar fascia to reduce pain and improve gait in patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis.

Design: A randomized double-blind control study.

Subjects: Fifty patients with chronic unilateral plantar fasciitis were recruited, and divided into experimental and control groups.

Prevalence and risk factors for upper extremity entrapment neuropathies in polio survivors.

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological prevalence and associated risk factors of upper extremity entrapment neuropathies in a cohort of Taiwanese patients with prior paralytic poliomyelitis.

Design: Cross-sectional study involving a consecutive series of patients.

Subjects: Ninety-seven polio survivors.