Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol
February 2025
Purpose: The increasing prevalence of upper limb dysfunctions due to stroke, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis presents a critical challenge in assistive technology: designing robotic arms that are both energy‑efficient and capable of effectively performing activities of daily living (ADLs). This challenge is exacerbated by the need to ensure these devices are accessible for non‑expert users and can operate within the spatial constraints typical of everyday environments. Despite advancements in wheelchair‑mounted robotic arms (WMRAs), existing designs do not achieve an optimal balance-minimizing energy consumption and space while maximizing kinematic performance and workspace.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Chrysophanol (Cho) is a natural anthraquinone with biological effects such as inducing ferroptosis and anticancer activity. The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is essential for HBV replication. We aimed to identify the key pathways in HBx-induced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and to characterize the potential mechanisms of action of Cho against liver fibrosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAge-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness, is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. EUK-134 is a mimetic of SOD2 and catalase, widely used for its antioxidant properties in models of light-induced damage or oxidative stress. However, its effects on the retina are not yet clear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The current study explores the integration of a motor imagery (MI)-based BCI system with robotic rehabilitation designed for upper limb function recovery in stroke patients.
Methods: We developed a tablet deployable BCI control of the virtual iTbot for ease of use. Twelve right-handed healthy adults participated in this study, which involved a novel BCI training approach incorporating tactile vibration stimulation during MI tasks.
Background: The Active Movement Scale (AMS) is a brief screen for identifying movement impairments affecting functional task performance.
Objective: To assess inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability, floor and ceiling effects, and concurrent validity of the AMS in adults with musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods: Fifty-five subjects (mean age: 61.
Importance: Patients' perception of overall recovery is a critical outcome for stroke rehabilitation. However, the perception of overall recovery cannot be obtained using multidimensional measures, because satisfaction in most domains of life does not guarantee satisfaction in overall recovery. A single overall recovery score seems a straightforward measure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study introduces an innovative framework for neurological rehabilitation by integrating brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and virtual reality (VR) technologies with the customization of three-dimensional (3D) avatars. Traditional approaches to rehabilitation often fail to fully engage patients, primarily due to their inability to provide a deeply immersive and interactive experience. This research endeavors to fill this gap by utilizing motor imagery (MI) techniques, where participants visualize physical movements without actual execution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntioxidants (Basel)
April 2024
Previous studies showed that NaIO can induce oxidative stress-mediated retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage to simulate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lemon peel is rich in antioxidants and components that can penetrate the blood-retinal barrier, but their role in retinal oxidative damage remains unexplored. Here, we explore the protection of lemon peel ultrasonic-assisted water extract (LUWE), containing large amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols, against NaIO-induced retinal degeneration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The minimal important difference (MID) of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS) remains unknown, limiting the interpretation of change scores.
Objectives: To estimate the MID of the PASS in patients with subacute stroke.
Methods: Data at admission and discharge for 240 participants were retrieved from a longitudinal study.
Previous studies have indicated that NaIO induces intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and has been used as a model for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) due to the selective retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell damage it induces. Beta-mangostin (BM) is a xanthone-type natural compound isolated from . The influence of BM on NaIO-induced oxidative stress damage in ARPE-19 cells has not yet been elucidated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLead (Pb) is nonbiodegradable and toxic to the lungs. To investigate the potential mechanisms of Pb-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cell death in the lungs, human non-small lung carcinoma H460 cells were stimulated with Pb(NO ) in this study. The results showed that Pb(NO ) stimulation increased cell death by inducing cell apoptosis which showed a reduced Bcl-2 expression and an enhanced caspase 3 activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is a high prevalence of chronic pain among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Chronic life stressors have been shown to have detrimental consequences for myriad health conditions, including chronic pain. However, there is limited evidence on the types of chronic life stressors that affect middle-aged and older adults and how these stressors influence the chronic pain burden in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) remains a clinically important cholesterol target in primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to assess the practical differences among three equations utilized for the estimation of LDL-C: the Friedewald, the Martin/Hopkins, and the NIH equation 2.
Methods: Blood lipid measurements from 4,556 noninstitutionalized participants, aged 12 to 80, were obtained from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study.
Objective: To develop and validate a short form of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity Scale (FMA-UE) using a machine learning approach (FMA-UE-ML). In addition, scores of items not included in the FMA-UE-ML were predicted.
Design: Secondary data from a previous study, which assessed individuals post-stroke using the FMA-UE at 4 time points: 5-30 days post-stroke screen, 2-month post-stroke baseline assessment, 6-month post-stroke assessment, and 12-month post-stroke assessment.
The number of individuals with upper or lower extremities dysfunction (ULED) has considerably increased in the past few decades, resulting in a high economic burden for their families and society. Individuals with ULEDs require assistive robots to fulfill all their activities of daily living (ADLs). However, a theory for the optimal design of assistive robots that reduces energy consumption while increasing the workspace is unavailable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Because the psychometric evidence supporting the use of the Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16) is limited, an examination of its psychometric properties is warranted.
Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the SIS-16 using Rasch analysis.
Design: Secondary data analysis of responses to the SIS-16 from the published Field Administration of Stroke Therapy-Magnesium Trial database.
Importance: Several short forms of the Stroke Impact Scale Version 3.0 (SIS 3.0) have been proposed in order to decrease its administration time of about 20 min.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is frequently used in routine clinical care and research settings and has good psychometric properties. This study was conducted to develop a short form of the BBS using a machine learning approach (BBS-ML).
Methods: Data of 408 individuals poststroke were extracted from a published database.
Throughout the last decade, many assistive robots for people with disabilities have been developed; however, researchers have not fully utilized these robotic technologies to entirely create independent living conditions for people with disabilities, particularly in relation to activities of daily living (ADLs). An assistive system can help satisfy the demands of regular ADLs for people with disabilities. With an increasing shortage of caregivers and a growing number of individuals with impairments and the elderly, assistive robots can help meet future healthcare demands.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain inflammation, a pathological feature of neurodegenerative disorders, exhibits elevated microglial activity and increased levels of inflammatory factors. The present study was aimed at assessing the anti-inflammatory response of tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), the primary hydrogenated metabolite of curcumin, which was applied to treat () lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated BV2 microglial cells. THC reduced LPS-induced mortality and the production of inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-, MIP-2, IP-10, and nitrite.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Electromyogr Kinesiol
April 2022
The spatial distributions of muscle innervation zone (IZ) and muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) were examined in nine healthy young male participants. High-density surface electromyography (EMG) was collected from the biceps brachii muscle when subjects performed isometric elbow flexions at 20% to 80% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). A total of 9498 samples of IZs were identified and CVs were calculated using the Radon transform.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Building control architecture that balances the assistive manipulation systems with the benefits of direct human control is a crucial challenge of human-robot collaboration. It promises to help people with disabilities more efficiently control wheelchair and wheelchair-mounted robot arms to accomplish activities of daily living.
Methods: In this study, our research objective is to design an eye-tracking assistive robot control system capable of providing targeted engagement and motivating individuals with a disability to use the developed method for self-assistance activities of daily living.
This study presents a novel application of association rule data mining to determine the predictors of the response to locomotor training and home exercise for improving gait after stroke. The study was a secondary data analysis on the Locomotor Experience Applied Post Stroke Trial dataset. The association rule analysis was applied to analyze three interventions: (1) early locomotor training, (2) late locomotor training, and (3) home exercise program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe design of an upper limb rehabilitation robot for post-stroke patients is considered a benchmark problem regarding improving functionality and ensuring better human-robot interaction (HRI). Existing upper limb robots perform either joint-based exercises (exoskeleton-type functionality) or end-point exercises (end-effector-type functionality). Patients may need both kinds of exercises, depending on the type, level, and degree of impairments.
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