Objective To primarily test the reliability and validity of the Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD) affected big joints function assessing system for adult Tibetans in Rangtang County. Method From June to July 2009, 142 KBD patients were investigated with the function assessing system in Rangtang County of Ngawa. Cronbach’s α coefficient was calculated to estimate internal consistency reliability. Pearson’s r for the correlation of the items with the total score of the scale was computed to test the internal validity. Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation analysis was conducted to explore construct validity. Result Both the response and complete rates of the scale were 100%. The time for completing the scale was 7.8±3.4 minutes. Cronbach’s α was 0.857, which revealed satisfactory internal consistency reliability. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between the scores of each item and the total score of the scale (Plt;0.05). Pearson’s r value of each item was more than 0.4, only except the items of “sitting with legs crossed” and “standing at attention”. The principal factor analysis extracted three latent factors explaining 68.1% of the variation together. The latent factors weights of the items were over 0.4 except the items of “standing at attention”, "taking food” and “wiping after defecation”. Conclusion The reliability and validity of KBD affected big joints function assessing system for adult Tibetans in Rangtang County was good in this primary test, the function assessing system has to be widely applied and further assessed among Tibetans suffered with KBD, in order to provide a standard evaluation criterion in KBD integrate control.
ObjectiveTo compare the disability conditions in different elderly populations in Sichuan province in order to get baseline data for further analyses in the future. MethodFrom October 2011 to August 2012, face-to-face interviews were performed by trained investigators in different elderly populations from urban communities, rural communities, acute care wards and rehabilitation wards. The main content of the investigation was the Elderly Disability Assessment Scale (EDAS). ResultsTotally, 1406 subjects were interviewed, among which, 1387 subjects completed the questionnaires. The response rate was 98.7%. The mean age of the participants was (73.8±8.2) years old. Elderly people dwelling in rural areas had a highest disability rate (81.4%), while the correspondent rate in subjects in acute care wards, rehabilitation wards, and urban community were 79.2%, 64.5%, and 53.8%, respectively (P<0.001). In each population, the disability rate increased with age. In the whole sample, most disabled subjects were of mild disability (80.5%). However, those in acute care wards or rehabilitation wards were more likely to have severe or profound disability. ConclusionsThe disability rate and the severity of disability increase with age in different elderly populations in Sichuan province, although most of them are of mild disability. The disability rate is conspicuously higher in the elderly dwelling in rural areas.
ObjectiveTo review the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). MethodsThe incidence, risk factors, classification, and imaging tests of OBPP and indication, technique, and results of surgery were reviewed and summarized. ResultsThe incidence of OBPP is not declining in recent years. Birth weight of ≥4 kg, forceps delivery, and prepregnancy body mass index of ≥21 are considered to be major risk factors, and caesarean section delivery seems to be a protective factor. Neurophysiological investigations can be applied to qualitative diagnosis of OBPP, but can not to quantitative one. Sensitivity and specificity of both CT and MRI myelography are about 0.7 and 0.97, respectively. Narakas classification is widely used:C5, 6 injury as type I, C5-7 injury as type Ⅱ, C5-T1 injury as type Ⅲ, C5-T1 injury with Horner's syndrome as type IV. It is generally considered that the brachial plexus exploration should be undertaken for infants without spontaneous recovery of elbow flexion by a maximum of 3 months old; and 10% to 30% of patients may need nerve reconstruction surgery. It is advocated that traumatic neuroma of the upper trunk should be resected with nerve reconstruction. The final evaluation for surgical results should be at minimal 4 years for upper roots and 8 years for total roots. Scales of Mallet, Gilbert, and Raimondi are mostly used for assessing shoulder function, elbow function, and hand function. ConclusionBrachial plexus exploration should be undertaken for infants without flexion of elbow at the age of 3 months. Traumatic neuroma (even neuroma-in-continuity) resection followed by microsurgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus is favored.
At present, the upper limb function of stroke patients is often assessed clinically using a scale method, but this method has problems such as time-consuming, poor consistency of assessment results, and high participation of rehabilitation physicians. To overcome the shortcomings of the scale method, intelligent upper limb function assessment systems combining sensors and machine learning algorithms have become one of the hot research topics in recent years. Firstly, the commonly used clinical upper limb functional assessment methods are analyzed and summarized. Then the researches on intelligent assessment systems in recent years are reviewed, focusing on the technologies used in the data acquisition and data processing parts of intelligent assessment systems and their advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, the current challenges and future development directions of intelligent assessment systems are discussed. This review is hoped to provide valuable reference information for researchers in related fields.