Objectives . This study is aimed at exploring the effects of virtual reality (VR) training on postural control, measured by anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments (APAs and CPAs, respectively), in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) and the potential neuromuscular mechanism of VR training. Methods . Thirty-four patients were recruited and randomly assigned to the VR group ( ), the motor control exercise group (MCE, ) and the control group (CG, ). The VR group received VR training using Kinect Xbox 360 systems and magnetic therapy. Besides magnetic therapy, the participants in the MCE group performed real-time ultrasound-guided abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) and four-point kneeling exercise. The CG only received magnetic therapy. Surface muscle electromyography (sEMG) was used to record the muscle activities of transverse abdominis (TrA), multifidus (MF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and tibialis anterior (TA) during ball-hitting tasks. The muscle activation time and integrals of the electromyography activities (IEMGs) during the APA and CPA stages were calculated and used in the data analysis. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) scores were also recorded. Results . A significant interaction effect of was observed on the activation time of TrA ( ) and MF ( ). The post-intervention activation time of the TrA was earlier in the VR group ( ). In contrast, the post-intervention activation time of the MF was significantly delayed in the VR group ( ). The IEMGs of TrA ( ) and TA ( ) during CPA1 significantly decreased only in the VR group after the intervention. The VAS scores of three group participants showed significant decreases after intervention ( ). Conclusions . Patients with CNLBP showed reciprocal muscle activation patterns of the TrA and MF muscles after VR training. VR training may be a potential intervention for enhancing the APAs of the patients with CNLBP.

Background . Diabetes-associated cognitive decline (DACD) is one of the nervous system dysfunctions induced by diabetes mellitus with cognitive impairment as the major symptom. In a previous preliminary proteomic study, we found that endoplasmic reticulum processing and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway might be impaired in DACD pathogenesis. In addition, growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 might be a crucial protein as a molecular target of the neuroprotective effects of ZiBuPiYin recipe (ZBPYR). Methods . In this study, 6-8 weeks aged db/db mice were treated with excipients or ZBPYR for 6 weeks. Body weight and RBG were recorded weekly. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests were used to assess insulin sensitivity. Morris water maze (MWM) tests were used to assess memory function. The expression of Grb2, Gab2, Akt, and GSK3 β in mouse hippocampus and cerebral cortex were analyzed by Western blotting. Results . ZBPYR not only significantly reduced RGB and improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, but also improved spatial cognition in DACD mice. The expression of Grb2 and Gab2 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of db/db mice was upregulated after treated with ZBPYR, and then affected the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and inhibited GSK3 β overactivity. Conclusions . This study showed that ZBPYR could enhance the memory and learning ability of db/db mice. Such neuroprotective effect might be related to the activation of Grb2-PI3K/Akt signaling which might provide a novel therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of DACD.

Introduction . The transversus abdominis (TVA) and multifidus (MF) muscles are the main segmental spinal stabilizers that are controlled by the primary motor cortex of the brain. However, relocations of the muscle representation in the motor cortex may occur after chronic lower back pain (cLBP); it still needs more evidence to be proven. The current study was aimed at applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate the changes of representation of TVA and MF muscles at the cortical network in individuals with cLBP. Methods . Twenty-four patients with cLBP and 12 age-matched healthy individuals were recruited. Responses of TVA and MF to TMS during muscle contraction were monitored and mapped over the contralateral cortex using a standardized grid cap. Maps of the center of gravity (CoG), area, volume, and latency were analyzed, and the asymmetry index was also computed and compared. Results . The locations of MF CoG in cLBP individuals were posterior and lateral to the CoG locations in healthy individuals. In the healthy group, the locations of TVA and MF CoG were closed to each other in both the left and right hemispheres. In the cLBP group, these two locations were next to each other in the right hemisphere but discrete in the left hemisphere. In the cLBP group, the cortical motor map of TVA and MF were mutually symmetric in five out of eleven (45.5%) subjects and leftward asymmetric in four out of ten (40.0%) subjects. Conclusions . Neural representations of TVA and MF muscles were closely organized in both the right and left motor cortices in the healthy group but were discretely organized in the left motor cortex in the cLBP group. This provides strong support for the neural basis of pathokinesiology and clinical treatment of cLBP.

Heilongjiang Province, as a major grain-planting province in China, under the condition of limited production level and cognitive level, the food and agriculture industry often adopts the “high input-high output” production model to achieve grain yield and increase production. As one of the important material input elements in agricultural production, chemical fertilizer plays an irreplaceable role in increasing crop output and farmers’ income. The reduced application of chemical fertilizer can improve the soil and water source, improve the production environment from the internal agricultural production, and ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products from the source, which is beneficial to the sustainable development of agriculture in China. In this paper, Probit model is used to analyze the risk preference and risk perception of grain farmers in Heilongjiang Province. The results showed that high degree of risk preference had a negative effect on decision behavior of fertilizer application, while high natural risk perception had a positive effect on fertilizer application behavior of grain farmers. At the same time, the results showed that the cultivated land area owned by farmers, the total income of agricultural production, the training of fertilizer technology, and the cognition of the impact of fertilizer on the environment all had significant effects on the chemical fertilizer application behavior of grain farmers. Finally, according to the results of this study, some feasible suggestions are put forward.

Background: It has been shown that trend of achieving to Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4), varies by region and between countries, indicating the possibility of existing different barriers and/or facilitators. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the trend of Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and explore the main challenges to reach MDG 4 by 2015. Patients and Methods: In 2009, we have reviewed the latest countries’ MDG reports. The key stakeholders, from both governmental and international organizations in the country have been visited, and interviewed by the research team as a part of the data triangulation process. The last data on U5MR and IMR has been explored, and the achievements were tracked. Results: The U5MR and IMR varied from 257 and 165 deaths per 1000 live births in Afghanistan, to 24 and 17 in Turkey, respectively. Turkey has already reached the U5MR and IMR goals. Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan were at risk of not reaching the goals, and Iran and Tajikistan were a little beyond the time schedule. Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan and Azerbaijan were on the track on MDG on U5MR. Regarding IMR, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Iran were at the risk of not reaching the MDGs in 2015, and Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan were on the track. Adult literacy, Expenditure on Health and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure on Heath had a strong association with both U5MR and IMR. Conclusions: it is optimistically expected that few of ECO countries would reach the target millennium goals. More focus on the basic needs of communities through a comprehensive primary health care system, and improving health financing are experiences worked in the region, and could help the ECO countries to improve more in MDGs health related achievements.

Background . Carotid plaque is an undefined risk factor in ischemic stroke and is driven by inflammation. Mounting evidence suggests that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is crucial not only for cerebrovascular events but also in atherosclerosis progression. Here, we aimed to explore the association between the admission NLR and carotid plaque vulnerability as well as the occurrence of vulnerable carotid plaque detected by carotid ultrasonography in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) among Chinese. Methods . We conducted a retrospective study composed of 588 patients with AIS and 309 healthy controls free of carotid plaque in the Department of Neurology in The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University from March 2014 to February 2015. All patients were classified as nonplaque, stable plaque, and vulnerable plaque groups on the basis of carotid ultrasonography results. The baseline information was collected and compared among the four different groups. The correlation between variables and carotid plaque vulnerability was tested by Spearman linear correlation analysis. To identify the independent predictors for vulnerable carotid plaque, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results . The comparisons of age, sex proportion, history of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, the levels of HDL-C, Lp(a), BMI, SBP, DBP, Fib, CRP, leukocyte, and NLR among the four groups showed a statistically significant difference ( ); in particular, the NLR was significantly higher in the vulnerable plaque group as compared to the control ( ), nonplaque ( ), and stable plaque groups ( ). The Spearman correlation analysis presented a positive correlation between carotid plaque vulnerability and age ( ; ), SBP ( ; ), and NLR ( ; ), while the lymphocyte was negatively related to the carotid plaque vulnerability ( ; ). The multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors revealed that age (odds ratio [OR], 1.042; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.025-1.060; ), male gender (OR, 2.005; 95% CI, 1.394-2.884; ), diabetes (OR, 1.481; 95% CI, 1.021-2.149; ), SBP (OR, 1.012; 95% CI, 1.003-1.021; ), and NLR (OR, 1.098; 95% CI, 1.018-1.184; ) are independent predictors of vulnerable carotid plaque in patients with AIS. Conclusion . The admission NLR is a novel and meaningful biomarker that can be used in predicting carotid plaque vulnerability and the presence of vulnerable carotid plaque assessed by carotid ultrasonography in patients with AIS among Chinese.