Objective To explore the optimal electrophysiologieal approach for detecting Riehe-Cannieu anastomosis(RCA),an anomalous anastomosis between the deep branch of ulnar nerve and the recurrent branch of the medial nerve in the palm of the hand,and to estimate its incidence. Methods One hundred subjects(56 male,44 female,mean age 37.8 years)without any hand motor or sensory dysfunction were selected randomly.The ulnar nerve was stimulated at both the elbow and wrist,and recordings were made from the abductor pollicis brevis,which is normally innervated by the medial nerve,to document any compound muscle action potentials(CMAP).CMAP recorded from both points during stimulation is an accepted indicator of RCA.Group A comprised 40 hands of 20 subjects,while group B included 160 hands of 80 subjects.Surface electrode stimulation was used in both groups.Surface and needle electrode recording was used in group A,while only needle electrode recording was used in group B.Results In group A,31 hands of 16 subjects were found to have RCA by means of surface electrode recording,but only 6 hands of 3 subjects were found to have RCA by means of concentric needle electrode recording.There was a difference of up t0 80.6% between results obtained by the 2 recording methods.In group B,35 hands of 20 subjects were found to have RCA.A total of 41 hands of 23 subjects among the 100 were found to have RCA when concentric needle electrode recording was used(20.5%incidence). Conclusion The type of recording electrode influences the accuracy of RCA examination.An accurate and reliable result can be obtained by using a concentric needle electrode.The abductor pollicis brevis can be anomalously innervated by the ulnar nerve because of RCA.When both the medial and ulnar nerve have been injured.RCA might result in anomalous clinical symptoms and electrophysiological findings.Thoroughly understanding this anomaly is of crucial importance in the clinical evaluation and diagnosis of medial or ulnar nerve injury,as well as to avoid mistakenly interpreting the electrophysiological data when Riche-Cannieu anastomosis is present.

Objective To observe the sequential ultrastroctural and electrophysiological changes in the sciatic nerve coagulated by a newly-designed microwave antenna. Methods A total of 75 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A,B and C and irradiated with microwaves at 10,20 or 30 Watts,for 6 seconds to coagulate the left sciatic nerve.Electrophysiological effects and sequential uhrastructural changes were observed on the 0th,2nd,7th,30th and 60th days after coagulation.A static sciatic index was calculated based on measurements of the footprint on the 7th,30thand 60th days after coagulation.Results On the Oth,2nd,7th and 30th days after cpagulation,the static sciatic index,the nerve conduction velocity and the amplitude of the action potentials in groups B and C had decreased significantly compared with those before coagulation.On the 60th day after coagulation.significant recovery was observed in groups A and B,but not in group C.Only mild alteration in uhrastructure was found,and only in group A.The prominent changes in uhrastructure in group B included broken Schwann cell membranes and myelin disintegration.There were severe injuries in group C,including myelin disintegration,cell deformity,coagulative necrosis,axon necrosis,basement membrane necrosis and demyelination.The structure of the sciatic nerve in group B had partially recovered after 60 days,but group C showed no recovery at all. Conclusion Microwave coagulation of a nerve can block its conduction.and even destroy the nerve.Percutaneous microwave coagulation is clinically feasible and call be an alternative treatment for pain.

Objective To study the biological effects of sinusoidal electromagnetic fields(EMFs)on proliferation and extracellular matrix(ECM)formation by annulus fibrosus(AF)cells in rats.Methods AF cells isolated from rats were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group.The cells in the experimental group were stimulated with an EMF,while those in the control group were held under the same culture conditions but with no EMF.Flow cytometry and MTT were performed to observe the effects on the ceU cycle and proliferation.Collagen and aggrecan expression were examined after amplification with a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).Sulfated glycosaminoglycan(sGAG)content wag detected by applying the Alcian blue method. Results AF cell proliferation was not significant until after 4 days of stimulation.Compared with the control group,the expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan were up-regulated,and sGAG content Was increased in the experimental group.Conclusion AF cell proliferation was enhanced by EMF.Gene expression of collagen type Ⅰ and Ⅱ and Aggrecan increased.a8 well as sGAG levels.The results suggest an approach for treating of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective To observe dynamically the expression of insulin-like growth factor(IGF-1)in the brain and liver,and to explore changes in IGF-1 levels.Methods The thread method waa used to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.The expression of IGF-1 on the ischemic side of the cerebral cortex and in the liver wag observed dynamically using immunohistochemical techniques. Results The number of IGF-1-positive cells increased significantly,peaking on the 3rd day in the cortex and the 7th day in the liver.Conclusion The expression of IGF-1 Wag upregulated in the brain after the experimental cerebral ischemia;peripheral humoral regulation of IGF-1 responded more slowly and recovered to some extent at the 7th day after cerebral ischemia.

Objective To investigate the present mental disability situation in Hubei provinee and the reha- bilitation strategies in use. Methods Provincial data from the Second China Sampling Survey of Disability was ana- lyzed. The 31 districts sampled in the survey were divided into a city group and a countryside group. The incidence of mental disability reported in the two groups was compared. Results Reported mental disability was found to be sig- nifieantly more prevalent in the countryside than in the city. However, the proportion of severe mental disability was significantly lower. Conclusion The need for rehabilitation of mental disability is huge in Hubei province. Society and the government should pay more attention to the rehabilitation of mental disability.

Objective To observe the efficacy of a rotating magnetic field and granisetron hydrochloride in preventing nausea and vomiting caused by a eisplatin regimen, and any side effects. Methods Sixty-eight patients receiving cisplatin regimen chemotherapy were randomly assigned to two groups: a magnetic treatment group and a drug treatment group. The patients in the two groups were exposed to a rotating magnetic field or received granisetron hydrochloride, respectively. The effects of the treatments were observed. Results Both treatments could effectively prevent and treat the vomiting caused by chemotherapy. The rate of response to the rotating magnetic field was 88.2% and to the drug 91.2%. However, tardive vomiting was significantly better controlled in the rotating magnetic field group. The incidence of side effects in the magnetic field group was 20.6% , and in the drug treatment group it was 45.6%. Conclusion The efficacy of a rotating magnetic field and granisetron in treating acute vomiting were simi- lar. The rotating magnetic field was more effective in preventing tardive vomiting and had fewer side effects. Magnetic therapy should be more generally applied in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the effects of 2 450 MHz microwave irradiation on the proliferation of cultured mouse fibroblasts in vitro, and the related gene and protein expressions. Methods Cells from mouse skin were directly radiated with microwaves of different intensities for different periods. The proliferation of fibroblasts was assayed by the MTT method, and the effects of microwave radiation on the fibroblast cell cycle were measured by flow eytometry. The mRNA expression of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen was detected by real-time RT-PCR. Anti-phosphoryl- ation extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2) antibody was introduced in immunofluorescence staining analysis to observe any changes in the phosphorylation of fibroblast protein ERK. Results ① 5 W/cm2 or 1.0 W/cm2 irradia- tion for 5 min, 15 min, or 30 min did not significantly decrease fibroblast proliferation, but irradiation at 5 W/cm2 for more than 5min caused a significant decrease in fibroblast proliferation. ②After 5 W/cm2 irradiation for 5 min, the percentage of cells in the G0/G1phase was significantly increased, and ERK was activated immediately after irradia- tion. ③The mRNA expression of type Ⅰ procollagen was down-regulated after microwave irradiation, and the magni- tude of the decreased expression correlated positively with the duration of irradiation. Thirty minutes of microwave ir- radiation at 1 W/cm2 or 5 minutes at 5 W/cm2 significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of type Ⅰ procolla- gen and the ratio of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ. Conclusion High-intensity microwaves may inhibit the proliferation of fibro-blasts in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and down-regulate procollagen mRNA expression, which might be achieved by activating mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction gateways.

Objective To observe the effect of laser irradiation on the level of histamine (Hm) , 5- hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in serum and β- endorphin (β- EP) in brain tissue in rat model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods A total of 60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:a normal group, a model group (RA without treatment), a laser + drug treatment group (RA treated by laser and drug) and a drug treatment group (RA treated by drug alone). All the groups, except the normal one, were injected with complete Freund's adjuvant to make animal model of adjuvant arthritis. All the animals were then treated accordingly. The level of Hm, 5-HT, IL-1 and TNFα in serum and β-EP in brain tissue were measured. Results Laser downregulated the content of Hm, 5-HT, IL-1 and TNFα in serum and increased the content of β-EP in brain tissue. Conclusion Laser irradiation is an effective modality for treating the animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To study the effects of 50 Hz low voltage electric stimulation on angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myoeardium in rats. Methods Twelve Wistar rats with experimentally induced myocardial ischemia were randomly divided into an electric stimulation (ES) group and a control group. The animals in the electric stimulation group were electrically stimulated at 50 Hz and 0.3 V through electrodes implanted in the epicardium of the anterior wall of the left artrium. Those in the control group were delivered sham electrical stimula- tion through similar implanted electrodes. Immunohistochemistry was used to count endothelial cells (ECs) and measure the capillary density (CD). A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA. Results The number of ECs, and the CDs in the ES group were significantly greater than in the control group, and the expression of VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA was also significantly higher. Conclusions Low voltage electrical stimulation at 50 Hz can promote angiogenesis and the expression of VEGF in the ischemic myocardium in rats.

Objective To study the effects of preconditioning treadmill exercise on excitatory amino vacid changes in rats after the cerebral infarction and the protective effects against cerebral isehemia brain injury. Methods Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Twenty-five rats were subject to an operation to establish the animal model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and divided into a isehemia group, an 1-week ex- ercise group (trained in the 4th week) , a 2-week exercise group (trained in the 3rd and 4th weeks) and a 4- week exercise group (trained for 4 weeks) , while the remaining 5 rats were subject to sham operation, and served as the controls. After 4 weeks of experiment, all the the rats were fixed on stereotactie apparatus for the brain microdialysis of the striatum. Then the focal middle cerebral artery ischemia and reperfusion were made with thread oeclussion in rats and microdialysis technique was used to collect extraeellular fluid in each period of pre-ischemia, ischemia (40, 80 and 120 min), and reperfusion (40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 min) to detect the changes of the excitatory amino acid. At the same time the infarction volume was also measured at 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion of the brain. Results The difference between any two groups was significant with regard to the volume of cerebral infarction (P < 0.05). Two weeks and four weeks of the preconditioning treadmill exercise couled significantly reduce concentration of Glu excessively released due to the ischemia (P < 0.01). Conclusion At least two weeks of preconditioning treadmill exercise can inhibit the excessive release of the important excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate, to some extent, in the process of the subse- quent ischemic brain injury and during reperfusion, which might be one of the protective mechanisms of move- ment against the early isehemie brain injury.