Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) in a knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rat model and its influence on proteins associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: A total of 32 specific-pathogen-free grade Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Eight rats were randomly selected as the control group (CG). The remaining 24 rats underwent intra-articular injections with 0.2 mL of 4％ papain to prepare the KOA rat models. After the model was established, the 24 rats were randomly and equally assigned to 3 groups, including a model group (MG), a Tuina group (TG), and a positive medicine group (PMG), with 8 rats in each group. The Lequesne score was applied to evaluate the success of model development. After the model was successfully established, the CG did not receive any intervention, and the TG was treated with local, clockwise annular Rou-Kneading around the knee joint with the thumbs. The pressure in the longitudinal direction was 3 N, and the frequency was designed to be 120-140 times/min for 15 min, followed by flexing the joint 10 times. The PMG was intragastrically administered with celecoxib [24 mg/(kg·bw)] every day. These interventions were performed once a day, 6 d per week, for a total of 4 weeks. After treatment, the Lequesne score was applied again to assess the severity of the KOA in the rats; hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and a mixture of equal volumes of aqueous solutions of safranin O-fast green were used to stain and observe the cartilage morphology and structure; the modified Mankin score was applied to evaluate the pathology; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to quantify the C-telopeptide fragments of type Ⅱ collagen (CTX-Ⅱ) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP); Western blotting was then applied to quantify Wnt4, β-catenin, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) protein expression; immunohistochemistry was conducted to determine the percentage of collagen type X (ColX)-positive cells. Results: The Lequesne score of the TG and PMG was both lower than that of the MG (P<0.01); the HE staining, safranin O-fast green stained morphology and structure, and modified Mankin scores of the TG and the PMG were also better than those in the MG (P<0.01). Compared with the CG, the amounts of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP in the serum were significantly increased (P<0.01); the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins in the cartilage tissue was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the MG. In comparison with those in the MG, the amounts of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the TG and PMG. Compared with the PMG, the contents of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP and the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the TG. Conclusion: Tuina can relieve the degeneration of KOA, and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the decrease in MMP-13 and BMP-2 protein expression, the reduction in chondrocyte extracellular matrix degradation, and slowing down the terminal cell differentiation.

The multifocal visual electrophysiology is an objective and non-invasive method to examine visual function. It can examine many tiny areas of retina at the same time and have a particular advantage in diagnosing the early diseases of ocular fundus. This paper introduces the design of multifocal visual electrophysiology examining system. The system uses multidisplay technology exclusively owned by Windows 98 or above operating system to control graphics stimulator which generates specified hexagonal array. The white or black transition of each hexagon controlled by a binary m-sequence stimulates corresponding area of retina. The specified Burian-Allen electrode is used to extract the mixed signal originated from many areas of retina. The signal is amplified and A/D transformed. The computer separates the mixed signal through fast m-transform and gets the response of each area of retina. The fast m-transform is a fast computation of cross-correlations with binary m-sequences and can reduce cross-correlation computation to a single Fast Walsh Transform. So a lot of time can be saved.
Electrophysiology ; Electroretinography ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Systems Analysis ; Visual Perception ; physiology

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the decolorization condition for polysaccharide extract of Mongolian medicine Vicia amoena,and to establish the method for its extraction and content determination. METHODS:The water extract-alcohol precipita-tion was used to extract polysaccharide from Mongolian medicine V. amoena. Using decolorization rate as index,orthogonal test was designed to investigate the effects of the dosage of activated carbon,decolorization temperature,decolorization time on the de-colorization of polysaccharide,so as to optimize the conditions for the decoloration of polysaccharide. Using glucose as control, phenol sulfuric acid method was adopted,and the content of polysaccharide in crude polysaccharide was determined by UV spectro-photometry at 490 nm. RESULTS:The optimal decoloration condition was as follows as actived carbon of 3%,decoloration time of 40 min,decoloration temperature of 60 ℃. On this basis,the average decolorization rate reached 19.77%(RSD=1.85%,n=3) by the verification test of the decoloration. The average extraction yield for the crude polysaccharide was 4.56%(RSD=2.38%,n=3),of which the polysaccharide content was 1.98%(RSD=2.18%,n=4). CONCLUSIONS:This experiment has relatively good reproducibility in polysaccharide yield;established method for content determination of polysaccharide is stable and feasible.

Objective To observe the effect of the electroacupuncture ( EA) on the expression of cyclin-de-pendent kinase 5 ( Cdk5 ) in rats with muscle contusion and to explore its mechanism. Methods Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group of 4, a model group of 4, a natural recovery group ( NR) of 12 and an EA group of 12. All except those in the normal group had acute skeletal muscle contusion induced through a heavy blow. The EA group was treated with 15 minutes of EA daily beginning 48 h after the injury while the other rats received no EA. The model group was sacrificed 24 h after modeling, and rats from the NR and EA groups were sacrificed on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after the modeling to collect tissues. Hematoxylin eosin ( HE) staining, Western blotting and quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR were used to observe any histological changes, as well as Cdk5 protein and mRNA expression. Results The HE staining showed that the other 3 groups displayed larger a-mounts of muscle fiber fracture, dissolution and inflammatory cell invasion than was observed in the normal group. Compared with the NR group, quicker recovery was seen in the EA group as evidenced by faster muscle satellite cell proliferation and more new muscle fiber generation. The average Cdk5 protein expression in both the NR and EA groups was higher than in the normal group, and that of the EA group was significantly lower than that of the NR group. Conclusions Muscle contusion can increase Cdk5 expression in skeletal muscles, at least in rats. EA can promote the restoration of skeletal muscle function, probably by inhibiting CDK5 protein and mRNA expression.

Objective     To share the clinical experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) anatomic basal segmentectomy by single-direction method. Methods     The clinical data of 352 patients who underwent VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy in West China Hospital between April 2015 and April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, including 96 males and 256 females with a median age of 50 (range, 26-81) years. All basal segmentectomies were performed under thoracoscopy, through the interlobar fissure or inferior pulmonary ligament approach, and following the strategy of single-direction and the method of "stem-branch". Results    All patients underwent basal segmentectomy successfully (49 patients of uniportal procedure, 3 patients of biportal procedure and 300 patients of triportal procedure) without addition of incisions or conversion to thoracotomy and lobectomy. The median operation time was 118 (range, 45-340) min, median intraoperative blood loss was 20 (range, 5-500) mL, median drainage time was 2 (range, 1-22) d and median postoperative hospital stay was 4 (range, 2-24) d. The postoperative complications included pneumonia in 6 patients, prolonged drainage (air leakage duration>5 d or drainage duration>7 d) in 18 patients, cerebral infarction in 1 patient and other complications in 2 patients. All patients were treated well and discharged without main complaints. No perioperative death happened. Conclusion    VATS anatomic basal segmentectomy is feasible and safe. It can be performed in a simple manner following the strategy of single-direction.

This review summarized the progress of researches on the active locomotion system for capsule endoscope, analyzed the moving and controlling principles in different locomotion systems, and compared their merits and shortcomings. Owing to the complexity of human intestines and the limits to the size and consumption of locomotion system from the capsule endoscope, there is not yet one kind of active locomotion system currently used in clinical practice. The locomotive system driven by an outer rotational magnetic field could improve the commercial endoscope capsule, while its magnetic field controlling moving is complex. Active locomotion system driven by shape memory alloys will be the orientated development and the point of research in the future.
Animals ; Biomimetic Materials ; Capsule Endoscopes ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Magnetics ; instrumentation ; Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems ; instrumentation ; Motion ; Robotics ; instrumentation

Objective Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endoscopic breast conserving surgery (EBCS) has been developed as a potential means for treating breast tumors with minimal disruption to adjacent soft tissues.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cosmetic outcomes of RFA assisted by EBCS on patients with early breast carcinoma (T1 -2 N0-1 M0).Methods Twenty-three patients with biopsy proven invasive breast carcinoma ( ≤3 cm in diameter),were treated with ultrasound (US)guided percutaneous-RFA for the local tumors followed by sentinel lymph node biopsy and endoscopic auxiliary node dissection and lumpectomy.The reactions to breast cosmetics were observed and compared to the conventional approaches using the breast asymmetry score for EBCS and a self -assessment questionnaire targeting objective and subjective data about treatment related breast change.Results Twenty-three patients were successfully treated with RFA.Complete coagulation necrosis of the tumor was visualized at US and mammography in 22 of 23 patients (95.6 ％).22 patients being per formed RFA and EBCS presented little scars and the breasts preserved more cosmetically acceptable than the reported results of traditional protocols.Self-assessment acceptable rate was 100 ％,aesthetic outcome as good or excellent rated in 95.5 ％(21/22).Within the follow-up of above 36 months,there were no local recurrence,metastasis,wound infection or necrosis,nerve damage,haematoma,as well as upper limb swelling or lymphoedema,no reduced upper limb mobility and tumor seeding.Conclusions RFA with endoscopic breast conservation therapy for the treatment of early breast carcinoma is more effective and cosmetically acceptable than the traditional approaches.

In order to deal with the disadvantages in ECG waveform detection by wavelet harr transform at level 3, we put forward a new set of algorithm which combines wavelet transform (WT) and morphological peak and valley detection. The combination algorithm can make up the limitation in detecting ECG swing by WT and improve the accuracy of ECG waveform detection effectively.
Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To prepare an influenza A(H1N1) split-virus vaccine and observe its safe-ty and effectiveness. Methods According to the process for preparing seasonal flu split-virus vaccine two batches of vaccine were prepared with the flu A (H1N1) vaccine virus strain recommended by WHO. The pilot products were tested against the requirements of flu split-virus vaccine. Results The quality of the pi-lot vaccine has been tested by National Control Laboratory and conformed to the requirements. Nine hundred and sixty volunteers received one dose of vaccine containing either 15 μg or 30 μg of hemagglutinin. The re-suits indicated the both seroconversion rate and protection rate were higher the 70%. The GMT of HIAb of the volunteers who received 1 dose of 15 μg increased significantly by 15, 39, 37 and 25 times compared to those before vaccination in the age groups of 3-11, 12-17, 18-59 and ≥60, respectively. And 26, 72, 68 and 36 times rise were found in the postvaccinated volunteers of 30 μg group. The total adverse reaction rates of 15 μg and 30 μg dose group were 29.38% and 43.75%, respectively. The grade 2 adverse reaction rates of 15 μg and 30 μg dose group were 6.25% and 15.42%, and the grade 3 adverse reaction rates of 15 μg and 30 μg dose group were 0.83% and 1.46%, respectively. No serious adverse reactions were found. Conclusion The influenza A (H1N1) split-virus vaccine prepared according to the requirements of season-al flu vaccine is safe and effective.

This study was aimed to observe the curative effect and safety of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule ( DJC ) combined with atorvastatin on carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) in diabetes patients without hyper-tension . A total of 196 diabetes patients without hypertension with incrassate carotid artery IMT were randomly divided into the control group ( 98 cases ) and the treatment group ( 98 cases ) . The conventional diabetes thera-py was given to both groups . The atorvastatin of 20 mg/night was given to the control group . And the atorvas-tatin 20 mg/night added with DJC 9 . 0 g/night were given to the treatment group . The treatment course was
12 months . Carotid artery IMT , carotid atherosclerotic plaque area , FPG , FIns , HOMA-IR , HbA1c , blood lipids , hepatorenal function and etc . were examined before and after the treatment respectively . The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between carotid artery IMT and FIns , HOMA-IR , HbAlc , LDL-C . After 12-month treatment , the total effectiveness is 85 . 87% in the treatment group . And there was significant difference compared with the control group ( P < 0 . 05 ) . The levels of FPG , FIns , HOMA-IR , HbAlc of the treatment group had no difference compared with the control group . Compared with the control group, TC and LDL-C of the treatment group was obviously decreased (P < 0.05). And HDL-C was significantly increased ( P < 0 . 05 ) . The carotid artery IMT of the treatment group decreased from ( 0 . 11 ±0 . 01 ) cm to ( 0 . 08 ± 0 . 01 ) cm . And compared with the control group , there was statistical significance ( P <0 . 05 ) . The carotid atherosclerotic plaque area of 58 cases in the treatment group decreased from ( 0 . 37 ±0.56) cm2 to (0.21 ± 0.25) cm2. However, there was no statistical significance compared to the control group. There were 5 adverse events in the control group and 9 adverse events in the treatment group . And there was no difference between two groups. It was concluded that DJC combined with atorvastatin can regulate lipid metabolism and reduce carotid artery IMT .