Objective To explore the association between the lung function and the related electroneurophysiological parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Fifty COPD patients were studied. The lung function and the phrenic motor nerve conduction (PNC) were examined, respectively. Thirty cases of non respiratory disorders served as control. The lung function tests included maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV%), forced vital capacity (FVC), force expiratory volume (FEV 1) and RV/TLC% (residual volume, RV; total lung capacity, TLC). The phrenic nerve was stimulated electrically at the midpoint of the posterior border of the sternomastoid muscle, and the diaphragmatic compound muscle action potential (dCMAP) was recorded between the 7th and 8th intercostal space and xiphoid process. Results The relative values of MVV%, FVC 1/FVC 1% and RV/TLC% were 49.6?18.8, 62.5?16.4 and 54.1?8.0, respectively, which was significantly lower than that expected. There was no significant difference with regard to the PNC latency between the patients and the controls. The dCMAP amplitude ratio in the COPD patients was significantly lower than that of the controls, i.e., the dCMAP amplitude decreased in the COPD patients. Conclusion The decreased dCMAP might be associated with abnormal lung function. The PNC examination would provide valuable information for the evaluation of diaphragmatic dysfunction in those with abnormal lung function.

Objective To study the relationship of lung function and the diaphragmatic nerve electrophysiological changes in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods The phrenic nerve motor conduction(PNC),diaphragmatic motor evoked potentials(dMEP)and diaphragmatic compound muscle action potentials(dCMAP)were detected in 50 COPD patients and 50 healthy controls aged 60 years and over,respectively. Results (1)The lung function of elderly COPD patients were significantly less than that of control group(P0.05),the lower amplitude of dCMAP than the control(P

Objective To investigate the effect of m il d hypothermia on the content of Ca 2+、Mg 2+、EAA in rat brain tissue and ET in plasma after acute cerebral infarction. Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into trial group and control group. Using the method of reformed line-thrombosis,the cerebral in farction models were established. The rats in the trial-group were cooled by mi ld hypothermia for half an hour, while those in the control group were subjected to no disposal. Every group was divided into 4 sub-groups according to the pos t-infarction disposal time. Every sub-group was composed of 6 SD rats and kill ed at the time points of 1 hour,2 hour,4 hour and 8 hour after infarction, respe ctively. Then the content of Ca 2+、Mg 2+、EAA in rat brain tissue an d ET in plasma were measured. ResultsThe post-infar ction content of Ca 2+、EAA and ET of trial-group increased mildly and Mg 2+ reduced very little. There was a significant statistical difference bet ween the trial group and the control group. Conclusion Mild hypothermia may significantly reverse the increase of the content of Ca 2+ and EAA and the fall of Mg 2+ and the increment of ET in plasma as well after acute cerebral infarction in experimental animals. So as a result, m ild hypothermia possesses protective effect on brain.

Objective To evaluate the remote effect of local injection of botulinum toxin by use of the F-wave measures. Methods The F-wave responses as well as M-waves were recorded before injection, and at 1 week,12 to 24 weeks after local injection of botulinum toxin type-A (BTX-A) in 26 patients, including 19 with hemi-facial spasm (HFS),5 Meige syndrome and 2 torticollis spasmodicus (TS).The following parameters were analyzed: M-wave latency (ML) and amplitude (Mamp), F-wave minimal latency(Fmin) and average latency(Fave),amplitude (Famp), duration (Fdur), persistence (Fper) and chronodispersion (Fchr). The above parameters were obtained through the electric stimulation of ulnar and tibial nerves, and recorded from the abductor digiti minimi and extensor digitorum brevis, respectively. Results No definite F-wave was obtained by electric stimulation of ulnar nerve at 1 week after injection in 3 HFS patients (5 nerves). The Fave recorded from electric stimulation of ulnar and tibial nerves prolonged significantlyand Fdur from ulnar nerve increased significantly at 1 week after injection, but were not significantly different from those of pre-injection when recorded at 12 to 24 weeks after injection. No significant correlation of the altered F-wave parameters was found with the dosage of BTX-A. Conclusion Fdur and Fave could sensitively assess the remote effect of the local injection of BTX-A, the remote effect might be correlated with the distance between injected muscle and tested muscle, rather than the dosage of BTX-A.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)and vein thrombolytic therapy on QT dispersion(QTd)after early recanalization of the infracted related artery(IRA)in order to provide the scientific reference for the comprehensive measures against acute ST-segment elevation after myocardial infarction(STEMI).METHODS:117patients with STEMI were selected within12hours after the onset,and then randomly divided into PCI group(56patients)and vein thrombolytic therapy group(61patients).QTd were determined before and24h after treatment.RESULTS:The recanal-ization rates in PCI and vein thrombolytic therapy group were100%and73.8%,respectively(P

BACKGROUND: After local injection of Botulinum toxin type-A (BoTX-A), not only the function of the neuromuscular conjunction was affected, but also the changes occurred remote from the injected site. F-waves result from the back fire of the motoneuron activation, which may indirectly reflect the functional state of the motoneurons.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the remote effect of local BoTX-A injection by F-wave test.DESIGN: Self-control study based on patients with movement disorders.SETTING: Neruologic clinic in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six patients with movement disorders not received previous local BoTX-A were selected from Neurological Clinic in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between September 2002 and July 2003, including 19 cases with hemificiospasm, 5 Meige syndrome and 2 torticollis spasmodicus.INTERVENTIONS: F- and M-waves of ulnar and tibial nerves were recorded before 1, 12 - 24 weeks after local injection of BoTX-A in 26 patients.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following parameters were analyzed:latency(ML) and amplitude (Mamp) of M-wave, minimal (Fmin) and average latency (Fave), amplitude of negative peak(Famp), duration (Fdur), persistence (Fpcr) and chronodispersion (Fchr) of F-wave.RESULTS: No definite F-response of ulnar nerve stimulation was obtained 1 week after injection in 3 HFS patients (5 nerves) . Fave prolonged significantly on ulnar and tibal nerve and Fdur increased significantly on ulnar nerve 1 week after injection, but there was no significant difference 12 - 24 weeks later, compared with before injection. No significant correlation of the altered F-wave parameters was found with the dosage of BoTX-A.CONCLUSION: Fdur and Fave could sensitively assess the remote effect,which correlates with distance away from the injected muscle, rather than the dosage of BoTX-A.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of sensory nerve action protential (SNAP) on diabetic neuropathy (DN), through measuring amplitude and amplitude ratio. Methods There were 91 patients with type 2 diabetes involing 51 cases without neurologic symptom/sign as subgroup Ⅰ, 30 cases with mild neuropathy as subgroup Ⅱ and 10 cases with severe neuropathy as subgroup Ⅲ, according to Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS). Thirty-nine healthy volunteers with age- and gender-matched were served as controls. SNAP were antidromically recorded using surface electrodes. The observed parameters were as follows: conduction velocity and amplitude of median, radial and sural nerve, shorten for Vine, Vra and Vsu and Ame, Ara and Asu, respectively; sural/radial nerve amplitude ratio (SRAR) and median/ radial nerve amplitude ratio (MRAR). Results (1) As compared with the controls (P<0.05),conduction velocity (m/s, Vine : 46. 2 ±7.3, Vra: 45.8±6. 9, Vsu: 30. 3±9. 5) and amplitude (μV, Am: 15.4±10.5, Ar: 16.6±9.8, As: 5.9±6. 3)decreased significantly in subgroup Ⅲ; Vsu (46.2± 4. 7) significantly slowed in subgroup Ⅱ (P = 0. 002) ; both Ame (34. 5 ± 10. 2, 33. 0 ± 14. 6) and Asu (13.8± 5.6, 10.7 ± 5.5) decreased significantly in both subgroup Ⅰ and Ⅱ respectively, with Asu decreasing more significantly in subgroup Ⅱ (Z=- 3.22, P = 0. 001) ; SRAR (0. 432±: 0. 112) was significantly smaller only in subgroup Ⅰ , both SRAR (0. 330 ±0. 102) and MRAR (1. 008 ± 0. 225) were significantly smaller in subgroup Ⅱ. SRAR decreased more significantly in subgroup Ⅱ (t = - 3. 86, P = 0. 003). (2) The abnormal rate of Ame was the highest in subgroup Ⅰ (26. 0%), and Asu in subgroup Ⅱ (41.4%) ; while that of combination of Asu and SRAR (68.9%) was significantly higher than that of Asu alone (x2 = 9. 212, P = 0. 003). (3) TCSS scores were negatively related to Van (r = - 0. 583), Ame (r=-0. 406), Asu (r=-0.620) and SRAR (r=-0.527, all P<0.05), and there was no significant correlation of TCSS scores with MRAR in subgroup Ⅱ; both SRAR (r = -0.435) and MRAR (r = - 0. 319) were negatively related to the diabetic duration (both P < 0. 05). Conclusions In mild or early DN, SNAP amplitude is more sensitive than conduction velocity, combination of SRAR and Vsu may be serve as a useful indication for early diagnosis. In the DN patient, diabetic duration has more influence on the measurement of sensory NCS, and SRAR is related to the severity of neuropathy.

AIM: To get the IR spectrums of chrysanthemums from the different producing areas,and to find out the characters of IR spectrums,and the data of IR spectroscopy of chrysanthemums from the different producing areas. METHODS: Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: The FTIR spectrums、Second-order derivative spectrums、Two-dimensional spectrums of chrysanthemums from the different producing areas have their obvious IR characters. CONCLUSION: We can discriminate chrysanthemums from the different producing areas macroscopically and holistically by IR spectroscopy.IR spectroscopy can give us the digital descriptions of TCM,so it is a new analytical method to discriminate TCM.

AIM: To get the IR spectrums of the different extracted parts of chrysanthemum, and to find out the characters of IR spectrums. METHODS: To use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: The FTIR spectrums of the different extracted parts of chrysanthemum had their obvious IR characters. CONCLUSION: IR spectroscopy can give us the digital descriptions of TCM, so it is a new and scientific analytical method to discriminate TCM.

Objective To explore the expression of nemo-like kinase (NLK) in primary hepatic carcino-ma (HCC) and its clinicopathological significance. Methods The expression of NLK was detected in 136 HCC samples by Immunohistochemistry. Results NLK expression was significantly up-regulated in HCC specimens compared to corresponding normal liver tissues. High expression of NLK was significantly associated with Ed-mondson-steiner grade, tumor size and number of tumor nodules (all P < 0.05). There was positive correlation between NLK and proliferation marker Ki-67 (P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the high expression NLK group was significantly associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival (all P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the high expression NLK was associated with poor prognosis (P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis suggested that the expressions of NLK and Ki-67 , Edmondson-steiner grade , metastasis , tu-mor size and number of tumor nodules were independent prognostic indicators for HCC. Conclusions NLK was markedly upregulated in HCC specimens, and it might be an independent prognostic marker for HCC. NLK might play an important role in tumorigenesis, progression and prognosis of HCC.