Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of using low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) along with donepezil in the rehabilitation of aphasia after cerebral infarction. Methods Fortythree aphasic patients with acute cerebral infarction were assigned into a treatment group or a control group.Both groups received standard basic treatment for acute cerebral infarction.From day 7 on,both groups received oral donepezil hydrochloride (5 mg/d) for 12 consecutive weeks.The treatment group received in addition 2 sessions of low frequency rTMS on the language center of the right hemisphere.The first session started at day 7 after onset,and each session consisted of rTMS on 10 consecutive days (once per day).There was a resting interval of 3 d between the two sessions.The rehabilitation of the aphasia was assessed prior to and after each session,and at the end of the entire 12 weeks of treatment using the western aphasia battery ( WAB ) scoring system and the aphasia quotient (AQ). Results There was no significant difference between the two groups after the first session in terms of the WAB or AQ results.However,the difference in improvement became statistically significant after the second session,as well as at the end of the entire 12 weeks.The average change in AQ was significantly greater in the treatment group. Conclusion Donepezil combined with rTMS early in the acute phase of cerebral infarction is helpful for the rehabilitation of aphasia.

Objective To investigate the C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its macrovascular complications. Methods Serum CRP levels were assayed by ELISA, which were determined in type 2 DM patients with or without macrovascular complication (88 and 64 cases respectively), non-DM patients presenting with macrovascular disease (72 cases), as well as impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (62 cases) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (70 cases) patients and normal controls (80 subjects). Results In general, CRP levels in IGT patients, type 2 DM patients and non-DM patients presenting with macrovascular disease were higher than those of normal controls (P

BACKGROUND: When the teeth affected abnormal biting force, tooth absorption and periodontium would be greatly damaged. OBJECTIVE: To study whether periodontal membrane fibroblast affected apoptosis following cyclic tensile stress stimulation and whether p38MAPK signaling pathway participated in apoptosis. METHODS: Fibroblasts at passages from 4 to 7 were randomly assigned to control, loading and SB203580 groups after synchronization. In the loading and SB203580 groups, 12% strain was applied at a loading frequency of 6 cycles per minute, i.e. 5 seconds for tension and 5 seconds for relaxation. In the SB203580 group, cells were treated with 20 mmol/L p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 at 1 hour before loading. At 6, 12 and 24 hours after loading, cells from each group were harvested, and cell apoptosis was detected using a flow cytometry. Expression of bax mRNA was determined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, apoptotic rate of fibroblasts and bax mRNA expression were increased after loading (P < 0.05), and enhanced over time, and peaked at 12 hour following loading, and then decreased gradually. Compared with the loading group, cell apoptosis was reduced at corresponding time points in the SB203580 group (P < 0.05), and bax mRNA expression was diminished. These results indicated that cells affected apoptosis after mechanics stimulation, and mitogen activated protein kinase p38MAPK signaling pathway participates in the process of apoptosis.

Objective To measure the normal sagittal and coronal diameters of thumb and great toe distal phalanx bottom by ultrasonography. Methods One hundred and twenty volunteers' sagittal and coronal diameters of thumb and great toe distal phalanx bottom were measured by ultrasonography. The measurements was analysed by the statistical method. Results The thumb and great toe distal phalanx bottom showed hyperechoic zone,clear boundary with the adjacent fascia and tendon tissue showed low echo area at cross section by high frequency ultrasound. The sagittal diameters of thumb distal phalanx bottom was (8. 07 ± 0. 67)mm in men, while that of great toe distal phalanx bottom was (8. 34 ± 1. 02) mm( t = 1.73, P =0.86).The coronal diameters of thumb distal phalanx bottom was (11.61 ±0.89)mm in men, while that of great toe distal phalanx bottom was (14. 25 ± 0. 84)mm( t = 16. 77, P = 0. 00). The sagittal diameters of thumb distal phalanx bottom was (7. 52 ± 0. 62) mm in women, while that of great toe distal phalanx bottom was (7. 72 ± 0. 67) mm( t = 1. 72, P =0. 14). The coronal diameters of thumb distal phalanx bottom was (10.94 ± 0.97) mm in women, while that of great toe distal phalanx bottom was (13. 51 ±0. 75) mm( t =16.21, P = 0.00). Conclusions The normal sagittal and coronal diameters of thumb and great toe distal phalanx bottom measured by the ultrasonography can guide the operation of wrap-around flap of a great toe with phalanx ungual for thumb II degree defect reconstruction.

In this study we performed Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI), two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D- STI) and three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) on enrolled healthy, overweight and obese groups (34 subjects in each group), respectively, to analyze cardiac structure and its function. Compared with healthy group, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain(GAS) and global radial strain (GRS) decreased progressively (P < 0.05). The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to global early diastolic strain rate of left ventricle (E/e'sr) (r = 0.466, P < 0.001), GLS (r = 0.502, P < 0. 001), GCS (r = 0.426, P < 0.001), GAS (r = 0.535, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.554, P < 0.001) were correlated with body mass index (BMI). E/e'sr (r = 0.37, P = 0.003), GLS (r = 0.455, P < 0.001), GCS (r = 0.282, P = 0.02), GAS (r = 0.412, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.471, P < 0.001) were correlated with free fatty acid (FFA). Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed that BMI was independently correlated with E/e'sr, GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was independently correlated with GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. FFA was independently correlated with E/e'sr (P < 0.05). The study showed that cardiac structure changed and impaired left ventricular global systolic and diastolic function in overweight and obes population. Moreover, BMI, WHR and FFA may be independent influence factors of cardiac function in overweight and obese population.
Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; physiopathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND:Experiments have demonstrated that biological membranes can be usedtorecon struct thetendon she athandin hibit exogenou shealing of thetendon.Therefore,the semembrane sprovide a good bed for tendon gliding and reduce tendon adhesion.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the effectsof acelular amniotic membrane and medical membraneagainst tendon adhesion during the repair oftendon sheath defects.
METHODS:ToesIIIfrom the bipeds of 66 leghorns were chosen to prepare tendon injury and tendon sheath defect models, which were randomly divided into three groups (n=22 per group). Amnion group were repaired with acelular amniotic membrane, medical membrane group with absorbable membrane, and control group had no treatment on tendon sheath defects. Gross, histological and biomechanical tests of each group were performed at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 12 weeks after surgery, in the amniotic membrane and medical membrane groups, the tendon sheath formed completely, and the tendon healed well, with no adhesion, but in the control group, there was serious tendon adhesion. At 8 weeks after surgery, the number of synovial cells in the false sheath was highest in the amniotic membrane group sequentially followed by the medical membrane group and control group. In the amniotic membrane group, the rough endoplasmic reticulum expanded highly and secreted exuberantly in the matrix, while in the control group, the synovial cells presented with messy arrangement, and expanded vacuoles in the matrix were weaker than those in the other two groups. At 12 weeks after surgery, fibroblasts were arrayedtidily in layerwith dense structure in the medical membrane and amniotic membrane groups;but in the control group, fibroblasts were distributed disorderly with loose structure. Tendon sliding distance and total flexor toe angle in the amniotic membrane and medical filmgroups were significantly larger than those in the control group (P < 0.05),butthere was no significant difference between the medical membrane and amniotic membrane groups. Additionally, the maximum tensile fracture strength had no significant difference among three groups at 12 weeks after surgery. These results indicate that both amniotic membrane and medical membrane can markedlyprotect the tendon from exogenous healing and adhesion.

Objective To explore the effects of extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway on cardiomyocyte apoptosis and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression at different glucose-lowing rates,and the influence of glucose-lowing rate on cardiomyocyte injury and inflammatory secretion function,as well as its mechanism.Methods Cardiomyocytes of Wistar neonate rat were maintained in medium supplemented with 25 mmol/L glucose for 72 h.Then the medium was changed to different concentrations of glucose and all cells were divided into five groups.Group A was control group whose medium supplemented with 25 mmol/L glucose.Medium of group B,C,D,E was supplemented with 20,15,10,5 mmol/L glucose (glucose-lowing rate was 5,10,15,20 mmol/L) respectively.Survival rate of cardiomyocyte was measured by CCK8 kit.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry instrument and laser confocal microscope after Annexin V-PI.TNF-α was measured by ELISA.ERK1/2 protein and phosphorylation were measured by Western blot.Cardiomyocyte apoptosis and TNF-α levels were measured again after U0126 was added.Results At the same time point,along with the glucose-lowing rate increased,survival rate of cardiomyocyte in group A was increased and those in group C,D,E were decreased (P＜ 0.05).TNF-α concentration was increased in group B,C,D and decreased in group E.After 24 h,apoptosis rate decreased in group B and increased in group C,D,E (P＜0.05).ERK1/2 phosphorylation level increased in group B,D,and E(P＜0.05).The ERK1/2 phosphorylation level in group B was the lowest.After U0126 was added,survival rates of cardiomyocyte in all groups were increased (P＜0.01) while TNF-α concentrations were decreased (P＜0.05).In every group,survival rate of eardiomyocyte after 48 h was lower than that after 3 h and 24 h,while TNF-α concentration was higher (P＜0.05).Conclusion Influence of glucose-lowering rate for cardiomyocyte apoptosis and TNF-o is caused by ERK1/2 pathway.In the glucose-lowering course,ERK1/2 pathway promotes cardiomyocytes apoptosis and TNF-α secretion is related with not only osmotic pressure,but also ERK1/2 signal pathway activation as well.

BACKGROUND:Vacuolar proton pump on the cytoplasmic membrane of osteoclasts is an essential enzyme for bone histolysis. Vacuolar proton pump inhibitor can significantly inhibit the in vitro cultured osteoclasts.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of proton pump inhibitor FR167356 on the osseointegration of dental implant of osteoporosis rabbits.
METHODS:A total of 24 female Japanese white rabbits aged 5 months were randomly divided into three groups:ovariectomy (OVX) group, FR167356 group and shamed operation group. Each group contained eight rabbits. Rabbits of OVX group and FR167356 group received a surgical removal of bilateral ovaries, while rabbits of sham operation group had a surgical removal of equivalent adipose tissue beside the ovaries. Two titatium implants (8 mm long, 3.3 mm diameter) were instal ed into bilateral proximal tibias respectively 12 weeks after OVX operation. FR167356 was administrated by muscle injection in FR167356 group;meanwhile equivalent normal saline was administrated in the OVX group and sham operation group. At 4 and 8 weeks after implantation, animals in each group were sacrificed respectively for X-ray imaging, histomorphology, and mechanical test.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:X-ray examination showed that at 4 weeks, the implants in the OVX group exhibited a high resistance projective image, low density image of clearance screw thread, and clear boundaries between bone tissue than the other two group. At 12 weeks, the density of the clearance screw thread in sham operation group and FR167356 group was more closer to the surrounding bone tissue when compared with the OVX group, the boundaries between the implant and the surrounding bone tissue disappeared more apparently, and no significant differences were found between the two groups. Histomorphology observation revealed that, at 4 weeks after implantation, new bone with porous and trabecular extended along the implant surface to the root direction in FR167356 and sham operation groups. There were no significant differences in the two groups. At 12 weeks after implantation, the bone mass around implant was increased greatly and the trabecular grew thicker. This phenomenon was not observed in the OVX group. Mechanic test showed that at 4 and 12 weeks after implantation, the maximum pul out force in the OVX group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups. Local application of FR167356 can significantly improve the osseointegration of the implant in osteoporosis rabbits.

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of Xuebijing injection in the prevention of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the patients with ureteral stones and urinary tract infection during the perioperative period of ureteroscopy.Methods: Totally 64 cases with ureteral stones complicated with urinary tract infection treated with ureteroscopy were selected as the subjects and divided into two groups according to the digital method.The 32 cases in the control group were given the conventional antibiotics during the perioperative period for preventing the incidence of SIRS, and the observation group was given 500ml Xuebijing added to 100ml normal saline for intravenous drip additionally.The incidence of SIRS and the laboratory indicators after the operation were observed and compared between the groups.Results: The incidence of postoperative SIRS of the observation group was 9.38% , which was lower than that of the control group (34.38% , P <0.05);the incidence of sepsis of the observation group was 0%, while there was no statisticcally difference bettween the two groups(P＞0.05).The C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), leucocyte count and endotoxin in the observation group on the 2nd, 4th and 6th day after the operation were better than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion: Xuebijing injection combined with antibiotics has significant clinical effect on the incidence of SIRS after ureteroscopy in the patients with ureteral stones and urinary tract infection, which can effectively improve the clinical indicators and reduce the incidence of sepsis, and is worthy of clinical promoted application.

BACKGROUND:To improve local microenvironment and reduce local scars is conducive to peripheral nerve regeneration that promotes nerve function recovery.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of fresh amniotic membrane on the regeneration of tinjured peripheral nerve.METHODS:Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=20 per group) after constructing a model of sciatic nerve injury of the unilateral leg. In group A, the nerve was wrapped with fresh human amnion at the anastomosis end after the repair of nerve. In group B, the nerve was wrapped with biofilm at the anastomosis end after the repair of nerve. In group C, no treatment was conducted after the repair of nerve (blank control). The effects were evaluated by anatomical observation, light microscope observation, immunohistochemical detection (2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery), transmission electron microscope observation, axon imaging analysis, action potential detection, and sciatic nerve function index (4, 8, 12 weeks after surgery).RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Gross observation. The amniotic membrane and biofilm were absorbed partialy at postoperative 2 weeks, mostly at postoperative 4 weeks and completely at postoperative 8 weeks. In the groups A and B, the nerve was adhered slightly and loosely to the surrounding tissues, with a fair range of motion. In the group C, the nerve was tightly adhered to the surrounding tissues, with a poor range of motion. (2) Observation under light microscope. The nerve regeneration was better in the groups A and B than group C at 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks postoperatively. (3) Observation under electron microscope. Regenerated nerve fibers were rarely seen and lamelar structures were unclear in the three groups at 4 weeks postoperatively. Then, increased regenerated nerve fibers, thickened myelin sheath, clear lamelar structure and enlarged axon diameter were found in the groups A and B compared with the group C at 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively. (4) Immunohistochemical detection. The expression and distribution of S-100 protein in the groups A and B were better than those in the group C. (5) Axon image analysis. Groups A and B were superior to the group C in the diameter of myelinated nerve fibers, thickness of myelin sheath and number of regenerated nerve fibers. There was a significant difference by statistical analysis (P < 0.05). (6) Electrophysiological examination. Shorter latency period, higher amplitude and faster nerve conduction velocities were observed in the groups A and B compared with the group C (P < 0.05). (7) The sciatic function index. The sciatic function index in group A or B was significantly higher than that in group C (P < 0.05). To conclude, the human amniotic membrane can reduce adhesion between the damaged nerve and surrounding tissues, and prevent scarring at the anastomosis end. In addition, it promotes the regeneration of nerve fibers, increase axon diameter and myelin sheath thickness, and ease inflammatory and immune responses at the neural incision.