Objective To develop a digital video system for esophageal variceal manometry and to evaluate its reliability. Methods The system consists of esophageal variceal manometer, pressure transducer, video capture card and special computer programs. An artificial esophagus containing water-filled latex tube was designed, in which the pressure had been measured by this system in vitro. The pressures of esophageal varices had been measured by using the method in five patients. Results In vitro study, a good correlation was showed between the actual pressure and measured pressure in the artificial varices with different diameter (3,6,9 mm)(r=0.975, P

ObjectiveTo observe the curative effect of lumbar traction and Huantiao point-injection in the same side on lower limb pain induced by prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.Methods86 patients with lower limb pain induced by prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc were randomly divided into the treatment group and control group with 43 cases in each group. Patients of the treatment group were treated by Huantiao point-injection in the same side and lumbar traction, and cases of the control group were treated by lumbar traction only.ResultsThe recovery rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01) after 3 weeks treatment.ConclusionThe effect of lumbar traction and Huantiao point-injection in the same side on lower limb pain induced by prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc is better than lumbar traction only.

Objective To evaluate the modification of C_(60) on the radiation effects of ~(60)Co-γ irradiation on zebrafish.Methods The adult and embryonic zebrafish were used as model organisms to examine the potential of C_(60) to elicit oxidative stress responses on the surviving rate,hatching rate and malformation occurrence,both upon exposure to light or in the dark.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage were examined as the possible underlying mechanism.Results 500 × 10~(-9) nano-C_(60) waterborne exposure could enhance the γ-irradiation effects by decreasing adult fish survival upon light exposure,which resulted in ROS and DNA damage increasing.The hatching rates were also inhibited with higher malformation,though dark exposure did not make any enhancement,except that the 5000× 10~(-9) C_(60) would inhibit larvae hatching and induced more malformation.Conclusions Waterborne nano-C_(60) exposure may enhance the radiation effects on zebrafish,ROS production and DNA damage increasing may be the underlying mechanism.

In order to realize an individualized and specialized rehabilitation assessment of remoteness and intelligence, we set up a remote intelligent assessment system of upper limb movement function of post-stroke patients during rehabilitation. By using the remote rehabilitation training sensors and client data sampling software, we collected and uploaded the gesture data from a patient's forearm and upper arm during rehabilitation training to database of the server. Then a remote intelligent assessment system, which had been developed based on the extreme learning machine (ELM) algorithm and Brunnstrom stage assessment standard, was used to evaluate the gesture data. To evaluate the reliability of the proposed method, a group of 23 stroke patients, whose upper limb movement functions were in different recovery stages, and 4 healthy people, whose upper limb movement functions were normal, were recruited to finish the same training task. The results showed that, compared to that of the experienced rehabilitation expert who used the Brunnstrom stage standard table, the accuracy of the proposed remote Brunnstrom intelligent assessment system can reach a higher level, as 92.1%. The practical effects of surgery have proved that the proposed system could realize the intelligent assessment of upper limb movement function of post-stroke patients remotely, and it could also make the rehabilitation of the post-stroke patients at home or in a community care center possible.
Algorithms ; Arm ; physiopathology ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Movement ; Recovery of Function ; Reproducibility of Results ; Software ; Stroke Rehabilitation

Objective To observe the effect of electromyographic biofeedback therapy(EMGBFT)on dysphagia in stroke patients.Methods Fifty-three stroke patients with dysphagia were divided randomly into an EMGBFT group and a control group.The patients of EMGBFT group were given EMGBFT,electrical stimulation therapy (EST)and dysphagia training,while those in the control group were given EST and dysphagia training.All the patients were assessed with Kubota drinking test before treatment and 30 days after treatment.Results After treatment swallowing function of patients in both groups improved(P ＜0.05).The effective rate was 76.92％ in EMGBFT group and 55.56％ in control group,with statistically significant difference between the two groups(P ＜ 0.05).It showed that the EMGBFT group has significantly better outcome than the control group after treatment(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions EMGBFT combined with regular rehabilitation therapy can improve patient's motor and swallowing function.

Objective To assess the usefulness of combined dual-energy CT pulmonary angiography (DE-CTPA) and indirect CT venography (CTV) in the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE).Methods Forty-nine patients with leg swelling suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE) underwent both DE-CTPA combined with CTV and lower extremity venous ultrasound (US) in 1-2 days prior to CT.Image quality of CTPA and dual energy lung perfusion image (DEPI) was rated using a 5-point scale and the coherence between CTPA and DEPI was analyzed by Kappa statistics.The ability of CTV and US in the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was compared by Chi-square test.Results Twenty-nine of 49 patients were identified with PE by DE-CTPA,including 28 patients identified by CTPA and one more by DEPI,and 21 patients were found to have both PE and DVT.Both DE-CTPA and DEPI had positive findings for pulmonary embolism in 19 patients and both had negative findings in 18 patients.There was a moderate agreement between DEPI and DE-CTPA in the assessment of PE (Kappa value =0.7534).Thirty-eight patients with DVT were identified by US,while 35 patients were identified by CTV.Among the 35 patients with DVT identified by CTV,pelvic veins were involved in 25 patients,while the inferior vena cava was involved in 3 patients.There was no significant difference between CTV and US in the diagnosis of DVT(P =0.625).The detection rate of VTE with DE-CTPA combining CTV was 30.6％ higher than that with CTPA alone.Conclusions The combined DE-CTPA and CTV achievesone-stop examination.It not only provides evaluation of PE and DVT and increases detection of VTE,but also depicts perfusion defect of pulmonary parenchyma that corresponds to PE.

BACKGROUND: Nano-hydroxyapatite (Nano-HA) has been shown to be a good choice of bone repair material owing to its salts composition consistent with natural bone and its scaffold structure homothetic to natural bone structure. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of nano-HA in repair of jaw bone defect in rabbits. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Materials-based animal experimental observation was performed at Laboratory Animal Center of Jiamusi University and Beijing Ji Shui Tan Hospital between January 2003 and June 2005. MATERIALS: Neutralization reaction of calcium biphosphate and calcium hydroxide was used to construct the system. The reactants were managed to be cotloidal by reaction control and using appropriate nucleating agents. Acerata HA crystal obtained under different conditions was sintered to obtain the nano-HA granule with a diameter of 1-56 nm. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy Chinese Harbin rabbits were randomly and evenly divided into an experimental group and a control group. After anesthesia, a penetrating 1.5 cm x1.5 cm defect was made with the GX micro-drill at the mandibular edge in each rabbit. Nano-HA was implanted in defects of the experimental group, and common HA was used in the control group. Antibiotics were used for 5 days afterwards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in bone mineral density after implantation of nano-HA. RESULTS: After repair of bone defect, the bone mineral density in the expedmental group increased gradually to a normal level and tended to be stable; whereas it was gradually decreased in the control group. There was significant difference between the experimental and control groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Nano-HA can promote new bone maturation, and this material produces favorable results in repair of bone defects.

Objective To observe the effect of electromyographic biofeedback combined with swallowing training on dysphagia after stroke.Methods Ninety-five patients with difficulty in swallowing after stroke were randomly divided into a treatment group (48 eases) and a control group (47 cases).The patients in the treatment group were provided electromyographic biofeedback and swallowing training; the patients in the control group received swallowing training only.The therapeutic effect was assessed with Kubota's drinking water test before treatment and 30d after treatment.Results Swallowing in both groups improved after treatment.The total recovery rate in the treatment group was 87.5％,and in the control group it was 68.0％,a significant difference.Conclusion Electromyographic biofeedback can improve the effectiveness of swallowing training after stroke.

Objective To observe the effects of psychological supportive therapy on the activities of daily living (ADL) and depression after cerebral hemorrhage. Methods 60 cases with mild or medium depression according to 17 items Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) after cerebral hemorrhage were divided into treatment group (n=30) and control group (n=30). All of them accepted physical exercise, and those in the treatment group accepted psychological supportive therapy in addition. They were assessed with Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and HAMD-17 before and after the treatment. Results After 2 months of treatment, the score of FIM increased more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.001), and the score of HAMD-17 decreased (P<0.001). Conclusion Psychological supportive therapy may promote the recovery of ADL and depression for patients post cerebral hemorrhage.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation(TENS)on function recovery in patients with stroke. Methods60 patients who suffered from stroke within 14 days were divided into treatment group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases). All the patients accepted Motor Relearning Programme (MRP),otherwise patients in treatment group were treated with TENS.Before and after treatment, two groups were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Barthel Index. ResultsThere was significant difference in FMA and Barthel Index after treatment between two groups (P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusions Early using TENS can improve function of motion and ADL in patients with stroke.