Objective To study the characteristic surface myoelectric signals generated by children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) of the wrist flexors and extensors.Methods Sixty-eight children with HCP 2 to 14 years of age were assessed with surface electromyography (sEMG).The electrodes were applied on the skin over the wrist flexors and extensors.The integrated EMG signals (iEMGs),root mean square amplitudes (RMSs) and co-contraction ratios during MIVC were recorded and analyzed.Results In a MIVC,the RMS,iEMG and co-contraction ratio were all significantly different between the involved and uninvolved hands,though the iEMGs of the wrists of the two hands were strongly correlated.The RMSs of the wrists of the involved and uninvolved hands were also strongly positively correlated when grasping maximally using the involved hand.Conclusions The involved hand of children with HCP has excessive co-activation of the wrist flexors,poor muscle recruitment and little isolated selective control of movement.It may be very important to facilitate wrist extensor contraction,inhibit wrist flexor co-activation and induce involved hand use to improve the hand function of children with HCP.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects of patients with non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS )-related cryptococcal meningitis treated with fluconazole and flucytosine.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted including 52 cases of non-AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis,which were divided into two groups:the amphotericin B combined with flucytosine group (n =32) and the fluconazole combined with flucytosine group (n =20 ). The comparison between groups was done by t test and chi-square test.ResultsThe intracranial pressure of the amphotericin B combined with flucytosine group and the fluconazole combined with flucytosine group were (221.9±76.2) and (213.4±99.2) mm H2O,respectively (t=0.302,P＞0.05) ; the cryptococcus counts in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were (351 ± 1180) and (508 ± 943)/mL,respectively (t=- 0.473,P＞0.05) ; the CSF protein levels were (0.754 ± 0.726) and (0.649 ±0.308) g/L,respectively (t=0.578,P＞0.05) ; the CSF white blood cell (WBC) counts were (16±25) × 106/L and (28±32) × 106/L,respectively (t=-1.348,P＞0.05).The cured rates were 59.38％ (19/32) and 35.00％ (7/20),respectively in the amphotericin B combined with flucytosine group and the fluconazole combined with flucytosine group,and the improved rates were 6.25％(2/32)and 25.00％ (5/20),respectively,the uncured or mortality rates were 34.38％ (11/32) and 40.00％ (8/20),respectively,and the difference were not significant of cured rates (x2 =2.925,P＞0.05) and uncured or mortality rates (x2 =0.168,P＞0.05) between two groups.ConclusionFluconazole combined with flucytosine also has a good effect on the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.

Objective To explore the efficacy of sequential or combined amphotericin B (AmB) and fluconazole (FCZ) therapy on a 5 flucytosine based regimen in non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related cryptococcal meningitis.Methods A tatal of 117 cases of non-AIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis treated with 5-flurocytosine-based regimens were retrospectively divided into five groups:AmBgroup (n=38),FCZ group (n=25),FCZ and AmB sequential group (n=18),AmB and FCZ sequential group (n=15),AmB and FCZ combination group (n=21).The number in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the five groups were compared.Statistical analyses included t test,oneway analysis of variance,K-independent samples test and chi-square test.Results Intracranial pressure of AmB group,FCZ group,FCZ and AmB sequential group,AmB and FCZ sequential group,AmBandFCZ combination group were (208.6±75.1),(191.5±94.5),(185.0±76.3),(201.9±69.7) and (223.1±89.3) mm H2O (1 mm H2O=0.0098 kPa),respectively,and the differences were not statistically significant (F=0.611,P =0.656).Median cryptococcus counts in CSF of the five groups were 0,10,0,3 and 0/mL,respectively,with no statistical significance (x2 =7.638,P-0.090).CSF protein levels of the five groups were 0.55,0.69,0.67,0.53 and 0.96 g/L,respectively,with no significant differences among groups (F=7.063,P=0.133).The cure rates of the five groups were 55.3％ (21/38),32.0％ (8/25),9/18,6/15 and 47.6％ (10/21),respectively;progression rates or mortality of the five groups were 28.9％ (11/38),44.4％ (11/25),5/18,4/15and 23.8％ (5/21),respectively; and the differences among cure rates (x2 =3.638,P=0.457) and progression rates or mortality (x2-2.785,P =0.604) were not statistically significant.Conclusion FCZ or AmB alone,sequential or combined therapy were all effective in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into cardiomyocytes in vitro has been studied in great detail in the world. However, much of what is currently known about cardiomyocyte differentiation from ES cells has been learned from studies on mouse in China, few studies are on human ES cells.OB JECTIVE: To investigate the differentiation effcacy of human ES cells into functional cardiomycytes with the human H14 ES cell line.DESIGN: Suspending method was used to form pseudo-embryo proper of human ES cells so as to observe ratio of pseudo-embryo proper with rhythmic contraction and expression of specific gene of myocardium in various differentiated phases.SETTING: Molecular Biology Laboratory of Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong.MATERIALS: Human ES cell line H14 was obtained from WiCell Research Institute (Wisconsin, USA) with a license agreement.METHODS: The experiments were carried out in the Molecular Biology Laboratory of Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, the Chinese University of Hong Kong from August to December of 2006.The H14 ES cell colony was used to form embryoid bodies (EBs) by using suspending method. Four days later,pseudo-embryo proper was cultured in gelatin-coating 6-well culture plate (5-10 embryo proper/well) and spontaneously differentiated into moving pseudo-embryo proper. Rhythmic contraction was observed under microscope and RT-PCR was used to detect expression of special genes of myocardium.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ratio of pseudo-embryo proper with rhythmic contraction and expression of specific gene of myocardium in various differentiated phasesRESULTS: Spontaneously contracting cells appeared as cluster and were identified in approximately 2% of EBs at differentiation day 8 and increased to as many as 10% of the EBs by day 16. The beating rate of contracting cells arranged at 70-100 beats per minute. RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that cells isolated from spontaneous beating areas within the EB expressed the cardiac transcription factors GATA-4 and Nkx2.5, cardiac progenitor gene Isl-1 and cardiomyocyte marker gene α-MHC.CONCLUSION: This is the first time to report human ES cells can effectively differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes in China.

Objective To compare the effect of botulinum toxin A(BTX-A)applied according to experi- ence with its effect when the application is guided by electrical stimulation on spasticity in the ankle plantarflexors of children with cerebral palsy(CP).Methods Forty-five children with CP were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive injections of BTX-A guided by electrical stimulation,or injections of BTX-A guided by experience.All chil- dren received a local injection in the ankle plantar flexors.Physiotherapy and ankle-foot orthoses were applied by a physical therapist 3 days after the BTX-A injections.After the first 10 days,the therapy was administered by the patient's family.Clinical assessments included the patient's passive range of movement(PROM),scoring on the Ash- worth scale(MAS),the composite spasticity scale(CSS),and the D and E dimensions of the gross motor function measure(GMFM),and walking velocity(WV).Assessments were performed before treatment and at 3 days,2 weeks,1,2,and 3 months following the injection with BTX-A.Results All children showed significant decrease in spasticity(PROM,MAS and CSS)after 3 days.The improvement was maintained at 3 months.When compared with the results before the injection,the improvements in standing and walking(GMFM)and in walking velocity were statistically significant after 2 weeks of treatment for both groups,and were maintained at 3 months.The differences in PROM and CSS scores at 3 days,2 weeks,1,2,and 3 months following the injection were statistically significant between the 2 groups.Significant differences were also found between the 2 groups in MAS scores at 3 days,2 and 3 months after treatment,and in GMFM and WV at 2 and 3 months after treatment.Conclusions A BTX-A injec- tion,whether guided by electrical stimulation or experience,in combination with physiotherapy,can reduce spasticity in the ankle plantarflexors of ambulant children with CP and improve their functional performance.BTX-A injection guided by electrical stimulation was more effective than an injection guided by experience.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of children′s recurrent abdominal pain(RAP) with gastroscopy and analyze the etiology.Methods Three hundred and thirteen children were investigated with gastroscopy.Gastric antrum mucosa was taken for histo-pathology and the determination of helicobacter pylori(Hp) antibody.Results Ninty-nine point six eight percent of the cases had lesions under the gastroscope.The former 4 cases had chronic superficial gastritis(CSG),CGS and bile reflux,CGS and duodenitis,CGS and bulb ulcer,and Hp infection rate was 31.36%,25%,38.64%,60.61%.Hp infection rates of active gastritis and inactive gastritis were 92% and 23.19%,which showed significant differences in 2 groups(P

The purpose of this research work is to find out the longitudinal distribution of the preganglionic neurons which project to the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCSG). Experiments were performed on 12 adult rabbits and a monkey. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, 20 microliters of 10% HRP were injected slowly into the rabbit's SCSG. In the monkey, 20 microliters of 15% HRP was injected.After a postoperative survival time of 3～6 days, the animals were perfused through,the ascending aorta with a cold fixative mixture composed of 2% paraformaldehyde and 1.25% glutaraldyhyde in 0.1mol phosphatebuffer at pH 7.4. The spinal cord segments C_1～L_3 were cut serially in transverse plane on a cryostat at 48 micra.The HRP reaction product was demonstrated according to Mesulam's (1976) benzidine blue reaction method, and counterstained with neutral red.HRP labeled neurons in the spinal cord were located exclusively on the side ipsilateral to the injected SCSG. The total number of labeled cells were 7908 in 12 rabbits, but the number of labeled cells varied from animal to animal. The highest amount was 1690 (423~#) and the lowest amount was 71 (425~#). The longitudinal distribution of the labeled cells in 12 rabbits was 12 segaments of the spinal cord (C_6～T_9), but the largest proportion (86.18%) of them was concentrated from T_1 to T_4, especially at the level of T_2 and T_3 (56.22%), and with a peak at T_2 (29.10%).In cross section of the spinal cord. HRP-labeled cells were concentrated in four cell groups, they are: nucleus intermediolateralis pars principalis (ILp), nucleus intermediolateralis pars funicularis (ILf), nucleus intercalatus (IC) and nucleus intercalatus pars paraependymalis (ICpe). The latter is subdivided into dorsal portion and ventral portion. HRP positive cells were mainly located in the ILp, In 12 rabbits about 92.99% cells were located in it. A small portion of labeled cells(6.25%) were seen in the ILf. A few labeled neurons could be detected within,the IC (0.68%) and ICpe (0.08%). Furthermore, occasionally, very few labeled cells were found at the dorsol portion of the anterior horn.In the monkey, generally speaking, the pattern of the distribution of labeled cells was the same as the rabbit.

Objective To solve the caducity question of Dendrobium officinale during the tissue-culture process. Methods Added the different concentration of 0.1 and 2 mg/L AgNO3 into the PLB proliferation medium, buds proliferation medium, and rooting medium separately. The quantity of the ethylene production was to be determined and the situation of the tube seedling growth was to be observed. ResultsAgNO3 can suppress the production of the ethylene, enhance the multiplication speed of PLB and split-up efficiency the clump of bud, and obviously promote the seedling′s growth. It showed that the survival ratio of transplant could enhance as many as two times and display the merit of caducity-resistant. ConclusionAgNO3(1 mg/L) can be taken as the caducity-resistant reagent of D. officinale during the tissue-culture processing.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum leptin concentration and diet nutrition, age and gender. Method: One hundred fifty-eight men and women aged 18-72 y were initially drawn from a community in Jinan City. The parameters measured included height, weight and serum leptin concentrations. In addition, a 3-d food record was used to represent usual food intake by the participants. Results: The mean serum leptin concentration in males was 8.38?6.31ng/ml, while in females 24.98?13.29 ng/ml. Serum leptin level in males was significantly correlated with age, but not in females. Respectively, serum leptin level in males and females were not correlated to dietary factors. After adjusted for BMI, serun leptin level in females was positively correlated with dietary intake of fat, MUFA and PUFA. Conclusion: Serum leptin level in female is higher than that in male. Age is correlated to serum leptin level in males. The relation of dietary intake of fat, MUFA and PUFA to serum leptin concentration only existed in women.