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.

Objective To analyze the influences of lacrimal secretion and tear film after interferon-alpha therapy in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.Methods Sixty patients with chronic viral hepatitis who would accept the interferon-alpha therapy,including 30 cases of hepatitis B and 30 chronic viral hepatitis C,visited our department of ophthalmology and were enrolled in this study.All cases received eye examination,including medical history,slit lamp examination,corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) ,tear film break-up time ( BUT) and schirmer test before inter-feron-alpha therapy and two months after the therapy.Results In the 60 cases of chronic viral hepatitis,there were 19 dry eye cases (31.67%) and 41 non-dry eye cases (68.33%).In dry eyes group,9 of them (47.37%) were hepatitis B patients and 10 of them were hepatitis C patients (52.63%) .There was significant difference in FL grade (t=-5.288,P<0.05),BUT (t=5.799,P<0.05),Schirmer Ⅰ(t=5.319,P<0.05) test in hepatitis B before and two months after interferon-alpha therapy.Statistical significance had been found before and two months after therapy in FL grade (t=-9.103,P<0.05),BUT (t=5.682,P<0.05),SchirmerⅠtest (t=4.592,P<0.05). The incidence of dry eye syndrome in hepatitis B patients increased from 26.70%to 53.30%two months after treated with interferon-alpha,while the incidence of dry eye syndrome in hepatitis C patients increased from 33.30% to 60.00% two months after treated with interferon-alpha.Conclusion Dry eye syndrome is one of common complica-tions in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.Interferon-alpha therapy would influence the lacrimal secretion and dam-age tear film,which increased the dry symptoms in patients.We should pay attention to the side effects of interferon-alpha therapy.

AIM:To elucidate whether ZFP580 is involved in the cardioprotective effects of hypoxic precondi-tioning (HPC) against hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury in H9c2 myocardial cells.METHODS: Rat heart-derived H9c2 cells were cultured in DMEM .H/R was induced by incubation under ischemic hypoxia for 3 h and reoxygenation for 2 h.HPC was induced by exposing the H 9c2 cells to 10 min of hypoxia and 20 min of reoxygenation for 3 cycles before H/R treatment.MTT staining and LDH leakage detection were used to evaluate the effects of HPC .Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of ZFP580, phosphorylated ERK1/2 and cleaved caspased-3.The effects of ZFP580 overexpre-ssion or knockdown on H/R induced apoptosis were determined .RESULTS:The results of MTT staining and LDH leakage detection showed evidence of HPC cytoprotection against H /R-induced cell death in H9c2 cells.ZFP580 protein level and ERK1/2 phosphorylation were significantly increased in the HPC group compared with control group and H /R group. PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK1/2 phosphorylation , significantly suppressed the HPC-induced up-regulation of ZFP580 pro-tein expression.ZFP580 overexpression significantly inhibited apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in H9c2 cells.CON-CLUSION:HPC exhibits cytoprotection against H/R and leads to high level of ZFP 580 protein in H9c2 cells.ZFP580 is regulated by ERK1/2 activation and mediates the anti-apoptotic effect of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in HPC cytoprotec-tion.

Objective To investigate the proliferation,apoptosis and cell cycle and possible mechanisms of different breast cell lines by difluoromethylorithine (DMFO).Methods The growth of breast cancer MDA-435 (ODC GG) cell lines and SK-br3 (ODC AA) cell lines treated with DFMO were observed.The apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry.PCR was applied to detect the changes of A and G alleles of ODC G316A in MCF-7 cells treated with DFMO.Results The growth inhibition rates of MDA-435 and SK-br3 cells treated with 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L DFMO after 48 h were 24.1％ and 33.6 ％,46.3 ％ and 53.5 ％,respectively,and there was statistical significance (t =2.134,P =0.021,t =2.213,P =0.019).The growth inhibition rates of MDA-435 and SK-br3 treated with 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L DFMO after 72 h were 28.9 ％ and 35.7 ％,54.3 ％ and 65.4 ％,respectively,and there was statistical significance (t =2.434,P =0.015,t =2.489,P =0.013).The apoptosis rates of MDA-435 (ODC GG) and SK-br3 (ODC AA) cells both dealt with 20 mmol/L of DFMO after 24 h,48 h and 72 h were (7.58± 2.06) ％ and (13.88±3.45) ％ (t =2.047,P =0.041),(43.28±14.28) ％ and (59.96±16.42) ％ (t =3.680,P =0.000),(77.87±30.25) ％ and (93.08±32.15) ％ (t =3.293,P =0.000 1),respectively.The proportions of S stage cells MDA-435 (ODC GG) and SK-br3 (ODC AA) cells under the same condition after 24 h,48 h and 72 h were (13.25±2.38) ％ and (12.89±2.21) ％ (P ＞ 0.05),(21.43±3.12) ％ and (12.24±3.55) ％ (t =2.638,P =0.012),(16.32±3.23) ％ and (15.24±3.01) ％ (P ＞ 0.05),respectively.After the treatment by DFMO,the expression of ODC G316A allele A in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 (ODC AG) was reduced (t =3.708,P =0.000),and the expression of G had no significant changes.Conclusion The proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in breast cancer cells treated by DFMO is different in breast cancer cells with different genetic type of ODC G316A.DFMO can inhibit the activity of ODC,and the mechanism may be that DFMO could selectively bind to ODC G316A allele A.

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 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.