Objective Observed by ultrasound,this study investigated anatomical characters of median nerve affecting the minimal current intensity of percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PNS).Methods Forty healthy adult volunteers were enrolled in this prospective observational stud-y.PNS was performed with a stimulating pen in 2 Hz,0.2 ms,3 mA probe mode for cubits the me-dian nerve localization.Stimulation current was adjusted according to the motor response and the min-imal current intensity at which the motor response was obtained was recorded.There after,the medi-an nerve was observed with ultrasound imaging at the location point.Then,the depth,diameter,area and circumference of the nerve were determined.Results The minimal current intensity was (1.9 ± 0.6)mA and the depth of nerve was (6.1±1.7)mm.The linear regression equation between the mini-mal current intensity and the depth of nerve is:Y (nerve depth,cm)=0.359 +0.135X1 (minimum current intensity,mA),the determination coefficient R2 =0.25 1 (P <0.01).Conclusion The stimu-lation threshold of PNS localization the median nerve was correlated to the depth of nerve,which sug-gests that PNS not only can determine the position of the peripheral nerve,but also can help predict the depth of the peripheral nerve according to the minimum stimulus current.

Objective To investigate the expression of Apelin in placenta tissue from women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.Methods Thirty six women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy(HDCP)and 15 normal pregnant women were studied.The expression of Apelin-36 was analyzed semi-quantitatively using immunohisto-chemistry and image analysis in placenta tissue and the levels of Apelin mRNA expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method.Results The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from normal pregnant women were 0.27?0.04 and 0.82 ?0.25,respectively.The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from HDCP women were 0.18 ?0.05 and 0.31?0.21;in gestational hypertensive women,the values were 0.24?0.02 and 0.59?0.16; in mild preeclampsia were 0.16?0.03 and 0.25?0.07,and in severe preeclampsia they were 0.14?0.02 and 0.17?0.09,respectively.The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in HDCP were lower than those in normal pregnant women(P

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneous determination of 13 constituents including isovalerylshikonin, acetylshikonin, β, β-dimethylacrylshikonin, isobutyrylshikonin, β-acetoxy-isovaleryshikonin, β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin, propio-nylshikonin, 1-methoxyacetylshikonin, shikonin, shikonofuran A, shikonofuran B, shikonofuran D, and shikonofuran E in Arnebia plants by HPLC-MS. METHODS: The determination was performed on a Waters Sun Fire C18 column (2.1 mm×150 mm, 3.5 μm) with mobile phase A consisting of water containing 0.1% formic acid and 10 mmol·L-1 ammonium formate and mobile phase B of acetonitrile under negative ionization MRM mode. The qualities of 22 batches of Arnebia plants samples obtained from medicinal materi-alsmarkets were investigated and evaluated after methodology validations. RESULTS: There were good linear relationships between the peak areas and predetermined content ranges of these compounds. The average recoveries varied from 87.3% to 107.6%. The contents of shikonins and shikonofurans of the 22 batches of Arnebia plants samples showed significant difference. CONCLUSION: The established method is feasible and simple for the quality control of Medicinal Arnebia plants and their related plants and preparations.

Adult ; Burns, Chemical ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Nitriles ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis.

METHODSForty SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with sham operation, only incision on local skin; rats in the remaining groups were made into cervical spondylosis models. After model establishment, rats in the control group and model group received fixed treatment under identical condition; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Dazhui" (GV 14), 30 min per treatment; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam tablets. Treatments were both given once a day, and 14 days were taken as one session; there was an interval of 2 days between two sessions, and totally two sessions were given. After the treatments, immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expression of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin in annulus fibrosus cells; western blot was used to test the expression of P-β-catenin.

RESULTSIn the control group, there were more positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were intensively distributed, deeply colored, and strongly positive; In the model group, there were less positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were sparsely distributed and weakly positive. The expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the model group was less than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the EA group and medication group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin was not significantly different between EA group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may be related to EA inhibiting signal pathway of Wnt-β-catenin.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Spondylosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Oxidative injury due to increased intracellular peroxides leads to more frequent onset of epileptic seizure, and the consumption of peroxides through oxidation-reduction played an important role in protection of the central nervous system neurons.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the changes of antioxidants in plasma and erythrocyte of patients with epilepsy.DESIGN: Nonrandomized, paralleled, concurrent controlled study.SETTING: Department of laboratory, psychology, and pharmacy in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 32 epileptic patients were diagnosed in the Department of Neurology, Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University between March and December 2000 according to the diagnostic and classification criteria of International League Against Epilepsy. The patients consisted of 17 male and 15 female subjects aged from 27 to 59 years, all of whom denied previous anti-epileptic drug exposure(epileptic group) . Another 26concurrent epileptic patients, including 16 male and 10 female subjects aged from 24 to 58 years, confirmed according to the same criteria and treated at the Department of Neurology were also recruited in this study, who reported a history of anti-epileptic therapy with phenobarbiturals for more than one year without acute onset of epileptic seizures during this period(treatment group) .Totally 39 normal controls including 23 male and 16 female subjects were enrolled from those receiving routine health examinations with normal physical indexes. Informed consent was obtained from all these participants.METHODS: Fasting venous blood(2 mL) were collected from each subject at 8:00 - 9:00 am. Enzyme-coupled continuous monitoring was employed to determine the activity of erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR), glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px ), and catalase (CAT). Pyrogallol autoxidation colorimetry was used to determine the activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase(SOD) .The level of erythrocyte malonaldehyde(MDA) was examined with improved TBA colorimetry. Meanwhile hemoglobin(HB) concentration and osmotic fragility of incubated erythrocytes(expressed as the hemolytic percentage)were examined. Plasma vitamin A, C, and E were also determined with high-performance liquid chromatography. Plasna ceruloplasmin(CER) was examined with immunodiffusion assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The activity of EGR, GSH-Px, SOD,CAT, content of MDA, erythrocyte hemolytic percentage and the levels of CER and vitamin A, C, E.RESULTS: Only one patient failed to complete the treatment. Erythrocyte MDA content, hemolytic percentage, activity of GSH-Px, and CAT, and CER in epileptic group [ ( 176. 5 ± 12.0) μmol/L, (3.32 ± 0.95 )%, ( 1 503.6±130.0) nkat/g, (75.3±14.6) K/g, (487.0±25.4) mg/L] and treatment group[(129.5±7.4) μmol/L, (1.52±0.20)%, (1 323.6± 95.0) nkat/g, (64.2 ± 10. 1) K/g, (345.0 ± 15.2) mg/L] were significantly higher than those in the control group( t = 2.46 -3.89, P ＜ 0.05 ], but the activity of erythrocyte GR and SOD and the content of plasma vitamin A, E,C[(101.7 ± 13.3) nkat/g, (20.2 ±0. 8) μkat/g, (1. 18 ±0. 83) μmol/L,(20.7 ±4. 5) μmol/L, (20. 6 ±3.6) μmol/L, and(213.4 ±45.0) nkat/g,(28.5 ±0. 9) μkat/g, (3. 14 ±0. 30) μmol/L, (40. 5 ±6.6) μmol/L,(38. 1 ±5.1) μmol/L] were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t = 2.46 - 2.97, P ＜ 0. 05). The activity of GR and SOD and plasma vitamin A, C content of normal control group were significantly higher than those in the epileptic group [(161.7±25.0) nkat/g, (26.7±0.9) μkat/g, (2.09±0. 35) μmol/L, (26.2 ±4. 1) μmol/L, t =2.46 -2.66, P ＜0.05].CONCLUSION: The decrement of intracellular GSH-Px and SOD, and plasma levels of vitamin A, C, E, and CER in epileptic patients can be indicative of the activity of the free radicals during the onset of epileptic seizures.

AIM:To investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) in regulation of coronary vascular reserve (CVR) during hypoxia.METHODS: CVR were measured with 99m TC radiolabelled frog RBC, the changes of NO - 2,ET-1 contents, nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity and the myocardial morphometry were observed. RESULTS: (1) Acute hypoxia caused an increase in left and right ventricular myocardial blood flow,myocardial NO - 2,ET-1 contents,NOS activity,but CVR in the left and right ventricle were decreased compared with the control group.(2) Intermittent hypobaric hypoxia for 90 days did not lead to significant change in left ventricular CVR,myocardial ET-1/NO - 2 ratio. However, right ventricular myocardial ET-1 contents,ET-1/ NO - 2 ratio were increased,right ventricular CVR and myocardial NO - 2 contents were decreased. We also observed that perivascular collagen,arterial wall thickness in right ventricle, hematocrit,RV weight index were augmented. CONCLUSION: Rest myocardial blood flow was increased,CVR was decreased;The decreased coronary vascular reserve during chronic hypoxia might be resulted from the increased hematocrit,arterial wall thickness,perivascular collagen,ET-1 content, the decreased NO content and right ventricular hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE To understand the related factors,the situation and dynamics of hospital infection in order to effectively prevent and control it.METHODS From 12306 cases of inpatients who had investigated retrospectively,706 cases were with nosocomial infection monitored from Jan to Dec 2006.RESULTS The hospital infection rate was 5.74% in 2006.The hematological disease and,cancer patients and the elderly,were the high-risk population.The main infection site was the respiratory tract.Fungi accounted for 21.35%,the top was the Candida albicans.CONCLUSIONS To strengthen the training of medical staff,to monitor the key departments of hematology and cancer and respiratory diseases and to attend the disease surveillance and rationally use of antibiotics are the effective measures to reduce hospital-acquired infections.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of purulent meningitis caused by streptococcus pneumoniae.Methods We studied clinical features of 12 children with purulent meningitis caused by streptococcus pneumoniae who were hospitalized from Jan 2007 to Oct 2011 in our hospital.Results Twelve children were penicillin-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae.The ages ranged from 2 months to 10 years.Nine cases(75％) were aged less than 5 years,and 5 cases(41.6％) were aged less than 2 years.All cases were with fever,and with the nervous system symptoms involvement.All cases were with complications:9 cases(75％) with septicemia,8 cases (66.7％) with pneumonia.The white blood cells,blood C-reactive protein,peripheral blood procalcitonin,erythrocyte sedimentation rate,white cells and protein in cerebrospinal fluid were mostly significantly high,sugar in cerebrospinal fluid were low significantly.Eleven cases were eventually treatmented by vancomycin plus 3rd to 4rd generations of cephalosporins antibiotics or other antibiotics.Eight cases were cured,2 cases with serious sequela,and 2 cases died.Conclusion We should attach importance to the meningitis caused by streptococcus pneumoniae.For clinical suspects pneumonia streptococcus meningitis,to given the powerful therapy by vancomycin plus the other antibiotics,as early as possible.

Objective To investigate the phenotypes and expression of activated T-cell membrane molecules on lymphocytes in the peripheral blood(PB) of children with aplastic anemia (AA) and find out its clinical significance.Methods The lymphocytes from PB of the 115 AA patients were analyzed by flow cytometry and compared with normal group.Results The expression of CD8+ increased and the expression of CD4+ decreased. The ratio of CD4/CD8 cells decreased ,and was more significant in the patients with serious AA(SAA). The expression of HLA-DR and ??T-cell also increased, and was more significant in SAA patients. The expression of CD3+ was not significantly changed.Conclusions There is significant immune abnormal in AA patients and more important in SAA patients. The immunosuppressant is useful in clinical treatment.