Biomechanical evaluation of neck muscles has important significance in the diagnosis and treatment for cervical spondylosis, the neck muscle strength and soft tissue stiffness test is two aspects of biomechanical testing. Isometric muscle testing operation is relatively simple, the cost is lower, which can evaluate the muscle force below grade 3. However, isokinetic muscle strength testing can assess the muscle strength of joint motion in any position. It is hard to distinguish stiffness difference in different soft tissues when the load-displacement curve is used to evaluate the local soft tissue stiffness. Elasticity imaging technique can not only show the elastic differences of different tissues by images, but also quantify the elastic modulus of subcutaneous tissues and muscles respectively. Nevertheless, it is difficult to observe the flexibility of the cervical spine by means of the analysis of the whole neck stiffness. In a word, a variety of test method will conduce not only the biomechanical evaluation of neck muscles, but also making an effective biomechanics mathematical model of neck muscles. Besides, isokinetic muscle testing and the elasticity imaging technology still need further validation and optimization before they are better applied to neck muscles biomechanical testing.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Neck Muscles ; physiology

1.2 had no significant difference between the unilateral MCA-M1 stenosis group and the control group.Conclusion Transcranial Doppler can help us to analyze collateral flow on the foundation of NVUE,and can also determine the qualitative and the semi-quantitative information of collateral flow.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of peripheral lymphocytic subsets and cytokines in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis( PBC) and their changes after therapy. Methods Eighty two patients with untreated PBC were divided randomly into three groups. Group U (28 patients) were treated with ursodeoxycholic acid ( UDCA) , group UP (27 patients) were treated with UDCA and prednisonlone, while group UA (27 patients) were treated with UDCA and azatharaprine. Levels of peripheral lymphocytic subsets and cytokines were monitored at 0, 3, 6 months after therapy. Twenty healthy people were included as healthy control ( HC). Results Compared with HC, the percentage of CD/ T cell (P = 0. 044) increased in PBC; the levels of IFNγ(P = 0. 001), IL-2 (P =0. 000) , IL-4 (P =0. 010) , IL-6 (P = 0. 029) , tumor necrosis factora ( TNFα ) ( P = 0. 000) , IL-1β ( P = 0. 008 ) and transforming growth factorβ(TGFβ) (P =0. 069) increased in PBC. The level of TNFa in peripheral was correlated with those of ALT (P=0.005), AST (P=0.002), total bilirubin(Tbil) (P=0.001), direct bilirubin( Dbil) (P=0. 002) , and mayo risk score(MRS) (P=0. 020). The percentage of CD_4~+T cell decreased in group U. In group U, the levels of IFNγ,IL-4,IL-6 all decreased after therapy at the third month, but rebounded thereafter. In group of UP and UA, the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6 were suppressed below the levels of baseline after therapy.Levels of TNFa and IL-2 decreased in all three groups after therapy. Conclusions Levels of both Thl and Th2 related cytokines are abnormal in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC. The abnormal levels of Thl related cytokine indicated that PBC is a cell immunity based autoimmune disease. IFNγ,TNFα are directly related to the disease. The three treatments have different effects on the adjustment of the immune system.

Objective To evaluate the MR manifestation to provide guidance for the clinical diagnosis of adenomyosis.Methods The MR images of 43 cases of adenomyosis which were proved by operation and pathology were reviewed.Results Among the 43 cases of adenomyosis,26 cases were of diffuse adenomyosis and 17 of focal adenomyosis.Leiomyoma(21 cases),intra-pelvic cavity chocolate cyst (17 cases)and ovarian cyst(15 cases)were concurrently found in this group of patients.The MRI of diffuse adenomyosis demonstrated an enlarged uterus and widened uterine junction zone with ill-defined margin between junction zone and myometrium.The adenomyosis lesions showed iso-signal intensity on T_1 weighted images and iso-signal or slight low signal intensity on T_2 weighted images with scattered hyper- intense foci.The uterine cavities were irregularly narrowed due to compression of thickening junction zone.The lesions showed mild con- trast enhancement on contrast-enhanced MR images.The MRI of focal adenomyosis displayed localized myometrial masses with ill-defined margin with widening of junction zone.The lesions were round or oval in shape with iso-signal intensity on T_1 weighted images and inho- mogeneous slightly low signal on T_2 weighted images.Multiple scattered hyperintense foci could be found in the mass on the T_2 weighted images.The lesions had mild contrast enhancement on contrast-enhanced MR images.The concurrent leiomyoma,intra-pelvic cavity choc- olate cyst and ovarian cyst were also displayed by MR imaging.Conclusion The widened junction zone is the characteristic change of ade- nomyosis.MRI can demonstrate the types,size and concurrent changes in adenomyosis,and is a useful noninvasive imaging method for the diagnosis of adenomyosis.

Objective To study the clinical value of laparoscopic operation in the treatment of interstitial tubal pregnancy. Methods Clinical data of 21 cases of interstitial tubal pregnancy treated by laparoscopic operation were retrospectively studied. Results Operations in all the 21 cases were conducted successfully,without conversions to open surgery and intra- or post- operative complications.The operation time was 25 ～ 90 min (mean,40 min),and the postoperative hospital stay was 3 ～ 6 d (mean,4.5 d). Conclusions Laparoscopic operation for the treatment of interstitial tubal pregnancy is feasible.

BACKGROUND:5-Fluorouracil occupies an important position in the treatment of gastric cancer, but its long-term use can easily induce adverse reactions such as myelosuppression and leukopenia. Polylactic acid and its copolymers have a higher biocompatibility, and their decomposer cannot gather in the body.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity mechanism of 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles on gastric cancer cel lines.
METHODS:Ten mice were selected in this study. 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles (1×10-7, 1×10-6, 1×10-5, 1×10-4 mol/L) were prepared using ultrasonic emulsification method. Kiling effect of polylactic acid nanoparticles on gastric cancer cel lines in vitrowere detected. Then, the inhibition rate was calculated at different concentrations.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Under the transmission electron microscope, 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles had good shape and relatively evenly distributed with no adhesions. After drug administration, the drug concentration was 50% at 24 hours and 62.9% at 72 hours. After 48 hours co-culture with single 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles, the viability of gastric cancer cels showed a decrease trend with the increase of drug concentrations, and moreover, 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles had a better cel inhibition ability than the single 5-fluorouracil (P < 0.05). The IC50value of 5-fluorouracil-loaded polylactic acid nanoparticles was significantly lower than that of 5-fluorouracil (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that polylactic acid nanoparticles as good drug carriers have a strong drug loading capacity and increase drug concentration in the body, but cannot reduce the biological activity of 5-fluorouracil, which provide new ideas for the treatment of gastric cancer.

AIM: To explore the feasibility of using vector-based small interfereing RNA(siRNA) to inhibit the expression of MDR1 mRNA and P-glycoprotein and to reverse the multidrug resistance of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cell line.METHODS: An adriamycin-resistant human ovarian cancer cell subline OVCAR/AR was established by stepwise inducement.Another mutidrug-resistant human ovarian cancer cell subline OVCAR/MDR was established by transfecting multidrug resistant gene 1(MDR1) into ovarian carcinoma cell line OVCAR-3.Transfection of MDR1 mRNA specific siRNA expressing plasmids(pSN/mdr1a and pSN/mdr1b) into OVCAR/AR and OVCAR/MDR cells was performed using liposome transfection reagents.MDR1 mRNA expression level was quantified using real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(real time RT-PCR).Flow cytometry(FCM) was performed to assess the expression of p-glycoprotein(P-gp).Multidrug resistant to anticancer agents was evaluated by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay.RESULTS: Basal MDR1 mRNA expression level in drug-resistant cell line OVCAR/MDR was higher than that in OVCAR/AR cell line,and was both higher than that in its parent cell line OVCAR-3.The expression of MDR1 mRNA and P-gp protein in both OVCAR/AR and OVCAR/MDR cells was inhibited dramatically by transfecting with pSN/mdr1a and pSN/mdr1b.The reversal rate of chemoresistance to adriamycin in OVCAR/AR and OVCAR/MDR transfected with pSN/mdr1a and pSN/mdr1b was 79.5% and 93.9%,compared with control group.CONCLUSION: MDR1 expression in the drug-resistant cell lines is partially inhibited by treatment with vector-based MDR1 specific small interference RNAs at the mRNA and protein level,which increases the chemotherapy sensitivity of these drug resistant ovarian carcinoma cell sublines.

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound diagnosing for hydropneumothorax. Methods In a prospective double-blind randomized concurrent controlled trial. 213 patients doubted pneumotborax were exam-ined with CT, senography and conventional radiography. Results In 213 cases, hydropneumothorax diagnosed in 30 hemithoraces of 30 patients by CT,29 hemitboraces by ultrasound and 22 hemithoraces by X-ray. The sensitivity, nega-tive predictive value,accuracy by ultrasound and X-ray were 96.7% vs 73.3% ,99.8% vs 98.0% ,99.8 vs 98.1% respectively(P<0.05), the specificity and positive predictive value of both ultrasound and X-ray were 100%. Ultra-sound surpassed the X-ray in detecting pneumothorax ( McNemar test P<0.025 ). Conclusion If ultrasound is served to detect pneumothorax, it can make up the defects of the methods commonly used cuxrently.

This study is to investigate the effect of compound B2 on the damage of PC12 cells induced by serum deprivation and to explore its related mechanisms. The binding characteristics of B2 to rat striatum adenosine A2A receptor was studied by radioligand 3H-MSX-2 binding assay. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. ROS formation was measured after DCFDA fluorescent staining. B2 has affinity to rat adenosine A2A receptor (K1 = 0.37 micromol x L(-1)). B2 remarkably increased PC12 cell survival rate in serum deprivation-induced PC12 cells. The percentage of serum deprivation-induced death of PC12 was 49.6%, and the treatment of B2 (0.1-100 micromol x L(-1)) increased the cell viability to 63.3%, 74.9%, 86.3% and 88.1%, respectively. Adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH 58261 could significantly block the protective effect of B2. The cell viability with 0.1 micromol x L(-1) SCH 58261 decreased by 16.1%, 24.0% and 19.8%, in the presence of B2 (0.1-10 micromol x L(-1)). Serum deprivation-induced ROS formation was 3.5 times more than that of control group, and treatment with B2 significantly and dose-dependently inhibited ROS over-formation. The protective effect of B2 may be related with adenosine A2A receptor. Decrease of serum-deprivation induced ROS formation may also be one of the mechanisms.

Objective To study the characteristics of the serum free light chain ( sFLC ) and cytokines levels and the effects of cyclophosphamide (CTX) on patients with primary Sj(0)gren's syndrome (pSS) complicated with amyloidosis.Methods Nine patients of pSS with amyloidosis who were admitted to Department of Rheumatology of the hospital from Jan 2005 to Mar 2011 were selected.The serum levels of sFLC and cytokines TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-4 were measured before and 3,6,12 months after the treatment respectively.Meanwhile,Twelve patients with pSS without complications were selected as controls.Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for data analysis.Results The sFLC in serum of pSS patients with amyloidosis was λ type,the κ type was not found.The level of serum sFLC after 12 months treatment [(22±42) mg/L]was significantly lower than before treatment [(180±15) mg/L].The levels of TNF-α,TGF-β1,IL-4 after 12months treatment [(24.0±1A),(58±5),(38.8±3.2) ng/L,respectively] were significantly lower than before treatment [(31.1±L0),(65±5),(61.2±3.8) ng/L,respectively].Conclusion The levels of serum sFLC and eytokines are abnormally increased in patients of pSS with amyloidosis.After treatment,the levels of cytokines are decreased initially which indicates that these cytokines may play a key role in the pathogenesis of pSS.CTX therapy may lead to better efficacy and more favorable prognosis.