Objective To explore the values of electromyography to examine birth injuries.Methods 34 cases of birth injuries were studied,the electromyography and motor nerve conduction of brachial plexcy were recorded.Then,the location and severity of birth injuries were determined.Results Among 34 cases,according to the location of injuries,there were 10 cases of upper trunk injuries,7 cases of upper and middle trunk injuries,5 cases of middle and lower trunk injuries,5 cases of lower trunk injuries,and 7 cases of whole brachialplexus injuries.On the other hand,according to the severity of injuries,there were one case of complete injuries and 33 cases of incomplete injuries which included 2 cases of severe injuries and 31 cases of slight injuries.Conclusion Electromyography is the reliable method to identify the location and severity of brachial plexus injuries,and this examination is necessary to diagnose birth injuries with great clinical values.

Epilepsy is a complications of brain injury or stroke,and is a common diseases in reha-bilitation or neurology department.Transcranial magnetic stimulation as a classical treatment means for stroke or brain injury,but also can promote the recovery of epilepsy.However,there is no clear clinical re-port for safety of epilepsy patients use both donepezil and transcranial magnetic stimulation .The article re-views the literature.Clinicians maybe provided some help.

Objective To evaluate the structure and function of left ventricle in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients without complications by myocardial velocity gradient (MVG) measured by myocardial velocity profile (MVP). Methods Thirty type 2 DM patients without complications and 30 healthy volunteers as controls were enrolled. The heart structure, systolic function and diastolic function of left ventricle were measured by echocardiography and the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was calculated. Mitral annular systolic movement (Sm) , early rapid filling phase movement ( Em) and atrial contraction movement(Am) were measured by tissue Doppler image and the left ventricular MVG at diastole and systole in subendocardium and subepicardium (MVGs,MVGd) were measured by MVP. Results The diameter of left atria and left ventricle, thickness of interventricular septum and LVMI were higher in DM group than those of control group ( P <0. 05 or P <0. 01) , MVGs, MVGd, and Em were lower in DM group than those of control group( P <0. 05 or P <0. 01). There were no significant differences on E/A, Em/Am and E/Em between two groups. In addition, there were also no significant differences on Sm,left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening between two groups. Conclusions Structure and function of left ventricle have changed in patients of DM without complications. MVG measured by MVP is an accurate and sensitive index to assess left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Objective To explore the effect of functional electrical stimulation combined with treadmill training and botulinum toxin type A injection on foot-drop and strephenopodia among stroke survivors.Methods Sixty-seven stroke survivors with foot-drop and strephenopodia were randomly divided into an electrical stimulation group (n=23),a conventional treatment group (n =22) and a combined treatment group (n =22).All 3 groups received a 400 U injection of BTX-A and electrical stimulation.After 24 hours,the patients in the conventional treatment group received conventional treatment including a brain protection agent,limb function exercises,gait training,balance training and training in the activities of daily living.The patients in the combined treatment group received that conventional treatment,plus functional electrical stimulation and weight loss training on a treadmill.The patients in the electrical stimulation group received functional electrical stimulation treatment supplementing the conventional treatment.Therapeutic effects were evaluated before and after six weeks of treatment using integral electromyography (iEMS) of the anterior tibial muscle and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle,the co-contraction ratio (CR) during ankle dorsiflexion,the modified Ashworth Scale (MAS),the Berg balance scale (BBS),a functional walking score (FAC),and the active range of motion (AROM) of the ankle in dorsiflexion and eversion.Results After the treatment,significant improvement was observed in all three groups in the average iEMS value of the anterior tibial muscle and the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle,the CR in ankle dorsiflexion,and in their MAS,BBS,FAC and AROM results.There was no significant difference among the three groups after treatment in their average iEMS values at the lateral head of the gastrocnemius.The average values of the other indicators were,however,significantly better in the combined treatment group than in the other 2 groups.Conclusion Functional electrical stimulation combined with treadmill training and botulinum toxin type A injection can significantly improve foot-drop,strephenopodia and the walking function of stroke survivors.This combined treatment deserves popularization and application in clinical practice.

Objective:To explore the association between chest high resolution CT (HRCT) scoring and prognostic factors of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis (DM).Methods:The patients with DM admitted to Kailuan General Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 were included into the study including 13 patients with positiveanti-MDA5 antibody (7 survivors, 6 deaths) and 18 patients with anti-synthase (ARS)-antibody positive. All patients underwent chest HRCT prior to treatment. The consolidation, ground-glass opacity (GGO) and fibrosis were scored to assess HRCT findings. The clinical manifestations were compared between the two groups. Cox regression analysis adjusted for age and sex was used to determine the prognostic factors for anti-MDA5 antibody-related ILD.Results:Compared with ARS patients, glutamyl transferase (GGT) and ferritin levels were significantly higher in MDA5-ILD patients [70.0(37.0, 122.5) vs 21.0(16.5, 33.5), Z=-3.37, P=0.001; 977.0(502.5, 1 366.0) vs 307.1(72.3, 546.9) , Z=-3.44, P=0.001]. The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibody than in those with positive anti-ARS antibody (100% vs 70%, P=0.001). The DM complicated with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) were found to significantly relate to death. There were no significant differences in chest HRCT scoringbetween the survivors and the deceased patients [ HR=1.08, 95% CI(0.95, 1.23), P=0.229; HR=0.97, 95% CI(0.72, 1.30), P=0.814]. Conclusion:Anti-MDA5 antibody is an important index for early diagnosis of DM complicated with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP). The chest HRCT scoreis is not associated with the prognosis of anti-MDA5 antibody-related ILD patients.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) affects all age group and occurs mainly in women. Pyroptosis is a novel programmed cell death featured with cell bursting and release of proinflammatory cytokines. A deeper understanding of AIH pathogenesis will contribute to novel therapy for AIH patients. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of IL-17 in immune-mediated liver injury.The levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA, and mRNA levels of STAT3 and IFN gammainducible protein 16 (IFI16) were detected by PCR. Expressions of STAT3, IFI16, gasdermin D and cleaved caspase-1 were measured by western-blotting. Immunohistochemical staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to evaluate liver histopathological changes of the treated mice. Our results showed that the levels of IFI16 was increased in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further elevated after STAT3-overexpressed (STAT3-OE) lentivirus treatment. The levels of IFI16 were reduced in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 neutralizing Ab (nAb), but were significantly increased after STAT3-OE treatment. Pyroptosis was observed in hepatocytes treated with IL-17 protein, and further cell damage was observed after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. Liver damage was alleviated in mice treated with IL-17 nAb, however sever damage was experienced after STAT3-OE lentivirus treatment. A binding interaction between IFI16 and STAT3 was detected in IL-17 treated hepatocytes. Glutathione transaminase activity was enhanced in concanavalin A-induced AIH mice compared to the control group (p<0.01). IL-17 plays an important role in activating STAT3 and up-regulating IFI16, which may promote the pyroptosis in AIH-related liver injury through STAT3-IFI16 axis.

K5 polysaccharide of high molecular weight (HLW) can be splitted into low molecular weight (LMW) K5 polysaccharide by K5 lyase which can be used as the substrate of partial synthesis low molecular heparin sulfate (HS). To prepare recombinant K5 lyase (Elma) and analyze its biological activity. The gene of Elma was cloned by PCR amplification and was ligated with pET-28a. Then the recombinant expression vector pET-28a-Elma was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). After induction with 0.2 mmol/L IPTG at 16 degrees C for 5 h, Elma was successfully expressed, SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the enzyme constituted more than 30% of the total cell proteins. After Ni(2+)-NTA affinity and G-75 chromatography, the purity of enzyme was more than 95%. Enzymatic activity was determined according to the change of absorbance at 232 nm per ml of the sample. The reduction of the polysaccharide molecular weight could be detected by PAGE electrophoresis. Elma can partially split HA and HS. Its optimal reatcion temperature is 37 degrees C and the optimal reaction pH is 7.0.
Bacterial Capsules ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Heparin ; metabolism ; Lyases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective:To analyze and summarize the characteristics of ultrasonographic images of non-lactating mastitis, improve the diagnostic accuracy, and guide the clinical treatment.Methods:The ultrasonic images of 46 patients with non lactation mastitis diagnosed by pathology in People′s Hospital of Heyuan from January 2017 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The ultrasonic images were compared with the pathological results, and the ultrasonic characteristics of non lactation mastitis were analyzed.Results:Among the 46 cases of non lactation mastitis, there were 24 cases of chronic mastitis, 15 cases of granulomatous lobular mastitis, 5 cases of plasma cell mastitis and 2 cases of lymphocytic lobulitis. The ultrasonographic features of non lactation mastitis were patchy hypoechoic mixed with anechoic areas with poor sound transmission. Granulomatous lobular mastitis was easy to be misdiagnosed as malignant lesions because of its disordered echo.Conclusions:Mastering the ultrasound characteristics of non-lactation mastitis can help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of non-lactation mastitis.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta-1 (PDHB-1) is a gene encoding the β-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, which plays an important role in fruit acid accumulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution characteristics of apple PDHB-1 family and its expression in apples with different acid contents. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using databases including NCBI, Pfam and software including ClustalX, MEGA, and TBtools. By combining titratable acid content determination and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), the expression of this family genes in the peel and pulp of apple 'Asda' and 'Chengji No.1' with different acid content were obtained, respectively. The family members were mainly located in chloroplast, cytoplasm and mitochondria. α-helix and random coil were the main factors for the formation of secondary structure in this family. Tissue-specific expression profiles showed that the expression of most members were higher in fruit than in other tissues. qRT-PCR results showed that the expression profile of most members was consistent with the profile of titratable acid contents. In the peel, the expression levels of 14 members in 'Asda' apples with high acid content were significantly higher than that in 'Chengji No.1' apples with low acid content, where the expression difference of MdPDHB1-15 was the most significant. In the pulp, the expression levels of 17 members in 'Asda' apples were significantly higher than that in 'Chengji No.1' apples, where MdPDHB1-01 was the most highly expressed. It was predicted that PDHB-1 gene family in apple plays an important role in the regulation of fruit acidity.
Malus/metabolism* ; Fruit/genetics* ; Protein Structure, Secondary