By analyzing the characteristics of maternal abdominal ECG (Electrocardiogram), a method based on wavelet transform and matched filtering is proposed to detect the R-wave in fetal EGG (FECG). In this method, the high-frequency coefficients are calculated by using wavelet transform. First, the maternal QRS template is obtained by using the arithmetic mean scheme. Finally, the R-wave of FECG is detected based on matched filtering. The experimental results show that this method can effectively eliminate the noises, such as the maternal ECG signal and baseline drift, enhancing the accuracy of the detection of fetal ECG.
Abdomen ; Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Wavelet Analysis

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular point sticking plus moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) in preventing spleen-stomach disharmony due to intravenous analgesia pump.Method Totally 120 post-operation patients with intravenous analgesia pump were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 60 in each group. Patients in the control group were asked to take a semireclining position, and to turn over the body and do morning exercise under assistance. In addition to the intervention given to the control group, the treatment group received auricular point sticking plus moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The occurrence rate of post-operation nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating was observed.Result The occurrence rate of nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating was 11.7% in the treatment group, versus 33.3% in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Auricular point sticking plus moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) is effective in preventing spleen-stomach disharmony due to intravenous analgesia pump, and can reduce pain and complications.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant on a murine model of allergic rhinitis (AR) and to confirm an appropriate method of establishing a mouse model of AR. METHOD: Establishing two types of BALB/c mice models of AR, one was identified as Local group which was characterized through intranasal sensitization and challenge using ovalbumin (OVA), and the other Systemic group which was made by intraperitoneal sensitization with OVA plus aluminum hydroxide and intranasal challenge through OVA. Then the numbers of sneezing and nasal rubbing were counted after the last challenge and the eosinophils in the nasal mucosa of mice models were observed and counted though Luna stain. Furthermore, morphological hyperplasia was examined in intraepithelial goblet cells and submucosal glands with HE stain. In addition, interlukin (IL) -4, IL-5, OVA specific IgE (sIgE) and interferon (IFN)-gamma in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and serum of mice were examined u sing enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULT: The counts of sneezing and nasal rubbing in local group were more than those in systemic group and eosinophilia in the nasal mucosa of former group was greater than that in the latter one. Morphological hyperplasia was stronger in intraepithelial goblet cells and submucosal glands in local group compared with that in systemic group. Furthermore, the contents of IL-4, IL-5 and sIgE increased in the NLF and serum of mice of local group compared to those of systemic one. However, the production of IFN-gamma of mice in local group decreased when compared with that in Systemic group. CONCLUSION OVA plus aluminum hydroxide adjuvant may promote Th1 type immune response as well as Th2 response. OVA intranasal sensitization and challenge locally is an appropriate way in the establishment of AR mice models.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunoglobulin E ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Interleukin-5 ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; immunology

Objective To investigate the effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)combined with Huaiqihuang on hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) in rats. Methods Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups according to the random number table method:normal control group (group A), prednisone group (group B), Huaiqihuang group (group C), ACTH group (group D) and combined treatment group (group E) with 10 rats in each group. Rats in group B, C, D and E were gavaged by acetic acid prednisone water solution 12.5 mg/(kg · d) for 4 weeks to establish HPA axis suppression model. Group A was given distilled water 10 mL/(kg·d) as control. Rats in group C and E were gavaged with Huaiqihuang 5 g/(kg·d) 30 minutes after intragastric administration of prednisone acetate. At the third week of the experiment, group D and E were subcutaneous injected with ACTH 200 μg/(kg·d). The serum cortisol levels were measured respectively at the start of the ex?periment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks of experiment. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, and then weights of the pituitary, adrenal glands and the viscera index were calculated. The pathological changes of the pituitary and adrenal glands were observed by HE stainning. Results After 2 weeks, the serum cortisol levels were significantly lower in group B, C, D and E than those of group A (P<0.05), suggesting that the model was successful. After 4 weeks, the serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in group C, D and E than those of group B (P<0.05), and between the treatment group the value was group E>group D>group C (P<0.05). At the same time, the weights of pituitary and adrenal gland and the viscera in?dex were higher in the three groups than those of B group (P<0.05). The HE staining showed that there were no significant changes in the distal part of the pituitary gland in five groups. The adrenal cortex zona was thinning and the structure was dis?ordered in group B. There were different degrees of hyperplasia in group C, group D, and group E, which was the most obvi?ous in group E. Conclusion ACTH combined with Huaiqihuang can promote adrenal cortex zona hyperplasia and cortisol secretion, which reduces the glucocorticoid induced inhibition of HPA axis in rats.

Objective:To study the surgical approach to the orbital floor and infraorbital rim.Method:15 cases of fractures of the orbital floor and infraorbital rim were treated with the transconjunctival approach.Result:All fractures of the orbital floor and infraorbital rim were repositioned and fixed through transconjunctival approach. Except for 1 case with mild canthal malposition, no other complication was observed.Conclusion:The transconjunctival approach can provide adequate exposure of the infraorbital rim and orbital floor without scar formation in the face.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) is a member of MAP kinase family. Its widespectrum roles in the control of energy metabolism have been indicated in numerous studies. P3 8 participates in the energy metabolism in all major tissues/organs involved in the control of energy metabolism, including adipose tissue, skeletal muscles, islet cells, and liver. In white adipose tissue, p38 plays an important role in adipose differentiation and glucose uptake although it is still inconclusive whether this role of p38 is stimulatory or inhibitory. The stimulatory role of p38 in transcription of the uncoupling protein 1 ( UCP1 ) gene in brown adipose tissue is relatively clear. A fundamental role for p38 in the differentiation of skeletal muscles and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscles is rather definitive although the role of p3 8 in glucose uptake of skeletal muscles remains controversial. In islet cells, p38 appears to be involved in β-cell apoptosis. P38 has been indicated in the control of preproinsulin gene transcription, but remains controversial. However, it seems clear that p38 does not play a significant role in insulin secretion. In the liver, p38 plays a central role in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. Activation of p38 participates in the processes to increase blood glucose levels through reducing glycogen synthesis and increasing hepatic gluconeogenesis. P38 appears to prevent fat storage by inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation in the liver. Additionally, p38 may play a critical role in cholesterol metabolism by regulating expression of the LDLR gene and bile metabolism. P38 does not only participate in various physiological and pathophysiological processes in cardiomyocytes, but also is heavily involved in the development of atherosclerotic lessions through its influences on monocytes/macrophages, vascular endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells.

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) is well known to negatively regulate T cells responses, but its role in burn-induced T cells immune suppression remains unclear. In the present study, in order to identify the relationship between Tim-3 expression and post-burn T cells immune suppression, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to burn injury or sham injury, and the liver and spleen were harvested at the day 1 after operation. The expression level of Tim-3 on hepatic or splenic T cells and the functional properties of Tim-3(+) T cells were evaluated. It was found burn injury induced dramatically elevated Tim-3 expression on both hepatic and splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in contrast with the post-burn depletion of T cells. Furthermore, Tim-3 expression was correlated with the suppressive phenotype of T cells following burn injury, including increased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, reduced T cell proliferation and elevated co-expression of Tim-3 and PD-1. Moreover, Tim-3(+) T cells subsets were more prone to spontaneous apoptosis than Tim-3(-) T cells subsets. Our findings reinforce the idea that the up-regulated expression of Tim-3 on T cells after burn injury plays an important role in the development and maintenance of burn-induced T cell immune suppression.

Objective To explore the effect of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRAs,montelukast) on serum indicators,urine indicators,renal pathology,intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1),nephrin and podocalyxin on renal tissue in adriamycin(ADR)-induced nephropathy(ADN) rats.Methods ADN was induced through a tail intravenons injection of ADR.The 40 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:group A (control group),group B(ADN group),group C(prednisone-treated group),group D(montelukast-treated group) and group E (prednisone and montelukast-treated group).Twenty-four-hour urinary protein (24 h-up) and serum index were measured serially in the 4th,8th week and the values of creatinine clearance rate(Ccr) were calculated.At the end of the 8th week,all rats were sacrificed to collect kidney tissues for microscopy observation of renal pathological changes.The expression of nephrin,podocalyxin and ICAM-1 in renal tissues were detected through immunohistochemistry method.Results Compared with group A,in the 4th week,24 h-up and albumin reached the level of ADR nephropathy model.Compared with group B,in the 8th week,24 h-up,cholesterol,serum creatinine and renal pathology changes in the 3 treated groups were significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.05),but serum total protein,albumin and Ccr significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),while extracellular matrix/glomerulararea and renal pathology score significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.01),and ICAM-1 significantly decreased(P ＜0.01).Compared with group C and group D,expressions of nephrin and podocalyxin in group E were the highest.Besides,the curative effect of integrated treatment was better than other treatments.Conclusions Maybe through inhibition of ICAM-1,LTRAs had a protective effect on renal tissue.The integrated treatment of LTRAs with prednisone has a synergistic effect and drug effect is superior to any drug alone in ADN.

Objective To establish a practical and effective predictive model for predicting carotid plaque/thickened intima,and to provide a novel perspective for stroke screening.Methods A retrospective analysis of the community screening data collected from September 2012 to March 2013 was performed.The data of blood pressure,serum lipid profile and fasting blood glucose and ultrasonographic checks of carotid artery were documented.One thousand subjects were randomly sampled from totally 14 226 individuals and divided into 2 groups according to the presence of carotid plaque/thickened intima.Analysis of relevant data of subjects with Logistic regression were performed.Predictive model was established according to the odds ratio for each risk factor and evaluated by C statistics.Results In the randomly sampled 1000 subjects,164 ones were found to be with carotid plaque/thickened intima.The mean age was (60.23 ± 10.09) years old,110 (67.1％) were male.Smoker,hypertension,angina pectoris,diabetes and hyperlipidemia were seen more often in the subjects with carotid plaque/thickened intima.Logistic regression analysis showed the independent risk factors for carotid plaque/thickened intima included advanced age (OR =1.15,95％ CI:1.12-1.84,P＜0.01),male (OR=3.97,95％CI:2.49-6.33,P＜0.01),smoking (OR=1.80,95％CI:1.24-2.56,P =0.002),diabetes (OR =1.80,95％ CI:1.15-2.98,P =0.012),hypertension (OR =2.82,95％ CI:1.15-2.98,P ＜ 0.01),high total cholesterol level (OR =1.63,95％ CI:1.31-2.02,P ＜ 0.01) and high LDL-C (low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) level (OR =1.70,95 ％ CI:1.35-2.14,P ＜ 0.01).The advanced age was found to be the strongest predictive factor in this model.The C statistics of this model is 0.804,which overweighs other models previously reported.The optimal cutoff point for prediction was 3.5,with a sensitivity of 0.713 and a specificity of 0.757.Conclusion An practical and effective model for predicting carotid plaque/thickened intima established from sampling data of community residents is favorable for both stroke screening and primary stroke prevention.

AIM: To study the change of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) expression in intestine tissues of mice induced by LPS and regulatory effect of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) on ICAM-1 expression. METHODS: Protein and mRNA of ICAM-1 were measured using Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively in intestine tissue of BALB/c mice treated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS plus SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the expression of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA was increased significantly by LPS stimulation in dose- and time-dependent manner. ICAM-1 expression reached peak value at 12-36 h after LPS stimulation. 20.0 mg/kg of LPS could induce the maximum of ICAM-1 expression. Pretreatment of mice with SB203580 for 30 min could inhibit significantly LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression in mouse intestine tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight that LPS could up-regulate ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression in intestine tissue of mice in dose- and time-dependent manner, and p38 MAPK signal pathway plays an important role in ICAM-1 expression induced by LPS. It suggests that inhibition of p38 MAPK might be a useful principle for the prevention and treatment of intestine damage of endotoxic shock.