Objective To assess the reliability of strength of shoulder rotator cuff using a hand-held dynamometer among subjects with spinal cord injury. Methods 20 spinal cord injury subjects without shoulder pain participated in this study. A hand-held dynamometer was used to assess the strength of shoulder rotator cuff. Two therapists (A/B) obtained the strength of shoulder rotator cuff. One of the therapists assessed again 5days later. The intra- and inter-reliability (ICC) of strength of shoulder rotator was calculated. Results The strength of rotator cuff was assessed by the hand-held dynamometer. The intra-reliability of external and internal muscle strength was 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The inter-reliability was 0.91 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusion A hand-held dynamometer is a feasible and reliable tool to assess the strength of rotator cuff among subjects with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise and glutamine (Gln) on anti-oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2MD) rats. METHODS: Diabetic rat model was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Fifty 6-week old male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10), including quiet control group (N), diabetes control group (D), diabetic aerobic exercise group (DE), diabetic glutamine group (DG) and diabetic aerobic exercise glutamine group (DEG). After 6 weeks, the related indicators of glucose and lipid metabolism, anti-oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in diabetic rats were detected, and the possible mechanism affecting inflammatory response were explored. RESULTS: Compared with group N, the levels of serum malondialdehyde(MDA), blood glucose, total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), insulin, leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in group D were increased significantly (P＜0.01). Compared with group D, serum levels of MDA, blood glucose, TC, TG, insulin, leptin and TNF-α in three intervention groups were decreased significantly, while the levels of SOD, GSH-Px and adiponectin were increased, and the combined effect was more obvious (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION Both aerobic exercise and Gln can relieve the glucose and lipid metabolism and disturbance, oxidative stress injury and inflammation in diabetic rats.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; therapy ; Glutamine ; pharmacology ; Leptin ; blood ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the reliability of Berg Balance Scale (BBS) applied in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods 121 PD inpatients from March to December, 2011 were assessed with BBS by 2 raters, and the testing procedure was videoed. One of the raters assessed with BBS via video 4 weeks later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Kappa coefficient between raters and between tests were investigated. Results The ICC was 1.00 of the total score between raters and 0.99 between tests, while the Kappa co-efficient were 0.66 to 0.93 and 0.69 to 0.99 of the items. Conclusion BBS is reliable in interrater and test-retest as applied in PD patients.

Objective To explore the effects of murinecytomegalovirus(MCMV)infected mouse embryonic fibroblasts(MEF)on the proliferation and activation of regulatory T cell in vitro. Methods A co-culture system of T cell and MCMV infected MEF(T-MEF MCMV)was established.The viral load of supernatant was determined by plaque assay.The proliferation of T cells was observed with cell counting.The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ cells was measured by flow cytometry.The levels of Foxp3 protein were measured by Western blot.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)assay was utilized tO determine whether MCMV infection of MEF influenced the level of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β mRNA.The level of TGF-β protein in supernatant was measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The difference between T-MEF MCMV group and control group was assessed by one-way ANOVA.Results When T cells were co-cultured with MCMV infected MEF for 1 day and 3 days,the viral load in supernatant decreased.But when co-culture lasted for 6 days,the antiviral effect obviously diminished,as the viral load[(5.58±0.67)×105 PFU/mL]of the experimental group showed no statistic difference with MEF MCMV control group[(6.05±0.34)×105PFU/mL].When co-cultured with MCMV infected MEF for 3 days,T cell increased from pre-culture level of[(2.02±0.05)×106/mL]to(2.25± 0.13)×106/mL(P＜0.05).But when co-culture lasted for 6 days,the number of T eelI returned to (2.08±0.14)×106/mL,which had no statistic difference with that of co-culture for 3 days system. Both the expressions of Foxp3 protein and the proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in T-MEF MCMV group were up-regulated as the infection time extended,which were two times and three times of the control group level,respectively.The mRNA level(A value)of TGF-β in MCMV infected MEF increased from baseline of 1.09±0.13 to 3.15±0.54 on day 3 after infection.The expression of TGF-β in supernatant 3 days after infection was(3.85±0.32) μg/L,which was significantly higher than that before infection[(1.74±0.14)μg/L,P＜0.05].Conclusions Activated T cells have antiviral effect.However,the function of T cells is rapidly inhibited after activation,which may be due to the expression of Foxp3 mRNA induced by MCMV infected MEF and increased CD4+ CD25+ Treg proportion of the co-cultured T cells.TGF-β level is significantly increased after CMV infection,which may be an important mechanism of Treg proliferation.MCMV may manipulate Treg to evade specific immune elimination and,as a result,to cause CMV replication.

Objective To observe the effect of hot spring hydrotherapy and routine rehabilitation on spasticity of patients with incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 25 patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were divided into hydrotherapy group (n=15) and control group (n=10). The hydrotherapy group received both routine rehabilitation and hydrotherapy，and the control group only underwent routine rehabilitation．They were evaluated with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) before and after treatment. Results There was a significant reduction on MAS in both the groups after treatment (P<0.01), and it was more in the hydrotherapy group (P<0.05). Conclusion The hot spring hydrotherapy can facilitate the release of spasticity after incomplete thoracic SCI.

Objective To investigate the reliability of the morphologic measure of the iliotibial band (ITB) with musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging. Methods 20 healthy young subjects were measured with the musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging of the thickness of bilateral ITB at the levels of the femoral condyle by 2 testers, and one of the testers measured again 3-5 days later. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and minimum detectable change (MDC) were calculated, and the thickness of ITB in both sides was compared. Results The ICC of test-retest was 0.89 (R) and 0.85 (L), and it was 0.82 (R) and 0.84 (L) of inter-testers. The MDC was 0.41-0.51 mm. There was no significant different between right and left sides for the ITB thickness among healthy subjects (P=0.97). Conclusion Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging is a feasible and reliable to measure the ITB thickness among young healthy subjects.

Objective To investigate the reliability and validity of the E-LINK system for measuring hand strength. Methods 25 healthy adults were recruited to measure the strength of hand using E-LINK system and Jamar respectively. They were measured again 5 d later. Results The intra- and inter-rater reliability of hand strength measurement was satisfactory (ICC>0.75), as well as validity ( Pearson r>0.75, P<0.01). Conclusion E-LINK system can measure hand strength well.

BACKGROUND: Revascularization of trachea following trachea transplantation needs to be solved.OBJECTIVE: To explore the empirical methods of allogeneil graft of long-segment trachea and its revascularization.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The animal observation experiment was performed at the Department of Chest Surgery, Shandong Provincial Chest Hospital between June 2007 and June 2008.MATERIALS: Totally 20 healthy, New Zealand rabbits, were provided by animal center of Medical School of Shandong University. Additional 10 rabbits were used as donors, and 10 rabbits were served as recipients.METHODS: The mucosa and smooth muscle in trachea of donor rabbits was removed, and the anular ligaments were shear opened or intensive drilling to obtain tracheal cartilage scaffold with fissure or mesh. A jejunum with vascular pedicle was harvested from recipient rabbits, which was longer than tracheal cartilage scaffold. The cartilages rings were wrapped with greater omentum. Finally, the constructed simulating trachea was replaced in the abdominal cavity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Growth of retina and tracheal cartilage.RESULTS: Abdominal cavity of recipient rabbit was opened after 2 weeks, and it was observed with gross observation and pathological section: There was no collapse in the lumens of tracheal allografts with good elasticity tracheal wall. The blood of omentum and intestinalmucosa that wrapped tracheal allograft was circulating well; and there was no cellular necrosis and merging in xenogenic cartilagines tracheales. CONCLUSION: The study fulfilled the stage one reconstruction and revascularization of tracheal allograft in abdominal cavity of recipient. Stenopeic tracheal stand wrapped with pedicled omentum and intestinalmucosa of recipient made allograft not restricted by length, which is critical to revascularization of long-segment trachea.

Objective To explore the pattern of spontaneous neural activity in different frequency bands in Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods The blood oxygen level-dependent signals in 39 PD patients and 37 normal controls were acquired and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation ( ALFF) in five differ-ent frequecy bands ( slow-2:0.198-0.25 Hz;slow-3:0.073-0.198 Hz;slow-4:0.027-0.073 Hz;slow-5:0.01-0.027 Hz;slow-6:0-0.01Hz) was cacaulated.A repeated-measures analysis of variance and Post hoc t-test were performed to detect differences of spontaneous activity between two groups in different frequency bands. A correlation analysis was examined between Unified Parkinson’ s Disease Rating Scale ( UPDRS) motor score and ALFF in patients with PD in each frequency band to discover the relationship between disease se-verity and spontaneous neural activity.Results Compared with the normal controls,patients with PD had decreased ALFF in the putamen(-24,-3,-9) (-30,3,0) ( -21,9,6) in the slow-3,slow-4 and slow-5, and had decreased ALFF in the left precentral gyrus (-21,-24,75) (-21,-24,72) (-27,-21,72) (-15,-15,72) and right supplementary motor area (21,-24,75) (6,-3,72) (12,-6,60) (15,-24,72) in all frequency bands except for the slow-5.Increased ALFF in the cerebellum was found in all frequency bands.The ALFF in the putamen was negatively correlated with the UPDRS motor score in the slow-3,slow-5 and slow-6.Conclusion This study shows that the abnormal activities in the striatum are significant in the slow-3,slow-4and slow-5.Most frequency bands except slow-5 are helpful in detecting neural changes in mo-tor cortex.The increased activity in the cerebellum is the common findings in all frequency bands.Multiple frequency analysis may provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of PD.

Objective To investigate the influence of murine cytomegalovirus on the expansion of CD+CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) and the activation of CD4+ CD25+Foxp3 - effector T cell (TE) in vivo. Methods Forty-two BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with appropriate amount ofMCMV Smith strain for establishing the model of infection, another 42 mice served as mocked-infected con-trois. Day 28 post MCMV infection was determined to be the demarcation point of the acute and chronic in- fection based on the viral load of major visceral organs. On day 1,3, 7, 14, 28, 45 and 60 post infection, splenocytes were prepared by means of routine method. The proportions of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+Treg and CD4+CD25+Foxp3- activated TE in T lymphocyte were measured by flow cytometry. Results The propor- tion of CD+CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells in T lymphocytes was persistently suppressed since day 7 post infection, and fell to the lowest level on day 28 post infection (P <0.01), then zoomed and reached the peak value on day 60 post infection (P < 0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3 - TE proportion was up to the highest on day 3 post infection(P < 0. 01), then suppressed and in significantly lower level since day 45 post infection (P < 0.05). Treg/CD+TE ratio was in lower level on day 3 to 14 post infection(P <0.05) ; but on day 45 and day 60 post infection Treg/CD+ TE ratio was markedly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion MCMV infec- tion can increase the CD+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg proportion, and inhibit CD4+T cells activation in chronic in- fection phase, which is likely to suppress the function of antiviral immunity in the infected host to cause a persistent latent infection.