BACKGROUND:Most of the traumatic brain injury and stroke survivors have foot drop and varus deformity, that need to be treated with ankle-foot orthosis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the advantages and effect of early application of front-ankle-foot orthosis on the walking function of the patients with hemiplegia after stroke. METHODS:The clinical data of 54 patients with hemiplegia after stroke treated in the Changshu No. 2 People’s Hospital from June 2008 to October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients treated with front-ankle-foot orthosis were the front group (n=28), and the patients treated with rear-ankle-foot orthosis were the rear group (n=26). Al the patients received 10 m maximum walking speed test, and the recovery of walking function of the patients in two groups were observed daily. RESUTLS AND CONCLUSION:There were no patients exited and dead in the observation period. The activities of daily living Barthel index in the front-ankle-foot orthoses group (60.0±12.9) was significantly higher than that in the rear-ankle-foot orthoses group (59.1±10.9), and there was no significant difference in the activities of daily living Barthel index between two groups (P>0.05). For the 10 m maximum walking speed test, the walking speed of (39.6±11.6) m/min in the front-ankle-foot orthosis group was significantly faster than that of (33.0±12.4) m/min in the rear-ankle-foot orthosis group (P<0.05). Front-ankle-foot orthosis is more appropriate for patients with hemiplegia after stroke to improve the walking speed.

Objective To observe the interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interhukin-2(IL-2)levels of Th1 cytokine and IL-4、IL-10 levels of Th2 cytokine in serum and culture supernatants of splenic cells of the rats in the prevention of experimentaI autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU)by oral tolerance. Methods 72 Lewis rats were randomly divided into EAU group,oral tolerance group(which including 10 μg、100 μg、1 mg、10 mg of S antigen group respectively)and control group,12 rats in each group.The animal model of EAU was induced by immunization with S antigen(50 μg)and Freund's complete adjuvant.Oral tolerance 10 μg、100μg、1 mg and 10 mg group were fed with 1 ml mixture of 10 μg、100μg、l mg、10 mg S antigen and 1 mg trypsin inhibitor respectively by intuhation,once the other day,totally 7 times,and then induced EAU according to above methods;control group was fed with 1 ml mixture of phosphate buffered saline and 1 mg trypsin inhibitor,once the other day,totally 7 times,and then induced EAU.The clinical manifestation of EAU in the eye were recorded,the eyeballs were enucleated at the peak of EAU,followed by pathological grading.Meanwhile the serum was colleced;splentic cells were separated and cultured to collect the supernatant.Cytokine levels of IFN-γ,IL-2,IL-4 and IL-10 in serum.cultured supernatant of splenic cells were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results Compared with EAU and control group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2(Th1 eytokine)in the serum in 100 μg and 1 mg group were decreased while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 eytokine)were inereased,the diffefences were statistically significant(F=51.9,68.8,35.7,7.5,P＜0.01).Compared the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the serum in 10 μg,10 mg group with EAU and control group.the differences were not statistically significant.In 100 gg、1 mg group,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2(Th1 cytokine)in the culture supernatant of splenic cells were decreased while the Ievels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 cytokine)were increased,compared with EAU and control group,the differences were statistically significant(F=57.1,15.6,33.1,167.7,P＜0.01).Compared the levels of Th1 and Th2 eytokine in the culture supernatant of splenic cells in 10 μg、10 mg groups with EAU and control group,the difference are not statistically significant. Conclusions In the process to prevent EAU by oral intake,the levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 (Th1 cytokine)were decrease while the levels of IL-4 and IL-10(Th2 cytokine).Oral administration with tOO high or low dose of the antigen can not prevent EAU as well as the cytokine levels do not change obviously.Cytokines has played an important role in the prevention of EAU.

Objective To observe the efficacy of the anti-tumor necrosis factor-α monoclonal antibody(TNF-α MCAb)in the treatment of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis(EAU). Methods EAU animal models were induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein(IRBP)R16 peptide with immunization.The rats were divided into 2 groups according to the injection times.TNF-α MCAh was administered intravenously on day 6 or 4,6 and 8 post-immunization respectively,and then to observe the clinical expression by slit-lamp microscope.Meanwhile,take the rats which did not accept TNF-α MCAb as conttol group.Delayed type hypersensitivity(DTH)responses were measured on day 13 postimmunization of IRBP R16;the rats were killed on day 14 post-immunization of IRBP R16,and then enucleated the eyes for histopathological examination.To detect the cytokine level of IFN-γ,IL-4 in serum and IFN-γ in aqueous humor by enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)on day 14 postinjection.The hyperplasia responses of antigen specific lymphocyte of draining lymph node cells were detected. Results The TNF-αMCAb group had mitigated ocular inflammation and decreased pathological grades compared with the control group;the IFN-γ concentrations in aqueous humor and serum were decreased,IL-4 was increased in serum;DTH responses were decreased;the hyperplasia responses of draining lymphocytes to IRBP R16 peptide were decreased,all the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).The rats accepted TNF-α MCAb thrice had much better curative effect than the rats injected once(P＜0.05). Conclusions Injection of TNF-α MCAb can inhibit ocular inflammation and specific immune cells of EAU remarkably and change the Th1/Th2 balance.Many times injections of TNF-α MCAb were more effective than once.

Aim The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of AA、15-HETE、15-KETE and 8(S),15(S)-DiHETE on hypoxic and normoxic rabbit pulmonary arterial rings and to discuss their roles in the formation of PA hypertension.Methods Twelve neonatal rabbits were randomly divided into two groups(n=6):the normoxic group breathing fresh gas(FiO_2 =21%) and the hypoxic group breathing hypoxic gas(FiO_2=10%).After 9 days,they were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium,and the chest was opened for removal of the heart and lungs en bloc,then PA rings(0.5~1.5 mm in diameter and 3 mm length) were prepared.We used tension studies of PA rings to observe the effect of AA、15-HETE、15-KETE and 8(S),15(S)-DiHETE on hypoxic and normoxic rabbit pulmonary arterial rings.Results ① AA、15-HETE、15-KETE and 8(S),15(S)-DiHETE constricted normoxic rabbit PA rings in a dose-dependent manner,respectively.Constriction of normoxic rabbit PA rings induced by 15-KETE、8(S),15(S)-DiHETE was significant,but that of AA、15-HETE wasn′t significant.② AA、15-HETE、15-KETE and 8(S),15(S)-DiHETE increased hypoxic rabbit PA rings' tension.Constriction of AA、15-HETE on rabbit PA rings in hypoxic group was significantly greater than that of normoxic group(P0.05).③ Constriction of 15-KETE on rabbit PA rings in normoxic group was significantly greater than that of hypoxia group(P

Objective To determine the distribution of IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ in the lacrimal gland lesions and submaxillary lymph nodes of MRL/Ipr mice-a model for idiopathic dacryoadenitis, and investi-gate the possible role of T-belper cells in the disease. Methods Frozen sections of lacrimal glands and sub-maxillary lymph nodes from MRL/lpr and BALB/c mice age 3 months were stained with antibodies to the cy-tokines IL-4, IL-17 and IFN-γ, then calculated the numbers or proportions of positive cells respectively,double staining for CD4 and each cytokine was taken in lymph nodes of MRL/Ipr mice additionally. Results The major cytokine in lacrimal gland lesions is IL-4, which contrasts to little IL-17 or IFN-γ/stained(P <0.05), the numbers of cells staining for each cytokine in submaxillary lymph nodes elevate in MRL/lpr mice, and the expressions of IL-4 and IL-17 are greater than IFN-γ significantly. Conclusion Th2 may play an important role in the development of local dacryoadenitis and systemic abnormality in MRL/lpr mice,the role of IL-17 maybe different in lacrimal gland lesions and lymph nodes which need more research.

OBJECTIVE: To study the electrophysiological characteristics of the Auditory Brainstem Response to Speech Sounds (s-ABR) in healthy adults, and then analyze its relationship between noise speech recognition ability and sex. METHOD: We accessed the auditory brainstem response to a synthesized stop-consonant speech syllable / da/in 40 native-Chinese speech adults. Timing components of the response were compared between males and females to determine which aspects of the response are affected by sex. The relationship of the slope between the onset peak (V) and though (A) (V/A slope) and the noise speech recognition ability was analyzed. RESULT: A dissimilarity between males and females was observed in the response to the component that change rapidly over time(P< 0.05). The other peaks latency except (P < 0.01) was different between gender, the remaining peaks did not have statisticals differences (P > 0.05). Noise speech recognition and the V/A slope was negatively correlated (r = 0.478, P < 0.05), which indicated that the greater slope of V/A, the lower of the speech recognition threshold under noise. CONCLUSION The verbal components change rapidly over time, and high-frequency consonants evoked neural response obviously affected by gender. In the slower changing, lower frequency information in the stimulus was minimally affected by sex. The subjects with better abilities of processing transient and rapid information can show lower noise speech recognition threshold.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Sex Factors ; Speech Perception

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare outcomes effects of Chinese recognition materials in post-lingually deafened patients with cochlear implant. METHOD: Thirty-two post-lingually deafened cochlear implant users participated in the study. Each one of them was given a series of speech recognition tests including the speech recognition score of monosyllable words, spondee words, Chinese BKB sentences and MHINT in quiet, as well as speech recognition threshold of HOPE corpus in babble noise. Speech recognition scores and thresholds were compared among these test materials using histograms , scatter diagrams and statistical methods. RESULT: Recognition scores for spondee words, Chinese BKB sentences and MHINT were affected by ceiling effects, with 1,14 and 4 cases scored 100% respectivelty. Meanwhile, 17, 26 and 14 cases scored more than 85% correspondingly. On the other hand, speech recognition scores for monosyllable words in quiet and speech recognition threshold for HOPE corpus in babble noise were not affected. CONCLUSION For a considerable part of post-lingually deafened patients using cochlear implant, some Chinese speech recognition materials have demonstrated different degrees of ceiling effects. While speech recognition scores for monosyllable words in quiet and recognition threshold for HOPE corpus in noise can evaluate the performance of speech recognition abilitymore objectively.
Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Humans ; Language ; Noise ; Speech Perception ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To further investigate the accuracy of the real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) in evaluating right ventricular(RV) systolic function.Methods RT-3DE,MRI and SPECT were used to study a total 30 patients including 10 with coronary artery disease,7 with hypertension,5 with cardiomyopathy,5 with atrial septal defect,and 3 with pulmonary hypertension.The RV end-diastolic volume(RVEDV),RV end-systolic volume(RVESV),RV stroke volume(RVSV) and RV ejection fraction(RVEF) were measured.The correlation and the difference between different modalities were compared.Results RT-3DE had a good correlation with MRI in RVEDV,RVESV,RVSV and RVEF (rEDV =0.811,rESV =0.837,rSV =0.818,and rEF =0.701).Also RT-3DE had a correlation with SPECT in RVEDV,RVESV,and RVSV(rEDV =0.526,rESV =0.493,rSV =0.514),but there was no correlation between RT-3DE and SPECT in RVEF (rEF =0.235).Conclusions RT-3DE can assess RV systolic function accurately.

Objective: To investigate the association of sleep quality, depressive symptoms and their interaction with non suicidal self injury (NSSI) among rural middle school students, so as to provide a reference for early prevention and control of NSSI among rural middle school students. Methods: A multi stage cluster sampling method was used to randomly select four rural middle schools in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. A total of 1 723 middle school students were investigated according to the principle of grade stratification and class random selection. Paper questionnaires (including demographic factors, Non Suicidal Self Injury Short Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Patient Health Questionnare-9) were used to conduct the questionnaire survey. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association of sleep quality, depressive symptoms and their interaction with NSSI among rural middle school students. Results: Totally 30.5% of middle school students had NSSI. Univariate results showed that girls (33.0%) had a higher incidence of NSSI than boys(27.3%), and those with sleep disorders and depressive symptoms had a higher incidence of NSSI, which was 46.8%, 43.6%. The results of multivariate Logistic regression showed that the risk of NSSI in students with sleep disorder was 1.80 times that in those without sleep disorder( OR 95%CI=1.42-2.28, P <0.01). The risk of NSSI in students with depressive symptoms was 3.32 times higher than that in those without depressive symptoms( OR 95%CI=2.60-4.24, P <0.01). The interaction results showed that there was additive interaction between sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms on the occurrence of NSSI behavior in rural middle school students, and the relative excess risk, attributable proportion and synergy index were 1.80, 0.30 and 1.57, respectively. Conclusion Sleep disorder and depressive symptoms are risk factors for NSSI among rural middle school students, and there is additive interaction between them.

Objective:To explore the role of denervation on kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF)induced by ischemia reperfusion injury(IRI)via NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)/transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)pathway in mice.Methods:C57BL/6 mice were randomized into four groups(n=12 each)of sham, kidney ischemia reperfusion(IR), RDN and RDN+ IR(DIR). At Days 1 and 7 post-reperfusion, kidney histology and fibrotic injury are observed after hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and Masson staining.α-SMA protein is detected by immunohistochemistry.The serum levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr)and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)are measured.And the contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), interleukin 4(IL-4), interleukin 10(IL-10)and interleukin 13(IL-13)in kidney tissues are detected.Western blot is utilized for observing the expression levels of Nrf2, TGF-β and phospho-Smad3 protein in kidney tissues.Results:Compared with sham group, kidney histologic score, serum levels of BUN, Cr and NGAL and contents of MDA, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 in kidney tissues spiked while activity of SOD declined.Protein expressions of Nrf2, TGF-β and phospho-Smad3 rise in IR-1 and DIR-1 groups( P<0.05). Compared with IR-7 group, degree of fibrosis and levels of α-SMA, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 drop in DIR-7 group, Nrf2 protein expression increased and protein expressions of TGF-β and phospho-Smad3 decreased( P<0.05). Conclusions:Acute oxidative stress injury induced by IRI becomes aggravated after kidney denervation and initiates TIF.The long-term expression of TGF-β and phosphorylation of Smad3 are suppressed due to a continuous activation of Nrf2 pathway, thereby blunting the long-term TIF degree of kidney.