Surface electromyogram (sEMG) may have low signal to noise ratios. An adaptive wavelet thresholding technique was developed in this study to remove noise contamination from sEMG signals. Compared with convention- al wavelet thresholding methods, the adaptive approach can adjust thresholds based on different signal to noise ratios of the processed signal, thus effectively removing noise contamination and reducing distortion of the EMG signal. The advantage of the developed adaptive thresholding method was demonstrated using simulated and experimental sEMG recordings.
Algorithms ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis

AlM: To investigate the refractive status of the preschool children in Xiantao, Hubei Province in order to find out the abnormal refraction error beyond the physiological range.
METHODS: ln this cross - sectional study, we investigated preschool children in kindergartens and the scattered ones were 12 716 ( 25 432 eyes ) ranging from 6mo ~ 6 years old. 1 581 children ( 3 162 eyes ) were diagnosed ametropia by Suresight refractive screening instrument, which were confirmed again after mydriasis optometry.
RESULTS: The incidence rate of ametropia in preschool children in Xiantao was 12. 4%, and statistics showed no significant difference between boys and girls (P>0. 05), but had differences of morbility rate among each age group (P<0. 05). With age increasing morbility rate of the refractive error decreased. The simple hyperopia and the compound hyperopia astigmatism were dominant in all refraction error. Professional ophthalmologists diagnosed amblyopia in 261 children (522 eyes), which was 16. 5%, among 1581 abnormal refractive children (3 162 eyes) screened out by Suresight refractive screening instrument.
CONCLUSlON: The incidence rate of ametropia decreases with age increasing in the preschool children from 6mo~6 years old, which imply preschool children should have mydriasis optometry in order to find out amblyopia and other congenital eye disease.

ObjectiveTo study the protection of Chinese herbs on the ischemic brain of rats. Methods 75 Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, Group 1 for false operation. For the other four groups, the common carotid artery was exposed then was ligatured and cut off, Group 2 for model. From the 20th hour after operation on,Group 3, 4, 5 were fed with complex prescription of Chinese medicine named Prescription 1, 2 and 3 once a day respectively. 3 hours after taking medicine, Groups 2-5 were put in the hypoxia environment for 1 hours, then taking the medicine for 7 days. On the 7th day after operation,the blood was taken from R. atria then the rats were killed and the whole right brains were cut off. Malonaldehyde (MDA), notric oxide synthetase (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the brain tissue and serum, and calcium in the brain were measured respectively. ResultsThe three prescriptions can decrease the quantity of MDA both in brain tissue and serum and the calcium in brain tissue(P<0.05-0.001).Prescription 1 can enhance the activity of SOD in brain tissue while the others can decrease the activity of NOS. The hippocampus cells show tidy, and the number of the necrotic cells decrease greatly among them, Groups 4 and 5 are better than Group 3.Conclusions Prescriptions 1-3 can protect the brain tissue of the rat form ischemic brain injury.

AIMTo search for flavonoids which possess stronger vasorelaxation action.

METHODSFour quercetin glycosides (1a - d) were synthesized from quercetin in three steps i. e. selective protection of quercetin, condensation with corresponding acetyiglycosyl bromide, and then removal of the protecting group; Six flavone compounds (2a - f) were prepared from phloroglucinol according to the conventional methods; The structures of synthetic compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Vasorelaxation action of ten synthetic quercetin derivatives (or analogues) and four natural flavonoids compounds were examined on the isolated rat thoracic aorta rings; Comparative octanol-water partition coefficients (logP) were measured using a reversed-phase HPLC method.

RESULTSMost of the tested flavonoids showed concentration dependent relaxation effects against PE-induced contractions of rat aortic rings. These compounds had stronger action with the augment of logP values.

CONCLUSIONCompound 3-bromo-5 ,7-dihydroxyflavone (2d) was identified to have the most potent vasodilating action. These compounds exert vasodilating effects that are related to the logP values. A structure-activity relationship of flavonoids was suggested.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Quercetin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the second to the fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index (BMI) in infertile men of the Han ethnic group in Ningxia.

METHODSUsing anthropometry, we calculated the mean ratio of 2D:4D and BMI of 197 infertile men and 148 normal healthy male controls, followed by analysis of their relationship.

RESULTSThe BMI was correlated positively with the 2D:4D ratio of the left hand in the infertile men (P < 0.05) and in the patients with a higher 2D:4D ratio of the left hand (P < 0.05), but negatively with the 2D:4D ratio of the righ/left (Dr-1) (left: P < 0.01; Dr-l: P < 0.05). The mean 2D: 4D ratio and BMI were both lower in the normal control than in the infertile men, with statistically significant differences in BMI (P < 0.05) and the 2D:4D ratio of the left hand (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a correlation between the 2D:4D ratio and BMI in infertile men.

Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Fingers ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; Male

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of tendons of minimally invasive therapy (TMIT) combined drug therapy by comparing it with treatment by drug therapy alone on patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSTotally 60 KOA patients were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. Patients in the control group took Hydrochloric Acid Glucosamine Capsule and Celecoxib Capsule. Patients in the treatment group additionally received TMIT. The treatment course for all was 4 weeks. Scores for visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index were observed and recorded at week 1 and 4 after treatment by acupotomology mirror.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, improvement was shown in VAS score, pain and stiffness degrees, activities and functions, and WOMAC scores at week 1 and 4 after treatment in all patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Besides, better effect was shown in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTMIT combined drug therapy could relieve KOA patients' pain, stiffness and joint activities, elevate the overall efficacy. TMIT was easily operated with less injury.

Celecoxib ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Pain ; Pain Measurement ; Tendons ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the protection effect of Ligustrazine Hydrochloride (LH) on coagulation reaction and inflammation reaction in single valve replacement patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSTotally 40 patients undergoing single valve replacement were recruited in the study and randomly assigned to the two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 20 in each group. In treatment group LH (3 mg/kg) was intravenously infused from the jugular vein. LH (3 mg/kg) was also added in the CPB priming. In the control group LH was replaced by equal amount of normal saline. Endothelial micro-particles (EMP) count was detected before CPB, 30 min after CPB, 1 h and 24 h after CPB finished. The coagulation reaction time (R), coagulation time (K), clotting formation velocity (alpha angle), maximum amplitude (MA), coagulation index (CI), platelet (PLT), hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6, and IL-10 were detected before CPB, 1 h and 24 h after CPB finished.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in aorta arresting time, period of CPB, post-operative drainage volume, plasma transfusion volume, post-operative respirator assistant time, and hospitalization time between the two groups (P >0.05). Compared with pre-CPB in the same group, the count of EMP was much higher at 30 min after CPB and 1 h after CPB finished (P < 0.01). R and K, hs-CRP, IL-6, and IL-10 increased at 1 h and 24 h after CPB finished (P <0.01,P < 0.05). The alpha angle,.MA, CI, and PLT decreased 1 h after CPB finished (P <0.01). The a angle increased, while CI and PLT decreased 24 h after CPB finished (P <0.05). Compared with the control group in the same period, the count of EMP was lower in the treatment group 30 min after CPB and 1 h after CPB finished (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). R and K values obviously decreased in treatment group 1 hour after CPB finished (P <0. 05), while a angle, MA, CI, and PLT increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). hs-CRP and IL-6 decreased in the treatment group 1 h and 24 h after CPB finished (P <0.05), while IL-10 increased (P <0.05). The count of PLT increased 24 h after CPB finished in the treatment group (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONLH had certain protection effect on the vascular endothelium undergoing CPB, and lower excessive activation of coagulation reaction and inflammation reaction in patients undergoing CPB.

Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; methods ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo analyze and evaluate the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion for symptoms of large intestine cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with large intestine cancer were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen was used in the two groups,and heat-sensitive moxibustion was added in the observation group. The acupoints were Zusanli(ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) Xuehai (SP 10) and Geshu (BL 17), etc. The treatment was applied once a day,five-day treatment as one course. Four courses were required. The reaction rates of uncomfortable symptoms by the Chinese version of the M. D. Anderson symptom inventory (MDASI-C) scale and clinical effects were analyzed and evaluated in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the MDASI-C reaction rate of uncomfortable symptoms in the observation group was 50.4% which was lower than 53.3% in the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of symptom improvement in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 60.0% (18/30) in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion can improve symptoms of chemotherapy for large intestine cancer.

Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; drug effects ; Leucovorin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the protective effect of preconditioning with hyperoside ( Hyp) against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats and the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. MIRI was established by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min in rats. Male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham group,model group (MIRI),Hyp preconditioning group(Hyp), Hyp preconditioning + LY294002 (a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor) group (Hyp + LY), and LY294002 group (LY). At the end of reperfusion, hemodynamic parameters were recorded as left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) , left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ( LVEDP) and maximal rate of increase and decrease of left ventricular pressure (± dP/dt(max)). Myocardial infaret size, the oxidative stress markers, myocardial enzymes indicators and inflammatory factors were also analyzed. The expressions of Akt, p-Akt, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was detected by using Western blot method. The results showed that Hyp preconditioning remarkably improved cardiac constriction and relaxation function, reduced myocardial infarct size and enhanced the activities of oxidative stress markers about correlated to MIRI, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) as compared with MIRI group. Simultaneouly, the levels of myocardial enzymes, i. e. creatine kinase ( CK) and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and inflammatory factors, for instance tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased. Hyp pretreatment apparently restrained myocardial apoptosis as evidenced by decreasing the level of Bax expression, increasing the levels of phosphorylation of Akt and Bcl-2 expression. These effects were inhibited by LY294002, a blocker of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These findings indicated that the cardioprotection of Hyp preconditioning against MIRI may be related to activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, upregulating the expression of BCL-2 protein and down-regulating the expression of Bax protein.
Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To study the in vitro effect and mechanism of Ginkgo biloba Extract 50 (GBE50) for inhibiting beta-amyloid (Abeta)-induced oxidative stress in rats' hippocampal neurons.

METHODSThe primary hippocampal neurons were cultured in vitro and divided into 4 groups, i. e. the normal control group (Ctrl), the Abeta group, the propanediol control group (PDO), and the six GBE50 concentrations groups (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 microg/mL). Excepted the Ctrl group, neurons were induced to oxidative stress by 20 gmolLAbeta25-35. The MTT and fluorescent probes labeling were used to observe the effect of GBE50 with different concentrations on the cell viability and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neurons. Furthermore, Western blot was used to detect the cytoplasmic/total cytochrome C (Cyto C) ratio and total intracytoplasmal Cyto C, and the effect of the expression of oxidative stress-related protein Cyto C and activated Caspase-3 in three GBE50 concentrations groups (25, 50, and 100 microg/mL).

RESULTSCompared with the Ctrl group, the cell vitality was obviously lowered and intracellular ROS generation significantly increased after induction of 20 micromol/L Abeta25-35 (both P < 0.05). Compared with the Abeta group, the cell vitality was evidently improved after treated with different GBE50 doses. Except for 10 microg/mL, the cell vitality could be obviously elevated along with increased drug concentrations (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the intracellular ROS generation decreased significantly in each GBE50 dose groups (P < 0.05). Abeta could increase the cytoplasmic/total Cyto C ratio and enhance the activated Caspase-3 expression significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with the Abeta group, among the three concentrations of GBE50, the Cyto C ratio was obviously lowered in the 100 microg/mL GBE50 group (P < 0.05), and the expression of activated Caspase-3 significantly decreased in 50 microg/mL and 100 microg/mL GBE50 groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS20 micromol/L Abeta25-35 could induce the generation of intracellular ROS in hippocampal neurons. GBE50 could inhibit Abeta induced intracellular oxidative stress of neurons through lowering the cytoplasmic/total Cyto C ratio and inhibiting the activation of apoptosis protein Caspase-3 expression.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley