Objective To study the correlation between isokinetic parameters and modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) in ankle spasticity as-sessment. Methods 18 stroke patients (spasticity group) and 16 healthy subjects (control group) in our hospitals from August 2014 to March 2015 were included. MAS was used to assess the ankle muscular tension. The ankle passive movement of both groups was measured with BIODEX isokinetic motor assessment system under 10 °/s, 60 °/s, 120 °/s, 180 °/s, 240 °/s. The peak torque (PT), peak torque/body weight (PT/BW), average torque (AT), and slopes of the linear regression curve of torque-velocity (SLOPE) were recorded. The correlation of the isokinetic paramenters and the MAS were tested with Spearman correlation analysis. Results The PT, PT/BW and AT were higher in the spasticity group than in the control group (P<0.05). And they increased as the angular velocity increased, and slowed after 120 °/s. The corre-lation coefficient of MAS and PT, PT/BW, AT, SLOPE were from 0.3043 to 0.7632 (P<0.01). Conclusion The isokinetic parameters were speed-dependent and closely related to MAS. 120 °/s was of the highest sensitivity, and the SLOPE under this anglular velocity was highly correlated with MAS.

In order to explore reasonable artificial cultivation pattern of Thesium chinense, the biological characteristics and nutrients change in the process of winter dormancy of T. chinense was studied. The phenological period of T. chinense was observed by using fixed-point notation and the starch grains changes were determined dynamically by PAS-vanadium iron hematoxylin staixjing method. Soluble sugar and starch content were measured by anthrone-sulfuric acid method and amylase activity was determined by DN'S method. The results showed that the normal life cycle of T. chinense was two years. T. chinense was growing by seed in the first year, but growing by the root neck bud in the second year. During the process of dormancy, starch and soluble sugar could mutual transformation in different periods. T. chinense had sufficient carbohydrate to maintain growth and also a lot of small molecules to improve their ability to fight against adversity.
Plant Dormancy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Santalaceae ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Starch ; analysis ; metabolism

According to the 2010 Chinese pharmacopeia, salt processed and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were pre- pared. HPLC-DAD analysis of the content of the bark and leaf of Eucommiae Cortex showed that the bark of Eucommiae Cortex mainly contained lignans such as pinoresinol glucose and iridoid including genipin, geniposide, geniposidic acid, while the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex consisted of flavonoids such as quercetin and phenolic compound such as chlorogenic acid. The content of pinoresinol diglucoside in the bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 18 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of pinoresinol diglucoside in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex decreased approximately by 30% and 85%, respectively. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in the bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 3 times, 23 times, 28 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in salted Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 25%, 40% and 40%, respectively. The content of genipin, geniposide and geniposidic acid in charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 98%, 70%, 70%, respectively. The content of caffeic acid in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 3 times more than that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of caffeic acid was decreased by about 50% in the salted Eucommiae Cortex. While the content of caffeic acid in charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex was decreased approximately 75%; the content of chlorogenic acid in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was about 1/6 of that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of chlorogenic acid in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex decreased by 40% and 75%, respectively; the content of quercetin in bark of Eucommiae Cortex was only 1/40 of that in the leaf of Eucommiae Cortex. The content of quercetin in salted and charcoal processed Eucommiae Cortex were reduced by 60% and 50%, respectively.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effects of small interfering RNA(siRNA)on the expression of CD147 on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes from patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and its effect on the proliferation and activation of these cells.Methods Peripheral blood monouclear cells(PBMC)were obtained from 10 patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and T lymphocytes were isolated.CD147 siRNA was chemically synthesized,then electroporated into the peripheral T-lymphocytes.Untransfected cells,blank-transfected cells and unspecifically transfected cells served as the control.After 24-,48-,72-and 96-hour incubation,RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of CD147 in these cells.MTT assay and flow cytometry were utilized to assess the proliferation of these cellas,and the expression Of CD25 at 24,48,and 72 hours after the transfection.Results Compared with untransfected cells,the mRNA expression of CD147 declined significantly in CD147 siRNA-transfected cells at 24 hours(P＜0.05),reached to the minimum at 48 hours (P＜0.01):there was no significant difierence in the expression of CD147 between the two groups of cells at 96 hours after the transfection(P＞0.05).There was a decrease of cell proliferation level by(44.5±3.13)%,(50.7±3.5)%and(53.98±4.15)%in CD147 siRNA-transfected cells 24,48 and 72 hours following the transfection,respectively;the corresponding decrease in blank-transfected cells was (37.28±3.56)%,(33.73±3.29)%,and(28.80±1.49)%,respectively,and that in unspecifically transfected cells,(31.29±2.46)%,(36.1±2.62)%and(32.08±2.78)%,respectively.A significant decrease was observed in the proliferation of CD147 siRNA-transfected cells compared with that of blank-transfected cells and unspecifically transfected cells at these three time points(P＜0.05,0.01,0.01 respectively).The expression rate of CD25 at 24,48 and 72 hours was(47.23±3.65)%,(31.50±4.22)%and(23.05±4.15)%,respectively,on CD147 siRNA-transfected cells,and,(80.2±4.8)%,(81.6±3.35)%and(83.5±4.1)%,respectively,on untransfeeted cells;the differences between the two groups at the three time points were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).Conclusion CD147 is correlated with cell proliferation and activation of peripheral T lymphoeytes from patients with psoriasis vulgaris,and may serve as a new treatment target for psoriasis.

Objective To find the plantar pressure readings which best indicate foot inversion during the stance phase of walking among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods Twenty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors who were able to walk without extra aid were recruited as the experimental group, while 17 healthy elderly men of similar age and body weight were selected as the control group.Those in both groups were asked to walk at their preferred speed over a Footscan device which measured medio-lateral pressure ratios, maximum plantar pressures and the contact areas of both feet.The Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI) was used to evaluate the affected feet.Results The average medial forefoot pressure of the affected side in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group, but their average mesopodium and heel pressure was significantly higher.The average pressure applied by the great toe on the uninjured side in the experimental group was significantly smaller than that of the control group, but the average mesopodium and heel pressure of both feet among the hemiplegics were significantly higher than those of the control group.Among the experimental group, the average medial forefoot pressure of the affected foot was significantly greater than that of the healthy foot.The average contact area of the great toe on the affected side was significantly bigger than was observed in the control group.That of the medial forefoot was, however, significantly smaller than in the control group.There was no significant difference in the contact area between the healthy and affected feet in the experimental group, though the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of their full feet and forefeet on the affected side were significantly lower than those in the healthy group.No significant differences in the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the heel were observed between the two groups, nor of the full feet, forefeet and heels of the affected and unaffected sides in the experimental group.The patients demonstrated consistently reduced joint mobility on both sides during the stance phase, coinciding with increased inversion.A significant negative correlation was found between the maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios of the full foot and the maximum pressure of the lateral part of forefoot in the experimental group, but there was no significant correlation with contact area or CSI.Conclusions Plantar pressure data can be used to describe the amount of foot inversion in the stance phase of walking with hemiplegic patients after stroke.The maxmium medio-lateral pressure ratios can effectively reflect their foot inversion.

Metabolic abnormalities were identified and carotid intima-media-thickness(IMT)was measured in 221 individuals at risk for metabolic syndrome(MS).The results indicated that IMT was significantly thicker in MS individuals than that in non-MS individuals(P＜0.01).And there was a tendency of progressive increase in IMT with increasing components of metabolic syndrome.

To separate and identify chemical signals which induce Thesium chinense haustorium formation, the components of T. chinense roots secretion collected with XAD-4 resin were detected by GC-MS. The effect of DMBQ as exogenous signals to induce haustorium formation in T. chinense was studied. Fifty-three compounds of 9 types had been detected, including hydrocarbons, esters, organic acids, ketones, alcohols, nitrogen containing compounds, phenolic acids, aldehyde and quinine. It is worth noting that the 2, 5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone has the core structure of 1,4-benzoquinone, which may play an important role in the parasitic relationship of Prunella vulgaris and T. chinense: DMBQ worked effectively on inducing haustoria, but induction effects vary widely in different concentrations. DMBQ with the concentration of 1 μmol x L(-1) showed the best effect of the inducing ability with a ratio of 110.52 when treated to induce haustoria.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; physiology ; Prunella ; chemistry ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS1H MRS was performed in normal volunteers and in patients with pathologically confirmed HCC and cholangiocarcinomas using a whole-body 1.5-T scanner. The choline-to-lipid ratios were measured by dividing the peak area of choline at 3.2 ppm and lipid at 1.3 ppm.

RESULTSThe ratio of choline-to-lipid for normal liver, cholangiocarcinomas, and HCC were 0.07 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.06, and 0.52 +/- 0.15, respectively. The ratio of choline-to-lipid was significantly higher in HCC compared than those in cholangiocarcinomas or normal livers (P < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different between cholangiocarcinomas and normal livers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn vivo 1H MRS can reflect the pathological changes of HCC and cholangiocarcinomas at metabolic level and thus is useful in the diagnosis of these two cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate ligand-gated cation channels P2X3 receptors changes in rat pulp during experimental tooth movement (ETM), and preliminarily find their possible effect during ETM.

METHODS54 male SD rats (200-250 g) were selected and randomly divided into blank group (5 rats), control group (14 rats) and experimental group (35 rats). The left maxillary first molar was selected as observation object, the pulp tissue biopsies was taken at different time points to carry out immunohistochemical study.

RESULTSPredominant up regulation of P2X3 receptors immunoactivity was found in pulp from 1/6 d to 7 d after experimental tooth movement. It started to significantly increase at 1/6 d, peaked at 3 d, and then decreased continuously until 7 d as compared with the beginning.

CONCLUSIONP2X3 receptors have a rhythm change in rat pulp as a result of ETM, speculated that P2X3 receptors is closely related to the tooth movement injury, but the mechanism of action need further researches.

Animals ; Cations ; Dental Pulp ; Male ; Molar ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 ; Tooth Movement Techniques