Objective To investigate the effect of MOTOmed movement therapy on balance and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) of convalescing stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods Forty convalescent stroke patients exhibiting hemiplegia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group with 20 cases in each group. The control group received routine rehabilitation training; the treatment group received MOTOmed training in addition. Balance function of all the patients was assessed using Berg's balance scale (BBS) , and the Barthel Index ( BI) was used to assess ADL ability at the beginning of the program and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results Balance and ADL ability improved significantly in both groups after 6 weeks of treatment. The effect in the treatment group was significantly better than in the control group. Balance and ADL ability were positively correlated. Conclusions Applying MOTOmed therapy along with routine rehabilitation training can distinctly improve balance and the ADL ability of hemiplegics after stroke.

Objective:To investigate the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +) digestive enzyme CD38 in normal and endotoxin-tolerant human monocyte THP-1 cell lines treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods:(1) Normal THP-1 cells: The experiment and control group were treated with 100 ng/ml LPS for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h or phosphate buffer for 24 h, respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot were used to measure the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mRNA, CD38 mRNA and protein. (2) The induced endotoxin-tolerant THP-1 cells: ①The model of endotoxin-tolerant cells was established firstly by treating the THP-1 cells with 100 ng/ml LPS for 24 h. THP-1 cells treated with phosphate buffer were set as blank group. After further stimulating the two groups with LPS (100 ng/ml) for 3 h, mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNF were measured by quantitative PCR to determine whether the modeling was successful or not. ②In addition, the expression of CD38 mRNA were detected by quantitative PCR before and 12 h after LPS stimulation, and the expression of CD38 protein of these two groups were detected by western blotting before and 1, 6 h after LPS stimulation. Two independent samples t-test and repeated measurement analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. Results:(1) In normal THP-1 cells, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF in the LPS-stimulated cells were significantly higher than those of the control at all time points. And a higher expression level of CD38 mRNA and protein was observed in LPS-stimulated cells from 3 to 24 h compared with the control (mRNA at 3 h: 2.27±0.03 vs 1.00±0.18; protein at 3 h: 1.47±0.14 vs 1.00±0.16, both P<0.05). (2) Endotoxin-tolerant THP-1 cells: ①IL-6 and TNF mRNA levels in the model group were significantly lower than those in the blank group (both P<0.05), indicating that the endotoxin-tolerant THP-1 cell model was established successfully. ②Compared with the same points in the blank group, CD38 mRNA expression was upregulated in the model group before stimulating by LPS (14.18±1.19 vs 1.00±0.13, t=19.007) and 12 h after LPS stimulation (28.33±3.98 vs 7.61±0.88, t=8.803). Moreover, CD38 protein levels before stimulating by LPS (1.54±0.06 vs 1.00±0.10, t=7.796) and 1 h (1.59±0.09 vs 1.07±0.17, t=4.721), 6 h after LPS stimulation (2.48±0.09 vs 1.43±0.12, t=12.233) in the model group were all higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The intra-group comparison showed that in the model group the levels of CD38 mRNA at 12 h and CD38 protein at 6 h after LPS stimulation were significantly higher than those before (both P< 0.05). Conclusions:In both normal and endotoxin-tolerant THP-1 cells, LPS upregulates the expression of CD38, which is an NAD + digestive enzyme, and an indirect indicator of NAD + level in monocyte reinfection at the stage of immunosuppression. This study provides a preliminary reference for further investigation on the applicability of CD38 as a potential biological marker in the clinical diagnosis of neonatal sepsis.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture in preventing delayed cerebral vasospasm (DCVS).Method Sixteen healthy Japanese big ear rabbits were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 8 in each group. The treatment group was developed into models by intramuscular anesthesia on the 6th day after 5 days’ 20-min daily intervention of transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation during a specific time period; the control group was developed into models by the same way on the 6th day but without electrical stimulation. The diameter of basilar artery was measured by using CTA prior to the electrical stimulation and after modeling in both groups, the plasma levels of ET-1, CGRP, and IL-6 were detected, and behavioral changes 1 d, 3 d, and 5 d after modeling were observed.Result After modeling, there was a significant difference in comparing the basilar artery diameter between the two groups (P<0.05). The plasma levels of ET-1, CGRP, and IL-6 in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.05). In the treatment group, the neural function scores 3 d and 5 d after modeling were markedly different from that 1 d after modeling (P<0.05). There were significant differences in comparing the neural function scores 3 d and 5 d after modeling between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Pre-intervention with electroacupuncture prevents and improves DCVS possibly via modulating the levels of ET-1, CGRP, and IL-6, and subsequently involving in anti-inflammation, immune inhibition, and vasodilation.

This research explored the synergistic effects and the potential mechanisms of RCE-4 and various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the proliferation of cervical cancer Ca Ski cells. The MTT assay and CalcuSyn V2.0 software were used to detect cell proliferation and calculate the combination index (CI); the expression levels of various proteins were analyzed using Western blot assay; mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed using JC-1 staining; acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double-fluorescence staining was used to detect the apoptosis of Ca Ski cells; a co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay was used to analyze the relative content of Bcl-2-Beclin 1 complex in Ca Ski cells. The results demonstrate that the combination of RCE-4 and NSAIDs increases the inhibition of Ca Ski cells compared to the single-RCE-4 group, and celecoxib provided the best synergistic effect among the four NSAIDs tested, with a CI of 0.32. The combination of RCE-4 and celecoxib significantly down-regulated the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), and promoted the expression of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs activity gene-1 (NAG-1). In addition, autophagy induced by RCE-4 was markedly inhibited in combination with celecoxib, which was associated with down-regulation of the expression of microtubule-associated protein 3 (LC3)-II, Beclin 1, p62 and autophagy-related gene (ATG) 3/4B/5/7/14. RCE-4-induced apoptosis was significantly enhanced by altering the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), B cell lymphoma-xl (Bcl-xl), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Bcl-2/Bcl-xl-associated death promoter (Bad) and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (cleaved-caspase) 3/7/9. Furthermore, the formation of the Bcl-2-Beclin 1 complex was significantly inhibited in Ca Ski cells treated with RCE-4 in combination with celecoxib. Taken together, this research shows that the combination of RCE-4 and celecoxib has a significant synergistic effect on the proliferation of Ca Ski cells by promoting apoptosis, inhibiting autophagy and disturbing the formation of the Bcl-2-Beclin 1 complex, which may be a novel strategy to increase the sensitivity of anti-cervical cancer drugs.

BACKGROUND:Currently, morphological observations of brain cavity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) via cadavers or animal specimen are difficult to obtain dynamic changes.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the application effect of MRI-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction for evaluating the prognosis of TBI.
METHODS:Five male Sprague-Dawley rats were enrol ed to establish TBI models by Electronic Cortical Contusion Injury (eCCI), and scanned by 3.0T MRI with Rat-coil to obtain the DICOM date of brain at 1 day, 1, 2 and 3 months after modeling. Brain cavities were 3-dimensional y reconstructed by Mimics16.0 software, and analyzed in the Meshmixer software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The outline of reconstruction model image was clear, and could be observed and measured from different sides and perspectives. (2) The cavity volume and surface area at different time points after TBI showed significant differences between each other except that at 2 and 3 months (P<0.05). (3) The results of cavity change suggested that the cavity tended to be regular after 3 months of TBI. (4) In conclusion, 3D reconstruction software Mimics combining with model analysis software Meshmixer can conveniently and quickly obtain the cavity model, and provide an intuitive way for evaluating the dynamic variations of the brain cavity after TBI.

Objective To report our surgical experience in treating 19 cases of solitary iliac aneurysms (SIA). Methods The clinical data of 19 consecutive patients with SIA between January 1985 and January 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 18 men and 1 woman, aging from 39 to 77 years ( mean 62 ± 7 years). Results There were 30 SIAs in the 19 patients, including 25 ( 83.3% ) common iliac aneurysms, 4 (13.3%) internal ihac aneurysms and 1 (3. 3% ) external iliac aneurysm. Eleven patients ( 57.9% ) had multiple ancurysms, with 9 patients ( 47.4% ) having bilateral SIA. Two patients had coexistent peripheral vascular occlusive disease. There were 2 patients suffering form ruptured SIA, one was saved by emergency operation and one died before an surgery could be attempted. Seventeen patients underwent successful open aneurysmectomy and artificial graft implantation leaving no ischemic complications of the pelvic organs. One patient with right common iliac aneurysm underwent endovascular repair without endoleak. There was no operative death during porioperative period. The surviving patients remained stable and had good patency of grafts during the follow-up period. Conclusions Early management of SIA is important, CT angiogarphy (CTA) is necessary not only to evaluate the SIAs, but also to detect multiple aneurysms or arterial occlusive disease. Close and long-term follow-up is mandatory for the early detection of the formation of new anearysms.

To design a mobile device for infants appeasing in order to improve CT of the infant. The device was composed of the components of broadcasting, supporting and monitoring. The broadcasting component consist-ed of a high-definition 14-inch monitor and a DVD player, the supporting component was made up of the bar connector, base supporter and fastening bolt, and the monitoring component included a camera and a monitor. The head CT exami-nation results with the device were compared with those without the device. The device could significant improve the head CT examination of the infants. The device can enhance infants CT examination by appeasing them, and thus is worthy popularizing practically.

Objective Some children with congenital heart defect would get serious acute respiratory distress syndrome in ICU postoperatively,which is a tough problem.We summarized the clinical effects of synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV)with expiratory high frequency ventilation (HFV) for these patients in our center.Methods A total of 13 pediatric patients,with(8.15 ±4.34)months old and (8.23 ±4.01 )kg weight,used SIMV with expiratory HFV from Jan 2012 to Aug 2013.Keeping the original SIMV conditions unchanged,the expiratory oscillation amplitude were 25 to 35 Ann(A)and the oscillation frequency of 7 to 9 hertz(Hz).All patients were divided into two groups to oxygenation index(OI)30 min before HFV,high OI group(OI≤20,n ﹦5)and low OI group(OI 〈20,n ﹦8).OI ﹦MAP ×FiO2 /PaO2 .The values of OI,PaO2 /FiO2 and PaCO2 of two groups were monitored before and at 2,6,24,48 h after HFV re-spectively.Results The values of OI of all 13 patients were 19.31 ±4.42 before HFV,and then decreased to 18.77 ±5.18,16.00 ±5.22,14.77 ±6.56,and 13.92 ±6.53 respectively at 2,6,24 and 48 hours later (P 〈0.01 ).But there was no significant difference of OI in high OI group in different time points.The val-ues of PaCO2 of all 13 patients were(43.46 ±5.67)mmHg(1 mmHg ﹦0.133 kPa)before HFV,and de-creased to(38.31 ±4.21)mmHg,(37.61 ±3.36)mmHg,(34.77 ±3.81 )mmHg,and(35.92 ±2.39)mmHg respectively at 2,6,24,and 48 hours after HFV(P 〈0.01 ).Three dead patients were all in high OI group. Conclusion The mortality rate of serious acute respiratory distress syndrome with congenital heart diseases postoperatively is high.SIMV with expiratory HFV can improve oxygenation and reduce carbon dioxide,and the effect is better when OI 〈20.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the advantages of nitric acid digestion method and its differences with the traditional method. METHODS: Ethanol was used to fully fix the testing sample. About 80-100 g of the testing samples were cut into pieces and digested with nitric acid. It was then centrifuged and washed to remove organic components. Smears were prepared and examined under the light microscope. RESULTS: The diatom had been identified with clear striations, counted conveniently and classified easily. CONCLUSION The improved nitric acid digestion method is not only simple with a higher successful rate of detection, but also can prevent interference from contamination. It can improve the stability of the experimental results, avoid harm to human and environment, and provide higher safety in the course of experiment.
Autopsy ; Diatoms/isolation & purification* ; Drowning ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Nitric Acid/chemistry* ; Postmortem Changes ; Tissue Fixation/methods*

Objective To investigate the radiosensitization of artesunate on nude mouse transplanted with HeLa cells,and to explore its possible mechanisms.Methods HeLa cells were inoculated into the nude mice to establish tumor model.Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups as blank control,artesunate group,radiation group and artesunate + radiation group when average volume of tumor were about 5 mm × 5 mm× 5 mm.During the term of treatment,the volume of tumors were measured every 2days.After 14 days treatment,the mice were killed and tumor tissues were harvested for flow cytometry to detect the alteration of cell cycle.Meanwhile,the pathological change of the tumor tissue was observed with HE staining method,and the change of expression of cycle regulatory protein Cyclin B1,Cdc2 and Wee1 were detected by Western blot.Results The growth of tumor was significantly inhibited by artesunate combined with radiation and its inhibition rate was 72.34％.Flow cytometry results showed that the percent of cells in G1 phase increased and G2 phase decreased in the artesunate + radiation group compared with those in irradiation group ( t =4.41,4.12,P ＜ 0.05 ).The expression level of Cyclin B1 was obviously increased while that of Wee1 decreased in the artesunate + radiation compared with irradiation group.There was no difference in the expression of Cdc2 among the four groups.Conclusions Artesunate can dramatically increase the radiosensitivity of transplanted tumor of HeLa cells.The possible mechanism might be related to the decreasing G2 phase by regulating the expression of Cyclin B1 and Wee1.