Objective To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on protein kinase A-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (PKA-CREB) signal transduction system after focal cerebral ischemia in adult rats and to explore the mechanism of EA combined with rTMS in treating ischemic brain injury.Methods The animal model of transient focal ischemia was made by artificial middle cerebral artery occlusion. Seventy-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, EA group, rTMS group and EA+rTMS group. The expressions of PKA and pCREB in hippocampus were detected and the neurologic impairment rating was observed at the 7th, 14th and 28th days, respectively, after infarction.Results The average gray densities of PKA and pCREB expressions in hippocampus after focal cerebral ischemia in model group were higher at the 7th d, lower at the 28th d than that in normal group (P＜0.05);higher in EA group, rTMS group, EA+rTMS group than that in model group at all time points (P＜0.05), higher in EA+rTMS group than that in EA group and rTMS group at 7th and 14th d(P＜0.05), and there was no difference between EA group and rTMS group(P＞0.05).The improvement of neural motor function was obvious in EA group, rTMS group and EA+rTMS group compared with model group (P＜0.01), especially in EA+rTMS group.Conclusions EA combined with rTMS can promote the functional recovery after cerebral ischemia,enhance the expression of PKA-CREB signal transduction system in hippocampus after focal cerebral ischemia, which might be one of the important mechanisms of EA combined with rTMS in treating ischemia brain injury.

Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the expression of NF-?B and ICAM-1 after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods The middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAOR) model was established by using Zea-Longas method in rats. Seventy-two rats were recruited in this study and randomly divided into 3 groups: a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group (CIR group),a CIR+HBO group(HBO group),and a sham-operation group(SO group). The infarct volume of each group was measured by TTC staining technique, and the expression of NF-?B and ICAM-1 was measured at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 120 h, respectively, after reperfusion by using immunohistochemistry staining. Results The infarct volume in HBO group was significantly smaller than that in CIR group (P

Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) on the angiogenesis in rats with cerebral ischemia. Methods Fifty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: a normal group, a model group, an EA group, a TMS group and an EA plus TMS group. After the establishment of acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), the rats in various groups were accordingly treated with EA, TMS or EA plus TMS, respectively. Then the expression of VEGF164 mRNA and CD31 was observed. Results The expression of VEGF164 mRNA and CD31 around the infarction locus of the three treatment groups increased, especially in the EA plus TMS group. Conclusion EA plus TMS can increase the expression of VEGF164 mRNA and CD31 around the infarction locus and promote the non-molecular angiogenesis in rats with cerebral ischemia.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONs) have been widely used in biomedical fields, including targeted drug deliv-ery, magnetic resonance imaging, separation and enrichment of cancer cells, and tumor-targeted therapy. However, MIONs are increas-ingly necessary to ensure reduced toxicity, more stable colloidal dispersion, better biocompatibility, and higher magnetic responsive-ness. Thus, apart from the continuous improvement of material synthesis, specific surface modification of MIONs is essential to choose appropriate materials. This paper reviews the available methods and materials and their function in MION surface modification as well as their applications for the separation of circulating tumor cells.

EML4-ALK fusion gene can improve the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein and activate ALK inducing tumor cells proliferation and anti-apoptosis.EMLA-ALK fusion gene in nonsmall-cell lung cancer which has unique clinical and pathological features is more common in young femal,never smokers,and adenocarcinoma patients,At present,EML4-ALK fusion gene can be detected using RT-PCR,FISH and IHC.Crizotinib,an ALK inhibitor,can block the gene's signal pathway and restrain tumor's activity.

Objective To measure and compare sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)in newborn and adult rats.Methods The rats were divided into newborn rat (6-8 days) group (25 cases)and adult rat (8-10 weeks)group (25 cases).All rats were settled in the self-made device for anesthesia with inhaled sevoflurane,and the tails of rats were exposed out of the device. Sevoflurane was given via an anesthesia machine.Up-and-down method and clamping tail stimulus were applied to measure the MAC values of sevoflurane in the two groups.1.5% of sevoflurane was set as the initial concentration,and± 0.2% as adjustable gradient.A positive or negative response was judged by clamping tail stimulus in a 20 minutes interval.The mean MAC value of all rats in each group was defined as the MAC value.Results The MAC value of newborn rats was (2.58 ± 0.1 1)%,and the MAC value of adult rats was (2.32 ±0.13)%.A significant difference was found between the two groups (P <0.01).Conclusion The MAC value of newborn rats was much higher than that of adult rats.Newborn rats need a higher concentration of sevoflurane at the same depth of anesthesia when compared with adult rats.

A non-invasive acoustical system was developed for the measurement of transmission properties of acoustic waves in the hip joints. The instrumentation consisted of three sub-systems. An excitation system employed a vibratory force at the sacrum of the test subjects. A transduction system included a pair of identical microphones installed in the tubes of two stethoscopes, which were placed at the greater trochanters on both sides for picking up the acoustical signals transmitted across the hip joints. The data acquisition and analysis system was a portable signal analyzer with a program of dual channel digital filter for measuring the power of acoustical signal in 1/3-octave frequency bands. 27 normal adults, 20 normal pre-school children and 40 normal neonates were randomly selected for testing. Coherence function (CF) and discrepancy (D) was measured during the testing. Results from the three groups showed that there was a high coherence of the signals (CF > 0.9) and a small discrepancy (D < 3 dB) between bilateral hips in the frequency range of 200-315 Hz. For normal neonates, there was a wider frequency range of 160-315 Hz in which the acoustical signals maintained a high coherence (CF > 0.93) and a smaller discrepancy (D < 2 dB) was observed. This study showed that the development of the acoustical technique provided a practical method with objective parameters. The results obtained in this study can offer a baseline for further investigation of hip disorders particularly those related to structural abnormalities of the hip.
Acoustic Stimulation/*instrumentation ; Age Factors ; Hip Joint/*anatomy & histology ; Sacrum/anatomy & histology ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted/*instrumentation ; Sound/*diagnostic use

Objective To evaluate efficacy and therapeutic satisfaction of novel analogue glargine combined with repaglinide in type 2 diabetic patients(T2DM) after switching from the most frequently used twice daily injection of premixed insulin(Humulin 70/30 30% rapid acting and 70% NPH before meals).Methods 18 patients with T2DM whose blood glucose control was poor receiving twice daily premixed insulin had been switched to receive a once daily injection of glargine together with repaglinide and biguanides(metfomin) or TZDS(reglitazone) was continued if it was taken to relieve insulin resistance.After 16 weeks the blood glucose concentrations and HbA1c levels were detected and hypoglycemia was reported.Results At the time of post-16week after the switch,fasting blood glucose access to normal;blood glucose fluctuation relieved and HbA1c levels decreased(from 7.84?0.21 to 6.52?0.13).Symptomatic hypoglycemia decreased.Conclusion These results indicate that insulin glargine combined with repaglinide can be replaced from the twice daily premixed insulin injection regiment for the T2DM even with poor glucose control.

Objective:To investigate the effects of U0126 of different doses on the ability of low frequency magnetic stimulation promoting astrocyte migration and to select suitable dose of U0126.Method:Twenty-four adult healthy SD rats were selected to receive Injection of 0.5ml of 1% ethidium bromide(EB) in PBS into the dorsal spinal cord funiculus on the left side at T10-11 level to make located spinal cord injury models and randomly divided into four groups.The four groups were exposed to magnetic stimulation(1Hz,1.52T.30pulses)at the following dose respectively:Omg/kg U0126(control group).0.1mg/kg U0126(low-dose group), 0.2mg/kg U0126(middle-dose group),0.4mg/kg U0126(high-dose group).On the day 14 after stimulation,the rats were sacrificed and the expressions of glial fibfillary acidic protein(GFAP),microtubule associated protein-2(MAP-2),extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2(ERg1/2)and the volume of holes were detected with immunohistochemistry.Quantitative analysis 0f the expressions of GFAP,MAP-2 and ERK1/2 were performed with the image analysis system.Result:With the increase of U0126 dose,the volume of hole increased on day 14(p<0.05).In the lesion area,the expressions of GFAP and ERK1/2 could be found,while MAP-2 could not.Significant differences were revealed in the expressions of GFAP、ERK1/2 among the four groups,it Was significantly lower in U0126 groups than that in control greup(P<0.05).while the middle-dose group had similar effect with the high-dose group(P>0.05).Conclusion:U0126 of different doses all could resupinate astrocyte migrations which were coused by low frequency magnetic stimulation,and 0.2mg/kg was the suitable dose.

BACKGROUND: The autonomous neurogenic bladder(ANB) is one of the common problems and difficulty in rehabilitation of patients with spine injury. Having the advantages of safety, non-invasion and no side-effects,functional magnetic stimulation(FMS) has been applied in central nervous system(CNS) neurotransmission, recovery from nervous exhaustion, bone healing, treatment of neural disorders and research of brain function, and so on. But the studies on treatment of ANB after spine injury are not as profound and systematic as they were needed.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of FMS in patients with ANB caused by spine injury.DESIGN: A longitudinal observation based on patients.SETTING: Department of Rehabilitative Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.PARTICIPANTS: From May 2003 to May 2004, 12 patients with ANB hospitalized in the Rehabilitative Medicine Department of Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were selected, 9 were male and 3 were female.METHODS: By using MagLite FMS Devices(made by Dantec, Danmark),a FMS therapy was employed at the sacral 3(S3) nerve root region and the bladder region, twice a day, 5 days a week, and a duration of 4 - 8 weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The pre-and post-treatment dynamics of urine flow variables(such as, residual urine volume, maximum urethral closure pressure(MUCP), the maximum bladder capacity, the bladder pressure, and the maximum urine flow rate), the frequency of urination, the average daily amount of urine, the maximum urine volume(V max), influence of urinary symptoms on the quality of life scale and the symptom score of lower urinary tract syndrome(LUTS) were selected as main outcomes measurements.RESULTS: Nearly all of the pre-and post-treatment dynamics of urine flow variables(such as, residual urine volume, MUCP, the maximum bladder capacity, the bladder pressure and the maximum urine flow rate) exhibited significant difference( P ＜ 0. 01 - 0. 001 ), except for the bladder pressure ( P ＞ 0.05); After FMS therapy, the frequency of urination decreased and the daily amount of urine and the V max increased significantly(P ＜ 0.01-0. 001); Also, the influence of urinary symptoms on the quality of life scale and the symptom score of LUTS changed significantly( P ＜ 0. 001 ).CONCLUSION: FMS therapy can greatly and partly ameliorate the bladder function of the patients with ANB after spine injury, and it can also improve their quality of life significantly.