BACKGROUND: Therapist-assisted treadmill training is good gait training, but it consumes great physical strength of therapists, and requires many persons. Clinical application was limited. Robot-assisted treadmill training has been paid great attention. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the role of robot in recovery of walking after spinal cord injury (SCI) and its influence on muscle activation patterns and kinematic patterns.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Although there is currently no evidence that robot-assisted gait training improves walking function more than other locomotor training strategies. Several advantages of robotic devices are obvious for applications targeting gait rehabilitation. Robotic devices are passive in nature and focus primarily on repeated movements of the limbs via fixed kinematic trajectories. These types of training abolish the cycle-to-cycle variation in the kinematics and the sensorimotor pathways. They also cannot sensitively monitor important characteristics of the training as therapists do. Therapists need to know the robot devices, understand how to change parameters to continuously challenge the subjects, and are able to assess when the workload is inappropriate for the subject's abilities so that they can maximize voluntary locomotor performance during assisted stepping to augment the recovery of functional walking.

Objective To study the relationship between receptor interacting protein (RIP)1 and hepatocyte necropto?sis in isoniazid (INH) induced mouse model. Methods Kunming male mice were randomly divided into three groups. Con?trol group (C) received 0.3 mL of normal saline one time per day. INH group (INH) was injected intraperitoneally INH 100 mg/kg body weight, one time per day. Nec-1+INH group was injected intraperitoneally Nec-1 in 0.1%DMSO and 1 mg/kg body weight one time/12 hours, and INH was injected intraperitoneally at the same dose with that of INH group. All animals were treated for 7 days. Pathological changes of liver tissues were studied by HE staining. RIP1 expression was detected by immunohistochemical, Western blot and real-time PCR analysis. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenate were determined by colorimetric method. Re?sults Hepatocytes were arranged orderly in C group. The degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes were found in Nec-1+INH group, and severe degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes were found in INH group. Compared with C group, the ex?pression levels of RIP1, ROS and MDA were increased significantly, and the expression levels of GSH and SOD were de?creased significantly in INH group (P<0.05). INH-induced acute liver necroptosis was significantly alleviated after treat?ment with Nec-1. Compared with INH group, the expression levels of RIP1, MDA and ROS were significantly decreased, and the expression levels of GSH and SOD were significantly increased in Nec-1+INH group (P<0.05). Conclusion These re?sults suggest that RIP1 is involved in INH-induced hepatocyte necroptosis in mice. The inhibition of RIP1 expression might be a treatment strategy for prohibition of INH-induced acute liver necroptosis.

Aim To develop a method of culturing rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells. Methods Basilar arteries were immediately removed and cut into 0.2 mm rings. Then they were incubated in a medium containing the following: collagenase (typeⅡ, 0.5 g?L-1), elastase (0.15 g?L-1), hyaluronidase (type Ⅳ-S, 0.5 g?L-1), and deoxyribonuclease (typeⅠ, 0.1 g?L-1) for 1 hour at 37℃. After digestion, cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 with 20% fetal calf serum and then plated onto plastic tissue culture dishes. Results After 3 days of incubation, primary cultures of rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells began to stick to the wall of the incubation dishes. Cells were passaged after one week and their viability was 97%. The purity of fourth passage cells was 98%, which assessed by immunohistochemical staining and morphology. Conclusion This method is simple, fast and easily adaptable to obtaining high yield and purity of basilar artery smooth muscle cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of robot-assisted walking therapy on gait of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.Methods 10 patients with incomplete spinal cord injury accepted robot-assisted walking therapy with Lokomat for 12 weeks. The Lower Extremity Motor Scores (LEMS), step lenth (left and right), double support (left and right), single support (left and right), Symmetry Index (SI), overground gait speed, treadmill training speed, treadmill training distance and the amount of body-weight unload were recorded before,6 weeks and 12 weeks after training. Results All the patients finished the training. There was significant difference in all the indices among those were before, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after training (P<0.001). Conclusion Robot-assisted walking therapy with Lokomat facilitates to improve gait in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the relationships between aspirin resistance (AR) and laboratory indexes and different types of traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)syndrome in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods Two hundred and eight different types of TCM syndromes of patients with acute cerebral infarction admitted from January 2012 to November 2013 in the Neurology Department of Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital were divided into AR group and aspirin sensitive(AS)group according to the rate of AR. Simultaneously,28 healthy volunteers in the same period were assigned in a healthy control group. The changes of red blood cell volume distribution width coefficient of variation(RDW-CV),platelet count(PLT)and homocysteine(Hcy)levels were observed in the three groups. The correlation between different types of TCM syndromes and AR,PLT,RDW-CV,and Hcy was analyzed by non-conditional logistic regression. Results The total incidence of AR was 29.32%(61/208)in 208 patients with acute cerebral infarction. There were 165 cases with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,the incidence of AR being 26.06%(43/165);32 cases with wind phlegm obstructing channel syndrome,the incidence of AR, 43.75%(14/32);11 cases with liver yang hyperactivity syndrome,the incidence of AR,36.36%(4/11);in the comparisons,the incidence rates of AR among the above types of syndromes had no statistical significant differences (P>0.05). Compared with the healthy control group,the levels of PLT,RDW-CV,Hcy in AR group and AS group of various types of TCM syndrome were increased,the PLT and RDW-CV levels in patients with Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome in AR group were more significantly elevated in the comparisons between AR and AS groups, there were statistical significant differences〔PLT (×109/L):212.16±66.48 vs. 187.54±56.85, RDW-CV:(14.34±3.16)% vs.(13.20±2.16)%,both P<0.05〕;the level of Hcy in patients with wind phlegm obstructing channel syndrome in AR group was increased more significantly than that in AS group,the difference between the two groups being statistically significant(μmol/L:27.29±18.64 vs. 21.36±14.61,P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed,increased PLT〔odds ratio(OR)=1.007 2,95%confidence interval(CI):1.001 2-1.013 2,P=0.018 5〕and RDW-CV〔OR=1.165 4,95%CI:1.007 9-1.347 4,P=0.038 8)was independence risk factor of AS development. Conclusion The elevation of RDW-CV,PLT,Hcy in level reflects the index of AR production, especially in patients with acute cerebral infarction accompanied by Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome and wind phlegm obstructing channel syndrome.

Objective To review the clinical experiences of modified Nuss procedure and technique for complicated pectus excavatum. Methods From September 2006 to October 2009,45 children (27 boys and18 girls), aged 3 - 16 years [mean (6.4 ± 3.5 )years] with complicated pectus excavatum underwent modified Nuss procedure. VATS was used in 6 cases. 3 patients associated with lung cyst were treated by open surgery and 1 case with ASD was treated by Hybrid procedure.Results The surgery was successfully performed in all patients. The mean operative time was 54 minutes and the average hospital stay was 7 days. Postoperative evaluation was"excellent"in 30 cases , "good"in 13, and"moderate"in 2. Conclusion Modified Nuss procedure is a safe and effective method for correction of complicated pectus excavatum.

AIM:To investigate the expression level of transcriptional factor Elf-1 in mononuclear cells,CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB). METHODS: Real-time PCR with SYBR green I technique was used for detecting the Elf-1 expression in mononuclear cells,sorted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from 12 cases of umbilical cord blood. The relative mRNA expression level of Elf-1 was analyzed by a formula of 2-△Ct?100%. The expression level of ?2-microglobulin gene (?2M) was used as an endogenous reference. The peripheral blood from 10 cases of healthy adults was served as control. RESULTS: Elf-1 mRNA expressed in all blood samples collected from both UCB and healthy adults. The expression level showed apparent diversity in different individuals. The relative mRNA expression of Elf-1 in both mononuclear cells (18.55%?2.48%) and CD8+T cells (3.52%?0.45%) from UCB were significantly higher than those from healthy adults (9.16%?1.92%,2.02%?0.27%,respectively,P

AIM:To demonstrate the relationship between hormones in follicular fluid and the expression of LH receptor in granulosa cells(GC) in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).METHODS: Follicles were obtained from 12 women with PCOS and 15 women with normal menstrual period through surgery at time between day 7 and day 10 of menstrual cycle.The accumulations of estrogen(E2),progesterone(P),luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and insulin in follicular fluid were determined by a automatism chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay(CMIA) for the quantitative determination.The accumulation of androstenediol(A) was determined by ELISA.The amounts of the mRNA expressions of LH receptors from GC and theca cells(TC) respectively were measured by RT-PCR using ?-actin as intra-control simultaneously.RESULTS: The levels of LH [(3.8?2.1 vs 1.7?0.8)IU/L,P

AIM: To study the effects of taurine at different doses on renal oxidative stress and inflammation induced by paraquat in rats.METHODS: Male SD rats (n=48) were randomly divided into 4 groups: negative control group, paraquat group, paraquat + low-dose taurine group, and paraquat + high-dose taurine group.The serum levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen were detected by a biochemical analyzer.The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by colorimetry.The plasma concentrations of IL-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 were detected by ELISA.Renal reactive oxygen species (ROS) was checked by fluorescence probe dihydroethidium (DHE).The protein levels of renal p-P38 MAPK, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK were determined by Western blot.The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and TGF-β1 was detected by real-time PCR.RESULTS: Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen increased after paraquat poisoning, and decreased after feeding with taurine in poisoned rats, with better result in high-dose taurine group.Taurine reduced the oxidative stress and inflammation in the renal tissue, and also reduced the protein levels of p-JNK, p-ERK1/2 and p-P38 in the kidney of paraquat-poisoned rats.CONCLUSION: Taurine attenuates renal injury induced by paraquat poisoning in rats.The mechanism may be related to reducing renal MAPK activity, oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the effect of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)on oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in the kidney tissues of rats with paraquat poisoning,and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Rats were randomly divided into control group(group A), paraquat exposure group(group B),paraquat exposure+low dose of EGCG group(group C),and paraquat exposure+high dose of EGCG group (group D)(n=10 in each group). Kidney tissues were harvested and observed by HE staining. The level of creatinine was tested by biochemical detector. Serum oxidative stress and inflammatory factor level were detected by ELISA method. Oxidative stress in kidney tissue was determined by Western blotting and colorimetry. Inflammatory factor level in renal tissue was tested by real-time PCR. Results Kidney damage was observed in rats of groups B,C,and D. Rats in groups C and D showed less renal injury than group B,and high dose of EGCG(group D)enhanced kidney damage compared to the low dose(group C). Compared with group A,rats in the groups C and D showed lower level of 8-isoprostane,creatinine, interleukin-6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α)in serum and malondialdehyde(MDA),3-nitrotyrosine(3-NT),and TNF-αand IL-6 mRNA in renal tissue in rats with paraquat poisoning,and group D showed the lowest mRNA level of inflammatory factor and oxidative stress. Con-clusion EGCG has protective effects on the kidney of rats with paraquat poisoning,and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of oxida-tive stress and inflammatory reaction in the kidney.