Intelligent prosthesis is going to be a research focus recently with the increment of the transfemoral amputees and the devel-opment of microelectronic technology, control technology and so on. As the fundamental part of the lower extremity prosthetics, the knee prostheses with high performance is still hard to design. This paper reviewed the development of the intelligent knee prostheses, classified the current available prostheses in the term of construction design, and discussed the drawback of their design and the trend of the further de-velopment.

Purpose To assess the effect of pelvicfloor electrical stimulation treatment by transperineal sonography, so as to provide guidance for postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation.Materials and Methods Thirty-one delivery women who received postpartum pelvicfloor rehabilitation were selected as research group and 30 non-pregnant young women as control group in the study. Pelvicfloor electromyography treatment was taken in research group, and transperineal sonography was undergone in quiet state and pressure state (Valsalva operation) before treatment, after the fifth treatment and after the tenth treatment respectively to measure the bladder neck to the public symphysis edge distance (Dr, Ds), bladder neck angle (θr,θs) and bladder rotation angle (θ). A comparison was made between the research group and control group.Results①Dr and Ds in research group were both lower than those in control group (P<0.05), butθr,θs andθ were all higher than those in control group (P<0.05).②Dr and Ds showed a gradual increase (P<0.05) whilstθr presented a gradual decrease before the treatment, after the fifth treatment and after the tenth treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Natural childbirth may damage the function of pelvicfloor; electrical stimulation of pelvic therapy is effective on postpartum pelvicfloor rehabilitation; and transperineal sonography can objectively assess the effect of this therapy.

Objective To explore the influence of various concentrations of amino acid on the stability of neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions .Methods Five formulations were designed with 5 different amino acid concentrations containing the same components .The final amino acid concentrations of admixtures were 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 3.5%, respectively .The appearance , pH, and osmolality were observed or meas-ured after preparation (0 hour) and at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after preparation.The average size and the size distribution of the lipid globules were also evaluated by laser nanometer particle size analyzer .Results There was no observable alteration in color , phase separation , precipitate , and flocculation in any admixture at any of the observation time points.The mean pH values for all groups were between (5.49 ±0.01) to (6.19 ±0.01) within 72 hours.The mean osmolalities for all groups were between (774 ±3) to (1106 ±13) mOsm/kg.The mean diameters of lipid globules for all groups were between (280.6 ±0.7 ) mm to (332.2 ±2.0 ) nm.The mean polydispersity for all groups were between (0.200 ±0.011) to (0.245 ±0.012).The enrichment of ami-no acid concentration was linked to lower pH ( P=0.000 ) , higher osmolality ( P=0.000 ) and larger average lipid globules size ( P=0.000 ) .However , there was no distinct linear dependence between amino acid concen -tration and polydispersity value ( P=0.628 ) .Conclusion After 72 hours of storage at room temperature , the appearance, pH, osmolality, and the average lipid globules diameter of the parenteral nutrition solutions are within the safe range when the amino acid is not contained or the concentrations are no more than 3.5%.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on GSKbeta/IDE signal transduction pathway and Abeta protein secretion in hippocampal neurons of high glucose-treated rats.

METHODHippocampal neurons of 24 h-old newly born SD rats were primarily cultured, inoculated in culture medium under different conditions, and then divided into the normal group, the high glucose group, the LiCl group and the Rb1 group. After being cultured for 72 h, the expressions of their phosphorylated GSK3beta, total GSK3beta and IDE protein were detected by Western blotting analysis. The mRNA expressions of GSK3beta and IDE were determined by RT-PCR. The ELISA assay was used to detect the secretion of Abeta protein in cell supernatant.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the high glucose group showed increase in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the secretion of Abeta protein and decrease in IDE protein and mRNA (P < 0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, both Rb1 and LiCl groups showed decrease in the p/tGSK3beta protein ratio and the expression of Abeta protein and increase in IDE protein and mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Compared with the LiCl group, the Rb1 group showed no significant difference in the expressions of p/tGSK3beta protein, IDE protein, mRNA and Abeta protein expression. In addition, the GSK3beta mRNA expression of the four groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rb1 may reduce the secretion of Abeta protein in hippocampal neurons by reducing the phosphorylation of GSK3beta, down-regulating the ratio of pGSK3beta/GSK3beta and upregulating the expression of IDE.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Animals ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; adverse effects ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; adverse effects ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulysin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To study the effects of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)decoy oligodeoxynucleotide(ODN)on the preeclamptic umbilical serum induced expression of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)in cultured human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMC).Methods Primary cultured HUASMC of normal pregnancy were divided into four groups: group A(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of normal pregnancy);group B(HUASMC were incubated with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group C(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B cis decoy ODN 48 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia);group D(HUASMC were transfected with NF-?B scramble ODN 24 h before incubation with umbilical serum of preeclampsia).NF-?B cis decoy ODN and NF-?B scramble ODN were transfected with cationic lipofectamine to the latter two groups,respectively.The proliferation of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium and the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression levels of precollagen Ⅰ,Ⅲ mRNA were detected by RT-PCR,the expression levels of TNF-? were detected by western blot.Results(1)The proliferation of group B(0.19?0.02)and group D(0.18?0.03)was significantly increased as compared with those of group A(0.11?0.02)and group C(0.14?20.02)(P0.05).(5)The expression of TNF-? of group B(0.74?0.11),group C(0.36?0.09)and group D(0.79?0.12)were significantly higher than that of group A(0.15?0.03)(P0.05).Conclusions NF-?B cis decoy ODN could down-regulate the proliferation,as well as the expression levels of precollagen and TNF-? of HUASMC induced by umbilical serum of preeclampsia.NF-?B may play an important role in the pathogenesis of placental artery abnormalities in preeclampsia.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; enzymology ; prevention & control ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Yeast, Dried ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDWe investigated the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes, and detected the expression of scavenger receptor CD36 in monocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODSAccording to the criteria by WHO, diabetic patients were classified into two groups: well controlled diabetic patients (WCP) and poorly controlled diabetic patients (PCP). The expression of CD36 protein and mRNA were evaluated by flow cytometry and reversal transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma levels of accumulation of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) were directly measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTSFlow cytometry and RT-PCR showed that the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD36 in monocyte and CD36 mRNA were significantly higher in the PCP and WCP in comparison with healthy controls (P<0.01). CD36 MFI and mRNA in the PCP were increased by 78% and 36% compared to the WCP. In both groups, CD36 MFI and mRNA were significantly higher in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis in comparison with those without diabetic atherosclerosis (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in CD14 expression between the groups (P>0.05). The concentrations of plasma oxLDL were higher in the PCP group compared to WCP and control group (P<0.05), whereas oxLDL average values did not differ significantly between WCP and control groups (P>0.05). In the WCP and PCP groups, oxLDL levels were higher in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis than those without diabetic atherosclerosis (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe increased expression of scavenger receptor CD36 may be one of the mechanism of accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic. The poorly controlled diabetes patients are at higher risk for the vascular complications than the well controlled diabetic patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; CD36 Antigens ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Regression Analysis

Background We investigated the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in diabetes, and detected the expression of scavenger receptor CD36 in monocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods According to the criteria by WHO, diabetic patients were classified into two groups: well controlled diabetic patients (WCP) and poorly controlled diabetic patients (PCP). The expression of CD36 protein and mRNA were evaluated by flow cytometry and reversal transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma levels of accumulution of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) were directly measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Results Flow cytometry and RT-PCR showed that the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD36 in monocyte and CD36 mRNA were significantly higher in the PCP and WCP in comparison with healthy controls (P<0.01). CD36 MFI and mRNA in the PCP were increased by 78% and 36% compared to the WCP. In both groups, CD36 MFI and mRNA were significantly higher in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis in comoparison with those without diabetic atherosclerosis (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in CD14 expression between the groups (P>0.05). The concentrations of plasma oxLDL were higher in the PCP group compared to WCP and control group (P<0.05), whereas oxLDL average values did not differ significantly between WCP and control groups (P>0.05). In the WCP and PCP groups, oxLDL levels were higher in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis than those without diabetic atherosclerosis (P<0.05).Conclusions The increased expression of scavenger receptor CD36 may be one of the mechanism of accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic. The poorly controlled diabetes patients are at higher risk for the vascular complications than the well controlled diabetic patients.

Objective To study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) ,and to explore the risk factors of MS in young women. Methods The prevalence of MS and its components were evaluated in 348 young women with PCOS and 113 control subjects without PCOS. Results According to the 2005 modified Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ criteria,MS was found in 27.0% of PCOS women,being significantly higher than 10.6% in the controls(P<0.01). The rates of MS components,except for the triglyceride (TG) level, were all significantly higher in PCOS subjects than those in control subjects ( P < 0. 05 or P < 0.01). However, the difference disappeared after adjustment for age and body mass index ( BMI, P>0. 05). The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)and BMI were the independent predictors of MS( both P<0.01) ,and the presence of PCOS was not the independent risk factor for MS (P>0. 05). Conclusions Obesity and insulin resistance are the independent predictors of MS. PCOS alone does not increase the risk of MS prevalence.

ObjectiveTo compare the sensitivity and specificity of a new index of insulin resistance (IR) derived from plasma triglyceride and glucose with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index ( HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index from frequent sampling intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT-ISI).Methods A total of 1024 subjects (240 normal control,335 with obesity,312 impaired glucose regulation,and 137 type 2 diabetes mellitus) were included in the present study.Standard oral glucose tolerance test,insulin release test,lipid profiles,and other biochemical markers were measured. Among them 540 subjects were selected to undertake FSIGT.TyG index is derived from plasma triglyceride and fasting glucose.TyG2 index is derived from plasma triglyceride and postprandial 2 plasma glucose.ResultsPearson correlation coefficient between TyG and HOMA-IR or FSIGT-ISI was 0.427 ( P＜0.01 ) and -0.100 ( P=0.024 ),respectively,and that between TyG2 and HOMA-IR or FSIGT-ISI was 0.455 ( P＜0.01 ) and - 0.162 ( P＜0.01 ),respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of TyG index for diagnosis of IR was 68.5％ and 63.5％ compared with HOMA-IR,and 68.5％ and49.5％ compared with FSIGT-ISI.For TyG2 index,the slightly higher sensitivity ( 81.7％ with HOMA-IR,75.7％ with FSIGT-ISI),but lower specificity (51.5％ with HOMA-IR,48.2％ with FSIGT-ISI) were found.ConclusionsBothTyGandTyG2 indices could be used as a surrogate for assessing IR in Chinese subjects.However,considering its moderately high sensitivity but low specificity,these two indices are limited in the use of large-scale epidemiological screening.