Objective To investigate the anti-chronic stress effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) transplantation in rats with spinal cord injury.Methods Forty-eight adult SD rats were divided into control group,model group and treatment group according to the random number table,with 16 rats each.In model and treatment groups,lower thoracic (T10) spinal cord injury were constructed using the modified Allen's method.In control group,only laminectomy was performed.After 7 days,100 μl Hank's buffer suspension containing 1.0 × 106 BMSCs was injected into the subarachnoid space of L4-5 intervertebral space of rats in control group and treatment group.While in model group,only the equal volume of Hank's buffer was used.Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale was performed to evaluate hindlimb motor function in rats.At postoperative 14 and 28 days,blood samples were collected to measure adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),norepinephrine (NE),epinephrine (E) and corticosterone (CORT) using the ELISA method;brains were harvested for the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor proteins GluR1 and GluR2 immunohistochemical staining.Results After injury,BBB scores in model and treatment groups were similar,but both were lower than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).After BMSCs transplantation,BBB score in treatment group [21 d:(9.85 ± 0.82)points and 28 d:(11.23 ±0.68)points] improved continuously compared to model group [21 d:(8.42 ± 0.39) points and 28 d:(8.84 ± 0.25) points],but all were lower than that in control group [(21.00 ±0.00)points,P ＜0.05].ACTH contents in model and treatment groups at 14d [(104.80±6.16) and (98.50 ± 4.07) pg/ml] and 28 d [(101.40±2.33) and (96.50± 2.28) pg/ml] were higher than those in control group [(90.40 ± 1 1.36) and (83.20 ± 5.22) pg/ml] (P ＜ 0.05).CORT contents in model and treatment groups [(44.40 ± 1.44) and (43.30 ± 1.17) ng/ml] was lower than that in control group [(48.20 ± 2.27) ng/ml] at 14 d,but were found to be elevated [(70.40 ± 1.90) and (61.40 ± 1.83) ng/ml] compared to control group [(46.40 ± 1.49) ng/ml] at 28 d (P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,the CORT content in treatment group was lower than that in model group (P ＜ 0.05).Changes in NE and E contents among the groups were similar with ACTH.Immunohistochemical staining suggested the amounts of GluR1 and GluR2 positive cells in treatment group lowered compared to control group (P ＜ 0.05),but increased in model group compared to control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion BMSCs transplantation can improve the hindlimb motor function,contribute to reducing the secretion of stress-related hormones ACTH,CORT,NE and E,and down-regulate the expression of AMPA receptor proteins GluR1 and GluR2 in rats with spinal cord injury,suggesting a potential role in antichronic stress.

Objective To know the effect of low level exposure of toluene on conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. Methods 60 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 10 in each. 4 groups were treated respectively with toluene by inspiration of 328.6, 1 026.8mg/m3, OB-impaired+toluene 328.6 mg/m3, OB-impaired+1 026.8 mg/m3 in a closed chambers for 4 weeks (5 days/week, 6 hours/day) and 2 groups were taken as the control, OB-impaired control, blank control. The addiction and the generating electricity of the OB were examined by CCP chamber and the system of PowerLab. Results Compared with the blank group, in the toluene 328.6 and 1 026.8 mg/m3 groups the time in the light chamber was longer (P

Objective To explore the application of steatosis liver donor (SLD) in piggyback liver transplantation (PBLT). Methods Sixty-four cases of SLD were subjected to PBLT and classified into light steatosis liver (S1,22 cases),moderate steatosis liver (S2,25 cases),and severe steatosis liver (S3,17 cases) groups.Eighty cases of non fatty liver selected randomly in the same period served as controls. The liver and renal function at the day of surgery,postoperative liver function recovery,complications one month after surgery,and the death of recipients were recorded.Results There was no significant difference in the liver and renal function between steatosis liver groups and control group at the day of surgery (P＞0.05). At 21st day after surgery,the liver function of 95％ recipients in control group returned to the normal level,and the liver function recovery rate in S1,S2 and S3 groups was 90.9％,80.0％,and 70.6％ respectively.Graft primary nonfunction occurred in 2 cases (11.8％) of S3 group. The incidence of complications such as bleeding,infection,hepatic artery thrombosis,ascites,sepsis in S1,S2 and S3 groups was higher than in control group (P＜0.05).One year after operation,there were two deaths in control group,one in S1 group,one in S2 group,and 5 in S3 group,respectively.Conclusion SLD can be used for transplantation,but for the transplantation with severe steatosis liver,it should be carried out carefully.

BACKGROUND: 5-azacytidine (5-Aza) has been frequently used to induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)differentiation into cardiomyocyte.OBJECTIVE: To observe expression of cardiomyocyte-related receptors in cardiomyogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs.METHODS: BMSCs of passage three were assigned to four groups: group Ⅰ: L-DMEM solution alone was replaced; Ⅱ:L-DMEM solution was replaced after induction of 100 mg/L AST+5 μmol/L 5-Aza for 24 hours; group Ⅲ: L-DMEM solution wasreplaced after induction of 10 μmol/L 5-Aza for 24 hours; and group Ⅳ: L-DMEM solution was replaced after induction of 5 μmol/L5-Aza for 24 hours. Culture medium was replaced every 3 days in each group. Differentiated cells were identified after 30 days ofinduction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Expression of cardiomyocyte specific proteins Nkx2.5, cTnT and Desmin was detected in groupsⅢ, Ⅳ and Ⅱ after induction compared with group Ⅰ , with significant differences (P < 0.01). The amount of cTnT and Desminexpression expression was significantly higher in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ compared with group Ⅳ (P < 0.01). The level of Nkx2.5expression was significantly higher in groups Ⅱ (P < 0.01) and Ⅲ (P < 0.05) compared with group Ⅳ. No Nkx2.5, cTnT andDesmin espression was detected in group Ⅰ. After induction for 2 weeks, cells with spontaneous contractility were observed ingroups Ⅱ and Ⅲ, indicating differentiation towards cardiomyocyte after induction. Results demonstrated that induction effectswere similar between 100 mg/L AST+5 μmol/L 5-Aza and 10 μmol/L 5-Aza. This may contribute to cytoprotective effects of AST,which can promote vascular endothelial cell proliferation, enhance celss tolerance to 5-Aza-induced cytotoxicity and upregulatecardiac-specific protein expression.

Objective To explore the influence of percutaneous gastrostomy-jejunostomy ( PEG-J) on the nutritional status and prognosis of critically ill patients in ICU .Methods Totally 58 patients who received me-chanical ventilation in the ICU of Changshu No .1 People's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 were di-vided into two groups according to random number table:treatment group ( n=28, enteral nutrition by establis-hing PEG-J tube in 120 hours after excluding contraindications );and control group ( n=30, nasogastric tube as the way of giving enteral nutrition and if delayed gastric emptying happened , nasogastric tube would be replaced by nasointestinal tube).The incidence of ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) within 28 days, duration of ICU stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were compared between these two groups .Results The inci-dence of 28-day VAP (7.14%vs.26.67%, P=0.049), duration of ICU stay [ (13.6 ±5.9) d vs.(16.8 ± 4.4) d, P=0.024], duration of mechanical ventilation [ (8.1 ±5.0) d vs.(10.7 ±4.5) d, P=0.041] were significantly lower or shorter in treatment group than in control group .Conclusions The use of PEG-J tube for enteral nutrition in critically ill patients is reliable and safe .It also helps to reduce VAP .

Objective To investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation on the temperature over the body surface projection area of intestines in patients with functional constipation. Methods A total of 30 patients with functional constipation were randomly divided into a electro-acupuncture stimulation group and a false stimulation group, with 15 patients in each group. The patients in the electro-acupuncture stimulation recived electro-acupuncture at bilateral points of Tianshu, Fujie and upper Juxu for 8 weeks, a total of 28 times stimulation;the patients in the false stimulation group received false electro-acupuncture at fake bilateral points beside Tianshu, Fujie and upper Juxu for the same stimulation period. Medical infrared thermal imager was adopted to record the temperatures over the body surface projection area of ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and small intestine. Results The temperature over the body surface projection area of of the ascending colon(33.35±0.96 ℃ vs. 34.62±1.15 ℃;t=2.977, P=0.010), transverse colon(33.32±0.97 ℃ vs. 34.60±1.23 ℃; t=2.839, P=0.013), descending colon(33.36±0.98 ℃ vs. 34.64±1.18 ℃; t=2.892, P=0.012), the small intestine(33.31±0.97 ℃ vs. 34.57±1.22 ℃; t=2.763, P=0.015)showed significant lower than those before the stimulation in the electro-acupuncture stimulation group. The temperature over the body surface projection area of of the ascending colon(33.74±1.25 ℃ vs. 34.52±1.64 ℃; t=1.701, P=0.111) transverse colon (33.71±1.27℃vs. 34.47±1.65℃;t=1.643, P=0.123), descending colon(33.72±1.25 ℃vs. 34.52±1.66 ℃; t=1.710, P=0.109), the small intestine(33.70±1.28 ℃ vs. 34.51±1.65 ℃; t=1.744, P=0.103)showed no significant different than those before the stimulation in the false stimulation group. Conclusion Electro-acupuncture stimulation can decrease the temperature over the body surface projection area of the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and small intestine.

A high sensitive and rapid method was developed for the analysis of lappaconitine in mouse plasma using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Detection was performed by positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 585 --> m/z 535 and m/z 356 --> m/z 192, for the quantification of lappaconitine and tetrahydropalmatine (internal standard, IS), respectively. The method was linear over the concentration range of 3.0-2000.0 ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 3.0 ng x mL(-1). Intra- and inter-run precisions (RSD) were both less than 9.9% and accuracy (RE) within +/- 4.8%. After single intravenous injections of lappaconitine hydrobromide at 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg x kg(-1), the elimination half-lives (t(1/2)) were 0.47, 0.48 and 0.49 h, and the areas under the curve (AUC(0-t)) were 55.5, 110.5 and 402.9 ng x h x mL(-1), separately. The pharmacokinetic profile of lappaconitine was linear at relatively lower dose levels (1.0-2.0 mg x kg(-1)). When the dose increased farther to 4.0 mg x kg(-1), the Vz and CL decreased, and the increase fold of the AUC was much larger than that of the dose.

Objective:To explore the reliability and validity of the modified extended Barthel index (MEBI) scale in evaluating the ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 175 stroke patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated using the MEBI scale, the Barthel index (BI), the mo-dified Barthel index (MBI), the extended Barthel index (EBI) and functional independence measures (FIM). The MEBI scale scores were related with the other measurements. The MEBI scale′s internal reliability, external reliability, content validity, calibration validity and construct validity were analyzed.Results:The functional level correspondence between the MEBI ratings and the other results was relatively clear. The Cronbach′s α of the MEBI scale was 0.937 and its Spearman-Brown correlation was 0.894. The scale′s test-retest ICC was 0.980 and its inter-rater ICC was 0.964. The ρ correlation coefficients between MEBI scale item scores and the total score were all greater than 0.5, and the ρ correlation coefficients between the MEBI scale scores and the EBI, MBI, BI and FIM results were all greater than 0.9. After rotation by the maximum variance method, three common factors could be extracted: self-care and mobility; cognition and emotion; and sphincter control.Conclusions:The MEBI scale has a clear structure and excellent reliability and validity. It is well worth further exploration and application in clinical practice.

Predicting the termination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) may provide a signal to decide whether there is a need to intervene the AF timely. We proposed a novel RdR RR intervals scatter plot in our study. The abscissa of the RdR scatter plot was set to RR intervals and the ordinate was set as the difference between successive RR intervals. The RdR scatter plot includes information of RR intervals and difference between successive RR intervals, which captures more heart rate variability (HRV) information. By RdR scatter plot analysis of one minute RR intervals for 50 segments with non-terminating AF and immediately terminating AF, it was found that the points in RdR scatter plot of non-terminating AF were more decentralized than the ones of immediately terminating AF. By dividing the RdR scatter plot into uniform grids and counting the number of non-empty grids, non-terminating AF and immediately terminating AF segments were differentiated. By utilizing 49 RR intervals, for 20 segments of learning set, 17 segments were correctly detected, and for 30 segments of test set, 20 segments were detected. While utilizing 66 RR intervals, for 18 segments of learning set, 16 segments were correctly detected, and for 28 segments of test set, 20 segments were detected. The results demonstrated that during the last one minute before the termination of paroxysmal AF, the variance of the RR intervals and the difference of the neighboring two RR intervals became smaller. The termination of paroxysmal AF could be successfully predicted by utilizing the RdR scatter plot, while the predicting accuracy should be further improved.
Atrial Fibrillation ; diagnosis ; Computer Systems ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Machine Learning

The gait rehabilitation robots for stroke are responding to the development of the understanding of stroke rehabilitation, but still some challenges for application may be faced to, as found in AutoAmbulator. Some advices were dicussed from the view of the practice.