Objective To investigate pathophysiological changes in the multifidus muscles of patients with lumbar disc herniation.Methods Thirty-six patients with unilateral symptoms caused by lumbar disc herniation were enrolled.They were divided into a symptomatic side group and a contralateral side group according to whether their symptomatic (algetic) or contralateral side would be studied.The percentage area of pimelosis and the mean gross signal intensity of each multifidus were measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)_ The amplitude and duration of motor unit potentials of each multifidus were recorded using electromyography (EMG) when the patients were performing isometric contraction.Results The bilateral multifidus muscles of 36 patients displayed various degrees of pimelosis on magnetic resonance images.The percentage of pimelosis cross-sectional area in the symptomatic side group was significantly higher than in the contralateral side group.[(44.20 ± 15.14)％ versus(37.31 ± 13.85)％,P ＜ 0.05] The mean value of the gross signal intensity was also significantly higher.Both the amplitudes and duration of the motor unit potentials recroded from the multifidus had increased and widened,but significantly more in the symptomatic side group than in the contralateral side group.Conclusions Both the imaging and electrophysiological data showed more significant changes on the symptomatic side in patients with unilateral symptoms caused by lumbar disc herniation.

In this paper a new type of cerebral circulation is introduced, including the basic principal, parameter algorithms and equipment design. The analyzer is developed on the basis of previous cerebral circulation analyzer and combined with the latest development of hemodynamics. It has the advantages of previous analyzer and overcomes its shortcomings frequently encountered in clinical that unable to finish the analysis without detection of all the intracranial vessels. It provides new functional module and adds indices such as hydraulic power, carotidshear stress, comprehensive index etc. This analyzer can be used for cerebral circulation dynamic analysis and auxiliary diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases.
Algorithms ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; diagnosis ; Equipment Design ; Hemodynamics ; Humans

Objective: To evaluate the effect of parallel scalp acupuncture therapy on hemodynamic function of cerebral circulation in post-stroke patients. Methods: Twenty post-stroke patients were taken as our objects. The cerebral circulation indices before and after parallel acupuncture therapy, were detected with KF-3000 Brain Circulation Analyze, to compare the change of hemodynamics indexes before and after parallel scalp acupuncture. Results: After the therapy, minimum and mean blood velocity of carotid artery (Vmin and Vmean) increased significantly (P<0.001); peripheral resistance (Rc) decreased significantly (P<0.001). And the other indices had no significant differences. Conclusion: Parallel Scalp Acupuncture can improve the state of cerebrovascular autoregulation, raise the velocity of blood, decrease the peripheral resistance, and increase the steady energy, total energy and the ratio of kinetic energy to total energy, decrease the ratio of oscillatory kinetic energy to total kinetic energy.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of gene therapy on the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE-2 by using the combination of TRAIL gene with hTERT promoter. METHODS Total RNA was ex-tracted from PBL (peripheral blood lymphocytes)whose proliferation had been stimulated. TRAIL gene with interleukin 2 signal peptide gene was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the vector pGL3-181hTE down-stream to the RT promoter to form an eukaryotic vector. The vector was transfected into CNE-2 cells and HL-7702 cells through lipofection. Flow cytometry (FCM), agarose gel electrophoresis and cell morphology were used to examine the cell apoptosis. RESULTS In tranfected nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE-2, FCM analysis showed that apoptotic peak appeared before G1 phase. A ladder-like pattern of DNA fragmentation appeared upon agarose gel electrophoresis. Many cells exhibited apoptotic changes such as cell shrinkage , nulear condensation , and nuclear fragmenta-tion under transmission electron microscope (TEM). CONCLUSION The recombinant eukaryotic ex-pression vector for TRAIL gene driven by hTERT pro-moter was successfully constructed and shown to induced apoptosis in CNE-2 cells. The results suggest that TRAIL may be a promising target for gene therapy of NPC.

Objective To observe among stroke survivors the timing of muscle activation at the stance phase during walking using the surface electromyography ( sEMG) combined with 3D gait analysis. Methods Twenty stroke survivors assessed as at Brunnstrom stages Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ were assigned to groups designated Ⅲ, Ⅳ and V. sEMG and 3D gait analysis were used to assess the activation timing of the bilateral rectus femoris ( RF) and biceps femoris ( BF) , the tibialis anterior ( TA) and the gastrocnemius medialis ( GM) . The activation timing and the dura-tion of activation of the muscles were compared among the 3 groups, as well as with those of healthy muscles. Results The onset time of the RF on the affected side was significantly later than on the healthy side, while that of the GM was significant earlier. The durations of BF and GM activation on the affected side were significantly shorter than on the unaffected side in group III. The onset times of the TA and GM on the affected side were significantly ear-lier than on the healthy side in group IV, as was the onset time of the TA of the affected side in group V. The average RF and BF onset times on the affected side in group Ⅳ were significantly earlier than in group Ⅲ. The onset time of the TA on the unaffected side and the average BF onset time on the affected side in group Ⅴ were significantly later than in group IV. The onset time of the RF and TA on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ and the onset time of the GM on the affected side were significantly later than in group III, while the onset time of the BF and TA on the affected side was significantly earlier. The average duration of BF activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅳ was significant-ly shorter than that of group Ⅲ. The average duration of TA activation on the unaffected side in group Ⅴ was signifi-cantly shorter than that of group IV. The duration of RF activation on the affected side in group Ⅴ was significantly shorter than that in group Ⅲ, and the same was true of the RF, BF, TA and GM activation times on the healthy side. Conclusions There are significant differences in the onset and duration of muscle activation when stroke survivors at different stages of recovery walk. Some muscles are activated too early and others are over-activated. These abnormali-ties gradually disappear with the recovery of motor function.

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (hydrogen sulfide, H2S) and its rate-limiting enzyme Cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in allergic rhinitis through guinea pigs with intervention treatment. METHOD: Twenty-four guinea pigs were divide into 4 groups at random, one group were models of allergic rhinitis (AR) which were established by using ovalbumin, the second group were treated with NaHS after sensitized, the third group were treated with Propargylglycine (PPG) which was suppression of CSE after sensitized, and the last group were treated with saline for control. The concentration of eotaxin of nasal lavage and H2S in plasma were recorded, and then the expression of CSE in nasal mucosa was determined by real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. RESULT: The concentration of eotaxin in nasal lavage of sensitized group were higher than those of control (P < 0.01), and concentration of H2S in plasma and expression of CSE in nasal mucosa were lower than control (P < 0.05). The concentration of eotaxin decreased when treated with NaHS and increased when treated with PGG (P < 0.05). Level of H2S in plasma and expression of CSE increased when treated with NaHS and decreased when treated with PGG (P < 0.05), and the level of H2S was positive linear correlate with the expression of CSE. CONCLUSION Endogenous H2S perhaps plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, and it was mainly regulated by CSE.
Animals ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Rhinitis ; metabolism

Objective To observe the effect of core stability training on lumbar disc herniation using changes in surface-electromyography signals from the core muscles.Methods Sixty patients with lumbar disc herniation were equally divided into an experimental group who were given the core stability training in addition to their regular physical therapy and a control group given the regular physical therapy only.The total course of treatment was 8 weeks.Each patient was assessed before the experiment and after 4 and 8 weeks of the intervention using the numeric rating scales of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association,the Oswestry disability index and integrated electromyogram (iEMG),root mean square (RMS) and medium frequency (MF) of the electromyographic signals from the rectus abdominis,obliqus externus abdominis,erector spinae,lumbar multifidus and gluteus medius muscles.Results No significant differences between the two groups were observed in any of the measurements before or after four weeks of the treatment.After 4 and 8 weeks of treatment,both groups had significant improvements in all of the measurements compared with before the experiment.Between 4 and 8 weeks the experimental group showed significant improvement in all of the measurements which was not matched in the control group.By the end of the treatment,all of the measurements of the experimental group were,on average,significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusions Both core stability training and regular physical therapy have similar effects on patients with lumbar disc herniation in the short term.However,continued core stability training improves the ability of core muscles and relieves pain and dysfunction better than prolonged regular physical therapy.

Objective:To explore the effect of Lokomat training on the walking ability of stroke survivors with lower limb spasm.Methods:Eighty stroke survivors with lower limb spasm were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 40. Their routine rehabilitation treatment included normal limb positioning, passive joint movement, turnover training and inclined bed standing training. In addition, the control group underwent flat-ground walking training, while the observation group was given Lokomat training 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Both groups were evaluated after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in terms of their walking ability, degree of lower limb spasm, lower limb motor functioning, balance and ability in the activities of daily life.Results:After 4 and 8 weeks the number of patients walking independently was significantly greater in the observation group. Their average stride frequency, step length on the affected side, support phase time and proportion of weight borne on the affected side were all significantly better than the control group′s averages. At both time points significantly more patients of the observation group had normal lower limb muscle tone. The observation group′s average Fugl-Meyer score, Berg Balance Scale score and modified Barthel Index score had improved significantly compared with those before the treatment, and were significantly better than the control group′s averages at the same time point. After 8 weeks of treatment the average walking speed of the observation group was faster than that of the control group.Conclusions:Lokomat training can significantly improve the walking ability of stroke survivors with lower limb spasm in the short term. Longer-term training can consolidate the effect and further improve the walking speed, motor function in the lower limbs, balance and even facility in daily life activities, as well as relieving spasm.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neoplasia of fossa orbitalis, hard palate and the anterior skull base defect by making use of mucoperiosteal flap of nasal septum. METHOD: A retrospective study was reviewed in 12 patients with tumors in nasal cavity and nasal sinuses. According to tumor character and range, by partial or total maxillectomy and ethmoidectomy, fossa orbitalis, hard palate and the anterior skull base defects were repaired synchronously on the heels of resection of the tumors which damaged fossa orbitalis, hard palate and the anterior skull base. RESULT: Among the 12 patients there were 5 patients with the destructions on ethmoidal horizontal plate, 2 patients with the destructions on hanging wall of ethmoid, 1 patient with the destruction on hanging wall of fossa orbitalis, 1 patient with the destruction on medial wall of fossa orbitalis and on floor of orbit respectively, 2 patients with the destructions on hard palate and all the destructions were repaired following detection synchronously. There were no complications of surgical death, cerebrospinal fluid leaks, encephalomeningocele. CONCLUSION During the operation of tumor in nasal cavity and/or nasal sinuses when defect of fossa orbitalis, hard palate and anterior skull base were found and the defects need repair, we can take advantages of mucoperiosteal flap of nasal septum to perform the transplantation of mucoperiosteal flap in order to avoid forming local defect.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum ; surgery ; Orbit ; surgery ; Palate, Hard ; surgery ; Periosteum ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps