Objective:To observe the effect of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling (FES-cycling) on lower limb motor function early after a stroke.Methods:Thirty-seven survivors of a recent stroke were divided into a tDCS treatment group ( n=18) and a pseudo-stimulation group ( n=19). While receiving routine rehabilitation training and clinical drug treatment, the tDCS treatment group also cycled in response to functional electrical stimulation while simultaneously receiving tDCS anode stimulation of the motor cortex M1 area. The pseudo-stimulation group followed the same protocol but with the tDCS stimulation inactivated. Both groups were treated for 20min daily, 5 days weekly for 4 weeks. Before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the lower limb motor function, walking ability and ability in the activities of daily living of both groups were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale for the lower extremities (FMA-LE), the timed up and go test (TUGT) and the modified Barthel index (MBI) respectively. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to detect each subject′s cerebral cortex motor threshold (CMT) , cortical latency (CL) and central motor conduction time (CMCT) as well as the amplitude (Amp) of the motor evoked potential of the lower limb primary motor cortex (M1 area). Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, the average FMA-LE and MBI scores and TUGT times of the two groups had improved significantly compared with those before treatment. The average FMA-LE score and TUGT time of the tDCS group were significantly better than those of the pseudo-stimulation group. The average CMT, CL and CMCT in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention, while the average Amp had increased significantly, but there were significant differences in the average CMT, Amp, CL and CMCT between the two groups after the 4 weeks of treatment.Conclusions:Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cycling assisted by functional electrical stimulation can effectively stimulate excitability in the motor cortex soon after a stroke. That should promote the recovery of nerve activity and lower limb function.

Objective:To observe the clinical parameters and short-term prognosis of Tibetan high-altitude area children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgery and anaesthesia in low-altitude area,and to investigate the perioperative safety of the treatment.Methods:From January,2016 to December,2016,14 children with congenital heart disease who underwent surgery were assigned into 2 groups (n=7 each):the high-altitude area group (X group,children from Tibetan Autonomous Region) and the low-altitude area group (H group,children from Hunan Province).Echocardiography data,perioperative hemodynamic changes,postoperative recovery,complication and perioperative serum N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were recorded.Results:There were no significant differences in cardiac structure and function between the 2 groups,while the incidence of pulmonary hypertension in the X group was significantly higher than that in the H group (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in perioperative hemodynamics between the 2 groups (P＞0.05),while the duration in ICU in the X group was longer than that in the H group and the serum NT-proBNP level in the X group was higher than that in the H group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:For children with congenital heart disease in Tibetan high-altitude area,undergoing surgery in low-altitude area contributes to a steady perioperative hemodynamics and helps to increase the perioperative safety.There may be a higher risk of postoperative cardiac dysfunction in Tibetan children than that in low-altitude area.

Objective To study the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1a(HIF-1α) at mRNA and protein levels in the early stage of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats and its role.Methods (1) Experiment 1:thirty-six postnatal 7-day SD rats were divided into Sham group (n =6) and model group (HIBD,n =30) according to the random table method,then the rats in the model group were divided into 5 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice after HIBD(6 h,12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h,n =6).The expression levels of HIF-1cα mRNA and protein were detected by quantitative Real-time PCR(qPCR) and Western blot,respectively.(2) Experiment 2:forty-five postnatal 7-day SD rats were randomized into 3 groups:Sham group (n =15),HIBD group (n =15) and 2-methoxyestradiol(2ME2) group(n =15).According to the experiment 1,at the time point of the highest expression levels of HIF-1 α mRNA and protein,rats were killed and the brains were collected.The location and expression of HIF-1 α protein were detected by immunofluorescence,histopathological changes of brain were observed by HE staining,brain water content was measured by dry-wet method,cell apoptosis was detected by nick end labeling(TUNEL) method.Results At the early stage of HIBD,the expression levels of HIF-1 α mRNA and protein increased at first and then decreased,and the mRNA expression level (3.38 ± 0.21) and protein expression level (2.81 ± 0.36) were the highest at 24 h after HIBD.In Sham group,HIF-1 α protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm,while in HIBD group it was mainly expressed in the nucleus.The number of HIF-1α staining positive cells,brain water content and apoptosis rate were significantly different among Sham group,HIBD group and 2ME2 group (all P ＜ 0.05),and which were significantly lower in 2ME2 group than those in HIBD group (all P ＜ 0.05),and the pathological changes were also less serious than those in HIBD group.Conclusions The mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1 α are the highest at 24 h after HIBD.Inhibiting the expression of HIF-1 α can ameliorate the brain damage of neonatal rats induced by hypoxia-ischemia.Therefore,it is hypothesized that HIF-1α may cause injury in the early stage of HIBD in neonatal rats.

Objective:Investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and sarcopenia in a Chinese elderly population.Methods:Participants in this cross-sectional study were recruited from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study. The study population comprised 2 423 participants, with mean age of (67.6±5.2) years. Sarcopenia was defined based on the guidelines of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. Three dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis: fruit and sweet pattern, traditional oriental pattern, and animal food pattern. The association between quartile categories of dietary pattern scores and the presence of sarcopenia was analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Odds ratios ( OR) and 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Results:The prevalence of sarcopenia was 16.1%. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the lowest quartile, the adjusted OR ( 95%CI) of sarcopenia for the highest quintile of Fruit and sweet pattern score, Traditional oriental pattern score and Animal food pattern score were 1.06 (0.74, 1.50), 0.54 (0.34, 0.86), and 0.50 (0.33, 0.74), ( P for trend were 0.87,<0.01, and<0.001), respectively. Conclusions:The current study found that the traditional oriental pattern and animal food pattern has a protective relation for sarcopenia in elderly adults, which suggests its potential to attenuate or prevent the progression of sarcopenia.

Objective To compare H_p(3) calibration with a homemade (A) thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and an imported (B) TLD in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field, to explore the different responses of A and B, and to provide foundation for the calibration of H_p(3). Methods A column mode was selected. H_p(3) calibration was performed using A and B in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field in the Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory, National Institute for Radiological Protection, China Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Angle response, energy response, and linear response were calibrated with RQR4 (60 kV), RQR7 (90 kV), and RQR9 (120 kV), respectively. Results In terms of angle response, the calibration results of A were relatively high, while the calibration results of B were relatively low. In terms of energy response, the calibration results showed a similar pattern to angle response. In terms of linear response, the calibration results of both A and B were satisfactory. Conclusion Both A and B can be used for normal calibration of H_p(3) in a standard X-ray RQR radiation field. However, in actual monitoring, attention should be paid to the energy and angle response values of TLDs.