Objective To assess voice parametric characteristics of normal children in different age?sex?and phonation conditions. Methods Voice data of 240 children were collected and analyzed with Dr. Speech software. Acoustic signal data were measured in three phonation conditions: the lowest modal voice, natural voice, the highest modal voice. Results Perturbations and normalized noise energy from the highest value to the lowest one by one were that of the lowest modal voice, natural voice, the highest modal voice. The sequences of standard deviation of fundamental frequency were that of the highest modal voice, the lowest modal voice, natural voice. Conclusion The voice quality of normal children had distinctive characteristics in different phonation conditions.

Objective To measure the cancellous bone contents at different parts of the humeral heads of different ages and genders for data helpful for humeral head fixation.Methods Thirty-six patients with proximal humeral fracture were selected for this study who had been treated at our department with locking proximal humerus plate from June 2008 to April 2010.They were 18 men and 18 women,aged from 20 to 86 years (average,51.6 years).They were grouped according to age:group A ( ＜ 40 years),group B (40 to 60 years),and group C (＞ 60 years).A GE Sensation 16 CT scanner (GE Healtbcare,USA) was used to scan both of their affected and healthy humeral heads preoperation,with slices one mm thick.The bone density of cancellous bone was assessed by the CT value expressed in Hounsfield units.The maximum,minimum,and mean CT values were calculated for the cancellous bone in the humeral head in each image.CT images were processed by computer with custom software (Xiphoid 1.3,Image J 1.4g and Image-Pro Plus 6.0).All the data were analyzed with SPSS16.0.Results We found 4 weak point.s at the cortical bone of proximal humerus,correspondent with the 4 clinic CT types of proximal humeral fracture.The cancellous bone was the densest in the medial humeral head.The mean cancellous bone content was significantly lower in group C than in group A and B( P ＜ 0.05).There was a significant difference between men and women in group A in the BMD of cancellous bone ( t =4.744,P =0.001 ).Conclusions The cancellous bone content in the humeral head is related with age and gender.Since there is more cancellous bone in the medial part than in other parts of the humeral head,it is a reliable part for humeral head fixation.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needle knife, Governor-Vessel moxibustion plus medication in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Method Forty AS patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by intravenous administration of Ossotide injection, while the treatment group was by needle knife and Governor-Vessel moxibustion in addition to Ossotide injection. Before and after the intervention, the symptoms and body signs, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The total effective rate was 90.0% in the treatment group versus 75.0% in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After the intervention, the symptoms and body signs (spinal pain score, Schober test, morning stiffness duration, chest expansion degree, and occiput-wall distance) were changed significantly in both groups (P<0.05). The BASDAI and BASFI scores were significantly changed after the intervention in both groups (P<0.05). The BASDAI and BASFI scores in the treatment group were significantly different from those in the control group after the intervention (P<0.05).Conclusion Needle knife plus Governor-Vessel moxibustion and medication is an effective approach in treating AS.

Objective To explore the diagnosis and topical treatment of diabetic foot in patients with burns.Methods Sixty-five patients with burns complicated with diabetic foot were admitted from Jan.2002 to Dec.2006.Bacterial culture of wound excretion,peripheral nerve electromyography and vascular ultrasonography of both lower extremities were performed in a part of patients.Twenty-four patients received topical treatment,including immersion bath with hypertonic saline solution and the application of epidermal growth factor,fibroblast growth factor and complex lysozyme disinfectant.Forty-one patients underwent surgical treatment.The operation methods,surgical treatment included debridement followed by direct closure,split-thickness skin grafting,repair with local skin flap or cross leg skin flap,or amputation of foot,as determined according to the condition of the wound.Results The positive rate of bacterial culture of wound excretion was 88.7%(47/53)on admission and 30.2%(16/53)one week after topical treatment.There were abnormal findings of peripheral nerve electromyography in all 31 cases.Vascular ultrasonography revealed pathological findings in both lower extremities of all 12 patients with vascular lesion,and 9 in 16 cases without vascular lesion.The lesions in all patients except 2,who were discharged in advance,healed and the cure rate was 96.9%.Conclusion Peripheral nerve electromyography and vascular ultrasonography of both lower extremities are promising auxiliary examinations for the diagnosis of diabetic foot in patients with burns.Topical treatment,which includes immersion bath with hypertonic saline solution and the application of growth factors and complex lysozyme disinfectant,as well as appropriate surgical management,plays an important role in the wound healing.

The process of protein synthesis is terminated by one of the three stop codons which are recognized by classⅠ polypeptide release factors.Subsequently, it could promote the hydrolysis of the ester bond of peptidy-tRNA, resulting in release of the nascent polypeptide.Recent results from cryoelectron microscopy, crystallography, NMR, molecular dynamic and biochemical experiments have shed considerable light on the function and structure of the classⅠ release factors.The progress in these aspects were summarized.

Objective:To study the feasibility of 3-D reconstruction model in the observation of tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) effected palatal organ development of fetal mouse.Methods:Kunming mice treated 40 ug/kg TCDD by lavage on day 12.5 of pregnancy were used as in the experimental group,isodose corn oil treated in the control group.On day 13.5,14.5 and 15.5 of pregnancy heads of the fetal mice were taken out and fixed.Conventional paraffin serial sections of palatal organ were preparated and dyed by hematoxylin-eosin,images of the palatal organs were collected and photoshop treated,3-D reconstruction of the palatal organ was performed by 3D-DOCTOR software.Results:3-D reconstruction images showed that palatal organs moved from on both sides above the tongue and gradually closed and merged in the control group.In the experimental group,the palatal organs moved from on both sides above the tongue was later than control group,gradually closed,but not merged,formed cleft palate.Conclusion:3D-DOCTOR software reconstruction can be used for the study of the development process effected by TCDD in the pregnant mouse.

Objective: To investigate the current status and influencing factors of knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertension prevention and control among rural residents in Shanxi Province, so as to provide insights into implementation of health education pertaining to hypertension control in rural areas. Methods: A total of 7 403 residents were sampled using a multi-stage cluster random sampling method from rural areas of Yangqu, Daning, and Yonghe counties of Shanxi Province from November 2020 to July 2021 for face-to-face questionnaire surveys and physical examinations. Residents' basic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertension prevention and control, and height, weight, blood pressure were collected, and factors affecting knowledge, attitude, and practice of hypertension prevention and control were identified using a generalized linear model. Results: A total of 7 403 questionnaires were allocated, and 7 031 effective questionnaires were recovered, with an effective response rate of 94.98%. The respondents included 3 035 men (43.17%) and 3 996 women (56.83%), and had a mean age of (58.45±13.75) years. The median scores of hypertension prevention and control knowledge, attitude and practice were 5 (interquartile range, 4), 16 (interquartile range, 5) and 14 (interquartile range, 7) points, with scoring percentages of 48.40%, 80.55% and 54.41%, respectively. Generalized linear model analysis showed that an educational level of junior high school and above, annual family income per capita of ≥4 000 RMB, family history of hypertension, development of hypertension among family members or friends, overweight/obesity and presence of depression resulted in high scores for hypertension prevention and control knowledge; annual family income per capita of ≥10 000 RMB, family history of hypertension, presence of hypertension among family members or friends, mild/severe insomnia and presence of depression resulted in high scores for hypertension prevention and control attitude, while age of ≥65 years and blood pressure of ≥140/≥90 mmHg resulted in low scores for attitude; females, age of ≥45 years, an educational level of junior high school and above, blood pressure of ≥140/≥90 mmHg, family history of hypertension, presence of hypertension among family members or friends and overweight/obesity resulted in high scores for hypertension prevention and control practice, and residents had a low body weight had a low score for practice (all P<0.05). Conclusions The hypertension prevention and control attitude is satisfactory among rural residents in Shanxi Province; however, the hypertension prevention and control knowledge and practice are poor. Health education pertaining to hypertension prevention and control should be strengthened, and personalized health education is needed targeting individuals with a low educational level and low income.

Objective To compare the effects of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) induced chemical hypoxia and hypoxia environment on the proliferation,migration and phenotype transformation of rat primary pulmonary artery fibroblasts (PAFs).Methods Primary PAFs were isolated and cultured.Cells were stimulated by CoCl2,or hypoxia cell culture (1% O2) was used to stimulate and induce PAFs.Then the effects of CoCI2 and hypoxia environment on PAFs were compared by CCK-8 assay,scratch assay,transwell assay,phenotype marker protein expression and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway protein expression.Results Compared with the control group,100 μmol/mL CoCl2 stimulation had no significant effect on the cell proliferation activity,cell migration ability and phenotype transformation ability of PAFs (P>0.05);while 1% O2 could significantly improve the cell proliferation and migration activities of PAFs as well as the upregulation of α-SMA expression (P<0.05).Conclusion There exist differences of effects between CoCl2 induced chemical hypoxia and hypoxia environment on promoting cell proliferation, cell migration and phenotype transformation in PAFs.

This paper introduces a free and publicly open ICU database: multi-parameter intelligent monitoring in intensive care II: MIMIC-II, which has been built up and maintained by the laboratory of computational physiology at the Massachusetts Institute Technology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Philips Healthcare over the past decade. This paper briefly introduces its infrastructure, implementation and applications in clinical studies. Clinical study pertaining to circadian variation in heart rate and blood pressure during sepsis is shown as a typical example of research performed with MIMIC-II. In this study, it was found there was significant difference in circadian variation in both heart rate and blood pressure between survival and non-survival groups in septic patients. This study tackled several important techniques necessary for the investigation of the circadian rhythm.
Blood Pressure ; Circadian Rhythm ; Critical Care ; Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Medical Informatics

Objective To study the effects of Poly(I:C) on lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells viability and illuminate the mechanism of Poly (I:C)-induced apoptosis in A549 cells.Methods A549 cells were transfected with the complex of Poly(I:C) and lipofectamine 3000.The viability of A549 cells was tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTF) method.The apoptotic cells were tested by flow cytometry.The caspase proteins were tested by Western blotting and the expressions of interferon-β (IFN-β) and CXCL-10 were assayed by real-time PCR.After employing the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK and caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK,the variation of Poly (I:C) proapoptosis in A549 cells was observed.RNA interfering experiments were employed to knock down melanoma differentiation related antigen 5 (MDA5) or retinoic acidinduced gene Ⅰ (RIG-Ⅰ),and the above indexes were tested.Results The viability of A549 cells was significantly reduced to 74.92％ ±--6.24％ after 200 ng/ml Poly (I:C) transfection compared with that before transfection (95.32％ ± 3.05％,t =2.883,P =0.041).The apoptotic rates induced by 100,200,400 ng/ml Poly(I:C) were 9.97％-± 0.88％,23.63％-± 1.41％,32.57％-± 2.39％,respectively.All of them were higher than that in the control group (0.74％-± 0.15％),with significant differences (t =4.489,P =0.002;t =11.616,P =0.000;t =16.932,P =0.000).Besides,the death receptor pathway proteins such as TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL),cleaved-caspase-8 and cleaved-caspase-3 increased obviously.MDA5/RIG-Ⅰ pathway was also activated dramatically and the expressions of IFN-β,CXCL-10 were significantly up-regulated.The apoptotic rates reduced to 3.17％ ± 0.66％,5.35％ ± 0.64％ with pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK and caspase-8 inhibitor Z-IETD-FMK pretreatment,compared with the control group (15.87％ ±0.93％),and the differences were statistically significant (t =8.643,P =0.001;t =6.824,P =0.002).Moreover,the expressions of TRAIL,IFN-β and CXCL-10 induced by Poly (I:C) were inhibited with MDA5 or RIG-Ⅰ depletion.Conclusion Poly(I:C) can reduce the survival rate of A549 cells and promote the apoptosis mainly by activating the death-receptor pathway mediated by MDA5/RIG-Ⅰ probably,which may involve in IFN-β,CXCL-10.