Objective To study the characteristic surface myoelectric signals generated by children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) of the wrist flexors and extensors.Methods Sixty-eight children with HCP 2 to 14 years of age were assessed with surface electromyography (sEMG).The electrodes were applied on the skin over the wrist flexors and extensors.The integrated EMG signals (iEMGs),root mean square amplitudes (RMSs) and co-contraction ratios during MIVC were recorded and analyzed.Results In a MIVC,the RMS,iEMG and co-contraction ratio were all significantly different between the involved and uninvolved hands,though the iEMGs of the wrists of the two hands were strongly correlated.The RMSs of the wrists of the involved and uninvolved hands were also strongly positively correlated when grasping maximally using the involved hand.Conclusions The involved hand of children with HCP has excessive co-activation of the wrist flexors,poor muscle recruitment and little isolated selective control of movement.It may be very important to facilitate wrist extensor contraction,inhibit wrist flexor co-activation and induce involved hand use to improve the hand function of children with HCP.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of combined rehabilitative training on stroke patients in convalescent stage.Methods52 stroke patients with hemiplegia were divided into rehabilitation group (n=26, receiving combined rehabilitative training) and control group (n=26, not receiving combined rehabilitative training). Scores of functional independence measure (FIM) and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) of all patients were assessed when admission and discharge.ResultsFor patients of rehabilitation group, FMA scores when discharge was not significant difference compared with admission, but FIM scores was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.01).ConclusionCombined rehabilitative training can improve function and living quality of stroke patients in convalescent stage.

Objective To investigate the effects of staphylococcal enterotoxin A SEA gene on target cells mediated by replicative-deficient recombinant adenovirus vector. Methods Lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice were infected with various titers of recombinant adenoviruses. Supernatants were collected after 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, 120 h and 144 h of incubation and analyzed for proliferation of lymphocytes by MTT assay. IL-2 level in the culture supernatants was measured with ELISA. The killing effect of lymphocytes was also observed by MTT assay. Results Proliferation response and elevated levels of IL-2 were observed in experimental group. The killing effect on B16 cells was stronger in experimental group, which seemed to be dose-dependent with the increase of ratio of lymphocytes/target cells. Conclusions SEA gene can be expressed in lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice mediated by replicative-deficient recombinant adenovirus vector. The expressing products can activate lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice, which kill B16 cells in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the value of clinical data and various methods of diagnostic imaging in the patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods Two hundreds and fifty-six patients with pancreatic cancer admitted into Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1996 and 2004 were included. The clinical symptom and the accuracy of various imaging methods (B-US, CT, ERCP, EUS, DSA and MRI) in assessing pancreatic carcinoma were analyzed. Results Weight lost was the most common symptom in 79% of patients with pancreatic carcinoma. Jaundice was mostly seen in patients with pancreatic head carcinoma. Upper abdominal pain was in 86% of patients with carcinoma in pancreatic body and tail. The diagnostic accuracies of B-US, CT, ERCP, EUS, DSA and MRI were 83% , 89% , 90% , 91% , 82% and 79% respectively. Conclusion B-US and CT scanning should be undergone in patients with abdominal pain, jaundice and weight lost who were suspected to have pancreatic carcinoma. Further imaging techniques such as EUS, ERCP and MRI should be advised in patients highly suspected to have pancreatic carcinoma, in spite of the results of B-US and CT were negative.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; therapy ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; Electrocardiography ; Foodborne Diseases ; blood ; complications ; therapy ; Glutamyl Aminopeptidase ; blood ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; etiology ; Seizures ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: It is very important to explore an optimal loading force that can both allow effective intrusion and cause no damage to the teeth.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the optimal loading conditions, including loading force values and directions, in the intruding mechanics of maxillary anterior teeth.METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model (3D FEM) of the maxillary anterior teeth was constructed to include the periodontal ligament (PDL), alveolar bone, and appliance (brackets and wire). The initial stress distribution and force of the maxillary anterior teeth were analyzed when the 3D FEM was loaded with different intruding force values and directions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The optimal value of the intruding force for 6 anterior teeth fell within the range from 0.5 N to 1.0 N. The maximum stress was detected at the distal cervical level of the lateral incisor, and a relatively even distribution of initial stress was observed at 20° palatal deviation to the Y axis. The results suggest that using mini-screw implants at the labial region between the canine and lateral incisor and a combined 0.5-1.0 N intruding force with a distal force could be an optimal intrusion force system by which patients with normal occlusion could obtain a pure intrusion of anterior teeth.

[Objectives]This study was designed to evaluate the treatment effects of a new movable molardistalization appliance for distal movement of maxillary first molars on Angle's Class Ⅲ malocclusion adolescence patients with the second premolar crowded.[Methods]Sixteen patients were treated by a new movable molardistalization appliance.Cephalometric analysis and model measurement was carried out before and after the treatment.Data were analyzed by paired t-test.[Results]The molars were distalized 5 mm during an average time of 3.8 months.There were significant increases in the Angle SNA and A-NPg(P ＜0.05).[Conclusion]it was a effective way to get space and improve patient's profiles on Angle's Class Ⅲ malocclusion adolescence patients with the second premolar crowded by the new movable molardistalization appliance.It was also conducive to patient's oral hygiene.

Objective To investigate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO),and their neuroprotective effects.Methods Sixty-two patients (49 patients were MS and 13 patients were NMO) and 21 controls were investigated in our studies.The disability severity in MS and NMO patients in their relapse period was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).MRI scanning of brain,spinal cord or optic nerve was examined and the oligoclonal band in serum and CSF were detected.BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum and CSF were assessed by Liquid Assay.Results There were no significant differences of BDNF (μg/L,5.616±0.650 in serum and 0.186±0.012 in CSF of MS patients;6.584±0.929 in serum and 0.176± 0.006 in CSF of NMO patients) and GDNF (μg/L,0.039 in serum and 0.080 in CSF of MS patients;0.029 in serum and 0.050 in CSF of NMO patients) concentrations in serum and CSF in patients with MS and NMO in relapse,compared with those in controls.There was a positive correlation between BDNF and GDNF concentrations in CSF (r=0.756,P=0.000),and a negative correlation between BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum (r=-0.329,P=0.018).There were no correlations of BDNF and GDNF concentrations in serum and CSF with EDSS,blood brain barrier index,Delpech index and Tourtellotte synthesis rate.There were no significant differences of BDNF and GDNF concentration in serum and CSF between NMO/MS patients with and without atrophy.Conclusions The level of BDNF in patients with MS and NMO is correlated with that of GDNF,which may have a synergistic neurotrophic effect on MS and NMO.BDNF and GDNF are not associated with the blood-brain harrier destruction and lgG synthesis in central nervous system.However,associations of BDNF and GDNF with functional disability and neuron atrophy in NMO and MS patients still need further studies.

Objectives To study the changes of hard tissue before and after orthodontic treatment for Angle's class Ⅲ malocclusion adolescence patient with maxillary front traction. Methods 20 cases of Angle's class Ⅲ malocclusion adolescence patients were treated by front traction in maxilla, while there were 20 cases of Angle's class Ⅰ malocclusion adolescence patients as the control group. Cephalometric a-nalysis was carried out before and after the treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS11.0 system using paired t-test. Results There were significant increases in the length, anteroposterior diameter and thick-ness of maxillary sinus (P<0.05), while there was no significant differences in the site and central point of maxillary sinus(P>0.05). Conclusions It is a effective approach to change the hard tissue after ortho-dontic treatment for Angle's class Ⅲ malocclusion adolescence patient with front traction in maxillary area.

Neuron is the basic unit of the biological neural system. The Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) model is one of the most realistic neuron models on the electrophysiological characteristic description of neuron. Hardware implementation of neuron could provide new research ideas to clinical treatment of spinal cord injury, bionics and artificial intelligence. Based on the HH model neuron and the DSP Builder technology, in the present study, a single HH model neuron hardware implementation was completed in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The neuron implemented in FPGA was stimulated by different types of current, the action potential response characteristics were analyzed, and the correlation coefficient between numerical simulation result and hardware implementation result were calculated. The results showed that neuronal action potential response of FPGA was highly consistent with numerical simulation result. This work lays the foundation for hardware implementation of neural network.
Action Potentials ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Models, Neurological ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Neurons ; cytology ; Synaptic Transmission