The external defibrillator is an emergency instrument used very widely in clinics. It plays an important role in rescuing ventricle fibrillation (VF) patients. We have designed an external defibrillator using the truncated exponential biphasic waveform. The system consists of three parts: the ECG collection module, the control module and the defibrillator module. They are introduced respectively, listing the main problems and the methods to solve them. Some experiments have been done and the corresponding results are given.
Animals ; Defibrillators ; Equipment Design ; Swine ; Ventricular Fibrillation

Objective To investigate audiological characteristics of patients with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss .Methods A retrospective study was carried out among 30 patients (42 ears) with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss who underwent exploratory tympanotomy . The preoperative outcomes of pure tone audiometry ,tympanometry ,resonant frequency of middle ear and temporal bone CT scan were analyzed .Results Among 42 ears ,30 ears with otosclerosis and 12 ears with ossicular chain dis-ruption were confirmed in exploratory tympanotomy ,but only 5 ears showed positive findings in CT scan .The mean thresholds of bone conduction ,air conduction and air -bone gap at frequencies of 0 .5 ,1 and 2 kHz were 27 .5 ± 1 .3 dB HL ,67 .0 ± 1 .8 dB HL ,39 .5 ± 1 .1 dB HL ,respectively .An analysis of tympanometric data of all patients re-vealed that 50% of all ears (21/42) were type A tympanograms ,42 .9% (18/42) were type As tympanograms ,and 7 .1% (3/42) were type Ad tympanograms .The mean of the resonant frequency of the middle ear in otosclerositic patients (1 079 .0 ± 67 .4 Hz) was significantly higher than ossicular chain disruption patients (633 .3 ± 43 .6 Hz) . Conclusion Otosclerosis is the most common in the patients with intact tympanic membranes and conductive or mixed hearing loss .The middle ear resonant frequency of otosclerositic patients is significantly higher than that of ossicular chain disruption patients .

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of p27 in the inhibition of emodin on the mesangial cell (MC) proliferation induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha). METHODS: p27 protein of MC was detected with western blotting analysis. The degree of MC proliferation was estimated through [(3)H] thymidine ([(3)H] TdR) incorporation. Different dosage of emodin (50 mg/L,100 mg/L) was added into MC stimulated by TNF-alpha. RESULTS: TNF-alpha (200 kU/L) decreased p27 level of MC cultured in serum-free DMEM for 24 hours and increased[(3)H] TdR incorporation. Emodin increased p27 level of MC stimulated by TNF-alpha and decreased [(3)H] TdR incorporation. The more the emodin was added, the greater the above-mentioned effect of emodin. CONCLUSION: The increment of p27 level maybe play an important role in the inhibition of emodin on MC proliferation induced by TNF-alpha.

Objective To investigate the relationship between indoor radon concentration and air exchange rate for new residential building.Methods The indoor radon concentration and air exchange rate were measured in two new roughcast houses in Guangzhou and Hefei,respectively.The radon concentration was measured using radon instrument.The air exchange rate was measured by using tracer gas dilution method.Results The indoor radon concentrations measured in Guanzhou for two bedrooms in a 48-hour closed condition were 106 and 115 Bq/m3,the range of 17-181 and 6-224 Bq/m3.Air exchange rates were 0.16/h and 0.21/h.In Hefei,the twice measured values for one bedroom were 148 and 186 Bq/m3,the range of 8-224 and 14-290 Bq/m3,and air exchange rates were 0.14/h and 0.12/h.The indoor radon concentration exponentially decreased with the increase of air exchange rates.Conclusions Attention should be paid to the indoor radon pollution issue that may arise in new residential buildings of energy-saving design due to low air exchange rate.

Stimulation of cardiac mAChRs by carbachol (CCh) produces a biphasic inotropic response. The mechanisms of the positive inotropic response by higher concentration of CCh appear to be paradoxical. This article was aimed to study the mechanism of the positive inotropic effect of CCh in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The effects of CCh on L-type calcium current (I(Ca)) and Na/Ca exchange current (I(Na/Ca)) were observed in voltage-clamped guinea pig ventricular myocytes by using Axon 200A amplifier. The results showed that CCh (100 micromol/L) increased both forward mode and reverse mode I(Na/Ca) from (1.2+/-0.1) pA/pF to (2.0+/-0.3) pA/pF for forward mode (P<0.01) and from (1.3+/-0.5) pA/pF to (2.1+/-0.8) pA/pF for reverse mode (P<0.01), respectively. CCh had no effect on I(Ca). The stimulating effect of CCh on I(Na/Ca) could be blocked by application of atropine, a nonselective blocker of muscarinic receptors, which means that the stimulating effect of CCh is through the activation of muscarinic receptors. We made a further study by using methoctramine, a selective antagonist of M2 muscarinic receptors. It completely abolished I(Na/Ca) induced by 100 micromol/L CCh, indicating that the effect of CCh on I(Na/Ca) was mediated by M2 muscarinic receptors. It is generally accepted that contraction in cardiac myocytes results from elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Ca2+ enters the cells through two pathways: L-type Ca2+ channels and, less importantly, reverse mode Na/Ca exchange. The calcium influx via both pathways promotes the contraction of cardiac myocytes. Because CCh had no effect on L-type Ca2+ current, the increase in Na/Ca exchange current might be the main factor in the positive inotropism of CCh. These results suggest that the positive inotropic effect of CCh in guinea pig heart is through stimulation of Na/Ca exchange and is mediated by M2 muscarinic receptors.
Animals ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; physiology ; Carbachol ; pharmacology ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Diamines ; pharmacology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Ventricles ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Receptor, Muscarinic M2 ; physiology ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; physiology

Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Teratoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology

To set standards for histomorphological studies on Lysimachia fortunei, an efficacious and widely applied folk medicine in this study, in order to develop its resources. Its species were identified by observing plant morphology and herbs appearance characters, preparing slices with routine methods and defining structural characters. According to the results of morphologic observation, leaves, stamen and pistil of this plant were different from the descriptions in Flora of China. The whole herb can be used in medicines, mainly including rhizomes, stems and leaves. According to the findings in the first study on microscopic structures, its rhizomes, stems and leaves were characteristic and worth identifying. The transaction tissue structures of rhizomes and stems were under developed and contained endodermis, secretory structures; Stems had sclerenchymata of different shapes of sclereids; Leaves were bifacial and had vascular bundles under midribs, which were surrounded by parenchymal sheathes. On the surface of leaves, stomata, glandular hairs and keratin lines were morphologically different in upper and lower epidermis. The herbal power had glandular hairs, sclereids and vessels. In conclusion, herbs of L. fortunei can be identified by the above histomorphological characteristics, which lays a foundation for further development and application of L. fortunei.
Medicine, Traditional ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Primulaceae ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

BACKGROUND:Chondrocytes co-cultured with bone marrow stromal stem cells on the scaffold of platelet-rich plasma are found to proliferate, and besides proliferative growth, bone marrow stromal cells exhibit a tendency of differentiating into chondrocytes. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of platelet-rich plasma and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on cartilage repair. METHODS:Forty healthy New Zealand white rabbits were selected to establish models of cartilage defects, and then randomly divided into normal saline group, platelet-rich plasma group, hUCMSCs group and combination group. Platelet-rich plasma was prepared by using double centrifugations to prepare passage 3 hUCMSCs. After modeling, intra-articular injection of normal saline (0.5 mL), 12.5%platelet-rich plasma (0.5 mL), 1×107 hUCMSCs (0.5 mL), 12.5%platelet-rich plasma+1×107 hUCMSCs (total y 0.5 mL) was done in corresponding groups, respectively. After 12 weeks of modeling, the injured cartilage was grossly observed, and hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe cartilage repair under light microscope;according to the O'Driscol histologic standard, histological examination was performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The repair effect in the normal saline group was significantly better that in the platelet-rich plasma group, hUCMSCs group, combination group (P<0.05), while the platelet-rich plasma group and combination group also exhibit better outcomes than the hUCMSCs group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that both platelet-rich plasma and hUCMSCs can promote cartilage repair;moreover, platelet-rich plasma with or without hUCMSCs is superior to hUCMSCs alone in the cartilage repair.

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy on upper limb motor impairment in stroke between the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture therapy and the traditional scalp acupuncture therapy.

METHODSThe randomized controlled trial and MINIMIZE layering randomization software were adopted. Seventy patients of upper limb with III to V grade in Brunnstrom scale after stroke were randomized into an interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group and a traditional scalp acupuncture group, 35 cases in each one. In the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group, the middle 2/5 of Dingnieqianxiexian (anterior oblique line of vertex-temporal), the middle 2/5 of Dingniehouxiexian (posterior oblique line of vertex-temporal) and Dingpangerxian (lateral line 2 of vertex) on the affected side were selected as the stimulation areas. Additionally, the rehabilitation training was applied during scalp acupuncture treatment. In the traditional scalp acupuncture group, the scalp stimulation areas were same as the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group. But the rehabilitation training was applied separately. The rehabilitation training was applied in the morning and the scalp acupuncture was done in the afternoon. The results in Fugl-Meyer for the upper limb motor function (U-FMA), the Wolf motor function measure scale (WM- FT) and the modified Barthel index in the two groups were compared between the two groups before treatment and in 1 and 2 months of treatment, respectively.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the U-FMA score, WMFT score and the score of the modified Barthel index were all apparently improved as compared with those before treatment (all P < 0.01). The improvement in the U-FMA score after treatment in the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group was better than that in the traditional scalp acupuncture group (P < 0.05). For the patients of IV to V grade in Brunnstrom scale, WMFT score in 2 months of treatment and the score of Barthel index after treatment in the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group were improved apparently as compared with those in the traditional scalp acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). But, for the patients of III grade in Brunnstrom scale, WMFT score and the score of Barthel index after treatment in the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture group were not different significantly as compared with those in the traditional scalp acupuncture group (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor the patients of IV to V grade in Brunnstrom scale in stroke, the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture therapy achieves the superior improvements of the upper limb motor function and the activity of daily life as compared with the traditional scalp acupuncture therapy, and the longer the treatment lasts, the more apparent the improvements are. For the patients of III grade in Brunnstrom scale, the interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture therapy achieves the similar improvement in the upper limb motor impairment as compared with the traditional scalp acupuncture therapy.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Therapy ; Scalp ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Stroke Rehabilitation ; Treatment Outcome ; Upper Extremity ; physiopathology

This paper proposes a method of automatic ECG analysis and arrhythmia diagnosis for telemonitoring system. A multi-buffer technique is applied to organize dispersive ECG data. Then, according to second order derivatives of ECG signals, peaks of R waves are automatically detected. Finally, real-time heart rhythm is decided by results of R wave detection. Tests prove that the proposed method is precise, efficient and stable to be applied in real-time ECG telemonitoring system.
Algorithms ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; methods ; Remote Consultation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted