Objective To develop an alignment technique based on the movement of body gravity center. Methods As join forces in the system of balance is zero, the position of body gravity center can be calculated by body gravity which is taken from weight sensors, by the special software. Meanwhile, the position of body gravity will be sent to control unit, which can be transformed to driving signal of motor. The sliding table with laser, linked to motor, can make pursuit movement following with body gravity. A precise alignment can be made as the movement of body gravity. The balance function test is also used to make an assistant estimate for the alignment. Results and Conclusion An alignment technique has been developed for the fit of prosthesis and orthotics.

Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aim Toinvestigatetheanalgesiceffectsof epidural osthole application on the mechanical allodyn-ia and the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway and the expression of COX-2 mRNA in the spinal dorsal horn.Methods 125adultmaleSDratswererandomizedin-to five groups( n=25 each) :Blank, Sham, NP, Ost and vehicle. At postoperative day 6, 1mg/rat osthole 50 μl was injected epidurally into group Ost and the same volume of vehicle was given into group vehicle. The mechanical pain threshold was measured by 50%MWT at 1 day before operation and the 3 rd,6 th,7 th, 14 th,21 st day after operation. After the measurement of pain threshold on postoperative day 14 , the L4-6 segment of spinal dorsal horn was removed for determi-nation of the expression of ERK, pERK and COX-2 mRNAbyWesternblotandRT-PCR.Results Com-pared with blank group, the mechanical pain threshold was only down-regulated at day 1 after operation in sham group, the expression of pERK and COX-2 mR-NA in sham group showed no significant difference ( P>0. 05 ); the mechanical pain threshold was signifi-cantly down-regulated after operation in NP, Ost and vehicle groups( P<0. 05 ) and the expression of pERK and COX-2 mRNA was significantly increased ( P <0. 05). Compared with vehicle group, the pain thresh-old in Ost group was significantly increased after drug administration( P<0. 05 ) and the expression of pERK and COX-2 mRNA was significantly reduced ( P <0. 05 ) . The expression of ERK showed no significant difference among each group(P>0. 05). The correla-tion analysis on pERK1/2 and COX-2 mRNA revealed the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0 . 878 and 0 . 910 , suggesting a strong positive correlation between pERKandCOX-2mRNA.Conclusions Ostholead-ministrated in the early stage after surgery can alleviate the nucleus pulposus-induced radicular inflammatory pain probably by inhibiting the expression of pERK and COX-2 mRNA in spinal dorsal horn.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of congenital pulmonary artery sling (PAS) in children. MethodsThe clinical data of 38 children diagnosed with PAS during June 2009 and February 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsIn 38 PAS children, 35 cases (89.47%) were hospitalized for varying degrees of respiratory manifestations with recurrent cough (89.47%) and wheezing (84.21%) being the most common. The remaining 3 cases were found abnormal in routine preoperative examination and the diagnosis was confirmed after further examination. All 38 children were performed computer tomography angiography (CTA). Thirty-seven cases were diagnosed of PAS and diagnostic rate was 97.37%. One case was suspected of pulmonary dysplasia and diagnosed of PAS after operation. Twenty-six children received surgical treatment, of whom 25 children had pulmonary artery reconstruction (LPA). Seven children died during/after operation and 18 survived. The remaining 12 children received non-surgical treatment, of whom 9 died and 3 survived.ConclusionCardiac uhrasonography may reveal PAS in the early stage, while CTA is the best method for conifrmed diagnosis. LPA reconstruction is an important means of relieving left pulmonary artery oppression.

OBJECTIVETo study the volatile regularity of menthol and borneol in granule and lozenge at different temperature.

METHODKinetic method with GC being detection technique.

RESULTThe volatility of menthol and borneol acts as a pseudo first-order reaction in open system. Under the same condition, the volatile rate of menthol and borneol in granule is four times as fast as that in lozenge, and the volatile rate of borneol is faster than that of menthol.

CONCLUSIONThis study can be applied to improve the quality of lozenges containing menthol or/and borneol.

Bornanes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Cyclodextrins ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Menthol ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Tablets ; Temperature ; Volatilization ; beta-Cyclodextrins

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of different variants of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

METHODSOne hundred and two cases of FSGS were retrieved from the archival files of Peking University First Hospital during the past 6-year period. The pathologic findings were reviewed and the degrees of active and chronic changes were assessed by morphometric analysis. The histopathologic patterns were then correlated with clinical manifestations.

RESULTSAmongst the 102 cases of primary FSGS studied, 55.9% belonged to the NOS (not other specified) variant, while the perihilar, cellular, tip and collapsing variants accounted for 6.9%, 25.5%, 4.8% and 6.9% respectively. The level of proteinuria in the cellular and tip variants were much higher than that in the NOS variant; and the incidence of nephrotic syndrome in the tip and collapsing variants was higher than that in the other three variants (chi(2) = 12.23, P < 0.05). The activity score of the cellular and collapsing variants was also higher than that of the other three variants (P < 0.05). The interval between disease onset and renal biopsy diagnosis in the perihilar variant was longer than that in the other variants. The chronicity score of this variant was higher than that of the tip and NOS variants (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the total scores of active and chronic changes of the tip variant was lower than that of the cellular and collapsing variants (P < 0.05); and its chronic score was lower than that of the NOS and perihilar variants (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe NOS variant is the commonest morphologic pattern seen in primary FSGS. The cellular and collapsing variants are the patterns associated with active lesions, while perihilar variant is the pattern associated with chronic lesions. The tip variant shows mild pathological changes compared with the other patterns.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; blood ; classification ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Male ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the characteristics of neural information encoding of the epileptic networks involved caudate-putamen(CPu) and the hippocampi induced by tetanization of the right CPu in rats.

METHODSExperiments were performed on 59 SD rats. Acute or chronic tetanization of the right CPu (ATRC or CTRC) (60Hz,0.4-0.6 mA, 2 s) was used to induce rat epilepsy.

RESULTS(1) The bursting or primary unit afterdischarges of single neurons were asymmetric in dual hippocampi induced by the ATRC. (2) Continuous sharp waves were observed in ipsilateral or contralateral CPu induced by the CTRC. The oscillatory network seizures with phase shift appeared between two sharp waves in ipsilateral CPu. The frequency of oscillatory waves was negatively correlated with the time and fluctuated from 70 Hz to 110 Hz, then to 35 Hz, and finally to 30 Hz. (3) In the contralateral side primary network after discharges in the CPu were induced by the CTRC. Therefore, the characteristic primary network afterdischarges could be shifted from the CPu or to the HPC, but amplified. On the other hand, HPC sharp waves could be depressed when the CPu network seizures occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe reestablishment of CPu-hippocampal epileptic networks could be transhemispherically promoted by over-activation of the right CPu network, in which bilateral hippocampal neuronal network and CPu neural network were involved in some particular pathophysiological information encoding.

Animals ; Caudate Nucleus ; metabolism ; Epilepsy ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Putamen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate apoptosis of mouse leukemia cell (WEHI-3) induced by econazole and its mechanism, apoptosis induced by econazole was examined by flow cytometry, while free calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) was determined by Fura-2 fluorescein load technique. The protein was isolated from endoplasmic reticulum of WEHI-3 cells, and then the expression of caspase-12 and caspase-7 was evaluated by Western blot. The results showed that WEHI-3 exhibited typical change of apoptosis when it was treated by econazole, [Ca(2+)]i was significantly higher in comparison with the control. The expression of caspase-12 and caspase-7 enhanced as the econazole concentration increased. In conclusion, econazole can induce WEHI-3 cell apoptosis and the caspase-12 plays a key role in this process.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Caspase 12 ; metabolism ; Caspase 7 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Econazole ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of membranous nephropathy coexisting with IgA nephropathy.

METHODSThe renal biopsies performed in Peking University First Hospital during the period from January, 1998 to April, 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathologic features of 11 cases of membranous nephropathy coexisting with IgA nephropathy were studied. Electron microscopy with immunogold labeling for IgG and IgA were also performed.

RESULTSThe mean age of patients was 39.9 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1:2.9. The patients mainly presented with proteinuria. Proteinuria of nephrotic level was seen in 7 cases (63.6%). Seven cases also had associated microscopic hematuria. None of them showed evidence of renal insufficiency. Cases with secondary diseases, such as hepatitis virus infection and systemic lupus erythematosus, were excluded from the study. Histologically, vacuolation and thickening of glomerular basement membrane was seen. There was also mild mesangial hypercellularity and increase in mesangial matrix. Occasional glomeruli with crescent formation were identified in 2 cases. Immunofluorescence study showed granular staining for IgG and C3 along glomerular capillary walls, in addition to clumps of IgA deposits in mesangium. Electron microscopy revealed subepithelial and mesangial electron-dense deposits. Immunogold labeling showed IgG and IgA localized in the subepithelial and mesangial deposits respectively.

CONCLUSIONMembranous nephropathy coexisting with IgA nephropathy possesses the clinicopathologic features of both components. It might be caused by independent occurrence of the two entities.

Adult ; Female ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Glomerular Mesangium ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies