Objective To analyze the characteristics of balance impairment in stroke patients over 60 years old. Methods This was a retrospectivecase-control study. Subjects were divided into two groups, normal control group and stroke group. Tetrax Interactive Balance Systemwas used to examine stability index (ST), weight distribution percentages, weight distribution index (WDI), fall index (FI), synchronizationsand spectrum analysis of postural sway under the condition of standing still with eyes open respectively in both groups. Results Frequenciesof spectrum analysis of postural sway in the stroke group were significantly higher than that in normal control group (P<0.05) exceptthe low frequencies. The weight distribution percentages of unaffected foot and WDI of the stroke group were significantly higher thanthe normal control group (P<0.05). ST and synchronizations in the stroke group were worse than the normal control group (P<0.05). In thestroke group, correlations were found between FI and ST, FI and spectrum analysis of postural sway (except the low frequencies), as well asbetween FI and synchronizations (P<0.05). Conclusion Stability index, weight distribution percentages, weight distribution index, synchronizationsand spectrum analysis of postural sway are significantly abnormal in the elderly stroke patients with balance impairment. And theirfall index was found to be correlated to a variety of factors.

Objective To investigate the value of combination of B-flow imaging and spatio-temporal image correlation in prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases. Methods Volume images of 50 normal fetuses and 14 fetuses with congenital heart diseases were recruited in the study. Surface mode was used to reconstruct the volume images. Results Sixty-three and twenty-six qualified volume images were obtained in 50 normal fetuses and 14 fetuses with congenital heart diseases respectively. All volume images were reconstructed successfully and showed the spacial relationship of cardiac blood vessel directly. Conclusions The combination of B-flow imaging and spatio-temporal image correlation was feasible and useful in prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the quality standards for Shenshuaikang granule. METHODS:TLC was used for the quali-tative identification of Astragali Radix and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in the preparation. HPLC was used for the contents determina-tion of emodin and chrysophanol ,the column was Agilent HC-C18 with mobile phase of methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid (85:15 , V/V)at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 254 nm,the column temperature was 30 ℃ and the injection vol-ume was 10 μl. RESULTS:TLC showed clear spots and good separation. The linear range was 1.9-60.8 μg/ml for emodin(r=0.999 9, n=6) and 1.6-51.2 μg/ml for chrysophanol (r=0.999 9),RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 3%,recoveries were 95.76%-103.66%(RSD=2.83%,n=9)and 97.24%-104.34%(RSD=2.65%,n=9),respectively. CONCLU-SIONS:The standard can be used for the quality control of Shenshuaikang granule.

Objective To measure the temperature sensation threshold of trunk skin in healthy adults. Methods The threshold of cold sensation, warm sensation, cold pain sensation and heat pain sensation of trunk skin key points (T3, T7 and T11) were measured with Thermal Sensory Analyzer in 123 healthy adults. Results The thresholds of cold, warm, cold pain and heat pain sensations were obtained. The standard deviation of cold and warm threshold was less than that of heat pain. The range of cold sensation threshold was the largest. The heat pain sensation threshold increased with segmental declining and the sensation threshold increased with age. Conclusion Normal reference value should be established variously with the segment and age. The threshold of cold, warm varies less, while the threshold of cold pain and heat pain varies too much.

Multi-channel recording is now a widely used tool in neuroscience research that makes it possible to study the activity of neuron population. The data collected from multiple neurons indicate important information of neural coding rules and brain functional mechanism, which requires advanced computational techniques to decode. Here we reviewed the methods for multi-channel neural data analysis and gave brief introduction of their typical application for studying different kinds of neural data.
Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; physiology ; Database Management Systems ; Humans ; Models, Neurological ; Nerve Net ; physiology ; Neurobiology ; methods ; Neurons ; physiology ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To establish the normative data of the 2D and 3D ultrasound (US)measurements of the developing fetal thymus and comparing the 2DUS and 3DUS measurements of the fetal thymus. Methods The normal fetuses' thymus of 567 cases were assessed, and maximum transverse diameter(MTD),antero posterior diameter (APD), suprainferior diameter (SID), maximum transverse area (MTA) were measured by 2DUS,and thymic volume(TV) was measured by 3DUS. Results 2DUS,3DUS assessments of the fetal thymic MTD, APD, SID, MTA and TV were possible in 541 of 567 normal singletons. The fetal thymic 2D diameters/area and 3D volume grow with the gestational age(GA) in linear correlation. The 3D-US TV measurements and GA was significantly higher than that of any individual 2DUS measurements and GA ( P ＜0.05). Conclusions This study presents the normative data of the 2DUS and 3DUS measurements of the developing fetal thymus. 3DUS fetal thymus volume is more significantly correlated to GA than the other 2DUS measurements, which indicates 3DUS measurement of the fetal thymus is more accurate than that of 2DUS.

Objective To study the distribution of K15 alleles of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in Xinjiang,and to investigate the relationship between clinical profiles of KS and alleles of HHV-8 K15.Methods HHV-8 DNA was extracted with phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol from 27 formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of KS.The HHV-8 K15 gene was amplified by nested- PCR,and sequenced for the identification of K15 allele.Results HHV-8 DNA could be detected in 22 (81.48%) out of 27 KS patients in Xinjiang.HHV-8 DNA was detected in all 4 patients with AIDS-related KS.Twenty viral strains were identified as P type,including all 4 from the AIDS-related KS patients;two strains were identified as M type,which were all from the classical KS patients.Conclusions In KS,most of HHV-8 K15 alleles are P type,and some are M type.The 4 patients with AIDS-related KS all carried P type of K15 allele.

Objective:To establish the quality standard for Tangzhixiao capsules. Methods: The qualitative identification of Salvia miltiorrhiza,Atractylodes and Hawthorn was detected by TLC, and the quantitative determination of salvianolic acid B was determined by HPLC. The HPLC determination was performed on a YMC-Triart C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5μm ) column with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0. 1% phosphoric acid (24∶ 76) at the flow rate of 1. 0 ml·min-1 , the column temperature was 30℃ and the detection wavelength was set at 286 nm. Results: The TLC spots were fairly clear, and the negative samples showed no interference. The concentration of salvianolic acid B within the range of 0. 012-0. 120 mg·ml -1 was linear with peak area(r = 0. 999 5), the average recovery was 100. 06% and RSD was 0. 83%(n = 6). Conclusion: The method is accurate, reliable and reproducible, which can be used in the quality control of Tangzhixiao capsules.

3D visualization and virtual reality are important trend in the development of modern science and technology, and as well in the studies on biomedical engineering. This paper presents a computer procedure developed for 3D visualization in biomedical applications. The biomedical models are constructed in slice sequences based on polygon cells and information interaction is realized on the basis of OpenGL selection mode in particular consideration of the specialities in this field such as irregularity in geometry and complexity in material etc. The software developed has functions of 3D model construction and visualization，real-time modeling transformation, information interaction and so on. It could serve as useful platform for 3D visualization in biomedical engineering research.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy difference between segmentation scraping and conventional acupuncture for cervical spondylosis (CS) so as to provide effective treatment method.

METHODSEighty-five cases of cervical type of CS were randomly divided into a scraping group (44 cases) and an acupuncture group (41 cases). The segmentation scraping therapy was used in the scraping group. The scraping group was treated with focusing on scraping the head and joint part of neck and occiput in the upper cervical spine injury, and focusing on scraping the lower section of cervical and shoulder in the lower cervical spine injury, once every seven days, totally for 3 times. In the acupuncture group, Fengchi (GB 20),Wangu (TE 5), Tianzhu (BL 10),Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2), etc. were selected,once daily,for 15 days. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the immediate analgesic effect after the first treatment and the clinical efficacy was observed after the end of treatment.

RESULTSAfter the first treatment, the score of VAS was decreased significantly in the scaping group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the acupuncture group compared with those before treatment (P > 0.05); the score of VAS in the scaping group after the first treatment was lower than that in the acupuncture group (3.66 +/- 0.74 vs 5.43 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment, the scores of VAS were decreased significantly after treatment in two groups (both P < 0.01), but without significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05); the effective rate was 95.5% (42/44) in the scaping group and 87.8% (36/41) in the acupuncture group, the curative effects were similar (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth of scraping and acupuncture therapies have good analgesic effect for cervical spondylosis, and overall effects are similar, but the immediate analgesic effect of scraping thrapy is better than that of conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neck Pain ; therapy ; Spondylosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome