The attachments of eustachian tube, levator and tensor veli palati muscles on the base of the skull were measured from the skulls of human adults, infants, newborns ad well as monkeys, dogs and rabbits, respectively. Anatomical characteristics of the levator and tensor veli palati muscles that related to eustachian tubal ventilation and skull morphology were analysed. In addition, some head specimens were dissected for contrast. Levator veli palati muscle (LVPM) lies in the posterioinferior of the eustachian tube. The angles between LVPM and median saggital plane and the angles between LVPM and horizontal plane of palate are larger and their ability of raising the eustachian tube is more effective in the adult than in the newborn and animal. From the eustachian tube to the hamulus, tensor veli palati muscle (TVPM) descends almost vertically in the adult, but ventroward in the newborn and animals, which suggested their different actions upon eustachian tube. The skull morphology of the human adult differs from child and animal, which changes the position and function of LVPM and TVPM. In conclusion, eustachian tube was opened by LVPM chiefly in the adult while by TVPM in the newborn and animal. The incidence of otitis media with effusion is higher in the infant as it is the trasitional stage that the action of TVPM had been decreased while that of LVPM would not have been established.

Objective To explore the associated factors influencing the prognosis of upper limb function and ability of activities daily living(ADL)in stroke patients with left side hemiplegia.Methods 64 stroke patients with left side hemiplegia were treated regularly last for 1 month.At admission,the assessment procedure for cognitive function were performed with scales of Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment(LOTCA),Motor Impersistence(MI),Schenkenberg Line Bisection Test.Brunnstrom stage,Modified Barthel Index(MBI),Ueda,Bin Hemiplegic Finger Function Assessment Scale,Upper Limb Function Assessment Scale were graded for the upper limb function and ADL ability before and after training.The multinominal logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between those factors and the upper limb function and ADL ability.Results The extent of resumption of upper limb function of patients was positively correlated with the ability of formal operational thinking(P<0.01)in LOTCA score before training.However,the extent of resumption of hand was negatively correlated with MI score before training(P<0.01).The extent of resumption of the hand practicability was positively correlated with the ability of operational thinking and score of ADL in LOTCA before training(P<0.01).The extent of the resumption of ADL was positively correlated with the ability score of operational thinking in LOTCA and diseased region.It was negatively correlated with the score of Schenkenberg line bisection(P<0.01).Conclusion The ability of operational thinking in LOTCA before training and the scores of Schenkenberg line bisection,ADL and MI are helpful in prognosis for the upper limb function in stroke patients with left side hemiplegia.

Benzophenone-3 is the most widely used benzophenone type UV filter, which is lipophilic, light stable and bioaccumulative. Benzophenone-3 is widely present in environmental waters and can be detected in humans. Its potential toxicity (especially endocrine disruption) has attracted people's attention. There are a lot of related data on the exposure of benzophenone-3 in the environment and humans from foreign literatures, but there are few studies on related aspects in China. In the view of widespread presence of benzophenone-3 and its endocrine disruption, future researches should focus on its potential toxicity to the population including endocrine disruption and the mechanisms.

Objective To explore the change of Brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in artial septal defect(ASD) patients and the relationship among BNP,ET-1 and pulmonary pressure.Methods 105 final diagnosed ASD patients were divide into non-pulmonary hypertension group (nPH group) and pulmonary hypertension group(PH group),and the PH group were divided into two subgroup:slight PH group,moderate and sever PH group.According to the altitude of habitation,105 ASD patients also were divided into 3 groups:＜ 2 500 m group,2 501-3 500 m group and ＞ 3 500 m group.Plasma BNP were measured by radioimmunity method and ET-1 were measured by ELISA.The data analysis used single factor analysis and Fisher least singnificant difference t test.Results Both the plasma BNP levels (152.34 ± 40.61) pg/ml and ET-1 level (137.69 ± 37.17) pg/ml of the ASD-PH group were significantly higher than those [BNP (126.70 ± 32.27) pg/ml,ET-1 (92.92 ± 32.3) pg/ml] of ASD-nPH group.There were strong difference in plasma BNP levels and ET-1 levels among different degree PH groups(F =6.782,P ＜ 0.05 ; F =8.475,P ＜ 0.05).Statistical difference were also shown in BNP(F =6.846,P ＜ 0.05) and ET-1 (F =9.327,P ＜ 0.05) levels by compared difference altitude groups.The BNP levels are positively correlated with mean pulmonary artery pressure (r =0.326,P ＜ 0.05),size of defect (r=0.301,P＜0.05) and the altitude of habitation (r =0.252,P＜0.05).Conclusion Plasma BNPand ET-1 levelsof ASD-PH group significantly higher than those of ASD-nPH group.By the increasing of the altitude and PH degree,the plasma BNP and ET-1 levels are increasing,which suggest that BNP and ET-1 play an important role on the proceeding and development of the PH and hypoxia promoted secretion of BNP and ET-1.

Knee osteoarthritis is one of the common type of arthropathy, the clinical stage of the typical patients belongs to the middle-late stage, so it urges to improve the early diagnosis. At present, magnetic resonance imaging is most used in clinical diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, and with the development of different MRI sequences, the sequences of early articular cartilage lesions are used in clinic. In the early diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, the simple and practical methods such as ultrasonography is becoming a trend, and the specific biomarkers of early knee osteoarthritis have become the hot research. This overview article outlined the methods of early diagnosis from the ultrashort echo time MRI, ultrasonography and biomarkers.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum total bile acid level and coronary atherosclerosis. Methods The clinical data of 1408 patients who had underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into coronary atherosclerosis group (stenosis ≥ 50%, 681 cases) and coronary normal group (stenosis < 50%, 727 cases) according to the results of coronary angiography. The general clinical data, serum total bile acid, serum creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and so on were compared between 2 groups, and the indexes analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results There were no significant differences between 2 groups in the sex constitution, the family history of hyperlipidemia and the history of lipid-lowering therapy (P>0.05). The rate of smoking, rate of hypertension, rate of diabetes, age, body mass index (BMI), creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, total bile acid and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in coronary atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than those in coronary normal group:18.6%(127/681) vs. 14.2%(103/727), 64.6%(440/681) vs. 45.8%(333/727), 48.5%(330/681) vs. 22.7%(165/727), (58.9 ± 12.2) years vs. (56.7 ± 13.1) years, (25.6 ± 4.3) kg/m2 vs. (24.9 ± 4.5) kg/m2, (70.28 ± 15.94)μmol/L vs. (52.79 ± 12.75)μmol/L, (6.82 ± 2.73) mmol/L vs. (5.57 ± 2.35) mmol/L, (7.86 ± 4.38)μmol/L vs. (5.63 ± 3.71)μmol/L and (3.32 ± 0.69) mmol/L vs. (2.28 ± 0.57) mmol/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05 or <0.01). The Spearman correlation analysis result showed that coronary atherosclerosis was positively correlated with men, age, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, serum creatinine and total bile acid (r=0.084, 0.068, 0.322, 0.263, 0.073, 0.248 and 0.176; P < 0.05 or < 0.01). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that men, diabetes, hypertension, serum creatinine, BMI ( >24 kg/m2) and total bile acid levels were risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis (P<0.05 or<0.01). Conclusions The serum total bile acid level is positively correlated with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, which may be one of the independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective To explore the anatomical characteristic of the third palmar interosseous mus- cle as well its dominate nerve,and to investigate the anatomical basis of difficult recovery of digitus minimus adduction.Methods Twenty aduh fresh hands without deformity and trauma were obtained.Dissect and observe the third palmar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve and adjacent structure under surgical mi- croseope,measure the size of the third pahnar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve,the data were pro- cessed by stastistics method.Results Among palmar interosseous muscles and its dominate nerves,the third palmar interosseous muscle and its dominate nerve is the smallest.There are conspicuous tendon bundle on the surface of the third palmar interosseous muscle partly,which have a potential compression on the third palmar interosseous muscle dominting nerve.Conclusion The third palmar interosseous muscle is the smal- lest among palmar interusseous muscles and it is the only digitus minimus adduction muscle.The sominating nerve of the third palmar interosseous muscle is small anti the tendon bundle of the third palmar interosseous muscle have a potential compression.All these can cast light on diffcult recovery of digitus minimus adduction.

Objective To investigate the influence of motor impersistence on functional recovery and prog- nosis of patients with left hemiplegia. Methods A total of 64 in-patients with left side hemiplegia who were able to understand the oral instructions were assigned into a motor impersistence group (n = 31 ) and a control group (n = 34) , respectively, according to the assessment with Scale of Motor Impersistence developed by Joynt. Both groups were comparable in terms of the basic clinical characteristic and motor function of patients except motor impersis- tence. The conventional rehabilitation training programs were adopted for all patients in this study. Brunnstrom func- tional category, Ueda Satoshi hemiplegic finger function assessment scale, upper limb function assessment scale, Berg balance scale, Functional ambulatory category, Modified Barthel Index were employed to evaluate the subjects before and after 1 and 2 months of treatment, with regard to the motor function of their upper limbs, walking ability, activities of daily living performance and balance ability. Results After 1 month of treatment, the patients in the M1 group were significantly improved with regard to the motor function of upper limbs, hand function, standing ba- lance and activity of daily living performance( P0.05 ) , while those in the control group were improved with all the parameters except the lower limb function. After 2 months of treatment, patients in both groups were all significantly improved ( P

Objective To investigate the effect of long leg orthosis on lower limb function rehabilitation of hemiplegics.Methods38 patients with severe hemiplegia were randomized into the orthosis group(21 cases)and control group(17 cases).All patients were received rehabilitation training,but the patients in the orthosis group wearing long leg orthosis while training.They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer scale for lower limb,Berg Balance Scale,Holden functional walking scale,Modified Barthel Index before and 1 month after training.ResultsThe scores of Berg Balance Scale,Holden Functional Walking Scale and Modified Barthel Index in the orthosis group were better than those of the control group(P<0.01)1 month after training,whereas no significant difference was found in score of Fugl-Mayer Assessment(P>0.05).ConclusionIt's better for those patients with severe hemiplegia wearing long leg orthosis while training.

Skeletal muscle is the largest tissue in the human body, and it plays a major role in exerting force and maintaining metabolism homeostasis. The role of muscle transcription factors in the regulation of metabolism is not fully understood. MondoA is a glucose-sensing transcription factor that is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Previous studies suggest that MondoA can influence systemic metabolism homeostasis. However, the function of MondoA in the skeletal muscle remains unclear.