Educational Measurement ; Humans ; Inservice Training ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; Reference Standards

BACKGROUND:Pressure sensitive instrumented shoes are fast and easily used tools to measure ground reaction forces. Currently researches about the utilities of these systems in assessment of gait in children with neurological diseases have been started to run.OBJECTIVE: To find the gait characteristics of dynamic plantar pressure in children with spastic cerebral palsy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.SETTINGS: Department of Rehabilitation, Songgang People's Hospital; Department of Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Children's Hospital; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. PARTICIPANTS: ① Patient group: Twenty children with spastic cerebral palsy were selected from Shenzhen Children's Hospital from May 2004 to April 2005, including 9 boys and 11 girls, aged 26-66 months old, and they all could walk for more than 10 m independently. ② Normal control group: 52 healthy children with normal walking ability were enrolled, including 28 boys.and 24 girls, aged 35-76 months old.METHODS: Ultraflex gait analysis system was used to perform continuous plantar pressure tests of both groups of children. Diagram and data of dynamic plantar pressures in gait were recorded and analyzed with a computer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① 10 sequential gait cycles were chosen from the continuous stable steps to calculate the average data with the software; ② Differences of the characteristic parameters of plantar pressure curve between the two groups.RESULTS: ① The curves of plantar pressure to time of testees in the normal control group were of the wave shapes with two peaks and one valley. Half of the CP children could not perform the two-peak shape pressure curve in the gait analysis. One kind of abnormal plantar pressure curve style was a wave shape with only one peak. Another kind of abnormal plantar pressure curve style was a shape showing asymmetry between sides and variation in different steps even in the same side. Two-peak shapes of dynamic plantar pressure were recorded in 10 CP children. ② Characteristic parameters picked up from the curves of plantar pressure had been compared between the two groups. Significant difference have been found in ts of both sides and tz1,tz2,tz3 on the right side between the two groups. It was shown that the single-limb support time of both sides in the CP children was longer than that in healthy children [left: (0.879± 0.658), (0.472±0.051) s; right: (0.818±0.682), (0.478±0.050) s; P ＜ 0.01]. The tz1 and tz3 on the right side in the CP children were longer and while the tz2 was shorter than those in the healthy children. CONCLUSION: ① Using dynamic plantar pressure gait analysis system, plantar pressure curves can be observed directly, and information about kinetic characters can be drawn straightly. ② Part of patients with spastic CP could not perform the two-peak shape pressure curves in gait analysis. In patient can be recorded of two-peak shape dynamic plantar pressure curves, ts of both sides are shorter than those in healthy children, tz1 and tz3 on the right side is longer and tz2 is shorter than those in healthy children.

Investigation of simvastatin and its related substances was carried out using a reversed phase ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. The identification of impurities in simvastatin was performed with a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source in the negative/positive ion mode. A total of 12 compounds were characterized in commercial samples, among which 2 impurities had never been reported. All the impurities were deduced based on the MS fragment pathways of simvastatin and the biosynthetic pathway of lovastatin. This work provides very useful information for quality control of simvastatin.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Reverse-Phase ; Drug Contamination ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Simvastatin ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tablets ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective:To test curriculum management effect of graduate students'clinical practice of counseling psychology.Methods:Totally 26 students [average age (24.5 ± 1.0) years] who completed 30-day interns summer were investigated with the self-made questionnaire evaluating the quality of clinical practice.Results:All students obtained promotion in practice activities,the attendance ranged from 50.0％ to 96.2％.The overall satisfaction was (3.8 ± 0.8) and the average degree of supervisors'satisfaction was (4.0 ± 0.8).There were 92.3 ％ of the students had participated more than 224 hours' practice and completed all tasks.After the interns,the students had significantly improved in all 8 aspects of professional abilities.Conclusion:In graduate education of counseling psychology,curriculum management of clinical practice may be an effective approach to improve students' clinical skills.

OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)), and explore its mechanisms.

METHODSThe rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl(3) solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl(3) solution, respectively. Their abilities of spatial learning and memory were tested by Morris water maze, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in serum was assayed with chemical method, the AChE expression in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and then quantitative analysis was done by BI 2000 image analysis system.

RESULTSLearning and memory deficit of rats could be induced by AlCl(3) solution (P < 0.01), and AChE expressions in rats hippocampus were increased (P < 0.01); GbE ameliorated learning and memory deficit and reduced AChE expression in rats hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner, while GbE significantly increased serum AChE activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg each day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGbE can ameliorate learning and memory deficit induced by AlCl(3), which may be due to its inhibition of the AChE expression in hippocampus.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Structures ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reaction Time

Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Turbinates ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the scavenging action of tenuigenin (TEN) on intracerebral amyloid β protein (Aβ) aggregation and the abnormal phosphorylated tau protein and its mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats' brain.

METHODSAβ1-40 was injected into the right CA1 region hippocampus to establish the AD model. Successfully modeled rats were divided into the model group, the low, middle, high TEN group. Rats were administered with TEN (18.5, 37.0, 74.0 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Besides, a sham-operation group was set up. Expression levels of Aβ1-40 and Tau p-Ser262 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-protein ligase E3 were measured by Western blotting.The content of 26S proteasome was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results showed that the number of Aβ and Tau p-Ser262 positively reacted neurons significantly increased in model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed expression levels of ubiquitinated protein were up-regulated and those of Ub-protein ligase E3 were down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). ELISA results showed that the content of 26S proteasome significantly decreased in AD rats' brain (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, expression levels of Aβ1-40, Tau p-Ser262, and Ub significantly decreased; expression levels of Ub-protein ligase E3 apparently increased; the content of 26S proteasome significantly increased in each TEN treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Best effect was shown in 37.0 mg/kg and 74.0 mg/kg TEN groups.

CONCLUSIONSUb proteasome pathway (UPP) participated in the occurrence of AD. TEN could obviously reduce intracere- bral Aβ1-40 accumulation and abnormal tau phosphorylation.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins

Background Biometry of the anterior ocular segment parameter is very important for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma and ocular injury as well as measurement of intraocular lens(IOL).Objective This study was to compare the differences in the anterior chamber depth(ACD) and the central corneal thickness (CCT) between Sirius and Pentacam and evaluate the agreement of these two measurement methods.Methods The ACD and the CCT of 38 right eyes from 38 health volunteers aged 23- 32 years were measured with both Pentacam and Sirius.Three times of measurement were pedormed on each eye for each method to obtain the average values.The repeatability and agreement from each method were assessed as intraclass correlation coefficient( ICC ) and coefficient of variation(CV) and the agreement between these two methods were evaluated using Bland-Altman mode.ResultsThe mean ACD value was( 3.18±0.21 ) mm from Pentacam with the ICC 0.995 and CV 0.066.The mean ACD value from Sirius was (3.22 ±0.21 )mm with the ICC 0.996 and CV 0.065.The difference value in ACD between two methods was 0.04 mm,showing a significant difference( t =-6.225,P＜0.05 ) and a positive correlation (r=0.977) between two methods.The 95％ limit of agreement was( -0.04-0.13)mm within 1 standard difference (SD) of the mean value( ±0.21mm),which was acceptable for clinical measurement.The CCT was( 535±33 )μm from Pentacam with the ICC 0.994 and CV 0.062.The CCT was(537±36)pm from Sirius with the ICC 0.999 and CV 0.067.The difference value in the CCT between two methods was about 2 μm,presenting a in significant difference ( t =1.771,P＞0.05 ) and positive correlation ( r =0.985 ).The 95 ％ limit of agreement was ( - 11.64-15.65 ) μm within 1 SD of the mean value( ±34.27 pm),which was acceptable for clinical measurement.ConclusionsSirius and Pentacam show good agreement in the measurement of ACD and CCT.The two methods offer an alternative choice for the biological measurement of the anterior ocular segment.

Background Axial length and anterior chamber depth are important parameters for the calculation of diopter of intraocular lens ( IOL ). Objective This study was to investigate and compare the measuring outcomes of axial length and anterior chamber depth with IOLMaster,Axis- Ⅱ A-scan and ODM 1000A sonograph.Methods This a observational study.Axial length and anterior chamber depth were measured in 83 eyes of 48 patients with IOLMaster,Axis-Ⅱ A-scan and ODM 1000A sonograph by the same operator.The measuring results were compared among the three methods.Results The axial length were(25.79±0.85) mm,(25.72± 0.82 )mm and ( 26.00 ±0.83 )mm respectively with Axis- Ⅱ,ODM 1000A sonograph and IOLMaster.The difference between Axis-Ⅱ and DM 1000A sonograph was (0.07 ± 0.35 )mm without statistical difference between them (t=1.711,P =0.091 ).The difference of axial length between IOLMaster and DM 1000A sonograph was ( 0.27 ±0.29) mm with a statistical difference between them ( t =-8.570,P =0.000 ).The difference between IOLMaster and Axis- Ⅱ was (0.21 ±0.32 ) mm and showed a statistical difference ( t =- 5.931,P ＜ 0.01 ).The positive correlations were found in the axial length values by the each other comparison among the three instruments( r=0.916,0.938,0.928,P＜0.01 ).The anterior chamber depth values were ( 3.81 ±0.21 ) mm,( 3.84 ±0.25 ) mm and ( 3.83 ±0.18 )mm respectively with Axis-Ⅱ,0DM 1000A sonograph and IOLMaster.The difference of anterior chamber depth between Axis- Ⅱ and DM 1000A was (0.03 ±0.17 ) mm without statistical difference between them ( t =- 1.324,P =0.189 ).The difference in the anterior chamber depth between IOLMaster and DM 1000A was (0.01 ±0.15 ) mm and that between IOLMaster and Axis-Ⅱ was( 0.01 ±0.12)mm without any statistical differences among them (t =0.815,P=0.417 ;t=-0.900,P=0.371 ).The high correlation between anterior chamber depth measurements were found by the each other comparison in the three instruments ( r =0.735,0.813,0.823,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions ODM 1000A sonograph can provide precise axial length and anterior chamber depth values.However,ODM 1000Asonograph can not substitute for IOLMaster in the measurement of the anterior chamber depth and axial length.

Background Clinical research showed that the corneal endothelial cell density value from different corneal specula microscopies exist diversity.The relevant literature of SP02,Tomey EM-3000 and SP3000P is still seldom up to now. Objective This research was to assess the repeatability of endothelial cell density measurements by SP02,Tomey EM-3000 and SP3000P respectively and the agreement among 3 kinds of endothelial microscopes.MethodsFifty-four healthy volunteers with the age 17-38 years old were included this research.The written informed consent was obtained from each subject before examination.The corneal endothelial cell densities in the right eyes were analyzed with SP02,Tomey EM-3000 and SP3000P respectively for 3 times under the automatic mode,and the analytical procedure of SP3000P measurement were divided into automatic mode SP3000P (A) and manual correction modes SP3000P( M).The repeatability of each specula microscopy was analyzed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and coefficient of variation ( CV ),and the 95％ confidence intervals and plotting Bland-Altman graphs were used to analyze the agreement among these methods.ResultsThe mean corneal endothelial cell densities in the population ＜24 years were significantly higher than the ones ≥ 24 years (t =3.692,P＜0.05 ),but no statistical difference was found between different gender ( t =0.335,P =0.739 ).The mean corneal endothelial cell densities were ( 3058 ± 260 ),( 2954 ± 229 ),( 2668 ± 258 ),( 2734 ± 268 ) cell/mm2 ; the ICCs were 0.957,0.940,0.972 and 0.972 and the CV were 0.063,0.061,0.056,0.058 for SP02,Tomey EM-3000,SP3000P (A) and SP3000P ( M ) respectively.The 95％ confidence intervals were ( - 100.8 - 306.8 ),( 162.6 - 617.4 ),( 109.9-494.1 ) and ( -0.6 - 132.6 ) cell/mm2 for between SP02 and Tomey EM-3000,SP3000P ( A ) and SP02,SP3000P(A) and Tomey EM-3000,SP3000P(A) and SP 3000P(M) respectively.ConclusionsSP02,Tomey EM-3000 and SP3000P(A) have good repeatability in the measurement of corneal endothelial cell density,however the outcome is different.Therefore,it is not interchangeable for the detection of corneal endothelial cell density.The differences of corneal endothelial cell density obtained from these instruments shall be paid high attention for their differences.SP3000P(A) and SP3000P(M) can be used interehangeably and SP3000P(A) is a preferable choice due to its convenience and quickness.