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.

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

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

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

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 Corneal parameters (such as curvature,thickness,etc) are essential to the diagnosis of corneal related diseases,contact lenses fitting and corneal refractive surgery.Objective The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability and accuracy of corneal parameters obtained by RTVue Fourier-domain optical coherence topography (FD-OCT).Methods In this prospective study,77 eyes of 43 subjects with the refraction from-1.25 D to-10.00 D and astigmatism ＜2 D were enrolled in keratorefractive surgery center,Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College.The anterior and posterior corneal curvature in 3 mm central zone (Ranterior and Rposterior),the ratio of posterior and anterior curvature (Rposterior/Ranterior),corneal central thickness (CCT),total corneal power(Knet),the simulated corneal power (Sim K),the anterior and posterior corneal power (Kanterior,Kposterior)were measured by FD-OCT.Corneal power (Km) was obtained by Topolyzer topography based on Placido ring.Three consecutive scans were acquired in every tested eye.Repeatability of FD-OCT measurement was assessed using the coefficient of variation CV),Cronbach Alpha and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).Repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze the differences among SimK,Knet and Km.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analysis the correlation between SimK and K Knet and Km,SimK and Km.The agreement between Sim K and K Knet and Km,SimK and Km was assessed by Bland-Altman plots analysis.All the subjects understood the purpose of this investigation and written informed consent was obtained prior to the medical examination.Results The Ranterior,Rposterior,Rposterior/Ranterior,Kanterior,Kposterior,Sim K,Knet and CCT were (7.691 ±0.302) mm,(6.532±0.276) mm,0.849±0.014,(48.97±1.92)D,(-6.13±0.26)D,(43.95±1.72) D,(42.95±1.68) D and (545.20± 35.04) μm,respectively.The CV of all parameters was less than 1％.The Cronbach Alpha and ICC were both more than 0.9 except 0.802(ICC)of the Rposterior/Ranterior.SimK was (0.27±0.34) D higher than Km,and Knet was (0.73±0.37) D lower than Km.SimK was (1.01 ±0.11) D higher than K and all the differences showed a statistical significance (P＜0.001).There were close positive correlations between SimK and Km,Knet and Km,SimK and Knet(all r ≥ 0.976,P＜0.001).The Bland-Altman analysis showed a poor agreement between SimK and Km,Knet and Km,SimK and Knet.Conclusions The RTVue FD-OCT measuring corneal curvature and CCT performes good repeatability.The Sim K obtained by RTVue FD-OCT is slightly greater than that obtained by corneal topography,and the Rposterior/Ranterior obtained by RTVue FD-OCT is slightly lower than that from Gullstrand model eye.These results offer a basis for establishing a more accurate standardized model eye.

Background Sirius system,a new Scheimpflug camera combined with Placido topography,improved the capability of imaging the anterior eye segment significantly.However,the study of assessing the repeatability and agreement between Sirius and Pentacam is still lack up to now.Objective This study was to evaluate the repeatability and agreement of the anterior ocular segment measuring parameters by Sirius and Pentacam in myopia received laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).Methods Thirty-five myopic eyes of 35 patients received LASIK were included in School of Optometry and Ophthalmology Eye Hospital from 2010 May through 2010 July.Corneal power flat keratometry (Kf),step keratometry (Ks),mean keratometry (Km),thinnest corneal thickness(TCT),the location of TCT,anterior chamber depth (ACD) and anterior chamber volume (ACV) were measured by Sirius and Pentacam in all the eyes,respectively.The repeatability of the measuring results were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Cronbach's coefficient alpha (CoA),and the agreement of measuring parameters between Sirius and Pentacam was analyzed using Bland-Altman plot.Results Both Sirius and Pentacam demonstrated high intraobserver repeatability,with all ICC and CoA more than 0.90.No significant differences were found in Kf values and Ks values between the two methods (t =-1.533,-1.750,P＞0.05).Km value was (39.14 ± 1.95) D by Sirius measurement,which was sígnificantly higher than (39.05 ± 1.91) D by Pentacam measurement (t =3.572,P =0.001).The TCT was (457.6 ± 40.9) μm by Sirius method,showing a significant reduce in comparison with (465.4±37.5) μm of Pentacam method (t =-6.689,P＜0.001).A positive correlation was seen in the TCT between the two methods (r=0.988,P＜0.001).The Bland-Alrman plots showed the 95％ CI-21 μm to 6 pm in the TCT value between the two devices.Pairwise comparison of the location of TCT measurements showed significant differences between the two devices (t =-4.132,-5.696,P＜0.001),with a good correlation (r=0.751,0.775) and the 95％ CI (-0.36-0.17 mm,-0.35-0.12 mm).A very good agreement was seen in ACD between the two devices (-0.02-0.12 mm),but the agreement result was not very well in the ACV between the two devices with the 95％ CI (-27.70-6.20 mm3).Conclusions Sirius and Pentacam measurements for anterior ocular segment parameters have a very good repeatability in post-LASIK eyes.In addition,good agreement results are exhibited in corneal power,TCT and ACD between Sirius and Pentacam with an acceptable maximal different value between them.Sirius and Pentacam can be used interchangeably in clinical examination.However,the two devices can not interchangeably for ACV measurement and TCT location.

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.

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.