ObjectiveTo investigate the value of high-frequency ultrasound in assessment of the therapeutic efifcacy of traditional Chinese medicine in patients with breast dysplasia using.MethodsFrom March to September in 2014, 50 patients with breast dysplasia in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled in the study. In addition, they were treated with Xiaozheng pills. Before and after treatment, these patients were examined using ultrasound. The thickness of the breast gland layer in each patient was measured. When the dilated ducts lactiferous, cysts, hypoechoic areas, or nodules of the breast were detected, the diameter or volume was measured or calculated. A grading system of the breast dysplasia was used to evaluate the disease degree, and the quadrants of the breast dysplasia were counted. The thickness of the breast gland layer, the volume of cysts and nodules, the diameter of hypoechoic areas and the dilated ducts lactiferous, the number of the breast dysplasia were compared with the pairedt-test. The grading of the breast dysplasia was compared with rank sum test.ResultsThere were significant decreases in the thickness of the grand layer, the diameters of the ducts lactiferous and the hypoechoic area after treatments [(15.92±4.73) mm vs(13.02±4.20) mm,t=2.240,P<0.01; (2.26±0.58) mm vs (1.71±0.47) mm,t=5.202,P<0.01; (21.14±5.57) mm vs(17.80±4.63) mm,t=5.529,P<0.01]. However, there were no significant differences in the volume of cysts and nodules. The grading of the breast dysplasia showed statistical difference (z=-5.667,P<0.01), and the number of the breast dysplasia quadrants was reduced markedly (5.38±1.85 vs3.28±1.97,t=7.566,P<0.01).ConclusionsUltrasound can be an effective method in assessment of patients with breast dysplasia treated with the traditional Chinese medicine. The assessment can be based on some signs, including the thickness of the grand layer, the diameters of the ducts lactiferous, and the diameters of the hypoechoic area. The grading system and breast quadrants counting in these patients may be added as supplementary criteria to make a complete therapeutic evaluation.

Objective To study the influence of different positions in the isokinetic muscle test of knees by CON-TREX Biomechanical Test and Training System, so as to select the suitable conditions for forensic identification of muscle strength test. Methods Fifty-two healthy volunteers joined the isokinetic muscle strength test in unfixed and fixed position, respectively and in two kinds of angular speed (60°/s and 30°/s). The differences of peak torque (PT) and peak torque angle (PTA) between bilateral knee flexor and extensor were statistically analyzed. Results In the unfixed position, under the two speed, there was statistically significant difference in PT between bilateral knee flexor and extensor (P<0.05);while in the fixed position, under the two speed, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). In any kind of conditions, the PTA of bilateral knee flexor and extensor did not have statistically signifi-cant difference(P>0.05). Conclusion The position of the subject influences the results of PT. So the po-sition of subject in knees isokinetic muscle test should be regulated.

Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy ; Quinuclidines ; therapeutic use

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in ureteral lesions.Methods The ultrasonogram of conventional ultrasound and CEUS were retrospectively analyzed in 19 confirmed ureteral lesions cases by operation and pathology.The size,inner echoes,boundary and color blood signal of ureteral lesions were observed by conventional ultrasound.The modality and phases of enhancement,including arrival time,peak time,washout time and appearance of internal structure,were observed by CEUS.Results The 19 ureteral tumors were of maximum widths between 2.1 to 7.7 cm.Conventional ultrasound showed 7 hypoechoic masses,10 isoechoic masses,1 hyperechoic mass and 1 unclear mass.Color Doppler flow imaging showed fairly rich blood signal in 8 tumors,a small amount of blood signal around tumor in 6 tumors and no blood signal in the rest.In early phase,CEUS showed enhancement in all 19 ureteral lesions,including synchronously enhancement in 8 tumors and delayed enhancement in 11 tumors.In peak time,hypoechogenicity compared to the normal renal cortex was shown in 3 tumors,hyperechogenicity in 11 tumors and isoechogenicity in 5 tumors.In late phase,fast wash-out was displayed in 16 tumors,isochronously wash-out in 1 tumor,delayed wash-out in 1 tumor and unclear in 1 tumor.The detection rates of blood supply and clear boundary in ureteral lesions and the diagnostic sensitivity for ureteral cancer were 74% (14/19),16% (3/19),50% (8/16) by conventional ultrasound respectively.The detection rates of blood supply and clear boundary in ureteral lesions and the diagnostic sensitivity for ureteral cancer were 100% (19/19) ,58% (11/19) ,94% (15/16) by CEUS respectively.The change of these performances was statistically significant between conventional ultrasound and CEUS.Conclusions CEUS can improve blood supply,boundary and the diagnostic sensitivity of ureteral lesions.

OBJECTIVE: To study the objectivity and reliability of needle electromyography and nerve conduction for detection of musculus extensor digitorum brevis strength, which may provide a basis for establishing a quantitative detection of muscle strength in forensic clinical study. METHODS: Forty-four healthy people were enrolled as the subjects, and during toe dorsiflexion, the following items including needle electromyography indexes, motor unit potential (MUP) amplitude, MUP count, recruitment reaction type, and nerve conduction detection indexes, compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, CMAP latent period and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), were simultaneously detected under the cooperation and disguise condition. RESULTS: Under the cooperation condition, regardless of the same operator or different operators, there were good test-retest reliabilities in MUP amplitude, CMAP amplitude, CMAP latent period and MNCV, while there were normal test-retest reliabilities in MUP count and recruitment reaction type and the repeatability of the same operator was slightly better than the repeatability between different operators. Under the disguise condition, test-retest reliabilities of MUP amplitude, CMAP amplitude, CMAP latent period and MNCV were relatively high, while test-retest reliabilities of MUP count and recruitment reaction type were relatively low. CONCLUSION There are good test-retest reliabilities in MUP amplitude, CMAP amplitude, CMAP latent period and MNCV, which can be conducive to comparison between different operators and results at various times; MUP count and recruitment reaction type, which can be easily affected by subjectivity of operators and examinees, can be used to differentiate whether an examinee disguises or not. The indexes used to objectively judge muscle strength remain to be further investigated.
Electrodes, Implanted ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Muscle Strength/physiology* ; Muscle, Skeletal/innervation* ; Neural Conduction/physiology* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Toes

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of different positions in the isokinetic muscle test of knees by CON-TREX Biomechanical Test and Training System, so as to select the suitable conditions for forensic identification of muscle strength test. METHODS: Fifty-two healthy volunteers joined the isokinetic muscle strength test in unfixed and fixed position, respectively and in two kinds of angular speed (60 degrees/s and 30 degrees/s). The differences of peak torque (PT) and peak torque angle (PTA) between bilateral knee flexor and extensor were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: In the unfixed position, under the two speed, there was statistically significant difference in PT between bilateral knee flexor and extensor (P < 0.05); while in the fixed position, under the two speed, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). In any kind of conditions, the PTA of bilateral knee flexor and extensor did not have statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The position of the subject influences the results of PT. So the position of subject in knees isokinetic muscle test should be regulated.
Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Muscle Strength ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology* ; Muscles ; Posture ; Torque

Objective: To investigate the neural connections between Shenmen (HT7)-heart and the brain by observing the tracing viruses co-labeled brain nuclear groups after injection of the pseudorabies viruses (PRV), the reverse transsynaptic virus tracer carrying different fluorescent protein genes, into the myocardium and Shenmen (HT7) point, respectively.Methods: Pseudorabies virus 531 (PRV531) carrying the green fluorescent protein gene and pseudorabies virus 724 (PRV724) carrying the red fluorescent protein gene were injected into the left ventricular wall and Shenmen (HT7) point area of the left forelimb of six C57BL/6 mice, respectively. After 120 h, whole brain tissue was extracted under 4％ paraformaldehyde perfusion to prepare brain sections. Neuronal co-labeling with the tracing viruses was observed under fluorescence microscopy. Results: Co-labeled signals from the mouse ventricular wall and Shenmen (HT7) point region were found at all levels of the mouse central nervous areas, such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The number of co-labeled neurons was higher in the primary motor area, the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the subceruleus nucleus, and the paramedian reticular nucleus. Conclusion: There is a neural connection between Shenmen (HT7), the heart, and the brain, which may be most closely related to the autonomic nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampus is an important region involved in learning and memory. Some methods for freshly isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons have been described. These methods need multiple enzymes or the procedure is complex.OBJECTIVE: To acquire large quantities of hippocampal neurons from rats suitable for patch clamp study.DESIGN: An animal experimental observation.SETTING: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in the Medical Experimental Center, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University between March and October 2004. The animals were the 10-15-day-old SpragueDawley rats, bothmale and female.METHODS: Hippocampal pyramidal neurons were freshly isolated. Delayed rectifier potassium current and voltage-gated Ca2 + currents were recorded by whole-cell patch clamp configuration.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute isolated neurons were observed with a Leica microscope. Recordings of delayed rectifier potassium currents and voltage-gated Ca2+ currents were obtained.RESULTS: ① Under the inverted microscope, the acute isolated neurons had a smooth and glassy surface, a three-dimensional contour, a pyramidal shape with a longer apical dendrite and several basal dendrites. ② After the whole cell recording configuration was formed, voltage-gated barium currents through calcium channels were elicited by 200 ms depolarizing potential from -70 mV to +20 mV, with an increment of 10 mV, a holding potential was -90 mV. Delayed rectifier potassium current (Ikd) was elicited by a protocol consisting of a multiple depolarizing pulses (-60 mV to +50 mV),preceded by a single prepulse step to -50 rmV, with inactivated transient outward potassium currents from a holding potential of -80 mV.CONCLUSION: This method is simple and ideal for the dissociation of neurons from rat hippocampus, and offers a powerful tool for functional analysis of ion channels by patch clamp.

To compare the pharmacokinetics of syringin, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin after intravenous administration of each monomer and Ciwujia injection. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and intravenously administrated with syringin, eleutheroside E, isofraxidin, and Ciwujia injection, respectively. The concentrations of the three components in rat plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters while the SPSS 17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between each monomer and the injection on the main pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, CL and t1,/2. Compared with the injection, the group treated with the syringin has obvious decrease in AUC, and increase in CL while the group treated with eleutheroside E has obvious increase in AUC, and decrease in CL The t1/2 of isofraxidin was prolonged in Ciwujia injection. Pharmacokinetic characters of the ingredients in the injection varied greatly from the monomer. Other constituents in the injection may have an impact on the pharmacokinetic profiles of these three components.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Phenylpropionates ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To establish a method for the determination of cucurbitacin in plasma samples, in order to study the in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of cucurbitacin in rats. Rats were intravenously injected with cucurbitacin. With diphenhydramine as the internal standard (IS), the plasma concentrations of cucurbitacin in rat plasma at different time points were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). With electrospray ionization source, the positive ion detection in the multiple reaction monitoring mode was conducted to determine the ion-pairs for target compound and IS were m/z 503.2/113.1 and m/z 256.0/167.2, respectively. Agilent ZOBAX SB-C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 microm) was adopted and eluted with methanol and 0.1% formic acid (55:45), and the flow rate was 0.2 mL x min(-1). DAS 2.0 software was applied to fit the blood concentration and calculate corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters. The rats were intravenously injected with cucurbitacin at the concentration of 3.0 mg x kg(-1). The target blood quality concentration show good linear relations within the range of 10.5-3 150 microg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.996), the lower limit of the standard curve was 10.5 microg x L(-1), and the signal to noise ratio S/N = 12. Intra- and inter-day precisions RSD was less than 6.9% and 14%, respectively; The accuracy RE ranged between 0.20% and 3.7%; The extraction recoveries ranged between 92.7% and 97.1%. Regarding the pharmacokinetic parameters of tail intravenous injection of cucurbitacin, AUC (0-t) was (811.615 +/- 111.578) microg x h x L(-1), (t1/2) was (1.285 +/- 1.390) h, CL was (3.627 +/- 0.487) L x h x kg(-1), and V(d) was (6.721 +/- 7.429) L x kg(-1). In this study, researchers established a simple, accurate, sensitive and highly specific method for determining the blood concentration of cucurbitacin, and reported the in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of cucurbitacin in rats for the first time.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Cucurbitacins ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar