Objective To study the influence of systematic respiratory training of patients with chronic ob- structive pulmonary disease(COPD)on their off-respirator pulmonary function and emotional depression.Methods Sixty COPD patients were divided into a treatment group and a control group.The patients in both groups were given routine treatment,while those in the treatment group were also given respiratory training in addition for 9-12 months after ceasing the mechanical ventilation.The index of pulmonary function such as FEV1 and depression(SDS score) were evaluated before and after the respiratory training.All data was analyzed by using SPSS 10.0.Results The FEVI of all patients was improved after 9-12 months of respiratory training(P

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of active ingredients between tissue cultured cells and cultivated saffron pistils.

METHODThe experiment was carried out by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTThe data indicated that the species and contents active ingredients in saffron pistils from different places were different. The species of active ingredients in tissue cultured cells are less than those in cultivated saffron pistils. However, the quantity of crocin A, which showed good anticancer effect, is 2-3 times more than that in cultivated saffron pistils.

CONCLUSIONThe active ingredients of the tissue cultured cells are similar to those of saffron pistils, but their contents are different. Therefore, the tissue cultured cells can only be the part-substitutes of cultivated saffron pistils.

Carotenoids ; analysis ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Crocus ; chemistry ; cytology ; Ecosystem ; Flowers ; chemistry ; cytology ; India ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; cytology ; Spain ; Species Specificity ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nano-SiO2 on spatial learning and memory.

METHODSTwenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (C group), low dose group (L group) and high dose group (H group). The rats were intragastrically administrated with nanometer particles at 25 and 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 4 weeks. After exposure, the ability of learning and memory of rats was tested by Morris water maze, and electrophysiological brain stereotactic method was used to test long-tear potentiation (LTP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of the rats.

RESULTSThe increase rate of body weight in H group was reduced significantly compared with C group ( P < 0.05). In the space exploration experiment of Morris water maze test, the escape latency of H group was longer than that of C group (P < 0.05). The rats of H group spent less time in finding the target quadrant (P < 0.05) . The rate of LP induction of H group was significantly lower than that of C group (P < 0.05). After high fre quency stimulation (HFS), The changes of amplitude of population spike (PS) of L group and H group were lower than those of C group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNano-SiO₂may result in impairment of spatial learning and memory ability by reducing the rate of LTP induction and the increase of PS in hippocampus.

Animals ; Dentate Gyrus ; drug effects ; Long-Term Potentiation ; drug effects ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nanoparticles ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

BACKGROUND:Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine minimaly invasive treatment for halux valgus based on wrapped curtain method with “8”-shaped bandage and sub toe pad external fixation has been used for a long time in the clinic. This method abandons the internal implant fixationandexternal plaster fixation. After surgery, patients could take care of themselves. However, theactivity of the broken end may cause fracture nonunion, which once aroused scholars’ question. Recently, with the continuous improvement of foot biomechanics research, foot finite element model and applications become a reality.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate thestability of osteotomy after the operation of wrapped curtain method with“8”-shaped bandage and sub toe pad external fixation on the basis of static finite element method.
METHODS:A young female volunteer with halux valgus was selected, whose body weight was 58 kg, and right foot halux abductor valgus angle was 24°; intermetatarsal angle was 13°; proximal articulator set angle was 7°; distal articulator set angle was 7°. CT was used to scan the right foot. ABAQUS software was applied to establish a finite element model of right foot halux valgus bone, and model of the first metatarsal neck minimaly invasive osteotomy was simulated based on wrapped curtain method with external fixation. Von Mises stress and displacement at the osteotomy endwere calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The maximum stress was 0.067 MPa without external fixation, and the maximum stress was 1.258 MPa with the external fixation. Stress was mainly distributed in the outer edge of the osteotomy. (2) The maximum absolute displacement was 0.363 mm without external fixation, and the maximum absolute displacement was 0.716 mm with external fixation. The two largest displacements were both in the Z-axis direction. Statistical analysis confirmed that the four nodes absolute displacement and stress were significantly different (P< 0.01). (3) The maximum relative displacement was 0.101 mm. The maximum relative displacement was 0.046 mm with external fixation. The maximum relative displacement without external fixation was-0.102 mm and occurred in the Z-axis. The maximum relative displacement with external fixation was 0.110 mm and occurred in the Y-axis. (4) One-way analysis of variance confirmed that the four nodes relative displacements were not statisticaly significant in X-axisand Y-axis (P> 0.05). The four nodes relative displacements were statisticaly significant in Z-axis (P< 0.05). (5) These findings suggest that the external fixation based on wrapped curtain method after halux valgus surgery could effectively reduce osteotomy displacement. The moderate stress and elastic fixation are conducive to fracture healing.

OBJECTIVETo determine the contents of berberine in Coptis chinensis of Lichuan and establish its best cultivation scheme.

METHODWe used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the contents of berberine at different altitude, growth age, and leaves.

RESULTSAnalytic data showed that the growth age and firry woods shading did not affect the contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis. Low altitude was more suitable for Coptis chinensis to synthesize berberine. The contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis with floral leaf were higher than those with lusterless and lustrous leaves, but no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONThe synthesis of berberine is closely correlated with shading conditions. It is recommended that the shading ratio should be reduced or the sheds removed in the middle growth age (2-3 years), and then the herb should be reshaped at the last year to enhance the synthesis of berberine, so as to obtain high-quality Coptis chinensis in the harvest.

Altitude ; Berberine ; analysis ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sunlight ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the objective index of the diagnosis of varicocele (VC) in infertile males by ultrasonography and the testis volume changes resulting from varicocele.

METHODSForty-six healthy male volunteers and 178 infertile men with left varicocele were detected by high frequency ultrasound. According to the clinical data and ultrasonographic results, the 178 VC patients were divided into 4 groups, SVC group (45 cases), VC I group (44 cases), VC II group (48 cases), and VC III group (41 cases).

RESULTS(1) The differences in DR, DV, Vmax, TR and testis volume between the right and the left sides were not statistically significant in the control group (P > 0.05). (2) The differences in DR, DV, Vmax and TR between the experimental and control groups as well as among the VC groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). (3) The left testis volume was smaller than the right among the VC groups (P < 0.01). The right testis volume of the VC II and VC III groups was significantly smaller than that of the control group ( P < 0.05), and the left testis volume in the VC III group was significantly smaller than that of the SVC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION(1) High frequency ultrasound can detect the accurate diameter of the internal spermatic vein, hemodynamic index and testis volume of infertile men with VC, and hence help to screen the causes of male infertility. (2) Unilateral varicocele can cause a volume decrease in both testes, especially in the left. Both unilateral SVC and VC can cause testicular atrophy, and the more serious VC, the higher testicular atrophy.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Testis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Varicocele ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cytoskeleton integrity on the expression of c-fos gene in osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

METHODSBALB/c mouse primary osteoblasts were divided into four groups (according to fluid shear stress loaded or not and cytochalasin D used or not). The Tagman probe real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the expression levels of c-fos mRNA, c-fos protein and cytoskeleton, respectively. The data were analysed using two-way ANOVA.

RESULTSIn control group and cytochalasin D group, fluid shear stress could significantly increase the expression levels of c-fos mRNA (0.1637 +/- 0.0303 and 0.0104 +/- 0.0070, respectively) and protein (177.14 +/- 9.37 and 150.95 +/- 6.17, respectively) in osteoblasts, compared with the unloaded osteoblasts of the control group and the cytochalasin D group (0.0057 +/- 0.0021 and 0.0032 +/- 0.0014, respectively for c-fos mRNA, and 117.96 +/- 4.11 and 119.77 +/- 5.19, respectively for protein, P < 0.05). Induced by the fluid shear stress, the expression levels of c-fos mRNA and protein in cytochalasin D group were lower than control group, and the difference had statistical significance (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cytoskeleton integrity in osteoblasts was essential to the expression of c-fos gene induced by fluid shear stress.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochalasin D ; pharmacology ; Cytoskeleton ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rheology ; Stress, Mechanical

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of cofilin on the actin cytoskeleton reorganization in osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

METHODSFluid shear stress (1.2 Pa) was applied to osteoblasts for 0 (control group), 15, 30, 45, 60, 120 min in vitro. Cells were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-phalloidin for fiber-actin, and confocal laser scanning microscope(CLSM) was used to observe the fluorescence of fiber-actin. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the cofilin and the phospho-cofilin.

RESULTSActin filaments became organized into stress fibers that were thicker and more abundant than those in non-flowed cells. The fluorescence intensity (38.00 ± 6.88) of fiber-actin after 120 min (42.93 ± 6.41) loading it was 2.8 times as much as that in control group (15.41 ± 3.60, P < 0.05). Additionally, the level of phospho-cofilin protein was dramatically elevated after loading. Fluid shear stress induced an initial decrease of cofilin at 60 min. However, at 120 min cofilin (0.254 ± 0.026) increased to 1.5 times as much as that at 60 min (0.162 ± 0.004).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicate that cofilin phosphorylation mediates fiber-actin reorganization in the osteoblasts induced by fluid shear stress.

Actin Cytoskeleton ; ultrastructure ; Actin Depolymerizing Factors ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; ultrastructure ; Phosphorylation ; Stress, Mechanical

The changes of microRNA expression in rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were explored. Adult SD rats received a single controlled cortical impact injury, and the ipsilateral hippocampus was harvested for the subsequent microarray assay at three time points after TBI: 1st day, 3rd day and 5th day, respectively. We characterized the microRNA expression profile in rat hippocampus using the microRNA microarray analysis, and further verified microarray results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 using quantitative real-time PCR. Totally 205 microRNAs were identified and up-/down-regulated more than 1.5 times. There were significant changes in 17 microRNAs at all three time points post-TBI. The quantitative real-time PCR results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 indicated good consistency with the results of the microarray method. MicroRNAs altered at different time points post-TBI. MiR-142-3p and miR-221 may be used as potentially biological markers for TBI assessment in forensic practice.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical outcomes of bracing and analyze related factors that influence curative effects in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, and to investigate indications of bracing.

METHODSSeventy-nine patients with AIS who had no history of prior therapy were treated with a brace. Several parameters were consecutive measured and documented during the period of follow-up including Cobb's angles, curve patterns, menarche status, sitting heights, standing heights, Risser sign, apical vertebral rotation, and so on.

RESULTSThe average period of followed-up was 30 months (12 months to 60 months). Twenty-one patients (26.6%) presented curve deterioration, 40 patients have no obvious curve change, 18 patients (22.8%) got a curve improvement. There was significantly lower percentage of curve progression and higher percentage of curve improvement in cases with Cobb's angle less than 35 degrees at the first visit (P < 0.05). The percentage of curve progression was significantly greater in the cases with apical vertebral rotation beyond grade III while the percentage of curve improvement was lower (P < 0.05). Curve patterns, Risser sign and other parameters were found to make their effects on the percentage of curve progression and improvement, which, however, was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBracing can limit or improve mild and moderate curve of idiopathic scoliosis effectively, especially in cases with initial curve magnitude ranging from 20 degrees to 35 degrees . Risser sign is not a reliable parameter for measuring the outcome of bracing treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. Surgery is advised as soon as possible for the cases with initial Cobb's angles greater than 45 degrees and initial apical vertebral rotation beyond grade III early while bracing did not work.

Adolescent ; Braces ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome