To quantitatively evaluate the upper-limb spasticity of stroke patients in recovery stage, the relationship between surface electromyography (sEMG) characteristic indexes from biceps brachii and triceps brachii and the spasticity were explored, which provides the electrophysiological basis for clinical rehabilitation. Ten patients with spasticity after stroke were selected to be estimated by modified Ashworth (MAS) assessment and a passive elbow sinusoidal motion experiment was carried out. At the same time, the sEMG of biceps and triceps were recorded. The results shows that the reflex electromyographic threshold could reflect the physiological mechanism of spasticity and had significant correlation with MAS scale which showed that sEMG could be prosperous for the clinical quantitative evaluation of spasticity of stroke patients.
Electromyography ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; physiopathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiopathology ; Stroke ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE： To develop a HPLC method for the determination of the contents of lidocaine and prilocaine in compound lidocaine cream as a quality control means.METHODS： Lidocaine and prilocaine in compound lidocaine cream were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography on C18 column with the detection wavelength at 254nm.The mobile phase was 0.5％ ammonium dihydrogen phosphate(pH=7)-methanol(20∶ 80).RESULTS： The calibration curves of both lidocaine and prilocaine were linear within the concentration range of 130～250μ g/ml(r=0.9 996).The recovery rates of lidocaine and prilocaine were 99.05％ and 99.27％ respectively， RSDs were 0.67％ and 1.15％ ， intra-day RSDs 0.81％ and 1.45％ ， inter-day RSDs 0.55％ and 0.63％ respectively.CONCLUSION： The method was sensitive， stable and accurate.It can be used to determine and control the quality of compound lidocaine cream.

Functional experiment is an important course to cultivate medical undergraduates'comprehensive and creative thinking abilities. Based on the conduction of the course, prominent teaching factors like the qualifies of teachers and students, the making of the courseware, the choosing of experiment contents and the arrangement of teaching progress,have been analyzed and practical teaching suggestions have also been proposed for a better functional experiment bilingual teaching quality.

Objective To investigate the role of nerve growth factor(NGF)in asthmatic rats by observing the expression of NGF and effects of corticosteroid on the expression of NGF in lungs of asthmatic rats.Methods Forty-five rats were randomly devided into 3 groups:control group,asthmatic group,therapeutic group with corticosteroid.The thickness of airway smooth musle(ASM)was measured by HE staining,and the expression of NGF was observed by immunohistochemical staining.Results 1.The thickness of ASM,the expression of NGF and were significantly higher in asthmatic group than those of control group and therapeutic group(Pa

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of extracts from ginseng, notoginseng and chuanxiong (Ext) on the angiotensin II induced aging of human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.

METHODSCultured HUVECs were divided into 5 groups, the blank control group (A), the model group (B), and the three intervening groups (C, D and E). Except those in Group A, all cells were induced into aging model cells by Ang II in a final concentration of 10(-6) mol/L, and to the three intervening groups, corresponding treatments with low dose Ext (C), high dose Ext (D) and valsartan (E) were accessed. Changes of aging in HUVECs were observed by SA-beta-gal staining; cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry; contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was measured by laser confocal microscopy; levels of nitric oxide (NO) and anti-superoxide anion in culture medium were examined by nitrate reductase method; and the protein expression of NAD (P) H oxidase p47phox, as well as the angiotensin type 1 and 2 receptor (AT1 R, AT2R) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with Group A, in Group B, the positive beta-gal stained HUVECs increased and stagnated at G0-G1 phase, with the fluorescence intensity of ROS evidently enhanced; in the culture medium content of NO and anti-superoxide anion were lowered, and protein expression of p47phox and AT1 R up-regulated. While these aging figures were improved in Group C and D. After intervention with high or low dose of Ext, beta-gal stained HUVECs decreased showing less cells in G0-G1 phase and more cells in G2-M phase, the fluorescence intensity of ROS reduced, contents of NO and anti-superoxide anion increased, and the protein expression of p47phox and AT1 R down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONExt could delay the aging of HUVECs induced by angiotensin II, it is possibly by way of down-regulating the expression of NAD (P) H oxidase subunit-p47phox through AT1 R, and further reducing the superoxide anion production.

Angiotensin II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThe relationship between selenium deficiency and the changes of synaptic structure in the CA3 area of hippocampus were studied in the third generation rats.

METHODSA selenium deficiency model was established by feeding rats with selenium-deficient food. The rats were divided into 4 groups: control (Se+I+), selenium deficiency (Se-I+), iodine deficiency (Se+I-), and both deficient group (Se-I-). The hippocampuses were dissected from the third generation rats on the 21st gestational day and the ultrastructural features of hippocampal synapses were observed with electron microscope. The length of active zone, synaptic curvatures, post-synaptic density (PSD) and synaptic cleft were quantitatively described.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the length of active zone and the thickness of PSD were significantly decreased in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(261.7 +/- 50.1) nm, (286.7 +/- 41.6) nm and (220.8 +/- 61.6) nm contrast to (312.4 +/- 47.7) nm, P < 0.01], so were the synaptic curvatures in Se-I+, Se+I- and Se-I- groups [(22.9 +/- 6.3) nm, (27.5 +/- 8.6) nm and (25.2 +/- 6.5) nm contrast to (48.1 +/- 12.3) nm, P < 0.01]; the width of synaptic cleft were also decreased significantly in Se-I- [(11.1 +/- 3.3) nm contrast to (16.1 +/- 4.0) nm, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSelenium deficiency might cause changes of neuronal functions at the synaptic level, and furthermore, affect learning and memory.

Animals ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Iodine ; deficiency ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Selenium ; deficiency ; Synapses ; pathology ; ultrastructure

Objective To analyze the genetic model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods The segregation analysis and polygenic multiple threshold model were used to prove the polygenic model and to estimate the heritability and recurrence risk of ADHD in each degree relatives.Results 1. The average heritability of ADHD was (102.47?9.78)%;2.The first-degree relatives of probands were in high risk for ADHD(23.0%)compared with colony prevalence rate(2.6%). The ADHD prevalence of each degree relatives rapidly decreased with the increased magnitude of consanguineous relationship of each degree relatives and ADHD probands. Conclusions The genetic model of ADHD is the most likely polygenic inheritance with major genes, which suggested that the genetic factor might play an important role in the liability variance of ADHD.Apart from the involvement of multiple genes,each gene contributes a small additive effect,and the major genes may be involved as well.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the level of circulating CD133+/KDR+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods Inpatients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 24 hfrom the onset and age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study.The demographic and clinical data of the patients were collected.The level of CD133+/KDR+ EPCs was detected by flow cytometry.All patients were followed up at 90 d.The modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the clinical outcome,0-2 was defined as good outcome and >2 was defined as poor outcome.Results A total of 126 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 24 hfrom the onset and 60 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled.In patients with ischemic stroke,33 (26.19%) were large artery atherosclerosis (LAA),74 (58.73%) were small artery occlusion (SAO),19 (15.08%) were cardioembolism (CE);82 (65.08%) had good outcomes and 44 (34.92%) had poor outcomes.The number of circulating EPCs at baseline in patients of the LAA subtype (0.071%±0.018%),CE subtype (0.068%±0.16%) and SAO subtype (0.118%±0.12%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.246%±0.052%;all P<0.05),and the CE subtype (P=0.028) and LAA subtype (P=0.037) were significantly lower than the SAO subtype;the CE subtype was lower than the LAA subtype,but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.762).The proportions of patients with LAA subtype (40.91% vs.18.29%;χ2=7.577,P=0.006) and CE subtype (29.55% vs.7.32%;χ2=11.049,P=0.001) and atrial fibrillation (29.55% vs.10.98%;χ2=6.582,P=0.009),and age (69.64±9.62 years vs.61.12±7.31 years;t=5.570,P<0.001),and baseline NIHSS score (14.16±4.22 vs.6.96±2.04;t=12.919,P<0.001),baseline systolic blood pressure (176.06±13.42 mmHg vs.164.12±11.69 mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa;t=5.187,P<0.001),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (2.92±0.52 mmol/L vs.2.49±0.36 mmol/L;t=5.447,P<0.001),fasting blood glucose (8.76±2.88 mmol/L vs.6.82±2.24 mmol/L;t=4.185,P<0.001),C-reactive protein (7.62±1.82 mg/L vs.4.57±1.58 mg/L;t=9.790,P<0.001),and D-dimer (1.14±0.08 mg/L vs.0.97±0.22 mg/L;t=4.946,P<0.001) levels in the poor outcome group were significantly higher than those in the good outcome group,while the proportion of the SAO subtype patients (29.55% vs.74.39%;χ2=23.759,P<0.001),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.94±0.68 mmol/L vs.1.16±0.14 mmol/L;t=2.829,P=0.005),and baseline EPCs (0.069%±0.018% vs.0.098%±0.021%;t=7.755,P<0.001) were significantly lower than those in the good outcome group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio 1.242,95% confidence interval 1.126-1.372;P<0.001),CE subtype (odds ratio 3.460,95% confidence interval 1.312-5.146;P=0.016),and the lower baseline EPCs (odds ratio 1.632,95% confidence interval 1.006-3.024;P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome in patients.Conclusion s The level of circulating EPCs was decreased significantly in patients with acute ischemic stroke,and the lower level of baseline EPCs was an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with ischemic stroke at 90 d.

Targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING) is a reverse genetics method for functional genomics research.It is possible to screen for point mutations in the populations of EMS mutagenesis with highthroughput and lowcost. EcoTILLING a method based on TILLING ,was developed for detecting multiple types of polymorphisms in germplasm collections,such as single nucleotide polymorphism,small deletion and insertion etc.Rice is a very important food crop and a model plant for genome research also. There are complete genome sequence and a lot of other bioinformatics resources about it.So the markerassisted breeding is becoming more and more important in rice breeding. Some issues based on TILLING about identifying germplasm based on gene sequence,EMS mutagenesis breeding,developing functional marker in rice breeding in future were discussed.

Aim & methods The antagonism of L-dicentrine to contraction of isolated porcine coronary artery strips induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ was observed with U-135 electrophsiological recorder.Results The contractions induced by 5-HT KCl and Ca2+ after high K+ depolarization in the strips of porcine coronary artery were markediy inhibited by L-dicentrine.L-dicentrine significantly depressed maximal response and caused rightward displacement of the dose -response curve. Showing a non-competitive antagonism. In Ca2+ free solution,L-dicentrine inhibited 5-HT-induced contraction of porcine coronary artery,which is dependent on Ca2+ relesed from intracellular store. After Ca2+ concentration in bath solution was restored,L-dicentrine did not influence the contraction of porcine coronary artery depending on extracellular Ca2+.Conclusion L-D have significant relaxation on porcine coronary artery ,which possibly has 5-HT receptor and histamine receptor.