Objective:To observe the clinical effect of combining four-channel electrical stimulation with electroacupuncture of the antagonistic muscles in treating post-stroke spastic foot drop.Methods:Ninety stroke survivors with spastic foot drop were randomly divided into a control group, an electrical stimulation group and an observation group, each of 30. In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the electrical stimulation group was given four-channel electrical stimulation for 4 weeks, the electrical stimulation was delivered with a pulse duration of 200μs and an intensity of motor threshold at 30Hz, while the observation group also received electroacupuncture of the antagonistic muscle. Before and after the treatment, the three groups were evaluated using the clinical spasticity index (CSI). Stride frequency, stride length, and the supporting and swing phases on the affected side were also measured. Electromyography (EMG) was also conducted.Results:After the treatment, the average CSI scores of all groups had decreased significantly, with that of the observation group significantly lower than the electrical stimulation group and control group′s averages. The average gait descriptors of the three groups had also improved significantly, with significantly greater improvement in the observation group than in the other two. The average H reflex latency was significantly longer and Hmax/Mmax was significantly smaller in all three groups, but the observation group′s average values were again significantly better than those of the electrical stimulation group.Conclusion:Electroacupuncture of the antagonistic muscle enhances the effectiveness of four-channel electrical stimulation in relieving foot drop symptoms and improving gait after a stroke.

Objective To investigate the manifestations of esophageal motility disorders and evaluate the association between them and dysphagia, laboratory tests and other accessory examinations in patients with Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS). Methods Esophageal manometry was performed in 31 patients with SS and 18 healthy volunteers by the step pull-through method. Results Decreased upper esophageal sphincter pressure was detected in 19 of the 31 patients (61%) with SS, while 4 of 18 (22%) in controls. The frequency was significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls (P=0.008). Fifteen of 31 patients (48%) showed various patterns of esophageal dysfunction including ineffective esophageal motility in 6 patients, nutcracker esophagus in 3 patients and nonspecific dysmotility in 6 patients. No major differences were found in esophageal parameters (peak amplitude, wave duration and velocity) when comparing primary SS with secondary SS. These esophageal abnormalities were not correlated with clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and other auxiliary examinations. Conclusion Patients with SS may have esophageal motility disorders, which can presents with different patterns.

In order to investigate the characteristics of transdermal delivery of ferulic acid under the treated of microneedle arrays and the influence on permeability of rat skin capillaries, improved Franz-cells were used in the transdermal delivery experiment with the rat skin of abdominal wall and the length of microneedle arrays, different insertion forces, retention time were studied in the influence of characteristics of transdermal delivery of FA. The amount of FA was determined by HPLC system. Intravenous injection Evans blue and FA was added after microneedle arrays treated. Established inflammation model was built by daubing dimethylbenzene. The amount of Evans blue in the rat skin was read at 590 nm wavelength with a Multiskan Go microplate reader. Compared with passive diffusion group the skin pretreated with microneedle arrays had a remarkable enhancement of FA transport (P <0.01). The accumulation of FA increased with the enhancement of insertion force as to as the increase of retention time. Microneedle arrays with different length had a remarkable enhancement of FA transport, but was not related to the increase of the length. The research of FA on the reduce of permeability of rat skin capillaries indicated that the skin pretreated with microneedle arrays could reduce the content of Evans blue in the skins of rat significantly compared with the untreated group. The permeation rate of ferulic acid transdermal delivery had remarkable increase under the treated of microneedle arrays and the length of microneedle arrays ,the retention time so as to the insertion force were important to the transdermal delivery of ferulic acid.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Coumaric Acids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Needles ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin Absorption

Objective To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) to diagnose thyroid nodules with different calcifications,and analyze its correlation with age and gender.Methods The image characteristics of high frequency ultrasound and pathological results of 522 patients with calcified thyroid nodules were analyzed retrospectively.CEUS enhancement patterns of different age and gender were observed and compared.Results There were no malignant nodules in patients under the age of 10.In the group of male and female,malignant nodules patients constituted the highest proportion between 40-49years old and a minimal proportion between 10-19 years old.The CEUS for weak enhancement with micro calcifications were mostly malignant nodules;the high or equal enhancement with macrocalcifications were mostly benign nodules.But a part of micro calcifications in young women patients (20 to 29 years old) with high or equal enhancement were mostly malignant nodules.Conclusions The CEUS for weak enhancement with microcalcifications are mostly malignant nodules,but a part of microcalcifications in young women patients (20 to 29 years old) with high or equal enhancement are mostly malignant nodules.

Objective: To study clinical characteristics and anatomical distributions of pulmonary embolism (PE) in suspicious PE patients and to explore if CT coronary angiography (CTCA) may simultaneously exclude PE. Methods: A total of 403 consecutive patients with suspicious PE admitted to cardiology department of our hospital from 2013-01 to 2014-10 were retrospectively studied. According to embolus distribution by CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) and CTCA, the patients were divided into 2 groups: PE group,n=261 and Non-PE group,n=142. The clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics were analyzed and compared between 2 groups. Results: The overall prevalence of PE was 64.8% (261/403), suspicious PE patients were all with chest distress, palpitation, chest pain and syncope. Compared with Non-PE group, the patients in PE group were with more female gender and palpitation, while less chest pain,P<0.05; the symptoms of syncope and chest distress were similar between 2 group,P>0.05. In PE group, the sign of emboli were found in 245/261 patients (93.9%) at CTCA scanning area, the rest 16 patients (6.1%) had the small area of PE, and the emboli were only located at both upper pulmonary arteries. Conclusion: In patients with dififculty of breath, palpitation, chest pain and syncope, coronary artery disease (CAD) and PE should be simultaneously considered for accurate diagnosis. CTCA may meanwhile ifnd PE during CAD diagnosis.

Objective To establish a high purity primary culture methods of human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) in vitro and to provide a successful primary culture model for evaluation experiments of the nasal preparation .Methods Primary culture of human nasal epithelial cells were performed with enzymatic dissociation of isolated tissue and cultured in serum-free medium .HNEC were separated through magnetic field by immunomagnetic beads .We determined the purity of the separated cells by light microscopy and flow cytometry .The morphology of HNEC was observed with a scanning electron microscope .Results Under an inverted phase microscope ,the cells morphology was paving stone shaped .Under the scanning electron microscopy ,abundant microvilli and cilia differentiation were observed .Flow cytometry showed the epithelial cells accounted for 99% .Conclusion The highly purified HNEC can be directly isolated by the magnetic cell sorting system .The cell model can be used for the basic research of nasal cavity preparation .

Notopterygium incisum is the important medicinal materials of the Tibetan-Qiang medical system in China, also one of the rare and endangered medicinal materials in the Plateau areas in the meantime. Taking the planting of in Sichuan province as an example, research on the N. incisum in Sichuan utilize remote sensing and GIS techniques, bind growth environment factor, including height factor, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, forest information, were chosen according to habitat conditions. And combine field measurement to verify. The results indicate that N. incisum resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in the alpine valley and the northwest of the plateau, which suitability distribution areas of 4145 km2 approximately and accounting for 2% of the total area. Suitability areas accounting for more than 2% of the respective total area in Heishui county, Lixian county, Xiaojin county, Kangding county, ect. According to the field investigation and the related document information record, drawn that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of N. incisum resources. It's feasible to divide the suitability distribution area of N. incisum using RS and GIS, which will provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive investigation of the distribution as well as its rational exploitation and protection.
Apiaceae ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Geographic Information Systems ; Telemetry

In order to test the equilibrium solubility of puerarin in different solvents and solubilizer,cilia toxicity and irritation of these excipient, the balance method, toad in the ciliary body toxicity and rat nasal mucosa irritation were used respectively. Results showed that puerarin solubility was 56.44 g x L(-1) in combined solvent of 30% PEG200 and 10% Kolliphor HS 15. With normal saline solution as negative control and sodium deoxycholate as positive control, the effects of 30% PEG200, 30% PEG 400, 10% Kolliphor HS 15 and combination of 30% of PEG200 and 10% Kolliphor HS 15 on toad palate cilium were observed and cilia movement duration was recorded. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in cilia movement duration among 30% PEG200, 10% Kolliphor HS 15 and normal saline group. The rats long-term nasal mucous membrane irritation of 30% PEG 400, 10% Kolliphor HS 15, which had no cilia toxicity, was studied, with normal saline solution as negative control. There were no significant difference revealed on rat nasal mucosa epithelial thickness among 30% PEG 400, 10% Kolliphor HS 15 and normal saline. Above researches showed 30% PEG 400, 10% Kolliphor HS 15 was ideal for solubility of puerarin nasal drops and showed a lower cilia toxicity and irritation, and can be used as the solvent and solubilizer of puerarin nasal drops.
Administration, Intranasal ; methods ; Animals ; Anura ; Cilia ; chemistry ; Female ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Solubility ; Solvents ; chemistry

The stability of melittin in different solvents (water, deoxygenated water, physiological saline, PBS, 50% ethanol, ethanol, glycerol)was studied and the results showed that the stability of melittin is not influenced by light, temperature and pH in 50% ethanol, which melittin can be completed dissolved when compared with ethanol and glycerol, in such, 50% ethanol was chosen as solvent storage when measured content of melittin. Then the effect of different concentrations of PBS, the pH of PBS and rat skin ho- mogenates were tested, and the results showed that melittin was degraded rapidly at low concentration solution and low ionic strength. Increasing pH of PBS and rat skin homogenate can accelerate the degradation of melittin. These researches provide an experimental ba- sis for further study of melittin.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Melitten ; chemistry ; Rats ; Skin ; drug effects ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Temperature

The operation and application of Tiantu (CV 22) in emergency are discussed in the paper. The stimulating methods at Tiantu (CV 22) are acupuncture and pressing technique. The correct insertion of needle and proper depth and direction of insertion are required during acupuncture. The pressing technique stress the pressing strength and pressing time. Acupuncture or pressing technique is suitable for the emergent measurement of asthma, asthmatic breathing, coma, blockage of phlegm, hiccup, sore throat, etc. It is indicated that Tiantu (CV 22) is the key point in the emergency and phlegm resolving. Based on the characteristics of the point as promoting qi circulation, reducing the reversed qi and resolving phlegm, in light of the proper points combination by different syndromes and in terms of the correct and safe stimulating methods, Tiantu (CV 22) can achieve the immediate therapeutic effects in the emergent situations.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthma ; therapy ; Emergency Medicine ; Humans ; Qi