Calculation of linear parameters, such as time-domain and frequency-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), is a conventional method for assessment of autonomic nervous system activity. Nonlinear phenomena are certainly involved in the genesis of HRV. In a seemingly random signal the Poincaré plot can easily demonstrate whether there is an underlying determinism in the signal. Linear and nonlinear analysis methods were applied in the computer words inputting experiments in this study for physiological measurement. This study therefore demonstrated that Poincaré plot was a simple but powerful graphical tool to describe the dynamics of a system.
Autonomic Nervous System ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Nonlinear Dynamics

Bone Resorption ; China ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Diphosphonates ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Jaw ; drug effects ; metabolism

The prevalence of allergic diseases has increased in recent years, and primary prevention of allergic disease is considered to be an elusive goal. This paper summarizes the recent publications on probiotics in allergic rhinitis. It focuses on clinical and laboratory observations of treatment or prevention of allergic rhinitis. Probiotics administration represents different outcome, its effects depend on a variety of factors, such as dosing regimen, delivery method and the types of bacterium. Since the data from different research centers are conflicting, the further studies are required.
Animals ; Humans ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy

Objective To investigate the efficacy of anesthesia with propofol-remifentanil given by targetcontrolled infusion (TCI) for thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis ( MG). Methods Forty-five ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ MG patients aged 16-64 yr weighing 45-95 kg undergoing thymectomy were studied. Anesthesia was induced with TCI of propofol (target plasma concentration 4 μg/ml) and remifentanil (target effect-site concentration 4 ng/ml). Thracheal intubation was performed after topical anesthesia with 2% lidocaine 2-3 ml and then the patients were mechanically ventilated. Anesthesia was maintained with TCI of propofol ( target plasma concentration 3-5 μg/ml) and remifentail (target effect-site concentration 3-6 ng/ml). Sufentanil 0.15 μg/kg was injected intravenously for analgesia 30 min before operation. The success rate of intubationat at first attempt, body movement in response to skin incision, recovery time, extubation time, extubation condition at the end of operation and cardiovascular events were recorded. Results Thracheal intubation was performed successfully in all patients. The success rate of intubation at first attempt was 100%. No body movement occurred during skin incision in the patients.Recovery time was 1.0-3.2 min and extubation time 2.6-7.0 min. All patients were successfully extubated at the end of operation. Bradycardia developed in 3 patients and hypotension in 4 patients during induction, but they all returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. Bradycardia developed in 3 patients during operation, but returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. Conclusion Anesthesia with TCI of propofol and remifentanil can be used safely and effectively in MG patients undergoing thymectomy.

Objective To determine whether the extent of airflow obstruction is associated with left ventricular function in mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.Methods Left ventricle end diastolic volume ( LVEDV ),left ventricle end systolic volume ( LVESV ),left ventricle stroke volume( LVSV),left ventricle ejection fraction( LVEF),heart rate ( HR),cardiac output ( CO) and cardiac index (CI) were measured by ultrasonic cardiogram.Thirty-one patients with chronic bronchitis,42 mild-to-moderate COPD patients and 16 controls with normal lung function were recruited.The relations between the extent of airflow obstruction and the impairment of left ventricular function were analyzed.Results There were no significant differences of LVEDV,LVESV,LVSV,HR,CO or CI between the control and chronic bronchitis groups.LVEDV,LVESV,LVSV,CO and CI of chronic bronchitis group were significantly higher than those of mild-to-moderate COPD group while HR was lower.LVEDV,LVESV,LVSV,CO and CI had a positive correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( FEV1 ),forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio.And HR had a negative correlation with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC.LVEF was positively correlated with FVC,but not with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC.LVEDV,LVESV,LVSV,HR,CO and CI were linearly related with FEV1.Conclusions Left ventricular function is maintained in chronic bronchitis patients. Left ventricular function,especially left ventricular end diastolic filling,deteriorates among the mild-to-moderate COPD patients.The extent of airflow obstruction may reflect the impairment of left ventricular function in COPD patients.

Our ancestor found that some of the Chinese herbal drugs were toxic during their clinical practice. They graded the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs into three degrees and thought that the term "toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs" could be used in a broad and a narrow sense. In modern times, toxic components of the Chinese herbal drugs and their toxic mechanisms, especially the toxicity on the kidney, were further revealed. The factors that affect the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs include the species, preparation, dose and environment. To prevent the toxicity of the Chinese herbal drugs, we must strengthen the management of the Chinese herbal drugs. On the other hand, doctors' recognition of the toxicity of Chinese herbal drugs should be enhanced. At the same time, patients should be told to decoct and take Chinese herbal drugs correctly.

Objective To investigate the bladder responses to different rates of bladder infusion in healthy and spinal cord injured rats.Methods Fourteen adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into two groups:healthy group (n =7) and spinal transection injury group (n =7).The intravesical pressures induced by continuous infusion of saline with different rates under general anesthesia were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results In healthy group the responses of bladder contraction were dependent upon the rate of bladder infusion,and contraction time became shorter while increasing the infusion rate (P ＜ 0.05),i.e.contraction time was (401.0±132.4),(215.7 ±95.9),(108.3 ±59.1) and (52.5 ±32.8)s,respectively,when the infusion rate was 0.05,0.1,0.2 and 0.5 mL/min.Compared with healthy group,spinal transection injury group had significantly shorter bladder contraction time (P ＜ 0.05),however the relationship between bladder contraction time and infusion rate was much weakened.Spinal transaction injury rats had significantly lower peak of bladder pressure (P ＜ 0.05) compared with healthy rats.There was no significant difference for contraction durations between the two groups.Conclusions The infusion rates influenced the contraction periods for both healthy and spinal cord injured rats.During bladder infusions with a same rate,the contraction time and the peak of bladder pressure were determined by bladder conditions,i.e.healthy or neurogenic with spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the effects of tetrandrine on myocardial hypertrophy in renohypertensive rats and its possible mechanism.Methods The myocardial hypertrophy models were established in two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C)renovascular hypertensive rats.Before renal artery constriction,all the rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=15 per group):(1) the sham-operated control group; (2) the 2K1C renohypertensive group; (3) the tetrandrine group,the two-kidney-one-clip renohypertensive rats were treated with tetrandrine at a dose of 50 ml/kg · d-1 from the post-operated 5th week; (4) the enapril group,the two-kidney-one-clip renohypertensive rats were treated with enapril at a dose of 6 ml/kg· d-1 from the post-operated 5th week.The standard tail-cuff method was used to measure blood pressure in conscious rats.After drug treatment for 8 weeks,the rats were killed and left ventricle was obtained to measure the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW),myocardial angiotensin Ⅱ content,and mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β).Results Compared with shamgroup[(14.90±3.31)kPa; (1.89±0.27)mg/g; (27.38±7.10)pg/mg; (0.72±0.10)and(0.65±0.10)fold of GAPDH expression],the untreated 2K1C renohypertensive rats exhibited a significant increase in blood pressure [(23.53 ± 3.40) kPa],LVW/BW [(2.83 ± 0.40) mg/g],angiotensin Ⅱ content [(43.51 ± 7.37) pg/mg],and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β [(1.47 ± 0.14) and (1.07 ± 0.11) fold of GAPDH expression].Treatment with tetradrine significantly attenuated the increase in blood pressure [(15.81 ± 3.12) kPa] and LVW/BW [(1.94 ±0.31) mg/g],angiotensin Ⅱ content [(31.31 ± 6.69) pg/mg],and mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β [(0.76 ±0.11) and (0.63 ± 0.09) fold of GAPDH expression].Conclusion Long-term related to its inhibition of local production or release of angiotensin Ⅱ and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β in the myocardium of renohypertensive rats.

The reversed-phase high-performance chromatography was developed for determing the content of berberine, palmatine, emodin and chlorogenic acid in Xiaoerniuhuang Powder on ODS column. The powder samples extracted with methanol were determined separatly at their particular absorption points using external standard method.This method had advantages of perfect separatin, high sensitivity, good reproducibility and simple operation.