In order to guarantee that digital electrocardiographs with an adequate accuracy and reliabity are available for measurements in clinical practice, it is very important to determine the metrological characteristics, methods and to develop the equipments for verification. This paper elaborates the basic functions, specification, schematic drawing and key techniques of calibration equipments as well as test items for digital electrocardiographs.
Electrocardiography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation

Aging can cause degenerative changes in the function of multiple tissues and organs in the body. Gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal dysfunction are very common in the elderly people. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of the total extract of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. on intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis in natural aging mice, which will provide clues for further mechanism study. The natural aging mice model is established and animal experiments follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The overall health of the mice was evaluated by the "frailty index" scoring method. The intestinal absorption and transport function were measured by detecting intestinal glucose absorption capacity, transport time, lipase and amylase activities of aging mice. Intestinal inflammation was assessed by detecting inflammatory cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes in the intestines of aging mice were tested by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and alizarin blue (AB) staining. The qRT-PCR method was used to explore the gene transcription level related with the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells. Microbiota analysis based on 16S rDNA were used to evaluate the composition of gut microbiota. The results showed that Astragalus had a tendency to reduce the "frailty index" of aging mice, but did not show a significant difference. In some indicators of aging phenotype, Astragalus has the most significant effect on hair loss and physical fitness. In terms of intestinal function, Astragalus could increase intestinal glucose absorption capacity, shorten intestinal transportation time and promote lipase secretion in aging mice. The levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-‍α) in the aging intestinal tissue were reduced after Astragalus administration. Astragalus also ameliorated the pathological degeneration of the intestinal tissue of aging mice by increasing the length of small intestinal villi, the thickness of colonic mucosa and goblet cell number. In addition, Astragalus elevated the expression of genes associated with the proliferation and differentiation in jejunum and modulated gut microbiota, especially restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae. Taken together, the above research results demonstrate the total extract of Astragalus as a key factor improving the intestinal function and gut microbiota homeostasis of aging mice.

In this study, the ameliorative effects of Flos Abelmoschus manihot on mice with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were investigated and its effects on the structure of the intestinal flora as well as the lipid profile in feces of IBD mice were analyzed. All animal welfare and experimental procedures followed the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Nanjing University of Chinese medicine. A mouse model with chronic IBD induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to evaluate changes in body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colonic histopathological damage as well as gene expression levels of inflammatory factors in the colon. Fecal samples from mice in each group were collected and subjected to Illumina high-throughput sequencing to detect the abundance of intestinal flora; samples were analyzed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive^® HF Quadrupole-Orbitrap^® of untargeted lipidomics, which detects lipid content in feces. Administration of Flos Abelmoschus manihot could significantly restore the body weight and ameliorate colonic histopathological damage in IBD mice. Sequencing of the gut microbiota revealed that the species diversity and richness of the gut microbiota in IBD mice were decreased, with a significant increase in the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and a significant decrease in the abundance of Bacteroidetes; Flos Abelmoschus manihot significantly increased the richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota in IBD mice, increased the number of taxa species at each level, and restored the abundance of bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Analysis of fecal lipid profiles identified the most significant changes in sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolic pathways in IBD mice, with Flos Abelmoschus manihot inhibiting ceramide and sphingomyelin synthesis in sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, Flos Abelmoschus manihot can effectively improve the disease condition of mice with chronic IBD, and it has the effect of regulating intestinal flora homeostasis and lipid metabolism, but the related mechanism between the two still needs to be deeply explored.

The trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene tps1 was amplified from yeast S. cerevisiae AS2. 1416 cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction. This 1.5 kb fragment was cloned into Pst I and Bam HI sites of pGEM-T easy vector and the sequence of the gene indicated the cloned tps1 gene contained 1485 nucleotides encoding for 495 amino acid and shared a sequence homology of 99.6 % with that from S. cerevisiae S288C.

OBJECTIVESTo introduce a classification system of upper sacral segment and its significance based on the continuous pelvic axial computed tomography scan.

METHODSThe whole pelvis 2.0 mm thick axial scan images of 127 cases were observed, the sacroiliac screw channel of S1 were measured, according to the size of the transverse screw channel the upper sacral segment were classified. Such as transverse screw channel existed and in at least 4 layer scan images its width was > 7.3 mm, it was defined as sacral segment of the normal type. Such as transverse screw channel existed and its maximum width was 7.3 mm or less on scanning level, it was defined as a transitional. Such as transverse channel did not exist, or its width on all scanning level was 0 mm or less, it was defined as dysplastic. Various cases,percentage, and the average of the transverse screw channel were calculated.

RESULTSThere were 58 normal (45.7%),42 transitional (33.1%), and 27 dysplastic (21.2%) upper sacral segments with an averaged width of the tansverse screw channel of 13.9 mm, 5.2 mm, and 0.9 mm, respectively. Each specimen could be defined as one of the three types of upper sacral segment without exceptions.

CONCLUSIONIt is possible to insert a transverse iliosacral screw into a normal upper sacral segment when indicated because of the capacious transverse screw channel. The transverse iliosacral screw placement into the transitional and dysplastic upper sacral segments was contraindicated because of the limited or none transverse screw channel. The transitional upper sacral segment was superior to the dysplastic segment due to its starting point location restriction on the true lateral sacral view.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Sacrum ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S vertebral bodies on pelvic inlet imaging in the pelvic midline sagittal plane.

METHODSTotally 58 axial pelvic CT scans were chosen as study objects including 43 males and 15 females,with an average age of 40.7 years old (ranged,18 to 68 years old). The angles between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1, vertebral bodies and the horizontal plane on midline sagittal CT reconstruction were measured to simulate the optimal S2 and S1 inlet angles. The included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies was calculated by subtrocting the S1,inlet angle from the S2 inlet angle defined as a base number. Then, the impact of the calculated included angles on the pelvic inlet imaging was analyzed. Results:The S2 inlet angles averaged (30.5±6.5) degrees; the S inlet angles averaged (25.7±5.9) degrees. The difference between them was significant (t=3.35, P=0.001). Ten patients had zero angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies; 14 patients had negative angle, averaged-(8.9±8.1) degrees; 34 patients had positive angle,averaged (11.8+6.4) degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies leads to the difference between S1 inlet view and S2 inlet view in most cases, complicating the pelvic inlet imaging,and affecting the reliability of the application of pelvic inlet view. Utilizing the angles measured on the preoperative midlihe sagittal CT reconstruction to obatin the patient-customized S1 and S2 inlet views could accurately guide the S1 and S2 iliosacral screw insertion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of processing adjuvants-different types of processing vinegar on effective constituents in rhizoma of Corydalis yanhusuo, and evaluate the quality of different types of vinegar in China.

METHODThe HPLC method was adopted to determine the extraction solubility of dl-tetrahydropalmation and total alkaloids in rhizoma of Corydalis yanhusuo processed by vinegar. The sample extracts were separated on kromasil ODS column with mobile phase of methanol-1% phosphoric acid solution(65:35) and detection wavelength was 280 nm.

RESULTThere was a remarkable increase in extraction solubility of dl-tetrahydropalmation and total alkaloids in the rhizoma of Corydalis yanhusuo processed by the vinegar products with high content of total acids or with known trademarks.

CONCLUSIONSome types of vinegar with known trademarks had been preliminarily selected for the process of Chinese traditional medicine and they also met the requitrement of processing adjuvants with medicine grade. The results will be benefited to the foundation of standardization of vinegar.

Acetic Acid ; classification ; Alkaloids ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between lifestyle factors, parental obesity and adiposity in children, in order to provide theoretical evidence for public health policy establishment.

METHODSA cross-sectional observation study was conducted among approximately 20 thousand children aged 2 - 18 years old in urban and rural regions of Beijing, by using stratified randomization clustering sampling methods. Familial environmental risk factors of children adiposity and parental obesity were assessed with standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were conducted. SPSS 13.0 software was applied to analyze the data, including general description, chi(2) trend test and non-condition logistic analyse.

RESULTSWith IOTF obesity references, the prevalence of obesity in 21,198 children aged 2 - 18 years old was 5.6%. The behavioral characters (for example, smoking and drinking) and children obesity showed significant familial aggregation. In groups including "both parents not smoke", "only one parent smoke" and "both parents smoke", the smoking rates of offsprings were 1.50%, 2.93% and 6.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). A similar pattern was found for offsprings' alcohol consumption rates (5.85%, 9.12% and 13.96%; chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). Based on parents' BMI status, in groups including "both parents had normal weight", "father was obese", "mother was obese" and "both parents were obese", the prevalence of obesity in children were 3.29%, 11.48%, 9.12% and 27.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 293.404, P < 0.01). After controlling for sex and ages, factors such as physical exercises, sleeping times per day, fat intakes, watching TV, drinking alcohol were impact factors of children obesity. After controlling of confounding factors, such as children gender, age, birth weight, puberty, smoking history, drinking history, fat intakes, soft drink, physical exercises, education experiences of parents, smoking history, drinking history, family income and so on, maternal obesity had a greater influence on daughters than on sons (OR = 5.93, 95% CI: 3.57 - 9.84), and paternal obesity showed similar influence on sons (OR = 4.29, 95% CI: 3.21 - 5.72). Comparing to parents with normal weight, obese parents had more powerful impact on daughters (OR = 28.51, 95% CI: 15.13 - 53.72) than on sons (OR = 7.21, 95% CI: 4.07 - 12.75), regarding to 2 - 5 years group and 10 - 12 years group versus other age group (OR = 18.67, 95% CI: 1.49 - 234.46; OR = 22.25, 95% CI: 10.62 - 46.59).

CONCLUSIONParental obesity is an independent risk factor of adiposity in children; gender and age affect this association. The lifestyle patterns of parents should have great impact on children. When prevention or intervention with children obesity, familial environmental factors should be emphasized.

Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was aimed to explore the difference of NK cell receptor NKG2D and NKG2A expression on NK cells and CD3(+) T cells and their ligand MHC-I A/B (major histocompatibility complex class I-related chains A/B) and HLA-E expression in leukemia cells, as well as its immunological significance. Flow cytometry was used to detect the killing rate of NK92 cells to 8 leukemia cell lines, and the expression of NKG2D and NKG2A on NK cells and CD3(+) T cells as well as their ligand MHC-I A/B and HLA-E expression on leukemia cells. The results indicated that the NK92 showed different killing activity to different leukemia cell lines. The positive expression rate of NKG2D and NKG2A on NK cells and CD3(+) T cells in ALL patients was no significantly different from that in AML patients (p > 0.05), but positive expression rate of MHC-I A/B and HLA-E in ALL patients was obviously higher than that in AML patients (p < 0.05). It is concluded that there is difference of immune cell function between ALL and AML patients, this difference may be associated with the expression difference of NKG2D and NKG2A ligands on leukemia cells while does not associated with the killing and inhibiting receptors expressed on NK cells and CD3(+) T cells.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C ; genetics ; metabolism ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K ; genetics ; metabolism ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel.

METHODSBy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF).

RESULTSUnder R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONNeeding at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging