ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of early induced finger function training on motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke patients.Methods60 stroke patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into the early induced finger function training group (treatment group) and control group with 30 cases in each group. The patients of the control group were treated with routine rehabilitation; while those of the treatment group were added with training of early induced flexion and extension of fingers. All patients of two groups were assessed with Brunnstorm Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, scores of Neurological Functional Deficit, and Modified Barthel Index before and 8～12 weeks after treatment.ResultsAfter treatment, upper limb motor function, hand function and fingers' fine function in the sick side of the patients in the treatment group improved significantly better than that in the control group ( P<0.05～0.01).ConclusionThe early induced finger function training can obviously improve the upper limb motor function and ADL of stroke patients.

Objective To assess the prenatal features of dural sinus malformation (DSM) by ultrasound. Methods The prenatal ultrasonography and MRI examination were applied in three fetuses who were suspected as brain abnormalities and transferred to Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital for detailed antenatal ultrasound examination. Comparative analysis was performed on MRI, autopsy and prenatal ultrasonography. The prenatal characteristics were summarized. Results In the sonograms of all three cases, the torcular Herophili and superior sagittal sinus were dilated. No blood lfow was detected within or around lesions by color Doppler imaging. Posterior intracranial dual sinus thrombosis was detected in one case. MRI examinations were applied in two fetuses. The results of prenatal ultrasonography were consisted with those of MRI, MRI imaging showed dilated torcular Herophili and superior sagittal sinus with short T1 and short T2 signal. The thrombosis was presented as iso-hypointense with focal eccentric hyperintense. One case was undertook autopsy and the result was consisted with the prenatal sonographic findings. Conclusions The typical sonographic features of DSM is dilated torcular Herophili and superior sagittal sinus with no blood lfow in color Doppler imaging. DSM should be excluded when anechoic area was detected at the rear part of midline.

Objectives To investigate the clinical characteristics and the regularity of seasonal changes that influence peptic ulcer (PU) in Nanehang area and to provide a theoretical basis for the treatment and prevention of PU.Methods Data collected from patients with PU diagnosed by clinic and gastroendoseopy between October 2003 to May 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.The PU was further divided into gastric ulcer,duodenal ulcer and complex ulcer.The lesion of gastric ulcer was calculated by five locations that were antral,angular,corporal,pyloric canal,fundic and cardia.The lesion of duodenal ulcer was calculated by five locations that were anterior wall of bulb,posterior wall,lesser curvature, greater curvature and postbulbar.The climate changes that influnced the incidence of PU disease were also observed.The detective rates of different types of PU were analyzed and its association with gender,age, lesion locations,seasons,Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and complications were also investigated. Results Among 83 888 patients who underwent endoscopy,PU was found in 21 308 patients (25.4%) including 66.33% duodenal ulcer,24.88% gastric ulcer and 8.79% complex ulcer.The male and femal ratio was 2.44 : 1 in PU,2.53 : 1 in duodenal ulcer,2.26 : 1 in gastric ulcer,and 2.33 : 1 in complex ulcer.The average age of patients with gastric ulcer was 48.0 years that was about 6.7 years higher than that of patients with duodenal ulcer.The prevalence of duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer peaked in the 30- 39 years and 50-59 years,respectively.PU was more common from December to February (30.17%) and less common from June to August (22.54%) (P＜0.01) .The 57.43% of duodenal ulcer was found on anterior wall of bulb,18.26% on greater curvature,13.21% on lesser curvature,7.34% on posterior wall and 3.76% on postbulbar.The 45.69% of gastric ulcer was found on antral,20.54% on angular, 15.54% on corporal,9.36% on pyloric canal,and 8.87% on fundic and cardia.The 91.83% (12 318/ 13 414) of patients were positive for Hp infection.There was no significant difference of Hp infection among patients with different types of PU.The complications in patients with PU were bleeding (4.94%),pyloric obstruction (3.51%) and chronic perforation(0.04%).Conclusions The detective rate of PU in Nanchang area is 25.4%,which is higher than that in northern area of China.The incidence of PU is highly associated with sex,age,seasons and ulcer locations,with high Hp infections and a low incidence of complications.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between Helicobacter species and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).

METHODSLiver samples resected during operation from 34 patients with HCC diagnosed by histopathology and 20 without primary liver carcinoma as controls were studied. The two groups of sample were cranked out pathologic slice for in situ hybridization of Helicobacter, Helicobacter pylori and Helicobacter hepaticus. Qualitative and quantitative studies were used to assess the correlation of liver tissue Helicobacter infection with HCC.

RESULTS64.71% (22/34). of the samples of HCC showed positive for Helicobacter specific 16S rRNA-mRNA gene by in situ hybridization, while none was positive in controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHelicobacter pylori were found in the liver of patients with HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; microbiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Helicobacter hepaticus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver ; microbiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; microbiology

Objective To investigate the sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats. Methods Twenty 14-month Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 10 female and 10 male rats, were randomly divided into enriched group and standard group. Enriched rats were reared in enriched environment and standard rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, the total volume of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampus were quantitatively estimated by transmission electron microscopy and stereological methods. Results The total volume and mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of standard female rats were significantly bigger than those of standard male rats (P0.05). The mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of enriched female rats was significantly smaller than that of enriched male rats (P0.05). Conclusion The sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats are significantly different, which indicates the response to the enriched environment in the mid-aged male and female rats is different.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between copper and organic components, total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA), total saponins of Astragalus (TSA) and total polysaccharide of Astragalus (TPA).

METHODTFA, TSA and TPA were extracted from Astragalus roots using different organic solvents, and determined by colorimetry. The concentration of copper in extracts was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).

RESULTCopper was found in TFA, TPA and TSA, and its concentration in TFA and TPA was higher; the content of copper was correlated significantly to that of TFA and TPA (r1(2) = 0.754 8, F1 = 57.202, P < 0.01 and r2(2) = 0.499, F2 = 21.906, P < 0.01), while not to that of TSA ( r3(2) = 0.0026, F3 = 0.041, P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONCorrelation analysis could reveal the relationship of copper with organic components in Astragalus roots; contents and structure characteristics of organic components might be important factors influencing the distribution of copper in Astragalus roots.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Copper ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of short-term enriched environment on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged female rats. Methods Twenty 14-month female SD rats were randomly divided into 10 enriched environment (EE) rats and 10 standard environment (SE) rats. EE rats were reared in enriched environment and SE rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, five rats were randomly selected from each group. The spatial learning capacity was assessed with Morris water maze. The hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the rat hippocampal formation were quantitatively investigated with transmission electronic microscopy technique and stereological methods. Results Short-term enriched environment enhanced the spatial learning capacity of the mid-aged female rats. The total length and total volume of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of the EE rats was significantly increased by 43.3% and 47.4%, respectively, when compared to the SE rats. There was no significant difference in the hippocampal volume and the mean diameter of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation between two groups. The increase of the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation was mainly due to the increase of the myelinated fibers with small diameter. Conclusion Short-term enriched environment had significant effects on the spatial learning capacity and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged female rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of short-term enriched environment on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged male rats. MethodsTwenty 14-month old male SD rats were randomly divided into enriched group and standard group. Enriched rats were reared in enriched environment and standard rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, the spatial learning capacity of enriched rats and standard rats was tested with the Morris water maze. After the Morris water maze test, the total volume of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were quantitatively estimated with transmission electronic microscopy technique and stereological methods. Results There was not significant difference in the spatial learning capacity between enriched group and standard group. The total volume of the hippocampal formation of enriched rats was not significantly increased by 4.6% when compared with that of standard rats. The total volume, total length and mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of enriched rats were significantly increased when compared with those of standard rats. Conclusions Four-months enriched environment significantly affected the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged male SD rats. The present results might provide an important theoretical basis for searching the ethology strategy to delay the progress of brain aging in the future.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of exercise on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged rats. MethodsTen 14-month female SD rats were randomly divided into exercise group and sedentary group.Rats in the exercise group were forced to run on a treadmill for 4 months. After 4 months, spatial learning capacity of two group rats was tested using the Morris water maze.Then, the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were quantitatively estimated using transmission electronic microscopy and stereological techniques. Results Treadmill running enhanced the spatial learning capacity of the rats. The volume of hippocampal formation and the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation were significantly increased after 4 months exercise.However,there was no significant difference in the total volume of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation between the two groups.The absolute distributions of the total length of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of two groups indicated that the exercise-induced increase of the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation was mainly due to the increase of the myelinated fibers with small diameter. Conclusions Four months running exercise remarkably influence the spatial learning capacity,hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of the middle-aged famale SD rats. The present results reveal a potential mechanism for the fact that exercise might improve brain function.

Animal medicines mainly contain protein which was organic molecule with quaternary structure and had the property of thermal denaturation. When suffering from heat for a consistent time, the native conformation of protein would be destroyed. After denaturation the biological activity of protein will lose and some physicochemical and biochemical properties will be changed. Leech was a classical animal medicine in the views of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which had the functions of breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis. In the usage history, it was processed for a long time. No matter stir-frying leech with talc powder embodied in Chinese Pharmacopoeia or stir-baking with wine as a distinctive method in Beijing district, the process procedure was basically performed under high temperature. The purposes and intentions of process are mostly limited to technology conditions at specific historical period. In this article, based on existing processing procedure and its character of Leech, the changes of active components and pharmacological activities before and after processing under high temperature were summarized. The results demonstrate that the protein of leech would be denaturated; some active peptide such as hirudin were partly or totally destroyed; some toxic mineral elements, such as Pb, Hg, Cd, were decreased; at the same time, heating can promote some chemical components transforming into hypoxanthine which had the function of antihypertensive, antiasthmatic and antalgic. Consequently, after processed under high temperature, the purpose of decreasing toxicity and alleviating the strong property was achieved. Pharmacological changes of leech processed under high temperature were mainly manifested in the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity, etc. Based on current processing research status about animal medicine leech, future research methods and directions on scientific connotation of leech processed under high temperature were put forward in this article.
Animals ; Biological Factors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Leeches ; chemistry