Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Amniotic Fluid ; Perinatal Death ; Pneumonia, Aspiration/etiology* ; Arteries

Objective To develop a candidate reference method for the determination of sodium in serum by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method (ICP-MS). Methods Aluminum, as internal standard of sodium, was added into serum samples and sodium standard solutions by gravimetric analysis. The samples were digested by HNO3 and diluted, and its 23Na/27Al isotope ratios were obtained by ICP-MS. The sodium concentrations were calculated with the standard curve method in serum. Results The analytical recoveries of sodium were 100.67% and 100.15% respectively, and the precisions were 0.08% and 0.04% respectively for 2 different serum samples. The results of measuring sodium in serum of Standard Reference Material (SRM) gave the coefficients of variation (CVs) of 0.18% and 0.22% for 2 levels of standard reference material(SRM) 909b and 0.41%, 0.41% and 0.66% for 3 levels of SRM 956b. The relative deviations between the results and median of the certified value were 0.17% and 0.14% for 909b and -0.09%, -1.05%, -0.48% for 956b respectively. Conclusions The ICP-MS and aluminum internal standard method is proved to be not only precise and accurate, but also quick and convenient for measuring sodium in serum. It is promising to be a candidate reference method for determination of sodium in serum.

Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

OBJECTIVE: To study the percentages of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), mononuclear cells (MNC) and fibroblastic cells (FBC) in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle mechanical injury in rats. METHODS: The rat model of skeletal muscle mechanical injury was established. The rats were divided into injured groups (6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury) and control group. The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in different post-traumatic intervals after skeletal muscle mechanical injury were assessed with HE staining and image analysis. RESULTS: At post-injury 6-12h, the percentages of PMN and MNC infiltration appeared in injured sites and that of PMN reached peak. At 1 d, the percentage of MNC infiltration appeared and reached peak, while that of PMN decreased. At 3-7 d, the percentage of FBC gradually increased, while that of PMN and MNC decreased. At 10-14d, the percentage of FBC reached peak. CONCLUSION The percentages of PMN, MNC and FBC in injured zones showed time-dependent changes, which might be used as reference index for determination of age of skeletal muscle injury.
Animals ; Fibroblasts ; Muscle, Skeletal/injuries* ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Time Factors

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of the timed “up and go” test (TUGT) on measuring functional mobility of stroke patients.MethodsNinety hemiparetic stroke patients participated in this study. The balance, gait speed and disability of patients were measured by Berg balance scale (BBS), maximal gait speed and functional independence measure (FIM) to find out the critical value of TUGT.ResultsA good relationship existed among TUGT and the BBS,gait speed and FIM (r=-0.926—-0.674,P<0.001).The percentage of independent walking of stroke patients whose TUGT scores <10s or>20s were 100% and 8.3%. The optimal cut off values of TUGT to predict the independent walking of patients were 15.2s, and in stroke group sensitivity and specificity of TUGT were 89.4% and 79.1%.Conclusion TUGT is a reliable instrument with adequate concurrent validity to measure the functional mobility of stroke patients.

Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To research the relation between the time-dependent appearances of myotibroblasts during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat and wound age determination. METHODS: A total of 35 SD male rats were divided into the control and six injured groups according to wound age as follows: 12 h, 1 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injury. The appearances of myofibroblasts were detected by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Masson's trichrome staining was utilized to examine collagen accumulation in the contused areas. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining showed that α-SMA+ myofibroblasts were initially observed at 5 d post-injury. The average ratio of myofibroblasts was highest at 14 d post-injury, with all samples, ratios more than 50%. In the other five groups, the average of α-SMA positive ratios were less than 50%. The collagen stained areas in the contused zones, concomitant with myofibroblast appearance, were increasingly augmented along with advances of posttraumatic interval. CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical detection of myofibroblasts can be applied to wound age determination. The myofibroblasts might be involved in collagen deposition during the repair of contused skeletal muscle in rat.
Animals ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Contusions/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts/metabolism* ; Rats ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between strength of the paretic lower limb and motor function, balance, walking speed, ability of daily living (ADL) in hemiparetic stroke patients.Methods85 stroke subjects, who were able to walk in the study, were evaluated in the strength of the paretic lower limb, motor function, balance, walking speed and ADL with Motricity Index, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Berg Balance Scale, 10 m walking speed test and Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The levels of association between them were examined with Pearson's correlation coefficients and with multiple linear regression analyses by using the stepwise method. ResultsStrengths of the paretic lower limb were significantly positive related to motor function, balance, walking speed and ADL (r=0.592-0.811,P<0.001). The paretic ankle dorsiflexors, knee extensors, hip flexors were important clinical factor to consider in determining motor function(R2=0.377,P<0.001), balance(R2=0.321,P<0.001)and walking speed(R2=0.173,P<0.001), ADL(R2=0.42,P<0.001). ConclusionStrengths of the paretic lower limb of stroke patients may play an important role in their motor function, balance, walking speed and ADL.

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of temporal distance parameters on comfortable and maximal walking speed of hemiplegic stroke patients.MethodsThe comfortable and maximal walking speed of 85 hemiplegic stroke patients were tested by 10 m walking speed and temporal distance parameters of gait cycle were obtained. The effect of step length and walking rate on comfortable and maximal walking speed was analyzed.ResultsStep length and walking rate were significantly positive related to comfortable and maximal walking speed (r=0.849-0.915,P<0.001).The step regression analysis selected step length as a significant variable for comfortable and maximal walking speed (R2=0.835,R2=0.827,respectively). ConclusionThe important parameter that influences comfortable and maximal walking speed of hemiplegic stroke patients is step length.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differentiation and distribution of epidermal stem cell (ESC) after skin soft tissue expansion, and to initially probe into the growth mechanism of expanded skin tissue.

METHODSSamples of normal skin and expanded skin (mean effusion period 45 days) were harvested from head and cervical region in 15 patients who underwent II stage surgery after skin expansion. Samples were divided into scalp adjacent to the center of expander group (expanded scalp, 3 cm from the vertical axis of the expander), scalp from lateral part of the expander group (expanded scalp, 5 - 7 cm lateral to the vertical axis of the expander), cervical skin expansion group, un-expanded scalp control group, and un-expanded cervical skin control group, according to the position of skin harvested. The tissue structure of skin in each group was observed with HE staining, and the differentiation and distribution characteristics of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) positive cells were observed with immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSCompared with those in the un-expanded control groups, uneven, relatively thickened and obviously folded epidermis with more cell layers and cells with obvious aggregation close to the basal layer were observed in the expanded groups, but those cells were not well-arranged and the transition of polarity was not obvious. The continuity of CK19 positive cells in the basal layer of skin was observed in each of the expanded group with immunohistochemical staining, and positive cells increased obviously and arranged in multilayer in certain parts of basal layer. Clustered or dispersed CK19 positive cells were also observed outside the basal layer. No above-mentioned phenomenon was observed in the un-expanded control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe proliferation and differentiation of ESC with ectopic distribution may enhance the repair process after skin soft tissue expansion.

Cell Proliferation ; Dermis ; cytology ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Expansion ; Wound Healing