To evaluate the influence of different brands of syringes on performance parameters and application quality of syringe pump, we carried out matching experiment of infusion/syringe pump analyzer Rigel Multi-Flo, made by ALK Co. in Sweden, for 3 different types of syringes to measure the flow rate, occlusion alarm pressure, occlusion time and bolus volume of 26 syringe pumps. Data of quality control were analyzed with statistical method. The results demonstrated that there were significant differences in the flow rate, occlusion alarm pressure, occlusion time and bolus volume (P<0. 01) between those of common syringes and original syringes. This study points out that the health care providers should select compatible syringes for syringe pumps, which provides evidence and guidance to assure the reasonable and safe application of syringe pumps in clinical practice.
Infusion Pumps ; Quality Control ; Syringes

Objective To design and implement the implantable part of cochlear implants, i.e. multi-channel implantable neural stimulator. Methods Based on programmable logic device (PLD), the design of hardware circuit utilized hardware description language through PDM decoding and ETC controlling precept. Results The multi-channel implantable neural stimulator could provide as more as eight outputs of the channel, and the resolution of the outputs were high. Conclusion The miniature stimulator which is portable and efficient, contains perfect error correcting system, and the stimulating waveforms produced by the stimulator accord with the charge balance, current limit and charge limit.

Objective To detect the expression of extracellular matrix protein 1 ( ECM1 ) in primary liver cancer tissues, and explore its clinical significance in liver cancer metastasis. Methods Sixty cases of primary liver cancer tissues and adjacent tissues from 60 patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University from June 2008 to December 2009 were collected, and nine cases of normal liver tissues were collected from patients with liver trauma as control. The expression of ECM1 and the relationship between ECM1 and clinicopathological features of liver cancer were detected and analyzed using the immunohistochemistry and Western blot. All data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher exact test and t test. Results ECM1 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of liver cells. The positive expression rate of ECM1 in liver cancer tissues was 73%, which was significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (20%) and normal liver tissues (22%)( x2 = 34.286, 7. 044, P ＜ 0.05 ). The expression of ECM1 was correlated with liver cancer metastasis and TNM stages ( x2 = 5. 455, 4.275, P ＜ 0.05), while not with sex, age, size, capsule and differentiation of the tumor,alpha fetoprotein level and the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen ( x2 = 2. 841, 0. 014, 0. 000, 0. 734,0.075, 0.000, 0.031, P＞0.05). The result of Western blot indicated that the relative content of ECM1 in the liver cancer tissues was 25.49 ± 4.61, which was significantly higher than those in adjacent tissues (3.00 ±0.37) and normal liver tissues (2.94 ± 0.21 ) ( t = 31. 962, 31. 699, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusions The expression of ECM1 in liver cancer tissues is higher than those in adjacent and normal liver tissues, and ECM1 expression is correlated with metastasis of liver cancer and TNM stages, which indicate that ECM1 may play a role in the metastasis of liver cancer, and it could be used as an indicator for liver cancer metastasis.

Genetic Research ; Glomus Jugulare Tumor ; genetics ; Humans ; Paraganglioma ; genetics

Objective To investigate effect of a new lumbar dynamic internal fixation system(DIFS)on the stability and intradiscal pressure of lumbar segment.Methods Eight fresh calf lumbar specimens were collected to build test models,which were loaded with pure moments of 8 N·m in flexion/extension,lateral bending,and rotation planes.The test states included intactness,destabilization,dynamic fixation,semi-rigid fixation,and solid fixation.The data were collected from the third loading cycle to determine range of motion and neutral zone of corresponding segments,and the intradiscal pressure.Results Destabilization significantly increased segmental range of motion and neutral zone in three motion planes without obvious influence on intradiscal pressure.The three fixation systems were all able to stabilize and load destabilizing segments.DIFS restored the range of motion of unstable segment to 77％,60％,61％ and 70％ of the intact level in anterior flexion,posterior extension,lateral bending and rotation planes.Meanwhile,DIFS bore 45％,29％ and 40％ of tbe intradiscal load in lateral bending,rotation and flexion directions,but 100％ of the intradiscal load in back extension.The stability and intradiscal pressure of adjacent segments were not affected by the test states.Conclusion DIFS can effectively restore range of motion of unstable segments and share appropriate intradiscal load in most directions.

ObjectiveTo aim at the deficiencies of existing assessment methods,and put forward ideas,methods and contents to reform experimental course assessment methods for undergraduates.MethodsAll of the fifth-grade preventive medicine undergraduates were divided into experimental group (n=34) and control group(n=31),reformed and conventional assessment methods were used in experimental group and control group respectively.The difference in attendance,experimental skill and reports were compared between two groups.ResultsAttendance,test scores and experimental skill scores of students in experimental group were significantly higher than that in control group and compared with the control group students (P＜0,05),the experimental group students' understanding on the experimental principle,phenomena and data analysis were better.ConclusionReformed assessment methods of experimental course has an improved effect on teaching for undergraduates.

Tumor metastasis and recurrence have become a key to curative effect and long-term survival, and a hotspot of eurrent clinical oncology research. Recently, a survey of extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) expression in different tumors indicated that ECM1, although not tumor specific, is significantly el-evated in many malignant epithelial tumors that gives rise to metastases, emphasizing its relevance in the cancer process. Herein, this article reviews the research progress of ECM1 in tumor.

Objective To study the effect of conditioned media for rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-CM) on palmitic acid (PA)-induced insulin resistance (IR) in HepG2 cells and its underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods HepG2 cells were treated with or without BMSCs-CM and L-DMEM in the presence or absence of PA.Glucose utilization in HepG2 cells were detected with PAS,glucose and glycogen measurements.Western blotting was used to assess the expression of phospho-insulin receptor substrate (p-IRS),phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 K) and p-AKT.Results (1) Incubation of HepG2 cells with 0.25 mmol/L PA for 24 hours significantly increased the glucose concentration and decreased the glycogen content (P ＜ 0.05) in the media.(2) Treatment with BMSCs-CM significantly ameliorated the glucose and glycogen alteration in cells pretreated with PA (P ＜ 0.05),however,no obvious effect of BMSCs-CM on the cell glucose and glycogen production.(3) BMSCs-CM treatment also increased protein expression of p-IRS,PI3K and p-AKT in PA incubated HapG2 cells (P＜ 0.05).The effect of BMSCs-CM on PI3K and p-AKT expression could be mimicked upon addition of 740Y-P,a PI3K agonist,but abolished by LY294002,a PI3K specific inhibitor.Conclusions BMSCs-CM could improve the insulin sensitivity in HepG2 cells pretreated with PA through upregulation of insulin signaling component expression.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rhBMP-2/collagen composite on bone regeneration during expansion of the interparietal suture in the rats. METHODS: 32 10-week old SD rats were divided into groups consisting of 8 rats each. They were comprised of normal control group, expansion control group and the treatment group, the two treatment groups were covered with atelo-typeⅠcollagen and rhBMP-2/collagen composite on the suture before subjected to the expansion force. The bone regeneration in the interparietal suture was estimated by histological method, the osteocalcin content was measured by radioimmonoassay and the calcium content was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The bone regeneration was more active in the suture after giving an expanding force than in the suture without any intervention. Even bone bridge was formed in the rhBMP-2/collagen composite group. Both the osteocalcin content and calcium content were much higher in the rhBMP-2/collagen composite group than in other three groups (P

Objective To evaluate the value of hyomental distance (HMD) measured when the byoid was located using ultrasound in predicting the difficult airway.Methods Two hundred and thirteen patients of both sexes,aged 18-64 yr,with body mass index of 14-34 kg/m2,with interincisor distance ＞3 cm,with atlanto-axial joint mobility ＞ 90°,of Mallampati class Ⅰ-Ⅳ,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ,scheduled for elective surgery requiring endotracheal intubation under general anesthesia,were enrolled in the study.The HMD was measured by fingers (finger breaths in width,HMDf) and by rulers (HMDr) when the hyoid was located artificially and when the hyoid was viewed on ultrasound (HMDu) before anesthesia induction.After anesthesia induction,the difficult airway was defined as Cormack-Lehane grade 3 or 4 assessed under direct laryngoscope during intubation.The hyoid viewed on ultrasound was considered as the criterion,and the error rate was calculated when the hyoid was located artificially.Youden Index was used to determine the optimal value in predicting difficult airway,and the specificity and sensitivity of HMDf,HMDr and HMDu in predicting difficult airway were calculated based on this criterion.Results The error rate was 18.8％ when the hyoid was located artificially.The specificity and sensitivity of HMDu in predicting difficult airway were 64.6％ and 91.5％,respectively.The specificity and sensitivity of HMDr in predicting difficult airway were 62.5％ and 84.8％,respectively.The specificity and sensitivity of HMDf in predicting difficult airway was 29.2％ and 98.2％,respectively.Conclusion The HMD measured when the hyoid is located using ultrasound can accurately predict the difficult airway.