Objective To investigate the efficacy of computer-assisted postural balance training system combined with Bobath balance training on balance disorders after cerebellar stroke.Methods Forty patients with balance disorders after cerebellar stroke were randomly divided into either a combined training group or a control group (n =20 in each group).The control group was trained with Bobath balance training and routine rehabilitation treatment.On the basis of this,the combined training group used the computerassisted postural balance training system for rehabilitation treatment.The balance function,activities of daily living and motor function were evaluated with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS),modified Barthel Index,mBI)and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after treatment,and the computer-assisted postural balance training system was used to conduct the postural balance ability according to the center of gravity track length,rectangle area of track,and peripheral area of track.Results There were no significant differences in various indexes before treatment between the patients of both groups.The scores of BBS,mBI and FMA after treatment were increased obviously (all P ＜ 0.001).The the center of gravity track length,rectangle area of track,and peripheral area of track were decreased compared before treatment (P ＜0.001 or 0.05).In addition to the FMA score,all the indexes of the combined training group after treatment were significantly better than those of the control group (all P＜0.05).Conclusions On the basis of Bobath balance training,using computer-assisted postural balance training system can obviously improve the balance disorder and extremities motion ability after cerebellar stroke,and thus improving the activities of daily living in cerebellar stroke patients.

Background Conventional chemical method to fix the entire eyeball results in the edema of retinal nerve fiber layer and therefore influent the evaluation of tissue structure.Research showed that microwave irradiation can avoid this phenomenon. Objective This study was to investigate the appropriate energy and time duration of microwave irradiation for fixation of rabbit eyes specimen and compare the influence of different fixation methods on retinal structure. Methods Twenty-two New Zealand white rabbits were sacrificed by using venous air embolism.The eyeballs were enucleated from the rabbits and immersed in chemical reagents with glacial acetic acid,methyl aldehyde and chloroform for 2 days as the control group.The eyeballs were immersed in 400 ml physiological balance solution immediately,and then were fixed by microwave irradiation for 80,160,240 and 320 seconds under the lower power as the microwave irradiation groups.In the microwave irradiation+chemical fixation group,the specimens were immersed in chemical reagents for 1-2 hours after the microwave radiation.The morphology of retinal structure was examined and area of retinal detachment was calculated by hemotoxylin and eosin staining under the light microscope. Results A better fixation effect was obtained in the retinal section of microwave radiation for 240 seconds in comparison with that of the traditional chemical reagent fixation method for 2 days.The retina detachment ratio was 16.3%±11.5% for simple microwave method,50.0%±24.5% for chemical method,and 6.7%±7.8% for microwave+chemical method.showing a significant difference among 3 groups(F=32.43,P=0.000).Retinal staining was clear and retinal structure was almost normal in the specimens of microwave+chemical fixation group with 200-240 seeonds microwave irradiation and 1-2 hours chemical fixation. Conclusion Microwave irradiation method is a more ideal way for the fixation of retina because of taking short duration,lower toxicity and better staining.The combination of microwave radiation and chemical reagents can acquire an excellent quality of retinal section.

Objective To study the effect of local mild hypothermia on the expression of matrix metallopro- teinases-2/9 (MMP-2/9) and brain edema in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rat. Methods One hundred and forty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normothermia sham-operation (NSO) group ( n = 15 ), a normothermia intracerebral hemorrhage (NICH) group (n = 75 ) and a mild hypotbermia intracerebral hemor- rhage (MHICH) group (n = 75). Autologous arterial blood was stereotaxically injected into the right caudate nucleus of the rats of the NICH and MHICH groups to make intracerebral hemorrhage model. The rats in the MHICH group were then subjected to 4 hours of local mild hypothermia, while those in the NICH group were under the room temper- ature. The brain water content, permeability of brain-blood barrier (BBB) and expressions of MMP-2/9 were meas- ured by immunohistochemistry method at 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, 5 d and 7 d after operation. Results In NICH group, the brain water content, permeability of BBB and expression of MMP-9 all began to increase at 6 h and peaked at 3 d after injection of blood and still higher than the NSO group at 7 d. The expression of MMP-2 only began to increase little at 24 h and peaked at 5 d after operation and remained highly expressed at 7 d. In the MHICH group, the chan- ges of brain water content, permeability of BBB and expression of MMP-9 were similar to those of the NICH group, but the extent of changes was significantly lower at the every time point. In NICH group and MHICH group, MMP-9 expression was positively correlated with both the brain water content and the permeability of BBB, but MMP-2 ex- pression was not correlated with them. Conclusion Mild hypothermia might protect BBB against injury caused by ICH and relieve brain edema and inflammation reaction through inhibiting the expression of MMP-2/9.

4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in higher plant and may regulate the biosynthesis of ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis. In this study, the homology-based cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique were used to clone a full length cDNA encoding 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase gene (4CL), and then qRT-PCR was taken for analyzing 4CL gene expression levels in the root, stem and root tissue at different growth stages of seedlings of A. sinensis. The results showed that a full-length 4CL cDNA (1,815 bp) was obtained (GenBank accession number: KT880508) which shares an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 632 bp, encodes 544 amino acid polypeptides. We found 4CL gene was expressed in all tissues including leaf, stem and root of seedlings of A. sinensis. The expressions in the leave and stem were increased significantly with the growth of seedlings of A. sinensis (P < 0.05), while it in the root showed little change. It indicates a time-space pattern of 4CL gene expression in seedlings of A. sinensis. These findings will be useful for establishing an experiment basis for studying the structure and function of 4CL gene and elucidating mechanism of ferulic acid biosynthesis and space-time regulation in A. sinensis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Angelica sinensis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coenzyme A Ligases ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of vasectomy with the risk of prostate cancer in Chinese men.

METHODSWe systematically searched the databases CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for the literature relating the relationship between vasectomy and the risk of prostate cancer in Chinese males up to December 2014. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two investigators independently selected the eligible publications, evaluated their quality, and extracted relevant information, followed by a meta-analysis with the software STATA 12.0.

RESULTSNine studies were included in the analysis involving 1 202 cases of prostate cancer and 4,496 controls. Random-effect model analysis revealed no statistically significant correlation between vasectomy and the risk of prostate cancer (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 0.62-1.79), with an obvious heterogeneity (P < 0.001, I2 = 85.7%). No significant publication bias was found among the included studies (Egger, P = 0.824; Begg, P = 0.348).

CONCLUSIONThe results of our meta-analysis do not support the association of vasectomy with the increased risk of prostate cancer in Chinese population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; ethnology ; etiology ; Risk Assessment ; Vasectomy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo isolate and cultivate human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

METHODSPulp tissue was removed from healthy young human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. The pulp was digested by Type I collagenase and dispase. Then single-cell suspensions were obtained by filter and cultivated. The clones were identified by expression of STRO-1. Under the conditions of inducement, clones were identified by activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), formation of mineralized nodule and expression of dentin sialoprotein (DSP), and by Oil Red-O dyeing and expressing of PPARr2.

RESULTSThe clones had positive expression of STRO-1. When stimulated to differentiation, these cells took on dramatically high activity of ALP, had the ability of mineralization and expressed DSP. These cells also had ability to trans-differentiate into adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONThere are stem cells in human dental pulp tissues, which can be isolated and cultivated.

Adult ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:The therapeutic effectiveness on tendon injury is closely related to the material of tendon suture.
OBJECTIVE: To review the progress of tendon suture materials and tendon biomechnics in recent years.
METHODS:A computer-based search of CNKI (January 1999 to December 2014), and PubMed (January 1950 to December 2014) was performed for relevant articles using the keywords of “tendon, suture materials,
biomechanics” in Chinese and English, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Ideal tendon repair refers to the restoration of the continuity of its anatomical structure, tensile strength and sliding function in physiology, which is influenced by many factors. Suture technique and choice of suture materials are two steps that cannot be ignored. With the development of surgical tendon suture technique, in order to improve the quality of tendon healing, ideal tendon suture is first to have sufficient strength to avoid an early tensile fracture; secondly, the elasticity cannot be too large that can cause a gap between suturing ends and affect tendon healing, and time for protecting the tendon strength is as long as possible. Therefore, the optimal choice of tendon suture materials should be based on suture methods and biomechanical characteristics of suture lines, thereby to promote tendon healing.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect and safety of circumcision stapler in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

METHODSWe treated 120 patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis using circumcision stapler and another 60 by conventional dorsal-incision circumcision. We observed intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative pain, wound healing time, cosmetic appearance of the penis, and postoperative complications and compared them between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSStapler circumcision showed obvious advantages over the conventional method in intraoperative blood loss ([2. 3 ± 1. 3] vs [15.6 ± 2.9] ml), operation time ([7.1 ± 1.4] vs [22.6 ± 4.6] min), wound healing time ([12.0 ± 2.9] as [16.3 ± 3. 1] d), postoperative pain score (1. 9 ± 1. 3 vs 5. 2 ± 1. 7), incision edema, and cosmetic appearance of the penis (all P <0. 05). Besides, stapler circumcision exempted the patients from stitch-removal pain. However, the incidence rate of postoperative local ecchymosis was significantly higher in the circumcision stapler group than in the conventional circumcision group (20. 8% vs 8. 3% , P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCircumcision stapler, with its advantages of easier manipulation, shorter operation time, better cosmetic penile appearance, less pain, and fewer complications, is superior to conventional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

Blood Loss, Surgical ; Circumcision, Male ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ecchymosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Penis ; abnormalities ; Phimosis ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Surgical Staplers ; adverse effects ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo construct fluorescent eukaryotic cell expression vector with human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (hBMP-7) gene and to transfect mouse stromal cell line W-20-17 to detect the bioactivity of pEGFP-hBMP-7 in vitro.

METHODSpEGFP-hBMP-7 plasmid was constructed by subcloning technique and identified by enzyme cutting and electrophoresis. W-20-17 cells were transfected with pEGFP-hBMP-7 by means of lipofectamine-2000 media methods. Transfection efficiency and gene expression were evaluated by fluorescent microscopy. ALP, von Kossa and osteocalcin (OC) were tested to determined the phenotypes of osteoblast.

RESULTSAfter 48 hours, the gene transfection efficiency was 40%. Based on GFP and immunofluorescence of pEGFP-hBMP-7, there was the expression of aim gene. After gene transfection, there were not significant different of cell morphology feature and cell proliferation. ALP activity, the number of calcium nodules and the expression of OC increased.

CONCLUSIONSpEGFP-hBMP-7 with bioactivity was constructed, which could induce W-20-17 cells to differentiate to osteoblasts.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mice ; Osteogenesis ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore different frequency electroacupuncture in acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia on analgesic effect and immune function in the pulmonary resection patients in order to recommend the best electroacupuncture frequency in acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-three patients scheduled for pneumonectomy were randomly divided into group A (n = 31), B (n = 34), C (n = 32), D (n = 34) and E (n = 32). Houxi (SI 3), Zhigou (TE 6), Neiguan (PC 6) and Hegu (LI 4) were selected in the five groups. Group A was treated with sham acupuncture by pasting needles without needle bodies at acupoints and electroacupuncture at the needle handle, and group B with 2 Hz electroacupuncture, and group C with 2 Hz/ 100 Hz electroacupuncture, and group D with 100 Hz electroacupuncture, and group E with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation, and general anesthesia was produced in all the groups followed by 30 min electrical stimulation and the stimulation was lasted till the end of operation. The dosages of the anesthetics and the changes of surface antigen of leukomonocyte (CD3+ , CD4+ , CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+) and natural killer (NK) cell were observed at 1 day before surgery, intraoperative and 1 day after surgery.

RESULTSIn comparison with group A, the dosages of Propofol in group B and D were decreased, Fentanyl in group B, D and E were decreased. CD3+ and CD4+ in 5 groups increased at first and then decreased over time (all P < 0.01), and group E and C could inhibit the decrease of CD3+ and CD4+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). CD8+ in 5 groups has no change in different times (all P > 0.05), and group E and D could inhibit the decrease of CD8+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). CD4+/CD8+ in 5 groups has no change in different times (all P > 0.05), and group E and C could inhibit the decrease of CD4+/CD8+ in postoperation in comparison with that in the other three groups (all P < 0.05). NK cells of 5 groups were increased gradually in different times (all P < 0.01), with the similar regulation of NK cells (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with 2 Hz and 100 Hz electroacupuncture together with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation have the best analgesic effect, and 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation and 2 Hz/100 Hz electroacupuncture have the best regulation of immune function. Acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia with 2 Hz/100 Hz transcetaneous acupoints electrical stimulation is recommended for that it can not only decrease the dosages of the anesthetics, but also significantly improve the immunosuppression in patients undergoing pneumonectomy.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Immune System ; immunology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lung Diseases ; immunology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Young Adult