Objective To study the effect of lower limb muscle strength on balance.Methods One hun- dred eighty elderly subjects were divided into six groups by sex and muscle strength level.There were low,moderate and high muscle strength groups for males and females.The static standing balance of these subjects was performed u- sing a PH-A computerized stabilometer with their eyes open and closed.Sway index,covered area,rectangle-area, length and length/area of the destabilizing locui were assessed.Results When standing with the eyes either open or closed,sagittal and lateral sway index,covered area and rectangle-area were significantly larger in the lowest mus- cle strength groups when compared with the others.Length/area was also significantly less.There was no significant difference between the moderate muscle strength group and the highest strength group.Conclusion Lower limb strength affects balance.

BACKGROUND: The technology of biodegradable materials covering growth factors can be used to make sustained-release microspheres, which provides the feasibility for the efficient utilization of growth factors. OBJECTIVE: To prepare nano/micron-sized spheres using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (rhBMP-2/PLGA)copolymer and to compare their release behaviors by in vivo and in vitro release experiments. METHODS: The rhBMP-2/PLGA nano/micron-sized spheres were prepared by emulsion solvent evaporation method to control the rate of pulp mixing.(1)In vitro release experiment:Prepared nano/micron-sized spheres were dissolved in PBS for 70 days,and then ELISA method was used to detect the rhBMP-2 concentration in the supernatant at different time.(2)In vivo release experiment:Forty-four New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups, and rhBMP-2/PLGA nano/micron-sized spheres were respectively implanted into trochanteric defects. The concentration of rhBMP-2 in the defect site was detected by ELISA within 70 days after implantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In vitro sustained release experiment:There was a sudden release of nanospheres in the former 3 days,and the cumulative release nearly reached 41%, followed by a steady and slow release, and then the cumulative release was up to approximately 83% at 70 days. The initial release of micron-sized spheres was less than that of nanospheres, and the cumulative release was about 20% within the former 3 days and reached to 70% at 70 days.In vivo sustained release test:There was a sudden release of the nanospheres,the cumulative release was nearly 35%, followed by a steady and slow release, and then the cumulative release was up to approximately 72% at 70 days. The initial release of micron-sized spheres was less than that of nanospheres, and the cumulative release was about 21% in the former 3 days and increased to about 63% at 70 days.In both in vivo and in vitro release experiments,the release duration of micron-sized spheres was longer than that of nanospheres in the former 3 days. To conclude, the release time of rhBMP-2/PLGA micron-sized spheres fulfills the need of bone growth cycle, therefore, rhBMP-2/PLGA micron-sized spheres are more favorable than rhBMP-2/PLGA nanospheres for bone defect repair in clinical practice.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and 64 multi-slice spiral CT (64-MSCT) for coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods Fifty-two patients with suspected or known CAD were included in the study. Each patient underwent both stress and rest MPI,MSCT as well as conventional coronary angiography (CAG) within 1 month. The stress and rest MPI were scored by a 5-grade criteria (0 ～ 4) based on 17 coronary artery segments. The difference between summed stress and rest scores ＞ 1 was defined as myocardial ischemia. Stenosis in one main vessel or one main branch of the main vessel ≥50% was defined as myocardial ischemia by MSCT. CAG was used as the reference for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. 0 software. Kappa value was used to test the accordance of MPI and MSCT results. X2 test was used to evaluate the difference between MPI and MSCT results. Results The patient-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT for the diagnosis of CAD were 86.7% (26/30), 77.3% ( 17/22),83.9% (26/31), 81.0% ( 17/21), 82.7% (43/52) and 83.3% ( 25/30), 86.4% ( 19/22), 89.3%( 25/28), 79.2% ( 19/24), 84.6% (44/52), respectively. The vessel-based sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of MPI and MSCT were 74.5% (38/51), 81.0% (85/105 ), 65.5% (38/58), 86.7% ( 85/98), 78.8% ( 123/156 ) and 90.2% (46/51 ), 88.6% ( 93/105 ),79.3 % (46/58), 94.9% (93/98), 89.1% ( 139/156), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between MPI and MSCT for either patient or lesion-based diagnosis (X2 =0.44, 0.21, both P ＞0.05 ). 96.0% (24/25) patients with both abnormal MPI and MSCT positive were valified by CAG while 83.3% (15/18) patients with both MPI and MSCT negative were excluded by CAG. Conclusions Both MPI and MSCT are reliable diagnostic modalities for CAD. They also provide complementary diagnostic value to each other.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Splenectomy ; adverse effects

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

BACKGROUND: There are many studies on Modic changes in patients with lumbar degenerative disease and low back pain. However, few studies facus on epidemiological distribution and related factors of Modic changes in cervical spine, and its epidemiology and influencing factors remain unclear.OBJECTIVE: To study the morbidity and distribution of Modic changes in patients with cervical and shoulder pain and its correlation with gender, age and cervical degeneration. METHODS: Totally 430 patients admitted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University and undergoing cervical MRI and CT examination due to neck and shoulder pain between December 2014 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, involving 197 males and 233 females, aged 19-78 years (mean age: 50.3 years). The morbidity and segmental distribution of Modic changes and its correlation with age, sex, cervical intervertebral disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Among 2 150 disc segments of 430 patients, 348 segments (16.2%) of 67 patients (15.6%) appeared with Modic changes:73(3.4%)segments were type I,243(11.3%)were type II,and 32(1.5%)were type III.(2)By application of chi-square test, Modic changes were most common at the C5/6segment; older than 40 years and Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade III were relevant factors, while gender and facet joint degeneration were not.

BACKGROUND:Cycloserine with low hepatotoxicity exhibits no cross-resistance with the existing anti-tuberculosis drugs,and has been commonly used for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.However,its oral administration or injection leads to a certain degree of neurotoxicity.OBJECTIVE:To prepare poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-cycloserine sustained-release microspheres which are expected to reduce the neurotoxicity and adverse reactions,and maintain the drug concentration in the bone tuberculosis region for a long time,and to observe the in vitro drug release of the microspheresMETHODS:Double emulsion solvent evaporation method was used to prepare PLGA-cycloserine microspheres that were bonded into sponge implant by Bletilla striata polysaccharide extract.Then,morphology,particle size,encapsulation efficiency and in vitro performance of the microspheres were observed.The drug loading,burst release,appearance and dispersion of the microspheres were observed at 0,1,2 months after the microspheres were placed in room temperature (25 ℃),high temperature (60 ℃) and high humidity (93％),respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The PLGA-cycloserine microspheres that were round and spherical presented with the mean particle size of (143±38) μm,the drug loading of 38.38％ and the encapsulation efficiency of 67.54％.No burst release occurred,and the cumulative release of drug within 50 days was 65.62％ After being stored at room temperature,high temperature and high humidity for 1 and 2 months,the microspheres were intact in the appearance and morphology,and showed insignificant changes in drug loading and burst release.To conclude,the time of degradation and the release of drug accord with the biological requirements of bone restoration.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Epimedium brevicornum, E. sagittatum, E. koreanum, E, wushanense and E. elongntum on the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro.

METHODAccording to the paired design method, either femur of each chichen embryo was put into the control tube with the medium containing no Epimedium injection, and the other was put into the treated tube with the medium containing 3% Epimedium injection. The length and weight of cultured cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell (MTY method) were used as the indices to observe the cartilage biological activities of the five species of Epimedium in culture.

RESULTThe results showed that the indices of length, weight and MTT in the E. brevicornum and E. sagittatum group were significantly higher than those in the contral group, but the above indices in groups E. koreanum, E. wushanens and E. elongntum were similar to those of the control with no statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONE. brevicornum and E. sagittatum can improve the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro, and other three Epimedium have not the same effect in this test.

Animals ; Cartilage ; cytology ; drug effects ; embryology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chick Embryo ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Species Specificity

Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; diagnosis

Objective To discuss the clinical diagnostic value of 16-slice spiral computed tomography angiography (CTA) for intracranial aneurysm. Methods Seventy-four patients with suspected intracranial aneurysm were examined with 16-slice spiral CTA. The post-processing techniques including multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), curved planar reformation (CPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP), volume rendering (VR) and virtual endoscopy (VE) were used, and their diagnostic accuracy was evaluated and compared with the results of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and operation. Results A total of 77 aneurysms were detected by 16-slice spiral CTA in 65 patients. Among them, 55 patients had single aneurysm, 9 patients had double aneurysms, and only 1 patient had 4 aneurysms. The smallest diameters of aneurysm were 2.0 and 1.5 mm, and the largest were 49 and 8.5 mm at body and neck, respectively. The coincidence of aneurysms confirmed by operation and those detected by 16-slice spiral CTA was 94.74%. There were no significant difference in the sensitivity and the accordance rate of diagnosis between DSA and 16-slice spiral CTA (P>0.05). Conclusions 16-slice spiral CTA clearly showed the location, axis pointing, neck, parent artery ofa aneurysm, as well as the spatial relationship with the surrounding structures. The accuracy of 16-slice spiral CTA is higherin the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm. It can be used as the first and effective choice for diagnosis of acute intracranial aneurysm.