This paper developed a calculation method to acquire the yield load P of bone plate during four-point bending test. This method is based on the displacement--force (δ-F) curve function f(M)(δ) obtained from the test, each slope of the curve was calculated using piecewise smooth function and the line segment in f(M)(δ) elastic deformation area was searched by setting the minimum slope T. Slope S was obtained through linear fit so as to build parallel displacement function f(L)(δ). Then, approximating intersection point of f(M)(δ) and f(L)(δ) was obtained through linear interpolation. Thus, yield load P was acquired. The method in the paper was loyal to YY/T 0342-2002 regulation and was liable to program calculation. The calculating process was nothing to do with whether the initial point during the test was preloaded or unloaded, and there was no need to correct the original point. In addition, T was set in an ideal fitting level guaranteed by the fitting coefficient of determination R2, and thus S was very close to the real value, and P was with a high accuracy.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Posture ; Weight-Bearing

Cyclic peptide drugs have gradually become an emerging research direction due to their some favorable properties such as high-efficiency binding affinity, high selectivity, lower toxicity, and stable metabolism. In recent years, the number of cyclic peptide drugs under clinical research has continued to increase. Unlike the previous cyclic peptide drugs, which were mostly derived from natural products and their derivatives, these cyclic peptide drugs are designed by genetically encoded display technologies which are based on rational design and in vitro evolution (such as BT1718, PTG-300, POL6326, etc). Among them, phage display technology has some advantages such as mature research system, low cost, and simpler operation that make it well recognized and praised by the majority of researchers in this field. Here, we reviewed the recent progress of applying phage display technology to explore diverse cyclic peptide libraries, which, we believe, will contribute more valuable candidate cyclic peptide drugs in clinical research.

In this study, modification technology by surface coating was used to improve the flowability of powder of Chinese herbs extracts. Seven kinds of powder of Chinese herbs extracts were coated with 1% silica nanoparticles using an under-driven Comil. The powder characteristics tester was used to evaluate the flowability of uncoated and coated powders. Surface morphology and particle size distribution of powders were compared by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope. The powder hygroscopicity was also investigated. The results showed that, after modification, angle of repose, angle of spatula, compressibility and adhesiveness extremely decreased, and flowability index substantially increased, the powder flowability was significantly improved, especially Gegen and Dahuang extracts powders. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the distribution of silica nanoparticles on the host drug particle surfaces. There were no remarkable changes in the particle size distribution and hygroscopicity of all powders after coating. Therefore, Comilling for surface coating modification technology was an effective method to improve the flowability of Chinese herbs extracts and suggested a possible way forward to enhance the quality of Chinese drugs pharmaceutics in their study and manufacture.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Powders ; chemistry ; Surface Properties

Objective To investigate the voiding patterns of term and preterm newborns and whether voiding in term and preterm neonates was accompanied by any cortical arousal. Methods Between May 2013 and September 2013,64 hospitalized newborns at Neonatal Intensive Cave Unit in the Frist Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited in this study. In these patients,31 cases were term newborns(20 male,11 female)and 33 cases were preterm newborns(19 male,14 female). The term and preterm newborns gestational ages at birth were(38. 2 ± 1. 2) weeks and(32. 1 ± 1. 6)weeks,weighted(3. 3 ± 0. 4)kg and(1. 7 ± 0. 3)kg,respectively and postnatal ages at study were[4 - 16(10. 5 ± 3. 6)]days and[4 - 16(11. 2 ± 3. 1)]days. The voiding volume(VV),post - void residual volumes(PRV),body movement rate and voiding frequency(VF)in 4 hours as well as the volume of milk and liquid fed at the same time frame were recorded and analyzed,retrospectively. At the same time electrocardiogram(ECG)and electroencephalogram(EEG)were recorded. The changes of heart rate(HR),EEG frequency,respiratory frequency (RF)during the 5 s period and 30 s before and after voiding onset were compared respectively. For cortical arousal definition the recommendations of the International Pediatric Work Group on Arousals(2005)were used. Results A total of 184 times of voiding were recorded. In preterm newborns,the VV and body movements rate were significantly lower compared with the term newborns[(21. 8 ± 7. 9)mL and(41 ± 21)% vs(26. 4 ± 8. 7)mL and(62 ± 19)% , t = 3. 75,4. 20,all P ﹤ 0. 05]. However,the VF and PRV were significantly higher in preterm newborns[(1. 7 ± 0. 9) mL and(3. 2 ± 1. 1)times vs(1. 2 ± 0. 7)mL and(2. 6 ± 0. 9)times,t = 2. 47,2. 38,all P ﹤ 0. 05]. Bladder voiding in these infants happened only during QS. In term newborns,HR frequency was higher during the 5 s interval before and after voiding onset when compared with the 30 s period before voiding onset[(152 ± 6)times/ min and(152 ± 5) times/ min vs(147 ± 6)times/ min,t = 5. 30,5. 76,all P ﹤ 0. 05]and the EEG frequency[(2. 6 ± 0. 1)Hz and (2. 6 ± 0. 1)Hz vs(1. 5 ± 0. 1)Hz,t = 70. 0,70. 0,all P ﹤ 0. 05]. While the HR and EEG frequency of preterm neo-nate was not changed before and after bladder voiding onset. The RF of both term and preterm neonates were not changed before and after bladder voiding onset. Conclusions The voiding patterns between term and preterm were sig-nificantly different and cortical arousal was found only in term neonates,which indicate the term newborns have better mature bladder function and development of nervous system.

By summarizing the recent literatures on brain mechanisms with acupuncture intervention based on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD)-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the BOLD-fMRI examination and analysis methods, the points to be acupunctured, the corresponding meridian activation regions, the specific intensity range, functions and indications of the acupoints, the manifestation of 'bi-directional regulation' characteristics, fMRI performance of chronergy, laterality and needling qi of acupuncture were reviewed to provide the ideas for future research in this area.

Adolescent ; Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; complications ; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Child ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo compare the changes of nucleus pulposus after in vitro culture of rabbit whole intervertebral disc and spinal motion segment.

METHODSTwenty-one New Zealand white rabbits which were randomly divided into organ group with 8 rabbits and segment group with 13 rabbits. Fifty intervertebral discs and 50 spinal motion segments were harvested respectively under aseptic conditions from two groups. These specimens were maintained in organ culture with hyperosmotic media (410 mOsm/kg), then 10 discs of the two groups were observed respectively by HE staining, immunohistochemistry of collagen type III, proteoglycan content and cells viability of nucleus pulposus before culture and at 3, 7, 14, 21 days after culture.

RESULTSHE staining showed the intervertebral disc tissue structure remained intact after culture of 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group,but there was severely degenerated of 21 days segment group. The intensity value of type II collagen immunohistochemical staining in the nucleus pulposus were not changed significantly between 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group (P > 0.05), but the staining of segment group at 21 days became shallower, there was significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05). PAS/AB staining of proteoglycan of nucleus pulposus showed that there were not decrease of tinting strength of two groups within 7 days, but the strength weakened slightly of two groups at 14 days, and the tinting strength became weaker at 21 days segment group, the change is more obvious than the organ group. The intensity value of fluorescence staining of nucleus pulposus cells was not changed significantly within 7 days of two groups (P > 0.05), the intensity value decreased slightly at 21 days organ group and 14 days segment group, but there were no significant difference compared with before time points (P > 0.05) however at 21 days segment group the intensity decreased as cells viability of nucleus pulposus decreased,and there was a significant difference compared with before each time points and organ group at 21 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is not obviously degenerated of the discs of organ group cultured within 21 days and segment group cultured within 14 days, but there was significant degeneration of the intervertebral disc of segment group after cultured 21 days, so the rabbit spinal motion segment can be used on research about the biomechanics of intervertebral disc as a vitro experimental model within 14 days.

Animals ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intervertebral Disc ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Rabbits

To develop a LC-MS/MS method for the determination of five kinds of trace ginkgolic acids in diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials, the column was Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse plus C18 (3.0 mm x 50 mm, 1.8 µm), and the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (containing 0.2% formic acid) (95:5) at a flow rate of 0.5 mL · min(-1). The multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) with an ESI interface in the negative ion mode was selected. The results showed that the linear ranges of five kinds of ginkgolic acids were in the range of 0.2-36.0 µg · L(-1) (r ≥ 0.999 5). The lowest limit of quantification (LOQ) of ginkgo acid C13: 0, C15:1, C17:2, C15:0 and C17:1 were 0.18, 0.18, 0.21, 0.10 and 0.20 µg · L(-1), respectively. The average recovery was between 73.28% and 87.56%, and the average content of total ginkgolic acids in three batches of samples was in the range of 0.023-0.028 µg · g(-1), which was much lower than 2 µg · g(-1) prescribed in drug registration standards. This method is simple and rapid with high sensitivity, which can be used for the determination of five kinds of trace ginkgolic acids in diterpene ginkgolides meglumine injection materials.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Ginkgolides ; analysis ; Injections ; Limit of Detection ; Salicylates ; analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and infection sites,as well as between PCT and bacterial species in gram negative (G-) bacteria induced sepsis,so as to provide rationale for therapeutic strategy of using antibiotic in sepsis.Methods The data of patients with sepsis admitted in Emergency Department and ICU from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The blood culture of G-bacteria and PCT detection were carried out simultaneously within 24 hours after admission.The clinical data was analyzed to find out the correlation between PCT levels and infection sites,as well as between PCT levels and pathogenic bacterial species.Results A total of 187 specimens (came from 162 patients) were enrolled in the study with a median age of 70 years old and a median sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of 4.PCT levels were found to be associated with bacterial species.PCT level caused by Escherichia coli bacteremia infection was higher than that caused by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia and Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia infection (4.62 ng/mL vs.2.44 ng/mL;4.62 ng/mL vs.0.81 ng/mL;P ＜ 0.05).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.61 to discriminate Escherichia coli infection from Acinetobacter baumannii infection and an AUC was 0.66 to discriminate Escherichia coli infection from Burkholderia cepacia infection.When the cutoff point of PCT was 30.32 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Acinetobacter baumannii infection with 94.10％ specificity,90.00％ positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio for 4.24.When the cutoff point of PCT was 8.01 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Burkholderia cepacia infection with 85.70％ specificity,93.94％ positive predictive value,and positive likelihood ratio for 3.01.When PCT cutoff value reached 47.31 ng/mL,the specificity and positive predictive value were both 100.00％.PCT level caused by urinary tract infection was higher than that caused by pulmonary infection (11.58 ng/mL vs.2.07 ng/mL,P ＜ 0.05),and the AUC was 0.69.When the cutoff point of PCT was 32.11 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Acinetobacter baumannii infection with 90.60％ specificity,86.18％ negative predictive value and positive likelihood ratio for 3.68.Conclusions PCT elevation in G-bacteria induced sepsis might be associated with infection sites and bacterial species.

OBJECTIVEA method for determined oxygen permeability (Dk) of finished soft contact lens.

METHODSOxygen permeability(Dk) of 10 group finished soft contact lens was determined by polarographic method, and the values were linearly calibrated using the measured and established Dk values of the specified reference materials.

RESULTSOnly one Dk value fell outside of the requirement of GB 11417.3-2012 tolerance for Dk (± 20%).

CONCLUSIONIt is great practicability when determined the oxygen permeability (Dk) of finished soft contact lens by polarographic method which were linearly calibrated using the measured and established Dk values of the specified equal thickness reference materials without the measured lens customized 4 different thickness.

Calibration ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Permeability ; Polarography