Rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms is important to the prevention and control of diseases.Com-pared with traditional approaches, electrochemical DNA biosensors present great advantages in promising rapid, portable, sensitive and cost-saving detection of pathogens.In this review, the working principle of electrochemical DNA biosensors and the progress in detection of pathogens is introduced, the latest developments of DNA tetrahedron structure and new nano materials in electrochemical DNA biosensors are reviewed, and the challenges to and prospects of development in this field are also discussed.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of voice disorder and voice fatigue mental state in the pri-mary school teachers in a district of Chengdu.Methods A random sampling survey included 389 teachers from a dis-trict of Chengdu after they filled out the throat symptoms questionnaire,carried out voice fatigue tests,and strobo-scopic laryngoscopy.Results The most common voice of discomfort symptoms was hoarseness,followed by sore throat,dry throat and vocal fatigue.There were 189 teachers,48.5%,with voice disorders as the voice disorder group)and 200 teachers without throat and voice disorders as the control group.The failure rate was significantly higher at 80 dB than 75 dB,and for the study group,the failure rate was higher than that of the control group.The difference was statistically significant in 1,2 and 10 minutes between the two groups(P <0.05).Conclusion Voice fatigue is very common in the primary school teachers and when high volumes are required,the voice fatigue is more serious.To reduce voice fatigue and the incidence of primary school teachers'voice disease,we should strengthen the teacher's voice health care.

To design a new method to simulate the micro-motion of human body surface due to respiration and heartbeat, and to provide detection object and calibration signal for the bio-radar technology. Precision lin-ear module was used to transform rotational movement to linear displacement, with AC servo motor to precisely control the module's rotation. Ultimately, ultralow-frequency micro-motion was produced with its displacement being quantitatively controlled. A system simulating the micro-motion of human body surface was newly built. Compared with the old system, the new one produced micro-motion with better constancy, and realized quantitative control of the motion's dis-placement. The method lays technological foundation for simulating the micro-motion of human body surface due to respiration and heartbeat and may promote the development of bio-radar technology towards intensive and compre-hensive levels.

Objective To explore the tutorial system of biomedical engineering students in medical colleges and universities,and provide useful references for the implementation of undergraduate tutorial system in medical colleges and universities in China.Methods Based on the compulsory professional knowledge and skills of biomedical engineering students,the undergraduate tutorial system of biomedical engineering specialty was analyzed and summarized with thatof School of Biomedical Engineering of the Fourth Military Medical University taken as an example.Results The necessity,problems and new mode were pointed out for the undergraduate tutorial system of biomedical engineering specialty.Conclusion The implementation of undergraduate tutorial system is a new idea of deepening the reform of undergraduate education in biomedical engineering specialty,and is of important significance to improve the professional skills of students.

The present study investigated the material basis of Urtica fissa for the inhibition of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). The active fractions were screened, and the extracts of dichloromethane and ethyl acetate exhibited significantly inhibitory activities against 5α-reductase in vitro and BPH in model rats. The chemical constituents in the active fractions were systematically investigated, and 28 compounds were obtained, which were identified as lobechine methyl ester(1), dibutyl-O-phthalate(2), 1-monolinolein(3), epipinoresinol(4), 5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-pentanyl-2(5H)-furanone(5), E-7,9-diene-11-methenyl palmitic acid(6), evofolin B(7), ficusal(8), threo-2,3-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropan-1-ol(9), α-viniferin(10),(9R,7E)-9-hydroxy-5,7-mengatigmadien-4-one-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11), indole-3-carboxaldehyde(12), p-hydroxy ethyl cinnamate(13), benzyl alcohol-O-β-D-glucoside(14), L-methionine(15), 4-methoxyaniline(16), 6-aminopurine(17), 8'-acetyl oilvil(18), 4-methoxyl-8'-acetyl oilvil(19), vanillic acid(20), β-hydroxypropiovanillone(21), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin(22), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde(23), pinoresinol(24), erythro-1,2-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol(25), urticol(26), urticol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(27), and lobechine(28). Compounds 1-17 were isolated from U. fissa for the first time. Meanwhile, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 10, 11, 19, 21, and 27 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on 5α-reductase.
Animals ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Urticaceae/chemistry*

OBJECTIVETo probe and systematize the ancient cauterization with pyropuncture needle for evacuation of pus.

METHODSOne hundred and eight cases of body surface abscess were randomly divided into 2 groups. The cauterization group (n=84) were treated by drainage with electric cauterization and the incision group (n=24) by drainage with incision. Clinical therapeutic effect, the healing time and the scar area of the wound were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll of the patients in the two groups were effective with a similar therapeutic effect (P > 0.05); the cauterization group in the healing time and the scar area of the wound was superior to the incision group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectric cauterization for evacuation of pus has advantages of rapid healing and small scar area of wound.

Abscess ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cautery ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Skin Diseases ; therapy

BACKGROUNDMany kinds of approaches have been used for minimally invasive surgery of total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA). However, until now when considering the balance of efficacy and associated surgical injury there is no approach widely accepted for MIS-THA. In this study, a modified anterolateral muscle sparing approach was developed to optimize MIS-THA.

METHODSTwenty adult cadaver specimens (40 hips) were used for anatomic research. The distance from anterior origin of the gluteus medius on the iliac crest to the anterior superior iliac spine was measured; the course of the superior gluteal nerve and the distances from the nerve to the regional anatomic landmarks were recorded. Simulated surgeries were performed in three fresh cadaver specimens to evaluate the soft tissues injury around incisions. From October 2004 to June 2006, 57 patients (57 hips) were treated with anterolateral muscle sparing minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty, of which 17 were femoral neck fractures, 9 osteoarthritis, 16 developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) and 15 avascular necrosis (AVN). All the operations were performed by the same senior surgeon. Operation time, blood loss and drainage volume were recorded and the correlation between the local complications and the native anatomical characteristics was especially noted. All cases were followed for at least 12 months.

RESULTSThe distance from the anterior origin of the gluteus medius to anterior superior iliac spine along the iliac crest was (61+/-4) mm (range, 55-68 mm), and the distance from inferior branch of the superior gluteal nerve to the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter was (74+/-6) mm (range, 60-88 mm). In simulated surgeries, excessive distraction of tissue was found to be the main cause of the anterior border injury of the gluteus medius muscle. Of the 57 patients treated with anterolateral muscle sparing MIS-THA, the average incision length was 9 cm (range 7.5-13 cm). Blood transfusions were performed in 11 patients. During the operations, anterior border injury in deep layers of the gluteus medius was found in 9 patients. Posteromedial perforation of the prosthesis stem on the femoral side was found in 2 patients, which were revised immediately. No positive Trenderlenburg sign was found during the 12 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe incision of the anterolateral muscle sparing approach should be directed from the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter toward 6 cm posterior to the anterior superior iliac spine. The proximal part of the incision should be within 6 cm from the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter, and it is safe to be extended distally. The anterolateral muscle sparing approach is a minimally invasive approach for total hip arthroplasty, through which the surgeon can operate on the acetabulum and femoral sides in a single incision without muscle detachment, and fluoroscopy assistance is not needed. The surgeon should pay more attention to protecting the gluteus medius from injury by distraction before femoral neck cutting and during the preparation of the femoral side.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Autopsy ; Female ; Hip ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Muscle, Skeletal ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo determine the mutation responsible for the congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type I(CFEOM1) in a Chinese family.

METHODSDirect sequencing of exons 20 and 21 in the KIF21A gene was performed for the proband. The mutation c.2860C to T in exon 21 was examined by allele specific-PCR (AS-PCR) analysis in other family members. Haplotype analysis was performed using four STR markers (D12S1668, D12S2194, D12S331 and D12S1048).

RESULTSA heterozygous mutation c.2860C to T in the KIF21A gene was identified in all three affected members with CFEOM1. Haplotype analysis suggested that the mutation might derive from maternal germline mosaicism.

CONCLUSIONThis Chinese family with CFEOM1 may be caused by a c.2860C to T mutation in the KIF21A gene.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; Exons ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Kinesin ; genetics ; Mutation ; genetics ; Oculomotor Muscles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of Hadeco ES-1000spm hand-held doppler during the anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap harvest.

METHODSTwenty-five patients (26 sides) with ALT flaps for head and neck reconstruction between May 2005 and May 2010 received preoperative Doppler examination for the location of the cutaneous perforators of ALT flaps. The Doppler signals and body mass index (BMI) were recorded preoperatively according to ABC system. The locations of Doppler signals and of the actual cutaneous perforators at surgery were plotted and compared. The diameter of perforators was measured.

RESULTSOne to three cutaneous perforators of the ALT flap were consistently found at specific locations. They were named perforators A, B, C from proximal to distal. Perforators A, B and C were present in 15 (58%), 24 (92%) and 20 (77%) cases and the diameter (> 0.5 mm) of A, B and C were 11/15, 22 (92%) and 8 (40%) respectively. The Doppler signal was within 0.5 cm of the actual perforator location in 85% flaps. The accuracy of Doppler decreased with increase of BMI.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative assessment by hand-held Doppler is useful in predicting the perforator vessels' locations and diameter although it's accuracy is limited.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perforator Flap ; Preoperative Care ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thigh ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

Objective] To study hepatitis B virus ( HBV) mother-to-child transmission and the impact factors, providing the basis for preventive strategies. [ Methods ] A total of 154 hepatitis B surface antigen ( HBsAg ) -positive pregnant women and 297 HBsAg -negative pregnant women from Baoshan District Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Shanghai were enrolled and received an epidemiological survey regarding mother-to-child transmission.Mothers'peripheral blood and newborns'cord blood were collected to be tested for HBV serological markers and HBV DNA load.HBsAg positivity and HBV DNA≥103 copies/mL in cord blood of newborns born of HBsAg-positive mothers was defined as trans-placental HBV transmission. [ Results] The trans-placental transmission rate was found to be 8.4%for HBsAg-positive mothers.Trans-placental transmission rate was significantly higher among both HBsAg and HBeAg -positive women compared to those only with HBsAg -positiveness ( 20.0% vs. 3.7%, relative risk was 5.41, P <0.05), and increased with HBV DNA load in mothers'peripheral blood. [ Conclusion] HBeAg can directly transmit through the placenta, while HBsAg is“filtered” to a certain degree.HBeAg positiveness and high HBV DNA load of the mother are risk factors in trans-placental transmission, and possibly lead to the failure of newborn immunoprophylaxis.