Objective To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese Version of the Fatigue severity scale (FSS)in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods The FSS was translated into Chinese language and the reverse translation was done by several experts.Validity,dimensionality,and reliability tests were implemented in 153 cases of cerebral infarction.Results One component was extracted in factor analysis,and the total cumulative contribu- tion was 64.982%.Based on the Mokken Scale analysis for Polytomous items analyses,the scale was found to be u- nidimensional and scale H is 0.6125,Cronbach?of the scale is 0.9287.Conclusion The psychometric proper- ties(reliabilities and validities)of FSS Chinese Version was satisfactory and seemed to be adaptable to Chinese cere- bral infarction patients.

Objective To asses the effects of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard (dynamic hip screw) in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures. Methods A meta analysis of all the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. We included randomized and quasi randomized controlled trials in patients with proximal femoral fracture to compare Gamma nail and DHS/Richard. Results First we identified 88 papers on comparison of Gamma nail and DHS/Richard in the treatment of proximal femoral fractures published from 1969 to 2003. 7 trials involving 1256 patients were identified as meeting all the eligibility criteria. 3 investigators independently graded study quality and abstracted relevant data, including information on mortality rates, wound infection, function, revision in patients with a proximal femoral fracture. 4 trials, which included a total of 621 patients, provided detailed information on mortality rates over the first 6 postoperative months. We found there was no significant difference in the relative risk of death in the first 6 months postoperative between treatments of Gamma nail and those of compression hip screw (relative risk 1.17;P=0.51). 6 trials that included a total of 1083 patients provided data on operative complications. The risk of operative complications from Gamma nail fixation appeared to be higher than that from compression screw and side plate fixation but not higher than that from compression hip screw (relative risk 1.41; P=0.02). We also found an obvious increase in the relative risk of fracture of femoral shaft between Gamma nail and compression hip screw (relative risk 6.99; P=0.00). Patients treated with Gamma nail had a higher rate of revision compared with those with compression hip screw, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (relative risk 1.85; P=0.20). In addition, wound infection, operative blood loss and functional recovery were similar between the tow groups(relative risk 0.98 for wound infection and 1.02 for function). Operating time for Gamma nail patients was significantly less than that for DHS/Richard ones (P

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Glycoproteins ; blood ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Testicular Hormones ; blood ; Testis ; growth & development

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Asphyxia ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Musculoskeletal Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Thorax ; abnormalities

Objective To explore the protective effect of astragalus injection(黄芪注射液)on cerebral cells after craniocerebral injury.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into five groups(each n=12).In the control group,only anesthesia and cranial bone surgery was performed, which did not impact on dura mater.In the model group,a freefall method was used to cause the left parietal lobe of brain limited contusion and saline was given.In the low,medium and high-dose astragalus injection (5,10,20 ml/kg)treatment groups,astragalus injection was injected intraperitoneally after injury at 30 minutes and 12 hours after injury respectively.After 24 hours of injury in each group,the rats were executed.The brain tissue from contusion was taken out and content changes of Ca~(2+),Mg~(2+),glutamate (Glu)and plasma endothelin(ET)were measured.Results In the model group,the Ca~(2+),Glu and ET contents in the rat brain tissues were significantly higher,but Mg~(2+)content was markedly lower than that of the control group(all P0.05).Conclusion Astragalus has a protective effect on nerve cells after craniocerebral injury.

The UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer was used to explore the chemical compositions in safflower. The rapid separation of the compositions was conducted by the UHPLC, following by high resolution full scan and MS2 scan, under the positive and negative ion mode. The chemical formula of compositions were deduced by full scan data in less than 5, then the potential structures were confirmed by the MS2 data. Forty-nine compounds were detected, of which 26 was identified, and 5 compounds was validated by the standard substances.
Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tongxinluo Capsule (TXL) on platelet aggregation in patients with cerebral infarction, and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSSeventy-four patients with cerebral infarction at the rehabilitation stage were assigned to two groups according to taking or not taking aspirin at hospitalization, the 30 patients in group A were administered with TXL alone and the 44 in group B with TXL combined with aspirin. Platelet aggregation tests induced by adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid were conducted in all patients to evaluate the effect of TXL on platelet aggregation.

RESULTSPlatelet aggregation rate induced by adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine decreased after treatment in Group A from 88.5 +/- 4.9 and 92.9 +/- 3.1 to 80.9 +/- 16.5 and 91.8 +/- 4.0 respectively (P <0.05 ); that induced by adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid decreased after treatment in Group B from 66.9 +/- 13.5 and 22.7 (13.5 - 32.6) to 62.0 +/- 16.3 and 17.7 (10.2 - 23.7) respectively (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Cases of aspirin resistance reduced in Group B from 20 (45%) to 10 (23%), also showing statistical difference (P <0.05). No obvious increase of side effect was found after combined use of TXL with aspirin.

CONCLUSIONTXL has anti-platelet aggregation effect, its mechanism may be related with the inhibition of adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid path. It is relatively safe when used in combination with aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Capsules ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETry to observe the plasticity of neuron in primary cortex of rat evoked by conditioned stimulus of different sound level.

METHODSApplying conventional electrophysiological technique of extracellular recording to investigate the plasticity of characteristic frequency (CF) and frequency turning curve (FIC) of neurons in rat auditory cortex (AC) by determining CF shifts of neurons caused by sound stimulus of different sound level.

RESULTSWhen the frequency difference between conditioned stimulus (CS) frequency and the CF of neuron was in 1.0 kHz, the plasticity of CF induced by CS was associated with sound level. The probability of the plasticity of CF evoked by CS of higher sound lever was more than the lower. And the probability was dependent on frequency turning curve (FTC) and almost independent on the sound level of conditioned signal.

CONCLUSIONSound level of conditioned stimulus differs the plasticity of characteristic frequency of neurons in rat auditory cortex.

Acoustic Stimulation ; Animals ; Auditory Cortex ; cytology ; Auditory Perception ; physiology ; Conditioning, Classical ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Perceptual Masking ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sound

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous intervertebral foramina endoscopic lumbar discectomy for elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 2006 to July 2011, 60 elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome were treated with surgical operation, including 32 males and 28 females with an average age of (66.7 +/- 2.5) years old ranging from 72 to 83 years. These patients were divided into the traditional surgery group and percutaneous intervertebral foramina endoscopic discectomy groups (PTED group), 30 cases in each group. The index of the preoperative and postoperative, operative incision visual analogue scale (VAS) of two groups were compared. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) of two groups at 6, 24 months of the follow-up were also evaluated on activity of daily living.

RESULTSThe average operative time, the average blood loss, the number of cases using analgesic drug, hospitalization time of PTED group were better than those of the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05). The improvement of incision VAS in PTED group was better than that in the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05). All patients were followed up for 24 months at least. The ODI at 1, 24 month after operation were better than that of preoperative in two group respectively (P < 0.05), but the improvement of PTED group was better than that of the traditional surgery group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPTED has the advantages of smaller incision, less bleeding, less postoperative stay and hospitalization time, tissue trauma and quicker recovery. It is a safe and efficacious minimally invasive surgical technique for elder patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decompression, Surgical ; Diskectomy, Percutaneous ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome