Objective To explore the role of somatosensory evoked potentials elicited by paraspinal stimulation in the detection of spinal cord lesions.Methods Patients with clinically suspected spinal cord lesions underwent somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs)and spinal cord conduction velocity(SCCV)test using paraspinal stimulating method.96 patients aged 15 to 75 years old with suspected spinal cord lesions of various aetiologies were tested.36 patients had demyelinating disease of the spinal cord,26 had sub-acute combined degeneration of the spinal cord,19 had myelopathy,10 had acute myelitis,5 had spinal cord corhpression.Results Paraspinal stimulation elicited somatosensory evoked potentials were Performed on all 96 patients,68 of whom underwent spinal MRI as well.SEPs and SCCV were found abnormal in a high ratio in all kinds of spinal cord lesions ; in general,78 among the 96 patients had abnormal SEPs with a sensitivity of 81.25%.27 out of 36 with demyelinating disease of the spine had abnormal SEPs with a sensitivity of 75.00%,23 out of 26 with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord had abnormal SEPs with a sensitivity of 88.46%,8 out of 10 with acute myelitis had abnormal SEPs,15 patients with myelopathy having abnormal findings,all 5 patients with spinal cord compression had abnormal SEPs.42 of 68 patients undergoing MRI revealed to be abnormal,in which 35 patients also had abnormal SEPs.The other 26 patients had normal spinal MRI,in which 21 patients had abnormal SEPs.Conclusions Paraspinal stimulation somatosensory evoked potentials and spinal cord conduction velocity may objectively document the abnormalities of electrophysiology,which occurs earlier than those of anatomy and radiological finds, therefore it may detect the dysfunction of spinal cord at an early stage.It is even more useful in the detecting of the metabolic myelopathy,which can hardly be detected by MRI.This technique is simple,inexpensive, and maybe useful in the diagnosis for patients with suspected spinal cord lesions.

In this study, nattokinase gene was amplified by PCR using bacillus subtilis chromosomal DNA as template and cloned into expressed vector pBV220. After transforming recombinant plasmid into E.coli HB101, the recombinant strain was yielded. It was proved that expression products was secretive and expression protein was 12% of total cell protein by SDS-PAGE. Optimum culture time and inducing time was determined as 6h and 5h respectively. The plasmid stability studies showed that recombinant plasmid has excellent segregational stability but the structural stability was not good in the host cell.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal prenatal education on promoting breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods Gravidas who were admitted to Peking University First Hospital for any risk of preterm delivery from November 2013 to December 2014 and preterm infants admitted to the NICU (length of stay ≥ 5 d) of the same hospital during the same period were involved.All the gravidas received prenatal education and completed questionnaires.Two hundred and ninety-five preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups including education group (n=125) and non-education group (n=170) according to whether their mothers received prenatal education or not.Conditions of the preterm infants during hospitalization and after discharge and breastfeeding rates were comparatively analyzed between the two groups.T test,Chi-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) There were 380 gravidas received questionnaires.Among them,346 (91.1％)completed the questionnaires and were recruited in this study.Only 31.8％ (110/346) of these gravidas were active in learning more about breastfeeding and 46.2％ (160/346) of them lacked confidence in breastfeeding after the appearance of preterm delivery signs.There were significant improvements in their attitudes towards considering breastfeeding seriously and discussing with their family,confidence in breastfeeding,the importance of colostrum and how to breastfeed a preterm infant in hospital after maternal prenatal education (all P＜0.001).Prenatal education was thought to be helpful in 77.5％ (268/346) of the gravidas.(2) The two groups of preterm infants showed good homogeneities in gestational age,gender,birth weight and other basal conditions as well as in incidences of in-hospital complications and conditions after discharge (all P＞0.05).Proportions of breast milk intake (breast milk intake over total dairy intake) in preterm infants were higher in education group than those in non-education group within 5 d after birth [0.0 (0.0-16.5)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-2.5)％,Z=-3.422],＞5-≤ 7 d [33.7 (0.0-82.8)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-50.3)％,Z=-3.070],＞7-≤ 14 d [75.2(23.5-96.4)％ vs 47.6(0.0-92.2)％,Z=-2.345] and during hospitalization [58.4 (21.0-78.8)％ vs 31.9 (0.0-71.7)％,Z=-3.902] (all P＜0.05).Breastfeeding rates were higher in education group than those in non-education group at the age of 5 d [47.2％(59/125) vs 27.1％ (46/170),x2=12.747],7 d [70.4％ (88/125) vs 51.2％ (87/170),x2=11.031],three months [83.3％(65/78) vs 56.1％ (60/107),x2=15.297] and six months [64.5％ (49/76) vs 49.1％ (53/108),x2=4.282] (all P＜0.05).Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first,third and sixth months after birth were higher in education group [45.7％(53/116),42.3％ (33/78) and 36.9％ (28/76)] than those in non-education group [21.3％ (32/150),28.0％ (30/107)and 22.2％ (24/108)] (22=17.847,4.091 and 4.703,all P＜0.05),respectively.Conclusions Most gravidas with risk factors of preterm delivery have no confidence on breastfeeding.Prenatal maternal education is an effective and feasible intervention to improve breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in NICU from early hospitalization till six months after birth.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effcacy of the staple fixation for the treatment of hamate metacarpal joint injury.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to November 2012,16 patients with hamate metacarpal joint injury were treated with staple fixation including 10 males and 6 females with an average age of 33.6 years old ranging from 21 to 57 years. Among them, 11 cases were on the fourth or fifth metacarpal base dislocation without fractures, 5 cases were the fourth or fifth metacarpal base dislocation with avulsion fractures of the back of hamatum. Regular X-ray review was used to observe the fracture healing, joint replacement and position of staple fixation. The function of carpometacarpal joint and metacarpophalangeal joint were evaluated according to ASIA (TAM) system evaluation method.

RESULTSAll incision were healed well with no infection. All patients were followed up from 16 to 24 months with an average of (10.0 +/- 2.7) months. No dislocation recurred, the position of internal fixator was good,no broken nail and screw withdrawal were occurred. Five patients with avulsion fracture of the back of hamatum achieved bone healing. The function of carpometacarpal joint and metacarpophalangeal was excellent in 10 cases,good in 5 cases, moderate in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONThe application of the staple for the treatment of hamatometacarpal joint injury has the advantages of simple operation, small trauma, reliable fixation, early postoperative function exercise and other advantages, which is the ideal operation mode for hamatometacarpal joint injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carpal Joints ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Hamate Bone ; injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metacarpal Bones ; injuries ; surgery ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Sutures ; utilization ; Young Adult

AIMTo evaluate in vitro release of lycopene microcapsules. Pharmacokinetic parameters of lycopene microcapsule and lycopene powder as reference were estimated after a single dose of oral administration to dogs. The relationship between in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption was investigated.

METHODSThe content of lycopene in the release medium was determined by UV spectroscopy method. Health hybrid male dogs were used as experiment subjects and lycopene powder used as standard to estimate the pharmacokinetics of lycopene microcapsules. HPLC method was used to assay the concentration of lycopene in dog plasma. Pharmacokinetics parameters were estimated by 3P87 program. The drug release percentage in stimulated intestinal fluid was compared with the absorption at a given time point.

RESULTSThe release profiles of lycopene from microcapsule showed that the lycopene gelatin microcapsule exhibited enteric property. The pharmacokinetics parameters estimated after oral administration of lycopene powder and lycopene microcapsule in a single dose of 2.5 mg x kg(-1) body weight to dogs were 7.30 h, 15.06 h for T1/2alpha; 28.10 h, 46.76 h for T1/2beta; 22.32 h, 41.03 h for T(max); 1.67 microg x h x L(-1), 2.08 microg x h x L(-1) for AUC(0-infinity), respectively. The concentration-time curves could be fitted to a two-compartment model for both the lycopene powder and the lycopene microcapsule analyzed by 3P87 program. The relationship between in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption was found to have good correlation (r = 0. 981 9) was found.

CONCLUSIONIt could be concluded that lycopene microcapsule was a sustained release dosage form. The result of release in vitro could be used to predict the absorption in vivo.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Capsules ; Carotenoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dogs ; Male

OBJECTIVEThis study was aimed to analyze the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms of transforming growth factor-β1 G-800A and C-509T, interleukin-4 receptor V75I and susceptibility of CHL in adults.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was applied to analyze the expressed alleles of the selected SNP loca. The relationship between genomic polymorphisms of TGF-β1 and IL-4R and susceptibility of CHL were coupled with clinical data.

RESULTSTGF-β1G-800A and TGF-β1C-509T had obvious linkage equilibrium (D' = 0.879, r(2) = 0.83, P = 0.020). GT haplotype distribution frequencies in mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma cases and control group were of 53.1% and 34.2%, respectively, with statistically significant (OR = 2.35, P = 0.000); distribution frequencies of mutant gene T/T in disease and control groups were of 38.8% and 15.3%, respectively, also with statistically significant (OR = 3.654, P = 0.000); frequencies of nodular sclerosis CHL patients with IL-4R V75I mutant gene A/A in disease and control groups were of 19.2% and 41.75%, respectively, also with statistically significant (OR = 3.156, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSingle nucleotide polymorphisms of TGF-β1 G-800A, C-509T and IL-4R V75I has a significant correlation with Chinese susceptibility to classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Hodgkin Disease ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore whether fractional anisotropy (FA) value could be taken as a quantitative indicator for tracing and reexamining amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and to analyze the correlation between FA value and integrative medical treatment.

METHODSTotally 18 ALS patients were recruited in this study. All patients received diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using 3. OT (Propeller HD) MRI twice. Six regions of interest (ROI) were selected to measure FA values. Survival analyses were performed in 11 cases of end point events.

RESULTS(1) Three ROI (cerebral peduncle, posterior limb of internal capsule, and corona radiata) all indicated that FA value was the highest in patients with mild health status scale of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/HSS). (2) There was statistical difference in the means of FA values in cerebral peduncle, posterior limb of internal capsule, and corona radiata of 18 cases between initial examination and reexamination (P < 0.01). (3) Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed the survival rate of ALS patients decreased as time went by, with the median survival time of 48 months.

CONCLUSIONSFA value was inversely proportional to the severity of ALS, the more severe, the lower FA values. FA value was an objective indicator for assessing the severity of ALS. ALS is an incurable disease till now. Integrative medical treatment might become one direction for ALS patients.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Anisotropy ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Jianpi Qingre Huayu Recipe in curing gastric ulcer and to preliminarily probe into its pathogenic mechanism.

METHODSFifty patients with gastric ulcer of Pi -insufficiency and stasis-heat syndrome type were assigned to the treated group (30 patients) and the control group (20 patients). They were treated respectively with JQH and Ranitidine. At the same time, another group consisting of 20 healthy persons was set up for normal control. The clinical effect on gastroscopic figure and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome were observed. Changes of T-cell subsets and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in serum as well as IL-8 in mucosa around the gastric ulcer were determined before and after treatment by flow cytometry and ELISA.

RESULTSComparison of the total effective rate on gastroscopic figure in the treated group and the control group (86.7% vs 80.0%) showed insignificant difference, but the cure rate and markedly effective rate in the former (50.0% and 20.0%) was higher than that in the latter (40.0% and 15.0%) respectively. Comparison of the total effective rate on TCM syndrome in the treated group and in the control group (96.7% vs 70.0%) showed insignificant difference, but the cure rate and markedly effective rate in the former (63.3% and 23.3%) was higher than that in the latter (50.0% and 20.0%) respectively. Serum levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ got restored to normal range in the treated group after treatment but it was not so in the control group. IL-8 level in gastric mucosa was improved in both groups but the improvement in the treated group was better.

CONCLUSIONJQH could effectively treat gastric ulcer and partly reduce its recurrence through improving patients' immune function.

Adult ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Cells ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Immune System ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ranitidine ; therapeutic use ; Stomach Ulcer ; diagnosis ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; pathology

BACKGROUNDDiabetic neuropathy is common in diabetes mellitus. The early stage of diabetic neuropathy is often symptomless and difficult to be treated. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the results of the sympathetic skin response (SSR) test and the development of diabetic neuropathy, and explore the use of SSR as an objective basis for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.

METHODSThe latencies and amplitudes of initiation and of the N and P waves were determined by SSR testing of the extremities of 80 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe latencies of initiation and of the N and P waves were significantly (P <0.001) longer in diabetic patients than in the controls, while there was no significant difference in the amplitudes (P >0.05). All but two patients (97.5%) demonstrated abnormal SSR in at least one limb.

CONCLUSIONSSSR can detect early dysfunction of the small sympathetic fibers in people affected by diabetes mellitus, and may be a useful electrophysiological test for the early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reaction Time ; Skin ; innervation ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; physiology

Accidents, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans