Objective To evaluate the intra-and inter-rater reliability of MyotonPRO for Achilles tendon properties measured. Methods Twenty healthy subjects were recruited to measure Achilles tendon properties using a novel hand-held Myoton-PRO device by two testers, one of the testers re-tested five days later. The reliability was assessed using in-tra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis, and minimum detectable changes (MDC) was calculated. The Achilles tendon properties of the dominant or non-dominant leg was compared. The correlation between body mass and Achilles tendon properties was examined. Results The intra-rater reliabilities of Achilles tendon properties were ICCleft=0.884 and ICCright=0.904; the inter-rater reli-abilities were ICCleft=0.883 and ICCright=0.945. The MDC was 36.64 N/m. Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement. There was no significant difference in Achilles tendon properties between dominant and non-domi-nant legs (t<1.236, P>0.05). The body mass positively correlated with Achilles tendon properties (r>0.477, P<0.05). Conclusion The intra-and inter-rater reliabilities of MyotonPRO were good in measuring Achilles tendon properties in healthy subjects. No significant difference was found between dominant and non-dominant legs. The body mass positively correlated with Achilles tendon properties in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUNDOssification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of thoracic myelopathy. This study was to describe a rare clinical entity of spinal cord kinking (SK) in thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF.

METHODSThe data of 95 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence and location of SK were determined using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical presentation and radiological characteristics in patients with SK were analyzed. Posterior en bloc laminectomy with OLF was performed, and the surgical results were evaluated.

RESULTSSK was found in seven patients (7.4%) based on preoperative MRI. The patients included one male and six females with an average age of 55.6 years (range, 48-64 years). Five patients presented with radiculomyelopathy and two presented with typical thoracic myelopathy of spastic paraparesis. In all cases, the kinking was located just above the end of the spinal cord where the conus medullaris (CM) was compressed by the OLF. The degree of SK varied from mild to severe. The tip of the CM was located between the upper third of T11 to the lower third of L1, above the lower edge of L1. With an average follow-up of 30.4 months, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly improved from 5.7 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 1.4 postoperatively (t = 12.05; P < 0.0001) with an improvement rate of 63.1 ± 12.3%.

CONCLUSIONSSK is a rare radiological phenomenon. It is typically located at the thoracolumbar junction, where the CM is compressed by the OLF. Our findings indicate that these patients may benefit from a posterior decompressive procedure.

Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; complications ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Compression ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air can participate in photochemical reactions, which lead to the generation of secondary pollutants such as ozone and aerosol. So real-time and accurate monitoring of atmospheric VOCs plays an important role in the study of the causes of air pollution. On the basis of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) research, a novel dipolar proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (DP-PTR-MS) for real-time and on-line monitoring atmospheric VOCs was developed. Compared with the conventional PTR-MS with one kind of reagent ion H3O+, DP-PTR-MS had three kinds of reagent ions H3O+, OH-, (CH)2COH+, which could be switched according to the actual detection need. So DP-PTR-MS can improve the qualitative ability and expand the detection range effectively. The reagent ion H3O+can be used for detecting VOCs whose proton affinities are greater than that of H2O. The reagent ion OH-can be used to identify VOCs cooperating with the reagent ion H3O+,and can also be used for detecting some inorganic substances such as CO2. The reagent ion (CH3)2COH+can be used for accurately detecting NH3under interference elimination circumstances. The limit of detection (LOD) and sensitivity of DP-PTR-MS were measured by using six kinds of standard gases. The results showed that the LOD for detecting toluene was 7×10-12(V/V) and the sensitivity for detecting ammonia has reached 126 cps/10-9 (V/V). The ambient air in Hefei city was on-line and real-time monitored for continuous 78 hours with DP-PTR-MS. The results showed that the newly developed DP-PTR-MS could be used for long-term and real-time monitoring atmospheric VOCs with the concentration of 10-12(V/V) level. DP-PTR-MS is an important tool for the study of the causes of atmospheric pollution and the monitoring of trace VOCs emissions.

XueBiJing is an intravenous five-herb injection used to treat sepsis in China.The study aimed to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)-or liquid chromatography-ultraviolet(LC-UV)-based assay for quality evaluation of XueBiJing.Assay development involved identifying marker constituents to make the assay therapeutically relevant and building a reliable one-point cali-brator for monitoring the various analytes in parallel.Nine marker constituents from the five herbs were selected based on XueBiJing's chemical composition,pharmacokinetics,and pharmacodynamics.A selectivity test(for"similarity of response")was developed to identify and minimize interference by non-target constituents.Then,an intercept test was developed to fulfill"linearity through zero"for each analyte(absolute ratio of intercept to C response,＜2％).Using the newly developed assays,we analyzed samples from 33 batches of XueBiJing,manufactured over three years,and found small batch-to-batch variability in contents of the marker constituents(4.1％-14.8％),except for senkyunolide I(26.5％).

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of cell cycle-dependent kinase (Cdk)5 inhibitor Roscovitine on 1-methyl4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced pathological changes in brain regions associated with Parkinson’ s disease (PD) model mice. Methods The effect of Roscovitine on the relative expression levels of P25 and Cdk5 proteins was detected by Western blotting in MPP

Excessive consumption of fructose, the sweetest of all naturally occurring carbohydrates, has been linked to worldwide epidemics of metabolic diseases in humans, and it is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We provide an overview about the features of fructose metabolism, as well as potential mechanisms by which excessive fructose intake is associated with the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases both in humans and rodents. To accomplish this aim, we focus on illuminating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fructose metabolism as well as its signaling effects on metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis in health and disease, highlighting the role of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein in regulating fructose metabolism.
Fructose/adverse effects* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Metabolic Diseases/etiology*

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Radial Artery

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was developed to play a supporting role in assisted reproductive technology. With this kind of detection method, embryos with copy number variations, chromosome translocations or single mutations were excluded and the normal embryos were chosen and implanted. Theoretically, the application of these procedures could improve the implantation and pregnancy rate and help to delivery healthy offspring. PGD was considered to be more precise, higher specific and non-invasive with the appearance of microarray hybridization technology, the next generation sequencing and time-lapse monitoring technology. This paper presented a review of new Methods used in PGD, including fluorescence in situ hybridization, array comparative genomic hybridization, SNP array, next generation sequencing, MicroSeq-PGD, MaReCs, time-lapse monitoring and cfDNA-based method, and their advantages and disadvantages as well as efficacy in the procedures in which they are used.

Objective Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is mainly involved in lipid metabolism and cholesterol transport, which is important for health. To establish a pyrosequencing based method for detection of 112T>C and 158C>T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Apolipoprotein E gene. Methods Three amplification systems including Taq enzyme buffer from TaKaRa company (T buffer), La Taq enzyme buffer specified for G-C rich regions (L buffer) and Trans Taq enzyme buffer from TransGen company (TT buffer) were chosen to optimize PCR system and temperature by annealing at 60 °C and gradient annealing from 62 to 68 °C respectively. The specificity of this method was evaluated by comparing its results with those of Sanger sequencing. The sensitivity of this method was evaluated by gradient diluting human genomic DNA as detection template. Results According to the concentration and specificity of the products, the optimum condition was L buffer with 60℃ annealing programs. Pyrosequencing results of 20 samples were completely consistent with those of Sanger sequencing. The sensitivity of this method could be as low as 0.16 ng genomic DNA. Conclusion A method based on pyrosequencing detecting 112 and 158 polymorphisms in APOE gene was established, which can be applied in clinical personalized medicine.

Objective To explore the correlation of RELL1 expression with clinical pathological features and prognosis of patients with colon cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical experiments of the RELL1 protein were performed on tissue chips from 80 colon cancer tissues and 80 adjacent tissues. The relationship between different expression levels of RELL1 protein and clinical pathological parameters was compared. Univariate and multivariate Cox risk proportional regression analyses were conducted on factors affecting the survival of patients with colon cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was conducted on the survival rates of patients with colon cancer and different levels of RELL1 expression. Log rank test was performed to evaluate differences in survival rates. Results The expression of RELL1 in colon cancer tissues was lower than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The expression of RELL1 in cancer tissues is correlated with TNM stage and N stage (P<0.05). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of colon cancer patients with high RELL1 expression was higher than that of patients with low RELL1 expression (P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low RELL1 expression, advanced age, and high TNM stage were risk factors for poor prognosis in patients with colon cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of RELL1 is downregulated in colon cancer tissue, and the low RELL1 expression, advanced age, and high TNM stage can lead to adverse outcomes in patients.