Objective To investigate the effects of different magnitudes of mechanical strain on proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in mouse osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1). Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were subjected to 0%, 6%, 12%, 18% elongation for 24h and 48h by using multi-passage cell stress loading system respectively. MTT colorimetric method was used to assess the proliferation of the cell, ALP activity was detected by ALP assay kit. Results The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was increased significantly 24h and 48h after mechanical strain treatment concomitant with increasing stretching force (P

0.05). At stage 2 to 3, the changes of point A was the greatest. Conclusion: Timing of headgear treatment based on the morphological variation of cervical vertebra can obtain the maximum desirable orthopedic effect.

Sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) is an important index in diagnosing sleep disorders and related diseases. Manual sleep staging is time-consuming and often influenced by subjective factors. Existing automatic sleep staging methods have high complexity and a low accuracy rate. A sleep staging method based on support vector machines (SVM) and feature selection using single channel EEG single is proposed in this paper. Thirty-eight features were extracted from the single channel EEG signal. Then based on the feature selection method F-Score's definition, it was extended to multiclass with an added eliminate factor in order to find proper features, which were used as SVM classifier inputs. The eliminate factor was adopted to reduce the negative interaction of features to the result. Research on the F-Score with an added eliminate factor was further accomplished with the data from a standard open source database and the results were compared with none feature selection and standard F-Score feature selection. The results showed that the present method could effectively improve the sleep staging accuracy and reduce the computation time.
Databases, Factual ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Sleep Stages ; Support Vector Machine

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and its lethal sequela multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) are common complications in critical illness, such as severe trauma, shock, infection and major operations. During the past three decades, the evolution in our understanding of SIRS and/or MODS could be divided into three stages. Particularly in recent years, advances in molecular and cellular biology have provided new insights in the pathogenesis of this complex condition. The earlier emphasis on the pro inflammatory mediators involved in propagation of inflammatory response, has gradually been replaced by a realization that SIRS/MODS are the result of an imbalance of pro and anti inflammatory mediators to create the final status of excessive inflammation or immunoparalysis'. Though prognosis remains poor, the knowledge that now exists about SIRS/MODS gives great hope for the future. Progress has been made in new treatment modalities and re evaluation of current available measures. Nevertheless, improved techniques to monitor immunological or other markers of inflammatory and host defense responses will be important in assessing the effects of future therapies on central mechanisms contributing to SIRS/MODS.

Objective:To investigate the effects of strain force on t he expression of osteoclast differentiation factor(ODF) and osteoclasto-genesis i nhibitory factor(OCIF) in human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs). Met hods: HPDLCs were subjected to cyclic strain force for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h ours, mRNA expression of ODF and OCIF were determined by RT-PCR. Result s:After treatment of the cells for 0,6,12 and 24 hours the ODF/?-actio n values were 0.7280?0.0261,0.6831?0.0411,0.5801?0.2230 and 0.4572?0.0373( P0.05) respectively.Conclusion:Strain force may decrease the expression of ODF and increase the expression of OCIF.

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of Xuebijing Injection on the number of T lymphocytes and Toll-like receptors as adjuvant therapy of severe abdominal infections.MethodsA total of 78 patients with severe abdominal infection who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit were divided into control group and treatment group. The patients in control group received conventional therapy alone, while the patients in treatment group received Xuebijing Injection (50 mL twice daily for 2 weeks) in addition to conventional therapy. Blood sample was drawn before and after 2-week treatment to determine T lymphocytes. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated to determine the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and TLR4. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and gastrointestinal function score were recorded before and after treatment.ResultsThe levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ of peripheral blood in the Xuebijing-treated patients were signiifcantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01), but the levels of CD8+ was signiifcantly lower than that in control group (P<0.01). The levels of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the treatment group were signiifcantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01). The APACHE II score and gastrointestinal function score in treatment group were signiifcantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01).ConclusionXuebijing Injection as adjuvant therapy of severe abdominal infection can improve the number of T lymphocytes, and reduce the expression of Toll-like receptors.

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy following spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanisms. Methods Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups after inducing SCI models using a modified version of Allen's method. The HBO group received HBO treatment 2 h after the procedure and were then treated 100 min every day for 5 consecutive days. All the rats were evaluated 1 h before the operation, and 1 h, 10 d and 20 d afterward using BBB scores and inclined plane experiments. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. At twenty days, all the rats were sacrificed and their spinal cords were examined pathologically using HE staining. Results Average BBB scores and climbing ability in the HBO group were better than in the control group at the 10th and 20th day after the operation. Compared to the control group, SOD increased significantly and MDA decreased significantly in the HBO group at the 2nd and 5th day after the operation. There was less cystic degeneration of the spinal cord in the HBO group. Conclusions HBO demonstrated a positive effect after SCI. Oxygen free radicals might be one of the mechanisms for the better recovery.

Objective To explore therapeutic effects of combinative artificial kidney treatment on renal osteopathy.Methods HD + HP Group composed by 30 urinaemia was treated with hemodialysis and hemoperfusion,and the HD Group was treated only with hemodialysis.Clinical symptoms and lab indicators including osteodynia,itch of skin,blood pressure,appetite,sleep,as well as BUN,SCr,Hb,BPC,Ca,P and iPTH,were compared between the two groups.Results Osteodynia decreased by 67.7% (21/31),and itch of skin by 71.0% (22/31)in HD group.Osteodynia decreased by 96.7% (29/30) ,and itch of skin by 96.7% (29/30) in HD + HP group (P ＜0.01 ).iPTH were (65.5 ± 34.4) pmol/L before treatment and (57.1 ± 21.4) pmol/L after treatment in HD group,and (73.5 ± 44.4)pmol/L and (19.1 ± 17.4)pmol/L in HD + HP group.HD Group eliminated less iPTH (P ＞0.05).HD + HP Group removed more serum poison molecules than HD Group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions For patients in maintenance-dialysis stage but with higher iPTH,hemodialysis combined with hemoperfusion removes more poison molecules,consequently decreases incidence of renal osteopathy.

Objective:To analyze the aberrant methylation of p16 gene in sera from primary liver cancer patients and to evaluate the clinical significance. Methods:A methylation-specific PCR was performed for the detection of promoter hypermethylation of p16 gene in blood DNA from 64 cases of PLC patients,and to anamyze the relationship between the aberrant methylation of p16 gene and the clinical pathological data . Results:76.6%(49/64)of the sera from 64 cases of PLC patients showed hypermethylation for p16 promoter,whereas no methylated p16 gene promoter were found in sera from liver benign diseases patients and normal control. Methylated p16 gene promoter in sera did not strongly correlated with HBsAg, AFP,stage ,metastasis and differentiation in PLC. Conclusion:Detection of the aberrant methylation of p16 gene in blood DNA from PLC patients might offer an effective means for the earlier auxillary diagnosis of the malignancy.

Objective: To analyze the aberrant methylation of death-asscciated protein kinase (DAPK) gene in blood from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and to evaluate its clinical significance. Methods: A methylation-specific PCR was performed for the detection of promoter hypermethylation of DAPK gene in blood DNA from 65 cases of NSCLC patients,and the relation of the aberrant methylation of DAPK gene and the clinical pathological data was analyzed. Results: 30.8% (20/65) of the blood from 65 cases of NSCLC patients showed hypermethylation in DAPK promoter, whereas no methylated DAPK gene promoter was found in blood from normal control or patients with benign lung diseases. DAPK gene promoter methylation in blood did not strongly correlate with the pathological class, stage, metastasis and differentiation of NSCLC. Conclusion: Detection of the aberrant methylation of DAPK gene in blood DNA from NSCLC patients might offer an effective means for the earlier auxiliary diagnosis of the malignancy.