This article introduced the method and procedure of measuring the electrical skin resistance(ESR) by the digital electrical skin-resistance meter.And the factors affecting the ESR were discussed in the article.

Objective To establish standard parameters of cervical alignment and cervical range of motion(ROM) in asymptomatic population,and to explore the influential factors such as age,sex and cervical disc degeneration.Methods The cervical standard lateral,flexion and extension plain radiographs of 212 asymptomatic volunteers were analyzed retrospectively.The volunteers,including 128 females and 84 males with ages ranging from 20 to 79 years,were divided into 6 groups from 3rd to 8th decade of life and were divided into 4 groups based on the scoring system of cervical disc degeneration.These plain films were blindly measured by 3 spine surgeons with Mimics software,and each spine surgeon mcasured them for 3 times.Several parameters,including C2-C7 cervical alignment,total ROM,flexion ROM,extension ROM and segmental ROM were measured.The score of disc degeneration were assessed from C2-C3 to C6-C7.Pearson correlation analyses was used to quantify the relation between cervical alignment and total ROM.Multiple linear regression analyses were required to account for influential factors.Inter-and intrarater correlation coefficient was analyzed.Results The C2-C7 cervical alignment was 21.40°± 12.15°,and the total ROM was 63.59°± 15.37°.Sex had a significant impact on the cervical alignment (regression coefficient was-2.472,P ＜ 0.05).Both sex and age had significant impacts on the total ROM (regression coefficient was 3.863 and-6.463 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).Sex had a significant impact on C2,3 and C5,6 segmental ROM; age had a significant impact on all of the five segmental ROM from C2,3 to C6,7; cervical disc degeneration had a significant impact on the C4-5,C5-6 and C6-7 segmental ROM.The cervical alignment had no significant association with both of the extension and total ROM (r=-0.106 and 0.215,respectively,P ＞ 0.05),but had a significantly negative association with flexion angle (r=-0.401,P＜ 0.05).The measurement of cervical alignment,total ROM and segmental ROM showed excellent intra-rater agreement and excellent inter-rater agreement.Conclusion Sex is an influential factor of the cervical alignment.Sex and age are two influential factors of the total ROM.Sex,age and cervical disc degeneration are influential factors of the segmental ROM.The cervical alignments do not have an impact on total ROM.

AIMIn order to explore the mechanism of central motilin-induced feeding behavior, the effects of erythromycin, a motilin receptor agonist, on glucose responsive neurons in hypothalamus were observed.

METHODSExtracellular recordings were made from single neurons in region of lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) in anesthetized rats. On the basis of their responsiveness to intracarotid injection of 0.58 mol/L glucose solution 0.2 ml, glucose-sensitive neurons (GSNs) in LHA and glucoreceptor neurons (GRNs) in VMH were recognized. Effects of intracerebroventricularly (i. c. v.) administration of 4 microg erythromycin on neural activities of glucose responsive neurons and non-glucose responsive neurons were examined. The mixture of EM and GM-109 1 microl were used to GSNs and GRNs which were sensitive to i. c. v. administration of EM.

RESULTSIn LHA, EM increased activity of GSNs significantly (P < 0.05 vs non-glucose-sensitive neurons group). Whereas in VMH, EM significantly decreased the activities of GRNs (P < 0.01 vs non-glucoreceptor neurons group). The mixture of EM and GM-109 had no effect on GSNs and GRNs.

CONCLUSIONEM, a motilin receptor agonist, can stimulate GSNs in LHA and suppress GRNs in VMH and this may contribute to central motilin's effect on feeding behavior.

Animals ; Erythromycin ; pharmacology ; Hypothalamus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Receptors, Neuropeptide ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of internal fixation with screw through femoral epiphyseal plate on growth in- hibition via an experimental study.

METHODSForty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups and 10 rabbits in each group. Epiphyseal plate was injured by penetrating of screws, and the size of damage area was controlled by changing the number of threads. Group A: blank group; group B: injury area accounted for 4% of the epiphyseal plate; group C: injury area accounted for 6%; group D: injury area accounted for 8%. The internal fixation was removed after 2 weeks, and the results were observed with X-ray film for 4 groups to judge the complications such as early closure of epiphyseal.

RESULTSIn each group, there were no statistical differences in the length of the femoral neck, the diameter of femoral neck, the diameter of the femoral head, and the epiphyseal plate closure time. The growth speed of the length and diameter of the femoral neck, as well as the diameter of femoral head, were quicker on the early phase, and the speed was slowest when the epiphyseal plate was being closed.

CONCLUSIONThe injury area of epiphyseal plate under 8% is safe for its growth. Because no evidences demonstrate the growth inhibition of epiphyseal plate, the screws can be used for rabbit epiphyseal plates.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Femur Head ; growth & development ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Growth Plate ; growth & development ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rabbits ; Salter-Harris Fractures

The effects of administration of motilin into the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on gastric antrum motility in conscious rats and on gastric distention (GD) sensitive neurons in dorsal vagal complex (DVC) in anesthetized rats were studied. Microinjection of motilin (0.37 nmol/0.5 microl) into the LHA increased the gastric antrum motility index by 76.29 +/- 4.09% (P<0.01). In 60 GD sensitive neurons, firing rate increased in 39 neurons (65%) and decreased in 21 neurons (35%), which were classified as GD-excitatory and GD-inhibitory neurons, respectively. Firing rate by 7.17 +/- 7.89% within 1.5 min in 15 of 24 GD-excitatory neurons, and firing rate increased by 44.35 +/- 7.89% in 12 of 14 GD-inhibitory neurons after motilin microinjection into the LHA. The results suggest that exogenous motilin in LHA plays a role in the regulation of gastric antrum motility possibly via the vagal pathway from LHA-DVC to the stomach.
Animals ; Hypothalamic Area, Lateral ; drug effects ; Microinjections ; Motilin ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the pharmacodynamics and therapeutic effect of Jiakang Ⅰ oral liquid.METHODS:The drug actions of tapazole,NS and Jiakang Ⅰ were compared in the animal model of hyperthyroidism.205 hyperthyroidism cases were treated with Jiakang Ⅰ in a double blind design and the therapeutic effect was observed.RESULTS:Pharmacodynamic observation revealed that Jiakang Ⅰ could decreased T3,T4 and increase TSH significantly in rats.Compared with control group treated with tapazole or NS,in Jiakang Ⅰ group,T3 and T4 were obviously reduced and TSH was increased and the clinical symptoms were alleviated without any marked adverse reaction.CONCLUSION:The hyperthyroidism animal model can be applied to evaluating the pharmacodynamic effect of Jiakang Ⅰ.This drug has satisfactory therapeutic effect on hyperthyroidism.

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of portal vein tumor emboli(PVTE)of hepatocellular carcinoma treated by CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI).Methods Absolute ethanol was injected into the tumor embolus of portal vein guided by CT in twenty patients with hepatocellular carcinomas.The procedure was carried out one or two times each week one to three times as a course and one to two courses for a patient.The interval between two courses was one month and the patients were followed up for 6 months-5 years.Results Among the twenty patients,17(85%)were improved in different degrees after the treatment,with disappearence of the tumor emboli in 2(10%)and size stability or even smaller in 15 (75%),and finally no response in 3(15%).Conclusions CT-guided PEI is an effective method for patient with PVTE and proper selection of patient for the procedure is the key to obtain better curative effects.

Objective To evaluate the effect of percutaneous transhepatic obliteration(PTO)of gastroesophageal varices in liver cirrhosis.Methods Fifty-six cirrhotic patients suffering from gastroesophageal varices were treated with PTO,including 35 during emergency bleeding,10 after stoppage of hemorrhage and 11 with severe gastroesophageal varices for prevention of bleeding.Results Catheterization and embolization of gastroesophageal varices were successfully performed in all 56 patients(100%).Bleeding stopped after PTO as an emergency treatment was achieved in 35 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Among them,PTO was performed in 11 patients for preventing variceal hemorrhage,gastroesophageal varices disappeared in 7 and alleviation was obtained evidently in 4.47 patients were followed up for 2-60 months with recurrent bleeding in 5,death in 4 on causes of rebleeding of alimentary tract(1 case),hepatic failure(1 case), hepatocellular carcinoma(2 cases).Conclusion PTO is a safe and effective treatment for gastroesophageal varices in cirrhotic patients and should be recommended extensively.

Objective To investigate the glucolipid metabolism in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene knockout mice, and to explore the possible mechanisms of insulin resistance. Methods 16- and 40-week old LPL gene knockout heterozygous mice( LPL + / -) and wild type ( WT) C57 mice were selected and divided into 4 groups:16-week LPL+ / -(n=6), 16-week WT(n = 6), 40-week LPL+ / -(n = 6), and 40-week WT(n = 6) group. LPL activity of post-heparin serum was examined. Serum triglyceride( TG) and free fatty acid( FFA) were measuzed. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT) in 4 groups of mice were performed. The glucose area under the curve (AUCG) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index and β-cell function index ( HOMA-IR, HOMA-β) were calculated to evaluate insulin sensitivity and the function of islet β-cells. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity ( TAOC) levels were determined by means of colorimetric method. Using dihydroethidium( DHE) fluorescent staining method, reactive oxygen species ( ROS) levels in liver and skeletal muscle were determined. Results LPL activity levels of both 16- and 40-week LPL+ / - mice were significantly lower than that in WT mice of the same age. Serum TG and FFA of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice were significantly higher than those in WT mice of the same age(P<0. 05), and they were also higher than those of 16-week old LPL+ / - mice(P<0. 05). IPGTT showed that compared with WT mice, blood glucose level in LPL+ / - mice was significantly higher than that in WT group at 30 and 120 minute(P<0. 05), and fasting insulin and HOMA-IR were increased significantly(P<0. 05). Serum MDA of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice was evidently higher than that in WT mice by the same week(P<0. 05), while TAOC level was lower than that of WT mice (P<0. 05). ROS in skeletal muscle of 16-week old LPL+ /- mice was significantly increased. Meanwhile, ROS in both liver and skeletal muscle of 40-week old LPL+ / - mice was significantly higher than that in WT mice of the same age. Conclusion As time goes by, lipid and glucose disorders of LPL+ / - mice are aggravating, and insulin resistance develops evidently. Insulin resistance in LPL+ / -mice with dyslipidemia may be related to oxidative stress.

MRCP can be applied to display three-dimensional morphology of the biliary tract clearly.Laparoscopic surgery via cystic duct for choledocholithiasis possesses obvious advantages, but it is not suitable for all cases because there are great variations in the cystic duct.So how to make proper choice of the therapeutic strategy becomes very important.In this prospective study, different surgeries were administrated in patients with common bile duct stone based on the 4 categories of cystic ducts in 96 cases judged by MRCP images.These findings demonstrated that according to the cystic duct morphological type,LCTBDE is suitable for thick-straight type, and LCBDE is fit for thin-crooked type.Be careful to choose laparoscopic surgery in the other two types considering their individual features.Thus, this classification will be propitious to maximize the advantage of laparoscopic operation as a minimally invasive treatment.