The measurement of pressure between tongue and the hard palate during swallowing is an evaluation method which is noninvasive and accurately quantitative. This article reviewed the measurement of tongue pressure, the changes of pressure in different poses,bolus types and people, as well as the prediction of dysphagia according to tongue pressure.

Objective: By taking the holism and differentiation concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as the guidance, physical, mental and workplace factors were recruited in the observation of depression in employees, and were systematically classified to establish a workplace-related Liver Meridian-depression scale, for providing an evaluation index for depression in employees. Methods: NVIVO 11 software was adopted to assort ancient TCM classics. Based on the holism and differentiation concepts of TCM and well-developed scales, the item pool was determined via brain storm and screened by Delphi method after classified; a Wechat questionnaire was handed out 240 times via the online system 'Wen Juan Xing', and the results were statistically analyzed by the SPSS 17.0 version software. Results: Five dimensions consisting of 80 items were obtained after classification, and 60 items were selected by Delphi method; a total of 216 questionnaires were returned and the return rate was 90%. Of which, 215 questionnaires were valid ones, and the valid rate was 99%. By exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 44 items were obtained, and the aggregate split-half reliability coefficient was 0.922. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the five dimensions, i.e. Liver Meridian, relevant meridians, basic psychological activities, work cognition and emotional reactions, was respectively 0.841, 0.842, 0.914, 0.836 and 0.839, indicating a content internal consistency. The score of each item was highly correlated with the corresponding dimension, and the intercommunity was between 0.474 and 0.801. Nine factors were generated, 2 in the dimension of Liver Meridian, 3 in the dimension of relevant meridians, 2 in the dimension of basic psychological activities, 1 in the dimension of work cognition, and 1 in the dimension of emotional reactions, and the load of each factor was between 0.438 and 0.859. The reliability and validity of the scale were well examined. Conclusion: The scale can be applied to evaluate the qi activities of Liver Meridian and depression symptoms related to workplace.

Objective To explore the role of protein kinase C(PKC) to regulate the activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)in T lymphocyte in children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP).Methods Sterility peripheral blood was collected from acute ITP children(n=30)and healthy children(n=30).T lymphocytes were isolated and purified,and divided into 3 groups:control group,PMA group stimulated with PMA,PMA plus H-7 group stimulated with PMA and H-7.The expression of NF-?B and inhibitor protein-?B(I-?B)was detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot,respectively.Results The percentage of cells with active NF-?B was significantly higher and the expression level of I-?B was significantly lower in acute ITP PMA group than that in acute ITP control group and normal PMA group,respectively(all P

Objective:To investigate the value of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP)in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum by comparing with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP).Methods:The MRCP and ERCP images of 8 patients with pancreas divisum were retrospectively analyzed.The diagnostic accuracy and findings by MRCP were compared with those by ERCP.Results:MRCP had a diagnostic accuracy of 87.5%(7/8)based on the result of ERCP.ERCP displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases and ventral pancreatic ducts in 6 cases;MRCP also displayed the dominant dorsal pancreatic ducts in all 8 cases,but the ventral pancreatic ducts only in 3 cases.Conclusion:As a non-invasive technique,MRCP has important clinical value in the diagnosis of pancreas divisum.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb samples shows that the determined samples clearly clustered in to two groups, indicating that the processing procedures caused changes in the composition and/or content of components in rhubarb. Ten components were identified by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and references, which intensity declined in rhubarb after processing. Targeted metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb samples indicated that aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin and physcion were detected with lower intensity in stewed rhubarb samples than in rhubarb samples. Metabolomics analysis of rhubarb and stewed rhubarb indicated the various components of rhubarb changed after processing.
Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Food Handling ; methods ; Food Preservation ; methods ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rheum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To investigate the exprestion of apoptotic signal proteins(FADD,Fas,FasL and NF-?B) in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) children and its correlation with clinical outcome.Methods Collecting aseptic peripheral blood from ITP children (n=35) and healthy children (n=30), T lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the T cell Segregation Enrichment Column, Fas,FasL and T cell apoptosic ratio were detected by FCM. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the level of NF-?B and FADD.Results The expression rates of Fas,FADD in ITP children decreased,but the expression rates of FasL,NF-?B increased.The differences between ITP children and heathy children had statistics significance(P

Objective:To examine the feasibility of using cerebral state index(CSI)for monitoring the sedation depth during target-controlled infusion(TCI)with propofol and remifentanil.Methods:Forty-four consenting ASAⅠorⅡpatients(aged 18-60 years)undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=11 each)according to the target effect-site concentrations of remifentanil administered by TCI during induction of anesthesia.The target effect-site concentrations of remifentanil of R_0,R_2,R_4,and R_6 groups were 0,2 ng?ml~(-1),4 ng?ml~(-1),and 6 ng?ml~(-1),respectively. Anesthesia was induced by TCI with remifentanil and propofol.CSI and bispectral index(BIS)were used to measure the sedation depth.The initial effect-site propofol concentration(PCe)was 1.5?g?ml~(-1),which was increased by 0.5?g?ml~(-1) every 4 min.The modified OAA/S score(5=alert,1=does not respond to prodding),loss of eyelash reflex(LOR eyelash)and loss of response to electric tetanie stimulation(LOR tetanic)were compared against CSI,BIS and PCe(calculated effect-site propofol concentration).Correlation coefficients were calculated between CSI and other parameters.Results:The 4 groups were comparable with respect to the ages and bodyweights.CSI and BIS values were higher but PCe value were lower at LOR eyelash and LOR tetanic in R_2,R_4,and R_6 than those in the R_0 group(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the analgesic mechanism of small knife needle for treating transverse process syndrome of the third vertebra (TPSTV) by observing peripheral and central changesof β-endorphin (β-EP) and enkephalin (ENK) contents.

METHODSTotally 30 Japanese white big-ear rabbits of clean grade were divided into 5 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the small knife needle group, the electroacupunture (EA) group, and the small knife needle plus EA group, 6 in each group. The TPSTV model was established by inserting a piece of gelatin sponge into the left transverse process of 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Rabbits in the small knife needlegroup were intervened by small knife needle. Those in the EA group were intervened by EA at bilateralWeizhong (BL40). Those in the small knife needle plus EA group were intervened by small knife needleand EA at bilateral Weizhong (BL40). Contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma, muscle, spinal cord, and hypothalamus were determined after sample collection at day 28 after modeling.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of β-EP and ENK in plasma and muscle increased significantly, and contents of β-EP and ENK in spinal cord and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of β-EP and ENK approximated normal levels in the three treatment groups after respective treatment. Compared with the model group, the content of β-EP in muscle decreased, and contents of β-EP and ENK in hypothalamus increased in the three treatment groups after respective treatment (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSmall knife needle treatment and EA had benign regulation on peripheral and central β-EP and ENK in TPSTV rabbits. Small knife needle treatment showed better effect than that of EA.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Needles ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; Spinal Diseases ; therapy ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

Through repeated study on the "through joint crossing meridians needling method" in Zhenjiu Dacheng and clinical practice, it is held that it seems hard to induce qi moving along the meridian through joint to the affected region according to the statement of "through joint crossing meridians needling method" in Zhenjiu Dacheng. If "through joint crossing meridians needling method", "activating qi method" and "qi-lifting method" are combined, the possibility of qi constantly flowing centrality through joint from the remote acupoint at four limbs to the affected region will be distinctly elevated. Clinically, the authors used the "through joint crossing meridian" needling method, attaining qi reaching to the affected region, and acupuncture at only one point can achieve a better therapeutic effect.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Meridians

The pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases has been considered to be related to abnormal differentiation of T cell subsets. This study was aimed at investigating the change of Th1-like and Th2-like cells balance in ITP children, and analyzing the role of T cell subsets disequilibrium in the pathogenesis of ITP. Peripheral blood T cells were collected from 30 ITP patients, the T-cells were isolated and purified. The ratios of Th/Tc, Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in peripheral blood T cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and bicolor flow cytometry (FCM) in vitro. The results showed that as compared with the ratios of Th1/Th2 (48.76% +/- 6.17%) and Tc1/Tc2 (18.90% +/- 4.12%) in healthy children, the ratios of Th1/Th2 (56.21% +/- 5.95%) and Tc1/Tc2 (23.09% +/- 3.31%) in ITP children increased obviously. FCM analysis revealed that average percentages of Th, Th1, Th2, Tc, Tc1 and Tc2 were 22.31% +/- 6.51%, 21.92% +/- 6.42%, 0.39% +/- 0.14%, 31.12% +/- 6.15%, 30.95% +/- 5.45% and 1.34% +/- 0.84% in ITP children versus 39.24% +/- 5.82%, 39.01% +/- 5.47%, 0.80% +/- 0.16%, 30.25% +/- 5.63%, 28.72% +/- 5.20% and 1.52% +/- 0.68% in healthy children. The average percentages of Th, Th1 and Th2 decreased obviously, while the average percentages of Tc, Tc1 and Tc2 did not change. It is concluded that the ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in peripheral blood T cells increase obviously in ITP children and the cellular immunity in ITP children shifts to Th1 type immunity superiority, which suggest that the abnormal differentiation of T cell subsets may play an important role in the pathologic process of ITP.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; chemistry ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology