OBJECTIVE Observation of audiologic,hair cell,and basilar membrane macrophage changes caused by noise exposure.METHODS Eighteen two-month-old CBA/CaJ mice were randomly divided into three groups:control group,exposure group,and recovery group.The mice were exposed to 100 dB SPL white noise continuously for 7 days,8 hours each day.Hearing was measured at baseline,after exposure,and 60 days post-recovery.After staining,the number,roundness,and area of macrophages in the basal,middle,and apical turns were quantified.RESULTS 1.Under steady-state conditions,the number of macrophages in the basal turn was greater than in the middle and apical turns(F=4.594,P<0.05);the roundness gradually decreased from the basal to the apical turn(F=41.4,P<0.01).2.After noise exposure,there was a significant increase in thresholds across all frequencies(P<0.05),with no hair cell loss observed;60 days post-exposure,thresholds returned to near baseline levels except for the high-frequency range(P<0.05).3.Following exposure,the number and roundness of macrophages increased(P<0.05),while the area decreased(P<0.05).By 60 days post-exposure,these parameters had largely returned to baseline levels.CONCLUSION Under steady-state conditions,macrophages in different regions of the basilar membrane perform distinct functions.Following long-term exposure to moderate-intensity noise,a large number of macrophages are recruited and activated;by 60 days post-exposure,these macrophages have largely returned to their baseline state.

BACKGROUNDDuring the last 3 decades, China has dramatic changes of the dietary pattern among its citizens, particularly in urban cities. This study aimed to determine the nutrient intake status and factors associated with nutrient intakes of urban Chinese pregnant women now-a-day.

METHODSThe multistage stratified random sampling method was applied in the cross-sectional study. 479 women in three trimesters of pregnancy from eight cities of China were recruited. Nutrient intakes were evaluated with one 24 h dietary recall, and compared with the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) 2013 for available nutrients.

RESULTSMost pregnant women had imbalanced macronutrient distribution with excessive energy derived from fat. Intakes of Vitamin A, B 6, calcium, magnesium, and selenium were below Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) and Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) in all trimesters. Most pregnant women took more folic acid in the first trimester with a significant decrease in the second and third trimester (P < 0.05). Shortfall in iron intake was found in the third trimester whereas some women may be at the risk of excessive iron intake. Intakes of thiamin met RNI in the first trimester but were below EAR in all trimesters. Trimester phasing was positively associated with most nutrients (P < 0.05). Prepregnancy body mass index was inversely associated with energy, fat, Vitamin C, and calcium intake (P < 0.05). Educational level and household income were positively associated with folic acid intake (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCurrent prenatal dietary choices of urban pregnant women in China are imbalanced in the nutrient intake when compared with national DRIs 2013, particularly in intakes of energy derived from fat and micronutrients. Appropriate dietary advice to pregnant women should promote a balanced diet with emphasis on avoidance of foods of high fat content and incorporation of foods that are good sources of the key micronutrients that are usually lacking in a regular pregnancy diet. Further research is needed to understand the eating habits and food patterns that contribute to this imbalanced diet in order to be able to effectively improve prenatal women's nutrient intake status.

Adult ; China ; Cities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Energy Intake ; physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Nutritional Requirements ; Nutritional Status ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a HPLC method for the determination of gallic acid and catechin in Rheum palametum and to study the changes of gallic acid and catechin content in R. palametum during processing.

METHODThe contents of gallic acid and catechin were determined simultaneously by HPLC on the Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column at 30 degrees C with gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.9 mL x min(-1) and the detecting wave-length was 277 nm.

RESULTThere were obvious differences in contents of gallic acid and catechin between the crude herbal material and other four kinds of processed products of R. palametum. Compared to crude herbal material, the contents of gallic acid increased evidently increased in the five processed pieces, up to 139. 3% in the processed piece of braising with liquor. The contents of catechin were similar to gallic acid in the pieces of vinegar and the liquor sauted, but nearly not founded in the braising with liquor and the charring products.

CONCLUSIONThe different processing methods have certain effect on the content of gallic acid and catechin in R. palametum.

Catechin ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Gallic Acid ; analysis ; Rheum ; chemistry

Our objective is the designing of a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system on event related desynchronization (ERD) and event related synchronization (ERS) signals. When the brain images the left-and right-leg movements, the ERD/ERS signals will appear. By characterization and characteristic classification, the ERD/ERS will be translated into the response control signal for operating the FES system to electrically stimulate the legs of motor disability. The result shows that the experiment is successful in electrically stimulating the legs of motor disability.
Brain ; physiopathology ; Cortical Synchronization ; Electric Stimulation ; methods ; Electroencephalography ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Hemiplegia ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; User-Computer Interface