ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic effect of Tuina at the "Weizhong （BL 40）" on neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury （CCI） of the sciatic nerve and its potential central spinal mechanisms. MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups （8 rats in each group）， sham-operated group， model group， Tuina group， and blockade group. The CCI model was established in the model group， Tuina group， and the blockade group by ligating the sciatic nerve with catgut， while the sham-operated group underwent only sciatic nerve exposure without ligation. From postoperative day 4 to day 14， rats in the Tuina group and the blockade group received Tuina manipulation at the "Weizhong （BL 40）" using a dynamic pressure distribution measurement system （5 N pressure， 2 Hz frequency， 10 min per session， once daily）. The blockade group also received intraperitoneal injections of the microglial inhibitor minocycline （10 mg/kg） once daily. The sham-operated and the model group underwent the same handling and fixation as the Tuina group without actual Tuina. Mechanical withdrawal threshold （MWT） and paw withdrawal latency （PWL） were measured before surgery and on day 3， 7， 10， and 14 post-surgery. Transmission electron microscopy was used to evaluate sciatic nerve injury and repair， measuring axon diameter and total myelinated fiber diameter to calculate the g-ratio. Western Blotting was performed to detect the protein levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba-1）， CD206， CD68， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and β-endorphin （β-EP） precursor pro-opiomelanocortin （POMC） in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn. ResultsCompared with the sham-operated group， the model group showed significantly reduced MWT and PWL on day 3， 7， 10， and 14 （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Tuina group and the blockade group showed increased MWT and PWL on day 10 and 14 （P＜0.05）. Compared with the Tuina group， the blockade group exhibited higher MWT on day 7， 10， and 14， and higher PWL on day 10 （P＜0.05）. Sciatic nerve pathological morphology revealed intact and well-structured myelin in the sham-operated group， while the model group exhibited myelin collapse， distortion， and myelin ovoid formation. The Tuina group displayed partially irregular myelin with occasional myelin collapse， whereas the blockade group exhibited partial myelin irregularities and phospholipid shedding. Compared with the sham-operated group， the model group showed a decreased g-ratio and increased levels of Iba-1 and CD68 in the spinal dorsal horn （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Tuina group and the blockade group exhibited an increased g-ratio and reduced Iba-1 and CD68 levels. Additionally， the Tuina group showed elevated levels of CD206， IL-10， and POMC， whereas the blockade group had decreased CD206 levels （P＜0.05）. ConclusionTuina at "Weizhong （BL 40）" alleviates neuropathic pain in CCI rats， potentially by regulating microglial activation in the spinal cord， inhibiting M1 polarization while promoting M2 polarization， and activating the IL-10/β-EP pathway to exert analgesic effects.

Objective To study the effect of pain on the lumbar and hip joint moments in patients with lumbar disc herniation(LDH)while sitting and standing.Methods Dynamic data from 20 healthy controls and 20 patients with LDH were collected using an AMTI dynamometer.The differences in moments between the lumbar spine and hip joints in the sagittal and coronal planes for the two groups of subjects performing sitting-standing tasks were analyzed using statistical parameter mapping(SPM).Results Compared to the healthy control group,the LDH group showed a significant increase in the maximum lumbar flexion moment and the maximum hip adduction moment from standing to sitting(P＜0.05).SPM analysis showed that during the initial phase of standing(37％-42％),the hip abduction moment of the LDH group was significantly greater than that of the healthy control group(P=0.007).Conclusions Subjects with LDH have an unstable lumbar spine and pelvis during sitting and standing,especially at the stationary stage,which makes it difficult to achieve balance in their body.Therefore,increasing the hip abduction moment is necessary to maintain pelvic stability.During clinical evaluation and treatment,emphasis should be placed on the stable function of the spine and pelvis.

Objective To study changes in kinematics and joint coordination of the waist and hips during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit tasks in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods The Vicon 3D motion capture system was used to collect the kinematics data from 20 healthy controls and 20 LDH subjects, and differences in movement patterns of the lumbar spine and hip joints during sitting and standing tasks were compared between two groups through statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Results During sit-to-stand task, the lumbar spine flexion and extension range and hip joint abduction angle of LDH subjects were significantly limited, and the hip flexion angle increased. SPM analysis showed that for both groups at initial stage of sit-to-stand (10%-13%), there was a statistically significant difference in flexion angle of the lumbar spine, and lumbar flexion angle of LDH subjects was significantly reduced, while hip flexion angle at 2%-14% phase was significantly increased. During stand-to-sit phase (65%-69%), LDH subjects showed increased hip abduction angle. Conclusions LDH subjects have limited lumbar flexion and hip abduction functions during sitting and standing, and they need to be compensated with increased hip flexion activities to complete functional tasks. In clinical evaluation, changes in motor function of the spine and hips should be focused on.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of Liuwei Shunji Capsule on survival state, visceral hypersensitivity, the content of 5-HT of model rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency-type irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and explore its mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, pinaverium bromide group and Liuwei Shunji Capsule of high, medium and low dose groups. Senna with restraint stress was used in duplicating liver depression and spleen deficiency-type IBS model. From the second day after the model was established, each drug treatment group was administered with corresponding drugs once a day for two weeks. The effects of Liuwei Shunji Capsule on survival state, visceral hypersensitivity, the content of 5-HT in serum and hypothalamus were observed.Results Compared with model group, Liuwei Shunji Capsule could raise weight growth rate of model rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency-type IBS (P<0.05), improve their diarrhea, fatigue demeanor, fur quality, irritability and other symptoms, significantly decrease their visceral hypersensitivity, the content of 5-HT in serum and hypothalamus (P<0.01).Conclusion Liuwei Shunji Capsule can effectively improve survival state and intestinal disorders of rats with liver depression and spleen deficiency-type IBS, and the mechanism of treatment could be realized through regulating 5-HT level.

To study the pulse diagram parameters of subjects with subhealth state and to find the pulse parameters for subhealth state evaluation.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of a modified splenocaval shunt combined with pericardial devascularization ( PCDV ) in the treatment of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding. Methods From 1997 to 2007, 168 patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding caused by portal hypertension were treated at the People's Hospital of Shaanxi Province. Among all the patients, 90 received a splenocaval shunt + PCDV(combined group) and the remaining 78 received PCDV (PCDV group). Changes in intra- and postoperative hemodynamics of the portal venous system were detected by Doppler color flow imaging, and free portal pressure was measured intraoperatively. All data were analysed using analysis of variance, the paired t test and chi-square test.Results The mortality was 3% (3/90) in the combined group and 5% (4/78) in the PCDV group, with no significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 0.038, P ＞0.05 ). The postoperative rebleeding rate was 6%(5/79) in the combined group, which was significantly lower than 13% (8/60) in the PCDV group (x2 =4.824,P ＜ 0.05 ). The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy was 6% (5/79) in the combined group and 7% (4/60) in the PCDV group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 0.072, P ＞ 0.05 ). The 1-, 3-, 5-,and 10-year survival rates were 97% (77/79), 92% (55/60), 80% (16/20) and 60% (3/5) in the combined group, and 97% (58/60), 83% (40/48), 73% (22/30) and 53% (8/15) in the PCDV group, respecitvely,with no significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 0.731, P ＞ 0.05 ). The intra- and postoperative portal pressures in the combined group were (38.8±4.2) cm H20 ( 1 cm H2O =0. 098 kPa) and (33.1 ± 1.5) cm H2O,with a significant difference ( t = 8. 574, P ＜ 0.05 ). The intra-and postoperative portal pressures in the PCDV group were (38.9±2.5) cm H2O and (34.6±2.6) cm H2O, with a significant difference (t =6. 530, P ＜0.05 ). There was also a significant difference in postoperative portal pressure between the two groups ( t = 2. 859,P ＜ 0.05 ). The intra-and postoperative diameters of the portal vein in the combined group were (1.40 ± 0.41 )cm and ( 1.22 ± 0. 15) cm, respectively, with a significant difference ( t = 2. 608, P ＜ 0.05 ). The intra-and postoperative portal venous flows in the combined group were (1280 ±350) ml/min and (830±360) ml/min, with a significant difference ( t = 5. 668, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The intra-and postoperative diameters of the portal vein in the PCDV group were ( 1.41 ±0.32) cm and ( 1.27 ±0.32) cm, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1. 637, P ＞ 0.05 ). The intra-and postoperative portal venous flows in the combined group were ( 1350 ± 380) ml/min and (980 ± 290) ml/min, with a significant difference ( t = 4. 096, P ＜ 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in postoperative portal venous flow between the two groups ( t = 1.871, P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions The modified splenocaval shunt combined with PCDV is safe and effective with a low rate of recurrent rebleeding. The clinical outcome and rational hemodynamic changes show that the combined procedure of splenocaval shunt and PCDV is a good choice for treatment of gastroesophageal variceal bleeding.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that can create direct connection between brain activity and external devices. In the past 20 years, important' achievements of research on BCI have been made. Now there are lots of research methods based on electroencephalic signals, and researchers are trying to make the BCI system possess the characteristics of real-time and become more natural and practical. This paper presents an overview of real-time and stimulating way to EEG-based BCI research. Through the discussions on the applications of DSP in BCI system, in signal preprocessing and in algorithm optimization, the high lights in real-time research are pointed out. In the discussions about the way to produce EEG signals in BCI, the researchers suggested that the imaging movement be the most ideal way in that it will reduce the discomfort in stimulation by application of the virtual reality technology in BCI system, thus it will be conducive to improvement in the performance of BCI system.
Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Man-Machine Systems ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; User-Computer Interface

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of portal vein thrombosis(PVT) after splenocaval shunt plus devascularization in treatment of portal hypertension and find Out ways for its prevention.Methods The formation,diagnosis,treatment of PVT and variceal rehemorrhage in 110 patients with portal hypertension who received splenocaval shunt plus devascularization procedures (Combined Group)and 92 patients subjected to pericardial devascularization operation(PCDV Group) were retrospectively analyzed.Meanwhile,the effect of two procedures on PVT was compared.Results The incidence of PVT was 10.0%in combined group and 22.8%in PCDV group (P<0.05).The rebleeding rate from esophagogastric varices because of PVT in combined group was 3.6%,which was significantly lower than that of 10.8%in PCDV group(P<0.05).Conclusion Splenoeaval shunt plus devascularization is a better choice to decrease the incidence of PVT.The postoperative anti-coagulation therapy in the early stage is important for the prevention of PVT.

Objective:Labview and VC were used to design software based on the Active One biopotential measurement system to realize the visual evoked potential based brain-computer interface.Methods:The data acquisition software was designed by Labview,the human-interface,real time signal processing and dynamic link library software were designed by VC.Data transmission between Labview and VC was realized through the dynamic link library using shared memory technology.The multimedia timer,DirectDraw technology and parallel port data output were used to design the visual stimulation interface.The 5 points averaging filter combining with averaging method were used to detect the visual evoked potential and the correlation coefficient was computed for signal recognization.Results:The experiments showed that the visual stimulator can produce effective visual stimulation.The data transmission method using the dynamic link library can satisfy the requirement of the system.Conclusions:The real-time signal processing method can improve signal-noise ratio and realize detection and recognization of visual evoked potential.The system can determine which module the subject was fixating and the result was feedback to the subject in real time.

Objective To evaluate the effects,hemodynamies and hepatic functional reserve of a combined procedure of modified pmximal splenocaval shunt and pericardial devascularlzation (PCDV) in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods From 1997 to 2007,a total of 255 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension received combined (135 cases) or PCDV procedure (120 cases,) in our hospital.The clinical results were retrospectively analyzed.Changes of hemodynamics of the portal venous system were studied by Doppler color flow imaging and intraoperative free portal pressure (FPP) measurement.The hepatic functional reserve was evaluated by indocyanine green (ICG) retention ratio and functional hepatic flow(FHF).Results Postoperative mortality was 2.2% in combined group and 4.3% in PCDV group.The long term rebleeding rate was 5.5%as revealed by follow-up in combined group,which was significantly lower than that in PCDV group of 14.1%(P<0.05).The incidence of encephalopathy was 6.4%and 5.4%in combined group and PCDV group respectively(P>0.05).The 1-,3-,5-and 10 year-survival rates were 96.4%,90.0%,81.3%and 62.5% in combined group and 95.7%,86.7%,75.0%,57.1%in PCDV group.In combined group,the FPP、PVF and FHFwere(32.0±1.5)cm H_2O、(880±260)ml/min and(430±1 80)ml/min respectively,a significant decrease when compared with preoperative parameters (P<0.05),while R_(15) (30%±4%)increased (P<0.01).The similar results were observed in PCDV group postoperatively (P<0.05).Compared to PCDV group,the decrease of FPP in combined group was more significant(P<0.05),but the PVF,FHF and R_(15) were not significantly different (P>0.05).Conclusions The combined procedure is safe and effective in treatment of portal hypertension with better clinical outcome,moderate homodynamic changes and good maintenance of hepatic functional reserve.