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ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF/MS）， the changes of endogenous markers in rat plasma at the different stage， namely modeling and administration of Shenling Baizhusan （SLBZS）， and the mechanism of SLBZS in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） were studied. MethodIn the modeling stage， rats were randomly divided into normal group， spleen deficiency with dampness retention-UC （SDDR-UC） and pure-UC （P-UC） model group. In the administration stage， SLBZS was given to the above two different model groups. After modeling and administration， rat plasma was collected and determined by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. The mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A）-acetonitrile （B） for gradient elution （in positive ion mode：0-2 min， 99%A； 2-9 min， 99%-73%A； 9-10 min， 73%-44%A； 10-13 min， 44%-38%A； 13-19 min， 38%-28%A； 19-21 min， 28%-2%A； 21-23 min， 2%A； 23-25 min， 2%-10%A； 25-27 min， 10%-99%A； in negative ion mode：0-2 min， 85%A； 2-3 min， 85%-65%A； 3-5.5 min， 65%-44%A； 5.5-8 min， 44%-25%A； 8-10 min， 25%-2%A； 10-16 min， 2%-85%A）. The electrospray ionization （ESI） temperature was 120 ℃ under the positive and negative ion modes， and the acquisition range was 50-1 000. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis （PLS-DA） was used to analyze the changes of endogenous metabolites in the above two different model rats from the different stage. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used to analyze the metabolic pathways of these identified metabolites. ResultSixteen potential biomarkers were screened and identified in the modeling stage， among which 11 potential biomarkers were common in the two model rats， which mainly affected the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway. Twenty-three potential biomarkers were screened and identified during the administration stage， among which 3 potential biomarkers were shared by the two model rats， and SDDR-UC and P-UC model rats had 11 and 9 potential biomarkers， respectively. It mainly affected 6 pathways such as purine metabolism， pentose phosphate pathway， pyrimidine metabolism， retinol metabolism， primary bile acid biosynthesis and steroid hormone synthesis. ConclusionThe primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway appears in the different stage of modeling and administration of UC， showing a dynamic change process. The therapeutic effect of SLBZS on SDDR-UC rats may be related to inhibiting the expression of nuclear transcription factor -κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway， activating farnesoid X receptor （FXR） and enhancing the expression of cytochrome P450.
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Purpose@#This study aimed to elucidate whether lncRNA ZFAS1 is involved in neuronal apoptosis and inflammation in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). @*Materials and Methods@#Ninety-six TLE patients were recruited, and their peripheral venous blood was gathered to determine Zfas1 expression with polymerase chain reaction. Neurons were separated from hippocampal tissue of newborn SD rats, and siZfas1 or pcDNA3.1-Zfas1 was transfected into the neurons. Inflammatory cytokines released by neurons were determined, and neuronal activities were evaluated through MTT assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. @*Results@#Serum levels of Zfas1 were higher in TLE patients than in healthy controls (p<0.05). Furthermore, Zfas1 expression in neurons was raised by pcDNA3.1-Zfas1 and declined after silencing of Zfas1 (p<0.05). Transfection of pcDNA-Zfas1 weakened the viability and proliferation of neurons and increased neuronal apoptosis (p<0.05). Meanwhile, pcDNA3.1-Zfas1 transfection promoted lipopolysaccharide-induced release of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (p<0.05), and boosted NF-κB activation by elevating the expression of NF-κB p65, pIκBα, and IKKβ in neurons (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Our results indicated that lncRNA ZFAS1 exacerbates epilepsy development by promoting neuronal apoptosis and inflammation, implying ZFAS1 as a promising treatment target for epilepsy.
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Objective:To explore the influence of constrained arms swing on temporal and spatial gait parameters in healthy young adults.Method:Thirty-six healthy young persons (18 male,18 female;age:22.72±3.54 years;height:167.35±9.15 cm;weight:63.62±16.29 kg) were recruited for this study.All subjects received gait analysis by the Gait Watch analyses system.All subjects walked combined with 10 walking conditions (the arms swinging naturally,the arms constrained in front of the abdomen,the arms constrained in back of the abdomen,the left arm constrained in body side,the left arm constrained in front of the abdomen,the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen,the right arm constrained in body side,the right arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the right arm constrained in back of the abdomen).Walking conditions were randomly set during the experiment.The differences of the temporal and spatial gait parameters were analyzed and compared.Result:There was not significant difference of the temporal and spatial gait parameters (gait cycle,stride frequency,stride length,step velocity,step length,left step,right step,double support phase) between arm constrained and the arms swinging naturally.The left support phase and left swing phase showed significantly difference with the left arm constrained in body side,the left arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen compared with arms swinging naturally.The right support phase and right swing phase showed significantly difference with the left arm constrained in back of the abdomen,the right arm constrained in body side,the right arm constrained in front of the abdomen and the right arm constrained in back of the abdomen compared with arms swinging naturally.Conclusion:The left support phase was shorten and left swing phase was prolonged with the left arm constrained,while the right support phase was prolonged and right swing phase was shorten with the right arm constrained.
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Objective:To explore the efficiency of timed up and go test (TUGT) and maximum walking speed test (MWST) on evaluating stroke patients' motor function.Method:Fifty stroke patients were assessed with TUGT,MWST,Berg balance scale (BBS),Barthel Index (BI) and Fugl-meyer assessment.The levels of association among five methods were examined with Pearson correlation coefficients.The predictive efficiency was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Result:The significant negative correlation was shown between TUG and BBS,BI and FMA score (P ＜ 0.05) and the same significant negative correlation was shown between MWST and BBS,BI and FMA score (P＜0.05).The Pearson correlation coefficients of TUG was higher than the MWST's.The area under the ROC curve for the TUG was significantly higher than that of the MWST.Conclusion:The TUG is closely correlated with the balance ability,moto function and active of daily living in stroke patients.The TUG could serve as a screening tool for detection of individuals with stroke.
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Objective:To explore the efficiency of timed up and go test (TUGT) and maximum walking speed test (MWST) on evaluating stroke patients' motor function.Method:Fifty stroke patients were assessed with TUGT,MWST,Berg balance scale (BBS),Barthel Index (BI) and Fugl-meyer assessment.The levels of association among five methods were examined with Pearson correlation coefficients.The predictive efficiency was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Result:The significant negative correlation was shown between TUG and BBS,BI and FMA score (P ＜ 0.05) and the same significant negative correlation was shown between MWST and BBS,BI and FMA score (P＜0.05).The Pearson correlation coefficients of TUG was higher than the MWST's.The area under the ROC curve for the TUG was significantly higher than that of the MWST.Conclusion:The TUG is closely correlated with the balance ability,moto function and active of daily living in stroke patients.The TUG could serve as a screening tool for detection of individuals with stroke.
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Objective To explore the effectiveness of the timed up and go test (TUGT) and the maximum walking speed test (MWST) in evaluating stroke patients' motor function.Methods Twenty-two stroke patients were assessed using the TUGT and MWST,and the temporal-spatial parameters of their gait were also assessed.The correlations among the TUGT times,walking speed and the gait parameters were quantified using Pearson correlation coefficients.Results The TUGT time was (18.57±7.41) s,significantly correlated with step length and velocity (P＜0.05).Walking speed showed a significant positive correlation with step length,velocity and step length (P＜ 0.05).The TUGT times were negatively correlated with walking speed (r=-0.712,P=0.000).Conclusion The MWST and TUGT both can assess stroke patients' motor function effectively.
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Objective To explore the resonant frequencies of human spinal motor neurons.Methods Twenty healthy college students were recruited as the subjects.Each was put in a supine position and administered vibratory stimulation at 20 Hz,30 Hz,40 Hz,50 Hz and 60 Hz on the left distal fibula just above the lateral malleolus for 5 minutes.M-waves and F-waves were recorded before each intervention.F-waves were also recorded immediately after each intervention.Results The F-wave amplitude and the F/Mmax ratio after the 30 Hz stimulation were significantly larger than those at baseline and after stimulation at 50 or 60 Hz.However,20 Hz,30 Hz and 40 Hz stimulation produced no significantly different F-wave amplitudes or F/Mmax.Conclusion Human spinal motor neurons may have a resonant frequency around 30 Hz.
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Objective To explore the best vibration frequency for activating human muscles.Methods Nineteen healthy college students accepted vibration stimulation at frequencies between 10 and 50 Hz.Surface electromyograms (sEMG) were recorded.The subjects were sitting,standing,squatting (knee flexion 30°) and recumbent.Their left anterior tibial muscles and the medial heads of the gastrocnemius were targeted as test muscles.The vibration stimulation point was on the surface of the left distal tibia.The sEMG characteristics of the calf muscles were analyzed under vibration stimulation at different frequencies. ResultsThe leg muscles were activated significantly at all vibration frequencies,but the sEMG values of the anterior tibialis were significantly different at different frequencies,except for among 30 Hz,40 Hz and 50 Hz in any position.The gastrocnemius sEMG values were not significantly different at different frequencies. ConclusionVibration at 30 to 50Hz may be the normal human muscle activation frequency.
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Objective:The feasibility of a minimally invasive cosmetic transbilical laparotomy was studied in fifty-seven pediatric patients.The advantages of this technique will be discussed.Methods:The circumferential incision was made following the ring fold of the right umblilicus,which was less than 2700.The peritoneum was opened in the midline via rectus abdominis.Intra-peritoneal lesions were detected and explored.The surgical procedures were able to be carried out either inside or outside of the peritoneum.After closure of peritoneum,the umbilical incision was closed subcutaneously with an absorbable suture.Results:From January 2001 to January 2005,58 procedures via transumbilical route have been done in 57 pediatric patients.None of those cases required conversion to a traditional abdominal incision.The duration of surgery was from 20 to 170 minutes.All patients were discharged five days postoperatively and follow-up was conducted from 3 months to 4 years.No complications were observed in all but one patient.This patient had a leaking anastamosis.No visible scars were present and the cosmetic results were excellent.All patients had shorter hospital stay and lower operating cost.Conclusion:Transumbilical approach is a feasible,safe,economical,minimally invasive procedure with excellent cosmetic results which appears to be superior to traditional procedures.It suggests that the transumbilical route should be widely used clinically and might be applicable for elder children and possibly would be of benefit in the treatment of other conditions.
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OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of the combination of factor analysis and systematic cluster analysis in classification of traditional Chinese medical syndromes in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis, and to provide a scientific basis for the criterion of the classification. METHODS: We designed a clinical questionnaire according to the clinical characteristics and the demands of traditional Chinese medical information collection for patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis. By means of clinical epidemiological research, with the four diagnosis methods for clinical information collection of traditional Chinese medicine, symptoms, physical signs, tongue conditions and pulse conditions in 310 patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis were collected, and the characteristics of traditional Chinese medical syndromes in these patients were explored with statistical methods, such as factor analysis, varimax and systematic cluster analysis. RESULTS: Analyzed by factor analysis and systematic cluster analysis with SPSS 11.0, the traditional Chinese medical syndromes in 287 of the 310 cases (92.58%) of posthepatitic cirrhosis could be classified. The syndromes could be divided into 7 categories, which were internal accumulation of damp-heat (55 cases), insufficiency of the spleen with overabundance of dampness (74 cases), accumulation of blood stasis plus deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin (73 cases), accumulation of blood stasis plus deficiency of both blood and qi (40 cases), deficiency of both blood and qi (16 cases), deficiency of yin and blood heat (6 cases) and stagnation of the liver-qi and deficiency of the spleen (23 cases). The traditional Chinese medical syndromes in the other 23 cases could not be classified. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical information collected with the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine can be classified into different categories with the factor analysis and systematic cluster analysis. The factor analysis and systematic cluster analysis can reveal the characteristics and regularity of traditional Chinese medical syndromes in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis in a way, and have value in researching the syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine.
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Objective To control medical expenses in a rational and effective way by analyzing the main factors influencing hospitalization expenses in TCM hospitals. Methods Based on ICD 10 codes, the top 50 disease entities causing hospitalization, as had been accumulated over the years, were extracted from the hospitalization record data warehouses of the national TCM supervision networks using nationally representative medical record databases, the main factors influencing hospitalization expenses were identified using multi layer BP neural network, and further analyses were made by disease entities and hospital grades. Results When disease entity mix analyses were conducted, it was found that the variables most influencing hospitalization expenses/days were hospital code and disease entity while variables specific to TCM had little influence on the expenses. The results were also true of analyses made by hospital grades and disease entities. Conclusion Under the current circumstances in China, the influence on hospitalization expenses resulting from the difference between hospitals is far greater than any other factor; it is even greater than that resulting from the difference between disease entities. It is therefore imperative to pay attention to the extensiveness and coverage of data sources when conducting research on the control of medical expenses.