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Objective To propose a new multi-joint series venipuncture system, explore the mechanics and kinematics-based related control problems involved in needle insertion and needle picking during the puncture process, and verify feasibility of this system. Methods A puncture manipulator was built, and needle displacement control algorithm was proposed by combing with the puncture mechanics model. The the forward kinematics was calculated by using DH method, so as to obtain the tip coordinates. Then the inverse kinematics was calculated by using the geometric method. The forward and inverse processes were closely connected. The position error of the end coordinates before and after needle picking was compared by using the method of kinematics positive solution-inverse solution-re-positive solution. Finally, experimental verification and simulation were conducted by combining with the physical object. Results Through simulation and experiments, accuracy of the theoretical model was verified. The needle insertion algorithm could be used to achieve success with only one needle insertion, which provided theoretical basis for the control of robot arm. The position error before and after needle picking could be controlled within 1 mm from the end trajectory. The end needle tip of robot arm was almost kept fixed during the needle picking process. Therefore, this needle picking scheme was feasible and could basically verify that the needle picking action of robot arm met the accuracy and safety requirements. Conclusions The venipuncture manipulator truly simulates the needle insertion and needle picking action during the puncture process, and can safely and accurately realize the needle insertion and needle picking action with needle tip as the fixed point, indicating that it has certain clinical value.
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Objective: To summarize the genetic and clinical phenotypic characteristics of patients with early-onset myopathy, areflexia, respiratory distress and dysphagia (EMARDD) caused by multiple epidermal growth factor 10 (MEGF10) gene defect. Methods: The clinical data of 3 infants in 1 family with EMARDD caused by MEGF10 gene defect diagnosed in the Department of Neonatology, Xiamen Children's Hospital in April 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Using "multiple epidermal growth factor 10" "myopathy" or "MEGF10" "myopathy" as the key words, and searching the relevant literature reports of CNKI, Wanfang Database and PubMed Database from the establishment of the database to September 2022. Combined with this family, the main clinical information and genotype characteristics of EMARDD patients caused by MEGF10 gene defect were summarized. Results: The proband, male, first infant of monozygotic twins, was admitted to hospital 7 days after birth "due to intermittent cyanosis with weak sucking". The infant had dysphagia accompanied with cyanosis of lips during feeding and crying after birth. Physical examination on admission revealed reduced muscle tone of the extremities, flexion of the second to fifth fingers of both hands with limited passive extension of proximal interphalangeal joints, and limited abduction of both hips. He was diagnosed as dysphagia of newborn, congenital dactyly. After admission, he was given limb and oral rehabilitation training, breathing gradually became stable and oral feeding fully allowed, and discharged along with improvement. The younger brother of the proband was admitted to the hospital at the same time, and his clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment process were the same as those of the proband. The elder brother of the proband died at the age of 8 months due to the delayed growth and development, severe malnutrition, hypotonia, single palmoclal crease and weak crying. A whole exon sequencing of the family was done, and found that the 3 children were all compound heterozygous variations at the same site of MEGF10 gene, with 2 splicing variants (c.218+1G>A, c.2362+1G>A), which came from the father and mother respectively, and the new variation was consistent with the autosomal recessive inheritance model. Three children were finally diagnosed as EMARDD caused by MEGF10 gene defect. There are 0 Chinese literature and 18 English literature that met the search conditions. Totally 17 families including 28 patients were reported. There were 31 EMARDD patients including 3 infants from this family. Among them, there were 13 males and 18 females. The reported age of onset ranged from 0 to 61 years. Except for 5 patients with incomplete clinical data, 26 patients were included in the analysis of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The clinical features were mainly dyspnea (25 cases), scoliosis (22 cases), feeding difficulties (21 cases), myasthenia (20 cases), and other features including areflexia (16 cases) and cleft palate or high palatal arch(15 cases). Muscle biopsy showed non-specific changes, with histological characteristics ranging from slight muscle fiber size variation to minicores change which was seen in all 5 patients with at least 1 missense mutation of allele. In addition, the adult onset was found in patients with at least 1 missense variant of MEGF10 gene. Conclusions: MEGF10 gene defect related EMARDD can occur in the neonatal period, and the main clinical features are muscle weakness, breathing and feeding difficulties. Patients with myopathy who have at least 1 missense mutation and muscle biopsy indicating minicores change may be relatively mild.
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Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Cyanosis , Deglutition Disorders , EGF Family of Proteins , Muscle Hypotonia , Muscle Weakness , Muscular Diseases/genetics , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the optimum time of ambulation of atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency ablation, to provide basis for patients' early postoperative rehabilitation.Methods:By convenient sampling method, a total of 120 patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation were collected at Yanghu Branch and City Branch of Changzhou Second People's Hospital from January 2020 to May 2021. They were divided into the early group, middle group and late group according to the random number table method, each group were 40 cases. All patients received routine postoperative intervention, the time of ambulation were 4, 6 and 12 h after operation in the early group, middle group and late group, respectively. The complication rate within 24 h after operation was compared among the three groups, and the comfort level of the three groups at 24, 48 and 72 h after operation was evaluated with Comfort Status Scale (GCQ).Results:Finally, 111 patients were included, including 37 in the early group, 38 in the middle group and 36 in the late group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of bleeding or hematoma, urinary retention, lumbago within 24 h after operation among the three groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of postural hypotension within 24 h after operation in the early group was 2.7% (1/37), which was lower than 21.1% (7/38) and 25.0% (9/36) in the middle and late groups, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.86, 7.67, both P<0.05). At 48 and 72 h after operation, the scores of physiological dimension, psychological dimension and the total score of GCQ in the early group were (20.68 ± 3.07), (22.54 ± 3.35), (81.68 ± 6.11) and (22.54 ± 3.73), (24.38 ± 2.49), (84.92 ± 6.37), higher than those in the middle group (19.16 ± 2.19), (21.32 ± 2.27), (78.24 ± 5.58), (20.93 ± 2.85), (22.32 ± 2.04), (81.66 ± 6.56), and those in the late group (18.44 ± 1.50) (21.31 ± 1.99), (78.06 ± 4.32), (20.89 ± 2.25), (21.58 ± 1.86), (80.28 ± 6.44), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 2.19-4.15, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Ambulation at 4 h after operation does not increase peripheral vascular complications, but can reduce the incidence of postural hypotension and improve the comfort of patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.
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Objective:To explore the effects of hospital-to-community model-based case management on outcomes and life quality of patients with atrial fibrillation.Methods:By convience sampling method, a total of 90 cases of atrial fibrillation patients admitted to Changzhou Second People′s Hospital from January 2019 to May 2020 were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 45 cases in each group. The patients in the control group received routine nursing care, the experimental group implemented hospital-to-community model-based case management. The beliefs about medicine, medication compliance, quality of life and readmissions of cardiovascular events were compared between 2 groups before and 6 months after intervention.Results:Finally, 41 cases were included in the experimental group and 38 cases in the control group. Before intervention, there were no significant differences in various indexes between the two groups ( P>0.05). After 6 months of intervention, the scores of specific-necessity in Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-Specific (BMQ-Specific) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8) were (16.98 ± 4.22) and (7.15 ± 0.69) points in the experimental group, higher than in the control group (14.95 ± 4.33) and (6.32 ± 1.07) points; the scores of specific-concerns in BMQ-Specific were (6.83 ± 1.91)points in the experimental group, lower than in the control group (8.42 ± 2.73) points. The differences were statistically significant ( t = 2.11, 4.07, 2.98, all P<0.05); the scores of physical function, role-physical, pain, general health, mental health dimensions and total scores in SF-36 were (80.37 ± 3.46), (46.63 ± 14.54), (90.37 ± 5.78), (70.07 ± 9.98), (84.20 ± 8.73) and (584.88 ± 25.71) points in the experimental group, higher than in the control group (70.13 ± 11.20), (37.34 ± 10.25), (83.37 ± 6.89), (59.55 ± 7.98), (77.58 ± 9.09) and (533.87 ± 31.62) points, the differences were statistically significant ( t values were 3.30-7.89, all P<0.05). At 6 months after discharge, the re-admission of cardiovascular events were 5 cases (12.2%) in the experimental group and 12 cases (31.6%) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.74, P<0.05). Conclusions:Hospital-to-community model-based case management can effectively promote beliefs about medicine and medication compliance, improve quality of life and decrease re-admission of cardiovascular events of patients with atrial fibrillation.
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OBJECTIVE@#To observe the influence of acupuncture on microcirculation perfusion of the pericardium meridian and heart in acute myocardial ischemia (AMI) rats and evaluate whether acupuncture can simultaneously affect the meridians and corresponding viscera. Additionally, acupoints at different meridians were compared and whether they exert the same effects was discussed.@*METHODS@#Totally 32 Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to left anterior descending (LAD) ligation to develop an AMI model. Rats were divided into 4 groups, including AMI, acupuncture Neiguan (PC 6), Lieque (LU 7) and Qiansanli (LI 10) groups (n=8). Eight rats received only thoracotomy (sham-operated group). The rats in the acupuncture groups received manual acupuncture at PC 6, LU 7 and LI 10 acupoints for 15 min, respectively. The microcirculation perfusion of pericardium meridian and heart was monitored by laser speckle perfusion imager (LSPI) before, during and after acupuncture manipulation for 15 min. Subsequently, the perfusion unit (PU) was calculated and analyzed by PSI System.@*RESULTS@#After LAD, compared to pre-acupuncture stage, the heart microcirculation perfusion (HMP) in the AMI group decreased continuously at during-acupuncture (P>0.05) and post-acupuncture stages (P0.05). Compared to pre-acupuncture stage, the PMP and HMP in PC 6 group significantly increased during acupuncture manipulation (both P0.05); however, they were significantly reduced after acupuncture manipulation (both P<0.05). Additionally, HMP of LI 10 group was decreased significantly during acupuncture, especially compared to pre-acupuncture stage (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Acupuncture at PC 6 obviously increased the PMP and HMP in AMI rats, and the effects were superior to at LU 7 and LI 10 acupoints. It was further confirmed that acupuncture promoted qi and blood circulation, indicating that acupoint specificity exists and features a meridian-propagated effect.
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Animals , Rats , Acupuncture Points , Acupuncture Therapy , Electroacupuncture , Meridians , Microcirculation , Myocardial Ischemia , Perfusion , Pericardium , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
Neonatal seizures are the most common clinical manifestations of critically ill neonates and often suggest serious diseases and complicated etiologies. The precise diagnosis of this disease can optimize the use of anti-seizure medication, reduce hospital costs, and improve the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes. Currently, a few artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems have been developed for neonatal seizures, but there is still a lack of high-level evidence for the diagnosis and treatment value in the real world. Based on an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems that has been developed for neonatal seizures, this study plans to recruit 370 neonates at a high risk of seizures from 6 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in China, in order to evaluate the effect of the system on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of neonatal seizures in neonates with different gestational ages in the NICU. In this study, a diagnostic study protocol is used to evaluate the diagnostic value of the system, and a randomized parallel-controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effect of the system on the treatment and prognosis of neonates at a high risk of seizures. This multicenter prospective study will provide high-level evidence for the clinical application of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis and treatment systems for neonatal seizures in the real world.
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Humans , Infant, Newborn , Artificial Intelligence , Electroencephalography/methods , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/diagnosis , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Prospective Studies , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Seizures/drug therapyABSTRACT
Objective To obtain a more suitable puncture method for venipuncture robot through experiments.Methods By using different puncture speeds and angles for biomimetic materials, the force-time curves by various puncture methods were obtained. Results During puncture process, with the increase of the puncture angle, a smaller puncture force was required. The faster puncture speed would lead to a larger puncture force. Conclusions The 40°-45° puncture angleand the 120-300 mm/min puncture speed should be used for designing the puncture method of venipuncture robot. The results provide references for selecting the puncture angle and speed of the venipuncture robot.
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Objective:To analyze the clinical studies on sacral nerve stimulation based on PubMed database and summarize its research status and clinical characteristics. Methods:Literatures about sacral nerve stimulation were collected from PubMed database before December 31, 2019. HistCite software was used to analyze the published year, published periodicals, published country and research institutions. Pajek software principal path analysis was used to identify the evolution direction of hot topics. The spectrum of diseases, therapeutic outcomes, stimulation methods and stimulation parameters were summarized. Results:A total of 96 articles were included. The number of publications increased significantly since 2000 and reached its peak in 2014 to 2015. The literatures with most influence were published in 2000 to 2001. All the literatures published in 32 journals, the top two were Urology and Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, which published 17 and 22 articles, respectively. The literatures came from 16 countries, and the top three were the United State (17 articles), the Netherlands (13) and the United Kingdom (13). Among the 211 institutes involved, Aarhus University Hospital (Denmark, twelve articles) and St. Marks Hospital (United Kingdom, nine) were the top two. The study involved 16 diseases, mainly about fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence and urination, shifted from urinary system diseases to digestive system diseases. 91.67% of the study corroborated the benefit of sacral nerve stimulation. Implanted stimulation (77 articles) was the most used, and transdermal stimulation (10 articles) was the second. The parameters were depending on the disease and the mode of stimulation. Conclusion:Sacral nerve stimulation can effectively improve the function of pelvic floor, which may be focused for a long time. Non-implantable sacral nerve stimulation would become the new research topic.
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Objective To design and develop an in vitro simulation device for circumferential stress of mural coronary artery, so as to achieve the in vitro loading of mural circumferential stress under coronary myocardial bridge oppression with different degrees. MethodsUsing the in vitro simulation device for myocardial bridge coronary artery hemodynamics, the in vitro measurement of mural circumferential stress was achieved. Based on the experimental data, the in vitro loading of mural circumferential stress under coronary myocardial bridge oppression with different degrees was achieved. Results The in vitro measurement experiment showed that the maximum, average and fluctuation of circumferential stress at proximal end of mural coronary artery would increase significantly with the increase in the degree of myocardial bridge oppression. The in vitro loading experiment of mural circumferential stress verified that the loading waveform coincided basically with the experimental waveform from in vitro measurement. Conclusions The device could realize the in vitro loading of mural circumferential stress, which provided an in vitro simulation platform which was as close as possible to the in vivo environment, so as to explore the influence from hemodynamic abnormality of proximal mural coronary artery on the occurrence of atherosclerosis and plaque rupture.
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Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang in treating mild to moderate essential hypertension complicated with depression and liver-Yang hyperactivity syndrome.Method:Totally 121 mild to moderate hypertensive patients complicated with depression in line with the inclusive criteria were randomized into treatment group and control group. All of the enrolled patients in treatment group and control group were treated with conventional therapy. In treatment group, patients were given modified Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang, one dose per day. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks. Blood pressure, patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score, score of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome, C-reactive protein (CRP), endothelial-dependent vasodilation, and adverse effect were observed in this study.Result:Both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lowered when compared to control group (P<0.05). PHQ-9 score was significantly improved in treatment group (P<0.05). The score of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome was significantly improved in treatment group compared to control group (P<0.05). CRP was significantly improved in treatment group compared with control group (P<0.05). Endothelial-dependent vasodilation was significantly improved in treatment group compared with control group (P<0.05). No severe adverse effect was observed in this research.Conclusion:Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang has a creation clinical efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension with depression. In addition to the effect in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, modified Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Tang was also effective in improving depression, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and endothelial-dependent vasodilation, and reducing the level of CRP with little adverse effect.
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OBJECTIVE@#To quantify the purine concentrations of the acupoints along the pericardium and nonpericardium meridians under healthy and myocardial ischemia conditions to investigate the relationship between acupoint purine change and body functional status in rats.@*METHODS@#A total of 70 rats underwent an operation for myocardial ischemia, while 40 of them survived. They were randomly assigned to the following 5 subgroups: Neiguan (PC 6), Quze (PC 3), Tianquan (PC 2), Quchi (LI 11), and Jianyu (LI 15). Simultaneously, another 40 healthy rats were also randomized into the same 5 subgroups as the control group. The tissue fluids at the acupoints were collected by microdialysis for 30 min. Subsequently, the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and adenosine (ADO) were quantified using the high-performance liquid chromatography method.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the healthy group, the ADO at PC 6 (P=0.012), PC 3 (P=0.038), PC 2 (P=0.024), and LI 15 (P=0.042) obviously increased in the model group, while no significant difference was observed at LI 11 (P=0.201). However, ATP, ADP, and AMP manifested no significant changes in these areas, except for ATP at LI 15 (P=0.036).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Myocardial ischemia could induce an increase in ADO at acupoints of the upper arm and shoulder area, suggesting that the body functional status could affect the responsiveness of acupoints. The status of these acupoints could be pathogenically activated by disease, and distribution following some specific courses.
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Objective:To compare the therapeutic effects of endoscopic surgery and routine neck surgery on benign thyroid tumors.Methods:From August 2014 to August 2016,240 patients with benign thyroid tumor were treated by operation in Zoucheng people's hospital,according to the random number method,they were divided into the observation group and the control group,120 cases in each group.According tothepatient's willingness to choose the choice of operation,the control group was performed the routine thyroid operation on the neck approach,and the observation group underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy through the breast approach.The two groups of surgical indexes,postoperative complications,and thyroid related hormone levels before and after the operation were compared.Results:The operation time of the observation group was significantly longer than that of the control group,but the amount of bleeding and the time of hospitalization in the operation were significantly shorter than those in the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The incidence of cervical sensory decline,dysphagia and pain in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group,and the total incidence of complications was also lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The levels of FT3,T4 and TSH after the operation in the two groups were significantly lower than those before the operation,while the level of FT4 was significantly higher than that before the operation (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the levels of FT3,FT4,T4 and TSH after the operation between the two groups before and after the operation (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Endoscopic surgery for the treatment of thyroid benign tumors is better,less traumatic,and more beautiful.
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Based on the systematic review on acupuncture improving the mechanism of central nervous system in animal model of myocardial ischemia in recent years, we analyzed the effects of acupuncture on medulla oblongata rVLM zone, hippocampus, hypothalamus, spinal cord segment and automalic to the mechanism of positively regulating myocardial ischemic, which provided a new way for the clinical treatment of myocardial ischemia and cardiovascular diseases.
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Coronary heart disease (CHD) is believed to be one of the major diseases with myocardial ischemia (MI) as basic pathological change. The clinical trials and experimental researches in the last 15 years were analyzed in this paper, and it was found that purinergic signaling could transduce the selective expression of molecular adenosine receptors A, A, A, Ain cardiovascular system, which had the potential to be a novel target for treating cardiovascular disease. Using purinergic receptors to explore the actions of acupuncture for myocardial ischemia provides new perspectives to elucidate the mechanism of acupuncture for MI.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical effect and safety of chiropractic in treating cervicogenic sudden hearing loss.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2011 to October 2013, 90 patients with cervicogenic sudden hearing loss were randomly divided into treatment group and control group according to the random number table produced by SPSS 19.0 software. In the treatment group, there were 17 males and 28 females, aged from 31 to 62 years old with an average of (47.57±9.43) years; course of disease was from 1 to 3 days with an average of (1.43±0.68) days; pure-tone audiometry score was from 46.5 to 77.8 dB with the mean of (61.20±9.83) dB; Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) score was from 17 to 31 scores with an average of (23.46±7.18) scores. In the control group, there were 15 males and 30 females, aged from 28 to 64 years old with an average of (45.77±6.99) years; course of disease was from 1 to 3 days with an average of (1.50±0.73) days; pure-tone audiometry score was from 48.1 to 75.0 dB with the mean of (63.91±8.05) dB; Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) score was from 20 to 29 scores with an average of (25.61±10.43) scores. The patients of control group were treated with dexamethasone intravenous drip of 10 mg, 3 days later, decreased to 5 mg, 3 days again. And with the methycobal intravenous drip of 500 μg, treatment continued for 10 days. The patients of treatment group were treated with chiropractic additionally except for the therapeutic methods of control group. Chiropractic included local muscle loosening, attacking point, bilateral pulling atlanto-axial joint, and continuous treatment for 10 days. The pure-tone audiometry score and NPQ score were compared between two groups after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the treatment, pure-tone audiometry score and NPQ score in treatment group improved to (40.23± 8.14) dB and (12.70±8.29) scores respectively, which were obviously better than that of control group's (37.70±10.61) dB and (21.24±11.13) scores (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with routine method for cervicogenic sudden hearing loss, additional chiropractic can improve hearing and relieve neck pain effectively.</p>
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Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Cervical Vertebrae , Hearing Loss, Sudden , Therapeutics , Manipulation, Chiropractic , Methods , Medicine, Chinese TraditionalABSTRACT
AlM: To investigate the clinical effect of preserved amniotic membrane transplantation in the treatment to conjunctival rupture, dehiscence and socket contracture after hydroxyapatite ( HA) orbital implantation. METHODS: ln 16 cases of conjunctival rupture and socket contracture after HA orbital implantation, conjunctival tension was release by operation and preserved amniotic membrane was transplanted on conjunctival scleral exposure area. RESULTS:ln all cases, conjunctiva healing, completely cover the sclera and conjunctiva socket recover ideal depth after operation in 15 cases, 1 case was fail. CONCLUSlON: Preserved amniotic membrane transplantation is an effective method to treat conjunctival dehiscence and keeping the ideal conjunctival socket depth after orbital implantation.
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Background Aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) is designed to reduce the spherical aberration of the eye after cataract surgery and to obtain better visual quality.However,the selection of a personalized aspheric IOL is a problem to be solved.Objective This study was to compare the wavefront aberration and quality of vision of patients between the implantation of negative spherical aberration IOL and non-aberration IOL,and to investigate the relationship between corneal Q values and postoperative spherical aberration.Methods One hundred and four eyes of 90 patients with age-related cataract were randomized into two groups.Fifty-two eyes of 46 patients who received a Tecnis Z9001 IOL implantation were assigned as the negative spherical aberration IOL group and 52 eyes of 44 patients who received Akreos AO IOL without aberration were assigned as the non-aberration IOL group.The preoperative corneal Q values were measured and the mean Q value(Q)was computed.Then the patients in the two groups were further divided into 2 subgroups,respectively,based on their Q values were over or below (Q）.The corneal Q values,root mean square(RMS) of ocular spherical aberration,coma and total higher-order aberrations(HOAs) for 5 mm diameter pupil,scotopic contrast sensitivity with or without glare at 6 mm pupil diameter were measured 3 months after surgery.Results The pre-and post-operative corneal Q values were insignificantly changed (t =1.447,P =0.151).The spherical aberration in the negative spherical aberration IOL group was(0.059-±0.047)μm,and that in the non-aberration IOL group was(0.110±0.066)μm,with a statistically significant difference between them (t =-4.567,P=0.000).Scotopic contrast sensitivities at intermediate and high frequencies were significantly better in the negative spherical aberration IOL group than in the non-aberration IOL group (t =2.495,t =2.359,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in coma and HOAs between the two groups after operation (P ＞ 0.05).Weak positive correlations were seen between the pre-and post-operative corneal Q values and spherical aberration in the two groups(r=0.277,0.292,0.285,0.325,all at P＜0.05).However,no significant differences were found in spherical aberration,contrast sensitivity and scotopic contrast sensitivity between the different subgroups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Negative spherical aberration IOL has lower spherical aberration and better scotopic contrast sensitivity than non-aberration IOL.The results suggest that it may be not enough to choose the corneal Q value only as the single reference criterion for selection of aspheric IOL.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Patients with schizophrenia have prominent abnormality in information processing that can be observed by measures of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle reflex and PPI deficits have been considered as a candidate endophenotypic marker of schizophrenia. However, there has been little information on PPI and related measures in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. The research was to explore the deficits of acoustic startle reflex that might exist in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Startle response to acoustic stimuli, habituation, and PPI were examined in 31 Chinese patients with first-episode, medication-naïve schizophrenia and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy Chinese controls. At the same day of startle testing, psychopathological symptoms of the patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with healthy controls, patients exhibited the significant reduction in startle response and PPI deficits at 60 milliseconds (ms) intervals (PPI60, P < 0.05) but not at 30 or 120 ms intervals. Furthermore, there was a relatively strong correlation between PPI60 (P < 0.05) and scores of positive scale of PANSS in patients with schizophrenia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings confirmed impaired PPI in Chinese patients with schizophrenia and suggested that a relationship between sensorimotor gating deficits and clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia might exist.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Asian People , Schizophrenia , Sensory Gating , PhysiologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on the stem cell factor (SCF), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the undescended testis tissue of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Models of left cryptorchidism were made in 48 healthy male rats weighing (200 +/- 20) g and randomly divided into four groups: model control, GDNF 7 d, GDNF 14 d and GDNF 21 d. The rats in the latter three groups were killed at 7, 14 and 21 days after intravenous injection of GDNF, their left testes harvested for measurement of the activities of SOD and CAT and the content of MDA. The apoptosis index of spermatogenic cells was detected by TUNEL, the histological changes of the testis tissue observed under the light microscope, and the gene and protein expressions of SCF determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptosis indexes of spermatogenic cells were obviously decreased in the GDNF 7 d, GDNF 14 d and GDNF 21 d groups (8.42 +/- 0.16, 4.45 +/- 0.34 and 7.32 +/- 0.09) as compared with that of the model control (13.5 +/- 0.64), with statistically significant difference between the GDNF 14 d and control groups (P < 0.01). The SCF expression and SOD activity were remarkably increased while the MDA content markedly reduced in the GDNF groups in comparison with those in the model control (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GDNF had a protective effect on the spermatogenic function of rat testes with unilateral cryptorchidism. It could enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity of the antioxidant enzyme system, elevate the expression of SCF and thus improve the testicular reproductivity, which were best indicated in the GDNF 14 d group.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Antioxidants , Metabolism , Catalase , Metabolism , Cryptorchidism , Metabolism , Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor , Metabolism , Malondialdehyde , Metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Stem Cell Factor , Metabolism , Superoxide Dismutase , Metabolism , Testis , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hypoxemic respiratory failure (HRF) is one of the most common causes for neonatal infants requiring aggressive respiratory support. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been established routinely as an adjunct to conventional respiratory support in developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of iNO in neonates with HRF in resource limited condition with no or limited use of surfactant, high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A non-randomized, open, controlled study of efficacy of iNO was conducted over 18 months. Eligible term and near-term neonates from 28 hospitals with HRF (oxygenation index > 15) were enrolled prospectively into two groups as either iNO or control. Oxygenation improvement and mortality as primary endpoint were determined in relation with dosing and timing of iNO, severity of underlying diseases, complications and burden. Intention-to-treat principle was adopted for outcome assessment. Response to iNO at 10 or 20 parts per million (ppm) was determined by oxygenation in reference to the control (between-group) and the baseline (within-group).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to 93 controls, initial dose of iNO at 10 ppm in 107 treated infants significantly improved oxygenation from first hour (P = 0.046), with more partial- and non-responders improved oxygenation with subsequent 20 ppm NO (P = 0.018). This effect persisted on days 1 and 3, and resulted in relatively lower mortalities (11.2% vs. 15%) whereas fewer were treated with surfactant (10% vs. 27%), HFOV (< 5%) or postnatal corticosteroids (< 10%) in both groups. The overall outcomes at 28 days of postnatal life in the iNO-treated was not related to perinatal asphyxia, underlying diseases, severity of hypoxemia, or complications, but to the early use of iNO. The cost of hospital stay was not significantly different in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>With relatively limited use of surfactant and/or HFOV in neonatal HRF, significantly more responders were found in the iNO-treated patients as reflected by improved oxygenation in the first three days over the baseline level. It warrants a randomized, controlled trial for assessment of appropriate timing and long-term outcome of iNO.</p>