[Diagnosis and treatment of 11 patients with cevical spondylotic amyotrophy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical features, treatment methods and clinical effects of cervical spondylosis with proximal muscular atrophy. METHODS: Eleven patients with proximal-type cervical spondylotic amyotrophy were retrospectively studied from September 2016 to November 2020, including 7 males and 4 females, aged 38 to 68 years old. Clinical symptoms, MRI and neuroelectrophysiological manifestations were analyzed, and patients were treated with conservative treatment or anterior cervical decompression fusion surgery, respectively. The efficacy was evaluated by manual muscle test (MMT) before and after treatment, and patients' satisfaction was followed up at the same time. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 6 to 19 months. All 11 patients were unilateral, mainly manifested by atrophy of deltoid muscle, supraspinatus muscle and infraspinatus muscle, and may be accompanied by ipsilateral neck and shoulder pain at early stage. MRI showed lesions at C4,5, C5,6 segments were more common. Electrophysiological examination showed the affected muscle was denervated, and amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of innervated nerve on the affected side was lower than that on the healthy side. All patients were obtained bone fusion. One patient who were underwent anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) occurred developed contralateral C5 nerve root paralysis after operation, which recovered completely after 10 weeks of symptomatic treatment. At 12 months after operation, the efficacy was evaluated according to MMT, 3 patients were treated conservatively, 2 patients excellent and 1 good;in 8 patients treated by operation, 3 patients were excellent, 4 good, and 1 moderate. CONCLUSION: The incidence of cervical spondylosis with proximal muscular atrophy is low, which is manifested as unilateral proximal muscle atrophy and may be accompanied by ipsilateral neck and shoulder pain in the early stage. Combined with MRI and neuroelectrophysiological examination, misdiagnosis could be reduced. In the early stage of disease, especially in the case of nucleus pulposus protrusion leading to nerve compression, conservative treatment could be taken. When the conservative treatment is ineffective or the pain cannot be tolerated, anterior decompression surgery is recommended, and the overall effect is satisfactory.

Quantum behavior of the Duffing oscillator at the dissipative phase transition.

The non-deterministic behavior of the Duffing oscillator is classically attributed to the coexistence of two steady states in a double-well potential. However, this interpretation fails in the quantum-mechanical perspective which predicts a single unique steady state. Here, we measure the non-equilibrium dynamics of a superconducting Duffing oscillator and experimentally reconcile the classical and quantum descriptions as indicated by the Liouvillian spectral theory. We demonstrate that the two classically regarded steady states are in fact quantum metastable states. They have a remarkably long lifetime but must eventually relax into the single unique steady state allowed by quantum mechanics. By engineering their lifetime, we observe a first-order dissipative phase transition and reveal the two distinct phases by quantum state tomography. Our results reveal a smooth quantum state evolution behind a sudden dissipative phase transition and form an essential step towards understanding the intriguing phenomena in driven-dissipative systems.

A non-surfactant self-templating strategy for mesoporous silica nanospheres: beyond the Stöber method.

The well-known Stöber method has been widely used to synthesize nonporous silica nanospheres (NPs), however, in the absence of surfactant templates, the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) has not been achieved. Herein, in the absence of organic surfactant templates, by a simple premixing of three components tetraethoxysilane-water-ethanol (TEOS-H2O-EtOH) with a precise molar ratio, the parent silica nanoparticles with a low condensation degree and controlled particle size can be readily obtained. Subsequently, via a simple two-step post-treatment, the obtained MSNs exhibited a high surface area (ca. 500 m2 g-1), accessible mesopores (3.0 nm), and a large pore volume (0.87 mL g-1), similar to those of MCM-41 and SBA-15 silicas. The unique self-templating role of the 'pre-Ouzo' effect of ternary surfactant-free TEOS-H2O-EtOH systems was proposed to understand the formation of mesoporosity.

[McCune-Albright syndrome with hyperthyroidism: report of one case and review of literature].

McCune-Albright Syndrome(MAS) is a rare disease characterized by triad of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of bone(FD), precocious puberty, and café-au-lait skin pigmentation. This paper reported a case of McCune-Albright syndrome with hyperthyroidism, and discussed the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of MAS.

Increasing thermal stability of glutamate decarboxylase from Escherichia. coli by site-directed saturation mutagenesis and its application in GABA production.

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is an important bio-product used in pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and a precursor of the biodegradable plastic polyamide 4 (Nylon 4). Glutamate decarboxylase B (GadB) from Escherichia. coli is a highly active biocatalyst that can convert l-glutamate to GABA. However, its practical application is limited by the poor thermostability and only active under acidic conditions of GadB. In this study, we performed site-directed saturation mutagenesis of the N-terminal residues of GadB from Escherichia coli to improve its thermostability. A triple mutant (M6, Gln5Ile/Val6Asp/Thr7Gln) showed higher thermostability, with a 5.6 times (560%) increase in half-life value at 45 °C, 8.7 °C rise in melting temperature (Tm) and a 14.3 °C rise in the temperature at which 50% of the initial activity remained after 15 min incubation (T1550), compared to wild-type enzyme. Protein 3D structure analysis showed that the induced new hydrogen bonds in the same polypeptide chain or between polypeptide chains in E. coli GadB homo-hexamer may be responsible for the improved thermostability. Increased thermostability contributed to increased GABA conversion ability. After 12 h conversion of 3 mol/L l-glutamate, GABA produced and mole conversion rate catalyzed by M6 whole cells was 297 g/L and 95%, respectively, while those by wild-type GAD was 273.5 g/L and 86.2%, respectively.

[Multivariate analysis for prognostic factors on non-operative treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors in the non-operative treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation. METHODS: The clinical data of 122 patients with cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation from January 2009 to December 2012 treated by non-operative treatment were retrospectively reviewed. There were 84 males and 38 females, aged from 18 to 83 years with an average of (52.37 +/- 13.27) years. The clinical features, such as age, gender, cause of injury, time from injury to treatment, ASIA grade of spine cord injury, MRI type of spine cord injury, range of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, segment of intervertebral disc herniation, intervertebral disc ligament complex injury, treatment of high-dose methyiprednisolone, were observed. Single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression analysis were used in the clinical data in order to analyze the influencing factors of above items to prognosis. RESULTS: For univariate analysis, the factors such as MRI type of spine cord injury, extent of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, segment of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury, associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the main prognostic factors including MRI type of spine cord injury, range of spine cord injury, effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury according to its effective intension (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The main prognostic factors on non-operative treatment of cervical spinal cord injury without fracture or dislocation were MRI type and extent of spine cord injury, meanwhile, correlate with effective cervical spinal canal ratio, Pfirrmann grade of intervertebral disc herniation, ASIA grade of spine cord injury. It is deliberative to choose no-operative treatment, for it only refers to the patients with the mild localized edema type or no signal change of spinal cord in MRII. Operative treatment shoud be recommended for other patients.

[Treating Neer two- and three-part of proximal humeral fractures through anterolateral acromial approach and deltopectoral approach].

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical results of treating Neer two- and three-part of proximal humeral fractures between anterolateral acromial approach and deltopectoral approach. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 49 patients with Neer two- and three-part of proximal humeral fractures were treated with locked plate fixation. In anterolateral acromial approach group, there were 22 patients including 9 males and 13 females with an average of (63.2±7.6) years old, while 27 patients in deltopectoral approach including 12 males and 15 females with an average of (62.9±7.0) years old. Operative time, blood loss during operation, fracture healing time and complications were observed and compared, postoperative Constant-Murley scoring and VAS scoring were applied for evaluate function of shoulder joint and pain at 3 months, 1 and 2 years respectively. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 24 to 41 months with an average of 34.5 months. Operative time, blood loss, fracture healing time in anterolateral acromial approach group was (68.20±7.04) min, (151.30±20.57) ml, (10.88±4.90) weeks respectively, and better than that of in deltopectoral approach group which was (75.81±13.70) min, (242.10±37.25) ml and (13.60±2.45) weeks. Three months after operation, Constant-Murley scoring and VAS score in anterolateral acromial approach group was 88.32±5.45, 0.41±0.63 and better that of in deltopectoral approach group which was 63.53±8.31, 1.65±1.02. There was no significant differences between two groups in Constant-Murley scoring and VAS score at 1 and 2 years after operation. Each group has one case occurred loss of length humerus head height, and there was 1 case with subacromial impingement, 1 case with bolt loose and 2 cases with delayed union in deltopectoral approach. No axillary nerve injury, humeral head necrosis and breakage of internal fixation occurred both of two groups. CONCLUSION: Both of anterolateral acromial approach and deltopectoral approach are effective in treating Neer two- and three-part of proximal humeral fractures, and can obtain excellent outcomes. Moreover, anterolateral acromial approach has advantage of less trauma, less blood loss, shorter operative time, rapid recovery of shoulder joint function and fracture.

Microchip electrophoresis of bacteria using lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles.

The aggregation and adhesion of bacterial cells is a serious disadvantage for electrophoretic separations of bacteria. In this study, lipid-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles were used as a pseudostationary phase to minimise the bacterial aggregation and adsorption to the inner walls of microchannels. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were selected as analytes and were separated by microchip electrophoresis (MCE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using 4.5 mM tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (TRIS)-4.5 mM boric acid-0.1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) (TBE) containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and lipid-based nanoparticles as the running buffer. The mechanism of lipid-based nanoparticles affecting bacterial adhesion and aggregation was discussed and supported by zeta potential experiments. Under the optimal conditions, the three species of bacteria were identified with patterned peaks. This proposed MCE method using lipid-based nanoparticles as running buffer additives was also used to analyse a real yogurt sample, and valuable bacterial information was obtained by the electropherograms.

[Estimation on tolerance limits and tolerance interval regarding the disease incubation].

To estimate the tolerance limit and the tolerance interval of disease incubation, under the theory that the observations (samples) were subject to Poisson distribution, the tolerance limits and tolerance interval of disease incubation were calculated based on beta-distribution with integer parameter. Expressions on the relation were obtained, including the statistics on tolerance limits of both minimum and maximum orders while the tolerance was the difference between minimum and maximum order statistics and the parameters of Poisson distribution on the sample size. Using the incomplete observations as an example, reasonable unit of sample size was considered and chosen.

Clinical observations on 46 cases of globus hystericus treated with modified Banxia Houpu decoction.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of modified Banxia Houpu decoction on globus hystericus. METHODS: The 95 patients with globus hystericus were randomly divided into a treatment group of 46 cases treated with modified Banxia Houpu decoction and a control group of 49 cases treated with Manyanshuning (Granula for Clearing the Throat). In addition, a normal group of 24 healthy people was set up. SCL-90 scale was adopted to observe the therapeutic effect, evaluate the psychological state of patients and build a database on combination of four diagnoses. RESULTS: The effect of the modified Banxia Houpo decoction was better than that of the control group in relieving depression, anxiety and improving the psychological state (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Modified Banxia Houpu decoction has definite therapeutic effect on globus hystericus. Its mechanism may be related to its function in relieving depression and anxiety and regulating the psychological state.

Study on reaction kinetics of synthesis of thioether by a visualization technique.

In this paper, a novel technique combined light-electronic microscopy and computer imaging trace was used to investigate the synthesis of thioether, which is an intermediate for lansoprazole. The reaction kinetics study by a visualization technique was carried out in a minireactor, and the concentration-grayscale standard curves for thioether were obtained by analyzing the grayscales of digital images for the solutions with 20 different concentrations. Based on the concentration-grayscale standard curves, the reactant concentrations at different times were calculated and the reaction kinetic curve as well as the reaction rate equation were obtained. It was found that the total mass-transfer resistance of sodium imidazole was larger than that of bromopyridine. Liquid-liquid interface of synthesizing thioether was observed and its mass transfer mechanism was discussed.

Visualization study on sedimentation of micron iron oxide particles.

In this paper, a novel technique combined light-electronic microscopy and computer imaging trace was used for visualization of the sedimentation of micron iron oxide particles in a customized micro-reactor. Micron iron oxide particles were recovered from the cinder of sulfuric acid production by sedimentation separating and hydraulic rating. Effects of particle size, shape and surface roughness on the sedimentation velocity were investigated. For irregular-shape particles, the sedimentation velocity and the geometric parameters of the particles were measured by the imaging trace technique. A correction coefficient (c) was used to modify the Stokes equation. In this study, the relationship between the correction coefficient and the equivalent diameter (d(p)) was found to be linear: c=0.6272-0.0298d(p), for iron oxide particles with equivalent diameter 4-22 microm.

Clinical in vivo calibration of pulse wave tissue Doppler velocities in the assessment of ventricular wall motion. A comparison study with M-mode echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed Wave Tissue Doppler (PWTD) recording of myocardial velocities has been widely used for assessing ventricular function but the output trace has finite thickness that leads to potential ambiguity in determining velocity and timing. OBJECTIVE: To determine optimal method of measurement of PWTD traces by comparing them with those obtained from digitised M-mode recorded from the atrioventricular (AV) valve ring (septal, LV and RV free wall). METHODS: We studied 100 subjects, 49 normal and 51 with coronary artery disease (15 patients with reduced left ventricular wall motion, mean systolic amplitude of LV free wall 0.8+/-0.3 cm), mean age 53+/-15 years. We recorded AV ring motion using PWTD and M-mode echo techniques. PWTD velocity signals were measured separately at: outer, inner and mid-points of the envelope and compared with peak velocities obtained from digitised M-mode long axis. RESULTS: Peak systolic (S), early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A) PWTD velocities at outer, inner and middle envelope correlated closely with the corresponding M-mode measurements at left, septal and right ventricular free wall. However, only the midpoint S and E wave PWTD signal velocities agreed numerically with those obtained by digitised M-mode velocities; S (left 6.56+/-1.80 vs. 6.54+/-1.91 cm/s N.S.); E (left 8.50+/-3.25 vs. 7.65+/-3.30 cm/s N.S.). Agreement was somewhat less satisfactory for A wave; left 7.40+/-2.13 vs. 6.23+/-2.09 cm/s p<0.05. CONCLUSION: Atrioventricular valve ring echo provides an excellent in vivo calibration model for validating tissue Doppler velocity estimates. Since the mid-point of the envelope of the tissue Doppler signal is the most closely related value to that of the digitised M-mode, it may be recommended as a convention for routine practice.

[Forecast about number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis 2001 - 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To forecast the number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in 2010. METHODS: A mathematical model was established based on the nationwide epidemiological survey on tuberculosis conducted in 2000 so as to forecast the numbers of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in 2000s. RESULTS: (1) The number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis would be a little more than that in 2000, with the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate rho of 0.26 being adopted. (2) The number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis would be smaller than that in 2000, with the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate rho of 0.30 being adopted. (3) If the current intervention strategy manages to keep the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate at the level of 0.35, the decline in number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis will approach the goal set by the national program that the number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis be decreased by 50%. CONCLUSION: The goal set by the national program can be achieved only when the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate reaches 0.35.