‘Digital Dancing’ – “Can you see,what I feel” – An exploration of the physical ‘experience’ of dance for Parkinson’s through 3-dimensional motion analysis

Background: Parkinson’s is a common, progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder of the central nervous system. Research has consistently shown that dancing can have a positive impact on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s (PwP).PwP who dance report that current measurement of the effects fails to appreciate the multifactorial presentation of the condition as well as the biopsychosocial potential of dance holistically.Aim: To explore the feasibility of combining measurements of whole-body movement using 3-dimensional motion analysis with the lived experience of dance for PwP, to see if it is possible to ‘see (measure)’ what PwP say they ‘feel (experience)’ when dancing, in a ‘mind/body approach’Method: Thirteen PwP and ten Carers took part in three community delivered ‘Parkinson’s Dance Science’ classes followed by focus group reflection. Three PwP wore a 3-dimensional, motion capture suit that recorded whole-body movement throughout the class and were interviewed about their experiences.Data were analysed using a ‘Convergent Parallel’ mixed methods design, mapping participant’s experiences and reflections over six biomechanical movement variables.Results: Quantitative results indicate that it is possible to use 3-dimensional motion capture to measure biomechanical change during and following dance in PwP but the amount and direction of change was different for each participant.Qualitative results showed PwP felt the methods were feasible and reported a positive immediate and long-term effect of dance in a complete ‘mind/body experience’.The sample size did not permit further analysis, but areas of development suggest it may not be the change in physical ability that is important, but more the perception of change following dance that is unique to each individual. Thus single measures of the effects of dance for PwP are likely to be insufficient when trying to understand the effect holistically.Conclusion: A ‘Convergent Parallel’ mixed methods research design, mapping the experience of dance for PwP (‘what I feel’) and their peers against biomechanical change (‘what you see’) following dance is feasible.Further research is required to develop the method with a larger sample to truly begin to understand the potential and effects of dance for PwP.     

Acute toxicity when concentration varies with time: A case study with carbon monoxide inhalation by rats

Exposure to time-varying concentrations of toxic compounds is the norm in both occupational settings and daily human life, but little has been done to investigate the impact of variations in concentration on toxic outcomes; this case study with carbon monoxide helps fill that gap. Median acute lethality of 10-, 20-, 40-, and 60-min continuous exposures of rats to carbon monoxide was well described by the toxic load model (k = Cⁿ × t; k is constant, C = test concentration, n = toxic load exponent, and t = exposure duration) with n = 1.74. Dose response-relationships for 1-h exposures including a recovery period between 10- or 20-min pulses showed greater similarity (in both median lethality and steepness of dose-response curve) to continuous exposures with equivalent pulse duration and concentration, rather than a 60-min exposure with equivalent time-weighted average concentrations or toxic load. When pulses were of unequal concentration (3:1 ratio), only the high concentration pulse contributed to lethality. These findings show that fluctuations or interruptions in exposure over a short time scale (60 min or less) can have a substantial impact on outcomes (when n > 1), and thus high-resolution monitoring data are needed to aid interpretation of resulting outcomes.     

增生性瘢痕胶原结节中成纤维细胞生物学行为的研究

目的研究增生性瘢痕胶原结节中成纤维细胞(fibroblast, Fb)生物学行为及其意义。方法 收集瘢痕切除植皮手术中切除的瘢痕组织及剩余的正常皮肤标本,H-E染色观察正常皮肤与瘢痕组织胶原结节及非结节区域的组织形态学差异,免疫组织化学法检测正常皮肤与瘢痕组织中Ki67及α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-smooth muscle actin,α-SMA)的表达及分布情况。结果 与正常皮肤及增生性瘢痕非胶原结节区域相比,增生性瘢痕胶原结节中可见大量Fb,Ki67及α-SMA阳性表达的Fb亦主要分布于胶原结节区域。结论 胶原结节处Fb增殖活跃,并大量分化为肌成纤维细胞(myofibroblast, MFB)。MFB的大量存在提示局部组织处于高张力水平,后者可能是导致Fb功能活跃、大量存在从而形成胶原结节的重要机制之一。     

男性不育症患者部分附睾来源的miRNA表达水平研究

目的研究精浆miR-888,miR-890和miR-891a在特发性少精症和特发性无精症患者精浆中的水平变化与疾病的关系。方法纳入诊断为特发性少精症和特发性无精症的患者各20例,同时纳入20例健康生育男性作为对照组,采用Real-time PCR方法检测精浆中miR-888,miR-890和miR-891a的相对含量,分析各组间指标表达水平的差异,采用ROC曲线分析三项指标在特发性少精症和特发性无精症中的诊断价值。结果特发性少精症的精浆miR-890表达水平较正常生育组高,miR-888水平两组间差异也具有统计学意义。特发性无精症组的miR-888和miR-890的精浆表达水平均较正常生育组高。特发性无精症组的精浆miR-891a水平显著高于少精症组。miR-890能够较好区分特发性少精症组及正常对照组,三项指标均能很好区分特发性无精症组和正常对照组。结论精浆中miR-888,miR-890和miR-891a的表达水平对于男性不育症研究和诊断具有一定的价值。     

Cloning and sequencing of the gene that codes for theKlebsiella pneumoniaeGroEL-like protein associated with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sacroiliac joints and vertebral column of unknown aetiology, but strongly related to the presence of the HLA-B27 antigen. The participation of bacterial infections as triggering factors have also been suggested. We have associated the 60 kDa heat shock protein ofKlebsiella pneumoniae(HSP60Kp) with AS since we have previously demonstrated that most of the patients have IgG antibodies and active T cells that recognize preferentially this protein, but we have not yet identified the epitopes involved in the recognition. In order to know the amino acid sequence of HSP60Kp, and to be able to analyse in the future the relevant epitopes, we amplified by PCR and cloned the gene coding for this protein into theSmaI site of pUC19. The nucleotide sequence of the gene was obtained by the Sanger method using both manual and automatic techniques. Amino acid sequence of the HSP60Kp was deduced by translating the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The antigenic analysis of this sequence was compared to the antigenic analysis of the reported sequences ofEscherichia coliGroEL andYersinia enterocoliticaHSP60. Using a software to predict HLA class I motifs, the nonapeptide (KRGIDKAVL) residues 117-125 of HSP60Kp showed a much higher affinity for HLA-B27 than the similar nonapeptide ofE. coliGroEL andY. enterocoliticaHSP60. The only difference between the three peptides was in position nine. This finding could explain the association of AS only with the HSP60 ofKlebsiella pneumoniae. On the other hand, hydrophilicity analysis, which indicates B cell epitopes, showed three similar strongly antigenic regions in the three proteins.     

经颅磁及电刺激运动诱发电位监测大鼠脊髓功能

 目的 检测大鼠磁刺激运动诱发电位(MEP)与电刺激MEP信号的正常值,比较两者在刺激方式、信号特征和临床意义等方面的异同.方法 20只雄性SD大鼠经静脉麻醉后采用Mag 2型磁刺激仪和Cantada型肌电图仪分别进行单次经颅磁及电刺激,观察不同刺激强度下,在T<,12>硬膜外和双侧前肢伸肌和后肢腓肠肌记录的MEP变化特征.结果 磁刺激ScMEP先正后负,以P<,1>和N<,1>波最显著,波形不够稳定,个体间差异较大,随着刺激强度增大,MEP潜伏期缩短,波幅增大.近阈值电刺激MEP与相应的超强磁刺激MEP潜伏期相近,波幅也相差不大.结论 采用单次磁或电震刺激MEP仍能客观反映脊髓运动传导束的功能状态,电和磁刺激MEP之间存在一定程度的同源成份,可以作为临床与动物实验比较研究的依据.     

氯沙坦与贝那普利对糖尿病肾病的临床疗效观察

目的观察血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(ACEI)和血管紧张素Ⅱ受体拮抗剂(ARB)对糖尿病肾病的疗效。方法将98例糖尿病肾病患者随机分为A、B两组:A组47例,使用氯沙坦100 mg 1次/d;B组51例,使用贝那普利10 mg 1次/d。分别于治疗3个月后检测24 h尿白蛋白量和血肌酐值。结果两个治疗组在治疗3个月后2,4 h尿白蛋白量显著减少(P<0.01),血肌酐的指标也明显变化(P<0.01)。而两组之间的疗效差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 ACEI和ARB可显著延缓糖尿病肾病的进展。