Validity of a hinged constant force probe and a similar, immobilised probe in untreated periodontal disease

The validity of a hinged constant force probe (0.25 N) was compared with that of a similar but immobilised instrument, using the same interchangeable tip for both (0.64 mm diameter; 2 mm divisions). 60 sites were measured on teeth which were extracted subsequently, in patients with untreated periodontal disease, and the connective tissue attachment level was used as validity criterion. The clinical measurements of both probes correlated well with each other, but they differed significantly from the post-extraction connective tissue attachment level measurements, indicating a point 1.2 mm coronally to this, on average. A companion investigation of intra-operator probing depth reproducibility with the 2 probes, was undertaken in 14 patients, at 2 visits separated by 1 week in each case. All patients had untreated periodontal disease. A difference between probes was found at the first visit, but not at the second; the immobilised probe showed a difference between visits, reducing mean probing depth slightly at the second; when the immobilised probe was used first, there was a difference between probes. Further analysis of the results indicated that there was greatest agreement between probes when the constant force probe had been used before the immobilised probe at the second visit. The results suggested that these probes indicated a point above the connective tissue attachment level, related to pocket morphology, and that there was a moderate learning effect due to operator use of the constant force probe, which modified use of the immobilised probe.     

In vivo measurement of the shear modulus of the human vocal fold: interim results from eight patients

The shear modulus of the vocal fold is an essential parameter required to enhance our understanding of how the vocal fold operates, to develop mathematical models of phonatation, and to provide benchmarks to quantify the effectiveness of surgical procedures. The authors announced the successful deployment of an instrument to measure vocal fold elasticity in vivo last year, and now present the data taken from eight patients in vivo. The shear modulus was measured at the mid-membranous point, in a transverse direction with respect to the axis drawn between the anterior commissure and vocal process. The range of mean shear modulus results is 701–2,225 Pa, with a mean value of 1,371 Pa.     

THE COMPUTERIZED GAIT ANALYSIS SYSTEM AND THREE DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF FOOT-GROUND REACTION FORCES DURING LEVEL WALKING

A S9-2 computerized gait analysis system developed by us is reported. The advantages of the system are: synchronous measurement of the forces, angles and time parameters; high efficiency, accuracy and good repeatability; low cost and easy to operate. A three dimensional analysis of the foot-ground reaction forces of 41 normal subjects during level walking was carried out by the S9-2 system and a series of normal values of parameters and characteristic curves were obtained. The mechanism of formation of the parameters and curves and the sex influence were investigated and discussed. In old subject, before the development of "cautious gait", most values of the parameters did not differ significantly from those of the young subjects, except that the centre of gravity of the body crossing the hip earlier with a slight decrease in the medio-lateral balance capacity.     

全科住培医师职业内驱力量表的编制及其信效度评价

目的 开发全科住培医师职业内驱力测量量表,并检验其信效度。方法 结合职业内驱力和全科住培医师发展现状的文献分析和质性访谈结果,构建量表条目池。通过专家德尔菲咨询,形成初版量表。对403名全科住培医师进行问卷调查,检验量表的信效度。结果 全科住培医师职业内驱力量表包括11个条目,划分为3个维度;量表的Cronbach’s α系数为0.945;各个维度的Cronbach’s α系数均在0.850以上,KMO系数为0.925。因子分析显示,所有条目的因子载荷均≥0.4,共同性均>0.2,保留11个条目。经因子分析抽取3个公因子进行相关分析提示：量表总分的各公因子之间相关系数大于0,且呈现出显著正相关（P<0.01）。根据各因子所含条目内容、理论研究和专家建议,分别将其命名为学科归属、发展期望、认同需求,分别含3个条目、3个条目和5个条目。结论 该研究形成的全科住培医师职业内驱力量表结构合理,具有良好的信效度,适用于全科住培医师职业内驱力测评,为住培医师职业教育提供指引。     

Drug Binding to α1-Acid Glycoprotein Studied by Circular Dichroism

The interactions of acidic and basic drugs with ₁-acid glycoprotein (₁-AGP) were investigated using circular dichroism (CD) measurements. Extrinsic Cotton effects were generated by the binding of drugs to ₁-AGP. The CD data suggested the presence of a single binding site on the ₁-AGP molecule. The induced ellipticities of the acidic drug–₁-AGP system decreased with increasing pH, while the ellipticities for the basic drugs increased with pH. The ellipticities for all drugs were reduced by the addition of fatty acids. Furthermore, the induced ellipticities decreased in the presence of cesium chloride for basic drugs bound to ₁-AGP. The extrinsic Cotton effects therefore appear to result from hydrophobic interaction with ₁-AGP for the acidic drugs and from hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions for the basic drugs.     

人头部力锤冲击试验的生物力学研究

目的：探讨人头部受主动冲击的钝力作用时的力响应特点,同时测试头部各部位承受最大冲击力的限度,从冲击动力学角度去探讨颅脑损伤的生物力学机理。方法：使用配备大量程力传感器的力锤对人尸体头部各部位进行冲击试验,记录接触力响应曲线,并手工记录锤头的质地、质量、初速度、冲击面大小,以及被冲击的头部是否有破坏性反应(头皮挫裂及颅骨骨折)。结果：人头部对主动冲击的钝物的接触力响应曲线为类似正弦波的脉冲波形,其波形宽度及峰值因冲击物的质地、有无头皮等发生变化;人头部在小面积钝物的冲击作用下,造成头皮挫裂的冲击力最大值平均为5100N;使颞部、顶部、额部、枕部骨折的冲击力最大值的平均值分别为6200、8100、8300、11000N;利用试验得到的数据,验证了作用于头部的钝物与头部组成的系统相当于带有强阻尼的弹簧振子。结论：头部在受到主动冲击时,典型的接触力一时间曲线为类似正弦波的脉冲波形;大面积的钝器作用于头部造成的颅骨骨折,更多发生延伸至远处的线形骨折;本试验还得出了人头部能耐受的冲击力大小等参数,这些对于建立有限元模型进行分析和验证是必须的。     

一种骨种子细胞体外应力培养系统的建立

目的建立体外应力培养系统，观察应力刺激对骨种子细胞成骨分化的影响。方法选择具有明确成骨分化潜能的间充质干细胞(MSCs)作为种子细胞，以脱细胞骨基质为支架材料，以流体切应力作为对种子细胞的体外应力刺激。建立一种骨种子细胞体外三维应力培养系统——流动腔灌流体系，并利用该系统对MSCs的碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性和骨钙素产物的影响进行评价。结果该系统可以明显促进ALP活性和骨钙素产物的表达，而细胞计数无明显改变。结论本系统为骨组织工程研究提供了一种有效的体外培养模型。     

基于AFM形态学观察的细胞铺展机理的假想

本研究提出了细胞铺展机理的三个可能模型：“橡皮泥”模型、“钢筋混泥土”模型和“自我膨胀”模型。应用原子力显微镜观察了处于不同铺展程度、具有不同形态的人骨髓间充质干细胞的整体和局部外部形貌，并根据观察结果，初步推断“钢筋混泥土”模型可能就是细胞铺展的机理。尽管证据还不够充分，需要进一步的研究，却为今后的研究提供了可能的模型和研究手段。细胞铺展机理的解决必将进一步促进细胞生物学和生物医学工程等学科的发展。     

Immunolocalization of lamins and nuclear pore complex proteins by atomic force microscopy

The nuclear envelope functions as a selective barrier separating the nuclear from the cytosolic compartment. Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) mediate nuclear import and export of macromolecules and, therefore, are potential regulators of gene expression. In this study we applied atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the three dimensional (3D) structure of individual NPCs in the absence and presence of two different antibodies, one directed against a pore protein (gp62) and another directed against Xenopus lamin LIII, a component of the nuclear lamina, a filament meshwork localized on the nucleoplasmic side of the nuclear envelope (NE) adjacent to and interacting with NPCs. Using 12-nm gold-labelled secondary antibodies and transmission electron microscopy we could clearly localize the primary single anti-gp62 antibody on NPCs and the primary single anti-LIII antibody between NPCs. Using AFM, the secondary antibodies against anti-gp62 could be detected as particles 7 nm in height on the nucleoplasmic face of NPCs. The secondary antibodies against anti-LIII could be clearly identified between NPCs. The secondary antibodies, attached to a 12-nm colloidal gold particle and visualized on glass, revealed similar shapes and heights as found on NEs. According to the 3D images, the volume of a single gold particle conjugated with secondary antibodies was 10 203 nm³. This volume is equivalent to the volume of 38 IgG molecules associated with one individual gold particle. A similar volume of 11 987 nm³ was calculated from a model assuming that the 150-kDa IgG molecules perfectly cover the spherical gold particle. We conclude that AFM can be used for identifying antibodies or other macromolecules associated with biomembranes.