Spatiotemporal and muscle activation adaptations during overground walking in response to lower body added mass

BackgroundLower-extremity exoskeletons have been used in rehabilitation and performance augmentation for the past two decades. An exoskeleton adds a significant load to certain segments of the user’s body and the underlying science about the effects of adding mass to the different lower-body segments is limited.Research questionWhat are the adaptive changes that occur when mass is placed on three lower body segments (pelvis, thigh, and shank)?MethodsHealthy adults (n = 24) completed 5 overground walking trials for 7 added mass conditions. The seven added mass conditions included a Baseline (no-load) condition, + 2 and + 4 lb on either the shanks or the thighs, and + 8 and + 16 lb on the pelvis. Spatiotemporal metrics, surface electromyography (EMG) data from 5 lower-limb muscles, and ground reaction force data were analyzed and compared between conditions.ResultsPelvis mass of 16 lb increased the double support time (p < 0.001) and decreased the single support time (p < 0.001) from the Baseline. Loading rate for none of the added mass conditions were significantly different from the Baseline. The highest activation of the considered thigh muscles and gastrocnemius generally occurred when High Mass was added either to the pelvis or the thigh.SignificanceThe results demonstrate how added mass affects muscle activity, which could inform design of EMG-based exoskeleton controllers. With respect to spatiotemporal changes, results indicate that adding masses equal to or greater than 16 lb on the pelvis can cause significant differences when compared to unloaded walking. This finding implies that all other mass loadings in this study, regardless of location, are regulated. Thus, as a guideline to exoskeleton design, we recommend mass distributions over the pelvis and the thigh to take advantage of the larger muscle groups in adapting to the added mass.     

一腓骨肌萎缩症家系临床及基因分析

目的分析一腓骨肌萎缩症家系的临床表现及不同基因检测方法的特点。方法收集一CMT家系8名成员临床资料,并应用等位基因特异性PCR-双酶切方法及多重连接依赖的探针扩增技术(MLPA)检测PMP22基因突变情况,同时选择60名性别、年龄无明显差异的健康人做为对照组。结果该家系中患病者以行走不稳、跨阈步态,伴有弓形足为主要临床表现。该家系中5名成员经等位基因特异性PCR-双酶切及MLPA方法均检测出PMP22基因重复序列,其中出现临床症状的有4名(Ⅱ3、Ⅱ9、Ⅱ11、Ⅲ7),未出现临床症状但基因检测结果示PMP22基因重复序列的为携带者有1名(Ⅲ5),家系中余3名成员及对照组60名均未见重复序列。结论基因检测在明确CMT诊断中起重要作用,且MLPA法筛查基因时操作更简便、灵敏度更高、特异性更好。     

芪玉三龙汤调节Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B表达以抑制肺癌肿瘤生长机制

目的:研究芪玉三龙汤对肺癌小鼠皮下移植瘤生长及对自噬关键分子酵母Atg6同系物(Beclin1),自噬相关基因5(autophagy related genes,Atg5)及微管相关蛋白1轻链3(microtubule-associated protein1light chain3,LC3B)表达的影响。方法:采用Lewis肺癌细胞(lewis lung cancer cell,LLC)构建肺癌移植瘤小鼠模型,造模成功后随机分为模型组、芪玉三龙汤组、顺铂组及联合组,每组18只移植瘤小鼠。模型组每日按照生理盐水20 mL·kg~(-1)灌胃;芪玉三龙汤组每日按照80. 48 g·kg~(-1)灌胃;顺铂组在第1,3,5天腹腔注射顺铂溶液(DDP)0. 4 mL;联合组每日按80. 48 g·kg~(-1)灌胃给药,并分别在第1,3,5天腹腔注射顺铂溶液0. 4 mL;连续治疗21 d剥离瘤组织,称取瘤重,计算抑瘤率。苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察肿瘤组织形态学改变。免疫组化检测肿瘤组织中Beclin1,LC3B蛋白表达和定位。蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)测定Beclin1,Atg5,微管相关蛋白1轻链3-I(LC3B-Ⅰ)及微管相关蛋白1轻链3-Ⅱ(LC3B-Ⅱ)蛋白表达,并计算LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ。实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)检测肿瘤组织Beclin1,Atg5 mRNA转录水平。结果:芪玉三龙汤具有温和的移植瘤抑制作用,抑瘤率为31. 2%;镜下观察芪玉三龙汤组肿瘤组织可见片状坏死的肿瘤细胞;免疫组化及Western blot实验表明,与模型组比较,芪玉三龙汤能够上调Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B蛋白的表达(P 0. 01),并且能促进LC3B-Ⅰ转化为LC3B-Ⅱ;Real-time PCR结果表明,与模型组比较,芪玉三龙汤能够促进Beclin1,Atg5 mRNA的转录(P 0. 01)。结论:芪玉三龙汤对肺肿瘤生长具有温和地抑制作用,其作用机制可能与上调自噬关键分子Beclin1,Atg5,LC3B表达,促进LC3B-Ⅰ向LC3B-Ⅱ转化有关。     

呼吸道感染患儿肺炎支原体和沙眼衣原体检测结果分析

目的了解呼吸道感染患儿肺炎支原体(MP)、沙眼衣原体(CT)的检出情况。方法应用荧光定量聚合酶链反应法对1 393例呼吸道感染患儿同时进行MP、CT检测。结果 MP、CT总检出率为30.4%,其中MP为21.8%,CT为9.3%,MP合并CT为0.65%。在季节分布上,夏季MP和CT检出率最高。在年龄分布上,大于或等于3岁组的患儿MP的检出率要明显高于其他年龄组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);小于1个月组患儿CT检出率要高于其他组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论夏季易检出MP和CT;3岁以上患儿较其他年龄段患儿易检出MP;新生儿较其他年龄段患儿易检出CT。荧光定量聚合酶链反应法诊断支原体、衣原体感染快速、敏感,特异性高。     

Hepatitis E: An Underdiagnosed,Emerging Infection in Nonendemic Regions

Although hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the primary cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis and jaundice in developing countries, locally acquired HEV infections are increasing in nonendemic countries. As such, HEV is emerging as an underdiagnosed cause of infection. This report describes three clinically variable cases of HEV infection with unusual clinical presentations. These cases highlight the fact that HEV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained hepatitis (acute or chronic) with or without extrahepatic manifestations. HEV should also be considered in patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes who have not travelled to known HEV-endemic regions. Lack of knowledge among physicians and an absence of standardized diagnostic tests may result in increased morbidity and mortality from HEV infection.     

Inhibitors of the Hepatitis C Virus Polymerase; Mode of Action and Resistance

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a pandemic human pathogen posing a substantial health and economic burden in both developing and developed countries. Controlling the spread of HCV through behavioural prevention strategies has met with limited success and vaccine development remains slow. The development of antiviral therapeutic agents has also been challenging, primarily due to the lack of efficient cell culture and animal models for all HCV genotypes, as well as the large genetic diversity between HCV strains. On the other hand, the use of interferon-α-based treatments in combination with the guanosine analogue, ribavirin, achieved limited success, and widespread use of these therapies has been hampered by prevalent side effects. For more than a decade, the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been targeted for antiviral development. Direct acting antivirals (DAA) have been identified which bind to one of at least six RdRp inhibitor-binding sites, and are now becoming a mainstay of highly effective and well tolerated antiviral treatment for HCV infection. Here we review the different classes of RdRp inhibitors and their mode of action against HCV. Furthermore, the mechanism of antiviral resistance to each class is described, including naturally occurring resistance-associated variants (RAVs) in different viral strains and genotypes. Finally, we review the impact of these RAVs on treatment outcomes with the newly developed regimens.     

Viral infection in placenta relevant cells – a morphological and immunohistochemical cell culture study

Viral infections in pregnancy are known to cause fetal malformation, growth restriction, and even fetal death. Macroscopic placental examination usually shows slight and unspecific changes. Histology may show secondary, non‐specific tissue reaction, i.e. villitis with lymphocytic invasion. Primary specific morphology characteristics are known for some virus, like cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, and herpes simplex, however many viral infections show non‐specific changes. Placenta relevant cells as human first trimester trophoblasts HTR8/SVneo, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and primary human embryonic fibroblasts were examined following infection with commonly occurring virus like adenovirus and enterovirus. Morphology in routine stained sections and virus‐specific immunostains were studied 4, 8, 24, 48, 72 h after infection. Nuclear enlargement was seen in the infected cells. A specific diagnosis of adenovirus or enterovirus infection, however, was not possible without specific immunostains.