Innervation of the trapezius muscle: is cervical contribution important to its function?

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the cervical plexus and the accessory nerve to the function of the trapezius muscle. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Eighteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The neurotomies were performed in the left sides and the right sides served as within-subject controls. In group A, the accessory nerve was transected. The C2-5 were transected in group B, and both of the accessory nerve and C2-5 were cut in group C. The electrophysiologic, myophysiologic, and histologic changes of the muscles were measured. RESULTS: There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the three groups in the recovery rates of the transverse area of the muscles. The CMAP recorded from the experimental sides in group B were similar to the control sides. The values of the maximum tension of the tetanus contraction between the two sides showed no differences either (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The accessory nerve supplies the most important motor input to the trapezius. Motor innervations of the cervical plexus are not very significant.     

青少年肌阵挛性癫(癎)

青少年肌阵挛性癫是一种以晨起肌阵挛、全身强直-阵挛发作为临床特征的特发性全身性癫综合征,有时伴有失神发作。本文就青少年肌阵挛性癫的临床表现、遗传学、脑电图特点、鉴别诊断以及治疗方法进行了阐述。     

CORDIC算法在B超数字扫描变换器中的应用

数字扫描变换器在B型超声诊断仪的应用，能使现代实时B型超声诊断仪实现一些新的诸如图像冻结、多帧贮存、数据测量计算和TV显示等功能。在设计B型超声诊断仪中数字扫描变化器的过程中，直角坐标到极坐标变换是一个关键的技术，本研究论述了应用在数字扫描变化器中的一种新的算法——CORDIC算法，对该算法的原理进行了简介，将CORDIC算法应用到直角——极坐标变换中，并进行了算法修正和公式计算。根据其具体的应用对该算法进行了优化，并给出了算法的硬件实现结构。最后，对算法进行了软件仿真，并给出了结果分析。     

Pilot study on efficacy of reduced cathartic bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol and bisacodyl

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of reduced cathartic bowel preparation with 2 L polyethylene glycol(PEG)-4000 electrolyte solution and 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets for computed tomographic colonography(CTC).METHODS:Sixty subjects who gave informed consent were randomly assigned to study group A,study group B or the control group.On the day prior to CTC,subjects in study group A were given 20 mL 40% wt/vol barium sulfate suspension before 3 mealtimes,60 mL 60% diatrizoate meglumine diluted in 250 mL water after supper,and 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets 1 h before oral administration of 2 L PEG-4000 electrolyte solution.Subjects in study group B were treated identically to those in study group A,with the exception of bisacodyl which was given 1 h after oral PEG-4000.Subjects in the control group were managed using the same strategy as the subjects in study group A,but without administration of bisacodyl.Residual stool and fluid scores,the attenuation value of residual fluid,and discomfort during bowel preparation in the three groups were analyzed statistically.RESULTS:The mean scores for residual stool and fluid in study group A were lower than those in study group B,but the differences were not statistically significant.Subjects in study group A showed greater stool and fluid cleansing ability than the subjects in study group B.The mean scores for residual stool and fluid in study groups A and B were lower than those in the control group,and were significantly different.There was no significant difference in the mean attenuation value of residual fluid between study group A,study group B and the control group.The total discomfort index during bowel preparation was 46,45 and 45 in the three groups,respectively,with no significant difference.CONCLUSION:Administration of 10 mg bisacodyl enteric-coated tablets prior to or after oral administration of 2 L PEG-4000 electrolyte solution enhances stool and fluid cleansing ability,and has no impact on the attenuation value of residual fluid or the discomfor     

The high prevalence of Legionella pneumophila contamination in hospital potable water systems in Taiwan: implications for hospital infection control in Asia.

BACKGROUND: The major sources of Legionnaires' disease (LD) are the potable water systems of large buildings including hospitals, nursing homes, and hotels. Culturing the hospital water system for Legionella allows a preventive approach for hospital-acquired LD. However, hospital-acquired LD is rarely reported in Taiwan, and environmental cultures of Legionella in hospital water systems in Taiwan have never been systematically performed. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if Legionella is present in hospital water systems in Taiwan. Water quality analysis was also performed to determine if geographic differences in water quality result in different Legionella positivity rates. METHOD: The water systems of 16 hospitals throughout Taiwan were tested for Legionella by culture. Standardized culture procedures were followed. RESULTS: Legionella pneumophila was isolated from 63% (10/16) of the hospital water systems; 19% (3/16) of the hospitals had an L. pneumophila positive rate greater than 30%. L. pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 (strains that are most responsible for Legionella infections) were isolated from 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10), respectively, of the hospitals that yielded L. pneumophila in their water distribution systems. CONCLUSION: As was shown in epidemiological studies in the USA and Spain, hospital-acquired legionellosis may be prevalent but underdiagnosed in Taiwan.     

冠状动脉轻中度狭窄病变的血管内超声特征

通过分析病变的结构特点 ,探讨轻中度狭窄病变斑块不稳定的机制。对冠状动脉造影显示轻中度狭窄(直径狭窄率 2 0 %～ 6 0 % ) 6 2例及重度狭窄 2 6例冠心病患者行血管内超声显像检查 ,分析粥样硬化斑块性质及其狭窄程度。结果发现 ,轻中度狭窄患者中软斑块 (6 8.2 %比 15 .4 % ,P <0 .0 1)、薄纤维帽 (6 5 .9%比 7.7% ,P <0 .0 1)显著多于重度狭窄患者 ,并且斑块破裂 (2 8.2 %比 7.7% ,P <0 .0 1)及正性重构 (5 1.8%比 0 % ,P <0 .0 1)也显著多于重度狭窄患者。轻中度狭窄患者偏心斑块检出率显著多于重度狭窄者 (84 .7%比 30 .1% ,P <0 .0 1) ,但钙化少见 (16 .5 %比 84 .6 % ,P <0 .0 1)。结果提示 ,冠状动脉造影轻中度狭窄患者多数具有不稳定性斑块的结构特点 ,这些特点导致轻中度狭窄者容易发生急性冠状动脉综合征。     

MicroRNA-200a inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Objective: Our study investigated the role of microRNA (miR)-200a and its molecular targets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Methods: An inhibitor of miR-200a was transiently transfected into the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, MHCC-97L. The effect of this transfection on mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes was measured by fluorescence-based quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Further, protein levels of EMT-related genes, cell proliferation and apoptosis-related markers were assessed by Western blot analysis in these transfected cells. MTT and wound-healing assay were used to evaluate the proliferation and migration of MHCC-97L cells in presence and in absence of miR-200a inhibitor. Results: Compared with miR-NC control group, qRT-PCR results in anti-miR-200a group revealed a significant reduction in the mRNA levels of E-cadherin, with a concomitant increasing in vimentin mRNA level (all P < 0.05). Western blot results showed higher E-cadherin and Caspase-3 protein expressions in anti-miR-200a group compared to miR-NC group (P < 0.05). In addition, vimentin and Ki-67 protein expression was found sharply decreased in anti-miR-200a group compared to miR-NC group (P < 0.05). Consistent with this, wound-healing and MTT assay showed that migration and proliferation capacity of MHCC-97L cells in anti-miR-200a group is significantly increased compared with miR-NC group (both P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study reveals an important role of miR-200a in inhibiting EMT, proliferation and migration in HCC cells, suggesting the possibility of miR-200a-based therapeutics in HCC.     

《临证指南医案》治疗肝胃不和证的组方用药规律探讨

通过收集清代叶天士所著《临证指南医案》"木乘土"篇中所收录的方剂,采用数据挖掘的方法探析其组方用药配伍规律,以期为中医临床治疗肝胃不和证提供参考。分析结果显示:《临证指南医案》"木乘土"篇中共有68首方剂,94种草药,中药使用总频次为455次。高频中药包括茯苓、人参、半夏、白芍、川楝子等,四气以平、寒、温为主,五味主要为苦、甘、辛,归经主要归脾、肝、心、肺,其中归脾经的频率最高。高权值功效为温肺、补脾、健脾、温脾、清心、补肝、疏肝、补气、行气、温阳、活血、化瘀、散寒、消积满、止咳、祛痰等,并归纳了23种中药配伍组合。结果提示叶天士治疗"木乘土"以温中焦、清疏肝为主,兼顾调肝脾、通调气机,且药少效专,可为现代中医临床治疗肝胃不和证提供思路。     

Glycemic load, glycemic index and risk of cardiovascular diseases: Meta-analyses of prospective studies

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the relations between glycemic load (GL), glycemic index (GI) and the risk of fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).MethodsProspective studies were identified by a comprehensive search of Pubmed, ISI web of Science, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE database, supplemented with manual searches through the reference lists of original publications and review articles. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using a random-effect model, and dose–response meta-analysis was performed by the method of generalized least-squares.ResultsFourteen studies were identified, involving 229,213 participants and more than 11,363 cases. The pooled RRs of CVDs risk for the highest vs lowest categories of GL and GI were 1.23 (95% CI: 1.11–1.36) and 1.13 (95% CI: 1.04–1.22) respectively. Both the risk estimates of GL and GI for women (GL: RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.18–1.55; GI: RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06–1.34) were higher than men (GL: RR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.95–1.28; GI: RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.94–1.17). No heterogeneity or publication bias was detected. Dose-response meta-analysis found an increased RR of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.01–1.38, P = 0.033) per 50 unit increment of GL with cardiac event risk in Caucasians.ConclusionsHigh GL and GI were associated with significant increased risk of CVDs, specifically for women.