Phase reversal of biomechanical functions and muscle activity in backward pedaling

Computer simulations of pedaling have shown that a wide range of pedaling tasks can be performed if each limb has the capability of executing six biomechanical functions, which are arranged into three pairs of alternating antagonistic functions. An Ext/Flex pair accelerates the limb into extension or flexion, a Plant/Dorsi pair accelerates the foot into plantarflexion or dorsiflexion, and an Ant/Post pair accelerates the foot anteriorly or posteriorly relative to the pelvis. Because each biomechanical function (i.e., Ext, Flex, Plant, Dorsi, Ant, or Post) contributes to crank propulsion during a specific region in the cycle, phasing of a muscle is hypothesized to be a consequence of its ability to contribute to one or more of the biomechanical functions. Analysis of electromyogram (EMG) patterns has shown that this biomechanical framework assists in the interpretation of muscle activity in healthy and hemiparetic subjects during forward pedaling. Simulations show that backward pedaling can be produced with a phase shift of 180 degrees in the Ant/Post pair. No phase shifts in the Ext/Flex and Plant/Dorsi pairs are then necessary. To further test whether this simple yet biomechanically viable strategy may be used by the nervous system, EMGs from 7 muscles in 16 subjects were measured during backward as well as forward pedaling. As predicted, phasing in vastus medialis (VM), tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and soleus (SL) were unaffected by pedaling direction, with VM and SL contributing to Ext, MG to Plant, and TA to Dorsi. In contrast, phasing in biceps femoris (BF) and semimembranosus (SM) were affected by pedaling direction, as predicted, compatible with their contribution to the directionally sensitive Post function. Phasing of rectus femoris (RF) was also affected by pedaling direction; however, its ability to contribute to the directionally sensitive Ant function may only be expressed in forward pedaling. RF also contributed significantly to the directionally insensitive Ext function in both forward and backward pedaling. Other muscles also appear to have contributed to more than one function, which was especially evident in backward pedaling (i.e. , BF, SM, MG, and TA to Flex). We conclude that the phasing of only the Ant and Post biomechanical functions are directionally sensitive. Further, we suggest that task-dependent modulation of the expression of the functions in the motor output provides this biomechanics-based neural control scheme with the capability to execute a variety of lower limb tasks, including walking.     

Detection of highly pathogenic and low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5 (Eurasian lineage) using NASBA

Nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is a technique that allows the rapid amplification of specific regions of nucleic acid obtained from a diverse range of sources. It is especially suitable for amplifying RNA sequences. A NASBA technique has been developed that allows the detection of avian influenza A subtype H5 from allantoic fluid harvested from inoculated chick embryos. The amplified viral RNA is detected by electrochemiluminescence. The NASBA technique described below is rapid and specific for the identification of influenza A subtype H5 viruses of the Eurasian lineage. More importantly, it can be used to distinguish highly pathogenic and low pathogenic strains of the H5 subtype.     

新型控释化疗系统的基础研究

研究一种新型的控释化疗系统聚-二聚酸一葵二酸一阿霉索(P(DA—SA)-阿霉索(在脑组织内的相容性、体内外释药特性及体外抑瘤特性。将空载体P(DA—SA)分别植入实验动物脑内，观察局部反应；用紫外线光谱测定P(DA—SA)-阿霉素在磷酸盐缓冲液及兔脑内的控释特性；流式细胞仪检测P(DA—SA)-阿霉索诱发的胶质瘤细胞株的凋亡。P(DA—SA)在兔脑内引起的反应较轻，与明胶海绵相比无明显差异。P(DA—SA)-阿霉素在体内外释药速率稳定，控释时间达3周。控释剂组的胶质瘤细胞凋亡率达69．9％，与对照组有明显差异。P(DA—SA)具有良好的组织相容性，P(DA—SA)-阿霉索控释剂在体内外的控释效果理想，杀伤效应明显，该控释化疗系统有很好的临床应用价值。     

Ratio of shear to load ground-reaction force may underlie the directional tuning of the automatic postural response to rotation and translation

This study sought to identify the sensory signals that encode perturbation direction rapidly enough to shape the directional tuning of the automatic postural response. We compared reactions to 16 directions of pitch and roll rotation and 16 directions of linear translation in the horizontal plane in freely standing cats. Rotations and translations that displaced the center of mass in the same direction relative to the feet evoked similar patterns of muscle activity and active ground-reaction force, suggesting the presence of a single, robust postural strategy for stabilizing the center of mass in both rotation and translation. Therefore we postulated there should be a common sensory input that encodes the direction of the perturbation and leads to the directional tuning of the early electromyographic burst in the postural response. We compared the mechanical changes induced by rotations and translations prior to the active, postural response. The only consistent feature common to the full range of rotation and translation directions was the initial change in ground-reaction force angle. Other variables including joint angles, ground-reaction force magnitudes, center of pressure, and center of mass in space showed opposite or nonsignificant changes for rotation and translation. Change in force angle at the paw reflects the ratio of loading force to slip force, analogous to slips during finger grip tasks. We propose that cutaneous sensors in the foot soles detect change in ground-reaction force angle and provide the critical input underlying the directional tuning of the automatic postural response for balance.     

The incidence and clinical implications of hypersensitivity to papain in an allergic population, confirmed by blinded oral challenge

Five hundred allergy clinic patients were prick skin tested with papain, 1 mg/mL, in addition to usual local aeroallergens. Five of 475 subjects with seasonal allergic disease had positive skin tests to both papain and local pollens. None of the 25 individuals with negative skin test to pollens had skin reactivity to papain. The five subjects with positive skin tests to papain underwent double-blind placebo-papain challenges. All papain challenges were positive. Placebo challenges were negative. Papain-induced symptoms included palatal itching, watering itchy eyes, sneezing, rhinorrhea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and diaphoresis. Circulating papain-specific IgE was detected in all the papain-sensitive individuals, but not in control subjects. Confirmed papain sensitivity occurred in 1.05% of allergic subjects. In the papain-sensitive patients, cross-reacting antibodies with chymopapain were found. The small number of non-allergic subjects did not show any papain or chymopapain sensitivity in vitro.     

CD3+木瓜提取物对ApoE基因缺陷小鼠血脂及炎性相关因素的影响

目的观察木瓜提取物对ApoE基因缺陷小鼠血脂水平、主动脉窦斑块中巨噬细胞活化及肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)水平的影响。方法30只雄性ApoE基因缺陷小鼠随机分为3组:对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组,低剂量组和高剂量组分别在基础饲料上添加5%和10%的木瓜提取物喷雾干燥颗粒,饲养16周后经小鼠眼眶静脉取血后处死动物,酶法测定血脂水平、采用免疫组化分析主动脉窦斑块中TNF-α的表达水平和采用免疫荧光反映斑块CD68阳性表达水平与巨噬细胞阳性表达率。结果低剂量组和高剂量组的血清TC和LDL-C显著低于对照组(P<0.05),木瓜提取物能显著下调斑块中TNF-α的表达水平以及减少巨噬细胞的阳性率。结论木瓜提取物降低了血清脂蛋白胆固醇水平(TC和LDL-C),减少了炎性因子TNF-α表达以及减弱巨噬细胞参与程度,预示其可能具有减缓动脉斑块发生发展的抗动脉粥样硬化作用。     

Y chromosome microdeletions, in azoospermic or near-azoospermic subjects, are located in the AZFc (DAZ) subregion

Submicroscopic deletions of the Y chromosome and polymorphisms of the androgen receptor (AR) gene in the X chromosome have been observed in men with defective spermatogenesis. To further define the subregions/genes in the Y chromosome causing male infertility and its relationship to polymorphisms of the AR polyglutamine tract, we screened the genomic DNA of 202 subfertile males and 101 healthy fertile controls of predominantly Chinese ethnic origin. Y microdeletions were examined with 16 sequence-tagged site (STS) probes, including the RBM and DAZ genes, spanning the AZFb and AZFc subregions of Yq11, and related to the size of trinucleotide repeat encoding the AR polyglutamine tract. Y microdeletions were detected and confirmed in three out of 44 (6.8%) of azoospermic and three out of 86 (3.5%) severely oligozoospermic patients. No deletions were detected in any of the patients with sperm counts of >0.5 x 10(6)/ml, nor in any of the 101 fertile controls. All six affected patients had almost contiguous Y microdeletions spanning the entire AZFc region including the DAZ gene. The AZFb region, containing the RBM1 gene, was intact in five of the six subjects. Y deletions were not found in those with long AR polyglutamine tracts. Our study, the first in a Chinese population, suggest a cause and effect relationship between Y microdeletions in the AZFc region (possibly DAZ), and azoospermia or near-azoospermia. Y microdeletions and long AR polyglutamine tracts appear to be independent contributors to male infertility.