各类医用电气设备标准间电气安全指标的差异

本文统计了各类医用电气设备标准，分析了各标准间电气安全指标的差异，以指导临床工程师在不同医用电气设备的安全测试、维修或预防性维护丁作中采用合适的电气安全标准。     

Radiological impact assessment to the environment due to waste from disposal of porcelain

The present study aimed to assess the radiological parameters from gamma rays due to the uncontrolled disposal of porcelain waste to the environment. Qualitative and quantitative identification of radionuclides in the investigated samples was carried out by means of a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The average activity concentrations of the local porcelain samples were measured as 208.28?Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, 125.73?Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 84.94?Bq/kg for ²³²Th and 1033.61?Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, respectively. The imported samples had an average activity of 240.57?Bq/kg for ²²⁶Ra, 135.56?Bq/kg for ²³⁸U, 115.74?Bq/kg for ²³²Th and 1312.49?Bq/kg for ⁴⁰K, respectively. Radiological parameters and the radium equivalent Ra_eq for the investigated samples were calculated. The external and internal hazard indices, representative level index (I_γ), alpha index (I_α), and the exemption level (I_x), were estimated to be higher than the recommended value (unity), while the average activity concentrations for the studied samples were higher than recommended levels. In conclusion, we are concerned that disposal of porcelain in the environment might be a significant hazard.     

Drug target interaction of tubulin-binding drugs in cancer therapy

Microtubules and their component protein, tubulin, constitute a popular target for the treatment of cancer. Many drugs that are presently used in clinics or in clinical trials and drugs that show promise as anticancer drugs bind to tubulin and microtubules. There are three conventional binding sites on β-tubulin where many of these drugs bind. The binding properties, conformational changes upon binding, association constants and thermodynamic parameters for the drug–tubulin interaction on these three sites are discussed. The antiproliferative activities of these drugs and the possible correlation with the binding properties are also described.     

Antioxidant and Antifatigue Activities of Polygonatum Alte-lobatum Hayata Rhizomes in Rats

Polygonatum alte-lobatum Hayata, a rhizomatous perennial herb, belongs to the Liliaceae family and is endemic to Taiwan. We investigated the antioxidant and anti-fatigue activities of P. alte-lobatum in exercised rats. Levels of polyphenols, flavonoids and polysaccharides and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity were measured in extracts of P. alte-lobatum (EPA). Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups for 8-week treatment with vehicle (control) and low-, medium-, and high-dose EPA (LEPA, MEPA, HEPA; 0, 75, 150, and 375 mg/kg/day, respectively). Exercise performance was evaluated by exhaustive treadmill exercise time and by changes in body composition and biochemical variables at the end of the experiment. EPA contained polyphenols, flavonoids and polysaccharides, with polysaccharide content at least 26 times greater than that of polyphenols and flavonoids. Trend analysis revealed that EPA dose-dependently scavenged DPPH free radicals. EPA treatment dose-dependently increased endurance running time to exhaustion and superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant ability of blood. EPA dose-dependently decreased serum urea nitrogen and malondialdehyde levels after exercise. Hepatic glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise, was significantly increased with EPA treatment. EPA could be a potential agent with an anti-fatigue pharmacological function.     

Technical aspects of radiation therapy for anal cancer

Historically treated with surgery, current practice recommends anal carcinoma to be treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation. This review will examine the anatomy, modes of disease spread and recurrence, and evaluate the existing evidence for treatment options for these tumors. An in-depth examination of specific radiation therapy (RT) techniques—such as conventional 3D-conformal RT and intensity-modulated RT—will be discussed along with modern dose constraints. RT field arrangement, patient setup, and recommended gross and clinical target volume (CTV) contours will be considered. Areas in need of further investigation, such as the role in treatment for positron emission tomography (PET) will be explored.     

Studies in Infant Behavioural Audiometry: III. Six-Month-Old Infants

The behaviour of 95 clinically normal 6-month-old babies previously studied as neonates and as 6-week-old infants was video-recorded while they were presented with sound stimuli. The stimulus series varied in sound pressure level (SPL) (30 and 60 dB), band width (BW) and rise time (RT), and included two voice signals and a no-sound (control) trial. Video-records were made both for the whole body aspect and for a 31/2 'close-up' of the head. Later, the video-records were shown to 6 observers who were allowed to see the babies for 13 s at each trial. The first 5 s was a pre-stimulus observation period, and the second 8 s usually contained a sound stimulus. Between the trials, the observers were given 20 s in which to record pre-stimulus activity, confidence in response, and movement details. Data for movement details are not reported here. Different segments of the baby's body were observed on different occasions as detailed in our previous reports

The confidence ratings for response to tonal stimuli were analysed using aspects of signal detection theory for differences amongst various body segments (n.s.), SPL (p < 0.001), BW (p < 0.05), and RT (p < 0.01). A 60-dB broad-spectrum noise band (BSN) and the 2 voices were by far the most effective stimuli. They elicited detectabilities which differed between segments. The response to different sound stimuli was affected by the baby's pre-stimulus activity state. The results are discussed in relation to our previous studies     

Lipid profile and atherogenic indices in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background and aimsLimited number of studies investigated lipid profile in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with inconsistent results. This study aimed to investigate lipid parameters in sera of patients with stable COPD and their associations with disease severity, smoking, comorbidities and therapy.Methods and resultsThe study included 137 COPD patients and 95 controls. Triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were assessed. Non-HDL-C (NHC), atherogenic coefficient (AC), TG/HDL-C, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli's risk index I and II (CRI-I, CRI-II), and monocyte to HDL ratio (MHR) were calculated.HDL-C and MHR were increased, while other lipid parameters and indices were decreased in COPD patients compared to healthy individuals. Smoking did not influence lipid parameters. However, lipid profile was altered only in more severe disease stages. AC, CRI-I and CRI-II showed positive association with lung function parameters in COPD patients, and negative with COPD multicomponent indices (ADO, BODCAT, BODEx, CODEx and DOSE). Combined model that included CRI-II, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and white blood cells showed great diagnostic performances, and correctly classified 72% of study participants with an AUC of 0.800 (0.742–0.849), P < 0.001. Bronchodilator monotherapy and statins have opposite impact on TC, LDL-C and NHC, while TG, TG/HDL-C and AIP were increased in COPD patients with cardiovascular diseases.ConclusionLipid disbalance is present in COPD, and it seems to occur later as the disease progresses. Further studies are needed to illuminate the underlying mechanism of dyslipidaemia.     

基于ADuC848便携式多参数检测仪的研制

目的:研制开发基于ADuC848的便携式多参数检测仪,并对整个系统进行详细的分析。方法:该测试仪采用ADuC848单片机作为处理芯片,通过240×128点阵图形LCD显示屏进行显示和功能设置。结果:该测试仪可以对压力、真空度、温度、湿度、气体流量等多种参数进行检测,满足了医疗设备测试与计量的实际需要。结论:多参数测试仪测量精度高、操作简便,完全可替代国外同类仪器。     

Terpenoids of methanol extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum exhibit anticancer activity against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice

Context: Clerodendrum infortunatum Linn. is a widely used plant in the Indian indigenous system of medicine for the treatment of tumors.

Objective: The present study evaluated the anticancer activity of methanol extract of C. infortunatum (MECI) against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) bearing Swiss albino mice and isolation of bioactive terpenoids from it.

Methods: HPLC analysis of the methanol extract showed the presence of three major components. Out of those, two compounds were isolated and characterized as oleanolic acid and clerodinin A. The anticancer activity of MECI was assessed by measuring the tumor growth response, percentage increase of life span, study of hematological parameters, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activity like glutathion and CAT. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was also performed using EAC cell lines.

Result and conclusion: Treatment with MECI causes significant decrease in the tumor cell volume and increase in the life span. The median survival time (MST) of EAC control group was found as 19.42?±?0.91 d, whereas the MST was increased to 23.44?±?2.69 d and 27.57?±?2.57 d for the groups treated with MECI at 100 and 200?mg/kg, respectively. All the hematological parameters, malonaldehyde content and antioxidant enzymes’ activity were restored towards the normal level. IC₅₀ value of MECI was found as 498.33 µg/mL in cytotoxicity study. The experimental results suggested that MECI has significant anticancer activity, which can be attributed to the presence of oleanolic acid and clerodinin A.     

Focusing on functional knee parameter determination to develop a better clinical gait analysis protocol

BackgroundAttempts to improve protocol standards of marker-based clinical gait analysis (CGA) have been one of the main focuses of research to enhance robustness and reliability outcomes since the 1990s. Determining joint centres and axes constitutes an important aspect of those protocols. Although the hip joint is more prominent in such studies, knee joint center (KJC) and axis (KJA) directly affect all outcomes.Research questionWhat recommendations arise from the study of the scientific literature for determining knee joint parameters (KJP) for protocols of CGA?MethodsA systematic, electronic search was conducted on November 2018 using three databases with the keyword combination (“functional approach” OR “functional method” OR “functional calibration”) AND (“hip joint” OR “knee joint” OR “ankle joint”) and analyzed by four reviewers. Given the existence of a recent review about the hip joint and the lack of material about the ankle joint, only papers about the knee joint were kept. The references cited in the selected papers were also screened in the final round of the search for these publications.The quality of the selected papers was assessed and aspects regarding accuracy, repeatability, and feasibility were thoroughly considered to allow for a comparison between studies. Technical aspects, such as marker set choice, KJP determination techniques, demographics, and functional movements, were also included.ResultsThirty-one papers were included and on average received a rating of about 75 % according to the quality scale used. The results showed that functional methods are superior or equivalent to predictive methods to estimate the KJA, while a regression method was slightly better for KJC prediction.SignificanceCalibration methods should be applied to CGA whenever feasibility is reached. No study to date has focused on evaluating the in vivo RoM required to obtain reliable and repeatable results and future work should aim in this direction.