Pulsed electromagnetic fields alter phenotypic expression in chondroblasts in tissue culture

We hypothesize that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) alter phenotypic expression of chondroblasts by promoting the production of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and altering the structure of proteoglycans. Chondroblasts from the hypertrophic zone of tibial epiphyses (HC), sternum (SC), and skin fibroblasts (F) were cultured from 16 day chick embryos. Cultures were randomly designated control (C) or experimental (E). E received PEMF for 24 h in a 6 h on, 6 h rest sequence. The controls were in the same incubator shielded by Mu metal. Assays for AP activity were performed and normalized to protein content. Proteoglycan synthesis assay involved labeling with 35S fractionating in a 5% to 20% surcrose gradient determining total protein and chondroitin sulfate content. PEMF showed no change of AP activity on F. A high AP basal activity was found in HC, but was not increased above the control. PEMF increased AP in the SC samples (E/C ratio). The sucrose gradient data showed a shift in peaks for SC only altering the ratio of carbohydrate to protein for the SC. Analysis of carbohydrate and protein indicated that the effect was decreased synthesis or degradation of protein. We conclude that PEMF alters the phenotypic expression of sternal chondroblasts in our in vitro system.     

Optimization of self-reference thermometry using complex field estimation.

Referenceless, or self-reference, thermometry is a technique for mapping temperature differences in the region of interest (ROI) using the baseline phase estimated by extrapolating the field in the surrounding region for estimation (RFE) and subtracting the estimated baseline from the measured field. In the present work a self-reference technique based on complex field estimation using 2D polynomials comprising complex-valued coefficients was proposed and optimized. Numerical simulations with a Gaussian-profiled phase distribution demonstrated that the ROI radius had to be 2.3-2.5 times the standard deviation (SD) of the Gaussian function in order to keep the error below 8% of the peak phase change. The area ratio between the ROI and the RFE had to be larger than 2.0 to maintain the error level. Based on the simulations, and phantom and volunteer experiments, the complex-based method with independently optimized polynomial orders for the two spatial dimensions was compared with the phase-based method using the similar-order optimization strategy. The complex-based method appeared to be useful when phase unwrapping was not removed. Otherwise, the phase-based method yielded equivalent results with less polynomial orders.     

Separation discrimination with embedded targets

Previous research has shown that separation discrimination thresholds are independent of the internal spatial scale (local spatial frequency) of the targets whose separation is being judged. The experiments reported here tested the generality of this conclusion for separation discrimination of targets that were embedded in an array of identical objects, where crowding could enhance the importance of the scale at which the individual target locations are encoded. No effect of the local spatial scale of the targets was found under these conditions.     

Infant and Neonatal Mortality for Primary Cesarean and Vaginal Births to Women with “No Indicated Risk,” United States, 1998–2001 Birth Cohorts

ABSTRACT: Background: The percentage of United States’ births delivered by cesarean section has increased rapidly in recent years, even for women considered to be at low risk for a cesarean section. The purpose of this paper is to examine infant and neonatal mortality risks associated with primary cesarean section compared with vaginal delivery for singleton full‐term (37–41 weeks’ gestation) women with no indicated medical risks or complications. Methods: National linked birth and infant death data for the 1998–2001 birth cohorts (5,762,037 live births and 11,897 infant deaths) were analyzed to assess the risk of infant and neonatal mortality for women with no indicated risk by method of delivery and cause of death. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model neonatal survival probabilities as a function of delivery method, and sociodemographic and medical risk factors. Results: Neonatal mortality rates were higher among infants delivered by cesarean section (1.77 per 1,000 live births) than for those delivered vaginally (0.62). The magnitude of this difference was reduced only moderately on statistical adjustment for demographic and medical factors, and when deaths due to congenital malformations and events with Apgar scores less than 4 were excluded. The cesarean/vaginal mortality differential was widespread, and not confined to a few causes of death. Conclusions: Understanding the causes of these differentials is important, given the rapid growth in the number of primary cesareans without a reported medical indication. (BIRTH 33:3 September 2006)     

常温与低温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响

目的探讨常温及低温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响。方法选择先天性和风湿性心脏病患者40例,随机分为常温组及低温组各20例,分别于术晨、体外循环结束时及术后1、4、7、14 d抽取患者静脉血标本,测定血浆TNF、IL-2、C3、C4值。结果两组术前各项检查指标无显著差异。(1)两组术后1~4 d的IL-2水平较术前显著下降,至术后7 d恢复正常。体外循环结束至术后4 d,低温组IL-2显著低于常温组。(2)体外循环结束时以及术后1、4、7 d,常温组TNF水平显著低于低温组。两组体外循环结束时及术后1、4 d均高于术前,常温组至术后7 d、低温组术后14 d恢复正常。(3)体外循环结束时及术后1、7 d,常温组C3水平高于低温组,术后4 d两组无差别;常温组及低温组于体外循环结束时、术后1、4 d均低于术前,至术后7 d常温组恢复正常,低温组至术后14 d恢复至术前水平。(4)两组体外循环结束时及术后1、4 d C4水平均低于术前。体外循环结束时、术后1 d,常温组C4水平高于低温组。结论常温体外循环心脏直视手术对细胞因子及补体的影响显著轻于低温组,因而对术后机体的恢复优于低温方法。     

高频喷射通气结合胸壁挤压对组胺致肺损伤犬呼吸循环功能的影响

以高频喷射通气结合胸壁挤压（ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ）为通气模式，观察其对组胺致肺损伤犬呼吸循环功能的影响，并与单纯高频喷射通气（ＨＦＪＶ）进行比较。结果表明：与ＨＦＪＶ相比，ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ时的功能残气量（ＦＲＣ）、ＰａＣＯ＿２和ＰＣＯ＿２均显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０１），肺泡通气量（Ｖ＿Ａ）和二氧化碳排出量（ＣＯ＿２）均显著增高（Ｐ＜０．０１），每分呼出气量（Ｖ＿Ｅ）、ＰａＯ＿２、ＰＣＯ＿２、吸气峰压（ＰＩＰ）、平均气道压（Ｐａｗ）、呼气末压（ＥＥＰ）、ＨＲ、平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）、肺动脉压（ＰＡＰ）和肺毛细血管楔压（ＰＣＷＰ）均无显著变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。提示：ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ除保留单纯ＨＦＪＶ时气道开放、气道低压、良好的血液氧合、不影响循环功能等特点外，还具有增加呼气动力，改善肺泡通气，显著促进ＣＯ＿２排除等优点。     

高频喷射通气时麻醉犬动脉血二氧化碳分压的估计

作用测定５－８次常频呼吸后呼气末二氧化碳分压的方法，探讨了高频喷射通气时麻醉犬动脉脉血二氧化碳分压与Ｐｅｔｃｏ２的关系，结果表明，在通气频率分别为６０，１００及２００次／ｍｉｎ时，Ｐｅｔｃｏ２和Ｐａｃｏ２均无显性差异，Ｐｅｔｃｏ２呈显相关（ｒ＝０．８３，Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果提示，测定５－８次常频呼吸后的Ｐｅｔｃｏ２可较准确地评估ＨＦＪＶ时麻醉犬的Ｐａｃｏ２。     

长链核酸扩增技术评价病毒灭活效果的研究

目的:探讨用长链核酸扩增技术评价病毒灭活效果的可行性.方法:针对伪狂犬病毒(pseudorabies virus,PRV)糖蛋白gD基因前后的保守区设计预计产物长短不一的5对引物,用半巢式PCR技术扩增经低pH法(4.0±0.1)、巴氏消毒法[(60±1.0)℃]和s/D法(有机溶剂/洗涤荆)处理后的PRV核酸,同时以细胞感染法做平行对照.结果:低pH对PRV核酸有破坏作用,处理时间越长,核酸损伤程度越明显,处理60 min时,6.62 lgTCID50的PRV完全被灭活.5条不同长度PCR扩增产物中,只有3.9 kb的长片段检出与细胞培养结果一致.7.25 lgTCID50的PRV经(60±1.0)℃处理20 min后即被完全灭活,7.13 lgTCID50的PRV经s/D法处理1 h后被完全灭活,但各长度核酸片段扩增均为阳性,与细胞感染试验结果不符.结论:低pH对PRV核酸的损伤程度随处理时间的延长而增加;用长链PCR(3.9 kb)技术来评价经低pH法灭活病毒的效果是可行的,而该法不适合评价巴氏消毒法和S/D法灭活病毒的效果.