Effects of box handle position and carrying range on bi-manual carrying capacity for females

This study utilizes a psychophysical approach to examine the effects on carrying capacity for bi-manual carrying tasks involving different handle positions and carrying ranges. A total of 16 female subjects participated in the experiment in groups of two people, and each group of subjects performed the tasks in a random order with 12 different combinations of carrying task. The independent variables are handle position (upper, middle, lower) and carrying range (F–F: floor height carried to floor height, F–W: floor height carried to waist height, W–W: waist height carried to waist height, W–F: waist height carried to floor height), the dependent variable is the maximum acceptable carried weight (MAWC), heart rate (HR), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). The results show that the handle position has a significant effect on MAWC and overall RPE but no significant effect on HR. Carrying range has a significant effect on the MAWC and HR, but no significant effect on overall HR. The handle position and carrying range have a significant interaction on the MAWC and HR. The RPE for different body parts shows significant differences, and the hands feel the most tired. Overall, this study confirms that the lower handle position with the W–W carrying range is the best combination for a two-person carrying task.     

Effect of Xiaofenghuoxue decotion on Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in BALF in allergen-induced asthma guinea pigs

Objective To investigate the effect of Xiaofenghuoxue decotion(XFHX)on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokine in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)in asthma guinea pigs sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin.Methods The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups:the normal control group,the asthma group,the XFHX high dose group,the XFHX low dose group and the budesonide group.2 weeks after sensitization with a mixture of 10% OVA and 10% Al(OH)3,the drugs were given to the animals for 7 days,and then the animals were challenged with aerosol of 1% ovalbumin,the latency time for the onset of respiratory abnormalities was examined,BALF was collected 16 h after.Leukocyte in BALF was counted.The level of IFN-γ reduced by Th1 cells and IL-4 and IL-5 produced by Th2 cells were determined by EILSA.NO contents were also examined.Results The latency time for the onset of respiratory abnormalities and leukocyte infiltration in both XFHX high dose group and low dose group significantly decreased compared with the asthma group.The level of IFN-γ in both XFHX high dose group and low dose group significantly increased compared with the asthma group,the level of IL-4 and IL-5 in both XFHX high dose group and low dose group significantly decreased compared with the asthma group.The production of NO was inhibited in both XFHX high dose group and low dose group compared with the asthma group.Conclusions These results suggest that the anti-asthma effect of Xiaofenghuoxue decotion is associated with NO regulated reversal of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in allergen-induced asthma guinea pigs.     

红细胞体积分布宽度与尿微量白蛋白测定在2型糖尿病早期肾损伤诊断中的应用

目的 通过检测红细胞体积分布宽度(RDW)、尿微量白蛋白(MA),探讨其在诊断2型糖尿病患者早期肾损伤中的应用.方法 采用尿分析仪进行尿蛋白定性检测、全自动血液分析仪检测RDW;免疫浊度法检测MA.结果 2型糖尿病尿蛋白检测阴性组和阳性组RDW、MA与对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(F=87.45,P＜0.01),糖尿病组高于阴性组;尿蛋白阳性组与阴性组相比MA差异有统计学意义(F=549.78,P＜0.01),阳性组高于阴性组;两组间RDW差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 RDW、MA可为诊断2型糖尿病患者的早期肾损伤提供重要的临床依据.     

Low prevalences of HBV and HCV infection in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis in Taiwan: A case control study

To study the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) against the background of HBV and HCV infection in the general population, serum specimens from a consecutive series of 27 patients with PBC and 108 age/sex matched ‘healthy subjects’ as control group were submitted to assays for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). None of the patients with PBC were HBsAg or anti-HCV positive while 17 (15.7%) and 6 (5.6%) of ‘healthy’ controls were HBsAg positive and anti-HCV positive (P= 0.017 and 0.26). Patients with PBC also had a significantly lower prevalence of HBV infection than matched controls (70.4%vs 88.9%, P= 0.022). The results suggest that neither HBV nor HCV plays any significant role in the pathogenesis of PBC, and that PBC would not develop or be masked in patients with HBV or HCV infection.     

A simple and economical method for the manual construction of frozen tissue arrays

Tsao S‐C, Wu C‐C, Wen C‐H, Huang Y‐C, Chai C‐Y. A simple and economical method for the manual construction of frozen tissue arrays. APMIS 2010; 118: 739–43. Tissue microarray has been developed to enable multiple cores of tissue in one or more new paraffin blocks. Currently, almost all tissue microarrays are made by coring cylindrical tissues from formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded tissues. The disadvantages of formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded tissues include the poor preservation of antigenicity of certain proteins and mRNA degradation induced by the fixation and embedding process. However, frozen tissue array construction presents technical difficulties, and tissue array devices are expensive, particularly for small‐ and medium‐sized laboratories. We describe a simple manual method for producing well‐aligned tissue arrays by a capsule freeze method that allows us to successfully perform hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemical stain. All 120 tissue samples were collected and constructed into blocks by this capsule freeze method. The capsules were not affected during the sectioning process, and the capsule material always disappeared during the aqueous steps of the stain processing. The frozen tissue arrays were smoothly sectioned without the use of a tape transfer system and immunohistochemical study was performed with satisfactory results. This alternative method can be applied in any laboratory, and is both simple and economical.     

Testicular metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma

We document a case of testicular metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient suffered from bilateral testicular painful swelling for 6 months. Scrotal ultrasonography showed bilateral testicular tumors and the whole abdominal computed tomography revealed a huge tumor in the left lobe of the liver. Bilateral orchiectomy and postoperative ultrasound-guided liver biopsy were done. Pathological examination revealed metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma with testicular metastases is a very rare disease.     

Acute Perforation in Spite of Implantation with an “Antiperforation” Defibrillator Lead

A 74‐year‐old male underwent implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator per multicenter automatic defibrillator trial two criteria. The new St. Jude Medical Riata STS Durata defibrillator lead (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA, USA) was used. This lead has a slight curve at the right ventricle shock coil and a silicone tip designed to decrease tip pressure at the endocardium interface. We presented a case of acute perforation during implantation of this lead. The patient was treated with pericardiocentesis and recovered.     

Importance of Recording the Right Bundle Branch Deflection in the Diagnosis of His-Purkinje Reentrant Tachycardia

Eight of 120 consecutive patients with inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia who were studied at our institution from September 1, 1988 to January 1, 1991, were found to have reentry within the His-Purkinje System as the mechanism of their tachycardias. Two of the eight patients (25%) required the recording of the right bundle branch potential to elucidate the tachycardia circuits. The electrophysiological findings of these two patients are described. In both instances, the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia with aberrancy was excluded. In patient 1, a His-bundle electrogram preceded each QRS complex during tachycardia and the His-to-His interval variation preceded changes in QRS intervals. However, recordings from the right bundle branch allowed for exclusion of bundle branch reentry and evidence was found for reentry restricted to the left fascicles. In patient 2, despite instances of dissociation of the His-bundle deflection from the tachycardia, a right bundle branch potential preceded each QRS and spontaneous changes in the interval between successive activation of the right bundle branch preceded changes in ventricular activation. Catheter ablation of the right bundle branch eliminated the tachycardia. It is concluded that the recording of a right bundle branch potential should be included in electrophysiology study of patients in whom there is suspicion of reentry within the His-Purkinje System. Clinically, recognizing these forms of tachycardias can be important because they can be effectively treated with catheter ablation.