Association of mild cognitive impairment with incidence of falls in communities aged 55 and over / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective To explore the association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the risk of falls in community populations, so as to provide a reference for preventing falls in the elderly. Methods 826 community residents aged 55 years and older were enrolled in Wuzhong, Ningxia; cognitive function was assessed during the participants attending the basic public health examination, and self-report falling events were observed through telephone call survey after half a year. The incidence of falls among different populations was compared using unconditional Logistic regression model. Results A total of 521 participants completed the follow-up study, and 127 of them met criteria of MCI at baseline. 32 participants reported falling occurred during follow-up with a incidence of 6.1% (32/521), and the incidence of falls was higher (8.85%,23/260) in females than that of males (3.45%,9/261) (RR=2.56, P=0.010). The incidence among MCI group (9.45%,12/127) was 1.86 times of that among non-MCI group (RR=1.86, P=0.073). Under the controlling of demographic variables (gender, age and education level), there was no association between MCI and falls (RR=1.41, P=0.382). Conclusions The incidence of falls in the elderly communities is common, and females has higher risk of falls than males. There is no statistical association between MCI and risk of falls. Further validation is needed with large-sample studies in the future.

AT1 Receptor Modulator Attenuates the Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Impairment of the Myocardial Ischemic Post-Conditioning Benefits

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ischemic post-conditioning (PostC) has been demonstrated as a novel strategy to harness nature's protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Hypercholesterolemia (HC) has been reported to block the effect of PostC on the heart. Angiotensin II type-1 (AT1) modulators have shown benefits in myocardial ischemia. The present study investigates the effect of a novel inhibitor of AT1, azilsartan in PostC of the heart of normocholesterolemic (NC) and HC rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HC was induced by the administration of high-fat diet to the animals for eight weeks. Isolated Langendorff's perfused NC and HC rat hearts were exposed to global ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min. I/R-injury had been assessed by cardiac hemodynamic parameters, myocardial infarct size, release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha troponin I, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, nitrite in coronary effluent, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, a reduced form of glutathione, superoxide anion, and left ventricle collagen content in normal and HC rat hearts. RESULTS: Azilsartan post-treatment and six episodes of PostC (10 sec each) afforded cardioprotection against I/R-injury in normal rat hearts. PostC protection against I/R-injury was abolished in HC rat hearts. Azilsartan prevented the HC-mediated impairment of the beneficial effects of PostC in I/R-induced myocardial injury, which was inhibited by L-N⁵-(1-Iminoethyl)ornithinehydrochloride, a potent inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). CONCLUSION: Azilsartan treatment has attenuated the HC-induced impairment of beneficial effects of PostC in I/R-injury of rat hearts, by specifically modulating eNOS. Azilsartan may be explored further in I/R-myocardial injury, both in NC and HC conditions, with or without PostC.

Association of Insulin Resistance and β Cell Function with Lipid Metabolism in Middle-aged and Elderly Hui and Han Populations / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the association of insulin resistance and β cell function with lipid metabolism in middle-aged and elderly Hui and Han populations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1000 subjects age over 40 years were recruited from five urban communities in Yinchuan and Wuzhong cities of Ningxia. The composition ratio between Hui and Han nationality was 1:2. A questionnaire-based survey was performed. Physical examinations were carried out to measure the height, body mass, waistline, and hipline. The levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), blood uric acid (BUA), fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured. The boby mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and secretion related index including insulin resistance index (IR), insulin sensitivity index (IAI), and beta cell function index (HBCI) were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The BMI, WHR, IAI, HBCI, and the prevalence rate of diabetes in Hui nationality were significantly higher than those in Han nationality (P<0.01). The levels of BUA, fasting blood glucose, TC, and IR in Han nationality were significantly lower than those in Hui nationality (P<0.01). In Hui populations, TG, BMI, WHR, and BUA were positively correlated with IR (r=0.234, r=0.193, r=0.143, and r=0.129, respectively; P<0.01) and were negatively correlated with IAI (r=-0.234, r=-0.193, r=-0.143, r=-0.129, respectively; P<0.01), whereas TC was negatively correlated with HBCI (r=-0.169, P<0.01). In Han populations, TC, TG, BMI, WHR, and BUA were positively correlated with IR (r=0.140, r=0.257, r=0.288, r=0.163, r=0.104, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with IAI (r=-0.140, r=-0.257, r=-0.288, r=-0.163, and r=-0.104, P<0.01), whereas BMI was negatively correlated with HBCI (r=-0.111, P<0.01). After the influential factors such as gender, nationality, and age were adjusted, the TC, TG, BMI, WHR, BUA levels were positively correlated with IR (r=0.109, r=0.256, r=0.253, r=0.139, and r=0.142, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with IAI (r=-0.109, r=-0.256, r=-0.253, r=-0.139, and r=-0.142, P<0.01). TC and BMI were negatively correlated with HBCI (r=-0.113, r=-0.086, P<0.01). TG and BMI were independently associated with IR and IAI (r=0.218, r=0.182, r=-0.218, r=-0.182), while TC and BMI were independently associated with HBCI (r=-0.113, r=-0.086).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The distributions of TC, TG, BMI, WHR, BUA, IR, IAI, and HBCI differ between Han and Hui populations. The development of insulin resistance is closely related with the increased levels of TC, TG, BMI, WHR, and BUA. However, the HBCI increases with the increased level of TC and BMI. TG and BMI may be related with insulin resistance. Also, TC and BMI may affect the secretion function of β cells.</p>

Significance of serum MMP-3, TIMP-1, and monocyte CD147 in rheumatoid arthritis patients of damp-heat Bi-syndrome and of cold-damp Bi-syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical significance of serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and monocyte CD147 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of damp-heat Bi-syndrome (DHBS) and of cold-damp Bi-syndrome (CDBS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 22 patients from inpatients and outpatients with RA were collected, and their peripheral blood was withdrawal. The disease activity scores [DAS28(4)] were assessed. The serum levels of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and the expression percentage of CD147 on CD14+ monocytes were detected by flow cytometry. The difference of each index between RA patients of DHBS and RA patients of CDBS was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of serum MMP-3 and the MFI of CD147 on the monocyte surface were obviously higher in RA patients of DHBS than in those of CDBS and the normal control group (P < 0.05). The concentration of serum TIMP-1 was obviously higher in RA patients of DHBS than in those of the normal control group (P < 0.05), while there was no statistical difference between the two syndrome types. The percentage of CD147 expression was obviously lower in DHBS than in those of CDBS and the normal control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Increased serum MMP-3 level of RA patients of DHBS might result in destroy of joint cartilages and sclerotin. The significant increase of MFI and decreased expression percentage of monocyte CD147 might be the results of increased disease activity of RA and monocyte migration to the synovial membrane tissue.</p>

Logistic regression analysis of damp-heat and cold-damp impeding syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis: a perspective in Chinese medicine / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a method for quantitative differential diagnosis of damp-heat and cold-damp impeding syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese medicine (CM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Laboratory parameters were collected from 306 patients with RA. The clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters were compared between patients with these two syndromes (158 with RA of damp-heat impeding syndrome, and 148 with RA of cold-damp impeding syndrome), and a regression equation was established to facilitate discrimination of the two RA syndromes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28 (4)], erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count (PLT), albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) between the two syndrome of RA (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the parameters ESR, WBC, CRP, joint pyrexia, joint cold, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold extremities were statistically useful to discriminate damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome. The regression equation was as follows: P=1/{1+exp[-(3.0-0.021X (1)-0.196X (2)-0.163X (3)-1.559X (4)+1.504X (5)-0.927X (6)-1.039X (7)+1.070X (8)+1.330X (9))]}. The independent variables X (1)-X (9) were ESR, WBC, CRP, hot joint, cold joint, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold limbs. A P value > 0.5 signified cold-damp impeding syndrome, and a P value < 0.5 signified damp-heat impeding syndrome. The accuracy was 90.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The regression equation may be useful for discriminating damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome of RA.</p>

Amplitude integrated electroencephalography characteristics of normal preterm newborns: a multicenter clinical study / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of amplitude integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in preterm infants and changes of maturation with gestational age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>aEEG monitoring was done within 3 days of age with domestically produced digital aEEG set (CFM3000). Duration of each recording was at least 4 hours. The continuity, sleep-wake cycle, voltage and bandwidth of all aEEG tracing were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percent of continuity background increased from 30% of 28 weeks to 85.7% of 36 weeks (χ(2) = 28.2, P = 0.026); the percent of mature sleep-wake cycle increased from 10% of 28 weeks to 100% of 36 weeks (χ(2) = 192.4, P < 0.01). Low bound voltage increased with gestational age, from (6.8 ± 1.7) µV (28 w) to 9.7 - 10.1 µV (35 - 36 w) (F = 11.4, P < 0.01). Bandwidth of the narrow band decreases gradually with gestational age, from 1.45 cm (28 w) to (0.86 ± 0.24) cm (36 w) (F = 8.731, P < 0.01). The correlation coefficient for continuity, sleep-wake cycle, low bound voltage and bandwidth of narrow band, and total scores were 0.32, 0.81, 0.38, 0.55 and 0.78 respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The older the gestational age of infants at birth, the more mature the aEEG pattern, manifested as increased continuity and sleep-wake cycle, the higher low bound voltage and more narrowed bandwidth with increased gestational age.</p>

The objectivity research on 322 rheumatoid arthritis patients of dampness-heat impeding and cold-dampness impeding Chinese medical syndrome types / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the Chinese medical syndrome typing laws in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of the dampness-heat impeding syndrome and the cold-dampness impeding syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data and serum of 322 inpatients and outpatients were collected to perform DAS28 score. Laboratory indices including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLB), and blood routines (white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet) were tested by conventional methods, and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta were detected by ELISA. The difference of each index was analyzed between RA patients of the dampness-heat impeding syndrome and the cold-dampness impeding syndrome.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of DAS28 scores, ESR, CRP, white blood cell count, and platelet of RA patients of the dampness-heat impeding syndrome were significantly higher than those of the cold-dampness impeding syndrome (P <0.01). The serum level of GLB of RA patients of the dampness-heat impeding syndrome was obviously higher than that of the cold-dampness impeding syndrome (P <0.01), while the serum ALB level of RA patients of the dampness-heat impeding syndrome was obviously lower than that of the cold-dampness impeding syndrome (P<0.01). Compared with the dampness-heat impeding syndrome, ROC curve results showed the area under the curve (AUC) were ranked from large to small as DAS28 score > ESR >CRP >GLB > PLT >WBC (P<0.01). Compared with the cold-dampness impeding syndrome, only ALB was of diagnostic value for cold-dampness impeding syndrome and the AUC was 0.636 (P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DAS28 score, ESR, CRP, PLT, WBC, GLB, and ALB could be used as objective index in identifying the differences between the dampness-heat impeding syndrome and the cold-dampness impeding syndrome in RA patients.</p>

Characterization of surface EMG signals using improved approximate entropy / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

An improved approximate entropy (ApEn) is presented and applied to characterize surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. In most previous experiments using nonlinear dynamic analysis, this certain processing was often confronted with the problem of insufficient data points and noisy circumstances, which led to unsatisfactory results. Compared with fractal dimension as well as the standard ApEn, the improved ApEn can extract information underlying sEMG signals more efficiently and accurately. The method introduced here can also be applied to other medium-sized and noisy physiological signals.

Classification of surface EMG signal with fractal dimension / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Surface EMG (electromyography) signal is a complex nonlinear signal with low signal to noise ratio (SNR). This paper is aimed at identifying different patterns of surface EMG signals according to fractal dimension. Two patterns of surface EMG signals are respectively acquired from the right forearm flexor of 30 healthy volunteers during right forearm supination (FS) or forearm pronation (FP). After the high frequency noise is filtered from surface EMG signal by a low-pass filter, fractal dimension is calculated from the filtered surface EMG signal. The results showed that the fractal dimensions of filtered FS surface EMG signals and those of filtered FP surface EMG signals distribute in two different regions, so the fractal dimensions can represent different patterns of surface EMG signals.

The application of BP neural network improved with LM algorithm in surface EMG signal classification / 中国医疗器械杂志

The method of BP neural network improved by Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm in surface EMG signal classification is proposed. The data reduction and preprocessing operations of the signals are performed by means of the wavelet transform. The classifier can identify four classes of forearm movement: hand extension, hand grasp,forearm pronation and forearm supination with a high accuracy.Experimental result shows that the BP neural netwok improved by LM algorithm has greatly increased the speed and the accuracy of signal classification in practical application of prothesis control.

Study on Glycolic Acid Oxidase (GO) of Spirulina(Arthrospira) / 微生物学通报

A comparative study on the glycolic acid oxidase (GO) of the domestic Spirulina(Arthrospira) platensis (S_(1)) from alkaline lake in Erdos Plateau and the imported S. (A.) platensis (S_(2)) and S. (A.) maxima (S_(3)) as well is made with colorimetric method. The results show that activity of GO (25℃, pH 8.0) of S_(1), S_(2 )and S_(3) is 70.9 U/gFW, 59.6 U/gFW and 80.9 U/gFW respectively; the GO's optimum temperature of S_(1)、S_(2) and S_(3 )is 30℃; the GO's optimum pH value of S_(1 )is 8.6,while that of S_(2 ) 8.2 and that of S_(3) 8.4; the GO of S_(1 )is stable from 0℃ to 35℃ and from pH 7.6 to pH 10.0, while that of S_(2) from 0℃ to 30℃ and from pH 8.0 to pH 9.0 and that of S_(3) from 0℃ to 35℃ and from pH 8.0 to pH 8.6. Adaptive range of S_(1) GO for temperature and pH is wider, and activity at low and high temperature and under strong acidand alkali conditions is higher than that of the imported species.