Micro interstitial fluid extraction and detection device integrated with the optimal extraction conditions for noninvasive glucose monitoring.

Interstitial fluid glucose sensors have promising prospects in noninvasive glucose monitoring. However, the commonly used method of extracting interstitial fluid, reverse iontophoresis (RI), still remains to be optimized to solve problems such as insufficient extraction flux and skin irritation. To find the optimal RI conditions, in this study we explored the effects of multiple factors such as current frequency, duration, duty cycle and their interactions on extraction with the design of experiments (DOE) method. A multifunctional extraction and detection device was designed to control extraction conditions and measure the surface water content of the extraction electrode in situ and real time. A micro glucose monitoring device (MicroTED) combined with a cheap and flexible paper-based electrode was developed under the determined optimal extraction conditions. In on-body continuous glucose monitoring tests carried out to verify the performance of the device, the optimized conditions can facilitate stable extraction of up to 1.0 mg without any skin discomfort. The mean Pearson correlation coefficient between the measurement results of MicroTED and commercial glucometer is above 0.9. In the Clarke error grid analysis, all data points fell within Clarke error grid areas A and B, demonstrating the feasibility of further clinical application of the device.

Waggle needling Yanglingquan (GB34) enhances cerebral blood flow and ameliorates condition of spastic paresis in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion induced by surgical nylon suture.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and the influence on cerebral blood supply of waggle needling Yanglingquan (GB34) on spastic paresis (SP) rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced and investigate its mechanism of relieving neurobehavior deficiency. METHODS: SP rat model was produced by permanent MCAO. Rats were divided into five groups: blank control group (Control), sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model), waggle needling group (WN) and perpendicular needling group (PN). SP rats were treated with acupuncture from day 3 after MCAO, once a day for 6 d. The modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were conducted on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) in ischemic cortex was measured by laser speckle imaging 5 min pre ischemia, 5 min post ischemia, and after intervention on day 9. All rats were sacrificed at day 9 and the protein and mRNA expressions of γ2 subunit of the γ-aminobutyric acid receptor A (GABAAγ2) and K+-Cl?cotransporter 2 (KCC2) in the ischemic cortex and lumber enlargement was measured by Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Both Control and Sham groups showed no changes in mNSS and MAS scores and in the regional CBF. Compared with Model group, both WN and PN treatments significantly ameliorated neurological deficit ( 0.01), decreased muscle tone ( 0.05), and enhanced CBF ( 0.001) in SP rats; moreover, WN showed superior effects than PN ( 0.001). In line with the improvement in neurobehavior, acupuncture interventions up-regulated the expressions of GABAAγ2 and KCC2 in the ischemic cortex as well as lumber enlargement ( 0.01) in SP rats, and those changes were more obvious in WN ( 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) enhanced cerebral blood flow and ameliorated SP in permanent MCAO rats, while waggle needling was superior to regular perpendicular needling. Waggle needling Yanglingquan (GB34) would be a potential complementary therapy for SP.

Correlations Between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Postmortem Brain Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Among Han Chinese / 神经科学通报·英文版

In this study, the distribution of five Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Han population was examined in combination with the evaluation of clinical cognition and brain pathological analysis. The associations among SNPs, clinical daily cognitive states, and postmortem neuropathological changes were analyzed in 110 human brains from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College (CAMS/PUMC) Human Brain Bank. APOE ε4 (OR = 4.482, P = 0.004), the RS2305421 GG genotype (adjusted OR = 4.397, P = 0.015), and the RS10498633 GT genotype (adjusted OR = 2.375, P = 0.028) were associated with a higher score on the ABC (Aβ plaque score, Braak NFT stage, and CERAD neuritic plaque score) dementia scale. These results advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, the relationship between pathological diagnosis and clinical diagnosis, and the SNPs in the Han population for future research.

Investigation of satisfaction on practical skills in graduation examination of resident training in Liaoning Province / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective To get well-informed of the practical skills examination of residents' standardized training in order to detect problems and improve the quality of training. Methods A total of 4484 clinical medical examinees from 2010, 2013 and 2017 in Liaoning province were investigated by questionnaire, from which 4412 valid questionnaires were collected and the total survey efficiency was 98.39％. The survey included the standardized patient (SP) examination, the small station test, the computer simulated case (CCS) examination and the clinical skill operation test station with parts 20 projects. Excel was used to sort and record the data. SPSS 10.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results All parts of the practical skill assessment was reasonable. The examinees' satisfaction with the test is showing an upward trend year by year, up to 73.93％in 2017. In the standardized patients examination, the key points of the role play (including the fidelity and simulated authenticity of the physical signs) need be strengthened (14.84％ in 2010). Examinees thought the difficulty of computer simulation case examination is increasing year by year. More than 2/3 examinees evaluated the clinical skill operation test station set was reasonable and the difficulty was moderately. Conclusions We should further deepen the exploration of standardized patients assessment model; strengthen the medical humanities in training; improve the residents' clinical thinking;take examination as the guidance and standardize clinical training.