The effects of post-stroke upper-limb training with an electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot

Loss of hand function and finger dexterity are main disabilities in the upper limb after stroke. An electromyography (EMG)-driven hand robot had been developed for post-stroke rehabilitation training. The effectiveness of the hand robot assisted whole upper limb training was investigated on persons with chronic stroke (n = 10) in this work. All subjects attended a 20-session training (3–5 times/week) by using the hand robot to practice object grasp/release and arm transportation tasks. Significant motor improvements were observed in the Fugl-Meyer hand/wrist and shoulder/elbow scores (p < 0.05), and also in the Action Research Arm Test and Wolf Motor Function Test (p < 0.05). Significant reduction in spasticity of the fingers as was measured by the Modified Ashworth Score (p < 0.05). The training improved the muscle co-ordination between the antagonist muscle pair (flexor digitorum (FD) and extensor digitorum (ED)), associated with a significant reduction in the ED EMG level (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease of ED and FD co-contraction during the training (p < 0.05); the excessive muscle activities in the biceps brachii were also reduced significantly after the training (p < 0.05).     

靶向白介素-1α基因沉默的Hela229稳定细胞系的构建

目的：构建针对IL-1α基因的shRNA表达载体,筛选能够抑制Hela229细胞内源性IL-1α表达的shRNA,建立无内源性IL-1d表达的Hela229稳定细胞系.方法：根据shRNA的设计原则,以IL-1 αcDNA oligo为模板设计一段21 bp核苷酸目标序列,构建成siRNA的DNA模板并克隆到shRNA表达载体pRNAT-U6.1/Neo中,获得靶向抑制IL-1α基因的重组shRNA质粒,转染Hela229细胞,经G418筛选后获得单克隆稳定细胞株,用ELISA方法在蛋白水平上检测IL-1α基因的沉默效果.结果：经酶切鉴定和测序分析确定IL-1 α-shRNA重组质粒构建正确,ELISA筛选出能够显著抑制内源性IL-1α表达的shRNA,获得沉默内源性IL-1 α表达的单克隆稳定的Hela229细胞株.结论：靶向IL-1α基因的重组shRNA表达质粒可显著抑制Hela229细胞内源性IL-1α的表达,成功构建靶向IL-1α基因沉默的Hela229稳定细胞系.     

沙眼衣原体持续感染对Hela细胞TLR4/IL-6/STAT3信号通路的影响

目的：分析沙眼衣原体（Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct）持续感染对靶细胞TLR4/IL-6/STAT3信号通路的影响.方法：利用Hela细胞分别建立Ct急性感染及持续性感染模型,通过qRT-PCR、ELISA等方法比较Ct感染过程中靶细胞TLR4、STAT3、IL-6转录水平及细胞因子IL-6分泌量的变化.结果：Ct感染后靶细胞TLR4、IL-6、STAT3转录水平及细胞因子IL-6分泌量均呈现时间相关性上调,且持续性感染状态下比急性感染状态下的上调更为显著;IL-6/STAT3的表达量与TLR4转录水平正相关.结论：Ct持续感染过程中TLR4 的持续活化可大幅上调IL-6/STAT3信号通路表达,可能参与了Ct持续感染后慢性炎性损伤过程.     

转酮酶在癌症中的作用及其机制研究进展

肿瘤细胞的一大重要特征是代谢水平的改变。戊糖磷酸途径作为细胞产生NADPH和五碳糖的主要通路,在肿瘤发生发展过程中发挥着重要功能。转酮酶是戊糖磷酸途径中的关键酶之一,越来越多的研究表明其与癌症病人预后具有显著相关性。作为肿瘤诊断、治疗的潜在靶标,转酮酶具有重要的研究价值。我们就目前癌症研究中对转酮酶的研究进展做简要综述。     

重组人BD3-BPI的内毒素中和活性及其在高盐环境中抗菌活性的稳定性

目的：验证重组人BD3-BPI（rhBD3-BPI）是否具有内毒素中和活性,研究其在高盐环境中是否能保持抗菌活性。方法：根据内毒素标准品绘制内毒素活性标准曲线,将100 μL梯度稀释的rhBD3-BPI-与100 μL 10EU／mL脂多糖（LPS）混匀,37℃水浴60min,同时设标准对照（只含10EU／mL LPS的标准品溶液）,并以无热源水作为空白对照,采用基质显色法进行鲎试验测定LPS的活性;将6×10^8 CFU／mL的革兰阳性和阴性标准菌株及临床分离的多药耐药菌株接种于含1mg／mL rhBD3-BPI和0～250mmol／L不同浓度NaCl的液体细菌培养基中,37℃培养3h后用10mmol／L磷酸钠按1：1～1：1000的比例稀释,铺LB培养基平板,37℃过夜培养,观察各平板菌落生长情况,计数并计算杀菌率。结果：在5EU／mL的标准内毒素体系中,当rhBD3-BPI的浓度高于4μg／mL时即开始表现出一定的内毒素中和活性,当rhBD3-BPI的浓度分别为16、32 μg／mL时,其内毒素中和率分别为23％和88％,随后rhBD3-BPI对内毒素的中和活性趋于平稳,50 μg／mL的rhBD3-BPI对所有受检菌均表现出100％的杀伤效应。当NaCl浓度低于150mmol／L时,rhBD3-BPI对各受检菌的杀菌活性均未受明显影响;NaCI浓度升高至150-200mmol/L,rhBD3-BPI对各受检菌的杀菌活性有所下降,但其杀伤率仍在90％以上;当NaCl浓度高于200mmol／L时,盐浓度对rhBD3-BPI杀菌活性的影响才较为明显,但即使NaCl浓度达到250mmol／L,rhBD3-BPI的杀菌活性仍保持在85％以上。结论：rh-BD3-BPI具有内毒素中和活性,在高盐环境中具有良好的抗菌活性稳定性。     

Effects and statistical optimization of fermentation conditions on growth and poly (vinyl alcohol)-degrading enzyme production of Streptomyces venezuelae GY1

The effects of environmental conditions, including temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, on growth and production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-degrading enzymes of the newly-isolated strain Streptomyces venezuelae GY1 were investigated. The medium composition for strain GY1 was studied first by single factorial design and then optimized using a central composite design. PVA with high saponification is better for growth of, and PVA-degrading enzyme production by S. venezuelae GY1 compared with PVA with low saponification, in contrast with the characteristics of other bacteria producing PVA-degrading enzymes. The optimal temperature and initial pH for production of PVA-degrading enzyme by strain GY1 was 30°C and 7.0, respectively. The optimal medium composition for PVA-degrading enzyme production is: 1.01 g L^?1 of PVA1799, 0.307 g L^?1 of NaNO₃ and 0.512 g L^?1 of MgSO₄?7H₂O.     

Effect of spatial inlet velocity profiles on the vortex formation pattern in a dilated left ventricle

Despite the advancement of cardiac imaging technologies, these have traditionally been limited to global geometrical measurements. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a reliable tool that provides flow ?eld information and other variables essential for the assessment of the cardiac function. Extensive studies have shown that vortex formation and propagation during the filling phase acts as a promising indicator for the diagnosis of the cardiac health condition. Proper setting of the boundary conditions is crucial in a CFD study as they are important determinants, that affect the simulation results. In this article, the effect of different transmitral velocity profiles (parabolic and uniform profile) on the vortex formation patterns during diastole was studied in a ventricle with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The resulting vortex evolution pattern using the uniform inlet velocity profile agreed with that reported in the literature, which revealed an increase in thrombus risk in a ventricle with DCM. However the application of a parabolic velocity profile at the inlet yields a deviated vortical flow pattern and overestimates the propagation velocity of the vortex ring towards the apex of the ventricle. This study highlighted that uniform inlet velocity profile should be applied in the study of the filling dynamics in a left ventricle because it produces results closer to that observed experimentally.     

Development of software for human muscle force estimation

Muscle force estimation (MFE) has become more and more important in exploring principles of pathological movement, studying functions of artificial muscles, making surgery plan for artificial joint replacement, improving the biomechanical effects of treatments and so on. At present, existing software are complex for professionals, so we have developed a new software named as concise MFE (CMFE). CMFE which provides us a platform to analyse muscle force in various actions includes two MFE methods (static optimisation method and electromyographic-based method). Common features between these two methods have been found and used to improve CMFE. A case studying the major muscles of lower limb of a healthy subject walking at normal speed has been presented. The results are well explained from the effect of the motion produced by muscles during movement. The development of this software can improve the accuracy of the motion simulations and can provide a more extensive and deeper insight in to muscle study.     

Conversion of Soybean Oil to Biodiesel Fuel Using Lipozyme TL IM in a Solvent-free Medium

The conversion of soybean oil to biodiesel fuel was investigated in the presence of a lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (commercially called Lipozyme TL IM) in a solvent-free medium. The lipase was inactivated when more than 1.5 molar equivalent of methanol was added to the oil mixture. To fully convert the oil to its corresponding methyl esters, the reaction was performed successfully by a three-step addition of 1 molar equivalent of methanol and under the optimized conditions (40°C, 150 rpm, 10% enzyme quantity based on oil weight), the maximum methyl ester (ME) yield was 98% after 12 h reaction. By-product glycerol had a negative effect on enzymatic activity and iso-propanol was found to be effective for glycerol removal, in the presence of which lipase expressed relatively high activity and more than 94% of the ME yield was maintained after being used repeatedly for 15 batches.