Characterization of a Novel Model of Lumbar Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy in Bipedal Standing Mice.

Objective: To explore the main causes of hypertrophied ligamentum flavum (HLF) and the possibility of using bipedal standing mouse model to simulate the pathological changes in human HLF.

Methods: Thirty-two 8-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 16) and control group (n = 16). In the experimental group, mice were induced to adopt a bipedal standing posture by their hydrophobia.

Impurity-driven transitions in frustrated quantum Ising rings.

We study the quantum phase transition driven by a point impurity in a chain seamed with ring frustration. With strong coupling and light impurity, the system is in a topological extended-kink (TEK) phase, which exhibits gapless excitations in the bulk. With strong coupling and heavy impurity, the system is in a gapped kink bound state (KBS) phase.

Relationship between the location of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and its stress in finite element analysis.

Objective: To quantitatively describe the stress of the ligamentum flavum (LF) using the finite element method and to compare the stress at different parts of the healthy LF.

Methods: Based on the high resolution computed tomography imaging data of a healthy 22-year-old man, three-dimensional nonlinear L lumbar finite element model (FEM) representing intact condition was developed. The LF, as the object of the present research, was incorporated into the spinal model in the form of solid three-dimensional structure.

Rigorous proof for the nonlocal correlation function in the transverse Ising model with ring frustration.

An unusual correlation function was conjectured by Campostrini et al. [Phys. Rev.

Locating a modifier gene of Ovum mutant through crosses between DDK and C57BL/6J inbred strains in mice.

A striking infertile phenotype has been discovered in the DDK strain of mouse. The DDK females are usually infertile when crossed with males of other inbred strains, whereas DDK males exhibit normal fertility in reciprocal crosses. This phenomenon is caused by mutation in the ovum (Om) locus on chromosome 11 and known as the DDK syndrome.

Using positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and H/D exchange study phosphoryl group transfer reactions involved in amino acid ester isopropyl phosphoramidates of Brefeldin A.

As mini-chemical models, amino acid ester isopropyl phosphoramidates of Brefeldin A (compounds 2a-2d) were synthesized and investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in combination with H/D exchange. To further confirm the fragments's structures, off-line Fourier transform resonance tandem mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS/MS) was also performed. The fragmentation rules of compounds 2a-2d have been summarized and the plausible schemes for the fragmentation pathways were proposed.

Cloning, expression and characterization of antimicrobial porcine β defensin 1 in Escherichia coli.

Porcine β defensin 1 (pBD1) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide with three pairs of disulfide bonds. When expressed in insect cells, two polypeptides of different length (pBD1(38) and pBD1(42)) accumulated, which differed by N-terminal truncation. However, only pBD1(42) was found in pigs.

Signal molecule-mediated hepatic cell communication during liver regeneration.

Liver regeneration is a complex and well-orchestrated process, during which hepatic cells are activated to produce large signal molecules in response to liver injury or mass reduction. These signal molecules, in turn, set up the connections and cross-talk among liver cells to promote hepatic recovery. In this review, we endeavor to summarize the network of signal molecules that mediates hepatic cell communication in the regulation of liver regeneration.

[Rehabilitation evaluation of Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism].

Objective: To evaluate rehabilitation effect of Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism.

Methods: Voice rehabilitation were performed for 60 cases with Amatsu's tracheoesophageal shunt operation after total laryngectomy with sphincter mechanism, in which 20 cases were involved in post-operation radiation therapy.

Results: Fifty two (86.

Translocation of phospho-protein kinase Cs implies their roles in meiotic-spindle organization, polar-body emission and nuclear activity in mouse eggs.

The protein kinase Cs (PKCs) are a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases categorized into three subfamilies: classical, novel, and atypical. The phosphorylation of PKC in germ cells is not well defined. In this study, we described the subcellular localization of phopho-PKC in the process of mouse oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic mitosis.

[Tone recognition and electrode discrimination in prelingually deafened cochlear-implant listeners].

Objective: To investigate tone recognition and electrode discrimination in prelingually deafened children with the Nucleus device, and to develop guidelines for customized mapping in the implant users.

Methods: Fourteen prelingually deafened children with cochlear implants participated in this study. Tone recognition was measured with a four-alternative, forced choice procedure from 25 consonant-vowel syllables, each of which had four tonal variations.

[Implication of cochlear implantation in patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate the intraoperative obstacles and post-operative outcomes of cochlear implantation in children with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome.

Methods: Between May 1995 and June 2002, 10 patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome received cochlear implantation in Pekin Union Medical College Hospital. The clinical records of 10 cases of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome were analyzed retrospectively.