In the present investigation, we studied four methods of blind source separation/independent component analysis (BSS/ICA), AMUSE, SOBI, JADE, and FastICA. We did the feature extraction of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of brain computer interface (BCI) for classifying spontaneous mental activities, which contained four mental tasks including imagination of left hand, right hand, foot and tongue movement. Different methods of extract physiological components were studied and achieved good performance. Then, three combined methods of SOBI and FastICA for extraction of EEG features of motor imagery were proposed. The results showed that combining of SOBI and ICA could not only reduce various artifacts and noise but also localize useful source and improve accuracy of BCI. It would improve further study of physiological mechanisms of motor imagery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of semitendinous and gracilis transfer for the treatment of medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury caused by total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsBetween March 2009 and May 2014, 11 patients (11 knees) with MCL injuries caused by primary TKA were treated by semitendinous and gracilis transfer in primary TKA (injury group). Another 18 patients (21 knees) without MCL injury were included as the control group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury sides, disease duration, body mass index, knee varus deformity, and preoperative Knee Society Score (KSS) between 2 groups (P>0.05), with comparability. KSS score was used to evaluate the function after operation. ResultsPrimary healing of incision was obtained in all patients, and no complications of joint instability and pain occurred. The follow-up time was 6-29 months in injury group and was 7-34 months in control group. At last follow-up, the KSS clinical score and functional score were significantly increased to 89.82±3.76 and 89.54±3.50 in the injury group (P<0.05) and were significantly increased to 90.19±3.39 and 90.00±3.53 in the control group (P<0.05) respectively, but no significant difference was shown between 2 groups (t=0.158, P=0.877; t=0.820, P=0.432). X-ray films showed no prosthetic loosening or subsidence during follow-up. ConclusionThe semitendinous and gracilis transfer is reliable for the treatment of MCL injury caused by TKA. The insertions of semitendinous tendon and gracilis are close to that of the knee MCL, which can effectively improve knee function.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle on the rotational alignment of Gemini MK-Ⅱ tibial components in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsBetween March 2011 and December 2012, 61 cases (67 knees) of varus knee osteoarthritis underwent Gemini MK-Ⅱ knee arthroplasty, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 49 females, with an average age of 67.6 years (range, 50-82 years). The body mass index ranged from 20.9 to 33.7 kg/m2 (mean, 28.2 kg/m2). Unilateral TKA was performed in 55 cases and bilateral TKA in 6 cases. The duration of knee osteoarthritis ranged from 2 to 30 years (mean, 12.1 years). According to radiographic changes, 56 knees were rated as Kellgren-Lawrence grade Ⅲ and 11 knees as grade IV. During TKA, the tibial rotational alignment was determined by medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle. The anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT scan were taken to measure the tibial rotational angle (TRA) at pre-and post-operation and to analyze the relative factors for TRA by Pearson correlation analysis. ResultsAll the patients were followed up 18-41 months (mean, 20.5 months). The range of motion (ROM) significantly increased from (98.806±16.969)° preoperatively to (116.806±11.458)° at last follow-up (t=-11.760, P=0.000). The knee society score (KSS) significantly increased from 111.239±20.344 to 160.522±17.872 at last follow-up (t=-27.271, P=0.000). The anatomical tibiofemoral angle (ATFA), posterior condylar angle (PCA), and TRA were all improved after TKA, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Rotational malalignment was observed in 11 knees (16.42%) before TKA, and in 14 knees (20.90%) at 1 week after TKA, showing no significant difference (χ2=0.443, P=0.506). There were 8 knees (11.94%) of internal rotation (>8°) and 6 knees (8.96%) of external rotation (>8°). The postoperative tibial prosthesis TRA had no correlation with the preoperative ATFA and tibial plateau TRA, the postoperative PCA and ATFA (r=-0.174, P=0.159; r=0.220, P=0.074; r=0.237, P=0.053; r=-0.095, P=0.442). ConclusionIn patients with varus knee osteoarthritis, medial 1/3 anatomical orientation of the tibial tubercle will contribute to the development of tibial rotational malalignment when TKA is performed by using Gemini MK-Ⅱ tibial components.
The cognitive impairment of type 2 diabetes patients caused by long-term metabolic disorders has been the current focus of attention. In order to find the related electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics to the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) of diabetes patients, this study analyses the EEG synchronization with the method of multi-channel synchronization analysis--S estimator based on phase synchronization. The results showed that the S estimator values in each frequency band of diabetes patients with MCI were almost lower than that of control group. Especially, the S estimator values decreased significantly in the delta and alpha band, which indicated the EEG synchronization decrease. The MoCA scores and S value had a significant positive correlation in alpha band.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban for prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with preoperative abnormal D-dimer after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsBetween August and September 2013,60 consecutive patients with varus knee osteoarthritis undergoing unilateral TKA were enrolled in the study.According to the preoperative D-dimer level,the patients were divided into 2 groups:D-dimer normal group (control group,n=41) and D-dimer abnormal group (test group,n=19).No significant difference was found in gender,age,body mass index,and preoperative knee range of motion between 2 groups (P>0.05).All patients underwent conventional primary TKA and anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban to prevent DVT.The tourniquet use time,postoperative hospitalization time,and total hospitalization time were compared between 2 groups.At 1,3,and 5 days after operation,prothrombin time (PT),activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),thrombin time (TT),fibrinogen (FIB),and D-dimer were measured.Wound complications and DVT were observed. ResultsThe postoperative hospitalization time of the test group was significantly longer than that of the control group (t=2.327,P=0.031),while the tourniquet use time and total hospitalization time showed no significant difference between 2 groups (P>0.05).All the patients were followed up 6-8 months (mean,7.2 months).Wound complications occurred in 3 cases (7.3%) of the control group and in 2 cases (10.5%) of the test group,showing no significant difference (χ2=0.175,P=0.676).Color ultrasonography showed no pulmonary embolism and DVT at 6 weeks after TKA.There were significant differences in PT,TT,and FIB between at pre- and post-TKA in the same group,but no significant difference was found between 2 groups.The APTT and D-dimer had significant differences between at pre- and post-TKA in the same group,and between groups.There was no significant interaction effect between time and group for each index. ConclusionPreoperative abnormal D-dimer level should not be regarded as a contraindication for TKA.The risks of DVT and wound complications in patients with abnormal D-dimer level are similar to patients with normal D-dimer level using rivaroxaban administration after TKA.It is unnecessary to conventional monitor D-dimer and other coagulation and hemorrhage laboratory tests in the patients after TKA.
ObjectiveTo investigate the behavioral recovery of spinal cord injury (SCI) rats that received transplantation of NEP1-40 gene-modified neural stem cells. MethodsNeural stem cells (NSCs) were derived from the cortex tissue of rat embryo at the age of 18 days and identified by Nestin immunofluorescence. The lentiviruses were transduced to NSCs to construct NEP1-40 gene modified NSCs. Spinal cords of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were hemisected at the nineth thoracic vertebrae level. The rats were randomly assigned to three groups. Cell culture medium, NSCs and NEP1-40 gene-modified NSCs were transplanted into the lesion site of rats of SCI group, NSCs group and NEP1-40-NSCs group respectively 7 days after injury. Additional 10 rats served as blank control group (sham group), which only received laminectomy. Following transplantation, behavior tests including Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale and grid test were utilized to evaluate spinal cord functional recovery. ResultsBehavior tests 8 weeks after cells transplantation showed that the rats in SCI group got worst results, the BBB scores improved and the grid drop times reduced significantly in NSCs transplantation group (P<0.01) and behavioral test outcomes were best in the NEP1-40 gene-modified NSCs group (P<0.01). ConclusionNEP1-40 gene modification can significantly improve the behavioral recovery of SCI rats that received transplantation of pure neural stem cells. It can provide a new idea and reliable experimental base for the study of NSCs transplantation for spinal cord injury.
ObjectiveTo compare the biomechanical difference of 4 kinds of internal fixations for acetabular fracture in quadrilateral area. MethodsThe transverse fracture models were created in 16 hemipelves specimens from 8 adult males, and were randomly divided into 4 groups according to different internal fixation methods (n=4): infrapectineal buttress reconstruction plate (group A), infrapectineal buttress locking reconstruction plate (group B), reconstruction plate combined with trans-plate quadrilateral screws (group C), and anterior reconstruction plate-lag screw (group D). Then the horizontal displacement, longitudinal displacement of fractures, and axial stiffness were measured and counted to compare the stability after continuous vertical loading. ResultsUnder the same loading, the horizontal and longitudinal displacements of groups A, B, C, and D were decreased gradually; when the loading reached 1 800 N, the longitudinal displacement of group A was more than 3.00 mm, indicating the failure criterion, while the axial stiffness increased gradually. Under 200 N loading, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in horizontal displacement, longitudinal displacement, and axial stiffness among 4 groups. When the loading reached 600-1 800 N, significant differences were found in horizontal displacement, longitudinal displacement, and axial stiffness among 4 groups (P<0.05) except the horizontal displacement between groups C and D (P>0.05). ConclusionFor acetabular fracture in the quadrilateral area, anterior reconstruction plate-lag screw for internal fixation has highest stability, followed by reconstruction plate combined with trans-plate quadrilateral screws, and they are better than infrapectineal buttress reconstruction plate and infrapectineal buttress locking reconstruction plate.
ObjectiveTo evaluated the effect of the video-assisted thoracoscope surgery(VATS) for non-small cell lung cancer. MethodsWe searched EMbase, PubMed, OVID, Springer Link, Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBMdisc, and VIP to collect randomized controlled trials(RCTs) of VATS versus thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer. Each database was searched from establishment to October 2014. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies and extracted relevant data, using RevMan5.3 meta-analysis software. ResultsWe finally identified 10 RCTs involving 1 529 patients. There were 453 patients in the VATS group and 1 076 patients in the thoracotomy group. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in the number of lymph node dissection(P=0.41), operation time(P=0.14), operation bleeding volume(P=0.14), chest tube placement time(P=0.53), operation mortality(P=0.72), and the overall survival rate(P=0.39). While there were statistical differences in thoracic drainage(P=0.04), post-operation hospital stay(P=0.01), and postoperative complications(P=0.0001). ConclusionVATS is safe and effective in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Based on force sensing resistor(FSR) sensor, we designed insoles for pressure measurement, which were stable and reliable with a simple structure, and easy to wear and to do outdoor experiments with. So the insoles could be used for gait detection system. The hardware includes plantar pressure sensor array, signal conditioning unit and main circuit unit. The software has the function of data acquisition, signal processing, feature extraction and classification function. We collected 27 groups of gait data of a healthy person based on this system to analyze the data and study pressure distribution under various gait features, i.e. walking on the flat ground, uphill, downhill, up the stairs, and down the stairs. These five gait patterns for pattern recognition and classification by K-nearest neighbors (KNN) recognition algorithm reached up to 90% accuracy. This preliminarily verified the usefulness of the system.
ObjectiveTo analyze the causes of meniscal root tears (MRTs), and to review the progress in its diagnosis and therapy. MethodsThe published literature about MRTs was extensively reviewed and summarized. ResultsMRTs can be divided into acute traumatic injuries and chronic degenerative injuries; MRI examination is an effective way to diagnose according to meniscal extrusion, ghost sign, and meniscal root linear defects. Conservative treatments are mainly performed for chronic MRTs; partial meniscectomy can obtain predictable improvement in symptoms. Acute MRTs can be treated by arthroscopic meniscus repair and reconstruction which can effectively restore meniscal root anatomy and function, and knee joint degeneration can be postponed. ConclusionMRTs diagnosis relies on MRI, appropriate treatment plan should be made based on the specific circumstances of the patient after accurate diagnosis. Usually the satisfied short-term clinical results can be obtained, while the long-term results need more clinical evaluation.