Integrated systemic inflammatory response syndrome epidemic model in scale-free networks

Based on the scale-free network, an integrated systemic inflammatory response syndrome model with artificial immunity, a feedback mechanism, crowd density and the moving activities of an individual can be built. The effects of these factors on the spreading process are investigated through the model. The research results show that the artificial immunity can reduce the stable infection ratio and enhance the spreading threshold of the system. The feedback mechanism can only reduce the stable infection ratio of system, but cannot affect the spreading threshold of the system. The bigger the crowd density is, the higher the infection ratio of the system is and the smaller the spreading threshold is. In addition, the simulations show that the individual movement can enhance the stable infection ratio of the system only under the condition that the spreading rate is high, however, individual movement will reduce the stable infection ratio of the system.

Effects of Ningdong granule on DA,DRD2,and HVA in a rat model of Tourette's syndrome

OBJECTIVE:Ningdong granule is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for the treatment of Tourette's syndrome.METHODS:Sixty-four rats were randomly assigned to a control group and three experimental groups,respectively.Rat models of Tourette's syndrome were established via intraperitoneal injection of apomorphine(Apo).The rats in the experimental groups were subsequently intragastrically injected with haloperidol at 10 mg/kg(haloperidol group),Ningdong granule at 370 mg/kg(NDG group),and normal saline(0.9%) at 10 mL/kg(Apo group),respectively.Rat behaviors were observed and recorded on a daily basis.After 12 w,all rats were sacrificed,and sera and striatal tissues were harvested.Homovanillic acid levels in sera,as well as dopamine and dopamine D2 receptor mRNA expression in the striatum,were measured to determine possible mechanisms of Ningdong granule on the dopamine system in a rat model of Tourette's syndrome.RESULTS:Following intervention,stereotype actions of the Tourette's syndrome rats were significantly inhibited in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.01).Homovanillic levels were significantly greater in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.05).In addition,dopamine levels were significantly less in the NDG group(P<0.01),and DRD2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Results demonstrated that Ningdong granule effectively inhibited stereotype actions and Tourette's syndrome symptoms by promoting dopamine metabolism,reducing dopamine levels in the striatum,increasing homovanillic acid content in sera,and reducing mRNA expression of DRD2 in the striatum.

Hybrid force control of astronaut rehabilitative training robot under active loading mode

In order to mitigate the effects of space adaptation syndrome(SAS) and improve the training efficiency of the astronauts, a novel astronaut rehabilitative training robot(ART) was proposed. ART can help the astronauts to carry out the bench press training in the microgravity environment. Firstly, a dynamic model of cable driven unit(CDU) was established whose accuracy was verified through the model identification. Secondly, to improve the accuracy and the speed of the active loading, an active loading hybrid force controller was proposed on the basis of the dynamic model of the CDU. Finally, the actual effect of the hybrid force controller was tested by simulations and experiments. The results suggest that the hybrid force controller can significantly improve the precision and the dynamic performance of the active loading with the maximum phase lag of the active loading being 9° and the maximum amplitude error being 2% at the frequency range of 10 Hz. The controller can meet the design requirements.

Modeling Rett syndrome using TALEN-edited MECP2 mutant cynomolgus monkeys

Subject Code:H09With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,a collaborative study by the research group led by Prof.Chen Yongchang(陈永昌)and Ji Weizhi from the Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedicine Research&Institute of Primate Translational Medicine,Kunming University

Effect of Electro-Acupuncture at Different Acupoints on Neuropeptide and Somatostatin in Rat Brain with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Objective： To compare the regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture （EA） at acupoints Zusanli （ST36） and Hegu （LI4） on the visceral hyper-sensitivity in the rat model of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS）, and to explore the acting targets and specialty of acupoints. Methods： Except 8 rats of the normal control group, the rest 32 rats were prepared to set up the IBS models. IBS animal model was prepared by enema with acetic acid. Model rats were divided into three groups. Except for rats in the model group for control, those in the other two groups were treated 20 min by EA on ST36 （EA-ST36） and LI4 （EA-LI4） respectively for 2 weeks to observe the effect on behavior response of viscera sensitivity. The changes of neuropepUde （NPY）, the somatostatin （SS） levels in blood and tissues of brain and intestine were monitored as well. Results： The volume thresholds for abdomen uplifting and beck hunching were obviously increased after EA-ST36 （P〈0.05）, but showed insignificant change after EA-LI4. NPY contents lowered and SS contents increased in model rats; both EA-ST36 and EA-LI4 could raise the level of thalamic NPY （P〈0.01 and P〈0.05, respectively）, but showed insignificant effects on NPY in colonic tissue. As for SS content, its colonic level could be reduced by EA-S36 and EA-LI4 （P〈0.01 and P〈0.05, respectively）, however, its blood level was affected only by EA-ST36 （P〈0.05）. Conclusions： EA-ST36 or EA-LI4 could regulate the NPY in thalamus and SS in colonic tissue, the former could affect blood level of SS as well. It is deemed that NPY and SS may be the key substances for regulating the action of acupuncture in the braln-intastinal axis; their different levels could be regarded as an indicator for the functional differenca between the acupoints.