This study aimed to examine the relationship between physical performance and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Chinese older adults. Methods: The sample comprised 956 relatively healthy and aged ≥65 years old Chinese community-dwelling participants (mean age, 72.56 ± 5.43 years; 56.8% female), which did not include those with dementia, severe cognitive impairment, mental illness etc. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale were used for the initial classification of patients with MCI. Physical performance was measured via hand grip, Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), and 4-m walking speed. Results: The physical performance (grip strength, TUGT, and 4-m walking speed) correlated with MCI. The grip strength [odds ratio (OR) = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93-0.99] and 4-m walking speed (OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.10-0.64) correlated negatively with MCI, while TUGT (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.13) and MCI correlated positively. Conclusion: The physical performance (grip strength, TUGT, and 4-m walking speed) correlated with MCI. Further analysis showed that the grip strength was associated with overall cognition, time orientation, recall, and language, while TUGT and 4-m walking speed were associated with overall cognition and various cognitive domains, except recall.

The present study evaluated the effect of non-thermal plasma on skin wound healing in BalB/c mice. Two 6-mm wounds along the both sides of the spine were created on the back of each mouse (n=80) by using a punch biopsy. The mice were assigned randomly into two groups, with 40 animals in each group: a non-thermal plasma group in which the mice were treated with the non-thermal plasma; a control group in which the mice were left to heal naturally. Wound healing was evaluated on postoperative days (POD) 4, 7, 10 and 14 (n=5 per group in each POD) by percentage of wound closure. The mice was euthanized on POD 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35 (n=1 in each POD). The wounds were removed, routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded, sectioned and HE-stained. A modified scoring system was used to evaluate the wounds. The results showed that acute inflammation peaked on POD 4 in non-thermal plasma group, earlier than in control group in which acute inflammation reached a peak on POD 7, and the acute inflammation scores were much lower in non-thermal group than in control group on POD 7 (P<0.05). The amount of granular tissue was greater on POD 4 and 7 in non-thermal group than in control group (P<0.05). The re-epithelialization score and the neovasularization score were increased significantly in non-thermal group when compared with control group on POD 7 and 10 (P<0.05 for all). The count of bacterial colonies was 10(3) CFU/mL on POD 4 and <20 CFU/mL on POD 7, significantly lower than that in control group (10(9) CFU/mL on POD 4 and >10(12) CFU/mL on the POD 7) (P<0.05). It was suggested that the non-thermal plasma facilitates the wound healing by suppressing bacterial colonization.

The prevalence of bed-wetting is significant in Chinese children, but lower than in most western countries, which is likely due to cultural differences. Living in rural areas, having arousal dysfunction, and having associated day-time symptoms may be predicative factors for marked bed-wetting.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of using urodynamic variables to predict upper urinary tract dilatation (UUTD) in children with neurogenic bladder-sphincter dysfunction (NBSD). PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study included 200 children with NBSD, of whom 103 had UUTD and 97 did not; they were examined using routine urological, neurological and urodynamic methods. The group with UUTD was divided into three subgroups (group 1-3, from mild to severe hydronephrosis). A urodynamic risk score (URS) was calculated, including a detrusor leak-point pressure (DLPP) of > 40 cmH 2 O, a bladder compliance (BC) of < 9 mL/cmH 2 O and evidence of acontractile detrusor (ACD). RESULTSThe postvoid residual urine volume (PVR), DLPP, incidences of ACD and DLPP of > 40 cmH 2 O were greater and the BC significantly less in groups 1-3 than in the control group. Moreover, the BC decreased, while the PVR, DLPP and the incidence of DLPP of > 40 cmH 2 O were significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2. The relative safe cystometric capacity of groups 2 and 3 were lower, respectively, than that of the control and group 1, and the relative unsafe cystometric capacity (RUCC) and relative risk rate of cystometric capacity (RRRCC) were significantly greater with the severity of UUTD. The maximum detrusor pressure on voiding or at maximum flow rate, and the Abrams-Griffiths number for voluntary contractile bladders, of the UUTD group were significantly higher than those of the control group. There was a positive correlation between URS and UUTD. CONCLUSIONSThe selective use of urodynamic variables might be valuable for predicting the risk of UUTD in children with NBSD. Decreased BC, and increased DLPP and ACD are the main urodynamic risk factors, and they reciprocally