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Balance ability is important for preschoolers' motor and physical development. Portable accelerometers can provide resolution tests and identification of preschoolers with balance defects.Despite previous studies on the balance measures of accelerometer tests, there is a lack of complete analyses for preschoolers aged 4-5 years. In this study, we aim to verify the reliability of measuring the static balance of preschoolers in this age range based on inertia sensors for the acceleration and angular velocity moduli.Thirty children wore an inertial sensor in the 5th lumbar vertebra and completed four tests, i.e., standing on a firm surface and on a foam surface with open and closed eyes. The standard deviation of the acceleration modulus and root mean square of the angular velocity modulus were calculated. The analysis was based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to determine the internal consistency and feasibility.The ICC of the acceleration modulus was between 0.597 and 0.683 (P 0.01), and the test-retest reliability was medium. The ICC of the angular velocity modulus was between 0.683 and 0.812 (P 0.01, P 0.001), and the test-retest reliability was medium to good. The standard error of measurement (SEM) of the acceleration modulus was between 0.001591 and 0.007248 (g), and the SEM% was between 21.24% and 34.12%. The angular velocity modulus SEM values ranged from 1.296 to 3.441 (deg/s), and the SEM% ranged from 25.17% to 33.26%. The difference between the two tests was evenly distributed on both sides of the mean value, and the difference between the test results was within the consistency limit.Inertial sensors can be used to evaluate the static balance ability of preschoolers aged 4-5 years. Further, the angular velocity modulus is more reliable than the acceleration modulus.

Background and aims Fractional lasers have become increasingly popular for treating atrophic scars, but their effectiveness is limited for deeper scars. We developed a novel technique (manual fractional thermal contraction technology, MFTCT) using an ultra-pulse CO2 laser and evaluated its efficacy and safety for treating atrophic facial scars. Methods A total of 44 patients with atrophic facial scars were treated with MFTCT every 8 weeks for 1-4 times. Overall scar improvement was assessed by photographs taken at baseline and 3 months after the last treatment according to the 4-point global assessment scale (GAS) and ECCA grading scale. Improvements in color, distortion, and texture were assessed by the modified Manchester Scar Scale and scored individually from 1 to 4. Pain degrees and adverse reactions during and after treatment were recorded. Results A total of 44 patients completed the treatment and follow-ups; of them, 89% reported at least 50% overall improvement after the last treatment. The mean ECCA scores fell from 67.50 ± 23.98 to 45.68 ± 18.57 (a 32% improvement), and the change was significant (P = .000). The average score for overall improvement was 3.48. The average scores for color, distortion, and texture were 3.07 ± 0.62, 3.27 ± 0.50, and 3.52 ± 0.51, respectively. Mean pain degree score was 4.27 ± 1.04, and mean erythema duration was 28.43 ± 6.58 days. Some patients developed pigmentation for a few months that resolved with topical treatment. Conclusion Manual fractional thermal contraction technology has definite clinical efficacy in the treatment of atrophic facial scars with fewer adverse reactions and is worth using in the clinical setting.

Reconstruction of defects of nasal ala and dorsum after surgical excision presents a substantial challenge to dermatologic surgeons. Second intention healing is a simple and extremely useful method to optimize cosmesis after skin cancer removal.This study reported the cosmetic outcomes after second intention healing of nasal ala and dorsum defects in Asians, and estimated the time to epithelialization and complete healing.Fifteen defects (1 cm in diameter) of the nasal ala and dorsum in 10 patients were allowed to heal by secondary intention. Cosmetic results were evaluated and the time to epithelialization and complete healing were recorded.Cosmetic outcomes were good to excellent in 80% of the defects; defects of the dorsum showed poorer cosmetic results than defects of the ala. The wounds needed 5-17 days (mean 11.3; SD ± 4.18) to complete epithelialization and 10-24 days (mean 17.7; SD ± 4.85) to heal completely.Second intention healing of small nasal ala and dorsum defects (1 cm in diameter) in Asians produces satisfactory cosmetic results with a low complication rate.

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of fenretinide-loaded liposomes (4-HPR-L) on subcutaneous transplanted malignant melanomas in nude mice. Methods A film-ultrasonic dispersion method was used to prepare 4-HPR-L. BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with A375 melanoma cells in the right axillary fossae to establish malignant melanoma-bearing nude mouse models. Ten nude mouse models were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups to be injected with near-infrared fluorescent cell membrane label (DiR) solution or DiR liposomes (DiR-L) at the same concentration in the caudal vein, and a live imaging system was used to observe the distribution of DiR or DiR-L in nude mice at 6, 12, 24 hours after the injection. Another 30 nude mice were randomly and equally divided into 3 groups to be injected with 5% (mass fraction) glucose solution at a single-dose of 0.2 ml (control group) , 25 mg/kg 4-HPR solution (4-HPR group) and 25 mg/kg 4-HPR-L solution (4-HPR-L group) respectively on days 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 after the inoculation with A375 cells. The mouse body weight and tumor volume were dynamically monitored in the above groups after the injection, and the survival situation was observed. The nude mice were sacrificed on day 2 after the final injection, and the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and tumor tissues were resected. These tissues were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemical staining to observe the metastasis of melanoma in mice, and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labelling was performed to detect the apoptosis in tumor cells. One-way analysis of variance and independent-sample t test were used to analyze measurement data. Results The live imaging system showed that DiR-L could be retained in melanoma for a long time, and strong fluorescence of DiR-L could be still observed in the tumors at 24 hours after injections. Quantitative fluorescence analysis revealed that the fluorescence intensity of DiR-L (22.85 ± 1.66) was significantly higher than that of DiR in tumor tissues (8.45 ± 0.97, t = 12.957, P < 0.01) . Compared with the control group and 4-HPR group, the resected tumor weight on day 2 after the final injection was significantly decreased in the 4-HPR-L group (F = 27.055, t = 4.768, 6.640, respectively, both P < 0.05) . Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that liver metastasis occurred in 2 nude mice in the 4-HPR-L group, but in all the nude mice in the control group and 4-HPR group. All the nude mice in the 4-HPR-L group died within 76 days after inoculation, and the mice in the control group and 4-HPR group all died within 56 and 59 days respectively after inoculation. There were significant differences in the apoptotic index among the control group (12.14‰ ± 1.33‰) , 4-HPR group (67.17‰ ± 15.18‰) and 4-HPR-L group (152.73‰ ± 11.27‰; F = 167.588, P < 0.05) , and the apoptotic index was significantly higher in the 4-HPR-L group than in the control group and 4-HPR group (t = 18.162, 11.075 respectively, both P < 0.05) . Conclusion 4-HPR-L can effectively inhibit the growth of subcutaneous melanoma in nude mice and metastasis of melanoma cells, and prolong the survival duration of nude mice. Key words: Nevi and melanomas; Fenretinide; Liposomes; Models, animal; Apoptosis; A375 cells

With the emergence of optical cross-connects (OXCs) and optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), all-optical networks and a new layer named as optical layer are emerging. Although the number of available wavelength per fiber and the bandwidth per wavelength are all becoming larger, the total bandwidth per fiber is limited. So for a network operator, pre-allocating minimum spare capacity in an optical network under the advanced connection demands to meet to survivability requirements is needed. In this paper, the above problem can be formulized as an ILP model, in which different survivability requirements of connections are considered jointly. The solution to this problem has an advantage over the result of the separate allocation problem, i.e., allocating resources for service connections and protection! restoration connections are performed separately.