Objective:To explore the method of establishing a modified demyelination and myelination regeneration model induced by dicyclohexanone oxalyl dihydrazone (CPZ) in mice with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to analyze the image markers of demyelination and myelination regeneration in mouse MS model.Methods:After the intragastrically administered with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCNa) for one week, a total of 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into the control group ( n=10), the demyelination group ( n=10), and the remyelination group ( n=10). The mice of the control group were immediately performed MR scanning and pathological specimen obtaining; the mice in the demyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for 6 weeks for inducing demyelination, then received MR scanning and specimen obtaining with the same protocols used in control group; the mice in the remyelination group were administered with intragastrical CPZ-CMCNa once a day for six weeks for demyelination, then CPZ was withdrawn and normal diet was given for another four weeks. Then MR scanning and specimen obtaining were performed with the same protocols used in the other two groups. Regions of interest (ROIs) were set at the rostrum of corpus callosum (rCC), the bilateral normal appearing white matters (NAWM) of the rostrum of corpus callosum, and the bilateral cerebral cortex (Cx). The normalized T 2WI (T 2-normalized), fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) values were compared among the three groups by one-way ANOVA. Results:The demyelination and remyelination mice model of MS were successfully established. The T 2-normalized values of rCC in control group, demyelination group and remyelination group were 0.47±0.03, 0.72±0.04, 0.54±0.04, respectively, with statistically significant difference found ( F=90.511, P<0.05). Post-hoc multiple comparisons showed significant differences among those groups ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of T 2-normalized value in NAWM and Cx among the three groups ( P>0.05). Moreover, there were significant differences in the FA values (0.36±0.04, 0.29±0.03, and 0.32±0.05), the MD values [(0.572±0.015), (0.598±0.034), and (0.626±0.043)×10 -3 mm 2/s], the AD values [(0.79±0.04), (0.77±0.06), and (0.83±0.04)×10 -3 mm 2/s], and the RD values [(0.46±0.02), (0.51±0.03), and (0.53±0.05)×10 -3 mm 2/s] of rCC of the control group, the demyelination group, and the remyelination group (all P<0.05). Significant difference was found in FA values between the demyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), and in MD values between the remyelination group and the control group ( P<0.05), as well as in AD values between the remyelination group and the demyelination group ( P<0.05). There were also significant differences in RD values between the remyelination group and the control group, and the demyelination group and the control group (all P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in all diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of NAWM and Cx among the three groups (all P>0.05). The LFB-eosin staining showed that the myelin sheath of rCC was lost in the demyelination group, and the rCC was partially regenerated and repaired in the remyelination group. Conclusion:The modified CPZ-CMCNa model can selectively induce demyelination and remyelination of rCC, and the changes of demyelination and remyelination of rCC in the modified CPZ-CMCNa model can be quantitatively detected by T 2WI combined with DTI, which might provide related theoretical basis for the study on dynamic changes of MS lesions.

Lymph node metastasis is the main mode of metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma.In the central compartment lymph node dissection,the lymph node posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve is hidden because of its deep anatomical position,which is easy to be missed during the operation and becomes one of the factors that affect the recurrence of thyroid papillary carcinoma.The metastasis rate of lymph node posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve is 10％-30％,which is related to the tumor size,location and other factors,and its position in the surgical treatment of thyroid cancer is increasingly prominent.

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic association of apolipoprotein (apo) E and apoCI gene polymorphisms with coronary heart disease (CHD) in China.

METHODSapoE genotypes were identified by multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (multi-ARMS) and the apoCI promoter polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 186 cases with CHD (age: 65.0 +/- 10.5 years) and 350 controls (age: 63.6 +/- 8.3 years). The haplotype frequencies were estimated.

RESULTSThe frequencies of apoE E4/3 genotype (26.9%) and epsilon4 (14.5%) in CHD group were significantly higher than that in the control group (12.6%, 7.0%), P <0.05. The significant difference was also found for the apoCI locus and the CHD group showed higher rate of both for the H2 allele and genotypes, carrying this allele. Estimation of the haplotype frequencies indicated that the association between the apoE-CI haplotype and CHD was significantly strong. The apoE-epsilon4/apoCI-H2 was estimated to be responsible for 9.86% of CHD.

CONCLUSIONWhen the subjects carrying both epsilon4 and H2 alleles, they would have higher risk of suffering from CHD than controls.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins C ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,muscle pathological features and pathogenic gene mutation in 4 cases with LMNA-related congenital muscular dystrophy (L-CMD).Methods Clinical data of the probands and the parents were collected.Skeletal muscle specimens were biopsied from the probands for pathological analysis.Genomic DNA and RNA were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes,and PCR,reverse transcription(RT)-PCR and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the LMNA gene to determine the gene mutation and confirm the pathogenicity.Results Four patients had symptoms from fetal period to several months after birth.They presented with motor retardation,muscle weakness with prominent the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,with mild to moderate elevation of CK level.The muscle biopsies showed muscular dystrophic and with inflammatory changes,and the abnormal nuclear morphology was observed with transmission electron microscopy.Genetic analysis of them detected 4 dominant de novo mutations.Three of them had unreported pathogenic mutations.The same sites of the LMNA gene were wild type in their parents.Conclusions Four cases of L-CMD are genetically identified.Genetic counseling of the family can be possible.The patients should be considered LMNA gene mutation of they present themselves with muscle weakness with the proximal upper limbs,distal lower limbs and neck extensor,hypotonia,contractures,mild to moderate elevation of CK level,and if the biopsies show muscular dystrophic changes but also with inflammatory changes should be considered LMNA gene mutation.Genetic analysis is the most reliable method for diagnosing L-CMD.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of Proton Resonance Frequency (PRF) shift based magnetic resonance (MR) temperature mapping utilizing the selfdeveloped center array-sequencing phase unwrapping (PU) method for non-invasive temperature monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computer simulation was done on the PU algorithm for performance evaluation before further application to MR thermometry. The MR experiments were conducted in two approaches namely PU experiment, and temperature mapping experiment based on the PU technique with all the image postprocessing implemented in MATLAB. A 1.5T MR scanner employing a knee coil with T2* GRE (Gradient Recalled Echo) pulse sequence were used throughout the experiments. Various subjects such as water phantom, orange, and agarose gel phantom were used for the assessment of the self-developed PU algorithm. The MR temperature mapping experiment was initially attempted on the agarose gel phantom only with the application of a custom-made thermoregulating water pump as the heating source. Heat was generated to the phantom via hot water circulation whilst temperature variation was observed with T-type thermocouple. The PU program was implemented on the reconstructed wrapped phase images prior to map the temperature distribution of subjects. As the temperature change is directly proportional to the phase difference map, the absolute temperature could be estimated from the summation of the computed temperature difference with the measured ambient temperature of subjects. RESULTS: The PU technique successfully recovered and removed the phase wrapping artifacts on MR phase images with various subjects by producing a smooth and continuous phase map thus producing a more reliable temperature map. CONCLUSION: This work presented a rapid, and robust self-developed center arraysequencing PU algorithm feasible for the application of MR temperature mapping according to the PRF phase shift property.
Artifacts ; Citrus sinensis ; Computer Simulation ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Protons ; Sepharose ; Thermography ; Thermometry ; Water

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression features of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione S transferase-pi (GST-pi) and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins like p53, survivin and bcl-2 in lymph node metastases of gastrointestinal carcinomas.

METHODSThe expression of P-gp, GST-pi, p53, survivin and bcl-2 were determined by using immunohistochemistry technique in surgical specimens of primary tumor (PT) and lymph node metastases (LNMs) from 54 gastrointestinal cancer patients with metastasis of lymph nodes. The expression difference of 5 multi-drug resistance (MDR)-related factors between LNMs and PT were compared.

RESULTSSignificant difference was found in the expression of P-gp and GST-pi between the two groups (both P < 0.05), and expression of p53 and bcl-2 showed positive correlation between LNMs and PT (r = 0.7248, 0.5524; both P < 0.05), respectively. In LNMs, P-gp expression was positively correlated with GST-pi (r = 0.4062, P < 0.05) and survivin (r = 0.6169, P < 0.05), and also GST-pi expression was related positively with survivin (r = 0.4027, P < 0.05). Statistically positive correlations were noted between bcl-2 and P-gp (r = 0.3986, P < 0.05), bcl-2 and survivin (r = 0.2937, P < 0.05), as well as GST-pi and survivin (r = 0.4481, P < 0.01) in PT. Only a positive correlation between GST-pi and survivin expression was simultaneously shown in both LNMs and PT.

CONCLUSIONSThere is significant heterogeneity of MDR-related factors expression in LNMs of gastrointestinal carcinomas. Effective adjuvant chemotherapy after operation should target on the metastatic loci of the disease.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate sperm DNA integrity in male infertility patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODSThis study included 90 infertile men with HBV infection (group A), 82 infertile men without HBV infection (group B) and 70 normal fertile men (group C). We detected sperm DNA integrity among the subjects, including DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS), by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), and compared them among the three groups.

RESULTSDFI was higher in group A ([28.17 +/- 13.06]%) than in B ([26.64 +/- 9.79]%) and C ([15.67 +/- 4.73]%), significantly higher in A and B than in C (P < 0.05) but with no significant difference between A and B (P > 0.05). HDS was higher in group A ([10.83 +/- 5.601]%) than in B ([9.04 +/- 3.48]%) and C ([8.04-2.25]%), with significant difference between A and C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA integrity of infertile males is significantly different from that of normal fertile men, and infertility with HBV infection further impairs sperm DNA, which is manifested by abnormal sperm nuclear maturity.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromatin ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; Hepatitis B ; pathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; virology ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; Young Adult

AIMTo assess the efficacy and safety of tadalafil in comparison to a placebo, when taken on demand for 12 weeks by East/Southeast Asian men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSThis multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 17 centers across East and Southeast Asia between August 2002 and February 2003. Men more than 18 years of age with mild to severe ED of various etiologies were randomized to receive a placebo or 20 mg of tadalafil taken as needed (maximum once daily). Efficacy assessments included the International Index of Erectile Function, the Sexual Encounter Profile diary and Global Assessment Questions.

RESULTSTadalafil significantly improved erectile function as compared to the placebo (P < 0.001). At the endpoint, the patients receiving 20 mg of tadalafil reported a greater mean per patient percentage of successful intercourse attempts (Sexual Encounter Profile question 3: 70.9% compared to 33.5% in the placebo) and a greater proportion of improved erections (Global Assessment Question: 86.2% compared to 30.1%). Most (= or < 3%) treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate. The most common treatment emergent adverse events were headache, back pain, dizziness and dyspepsia.

CONCLUSIONTadalafil was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for ED in East and Southeast Asian men.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asia, Southeastern ; Carbolines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; China ; Double-Blind Method ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of endovascular recanalization of the symptomatic occlusion of large intracranial artery in anterior circulation.Methods From October 2015 to December 2017,13 patients with symptomatic non-acute occlusion of large intracranial artery in anterior circulation were enrolled into this study and underwent endovascular recanalization.The initial procedural results,including the rate of successful recanalization and perioprocedural complications,and angiographic and clinical follow-up results were collected.The functional outcome was evaluated at discharge and 90 days.Results Recanalization was successful in 11 out of 13 patients.Perioperative complications occurred in 8 cases,including distal embolization in 7 cases (3 with symptom and 4 without),in which intracerebral hemorrhage associated with embolectomy was found in 1 case;and distal embolization concomitant with artery dissection in 1 case.At discharge,the symptoms of 10 out of 11 patients with successful recanalization were improved and 1 was unchanged;one of 2 patients with recanalization failure was aggravated and 1 was unchanged.After the procedure,1 patient with successful recanalization,but complicated with intracerebral hemorrhage associated with embolectomy was lost at follow-up,thus angiographic follow-up was available in the remaining 10 patients.Of the 10 patients,1 patient developed in-stent restenosis at 12 months and 9 patients had no hemodynamic stenosis/reocclusion.The clinical follow-up was available in 12 patients.No recurrence of TIA or stroke was found in 9 cases with successful recanalization except for 1 case who developed in-stent stenosis and suffered from TIA.At the follow-up of 90 days,l0 patients with successful recanalization showed good function (mRS∶0-2),2 patients with recanalization failure were deteriorated.Conclusions In strictly selected patients with symptomatic non-acute occlusion of large intracranial artery in anterior circulation,endovascular recanalization was feasible and safe,which may improve patients' symptoms in a short term and reduce the recurrence rate of stroke,but its definite efficacy needs to be confirmed by studies with larger sample and longer follow-up.

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is key transcription factors which mainly regulate the expression of CYP3A genes. At the molecular level, PXR has been revealed the protection mechanism of the body against xenochemicals and a major mode of the drug-drug interactions. Besides playing an important role in drug metabolism and interactions, PXR and its target genes also play an important role in maintaining normal physiological function and homeostasis. Therefore, it is necessary to study the regulation of PXR and its related pharmacological effects of TCM and natural products, and to provide new clues for the new pharmacological pathway.
Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Receptors, Steroid ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism