Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and a neurodegenerative disease with progressive cognitive dysfunction as the main feature. How to identify the early changes of cognitive dysfunction and give appropriate treatments is of great significance to delay the onset of dementia. Some other researches have shown that AD is associated with abnormal changes of brain networks. To study human brain functional connectivity characteristics in AD, 16 channels electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded under resting and eyes-closed condition in 15 AD patients and 15 subjects in the control group. The synchronization likelihood of the full-band and alpha-band (8-13 Hz) data were evaluated, which resulted in the synchronization likelihood coefficient matrices. Considering a threshold T, the matrices were converted into binary graphs. Then the graphs of two groups were measured by topological parameters including the clustering coefficient and global efficiency. The results showed that the global efficiency of the network in full-band EEG was significantly smaller in AD group for the values of T = 0.06 and T = 0.07, but there was no statistically significant difference in the clustering coefficients between the two groups for the values of T (0.05-0.07). However, the clustering coefficient and global efficiency were significantly lower in AD patients at alpha-band for the same threshold range than those of subjects in the control group. It suggests that there may be decreases of the brain connectivity strength in AD patients at alpha-band of the resting-state EEG. This study provides a support for quantifying functional brain state of AD from the brain network perspective.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Mapping ; Case-Control Studies ; Cluster Analysis ; Cognition Disorders ; physiopathology ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Probability ; Rest

Objective To investigate the synergistic effect of retinol and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on maintaining pluripotency of murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Methods The mESCs were randomly divided into two groups, and they were all cultured with the same LIF concentration (100U/ml). Retinol was added into mESCs medium in experimental group, and retinol was not added in control group. 14 days after culturing, the changes in cell morphology were observed under an inverted microscope with alkaline phosphatase staining. The mRNA expression of Oct4 and Nanog was analyzed by RT-PCR, and the proteins for Oct4 and Nanog were determined by Western-blot for the assessment of the pluripotency of mESCs. Results 14 days after culturing, 78% of mESCs in the experimental group formed good cell colonies with good stereoscopic appearance, and they showed strong alkaline phosphatase (AKP) staining. While in the control group, only 35% of mESCs were in undifferentiated mode, and the cells were weakly positive with AKP staining. The quantity of undifferentiated mESCs in experimental group (7.02?0.34) was higher than that in control group (4.28?0.37, P

Objective To study the synchronization of electroencephalogram (EEG) in the patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods Sixteen-channel EEG was recorded under resting, eyes-closed condition in 8 AD patients and 8 control subjects. After data preprocessing, the synchronization likelihood was measured between pairs of EEG channels for the full band,δband (0.5-4 Hz),θband (4-8 Hz),αband (8-13 Hz) andβband (13-30 Hz) in the AD and control groups. Mean synchronization likelihood values of each frequency band were compared between the two groups. Results At the full band,θband andαband, the mean synchronization likelihood values of the AD group were lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the two groups at theδandβbands (P>0.05). Conclusions The EEG synchronization of AD patients decreases at the full band,θandαbands, suggesting that collaborative information processing ability atθandαbands reduces between different brain regions in the AD patients. The research provides support for further study of the brain functional connectivity characteristics in the AD patients.

Objective To investigate the management of research instruments.Methods Scientific and effectual device management and technical training were established.Results The instruments availability and intact conditions including economic efficacy were greatly improved via scientific and effectual management in our neurosurgical institute.Conclusion Scientific standard and systematic management can not only ensure the optimal working conditions of research instruments for research work,but promote the equipment efficacy and increase economic returns.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of topical corticosteroids combined with fusidic acid cream in treating infantile eczema.Methods Four hundreds cases of infantile eczema in the outpatient department of our hospital from March 2012 to January 2015 were collected and divided into observation group (220 cases) and control group (180 cases).The observation group received topical corticosteroids combined with fusidic acid cream,while the control group was treated only by topical corticosteroid.The medication time reaching to clinical cure,effect maintenance time during 30 d observation period and recurrence rate were recorded in the two groups.Results During the 30 days of observation, 50 cases of infantile eczema withdrew from the study,17 cases in the observation group and 33 cases in the control group.The average medication time in the observation group was (2.2±0.9)d,which was shorter than (3.2±1.1)d in the control group.The effect maintenance time during observation period in the observation group was (11.7±5.4) d,which was longer than (7.2±4.0)d in the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);74.0% of recurrent cases during the observation period in the observation group manifested by mild eczema,while 57.8% in the control group manifested by mild eczema and had no need to use corticosteroid,the improvement of symptoms during recurrent period for the patients in the observation group was better than that for the patients in the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Topical corticosteroids combined with fusidic acid cream for treating infantile eczema can reduce the medication time,prolong the effect maintenance time,and alleviate the recurrent symptoms.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinicopathological features,immunohistochemical phenotype of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.MethodsEight cases of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma admitted to our hospital from January 2001to January 2011were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological characteristics,and immunohistochemical staining for phenotype were analyzed,then the follow-up data were summarized.ResultsAll 8 patients with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma was male,with a median age of 47 years old.Tumors were located in the pancreatic head in 4 patients,pancreatic body and tail in 4 patients.The average tumor size was 4.5 cm × 4.0 cm × 3.2 cm,the section appeared as gray or gray-red and presented as solid or cystic lesions.Larger tumors were often accompanied by hemorrhage and necrosis.Microscopically,the tumor cells arranged in acinic,cord,trabecular or solid nests.The cytoplasm was abundant and eosinophilic.The nuclear was round,oval,slightly atypia.lmmunohistochemical staining showed diffusely positive for CAM5.2,α-AT,α-ACT and focally positive for CA19-9,CEA,E-cad,β-cat and MUC-1 and only occasionally positive for AFP,NSE,Syn and CgA.Follow-up data showed there was one case of postoperative death due to postoperative pancreatic leakage with abdominal infection.Liver metastasis occurred in 4 cases,among whom,2 cases died.ConclusionsPancreatic acinar cell carcinoma is a rare epithelial malignant tumor of pancreas,with distinct phenotype characteristics.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to identify the crack tip stress intensity factor of the propagation process, crack propagation path, and the changes in the shape of the crack tip by the finite element method.

METHODSThe finite element model of dentino-enamel junction was established with ANSYS software, and the length of the initial crack in the single edge was set to 0.1 mm. The lower end of the sample was fixed. The tensile load of 1 MPa with frequency of 5 Hz was applied to the upper end. The stress intensity factor, deflection angle, and changes in the shape of the crack tip in the crack propagation were calculated by ANSYS.

RESULTSThe stress intensity factor suddenly and continuously decreased in dentino-enamel junction as the crack extended. A large skewed angle appeared, and the stress on crack tip was reduced.

CONCLUSIONThe dentino-enamel junction on human teeth may resist crack propagation through stress reduction.

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging features of ameloblastomas for clinical preoperative diagnosis.

METHODSThirty-seven cases with complete data proven by pathology were retrospectively studied for distinct CBCT features.

RESULTSOf the 37 cases, 31 were primary and 6 were recurrent. On CBCT images, the 37 cases were composed of 36 cases (97.3%) of intraosseous lesions (17 cases of multilocular lesions, 17 cases of unilocular lesions, and 2 cases of honeycomb lesion) and 1 case (2.7%) of extraosseous lesion (soft tissue lesion). Of the 17 multilocular cases, 15 (88.2%) showed tongue-shaped crests in lesions. Thirty-four cases (94.4%) showed apparent expansible change toward lip/buccal and (or) palatal/lingual sides ofjaw, with partialcortical erosion.

CONCLUSIONCBCT imaging yields accurate three-dimensional images of lesion shape and structure. Therefore, CBCT can be usedfor the clinical diagnosis and surgical assessment of ameloblastoma.

Objective To identify and analyze the species of vaginal lactobacilli between patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and healthy women at childbearing age in Inner Mongolia. Methods From Jun. 2008 to Dec. 2008, 203 Mongolian healthy women, 74 Han healthy women and 102 Mongolian patients with BV from 3 pastoral areas were enrolled in this study. Isolation and culture of lactobacilli from vaginal wall were performed by modified culture medium. DNA of lactobacilli were extracted and sequenced. H2O2 were detected by TMB-HRP-MRS. Results(1)The rate of lactobacilli identification were 76.8%(156/203) in Mongolian healthy women and 21.6% (22/102) in Mongolian patients with BV, which reached statistical difference(P＜0.01).Lactobacilli identification in Han healthy women [82.4%(61/74)] did not show significant difference with that of Mongolian healthy women (P＞0.05). (2) The total of 193 strains and 11 species of Lactobacillus were detected in 203 Mongolian healthy women. Meanwhile,22 strains and 4 species of Lactobacillus were found in 102 Mongolian BV cases.(3)The rate of H2O2 generating Lactobacilli was 27.3% (6/22) in Mongolian BV patients and 75.7% (56/74)in Mongolian healthy women, which showed statistical difference(P＜0.05). Conclusions The rate of Lactobacillus was not related with the race of women in pastoral area in Inner Mongolian. The amount of lactobacilli and H2O2 generating Lactobacilli in the vagina of BV patients was remarkably lower than those of healthy women at childbearing age.

Objective To evaluate the changes of respiratory mechanics and central drive in sleeping patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods A total of 14 patients with moderate to severe COPD (age 63.7± 6.4 years) and 10 healthy volunteers,admitted to our hospital from October 2010 to October 2011,were chosen in our study.After performing routine pulmonary function test,all subjects were monitored by respiratory mechanics,diaphragm electromyogram (EMGdi) and polysomnography (PSG) in waking and sleeping state.The different physiological parameters were recorded and calculated on a continuous basis in time sequence for 30 minutes.Results In sleeping state as compared with waking state,there were no differences(P＞0.05) in respiratory rate(RR) and the ratio of inspiratory time to duration of one breath (Ti/Ttot),but there were reductions (P ＜ 0.05) in the tidal volume (VT),minute ventilation (VE),mean inspiratory volume per second(VT/Ti),dynamic lung compliance(CLdyn),root mean square (RMS)and pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2).Meanwhile there were significant increases (P＜0.05) in airway resistance(Raw) and pressure-time product(PTP) in COPD group.In normal group,there were no differences (P＞0.05) in all above physiological parameters in sleeping state compared with waking state.Conclusions There are abnormal changes in respiratory mechanics characterized by increased airway resistance and work of breathing,meanwhile in reduced central drive and requirement of ventilation,which may be the main reasons for hypopnea and hypoxemia in sleeping COPD patients.