Objective To investigate the voxel-based correlation of mini-mental state examination(MMSE) score with apparent diffusion coefficients(ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) in the patients with Alzheimer disease. Methods 12 patients aged (70.0± 10.5) years and 16 normal control aged (66.5±6.7) years were enrolled in this study.DTI was performed based on sequence and 32-channel head coils.ADC and FA images were calculated and normalized to the same space and smoothed with 8 mm Gaussian Kernel. With statistical parameter mapping software SPM5 package,the independent two sample t-test with general linear model were performed to detect ADC and FA differences between AD patients and normal control.Correlation analysis was performed between MMSE score and FA or ADC. Results AD patients showed elevated ADC value and decreased FA value in bilateral temporal lobe and anterior cingulate,which was more pronounced in the left than in the right.There was elevation of ADC value but no FA decrease in bilateral posterior cingulate.The abnormal ADC area was larger than that of FA.There was negative correlation between MMSE score and ADC of the right hippocampus(r=-0.9474,P=0.0232) and a tendency towards positive correlation between MMSE score and FA of the right hippocampus(r=0.5414,P=0.5853). Conclusions ADC value may be more sensitive than FA value in DTI. Right temporal lobe microstructure involvement is less severe,but has a stronger relationship with neuropsyehological abnormality.

Objective To conduct a screening survey of glycophorin (GP) variants and observe the content changes of sialic acid (SA) and total sulfhydryl (SH) groups on the erythrocyte membranes among residents in a tertian malaria hyperendemic area of Guizhou Province.Methods GP variants were detected in the erythrocyte hemolysates of 173 local residents at two villages of Libo County by SDS-PAGE on 10% to 15% gradients gel and Western immunoblotting. Their SA and total SH group contents were estimated in erythrocyte membranes by spectrophotometric methods. 114 healthy subjects in Changsha and 49 individuals at a neighbouring village of the above area showing low morbidity of malaria served as normal and endemic controls respectively.Results Three distinct types of GP variants were found among 19 propositi in this hyperendemic area. The incidence of GP variants was 7.9% (8/101) at Yaolu Village whose population was mainly composed of Yao ethnic group;while that of Buyi ethnic group at Maolan Village was higher (15.3%; 11/72).The erythrocyte membrane contents of SA in residents at both villages exhibited a very significant tendency of decline (P<0.01), whereas those of total SH groups increased prominently in residents of Yaolu Village only (P<0.05).Conclusions The frequency of GP variants in this hyperendemic area does not depend upon the severity of malarial prevalence. The evident reduction of SA contents in the residents may be related to the breaking down of the SA residues on membrane GPs by the invasion of Plasmodium vivax.