Hemispatial neglect is a kind of cognitive impairment characterized by failure to report,respond or orient to stimuli presented in ipsi-or contra-lateral space after brain injury,which cannot be attributed to sensory or motor defects.Although there are various diagnosis and assessment methods,none is regarded as standard.The paper and pencil test is commonly used in routine clinical workup.The mechanism is controversial and the most accepted opinion is due to visuospatial attention defect.Imaging study focuses on exploring the functional regions leading to the hemispatial neglect.As functional imaging,SPECT and PET have capability to evaluate the perfusion,glucose metabolism and cellular vitality,which have been found increasingly useful and applicable clinically in the field of diagnosis for cognitive impairment diseases.They are likely to have potential for contribution in the study of hemispatial neglect.

Objective:To investigate the role of reducing resistance and distraction in rapid teeth movement and its reliability by establishing the Beagle dogs’ experimental model.
Methods:The left or right sides in mandibles of 20 beagles were randomly operated with different treatments:distraction twice a day through reducing resistance;distraction 6 times a day through reducing resistance;conventional distraction through reducing resistance;and conventional distraction (the control group). Each treatment was carried out in 10 sides. The pulp vitality, tooth mobility and distance of teeth transportation were evaluated at different time points:before the distraction, distraction after 15 days, retaining 30 days after 15 days of distraction. The degree of inclination, root resorption and alveolar bone density of the compressive areas were evaluated by cone-beam computed tomography images.
Results:The distance of teeth transportation was similar in groups distraction twice daily and 6 times a day through reducing resistance (P>0.05), but their speed of transportation was significantly higher than that of conventional distraction through reducing resistance. The conventional distraction group had the lowest speed of transportation. The pulp vitality of distracted teeth was normal, and no root comprehensive resorption and periodontal defect were found. Distracted teeth in the reduced resistance and distraction groups (13.9°±3.5°) tipped more that in the conventional distraction group (6.6°±1.3°) (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Reducing resistance and distraction are inseparable factors to realize fast teeth moving. The rate of orthodontic tooth movement can be accelerated through resistance reduction and periodontal distraction without obvious unfavorable effects but at minimal acceptable teeth inclination.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of restenosis after carotid stent and balloon angioplasty for the Guangxi swines by intravascular ultrasound(IVUS). Methods Twelve Guangxi swines fed by a high cholesterol diet were randomly divided into two groups. Seven stents were implanted in the left carotid artery of six swines in the first group, and balloon angioplasty was performed in the left carotid artery of swines in the other group. Digital subtraction angiography(DSA) and IVUS were conducted respectively before and after the intervention and in the 13th week. Results IVUS found that the percentage of area stenosis in stent group was (18.31±7.79) % and in balloon group (37.28±7.89) % in the 13th week. The percentage of area restenosis in stent was obviously related to neointimal hyperplasia (r = 0.897, P<0.05), the percentage of area restenosis due to balloon angioplasty was markedly related to area decrease of external elastic lamina (r = 0.856, P<0.05). Conclusions The restenosis in stent was related to intimal hyperplasia of blood vessel,and restenosis after balloon angioplasty had some connection with area decrease of external elastic lamina.

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To observe the effect of rapamycin on the apoptosis of mouse astrocytes in vitro.ME-THODS:The astrocytes from C57BL/6J newborn mouse pups were isolated and primarily cultured.The effect of rapamycin on the viability of astrocytes was assessed by MTT assay.The mean fluorescence intensity of SYTOX?Green stain in the astrocytes was detected by fluorescence microplate reader in order to analyze the effects of rapamycin on the cell death in-duced by H2 O2 , ionomycin and/or deferorxamin.DiOC6 (3) staining was used to analyze the mitochondrial membrane po-tential of the astrocytes induced by H2 O2 .Flow cytometry analysis was used to determine the production of ROS in the as-trocytes and mitochondria by staining with H2 DCFDA and MitoSOXTM Red reagent, respectively.RESULTS: Rapamycin at concentration of 0.5 μmol/L protected the astrocytes against cell death induced by H2 O2 or deferoxamine plus ionomy-cin.Rapamycin protected the mitochondrial membrane potential of astrocytes from the injury of H2 O2 .It also reduced the production of ROS in the astrocytes and decreased the level of ROS in the mitochondria.CONCLUSION:Rapamycin re-duces the ROS overload in the mitochondria, keeps mitochondrial membrane potential safety and protects the astrocytes a-gainst apoptosis in vitro.

Objective To estimate the status of understanding hierarchical medical mode in chronic disease management among medical staff and residents in Xiamen .Methods The multi-stage sampling was used in the study to select 49 physicians from the tertiary hospitals , 58 general practitioners ( GPs ) and health managers from 5 community health services centers , and 499 residents from 5 communities in Xiamen.We conducted a face-to-face survey to estimate their basic information , recognition for hierarchical medical mode , and patients'willingness for community first contact care .The data was described by mean value of frequency and constituent ratio , the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for comparison among groups .Logistic regression was performed to analyze the factors influencing the residents 'preference for treatment in community medical institutions . Results The physicians from tertiary hospitals or community health service centers were almost all familiar with Xiamen mode (91/107, 85%), and more than half of them knew about the hierarchical medical system (67/107, 62.6%), 86.9% (93/107) of them knew about the guide of hierarchical medical system , 58.9%(63/107) of them received the relative training before .The physicians from community had higher knowledge , more frequency training , more referral experiences and more effective evaluation than the physicians from hospitals (all P<0.05).In our study, 86.2%(344/399) of residents were willing to see doctors in community health centers and 77.9%(311/399) of them were willing to return to community health service centers from tertiary hospitals for disease convalescence or chronic disease management;53.6% (214/399) of residents preferred to utilize community first contact care when they got chronic diseases , and they were more satisfied with the consultation and diagnosis process in community .The residents who knew about the hierarchical medical system were more likely to utilize community first contact care and return to community for medical care . However, the female or the higher-income residents were less likely to see doctors in community .Patients who had experienced transfer to community or had higher satisfaction to community care were more willing to return from hospitals to community for disease convalescence .The mode showed that the system was more effective in measuring and controlling blood pressure or blood glucose for patients who joined the patients 'network than for those did not join.(P<0.05).Conclusion Medical staff are familiar with hierarchical medical system , and the residents are likely to use community health service as their first contact care in Xiamen.The utilization of community first contact care is influenced by sex , family income, previous experience, knowledge of the system , and satisfaction to the system of patients .

The aim of this study was to conduct the preparation and pharmaceutical characterization of a new type of terbinafine hydrochloride bioadhesive film-forming gel. The viscosity of the gel of(13 299±51)mPa ·s, pH of 3. 50±0. 50, and the shearing viscosity of(196±4)g/cm2 was found. This new gel turned out to be a layer of solid film on the application site in a very short time. The remaining solid ratio of the resulting film was estimated to be(50. 74±2. 81)%; the tensile strength was(1. 17±0. 21)MPa; and the breaking elongation was(21. 42±3. 24)%. In vitro release behavior of terbinafine hydrochloride from the film was investigated according to the paddle over disk method in ChP2010. Terbinafine hydrochloride released continuously for 10 h from the film. Improved Franz type diffusion cells were used in vitro transdermal studies by the application of excised minipigs skins. No penetration of drug into the receptor medium across the skin existed and so it could imply the safety for local application. It was found that(93. 05±5. 66)% of drug stayed on the skin surface while(1. 15±0. 85)% entered into the skin, which was beneficial for the treatment of superficial skin fungal infection.

Allergic asthma, is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airway presenting with airway hyperresponsiveness and airway remodelling. T helper cells-derived cytokines are critically associated with asthma pathogenesis. Janus kinase-signal transduction and activation of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling is found to be involved in asthma. Magnolol is a plant-derived bioactive compound with several pharmacological effects. The study aimed to assess the effects of magnolol in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic model. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA. Magnolol (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg body weight) was administered to separate groups of animals. Dexamethasone was used as the positive control. Cellular infiltration into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were reduced on magnolol treatment. The levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines were reduced with noticeably raised levels of interferon gamma. Lung function was improved effectively along with restoration of bronchial tissue architecture. OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum and BALF were decreased by magnolol. Magnolol reduced Th17 cell population and effectively modulated the JAK-STAT and Notch 1 signaling. The results suggest the promising use of magnolol in therapy for allergic asthma.
Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines ; Dexamethasone ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Interferons ; Lung ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Th17 Cells

Objective: To define radiographic features that response to serial casting and bracing for progressive early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Methods: A retrospective study of a total of 20 patients (10 females and 10 males) with complete radiographic data diagnosed as progressive early onset scoliosis treated with serial cast or brace for at least 12 months in the 306th Hospital of PLA from June 2011 to April 2018. Ages at initial diagnosis were all less than 5 years old. They were divided into two groups according to the main curve degree, those with cobbs angles more than 50 degree treated with serial cast, or else with brace. All the cases have radiographs of pretreatment, posttreatment, and last follow-up, and anteroposterior (lateral) film of the full length spine in standing position were taken to evaluate magnitudes and balance of coronal and sagittal malformations. We compared the general data of the two groups by independent sample t test and that of pretreatment, posttreatment and the last follow-up by paired-sample t test. Results: According to the effective standard of not less than 10 degrees improvement, 9 of them were effective, 4 cast and 5 brace, the effective rates were 44.44% and 45.45%, 3 cases from brace group progressed. The magnitudes of the main curve improved significantly after the first treatment of cast and brace (55.4±24.36 vs 42.35±23.62) degree (t=5.850, P=0.000), and at the last follow up, the curve decreased slightly compared of that before interventions (55.4±24.36 vs 51.8±26.33). The compensatory curves, segmental kyphosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, balance of both coronal and sagittal also had no significant differences between the primal and the latest follow up. The widths 159.63±19.27 mm, 160.81±14.54 mm, 176.08±28.10 mm (t=3.942, P=0.001; t=-3.096, P=0.006) and heights 153.78±29.24 mm, 161.14±29.53 mm, 175.01±36.91 mm of the thoracic were significantly different between pre-posttreatment and the last follow up (t=-5.950, P=0.000; t=-3.997, P=0.001). Serial cast and brace application can preserve the growth of the thorax. Conclusion Serial cast and brace are viable growth friendly methods to deal with progressed EOS, Although a cure improvement cannot be always expected, they can stabilize relatively large curves in young children and may help delay eventual surgical intervention.

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by the decline in muscle mass and function associated with aging.Many studies have revealed that secondary sarcopenia associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)can further reduce lung function and the ability of conducting daily living activities for the patients.Moreover, inflammation, increased energy expenditure, decreased physical endurance induced by COPD may accelerate the deterioration of sarcopenia.The aim of this review is to tentatively explore possible mechanisms linking the two diseases and promote early intervention for sarcopenia.

Ectopic thyroid (ETG) is a thyroid tissue located outside the normal anatomical position, often occurring in the chest. Clinical symptoms are related to its location and its impact on adjacent structures. In ETG imaging examination, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) nuclide imaging of thyroid perchlorate ( 99Tc mO 4-) is the most commonly used method for localization and characterization. ETG with normal function shows high radiation uptake in the corresponding area. For difficult to distinguish tumors in the base of the tongue and the thyrohyoid region, 131I or 123I imaging with more specificity for thyroid tissue uptake is needed. ETG exhibits a variety of manifestations in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), mostly irregular soft tissue density masses with clear boundaries and uneven density. There are low-density cystic changes or high-density calcifications within the masses, with uneven or uniform enhancement. In ultrasound, ETG is mainly hypoechoic, with some showing cystic solid echoes and abundant blood flow signals within the gland. Asymptomatic ETG patients usually do not require treatment, while symptomatic patients often require surgical resection and have a good prognosis. Before surgery, relevant examinations should be combined to clarify the nature of the tumor as much as possible, to avoid permanent hypothyroidism caused by misdiagnosis and misresection.