0.05). However, in 33%(3/9) patients with normal serum AFP (

Objective To explore the relationship between apathy and lesion location and serum homocysteine during the acute stage of ischemic stroke. Methods 152 patients with acute cerebral infarction were recruited. 152 volunteers from medical center were as control group. The Apathy Scale (AS) was used to assess poststroke apathy (PSA). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess the severity of stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used to evaluate the lesion location. Modified Fazekas Scale was used to assess leukoaraiosis. The serum levels of homocysteine of patients were determined. Results The prevalence of PSA was significantly higher in the patients than in the control group (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that frontal lesion (P=0.001), basal ganglia lesion (P=0.006), pons lesion (P=0.002) and higher homocysteine level (P<0.001) significantly related with PSA. Conclusion Frontal lesion, basal ganglia lesion, pons lesion and higher homocysteine level may be predictors for apathy in acute stage of ischemic stroke.

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), matrix metallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with the severity of acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods 101 pa-tients with ACI were envolved and divided into 3 groups according to the scores of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS):mild group (group A, n=38, NIHSS score<4), moderate group (group B, n=36, NIHSS score 4-15) and severe group (group C, n=27, NIHSS score>15). Meanwhile, 44 non-ACI inpatients with atherosclerosis were included as control group (group D). Their serum MIF and MMP-9 were detected with ELISA, and hs-CRP with immunoturbidimety. Results The levels of serum MIF, MMP-9 and hs-CRP ranged from more to less as groups C, B, A and D (P<0.05). There was positive correlation of MIF with MMP-9 (r=0.301, P<0.01) and hs-CRP (r=0.309, P<0.001). Conclusion Serum MIF, MMP-9 and hs-CRP levels increased with the severity in ACI patients, which may be prediction of athero-sclerotic plaque instability.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of fat granule auto-graft in facial soft tissue depression reconstruction.Methods Autologous subcutaneous fat granules were obtained by syringe aspiration from donating site.then washed with normal saline.Small amounts of fat granules were injected into the facial sites with soft tissue depression by means of multiple passes immediately.Results We performed such fat iniection in a total of 18 cases,all of the procedures were safe and successful.In most cases,single injection were enough,only one underwent two sessions of fat iniection.All members were followed-up for 1.5 months to 24months,the average were 14 months.All facial tissue depression were reconstructed for difierent degrees.The rate of fullness and symmetry.fullness and pretty symmetry and fullness with little asymmetry were 77.8%,16.7%and 5.5%.respectively.No infection,fat necrosis or liquefaction occured.Conclusion Being satisfled in correction of deformity of facial depression.the implantation of autologous fat globules iS safe and effective with less side-effects.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics,pathology,CT characteristics and targeted therapy of primary retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma treated at our institution during the past 20 years.Methods A retrospective review was performed among 11 patients of this disease.The main performances were hematuria,abdominal mass and abdominal pain.Non-enhanced CT scanning showed soft tissue density in all cases.Tri-phase enhanced scanning showed reinforcement in different degrees.Pathology results showed tissue necrosis.The pathology featured by routine HE and immumohistochemical staining.Results Surgical treatment was performed in all 11 patients.Postoperative pathology showed that median tumor diameter was 14.40cm.Spindle cell,cellular abnormity and mitotic figures could be seen through light microscope.During follow-up,3 cases recurrenced after 2 months,3 years and 5 years respectively.Conclusions Primary retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma might have a high fatality rate and high recurrence rate.The clinical and CT features are unapparent.Pathology diagnosis is reliable,surgery is necessary to prolong life and cure disease.

Objective To investigate whether apathy during the acute stage of stroke was related to glycated hemoglobin and homocysteine(Hcy) and functional disability,and to elucidate possible factors that are related to poststroke apathy (PSA).Methods Totally 298 patients with acute cerebral infarction who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.The control group of 298 volunteers was recruited from medical center in our hospital during the same period.The apathy scale (AS) was used to assess PSA within 2 weeks after stroke.Patients with an AS score≥ 14 points were defined as PSA,and the patients were divided into apathy group (A group) and non-apathy group (NA group) according to AS score.Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to assess functional disability.Functional disability in daily living activities was assessed with the Barthel Index(BI).Serum levels of Hcy,glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1 c),lipid series and fibrinogen of patients were determined.Results The prevalence of PSA in patients was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜ 0.01).In the case group,A group had an older age,higher mRS score,higher Hcy level,lower educational level,lower BI score,and lower HbA1C level than the NA group(P ＜0.05).In the A group,the mRS score was positively correlated with the AS score(B =1.508,P =0.003),serum Hcy level was positively correlated with the AS score(B =0.170,P =0.013),the HbA1C level was negatively correlated with the AS score(B =-0.872,P =0.031).Conclusions The serum Hcy level,HbA1C level and functional disability are closely related to apathy during the acute stage of ischemic stroke.

Fructus psoralea is a tonic traditional Chinese herb commonly used in clinic.The chemical constituents of Fructus psoralea are complicated,mainly containing coumarins,flavonoids and monoterpene phenols with various pharmacological effects.Since the increasing number of reports on the toxicity of Fructus psoralea in clinic,the side effects including toxicity on the liver and kidney,as well as skin allergies have gradually attracted attention.The toxicity of Fructus psoralea is produced from ADME (absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion) in vivo.In this paper,we collected and clarified the studies of ADME of Fructus psoralea in vivo,and summarized recent adverse clinical events and research over its toxicity.We propose to make a thorough study on the toxic material basis of Fructus psoralea and the toxicological mechanism of its extraction,fractions and compounds.The review provided a possible reference and the direction of research for the safe clinical use of Fructus psoralea.

Objective This study is aimed to explore the effect of rhTNFR:Fc and methotrexate (MTX)-rhTN FR:Fc on joint destruction of collagen-induced arthritis ( CIA ) rat by establishing CIA rat model which imitates pathogenic factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods CIA rat model were developed by subcutaneous injection of bovine type Ⅱ collagen.The rats with inflammation scores of two or above were randomly divided into four groups:the sterilized water treatment group (0.4 ml/w,intra-peritoneal injection),the MTX treatment group (1 mg/w,intra-peritoneal injection),the rhTNFR:Fc treatment group(0.8 mg Biw,intra-peritoneal injection),the MTX + rhTNFR:Fc treatment group (MTX 1 mg/w and rhTNFR:Fc 0.8 mg Biw,intraperitoneal injection).After treatment for 8 weeks,the rats were sacrificed and took the ankle radiography.Micro-CT scan of proximal tibia was performed and hard-tissue slices were made,and then the ankle's bone damage of each group was observed in order to evaluate trabecular variation and bone quantity changes of proximal tibia.Statisstical analysis was conducted with ANK-q test.Results After treatment for 8 weeks,the percentage of trabecular area and the trabecular number of the rhTNFR:Fc treatment group and the MTX-rhTNFR:Fc treatment were [(29.1±0.3)％,(26.7±0.6)％,(4.4±0.5)/mm,(4.0±0.6)/mm] (P＜0.01),which were evidently higher than the sterilized water treatment group and MTX treatment group (P＜0.01).The trabecular separation of Etanercept treatment group and MTX-rhTNFR:Fc group was obviously less than the sterilized water treatment group and MTX treatment group [(12.9±0.5)％,(13.2±0.4)％ vs (2.0±0.3)/mm,(2.2t0.2)/mm] (P＜0.01).Conclusion rhTNFR:Fc and MTX-rhTNFR:Fc can remarkably inhibit joint destruction of CIA rat.And their effect on inhibiting of inflammation and increasing peri-articular bone quantity.In addition,they are effective on inhibiting the reduction of local trabecular structure and increase of trabecular separation.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy ( LIBS) was used to detect the compositions of soil in the air, and the quantitative analysis model with genetic algorithm-partial least squares ( GA-PLS ) was established. A total of fifty-eight soil samples were split into calibration, monitoring and prediction sets. Eleven soil compositions including Mn, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ba, Al2 O3 , CaO, Fe2 O3 , MgO, Na2 O, and K2 O were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrated that, as a pretreatment method for optimizing the selection of spectral lines, GA could be effectively used to reduce the number of spectral lines for use in building PLS model, and hence simplify the quantitative analysis model. More importantly, for most of the soil compositions, GA-PLS could significantly improve the prediction ability compared with the conventional PLS model. Take Mn as an example, the root-mean-square error of prediction ( RMSEP ) was decreased from 0. 0215% to 0 . 0167%, and the mean percent prediction error ( MPE ) was decreased from 8 . 10% to 5 . 20%. The research provides an approach for further improving the accuracy of LIBS quantitative analysis in soil.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenshuai Yingyang Capsule (SSYYJN) in ameliorating muscle atrophy in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF) and explore the role of Wnt7a-Akt/mTOR signal pathway in mediating this effect.

METHODSMale rats were randomly assigned to 5/6 nephrectomy group and sham-operated group, and the former group was further randomly divided into CRF model group, KA group, and SSYYJN group. The size of anterior tibia muscle was examined microscopically with HE staining. Protein synthesis in the soleus muscle was investigated by (14)C-phenylalanine experiment, and the expression of Wnt7a, frizzled-7, phospho-Akt, phospho-mTOR and GAPDH were detected with Western blotting.

RESULTSThe body weight, the wet and dry weight, cross-sectional area, and muscle protein synthesis of the anterior tibia muscles, and expressions of the proteins in the Wnt7a/Akt signaling pathway all increased significantly in SSYYJN and KA groups as compared with those in the model group.

CONCLUSIONSSYYJN can effectively improve muscle atrophy in the rat model of CRF possibly by reversing the reduction in the expressions of Wnt7a/Akt signaling pathway proteins in the skeletal muscles.

Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; Male ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; Muscular Atrophy ; drug therapy ; Nephrectomy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism