As one of the essential non-motor symptoms in Parkinson′s disease（PD）, apathy is associated with both motor symptoms and other non-motor symptoms and contributes significantly to the prognosis of PD. Apathy is thought to be related to dopaminergic dysfunction in prefrontal-basal ganglia circuits. However, its precise neural bases remain unclear. Many neuroimaging studies using different analyses have been conducted to study the underlying neural mechanisms of apathy in PD. This review will describe the current understanding of the structural and functional changes associated with apathy in PD patients.

Compared with traditional medical education, distance learning on continual medical education has many unique characteristics. We analyzed the characteristics of distance learning on continual medical education from educational goal and objective, content, method and learners.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of intravenous catheter in combination with ultraviolet radiation for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Methods96 patients with PHN were randonly divided into three groups.Intravenous catheter plus UVB radiation was given in the test group(32 patients).Intravenous catheter or UVB radiation was only given in two control groups (32 patients/group), respectively.ResultsThe total effective rate in the test group was 96.88％ (31/32) and the average onset time was 1.55 days.However,the total effective rate in two control groups was 81.25％ (26/32) and 68.75％ (22/32) ,and the average onset time was 2.48 days and 7.41days.There was a statistical difference observed in curative rate (x2 = 5.33,42.42, P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01), the total effective rate(x2 =4.59,8.89,P＜0.05 or P＜0.01) and the average onset time(t =22.96,11.96,all P＜0.01)between the test group and two control groups.Moreove,there was also a statistical difference observed in curative rate (x2 = 22.44, P ＜ 0.001) and the average onset time (t = 29.30, P ＜ 0.01) between two control groups.ConclusionIntravenous catheter in combination with UVB radiation was much better than intravenous catheter or UVB radiation only in the treatment of PHN.

Objective To explore the expression and implication of p21and cyclin-dependent kinase2(CDK2)in Bowen's disease.Methods The expression and distribution of p21and CDK2on the skin le-sion and normal skin were detected by using immunohistochemical technique streptavidin-peroxidase(SP)in28cases of Bowen's disease and10normal controls.Results p21and CDK2were significantly highly ex-pressed in Bowen' s disease and were not expressed in normal skins.Positive staining was found in22/28(78.6%)of Bowen' s disease for p21and26/28(92.9%)for CDK2.There was a correlation between the expression of p21and CDK2(r =0.84,P

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) combined with imiquimod for basal cell carcinoma( BCC).Methods 38 patients with BCC were randomly divided into two groups.ALA-PDT plus imiquimod were given in the treatment group (19 patients) , and the control group(19 patients) were treated with only ALA-PDT.All patients were followed for one year,and the efficacy and relapse rate were observed.Results The cure rate and the recurrence rate of the treatment group was 94.74% ( 18/19) and 5.26% (1/19) .however,those of the control group was 68.42% (13/19) and 31.58% (6/19).There was a statistical difference in the cure rate and recurrence rate between the two groups(x2 =4.37,P <0.05).Conclusion The efficacy and relapse rate of ALA-PDT combined with imiquimod was much better than those of ALA-PDT only in treatment of BCC.

BACKGROUND: Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is a novel scaffold made by solvent casting/particulate leaching procedure, composed of polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhyclroxyvalerate at certain ratio, which has good biocompatibility as well as high intensity and modulus. It has three-dimensional porous net structure and good biodegradation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility between copolymers of PHBV and canine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs).DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: In vitro comparative observation. The study was performed at the Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Sun Yat-sen University between June 2003 and March 2004.MATERIALS: PHBV scaffold, film porosity > 85% and 100-350 μ m aperture size.METHODS: Canine BMSCs were isolated and cultured. The 3-4 passage cells were seeded onto the PHBV films and three-dimensional foam scaffold. Cells cultured alone served as control.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The seeded cells were observed under inverted microscope; at 1, 2, 3 weeks after seeding, the BMSCs were treated with 4% paraformaldehyde and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE); The protein content in seeded cells was determined by bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA), and the content of DNA was quantified using Hoechst33258 assay at 5, 10, 14 days after culture.RESULTS: Inverted microscopic observation showed that the PHBV fibers were fairly thick with weak lucency, and the fibers were hardly detectable under contrast phase microscope. Majority of cells attached onto the PHBV films 2 hours after seeding, and extended well in a spindle shape at 3 days. One week after culture, 2 PHBV were fixed, and BMSCs proliferation was observed after HE staining. At two weeks, cells continued to proliferate and densely covered the PHBV film. The cells grew in the three-dimensional pores, connected at 1 week, extended at 3 weeks, secreting a large amount of material around cells. Cell proliferation did not change much at 3 weeks compared with 2 weeks, and there was no significant difference in DNA and protein contents between control and PHBV groups (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: As a kind of tissue-engineered scaffold material for BMSCs, PHBV displays good biocompatibility.

Objective To construct the pCDNA3.1-ING4 eukaryotic expression vector and investigate its effect on the proliferation of melanoma cell line M14. Methods The targeted cDNA fragment encoding ING4 was cloned by reverse transcription-PCR with normal gastric mucosa from patients with gastric ulcer, and subcloned into eukaryotie expression vector pcDNA3.1. PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to identify the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3.1-ING4, which was then transfected into M14 cells with Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. The expression of ING4 was detected in untransfected, pCDNA3. 1-ING4-transfected and pcDNA3.1-transfected M14 cells by Western blot and immunocyto-chemistry, and cell proliferation by MTT assay. Results A fragment of expected size (750 bp) was amplified by PCR analysis, and DNA sequencing confirmed the correctness of the recombinant plasmid. As shown by immunocytochemistry, the percentage of cells positive for ING4 protein was significantly higher in pCD NA3. 1-ING4-transfected MI4 cells than in non-transfected M14 cells and pcDNA3.1-transfected M14 cells (71.80%±9.88% vs 4.20%±3.35%, P < 0.01). Western blot also revealed an increased expression of ING4 in pCDNA3.1-ING4-transfected cells. Decreased cell viability was observed in ING4-transfected cells compared with nontransfected cells and pCDNA3.1-transfected cells (both P < 0.01). Conclusions The pCDNA3. 1-ING4 eukaryotic expression vector has been constructed successfully, and M14 cells transfected by this recombinant plasmid could effectively express ING4 protein, which may inhibit the cell proliferation of M14 cells.

Objective To observe the changes of telomere length and MMPs level in human fibroblasts induced by UVB, and to explore their roles on skin photoaging .Methods Human skin fibroblasts were extracted and cul-tured.The 5th fibroblasts were irradiated by UVB .The morphology of fibroblasts were microscoped , and the length of telomere and the mRNA expression of COL1a1 and hTERT were detected by RT-qPCR.The expression of MMP-3 and MMP-1 were detected by Western blot .Results The fibroblasts gradually became round , wrinkled and disorderly arranged after 30 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation for 24 h.The mRNA level of COL1a1 and hTERT and the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-1 were significantly increased after UVB irradiation compared with control , and the length of telomere was shortened .Conclusions UVB may frigger the early process of photoaging by the morphologi-cal changes of human skin fibroblasts and increasing the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-1 .

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of arthroscopic debridement combined with oral use of Chinese medicine Guanjietong Tablets ( GT) for knee osteoarthritis in the early and middle stage. Methods Ninety knee osteoarthritis patients in the early and middle stage were evenly randomized into three groups, namely GT group, glucosamine sulfate group and blank control group. All of the three groups received arthroscopic debridement, and additionally, GT group and glucosamine sulfate group were given the corresponding medicine orally. We observed Lysholm knee scores of the three groups before operation, and 2 weeks, 3 months and one year after operation, and compared the knee joint space before operation and one year after operation showed by digital X-ray photograpy. Results ( 1) Lysholm knee scores in the three groups were increased 2 weeks, 3 months and one year after operation when compared with those before operation, the difference being significant (P<0.05) . Three months and one year after operation, the scores of GT group and glucosamine sulfate group differed from those of the blank control group (P<0.01). One year after operation, the scores of GT group differed from those of glucosamine sulfate group ( P<0.05). ( 2) The results of knee joint space showed by digital X-ray photography at knee position of weight loading indicated that the difference was insignificant between GT group and glucosamine sulfate group one year after operation ( P> 0.05) , but the difference between the two groups and the blank control group was significant (P<0.05). The difference of knee joint space was insignificant before operation and one year after operation in GT group and glucosamine sulfate group ( P>0.05) , while was significant in the blank control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion Arthroscopic debridement alone has certain short-term curative effect in treating knee osteoarthritis in the early and middle stage, but the effect will decline with the extension of time. Arthroscopic debridement combined with Guanjietong Tablets could delay the narrowing of joint space and maintain the clinical curative effect, which will delay the time for artificial joint replacement.

BACKGROUND:Cel replacement therapy as an effective strategy for reconstruction of the central nervous system has very broad application prospects.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of stereotactic transplantation of neural stem cels into the brain on the neuromotor function of craniocerebral trauma rats.
METHODS:Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were equivalently randomized into study and control groups. Animal models of craniocerebral trauma were made using the improved free-fal method in the rats. Then, model rats in the study and control groups were given parenchymal transplantation of embryonic neural stem cels and the same volume of culture medium with no stem cels at 1 day after injury, respectively. Neuromotor function of rats was assessed based on the neurological severity scores. At 2 weeks after transplantation, brain tissues were taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining, anti-BrdU, glial fibrilary acidic protein, β-tubulin III and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The neurological severity scores in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 and 2 weeks after injury (P< 0.05). In the study group, there were many BrdU-positive neural stem cels in the brain tissues, some of which were positive for glial fibrilary acidic protein, β-tubulin III and tyrosine hydroxylase; while in the control group, there was no BrdU-positive cel in the brain tissues. Experimental findings show that neural stem cels stereotacticaly transplanted into the brain can proliferate and differentiate in the brain lesion, and thereby notably improve the neuromotor function of rats with craniocerebral trauma.