Objective To investigate flow patterns at carotid bifurcation in vivo by combining computational fluid dynamics(CFD)and MR angiography imaging.Methods Seven subjects underwent contrast-enhanced MR angiography of carotid artery in Siemens 3.0 T MR.Flow patterns of the carotid artery bifurcation were calculated and visualized by combining MR vascular imaging post-processing and CFD. Results The flow patterns of the carotid bifurcations in 7 subjects were varied with different phases of a cardiac cycle.The turbulent flow and back flow occurred at bifurcation and proximal of internal carotid artery (ICA)and external carotid artery(ECA),their occurrence and conformation were varied with different phase of a cardiac cycle.The turbulent flow and back flow faded out quickly when the blood flow to the distal of ICA and ECA.Conclusion CFD combined with MR angiography can be utilized to visualize the cyclical change of flow patterns of carotid bifurcation with different phases of a cardiac cycle.

ObjectiveTo study the mechanism of hemodynamic alternation surrounding the hematoma in the acute stage of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats.MethodsSeventy male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into ICH group and sham operated group, which were microinjected with 40 μl fresh autologous blood or saline into the right caudatum respectively. The each group was divided into 7 subgroups at 1h,3h,6h,12h,24h,48h and 72h after the ICH. CT perfusion imaging in measurements of regional cerebral blood flow adjacent to hematomas was performed. The ratios of side to side were measured at the regions around the hematomas by personal computer aided mapping. So the parameters of regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF), regional cerebral blood volume(rCBV) and mean transit time(MTT) were calculated respectively.ResultsThe rCBF and rCBV adjacent to the hematomas were lower than those of the outer region pronouncedly. The alternation of rCBF around the hematoma were fluctuated, which reduced to the valley at 1h after ICH, and then gradually returned to the peaks at 6h and 24h after ICH. In the meantime, the rCBV around the hematoma reduced to the valley at 1h after ICH, and then gradually increased to the peak at 24h after ICH.ConclusionThe abnormal hemodynamic changes can be found in the perihematomal region after ICH. The alternation of rCBF around the hematomas are fluctuated, but the changes of rCBV remain continuous increase. The mass effect of hematoma, intracranial hypertension caused by the mass effect of hematoma, and the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow motivated by the initial depression of cerebral blood flow play a very important role in the changes of cerebral blood flow.

Objective To explore the DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats exposed to sodium arsenite. Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats, weighing 180 - 200 g, equal male and female, were randomly divided into 4 groups, 8 in each group. Sodium arsenite 0(control) ,0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L were given through drinking water for 30 days. Body weight and drinking water consumption were measured every day. Blood were collected and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined by single cell gel electrophoresis.Results The increase of body mass[( 121.00 ± 38.57), ( 120.62 ± 42.80), ( 125.38 ± 48.68)g]and water intake [(36.9 ± 6.2), (37.9 ± 5.8), (39.3 ± 4.2)ml/d]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were compared with the control group[( 119.25 ± 47.27)g, (38.4 ± 5.1 )ml/d], and the difference were not significant (F = 0.040,0.828, all P ＞ 0.05). The tail ratios[46.25%(185/400) ,57.00%(228/400),64.00%(256/400)], tail lengths [(32.89 ± 17.18), (58.74 ± 36.28), (77.55 ± 35.73 ) μm]and tail moments [(6.29 ± 3.74), ( 11.20 ± 9.64),(17.30 ± 12.60)μm]in 0.05,0.15,0.45 mg/L sodium arsenite groups were significantly higher than those of the control group[39.25%(157/400), (18.73 ± 15.83),(2.61 ± 1.05)μm, all P ＜ 0.01], and the tail ratios,tail lengths and tail moments in lymphocytes increased with increased doses of arsenic concentration. Conclusions Low doses of arsenic exposure can induce DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats.

OBJECTIVETo study clinical and imaging features of hypothalamic hamartoma in children.

METHODSImaging findings and clinical manifestations of 38 children with hypothalamic hamartomas were retrospectively reviewed. The patients included 25 boys and 13 girls, ranging in age of onset from 1 month to 15 years. All the 38 patients were examined with pre-contrast and post-contrast T1 weighted MR imaging and with non-contrast T2 weighted MR imaging. Meanwhile, 10 patients received CT scan. Hypothalamic hamartomas were confimed by pathologic examinations in the 38 patients.

RESULTSGelastic epilepsy, precocious puberty, other types of epilepsy and disturbance of intelligence were main manifestations in the 38 patients. Gelastic epilepsy was found as an initial clinical symptom in 17 cases, precocious puberty in 13 cases and other types of epilepsy in 8 cases. All masses were located in the suprasellar and interpeduncular cistern. They showed iso-density on CT scan, and homogeneous signal iso-intense to gray matter on T1 and T2 weighted MR images. With contrast MR images, there was no enhancement in the mass. The size or pedunculation of the mass was not correlated with clinical features.

CONCLUSIONSHypothalamic hamartoma may be characterized by precocious puberty and/or gelastic epilepsy and specific imaging findings mentioned above.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hamartoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypothalamic Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

ObjectiveTo develop a stable model of focal cerebral infarction in rat to study the curative effect of neural stem cells transplantation.MethodsThirty-seven rats were selected which were divided into two groups in random, experimental group and control group. The focal infarction model was developed by the ligation of the left middle cerebral artery followed by the ligation of the ipsilateral common carotid artery and the temporary clip occlusion of the contralateral common carotid artery for 1.5 h. The operation adopted minimally invasive craniotomy though temporal bone. The model was evaluated by examining the neurologic deficits, ink perfusion, TTC staining and Magnetic Resonance imaging.ResultsAll the rats were in good condition after the operation, the mortality rate was 6.25% after 4 weeks. Ink perfusion and TTC staining confirmed that the ischemia was confined to the cortex. The areas of infarction measured 83.52 mm3 by Magnetic Resonance imaging after 4 weeks.ConclusionA stable focal cerebral infarction model can be achieved by minimally invasive craniotomy. It is superior for its homogeneity of infarction volume and site, and its low mortality. It can be used for the study of transplantation of neural stem cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of Spanishneedles Herb eye drops in treating perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbits.

METHODTotally 36 rabbits (36 right eyes) were ovariectomized, and 2 months later divided into three groups: the experimental group (group A, n = 12) given Spanishneedles Herb eye drops, the control group (group B, n = 12) given PBS and the model group (group C, n = 12) given no drug. The Schirmer I test (SIT), fluorescent (FL), total tear protein, diastase activity, lactoferrin and lysozyme contents and confocal scanning microscopy were performed at before the treatment and at 1 w, 2 w, 1 mo, 2 mo after the treatment.

RESULTBefore the treatment, There was no significant difference in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity between two groups. Two months later after the treatment, both the group B and the group A showed differences degrees of changes in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity compared with that before the treatment, with statistical differences (P < 0.05); At each time point, both groups revealed statistical differences in SIT, FL, total tear protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin and amylase activity (1 < 0.05). Two months later alter the treatment, densities of basal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells in the group A were (4 122 ±416) cells/mm2 and (339 ± 131) cells/mm2, while that in the group B were (3 343 ± 424) cells/mm2 and (49 ± 17) cells/mm2, with statistical differences between them (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSpanishneedles Herb eye drops could effectively treat perimenopausal xerophthalmia in rabbit caused by sex hormones decline.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; administration & dosage ; Perimenopause ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tears ; secretion ; Xerophthalmia ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extract of Sapium sebiferum leaves were isolated and purified by various chromatographic methods, including column chromatographies over silica gel, macroporous adsorption resin, and Sephadex LH-20, as well as preparative TLC and semi preparative HPLC. As a results, 15 compounds were separated from Sapium sebiferum leaves and their structures were examined by spectral analysis including NMR and MS data and identified as( + )-(7R,7'R,7"S,7'"S,8S,8'S,8"S,8'"S)-4", 4"'-dihydroxy-3,3',3",3',5,5'-hexamethoxy-7,9';7',9-diepoxy-4,8";4',8'"-bisoxy-8,8'-dineo-lignan-7",7"',9",9"'-tetraol(1) ,1-(4'- hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-2-[4"-(3-hydroxypropyl) -2", 6"-dimethoxyphenoxy] propane-1, 3-diol (2), Thero-2, 3-bis-(4-hydroxy-3- methoxypheyl)-3-methoxy-propanol(3) , threo-5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyphenyl propane-8,9-diol (4), boropinol B (5), threo-8S-7-methoxysyringylglycerol(6), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural(7), 5-( methoxy-methyl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde (8), quercetin (9) , kaempferol (10), ethyl gallate(11), coniferaldehyde(12), vanillin(13), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-2H-1-henzopyran-2-one(14),and 1-heptacosanol (15). All compounds except for compounds 9-11,14 were separated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Sapium ; chemistry

Objective To explore the clinical implication of serum Dectin-1 level in the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis. Methods Serum specimen were collected from the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis to determine the serum level of Dectin-1 with ELISA.The relationship between serum Dectin-1 level,the results of G test and galactomannan (GM)test of Aspergillus,and white blood cell count was analyzed.Results The serum Dectin-1 level was (427.2 ± 42.6)pg/mL in the patients with Aspergillus infection,and (280.8 ± 39.4)pg/mL in the control patients (P<0.05 ).Dectin-1 level was not correlated to white blood cell count,or the result of G test,or GM test. Conclusions Serum Dectin-1 level increases significantly in the non-agranulocytic patients with pulmonary aspergillosis, suggesting that Dectin-1 is an important anti-Aspergillus immune molecule.

Objective To investigate the prevention efficiency of spanishneedles herb eye drops on rabbit model with dry eye syndrome caused by sex hormones decline in peri-menopause. Methods Totally 26 rabbits ( 26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied,and divided into two groups:group A ( the control group, n=12) and group B ( the spanishneedles herb eye drops group, n=12) ,another two rabbits were used as normal control.The Schirmer I tests (SIT), and corneal fluorescein ( FL) were detected, and the total protein content in tear, amylase activity, lactoferrin and lysozyme contents were measured and confocal scanning microscopy were performed at pre-therapy and 1 week,2 weeks,1 month,2 months after therapy,respectively. Results There were no significant difference in the total proteins,lysozyme,lactoferrin and amylase activity between two groups at pre-therapy (P>0.05).After 2 months treatment, there were statistical differences in all items of group A(P<0.05), and SIT, FL in group B(P<0.05).There were significant differences in all indexes between group A and B at 1 wk,2wk,1mo,2mo after therapy.After 2 months treatment,the mean numbers of corneal basal cell in the group B were significantly lower(3 452±422)than those in the group A ( 4 104 ± 568 ) ( P<0. 05 ) . The mean numbers of the inflammatory cells in the group B ( 42 ± 18 ) were significantly lower than those in the group A(208±69)( P<0.05). Conclusion Spanishneedles herb eye drops has significant prevention effect on dry eye syndrome caused by sex hormones decline in peri-menopause.