Objective:To investigate the correlation between lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), musculoskeletal perfusion andmuscle mass.Methods:From May 2019 to August 2020, totally 91 patients who applied for CT perfusion (CTP) examination of abdomen (the scan range included the vertebral body of L1－L3) in Shanghai Tenth People′s Hospital of Tongji University were retrospectively analyzed. The mean BMD of L1－L3 vertebral body was measured by quantitative CT (QCT) at the same time of CT plain scan. According to BMD, the subjects were divided into normal BMD group ( n=33), osteopenia group ( n=41) and osteoporosis (OP) group ( n=17). The L3 level perivertebral muscle mass index and fat fraction were calculated based on QCT examination. The lumbar vertebral and perivertebral muscle perfusion parameters were measured based on CTP images. The parameters of QCT and CTP among three groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis H test or one-way ANOVA. The correlation analysis was conducted between these parameters using Pearson or Spearman analysis. Results:The differences of the perivertebral muscle mass index and fat fraction among three groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The differences of the lumbar vertebral perfusion parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV) and flow extraction product (FE) among three groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05), and BF, BV and FE were positively correlated with BMD ( r=0.444, 0.312 and 0.266 respectively, all P<0.05; adjusted for age and gender r=0.437, 0.340 and 0.337 respectively, all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in perivertebral muscle perfusion parameters among three groups ( P>0.05). Perivertebral muscle mass index was negatively correlated with fat fraction ( r=-0.599, P<0.001; adjusted for age and gender r=-0.404, P<0.001), and there was no correlation between perivertebral muscle mass index and muscle perfusion parameters, as well as perivertebral muscle fat fraction and muscle perfusion parameters. Conclusions:With the changes of BMD, bone mass and perivertebral muscle mass at L3 level are synchronous. Decreased vertebral bone mass is accompanied with reduced perivertebral muscle mass, increased muscle fat and decreased bone perfusion. The changes of vertebral perfusion and perivertebral muscle perfusion at L3 level are asynchronous, which implies that reduced perfusion in OP patients may be confined to the bone.

AIM: To observe the effect of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma ( NVG) .
METHODS:Twenty-two cases (22 eyes) who presented with NVG were first treated with intravitreal bevacizumab 0. 1mL ( 2. 5mg ), then with Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation after regression of iris neovessels. Cases were followed - up for 6 - 36 ( mean 24 ) mo with observation on visual acuity, IOP control, regression of iris neovessels, and complications during or after surgery.
RESULTS: Iris neovessels was regressed in different degree after injection within 1wk in 22 eyes. At final follow-up, the IOP of 18 eyes were all less than 21mmHg without any drugs and of 3 eyes with 1-3 kinds of anti-glaucoma drugs after combined Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. The IOP of one eye was controlled after cryotherapy. The mean IOP dropped from 45. 36 ±8.13mmHg preoperatively to 15. 59 ± 3. 21mmHg postoperatively. IOP reduction was statistically significance between preoperative and postoperative ( P<0. 05) at final follow-up. Visual acuity was improved in 9 eyes (41%) and was no changed in 13 eyes. No serious complications were observed during or after intravitreous bevacizumab injection and Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation.
CONCLUSION: Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation and intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of NVG is useful and safe. It improves the success rate of surgery and preserves visual function, furthermore its complications are less.

Objective To investigate the influences of mutation at precore and basic core promoter(BCP) region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the immune response of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The number of specific CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC) of CHB patients were tested by cytokine flow cytome- try(CFC) and HBV core18-27 peptide.HBV precore and BCP fragments were directly sequenced. Results Twenty-one(38.9%) samples were HBV precore G1896A mutation.Twenty-six(48.1%) samples were BCP region 1762/1764 combined mutation.Thirteen(24.1%) stains were three sites mutated simultaneously.Stimulated with HBV core 18-27 in vitro,the specific CTL level was signifi- cantly higher in the patients with G1896A mutation and BCP region mutation [(0.41?0.09)%, (0.36?0.08)%,(0.48?0.08)%,respectively]than those without mutation[(0.11?0.06)%, P

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the chemical constituents of Alyxia sinensis.

METHODPhytochmical experiment was carried out, using column chromatograph technologies.

RESULTFive compounds have been isolated from the petroleum ether soluble part of the stems of A. sinensis. Their structures have been elucidated respectively as heptatriacontane(1), octatriacontane(2), 20-noatriacontannone(3), 20-nonatriacontanone(4), 20-tetraacontanoe(5), physcion(6), emodin(7), chrysophanol(8), coumarin(9), stigmasterol acetate(10), beta-sitosterol acetate(11), lupeol(12), betulin(13), stigmasterol(14), beta-sitosterol(15), ursolic acid(16), oleanolic acid(17).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds are firstly been isolated from A. sinensis. And compound 5-9, 10, 11 are also been separated from Alyxiae genus for the first time.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Apocynaceae ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To study the impacts of the Three Gorges dam and change of water level on the survival of the local rodents, and to provide scientific basis to control the outbreak of rodent-borne diseases.Methods Four villages located around the Three Gorges dam were selected in the study. The mouse populations by using Elton night trapping method was monitored. Metallic spring traps were set for two consecutive nights. The mouse density and identified the mouse species was calculated. The mouse species indoor and outdoor, as well as the mouse density indoor and outdoor were compared. The impacts of water level in the dam and cleaning work on local mouse density were also analyzed. Results A total of 678 mice were caught in this study, 517 were caught indoor and 161 outdoor. Indoor dominant species was flavipectus; accounting for 36.49%(189/517), while outdoor was apodemus, reaching 56.88% (91/161). For mouse species, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 678.00, P ＜ 0.01 ). The average mouse density was 8.44%(678/8036) in trap nights. Indoor mouse density reached 14.44%(517/3581 ), which was significantly higher than that of outdoor(3.61%, 161/4455 ).For mouse density, there was a significant difference between indoor and outdoor(x2 = 301.04, P ＜ 0.01 ). When the water level was up to 156 m, mouse density reached 10%(513/5132), which was higher than that of before (5.68%, 165/2904). There was a significant difference in mouse density before and after reserving water (x2 = 44.68, P ＜ 0.01 ). With the change of water level, upstream mouse density formed a high platform from May 2007 to May 2008, followed by 12.25%(80/653), 13.16%(90/684), 12.95%(90/695), and decreased to 8.38%(28/334) after cleaning of the dam. Conclusions The Three Gorges dam and change of water level actually alter the survival environment of the local mouse, and affect local mouse density and mouse species. These may lead to local outbreak or epidemic of rodent-borne diseases.

OBJECTIVEConcentration of extracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](o)) in the central nervous system decreases substantially in different conditions. It results in facilitating neuronal excitability. The goal of this study is to examine the mechanisms of enhanced neuronal excitation in low [Ca(2+)](o) in order to provide new clues to treat the hyperexcitability diseases in clinic.

METHODSWhole-cell patch-clamp technique and neuron culture were used in the study.

RESULTSThe firing threshold of cultured hippocampal neurons decreased markedly in low [Ca(2+)](o) saline. Unexpectedly, apamine and isoprenaline, antagonists of medium afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) and slow AHP (sAHP) respectively, had no statistic significant effect on excitability of neurons. TTX at a low concentration was sufficient to inhibit I(NaP), which blocked the increase of firing frequency in low [Ca(2+)](o). It also reduced the number of spikes in normal [Ca(2+)](o).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that in cultured hippocampal neurons, modulation of spiking threshold but not AHP may cause the increased excitability in low [Ca(2+)](o).

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apamin ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Sodium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology

Fifteen compounds were obtained from the twigs and leaves of Caesalpinia minax. Their structures were identified as apigenin (1), 5,7,3',4'- tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (2), luteolin-5, 3 '-dimethyl-ether (3), thevetiaflavon (4), apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucuronide (5), bonducellin (6), 7-hydroxy-3-( 4-hydroxybenzylidene )-chroman-4-one (7), 3-deoxysappanchalcone (8), 5-acetonyl-7-hydroxy-2-methyl chromone (9), 4-(trans)-acetyl-3,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl-dihydronaphthalenone (10), 4-(cis)-acetyl-3,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl-dihydronaphthalenone (11), vanillic acid (12), omega-hydroxypropioquaiacone (13), syringaresinol (14) and uracil (15). All compounds were isolated from C. minax for the first time. Compounds 1-14 were phenolic compounds and compounds 1-5, 9-13 and 15 were isolated from the genus Caesalpinia for the first time.
Caesalpinia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of repeated renal biopsy-proven primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (PFSGS) in 8 children, and to reveal the relationship between clinical features and pathology, between the two times of renal biopsy pathology, and the indications for repeated renal biopsy.

METHODThe records of cases who ever experienced renal biopsy in this hospital were reviewed, of whom 8 cases of repeated renal biopsy-proven PFSGS were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, the reason why they had renal biopsy again, the difference in renal pathological findings, between the two biopsies and their therapeutic response. The classification of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was based on the new criteria suggested by D'Agati in 2004.

RESULTOf the 8 cases, age of onset ranged from 1 to 12 years, all were diagnosed as nephrotic syndrome (NS), the age of first biopsy ranged from 1.1 to 15.0 years, and the follow-up period was 10 months to 14 years. The reason for repeated biopsy was poor therapeutic response, continuous heavy proteinuria, or the progressive renal dysfunction. Four cases had the both biopsies in this hospital, and the first renal pathology showed minimal change disease (MCD), mesangial proliferation, FSGS CELL type and FSGS GTL type. After the second biopsy, they were additionally treated with immunosuppressive agents or switched to another one, 2 cases with FSGS COLL type presented renal dysfunction or end stage renal disease (ESRD), 1 case who developed the disease at 1.4 years of age, presented renal dysfunction at 10 months follow-up. The remaining 5 cases acquired complete remission.

CONCLUSIONFSGS is a clinicopathological syndrome, NS predominates clinically. It often indicates pathologic transformation when the patients show poor therapeutic response or continuous heavy proteinuria without remission. Mesangial proliferation can convert into FSGS, and the subtype of FSGS can shift. FSGS COLL type and onset at young age may suggest poor prognosis.

Biopsy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of long-term microwave exposure on hippocampal structure and function in the rat.

METHODSExperiments were performed on 184 male Wistar rats (three exposure groups and a sham group). Microwaves were applied daily for 6 min over 1 month at average power densities of 2.5, 5, and 10 mW/cm2. Learning and memory abilities were assessed by Morris water maze. High performance liquid chromatography was used to detect neurotransmitter concentrations in the hippocampus. Hippocampal structures were observed by histopathological analysis.

RESULTSFollowing long-term microwave exposure there was a significant decrease in learning and memory activity in the 7 d, 14 d, and 1 m in all three microwave exposure groups. Neurotransmitter concentrations of four amino acids (glutamate, aspartic acid, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid) in hippocampus were increased in the 2.5 and 5 mW/cm2 groups and decreased in the 10 mW/cm2 group. There was evidence of neuronal degeneration and enlarged perivascular spaces in the hippocampus in the microwave exposure groups. Further, mitochondria became swollen and cristae were disordered. The rough endoplasmic reticulum exhibited sacculated distension and there was a decrease in the quantity of synaptic vesicles.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that the hippocampus can be injured by long-term microwave exposure, which might result in impairment of cognitive function due to neurotransmitter disruption.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cognition ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; physiopathology ; radiation effects ; Learning ; Male ; Memory ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Microwaves ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar