ment with simple operation, high successful rate, high safety, less invasiveness and low complication rate.

Objective To explore the effect of silver needle thermo-conduction on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA). Methods 82 patients with CSA were randomly divided into control group (n=41) and treatment group (n=41). The control group was treated with cervical traction combined with microwave diathermy, and the treatment group was treated with silver needle thermo-conduction combined with cervical traction. Both groups were evaluated with Evaluation Scale for Cervical Vertigo (ESCV) and transcranial Doppler before and 1 course after treatment. Results The ESCV score, the peak blood flow velocity of period of contraction of left vertebral artery, right vertebral artery and basilar artery in both groups were significantly higher after treatment than before (P<0.01), the treatment group was better than the control group after treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion Silver needle thermo-conduction combined with cervical traction therapy can accelerate the blood flow of patients with CSA and improve their clinical symptoms

Objective:To investigate the immunohistochemical characterization of hepatic stem cells in the developing human liver, so as to study the origin, differentiation and migration of hepatic stem cells. Methods: H-E staining and immunohistochemical methods were used to observe the expression of hepatic/cholangiocellular differentiation markers (AFP,GST-?,CK7,CK19) and hematopoietic stem cell markers (CD34 and c-kit) in several kinds of cells obtained from thirty 4-to 35-week old fetal liver samples. Results: AFP expression appeared in fetal liver at 4 weeks’ gestation,peaked during 16-24 weeks’ gestation and decreased gradually afterwards; finally weak signals were only found in some ductal plate cells and a few limiting plate cells. GST-? was detected in hepatic cord cells from the 6th week and in the ductal plate cells from the 8th week; 26 weeks later, only some ductal plate cells and a few limiting plate cells showed positive signals. CK19 expression peaked during 6th to 11th week in hepatic cord cells and decreased gradually afterwards, except for that in the ductal plates. CK7 expression was limited in the ductal plate cells and bile duct cells from the 14th week. CD34 and c-kit were detected at the 8th week in some ductal plate cells and a few mononuclear cells in the hepatic cords/mesenchymal tissue of portal area; after 21 weeks, CD34 and c-kit were found only in ductal plate cells and a few mononuclear cells in the hepatic mesenchymal tissue of portal areas. Conclusion: Fetal hepatocytes at 4-16 weeks’ gestation are mainly constituted by hepatic stem cells with bi-potential differentiation capacity. At 16 weeks’ gestation, most hepatic cord cells begin to differentiate into hepatocytes and abundant hepatic stem cells remain in the ductal plate (the origin site of Hering canals). It is also indicated that the hematopoietic stem cells may give rise to some hepatic stem cells in embryonic liver. These indirectly support the hypothesis about the location and origin of liver stem cells in “liver valley hypothesis” reported previously.

Objective To evaluate the post-operative glucose level and insulin dose of patients undergoing total pancreatectomy.Methods From September 1980 to September 2014, 21 patients underwent total pancrea-tectomy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, who were enrolled in our study.We reviewed the changes in their insulin dosage and glucose levels after operation, also summarized type and dose of insulin as well as glucose level in stable period.Results The required insulin dose reached peak within 4 days after surgery ( maximum dose 300 U/d).The average dose was (143.5 ±62.8) U/d and decreased gradually.During the perioperative period (needing parenteral nutrition), the blood glucose level fluctuated markedly (1.52-29.06 mmol/L) and the average level was (11.18 ±0.95) mmol/L.During the stable period ( without parenteral nutrition) , patients on average had (5.3 ±2.0) U of preprandial rapid-acting insulin and (8.1 ±2.9) U of long-acting insulin be-fore sleeping;the average fasting blood glucose was (6.69 ±1.48) mmol/L, 2 h postprandial blood glucose was (9.08 ±2.84) mmol/L, bedtime blood glucose was (9.66 ±2.49) mmol/L, and blood glucose level at night was (8.15 ±2.78) mmol/L.67%of the patients had 13 hypoglycemic episodes monthly on average.For those five followed-up patients, the average hemoglobin A1c was (6.15 ±1.20)%.Conclusions Patients undergoing total pancreatectomy may experience marked fluctuation of blood glucose level and short-term increase of insulin need which gradually decreases afterwards.After entering the stable period, the glucose level could be well-con-trolled but with frequent hypoglycemia.There is no diabetic ketoacidosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and caspase-3 in the intestine of neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and explore the protective effects and possible regulatory mechanisms of glutamine (Gln) in NEC.

METHODSSixty premature rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=20 each): control, NEC model and Gln intervention group. NEC model was prepared by formula feeding, hypoxia and cold stress. The Gln intervention group was also subjected to hypoxia and cold stress but was fed with formula containing Gln (0.3 g/kg). Two days later, the rats were sacrificed and the intestine tissues were obtained. The histological changes of ileal tissues were observed by hemetoxylin and eosin staining. The expression of caspase-3 and TLR-4 protein in the jejunum, ileum and colon were detected by inmunohistochemistry. The expression of TLR-4 mRNA in the jejunum, ileum and colon were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the histological score of ileal tissues, and the expression of caspase-3, TLR-4 protein and TLR-4 mRNA in the NEC model group increased significantly (P<0.01). Gln intervention decreased significantly the histological score of ileal tissues, and the expression of caspase-3, TLR-4 protein and TLR-4 mRNA compared with the NEC model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTLR-4 might be involved in the pathogenesis of NEC. Gln may provide protective effects on intestine possibly through reducing the TLR-4 expression and then decreasing the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glutamine ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Pregnancy ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; analysis ; genetics

Motor timing is an important part of sensorimotor control. Previous studies have shown that beta oscillations embody the process of temporal perception in explicit timing tasks. In contrast, studies focusing on beta oscillations in implicit timing tasks are lacking. In this study, we set up an implicit motor timing task and found a modulation pattern of beta oscillations with temporal perception during movement preparation. We trained two macaques in a repetitive visually-guided reach-to-grasp task with different holding intervals. Spikes and local field potentials were recorded from microelectrode arrays in the primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. We analyzed the association between beta oscillations and temporal interval in fixed-duration experiments (500 ms as the Short Group and 1500 ms as the Long Group) and random-duration experiments (500 ms to 1500 ms). The results showed that the peak beta frequencies in both experiments ranged from 15 Hz to 25 Hz. The beta power was higher during the hold period than the movement (reach and grasp) period. Further, in the fixed-duration experiments, the mean power as well as the maximum rate of change of beta power in the first 300 ms were higher in the Short Group than in the Long Group when aligned with the Center Hit event. In contrast, in the random-duration experiments, the corresponding values showed no statistical differences among groups. The peak latency of beta power was shorter in the Short Group than in the Long Group in the fixed-duration experiments, while no consistent modulation pattern was found in the random-duration experiments. These results indicate that beta oscillations can modulate with temporal interval in their power mode. The synchronization period of beta power could reflect the cognitive set maintaining working memory of the temporal structure and attention.