Knowledge about the hemodynamic model that mediates synaptic activity and measured magnetic resonance signal is essential in understanding brain activation. Neural effi cacy is a hemodynamic parameter that would change the evoked hemodynamic responses. In this work, brain activation and neural effi cacy of the activated brain areas during simple addition task in two different backgrounds were studied using fMRI. The objectives were to determine the activated areas during the performance of arithmetic addition in quiet (AIQ) and noisy (AIN) background and to investigate the relationship between neural effi cacy and height extent of activation for the respective areas. Eighteen healthy male participants performed simple arithmetic addition in quiet and in noise. Bilateral cerebellum, superior temporal gyrus (STG), temporal pole (TP) and supplementary motor area (SMA) were signifi cantly (p < 0.05) activated during AIQ and AIN. Left middle frontal gyrus (L-MFG), right superior frontal gyrus (R-SFG), right superior orbital gyrus (R-SOG) and bilateral insula were more active in quiet as compared to in noise while the left middle cingulate cortex (L-MCC), left amygdala (L-AMG), right temporal pole (R-TP) and left cerebellum (L-CER) were more active in noise as compared to in quiet. The t value for most of the activated regions was found to be inversely proportional to the neural effi cacy. Signifi cant (p < 0.05) negative relationship between t value and neural effi cacy were found for R-STG and bilateral cerebellum during AIQ, while for AIN, similar relationships were found in R-CER, R-STG and R-TP. This study suggests that while being signifi cantly activated, the hemodynamic responses of these brain regions could have been suppressed by the stimulus resulting in an intensity decrease with increasing neural efficacy

Despite a vast number of studies that were focused on the roles of superior temporal gyrus (STG) and cerebellum as sensory area, little is known about their involvement in cognitive function such as attention and perception. The present fMRI study aimed to identify this cognitive role from brain activation profile of STG and cerebellum obtained from an arithmetic addition task. Eighteen healthy right hand dominance male adults participated in this study. They were instructed to solve single-digit addition tasks in quiet and noisy background during the fMRI scan. Both the in-quiet and in-noise addition tasks activated the bilateral STG and cerebellum (lobule VI and lobule VII) significantly but differentially. In both quiet and noisy conditions, STG activation is dominant in the left hemisphere while cerebellum showed a right hemisphere dominance. Bilateral STG and cerebellum (lobule VI) activation decreasedin noise, conversely cerebellum (lobule VII) activation increased in noise. These asymmetrical activation indicated hemispheric lateralization and differential behaviors of both brain areas in different environment while performing simple arithmetic addition task.
Cerebellum

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shoutai Pill (STP) containing serum on bioactivity behaviors of trophoblast cells in spontaneous abortion (SA) patients such as cell proliferation, invasion, migration and secretion.

METHODSTrophoblast cells in artificial abortion in normal pregnancy and SA patients were isolated and cultured in vitro, which were then treated with STP containing serum at various concentrations (5%, 10%, 20%, respectively). Blank serum was taken as the normal control group and dydrogesterone containing serum as the dydrogesterone control group. The proliferation, cycle distribution, invasion and migration capacity, and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (p-HCG) level were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry, flow cytometry (FCM), Transwell experiments, and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the activity of cell proliferation obviously decreased, ratios of apoptotic cells (SubGO/G1) and G2/M phase were obviously elevated, S phase cell ratio was obviously reduced (all P < 0.05). Transwell experiments indicated invasion and migration capacity obviously decreased, secreted beta-HCG level were obviously reduced after 72-h intervention (P < 0.05). Compared with the SA group, the activity of cell proliferation obviously increased, ratios of apoptotic cells and G2/M phase were obviously reduced, S phase cell ratio was obviously elevated, invasion and migration capacity were obviously enhanced, secreted beta-HCG level were obviously elevated after 72-h intervention in the dydrogesterone control group and each STP containing serum group (all P < 0.05). The activity of trophoblastic cell proliferation, S phase cell ratio, invasion and migration capacity, and secreted beta-HCG level were strengthened along with increased STP containing serum. Besides, the effects of 20% STP containing serum group were significantly superior to those of the dydrogesterone control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTP containing serum could dose-dependently enhance the proliferative activity of trophoblastic cells, invasion and migration capacity, secretion of beta-HCG, and reduce the apoptosis of trophoblast cells, which might be one of mechanisms for STP preventing and treating SA.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Dydrogesterone ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts ; drug effects

Using the concepts and methods of epigenetics and metabolomics, to investigate the overall action molecular mechanism of Chrysanthemi indici C (CIC), the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) active extracts from Flos chrysanthemi indici. The inhibitory effects of CIC on proliferation and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA of HepG2.2.15 cells were detected by CCK-8 and antigen kit. The DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs)/ten-eleven-translocation-2 (TET2) equilibrium was detected by ELISA. Illumina 850K methylation chip, pyrosequencing and qPCR were used to determine the action pathway and target of CIC by GO and KEGG analysis. Cell metabolites were extracted with 80% methanol, and the changes of differential metabolites, differential metabolic pathways and cell microenvironment were detected by LC-MS and other metabolomics methods. The results showed that CIC could inhibit the proliferation, HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA of HepG2.2.15 cells obviously, down-regulate DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) and DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b), up-regulate TET2, and restore the balance of DNMTs/TET2. The action targets of CIC were phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 3 (PIK3R3), 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2B (HTR2B), nerve growth factor (NGF), mainly involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation mediated regulation of transient receptor potential (TRP), phospholipase D signaling and advanced glycation end product-receptor for AGE (AGE-RAGE) signaling in diabetic complications pathways. CIC could significantly affect fatty acid metabolism and had great influence on phenolic acid, alkaloid and lipid metabolites in cell microenvironment. These results suggest that the action mechanism of CIC may be the synergistic action of multiple pathways and multiple targets, including related inflammatory pathways, immune pathways and lipid metabolism, through regulating epigenetic expression balance and restoring the balance of cell microenvironment.

Objective To explore the relationship between methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) gene polymorphism and cerebral infarction in young and middle-aged patients. Methods The genotype of MTRR A66G was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and the plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography in 105 young and middle-aged patients with cerebral infarction and 116 age-matched healthy controls. Results The genotype distribution and allele frequencies of MTRR A 66G gene between the 2 groups had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).Stratified analysis,performed according to whether cerebral infarction was complicated with hypertension,diabetes or coronary heart disease,indicated that the frequencies ofGG genotype and G allele in cerebral infarction patients without complications were obviously higher than those in controls (36.4％ vs.23.3％,62.1％ vs.52.2％),but no statistical significance was noted between them (P＞0.05).No statistical difference was observed between cerebral infarction patients with complications and controls (P＞0.05). The mean plasma Hcy level in patients and controls with GG genotype was significantly higher than that in patients and controls with AA genotype (P＜0.05). Conclusion No association between MTRR A 66G polymorphism and cerebral infarction is noted in young and middle-aged patients, while GG mutant homozygous ofMTRR A66G gene can significantly raise the plasma Hcy level.

OBJECTIVETo generate a refined staging system of fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis and to assess its accuracy and sensitivity for evaluating therapeutic efficacy of anti-fibrosis drug treatments.

METHODSA refined fibrosis staging system was established according to the detailed characteristics of progressive fibrosis. A total of 396 liver puncture biopsy specimens were collected from patients before and after anti-fibrosis therapy and used to evaluate the refined staging system. According to the original fibrosis staging system and refined fibrosis staging system, fibrosis staging differences from before and after treatment were analyzed by Chi-squared test and paired-samples t-test respectively.

RESULTSThe refined fibrosis staging system detected significant changes in fibrosis stage that occurred in response to treatment (before treatment: 6.55 +/- 2.93 vs. after treatment: 6.19 +/- 2.945, P less than 0.01). However, the original (unrefined) staging system was unable to differentiate therapy-related changes in fibrosis stage (x2= 3.144, P = 0.534).

CONCLUSIONThe newly-developed refined fibrosis staging system was able to effectively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-fibrosis drug treatment and performed better than the original staging system.

Biopsy, Needle ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis

Aged ; Beijing ; China ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of baicalin (Bai) on lung injury, the level of TNF-alpha in cultured liquid of pulmonary interstitial macrophage and the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in lung injury associated with paraquat poisoning.

METHODSRats were randomizedly divided into four groups: control group, PQ group, Bai group (Bai, 300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and simple Bai group (Bai, 300 mg. kg(-1).d(-1)) (n = 10 in each group). The 2% PQ was injected (25 mg/kg) in PQ group. Bai was injected in the rats (300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 3 d) through caudal vein after paraquat poisoning in Bai group. In simple Bai group, Bai was injected in the healthy rats (300 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 3 d). The samples were obtained three days after intraperitoneal administration of 2% paraquat (25 mg/kg). The injury of lung was estimated with HE dyeing and electron microscope. Pulmonary interstitial macrophage (PIM) were obtained, and then cultured for 24 hours. The content of TNF-alpha was evaluated. The expression of HO-1 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of HO-1 protein was evaluated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThe lung tissue was normal in control group and simple Bai group. The degree of lung injury in PQ group was higher than that in control group by HE dyeing and electron microscope observation. The level of TNF-alpha expression in cultured PIM in Bai group [(484.2 +/- 39.5) microg/L] was lower than that in PQ group [(790.2 +/- 35.0) microg/L], but higher than that in the control group [(121.6 +/- 19.2) microg/L] (P < 0.05). The expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein [(59.8 +/- 5.40) and (122.0 +/- 31.98)] in Bai group were higher than those in PQ group [(45.9 +/- 5.82) and (77.92 +/- 10.23)] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe lung injury associated with paraquat poisoning was alleviated by baicalin, which was possibly related to the decrease of level of TNF-alpha in cultured PIM and the increase of the expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein.

Animals ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; metabolism ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of hot spot mutation of PDS gene by genetic screening testing method in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. The feasibility and effectiveness of genetic screening method in finding enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome were confirmed by temporal bone CT scan.

METHODSDNA were extracted from peripheral blood of 141 students of Chifeng Deaf and Dumb school. PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation, the most common PDS mutation in Chinese population, was analyzed by direct sequencing for PDS exon 7, exon 8 with intron 7. The individuals found with homozygous or heterozygous PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation were given further temporal CT scan, ultrasound scan of thyroid and thyroid hormone assays. The results of PDS genetic screening and temporal bone CT scan were compared with each other.

RESULTSThe sequencing results revealed twenty cases carrying PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation, of whom nine cases were homozygous mutation and eleven cases were heterozygous mutation. Eighteen cases underwent temporal bone CT scan except two cases that left the school due to other health problem. Sixteen cases were confirmed to be enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) by CT scan and the shape and function of thyroid were clinically normal by ultrasound scan of thyroid and thyroid hormone assays, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe patients suffered from EVAS can be diagnosed by the screening for the PDS hot spot mutation which has unique advantage in epidemiologic study in large scale deaf population. The preliminary data of this study suggested relatively high incidence of EVAS in Chifeng area.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Syndrome ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; pathology ; Vestibular Diseases ; genetics ; Young Adult

The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for Western medicine (WM) diseases relies heavily on the proper classification of patients into TCM syndrome types. The authors developed a data-driven method for solving the classification problem, where syndrome types were identified and quantified based on statistical patterns detected in unlabeled symptom survey data. The new method is a generalization of latent class analysis (LCA), which has been widely applied in WM research to solve a similar problem, i.e., to identify subtypes of a patient population in the absence of a gold standard. A well-known weakness of LCA is that it makes an unrealistically strong independence assumption. The authors relaxed the assumption by first detecting symptom co-occurrence patterns from survey data and used those statistical patterns instead of the symptoms as features for LCA. This new method consists of six steps: data collection, symptom co-occurrence pattern discovery, statistical pattern interpretation, syndrome identification, syndrome type identification and syndrome type classification. A software package called Lantern has been developed to support the application of the method. The method was illustrated using a data set on vascular mild cognitive impairment.
Data Collection ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional