Objective To study the histopathological characteristics and the correlations between the cortical tissues from ictal discharge (ID) area and interictal epileptiform discharge (IED) area in epilepsy patients due to focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), in order to further discuss the mechanism of epileptogenicity. Methods Twenty-two subjects who underwent epilepsy surgeries consecutively in our institute since April 2005 to August 2006. All patients underwent intracranial electrode implantations and long-term video-EEG monitoring before the resective surgeries and the postoperative pathologies proved to be FCD. According the long-term EEG monitoring results, the cortex with intense IED and the cortex with ID onset were resected separatively in the operation for further histopathologic studies. Twenty cases were collected. Based on the Palimini' s pathologic subtype classification for FCD as well as quantificational scoring for immunocytochemistry for the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) which we designed by ourself, the specimens of IED and ID were studied and compared. Results The resected specimens from 20 cases were examed. ID specimens showed more severe abnormalities in the laminar cortical architecture, alterations in the morphology of neurons and in the appearance of abnormal balloon cells. With the PV quantificational scoring, we found significant difference between IED (6.4±2.1) and ID (4.4±1.8) from FCD Ⅱ specimens (P=0.042). No difference was found between ID subtypes (F=2.734, P=0.093 ). Conclusions ID cortical area showed more severe abnormalities in histopathologic changes than lED area. Our results suggested that the ID area of FCD had more severe damage in inhibitory synaptic circuits and neural networks, which meant it was more epileptogenic than IED. No difference was identified between each ID subtype in term of epileptogenicity, which meant all of them should be resected during the surgery.

Objective To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of estrogen induced apoptosis of synthetic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods Cultured VSMCs on passage 3 were divided into three groups: 17?-estradiol (E-2) group, p38 inhibitor group (SB+E-2) and control group. With treatment for 72 hours,the apoptosis of cells was quantified by measuring the intracellular nucleosomes with ELISA; expressions of total p38, phospho-p38 and myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) were analyzed by Western blotting, with a confirmative immunohistochemical staining for MEF2. Results Compared with that of control cells, the rate of apoptosis in VSMCs grown in E-2 was significantly increased, with up-regulations of total p38, phospho-p38 and MEF2. These effects of E-2 were blocked in SB+E-2 group in which the rate of cell apoptosis and expression of p38 had no obvious change compared with that of control group, while the expression of p-p38 and MEF2 was decreased. Immunohistochemical staining showed that MEF2 was mainly located in cellular nucleus, and its expression was increased in E-2 group but decreased in SB+E-2 group. Conclusion Estrogen may induce apoptosis of synthetic VSMCs through p38 pathway-dependent up-regulation of MEF2.

Wearable devices are used in the new design of the maternal health care system to detect electrocardiogram and oxygen saturation signal while smart terminals are used to achieve assessments and input maternal clinical information. All the results combined with biochemical analysis from hospital are uploaded to cloud server by mobile Internet. Machine learning algorithms are used for data mining of all information of subjects. This system can achieve the assessment and care of maternal physical health as well as mental health. Moreover, the system can send the results and health guidance to smart terminals.
Algorithms ; Clothing ; Electrocardiography ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Humans ; Internet ; Machine Learning ; Maternal Health ; Monitoring, Ambulatory ; instrumentation ; Telemedicine ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVES: At present, the research on clear aligner of molar distalization mainly focuses on the upper jaw, while the research on mandibular molars is few.This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effect of mandibular molars distalization with clear aligner via cone beam CT (CBCT) and Dolphin software. METHODS: Twenty cases of mandibular molars with clear aligner were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. CBCT was taken before treatment (T0) and when the first molar was moved in place (T1). Dolphin software was used to measure the effectiveness of molar distalization. Three-dimensional changes in direction and the impact on the incisors and facial soft and hard tissues were evaluated. RESULTS: The effective rates of crown and root distalization of the second and first mandibular molars were 74%, 49%, and 71%, 47%, respectively. The second and first molars were both the distal buccal cusp with the largest distalization [(2.15 ± 0.91) mm and (1.85±1.09) mm], respectively, with significant difference between the T0 and T1 ( CONCLUSIONS Clear aligner can effectively move mandibular molars farther, the crown is more effective than the root, and it is tilted. The second mandibular molar is more effective than the first mandibular molar in its distant displacement and three-dimensional changes. Molar distalization causes minor changes in mandibular incisors and facial soft and hard tissues.
Cephalometry ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Orthodontic Appliances, Removable ; Tooth Movement Techniques

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients who progress to metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC) mostly have poor outcomes due to the lack of effective therapies. Our recent study established the orphan nuclear receptor ROR