Growth dynamics of PP, CN and ZS2 strains of Toxoplasma gondii isolated in China was studied and compared with that of RH strain. HeLa cells were used in this work. It took only 2 min for the organisms of RH strain to infect the HeLa cells when con-tacting with the cells. By contrast, the CN strain requires 5 min, the ZS2 and PP strains, 10 min.Tcxoplasma began its multiplication after a lag time of about 6 h in the HeLa cells. The mean generation time of the 4 strains was assessed by calculating the number of the parasites in the parasitophorous vacuoles at different incubation times and by the linear regression equation. The results showed that the mean generation time was 5.2 h for RH strain, 5.98 h for CN strain, 6.78 h for ZS2 strain and 7.69 h for PP strain.Among the 3 strains of Toxoplasma gondii isolated in China, CN strain was similar to RH strain in their infectivity and proliferation.

Aim In order to observe the pathological features and the dynamic distribution of RH strain T. gondii in main organs of infected mice, using indirect immunoenzymatic technique. To provide pathological diagonsising reference of toxoplasmosis and increase to understand the pathologensis of Toxoplasmosis. Methods Mice were infected intraperitoneally with 103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain,and the parasites were detected using indirect immunoenzymatic technique in the liver, spleen, lungs and brain at 2,4,6 and 8 days postinfection. Results The liver was the first organ parasitized at D2, followed by spleen and lungs at D4, the brain at D8. At the early phase of infection, parasites were found on the edge of the liver and spleen. A few parasites were detected within the liver, spleen and lungs with time being. But parasites increased progressively and distributed well during the whole phase. The brain was the last organ to be parasitized. Parasites multiplicated rapidly so that the mice were seriously ill and died. Conclusions The indirect immunoenzymatic technique can demonstrate tachyzoites and Toaxoplasma antigen clearly in infected mice during acute stage. Many organs were infected such as liver, spleen,lungs and brain. The results suggest that the organs in the peritoneal cavity were infected directly by tachyzoites as IP infection, then the parasites disseminate through a blood way, and in the end, tachyzoites cross the blood-brain barries to reach the brain.

Objective To compare the characteristics and differences of the activation of the brain regions between the digital memory span task and digital working memory task.Methods 12 right-handed volunteers participated in a test of 7-digit memory span and a test of 2-digit working memory respectively, while the functional MR imaging (fMRI) data were recorded by a Seimens 1.5 T MR machine. Two control tasks were performed respectively and stimulation paradigms was block-design. SPM 99 was used to analyze the data and to localize the activated brain regions.Results The Brodmann area (BA) 6, 9 and 47 regions in the frontal lobe, the BA 7 and 40 regions in the parietal lobe, the cingulate gyrus, the hippocampus structures, the striatum and the cerebellum were activated by both tasks in comparison to their control tasks. Bilateral BA 18 and 19 regions of the occipital lobe without hemisphere predominance were the most activated regions by the digital memory span task, and the BA 37 region of the temporal lobe was also activated. However, the frontal lobe with left predominance was the most activated region by the digital working memory.Conclusion Different brain regions play distinct roles in different short-term digital memory tasks, and might be involved in different stages. The fMRI is a good tool for exploring the process of digits in the brain.

Objective To examine whether the marginal division of the striatum(MrD)is involved in the associative learning and memory function of human brain with the help of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)technique.Methods Sixteen right-handed normal volunteers participated in a test of paired-word associative learning and memory,while the fMRI data were recorded.Control tasks were performed for the block-design.Statistcs parameter mapping 99 was used to analyze the data and to obtain the activated brain regions.Results When the threshold was set as P＜0.005.using a one-sample T-test,the left occipital lobe and the superior and middle gyrus of the left frontal lobe were activated remarkably during the encoding process of the paired-word associative learning and memory task,with the maximum intensity T value being 13.87 and 9.36.respectively.The left MrD was also obviously activated during this stage(T value was 5.46).But during the retrieval process,the left parietal lobe was prominently activated(T value was 8.73).Conclusion The resuhs of this study reveal that the subcortical structures such as MrD as well as the cerebral cortex are involved in the associative learning and memory of paired-word in human brain.

Objective To investigate the neural representations of long-term digital memory in human brain by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Methods 22 right-handed normal volunteers were recruited to participate in a test of long-term digital memory while the fMRI data were recorded. Control tasks were performed for the block-design. SPM 99 was used to analyze the data and to obtain the activated brain regions.Numbers of activated voxels were used to calculate lateralization index (LI). Results When the threshold was set as P＜0. 0001 ,using a one-sample t -test,the middle gyrus of the left frontal lobe(t=9.68) and the right cerebellum ( t = 9.85 ) were activated remarkably during the memory task. The subcortical structures including the thalamus (t=6.72) and the caudate (t=6.58) were also obviously activated during the memory task. LI of the numbers of activated voxels was 0.51. Conclusions The subcortical structures and the cerebellum as well as the cerebral cortex are collaborative to contribute to long-term digital memory function in human brain. The results also reveal that the functional areas of long-term digital memory in human brain are localized with the functional lateralization in the left hemisphere.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease among elderly people worldwide. Several genes have been validated to be associated with AD, and calcium homeostasis modulator 1 (Calhm1) is the latest suspected one. To investigate the biological and pathological function of Calhm1 systematically, we generated a Calhm1 conventional knockout mouse. However, both the male and female of elderly Calhm1 knockout (KO) mice showed similar ability to their wild type littermates in spatial learning and memory retrieving. Surprisingly, we found that Calhm1 mRNA could not be detected in mouse brains at different ages, although it is expressed in the human brain tissues. We further found that CpG islands (CGIs) of both mouse and human Calhm1 were hypermethylated, whereas CGI of mouse Calhm2 was hypomethylated. In addition, transcriptional active marker H3K4Di occupied on promoters of human Calhm1 and mouse Calhm2 at a considerable level in brain tissues, while the occupancy of H3K4Di on promoter of mouse Calhm1 was rare. In sum, we found that mouse Calhm1 was of rare abundance in brain tissues. So it might not be suitable to utilize the knockout murine model to explore biological function of Calhm1 in the pathogenesis of AD.
Animals ; Calcium Channels ; deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Methylation ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of subtotal colectomy with cecorectal end-side anastomosis for slow transit constipation.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on 23 patients with colon slow transit constipation treated by subtotal colectomy with cecorectal end-side anastomosis in our department from March 2006 to April 2013. The main measure outcome was the curative effect on constipation by this type of surgery.

RESULTSTwenty-three patients were successfully treated. Anastomotic leakage occurred in one case, and urinary retention in 1 case, while no anastomotic stricture, abdominal bleeding, abdominal hernia, incontinence and other complications occurred. During follow-up of 2 months to 7 years, defecation frequency was 1-4 times a day with no need of antidiarrheal agents. Each time of defecation was less than 5 min. All the patients had no recurrence of constipation.

CONCLUSIONSubtotal colectomy with cecorectal end-side anastomosis can be used to treat colon slow transit constipation, while accurate preoperative evaluation and strict indications for the surgery is the key to success.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Cecum ; surgery ; Colectomy ; Colon ; surgery ; Constipation ; surgery ; Defecation ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the correlation between cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor(PR) and the formation of endometrial polyps and the increased malignant rate of postmenopausal endometrial polyps.Methods:From January 2018 to January 2019, a total of 160 postmenopausal women treated in the People's Hospital of Changxing County were selected and divided into endometrial polyps group(83 cases) and oothectomy group(42 cases), normal menopause group(35 cases) according to different diseases.The levels of COX-2, ER, PR in the three groups were measured.The expression of COX-2 in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells, the expression of ER in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells, the expression of PR in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells in the three groups were compared, and the correlation between COX-2, ER, PR and increased malignant rate of endometrial polyps was analyzed.Results:The positive expression rates of COX-2 in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells in the endometrial polyps group(16.9%, 30.1%) were higher than those in the normal menopause group(0.0%, 11.4%) and the oothectomy group(4.8%, 7.1%)(χ 2=4.568, 5.806, all P<0.05 ). There were no statistically significant differences in the expression of ER in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells among the three groups(χ 2=1.333, 1.412, all P>0.05). The expression of PR in mesenchymal cells and glandular epithelial cells in the endometrial polyps group was lower than that in the normal menopause group and the oothectomy group(χ 2=4.890, 5.022, all P<0.05). COX-2 was positively correlated with the increase in malignant rate of endometrial polyps( r=4.335, P<0.05), PR was negatively correlated with an increase in the malignant rate of endometrial polyps( r=-4.256, P<0.05), and ER had no significant correlation with an increase in the malignant rate of endometrial polyps( r=1.203, P>0.05). Conclusion:COX-2 and PR are significantly related to the formation of endometrial polyps and the increase in malignant rate of postmenopausal endometrial polyps, but there is no significant expression of ER.Therefore, the detection of COX-2 and PR levels is beneficial to provide a certain scientific basis for clinical treatment.

Objective:To investigate the application value of triangular modal construed for planning approach of laparoscopic local resection of liver tumors located in superior part of central liver lobe.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 10 patients who underwent local laparoscopic resection of liver tumors located in superior part of central liver lobe at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January to June 2020 were collected. There were 6 males and 4 females, aged from 41 to 63 years, with a median age of 54 years. Preoperative triangular model was constructed for all patients to plan approach of laparoscopic local resection of liver tumors located in superior part of central liver lobe. Observation indicators: (1) preoperative general situations of patients; (2) surgical situations; (3) follow-up. Follow-up was conducted by outpatient examination or telephone interview to detect tumor recurrence and survival of patients up to February 2021. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD. Count data were expressed was absolute numbers. Results:(1) Preoperative general situations of patients: hepatocellular carcinoma was found in 7 cases, inthahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was found in 2 cases and ovarian cancer with liver metastasis was found in 1 case. Three cases had tumors located in S4a segment, 2 cases had tumors located in ventral subsegment of S8 segment, 2 cases had tumors located in dorsal subsegment of S8 segment, and 3 cases had tumors across the ventral segment of S4a+S8. The diameter of tumors was (3.4±1.0)cm. (2) Surgical situation: all the 10 patients underwent R 0 resection successfully, with no intraoperative blood transfusion or conversion to open surgery. The operation time of 10 patients was (149±59)minutes, the volume of intraoperative blood loss was (294±163)mL, the minimum surgical margin of specimen was (1.1±0.2)cm. The alanine aminotransferase was (324±151)U/L on the postoperative first day, the aspartic aminotransferase was (401±113)U/L on the postoperative first day, and the duration of postoperative hospital stay was (9±4)days. No bile leakage, hemorr-hage, reoperation or other complications occurred in all patients. (3) Follow-up: 10 patients were followed up for 7?13 months, with a median follow-up time of 11 months. All patients had no margin recurrence or distant metastasis. Conclusion:It is safe and feasible to construct triangular modal for planning approach of local laparoscopic resection of liver tumors located in superior part of central liver lobe.

Objective:To search for valuable laboratory indexes of early diagnosis of anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal carcinoma.Methods:From Sep 2017 to Jan 2019, 128 patients with colorectal cancer underwent anterior rectal resection at the Department of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, the 940 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force.Results:Anastomotic leakage occurred in 16 of 128 patients (12.5%). Definite diagnosis of anastomotic leakage was made on between 2nd and 9th day, postopera tively averagign (6.13±2.00) days. Tumor location was a risk factor for anastomotic leakage with the incidence significantly lower when the distance from the lower edge of the tumor to the anal margin >7 cm than when the distance ≤7 cm ( χ 2=6.022, P=0.014). The percentage of increase in peripheral blood leukocytes, neutrophils, serum interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin in patients 3-5 days after surgery significantly related to the occurrence of anastomotic leakage (all P<0.05). The area under the working characteristic curve of the subjects with the percentage of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, leukocytes and neutrophils from the 3rd to the 5th day after operation was greater than 0.5. Conclusion:C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, interleukin-6, leukocyte and neutrophil percentage are risk factors predicting anastomotic leakage after anterior resection of rectal cancer.