Objective To analyze clinical and radiological characteristics in 5 cases of neuromyelitisoptica (NMO) with tumefactive-like demyelinating lesions (TDLs).Methods Five NMO patients with TDLs hospitalized during November 2007 and March 2012 were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features,as well as therapeutic efficiency and prognoses.Results The male-to-female ratio is 1∶4 and the range of onset ages is 15-44 years old.The median time when TDLs was developed was 36 months after the onset of NMO.The anti-aquaporin 4 was seropositive in all NMO patients with TDLs.Four patients had clinical manifestations of encephalopathy symptoms including coma (n =2),seizures (n =1),narcolepsy (n =1),homonymous hemianopia (n =1).All TDLs grew unilaterally.Two TDLs were located at parietal-occipital,1 at parietal,I at the cerebellum and 1 at the temporal.On MRI,there was no enhanced signal in 4 TDLs,and there was open-ring-like enhanced signals in 1 case.Three TDLs revealed mixed signals intensities on diffusion-weighted images and an increase in the apparent diffusion coeficient values.On the subsequent MRIs,the sizes of 5 TDLs were markedly reduced in 3 cases,disappeared in 1 and another 1 case remained the same.Meanwhile,3 lesions subsequently developed cavity forming.Five cases improved after treatment of high-dose corticosteroid and intravenous immune globulin.Conclusions TDLs is not uncommon in NMO.Encephalopathysymptoms are more frequently affected in NMO with TDLs.TDLs often accompany with extensive vasogenic edema,but without enhancement in acute stage.NMO-IgG antibody testing and brain MRI are important in the diagnosis of TDLs.The therapy of corticosteroid and intravenous immune globulin is recommended.

The operation performance of membrane nitrification bioreactor to treat ammonia-containing wastewater as well as the capabilities of separation and filtration of polypropylene membrane modules were tested. The removal efficiency of ammonia was kept higher than 95% when the hydraulic retention time was set at 1 day, the influent concentration was increased up to 80 mmol (NH4+ -N) x L(-1) and the volume loading rate was increased up to 1.12 kg (NH4+ -N) x m(-3) x d(-1). The biomass in the reactor was accumulated from 5 g x L(-1) to 10 g x L(-1) within 50 days, which indicated that polypropylene membrane modules were efficient in retaining biomass. The biomass attached to the membrane also contributed to the conversion of ammonia and nitrite. When the hydraulic pressure was lower than 80cm, the increase of hydraulic pressure improved the permeation of membrane. However, when the hydraulic pressure was beyond 80cm, the increase of hydraulic pressure did not significantly improve the permeation of membrane. The permeate flux was the highest 2.51 (L x m (-2) x h(-1)) but the resistance was the lowest (2.63 x 10(-5)) m(-1) when the hydraulic pressure was about 20 cm. The results showed that the membrane nitrification bioreactor could be run normally without extra energy input.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Membranes, Artificial ; Nitrobacter ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Polypropylenes ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; metabolism ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; metabolism

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral sparganosis. Methods To summary four cases of cerebral sparganosis, focusing on the clinical course and imaging findings, with the goal of better diagnostic skills. Results All 4 cases had some kind of misdiagnosis and improvement after surgery or parasiticidal pharmacotherapy. Cerebral MRI and CT scans revealed relatively extensive white matter degeneration and focal enhancements. Subsequent scans showed changes in shape and location of the enhanced foci, indicating the migration of sparganum. Pathologic findings of 3 patients who had undergone surgery showed granuloma and sparganum. Conclusions Cerebral sparganosis has relatively special manifestions on imaging, which are of diagnostic value. The spaganum should be as completely removed as possible during surgery.

1.0?108 co-pies/L)and the lower viral load group(HBV DNA

The change of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside in Siegesbeckia and its first to ninth processed products were studied, and the ten fingerprints were compared, which provided the experimental basis for the study of Siegesbeckia processing tech- nology. The samples were analysed by HPLC on a SunFire-C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 μm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid)-water (0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). Column temperaturewas 30 °C and the detected wavelength was 215, 320 nm. The calibration curves of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside were linear in the range of 2.180-26.16, 2.900-34.80, and 1.012-6.072 mg x L(-1), respectively, and the average recoveries were 96.4%, 97.2% and 96.3% wit RSD 2.2%, 1.7% and 2.4%. This method was simple, the result was stable and had good repeatability, recovery and precision. The re- sult was the basis of the chemical contents variation in the processing of Siegesbeckia Herbs and further clarifying the effect of the changing.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill on AC-cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathways in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of depressive rats.

METHODSixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups according to the sugar consumption test (10 rats in each group), normal control group,model group,fluoxetine group (3.3 mg x kg(-1)) and low dose, medium dose and high dose group (0.25, 0.5, 1 g x kg(-1)) of Betel shisanwei ingredients pill. Except the normal control,the other groups were treated with the chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely raising for 28 days. 10 mL x kg(-1) of drugs were given to each rat once daily,continuously for 28 days. The AC activity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were determined by radiation immunity analysis (RIA), while cAMP and PKA quantity were determinated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA).

RESULTThe AC activity, cAMP and PKA quantity of hippocampus and prefrontal of mouse model of Chronic stress depression decreased significantly than those of control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the AC activity, cAMP and PKA quantity of rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the fluoxetine group and the Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill group indecreased significantly than those of model group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Especially for the high dose group of Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill.

CONCLUSIONThe AC-cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathways in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of depression model of rats is down-regulated, whereas Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill could up-regulated it to resist depression.

Adenylyl Cyclases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Prefrontal Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

METHODSWe summarized the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytological findings in 4 cases of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

RESULTSAll the patients presented with signs of elevated intracranial pressure such as headache. Enlarged cerebral ventricles and dural enhancement were found by MRI, with also the presence of malignant cells in cytological slides.

CONCLUSIONCSF cytological examination is important for diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Aged ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of vitamin C (VC) on alleviating peroxidative damage in gut of dogs during enteral fluid resuscitation of severe burn shock.

METHODSEighteen male Beagle dogs were subjected to 50% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness burn 24 hours after duodenostomy and cannulation of cervical artery and vein. The dogs were divided into no resuscitation (NR) group (no treatment after burn), enteral resuscitation (ER) group, and ER+VC group according to the random number table, with 6 dogs in each group. Dogs in ER and ER+VC groups were respectively infused with glucose-electrolyte solution (GES) and GES containing 250 mg/kg VC through duodenostomy tube 30 minutes after burn. The infusion rate and volume of GES were in accordance with Parkland formula. Venous blood of dogs was drawn before (0) and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 post burn hours (PBH) to determine the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) in plasma. Dogs were sacrificed at PBH 8 to collect specimens of jejunum tissue for determining the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and assessment of the water ratio of intestinal tissue by dry-wet weight method.

RESULTS50% TBSA burn injury resulted in significant elevation of DAO in every group. The activity of DAO in ER group was obviously higher than that in NR group at PBH 6 and 8 (P < 0.05), but DAO activity in ER+VC group was significantly lower than those in the other two groups after PBH 2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). MDA content, MPO and XOD activity and the water ratio of intestinal tissue [(5.74 +/- 0.51) nmol/mg, (2.08 +/- 0.46) U/g, (58.4 +/- 3.8) U/mg, (81.5 +/- 1.8)%] in ER group at PBH 8 was respectively significantly higher than that in NR group [(5.43 +/- 0.25) nmol/mg, (1.55 +/- 0.21) U/g, (50.1 +/- 2.8) U/mg, (78.3 +/- 1.5)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. While the activity of SOD in ER group (72 +/- 12) U/mg was lower than that in NR group (97 +/- 20) U/mg. MDA content, MPO and XOD activity and water ratio of intestinal tissue in ER+VC group was respectively lower than that in ER group, with activity of SOD in the former group higher than that in the latter group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSVitamin C can alleviate peroxidative damage and tissue edema in gut induced by ischemia and reperfusion, and intestinal complications during oral rehydration during burn shock can be reduced.

Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Burns ; therapy ; Dogs ; Fluid Therapy ; adverse effects ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Shock ; therapy

Objective To study the effect of bromocriptine(BRC) on the activation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin(PHA).Methods After CD4+ T cell line Jurkat E6-1 cells were stimulated by PHA,prolactin(PRL) and BRC,respectively,the expression of linker for activation of T cells(LAT) and zeta-chain T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 000(ZAP-70) mRNA of T lymphocytes were checked by RT-PCR.The expression of PRL mRNA of T lymphocytes was detected by Real time PCR.The expression of CD25(cluster of differentiation) as a marker of early activation on the surface of T lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry,and the activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) was detected by luciferase reporter system.Results 1.BRC inhibited the expression of ZAP-70 as the common signal molecules both in the T lymphocyte activation pathway and PRL-prolactin-prolactin receptor(PRLR) signal transduction pathway,and decreased the expression of PRL mRNA produced by activation T lymphocytes.2.BRC enhanced the expression of LAT mRNA as another important signal molecular on the T lymphocytes and CD25 on the surface of the T lymphocytes.3.The activation of NF-?B of T lymphocytes was decreased.Conclusions BRC might inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes by inhibiting the expression of ZAP-70,the common signal molecules between T lymphocytes activation and PRL-PRL pathway,and PRL mRNA,the like-T lymphocyte growth factor.

Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of interferon(IFN)-?in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),to analyze the relationship between IFN-?and disease activity,and to evaluate the role of IFN-?in the pathogenesis of lupus.Methods SYBR green dyeⅠbased real-time quantatives PCR method was used to compare the mRNA expression levels of IFN-?in the peripheral blood leucocyte of SLE patients and healthy controls.Surum levels of IFN-?were measured with ELISA method.Results IFNA1 mRNA expression level in SLE patients(2.8?3.5)was signifi- cantly lower than that of normal controls(12.7?10.7,P=0.000).There was no significant difference between patients treated with glucocorticoid and those without in the expression level of IFNA1(P=0.549).Serum levels of IFN-?in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls(P=0.003).The SLEDAI score and anti-dsDNA antibody correlated positively,and complement components C3,C4 and leukocytes correlated negatively with serum concentration of IFN-?.IFN-?level correlated with the presence of fever and rash. Conclusion The close relationship between IFN-?serum level and disease activity in SLE patients suggests that IFN-?might be of importance in the disease process.