Objective:To observe the activation of cerebral regions during swallowing by magnetoencephalography (MEG), and discuss the temporal and spatial characteristics of neural circuit.Methods:Ten healthy subjects were selected, and the magnetic signals of their brains were recorded using 148 channel full head type MEG system in the magnetic shielding room.Data were analyzed using CURRY8 analysis software and the localization algorithm was based on minimum modulus low resolution electromagnetic imaging method (LORETA). Every 300 ms data were set as an independent analysis stage and made the highest position of the cerebral cortex F-distribution values (F-distributed) as the activation area.The activation areas were analyzed during swallowing through time and space location.Results:Paracentral lobule, anterior central gyrus, medulla oblata, posterior central gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, parietal lobules, angular gyrus, corpus callosum, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, orbital gyrus, thalamus, bottom of third ventricle, corona radiata, precuneus, frontal insula, cerebellopontine angle, superior frontal gyrus and basal ganglia area were activated during swallowing, in which the top eight brain regions were paracentral lobule, anterior central gyrus, corpus callosum, posterior central gyrus, superior parietal lobule, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, and basal ganglia.When the 10 subjects performed the deglutition, MEG signals of 8 subjects were mainly activated by the left cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms, the bilateral cerebral hemisphere or intermediate region at 301-600 ms, and the right cerebral hemisphere at 601-900 ms.MEG signal of 1 subject was activated by the right cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms, and the left cerebral hemisphere at 301-600 ms and 601-900 ms.MEG signal of 1 subject was mainly activated by the right cerebral hemisphere at 0-300 ms and 601-900 ms, and in the intermediate region at 301-600 ms.Conclusion:During swallowing the MEG signals appeared left laterality in the early stage and right laterality in the later stage, and showed a close correlation with time.There may be a swallowing neural circuit composed by the central region, corpus callosum, superior parietal lobule, middle frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus and basal ganglia, in which the central region is the core.

Objective: Currently, parathyroid hormone (PTH) is mainly measured by the second generation intact PTH (iPTH) assay which detects both full-length (1-84)PTH and (7-84)PTH fragments. The third generation whole PTH (wPTH) assay however has turned out to be specific for (1-84) PTH. The aim of this study is to investigate the features of plasma iPTH, (1-84)PTH, (7-84)PTH levels in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD), and evaluate the effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on above markers in severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 90 controls and 233 stage 5 CKD patients, and a prospective follow-up study in 31 severe SHPT patients were conducted. Plasma iPTH and (1-84)PTH levels were measured by the second and third generation assay, respectively. Circulating (7-84)PTH level was calculated by subtracting the (1-84)PTH value from the iPTH value. Results: Plasma levels of iPTH, (1-84)PTH, (7-84)PTH were higher (P<0.01), and (1-84)PTH/iPTH was lower (P<0.01) in stage 5 CKD patients than in controls. For severe SHPT patients with PTX (n=74), plasma iPTH, (1-84)PTH and (7-84)PTH concentrations were significantly increased compared to non-PTX group (n=159) (P<0.01), and the increase of (7-84)PTH level was more striking than (1-84)PTH. Meanwhile, the value of (1-84)PTH/iPTH was decreased (P<0.01). Plasma iPTH level was strongly correlated with (1-84)PTH level (r=0.980, P<0.01) in stage 5 CKD patients. Also, both iPTH and (1-84)PTH levels were positively correlated with serum alkaline phosphatase, dialysis vintage and serum phosphorus (P<0.01). After PTX (median interval of follow-up: 7.1 months), plasma iPTH, (1-84)PTH, (7-84)PTH concentrations were decreased (by 92.9%, 89.7%, 95.8%, P<0.01, respectively) greatly and (1-84)PTH/iPTH was increased (P<0.01). Conclusions In stage 5 CKD patients, plasma iPTH, (1-84)PTH, (7-84)PTH levels are greatly increased while (1-84)PTH/iPTH is decreased, and PTX can significantly improve abnormality of above markers in severe SHPT patients. The second generation PTH assay overestimates the severity of SHPT, and the accurate measurement of (1-84)PTH by the third assays is more conducive to diagnosis and treatment of CKD and SHPT patients.

When facing a sudden danger or aversive condition while engaged in on-going forward motion, animals transiently slow down and make a turn to escape. The neural mechanisms underlying stimulation-induced deceleration in avoidance behavior are largely unknown. Here, we report that in Drosophila larvae, light-induced deceleration was commanded by a continuous neural pathway that included prothoracicotropic hormone neurons, eclosion hormone neurons, and tyrosine decarboxylase 2 motor neurons (the PET pathway). Inhibiting neurons in the PET pathway led to defects in light-avoidance due to insufficient deceleration and head casting. On the other hand, activation of PET pathway neurons specifically caused immediate deceleration in larval locomotion. Our findings reveal a neural substrate for the emergent deceleration response and provide a new understanding of the relationship between behavioral modules in animal avoidance responses.