Objective To investigate the role of arcuate fasciculus in conduction aphasia after ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique. Methods Five patients with conduction aphasia after acute ischemic stroke (case group) and 5 patients without aphasia (control group) were selected. The DTI technique was used to detect the fractional anisotropy (FA) of Broca's area, Wernicke's area, and arcuate fasciculus. Results The FA values of Broca's area (0. 341 ± 0. 018 vs. 0. 295 ± 0. 060; t = 4. 533, P = 0. 045), Wernicke's area (0. 303 ± 0. 009 vs. 0. 243 ± 0. 011; t = 6. 556, P = 0. 022), and arcuate fiber bundle (0. 646 ± 0. 020 vs. 0. 541 ± 0. 009; t = 7. 343, P = 0. 018) in the left hemisphere were significantly higher compared with their mirror areas in the control group. The FA values of Broca's area (0. 315 ± 0. 015 vs. 0. 280 ± 0. 006; t = 6. 246, P = 0. 023), Wernicke's area (0. 299 ± 0. 012 vs. 0. 239 ± 0. 022; t = 4. 576, P = 0. 025), and arcuate fiber bundle (0. 226 ± 0. 016 vs. 0. 294 ± 0. 007; t = - 12. 590, P = 0. 006) in the left hemisphere were significantly higher compared with their mirror areas in the case group. There was no significant difference Broca's area (t = 1. 901, P = 0. 13) and Wernicke's area (t =2. 092, P = 0. 105) in the left hemisphere between the case group and the control group, but the FA values of arcuate fasciculus in the left hemisphere in the case group was significantly lower compared with the control group (t = 28. 393, P < 0. 001 ). Conclusions For patients with conduction aphasia after acute ischemic stroke, the arcuate fasciculus has the left-dominant lateralization. Their conduction aphasia may be associated with the reduction and break of the arcuate fasciculus.

Dermatitis, Occupational ; etiology ; Humans ; Trichloroethylene

italic>Psidium guajava Linn. is an evergreen shrub or small tree of Psidium Linnaeus in the Myrtaceae family. One new glycoside (1) together with 3 known meroterpenoids (2-4) and 9 known glycosides (5-13) were isolated from the fruits of Psidium guajava Linn.. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by the spectroscopic data analysis of HR-ESIMS, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and it was named psiguaoside A (1). The known compounds were identified as guajadial (2), 4,5-diepipsidial A (3), psidial A (4), chrysin-8-C-β-D-glucoside (5), 2,6-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethyl-4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-benzophenone (6), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), quercetin-3-O-xyloside (8), guaijaverin (9), avicularin (10), guavinoside E (11), guavinoside B (12), guajaphenone A (13). In the bioactivity assay, compound 3 exhibited significant inhibitory activitiy of U87 with IC₅₀ values of 8.379 μmol·L^-1.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency of blockage of constitutively activated STAT3 signaling by small interfering RNA (siRNA), and to explore the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells (EC9706 and Eca109).

METHODSEC9706 and Eca109 were transfected with chemical synthesized STAT3 siRNA (100 nmol/L). RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect STAT3 mRNA and protein expression, including phosphorylated-STAT3 (p-STAT3) before and after the transfection respectively. The changes of DNA-binding activity and cell proliferation were evaluated by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay and MTT, respectively. Stages of cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSExpression levels of STAT3 mRNA and STAT3, p-STAT3 proteins were progressively inhibited by STAT3 siRNA at various time points after transfection. STAT3-DNA-binding activity was suppressed after transfection evidenced by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. The cell cycle was arrested at G(0)/G(1) phase along with a significant inhibition of cell proliferation after STAT3 siRNA treatment.

CONCLUSIONSTAT3 siRNA specifically and efficiently blocks the constitutively activated STAT3 signaling pathway in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells, resulting in cell cycle arrest and proliferation inhibition.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic characterization of a child with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. METHODS: The proband was subjected to history taking and was diagnosed based on his clinical manifestation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing was carried out to determine the origin of pathogenic variant. RESULTS: The proband unconsciously tilts his head to one side with squint, which revealed an abnormal discharge. MRI indicated suspicious abnormal signal shadow in the left posterior frontal cortex in addition with inflammation signs in the right maxillary sinus and ethmoid sinus. WES revealed that the proband has carried a heterozygous c.5789G>A variant in the CACNAIA gene. The result of Sanger sequencing was in keeping with that of WES. Neither of his parents has carried the same variant. CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.5789G>A variant of the CACNAIA gene probably underlay the early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 42 in the proband, which has a de novo origin.
Calcium Channels/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Mutation ; Spasms, Infantile/genetics* ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVETo explore the neuropsychological characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSNeuropsychological tests, including visual working memory, Stroop test, digits inverse reciting, vocabulary fluency, Wisconsin card sort test (WCST), and Temporal discounting were used to evaluate the capacity of response inhibition, phonological working memory, visual working memory executive function and delayed satisfying capacity of subjects.

RESULTS1. The ADHD children spent longer time [ADHD-I (84(20), ADHD-C: 98 (31), normal: 70 (28)] to accomplish color naming and made more errors [ADHD-I: 3 (3), ADHD-C: 6 (19), normal: 2 (5)] than the normal control when the color was inconsistent with the word meaning in Stroop test (P < 0.01). 2. The scores of digits reciting [ADHD-I: 3 (3), ADHD-C: 3 (4), normal 4 (4)] inverse was lower in ADHD than in normal control (P < 0.01). 3. The representation of ADHD was poorer than normal control in visual working memory [ADHD-I: 21 (3), ADHD-C: 20 (5), Normal: 20 (3)], and in delayed visual memory [ADHD-I: 19 (5), ADHD-C: 19 (5), Normal: 20 (5)] (P < 0.01). 4. The scores of vocabulary fluency [ADHD-I: 1 (1), ADHD-C: 2 (1), normal: 0 (0)] was lower in ADHD than in normal control (P < 0.01). 5. In WCST, the ADHD children made more errors [ADHD-I :15 (17), ADHD-C: 15 (15), normal: 13 (13)] and less classification [ADHD-I: 5 (4), ADHD-C: 5 (4), normal: 5 (3)] than normal control (P < 0.01). 6. In Temporal discounting, the ADHD children showed significantly more impairments than normal control did (P < 0.01). 7. There was significant difference between the two subtype groups on some tests (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSObvious cognitive impairments were found in children with ADHD, involving poor response inhibition, impaired working memory, dysfunction of planning and set-shifting, and there was no significant difference between the two subtype groups.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; classification ; immunology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Child ; Cognition Disorders ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Humans ; Memory ; Memory Disorders ; immunology ; psychology ; Memory, Short-Term ; physiology ; Neuropsychological Tests

OBJECTIVETo research on the main pattern of hepatic cells death during hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury in cirrhotic rat.

METHODSCirrhotic rat model was established by carbon tetrachloride replication. These rats were randomly divided into sham operation group and I/R group. In the I/R group, 70% i/R injury model was established and then the liver samples were taken 0, 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, Na+ - K+ ATPase, and Ca2+ ATPase were compared. the percentage of apoptotic/oncotic hepatic cells was measured with flow cytometry, and the changes in hepatic cellular structures were observed under transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the sham operation group, the levels of serum AST and ALT significantly increased in the I/R group (P < 0.05), reaching their peak levels at the 6th hour. The activities of Na+ - K+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase dramatically decreased one hour after reperfusion and then gradually recovered (P < 0.05). Hepatic cells mainly suffered oncosis at the early stage after reperfusion (within 6 hours); at the late stage (around 24 hours after reperfusion), apoptosis became the main death pattern.

CONCLUSIONOncosis is the main pattern of hepatic cells death during I/R injury in cirrhotic rat, and the severity of hepatic injury correlates with the oncosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in bark of Larix olgensis var. koreana.

METHODThe compounds were isolated with silica gel column chromatography and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (IR, EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as isopimaric acid (I), beta-sitosterol (II), 24R,5alpha-stigmast-3,6-dione (III), larixol (IV), ferulic acid (V), lariciresinol (VI), secroisolariciresinol (VII) and isolariciresinol (VIII).

CONCLUSIONAll the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.

Carboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Larix ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and its target gene products including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Bcl-2 in two human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines for understanding whether STAT3 signaling transduction pathway was constitutively activated in ESCC cell lines.

METHODSWestern blotting was used to determine the protein levels of STAT3, p-STAT3 (activated STAT3), VEGF and Bcl-2 in two ESCC cell lines (EC9706 and Eca109). Nuclear proteins from the ESCC cell lines were extracted to evaluate the DNA-binding activity by electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA). RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA of STAT3, VEGF and Bcl-2.

RESULTSWestern blotting and RT-PCR revealed that STAT3, VEGF and Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were overexpressed in the two ESCC cell lines, which contained constitutively activated STAT3 signaling transduction pathway. The results of EMSA of the nuclear protein showed high DNA-binding activity of STAT3.

CONCLUSIONSTAT3 signaling transduction pathway is constitutively activated in human ESCC cell lines, suggesting that STAT3 may play a critical role in the carcinogenesis of the esophagus.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics