Objective To retrospectively study the clinical and electrodiagnostic features in subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord (SCD)patients. Methods The clinical and electrodiagnostic recordings of all SCD patients conformed in our Neurology Department from Janu?ary 2013 to July 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Totally 29 patients diagnosed as SCD,whom received no treatment before admitted in our hos?pital,were recruited for the study. Correlation analysis between serum level of vitamin B12(VB12),course of disease and degree of neural lesion was performed,and the electrodiagnostic features were summarized and analyzed. Results The course of disease had significant correlation with the degree of neural lesion(P=0.001),but there was no significant relevance between serum VB12 level and neural damage(P>0.05). Electrodi?agnostic examination revealed:The abnormal rate of motor nerve(15.20%)was lower than that of sensory nerve(42.75%,P<0.001)and the up?per limb nerve(27.1%)was lower than that of lower limb nerve(30.87%,P=0.578). There was no remarkable difference of abnormal rate in all kinds of nerves of motor and sensory nerve(P1=0.320,P2=0.755). In the analysis of the parameters of electromyograph,there was statistical signif?icance of the abnormal rates of compound muscle action potential(CAMP)between each motor nerve(P=0.005). There was statistical signifi?cance of the abnormal rates of CAMP and no function between each sensory nerve(all P<0.001). Conclusion The course of disease has signifi?cant correlation with the degree of neural lesion. Sensory nerve is tended to be betreffend than motor nerve. Phil.always nervous are more likely to be affected than others in motor nerve at CAMP. Tibial nerve is easier to be influenced at CAMP in sensory nerve ,and the lesion is more serious.

Objective To study the correlation between the electrophysiological features and mechanical ventilation and long?term outcome in Guil?lain?Barré syndrome(GBS)patients. Methods Electrophysiological and clinical data were retrospectively collected,and compared between venti?lated and not ventilated patients,as well as among each subtype of GBS. Results Totally 38 GBS patients were included in the study,among which 12(32%)were ventilated. The p/d CMAP ratio of the common peroneal nerve was significantly lower in ventilated group compared to not ventilated group(48.7±15.3 vs 80.8±24.0,P=0.005). AIDP was the most common subtype in ventilated patients compared with AMAN and undetermined (46%vs 0%and 9%,P=0.027). The long?term outcome score of AMAN was significantly lower than AIDP(4.3±1.3 vs 2.5±0.9,P=0.028). Conclusion Electrophysiological testing was predictive for mechanical ventilation and long?term outcome:low p/d CMAP ratio of the common pero?neal nerve was helpful for predicting mechanical ventilation,AIDP was prone to develop respiratory failure and had a worse outcome compared to AMAN.

To examine the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of liver tumors on hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expression in the residual viable tumor, a total of 30 New Zealand White rabbits implanted with VX2 liver tumor were divided into 2 groups. TAE-treated group animals (n=15) were subjected to TAE with 150-250 mum polyvinyl alcohol particles. Control group animals (n=15) underwent sham embolization with distilled water. Six hours, 3 days or 7 days after TAE, the animals were sacrificed, and samples of tumor and adjacent normal liver tissue were harvested. Expression of HIF-1alpha protein was examined immunohistochemically. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the HIF-1alpha mRNA levels. Our results showed that HIF-1alpha protein was expressed in the VX2 tumors but not in the adjacent normal liver tissue. The HIF-1alpha-positive tumor cells were located predominantly at the periphery of necrotic tumor regions. The mean levels of HIF-1alpha protein were significantly higher in TAE-treated tumors than those in control tumors (P=0.002). Among the three sacrificing time points, the difference in increase in HIF-1alpha protein was significant between the two groups at the sacrificing time point of 6 h and 3 days after TAE (P=0.020, P=0.031, respectively), whereas no significant increase was noted 7 days after TAE (P=0.502). In contrast, although HIF-1alpha mRNA was expressed in TAE-treated and control VX2 tumors, there existed no significant difference in the HIF-1alpha mRNA level between the two groups (P=0.372). It is concluded that TAE of liver tumors increases the expression of HIF-1alpha at protein level in the residual viable tumor, which could be attributed to hypoxia generated by the procedure.

In order to investigate the inhibitory effects of all trans-retinoitc acid (ATRA) on differentiation and apoptosis of Walker-256 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the therapeutic effects of ATRA combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on rat Walker-256 transplanted hepatocarcinoma, Walker-256 hepatocarcinoma cell lines were treated with ATRA at different concentrations. After culture for 48 h, the inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay; the changes of Fas and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR, and the expression levels of Caspase3 and Caspase8 proteins were detected by Western blot. Twenty-seven Wistar rat models of hepatocarcinoma were set up successfully by implanting Walker-256 cell lines. The tumor volume at the 11th day after implantation (V(preoperation)) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The 27 rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups, and the therapy scheme was performed as follows: group A (ATRA 0.1 mg+mitomycin 0.05 mL+lipiodol 0.05 mL+gelfoam powder 0.025 mg); group B (mitomycin 0.05 mg+lipiodol 0.05 ml+gelfoam 0.025 mg; group C (0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL). After another 11 days, MRI was performed once again to measure the tumor volume (V(postoperation)). The expression of factor and Ki VIII -67 in the tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that ATRA could suppress proliferation of Walker-256 cell lines. After treatment of Walker-256 cell lines with ATRA, the expression of Fas mRNA was significantly up-regulated and the Bcl-2 mRNA was significantly down-regulated by ATRA at the concentration of 10 mumol/L as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment with 10 mumol/L ATRA for 48 h, the Caspase3 and Caspase8 were significantly activated as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Significant difference existed in growth rate among the three groups (P<0.01) and between either two groups (P<0.05). The expression rate of factor VIII and Ki-67 was gradually increased from group A, group B to group C. The study suggests that ATRA could inhibit the proliferation of Walker-256 cells and the effectiveness of the combined therapy (ATRA+TACE) for treating transplanted hepatoma of rats is superior to that of TACE alone.

Objective To investigated the effect of procyanidin (PC) on the expression of cysteine proteinase -3 (Caspase -3) in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Following the random principle, 40 healthy Sprague - Dawley (SD) rats were numbered sequentially and randomly divided to normal rats with focal cerebral ischemia group,type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia group,PC low/ middle/ high -dose groups,with 8 rats in each group. The type 2 diabetes mellitus - MCAO model was set up. The doses of PC for low,middle and high - dose groups were 50 mg/ kg,100 mg/ kg,200 mg/ kg. Immunohistochemistry method was used to measure the activity of Caspase - 3. Results Compared with that in the normal rats with focal cerebral ischemia group[(11. 42 ±2. 52)],the expression of Caspase -3 increased in the type 2 diabetes with ischemia group[(15. 00 ± 2. 38)](t = 2. 17,P < 0. 01). Compared with that in the type 2 diabetes with ischemia group,the expression of Caspase - 3 decreased in the PC groups[(9. 38 ± 2. 00),(7. 71 ± 1. 55),(6. 96 ± 1. 57)](t = 2. 86,3. 13,3. 36,all P < 0. 01),whereby the middle and high - dose groups showed more significant decrease (t = 1. 92,2. 03,all P <0. 01) and with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(t = 1. 13,P > 0. 05). Conclusion PC can decrease the expression of Caspase - 3 protein in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia, finally may inhibit the apoptosis.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of patients with post-stroke depression (PSD) and study their impact on the quality of life.Methods Fifty-two stroke patients admitted to the First ospital of China Medical University from February 2015 to May 2015 were randomly selected for the study,and these patients did not suffer depression as evaluated by the depression rating scale.Their age,history of diseases,types of diseases,cause of illness,disease area and treatments were collected in detail.These patients were followed up for six month.The mental state was assessed by Hamilton depressive scale (HAMD) and self-rating depressive scale (SDS).The life quality was evaluated by stroke specific quality of life score (SS-QOL) and modified Rankin scale(mRS).These data were selected by stratified sampling method and analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software.Results The incidence of PSD in elder patients (≥ years) was significantly higher than in the younger patients (P ＜ 0.05).Patients with cardiogenic cerebral embolism are more likely to suffer from PSD (P ＜ 0.05).The patients with infarction in different regions have different probability to suffer from PSD.Those patients with cerebral infarction in basal ganglia exhibited more possibility on PSD than others (P ＜ 0.01).Previous disease,including hypertension,diabetes and coronary disease,had no effects on PSD.There were no significant effects of stroke types and thrombolytic therapy on PSD.PSD had an unfavorable effect on the life quality of the patients.Conclusion The patients with cerebral infarction in basal ganglia,aged over sixty and cardiogenic cerebral embolism are prone to PSD,and we should pay more attention to them.PSD has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients.

OBJECTIVEBy explore the role of serum soluble Fas (sFas) in occurrence and progression of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum sFas levels in 40 patients with DEACMP in acute stage and convalescent stage, with 36 healthy elderly subjects as the control group.

RESULTSSerum sFas levels of the patients with DEACMP in both the acute and convalescent stages showed no significant difference from those in the control group (P=0.737 and 0.137, respectively), nor was any significant difference found between the patients in acute and exacerbation stages (P=0.059).

CONCLUSIONSerum sFas is not involved in the occurrence and progression of DEACMP.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Diseases ; etiology ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; blood ; complications ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; fas Receptor ; blood

In order to investigate the inhibitory effects of all trans-retinoitc acid (ATRA) on differentiation and apoptosis of Walker-256 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the therapeutic effects of ATRA combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on rat Walker-256 transplanted hepa-tocarcinoma, Walker-256 hepatocarcinoma cell lines were treated with ATRA at different concentrations. After culture for 48 h, the inhibitory rate of cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay; the changes of Fas and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were determined by RT-PCR, and the expression levels of Caspase3 and Caspase8 proteins were detected by Western blot. Twenty-seven Wistar rat models of hepatocarcinoma were set up successfully by implanting Walker-256 cell lines. The tumor volume at the 11th day after implantation (Vpreoperatioi) was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The 27 rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups, and the therapy scheme was performed as follows: group A (ATRA 0.1 mg+mitomycin 0.05 mL+lipiodol 0.05 mL+gelfoam powder 0.025 mg); group B (mitomycin 0.05 mg+lipiodol 0.05 ml+gelfoam 0.025 mg; group C (0.9% NaCl 0.2 mL). After another 11 days, MRI was performed once again to measure the tumor volume (Vpostoperation)- The expression of factor VIII and Ki-67 in the tumor tissues was detected by immuno-histochemistry. The results showed that ATRA could suppress proliferation of Walker-256 cell lines. After treatment of Walker-256 cell lines with ATRA, the expression of Fas mRNA was significantly up-regulated and the Bcl-2 mRNA was significantly down-regulated by ATRA at the concentration of 10 umol/L as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment with 10 umol/L ATRA for 48 h, the Caspase3 and Caspase8 were significantly activated as compared with the control group (P<0.05). Significant difference existed in growth rate among the three groups (P<0.01) and between either two groups (P<0.05). The expression rate of factor VIII and Ki-67 was gradually increased from group A, group B to group C. The study suggests that ATRA could inhibit the proliferation of Walker-256 cells and the effectiveness of the combined therapy (ATRA+TACE) for treating transplanted hepatoma of rats is superior to that of TACE alone.

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of the extract of fungi of Huaier (EFH) on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.Hep-G2 cells,a human HCC cell line,were cultured in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with EFH of different concentrations (1,2,4,8 mg/mL) for 24,48 and 72 h respectively.The apoptosis rate of the cells was flow cytometrically measured.Thirty-six tumor-bearing New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:group A (control group),in which the rabbits were infused with 0.2 mL/kg normal saline via the hepatic artery;group B (transhepatic artery chemoembolization [TACE] group),in which the rabbits were given lipiodol at 0.2 mL/kg plus MMC at 0.5 mg/kg via the hepatic artery;group C (TACE +EFH group),in which EFH (500 mg/kg) were orally administered after TACE.Two weeks after TACE,the rabbits were sacrificed and the implanted tumors were sampled.The tumor volume and the necrosis rate were determined.The tumor tissues were immunohistochemically detected for the expressions of factor Ⅷ,VEGF,P53,Bax and Bcl-2.The microvessel density (MVD) was calculated by counting the factor Ⅷ-positive endothelial cells.Our results showed that after treatment with EFH,the apoptosis rate of Hep-G2 cells was enhanced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.Two weeks after the treatment,the average tumor volume,the necrosis rate and the growth rate of the implanted tumor in group C were significantly different from those in groups A and B (P<0.05).MVD and VEGF expressions were significantly decreased in the group C when compared with those in groups B (P<0.05 for all).The Bax expression was weakest in group A and strongest in group C.The expressions of P53 and Bcl-2 were minimal in group C and maximal in group A.There were significant differences in the expressions of P53,Bax and Bcl-2 among the 3 groups (P<0.05 for all) and there was significant difference between group B and group C (P<0.05).It was concluded that EFH could suppress not only the growth of HCC cells but also tumor angiogenesis and it can induce the apoptosis of HCC cells.EFH serves as an alternative for the treatment of HCC.

To examine the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of liver tumors on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression in the residual viable tumor,a total of 30 New Zealand White rabbits implanted with VX2 liver tumor were divided into 2 groups. TAE-treated group animals (n=15) were subjected to TAE with 150-250 μm polyvinyl alcohol particles. Control group animals (n=15) underwent sham embolization with distilled water. Six hours,3 days or 7 days after TAE,the animals were sacrificed,and samples of tumor and adjacent normal liver tissue were harvested. Expression of HIF-1α protein was examined immunohistochemically. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the HIF-1α mRNA levels. Our results showed that HIF-1α protein was expressed in the VX2 tumors but not in the adjacent normal liver tissue. The HIF-1α-positive tumor cells were located predominantly at the periphery of necrotic tumor regions. The mean levels of HIF-1α protein were significantly higher in TAE-treated tumors than those in control tumors (P=0.002). Among the three sacrificing time points,the difference in increase in HIF-1α protein was significant between the two groups at the sacrificing time point of 6 h and 3 days after TAE (P=0.020,P=0.031,respectively),whereas no significant increase was noted 7 days after TAE (P=0.502). In contrast,although HIF-1α mRNA was expressed in TAE-treated and control VX2 tumors,there existed no significant difference in the HIF-1α mRNA level between the two groups (P=0.372). It is concluded that TAE of liver tumors increases the expression of HIF-1α at protein level in the residual viable tumor,which could be attributed to hypoxia generated by the procedure.