Objective: To investigate the mechanism of capsaicin in treating active psoriasis vulgaris. Methods: A total of 42 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris diagnosed by histology and clinical features were given either placebo or 0.025% capsaicin ointment four times daily for 30 days randomly by double-blind method. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor 1 (VIPR1) gene translation in active psoriatic lesions before and after treatment with capsaicin ointment was detected by in situ hybridization. Results: There was positive staining of VIPR1 gene in all the layers of psoriatic epidermis (95.5%) before the treatment with capsaicin ointment, but nearly no dyeing in epidermis (18.2%) after the treatment for 30 days. There was nearly no brown staining before and after treatment in control group. Conclusion: VIPR1 gene translation in psoriatic epidermis is down-regulated after capsaicin treatment for 30 days.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of capsaicin in treating active psoriasis vulgaris. Methods: A total of 42 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris diagnosed by histology and clinical features were given either placebo or 0.025% capsaicin ointment four times daily for 30 days randomly by double-blind method. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor 1 (VIPR1) gene translation in active psoriatic lesions before and after treatment with capsaicin ointment was detected by in situ hybridization. Results: There was positive staining of VIPR1 gene in all the layers of psoriatic epidermis (95.5%) before the treatment with capsaicin ointment, but nearly no dyeing in epidermis (18.2%) after the treatment for 30 days. There was nearly no brown staining before and after treatment in control group. Conclusion: VIPR1 gene translation in psoriatic epidermis is down-regulated after capsaicin treatment for 30 days.

Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is synthesized and secreted by the anterior pituitary, which binds to its receptors expressed on the membrane of Sertoli cells in the testis to bring about spermatogenesis. With the development of DNA sequencing technology, FSH SNPs rs10835638 and FSHR SNPs rs6165, rs6166, and rs1394205 were detected, which might directly affect the expression of FSH and activity of FSHR, resulting in male spermatogenic dysfunction. This review focuses on the relationship of FSH and FSHR gene polymorphisms with male infertility.
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; genetics ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis

Objective To provide a practicable method for the complete display and localization of the posterolateral structures (PLS) of the normal knee through MRI study. Methods 30 tibial bone specimens were observed to establish the bony landmark for localizing the knee. In 50 cadaver knees, the angles between lateral tibial plateau and the long axis of the individual structure of PLS were measured. Then the scan methods of the oblique MR images were determined based on above results. The routine and oblique scans of T 1WI were performed in 40 normal knees. The display effect and appearance of the PLS were observed on MRI. Results The lateral tibial plateau was a stable bony landmark for measuring and localizing of the knee. In the 40 normal knees, The fibular collateral ligament could be intactly displayed on 70? posterior coronal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). The popliteus could be better seen on either 45? medial sagittal oblique in 34 cases (85%) or 60? posterior coronal oblique planes in 36 cases (90%). The popliteofibular ligament could be intactly appreciated on both 60? posterior coronal oblique in 32 cases (80%) and 70? lateral sagittal oblique images in 34 cases (85%). Although the arcuate ligament and the fabellofibular ligament could occasionally be seen on routine and oblique images, but the display rate was lower. Conclusion The oblique MR imaging can intactly display the main structures of PLS, and can be useful in diagnosing the injuries in those structures.

BACKGROUNDDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a noninvasive imaging technique for the assessment of the integrity of cerebral tissues. This study was undertaken to assess the changes of diffusion indices of hippocampal formation (HF) in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).

METHODSFourteen patients with MTLE and 14 healthy subjects were evaluated. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) from the symmetrical-voxel sampling regions of the anterior HF were calculated in all subjects. The MD and FA values were compared across the groups.

RESULTSNo significant differences of MD and FA values were noted between right and left HF in the controls. In the patient group, MD significantly increased in the HF ipsilateral to the lesioned side [(9.27 +/- 1.09) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s], compared with the values in the contralateral HF [(8.20 +/- 0.59) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s] (t = 4.479, P = 0.001) and healthy subjects [(7.58 +/- 0.51) x 10(-4) mm(2)/s] (P < 0.001), but no significant differences were found in FA. When compared with the controls, patients had a significantly higher MD in the contralateral HF (P < 0.05), but the difference in FA was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSDTI could detect hippocampal abnormality in patients with MTLE. This technique may be helpful for preoperative evaluation of such patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anisotropy ; Child ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo review the applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in assessing treatment response to gamma knife radiosurgery for brain tumors.

DATA SOURCESPublished articles about assessing treatment response to gamma knife radiosurgery for brain tumors were selected using PubMed. The search terms were "MRI", "gamma knife" and "brain tumors".

STUDY SELECTIONArticles regarding the MRI techniques using for early assessment of treatment response of gamma knife were selected.

RESULTSMRI techniques, especially diffusion weighted imaging, perfusion weighted imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, are useful for early assessment of treatment response of gamma knife by detecting the hemodynamic, metabolic, and cellular alterations. Moreover, they can also provide important information on prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSDiffusion weighted imaging, perfusion weighted imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy can provide early assessment of treatment response of gamma knife for brain tumors, and also information of tumor progression or recurrence earlier than conventional MRI. But there are still many questions to be answered which should be based on the development and advancement of MRI and related disciplines.

Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Radiosurgery

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the impact of non-dilated coronary artery wall lesion on myocardial perfusion.

METHODSDoppler tissue image (DTI) was used to measure regional ventricular wall motion in 43 Kawasaki children with non-dilated coronary arterial wall echocardiographic abnormalities (rough intima and arterial wall thickening) detected by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) at acute phase. A total of 31 cases who had both non-dilated coronary lesion and lowered ventricular wall motion velocity at subacute and convalescence phase underwent submaximal exercise single photon emitting computerized tomography (SPECT) for the evaluation of myocardial perfusion.

RESULTSIn 43 cases of Kawasaki disease with non-dilated coronary arterial wall abnormalities, 36 cases (83.7%) still had such lesions at subacute phase and 32 (74.4%)at convalescence. At the same time, lowered regional ventricular wall motion (RVWM) was found in 34 cases at subacute phase and in 31 cases at convalescence. DTI and 2DE had a very good correlation in the detection of such abnormalities (chi(c)2 = 9.64, P < 0.01 in subacute period, and chi(c)2 = 7.14, P < 0.01 in convalescence). In 31 cases accepting SPECT, 17 were positive. A total of 22 ischemic regions were detected. Eighteen out of 22 cases having ischemic regions had abnormal RVWM on DTI. SPECT ischemic regions were significantly in accordance with lowered RVWM in ventricular septum and anterior wall (chi(c)2=5.07 and 7.48, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) noted in DTI.

CONCLUSIONNon-dilated coronary arterial wall abnormality is one of the forms of coronary artery wall lesions which could reduce myocardial flow perfusion. Its clinical significance is worthy of attention.

Child ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Myocardial Perfusion Imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Ventricular Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy on Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSFifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operation group, a model group, a Fengfu-Taichong group and a Shuanggu Yitong group. PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-Hydroxyl-Dopamine into right corpora striata, and by microinjection of normal saline in sham-operation group. Rats in normal group, sham-operation group and model group were not treated. In Fengfu-Taichong group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) on the basis of the PD model, and by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16), "Taichong" (LR 3), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in Shuanggu Yitong group, once daily for 2 weeks. GDNF and Ret expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe number of GDNF positive cells and the content of Ret receptor increased significantly in the two electroacupuncture groups compared with those in the other groups (all P < 0.01), and the expression of GDNF increased significantly in Shuanggu Yitong group compared with that in Fengfu-Taichong group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can not only increase the expression of GDNF, but also enhance its effect. "Shuanggu Yitong" method is better than simple acupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in increasing expression of GDNF.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Gene Expression ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar