Objective To investigate the relationship between the white matter fiber connectivity of the anterior commissure (AC) and schizophrenia, and to explore the role of AC connectivity in cognitive functions in first-episode schizophrenia. Methods Twenty-four patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 29 healthy controls underwent diffu-sion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure fractional anisotropy (FA). Fiber tracking was then used to reconstruct the white matter fiber connectivity of AC to examine the white matter integrity. We also analyzed the relationship between AC integ-rity and cognitive function. Results Compared to healthy controls, patients with first-episode schizophrenia had a signifi-cant reduction in mean FA of AC tracts [(0.48±0.07) vs. (0.54±0.05),P=0.002],longer completion time in trail making test(TMT)[TMT_A: (55.19 ± 19.15) vs. (36.61 ± 11.72), P<0.001;TMT_B: (88.84 ± 38.92) vs. (53.75 ± 23.41), P<0.001] and worse performance in logical memory test [immediate logical memory score:(6.12±3.85) vs. (11.69±3.68), P<0.001;delay logical memory score:(3.33±3.16) vs. (9.83±4.15), P<0.001]. In addition, there was negatively correlation of mean FA of AC tracts with TMT_A completion time (r=-0.458, P=0.037) or TMT_B completion time (r=-0.541, P=0.011) in patients with schizophrenia, but not in controls. Conclusion This study supports the disconnection hypothesis of schizo-phrenia. The deficit of AC microstructure integrity may be partly responsible for impaired executive functions in schizo-phrenia, suggesting that the integrity of white matter fiber is an important endophenotype of schizophrenia.

Objective To investigate the application value of magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in auditory pathway of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) infants caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.Methods Thirtyone SNHL infants caused by CMV infections were included,and were divided into bilateral hearing loss (BPHL;n=13) group and unilateral hearing impairment (UPHL;n=18) group (including damaged side [lpsi subgroup] and the undamaged side [contrast subgroup]).Thirty-one infants without hearing loss as control group.The fractional anisotropy (FA),the mean diffusivity (MD),the axial diffusivity (AD) and the radial diffusivity (RD) of bilateral inferior colliculus (IC)and lateral lemniscus (LL) were obtained with DTI technique.The statistical analysis was performed.Results Compared with the control group,the FA value reduced and the RD value increased at LL and IC in the BPHL group (all P＜0.001).Compared with the contrast subgroup,the FA value reduced and the RD value increased at IC and LL in lpsi subgroup (all P＜0.001).Compared with the control group,the FA value reduced at LL in the lpsi subgroup,and FA values reduced and RD value increased at IC (all P＜0.001).Compared with the contrast subgroup,the FA value reduced and RD value increased at LL,and RD value increased at IC in the BPHL group (all P＜0.001).The FA value at IC was negatively correlated with auditory threshold (r=-0.966,P＜0.001).No matter in IC or in LL,the MD and AD had no statistical differences (all P＞0.05).Conclusion White matter of auditory pathway of SNHL infant caused by CMV infection is obviously altered,suggesting white matter myelination or myelin dysplasia.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on hydrogen peroxide-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSprague Dawley rats were orally administered with 10 mL x kg(-1) extracts from Taohong Siwu Tang (1.75 g crude drug), twice a day for three days, in order to prepare medicated serum of Taohong Siwu Tang. The effect of medicated serum pre-treated with Taohong Siwu Tang (with concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%) on reduction of H2O2-induced cell activity was detected MTT. Cell morphological changes were observed under microscope. The effect of medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang on the apoptosis and antioxidant capacity of HUVECs was detected with the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and dehydrogenase (LDH), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and AO/EB staining. The expression of Caspase-3 was determined by western blot.

RESULTCompared with the blank serum control group, cell were significantly less active after being damaged by H2O2 (400 micromol x L(-1)). Medicated serum could significantly improve the SOD activity, reduce the levels of LDH and MDA, and inhibite the expression of Caspase-3. AO/EB staining and inverted microscope also showed that medicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang could reduce cell apoptosis induced by H2O2.

CONCLUSIONMedicated serum prepared with Taohong Siwu Tang has significant protective effect on HUVECs injured by H2O2.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase

This study aims to develop inexpensive and effective experimental vaccines against highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus and to optimize their immunization programs. To this end, we first synthesized the codon-optimized hemagglutinin gene (HAop) and neuraminidase gene (NAop), both of which were derived from a H5N1 virus (Anhui strain), and constructed successfully the DNA vaccines containing a single cistronic construct (HAwt, HAop, or NAop) or a bicistronic construct (HAop/M2 or NAop/M1) of H5N1 influenza virus origin. Their expression was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Then twice vaccination of mice with the DNA vaccines by injection intramuscularly or in vivo electroporation (EP) via two different routes was evaluated and analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, NA-specific antibody detection, micro-neutralizing antibody test and IFN-gamma ELISpot assay. Our results showed that the DNA vaccines with coden-optimized HAop and NAop constructs could quickly elicit a strong immune response by in vivo EP, especially the cellular immune response against HA and NA; the in vivo EP via intradermal route induced stronger humoral immune responses than those via intramuscular route. Our findings will pave a way for further development of novel DNA-based H5N1 vaccine and for the optimization of the immunization programs of DNA vaccine.
Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Codon ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccination ; methods ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Structural Proteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prospective validity and predictive value of cerebral palsy during infancy, using 'Infant Motor Malfunction Profile'.

METHODSItems of motor milestone in the profile was used as the first step to screen cerebral palsy on 8137 infants who were screened at 3, 6, 9, 12 months of age. The positive cases who had one of 7 developmental abnormal motor milestone items were examined using the items of primitive reflexes or postural reaction as the secondary step of cerebral palsy screening. The cases who had at least one abnormal item of primitive reflex or postural reaction received neurological examination by doctors to diagnose cerebral palsy.

RESULTSAccording to our data, sensitivity, specificity, positive prospective value, positive and negative likelihood ratio of the profile in screening cerebral during infancy were 94.1%, 99.8%, 48.5%, 449.6 and 0.06, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe profile seemed to be an acceptable instrument for early identification of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To study the changes of amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in blood oxygenation level dependent functional MRI (BOLD-fMPI) in non-lesional epilepsy (NLE),and discuss its underlying neurophysiological mechanism. Methods The BOLD-fMRI data of 16 patients with NLE and 15 normal volunteers were analyzed by ALFF. The amplitude of the blood oxygenation level dependent activation of the resting state brain was investigated. The brain structures showing increased and decreased ALFF in NLE patients were demonstrated by comparing to normal subjects with 2-sample t-test with threshold of P＜0.05. Results As compared with those in normal subjects,the regions showing increased ALFF in NLE patients were distributed in the right temporal lobe (Montreal Neurological Institute [MNI] coordinates:x=15,y=90,z=21),medial frontal lobe (MNI coordinates:0,24,-24),ventral anterior cingulated (MNI coordinates:-12,30,27) and right cerebellar hemisphere (MNI coordinates:-51,-57,-4); while the regions showing decreased ALFF covered the areas of the left cerebellar hemisphere (MNI coordinates:-48,-15,39),posterior cingulum gyrus (MNI coordinates:60,-21,33) and precuneus (MNI coordinates:-6,-54,66). Conclusion NLE patients show abnormal brain functional organization in resting state; the increased ALFF is considered to be the facilitation such as epileptic activity generation and propagation,while the decreased ALFF might be considered as the functional inhibition in these regions.

Objective: To investigate the dynamic regulation of self-assembled aggregations (SAA) in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction on the permeability of intestinal tissue and the mechanism underlying. Methods: The effects of SAA on berberine (Ber) absorption were respectively analyzed in an in situ intestinal perfusion model and in an Ussing Chamber jejunum model with or without Peyer's patches (PPs). The expression levels of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1 were detected by immunofluorescence to evaluate the tight junction (TJ) between intestinal epithelium cells. The expression levels of T-box-containing protein expressed in T cells, signal transducers and activators of tranion-6, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt and forkhead box P3 in PPs were detected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the secretions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-17 (IL-17) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in PPs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, to reflect the differentiation of T lymphocyte in PPs to helper T (Th) cell 1, Th2, Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cell. To confirm the correlation between SAA in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction, PPs-associated immunity and intestinal epithelium permeability, SAA were administrated on an Ussing Chamber jejunum model with immunosuppressed PPs and evaluated its influences on intestinal tissue permeability and TJ proteins expression. Results: SAA in Coptidis Rhizoma decoction could dose-dependently promote Ber absorption in jejunum segment, with the participation of PPs. The dose-dependent and dynamical regulations of SAA on permeability of intestinal tissue and TJ proteins expression level between intestinal epithelium cells occurred along with the dynamically changed T lymphocyte differentiation and immune effectors secretion in PPs. The administration of SAA on immunosuppressed PPs exhibited dose-dependent PPs activation, inducing dynamic promotion on intestinal tissue permeability and inhibition on TJ proteins expression. Conclusion: SAA can improve the Ber absorption in small intestine, through the PPs-associated immunity induced dynamic regulation on intestinal tissue permeability and TJ proteins expression. These findings might enlighten the research of traditional Chinese medicine decoction.

Objective:To explore the diagnosis, surgical methods and therapeutic effect of primary duodenal malignant tumor.Methods:The clinical data of 116 patients with primary duodenal malignant tumor from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 116 patients, adenocarcinoma was in 74 cases, interstitial tumor was in 25 cases, carcinoid was in 9 cases, the others was in 8 cases. Before operation, duodenoscopy was performed in 107 cases, and CT examination was performed in 76 cases. There were 57 cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy, 15 cases of duodenal segmental resection, 13 cases of subtotal gastrectomy and duodenal bulbar resection, 13 cases of duodenal partial resection, and 18 cases of palliative short circuit operation. The total incidence of postoperative complication was 31.9% (37/116), including pancreatic fistula in 8 cases (grade B 5 cases, grade C 3 cases), biliary fistula in 6 cases, abdominal infection in 5 cases, pulmonary infection in 4 cases, intestinal fistula in 3 cases, delayed gastric emptying in 3 cases, and hemorrhage in 8 cases. Four cases (3.4%) died during the perioperative period. Single factor Cox regression analysis result showed that the postoperative survival time was related to the tumor differentiation degree, operation method, tumor infiltration degree and lymphatic metastasis ( P<0.05 or <0.01); multi-factor Cox regression analysis results showed that the operation method, tumor infiltration degree and lymphatic metastasis were the independent risk factors for the postoperative survival time of patients with primary duodenal malignant tumor ( P<0.05). The patients were followed up until June 2021, and 9 cases were lost to follow-up. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis result showed that the postoperative overall 1-,3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.11%, 57.56% and 33.11%, respectively. Conclusions:Adenocarcinoma is the main primary malignant tumor of duodenum. Duodenoscopy and CT are the main examination methods. Radical resection is the most effective treatment for primary duodenal malignant tumor, and pancreaticoduodenectomy is the first choice. Surgical method, tumor infiltration degree and lymphatic metastasis are the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients.

Objective:To study the prevalence and related factors of apathy in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)． Methods:From November, 2017 to December, 2019, 254 PD patients in our hospital were included. According to Starkstein Apathy Scale (SAS), they were divided into apathy group and non-apathy group. Clinical data such as demographic data, motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms and motor complications were collected for comparison between two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors of apathy in PD. Results:Among 254 PD patients, 124 (48.8%) cases were in apathy. Compared with non-apathy group, apathy group was older in age and age of onset, higher in the scores of Movement Disorder Society United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (MDS-UPDRS Ⅲ), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (t > 2.291, P < 0.05), and lower in the scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (t > 22.424, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in gender, time of education, body mass index (BMI), disease course, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, wearing-off phenomenon, dyskinesia, on-and-off phenomenon, and the scores of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDQ) and Epworth Sleeping Scale (ESS) between two groups (P > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the age of disease onset, MoCA and HAMD scores were correlated with apathy in patients with PD (P < 0.05). Conclusion:The presence of apathy in PD may be associated with older age of disease onset, severity of depression and cognitive impairment.

The ethanol precipitation process of Nauclea officinalis extract was optimized based on the concept of quality by design(QbD). Single factor tests were carried out to determine the levels of test factors. The ethanol volume fraction, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration, and ethanol precipitation time were taken as critical process parameters(CPPs). With the comprehensive scores of strictosamide transfer rate and solid removal rate as the critical quality attributes(CQAs), Box-Behnken design was employed to establish the mathematical models and space design between CPPs and CQAs, and the obtained optimal operating space was validated. The optimal operating space included ethanol volume fraction of 65%-70%, pre-ethanol precipitation drug concentration of 22-27 mg·mL~(-1), and ethanol precipitation time of 12 h. Based on the concept of QbD, this study adopted the design space to optimize the ethanol precipitation process of N. officinalis extract, which provided a reliable theoretical basis for the quality control in the production process of N. officinalis preparations. Moroever, this study provided a reference value for guiding the research and industrial production of traditional Chinese medicines.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Ethanol ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control ; Models, Theoretical