Adolescent ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Radiography

Objective To investigate the effect of catalpol from Radix Rehmanniae on A?25-35-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells.Methods PC12 cells were routinely cultivated and treated by A?25-35(final concentration,20 ?mol/L) 24 hours after the addition of catalpol or saline.Forty-eight hours later,cells were examined for viability and apoptosis by MTT method and TUNEL method,respectively,while Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were analyzed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. Results Catalpol could significantly elevate the viability at 1?10-5 mol/L and 1?10-4 mol/L(P

A 52-year-old female patient with Hashimoto encephalopathy was admitted to hospital for clinical treatment, and the findings on MR spectroscopy (MRS) and MR imaging (MRI) in the brain were reported. MRS revealed the decreases in N-acetylaspartate (NAA/Cr=1.19) and myo-inositol peaks, and the elevations in lipid, lactate, glutamate/glutamine multiplet and choline (Cho/Cr=1.21) peaks which supported a cerebral inflammatory change, in addition to multifocal hyperintensities on T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, slight hyperintensities on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), hypointensities on T1WI. The atrophy of the brain was revealed on follow-up MRI two years later.
Brain Diseases ; diagnosis ; Encephalitis ; Female ; Hashimoto Disease ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Naoyikang (NYK) on expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in brain of rats with Alzheimer' s disease (AD).

METHODBilateral infusions of Ibotenic acid (IBO) into nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) using hamilton syringe and stereotaxic apparatus were adopted to establish the rat model of AD. After intragastrically administrated with different solution for 28 days, immunohistochemistry and Western-blot were adopted to study the expression of ChAT in frontal cortex of AD rats.

RESULTNYK could improve the morphology and increase the number of ChAT immunoreactive neurons, and significantly promote ChAT protein expression.

CONCLUSIONNYK may be able to increase the synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) through elevating the expression of ChAT protein, thus improving the level of brain ACh so as to protect central cholinergic neurons.

Alzheimer Disease ; enzymology ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To explore the forensic pathological features of death caused by anaphylactic shock. METHODS: One hundred and forty-two death cases of anaphylactic shock were retrospectively analyzed. The IgE level in the serum of anaphylactic shock cases were statistically compared with that of 62 non-anaphylactic shock cases. RESULTS: Most cases (77.46%) of anaphylactic shock death occurred in the medical institutes, with intravenous drug administration accounting for 53.53% of anaphylactic shock death. β-Lactam antibiotics, glucocorticoid and herbal medications were responsible for a significant proportion of such cases. Although characteristic histopathological changes were absent in vast majority of these anaphylactic shock cases, the differences of IgE levels in the serum between anaphylactic shock group and non-anaphylactic shock group were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Combined information including clinical data, autopsy results, IgE level, and other specific test results should be evaluated together in the forensic pathological diagnosis of anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylaxis ; Autopsy ; Cause of Death ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum

BACKGROUNDAngiostrongyliasis cantonensis is a worldwide-existing parasitic disease. However, the relevant reports on its radiological appearances are limited. In this study, we investigated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in a group of consecutive patients caused by human infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis after eating freshwater snails.

METHODSWe performed brain MR imaging on 74 patients with angiostrongyliasis cantonensis. The scanner was a 0.5T unit. For each patient MR pulse sequences of SE T1-weighted image (T1WI) and FSE T2-weighted image (T2WI) were used. After intravenous administration of gadolinium chelate (Gd-DTPA) repeated T1-weighted images were obtained. MRI features of the lesions in the brain and meninges were analyzed and recorded after observing initial and follow-up MR images. The classification of the types of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis infection was done on the basis of locations of the disorders.

RESULTSForty-one (55%) normal and 33 (45%) abnormal MRI appearances in the brain were found. According to locations of the disorders, the types of angiostrongyliasis cantonensis infection were determined as follows: seventeen cases of type meningitis, three of type myeloencephalitis, one of type neuritis and twelve of mixed type (eight of type ventriculitis and five of type pneumonitis were among them). In type meningitis, abnormal leptomeningeal enhancement was visualized. In type myeloencephalitis, lesions in the brain parenchyma may have iso- or slightly low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Enhanced nodules in various shapes were shown on gadolinium-enhanced T1WI, a few lesions appeared as crescent enhancements and some lesions did not reveal abnormal enhancement. Other than brain lesions, an enhanced nodule was seen in the cervical spinal cord in one patient. In type ventriculitis, brain ventricular enlargement was demonstrated. In type neuritis, a nodule and abnormal enhancement in the right optic nerve was revealed. In type pneumonitis, patchy ground-glass opacity and consolidative lesions at the periphery of the lungs were seen. Follow-up results indicated that most lesions in the brain could resolve in 2 to 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSAngiostrongyliasis cantonensis presented as both single type and mixed type. Nodular enhancing lesions in the brain and/or linear enhancement in the leptomeninges were the main findings, while crescent enhancement would be the characteristic sign of the disease on gadolinium-enhanced T1WI. Focal edematous changes without contrast enhancement in the brain could be seen on MRI in some cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; Animals ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Meningoencephalitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Middle Aged ; Snails ; parasitology ; Strongylida Infections ; complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the treatment of anterior decompression and reconstruction for burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury and to evaluate the therapeutic effect.

METHODSThirty-four patients suffering from burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury (male 22 and female 12, aged from 20 to 63,with an average of 40.5 years) were treated by anterior decompression and reconstruction from May 2001 to October 2006. Operative duration, bleeding and the neurological function of patients were recorded.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 3 to 60 months and the average time was 24.5 months. Operative duration was (178 +/- 65) min. The volume of bleeding was (1 750 +/- 950) ml and the volume of autotransfusion was (950 +/- 750) ml. Cobb angle were corrected from 27.0 degrees +/- 6.5 degrees to 3.0 degrees +/- 1.5 degrees. All fractures obtained fusion. No failure of internal fixation and formation of false joint happened.

CONCLUSIONThe technique of anterior decompression and reconstruction for burst thoracolumbar fractures with anterior and median column injury is effective, with which the decompression and reconstruction of the spinal stability can be performed under direct vision at one stage, and the sagittal alignment can be corrected at the same time. The procedure will be more smoothly by the application of the intraoperative autotransfusion.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo discuss the origin of occupational stress among petrochemical industry workers and to access the main occupational stressors that impact job satisfaction and mental health of petrochemical industry workers.

METHODSA survey on occupational stressor was carried out by Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI) in 532 petrochemical industry workers (345 chemical and 187 logistic workers).

RESULTSThe environment in workplace of chemical group was worse than that of contrast. The chemical workers had less control over job and they experienced more hazards, monotonous as well as role stressors than the logistic group. The scores of job satisfaction and mental health of chemical group (36.867 +/- 0.656, 43.734 +/- 0.542, respectively) were higher than that of contrast (40.321 +/- 0.901, 46.714 +/- 0.745, respectively) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe occupational stressors exist in chemical workers which affect chemical workers' job satisfaction and mental health with different levels.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Burnout, Professional ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Petroleum ; Regression Analysis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDTakayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare inflammatory arteriopathy of unknown etiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic susceptibility to TA in a Chinese population.

METHODSFour single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) those locate in the IL12B region (rs56167332), the MLX region (rs665268), the FCGR2A/FCGR3A locus (rs10919543), and the HLA-B/MICA locus (rs12524487), associated with TA in different population, were genotyped in 123 Chinese TA patients and 147 healthy controls from January 2013 to August 2014. A Chi-square test was used to test for genotype/allele frequencies variants.

RESULTSAmong the four SNPs, rs10919543 was found to be significantly associated with TA in the studied population. The GG genotype of rs10919543 at the FCGR2A/FCGR3A locus is a high risk factor (odds ratio [OR] = 6.532, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.402 - 17.763, P < 0.001) for TA. Among TA patients, the level of eosinophil granulocytes (Eos) in the peripheral blood was observed to be higher in the GG group of rs10919543 (n = 23, Eos = 0.11 [0.08, 0.17] ×109/L) than the GA + AA group (n = 100, Eos = 0.08 [0.05, 0.13] ×109/L, P = 0.028). No correlation between the genotypes of the other three SNPs and TA patients was observed.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings revealed unique genetic pattern in Chinese TA patients that may be partly responsible for the higher risk of TA in this population. FCGR2A/FCGR3A-related immune disorder might contribute to the etiology of TA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics ; Takayasu Arteritis ; etiology ; genetics

NSCL/P is a common congenital defect and gene-environmental factors involve in this disorder. Periconceptional intake of folate may reduce the risk of NSCL/P. The present study investigated three SNPs (rs1801198, rs955516, and rs3733890) in three folate pathway genes, including TCN2, MTR, and BHMT among 481 patients and 558 healthy subjects. Rs955516 showed allelic association with NSCL/P. More patients carry rs955516 AA and rs3733890 AA genotypes. The gene-gene interaction test showed trans-phase combination effects for MTR and BHMT genes. Our study suggests that the interaction of MTR and BHMT genes play a vital role in the pathogenesis of NSCL/P in Chinese population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain ; abnormalities ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cleft Lip ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Female ; Folic Acid ; metabolism ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult