Cardiovascular Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans

Eustachian Tube ; surgery ; Foreign Bodies ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)), and explore its mechanisms.

METHODSThe rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl(3) solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl(3) solution, respectively. Their abilities of spatial learning and memory were tested by Morris water maze, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in serum was assayed with chemical method, the AChE expression in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and then quantitative analysis was done by BI 2000 image analysis system.

RESULTSLearning and memory deficit of rats could be induced by AlCl(3) solution (P < 0.01), and AChE expressions in rats hippocampus were increased (P < 0.01); GbE ameliorated learning and memory deficit and reduced AChE expression in rats hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner, while GbE significantly increased serum AChE activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg each day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGbE can ameliorate learning and memory deficit induced by AlCl(3), which may be due to its inhibition of the AChE expression in hippocampus.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Structures ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reaction Time

The present study was carried out to determine the role of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the generation and modulation of basic respiratory rhythm. Neonatal (aged 0-3 d) Sprague-Dawley rats of either sex were used. The medulla oblongata slice was prepared and the surgical procedure was performed in the modified Kreb's solution (MKS) with continuous carbogen (95% O2 and 5% CO2), and ended in 3 min. In cold MKS, a 600-700 microm single transverse slice was cut, which was rostral to the edge of area postrema and retained the hypoglossal nerve roots and some parts of the ventral respiratory group. The preparation was quickly transferred to a recording chamber and continuously perfused with carbogen-saturated MKS at a rate of 4-6 mL/min at 27-29 degrees C. Glass adsorb-electrodes containing Ag-AgCl needle were attached to the ventral roots of the hypoglossal nerve. Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) of the rootlets of hypoglossal nerve was recorded. Ten medulla oblongata slice preparations were divided into two groups. In group I, 5-HT(1A) receptor specific agonist (+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)tetralin hydrobromide (8-OHDPAT, 20 micromol/L) was added into the perfusion solution for 10 min first, after washing out, the 5-HT(1A) antagonist [4-iodo-N-[2-[4-methoxyphenyl]-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridynyl-benzamide hydrochloride] (PMPPI, 10 micromol/L) was applied to the perfusion solution for 10 min. In group II, after application of 8-OHDPAT for 10 min, additional PMPPI was added into the perfusion solution for 10 min. The discharges of the rootlets of hypoglossal nerve were recorded. Signals were amplified and band-pass filtered (100-3.3 kHz). Data were sampled (1-10 kHz) and stored in the computer via BL-420 biological signal processing system. Our results showed that 8-OHDPAT increased the respiratory cycle (RC) and expiratory time (TE) as well as reduced the integral amplitude (IA), but the changes of the inspiratory time (TI) were not statistically significant. PMPPI induced a significant decrease in RC, TE and TI, but the changes of IA were not statistically significant. The effect of 8-OHDPAT on the respiratory rhythm was partially reversed by additional application of PMPPI. Taken together with previous results, 5-HT(1A) receptors may play an important role in the modulation of RRDA in the medulla oblongata slice preparation of neonatal rats.
8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A ; physiology ; Respiration

Imaging objects are spatially encoded by gradient magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging systems. The eddy current caused by rapid switches of gradient fields will result in artifacts in the images. A method of eddy current compensation based on pre-emphasis of gradient current is presented in this thesis. The compensation parameters are acquired rapidly utilizing Faraday's induction theorem and data fitting method. The experiments prove that the method is efficient for reduction of the debugging time and for the improvement of the image quality.
Artifacts ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the antiviral efficacy of Ganneng Dripping Pill (GDP) in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSEighty-four patients of chronic hepatitis B with positive HBV-DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg were randomly assigned to 2 groups, the treated group (56 patients) treated with GDP and the control group (28 patients) treated with lamivudine. The therapeutic course for both groups was 6 months. The negative conversion rate of HBeAg and HBV-DNA, changes of liver function, symptoms and physical signs in patients were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn the treated group, the negative conversion rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg was 54.0% (27/50) and 30.0% (15/50) respectively, and the ALT normalizing rate was 80.0% (40/50), while those were 67.86% (19/28), 21.8% (6/28) and 75.0% (21/28) respectively in the control group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). However, the AST normalizing rate was 97.96% (48/49) in the treated group, higher than that in the control group (48.0%, 12/25, P < 0.01); and the clinical symptoms, especially the poor appetite, lassitude, gastric distention and yellow urine, were improved more significantly in the treated group than those in the control group (P <0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGDP has a favorable short-term effect on chronic hepatitis B, it could effectively inhibit HBV replication and improve the liver function, symptoms and signs in patients.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Objective To study the gene mutation of a Chinese family with Alport syndrome and to perform preimplantation genetic diagnosis before embryo implantation.Methods Next generation sequence analysis was done for checking COL4A3,COL4A4 and COL4A5 genes in the Alport syndrome family members.Array comparative genomic hybridization(CGH) was used to detect the embryos.Results A mutation c.2605G ＞ A was found and identified in COL4A5 gene of all of the Alport syndrome patients in the family,but COL4A3 and COL4A3 genes were normal in all of the detected people.After searching for the mutation database,the mutation c.2605G ＞ A of COL4A5 gene was related to the X-linked dominant Alport syndrome.Three embryos were detected by using the preimplantation genetic diagnosis.Among these embryos,there were two male and one female.One of the male embryos was chromosomal aneuploidy,which was 45,XY,-16 and the other was normal.This normal embryo was implanted,and after 20 weeks the prenatal amniocentesis diagnosis approved that the fetus was normal.Conclusions The mutation of COL4A5 gene (c.2605 G ＞ A) is the cause of Alport syndrome in this family,which indicates that next generation sequence analysis proves to be an accurate and rapid method to detect Alport syndrome disease.Meanwhile array CGH can be used to reduce birth rates as a useful preimplantation genetic diagnosis method.

Combining the speed of two-dimensional detection with the precision of three-dimensional detection, an automatic algorithm based on high resolution CT images is proposed to identify nodules in this paper. Nodule candidates are extracted by a two-dimensional convergence index (CI) filter, then a three-dimensional Hessian matrix detection filter is introduced to reduce false positive lung nodules, Experiments show that the algorithm is effective with a sensitivity of 90% and the false positive lung nodules per slice is 0.33.
Algorithms ; False Positive Reactions ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Background Central corneal thickness (CCT)is an important parameter to evaluate corneal healthy status and is crucial for surgical planning.However,clinical study found that the center of cornea does not correspond to the thinnest point of cornea.Thus,it is essential to characterize the minimum corneal thickness(MCT) and its location.Objective Present study was to determine the thickness and location of MCT and its relationship to the fellow eye using Pentacam High Resolution technique.Methods The 564 eyes from 282 Chinese myopic patients were reviewed in this study.The CCT,MCT,pupillary central corneal thickness(PCT) and x-y coordinate of thinnest point were bilaterally measured.Written informed consent was obtained prior to the ocular biomedical measurement.Results CCT was (540.07±31.78) μm in the right eyes and (539.24±31.06) μm in the lefi eyes; PCT was (540.25±30.75)μm in the right eyes and (539.48±31.00)μm in the left eyes.MCT was (537.87± 31.91)μm in the right eyes and (536.35±31.24)μm in the left eyes,showing significant differences in all the parameters between the right eyes and left eyes expect for PCT(CCT:P=0.046;PCT:P=0.065 ;MCT:P=0.000).The C CT,PCT and M CT were significantly correlated between the right eyes and left eyes (r =0.97,0.97,0.98,P＜ 0.01).Bland-Altman plot showed a good consistence between the both eyes.The mean distance from the center was (0.50±0.21) mm in the right eyes and (0.56±0.22)mm in the left eyes,showing a significant difference (P =0.000).The difference between CCT and MCT was approximately (2.20±1.74)μm in the right eyes and (2.88±1.75) μm in the left eyes.The location of MCT in both the right eyes and left eyes tended to symmetry along the vertical midline.The distance between the R (x,y) to transformed L (x,y) was (0.29 ± 0.17)mm and the angular distance was (28.28±28.21)degree.Conclusions This study offers a range of MCT and its location in Chinese myopic patients.The difference exists between the CCT and MCT in bilateral eyes.The location of the thinnest point tends to be symmetrical along the vertical midline between the both eyes.The changes of these parameters may be helpful for the diagnosis of some corneal diseases.