Objective To demonstrate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS)plaques,periplaque white matter regions and normal appearing white matter (NAWM)regions in patients with MS,and to evaluate the clinical values of DTI and three-dimensional brain fiber tracking for the diagnosis of MS.Methods Conventional MRI and DTI were performed in 32 patients with MS and 32 age-matched control subjects.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)maps were generated and coregistered with T_2-weighted MR images,FA and ADC values were calculated in regions of interest in plaques,periplaque white matter regions,NAWM regions and white matter regions in control subjects.And three-dimensional brain fiber tracking maps were generated by using the DTI.Results TheADCwas(1.233?0.119)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in MS plaques,(0.973?0.098)?10~(-3) mm~2/s in periplaque white matter regions,(0.748?0.089)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in NAWM,and(0.620? 0.094)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in control subjects.The FA was 0.225?0.052 in MS plaques,0.311?0.050 in perip]aque white matter regions,0.421?0.070 in NAWM,and 0.476?0.069 in control subjects. Significant differences in FA and ADC values were observed among all white matter regions(P

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genes, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of Cinnamaldehyde in combination with Voriconazole (VRC) against clinically isolated Aspergillus fumigatus strains. Methods According to the Clinical and Laboratory Stan?dards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 document,the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Cinnamaldehyde and VRC alone or in combination against 42 clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolates were determined by both microdillution method and check?board method respectively. The MIC50, MIC90, MICG and MICs distribution were compared between single drug and both in combination. The concentration-accumulative curve was drawn and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) was cal?culated to evaluate the interaction between two test agents. Results The values of MIC50, MIC90 and MICG were significant?ly decreased (P<0.001) when combination of the two drugs than those of their single use, with their MIC distribution concen?tration-accumulative curves shifted to the left. The value of FICI of Cinnamaldehye-VRC combination ranged from 0.187 5 to 1.5. Sixteen strains (38.10%) of them showed the synergistic effect, 19 strains (45.23%) showed additive effect, and 7 strains (16.67%) showed an unrelated effect, and no antagonist effect on tested Aspergillus fumigatus strains in vitro. Conclu?sion Cinnamaldehye in combination with VRC mainly shows a combined synergic and additive inhibitory effect on Asper?gillus fumigatus isolates, and this combination appears to be more active against the test strains, which are less susceptible to voriconazole.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric influence of pure carbon fiber treatment tabletop of Elekta Precise new linear accelerator in radiotherapy.Methods Surface-axis distance (SAD) technology was employed for the measurement.Two groups of fields were set and both of them were SAD opposed portals ( one of them went through the tabletop,while the other did not).A PTW electrometer and a 0.6 cm3 Farmer ionization chamber were utilized for comparison measurement.Then dose attenuation of the main table board,extended body board,the extended board for head,neck and shoulders,and the joints of these boards were calculated.Results Under the energy of 6 MV,the dose attenuations of the following locations were:1.4％ - 7.2％ at the main treatment table board; 2.8％ - 38.7％,1.4％ -30.1％,1.5％ -20.8％ and 1.4％ - 11.2％,respectively at distances of 1,4,7 and 8 cm from the joint of the main table board ;0.5％ - 5.0％ at the extended body board; 4.7％ - 15.4％ at distance of 1cm from the joint of the extended body board; 0.5％ -3.3％ at the neck position of the extended board for head,neck and shoulders; 5.3％ - 16.7％ at the shoulder positions; and 6.8％ -30.4％ at the joint between the extended boards and the main table board.Conclusions The dose attenuations of the new linear accelerator pure carbon fiber treatment tabletop vary at different locations. Considerable higher attenuations are observed at the table board joints than other locations.

OBJECTIVETo search for the optimal strategies for sperm collection from the patient with temporary penile erectile dysfunction (ED) on the day of oocyte pick-up ( OPU) in in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 93 cases of temporary ED on the OPU day of IVF-ET from January 2011 to May 2014, with fresh semen for 45 cases (group A), cryopreserved sperm before oocyte retrieval for 30 cases (group B), and frozen oocytes for 18 cases (group C). Group A was again subdivided into A1 (n = 18) and A2 n = 27) , the former intervened with oral sildenafil while the latter left untreated. We compared the rates of fertilization, high-quality embryo, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found among groups A, B and C in the age of the males and females, duration of infertility, numbers of obtained and mature oocytes, and rates of cleavage, or in the percentages of normal fertilization (80.78% vs 80.43% vs 84.77%), high-quality embryo (53.27% vs 52.97% vs 47.69%) and pregnancy (60.00% vs 56.77% vs 44.44%) (all P > 0.05). The rate of 3PN was markedly lower in group C (0.63%) than in A (9. 61%) and B (4.34%) (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups A1 and A2 in the age of the males and females, duration of infertility, numbers of obtained and mature oocytes, and the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, and pregnancy (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the OPU day of IVF-ET, oral sildenafil can help temporary ED men to achieve penile erection and ejaculation without affecting the outcomes of assisted reproduction. Cryopreserved sperm can be used in case of predicted temporary ED and frozen oocytes can also be employed if sperm retrieval fails. However, to avoid puncture injury to the epididymis or testis, fresh semen should be the first choice.

Cryopreservation ; Embryo Transfer ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Penis ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sildenafil Citrate ; therapeutic use ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVE To explore the valuable information for studying human nasal mucociliary transport system by measuring the nasal ciliary beat frequency(CBF)in vitro.METHODS CBF of cultured human nasal epithelial cells was measured by highspeed digital microscopy in HBSS.RESULTS CBF of nasal epithelial cells from inferior turbinate and uncinate process of same patient has no significant difference in vitro(t=-0.087,P=0.931).CBF of normal mucosa and uncinate process from patients of sinusitis has no significant difference in vitro(t=0.419,P=0.678).CONCLUSION CBF of nasal mucosa of sinusitis can replace the CBF of normal nasal mucosa in vitro for for nasal ciliary movement studying.Because the mucosa of uncinate process is easier to obtain,it can replace the mucosa of inferior turbinate for cell culture in vitro.

Asian People/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the concentration of teeth DNA extracted by three different pretreatment methods and to explore a simple, economical and practical pretreatment method with high concentration of extracted DNA from teeth. METHODS: A total number of 21 molars were collected from 7 corpses. The pretreatment of 3 molars from each individual was randomly performed by tooth crumb method, ball-milling method and liquid nitrogen milling method and 50 mg tooth crumb was weight and DNA was extracted by AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system. Subsequently, the concentration of DNA and corresponding STR genotyping of three methods were compared. RESULTS: The DNA concentration extracted by tooth crumb method, ball-milling method and liquid nitrogen milling method was 0.055 6-1.989 1 ng/μL, 0.036 6-1.175 6 ng/μL and 0.037 8-1.249 0 ng/μL, respectively. The DNA concentration obtained by tooth crumb method was higher (P < 0.05) and the success rate of STR genotyping was high. CONCLUSION Combined with AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system, tooth crumb method is an efficient and feasible method to extract DNA from teeth, which can be applied in forensic practice.
DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Tooth

Objective To investigate the polymorphisms of CD28 and COS genes in chromosome 2q33 region and susceptibility to and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods Eighty-three patients diagnosed as having MS from Han population of South China were studied; one hundred and ten patients with non-autoimmune diseases or healthy volunteers were selected as controls.DNA was obtained from peripheral venous blood; the polymorphisms of amplified productions (CD28 and ICOS genes) were detected by PCR-RFLP and analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.Immunofluorescent two-color flow cytometry was used to study the expressions of CD28 and ICOS genes of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of these 2 groups. Results The genotype frequency of TT at ICOS-2394 site in patients with MS (33.7%) was significantly higher than that in controls (10.9%,P＜ 0.05), and the allele frequency of T in patient group (56.0%) was obviously higher than that in the controls (30.9%, P＜0.05). No marked combined effects were noted in the 3 SNPs (CD28-372, ICOS-2349 and ICOS-2119). TT genotype in the polymorphic site of ICOS-2394 was correlated to primary progressive MS, while CT genotype in the polymorphic site of ICOS-2394 was not correlated to secondary progressive MS. The genotype and allele frequencies of the 3 SNPs had no marked association with the severity of MS (P＞0.05). The levels of CD28 and ICOS gene expressions in lymphocytes of peripheral blood of patients with MS were significantly higher in patients than that in control group (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion ICOS polymorphisms might be related to MS in Han population of South China,which suggests that ICOS might be one of genes having susceptibility to MS. No association between CD28 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to MS is noted.