Objective To explore the cognitive function,feature of P 300 event-related potentials and the relationship of them in children with epilepsy.Methods Auditory P 300 was measured by oddball paradigm and intelligence quotient was tested by WSIC-RC in 38 children with epilepsy.Results 1. The rates of FIQ less than normal IQ were 65.8 %, impaired intelligence 28.9 % in patient group. 2.The latencies and the amplitudes of P 300 were significantly delayed and decreased respectively in both patient groups (P

Background Optical nerve damage of glaucomatous eyes is associated with intracranial pressure.Conventional method of evaluating intracranial pressure is to measure cerebrospinal pressure by lumber puncture.However,the measurement of intraorbital optical nerve parameters,a novel method of evaluating intracranial pressure,is introduced in this field.Objective This study was to measure and analyze the intraorbital optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and cross sectional area (ONSA) in normal population using multi-slice spiral CT.Methods This study protocol was approved by Clinical Ethic Committee of Shenzhen Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital and followed Hersinki Declaration.Informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to any medical examination.One hundred and five eyes of 105 normal persons with normal cerebral CT image were enrolled in Shenzhen Chinese Traditional Medical Hospital from January 2012 to September 2013.Cerebral volume was scanned in all the individuals by 64 slice spiral CT.The brain images were obtained for the curve planar rebuilding of intraorbital optical nerve on image post-processing workstation.The maximum and minimum of ONSD and the ONSA in axial sections at 3,6,9,12 and 15 mm far away from globe wall were measured using a standardized technique to analyze the change of optical nerve parameters at different point locations.These parameters were compared in different gender or eyes.The correlation among age and the optical nerve parameters at 3 mm far away from globe wall was evaluated by multivariate regression analysis.Results The average maximal ONSDs were (6.24±0.47), (5.56±0.44),(5.18±0.43),(4.82±0.41) and (4.69±0.41) mm;the average minimal ONSDs were (5.56±0.50),(4.97± 0.41) ,(4.55±0.35),(4.26±0.39) and (4.10±0.40) mm;the average ONSAs were (27.68±4.40),(22.02±3.35) , (18.74± 2.75) , (16.34±2.72) , (15.40±2.68) mm2 at 3,6,9,12 and 15 mm far away from posterior eyeball wall,respectively, showing significant differences in the maximal/minimal ONSDs and ONSAs among the different point locations (F =218.329,215.906,246.924, all at P =0.001).No significant differences were found in the maximal/minimal ONSDs and ONSAs between male and female or between the right eyes and left eyes (gender:t=1.805,P=0.074;t=1.930,P=0.056;t=1.329,P=0.187;eyes:t=0.724,P=0.471;t=1.562,P=0.121;t=1.424,P=0.158).No significant correlations were seen between age and maximal/minimal ONSDs or ONSAs with the coefficients of 1.873,7.415 and-0.853 correspondingly (P =0.847,0.460,0.637).Conclusions Intraorbital section of optical nerve can be rebuilt using standardized technique after scanning of 64 slice spiral CT.The cross section of intraorbital optic nerve sheath is oval in shape and the optic nerve is thinning with the increase of distance far away posterior eyeball wall in normal populatuion.

Objective To assess response of rectal carcinoma to preoperative chemoradiation therapy(CRT)using DWI and tumor ADC values,and to investigate the value of ADC in predicting and monitoring therapeutic effect of CRT.Methods Twenty-six patients with primary rectal carcinoma undergoing preoperative CRT were recruited to the study.DWI was performed on a 1.5 T MR scanner in all patients at the time point of pre-therapy,the end of the 1st,2nd week of therapy and pre-operation,respectively.ADC values of the tumors were calculated on the workstation.Randomized block design was applied to analyze change in ADCs following treatment Results All patients were divided into T-downstaging group(n=12)and T-non-downstaging group(n=14).In T-downstaging group,the mean tumor ADC values were(1.10±0.13)×10~(-3),(1.32±0.19)×10~(-3),(1.35±0.13)×10~(-3),(1.32±1.00)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the time point of pretreatment,week 1,week 2,pre-operation,respectively(F=16.420,P＜0.01).The mean tumor ADC value in T-non-downstaging had a slight increase from(1.16±0.16)×10~(-3) mm~2/s to(1.23±0.13)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the time of week 1(P＞0.05).The ADC value in T-non-downstaging group continuously increased to(1.30±0.16)×10~(-3) mm~2/s at the end of the 2nd week of CRT(F=5.023,P＜0.01)and appeared statistical difference.The evolution of tumor ADC values in the two groups was significantly different.Early increases in tumor ADC were observed in T-downstaging group.Regarding the increase percentage of ADC value at 1st week as a diagnostic marker of tumor downstaging,when it was set as 11.6%,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value is 75.0%,78.6%,75.0% and 78.6% respectively,the area under curve(Az)was 0.774(95% confidence interval:0.583 to 0.964).Conclusions An early significant increase of mean tumor ADC value in rectal carcinoma has a potential to predict therapeutic effect of CRT.One week after beginning CRT is an early time point to monitor therapy efficacy.

By non-steady method,the effective diffusivity of ferrous sulphate within alginate calcium gel entrapped without bacteria was measured.Meanwhile the oxidation ability of entrapped bacteria was analyzed.Experimental results showed that the effective diffusion coefficient of ferrous sulphate decreased with the increase of alginate concentration,the optimum alginate concentration is 2%(W/V).The effect of calcium chloride on the effective diffusivity was neglectable.The incubation of ferrooxidans would pass through 10 hours,and the diffusion coefficient within gel entrapped Thiobacillus ferrooxidans cells was less remarkably than that of ferrous sulphate without entrapped cells.For the entrapped cells,the absolute oxidation time was shortest and the rate change was fastest with the initial Fe concentration 5g/L.The absolute oxidation time was same when the initial Fe concentration was 8g/L and 10g/L.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of methylprednisolone （MP） on the proliferation and expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes after spinal cord injury in rats. MethodsThe spinal cords in T8～T10 in 48 male Wistar rats (10 weeks old) were exposed and the right site were semi-transected. 24 rats were administrated MP through tail vein as experiment group, and the other rats were injected equal volumes of normal saline as the control group. They were assessed with Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score for ethological test every 4 d, and were sacrificed, perfused 3 d, 7 d, 14 d and 28 d after operation. The spinal cords were removed and postfixed, The expression of GFAP was observed with immunohistochemical staining and gray values determination. The GFAP positive cells were also counted. ResultsThere was no significant difference in BBB score between these groups until 21 d after operation; but the MP group rats showed significantly better functional recovery than the control group 25 d after operation. The number of positive astrocytes was less in the MP group than in the control group 3 and 7 d after operation, but there was no significant difference 14 d after operation. The GFAP expression in glial scar was significantly lower in the MP group than in the control in the first 21 d after operation, but no significant difference 28 d after operation. ConclusionThe large dose methylprednisolone administration can decrease the number of active AS, attenuate the formation of glial scars, and improve the functional recovery of the hind limbs after acute spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the structure, mechanical and low temperature aging properties of colored dental zirconia ceramics.

METHODS5 graded colored dental zirconia ceramics were made by adding colorants and their combinations into a 3Y-TZP (tetragonal zirconia stabilized by 3mol% yttrium) powder, the green body were compacted at 200 MPa, pre-sinter at 1,050 degrees C and maintained for 2 h, then densely sintered at 1,500 degrees C for 2 h. Specimens were cut from each of the 5 graded colored blocks. Physical, mechanical properties as well as chemical stability were tested, microstructure were observed, crystalline phase were identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), aging properties were assessed by measurement of the relative content of monoclinic phase and bending strength testing.

RESULTSThe overall density of colored zirconia ceramics was over 99.7%, linear shrinkage was about 20%, while thermal expansion coefficient was about 11 x 10(-6) x degrees C(-1), the crystalline phase was tetragonal, bending strength was over 900 MPa which was slightly lowered than that of the uncolored zirconia, fracture toughness was slightly higher. Good chemical stability in acetic acid was observed. After aging treatment, tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation was detected up to 40%, while bending strength was not significantly degraded.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that colored 3Y-TZP ceramics presented good mechanical properties even after aging treatments, and was suitable for dental clinical use.

Ceramics ; Materials Testing ; X-Ray Diffraction ; Yttrium ; Zirconium

OBJECTIVETo screen metronidazole (MTZ) -resistance associated gene fragments of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) by suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH).

METHODSThe suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to screen the different DNA fragments between MTZ-resistant and -susceptible clinical strains of H.pylori. The resistant strains specific gene fragments were obtained by SSH and identified by dot blotting.

RESULTAmong the 120 subtractive colonies which were randomly chosen, 37 DNA fragments were different (>or=2 times) in DNA-copy numbers between resistant and susceptible strains and 17 of them were significantly different (>or=3 times). These 17 DNA fragments were sequenced subsequently. Ten of them were new sequences and the other 7 were duplicated sequences. These sequences represented respectively: depeptide ABC transporter periplasmic dipeptide-binding protein (dppA), permease protein (dppB), et al.

CONCLUSIONGene fragments specific to MTZ-resistant H. pylori strains were obtained by SSH and these genes may associated with MTZ-resistance of H.pylori.

Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Metronidazole ; pharmacology ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUNDIntegrin-linked kinase (ILK) dysregulation is involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), irbesartan, on ILK expression and podocyte injury in DN.

METHODSDN was induced by the combined feeding of high-sucrose, high-fat diet and intra-peritoneal injection of low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Diabetic rats were treated with irbesartan (50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) by gavage for 8 weeks. The renal morphologic changes and podocyte injury were investigated by light and electron microscopy, and the ILK expression was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSDiabetic rats exhibited with the similar clinical feature of type 2 DN. Morphologically, they were characterized by expansion of mesangial matrix, loss of podocyte and podocyte injury. Impressively, compared to controls, the ILK expression in diabetic rats were upregulated, which were positively correlated with both podocyte injury and albuminuria. Irbesartan significantly prevented ILK overexpression, along with the amelioration of podocyte injury and albuminuria.

CONCLUSIONSILK plays an important role in mediating podocyte injury in DN; irbesartan inhibits ILK upregulation and attenuates podocyte injury, which might offer a new insight into the role of ARB in preventing DN progression.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Biphenyl Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Male ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of cognitive impairment associated with a congenital chromosomal abnormality, trisomy of chromosome 21. Mental retardation and congenital heart defects are key features of DS. All DS individuals develop early-onset Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology. Intersectin 1 gene is localized on human chromosome 21, the critical region of DS, and it has higher expression in the brain of DS patients than in normal individuals. So fully understanding functions of intersectin 1 is critical for revealing the pathogenesis of DS. Intersectin 1 protein has two isoforms: intersectin 1-L and intersectin 1-S. This review will focus on the distribution, expression characters and functions of intersectin 1 in the central nervous system.
Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; cytology ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism

Objective To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of 10 Chinese patients with 17? hydroxylase/17,20 lyase deficiency (17OHD). Methods Clinical features and laboratory data were collected from 7 kindreds with 17OHD. PCR products and subclone sequencing were performed to screen the mutation of CYP17A1 gene. Results All patients had typical clinical presentation of sexual infantilism, hypertension and hypokalemia. The laboratory examinations indicated decreased plasma cortisol, 17-hydroxy progesterone, estradiol and testosterone, and elevated blood adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH), follcie-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH). CT scan showed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. 5 CYP17A1 mutations were identified, 4 of which are novel types D487_F489del, the most frequent mutation, was identified in 4 families and 45% alleles. Conclusion Our study indicates that 17OHD should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with sexual infantilism. D487_F489del is the most frequent mutation in Chinese 17OHD patients.