Objective: To observe the effects of exposure to white noise on the procession of learning and memory, and the expression of NOS (nitric oxide synthase) in hippocampus of rats Method: 20 rats were randomly divided into two groups for observation of spatial learning and memory, one group exposed to 80 dB white noise during Y-maze training, the other group received Y-maze training under normal condition Another 24 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, they experienced normal Y-maze training, noise Y-maze training and sole noise as control respectively Immunohistochemical assay was used to investigate the expression of NOS positive neurons Result: Noise hampered the ability of rats' spatial learning and memory, furthermore, the number of NOS positive neurons in hippocampus of noise training group was less than that of normal training group Conclusion: The activity of NOS positive neuron in hippocampus was decreased by exposure to noise, suggesting the inhibition of learning dependent long term procession in hippocampus and corresponding difficulty in obtaining and maintaining of memory

BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have focused on cell transplantation. Schwann cells (SCs) can secrete various neurotrophic factors and improve local environment around injury. Plenty of documents have demonstrated that SCs could promote functional recovery following spinal injury. Many transplanting methods are available for treating spinal cord injury, and the intravenous cell transplantation is profitable for easy operation and avoidance of additional trauma. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of intravenous transplantation of SCs on spinal cord injury in rats. METHODS: The bilateral sciatic nerves of Wistar rats were separated in vitro, cultured by tissue clot method, identified by S-100 and labeled by Hoechst33342. Sixty rat models with T10 spinal cord injury were prepared using impactor model- II type weight drop apparatus. Then the injured rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: blank control, DMEM control and SCs transplantation groups. No treatment was performed in the blank control group. Totally 1 mL DMEM and or SCs was injected into rats of DMEM control and SCs transplantation groups by tail vein respectively. Basso Beattie Bresnahan (B6B) scores were performed at 1 day before and 1, 3 days, 1 week and weekly after operation. The migration of transplanted SCs was observed at 2 weeks and 4 after transplantation. The expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were detected by haematoxylin-eosin staining and immune-fluorescence staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The purity of SCs reached 95%. Hoechst33342 positive cells were observed throughout the injured and the nearby region of spinal cord at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation. The statistical difference of BBB score among the SCs transplantation, blank control, and the DMEM control groups displayed at 4 weeks after transplantation (P < 0.05), and the BBB scores of the SCs transplantation were higher than other groups. Haematoxylin-eosin staining showed the cavity formed in each group at 8 weeks after transplantation, but the area of SCs transplantation was smaller than that of the blank control and DMEM control groups. The immunofluorescence staining indicated that the expression of GFAP were more intense in the blank control group and DMEM control than SCs transplantation (P < 0.05), while the expression of NSE was more intense in SCs transplantation than other groups (P< 0.05). It implied that intravenous transplantation of SCs promotes regeneration of axon and improves neurological functions after spinal cord injury in rats.

BACKGROUND:Schwann cells can secrete various neurotrophic factors,and promote functional recovery of injured spinal cord.However,xenogenic Schwann cells transplantation may induce autoimmune response.Moreover,local transplantation results in secondary injury.Vein transplantation may reached injury site passing the blood spinal cord barrier,but the treatment concentration is not effective.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effects of transplantation of autologous activated Schwann Cells(AASCs)via subarachnoid space on spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats.METHODS:A total of 66 rats were used to establish SCI models,and the model rats were randomly divided into 3 groups.The unilateral saphenous nerves of rats were ligated directly for 1 week to activate Schwann cells,but inactivated and model control groups were not subjected to nerve ligation.1 cm nerve was excised from distal end of each group,and Schwann cells were isolated and cultured by tissue mass method.The AASCs,autologous Schwann cells(ASCs)were injected with corresponding Hoechst33342-labeted SCs suspension,but the model control group was injected with DMEM injection.The basso beattie bresnahan(BBB)score and footprint analysis,as well as HE and GFAP immunohistochemistry staining were performed to evaluate functional recovery of rat hind limbs.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:On 4 weeks after injury,BBB scores of AASCs were significantly superior to the other groups (P＜0.05).Two weeks after transplantation,some SCs migrated to injured spinal cord.Compared with ASCs group,the center distance of forward and hind feet and extorsion angle of the third toe of hind limb were significantly reduced in the AASCs group at 5 weeks(P＜0.05),the glial scar area was significantly decreased at 13 weeks(P＜0.05),and the cavity area of injured region was signiflcentJy diminished(P＜0.05).Results show that AASCs transplantation via subarachnoid space promoted functional recovery after SCI in rats.

Objective To analyze the equity of the allocation of the health human resources in Chongqing from 1997 to 2012 , and to provide the basic information for regional health planning .Methods The statistical description ,Gini Coefficient and Theil in-dex are used to analyze the previous allocation and trends of the health human resources and the equity in Chongqing during the 16 years based on the distribution of demography and geography .Results The number of the health human resources grew rapidly from 1997 to 2012 .The Gini coefficients of health professionals and medical practitioners (and assistants) are under 0 .3 based on the distribution of demography ,while registered nurses′are fluctuation in 0 .4 .However ,from the distribution of geography ,the Gi-ni coefficient of health professionals ,medical practitioners (and assistants) and registered nurses are above 0 .5 .The Gini coefficient of the one hour economic circle is higher than two wings areas .The trends about the totle Theil index are consistent with the Gini coefficient .Based on the distribution of demography ,the Theil index between regions is higher than the one within the region .On the contrary ,the Theil index between regions is below the one within the region by the geographic distribution .Conclusion Com-pared to the national ,less total health human resources are reserved in Chongqing .Distribution by demographics about health human resources are more equitably than the one by geographic distribution .The variances between the economic circles contribute more to the total Theil index than those within the economic circles .The government′s leading role should be strengthen ,and enhancing the regional health planning .

Prostate cancer in patients with dwarfism is rarely reported. One case was reported in this article. The patient was admitted to the hospital due to the PSA elevation for more than 4 years. Due to the dwarf disease, the patient could not accommodate the transrectal ultrasound probe, and was highly suspected of prostate cancer.The prostate needle biopsy was not performed. Combined with the medical history, PSA level, preoperative MRI and PSMA-PET/CT examination, the patient was clinically diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, and radical surgical treatment was performed.

The paper presents the development and design of an ultrasonic Doppler fetal heart rate monitoring system based on DSP, and explains the realization of a algorithm for detecting fetal heart rate. Clinical practice has proved that this system is able to pick up the real-time fetal heart rate correctly and rapidly.
Algorithms ; Fetal Monitoring ; instrumentation ; methods ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; physiology ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; instrumentation ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene of diacylglycerol kinase κ (DGKK) in hypospadias in Chinese children.

METHODSWe performed direct sequencing on 2 hypospadias-related candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms of the DGKK gene (rs1934179 and rs7063116, never previously reported in the Chinese population) from 300 children with sporadic hypospadias and 200 healthy controls, and compared the results between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 were 5.0% (15/300) and 5.67% (17/300) respectively in the hypospadias patients, significantly higher than 1.5% (3/200) and 2.0% (4/200) in the normal controls (P <0.05). The mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 in the cases of distal and middle hypospadias were also remarkably higher (6.5%, [13/200] and 7.5% [15/200], P <0.05), but those in the proximal cases (both 2.0% [2/100]) showed no statistically significant difference from the control (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphisms of the DGKK gene may be associated with hypospadias, particularly distal and middle hypospadias, in Chinese children.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; China ; Diacylglycerol Kinase ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Background/Aims: Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) autoantibody is the main biomarker of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). We aimed to find a new cutoff value of anti-PLA2R for patients with IMN and to explore the relevance between this antibody and baseline clinical parameters. Methods: A total of 670 subjects including 374 IMN cases and 296 non-IMN controls were included between January 2017 and January 2020. All clinical parameters were collected at the time of renal biopsy. The levels of anti-PLA2R were detected by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The optimal cutoff value was calculated by a receiver operating characteristic curve and compared in diagnostic efficiency. Results: The optimal cutoff value of anti-PLA2R for IMN was 7.45 RU/mL with the highest Youden index, and the corresponding sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 80.75%, 97.97%, 98.05% and 80.11%, respectively. Anti-PLA2R levels in IMN patients demonstrated a significant positive correlation with serum creatinine and 24-hour urinary protein, while they showed a negative correlation with serum albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Conclusions The recommended cutoff value of anti-PLA2R is 7.45 RU/mL using ELISA detection for distinguishing IMN from non-IMN nephropathy. The level of anti-PLA2R is related to baseline renal function in IMN. This new threshold can improve the diagnostic efficiency and facilitate early diagnosis of IMN.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Interleukin-10 ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Quinolizines ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods and solve the technical bottlenecks in the preparation of recombinant human protein hZP3 using the baculovirus expression system and pave the technical ground for the production and application of recombinant hZP3.

METHODSThe recombinant vector pFASTBAC HTa-hZP3 was constructed and transferred to competent E. coli cells carrying bacmid to produce recombinant bacmid by homologous recombination. Sf9 cells were transfected with the recombinant bacmid to produce recombinant baculovirus. Full-length recombinant hZP3 (amino acids 1-424) and truncated recombinant hZP3 (amino acids 23-348) were expressed in the sf9 cells by infection with the recombinant baculovirus. The expression time of hZP3 was determined by Western blot and its purification was explored.

RESULTSThe recombinant bacmid and baculovirus were successfully constructed for expressing both the full-length and truncated hZP3. The maximal expression of recombinant hZP3 in the sf9 cells was achieved at 72-96 hours after baculovirus infection. Some of the recombinant hZP3 with His-tag could bind affinity matrix and got purified but most of the solubilized hZP3 passed through and the reasons remained unknown. Purified recombinant hZP3 labeled with Dylight Dye488 was able to bind human sperm.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to express recombinant hZP3 in insect cells using the baculovirus system though the yield of hZP3 needs to be optimized. The methods for efficient enrichment and purification of recombinant hZP3 require further exploration.

Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Egg Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; methods ; Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins