Objective To quantitatively estimate upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion with the triple stimulation technique (TST) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods Fifty ALS patients and 22 normal controls were enrolled in the study. Patients were examined clinically with conventional transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and TST at abductor digiti minimi. Central motor conduction time (CMCT),motor evoked potential ( MEP), resting motor threshold ( RMT), compound muscle action potential ( CMAP), modified ashworth scale ( MAS), Medical Research Council scale and modified ALS scale were assessed and their correlation to disease progress was analyzed. Results The TST amplitude ratio was significantly decreased in ALS patients with UMN signs(28 cases 62. 0% (40. 7%, 75.9% ) ), compared with controls ( 96. 9% ± 2. 6% ) and ALS patients without UMN signs ( 22 cases 95.6% ( 85.4%,100. 0% ) ;Z = -4. 827, -5.435, both P =0. 000). The abnormal rates of the TST amplitude in ALS with UMN signs, ALS without UMN signs and controls were 89. 3%, 27.3% ,9. 1% respectively. The abnormal rates of the TST amplitude, the latency of MEP, CMCT, RMT in detecting UMN lesions were 89. 3%,64. 3%, 53.6%, 64. 3% , 78. 6%, respectively. The TST amplitude was significantly correlated to tendon reflex in right arm ( r = 0. 690, P = 0. 000), with modified ashworth scale ( MAS, r = - 0. 772,P = 0. 000),with diagnostic degree ( r = 0. 483, P = 0. 000), with RMT ( r = - 0. 774,P = 0. 000), the latency of MEP (r = - 0. 444, P = 0. 005 ), motor evoked potential/compound muscle action potential of erb' s ( MEP/ CMAPerb, r = 0. 685, P = 0. 000 ), MEP/CMAPerb in facilitation ( r = 0. 770, P = 0. 000). Conclusions TST appears to be a more accurate and sensitive measure of detecting and quantifying UMN abnormality in ALS patients than the other parameters. TST may reveal the subclinical UMN impairment in ALS and provide an accurate diagnosis assessment for UMN loss in ALS and an objective scale for monitoring the progression of disease.

AIM:To explore the effects of endothelial indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) on the migration and the expression of contractile proteins in the pericytes.METHODS: Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells ( HPAECs) and rat cerebral microvascular pericytes were cultured in vitro.Over-expression of IDO in the HPAECs ( IDO-HPAECs) was established.The pericytes were treated with HPAEC-conditioned medium (control group), IDO-HPAEC conditioned medium (treatment group), or IDO-HPAECs-conditioned medium containing 1-methyl-DL-tryptophan (1-mT) ( inhibition group) .The concentrations of nitric oxide ( NO) , tryptophan and kynurenine in the co-culture system were de-termined.The viability, migration and the expression of the contractile proteins in the pericytes were compared.RE-SULTS:No statistical difference of the pericyte viability after treatment with IDO-HPAEC-conditioned medium at 6~48 h was observed (P>0.05).The migratory ability of the pericytes significantly decreased in treatment group compared with control group (P<0.01), and significantly increased in inhibition group compared with treatment group (P<0.01).The concentration of NO in the co-culture system had no significant difference among groups (P>0.05).The concentration of tryptophan was significantly lower in treatment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly higher in in-hibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).The concentration of kynurenine was significantly higher in treat-ment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly lower in inhibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).The expression ofα-smooth muscle actin and desmin was significantly lower in treatment group than that in control group (P<0.01), and significantly higher in inhibition group than that in treatment group (P<0.01).CON-CLUSION:Endothelial IDO inhibits the migration and the expression of the contractile proteins in the pericytes, and may play essential roles in the regulation of microvasculatures.

Objectives To understand essential basis data availability for implementation of cost accounting in TCM hospitals. Methods Costs of a total of 1588 TCM hospitals were investigated by conducting the baseline survey via questionnaires in 2013. Results Departmental basic data (including ratio of office staff and entire staff, ratio of outpatient and inpatient departments in clinical department), and construction data for housing were well accessible, while utility fee and internal service data were not. Conclusion ①Public TCM hospitals need to improve and specify the basic cost data. ②Differences exit among different types and levels of hospitals in the availability of data. ③There are still difficulties in carrying out cost accounting in public TCM hospitals, which needs strong supports from all relevant departments.

Objective To test the potency of hepatitis B vaccine in China. Methods Two inbred strains(DBA/1 and BALB/c) and two NIH closes-colonies of mice were typed in the H-2 region by microcy-totoxicity method and PCR. Groups of mice of the tested strains were immunized with the same hepatitis B vaccine, the titre of anti-HBsAg antibody was analyzed by microplate, and the ED50 was then estimated by Karder method for each strain. Results Significant differences were found between potency estimates de-rived from assays using different strains of mice. Conclusion It is likely that the variation of immune re-sponse to hepatitis B vaccine in mice is correlative with the H-2 haplotype. In some special case, the bet-erozygosity in H-2 region found in NIH stock could influence the accuracy in such testing even a reference preparation of hepatitis B vaccine was used. Base on our experiment, to select an appropriate NIH stocks with the H-2q haplotype for potency testing of hepatitis B vaccine in China.

Objective To screen the risk factors of liver metastasis in patients with postoperative colorectal cancer and to set up a mathematic model.Methods One hundred and sixty-eight patients received radical surgery were retrospectively analyzed.Logistics model regression was used to identify the risk factors and ROC test to complete a mathematic model.Results The 3 and 5-year incidence rate of liver metastasis was 25.0％ and 33.3％,respectively.The risk factors of liver metastasis were lymph node metastasis (LNM),tumor invasive depth (TID),histological grading (G) and preoperative serum tumor markers (PSMs).The mathematic model was:logit (P) =-0.931 + 0.973 × LNM + 0.302 x TID + 0.637 x G + 0.042 x PSMs.Conclusion The risk factors of liver metastasis were LNM,TID,G and PSMs,and the mathematic model could be set up.

ObjectiveTo examine whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammation-related genes are associated with the risk of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).MethodsThe study recruited 116 aMCI patients and 93 matched healthy controls.All subjects underwent extensive assessment of cognitive function,genotyping was carried out on the platform of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry.Results ( 1 ) There was prominent discrepancy between aMCI and controls in the memory,attention and executive functions,20 minutes delayed recall of auditory verbal memory test (AVMT) (3.0(0.0 ～ 10.0 ),8.0 (0.0 ～ 12.0),t =- 8.533,P ＜ 0.05 ),recall of Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test ( R-O CFT) (11.2 ±8.3,16.1 ±8.0,t=4.216,P＜0.05),digit span test (DST) (12.0(7.0 ～ 19.0),13.0(7.0 ～20.0),Z=-2.516,P＜0.05),trail making test A (TMTA) (80.0s(35.0 ～200.0)s,72.0s(29.0 ～512.0)s,Z=-3.113,P＜0.05),trail making test B (TMTB) ((180.1 ±72.7)s,(141,7 ±52.1)s,t=-4.385,P＜0.05 ).(2) No significant differences were found in frequencies of alleles,genotypes and hapolotypes of inflammation mediator genes ( interleukin 10,interleukin 1 A,interleukin 1 B,tumor necrosis factor,interleukin 6,α1- an-tichymotrypsin gene,transforming growth factor B1 ) between aMCI and controls (P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionThe results indicate that polymorphisms in the inflammation-related candidate genes do not appear to be involved in the risk of developing aMCI.

Objective To assess the utility of changes of muscle strength and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle after the exercise test in diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis during inter-attack period. Methods Exercise test was applied on 59 patients with hypokalaemic periodic paralysis and 38 control subjects during inter-attack period. The changes of CMAP amplitude, muscle strength and the range of abduction of ADM muscle at 120 minutes after exercise were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results At 120 minutes after exercise, the M50 (M25, M75 ) of decrease in amplitude of CMAP recorded in ADM muscles were 54. 1% ( 43.1%,66. 3% ) in patients with periodic paralysis and 11.1% (2. 0%, 21.3% ) in control subjects(Z =6. 731,P=0.000), M5o(M25,M75) of decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscles were 39.4% (26.3% ,48. 9% ) in patients with periodic paralysis and 7. 8% ( 1.3%, 13.7% ) in control subjects ( Z = 5. 519,P=0. 000). The muscle strength of ADM muscle was less than Ⅳ grade in 96. 3% (52/54) patients with periodic paralysis and 8.6% ( 3/35 ) in control subjects ( x2 = 68.2, P = 0. 000 ). The sensitivity and specificity for decrease in CMAP amplitude ( best cutoff = 30% ) in diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis were 87.5% and 93.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscle ( best cutoff = 20% ) were 87.5% and 90. 5%, respectively. Conclusion Exercise test is recommended to apply on patients with suspected hypokalaemic periodic paralysis during inter-attack period. The decrease in range of abduction of ADM muscle more than 20% at 120 minutes after exercise supports the diagnosis of hypokalaemic periodic paralysis.

Objective To investigate the allergization of milk high molecular weight proteins. Methods Thirty cas?es of patients with serum allergic to milk were selected. Their skin prick tests were positive. Results of serum specific IgE (sIgE) test were positive and≥1+. One case of healthy control with negative sIgE test and without history of allertgy, was in?cluded in this study. The serum samples were collected and frozen at-20℃. Sephadex G200 gel chromatography was used to obtain milk high molecular weight proteins. Western blot and ELISA methods were used to detect milk high molecular weight proteins and the activity of serum sIgE. Results Results of SDS-PAGE showed that high molecular weights proteins displayed by Sephadex G200 gel chromatography, mainly including three bands, the molecular weight of 67 ku, 80 ku and 160 ku. Western blot analysis showed that three kinds of high molecular weights proteins can react with milk allergy serum, and the most obvious appeared near the molecular weight 67 ku band. ELISA analysis showed that the positive response rate of high molecular weight proteins with milk allergic patient’s serum was slightly higher than that ofβ-lactoglobulin (46.7%and 43.3%, respectively). Conclusion The milk high molecular weight protein components can induce specific IgE antibod?ies, which have important sensitization in the process of milk allergy.

Objective To investigate the relationship between amnestic mild cognitive impairment and functional genes associated with hyperphosphorylated tau protein.Methods One hundred and sixteen amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients and 93 normal controls were recruited for the study.Multi-dimension neuropsychologic tests were used to assess the cognitive function extensively.MassARRAY and iPlex systems were used to measure candidate SNP polymorphisms,analyze genotypic,allelic or haplotypic distributions and their interaction with ApoE ε4 and the correlation with the cognitive function in the subjects.Results ( 1 ) The scores of neuropsychologic tests in memory domain ( Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT)-first immediate recall,AVLT-second immediate recall,AVLT-second immediate recall,AVLT-5 minute delayed recall,AVLT-20 minute delayed recall,AVLT-recognition,Rey-Osterrich Comolex Test-delay) in aMCI patients ( 3.0 ( 0-7.0 ),5.0 ( 1.0-10.0),6.0 ( 1.0-11.0 ),4.0 (0-11.0),3.0(0-10.0),20.0(8.0-24.0),11.2 ±8.3) were significantly lower than those in the normal controls(4.0(0-9.0),7.0(2.0-11.0),9.0(3.0-12.0),8.0(0-12.0),8.0(0-12.0),22.0 (10.0-24.0),16.1±8.0) (Z=-3.592,-6.802,-6.408,-8.173,-8.533,-5.647 andt=4.216 respectively,all P ＜0.01 ) ; (2) Genotypic distributions of rs242562 GG in aMCI (7.826％ ) were significantly lower than those in normal controls (20.65％,OR =0.3525,95％ CI 0.1411-0.8807,P =0.024 98),however there were no differences in the genotypic,allelic or haplotypic distributions between aMCI patients and controls of glycogen synthase kinase-3β,cyclin dependent protein kinase-5,calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-Ⅱ,cell division cycle 2,dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6; (3) MAPT/STH rs242562 genotype was correlated with AVLT-immediate recall,AVLT-delayed recall,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Test,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Test-delayed recall and Clock Drawing Test (H =9.763,12.258,10.508,9.624,10.767,F =3.700,3.123 and H =6.591 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05 ) ; (4) There were no differences in the distributions of MAPT/STH rs242562 GG genotype and ApoE ε4 haplotype between aMCI patients and normal controls.Conclusions MAPT/STH rs242562 GG genotype decreases the genetic risk of aMCI,which might have important role in memory function in aMCI.The interaction between rs242562 GG and ApoE ε4 doesn' t affect the susceptibility to aMCI.

To explore the impact of Salmonella on Enterococcusfaecalis isolate N41 under the coexisting,the growth traits and the transcription of 26 virulence genes of N41 at various growth phases were detected.Salmonella and/or N41 were inoculated and done plate counting,then growth curves were drawn and bacterial total RNA were extracted at given time points,quantitive realtime PCR was used to analyze the RNA transcription levels of 26 virulence genes of N41.The result showed that comparison with single incubation,the bacteria concentration of N41 dropped about 3.9 times,and Salmonella dropped about 110-times.Among 26 virulence genes of N41,the RNA transcription levels of 12 virulence genes such as ebpA,ebpC,rnjB,ace,ebpR,psr and so on were promoted at the four growth phases,but the RNA transcription levels of SlyA and sprE were dropped.Except that the RNA transcription levels of CylL-S,CylL-L,efaA and AS had no significant changes at the four growth phases,the mostly rest genes increased dramatically at post-log phase.This indicated that when incubated together,N41 inhibited the growth of Salmonella significantly,and Salmonella promoted the transcription levels of virulence genes of N41 as a whole.The results lay a foundation for further research on the interaction between bacteria species and the pathogenicity mechanism of Enterococci.