Objective: To investigate the expression of caspase1 mRNA in hippocampus of(developing) rats following recurrent seizures and the effects of tetramethylpyrazine on it.Methods: One(hundred) and(sixty)two postnatal SpragueDawley rats of 20day old were randomly divided into three groups: the control group,the seizure group and the tetramethylpyrazine treated group.Seizure model of rats were induced by(inhalant) flurothyl daily in 6 consecutive days.Brain tissue was sampled at 6 hours,1 day,(3 days) and 7 days in each group after last seizure,and the expression of caspase1 mRNA in the hippocampus was(detected) by(reverse) transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(RTPCR).At the same time,the water content was(detected) and the pathological changes in the hippocampus of rats were observed after recurrent seizures and the brain injury was evaluated by using a semiquantitative neuropathological scoring system.Results: In(tetramethylpyrazine) treated group,the levels of caspase1 mRNA in the hippocampus,water content of brain tissues and neuropathological score at different time points were obviously lower than those in seizure group(except water content of brain tissues at 7 days,all P

Objective To assess the association between NOD2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and leprosy in Chinese Yi population.Methods Whole blood samples were obtained from 300 patients with leprosy and 300 healthy human controls of Yi nationality in Sichuan province.Genomic DNA was extracted,and a SNaPshot assay was performed to determine the genotypes of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NOD2 gene,including rs9302752,rs7194886,rs8057341 and rs3135499.Chi-square test was conducted to compare allele frequency,and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested.Results The genotype distribution of all the four SNPs was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (all P ＞ 0.05).Significant differences were observed between the patients with leprosy and healthy controls in both genotype distribution and allele frequency of the SNP rs3135499 (both P ＜ 0.01),but not in those of the other three SNPs (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The SNP rs3135499 of the NOD2 gene may be associated with the development of leprosy in Chinese Yi population.

OBJECTIVETo assess therapeutic effect of combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine on optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy.

METHODSOne hundred and seventeen cases were divided into an observation group (n = 79) and a control group (n = 38). The control group were treated with routine western medicine treatment including neurotrophic drugs and high pressure oxygen, etc. and the observation group with acupuncture at Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20), Chengqi (ST 1), etc. and injection of 0.2-0.3 mL Compound Danshen Injectio into Qiuhou (EX-HN 7), on the basis of the same treatment of western medicine as that in the control group. Fundus examination and the tracing body angle detection were conducted before and after treatment and the therapeutic effects were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 91.1% in the observation group and 60.5% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001); after treatment the angle of tracing body significantly increased in the two groups (P < 0.01) with the observation group better than the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe combined treatment of Chinese medicine and western medicine is an effective therapy for optic atrophy complicated by cerebral palsy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Cerebral Palsy ; complications ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Optic Atrophy ; therapy

The objective of this study was to develop research of cardiac cells to reestablish 3D tissue architecture in vitro, we performed studies using collagen membrane as three-dimensional scaffold for cardiac cells culture with the principles and methods of tissue engineering. The polymer scaffold provides a 3-D substrate for cell attachment and tissue formation. Cardiac cells isolated by enzymatic digestion from 1d old neonatal rats were seeded to three-dimensional collagen scaffolds and tissue culture plates. The morphology, beating rate and the metabolic indexes, including specific consumption rate of glucose (q(glu)) , specific production rate of lactate (q(lac)), lactate transform rate ( Y(lac/glu)), specific creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities of cardiac cells cultured on three-dimensional collagen membrane and tissue culture plates were compared. It was found that cells shape and cells' CK and LDH activity was no differences between 3D and 2D cultures and cell beat rate on cell culture cluster was slower than those cells cultured on collagen membrane, However the cell glucose consumption and lactate yield rate of cells cultured on cluster was higher than those cells cultured on collagen membrane. After 5 days of cultivation, cardiac cells cultured on collagen membrane scaffolds organized into three-dimensional (3D) aggregates as opposed to the two-dimensional (2D) aggregates mosaic pattern seen in tissue culture plates, and spontaneous and rhythmical contractile 3D cultures in unison were visible to the naked eye and the area of synchronous contract three-dimensional (3D) aggregates reaches 80cm2. The mean value of q(glu), q(lac) and Y(lac/glu) of cultured on three-dimensional collagen scaffold was 7.37 micromol/10(6) cells/d, 2.92 micromol/10(6) cells/ d and 0.38 micromol/micromol, versus 7.59 micromol/10(6)cells/d, 3.83 micromol/10(6) cells/d and 0.51 micromol/micromol in tissue culture plates. These results demonstrate that cardiac cells immobilized on collagen membrane in 3D cultures maintain similar metabolic activity and contractile function when compared with native cardiac cells. The above results support the idea that engineered cardiac tissue can be used as a model of native tissue for studies of tissue development and function in vitro and eventually for tissue repair in vivo.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the characteristics of the objective sleep disturbances in Parkinson' s disease (PD) and the factors related to it.Methods One hundred and one PD patients and 90 age- and sex- matched controls underwent a video-polysomnography.The sleep parameters and its related factors in two groups were analyzed.Results Sleep latency was not statistically different in comparing two groups.PD patients had a higher percentage of non-rapid eye movement( non-REM ) sleep stage 1 and a lower percentage of non-REM sleep stage 2 compared with controls ( 27.9 ± 1 7.8 vs 21.2 ± 11.7,t =3.034,P =0.003 ;47.8 ± 17.4 vs 54.7 + 12.9,t =- 3.043,P =0.003 ).Reduced sleep efficiency,decreased the proportion of slow wave sleep and REM sleep,increased awake time and longer REM sleep latency occurred in PD patients.There were no significant differences of these above parameters.Some sleep parameters in PD patients were correlated with advancing age,the severity of PD,and the degree of depression.The index of periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMSI) of 41 PD patients (40.6％ ) was more than 15.These PD patients didn' t complain corresponding symptoms about their legs.The PLMSI in PD patients were significantly higher than the controls.PLMSI increased with aging in the PD group( r =0.261,P ＜0.01 ).PD patients didn' t suffer significantly lower apnea- hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index.The lowest SPO2 ( L-SPO2 ) increased in the PD group.REM sleep without atonia occurred in 83 patients (82.2％) with PD.Thirty-eight patients (37.6％) were diagnosed with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).The incidences of REM without atonia and RBD in the PD group were significantly higher than in the control s(0 and 8 patients (8.9％),x2 =42.271,102.480; both P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions The sleep parameters in PD patients are changed.For PD patients,there is no difficulty in falling asleep.The PD patients also have sleep structure disorder and difficulty in maintaining sleep.The sleep parameters are correlated with advancing age,the severity of PD,and the degree of depression in PD.PLMS don' t lead to sleep disturbances in PD patients.The blood oxygen saturation don' t decrease severely when PD patients suffer apnea or hypopnea.RBD occur more frequently in PD patients.

OBJECTIVEFabry disease is a rare lysosome storage disease featuring X-linked recessive inheritance. The study was to explore potential mutations of alpha-galactosidase A (GLA) gene and their correlation with clinic manifestations in three Chinese pedigrees with Fabry disease.

METHODSAll exons and flanking sequences of GLA gene were amplified with PCR. Potential mutations were detected with bidirectional DNA sequencing. Correlation between particular mutations and clinic features were analyzed.

RESULTSA unreported missense mutation, c.797A>C (D266A) in GLA exon 5 was identified in pedigree 1. Also in exon 5, a missense mutation c.644A>G (N215S) was found in pedigree 2. In pedigree 3, a nonsense mutation c.355C>T (Q119X) was found in exon 2. The c.797A>C mutation was not detected in 200 unrelated male controls. The probands of pedigrees 1 and 3 had presented mainly with skin damage and chronic renal insufficiency, whilst the proband of pedigree 2 had presented with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

CONCLUSIONThe unreported c.797A>C (D266A) mutation is the sixth missense type mutation of the 266th codon of GLA gene, and all other 5 missense mutations reported previously had been confirmed to be responsible for Fabry disease. The c.797A>C mutation, not found in 200 unrelated male controls, may be the causative mutation in pedigree 1. The c.644A>G and c.355C>T mutations were first detected in Chinese patients. Variable phenotypes of Fabry disease may be in part attributed to the natures of particular mutations of GLA gene.

Adult ; Fabry Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; alpha-Galactosidase ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThe expressions of caspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 are associated with the pathophysiology of many diseases for its proinflammatory and proapototic peculiarity. However its relationship to brain injury of developing rats following recurrent seizures has not yet been identified. This study aimed to investigate the role of caspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 in brain injury of developing rats following recurrent seizures.

METHODSA total of 96 postnatal 20 day Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into Control and Seizure groups. Seizures were induced in the Seizure group by flurothyl inhalation daily for six days. Brain tissues were sampled at 6 hrs, and at 1, 3, and 7 days after last seizure. The expressions of caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1beta mRNA in the cerebral cortex were detected by RT-PCR. The water content of the brain and the pathological changes of cortex nerve cells were observed. Brain injury was evaluated using a semiquantitative neuropathological scoring system.

RESULTSThe levels of caspase-1 and IL-18 mRNA in the cerebral cortex of the Seizure group were obviously higher than those in the Control group at 6 hrs, and at 1, 3, and 7 days after seizure (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of IL-1beta mRNA in the Seizure group exhibited a biphasic pattern: increased significantly at 6 hrs, and at 1 and 7 days post-seizure (P < 0.01), but was not significantly different from the Control group at 3 days post-seizure. Edema, degeneration and necrosis of nerve cells in cerebral cortex, accompanying by inflammatory cell infiltration and apoptosis of nerve cells, were observed under a light microscope in the Seizure group after recurrent seizures. The water content of the brain in the Seizure group increased significantly compared with that in the Control group at 6 hrs, and at 1 and 3 days after recurrent seizures (P < 0.01). The Seizure group had significantly higher neuropathological scores than the Control group at each time point (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCaspase-1 and cytokines activated by caspase-1 play an important role in the developing brain injury after recurrent seizures.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; Caspase 1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recurrence ; Seizures ; pathology

BACKGROUNDOur previous study confirmed that oligodendrogliomas had higher frequency of chromosome 1p/19q deletion. In order to improve the diagnostic criteria and to predict the prognosis of oligodendroglioma patients, the status of chromosome 1p/19q deletion, the methylation of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), and the expression of p53 protein were evaluated and investigated in relation to patients' outcomes.

METHODSMethylation of MGMT in 73 cases was analyzed by nested methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The levels of MGMT and p53 protein were tested with immunohistochemistry. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used. Multivariate and Kaplan-Meier analysis were performed to determine patients' outcomes.

RESULTSBoth oligodendrogliomas and astrocytic gliomas exhibited frequent methylation of MGMT. However, the results of MSP did not completely correspond to that of the immunohistochemical staining for MGMT. The expression of p53 protein was more frequently observed in patients without a 1p or 19q deletion in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas (P = 0.032, 0.025). In low-grade oligodendrogliomas, methylation of MGMT was more frequent in patients with 1p/19q deletion than in patients with 1p/19q intact (P = 0.038). Patients with oligodendrogliomas with 1p/19q loss of heterozygosity and p53-negative showed a longer progression-free survival.

CONCLUSIONDetection of chromosome 1p/19q status combined with p53 protein immunohistochemistry might be beneficial to improve the pathological diagnosis and to determine the prognosis of patients with oligodendrogliomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; mortality ; Child ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; DNA Methylation ; DNA Modification Methylases ; genetics ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; genetics ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligodendroglioma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Objective To study the surgical treatment and effects of the lesions in the third ventricle. Methods The data of 15 patients with third ventricular lesion, accepted surgical treatment were retrospectively analyzed. The lesions were removed through transcallosal approach in 11 patients, frontal trans-cortical approach in 2 and trans-terminalis approach in 2,respectively. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed in 5 and chemotherapy in 2. VP shunt was performed in 1. Results The lesions were total-resected in 8 (53.3%), subtotal-resected in 5 (33.3%) and partial-resected in 2 (13.3%) with 1 postoperative death. The hydrocephalus were resolved in all cases. With a follow-up of 3 to 12 months, all the 14 patients recovered without obvious neurological deficits. Conclusion Proper microsurgical approach and perfect surgical skills are the keys to high resection and good prognosis. And postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be helpful in improving the outcome

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; blood ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; blood ; physiopathology ; Prognosis ; Prothrombin Time ; Serum Albumin ; analysis