Objective To study the endoscopic anatomy of operative fissures in the sellar region related to pterional key-hole approach and to provide the anatomic basis for endoscope-assisted microneuro-surgery in the region. Methods Fifteen cadaver heads were dissected via pterional key-hole approach and the five operative fissures(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ) were studied with both microscope and endoscope, by which the outcomes observed were recorded and compared. Results The basic information obtained by the pterio-nalkeyhole approach was comparable to that of the classic ptefional approach. According to the anatomic guideposts under neuroendoscope, the microstructures of the five fissures and Willis' circle would be well demonstrated. It is better to display the various anatomic structures in sellar region by neuroendoscope rather than microscope, particularly some important microstructures. Angled endoscope can be used to inspec thidden but important structure behind the arteries and nerves. Conclusion According to the anatomic guideposts, an endoscopy can be used to enhance the visible field of an operative microscope related to pterional key-hole approach. The endoscope-assisted microsurgery can reduce complications and injury of the important structures and increase the curative effect on the lesions in the sellar region.

To investigate the effect of propofol on the plasma contents of endothelin(ET) and calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP).Twelve monkeys with hemorrhagic shock were divided randomly into two groups.The monkeys in propofol group(PG) were administered propofol to 8mg/L plasma concentration by target control infusion with computer,while monkeys in control group(CG) were not .Venous blood were collected to determine plasma ET and CGRP contents by radioimmunoassay before bleeding, 2 hours after hemorrhagic shock and 2h after resuscitation. Compared with control group,the CGRP level and CGRP/ET of PG were significantly increased at 2h after hemorrhagic shock and 2h after resuscitation,while ET level of PG at 2h after resuscitation was significantly lower than that of CG. These findings indicate that propofol can increase the plasma content of CGRP and decrease the plasma content of ET in monkeys after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation, and ET may play an important role in the development of hemorrhagic shock.

Objective To identify the metabolic levels in prefrontal lobe in patients with post-concussion syndrome by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and to explore the relationship between metabolic levels and executive function. Methods The study was conducted in 40 patients with post-concussion syndrome and 20 normal controls. 1H-MRS on prefrontal lobe was performed in patients and controls, the NAA, Cho and Cr were measured and the ratios of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/(Cho + Cr) were determined. They were also evaluated executive functions by verbal fluency test (animal), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT) and Tower of Hanoi (TOH). Results Compared with normal controls, the patients with post-concussion syndrome were significantly lower NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cho+Cr) ratios in left prefrontal lobe (P < 0.05). The NAA/Cr ratio in left prefrontal was significantly positive correlated with total scores of verbal fluency (r = 0.66, P < 0.05), categories of WSCT (r = 0.54,P < 0.05) and total score of TOH(r = 0.58, P < 0.05). The NAA/Cr ratio was significantly negative correlated with total errors (r = -0.53, P < 0.05) and persistent errors (r = -0.47, P < 0.05) of WSCT and mean executive time of TOH(r = -0.67, P < 0.05). Conclusions The metabolic levels of NAA in left prefrontal lobe in patients with post-concussion syndrome is significantly decreased , it is one cause of impaired executive functions.

The immune effect of two recombinant protein fragments of spike protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) was investigated in Balb/c mice. Two partial spike gene fragments S1 (322 1464 bp) and S2 (2170 2814 bp) of SARS coronavirus were amplified by RT-PCR, and cloned into pET-23a prokaryotic expression vector, then transformed into competent Escherichia E. coli BL21 (DE3)(pLysS) respectively. Recombinant proteins were expressed and purified by Ni2+ immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The purified proteins mixed with complete Freund adjuvant were injected into Balb/c mice three times at a two-week interval. High titer antibody was detected in the serum of immunized Balb/c mice, and mice immunized with S1 protein produced high titer IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3, while those immunized with S2 protein produced high titer IgG1, IgG2a, but lower titer IgG2b and IgG3. Serum IFN-concentration was increased significantly but the concentrations of Il-2, IL-4 and IL-10 had no significant change. And a marked increase was observed in the number of spleen CD8+ T cells. The results showed that recombinant proteins of SARS coronavirus spike protein induced hormonal and cellular immune response in Balb/c mice.

Objective Atherosclerosis ( AS) is a common pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases.Adiponec-tin ( APN) has been shown to have an anti-AS effect, and the underlying mechanisms, however, are largely unknown.Nu-clear transcription factorκB ( NF-κB) has also been regarded as a proatherogenic factor, mainly because of its regulation of a variety of the proinflammatory genes linked to AS.It is hypothesized that the inhibitory effects of APN on AS is through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis via investigation and validation of the inhibitory effect of APN on AS in ApoE-/-mice, and to delineate the roles of NF-κB signaling pathway in modulating the APN effect on AS in vivo.Methods APN overexpression in ApoE-/-mice were mediated by transfecting adenovirus bearing a vector encoding for APN and enhanced green fluorescent protein ( Ad-APN-eGFP) .The AS in ApoE-/-mice was induced by feeding a high-fat diet.To validate the inhibitory effect of the adenovirus mediated APN overexpression on AS in the ApoE-/-mice.120 male ApoE-/-mice aged 12 weeks were randomly and evenly assigned into two groups (60 mice per group), and were fed with a high-fat diet to induce AS.At 0 day, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of high-fat diet feeding.The 2 groups of mice were injected intravenously in the tail with either 100 μL (3.0 ×108 p.f.u) of Ad-eGFP virus ( control group) or the same amount of Ad-APN-eGFP virus ( APN group) .Blood samples and aortic tissues were taken at 0 day, 4, and 8 weeks of high-fat diet feeding.For the blood samples, FABA was used to analyze the concentrations of blood lipids and ELIZA was used to test the concentrations of serum APN.For the aortic tissues, oil red O staining was used to detect the surface lesion percentage.Masson staining was used to evaluate the collagen content and fibrous cap thickness of the plaque area.Immunofluorescence method was used to detect APN and NF-κB p65 expression.Western blot was used to de-tect the expressions of APN,nuclear NF-κB p65 and the downstream factors of NF-κB pathway.Results APN inhibited the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE-/-mice.The lesion formation in aortic sinus was significantly inhibited ( P<0.01).Compared with the control group, the oil red O staining showed that the surface area ratio of atherosclerotic le-sions was decreased significantly in the Ad-APN group ( P<0.001 ): the percentage of surface lesions in the 4 weeks groups was 27.78 ±8.64 vs.33.02 ±5.18 (%);the 8 weeks groups was 31.58 ±5.87 vs.52.16 ±5.79 (%) .As the serum APN was increased,the concentration of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly decreased( P<0.001 for all) , and the growth of body weight was slowed down(P<0.05).APN effectively inhibited the expression of NF-κB nuclear protein p65 and inflammatory factors.Conclusions Adiponectin reduces the inflammatory reactions in atherosclerosis through in-hibiting the NF-κB pathway.

To construct a recombinant plasmid Pet23a-M, the gene encoding severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus membrane protein was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into the expression plasmid Pet23a. Results of restriction endonuclease analysis, PCR detection and DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the cloned DNA sequence was the same as that reported. The recombinants were transformed into Escherichia coli (E. Coli) BL21 (DE3) and induced by Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The expression of 27 kD (1 kD=0.992 1 ku) protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and pured by metal chelated chromatography. Results of Western-blot showed that this expressed protein could react with antibodies in sera of SARS patients during convalescence. This provided the basis for the further study on SARS virus vaccine and diagnostic agents.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Membrane Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Membrane Proteins/genetics ; Membrane Proteins/isolation & purification ; Plasmids/biosynthesis ; Plasmids/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus/chemistry ; SARS Virus/*genetics ; Viral Vaccines/biosynthesis

0bjective To investigate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels or bronchi by 16-row muhislice computed tomography(MSCT)and analyze the related factors.Methods Fifty-four patients with peripheral lung cancer confirmed pathologically underwent contrast-erdaanced MSC TI Multiplanar reformation(MPR)and maximum intensity projection(MIP)in all patients were used to demonstrate the relationships between the peripheral lung cancer and pulmonary vessels,bronchi.The relationships were categorized five types:Type 1,erupted at the edge of nodule. Type 2,erupted at the center of nodule.Type 3,penetrated through the nodule.Type 4,contacting the nodule but stretched or encased.Type 5,contacting the nodule but smoothly compressed.The pathology type,stage,size,density and location of the peripheral lung cancer were recorded and the relationships with five types were evaluated by using Chi-square test and correlation analysis.Results (1)Tumor-bronchi relationship:type 1(33,61.1%)was more often seen in≥2.0 cm and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2(14,25.9%)was often seen in<2.0 am and part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(2)Tumor-PA relationship:Type 1 was more often seen in≥2.0 am and solid lesions with stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ.while Type 2 was often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions with stage Ⅰ.(3)Tumor-PV relationship:type 4 was the most common type(29,53.7%).Type 2(13,24.1%)was more often seen in part-solid or non-solid lesions.(4)Tumor-bronchi relationship and tumor-PA relationship had a positive correlation(r=0.5265,P<0.01).Conclusions MSCT can demonstrate the relations between the peripheral lung cancer and bronchi.PA and PV.It is useful for the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of the lung csncer.

The immune effect of two recombinant protein fragments of spike protein in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) was investigated in Balb/c mice. Two partial spike gene fragments S1 (322-1464 bp) and S2 (2170-2814 bp) of SARS coronavirus were amplified by RT-PCR, and cloned into pET-23a prokaryotic expression vector, then transformed into competent Escherichia E.coli BL21 (DE3)(pLysS) respectively. Recombinant proteins were expressed and purified by Ni2+ immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The purified proteins mixed with complete Freund adjuvant were injected into Balb/c mice three times at a two-week interval. High titer antibody was detected in the serum of immunized Balb/c mice, and mice immunized with S1 protein produced high titer IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3, while those immunized with S2 protein produced high titer IgG1, IgG2a, but lower titer IgG2b and IgG3. Serum IFN-γ concentration was increased significantly but the concentrations of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 had no significant change. And a marked increase was observed in the number of spleen CD8+ T cells. The results showed that recombinant proteins of SARS coronavirns spike protein induced hormonal and cellular immune response in Balb/c mice.

Objective To construct a prokaryotic expression system containing the dense granule protein 4(GRA4) of Toxoplasma gondii,purify the expressed protein and detect its immunogenicity.Methods The specific fragment of GRA4 gene was amplified by PCR.After subcloning the prokaryotic expression recombinant pET,GRA4,the expressed product was purified with His?BindTM affinity chromatography and analyzed by Western blot.BALB/c mice were immunized with the GRA4 recombinant protein,and the antibody IgG titer was detected by ELISA.Results The pET,GRA4 prokaryotic expression system was obtained.The MW of the expressed protein was Mr 40 000 and formed in inclusion body.After purification,the recombinant protein could be specifically recognized by the T.gondii infected rabbit serum.Mice immunized with the purified recombinant protein elicited high titer of IgG antibody.Conclusion The pET,GRA4 recombinant protein was successfully expressed and purified,which shows the immunogenicity.

Objective To explore the differential expression of lncRNAs in patients with depression and its relationship with personality traits and social support.Methods The differential expression of lncRNAs in 5 patients with depression (MDD) and 5 normal controls (NC) was screened by gene chip.To validate the gene chip dataset,qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression levels of these 10 lncRNAs in a separate set of 138 consecutive patients and 43 normal subjects,and then the relationships of lncRNA expression level with personality traits and social support were analyzed.Results A total of 2 649 lncRNAs were differentially expressed,of which 534 were up-regulated and 2 115 down-regulated.The expression levels of 8 lncRNAs analyzed by qRT-PCR in patients with depression were significantly down-regulated (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The △Ct value of PY4 was negatively correlated with anxiety/somatization factor (r=-0.210,P＜0.05),and the △Ct values of PY1,PY2 and PY6 were negatively correlated with the social support availability (r=-0.383,-0.391,-0.381 all P＜0.05).Apart from PY1,the △Ct values of the other lncRNAs were negatively correlated with paranoid (P＜0.05),the △Ct values of PY3,PY6 and PY9 were negatively correlated with the borderline and obsessive-compulsive (P＜0.05) and except for PY10,the △Ct values of the other lncRNAs were negatively correlated with the schizoid (P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression levels of theses 8 lncRNAs are significantly down-regulated in patients with depression,and there is a certain correlation with anxiety/somatization factor,personality traits and social support.