Objective To investigate the influence of acupuncture therapy on neural stem cell (NCS) proliferation and differentiation in the hippocampus of the senescence-accelerated prone-8 (SAP8) mouse. Methods Twenty-four SAP8 mice were randomly and equally divided into a model group and an acupuncture group. Twelve senescence-accelerated resistant ( SAR1 ) mice served as the control group. Acupuncture was administered at the Baihui (DU20) point to mice in the acupuncture group once daily for 21 consecutive days. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was used to detect the proliferation and differentiation of NCSs in the hippocampus through double-labeled immunofluoresSAR1 group, the positive cells in the SAP8 group were significantly fewer Compared to the SAP8 group, positive cells markers of neuron or glia cell positive cells appeared. Compared to the SAR1 group, the expression of BrdU/GFAP increased in the SAP8 group, and decreased after acupuncture but not significantly. BrdU/S-100 β cells decreased significantly in the SAP8 group, and increased after acupuncture, but again not significantly. Compared to the SAR1 group BrdU/GalC positive cells increased significantly in the SAP8 group and decreased significantly after acupuncture.Conclusions After acupuncture treatment for 21 days, the differentiation of hippocampal NSCs into oligodendrocytes was inhibited, but there was little effect on their differentiating into neurons and immature astrocytes.

Objective To prospectively evaluate 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3DTOF MRA) and high resolution contrast enhanced volume scan magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) with sensitivity encoding in diagnosing craniocervical artery stenosis. Methods Forty-six patients suspected with craniocervical artery diseases underwent MRI, 3DTOF MRA of the head and also CEMRA of the neck. The images of MRA were reconstructed with MIP and VR. The degree of arterial stenosis demonstrated on MRA was compared with that showed on digital subtraction angiography(DSA), and the data were analyzed with Spearman rank correlation coefficient (Rs). Results Excellent correlation in determining the degree of craniocervical artery stenosis existed between MRA and DSA (Rs = 0.97). With DSA as a golden standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRA in detecting over 50% arterial stenosis were 100%, 99.4% and 99.4% respectively. Conclusion 3DTOF MRA and CEMRA with sensitivity encoding at 3.0T are reliable and effective examinations for evaluating craniocervical artery disease. These techniques can be used as the necessary exams before DSA and can even substitute for the conventional DSA in some instances.

Objective To detect the characteristics of benign infantile seizures.Methods Fifty seven cases of benign infantile seizures were analyzed.Results All patients had a normal development before and after the onset of the seizures.The age of onset was from 1.5-30 months.The main manifestations included tonic clonic seizure,staring and motion arrest,64.9 % occurred in clusters.A family history of epilepsy or febrile seizures was present in 6 cases.Interictel electroen cephalograms were normal.The seizures were easily ceased after taking phenobarbital,carbamazepine or valproate.Antiepileptic drugs(AEDs)were discontinued in 51 patients.The mean ages of seizure stopping were 12.8 months and mean seizure′s durations were 4.1 months.Conclusion The benign infantile seizures can be easily controlled with a single AEDs for short time with favorable prognosis.

Objective To explore the clinical correlation of the variation of plasma homocysteine (HCY), melatonin (MLT) and ulceative colitis (UC). Methods The clinical data of 112 UC patients was collected, and 110 normal healthy persons as control. The level of plasma HCY and MLT was detected by high pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) method. The level of plasma folate ( FA) and vitamin B12 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The correlation of these four indexes and UC was analyzed. Results The serum level of HCY in UC patients was significantly higher than that in normal healthy persons [(11. 27± 7.26) μmol/L vs (8. 19±4. 81) μmol/L, P = 0. 000]. The serum level of MLT in UC patients was significantly lower than that in normal healthy persons [(49. 06 + 31. 40) pg/ml vs (64. 28±41. 16) pg/ml,P=0. 008]. The serum level of FA in UC patients was significantly lower than that in normal healthy persons [(7. 64 + 1.95) nmol/L vs (9. 14 + 1.23) nmol/L, P = 0. 005]. The serum level of vitamin B12 in UC patients was significantly lower than that in normal healthy persons [(108. 64 ±32. 22) pmol/L vs (112. 64±33. 33) pmol/L, P = 0. 004]. There was no correlation between plasma HCY, MLT and UC disease activity degree, range, disease duration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or C reactive protein (CRP) in UC patients. There was no significant correlation between MLT and HCY in UC patients. Conclusions The serum level of HCY is higher in UC patients than that in normal control, and MLT is lower than that in normal control. However there is no significant correlation between them.

Background The condition of the sclera is associated with many ocular diseases.The measurement of human scleral thickness in vivo is helpful for us to understand the features of the sclera and related diseases.Objective The present study was to measure the anterior sclera thickness(AST) in patients with senile cataract and to analyze the relationship among AST and other associated ocular parameters.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to examination.One hundred and five senile cataract patients were recruited in this study.Central corneal thickness (CCT),corneal curvature (CCV) and axial length were measured using ultrasonic pachymeter,keratometer,and A-scan unit,respectively.The AST was measured at 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur in the temporal meridian using ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM).The differences of CCT,CCV,ocular axial length and AST between bilateral eyes and the different sexes were compared by the Paired test and independent sample t test.The correlations among various parameters were assessed by the Pearson linear correlation analysis.The differences of CCT and AST among different axial length groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA.Results No significant differences were found in the CCT,CCV,axial length and AST between bilateral eyes (t =0.584,P =0.561 ; t =1.161,P =0.248 ; t =0.140,P =0.889 ; t =0.342,P =0.773).Temporal AST at 2 mm posterior to the sclera spur was (0.589 ±0.051)mm in the right eyes.An insignificant decline in CCT was found in the male group compared with the female group (right eyes:t =0.469,P =0.641 ; left eyes:t =0.465,P =0.643).However,compared with the female group,the increase of axial length,reduction of the mean CCV value and enhancement of the mean AST were observed(right eyes:all P＜0.01 ;left eyes:all P＜0.01).CCV showed a negative correlation with ocular axial length (r =-0.50,P＜0.01),but no significant correlation was found among age,CCT,ocular axial length and AST(P＞0.05).No remarkable differences were found in CCT and AST among the various axial length groups (CCT:F =0.998,P=0.372;AST:F=1.919,P=0.383).Conclusions In senile cataract patients,correlation is not found between AST and CCT;the increase of axial length is not associated with the thinning of the eyeball wall to a certain extent.Differences exist in some ocular parameters between different sexes.

Background A close relation between sclera thickness and glaucoma has been determined.Clinical features vary in different types of glaucoma patients,which hints that the scleral thickness might be distinct among these patients.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of central corneal thickness(CCT),anterior scleral thickness(AST) and axial length in glaucomatous patients.Methods This study was approved by the Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Peking University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to the examination.A retrospective descriptive study was designed.One hundred and sixty consecutive patients were recruited from March,2009 to November,2010 in First Hospital of Peking University,including 35 eyes with primary angle closure glaucoma(PACG) (35 cases),34 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma POAG) (34 cases),37 eyes with normal tension glaucoma(NTG) (37 cases)and 17 eyes of ocular hypertension OHT) (17 cases).Thirty-seven eyes of 37 subjects with incipient cataract served as the control group.CCT and ocular axial length were measured with ultrasonic pachymeter and A-scan unit,respectively,and AST at the temporal quadrant 2 mm posterior to the scleral spur was measured by ultrasonic biomicroscopy (UBM).The measuring parameters among different groups were compared by analysis of covariance,and the correlations of AST,CCT with ocular axial length were analyzed using Pearson linear correlation and linear regression.The differences and correlation of CCT,AST and AL among five groups were analyzed.Results The CCT values in PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were (535.54 ± 5.20),(550.47 ± 5.28),(521.61 ± 5.07),(575.75 ± 7.76) and (535.06± 5.06) μm,respectively,showing a significant difference among them (F =9.560,P =0.000),and the CCT value of OHT group was increased in comparison with POAG group,PACG group,NTG group and control group(all P =0.000).The CCT of the POAG group was thicker than that in the PACG group,NTG group and control group(P=0.046,0.000,0.040).No significant difference was found in CCT among NTG group,PACG group and control group(P=0.950,0.060).The AST values of PACG group,POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group were(0.593±0.050),(0.600±0.050),(0.592-±0.060),(0.610-±0.060) and(0.604±0.060) mm,respectively,showing a insignificant difference among them (F =0.700,P =0.590).The axial length in the patients with PACG was shorter than that of the POAG group,NTG group,OHT group and control group (all P =0.000).The Pearson correlation analysis showed significantly positive correlation between CCT and AST in POAG group and NTG group(r=0.445,P=0.008;r=0.400,P=0.014).Conclusions This study confirms that there is dissimilarity in CCT but not in AST among different types of glaucomatous patients.The changes of CCT and AST are consistent in POAG and NTG patients.

Background Researches showed that microperimetry can exhibit more tiny visual function damage than conventional perimetry in glaucomatous eyes.However,the study on fixation stability of glaucoma is still rare until now.Objective This study was to compare the correlation between microperimetry Maia (Macular Integrity Assessment) and Humphrey perimetry,and to investigate the changes of the fixation stability in glaucoma patients with hemifield defect.Methods This study proposal was approved by Medical Ethic Committee of Peking University First Hospital.A cross-sectional study was performed under the informed consent of each subject.Thirtyfive eyes of 35 glaucoma patients with hemifield defect by 24-2 Humphrey perimetry were included in Peking University First Hospital from December 2013 to March 2014,and 30 eyes of 30 normal volunteers served as controls.Both Humphery (10-2) and Maia (expert 10-2) were performed on the subjects respectively and the correlation of the results between Humphery (10-2) and Maia (expert 10-2) were analyzed.Then the patients with normal hemifield on Humphrey were assigned to Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group.Fixation stability differences were compared between glaucoma group and normal control group,and between Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group.Results The moderately positive correlation was found in the mean sensitivity between Maia microperimetry and Humphrey perimetry (r=0.403,P =0.001),and the average threshold of Maia microperimetry was moderately positive correlated with the mean defect (MD) of Humphrey perimetry in glaucoma patients (r=0.438,P =0.008).The fixation stability parameter P1 was (67±17)％ and (87±10)％,and that of P2 was (70±16)％ and (88±9)％;the 63％ bicurve elipse area (BCEA) was (5.08±1.55) °2and (2.21±0.60) °2,and the 95％ BCEA was (14.74± 6.04) °2 and (2.86 ± 1.17)°2 in the glaucoma group and normal control group,respectively,showing significant decreases of P1 and P2 and increases of 63％ BCEA and 95％ BCEA in the glaucoma group compared with the normalcontrol group (t=-5.604,-4.831,9.885,11.086,all at P=0.000).In Maia normal group and Maia abnormal group,the P1 was (79±8)％ and (63±17)％,the P2 was (81±10)％ and (67±16)％,the 63％ BCEA was (3.19±0.65)°2 and (5.70±1.22)°2 and the 95％ BCEA was (9.10±2.60)°2 and (19.35±5.01)°2,respectively.Compared with the Maia normal group,the P1 and P2 were significantly lower,and 63％ BCEA and 95 ％ BCEA were higher in the Maia abnormal group (t=-2.468,P=0.019;t=-2.371,P=0.024;t =5.514,P=0.000;t=5.575,P=0.000).Conclusions Maia microperimetry and Humphrey perimetry yield a good correlation for glaucomatous macular function examination.In addition,Maia microperimetry showed that fixation stability decreased in glaucoma patients with hemifield defect.

OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention of electro-acupuncture (EA) on cycloxygenase (COX) mRNA and protein expression induced by human recombination tumor necrosis factor-alpha (hrTNF).

METHODSAir sac model was established by implanted an autoclaved teflon chamber into back of rat (SPF grade). Ten days after modeling, 90 qualified rats, in them inflammation not detected, were randomly divided into three groups, the control group, the TNF model (model) group and the TNF +EA (TE) group, with 30 cases in each. To rats in the control group, 1 mL of saline was injected into the sac, but to those in the model and TE groups, 2 ng/mL hrTNF in a volume of 1 mL was used instead to induce local inflammatory responses. Immediately after then, EA (2 Hz, 5 mA and persistent waves) was applied to bilateral Quchi points (LI11) of rats in the TE group for 30 min. Fluid in the sac was drawn out at various time points (1, 5 and 24 h) after injection to measure the COX-2 mRNA expression by RT-PCR and COX-2 protein expression by Western blot.

RESULTSLevel of COX-2 mRNA expression in the control group was significantly different to that in the other two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). COX-2 mRNA expression at the 24th hour and COX-2 protein expression at the 1st hour were significantly lower in the TE group than those in the model group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSIONEA could effectively intervene the mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 induced by hrTNF, which is possibly by way of pro-inflammatory cytokine regulating.

Air Sacs ; enzymology ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; enzymology ; therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

Adult ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; pathology ; Male ; Neurocytoma ; pathology

BackgroundSweep pattern visual evoked potential(SPVEP) acuity,as an objective detective technique of visual function,can be used to measure visual acuity in children and uncooperative adults.Recent studies have shown that the amplitude-logarithm of the visual angle (A-LogVA) function regression method was more accurate than the amplitude-spatial frequency (A-SP)function regression method in evaluating SPVEP acuity.Objective This study was to explore the clinical use of SPVEP acuity in visual developing children and compare the evaluating the SPVEP acuity of children between A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method.Methods Twenty-six eyes of 26 asthenopic children with age range of 3-12 years and 31 age-matched normal children were enrolled in this study.SPVEP acuity was recorded with GT-2000 NV ( GUOTE MEDICAL APPARATUS LTD,China) using sinusoidally modulated horizontal gratings of 10 different spatial frequencies from 0.99 to 12.89 cpd as stimulus.The responses were averaged and displayed through discrete Fourier transformations (DFT) on the monitor display.SPVEP acuity was estimated by using both the SPVEP A-SP function regression method and the SPVEP A-LogVA function regression method.The LogMAR chart was used to acquire LogMAR visual acuity.ResultsIn the normal group,the correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-SP function regression method was 0.600 (P＜0.01).The correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-LogVA function regression method was 0.733 ( P＜0.01 ).The ANOVA of the LogMAR acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 113.173 (P＜0.01 ),which indicated that there were significant difference among all of subjects.The differences of the mean values of LogMAR visual acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were respectively 0.40±0.02,0.26 ±0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.02.In the amblyopia group,the correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-SP function regression method was 0.134 (P =0.515 ).The correlation coefficient between LogMAR visual acuity and acuity calculated by the A-LogVA function regression method was 0.456 ( P＜0.05 ).The ANOVA of the LogMAR acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 3.433 (P＜0.05),indicating that there were significant difference among all of subjects.The differences of the mean values of LogMAR visual acuity and the SPVEP acuity calculated from the A-SP function regression method and A-LogVA function regression method were 0.07±0.05,0.12±0.05 and 0.05 ±0.01 respectively.Conclusions SPVEP can evaluate the visual acuity in children,although SPVEP acuity may overestimate or underestimate acuity in comparison with different LogMAR visual acuities.The amplitude-LogVA function regression method is more accurate in extrapolating SPVEP acuity.