[Summary] Autophagy is an intracellular degradation process by which the damaged organelles and macromolecules are lysosomal dependently degraded by auto‐phagocyte under the control of autophagy‐related genes. The autophagy level in hypothalamus and adipose tissue changes in obese individuals.Autophagy participates in the regulation of food intake and energy balance ,and associates with adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. More and more attention has been paid to the relationship between autophagy and obesity w hich may guide the new research direction of pathogenesis study and therapy of obesity.

Objective To explore the relationship between corticospinal tract (CST) repairment and motor function recovery after rehabilitation in stroke patients by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods 15 stroke patients with internal capsule lesions and injured CST, 4-8 weeks after onset were included. They were scanned with DTI and assessed with the simple Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after 3-month rehabilitation. The fractional anisotropy (FA), FA ratio (rFA) and FA asymmetry (FAasy) in cerebral peduncle, posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) and corona radiate were obtained. The correlation of differences of FA, rFA and FAasy of CST with FMA was analyzed. Results The scores of FMA increased after treatment (P<0.01). The FA of the ipsilesional CST were significantly less than that of contralesional ones before and after rehabilitation. There was statistical differences in FA, rFA and FAasy in the corona radiate section of CST after treatment (P<0.05), but was not in the cerebral peduncle and PLIC section. However, there was no significant correlation of FA, rFA and FAasy of corona radiate section to scores of FMA. Conclusion DTI can respond to the repairment of corticospinal tract after stroke, especially in the corona radiate section.

Objective To explore brain plasticity of upper extremities motor function recovery after stroke with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods 25 stroke patients with internal capsule lesions and affected corticospinal tract (CST), 4-8 weeks after onset, were divided randomly into rehabilitation group (n=13) and control group (n=12). Both groups received routine medication and the rehabilitation group also received rehabilitation. All the patients were scanned with DTI and assessed with upper extremity Fugl-Myer Assessment (UE-FMA) before and 3 months after treatment. The fractional anisotropy (FA), FA ratio (rFA) and FA asymmetry (FAasy) in cerebral peduncle, posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) and corona radiate were obtained. The bilateral corticospinal tracts were reconstructed with diffusion tensor tractography. Results The scores of UE-FMA increased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and increased more in the rehabilitation group than in the control group (P<0.05). There was significant difference in FA, rFA and FAasy in the corona radiate section of CST after treatment in the rehabilitation group (P<0.05), but was not in the cerebral peduncle and PLIC section. However, there was no significant differences in FA, rFA and FAasy in the control group. The ipsilesional CST fibers were more compact after treatment in the rehabilitation group. Conclusion Rehabilitation can improve the upper extremities function recovery after stroke, which may associated with the repairment of CST in the corona radiate section.

Adult ; Foot Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Melorheostosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To assess the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging in the pathological damage of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis on children by comparison with renal biopsy.Methods 50 cases of healthy control group as group A; 58 children with HSPN were divided into three groups according to pathological grading:Ⅰ ～ Ⅱ class (group B),Ⅲ class (group C) and Ⅳ ～ Ⅵ class (group D).ARFI was then used to measure the shear wave velocities(SWV) of renal cortex of each group,compared the differences SWV of each group.Results SWV values of children's renal cortex with HSPN were significantly higher (t =5.883,P =0.017) than those in the group A.Pairwise comparisons found that there were statistically significant differences between group D and the other three groups (P ＜0.05).According the ROC curve,the cut-off value of SWV was 2.59 m/s when the maximum area under the curve equal to 0.719,the sensitivity and specificity were 63％ and 67％.Conclusions ARFI technology can quantify the elastic properties of the kidney,which is expected as an important indicator to evaluate the pathological extent of damage of the HSPN.

BACKGROUND:At present, the separation and culture technique of chondrocytes has been mature, but the chondrocytes grow slowly which are prone to degenerate using the present technique. It is not conducive to the fol ow-up test.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate and improve the separation and culture method of articular chondrocytes of New Zealand rats at 4 weeks of age.
METHODS:New Zealand rats aged 4 weeks were selected to take cartilage tissues from the bilateral knees that were resected under aseptic condition. Chondrocytes were isolated by type Ⅱ col agenase enzyme digestion and mechanical isolation method. The cells were cultured and passaged, and then identified by morphologic observation, toluidine blue staining and type Ⅱ col agen enzyme immunohistochemical methods. Growth curve was pictured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Inverted microscope observation showed that the primary cultured chondrocytes adhered at 6 hours after cultivation. The monolayer formation occurred at 72 hours after cultivation, and the cells were ready to be passaged at 96 hours after cultivation. In the fourth generation, some cells represented a spindle-like appearance. In the fifth generation, most cells turned into irregular shape appearance, and cellproliferation capacity diminished. Toluidine blue staining showed that the nuclei of cultured chondrocytes were blue and cytoplasm was pale blue. Immunofluorescent staining showed that cultured chondrocytes had a positive expression of col agen type Ⅱ and the color was tawny. Proliferative rate of chondrocytes in the first to third generations had no differences (P<0.05), while differences were found compared with the fourth generation in 4-7 days (P<0.05) and the fifth generation in 1-7 days (P<0.05). The results indicate that type Ⅱ col agenase enzyme digestion and mechanical isolation method is successful for isolating, cultivating New Zealand rat articular chondrocytes in vitro, and the first to third generations can be the best choice for the experiments of knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Using the method of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, to observe the activities of rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) intervened by Tongluo Jiunao Injection (TLJNI), a traditional Chinese compound drug removing toxin to dredge brain collaterals, and then further study the effects of different kinds of conditioned mediums (CMECs-CM) of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells on ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion cerebral cortex cells, and to probe into the drug pharmacological mechanisms of CMECs in modulating the neurons. METHODS: Three kinds of CMECs (normal, ischemic and ischemic/reperfusional) were all treated by TLJNI previously, and then the three pairs of CMECs-CM without serum were collected respectively for LDH assay. Rat cerebral cortex neurons were also primarily cultured and then divided into similar three groups (normal, ischemic and ischemic/reperfusional). The neuron responses caused by CMECs-CM at different concentrations were observed by using LDH transudation rate assay. RESULTS: The LDH release values of ischemic and ischemic/reperfusional CMECs with TLJNI treatment were obviously reduced (P<0.01) compared with the same kinds of CMECs untreated. For ischemic neurons, both conditioned medium of ischemic CMECs (Is-CM) and conditioned medium of ischemic CMECs with drug treatment (IsT-CM) in high concentration of 100% increased the LDH transudation rate (P<0.01), while in low concentration of 10%, IsT-CM reduced the transudation rate (P<0.05). For ischemia/reperfusion neurons, all kinds of CMECs-CM reduced the transudation rate respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). As far as each group concentration was concerned, 10% or 50% showed relatively stronger effects, and both conditioned medium of normal CMECs (N-CM) group and conditioned medium of ischemic/reperfusional CMECs (Rp-CM) group had statistical significance (P<0.05 or P<0.01). For normal neurons, all kinds of CMECs-CM increased the transudation rate respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). As far as each group concentration was concerned, only conditioned medium of normal CMECs (N-CM) had statistical significance (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The study shows that TLJNI is capable of preventing the damage of CMECs from both ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion states. Chinese drug can restrain the brain ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion damage by the media that CMECs modulate the neurons, demonstrating the pharmacological mechanisms of TLJNI. This work also indicates that there exist some active substances against ischemia/reperfusion injury secreted from CMECs-CM with TLJNI treatment.

Objective To examine the composition and distribution of animal reservoir of plague in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and so as to accumulate basic data for making the plague prevention and control measures. Methods Rodents were captured by cages in six monitoring spots of Quanzhou city between 2000 and 2009. Then rodents and flea species were identified. Rats liver and spleen homogenates were detected of plague F1 antigen by reverse indirect hemagglutination test (RIHA); rats serum were detected of plague F1 antibody by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). ResultsA total of 26 264 rodents were captured between 2000 and 2009.Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus were dominant species, which were accounted for 45.97％ (12 074/26 264)and 32.01％(8407/26 264), respectively. The account of Rattus flavipectus captured between 2005 and 2009 was (26.99 ± 2.46)％ and (37.03 ± 3.79)％ between 2000 and 2004. The difference was statistically significant (t =4.97, P ＜ 0.05). Total rodent densities was (6.86 ± 1.44)％, including(5.36 ± 1.83)％ in mountains and (6.81 ±1.66)％ in coastal areas, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(t =1.01, P ＞ 0.05). Total flea index and flea infection rate of rodents were 1.39 ± 0.34 and (35.90 ± 5.34)％, respectively. Xenopsylla Cheopis index was 1.20 and free flea index was 0.009. Flea infection rate was (32.36 ± 0.96)％ between 2005 and 2009, which was lower than (39.44 ± 0.39)％ between 2000 and 2004(t =2.76, P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsThe major rodent species found in Quanzhou city is Rattus norvegicus. Xenopsylla Cheopis is the dominant flea species.Spreading of plague among Rattus is not found.

Objective To investigate the role of the expression of latent transforming growth factor beta binding protein-1 (LTBP-1) and transforming growth factor beta receptor type Ⅱ(TGF-beta R Ⅱ) in the pathogenesis of condyloma acuminatum (CA). Methods Samples were resected from the lesions of 30 patients with CA and prepuces of 17 normal human controls. The mRNA and protein expressions of LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and a streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase staining technique, respectively. Results As shown by Real time PCR, the mRNA expression levels of LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ were significantly higher in CA tissues than those in the controls, with the average value of 2 (-Delta Delta α) being 2.46 and 3.43, respectively. A lower intensity of stainning was observed for LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ in CA tissues compared with the normal controls (182.51±9.89 vs 167.78±12.56, 187.35± 11.23 vs 170.15±13.21, t = 5.62, 3.70 respectively, both P <0.01). Conclusion The decrease in the expres-sion of both LTBP-1 and TGF-betaR Ⅱ may lead to the abnormality in the activation of TGF-beta and signal transduction pathways.