[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

Chloroplast genome sequences have comprehensive application prospects in DNA barcoding and chloroplast engineering in traditional Chinese medicine. The complete chloroplast genome of Magnolia officinalis sequenced by high-throughput pyrosequencing and a sequencing procedure was established. Fourteen contigs were obtained after de nove assembly. The sequencing percent of coverage was 99.99%. The chloroplast genome is 160 183 bp in size, and has a typical quadripartite structure with the large (LSC, 88 210 bp) and small copy (SSC, 18 843 bp) regions separated by two copies of an inverted repeat (IRs, 26 565 bp each). chloroplast genes were successfully annotated, of which 17 genes located in each IR region. The chloroplast genome features in Magnolia officinalis are nearly identical to those from other Magnoliid chloroplast genomes. Phylogenetic analyses were performed based on 81 shared coding-genes for a total of 9 Magnolia samples of 5 closely related species. Results showed that distinguishing among species was generally straightforward at the species and population level. This study confirmed the effectiveness of our chloroplast genome sequencing procedure. The chloroplast genome can provide distinguishing differences to help identify Magnolia officinalis and its closely related plants.

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.

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.

ObjectiveTo analyze the association of human urate transporter 1 ( hURAT1 ) gene promoter single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) with primary hyperuricemia ( HUA ) in Chinese Han people.MethodsA total of 215 patients with HUA and 323 healthy subjects were chosen to be investigated of SNP of hURAT1 promoter by PCR and sequencing.ResultsFive SNPs were identified,including-454A/T,-434T/C,-382C/T,-87C/T,and + 118G/A.Pairwise linkage disequilibrium analysis displayed a high linkage disequilibrium between the five SNPs ( r2 =0.99).In HUA group,the heterozygous genotypos ( AT,CT,CT,CT,AG ) frequencies were significantly lower than those in control group ( P＜0.05 ).Logistic regression analysis showed that the heterozygosis genotypes ( AT,CT,CT,CT,AG) were protective factors of HUA ( OR 0.68-0.75 ).The minor allele ( T,C,T,T,A ) frequencies for both SNPs were significantly different between two groups ( P =0.022,P =0.038 ).ConclusionThese findings indicate that -454A/T,-434T/C,-382C/T,-87C/T,and + 118G/A SNPs of hURAT1 gene promoter area are associated with HUA in Chinese Han population.

Objective To investigate the safety , feasibility , and clinical application value of digital sub-traction angiography ( DSA) -guided insertion of totally implantable venous access port ( TIVAP) in patients with digestive system cancer .Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 15 digestive system cancer patients who were inserted with TIVAP under DSA guidance between April 2013 and January 2016, recorded the TIVAP-related complications and indwelling time, and investigated the patients’satisfaction about TIVAP.Paired rank sum test was used for the differences in patients’quality of life before and after the insertion of TIVAP.Results Of the 15 digestive system cancer patients , operation success rate of TIVAP insertion was 100%, with the success rate of venipuncture on first attempt being 100%.The incidence of complication was 6.67% ( 1/15 ) , which was manifested as pull feeling at the neck occurring in the eighth month after insertion .The indwelling time of TIVAP was from 2 to 28 months, with a median value of 9 months.Patients’satisfaction rate of TIVAP was 86.67%(13/15).The proportion of patients with a good quality of life was 100%(15/15), statically signifi-cantly higher than that before the insertion [46.67%(7/15), Z=-3.416, P=0.000).Conclusions TIVAP insertion under DSA guidance in digestive system cancer patients is safe and feasible , with few complications and fair patient satisfaction .It may improve the patient ’s quality of life , worthy of clinical application .

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