Techniques for functional brain imaging are critical to analyze the information processing of brain and to reveal the advanced functions in brain. These techniques are the hot topics of international research. Great success has been obtained with neuroimaging techniques in the fields of neuroscience research and clinical diagnosis. Existing brain functional imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI),positron emission tomography (PET),electroencephalogram (EEG),magnetoencephalography (MEG) and so on,have been successfully used to study brain function. However,these methods have some limitations unavoidably in the temporal or spatial resolution at present. Comparatively,the optical imaging technologies of brain function show their unique charms. Laser speckle imaging (LSI) and intrinsic optical signals imaging (IOSI) stand out because they offer a superior combination of spatial sampling,spatial resolution and temporal resolution; on the other hand,they have no need to use exogenous contrast agents. Great developments also have been obtained in both techniques and applications of brain optical imaging,and they have become powerful tools for in vivo studying functional architecture and pathophysiology in cerebral cortex by monitoring hemodynamics. However,the two optical imaging techniques are confronted with some challenges.

Objective To explore the effect of aerobic exercise on cardiac function,heart rate recovery and the quality of life of elderly heart disease patients.Methods One hundred senile heart disease patients were studied.They were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group,with 50 in each group.Both groups were provided with the conventional anti-platelet aggregation treatment,dilation of blood vessels and control of blood pressure.The observation group was also given individualized aerobic exercise training.At the outset and after 3 months the cardiac function and heart rate recovery of both groups were observed,and their quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 life quality scale.Results After the treatment,the average left ventricular ejection fraction of those in the observation group was significantly better than before the treatment,and significantly better than the average among the controls.The average 6-minute walking test time and average maximum oxygen uptake in the observation group were also significantly better than before the treatment and significantly better than among the controls.The average peak heart rate and HRR1 in the observation group had increased significantly,and significantly more than those of the control group.The average total SF-36 score in the observation group was also significantly higher.Conclusion Individualized aerobic exercise can significantly improve cardiac function and promote heart rate recovery in elderly patients with heart disease,which is of clinical value for improving their quality of life.

Objective To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide′s donor NaHS on the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in adipocytes and its mechanism.Methods 3T3-L1 cells were induced to differentiate into adipocytes and incubated with various concentrations of NaHS or 10 μg/ml caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK for 24 hours.The expressions of NLRP3(NLR family, pyrin domain containing 3), ASC(apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing CARD domain), caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in adipocytes, as well as the content of IL-1 and IL-18 in culture medium were determined.Results 10, 25, and 50 nmol/L NaHS significantly decreased NLRP3, ASC, and cleaved-caspase-1 protein expressions in adipocytes, as well as IL-1β and IL-18 contents in culture medium in a dose-dependent manner.The mature-IL-1β/pro-IL-1β, mature-IL-18/pro-IL-18 ratios in adipocytes and IL-1β and IL-18 contents in culture medium were also reduced by 10μg/ml Ac-YVAD-CMK.Conclusion Donor of hydrogen sulfide NaHS inhibits the maturation and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18 in adipocytes through downregulating the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Seventy patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM),23 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 35 individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were recruited in the study.Fasting free fatty acids (fFFA) and postprandial free fatty acids (2 hFFA) after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were measured; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),area under the curve of free fatty acids (AUCFFA) were calculated.The carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by color ultrasonography.HOMA-IR,fFFA,2 hFFA,AUCFFA and IMT in T2DM group were 3.3 ±3.2,(0.55 ± 0.20) mmol/L,(0.28 ±0.18)mmol/L,(0.83 ±0.34)mmol · L-1 · h-1 and (0.12±0.05) cm,which were significantly higher than those in NGT group,respectively [1.9 ± 1.3,(0.41 ±0.15) mmol/L,(0.12 ± 0.10) mmol/L,(0.53 ± 0.20) mmol · L-1 · h 1 and (0.09 ± 0.03) cm,all P ＜0.05].Both HOMA-IR and IMT were positively correlated with fFFA,2 hFFA and AUCFFA (all P ＜ 0.05).The results indicate that the levels of fasting and postprantial free fatty acid were related with insulin resistance and atherosclerosis of carotid artery.

BACKGROUND:Acute myocardial infarction with acute onset is dangerous, but the aided diagnosis for hyperacute disease mainly depends on electrocardiogram. The advantages of tissue Doppler strain imaging were utilized to help early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE:To observe left ventricular transmural peak radial strain and strain time-to-peak of subendocardiac muscle, midmyocardium and subepicardiac muscle using tissue Doppler strain imaging in dogs before and after acute myocardial infarction, and to assess its mechanical characteristics.
METHODS:A total of 16 Beagle dog models of acute myocardial ischemia were established by ligating left anterior descending coronary artery. The two-dimensional apical short-axis views of the left ventricle in five complete cardiac cycles were acquired and stored in TDI-Q workstation before and after acute myocardial ischemia. Transmural peak radial strain and strain time-to-peak of segment, subendocardiac muscle, midmyocardium and subepicardiac muscle at infarct region and baseline were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Peak radial strains at infarct and subendocardiac muscle, midmyocardium and subepicardiac muscle were decreased compared with the baseline (P<0.05). Peak strain gradient disappeared in each layer of infarct myocardium. Strain time-to-peak of the whole segment and infarct myocardium at different layers was significantly postponed (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation of peak radial strain between subendocardium and segment as wel as between medium and segment at baseline (r=0.617, P<0.01;r=0.556, P<0.01). This relationship disappeared at infarct region (r=0.338, P>0.05;r=0.218, P>0.05). Results indicated that after acute myocardial infarction, peak strain gradient disappeared at different layers at infarct region. Acute myocardial ischemia induces peak radial strain decrease at subendocardium, medium, subepicardium and strain time-to-peak at infarct region was significantly postponed, which reflected abnormal cardiac structure and dysfunction, resulted in uncoordinated cardiac motion and asynchronous heart movement. This may be an important mechanical mechanism triggering heart failure.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and other clinical parameters were measured in patients with types 2 diabetes mellitu (with or without angiopathy of lower limbs). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hsCRP were higher in type 2 diabetic patients and those with angiopathy by Doppler ultrasonography than those in normal controls. The change of serum MMP-9 was positively correlated with the level of hsCRP. The extent of angiopathy was correlated positively with both hsCRP and MMP-9.

Objective To investigate the effect of sad mood to implicit memory of depressed individuals under the condition of percept-driven process. Methods Using the percept-driven implicit paradigm improved by Paller,26 depression subjects and 25 normal subjects completed study-test task and reported the gender of different emotional faces. Results ①There were main effects of time(F = 4.61, P<0.05)and mood state(F= 21.61, P <0.05) ,significant interaction of time and emotion(F = 4. 13, P<0. 05) ,no significant difference of group on visual analogue scale(VAS) mood ratings. ②Among the accuracy rate of subjects' gender judging to different emotional faces,there were significant main effects on time(F = 4.12, P<0.05)and experiment type (F = 20.55, P < 0.05) , and there was significant interaction of time and experiment type (F=31.72,P<0.05). ③Further simple effects analysis showed that the positive((80 ± 13)%vs(92 ± 10)% , F=65.06, P<0.05) ,negative((58 ± 12)%vs(91 ±10)%,F=10.00,P<0.05),neutral((84±16)%vs(88±9)%, F= 12.49, P < 0. 05) faces when the presentation time was 3600ms in experiment type had significant simple effects; the positive ((76 ± 12)%vs(85±10)%,F=54.72, P<0.05) ,neutral((82 ± 10)% vs(80 ± 10)% , F = 54.57, P<0.05)faces when the presentation time was 300 ms in experiment types had significant simple effects, while the accuracy of neutral faces had significant simple effect between the two groups. Conclusion Sad mood enhance the implicit memory of both depressed and normal subjects to positive and negative faces,and the accuracy rate in implicit processing to neutral faces of depressed group were lower than that of normal group.

6-OHDA was injected into the third cerebroventricle of rats.24 hours later,thanimals were sacrificed and the degeneration of catecholaminergic (CA) nerve term-inals were studied by electron microscopic cytochemical method.The results showedthat there were a number of degenerated nerve terminals in the arcuate nucleus.Thecharacteristics of these terminals were as follows:enhanced axoplasmic electron opa-sity,destroyed mitochondria and synaptic vesicles and the formation of dense bodies.The multilocular forms were commonly encountered.Most of degenerated terminalswere surrouded by processes of glial cells.The degnerated perikarya of the neuronsin arcuate nucleus with decreased RER,destroyed mitochondria and dense bodieswere also observed.Based on the characteristics of degenerated features the authorsbelieved that these damaged terminals should mainly belong to DA fibers.Theymight regulate or control the function of the arcuate nucleus by means of differentkinds of synaptic mechanisms.The source of DA nerve fibers may originate from A_(12)A_(14) or A_(15) cell groups of the hypothalamus.

To explore the effect of coriaria lactone (CL)-activated astrocyte-conditioned medium on the cerebral TNF-alpha of normal rats, the CL-activated astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) was injected into the lateral ventricle of SD rats. The rats were observed for behavioral changes, and the changes of the expression of TNF-alpha in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were immunohistochemically examined by employing SP method. TNF-alpha level was assessed by means of radioimmunoassay in homogenate of cerebral cortex and hippocampus as well as cerebrospinal fluid. Seizure episodes were observed in ACM group 30 min after the ACM injection, but they were not observed in the control group. Immunohistochemical detection showed that the immunoreaction of TNF-alpha in hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats were stronger than that of the control group 4 h after the ACM injection (P<0. 05). In this group, the concentrations of TNF-alpha in homogenate of cerebral cortex and hippocampus and cerebrospinal fluid were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). It is suggested that the ACM activated by CL can enhance the expression of TNF-alpha in normal rats, and is related to epileptogenesis.

A 24-week study was performed to compare the efficacies of before and after dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin phosphate 100 mg/d in 42 type 2 diabetics who were inadequately controlled with multiple oral antidiabetic drugs for at least 3 months.The treatment group sitagliptin phosphate fasting plasma glucose,2 h postprandial glucose (2 hPPG) and glycated hemoglobulin decreased significantly compared with before treatment [(9.3 ±1.2) to (6.5 ±1.9) mmol/L,(15.2 ±3.1) to (8.1 ±2.1)mmol/L,(8.2 ± 2.1) ％ to (6.7 ± 1.3) ％,all P ＜ 0.01].There was no hypoglycemia,weight gain or other adverse reactions.The short-term sitagliptin phosphate could effectively reduce the blood sugar levels of poorly controlled obese type 2 diabetics.With a low incidence of hypoglycemia and an excellent safety profilc,there was no weight gain.