Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a main type of syndrome from mild cognitive impairment to dementia,which is caused by cerebrovascular risk factors (eg,hypertension, diabetes,hyperlipemia),obvious (cerebral infarction and hemorrhage) or unobvious cerebrovascular disease (leukoaraiosis and chronic cerebral ischemia).Its incidence is increasing,however,its pathogenesis remains uncertain,and effective therapeutic tools are lacking.Therefore,an increasing attention is being paid to all aspects of studies.This article mainly reviews the recent development in research of neuropsychology,imaging,electrophysiology,biology,and gene.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrated that smooth muscle injury or ischemia/reperfusion injury result in tissue factor (TF) increasing. However, few reports concern the expression and mechanism of TF in venous bypass grafting.OBJECTIVE: To examine changes in TF protein expression in response to venous bypass grafting.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The animal observation experiment was performed at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from May 2006 to May 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.METHODS: Rats were underwent interposition bypass grafting of the common carotid artery via the ipsilateral external jugular vein. Namely, the proximal end of external jugular vein was ligated at the joints of external jugular vein and internal jugular vein, and the distal end of external jugular vein was ligated before branches. The proximal and distal ends of common carotid artery were occluded by artery clamp, and a 5 mm artery was removed. The proximal end of artery was anastomosed with distal end of artery, and the frontal wall was sutured with posterior wall. After that, the proximal end of external jugular vein was cut down and coincided with the distal end of common carotid artery.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The expression of TF and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Meantime, TF activity in vessel protein extracts was determined with TF activity assay kit, and the thickness of intima, media were calculated by computer imaging analysis system. The contralateral external jugular veins were served as the control.RESULTS: The adventitia of all vessels showed abundant TF staining. In early vein grafts, TF staining was markedly increased in the intima and media. However, intimal and media TF staining was absent in the contralateral control jugular veins and late vein grafts. The number of PCNA positive cells was increased in the vein grafts at day 3 after grafting, obvious increased at day 7, and reached the peak at day 14. TF activity in whole-vessel protein extracts was similar in control veins and early and late vein grafts. The thickness of neointima of the vein graft increased significantly at days 7, 14, and 28, and the thickness of media increased significantly at days 14 and 28.CONCLUSION: The changes of TF expression at various time points may relate to hyperplasia of neointima.

Objective To explore the effects of flunarizine hydrochloride on plasma calcitonin gene-related pep-tide and substance P levels after CSD in a rat migraine model of cortical spreading depression (CSD). Methods Thirty adult rats were randomly and evenly divided into three groups:control Group, CSD group and flunarizine group. The CSD waves were evoked by application of potassium chloride on brain surface with filter paper. Funarizine hydrochloride was intravenously administered to rats five minutes prior to application of potassium chloride. The plasma levels of CGRP and SP were measured by using radioimmunity assay. Statistical analyses were performed using two-sample t test and analy-sis of variance. Results CSD waves were absent in control group whereas CSD waves were induced in CSD and flunari-zine groups. The latency of the first CSD wave was longer in flunarizine group (167.90 ± 25.18 s) than in CSD group (130.90 ± 13.30 s) (P<0.01). The number of CSD waves was smaller in flunarizine group (4.50 ± 1.84) than in CSD group (8.50 ± 2.07) (P<0.01). The amplitude of CSD waves was lower in flunarizine group (11.40 ± 4.12 mv) than in CSD group (24.40±3.57 mv) (P<0.01). The levels of CGRP and SP in both CSD group (CGRP, 32.95±11.61 pg/mL;SP, 27.80±7.51 pg/mL) and flunarizine group (CGRP, 25.13 ± 5.67 pg/mL; SP, 19.45 ± 6.10 pg/mL) were higher than in control group (CGRP, 14.44 ± 6.39 pg/mL; SP, 12.36 ± 4.22 pg/mL) (P<0.01). The levels of CGRP and SP in flunarizine group (CGRP, 25.13±5.67 pg/mL;SP, 19.45±6.10 pg/mL) were lower than those in CSD group (CGRP, 32.95±11.61 pg/mL;SP, 27.80± 7.51 pg/mL) (P<0.05). Conclusions Flunarizine hydrochloride can inhibit CSD and reduce the plama levels of CGRP and SP in the rat model of CSD.

Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-1,MMP-3 and iNOS in cartilage of experimental rabbit osteoarthritis at different time intervals after anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)operation.The aim of this study is to provide the theoritical evidence for using ACLT rabbit model in Osteoarthritis(OA)research.Methods Unilateral ACLT was performed on 27 randomly selected while rabbits and underwent unilateral arthrotomy was performed on the other 9 white rabbits as the control group.Nine randomly selected white rabbits in experimental group were killed and 3 white rabbits in the control group at 4th,8th and 12th week respectively.Cartilage degradation of femoral condyles was evaluated macr-oscopically,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results Forepart OA cartilage degradation was observed at the 4th week and became more severe at the 8th week after ACLF.Afterpart cartilage degradation was evident at the 12th week after ACLT while cartilage still remained normal in the control group,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1.MMP-3 and iNOS were increased at the 4th week and became higher gradually at the 8th,12th week after ACLT compared with the control group.Expression distribution of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS bad different patterns respectively.Conclusion It is suggested that the process of OA cartilage degradation can be simulated by ACLT model and MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS may be good markers in therapeutical research of OA.

Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; injuries ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of correspondence analysis in ecological study.

METHODSWe adopted correspondence analysis method to analyze the relationship between the amount of food intake in some cities in China and the male gastric carcinoma mortality.

RESULTSAccording to scatter plots of row and column points, there were regional differences among the male gastric carcinoma mortality in different cities of China.

CONCLUSIONThe scatter plot of row and column points indicated directly that there were regional differences among the male gastric carcinoma mortality in different cities of China. Males from the Southern part of the country ate more rice and salt, less wheaten food and fewer light vegetables than those from the northern parts, suggesting that there might be some carcinogenic factors in some food stuff involved.

Carcinoma ; etiology ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Stomach Neoplasms ; etiology ; mortality

Adolescent ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the result of the cytokine network disorders,the imbalance of angiogenic factor and vascular inhibitory factor is the start factor.ObjectiveTo analyze the levels of CXC chemotatic factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients,evaluate the clinical application value of them in different clinical types of DR using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)analysis and to approach the new way of individualized treatment.Methods This was a prospective research.The gold standard was ophthalmolscope and fundus fluorescein angiography.The levels of CXC chemotatic factors and multiplicaiton factors were measured in 96 cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus (66 cases with retinopathy and 30 cases without retinopathy as control).The assessment tasks were performed for these index and courses of DR with ROC curve.Results The expression of age,course of disease has significant difference in different courses of DR ( F =8.507,P =0.001 ; F =28.143,P =0.000).Compared with the control group,the expression of growth-related oncogene-α ( GROα ) ( t =- 2.172,P =0.035,AUC =0.625 ),whole blood viscosity 200 ( t =- 3.724,P =0.001,AUC =0.904 ) and neutrophilic leukocyte (t=-2.562,P =0.013,AUC =0.577 ) has significant difference in the group of mild NPDR.Compared with the control group,the expression of interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 ( IP-10 ) ( t =-3.591,P =0.001,AUC =0.592 ),platelet derivation growth factor-BB ( PDGF-BB ) ( t =- 3.233,P =0.003,AUC =0.735 ),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) ( t =- 3.617,P =0.001,AUC =0.776 ),C peptide ( t =- 3.366,P =0.002,AUC =0.962 ),leukocyte ( t=-3.201,P =0.003,AUC =0.852) and neutrophilic leukocyte(t =-4.201,P=0.000,AUC =0.852) has significant difference in the group of moderate and severe NPDR.ConclusionsCXC chemotatic factors may act as reactivator in the pathogenesis of DR,GROα and IP-10 may be useful for clinical monitoring of the severity of DR,and evaluating the imbalance state of chemotatic factors maybe a new approach to clinical monitoring and prognosis of DR.

The growth curve of single cell organisms in batch cultivation could divide into 6 phases, lag phase, acceleration phase, log phase, deceleration phase, stationary phase, and death phase, based on specific growth rate during cultivation process. There were significantly differences between deceleration phase and the other phases in cell growth, substrate consumption, product formation, and genes express profile. The deceleration phase was highly important to fermentation process. However, cognizing and teaching to the deceleration phase had been considerably weakened since a long period. So it should be strengthened.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of sacral neuromodulation using a new tined-lead electrode on neurogenic bladder.MethodsThe use of a new tined-lead electrode for sacral neuromodulation was evaluated in a study including 5 consecutive patients with neurogenic bladder.The tined leads were implanted at the S3 foramen under the X-ray screening.Subjects completed the recording of detailed voiding diary pre-and post-operation including fluid intake,voided volume,leaked volume,catheterized volume,frequency,accompanying symptoms and sensation.Vesicourethral function was assessed by video-urodynamics.ResultsUrinary frequency and voided volume were improved 22% and 49% respectively in one patient with spinal bifida.Urinary frequency,voided volume and residual volume were improved 0.7%,11% and 46% respectively in another one.Urinary frequency,voided volume and residual volume were improved 0.4%,18% and 44% respectively in the third one.Frequency of leakage and leaked volume were improved 36% and 54% respectively in the patient with brain trauma.Frequency of CIC and catheterized volume were improved 42% and 54% respectively,and indexes of urodynamics were improved 37%～45% in the patient with spinal cord injury.ConclusionA new tined-lead electrode for sacral neuromodulation provide a new alterative and minimally invasive procedure to treat neurogenic bladder.