0.05).Conclusion DTI can noninvasive detect the potential disorder of corpus eallosum in vivo,thus providing useful information to differentiate the cerebral ischemia disease from multiple sclerosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the role of ssomatosensory evoked potential (SEP) in evaluating and predicting the lower limb motor function of patients with acute cerebral infarction.Methods19 patients (13 male, 6 female) with acute cerebral infarction diagnosed according to the standard of Chinese Classifications of the Cerebral Vascular Disease were chosen as the case group and 18 patients (11 male, 7 female) with non-nerve system injury were taken as the control group. All patients of two groups were received SEP test within 7 days after onset and latency and amplitude values of SEP of two groups were compared. To the case group, SEP was tested again at 30th day after admission, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) was also carried out at same times of two SEP tests, and the correlation of SEP and FMA scores was analyzed.ResultsThe difference of latency and amplitude value of SEP test between the case group and control group was significantly (P<0.01). The latency value of SEP in lower limb was correlated with FMA scores (P<0.01). But the amplitude value was no difference between the onset and 30th day after admission in the case group.ConclusionSEP is sensitive in the acute stage of stroke. SEP has significant value for predicting the prognosis of patients with acute cerebral infarction and correlates with the clinical FMA scores. The value of amplitude is not sensitive.

Objective:Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a key molecule negatively regulating osteoclast differentiation and activation; and the conserved mycobacterial heat shock 70 (HSP70) peptide p111-125 has also been found to inhibit inflammation reactions in chronic arthritis. BaculoDirectTM baculovirus expression system was selected to express recombinant OPG-HSP70 in insect cells.Methods:The human functional fragment (p22-194) of OPG and functional fragment (p111-125) of mycobacterial HSP70 gene were cloned into the transfer vector pENTRTM/SD/D-TOPO. The recombinant plasmid was performed an LR reaction with the BaculoDirectTM Linear DNA to generate recombinant baculovirus DNA. The cultured Sf9 insect cells were directly transferred with the recombinant baculovirus DNA,and the pure recombinant baculovirus was obtained. Then recombinant baculovirus was infected Sf9 insect cells again to express the OPG-HSP70 gene.Results:The target protein was detected at the time of 48h post infection,reached at highest yield at the time of 72h post-infection. A 28kDa protein immunostaining band was detected by Western blotting from lysate of those cells.And the purified protein was obtained by using Ni-NTA system. Functional stuies on the fusion protein showed it significantly reduce osteoclast cell number[(3.10?0.640) cells under each microscope field in treatment group by comparing to (10.70?0.817)cells in the control group] in the osteoclast inhibition test,and reduce the inflammation reaction in a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) mice model (P

A fused functional gene of human OPG and Mhsp65 was amplified by PCR,and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a.The BL21(DE3) strain of E.coli was transformed using the recombinant plasmid pET-28a-OPG-HSP65 and the expected protein was expressed by induction with IPTG.Result of SDS-PAGE indicated that the expected recombinant protein of 23 kDa was expressed with high yield as inclusion body.The fusion protein could be specifically recognized by both the anti-His antibody and anti-human OPG monoclonal antibody in Western blot analysis.The purified and refolded fusion protein could inhibit osteoclast proliferation and bone absorption in vitro.The results of mouse ear swelling assay and expressions of TNF-?,IFN-? and IL-17 mRNAs detected by real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated that the fusion protein had an anti-inflammation activity.The results suggest that the fusion protein of human OPG and Mhsp65 may act as a potential therapeutics for rheumatoid arthritis.

The infection status of anisakid larvae was examined in 290 marine fish of 25 species and in 108 cephalopods of 3 species purchased in Bayuquan region, Yingko city nearby the coast of the Bohai Sea from may to August 1992. A total of 7,327 larvae were collected from 156 fish of 19 species and 8 squids of one species. The 3rd-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex were collected from 121 fish (63.4%) of 15 species (N = 191) and from 8 squids (14.8%) of one species (N = 54), and they were total, 5,992 (81.8%). Out of remaining 1,335 larvae, 154 (2.1%) were classified as Thynnascaris type B from 23 fish of 4 species, 1,013 (13.8%) as Thynnascaris type C from 79 fish of 13 species. 164 (2.2%) as Hysterothylacium China type V from 20 fish of 4 species, 3 (0.04%) as Raphidascaris from 3 fish of 2 species and one was Pseudoterranova decipiens larva.
Animal ; Anisakiasis/veterinary* ; Anisakiasis/parasitology ; Anisakiasis/epidemiology ; Anisakis/isolation & purification ; Anisakis/classification* ; China ; Fish Diseases/parasitology* ; Fish Diseases/epidemiology ; Fishes ; Larva ; Seawater ; Squid/parasitology*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 (fine particulate matter, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm) on lung function of college students in autumn and winter in Wuhan.

METHODSIn this panel study, 37 college students (excluded subject of respiratory disease and smoking history) aged 19 - 21 were investigated by cluster sampling in a university in Wuhan. The follow-up study lasted for 28 days in total, including two study periods, Oct. 29 to Nov. 11, 2009 (autumn) and Dec. 23, 2009 to Jan.5, 2010 (winter), the peak expiratory flow (PEF) of the college students were measured daily in the morning and evening in the university. PM10 and PM2.5 were monitored indoors and outdoors. The effects of PM on lung function of college students were analyzed by using generalized estimating equation (GEE).

RESULTSAverage daily concentrations of indoor, outdoor PM2.5 in autumn were (91.3 ± 43.7) and (104.2 ± 49.4) µg/m(3) respectively, while in winter the concentrations of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 were (110.6 ± 42.3) and (143.5 ± 51.2) µg/m(3). The single pollutant model showed that in winter, the evening PEF decrement was significantly associated with increasing outdoor PM2.5. With an increase of 10 µg/m(3) outdoor PM2.5, the PEF measured in the evening decreased 1.27 L/min (95%CI: 0.02 - 2.52 L/min, respectively). Meanwhile, the results showed that 2-days lagged outdoor PM2.5 was also significantly associated with morning PEF. An increase of 10 µg/m(3) 2-days lagged outdoor PM2.5 caused the decrease of 1.82 L/min (95%CI: -3.53 - -0.11 L/min) of PEF measured in the morning. Controlling the influence of gaseous pollutants and building the two pollutants models, the results indicated that no significant changes of PEF of students being exposed to PM2.5 on same day (lag 0) were observed. However, under consideration of SO2 effect, significant association between an increase of 10 µg/m(3) 2-days lagged outdoor PM2.5 and changes of morning PEF (-1.81 L/min, 95%CI: -3.51 - -0.11 L/min, P = 0.037) was found. The relationship between changes of concentrations and PEF was not observed in autumn in this study.

CONCLUSIONIn our panel study, exposure to outdoor PM2.5 is significantly associated with PEF among college students in winter, but not in autumn.

Air Pollutants ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate ; Particulate Matter ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Seasons ; Students ; Young Adult

AIMTo study the effect of taurine (Tau) on rabbit cardiomyocyte apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODSRabbit heart I/R injury was induced by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 min and reperfusion for 180 min. taurine (200 mg/kg) was intravenously injected 5 min before heart ischemia. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was measured by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase--mediated dUTP nick end labeling method (TUNEL), flow cytometry (FCM) and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSDNA ladder pattern of DNA in myocardium was revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis in I/R group while was not found in Tau + I/R group. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes were sparse within ischemic myocardium at risk in Tau + I/ R group as compared with that in I/R group (TUNEL stain). Apoptosis rate in ischemic myocardium from I/R and Tau + I/R groups detected by flow cytometry was 17.66% +/- 1.54% and 4.86% +/- 1.23%, respectively. Fas and Bax protein expressions in ischemic myocardium of I/R group were higher than that in nonischemic myocardium group (P < 0.01), Bcl-2/Bax ratio in I/R group was lower than that in nonischemic myocardium (P < 0.01); while in Tau + I/R group, Fas and Bax protein expressions were lower than that in I/R group (P < 0.01), the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was higher than that in I/R group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTaurine reduced apoptosis of myocytes in I/R rabbit heart; its mechanism may involve Fas, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Taurine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo assess the accuracy of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in quantifying atherosclerotic area in the vascular wall of the carotid artery in comparison with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSEighteen subjects (15 males and 3 females aged 63-/+8 years) with >or=50% stenosis in at least one carotid artery were enrolled in this study. CTA and high-resolution MRI scans (in-plane pixel size of 0.25 mmx0.25 mm for both) were conducted within 1 week on a multi-slice spiral CT scanner and a 1.5T MR scanner (Signa, GE Medical Systems), respectively. CTA images were matched with MR images with the carotid bifurcation as the mark. For each patient, multiple matched slices with carotid atherosclerotic plaques in the bilateral carotid arteries were selected to measure the outer wall boundary (OWB) area, lumen area and wall area. Bland-Altman analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlations of the area measurements between CTA and high-resolution MRI.

RESULTSA wide range of lesion size (vascular wall area) was found in these patients. Strong correlations were noted between CTA and high-resolution MRI with the correlation coefficients for OWB area, lumen area and wall area of 0.98, 0.98 and 0.96, respectively. The mean differences between CTA and high-resolution MRI were 0.16-/+5.71 mm(2), 4.47-/+1.44 mm(2) and -4.31-/+5.73 mm(2) for OWB area, lumen area and wall area, respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared to high-resolution MRI, CTA is also a reliable method to measure carotid vascular wall area. CTA might become an alternative modality to high-resolution MRI for follow-up examination of patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis, especially in uncooperative patients or patients with contra-indications for MRI.

Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

BACKGROUNDWith features of high tissue contrast, MRI can be used for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of atherosclerosis plaques. In this study we investigated the development of atherosclerosis plaque with high resolution 3T MRI in a rabbit model and compared the findings with the histopathological results.

METHODTwenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 4). Atherosclerotic lesions were induced in the abdominal aorta by balloon injury and cholesterol feeding. Multiple sequences MRI examination (ToF, T1WI, T2WI, and CE T1WI) were performed at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months after aortic denudation. Vessel wall thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, and vessel wall area were recorded. Plaque components were analyzed using histological results as a standard reference.

RESULTSSeventeen rabbits (14 in the experimental group and 3 in the control group) received all three MR examinations. Gradually, from 2 months to 4 months, vessel wall thickness and area in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the lumen area progressive stenosis was not found, even a slight dilation had developed in the experimental group. Lipid, fibrotic and calcified plaques can be differentiated by MR image. According to histological results, MRI had good performance in detection of lipid plaque.

CONCLUSIONMRI can be used to monitor progression of atherosclerosis and differentiate plaque components.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using different sequences in displaying atherosclerotic carotid plaque composition.

METHODSThirty-five patients received pre- and post-contrast carotid MRI examination on a 3.0T scanner. TOF, T(1)W, T(2)W, PDW and CE-T(1)W were used for identifying the positive and negative cases for the plaque composition (lipid-rich necrotic core, intraplaque hemorrhage and calcification), and their respective sensitivity, specificity and Cohens κ with 95% CI for displaying the components of the plaques were calculated.

RESULTSA total of 74 plaques were found in the 35 patients, and after exclusion of 6 plaques for a thickness below 3 mm, 68 plaques were included for the analysis. Lipid-rich necrotic core were found in 57 plaques, intraplaque hemorrhage in 30 plaques, and alcification in 43 plaques. CE-T(1)W was the optimal sequence for displaying lipid-rich necrotic core with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.9%, and κ value of 0.944. Both T(1)W and TOF reliably showed the intraplaque hemorrhage, but the former had a greater sensitivity (100%), specificity (92.1%), and κ value (0.911). Of all the 5 sequences, TOF was the best to show calcification with high sensitivity (100%), specificity (92%), and κ value (0.936).

CONCLUSIONCE-T(1)W is the best sequence to show lipid-rich necrotic core with high sensitivity and specificity. T(1)W and TOF show a high level of agreement with the standard to show the intraplaque hemorrhage. TOF is more sensitive and accurate than the other sequences in displaying calcification. The combination of T(1)W, TOF and CE-T(1)W allows accurate evaluation of each component of the plaque.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged