Purpose To implement lower artery angiography in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and to investigate the feasibility of lower extremity gemstone spectral CT angiography in improving image quality.Materials and Methods Forty-eight patients suspected with lower extremity arterial occlusive diseases were randomly divided into research group and control group. Research group (24 cases) were carried out gemstone spectral CT angiography (CTA) scan and control group (24 cases) were scanned with multi-slice spiral CT (CTA). The CT value of the common iliac artery, popliteal artery and its branches was measured and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were calculated in both groups. The images were evaluated independently by 2 senior physicians based on a 5-level evaluation standard.Results The CT value of common iliac artery, popliteal artery, anterior tibial artery and the CNR in research group were all higher than those in control group (t=8.7, 7.9, 12.6 and 17.2,P<0.01), but the background noise was lower than that in control group (t=1.5,P<0.01). The scores of two image quality accessed by physician 1 and 2 were 110:90 and 111:93 respectively with statistical difference (Z=-7.6 and-8.0, P<0.01).Conclusion The image obtained by gemstone spectral CT optimal single energy image technique is much better than that by conventional multi-slice spiral CT in lower extremity angiography.

Objective To investigate the expression of nestin protein and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) mRNA in rat brain injured by ischemia-reperfusion(I/R),and observe the effects of Tongxinluo,one of Chinese herb drugs,on the expression.Methods The rat model of cerebral I/R injury,reproduced by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) and release,were divided into three groups: high-dose Tongxinluo group(given 1g/kg?d of Tongxinluo],low-dose Tongxinluo group(given 0.5g/kg?d of Tongxinluo) and control group(administration of saline).2ml of Tongxinluo or saline each time was administered to each rat and 2 times every day up to day 3,5,7,14,21 and 30 after the injury.The expression of nestin in the subventricular zone(SVZ) and hippocampal dentate gyrus zone(DG) was detected by immunohistochemistry,and the IGF-1 mRNA expression around ischemic area was detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group,the immunofluorescence magnitude of nestin-positive neurons in SVZ and DG was significantly higher in high-and low-dose Tongxinluo groups(P0.05).Conclusions Tongxinluo,a kind of Chinese herb drugs,may promote the proliferation of neural stem cells in SVZ and DG after cerebral I/R injury in rats,and the mechanism may be related to upregulation of IGF-1 mRNA induced by Tongxinluo.

Objective:To investigate therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action of oncolytic agent derived from herpes simplex virus type 2 (oHSV2) in a xenograft mouse model bearing CT26 colorectal cancer. Methods:BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with CT26 cells to establish a xenograft mouse model of colorectal cancer. 1) After intratumoral administration of oHSV2, enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay was used to determine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) expression levels in the blood. 2) Model mice were divided into three groups:PBS group (negative control), oHSV2 group, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group (positive control). After drug administration, drug effectiveness was evaluated on the basis of weight, tumor volume, general state, and survival time. 3) Cells from the draining lymph nodes (TDLN) and tumor were surgical y removed and used to quantify mature dendritic cel s (DCs) and T lym-phocytes by flow cytometry. Result:1) In the CT26 xenograft model, level of GM-CSF continuously elevated. At day 8, peak value was attained in the blood at concentration of 3150±327.1 pg/mL. Then, GM-CSF expression gradually reduced as time progressed. 2) In in vivo study, both oHSV2 and 5-FU exerted antitumor effects relative to PBS group (50 days vs. 36 days, P<0.01;51 days vs. 36 days, P<0.01), and oHSV2 proved to be less toxic and safer. At day 28, the 5-FU group presented highly significant difference in mouse body weight compared with that of PBS group (16.61 g vs. 22.07 g, P<0.01). However, oHSV2 group did not show statistical y significant change (al P>0.05). Skin of virus injection region did not present necrosis and ulceration. 3) In the TDLN, the frequency of DC was increased when treated with oHSV2 compared with the control group (6.49%vs. 3.73%, P<0.01). Similarly, the percentage of CD4+and CD8+T-cel s from the oHSV2-treated group was signifcantly higher than mock-treated tumors (15%vs. 8.57%, P<0.01;8.19%vs. 5.15%, P<0.01). However, number of cells in the 5-FU group were significantly reduced with respect to that of the negative group (al P<0.01). Conclusion:oHSV2 exerted potent antitumor effects in a murine colorectal cancer model. Compared with 5-FU, oHSV2 treatment caused fewer side effects. Such antitumor effect may be induced by stimulation of immune activity by GM-CSF production.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM).Methods This was a prospective, single center clinical trial.A total of 116 consecutive patients with suspected meningitis who were admitted to Xijing Hospital from October 2013 to June 2015 were recruited.Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MTB) and rifampicin ( RIF) resistance mutations in 1 ml cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF) were detected with Xpert MTB/RIF and the remaining sample was tested by Ziehl-Neelsen staining , MGIT960 liquid culture and other laboratory tests .And the enrolled patients were grouped according to the 2010 South African expert consensus .The diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF was evaluated by comparing against clinical score >5 points and MGIT960 liquid culture as reference standards respectively .The comparison was performed using a χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test for categorical variables and a nonparametric rank sum test for continuous variables .Results Among the enrolled 116 subjects, 23 subjects were diagnosed as definite-TBM by MGIT960 liquid culture, 16 subjects were classified as probable TBM , 27 subjects were classified as possible TBM , and 50 subjects were classified as non-TBM.When clinical score >5 points was used as a reference standard , the sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF (39.4%) was comparable with that of MGIT960 liquid culture (34.8%) (χ2 =0.292, P=0.589), and significantly better than that of Ziehl-Neelsen staining (9.9%) (χ2 =16.500, 12.771, P<0.001). No significant differences were found among the specificities of Xpert MTB /RIF, MGIT960 liquid culture and Ziehl-Neelsen staining ( 98.0%, 100.0% vs 98.0%, χ2 =1.014, P=0.602 ) .When tested against MGIT960 liquid culture as a reference standard , the sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 91.3%. Conclusions Xpert MTB/RIF is a rapid and specific method to detect MTB and RIF resistance in CSF .It exhibits a good rule in value for the diagnosis of TBM and a comparable sensitivity with MGIT 960 liquid culture, thus it can be used as the initial method for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis .

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Phlomis umbrosa.

METHODChemical constituents were isolated by repeated column chromatography (Toyopearl HW-40C and preparative HPLC). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis.

RESULTThirteen compounds were identified as oleanolic acid (1), corosolic acid (2), hederagenin (3), arjunolic acid (4), belleric acid (5), 3beta-hydroxy-29-al-12-en-28-oleanoic acid (6), butyrospermol (7), beta-sitosterol (8), daucosterol (9), caffeic acid (10), vanillic acid (11), p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (12), 3, 4-dihydroxy-benzoic acid (13).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 3 9, 11-13 were isolated from the plant for the first time.

Objective:To explore the effect of low frequency magnetic stimulation on myelin and inflammation in the callosum of demyelinated mice.Methods:Thirty-six 6 to 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group, a cuprizone (CPZ) group and a magnetic therapy group. The CPZ group and the magnetic therapy group had demyelination induced by feeding a mixed diet containing 0.3% CPZ for 6 weeks, while the control group was given conventional food. The magnetic therapy group was given 50Hz 10mT magnetic stimulation during the 6 weeks for 20min daily, 5 days a week. The body mass of each mouse was observed every 7 days. At the end of the 6th week elevated cross maze experiments were conducted to observe any anxiety state. The myelin sheath in the corpus callosum was observed using Luxol fast blue staining and myelin basic protein (MBP) immunohistochemistry Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the corpus callosum were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Results:After the 6 weeks of treatment, the average body mass of the mice in the magnetic therapy group had improved significantly compared with the CPZ group. The CPZ group′s times in the elevated cross maze experiments were significantly shorter than those of the control group and also shorter than those of the magnetic therapy group. The Luxol staining showed significant myelin loss in the corpus callosum of the CPZ group, but compared with the CPZ group the average loss of myelin in the magnetic therapy group was significantly less. This was further confirmed by the MBP immunohistochemistry. Compared with the control group, the average expression of MBP in the CPZ group was significantly reduced, while in the magnetic therapy group it was significantly increased. Compared with the control group, the average TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the corpus callosum of the CPZ group increased significantly, but compared with the CPZ group the average levels in the magnetic therapy group had decreased significantly.Conclusions:Low frequency magnetic stimulation improves the body weight and anxiety state of mice. That is probably related to less myelin loss and inhibited inflammatory response in the corpus callosum.

Due to the availability of 18F-FDG in PET centers, this article aims to advocate and promote the standardization of 18F-FDG PET brain imaging in dementia in order to improve the reliability, repeatability and comparison of the imaging process and results. It is also provided to guide the PET imaging operation standard and to give suggestions on image interpretation.

Objective: To explore the relationship between the vitamin D levels and lipid metabolism during second trimester. Methods: A total of 1 875 pregnant women who were in the second trimester and had antenatal care in 3 hospitals in Hefei of Anhui province from March 2015 to February 2018 were included. Baseline questionnaire survey was performed, and fasting venous blood samples were collected from the pregnant women to detect serum 25(OH)D, cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels. Cubic non-linear model and linear regression model were used to analyze the linear relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid metabolism indicators in the second trimester. Results: The vitamin D deficiency rate was 75.3% (1 412/1 875) in the pregnant women. The mean levels of lipid metabolism indicators TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were (233.22±38.87), (226.24±83.88), (79.04±12.77), and (109.54±25.95) mg/dl respectively. Multivariate linear regression model results showed, compared with Q5 of the 25(OH)D, the TC and TG levels of Q1-Q4 groups significantly increased, and the LDL-C of Q1 and Q2 groups significantly increased. The highest difference between TC, TG and LDL-C was observed in Q1 group. (TC: β=16.88, 95%CI: 10.50-23.26; TG: β=34.92, 95%CI: 21.32-48.53; LDL-C: β=9.06, 95%CI: 4.77-13.35). No significant differences in HDL-C level among the 5 groups were observed. When stratified with vitamin D deficiency the results showed that, when 25(OH)D was <50 nmol/L, TC, TG and LDL-C levels decreased by 3.53 (95%CI: 1.30-5.75), 7.42 (95%CI: 2.41 to 12.44) and 2.08 mg/dl (95%CI: 0.60-3.57) along with a 10 nmol/L increase of 25(OH)D, the difference was statistically significant, and when 25(OH)D was ≥50 nmol/L, no significant correlation was found between 25(OH)D level and TC, TG and LDL-C levels. No significant relationship between 25(OH)D level and HDL-C level was observed regardless of vitamin D deficiency. Conclusions There was a nonlinear relationship between vitamin D levels and lipid metabolism indicators in the second trimester. There was a significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D level and lipid metabolism indicators only in the deficiency of vitamin D.

Presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of parkinsonism. Based on the expert consensus on operation and clinical application of dopamine transporter brain PET imaging technology published in 2020, this paper further recommends the relevant elements of result interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging.

From March 2015 to February 2018, 4 728 women aged 18 to 45 years old with single-pregnancy at the gestational age of 13 to 27 weeks in Hefei were recruited to analyze the trend of vitamin D status. The average levels of serum 25(OH)D in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were (43.22±18.41) nmol/L, (39.3±15.1) nmol/L and (36.6±17.0) nmol/L, and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency were 69.5%, 77.6% and 81.4%, respectively. Compared with 2015, the levels of serum 25(OH)D in pregnant women in 2016 and 2017 decreased by 5.23 (95%CI: 4.10-6.35) nmol/L and 7.98 (95%CI: 6.77-9.19) nmol/L. The OR (95%CI) values for the risk of vitamin D deficiency were 1.88 (95%CI: 1.57-2.24) and 2.41 (95%CI: 1.98-2.93).