Objective To observe any change in the laterality index (LI) in the active volume of the hand motor cortex during rehabilitation after acute cerebral infarction and to analyze the mechanisms involved in the rehabilitation of motor function.Methods Sixteen patients with acute cerebral infarcts were administered standard but individualized rehabilitation training.Blood oxygenation-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to evaluate the active volume of their hand sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the LI,at admission and after 14 days of rehabilitation.The Fugl-Meyer motor assessment for the hand (FMA) was used to evaluate hand function.Ten healthy volunteers were recruited as a control group and subjected to a single BOLD-fMRI examination to confirm the location and the volume of the active area when performing the same rehabilitation exercises.Results The baseline LI of affected hand SMC activation was significantly smaller than that of the unaffected hand [(0.010 ±0.808) versus (0.789 ± 0.157)],but no significant difference was observed between the affected and the unaffected hands after treatment.Rehabilitation therapy significantly increased the SMC LI of affected hand activation when compared with the baseline,but no such effect was observed with the unaffected hand.In 12 patients with dysfunction of the right hand as evaluated by the FMA,the baseline LI of the affected hand was smaller than that of the unaffected hand and that of the healthy volunteers.Conclusion Rehabilitation after acute infarction can promote functional recovery.The LI of the affected hand reflects cerebral plasticity during rehabilitation after acute cerebral infarction.

Objective To study the characteristics of the hand motor cortex in ataxia patients during active and passive finger-to-thumb opposition movements using bold oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI). Methods Ten right-handed healthy volunteers and 16 ataxia patients with motor cortex lesions were selected, and whole-brain BOLD-fMRI examinations were made while the subjects were performing the active and passive movements. Activated volume and intensity were recorded from the corresponding motor cortex and analyzed quantitatively. Meanwhile, the patients' coordination was evaluated using the international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS). Results During passive movement of the ataxia patient's affected hands, the ipsilateral supplementary motor area (SMA) activated volume was larger than that during normal ipsilateral hand movement, and the activation intensity was also higher than that in the healthy controls. The ipsilateral cerebellum activated volume and intensity were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the frequency of appearance of the cerebellum was also less. The patients' activated volume and intensity in the ipsilateral cerebellum showed no correlation with ICARS scores. Conclusions When the ataxia patients' affected side cerebellum was dysfunctional, the ipsilateral SMA could compensate for the weak cerebellum function. The ICARS does not reflect cerebellum function.

Objective To identify the neural substrates of three motor tasks (repetitive and sequential fin-get-to-thumb opposition movements in turn, making fates, fingers passive flexion-extension movements in turn) of dominant and subdominant hands by using the whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods Ten right-handed healthy volunteers were scanned while they were performing the movement tasks with their right and left fingers. The motor cortex active volume and intensity was recorded. Quantitive analysis of motor cortex was conducted with paired t test. Results Under the three hand motor tasks, activation volumes in SMC during movements of the subdominant hand were significantly larger than those during movements of the dominant hand (P < 0. 05). Activation volumes during finger-to-thumb opposition movements and passive bendlng-extending fingers movements were significantly larger than those during movements of making fasts (P < 0.05). Activation intensity during passive ben-ding-extending fingers movements was significantly larger than those during movements of making fasts (P < 0.05). Conclusion The representation of the Motor Cortex is related to the complexity of the hand motor exercises. Quantitive criterion as volume and intensity approves the dissymmetry of cortex activation by dominant and subdominant fingers'movements. It is practicable and credible to adopt invariable fingers passive flexion-extension movements in turn in the study on BOLD-fMRI.

Objective To investigate the effect of 17β-estradiol on insulin resistance and the expression of insulin receptor-α in skeletal muscle of ovariectomized rats with insulin resistance induced by high fructose.Methods Forty-eight mature female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: the normal control group (NC, n= 12) rats were fed with the normal diet for 8 weeks; the model group (M, n= 12)rats were ovariectomized and fed with the high fructose diet for 8 weeks, meanwhile the physiological-dose of 17βestradiol (30 μg · kg-1 · d-1 ) was injected subcutaneously every day; the vehicle control group (VC, n= 12) rats were ovariectomized and fed with the high fructose diet for eight weeks, meanwhile equivalent alcohol was injected subcutaneously every day. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), and fasting serum insulin (FSI) were measured and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated. The expressions of mRNA and protein of insulin receptor-α in quadriceps femoris were measured by RT-PCR and Western-blot. Results Compared with the normal control group, SBP (P<0.05), FBS (P<0.05) and FSI (P<0.01) were increased significantly while ISI was decreased significantly (P < 0. 05) in the model group. The expressions of mRNA and protein of insulin receptor-α and phosphorylated Akt were decreased significantly in quadriceps femoris in the model group (P<0.05), compared with the normal control group. However, these effects were reversed by 17β-estradiol in the 17βestradiol replacement group. Conclusions 17β-Estradiol inhibits insulin resistance, and up-regulates the expression of insulin receptor-α and the level of phosphorylated Akt in ovariectomized rats with insulin resistance induced by high fructose diet.

Objective To investigate the differences of efficacy and economic efficiency between neuroendoscope and microscope for intracerebral hematomas cleaning operation. Methods From August 2014 to August 2015, clinical data of 68 cases with intracerebral hemorrhage were analyzed retrospectively. Hematoma evacuation was carried out by microscope in 37 cases (microscope group) received and 31 cases (endoscope group) underwent neuroendoscope. Following parameters were compared: the operation related index (hematoma clearance rate , intraoperative blood loss , the operation time , skin incision , bone window size ) , Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months after the operation, complications (intracranial infection, lung infections, gastrointestinal bleeding), medical economic parameters (the postoperative hospital stay, drug cost, cost other than drug, and total hospital cost). Results The hematoma clearance rate, Glasgow Outcome Scale at 6 months after the operation in the endoscope group were significantly better than those in the microscope group (P <0.05). The intraoperative blood loss, the operation time, skin incision, bone window size the postoperative hospital stay , drug costs , no drug costs , and total hospital cost in the neuroendoscope group were significantly lower than those in the microscope group (P < 0.01). The intracranial infection, lung infections in the neuroendoscope group were lower those in the microscope group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding between the two groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative hospital stay, drug costs , no drug costs , and total hospital cost were significantly less in neuroendoscope group than that in microscope group (P< 0.01). Conclusion Neuroendoscopy has less trauma,there are some advantages of neuroendoscopy for intracerebral hematomas cleaning operation , such as minimal trauma , prominent effect , good prognosis and low cost. It should be widely applied in clinical practice.

Objective To observe any change in the active volume of the hand motor cortex during rehabilitation therapy after acute cerebral infarction and analyze the mechanisms involved in motor function rehabilitation.Metbods Of 16 patients with acute brain infarction,8 were administered routine intemal medicine treatment only,while and the other 8 received rehabilitation therapy in addition.Before treatment and after 14 days,the patients were assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI)and the Fugl-Meyer assessment of motor function (FMA).The active volume of the motor cortex was compared between the two groups of patients.Ten healthy volunteers were examined with fMRI to confirm the location and the volume ofthe active area when performing the sanle exercises.Results After treatment,all the 16 patients showed increased motor cortex active volume,and their FMA scores also increased.Those receiving rehabilitation therapy improved tO a significantly greater extent than those treated with internal medicine treatment alone.Conclusion Rehabilitation of patients with acute infarction Can activate a greater volume of the motor cortex and promote functional recovery.

Objective To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the cholesterol efflux and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression in foam cells .Methods RAW 264 .7 macrophages were incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein to induce foam cells .Foam cells were incubated with H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide .Cholesterol efflux from macropha-ges was tested by labed cholesterol .The cellular levels of free cholesterol (FC) ,cholesterol ester (CE) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography assays .The mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot .Results Compared with the foam cells ,the rates of cholesterol efflux were significantly in-creased ,the levels of TC ,FC ,CE and CE/TC ratio were significantly decreased(P<0 .05) and expression of ABCA1 was signifi-cantly increased by treatment with H2S in dose-and time-dependent manner(P<0 .05) .Conclusion H2S up-regulates of expres-sion ABCA1 and promotes cholesterol efflux in RAW 264 .7 macrophage-derived foam cells .

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of simvastatin on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in aged mice with myocardi-al ischemia-reperfusion (IR). METHODS:Aged mice were randomly divided into sham operation group (phosphate buffer solu-tion),model group(phosphate buffer solution)and simvastatin low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups(2.5,5 and 20 mg/kg) with 14 mice in each group. Those groups were given relevant medicine intraperitoneally before modeling for 7 d,once a day. IR model was induced in those groups except for sham operation group. The area ratio of myocardial infarction,myocardial cell apop-tosis rate,activity of myocardial tissue apoptosis gene Caspase-3,the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2,Akt phosphorylation, serum concent of MDA and activity of SOD were all detected. RESULTS:Compared with sham operation group,the area ratio of myocardial infarction,myocardial cell apoptosis rate,Caspase-3 activity,the protein expression of Bax and MDA content were all increased in model group,while the protein expression of Bcl-2,Akt phosphorylation and SOD activity were decreased(P<0.01). Compared with model group,the area ratio of myocardial infarction,myocardial apoptosis rate,Caspase-3 activity,the protein ex-pression of Bax and MDA content were all decreased in simvastatin high-dose group,while the protein expression of Bcl-2,Akt phosphorylation and SOD activity were increased (P<0.01). There was no statistical significance in above indexes in simvastatin low-dose and medium-dose groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Simvastatin can relieve myocardial IR injury in aged mice,and the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting myocardial cell apoptosis and the generation of oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the metabolic characteristics,clinic values of different tissues in benign prostatic hyperplasia by correlating MR spectroscopy(MRS)with whole pathologic sections.Methods MRS presentation was studied in 16 patients with benign prostatic hyperphsia.The peak values of citrate,choline and creatine were measured,and the mtios of(choline+creatine)/citrate(cc/c)were obtained.After suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy,the specimens of whole pathologic sections were observed.The values of cc/c of different pathologic types were compared statistically with One.way-ANOVA and t test. Results MRS results were obtained in 578 units,which included 233 glandular tissue units.130 matrical tissue units.165 mixed tissue units and 50 tissue units around urethra.The ratios of (choline+creatine)/citrate of glandular,matrical.mixed tissues and units around urethra were 0.59±0.29.1.23±0.38.0.80±0.27 and 0.68±0.33(F=3.49.P＜0.05).The t tests were carried out between every two tissues.The t valUes between glandular tissues and matrical.mixed tissues were 19.60 and 7.09.P＜0.05:the t values between matrical tissues and mixed tissues.units around urethra were 13.22 and 9.42,P＜0.05;the t valUes between mixed tissues and units around urethra was 9.42,P＜0.05.Condusions,The ratios of cc/c ofthree prostate tissues were different in MRS.The metabolic characteristic of the units around urethra Was near to glandular units.MRS may be valuable to the distinctive diagnoses of prostate diseases.

BACKGROUND:It is unclear about dexamethasone effect on the regulation of microRNA-155 expression in macrophages.
OBJCTIVE:To explore whether dexamethasone can regulate the expression of microRNA-155 in macrophages.
METHODS:(1) Lipopolysaccharide stimulation of mouse macrophages: mouse macrophage cel lines, Raw264.7 cels, were culturedin vitro and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Cultured cels were colected at 0, 0.5, 2, 6 hours after culture to detect the dynamical expression of microRNA-155. (2) Dexamethasone intervention for macrophages: Macrophages were divided into four groups: control group treated with phosphate buffer; lipopolysaccharide group stimulated by lipopolysaccharide; combined group given intervention with dexamethasone and lipopolysaccharide; dexamethasone group cultured with dexamethasone. At 6 hours after culture, cel supernatant was colected to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 using ELISA method. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of microRNA-155 in the Raw264.7 macrophages.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Lipopolysaccharide significantly increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6 and microRNA-155 after 6 hours of culture (P < 0.05). Combined use of dexamethasone and lipopolysaccharide slightly increased the expression of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6 and microRNA-155 (P< 0.05). Dexamethasone alone had no influence on the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, but significantly decreased the expression of microRNA-155 (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that dexamethasone can inhibit the expression of microRNA-155 in the macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide.