Objective To assess the value of integrated 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in differentiation of malignant and benign pericardial effusion. Methods 18F-FDG PET/CT were performed in 23 patients with pericardial effusion. The detected soft tissue tumor or nodulous lession in pericardium or the thickened pericardium, with the maximum standardized uptake value( SUVmax ) ≥2.5, was defined as PET/CT-positive. The invaded lession in pericardium with SUVmax ≥2.5 was also as the positive. The difference of SUVmax of benign and malignant lesions was analyzed with two-independent-sample test of nonparametric tests. The final diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy or post-operative pathology. Results The diagnosis were confirmed with 14 malignant and 9 benign lesions. The median of SUVmax was 6.0 in malignancy group and 2.2 in benign group (z= -3. 279, P =0.001 ). According to the pathology results, there were one false negative case and two false positive cases with PET/CT imaging interpretation. The sensitivity, specificity,accuracy, positive predictive value ( PPV ) and negative predictive value ( NPV ) of 18 F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of benignity or malignance of pericardium effusion were 92.9% ( 13/14), 7/9, 87.0% (20/23),86.7% (13/15) and 7/8, respectively. Conclusion For the patients with pericardium effusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may be a helpful modality for malignancy differentiation

Objective To investigate the protective effects of CBD and Nimodipine against injuries secondary to glutamate-inuced or traumatic injury in rat cortical neurons in vitro. Methods Mix-cultured cortical neurons of SD rat were subjected to either glutamate injury or mechanical damage. The degree of injury were detected by cell count of trypan blue staining and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium. Results When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was used separately, moderate protective effects against the injury of cultured cortical neurons induced by glutamate or trauma were observed, which was obvious when compared with the injured group without treatment (P<0.01). When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was administered, strong protective effect were observed than that with treatment using CBD or Nimodipine alone (P<0.01). Conclusion It is suggested that CBD combined with Nimodipine are synergetic. Combined use of different excitotoxic antagonists can be fruitful in the therapeutic intervention of secondary traumatic damage.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of CBD and Nimodipine against injuries secondary to glutamate-inuced or traumatic injury in rat cortical neurons in vitro. Methods Mix-cultured cortical neurons of SD rat were subjected to either glutamate injury or mechanical damage. The degree of injury were detected by cell count of trypan blue staining and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the culture medium. Results When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was used separately, moderate protective effects against the injury of cultured cortical neurons induced by glutamate or trauma were observed, which was obvious when compared with the injured group without treatment (P<0.01). When combined treatment with CBD and Nimodipine was administered, strong protective effect were observed than that with treatment using CBD or Nimodipine alone (P<0.01). Conclusion It is suggested that CBD combined with Nimodipine are synergetic. Combined use of different excitotoxic antagonists can be fruitful in the therapeutic intervention of secondary traumatic damage.

BACKGROUNDA new brain region, the marginal division (MrD), was discovered at the caudal margin of the neostriatum. The MrD was shown to be involved in learning and memory in the rat. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the striatum during learning and memory processes in the rat, immunocytochemical and Western blot methods were used to examine Y-maze trained rats.

METHODSThe rats were divided into three groups, namely the training, pseudotraining, and control groups. After Y-maze training, the expression of the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun in the MrD of the rats was investigated using immunocytochemical and Western blot methods.

RESULTSAfter one hour of Y-maze training, the expression of c-jun and c-fos proteins was significantly enhanced in the MrD; the c-jun protein, in particular, was more intensely expressed in this region than in other parts of the striatum. The expression of these two proteins in the training group was significantly higher than in the pseudotraining and control groups. In addition, positive expression was also found in the hippocampus, cingulum cortex, thalamus, and in other areas. Western blot disclosed two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-fos antibody (47 kD and 54 kD) and two immunoreactive bands for the anti-c-jun antibody (39 kD and 54 kD).

CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that the immediate-early genes c-fos and c-jun participate in signal transduction during the learning and memory processes associated with Y-maze training in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Neostriatum ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the drug-resistant attenuated Bacillus proteus on the protein expression of CD80 and CD86 in peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) of hepatitis B patients.

METHODPeripheral blood monocytes were isolated from HBV-infected patients and the DCs were separated and induced to differentiate in vitro. The expression of CD80 and CD86 proteins on cultured DCs were examined using flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression rate of CD80 and CD86 of chronic hepatitis B patients increased significantly (P=0.000), while the positive expression rate of CD80 and CD86 showed no obvious variation in healthy individuals (P=0.185 and P=0.118, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSBacillus proteus can significantly increase CD80- and CD86-positive cell percentage in peripheral blood DCs of HBV-infected patients, but has no such an effect in healthy individuals.

Adolescent ; Adult ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Bacillus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Young Adult

Objective:To study the acidic heteropolysac charides of Cynomorium songaricum.Method:The polysaccharides were purified by Sephadex G-100 and G-150 gel column chromatography.Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharides were determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography; neutral sugars composition were identified by PC, TLC and GC. Uronic acids were determined by carbazole method.Result:The molecular weight of SYP-A and SYP-B were estimated to be 3.1×105 and 2.8×105 respectively, and neutral sugars were composed of galactose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, mannose and ribose. The molar ratio for SYP-A and SYP-B were 5.1∶4.1∶1.6∶1.0∶0.5∶0.3 and 5.2∶4.2∶1.5∶1.0∶0.5∶0.2 respectively, The contents of uronic acids were 10.7% and 10.5% respectively.Conclusion:SYP-A and SYP-B are homogeneous acidic heteropolysaccharides.

Memory encoding and memory retrieval are two important processes of the memory. The main results of studies on the neural basis of the memory encoding and memory retrieval by functional magnetic resonance image (fMRI) technique were summarized in this review. The neural basis of memory encoding and retrieval phases varies with different materials, memory types, and age stages. It means that the neural networks of these memory activities are separate. The functional locations of the activated brain areas during memory encoding and during memory retrieval phases are overlapped with distinction. The activated brain areas of memory encoding mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe, the anterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia (including the striatum and the marginal division of the striatum). The activated brain areas of memory retrieval mainly locate in the prefrontal lobe, the temporal lobe, the entorhinal cortex, the perirhinal cortex, the posterior hippocampus, the thalamus, and the basal ganglia. The anterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the encoding phase, whereas posterior hippocampus is mainly activated during the retrieval phase. The intensity of the activated cerebral cortex regions during the encoding phase is stronger than that during the retrieval phase, whereas the opposite activated pattern is found in the subcortical structures, mainly the basal ganglia and thalamus, during the two phases. It seems that the stimulation might activate certain cerebral cortex areas during the memory encoding phase, then the information is transported to the subcortical structures and comes back to the cerebral cortex to complete the memory retrieval phase. The encoding and retrieval phases of the memory are supposed to be accomplished by a neural circuit among the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and cerebral cortex, rather than the cerebral cortex only.
Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Memory

To investigate the neuronal mechanism of retrieval of long-term digital memory in healthy volunteers, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique was used in the study. Twenty-two right-handed volunteers were subjected to a long-term digital memory test with block-design. The memory task and control task were adopted in the experiment alternatively. The fMRI data were recorded by a Siemens 1.5T MR machine and analyzed by SPM99. The activated brain regions were shown in the Talairach coordinate. The results showed that the Brodmann's area (BA) 9 region in left middle frontal gyrus was the most activated cortex during the long-term digital memory task. The left medial frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left superior parietal lobule, right superior parietal lobule, right middle temporal gyrus, left lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, right middle brain, cerebellum and right caudate nucleus tail were also involved. The activation in cortices showed obvious left predominance. It is suggested that a series of brain regions with left predominance are involved in long-term digital memory. Left lateral frontal cortex would be the most important structure for information extraction, while the other cortices and their connections may be important for processing and long-term storage of digital information.
Adolescent ; Brain ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Memory, Long-Term ; physiology ; Parietal Lobe ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the influences of stapedectomy and small fenestra stapedotomy on the hearing of guinea pigs.

METHODSTwenty-four (48 ears) guinea pigs were randomized equally into two groups, and the left ears were subjected to stapedectomy and total stapes replacement with a prosthesis, or sham operation (12 ears) to expose the footplate of the stapes and the round window. Each guinea pig was tested by ABR perioperatively. Four guinea pigs were chosen randomly from each group and decapitated for morphological examination by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy after ABR test.

RESULTSIn the sham operation group, the post-operative latencies of each wave, the intervals and the hearing threshold exhibited no significant changes other than prolonged latency of wave I. In stapedectomy group, the hearing threshold increased to 23.75-/+3.77 dBSPL 1 h after operation with significantly prolonged post-operative latencies of all the waves and intervals but for III-IV interval, which was shortened. The latencies of each wave (especially waves I and III) in the stapedectomy group were increased by a greater magnitude than those in the sham operation group, but the intervals were comparable between the two groups. No significant difference was noted in the parameters of ABR either 1 h or 1 day after the operation between the two groups, in which the architecture of cochleas remained intact with similar number of spiral ganglion cells. The stereocilia of the outer hearing cells (OHC) were normal in the sham operation group while in stapedectomy group, slight stereocilia disorder occurred but became normal 1 day after operation. No obvious changes were found in the stereocilia of the inner hearing cell (IHC) in either groups.

CONCLUSIONStapedectomy can induce mild hearing loss without seriously damaging the function of the cochlea in guinea pigs.

Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; Hearing ; physiology ; Male ; Round Window, Ear ; cytology ; physiology ; surgery ; Stapes Surgery ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

AIMTo investigate whether NR2B-pERK1/2-pElk-1 signaling contributes to the Y-maze learning and memory of rat brain.

METHODS45 adult male SD rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) Ifenprodil peritoneal injection group (Ifenprodil ip, n = 14); (2) DMSO peritoneal injection group(DMSO ip, n = 15); (3) Ifenprodil cerebral ventricle injection group (Ifenprodil ic, n = 8); (4) DMSO cerebral ventricle injection group(DMSO ic, n = 8). Y-maze training and test were used as an learning and memory enhancing stimulus. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting methods were used for detecting pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression intensity of different brain regions.

RESULTSCompared with the DMSO ip group, the ifenprodil ip group showed no change on the Y-maze learning score (P > 0.05), but its Y-maze memory score tested 24 after learning decreased (P < 0.05). Ifenprodil peritoneal injection made brain pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression decreased generally. In hippocampus, marginal division of striatum(MrD), amygdala,these changes were more significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the DMSO ic group, the reconsolidation of Y-maze memory tested 6 hours after ifenprodil injection was impaired in ifenprodil ic group (P < 0.05). The OD value of pERK1/2 and pElk-1 positive bands in ifenprodil ic group attenuated generally. The pElk-1 positive bands of caudate putamen and MrD almost disappeared in ifenprodil ic group.

CONCLUSIONNR2B is essential for the formation of long-term memory, reconsolidation of Y-maze memory. The deactivation of NR2B by ifenprodil will impair these courses. Meanwhile, the deactivation of NR2B attenuates pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression of learning and memory related regions after Y-maze learning and memory reconsolidation test. In MrD and caudate putamen, the pElk-1 expression are completely blocked by ifenprodil after memory reconsolidation test.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; physiology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 ; metabolism