Objective To investigate auditory sensory gating potential in the siblings of schizophrenic, to discover the neuroimaging features of sensory gating associated with schizophrenia as intermediate phenotypes. Methods Twelve siblings of schizophrenia patients in the first episodic, and 12 healthy controls matched in gender, age, education under?went MRI scan when performing a auditory sensory gating fMRI task (repeated clicks and single click auditory stimuli). The measure of sensory gating was the contrast of repeated clicks minus single click. The analysis of result was imple?mented in SPM2. Results Compared with healthy controls, schizophrenia patients showed significant overactivation in the right inter cingulate gyrus (x=4,y=8,z=32) and left anterior cingulate gyrus (x=-8,y=4,z=28) during the fMRI senso?ry gating task. Conclusion Sensory gating is overactivated in the cingulate gyrus in siblings of schizophrenic. This pat?tern may be a potential endophenotype of schizophrenia.

Organ system based integrated teaching model has been adopted in several medical schools, and these schools face some challenges in this teaching process. In order to provide new sights for organ system based integrated teaching reform in eight-year medical education program, ex-ploration of setting up three-staged-dimensional integrated teaching models was conducted in urinary system by hematuria, and designing related teaching objectives, teaching programs and assessment form to optimize teaching quality in this teaching methods, according to characteristics of the urinary systemic diseases, cultivating objectives of eight-year medical education program and teaching experi-ence of Xiangya School of Medicine.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of two-micron laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique (TmLRP-TT) for the treatment of large-volume ( > 70 ml) prostate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis included 80 BPH patients with the prostatic volume larger than 70 ml, all treated by TmLRP-TT. We comparatively analyzed the levels of hemoglobin and serum sodium before and after surgery, recorded intra- and post-operative com- plications, and followed up the patients at 6 and 12 months after operation for International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR).

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully completed. The mean hemoglobin decreased (0.68 +/- 0.43) g/dl intraoperatively, but no apparent reduction was observed in serum sodium. Lower urinary tract symptoms were relieved significantly in all the cases. At 12 months after surgery, IPSS was decreased by 73.89% as compared with the baseline (20.03 +/- 6.9 vs 5.23 +/- 3.59), QOL by 64.55% (4.09 +/- 1.19 vs 1.45 +/- 1.36), and PVR by 79.30% (97.31 +/- 57.90 vs 20.14 +/- 24.20 ml), while Qmax increased by 140.42% ([8.04 +/- 3.62] vs [19.33 +/- 3.28] ml/s). The incidence of complications was low either intraoperatively or during the 12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONTmLRP-TT is a safe and effective surgical endoscopic approach to the treatment of large-volume prostate in BPH patients.

Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents of tetraploidy Banlangen (Isatis indigotica Fort.).

METHODSCompounds were separated by chromatography on silica gel. Their structures were determined by spectral analysis and chemical evidence.

RESULTSThree compounds were isolated. Their structures were identified as (E)-2-[(3'-indole) cyanomethylene]-3-indolinone (I), 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-3- hydroxymethyl-tetrahydro-furan (II) and 2-methoxy-4-[tetrahydro-4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-methyl]-3- hydroxymethyl-2-furanyl] phenyl-1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (III).

CONCLUSIONCompound I is a new compound.

Indoles ; chemistry ; Isatis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; Polyploidy

OBJECTIVETo study the value of measuring electrical discharge of external oblique in assessment of young rat model of visceral hypersensitivity.

METHODSEight-day-old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group and a control group (n=16 each). Rats in the experimental group were subjected to mechanical colorectal irritation daily for 7 consecutive days, while the rats in the control group did not received colorectal irritation treatment. On the 6th week of their lives, the spike amplitude of external oblique were measured to evaluate the bowel sensitivity.

RESULTSWhen the colorectal distention (CRD) pressure was 30 and 45 mmHg, the 95% confidence interval of the spike amplitude in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). When the CRD pressure were 60 and 75 mmHg, the 95% confidence interval of the spike amplitude in female rats was significantly higher than that in males (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electrical discharge of external oblique confirmed that chronic colorectal irritation in neonatal rats can result in a chronic visceral hypersensitivity in the juvenile stage, with gender differences. Electrophysiological assessment is a quantitative test, and can objectively reflect visceral sensibility of pain.

Animals ; Colon ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rectum ; physiopathology ; Reflex ; physiology

Objective Modern warfare is geographically complex and changeable.The lack of terrain adaptability restricts the popularization and application of rescue robots in the frontline war.To solve this problem,this paper designs a new longitudinal-arm suspension mechanism,and carries out principle analysis and simulation optimization.Methods The automatic dynamic analysis of the mechanical system(ADAMS)was used to establish the virtual suspension model. According to the condition of rescue robot parameters, appropriate constraints and objective functions were set up to optimize the length of the suspension rod and spring stiffness coefficient.Results The suspension structure parameters were optimized by experimental simulation.The single longitudinal-arm suspension could convert the small stroke of the helical spring shock absorber into the large stroke of the tire movement according to the comparison of the experimental data. Conclusion The research and design of single longitudinal-arm suspension are of great significance to develop its physical prototype and to select the helical spring shock absorber,playing an important role in promoting the development of the small wheeled rescue robot.

Objective To select a safe, flexible and lightweight manipulator and to execute its kinematic analysis and trajectory planning, so as to improve the application of serial robot in the treatment of hazardous biochemical products. Methods The kinematic modeling was carried out for the manipulator, and the kinematic and inverse kinematic formulas were deduced and verified.Differential transform method was used to obtain the Jacobian matrix of the manipulator,and the trajectory planning was implemented for the manipulator at joint and cartesian spaces.Results An ideal motion curve was formed by the trajectory planning of serial robot to realize its stable and high-efficiency motion at spaces.Conclusion Serial robot is facilitated to execute the treatment of hazardous biochemical products, and references are provided to other researches on serial robot.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of embelin on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells and explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSDifferent concentration of embelin were used to treat HL-60 cells. Cell growth curve was analysed by MTT assay, cell apoptosis by Annexin V/PI double staining and JC-1 dye. The differentiation of HL-60 cells was evaluated by expression of CD33, CD34, CD11b and CD14. Bone marrow cells (BMC) from nine patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANML) were also studied.

RESULTSEmbelin induced differentiation of HL-60 cells with significant increase of CD14 and CD11b expression at 33.97µmol/L for 3 days (P < 0.01). Embelin induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, the apoptosis rates were (9.23 ± 0.05)%, (25.86 ± 0.30)% and (39.03 ± 0.07)% respectively at 339.67 µmol/L of embelin for 12-, 24- and 48-hours treatment (P < 0.05); the apoptosis rates were (0.07 ± 0.03)%, (7.43 ± 0.30)%, (14.01 ± 0.01)%, (25.52 ± 0.03)% and (39.15 ± 0.01)% respectively at 10.19, 33.97, 101.90, 339.67 and 1019.02 µmol/L of embelin for 24-hours culture (P < 0.05). Clusters of differentiation antigen on BMC from three acute promyelocytic leukemia patients showed significant changes at 33.97 µmol/L of embelin treatment for 3 days. Embelin induced apoptosis of BMCs from all the nine ANML patients at 33.97 µmol/L for 24 hour.

CONCLUSIONEmbelin can inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells. The mechanism may be related to mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Embelin at subtoxic concentration doesn't promote leukemia BMC differentiation, but at 339.67 µmol/L induces apoptosis of these cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the MRI characteristics of different pathologic types of patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). Methods The postoperative clinical data of 23 patients with FCD were retrospectively analyzed and they were divided into patient groups of 4 types according to Palmini' s classification. The MRI characteristics of different pathologic types of patients with FCD were concluded. Results Among these 23 patients, 2 were diagnosed as having FCD ⅠA, 6 as having FCD IB, 8 as having FCD ⅡA and 7 as having FCD IE. As compared with that in patients with FCD Ⅰ, obviously increased signal of Flair images in patients with FCD Ⅱ was more prevalent (2:11,P=0.039). Increased signal in T2 images and tapering of abnormal white matter signals to ventricles were more prevalent in patients with FCD Ⅱ as compared with those in patients with FCD Ⅰ, but no significant differences were noted (P= 0.074, 0.058). As compared with patients with other 3 types of FCD, blurring of the gray matter-white matter junction, increased signal in T2 images, deep sulcus, thickening of the cortex and tapering of abnormal white matter signals to ventricles in patients with FCD ⅡB were more prevalent (P<0.05). Conclusion Different MRI characteristics in each type of FCD are noted, especially in patients with FCDⅡB. These different MRI characteristics are helpful to make preoperative diagnosis and planning of FCD.

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe conducted a multi-centered open clinical study on 165 BPH patients treated with Saw Palmetto Extract Capsules at a dose of 160 mg qd for 12 weeks. At the baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks of medication, we compared the International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), prostate volume, postvoid residual urine volume, urinary flow rate, quality of life scores (QOL), and adverse events between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, both IPSS and QOL were improved after 6 weeks of medication, and at 12 weeks, significant improvement was found in IPSS, QOL, urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine. Mild stomachache occurred in 1 case, which necessitated no treatment.

CONCLUSIONSaw Palmetto Extract Capsules were safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Capsules ; Humans ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Quality of Life