Objective To assess the accuracy of MRI measurement of hippocampal formation in predicting postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients.Methods Forty-one ASA Ⅱor Ⅲ patients aged≥65 yr undergoing gastrointestinal tract surgery were enrolled in this study.MRI was performed to measure the volume of hippocampal formation before surgery and the results were standardized according to the individual intracranial volume.All patients underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests including sensitive tests on the Wechsler adult memory scale and Wechsler adult intelligence scale,trail making test and the grooved pegboard test.We used the Z score to identify POCD as recommended by Moiler.All patients were then divided into POCD group and non-POCD group according to the results of the neuropsychological tests.The results of the tests were correlated with the volume of hippocampal formation measured by MRI.The value of MPI measurement of hippocampal volume in predicting POCD was analyzed.Results Thirty-six patients completed the whole battery of neuropsychological tests after surgery.Thirteen of the 36 patients were found to have COPD (36%) on the 4th postoperative day.The hippocampal volume was significandy smaller in POCD group (4.75±0.23) than in non-POCD group(5.06±0.31).Hippocampal volume was found to be effective in predicting POCD.The overall accuracy of prediction was 77.8%(28/36 patients) with 92.3% sensitivity (12/13 patients),70.0% specificity (16/23 patients) and 0.623 Youden index.Conclusion The MRI measurement of hippocampal volume is valuable as a predictor of POCD in the elderly.

Objective To investigate the delayed alteration of hippocampus proteome after an-esthesia with isoflurane in aduh and aged rats. Methods Ten 8-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into group Caduh and group Iadult (5 in each group) , and another ten 22-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into group Caged and group Iaged (5 in each group). The rats in group Iadult and group Iaged received 2 h anesthesia with 1.2 % isoflurane. The rats in group Cadult and group Caged inhaled 40% oxygen for contrast. The hippocampal proteome of each rat was measured by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Results The vital signs of the rats in group Iadult and group Iaged were stable. There were 878±34 protein spots in group Cadult, 864±49 protein spots in group Iadult, 834±47 in group Caged, and 819±24 in group Iaged. There were 12 (4/8)different protein spots between group Iadult and group Cadult. There were 11 (3/8) different protein spots between group Iaged and group Caged. All of the protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Most of the different proteins were related to metabolism, anti-oxidation, and signal conditioning of synapse. Conclusion Isoflurane may cause the alteration of hippocampal pro-teome in rats, which is age-related.

Objective To explore the relationship between uric acid (UA) level and cognitive function in elderly patients with Parkinson,s disease (PD) and analyze the cognition related factors.Methods The clinical data of 60 elderly PD cases in our hospital from 2001 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. The 60 healthy people receiving medical examination in our hospital and matched by gender and age, were as control group. The information including gender, age, illness duration, Hoehn & Yahr stage (H-Y stage), serum UA level and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale were recorded. Results The serum UA level was significantly lower in PD group than in control group [(262±53) μmol/L vs. (332±45) μmol/L, t=-6.724, P＜0.001]. In PD group, the serum UA level was slightly higher in males than in females [(271 ±48) μmol/L vs.(254±39) μmol/L, t=3. 282, P=0. 058]. The serum UA level was significantly lower in male PD patients than in male controls [(353± 62) μmol/L, t=- 5. 625, P＜0. 001], and was lower in female PD patients than in female controls [( 294 ± 59) μmol/L, t = - 4. 721, P = 0. 012]. There were no significant differences in serum UA level among different H-Y stage subgroups (P＞0. 05), but the serum UA level was lower in different H-Y stage subgroups than in control group (F=22. 039, P＜0. 01 ). There was no correlation between the UA level and the illness duration (r=0. 961, P＞0.05).The MMSE score had significant difference between elderly PD group and control group (t= -3. 168,P＜0. 001). In PD patients, the MMSE score was positively correlated with serum UA level (r=0. 789, P= 0. 000), and was negatively correlated with H-Y stage (r= - 0. 577, P = 0. 019 ), age (r= -0. 333, P=0. 034), but was not correlated with illness duration (r= -0. 333, P=0. 207) and BMI (t=- 0. 410, P= 0. 115). Conclusions The level of serum UA is lower in elderly patients with PD than in normal controls. There is correlation between the serum UA level and cognitive impairment. Lower serum UA level predicts worse cognitive scores.

Objective To study the ultrasonographic clues and methods for fetal anomalies of the aorta arch and improve prenatal detection of anomalies of the aorta arch.Methods One thousand four hundred and seventy-two cases fetus who were carried out detailed scan and whose results were confirmed were chose as study objects.Every routine fetal echocardiography included four chamber and left and right outflow tract and three-vessel trachea view(3VT).The more views which included longitudinal and coronary view of the aorta arch and coronary view of the trachea and main bronchus were obtained when the abnormality of aorta arch was suspected.Results One hundred and forty-eight cases with anomalies of aorta arch were diagnosed by ultrasonography.One case was misdiagnosed.Ninety-two fetus with anomalies of aorta arch which included 28 aortic coarctation(CoA) and 10 interrupted aortic arch (IAA) and 52 right-side aortic arch and abnormal aortic branch and 2 double aortic arch were confirmed by postmortem or postnatal echocardiography and surgery.Of the 92 confirmed cases,24 had prenatally diagnosed additional complex intracardiac anomalies.All cases with CoA and IAA presented ventricular and/or great arterial disproportion with smaller left ventricle and aorta diameter on four chamber view and 3VT.Right aortic arch (RAA) and abnormal aortic branch(AAB) displayed aortic arch located on the right side of the trachea and increased distance between the aortic arch and arterial duct and abnormal aortic arch branch-subclavian artery originating from the beginning section of the descend aorta which coursed behind the trachea with U-shaped appearance on the 3VT plane.The display rate of the transverse and longitudinal and coronary view of the aorta arch was 98.4%,90.0%,81.9%,respectively.Conclusions Disproportional ventricular and /or great arterial with smaller left ventricle and aorta diameter are the clues for CoA and IAA.Increased distance between the aortic arch and arterial duct is the clue for RSA.The transverse view of the aortic arch 3VT is the most sensitive for detecting the anomalies of the aortic arch and the most easily be obtained.The longitudinal and coronary view of the aorta arch and coronary view of the trachea and main bronchus are helpful in differentiating the anomalies of the aortic arch.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on postoperative cognitive function and monocytes Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)and TLR 4 expression in elderly patients.MethodsForty-five ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ elderly patients aged ≥65 yr weighing 53-72 kg were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (group Ⅰ ) and different doses of dexmedetomidine groups(groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ ).Dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg was injected iv over 15 min after anesthesia induction,and then was infused at a rate of 0.5 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 (group Ⅱ ) or 1.0 μg· kg-1 ·h-1 (group Ⅲ ) untile the end of operation.Group Ⅰ received equal volume of normal saline.Blood samples were taken before anesthesia induction,at 1.5 h after the beginning of operation,at the end of operation and at 24 h after operation(T,-T5 ) for determination of monocytes TLR2 and TLR4 expression by flow cytometrybased method.Postoperative cognitive function was evaluated at 1 d before and 7 d after operation with Mini-mental state examination and Wechsler memory scale and Wechsler adult intelligence scale,and the postoperative cognitive dysfunction was recorded.ResultsThe incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and monocytes TLR2 and TLR4 expression were significantly lower in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ than in group Ⅰ,and in group Ⅲ than in group Ⅱ (P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionDexmedetomidine can prevent postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients,and the mechanism may be related to down-regulation of monocytes TLR2 and TLR4 expression.

Objective To determine sonographic features and outcome of fetal lung abnormal lesions. Methods Blood supply of the lesion, fetus hydrops and other extra-lung anomalies should be evaluated by color Doppler flow image(CDFI) when abnormal lesion was detected in fetus lung during routine scanning. The fetus with lung abnormal lesion without hydrops at the first time scanning should be monitored by ultrasound in every four to six weeks. Results Forty cases fetus presented lung abnormal lesions, which included 21 cases with hyperechogenic solid masses,15 cases with cystic-solid mixture masses,4 cases with cystic masses. Lesions of 8 cases were demonstrated systemic arterial blood supply arising from the aorta on CDFI and the diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration (PS) were suggested. Seventeen cases lesion that had small size or decreased or disappeared or remained stable in size with gestational age developing had normal neonate. Conclusions CDFI is very useful in detecting abnormal lesion of the fetal lung and differentiating pathology and evaluating the prognosis. The outcome of isolated lung lesion without hydrops and mediastinal shift that decreased or disappeared or remained stable in size had a good prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of evaluation of fetal cardiac function in congenital heart disease by brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and velocity vector imaging (VVI). Methods Fetuses who came from Shenzhen Maternity & Child healthcare Hospital were divided into the congenital heart disease group and the control group. At the same time we collected amniotic fluid and assayed BNP concentration. Using the VVI software, the velocity, strain and strain rate of the global and segmental of the left ventricle were measured. Comparison and correlation were made between the two groups. Results There was significantly difference of BNP concentrations in amniotic fluid between two groups. The gestational age had significant positive correlation with BNP concentrations in disease group. The comparison of global velocity, strain and strain rate of left ventricle between the two groups showed significant differences. All of the left ventricular dynamic parameters in disease group were lower than those of the control group. Conclusions Compared with the control group, the disease group had a high level of BNP in amniotic fluid and a lower level of dynamic parameters of left ventricular. There was a positive correlation between BNP concentration and gestational age in disease group. So we can conclude that theBNP concentration can be a biological parameter for evaluating the latent impairments of fetal cardiac function.

Objective Toinvestigatetheclinicalvalueofhumanneutrophillipocalin(HNL)detectioninthedifferentialdiagnosis of bacterial and viral infections of elderly patients with acute respiratory infection .Methods 142 elderly patients with respiratory infection were divided the bacteria group (96 cases) and the virus group (46 cases) according to their infections ,42 healthy people in the corresponding period were enrolled as the control group .Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and highly sensitive dry chemi-cal particles enhanced immune turbidity assay were employed to detect their blood HNL and C-reactive protein(CRP) ,respectively , and virus-specific antibodies detection were performed simultaneously .Results Compared the blood HNL ,CRP levels and their positive rates of patients in bacteria group with those in the virus group ,control group ,respectively ,differences showed statistically significant(P<0 .01) ,while the differences of indicators listed above between the virus group and control group had no statistically significant(P>0 .05) .Antibiotic treatment before and 24 ,48 and 72 hours after ,the concentrations of HNL were (216 .8 ± 64 .1) , (192 .0 ± 41 .2) ,(158 .0 ± 54 .5) and (87 .0 ± 12 .4)μg/L ,respectively ,while those of CRP were (50 .9 ± 40 .9) ,(46 .2 ± 18 .3) , (39 .6 ± 9 .6) and (12 .6 ± 9 .8) mg/L ,respectively .Sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of HNL detection were 90 .6% ,90 .9% ,91 .5% and 89 .9% ,respectively ,which were higher than those of CRP (88 .5% ,85 .2% , 86 .7% and 87 .2% ,respectively) ,with statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .Conclusion NHL detection possesses impor-tant significance in differential diagnosis between bacterial and viral infections of elderly patients with acute respiratory infection .

Objective To explore the potential predominance and value of percutaneous hepatocholangiostomy (PCH) in treatment of recurrence hepatobiliary stones (RHS). Methods Seventeen cases with RHS were treated by PCH from February 2001 to October 2005, which was an improved technology of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) and made reference to the methods of percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). Results Seventeen cases were successfully treated. The average blood loss was 40 ml (ranging from 15 to 100 ml), and stones were removed completely in 88.2% (15/17). The average hospital stay was 14 (ranging from 10 to 59) days. No one required postoperative analgesic. No postoperative bleeding and biliary leakage were found. Conclusions PCH has significant advantages of minimal invasion, little blood loss, less pain, less complications and quick recovery in the treatment of RHS.

BACKGROUND: Nicotine, which is a known central nervous system stimulant, appears to be the neuroprotective factor of Parkinson disease(PD). It has been reported that PD patients' symptoms such as trembling,rigor, hypokinesia are ameliorated during smoking, but its mechanism still keeps unclear.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of nicotine on gene expression levels of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors (D1R,D2R)in striatum of rats and analyze the possible mechanism of behavioral changes of rats induced by nicotine.DESIGN:Randomized and controlled experiment.SETTING:Institute of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University.MATERIALS :Twenty-four SD rats aged at 10 weeks were chosen,weighing 180-200 g. Nicotine (Sigma),revert AidTM M-Mulv reverse transcriptase (MBI Fermentas,USA), polymerase chain reaction (RCR,Beckman),densitometric scanning imaging system (Stratagene Eagle Eye Ⅱ ,USA).METHODS :This experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Institute of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital,Central South University from July 2001 to July 2002. These rats were divided into two groups: control group (n=12)and nicotine group(n=12). The level of D1 and D2 receptors on striatum of rats was estimated at the timepoint of thirty-minute after chronic nicotine administration (4 mg/kg per day s.c.), and the behavioral activities were also recorded at the same timepoint for thirty minutes. The functional behavioral activities recorded included: rearing up repeatedly, moving about, provoking, climbing, grooming, yawning, rotating, smelling and vomiting. At the fourteenth day, all rats were killed after thirty minutes of nicotine injection,the brains were dissected out and the region of striatum was separated immediately. Total RNA was extracted from striatum by RNeasy Total RNA Kit. PCR amplification was performed at special condition. For semi-quantitative analysis, 10 μ L of PCR products for each was examined by electrophoresis on 12 g/L agarose gel containing 0.5 mg/L ethidium bromide,and absorbance (A value) was quantitated by using densitometric scanning imaging system, thuse D1R,D2R mRNA expression were determined. Differences between means were analyzed with two-tailed student's t test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURFS: Changes of locomotor activities and the gene mRNA expression levels of D1 R and D2R in the regions of striatum in rats.RESULTS: Totally 24 SD rats were involved in the final results.① Locomotor activities of rats become more active after 3-day nicotine administration and reach the top during 7-14 days.②The A value of total RNA ratio of A260/A280 ＞1.8, and the total RNA had no degradation with 12 g/L agarose gels electrophoresis. ③As expected, PCR amplification product lengths of D1R, D2R,βA were 350 bp, 399 bp, 218 bp respectively. A significant increase of 23% of D1R mRNA expression in the region of striatum detected in the nicotine group compared with that of control group (98.63±1.13 and 65.29±1.45 seperately,P ＜ 0.01), no difference was detected on the level of D2R mRNA expression in the same regions above (76.73±1.45 and 78.21±1.69 respectively ,P ＞ 0.05 ).CONCLUSION: Nicotine may induce changes of locomotor activities of rats by up-regulating D1R mRNA expression in striatum.