Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) plays an important role in controlling infection, immunity responses, cellar differentiation and apoptosis. It is of characteristics especially in neural system. NF-kappa B exist widely in neural cells and transfer from plasma into nucleolus through diversified activation passages. in addition, NF-kappa B is also a key factor in the development of the neural system, anti-apoptosis and modulating the activity of glia cells. It is of great significance in the forensic science.
Apoptosis ; Cell Nucleus/metabolism* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Microglia/physiology* ; NF-kappa B/physiology* ; Neurons/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of caspase-1 in different posttraumatic intervals and severity of brain injury. METHODS: The study examined brain tissue samples of slight (n = 24), severe (n = 24) brain injury and control (n = 6) of rat, using immunohistochemical staining, western-blot and RT-PCR method. RESULTS: Up-regulating of caspase-1 expression was found in tissue from traumatic brain injury compared with controls in early 1 hour after TBI, and lasted for 2 weeks. Caspase-1 cleaved after brain injury. CONCLUSION These findings are the first time to demonstrate the study of different intense brain injury. The increasing of caspase-1 expression indicates that the TBI exists. The threshold area of caspase-1 positive cells is different in different severity of brain injury.
Animals ; Brain/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries/metabolism* ; Caspase 1/metabolism* ; Female ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors

Many pathologic and physiologic changes occur after brain injury. Many genes control these changes. Caspase plays an important role in neuron cell apoptosis and has concern with secondary brain injury. It is of great significance in the forensic science.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Caspases/metabolism* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of NF-kappaB in different post-traumatic intervals and severity of brain injury. METHODS: Fifty-four brain tissue samples of slight (n=24), moderate (n=24) brain injury, sham (n=3) and control (n=3) of rat were examined by immunohistochemical staining, westernblot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Up-regulating of NF-kappaB expression was found in tissues from traumatic brain injury compared with controls in early 1 hour after TBI, and reached peak at 24h and 48h and disappeared after 7 days. The expression of NF-kappaB mRNA has association with contusion severity. CONCLUSION NF-kappaB may benefit to the estimation of posttraumatic intervals of brain injury.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injury Severity Score ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis* ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staining and Labeling ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yangxue Qingnao granule (YXQNG) in treating chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (CCI) and its possible mechanism.

METHODSEighty-three patients with CCI were randomly divided into YXQNG and nimodipine (ND) groups, the score of vertigo and the change in cerebral blood velocity before and after treatment were observed. And in the animal experiment, the authors adopted bilateral ligation of cervical carotid communis artery to establish CCI rat models in order to observe the effect of YXQNG and ND on incubation period of vertigo in rats and on memory performance.

RESULTSAfter clinical treatment, the vertigo score of YXQNG group was 2.34, and that of the ND group was 4.18, the comparison between the two groups showed that the difference was significant (P < 0.05). After treatment, the middle cerebral artery mean velocity (MCA Vm) of YXQNG group was 64.78 cm/s, vertebral artery mean velocity (VA Vm) was 29.78 cm/s, while that of ND group was 60.34 cm/s and 23.23 cm/s respectively, the comparison between these two groups showing statistical significance and the difference being obvious (P < 0.05). Experimental study showed that the rats in the model group after 12 weeks learning and memory were markedly lowered, the vertigo incubation period significantly lengthened, and compared with that of the model group, learning and memory of the YXQNG group was markedly improved and vertigo incubation period shortened, with the difference from that of the ND group insignificant, P > 0.05.

CONCLUSIONYXQNG could effectively improve CCI patients' vertigo and other clinical symptoms and increase the cerebral blood flow, lessen the vertigo incubation of model group rats, elevate model group rats' memory performance.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity ; drug effects ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vasodilator Agents ; therapeutic use ; Vertigo ; etiology ; physiopathology

ObjectiveTo investigate the development trend of drinking water type of endemic fluorosis in Qinghai province, and to provide the basis for the prevention and treatment of the disease. MethodsIn 2009, six monitoring counties were chosen by using simple random sampling methods, all diseased villages of the six monitoring counties were classified into light, moderate and severe disease types according to water fluorine content on the historical data, and 1 village was respectively chosen from each type. In monitoring villages with improved water, 3 tap water and one source water samples were collected, respectively. Five water samples were collected randomly in water unimproved monitoring villages according to water well locations of east, west, south, north and center. The fluorine content in water and urine was determined according to the Standard Testing Methods for Drinking Water (GB/T 5750-2006). Children aged 8 to 12 were examined for dental fluorosis by Dean method.Clinical osteofluorosis of all the resident over the age of 16 was examined, 2 village of these counties were randomly selected, and clinically diagnosed patients with skeletal fluorosis were examined again by X-ray using Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS 192-2008). Urine sample of 30 children aged 8 to 12 and of 20 adults over the age of 16 were randomly collected and urinary fluoride was determined by F-ion selective electrode method (WS/T 89-2006). ResultsImproving water projects had been implemented in 14 monitoring villages of the 18 villages in 6 counties, the rate of improved-water was 77.78％(14/18). Among the 14 projects, 5 improved-water projects ran normally, and 9 projects ran with intermittently water supply. Seventy-five water samples were tested, themean of water fluoride was 0.48 mg/L. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 31.95％ (285/892), that of clinical skeletal fluorosis was 36.55％(1570/4295) and the X-ray detection rate of skeletal fluorosis was 25.64％ (20/78).Five hundred and seventy-one urine samples of children were determined, and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 1.04 mg/L; 370 adult urine samples were determined, and geometric mean of urinary fluorine was 1.52 mg/L Conclusion Epidemic of drinking water type of endemic fluorosis is still serious in Qinghai province, and drinking water defluoride measures should be further strengthened and improved.

In this study, we intended to describe a human case of lumbosacral canal sparganosis in People’s Republic of China (China). A 56-year-old man was admitted to Xiangya Hospital Central South University in Changsha, Hunan province, China after having an experience of perianal pain for a week. An enhancing mass, a tumor clinically suggested, was showed at the S1-S2 level of the lumbosacral spine by the examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast. The patient was received the laminectomy from S1 to S2, and an ivory-white living worm was detected in inferior margin of L5. In ELISA-test with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples, anti-sparganum antibodies were detected. He had a ingesting history of undercooked frog meat in his youth. By the present study, a human case of spinal sparganosis invaded in lumbosacral canal at the S1-S2 level was diagnosed in China. Although the surgical removal of larvae is known to be the best way of treatment for sparganosis, we administered the high-dosage of praziquantel, albendazole and dexamethasone to prevent the occurrence of another remain worms in this study.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) on body mass index (BMI) in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP).

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-four girls with ICPP were enrolled. Fifty-seven out of the 134 girls were treated with GnRHa for 1.69±0.43 years. The height, weight, bone age and BMI were measured before treatment, at the end of the treatment and after reaching near adult height and compared with those in the untreated 77 girls.

RESULTSThe adult predicted height standard deviation score (SDS) at the end of treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (P<0.01) and was similar to the target height SDS in the GnRHa treatment group (P>0.05). With GnRHa treatment, the near-adult height SDS was higher than the target height SDS (P<0.01). At the end of treatment, the BMI SDS slightly increased compared with pretreatment level (P>0.05). A significant reduction in the BMI was observed when reaching the near-adult height in the GnRHa treatment group compared to the level of pretreatment and the untreated group (P<0.01). However, the BMI in the GnRHa treatment group before treatment, at the end of the treatment and after reaching near adult height remained in the normal range (±1 SD).

CONCLUSIONSGnRHa may improve the final height in girls with ICPP. The alterations of BMI after GnRHa therapy fluctuate in a normal range.

Body Height ; drug effects ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Puberty, Precocious ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in acute renal failure (ARF) of rabbit.

METHODSThe rabbit model of ARF was established by intramuscular injection of 50% glycerin (12 ml/kg) into the hind legs of 18 New Zealand rabbits. CEUS was performed for both kidneys before injection and 6 hours after the injection. The slope rate of ascending curve (A), the slope rate of descending curve (alpha), area under curve (AUC), derived peak intensity (DPI), and time to peak (TTP) were measured in renal cortex of rabbits using Q-lab software package. Blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) were measured.

RESULTSThe values of A and alpha before the injection of glycerin were (3.07 +/- 1.83) dB/s and (0.19 +/- 0.15)/s, respectively, which were significantly higher than the values after injection [ (2.76 +/- 1.31) dB/s and (0.09 +/- 0.02)/s, respectively] (P < 0.05). The values of AUC and TTP before the injection of glycerin were (137.4 +/- 68.4) dB s and (6.33 +/- 3.71) s, which were significantly lower than the values after injection [(309.5 +/- 88.9) dB s and (8.61 +/- 3.97) s, respectively] (P < 0.01). No significant change of DPI, BUN or SCr was found.

CONCLUSIONSCEUS can precisely display the hemodynamic change of ARF model of rabbit in the early stage, with superior sensitivity than BUN and SCr. It may be a promising imaging method for the early diagnosis of ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Contrast Media ; Creatinine ; blood ; Early Diagnosis ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the long-term facial nerve function of patients following microsurgical removal of large and huge acoustic neuroma, and to identify the factors that influence these outcomes.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed which included 176 consecutive patients with a large acoustic neuroma (≥ 30 mm) underwent a retrosigmoid craniotomy for tumor resection between January 2002 to November 2009. House-Brackmann (HB) Scale was used preoperatively and in a long-term follow-up after surgery. Test for linear trend was applied for statistic analysis.

RESULTSComplete resection was achieved in 168 (95.5%) of these 176 patients with a mortality of 1.7%. Anatomic preservation of the facial nerve was attained in 96.0% of the patients. In the series of 96 patients who had at least 1-year follow-up (mean 3.0 years) the facial nerve function preservation (HB grade 1 - 2) was totally attained in 79 patients (82.3%), and 40 of 55 patients (72.7%) who presented huge tumors (diameter > 40 mm) among the 96 patients had facial nerve function preserved. Analysis showed that facial nerve function correlated linearly with tumor sizes (χ(2) = 14.114, ν = 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSComplete removal of large and giant acoustic neuroma may be obtained via retrosigmoid approach with facial nerve preservation. Excellent long-term facial function can be expected in the majority of patients who undergo microsurgical removal of vestibular schwannoma via the suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Tumor size is a significant prognostic parameter for facial nerve function following vestibular schwannoma surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Nerve ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult