Objective To identify the potential value of event-related potentials ( ERPs ) and electroencephalogram(EEG) in early diagnosis of dementia.Methods From June 2008 to July 2011,113 patients with dementia were recruited fom First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Meanwhile,100 healthy individuals conducting physical examination at this hospital were collected as the control group.P300 and EEG were measured in patients and healthy controls.Results ( 1 ) Compared with healthy controls,patients with early diagnosis of dementia had significantly longer latency(402.5 ± 37.4)ms vs.( 320.4 ± 23.5 ) ms ;t =19.40 ; P =0.02 ) and lower amplitude of P300 ( 3.76 ± 1.76 ) μV vs.( 5.32 ± 1.38 )μV;t=7.24;P=0.01 ).(2)Significant higher proportionof abnormal EEG cases was found in individuals with dementia (68/113,60.2％ ) than that of participants in the healthy control group(34/100,34.0％ ) ( x2 =13.54,P ＜0.01 ).Specifically,patients with early diagnosis of dementia had significantly higher prevalence of moderate (26.5 ％ [ 18/68 ] vs.5.9 ％ [ 2/34 ] ; x2 =4.85,P =0.02 ) and severe ( 8.8 ％ [ 6/68 ] vs.2.9 ％ [ 1/34 ] ; x2 =1.22,P =0.02 ) abnormal EEG than healthy controls,while there were no significant difference of the proportions of mild or borderline abnormal EEG between the two groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusion P300 is an extraordinary objective indicator for early diagnosis of dementia.EEG can provide evidence of impaired brain function for individuals with dementia.

Objective To evaluate value of multi-indexes of real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE) for the detection of coronary artery disease(CAD). Methods A total of 35 patients scheduled for coronary angiography underwent RT-MCE, and were undergone gated single photon emission computed tomography(gated-SPECT) after RT-MCE shortly. Coronary angiography was performed within one week of RT-MCE in all patients. All patients were divided CAD and no-CAD group. The observing indexes included: (1)The images of RT-MCE were analyzed quantitatively from microbubble replenishment curves for myocardial perfusion by using the Qlab software; A,β and A×β were compared between two groups. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-MCE for detection of CAD were performance by ROC curves Gensini score were calculated in 22 patients. Then the correlation analysis was used for comparing the value of A,β and A×β with Gensini score. (2) The sensitivity and specificity of gated-SPECT and RT-MCE for assessment of CAD were calculated by 4 score method. (3) RT-MCE for the detection of coronary artery stenosis with multi-indexes. Results (1) A,β and A×β were significant difference between two groups. The cutoff of A,β and A×β was 4. 58,0. 64 and 2. 73,then the sensitivity and specificity of RT-MCE for detection of CAD were 86. 0% , 80. 2% , 88. 9% and 84.1 % , 64. 6% , 79. 9 % , respectively. The correlation index was - 0. 79, - 0. 51 and - 0. 76 comparing the results of A, β and A ×β with Gensini. (2) The sensitivity and specificity of gated-SPECT for assessment of CAD were 84. 8 % and 82. 7% ,respectively. (3) The sensitivity of multi-indexes RT-MCE increased, the sensitivity was 89. l%,90. 4% and 96.3% when combinated A and β,A and A×β,and β and A×β, respectively. Conclusions RT-MCE with multi-indexes has a valuable application for assessment of CAD. The severity of CAD could be evaluated by RT-MCE.

Objective To compare the biomechanical pull-out strength (POS) of three different fixations in upper thoracic vertebras using translaminar screws (TLS), translaminar facet screws (TLFS), and transpedicle screws (TPS), respectively. Methods Nine fresh human cadaveric cervicothoracic junction spines specimens which including T1-T3 vertebras were harvested. The vertebras specimens were scanned using dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry for bone mineral density. Both of screw insertion techniques at each vertebrae was randomized. All the screw insertions were based on direct observation and the CT scan on the pedicles. The peak of insertional torque (IT) was recorded and axial pull-out testing was performed to simulate intraoperative failure of fixation. Results The mean peak IT of the TFLS, TPS and TLS were (0.43±0.01), (0.40±0.01), (0.35±).01) N·m, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the TFLS and TPS, and between the TPS and TLS was same. But the TFLS generated statistically greater peak 1T in comparison with the TLS(t=-13.86, P＜0.05). The mean POS of TLFS was (771±106) N,which had no statistically significant difference in comparison with the TPS(733±65) N. And the TLS (663±86) N was same. But the TFLS generated statistically greater POS in comparison with the TLS (t=9.907, P＜0.05). The peak IT showed a strong positive correlation with POS in three screw techniques. Bone mineral density correlation with POS in all methods of fixation. Conclusion It was not a significant difference to compare POS of TLS and TLFS to that of TPS respectively. TLS and TLFS appear to be a biomechanically sound alternative in the upper thoracic spine, and appear to be a safe and effective technique for instrumenting the upper thoracic spine.

Aim To observe the effect of endomorphin-1 (EM-1 )on TLR2 and TLR4 expressions of dendritic cells (DC)from human peripheral blood.Methods Monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood mono-nuclear cells were cultured in medium containing re-combinant human interleukin-4 and recombinant hu-man granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor. After six days of culture,the immature dendritic cells (imDC ) were divided into four groups,the control group (BLA group),EM-1 group,LPS group and LPS+EM-1 group.After 2 days of culture,the expres-sions of TLR2 and TLR4 were determined by fluores-cence activated cell sorter(FACS).The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 at mRNA level in DC were detected by RT-PCR.Results The FACS results showed that the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in imDC were high-er,and their expressions were decreased with the mat-uration of DC.Compared with BLA group,the expres-sions of TLR2 and TLR4 in DC were down-regulated in EM-1 group (P<0.05 ).Compared with LPS group, TLR2,TLR4 on DC surface were significantly lower in LPS +EM-1 group (P <0.01 ). RT-PCR results showed that compared with BLA group,EM-1 interven-tion induced TLR2 mRNA expression was down-regula-ted significantly (P<0.01),there were no significant changes of TLR4 mRNA expression (P>0.05 ).mR-NA expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 on DC in LPS +EM-1 group were lower than those in LPS group (P<0.05 ).Conclusions EM-1 enables the down-regula-tion of the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 on DC sur-face,the effects of EM-1 on immune function may be associated with TLR2 and TLR4 expressions on DC surface.

0.05);and there were significant diffe-rences between the final diagnosis and pre-hospitalized diagnosis in all patients with VE(?2=47.08 P

Objective To explore the technique of massive facial scar revision. Methods All 12 patients in the group were treated with expanded deltopectoral skin flap. In the primary surgery, expander was implanted underneath deltopectoral flap region through an incision inferior to the clavi-cle. The skin perforators of transverse cervical artery and thoracoacromial artery were ligated during surgery, and the internal thoracic artery was carefully preserved. After the deltopectoral skin flap was fully expanded, the second surgery was performed and the facial scar was released and the normal ana-tomic position of eyes, nose and month was restored. The deltopectoral skin flap was planed according to the size of the defect. The excised facial scar was converted to the flap pedicle and a hinge-like con-nection was formed. The flap was delayed and three weeks after the second surgery, the pedicle was divided. The flap from the pedicle was applied for the mental region scar revision. Results Unilateral or bilateral dehopectoral skin flaps were employed for the repair of extensive facial scar in 12 patients. Satisfactory results were achieved in all these patients. Conclusion Expanded deltopectoral skin flap is a good technique for the repair of extensive facial scar.

AIMTo determine whether the cardioprotection of puerarin (Pue) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is mediated by mitochondrial transmembrane pore or channels.

METHODSMale Sprague-Dawley rats were used for Langendorff isolated heart perfusion. The hearts subjected to global ischemia for 30 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Formazan, a product of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), which is proportional to myocardial viability, was measured at 490 nm, and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent was measured to evaluate the cardiac injury.

RESULTSThe pretreatment with Pue at 0.24 mmol/L for 5 min before ischemia increased formazan content of myocardium, reduced LDH release, improved the recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure, maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and rate pressure product (left ventricular developed pressure multiplied by heart rate) and attenuated the decrease of coronary flow during reperfusion. Administration of atractyloside (20 micromol/L), an opener of mitochondrial permeability transition pore, for 20 min (first 20 min of reperfusion) and 5-hydroxydecanoate (100 micromol/L), the mitochondrial specific K(ATP) blocker, for 20 min before ischemia attenuated the protective effects of Pue.

CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate that in the isolated rat heart, Pue protects myocardium against ischemia/ reperfusion injury via the opening of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channel and the inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening.

Animals ; Decanoic Acids ; metabolism ; Hydroxy Acids ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mitochondria, Heart ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; drug effects ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To propose a new suggestion for the clinical downstaging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) without changing the current T,N,and M staging system.Methods We reviewed the records of 536 NPC patients treated in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from January 2002 to December 2006.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the disease-specific survival (DSS) rate,and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.The Cox regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of each subset.ResultsAccording to the 7th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system,the 5-year DSS rates of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ patients (except T3N2M0) were all more than 85%(P>0.05),those of stage ⅣA and ⅣB patients were 71.8% and 46.2%,respectively (P=0.171),and that of stage ⅠVC patients was only 24.0%.In stage Ⅲ,the 5-year DSS rate of non-T3N2M0 patients (91.5%) was significantly higher than that of T3N2M0 patients (78.6%)(P=0.042),but there was no significant difference in DSS between T3N2M0 patients and stage ⅣA and ⅣB patients.Based on the above results,new stage Ⅰ included T1-3N0-1M0 and T1-2N2M0,new stage Ⅱ included T3N2M0,T4N0-2M0,and TxN3M0,and new stage Ⅲ included TxNxM1.The 5-year DSS rates of new stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ patients were 93.3%,72.7%,and 24.0%,respectively (P=0.000).Compared with new stage Ⅰ patients,new stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients had HRs of 4.01 and 16.76,respectively,for 5-year DSS.Conclusions In the era of IMRT,the new clinical staging system (stages Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ) helps with prognostic evaluation and clinical treatment.

A model for screening the yeast which can ferment xylose to produce the ethanol was constructed.An ethanol yeast was obtained using the lignocellulose as substrate production the ethanol.By malt extract medium pre-culturing,soil samples use the plate with xylose as sole carbon source as the primary screening,then finally screen by the potassium dichromate color-displaying method.A strain named Y2-3 was screened from the soil.Phenotypic analysis including morphology and physiology and biochemical characteristics and 26D1/D2 sequence analysis were carried out.Based on taxonomy results,the Y2-3 was identified as Pichia caribbica.The strain Y2-3 ferments using xylose as sole carbon source: biomass 23.5 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.7 %,ethanol final yield 4.57 g/L;using mixture sugar:biomass 28.6 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.2 %,glucose utilization rate 95.6%,ethanol final yield 20.6 g/L.Pichia caribbica is a yeast which can utilize xylose and mixture sugar as substrate.It established the foundation for further research fermentation of ethanol by yeast using lignocellulose.

Objective: To establish a method for isolation and purification of fetal membrane derived adherent cells (FMDACs) , and investigate their biological characteristics. Method: FMDACs were isolated with trypsin inducing and cultured in vitro. FMDACs were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. FACS and immunocytochemistry technique were used to examine the cell surface antigen. The genetic stability was verified by karyotype analysis. Results: FMDACs were successfully isolated and expanded in vitro. They had strong proliferative ability. FMDACs were positive for CD44 and CD29, but negative for CD34, CD14 and CD45. FMDACs were differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes after inducement. The karyotype was stable in the sixth-passaged FMDACs and the tumorigenicity was not found. Conclusion; FMDACs have the possibility of multipotent stem cells, which have strong capacities of self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation. The genetic background of FMDACs is stable. FMDACs may be used as a kind of novel seed cells for tissue engineering.