Computed tomography perfusion imaging can accurately and promptly provide hemodynamic parameters of brain tissues after stroke,and it has a good correlation with the accepted hemodynamic measurement,the parameters got from xenon-computed tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.Therefore,CTP has been widely used in predicting the studies of ischemic penumbra after stroke.

The prognosis and outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage are closely correlated with perihernatoma tissue injury and recovery.The pathophysiological mechanisms after intracerebral hemorrhage are extremely complicated.There are regional blood flow changes in perihematoma tissues,but whether there is a similar“penumbra”as in cerebral ischemia remains uncertain.At present,studies in this field have mainly focused on the imaging detection of regional cerebral blood flow and metabolism.The study methods frequently used include single photon emission computed tomography,functional magnetic resonance imaging,magnetic resonance spectroscopy,positron emission tomography and CT perfusion imaging,etc.The application of these imaging techniques have provided some valuable methods for identifying whether perihematoma penumbra is present or not,but further studies are needed to confirm it.

Objective To explore the expression of HCK gene during the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells and analyze the role of HCK gene in maintenance of pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.Methods Mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured,then induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes.Total RNAs were isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation days:0 day(D0),the second day(D2),the fourth day(D4),the sixth day(D6),the eighth day(D8),respectively.The levels of HCK mRNAs were assessed by the method of semi-quantitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).In the meanwhile,Total proteins were also isolated from mouse embryonic stem cells in the differentiation D0,D2,D4,D6,D8,and the levels of HCK proteins were evaluated by Western-blot.Results HCK mRNAs could be detected in the mouse embryonic stem cells in D0 and D2,however,they were undetectable from D4 to D8.The expression of HCK mRNAs was rapidly down-regulated during cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells.Expression of HCK proteins,which coincided with HCK mRNAs,down-regulated during differentiation and couldn't be detected in D4.Conclusions With the cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells,the expression of HCK in the levels of mRNA and proteins are sharply down-regulated;HCK may play an important role in maintaining the pluripotency of embryonic stem cell.

AIMIn order to explore the mechanism of central motilin-induced feeding behavior, the effects of erythromycin, a motilin receptor agonist, on glucose responsive neurons in hypothalamus were observed.

METHODSExtracellular recordings were made from single neurons in region of lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) in anesthetized rats. On the basis of their responsiveness to intracarotid injection of 0.58 mol/L glucose solution 0.2 ml, glucose-sensitive neurons (GSNs) in LHA and glucoreceptor neurons (GRNs) in VMH were recognized. Effects of intracerebroventricularly (i. c. v.) administration of 4 microg erythromycin on neural activities of glucose responsive neurons and non-glucose responsive neurons were examined. The mixture of EM and GM-109 1 microl were used to GSNs and GRNs which were sensitive to i. c. v. administration of EM.

RESULTSIn LHA, EM increased activity of GSNs significantly (P < 0.05 vs non-glucose-sensitive neurons group). Whereas in VMH, EM significantly decreased the activities of GRNs (P < 0.01 vs non-glucoreceptor neurons group). The mixture of EM and GM-109 had no effect on GSNs and GRNs.

CONCLUSIONEM, a motilin receptor agonist, can stimulate GSNs in LHA and suppress GRNs in VMH and this may contribute to central motilin's effect on feeding behavior.

Animals ; Erythromycin ; pharmacology ; Hypothalamus ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Receptors, Neuropeptide ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective To evaluate the using of either 225 or 150 microgrammes of mifepristone combined with misoprostol for termination of second-trimester gestation(16～24 weeks).Methods 180 women requesting voluntary induced abortion during gestation 16～24 weeks were randomised to three groups,group 1:oral mifepris- tone 225rag,group 2:oral mifepristone 150mg,and group 3:injected 100rag rivanot by amniocentestis.The total suc- cess rate,once success rate,the interval of having-medicine to uterine-constraction,the volume of bleeding within 2 hours after labour and cervical laceration rate were observed.Results The once success rate of induced labour in group 1 was higher than that in group 2 and group 3(P

·AIM:To investigate and analyse the prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy severity in Qingdao. ·METHODS: This survey consisted of the 2 following parts: 2859 community residents aged >60 years old and 4275 patients with T2DM who were older than 30 years old in Qingdao. Ophthalmic examinations were performed on all patients. A questionnaire was used to obtain the patient's age and gender, the duration of diabetes mellitus(DM), glycaemic control and their knowledge of diabetic retinopathy ( DR ). Blood pressure and haemoglobin levels were recorded. All included patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination that included a fundus examination and retinal photographs and that assigned a grade for the severity of retinopathy according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) severity scale. Patients with severe non-proliferative or proliferative diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macular edema ( CSME ) required ophthalmic therapy were assigned to the need-treatment group, while the remaining patients with DR were assigned to the need-observation group. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine the required-treatment rate and risk factors for DR. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjustment for age, gender and the duration of diabetes. ·RESULTS: DR was present in 334 (11. 68% ) of the 2859 community residents aged > 60 years old and 1097 (25. 66% ) of the 4275 hospital patients with T2DM, and 48 (14. 81% ) of the residents and 172 ( 15. 68% ) of the hospital patients required ophthalmic therapy. In univariate and multivariate logistic analyses, factors including the age of the patients (51-60 years old: OR, 1. 68; 95% CI, 1. 21-1. 72; 61-70 years old: OR, 1. 55;95% CI, 1. 38-1. 76), the duration of diabetes (11-15 years:OR, 2. 61; 95% CI, 1. 51-4. 72; >15 years: OR, 4. 15; 95% CI, 2. 32-5. 77), glycaemic control (medium: OR, 2. 51;95%CI,1.98-3.92;poor:OR,4.69;95%CI,3.39-6.95), and knowledge of DR ( did not understand: OR, 1. 45;95%CI, 1. 21-1. 95) were significantly associated with the required-treatment rate in DR, while gender, low and advanced age ( 31-50 years old and >70 years old ), duration of disease (<10y), hypertension, and insulin treatment did not. ·CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate and the required-treatment rate in DR in Qingdao are relatively high. Being aged 51-70 years old and having a duration of diabetes>10y, poor glycaemic control and a lack of knowledge of DR were found to be potential risk factors that increased the rate of required ophthalmic therapy in patients with DR. In patients with T2DM who were aged 51-70 years old, we found that focusing on using science and education to strengthen the patients' knowledge of DR, establishing specifications for a community DR screening system, and effectively implementing early intervention in the community of DR - affected individuals were particularly important for preventing and controlling the high DR prevalence and the high rate of DR-associated blindness

BACKGROUNDCubital tunnel syndrome is a well-recognized clinical condition and is the second most common peripheral compression neuropathy. This study was designed to investigate the causes of cubital tunnel syndrome by surgical means and to assess the clinical value of the neurophysiological diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome.

METHODSTwenty-one patients (involving a total of 22 limbs from 16 men and 5 women, aged 22 to 63, with a mean age of 49 years) with clinical symptoms and signs indicating a problem with their ulnar nerve underwent motor conduction velocity examinations at different sites along the ulnar nerve and examinations of sensory conduction velocity in the hand, before undergoing anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve.

RESULTSElectromyographic abnormalities were seen in 21 of 22 limbs [motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) range (15.9 - 47.5) m/s, mean 32.7 m/s] who underwent motor conduction velocity examinations across the elbow segment of the ulnar nerve. Reduced velocity was observed in 13 of 22 limbs [MCV (15.7 - 59.6) m/s, mean 40.4 m/s] undergoing MCV tests in the forearms. An absent or abnormal sensory nerve action potential following stimulation was detected in the little finger of 14 of 22 limbs. The factors responsible for ulnar compression based on observations made during surgery were as follows: 15 cases involved compression by arcuate ligaments, muscle tendons, or bone hyperplasia; 2 involved fibrous adhesion; 3 involved compression by the venous plexus or a concurrent thick vein; 2 involved compression by cysts.

CONCLUSIONSFactors inducing cubital tunnel syndrome include both common factors that have been reported and rare factors, involving the venous plexus, thick veins, and cysts. Tests of motor conduction velocity at different sites along the ulnar nerve should be helpful in diagnosis cubital tunnel syndrome, especially MCV tests indicating decreased velocity across the elbow segment of the ulnar nerve.

Adult ; Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Electromyography ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: In order to understand which kind of function genes play an important role for estimating wound age, the variation of difference genes' mRNA expression were compared after injury. METHODS: The mRNA expression levels of seven candidate genes (ICAM-1, NF-κB, MX2, MT1, MT2, sTnI, and Cox6c) were analyzed in contused rat skeletal muscle at different time points using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The raw Ct values were normalized relative to that of RPL32 mRNA, and converted to standard Ct values. At each time point after injury, the standard deviations (SD) of the standard Ct values were calculated by SPSS. RESULTS: The expression trends of the seven genes were all found to be related to wound age, but there were lower variation coefficients and greater reliability of s TnI and Cox6c when compared with other genes. CONCLUSION The genes encoding structural proteins or proteins that perform basic functions can be suitable for wound age estimation.
Animals ; Contusions/genetics* ; Forensic Pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Regression Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors ; Wound Healing/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of transurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts (TURED) for azoospermia with ejaculatory duct obstruction (EDO).

METHODSFrom June 2003 to December 2004, 20 azoospermia with EDO were diagnosed, diagnostic criteria included a history, physical examination, semen analyses, semen fructose measurement, endocrine assessment, testicular biopsy and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS); All 20 cases were treated by TURED. Fifteen of them were followed up more than 3 months after the treatment. The semen samples of them were analysed at 3-month intervals in post-therapy.

RESULTSSemen analyses in all 20 cases showed the typical characteristics of EDO, low semen volume (0.4-1.6 ml), azoospermia, low pH, absent or low semen fructose. TRUS showed the main etiology factor of EDO was a midline cyst in 11, lateral cystic lesions in 2, the remaining 7 cases had dilated ejaculatory duct with or without dilated seminal vesicles. Among 15 cases followed up more than 3 months after TURED, 10/15 (67%) had an improvement in semen parameters and 3/15 (20%) had pregnancies. Semen analyses had not been done in anther 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral resection of ejaculatory ducts may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of azoospermia with EDO.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Electrosurgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligospermia ; diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

Animals ; Breath Tests ; methods ; Carbon Isotopes ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; methods ; Male ; Phenylalanine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley