Objective To study the regulation effect of estrogen in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the central nervous system (CNS) in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ( EAE).Methods The 60 mice were overiectomized and 2 weeks later EAE was induced with MOG35-55 peptide in these mice.They were divided into a treatment group and a control group.The treatment group was treated with estrogen and the control group was given PBS.Clinical symptoms in these two groups were scored and compared.HE staining was used to observe inflammation in the brain and spinal cord.The MMP-9 expression in the CNS was examined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining.Results The incidence of disease was lower (treatment and control group were 8/30 and 28/30 respectively) and clinical symptoms were milder (treatment and control group were 3.23±0.83 and 1.62 ±1.00 respectively,t=3.811 and P＜0.05) in the treatment group than those in the control group.HE staining showed the decreased infiltration of inflammatory cell in the treatment group (Treatment group:inflammatory score were 0.895 ±0.206,0.752 ±0.302,0.732 ±0.183 in acute,relief and chronic phase respectively;Control group:inflammatory score were 3.472 ±0.635,2.881 ±0.662,1.891 ± 0.482 in acute,relief and chronic phase respectively.t = 8.622,6.543 and 5.027,all P ＜ 0.05).The quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of MMP9 in the CNS was decreased in the treatment group.Conclusion Estrogen may decrease MMP-9 expression in the CNS,reduce inflammation and clinical symptoms in mice with EAE.

PurposeTo evaluate the motion correction algorithm (snapshot freeze, SSF) and multi-cycle reconstruction on the imaging quality and interpretation of coronary CT angiography (CCTA).Materials and Methods Sixty patients with suspected coronary heart disease were divided into two groups according to the heart rate. Twenty-ifve patients with heart rate ≤65 beats per minute underwent prospectively ECG-gated CCTA on gemstone CT. Image quality and interpretability of standard (STD) and SSF reconstructions at 75% R-R interval were compared. Thirty-five patients with heart rate>65 beats per minute underwent retrospective ECG-gated CCTA. Image quality and interpretability of STD and SSF reconstructions at 45% and 75% R-R interval were compared. The image qualities and interpretability were assessed based on coronary artery segment, coronary artery bifurcation and overall coronary artery.Results For 25 patients with prospectively ECG gated CCTA, SSF reconstructions showed higher interpretability than STD reconstructions on per-segment level [96.3% (341/354)vs 90.7% (321/354),P<0.01]. Image qualities with SSF were higher than that with STD reconstructions for left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX) and right coronary artery (RCA). There was no statistic significance for left main coronary artery (P>0.05). For 35 patients with retrospective ECG-gate CCTA, SSF reconstructions at 45% R-R interval showed higher interpretability (P<0.01,P<0.001). But there were no signiifcant difference for 75% R-R interval images (P>0.05). Image qualities with SSF were higher than that with single and double sector STD reconstructions (P<0.001). The image qualities were signiifcant different among SSF, single and double sector STD reconstructions for 45% R-R interval images of LM (P<0.01), but it was similar for 75% R-R interval images (P>0.05). There were signiifcant different for LAD, LCX and RCA on both 45% and 75% R-R interval images (P<0.01,P<0.001). Conclusion SSF may improve the image quality and interpretability of CCTA images using prospectively and retrospective ECG-gated techniques, especially for improving the image quality.

Objective To evaluate beam-hardening (BH) artifact reduction of myocardium in coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)with single-source dual-energy CT. Methods Thirty patients received CCTA on single-source dual-energy CT with findings of coronary artery stenosis<50%were enrolled in this study prospectively. Scanning mode was gemstone spectral imaging (GSI), single-source instantaneous(0.5 ms)kVp(140 kVp and 80 kVp)switch. The original images acquired by scanning were
reconstructed into monochromatic energy (60,70,80,90,100,110,120,130,140 keV) left vertical short-axis images via 40% ASIR and the polychromatic left vertical short-axis images were conventionally reconstructed. CT values were measured across multiple segments (basal anterior, basal lateral, basal inferior , basal septal, mid anterior, mid lateral, mid inferior , mid septal, apical anterior, apical lateral, apical inferior , apical septal and apex)of left ventricle wall at varying monochromatic energy levels and polychromatic images, and then the left ventricular myocardial average CT value and BH objective value were calculated retrospectively:BH1=CT value of mid inferior wall-CT value of basal inferior wall ,BH2=CT value of mid septal wall-CT value of mid inferior wall. BH subjective rating were evaluated by two radiologists independently. Single sample t test was used to compare the difference of myocardial CT values among 13 segments with the left ventricular myocardial average CT value on polychromatic images ;Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the difference of CT values among thirteen different segments of myocardium on fixed monochromatic energy images; Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare the difference of BH objective value and subjective rating between monochromatic images with polychromatic images. Results On polychromatic images, the mean myocardial CT value was(73 ± 25)HU, the CT value of basic inferior[(58±23)HU], basic septal[(85±21)HU], mid septal[(89±24)HU], apical anterior[(64±23)HU]and apex [(61 ± 24)HU ] were different from the mean myocardial CT value(t value were -3.76,2.89,3.50,-2.30, -2.86,P all<0.05),the differences of CT value between other myocardial segments and the mean myocardial CT value had no statistical significance(P all>0.05). The differences of CT value of different myocardial segments had statistical significance at 60 to 80 keV images(P all<0.05), the differences of CT value of different myocardial segments had no statistical significance at 90 to 140 keV images(P all>0.05), suggesting that the non-uniformity of CT value among different segments was improved. On polychromatic images,BH1 M(P25,P75)was 11(6,28),BH2 M(P25,P75)was 19(1,29) HU. BH1 was improved on 90 to 140 keV images while BH2 was improved on 70 to 140 keV images, the difference had statistical significance compared with the polychromatic images(P all<0.05). BH1,BH2 decreased with the increasing of monochromatic energy level on 60 to 100 keV images, then increased a little on 110,120 keV images, and hit bottom on 130 keV images with the value of 5.20,0.34 HU ,finally exist a slight increase on 140 keV images again. On polychromatic images,BH1,BH2 subjective rating M(P25,P75)both were 1(1,2), BH1 subjective rating was improved on 70 to 140 keV images while BH2 subjective rating was improved on 90 to 140 keV , the difference had statistical significance compared with the polychromatic images(P all<0.05). Conclusion Compared with the polychromatic images,monochromatic energy images of CCTA with dual-energy CT resulted in significant BH artifact reduction and improvements in the uniformity in the myocardium, and 130 keV is the optimal Monochromatic energy.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)is a new type technique of gel electrophoresis which can be used to separate large DNA molecules.It has been widely applied to the karyotype analysis,identification of species groups,genetic orientation and genetic analysis for fungi.This article describes the principle,development and general manipulative procedure of PFGE,and elaborates the application in the molecular research of fungi.

Objective To study the value of event-related potentials P300 in evaluation of the cognitive function of patients with vascular dementia (VD).Methods P300 test and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) assessment were carried out in 31 patients with VD before and after 16 weeks of treatment with the oral in- take of donepezil hydrochloride,30 age-matched normal subjects served as the controls.Results Before treatment, the score of MMSE in the VD patients was significantly lower than that in the control group (P

With the advanced development of information technology, there is a huge impact on various industries for the arrival of big data. In the biomedical field, innovative genome sequencing technology enables low-cost, high-throughput, and high-speed to become a reality, which leads to an explosive growth in data and also appeared in an urgent need to process those massive biological information. High performance computing (HPC) along with effective methods is one of the best ways to deal with the problem of big data in biomedical field which could serve the biomedical development best. We discussed the issues faced in biomedical big data processing and concluded that the bioinformatics is an indispensable component of biomedical technologies.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Computational Biology ; Computing Methodologies ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore the difference in the efficacy and effect mechanism of subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) complicated with depression between acupuncture and medication.

METHODSSixty patients were randomized-into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Shuigou (GV 26), Fengfu (GV 16), Fengchi (GB 20) and the others, once a day, 6 times a week. The treatment of 4 weeks made one session and totally 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, nimodipine 30 mg, three times a day and fluoxetine 20 mg, once a day were prescribed for oral administration, for 8 weeks totally. Before treatment, at the end of the 4th week and at the end of the 8th week of treatment, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) and solubility CD40 ligand (sCD40L) were determined respectively. The scores in Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Hamilton' s depression scale (HAMD) were evaluated in the two groups. The efficacies on cognitive function and depression symptoms were compared in the patients between the two groups. Results Compared with the outcome before treatment, mean blood flow velocity (Vm) of middle cerebral artery (MCA), anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) was increased significantly at the end of the 4th week of treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). At the end of the 8th week, Vm was increased much significantly (all P<0.01). The differences were not significant in comparison between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the expression before treatment, sCD40L was reduced significantly after treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.01), but the differ- ence was not significant between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with that before treatment, MoCA score was increased significantly after treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01), HAMD score was reduced sig- nificantly (all P<0.01), the differences were not significant in comparison between the two groups (all P>0.05). The total effective rate of cognitive improvement was 86.7% (26/30) in the acupuncture group and was 80.0% (24/30) in the medication group, the differences were not significant in comparison of the two groups (P>0.05). The total effective rate of the improvement in depression was 93.3% (21/30) in the acupuncture group and was 86.7% (26/30) in the medication group, the differences were not significant in comparison of the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture could significantly increases CBFV and reduces serum sCD40L expressions in the patients of SIVD complicated with depression, and significantly improves cognitive function and relieves depression symptoms. The efficacy of it is similar to that of western medication. The increase of serum sCD40L expression is possibly involved in the occurrence and development of SIVD. Reducing sCD40L expression contributes to the alleviation of damage induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluoxetine ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nimodipine ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) in renal tissue of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN),and its correlation with clinical indexes and pathological changes,and to explore its effect on the pathogenesis of HSPN.Methods According to the clinical manifestation,60 children with HPSN were divided into only purpura group,mixed group and HSPN group.MIF concentration of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) groups and healthy control group were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).MIF protein expression and the marker of human macrophage(CD68) in renal tissues of HSPN and normal control group were detected with immunohistochemistry method.The total urine protein for 24 hours and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) level were detected with laboratory routine method.Results MIF concentration in mixed group and HSPN group were significantly higher than that in only purpura group and healthy control group(Pa

· AIM: To observe the effect of tetrandrine (Ted) eye drops of different concentrations on corneal graft and on allograft rejection in rats.64 SD rats and they were then randomly divided into 3,5, 10g/L tetrandrine eye drops-treated and control groups. At different times postoperatively, neovascularization and inflammation of corneal graft were observed using slit-lamp microscopy, HE staining, light microscopy and microphoto-analysis.lymphocytes and mononuclear-macrophages. Corneal neovascularization and inflammation were significantly inhibited in the 5g/L Tet-treated group (P ＜0.05),compared with control group at 7, 14, 21, 28d postoperatively.bubble appeared when the graft was treated with tetrandrine of higher concentration (10g/L), but 5g/L Tet eye drops significantly inhibited corneal allograft rejection in rats without serious side-effects.

Objective To learn the prevalence and trends of Brucella disease in Ningxia, in order to provide scientific basis for effective control of the disease. Methods Data of Brucella cases reported through city network from 2004 to 2009 in Yinchuan city, Shizuishan city, Wuzhong city, Guyuan city and Zhongwei city of Ningxia were reviewed and retrospectively analyzed. The data included demographic characteristics, treatment conditions and medical history so on related information. Analytical indicators include reported incidence;with patients' gender, age, regional distribution, urban and rural distribution;become chronic and associated factors;distribution of the cases reporting unit and so on. Results From 2004 to 2009, Ningxia had reported 349 cases of Brucellosis, no deaths, the annual incidence rates reported were 0.017/10 million, 0.543/10 million, 0.151/101 (295/54);The proportion of 34- to 40-year-old age group was higher than other age groups(27.5%, 96/349);Occupational distribution of patients was mainly farmers and herdsmen(70.2% ,245/349), in regional distribution of the patients, the highest percentage was Wuzhong city(61.9%,216/349), followed by Yinchuan city(22.9%,80/349);The proportion of patients in rural areas(97.4% ,340/349) was higher than urban(2.6% ,9/349);the proportion of patients converted to chronic was 11.2% (39/349). With age, the chance of patients converted to chronic was in a decreasing trend(odds ratio was 0.966);cases reported by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention accounted for 74.8%(261/349), by hospital accounted for 25.2%(88/349). Conclusions The reported incidence of Brucellosis in Ningxia is in a rapid upward trend year by year, the patients is mainly young men, the rate of converted to chronic is higher and the ability of hospital in founding and reporting of the cases is weaker.Comprehensive measures should be taken to increase funding, strengthen monitoring, and continuously improve the level of awareness and diagnosis of medical personnel for further strengthen the prevention and control of Brucellosis.