Objective To investigate the imbalance of T helper 17 (Th17) / CD4 + CD25 + regulatory cell (Treg) in HAM/TSP patients.Methods Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the levels of interleukin (IL-17) and IL-10 in CSF,and flow cytometry to determine the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with HAM/TSP.Results There was a significant increase in the level of IL-17 [(4.58 ± 0.70)pg/ml vs (0.76 ± 0.17)pg/ml,P ＜ 0.01] in CSF and the percentage of Th17 cells [(2.00 ± 0.64) ％ vs (0.41 ± 0.24) ％,P ＜ 0.01],but a decrease in the level of IL-10 in CSF and the percentage of Treg cells in peripheral blood of patients with HAM/TSP compared with the control group.The ratio of Th17/Treg cell (0.55 ±0.10 vs 0.06 ±0.03) in the peripheral blood of patients with HAM/TSP increased significantly compared with control group (t =12.11,P ＜0.01).Conclusions The imbalance between Thl7 and Treg cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the interleukin-17 (IL-17),interleukin23 (IL-23) and carotid artery sclerosis in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods One hundred and twentyfive cerebral infarction patients in the first affiliated hospital of Shantou University medical college from June 2010 to June 2012 were recruited.All the subjects were examined with carotid ultrasonography.According to the results of carotid ultrasonography,all patients were divided into carotid atherosclerosis group(86 cases) and non carotid atherosclerosis group(39 cases).Patients with carotid atherosclerosis were divided into soft plaque group (35 cases),hard plaque group (21 cases),mixed plaque group (30 cases) based on plaque feature.Carotid atherosclerosis patients with cerebral infarction plaque determined by semi-quantitative method were grouped into Ⅰ grade(29 cases),Ⅱ grade (43 cases),Ⅲ grade (14 cases) according to the severity atherosclerosis.Serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were measured.Results The levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in patients with carotid atherosclerosis group were (31.42 ± 8.73) μg/L and(21.79 ± 9.34) μg/L,higher than that of non-carotid atherosclerosis group((22.81 ±6.52) μg/L,t =5.15,P ＜0.01 ; (14.33 ±6.21) μg/L,t =4.99,P ＜0.01).The IL-17 and IL-23 levels in patients with soft plaque,hard plaque and mixed plaque group were significant different (F =10.181,3.835,P ＜0.05).Serum IL-17 in soft plaque and mixed plaque expression group was higher than that of hard plaque group (P =0.001,P=0.007).IL-23 level in soft plaque group was higher than mixed plaque and hard plaque groups(P =0.017;P =0.045).The IL-17 and IL-23 levels in Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ level group were markedly different (F =41.046,3.739 ; P ＜ 0.05),and there was significant difference between Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅰ group(P ＜0.01,P ＜0.05).The correlation between IL-17 and IL-23 levels in Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ level group were 0.892 and 0.420 (P =0.000 ; P =0.041).Conclusion IL-17 and IL-23 play important roles in the pathologic progress of artery sclerosis and are helpful for early diagnosis of the disease.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for the external hydrocephalus (EH) after traumatic brain injury in the infants. Methods The clinical data of 178 cases of infants and young children with traumatic brain injury from March 2004 to April 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the clinical risk factors for EH after traumatic brain injury. Results By univariate regression analysis, age, GCS score after trauma, coma duration, brain contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage and epilepsy were risk factors for external hydrocephalus in the infants and young children (Ps < 0.05). Gender,traumatic wet lung and usage of mannitol were less relevant to EH (Ps >0. 05). The incidence of EH after traumatic brain injury in the infants and young children was 14% (25/178 ). Age ( OR = 0.5743 ) , coma duration after trauma (OR =3.0628) ,subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR =3.7093),brain contusion(OR = 4.7892) and post-trauma epilepsy (OR =2. 9976) were risk factors for EH (Ps < 0. 05). Conclusion Younger than 2 years old, low GCS score, long coma duration, brain contusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage and epilepsy would increase the risk of EH after traumatic brain injury in the infants and young children. This study provides information for the prevention of EH after traumatic brain injury in the infants and young children.

OBJECTIVETo analyzed the relationship between lumbar endplate Modic area changes rate and low back pain by measuring MRI T2 sagittal image of lumbar endplate Modic area changes rate.

METHODSFrom December 2011 to June 2012,70 patients with low back pain in operation were evaluated on pain by VAS and function by JOA,and examined by MRI including 39 males and 31 females with an average age of (51.00 +/- 11.89) years ranging from 29 to 72 years old. Among them, 54 cases had lumbar endplate Modic changes involving 15 cases in types Modic I ,21 cases in type Modic II, 11 cases in type Modic III ,mixed type Modic in 7 cases (eliminated for too few cases). Modic area changes and corresponding vertebral area were measured on MRI T2 median sagittal. The areas of two ways were compared to yield the rate of changes for Modic, for multisegmental Modic changes to calculate the total ratios. A correlation was observed among JOA, VAS and the rate of Modic changes.

RESULTSThe correlation coefficient of change rate of Modic I with JOA score was r = -0.308, P = 0.048 < 0.05, there was a negative correlation;the correlation coefficient of change rate of Modic I with VAS scores was r = 0.428,P = 0.021 < 0.05, there was a positive correlation. The correlation coefficient of change rate of Modic II with JOA score was r = -0.375, P = 0.043 < 0.05, there was a negative correlation;the correlation coefficient of change rate of Modic II with VAS score was r = 0.352, P = 0.041 < 0.05, there was a positive correlation. The area change rate of Modic III had no significant correlation with low back pain degree (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONModic I and II area changes rate of of patients with low back pain is closely related to the degree of pain low back pain, Modic III area changes rate is not significant correlated to the degree of lower back pain.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

Aphosphorbasedonsilicananoparticleswaspreparedusingasol-gelmethod.Thecontrollable synthesis, spectroscopic properties, cytotoxicity and cell imaging of these nanomatericals were examined by using photoluminescence spectra, TEM, XRD, confocal microscopy and other characterized measurements. The results demonstrated that the obtained sample was silica with diameter about 50 nm. The maximum fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the silica nanomatericals were 280 nm and 335 nm, and the maximum phosphorescence excitation and emission wavelengths of the silica nanomatericals were 280 nm and 440 nm. The obtained silica sample possessed room temperature phosphorescence that was stable against environmental changes. The obtained sample was stored in air at ambient conditions and its phosphorescence remained unchanged after 3 month demonstrated its long-term stability. The result of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) and cell imaging experiments suggested that the synthesized silica nanoparticles were feeble cytotoxicity and could be uptaken by cells at the lysosomal compartment. Therefore these nanoparticles could serve as bioprobes for cell imaging.

Objective To evaluate the long-term prognosis and safety of ABO-incompatible (ABO-I) liver transplantation on type-O patients with acute severe liver disease,analyze and compare the effects and main complications between different donor blood types,and investigate corresponding treatment measures.Methods The clinical data of 65 cases of emergency orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for type-O patients with acute severe liver disease from January 2014 to January 2017,including 41 cases of ABO-compatible (ABO-C) OLT and 24 cases of ABO-incompatible OLT (7 with type-A donor,9 with type-B donor,and 8 with type-AB donor) were retrospective analyzed.Results The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in the ABO-incompatible group was 32.5±5.5,significantly higher in the ABO-compatible group (23.3±8.9) (P=0.001).The data of the other perioperative factors showed no statistically significant difference between two groups.The cumulative survival rate in the ABO-compatible group was 87.8 % (36/41),not significantly different from that in the ABO-incompatible group [87.5% (21/24),P=0.924].The 57 cases who had survived after perioperative period were followed up for 4-37 months (mean 18 months).Significantly higher incidence of hepatic artery and biliary complications was found in ABO-incompatible group (P=0.005,and P<0.001,respectively).The incidence of hepatic artery complication and biliary complication in ABO-incompatible group was 29.2% (7/24) and 37.5% (9/24),and that in ABO-compatible group was 4.9% (2/41) and 0 (0/41),respectively.The rate of acute rejection in the ABO-incompatible group and ABO-compatible group was 9.8% (4/41) and 4.2% (1/24) (P=0.463).The infection rate in the ABO-compatible group and ABO-incompatible group was 24.3% (10/41) and 29.2%(7/24),respectively (P=0.598).Conclusion The different donor blood types including ABO-compatible and ABO-incompatible liver transplantation program on type-O patients with acute severe liver disease have a favorable outcome.The long-term cumulative survival rate between two groups shows no significant difference.With the help of effective immunosuppression and intensive perioperative management,ABO-incompatible liver transplantation is an acceptable option to cure type-O patients with acute liver failure in emergency.The incidence of hepatic artery and biliary complications was lower in ABO-compatible group than in ABO-incompatible group.For the type-O patients with ABO-incompatible liver transplantation,the use of rituximab and plasma exchange to decrease the antibody titers of recipients is essential to prevent and cure the hepatic artery and biliary complications.

Objective To investigate the effect of aging on gastric pepsinogen secretion through observing histological changes of gastric fundal mucosa and ultrastructure of gastric chief cells in human and Beagle dogs at different ages.Methods Fifty middle-aged and elderly indigestion patients with gastroscopy were selected as study objects and divided into young and middle age group (age 20-59 years,n=19),junior elderly group (age 60-69 years,n=11),middle elderly group (age 70-79 years,n=10),and senior elderly group (no less than 80 years,n=10).In addition,nineteen healthy Beagle dogs were also selected as study objects and divided into young and middle age group (age between 1 to 5 years,n=8),junior elderly group (age six to eight years,n=5),and senior elderly group (no less than 9 years,n=6).The histology and morphology of gastric fundal mucosa of human and Beagle dogs were observed under light microscope.Then the thickness of lamina propria was measured and the number of gastric chief cells was counted.The ultrastructure of gastric chief cells was observed under electron microscope,and the area percentages of secretory granule(also called mucous granule)area in cytoplasm of chief cell was calculated.The data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance.Results No significant histological and morphological changes of gastric fundal mucosa were observed in human and Beagle dogs at different ages.There was no significant difference in the thickness of lamina propria among different ages in human and Beagle dogs (all P＞0.05).The number of human chief cells of young and middle age group,junior elderly group,middle elderly group and senior elderly group was 71.79±16.85,52.73±16.60,57.10±20.21 and 43.70 ±16.89/high power field (HPF),respectively,which decreased as age increased (F=6.431,P=0.001).The numbers of chief cells of young and middle age group,junior elderly group,and senior elderly group of Beagle dogs were 328.38 ±32.36,341.20 ±42.49 and 225.67 ± 52.19/HPF,respectively,which decreased as age increased (F=13.647,P＜0.01).Aging-related degeneration was founded in ultrastructure of gastric chief cells in human and Beagle dogs including rough endoplasmic reticulum dilation,ribosones missing,secretory granule decreasing and so on.The area percentages of secretory granule area in cytoplasm of human chief cells of young and middle age group,junior elderly group,middle elderly group and senior elderly group were (67.28±3.79)％,(66.88±4.84)％,(65.63±7.10)％ and (56.25±8.47)％,respectively,which decreased as age increased (F=6.069,P=0.002).The area percentages of secretory granule area in cytoplasm of Beagle dogs' chief cells of young and middle age group,junior elderly group,and senior elderly group were (58.83 ± 3.07) ％,(52.34 ± 4.73) ％ and (39.89 ± 4.46) ％,respectively,which decreased as age increased (F=38.837,P＜0.01).Condusion As age increased,the ability of pepsinogen secretion of fundal gland decreased,which may be one of the reasons of functional dyspepsia in the eldly.

Objective To address the neural basis of Chinese idioms processing with different kinds of stimuli using an event-related fMRI design.Methods Sixteen native Chinese speakers were asked to perform a semantic decision task during fMRI scanning.Three kinds of stimuli were used: Real idioms (Real-idiom condition);Literally plausible phrases (Pseudo-idiom condition,the last character of a real idiom was replaced by a character with similar meaning);Literally implausible strings (Non-idiom condition,the last character of a real idiom was replaced by a character with unrelated meaning).Reaction time and correct rate were recorded at the same time.Results The error rate was 2.6%,5.2% and 0.9% (F = 3.51,P0.05 )for real idioms,pseudo-idioms and wrong idioms, respectively.Similar neural network was activated in all of the three conditions.However,the right hippocampus was only activated in the real idiom condition,and significant activations were found in anterior portion of left inferior frontal gyrus (BA47)in real-and pseudo-idiom conditions,but not in non-idiom condition.Conclusion The right hippocampus plays a specific role in the particular wording of the Chinese idioms.And the left anterior inferior frontal gyms (BA47)may be engaged in the semantic processing of Chinese idioms.The results support the notion that there were specific neural bases for Chinese idioms processing.

Objective To investigate the age-associated changes of ultrastructure,mRNA and protein expressions of H+-K+-ATPase in elderly gastric parietal cell. Methods Fifty patients with relative normal stomach without gastroduodenal diseases were enrolled,including younger group (aged 20-59 years,n=19) and elderly group (aged≥60 years,n=31).Furthermore,the elderly group was divided into 3 subgroups:60-69 years old (n =11 ),70-79 years old (n=10 ),above 80 years old (n =10).The ultrastructure of gastric parietal cell was observed under electron microscope.The expression of H+-K+-ATPase α subunit mRNA and H+-K+-ATPase β subunit protein were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and Western-blot,respectively.The ageing-associated changes of all these data were respectively compared. Results No significant difference was showed in the morphology of gastric parietal cell and acid-secretion-associated organelles among all the groups.The average ratio Am to Ac (Am means the area of mitochondria,Ac means the area of cytoplasm) of gastric parietal cell and the average At to Ac ratio (At means the area of secretory canaliculi and tubulovesicular system )between younger group and elderly group had no significant difference[(48.4±7.5) ％ vs.(50.6±7.6) ％,t=-0.775,P=0.444; (13.8±4.1) ％ vs.(12.2±4.7) ％,t=0.984,P=0.332].Meanwhile,there were no distinctions in the expression of H+-K+ -ATPase α subunit mRNA and H+-K+-ATPase protein among all elderly subgroups(F=1.522,2.32,P=0.24,0.114).However,the mRNA expression of H+-K+-ATPase a subunit was higher in the elderly group than in the younger group(t=-3.682,P=0.001).Furthermore,the expression of H+ -K+ -ATPase protein in the elderly group was increased as compared with younger group(t=-3.389,P=0.004). Conclusions Acidsecretion-associated organelles of human gastric parietal cell have no degeneration and the expression of H + -K+-ATPase is in trend of increase with aging,indicating that healthy elderly people have the basis of ultrastructure and molecular biology to maintain well function of acid secretion.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)guided by ultrasonography through upper pole access. Methods From October 2007 to October 2009, 42 patients with upper urinary tract calculi underwent PCNL through upper pole access.Among these cases, there were 10 cases of staghorn calculi, 22 cases of renal pelvis calculi, 7 cases of the upper calyx calculi, 3 cases of the lower calyx calculi, 4 cases combined with ureter calculi and 2 cases combined with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. The stone measured from 2.0 to 6.5 cm (average: 3.4 cm) in length. Working tunnels (F16-F26) were established through the 10th or llth intercostals. Pneumatic or holmium laser lithotripsy was used to disintegrate and remove stones by nephroscopy or ureteroscopy. Clinical data including operation time, complications and stone free rate were analyzed retrospectively. Results All the operations were completed in one session, single tract was used in 36 cases(85.7%), double tracts were used in the other 6 cases(14.3%). The stonefree rate after one session was 88.1% (37/42), 3 cases(7.1%) received a second-session PCNL, 2 cases (4.8%)underwent ESWL after operation. The mean operative time was 65 min(30- 140 min).Postoperative surgery-related infection rate was 9. 5% (4/42). One patient (2. 4%)required blood transfusion. Perforation of the pelvis occurred in 1 patient(2.4 %). No pleural or important organ injury occurred. Conclusion The upper pole access for PCNL can be convenient to remove stones,this method is a highly efficient and safe technique.