Objective To explore the relation between serum nesfatin-1 ,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-αand insulin resistance. Methods A total of 105 subjects were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups:patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM group,n= 64)and normal controls (NC group,n= 41). The fasting serum nesfatin-1 and TNF-αlevels were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). FPG,HbA1 c,TG,TC,and FIns were also tested. BMI, HOMA-IR,HOMA-β,and ISI were calculated. Results Serum nesfatin-1 and TNF-αlevels were significantly higher in T2DM group than in NC group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the most significant influencing factors for nesfatin-1 were TNF-αand ISI(β= 0. 005、-6. 847,P<0. 05). The most significant influencing factors for TNF-αwas HbA1 c (β= 26. 652,P<0. 01). Conclusion Serum nesfatin-1 and TNF-αare significantly elevated in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM,which may influence the glucolipid metabolism through the signal pathway of insulin and play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM and IR.

Objective To explore the prevalence of multilevel lumbar spondylolysis in operation patients,and to evaluate the diagnostic value of CT reconstruction on multilevel lumbar spondylolysis.Methods A total of 312 patients,who had undergone surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2004 to March 2012 for lumbar spondylolysis,were enrolled in this study.There were 147 males (47％) and 165 females (53％),aged from 12 to 76 years (average,44 years).Every patient underwent lumbar spine X-ray examination including anteroposterior,lateral,over-flexion,over-extension and double oblique X-rays,as well as CT examination.The prevalence of multilevel lumbar spondylolysis in all operation patients and the involved segments were recorded and analyzed.Moreover,the clinical manifestation and radiological features were summarized.Results In all enrolled patients,there were 9 patients (2.9％) with multilevel lumbar spondylolysis,including 5 males and 4 females,aged from 21 to 51 years (average,39 years).As for lesion distribution,there were 8 cases of bilateral spondylolysis located at both L4 and L5,and 1 case of bilateral spondylolysis at L5 combined with right spondylolysis of L4 and discontinuity in the base of left pedicle of L4.Among 9 patients,only 3 patients obtained correct diagnosis by anteroposterior and double oblique X-rays of the lumbar spine,while all patients got final diagnosis by sagittal and oblique coronal reconstruction of lumbar spine CT scan.The oblique coronal CT reconstruction could show the details of bone defect in lumbar vertebral isthmus,bony callus,peripheral osteophytes,as well as fibroplasia.For unilateral lumbar spondylolysis,the oblique coronal CT reconstruction could also show the reactive sclerosis in contralateral lamina of vertebra.Conclusion Multilevel lumbar spondylolysis is not rare in operation patients,and L4 and L5 are most common involved levels.Sagittal and oblique coronal reconstruction of lumbar spine CT scan is more accurate in showing the details of lumbar spondylolysis,which is helpful in decreasing the missed diagnosis and improving therapy.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of 5′adenosine monophosphate-activated pro-tein kinase ( AMPK) in the regulation of LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines in mouse alveolar macrophages.Methods Alveolar macrophages were isolated from wild type and AMPKα1-/-C57BL/6J mice.ELISA was used to measure the concentrations of IL-1βand TNF-αin the culture supernatants of LPS treated alveolar macrophages with or without 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-imidazole-4-carboxamide ( AICAR ) stimulation.Western blot assay was performed to analyze the expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 in alveolar macrophages isolated from wild type and AMPKα1-/-mice as well as the LPS-induced changes of p-AMPKαactivity in wild type mice.Results The LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory cyto-kines in alveolar macrophages isolated from AMPKα1-/-mice were significantly higher than that of wild type mice.The activities of p-AMPKαin wild type mice were suppressed by LPS treatment.Treatment of AICAR inhibited the LPS-induced secretion of TNF-αand IL-1β.Conclusion The LPS-induced secretion of in-flammatory cytokines was enhanced in AMPKα1-deficient mice, but could be suppressed upon the treatment of AICAR, an agonist of AMPK.AMPK was involved in the regulation of LPS-induced secretion of inflamma-tory cytokines by alveolar macrophages in mice.

Objective To discuss the efficacy and safety of sodium tanshinone ⅡA combined with edaravone in treatment of acute cerebral infarction.Methods 100 cases of acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups.The control group (50 cases) was treated with edaravone.The observation group (50 cases) was treated with sodium tanshinone ⅡA combined with edaravone.The efficacy of sodium tanshinone ⅡA combined with edaravone in treatment of acute cerebral infarction was evaluated by the efficacy at 1 month after treatment,ESS scores,SF-36 scores before and after treatment and adverse reaction during treatment.Results After treatment,the effective rate of observation group was 90.0％ and control group was 72.0％.The effective rate of observation group was higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the value before treatment,the ESS scores of two groups were increased after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).3 d,7 d,14 d after treatment,the ESS scores of observation group was higher than that of the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Before treatment,there were no statistical significance on SF-36 between two groups.After treatment,the SF-36 scores were increased in two groups (P ＜ 0.05).During treatment,there were no statistical significance on adverse reaction between two groups.Conclusion Sodium tanshinone ⅡA combined with edaravone had a good therapeutic effect on acute cerebral infarction.It could improve the quality of life and neurological function with high safety.It was worthy of clinical application.

Objective To study the effect of chronic iodine supplement on thyroid of iodine-deficient rats.Methods Iodine-deficient rat models were made by giving 4- week-old rats iodine-deficient fodder for 3 months.These iodine-deficient rats were then supplemented for 8 months 1-,3- and 6- fold iodine which corresponded to the 3 levels of iodine intake found in our epidemiological study in 3 rural communities.Then changes of thyroid after iodine supplement were observed.Results After supplement of 1-,3- and 6- fold iodine to iodine-deficient rats for 8 months,thyroid relative weight did not recover,and iodine accumulated in thyroid.The ultrastructure injuries of swelling mitochondria and dilating endoplasmic reticulum in epithelial cells of iodine-deficient thyroid did not recover,but became worse with iodine supplement increase.Conclusion Iodine supplement alone can not correct the injuries resulting from iodine deficiency;moreover,a sub-pathological state might occur.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the protective effects of nourishing spleen yin recipe (Zibu Piyin Recipe, ZBPYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neuronal cells responding to the stress by using sero-pharmacological method. METHODS: The mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2a cells were treated with tunicamycin (Tm, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation). The ZBPYR-treated cell group was established by incubating cells with ZBPYR serum for one hour and treated with Tm. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was utilized to detect the mRNA expressions from two genes after treatments, ER molecular chaperone glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and transcriptional factor CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was also carried out to determine the LDH leakage from Neuro2a cells after treated with Tm and staurosporine (STS). RESULTS: The ZBPYR-treated cell group at all tested ZBPYR dosages showed significantly reduced expressions of both genes compared with Tm (5 microg/ml) treated control group (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum inhibited the expressions of GRP78 and CHOP in mRNA level under ER stress induced by Tm. Different concentrations of ZBPYR serum pretreatment reduced the LDH leakage compared with the Tm and STS groups (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum may inhibit the LDH leakage induced by Tm and STS. CONCLUSION: ZBPYR has neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms may be associated with inhibition of ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

This paper reviews the computer vision and image analysis studies aiming at automated diagnosis or screening of malaria in microscope images of thin blood film smears. On the basis of introducing the background and significance of automatic detection technology,the existing detection technologies are summarized and divided into several steps,including image acqui-sition,pre-processing,morphological analysis,segmentation,count,and pattern classification components. Then,the princi-ples and implementation methods of each step are given in detail. In addition,the promotion and application in automatic detec-tion technology of thick blood film smears are put forwarded as questions worthy of study,and a perspective of the future work for realization of automated microscopy diagnosis of malaria is provided.

Objective To investigate the correlation between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to hospital within 7 d after onset from January 2014 to December 2014 were enroled. Bidirectional Doppler flow detector was used to detect ABI. END was defined as the increased National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥2 or the increased motor score ≥1. The demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, laboratory parameters, and the incidence of END were identified and analyzed. Results A total of 210 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enroled, including 51 had END and 159 did not have END. Univariate analysis showed that the proportion of patient with ABI ≤0. 9 of the END group was significantly higher than that of the non-END group (43. 1% vs. 22. 0% ; χ2 = 8. 714, P =0. 003). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ABI ≤0. 9 (odds ratio 2. 688, 95% confidence interval 1. 265 - 5. 052; P = 0. 009) was independently associated with END in patients with ischemic stroke after adjusting for the confounding factors, such as age, sex, baseline systolic blood pressure, and ischemic heart disease. Conclusion The low ABI was associated with the occurrence of END in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective To study the average difference of CHN atlas method bone age (BA) determination (left-vs.right-hand) for children and adolescents.Methods Radiographs of hands of healthy children and adolescent (age range:1.0-19.0 years) were analysed to determine BA,producing analysis results for 1380 hand images.The images were assessed by two radiologists based on CHN atlas method,who were blinded to the chronological age (CA) of them.The intra-and inter-observer variations were used for evaluating the reliability of CHN atlas method.The difference of BA using left-or right-hand BA was evaluated by t test.Results No significant difference was found for intra-or inter-observer variations (P ＞ 0.05).The BAs of left-and right-hand radiograph showed significant difference in the groups for boys (16.0-16.9,17.0-17.9 years),girls (6.0-6.9 years) and both of them (6.0-6.9,16.0-16.9 years).The regression model analysis showed no significant difference(t =-0.427,P =0.670).Conclusion Comparison of left-and right-hand BA shos no significant difference using CHN atlas method,indicating that either hand could be used to determine BA.

BACKGROUND:Whether transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxic conditions can survive is crucial for the successful celltransplantation. Therefore, studies on the growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxic conditions in vitro can provide experimental evidence for in vivo celltransplantation. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells under hypoxia. METHODS:Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were obtained and cultured, and observed under light microscopy. Passage 3 cells were cultured under normoxia (21%O2) and hypoxia (3%O2 hours. Then cellcounting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were employed to detect cellproliferation in the two groups. Western blot assay was adopted to detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1αand vascular endothelial growth factor in the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were obtained and cultured successful y, which were fusiform cells and had uniform shape under the light microscope. (2)The results of cellcounting kit-8 assay showed that the number of cells in the hypoxic group was higher than that in the normoxic group at each time point, and cellviability increased significantly at hours 36 and 48 (P<0.05). (3)The results of flow cytometry demonstrated that the proportion of cells in S phase and cellproliferation index in the hypoxic group were significantly increased, compared with the normoxic group (P<0.05). (4)Western blot results showed ), respectively, for 72 that there was a smal amount of the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1αand vascular endothelial growth factor in the normoxic group, but the expression of these two proteins in the hypoxic group was increased in a time-dependent manner (P<0.05). These findings suggest that hypoxia can induce proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured in vitro, and also raise hypoxia-inducible factor-1αand vascular endothelial growth factor expression in a time-dependent manner.