The event-related potential (ERP) is considered as one of the most effective methods to study and analyze objectively human mental activity based on nerve electrophysiology. At present, ERP is not only used in the study of lie detection, but also in the clinical medicine for the cognitive assessment on patients with cerebrovascular disease, dementia or traumatic brain injury and auxiliary diagnosis of mental illness. With the further development of ERP detection technology, it would have a wider application prospect in the field of forensic medicine.
Evoked Potentials/physiology* ; Forensic Medicine/trends* ; Humans

BACKGROUNDTraumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes cognitive deficits and remote symptomatic epilepsy. Hippocampal regional excitability is associated with the cognitive function. However, little is known about injury-induced neuronal loss and subsequent alterations of hippocampal regional excitability. The present study was designed to determine whether TBI may impair the cellular circuit in the hippocampus.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomized into control (n = 20) and TBI groups (n = 20). Long-term potentiation, extracellular input/output curves, and hippocampal parvalbumin-immunoreactive and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive interneurons were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSTBI resulted in a significantly increased excitability in the dentate gyrus (DG), but a significantly decreased excitability in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) area. Using design-based stereological injury procedures, we induced interneuronal loss in the DG and CA3 subregions in the hippocampus, but not in the CA1 area.

CONCLUSIONSTBI leads to the impairment of hippocampus synaptic plasticity due to the changing of interneuronal interaction. The injury-induced disruption of synaptic efficacy within the hippocampal circuit may underlie the observed cognitive deficits and symptomatic epilepsy.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Background/Aims: Depression and anxiety are associated with poorer outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prevalence of depression and anxiety in HCC are unclear. We aimed to establish the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC. Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were searched and original articles reporting prevalence of anxiety or depression in patients with HCC were included. A generalized linear mixed model with Clopper-Pearson intervals was used to obtain the pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC. Risk factors were analyzed via a fractional-logistic regression model. Results: Seventeen articles involving 64,247 patients with HCC were included. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with HCC was 24.04% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.99–38.11%) and 22.20% (95% CI, 10.07–42.09%) respectively. Subgroup analysis determined that the prevalence of depression was lowest in studies where depression was diagnosed via clinician-administered scales (16.07%;95% CI, 4.42–44.20%) and highest in self-reported scales (30.03%; 95% CI, 17.19–47.01%). Depression in patients with HCC was lowest in the Americas (16.44%; 95% CI, 6.37–36.27%) and highest in South-East Asia (66.67%; 95% CI, 56.68–75.35%). Alcohol consumption, cirrhosis, and college education significantly increased risk of depression in patients with HCC. Conclusions One in four patients with HCC have depression, while one in five have anxiety. Further studies are required to validate these findings, as seen from the wide CIs in certain subgroup analyses. Screening strategies for depression and anxiety should also be developed for patients with HCC.

BACKGROUNDThe genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) includes sequences encoding the putative protein X4 (ORF8, ORF7a), consisting of 122 amino acids. The deduced sequence contains a probable cleaved signal peptide sequence and a C-terminal transmembrane helix, indicating that protein X4 is likely to be a type I membrane protein. This study was conducted to demonstrate whether the protein X4 was expressed and its essential function in the process of SARS-CoV infection.

METHODSThe prokaryotic and eukaryotic protein X4-expressing plasmids were constructed. Recombinant soluble protein X4 was purified from E. coli using ion exchange chromatography, and the preparation was injected into chicken for rising specific polyclonal antibodies. The expression of protein X4 in SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells and lung tissues from patients with SARS was performed using immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemistry technique. The preliminary function of protein X4 was evaluated by treatment with and over-expression of protein X4 in cell lines. Western blot was employed to evaluate the expression of protein X4 in SARS-CoV particles.

RESULTSWe expressed and purified soluble recombinant protein X4 from E.coli, and generated specific antibodies against protein X4. Western blot proved that the protein X4 was not assembled in the SARS-CoV particles. Indirect immunofluorescence assays revealed that the expression of protein X4 was detected at 8 hours after infection in SARS-CoV-infected Vero E6 cells. It was also detected in the lung tissues from patients with SARS. Treatment with and overexpression of protein X4 inhibited the growth of Balb/c 3T3 cells as determined by cell counting and MTT assays.

CONCLUSIONThe results provide the evidence of protein X4 expression following SARS-CoV infection, and may facilitate further investigation of the immunopathological mechanism of SARS.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Growth Inhibitors ; analysis ; physiology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; chemistry ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; SARS Virus ; chemistry ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; metabolism ; Vero Cells ; Viral Structural Proteins ; analysis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between expressions of HSP70, HSP90 and efficacy of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients with unresectable liver metastasis.

METHODSData of 52 colorectal cancer cases, whose primary colorectal focuses were resected but hepatic metastatic tumors were unresectable, were reviewed retrospectively. All the patients underwent FOLFOX4 regimen well. Immunohistochemistry assay was applied to determine the expressions of HSP70 and HSP90 in primary focus tissues. The number and size of hepatic metastatic tumors pre- and post-chemotherapy were compared by CT scanning.

RESULTSPartial remission(PR) rate was 33.3% in cases with up-regulated expression of HSP70, while 64.5% in cases with down-regulated expression of HSP70, whose difference was significant. PR rate was 50% in cases with up-regulated expression of HSP90, and 53.1% in the others with down-regulated expression of HSP90, whose difference was not significant.

CONCLUSIONSFOLFOX4 regimen has advantages in cases with lower HSP70 expression over those with higher HSP70 expression. HSP90 expression level is not associated with the efficacy of FOLFOX4 regimen.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of hypoalbuminemia in patients with severe sepsis.

METHODSI(125)-labeled albumin was administered intravenously to 10 health volunteers and 10 patients with severe sepsis. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 25 days for the measurement of the dose of gamma-radiation and the curve of concentration and time. Then the half-life time (t(1/2)), apparent volume of distribution (V(d)) and transportation rate (K(12)) from center compartment to side compartment of albumin were calculated.

RESULTSThe half-life time in septic group was obviously shorter than that in control group (8.2 +/- 1.4 vs. 12.5 +/- 1.7, P < 0.01). The transportation rate in the septic group was higher than that in the control group [(4.4 +/- 1.9) x 10(-2)/h vs. (2.4 +/- 0.6) x 10(-2)/h, P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in apparent volume of distribution between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with severe sepsis, the distribution rate of albumin from vessel to tissue was obviously increased and the decomposition rate of albumin was markedly improved.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism

The prognosis of T-cell lymphoma (TCL) has been shown to be associated with the clinical characteristics of patients. However, there is little knowledge of whether genetic variations also affect the prognosis of TCL. This study investigated the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily(TNFRSF) genes and the survival of patients with TCL. A total of 38 tag SNPs in 18 TNFRSF genes were genotyped using Sequenom platform in 150 patients with TCL. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were plotted and significance was assessed using log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze each of these 38 SNPs with adjustment for covariates that might influence patient survival, including sex and international prognostic Index score. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were calculated. Among the 38 SNPs tested, 3 were significantly associated with the survival of patients with TCL. These SNPs were located at LTβR (rs3759333C>T) and TNFRSF17(rs2017662C>T and rs2071336C>T). The 5-year survival rates were significantly different among patients carrying different genotypes and the HRs for death between the different genotypes ranged from 0.45 to 2.46. These findings suggest that the SNPs in TNFRSF genes might be important determinants for the survival of TCL patients.
Female ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; genetics ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; classification ; genetics ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVEThis case-control study was designed to detect the association between STK15 Phe31Ile polymorphism and colorectal cancer.

METHODSGenotypes were determined in 283 patients with colorectal cancer and 283 controls. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression model.

RESULTSThe frequency of the STK15 Ile/Ile genotype was significantly higher in cancer cases than in controls (50.2% vs. 36.8%; P = 0.02). Subjects with the Ile/Ile genotype had an increased risk for the occurrence of colorectal cancer compared with those with the STK15 Phe/Phe genotype (adjusted OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.13 - 3.27). No significant association was observed between this STK15 polymorphism and risk of metastasis of the cancer.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that STK15 Phe/Ile polymorphism may be a genetic susceptibility factor for colorectal cancer among Chinese.

Adult ; Aged ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Case-Control Studies ; Colonic Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Confidence Intervals ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rectal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between methylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer.

METHODSTotally 505 cases with lung cancer and 500 frequency-matched controls were genotyped for the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression model. Haplotype frequency was estimated using EH software.

RESULTSThe frequency of the MTHFR C677T allele in cases was significantly higher than that in controls (53.5% vs 44.9%, P < 0.001). Compared with the 677CC genotype, the 677CT and 677TT genotypes were associated with increased risk of lung cancer, with the OR being 1.43 (95% CI, 1.04-1.95) and 2.40 (95% CI, 1.61-3.59), respectively. In addition, a significant difference in the distribution of haplotype frequencies between cases and controls was observed.

CONCLUSIONFunctional polymorphism in MTHFR is associated with increased risk of lung cancer in Chinese population.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk

BACKGROUNDThe success and complication rates of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation may be related to regional differences in left atrial (LA) wall thickness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the transmural LA wall thickness in various regions.

METHODSWe measured LA wall thickness in 36 human heart specimens using calipers at three planes including left pulmonary veins (PVs) vestibule plane, right PVs vestibule plane and the middle plane between the two. In each plane, eight points were selected, including superior, middle and inferior levels at anterior and posterior wall, roof and bottom.

RESULTSThe anterior and posterior wall thickness displayed gradient from superior to inferior level (anterior wall: (2.73 ± 1.01) mm, (2.08 ± 0.91) mm and (1.54 ± 0.69) mm; posterior wall: (1.74 ± 0.68) mm, (1.48 ± 0.39) mm and (1.27 ± 0.42) mm). At the roof, LA wall thickness was thickest in middle plane ((2.01 ± 1.02) mm) and was thinnest in left PVs vestibule plane ((1.29 ± 0.41) mm). The posterior wall thickness in left PVs vestibule plane was thinner than in the other two planes (P < 0.05 - 0.001), and was thinner in right PVs vestibule plane than in middle plane (P < 0.01 - 0.001). Whereas in anterior wall, the wall thickness in left PVs vestibule plane was thicker than in middle and right PVs vestibule plane.

CONCLUSIONSSignificant variations exist for mean LA wall thickness at different regions which are often targeted during circumferential pulmonary venous ablation (CPVA). Appreciating these differences may have significant implications in catheter ablation of AF.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Heart Atria ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Middle Aged