Objective To explore the relationship between the incisure changes in the intracranial vertebral artery (VA) segments on transcranial Doppler (TCD) and their diseased regions. Methods Incisure changes in VA intraeranial segments on TCD in 24 cases were found. Digital subtract angiography (DSA), computed tomography angiography (CTA)or coler Doppler flow imaging (CDFI)of carotid arteries were performed to confirm their diseased regions. Results (1)The group with end-systolic and pre-diatolic wide incisures was found in 9 cases: DSA or CTA showed 5 cases with severe stenosis, 2 cases with occlusion and 2 cases with congenital tenuity of the affected vertebral artery proximal part(VA-Pr). Within the above 8 cases, ipsilateral subclavian artery (SubA) was normal, 1 case was complicated with moderate stenosis of ipsilateral SubA,and 1 case was complicated with occlusion of contralateral SubA. Haemodynamics test showed (1)negative; (2)The group with systolic incisures was in 12 cases, and 12 patients were divided into two groups based on the haemodynamics test : ① positive group was in 6 cases. DSA showed that VA-Pr was normal but SubA had impaired with different degrees; ② negative group was in 6 cases. DSA showed VA-Pr was with occlusion in 4 cases and 2 cases was with congenital tenuity; The above 2 cases were complicated with stenosis of ipsilateral SubA and in 4 cases ipsilateral SubA were normal; (3) The group with small vibrated sharp waves on Doppler was in 3 cases, and DSA showed VA-Pr occlusion in 3 cases. In the 3 cases,one case was complicated with occlusion of ipsilateral SubA. Blood stealing was present in cervical muscular branches but not present between vertebral arteries . Ipsilateral SubA were normal in 2 cases. Haemodynamic tests showed negative. Conclusions VA incisures were not only present in the early subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) but also were found in the patients with impaired SubA . However, blood steal pathway is imperfect, and would be found in affected VA-Pr or congenital tenuity. Haemodynamic tests can help identify the above situation. The TCD screening method can be used in the routine diagnosis for SubA and VA from proximal to intracranial segments involvement, but there are limitations to some extent. It needs to combine with DSA and CDFI for diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of cognitive intervention on language function and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with post-stroke aphasia.Methods Fifty-five elderly patients with post-stroke aphasia were randomly divided into the control group (n =27) and the experimental group (n=28).The control group received comprehensive treatment including speech-language therapy (SLT),while the experimental group was subjected to additional cognitive intervention.All patients were enrolled in an eight-week rehabilitation program.The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive function,a device for diagnosis and treatment of language disorders,ZM 2.1,was used to evaluate language function,and the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) (Chinese version) was used to assess quality of life (QOL),before and after treatment.Results After treatment,MMSE scores,language function scores in all categories and QOL scores in all dimensions improved in both groups (P＜0.05 for both).Furthermore,after treatment,there were significant differences between the two groups in MMSE scores of orientation,recall,attention and calculation,and in scores of overall language ability and the individual categories (P＜0.05 for all).Scores of the experimental group vs.the control group for the individual categories of language function were as follows:simple instructions (76.6 ± 14.1 vs.67.4± 19.3),complex instructions (66.1±12.8 vs.58.2±14.9),yes or no (72.5±12.1 vs.63.0±14.1),naming (55.0 19.5 vs.43.3±22.2),simple comprehension (67.5±21.4 vs.55.620.6),complex comprehension (44.8±17.0 vs.35.0±18.9),listening and reading words (65.4±16.7 vs.53.7±19.3),calculation (39.3±25.8 vs.25.9±19.2),memory (36.4±18.7 vs.26.3±17.8),matching (75.9±18.6 vs.65.3±17.1),simple general knowledge (68.3±18.2 vs.58.0±19.5),complex general knowledge (58.7±17.4 vs.50.0±13.3),orientation (70.7±19.6 vs.60.5±17.2) and comparison (59.9± 14.6 vs.50.2±17.5) (P＜0.05 for all).There were significant differences between the two groups in emotional function (66.7±18.2 vs.53.1±21.2),general health (67.2±12.6 vs.60.7±9.8),mental health (71.0±5.6 vs.63.1±4.2),social functioning (64.7±9.0 vs.59.3±10.2) and vitality (55.4±14.8 vs.46.9±15.6) (P＜0.05 for all).Conclusions Cognitive intervention combined with SLT can contribute to the recovery of language function and the improvement of QOL in elderly patients with post-stroke aphasia.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the degree of serum cortisol suppression by low-dose dexamethasone (1 mg) and full serum cortisol suppression (suppression rate > 50% ) by high-dose dexamethasone (8 mg) in patients with Cushing syndrome, and to evaluate these tests in Cushing disease. Methods Ninty-one patients with Cushing syndrome were studied retrospectively. The relationship of 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% cortisol suppression by overnight 1mg dexamethasone with full serum cortisol suppression by overnight 8 mg dexamethasone was analyzed, and the sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of Cushing disease were evaluated. Results The degree of cortisel suppression during overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test was correlated with that during overnight 8 mg dexamethasone suppression test (r=0. 649,P<0. 001 ). 30, 22, 13, and 9 patients had greater than 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% serum cortisol suppression respectively during overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test. Among them, 23 ( 76. 7% ), 20 (90. 9% ), 12 (92.3%), and 9 ( 100.0% )patients had full serum cortisol suppression during overnight 8 mg dexamethasone suppression test. The sensitivity of the cutoff of greater than 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% serum cortisol suppression for the diagnosis of Cushing disease was 52.8%, 32.7%, 22.6%, and 15.7%, and the specificity was 94.7%, 94.7%, 97.4%, and 97.4% respectively. Conclusions In patients with Cushing syndrome, greater than 20% serum cortisol suppression during overnight 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test is usually associated with full serum cortisol suppression during overnight 8 mg dexamethasone suppression test, and most of them are finally diagnosed as Cushing disease.

The ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity (ARR) is a practical parameter in screening for primary aldosteronism (PA).However,variations of the cutoff value of ARR in different studies have been reported due to plenty of influential factors that may affect the secretions of renin and aldosterone. Lack of standardization of assays for ARR also makes direct comparisons among different studies difficult.The associated influential factors on ARR were introduced in this review.

Objective To establish the standard for quality control ofQingyan Granule. Methods The chief components of the preparation, Sophora Tonkinensis radix et rhizoma, Adenophorae radix, Lonicera japonica caulis, and Ophiopogonis radix were identified by TLC qualitatively. The contents of licorice glycosides and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC. The separation was performed on Thermo Syncronis C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5μm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile with 0.05% phosphoric acid solution (A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution (B), and gradient elution (0-8 min, 19%A;8-35 min, 19%→50%A). Detection wavelength was 237 nm, and flow rate was 1 mL/min.Results The spots in TLC were clear. There were spots with same color on the corresponding location of reference substance and reference herbal, negative control without interference. The linear range for licorice glycosides was 0.05-0.5μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.97%, RSD=1.74% (n=9). The linear range for glycyrrhizic acid was 0.1-2μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.74%, RSD=1.28% (n=9). Conclusion The method is simple, accurate, with high reproducibility, which can be used for quality control ofQingyan Granule.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril on diabetic glomerulopathy in rats with experimentally induced diabetes and study its possible mechanisms. Methods Changes of indexes, which include glomerular basement membrane thickness, mesangial matrix volume density, urinary protein excretion rate, plasma and renal tissue renin activity 、angiotensin Ⅱ concentration and renal angiotensinogen mRNA expression level in rats with experimentally induced diabetes, were observed. Results Angiotensin Ⅱ concentration increased in both the renal tissue and plasma in diabetic rats. Perindopril decreased proteinuria and delayed the progression of glomerular basement membrane thickening. However, it did not reduce the expansion of the mesangial matrix ( P

Objective:To learn the effect of personality in the course of cognitive decline.Methods:106 aged people from two districts were selected randomly.Arithmetic,digit span,picture filling,block patterns,digit symbol,visual attention span,spatial reasoning were used to learn the cognitive ability,“Kartaier's 16 personality factors test”were used to explore the personality of aged people.Results:16 personality factors test shows that old people are more deferential and self-assured.The relation between reasoning and arithmetic,rule-consciousness and arithmetic,abstractedness and digit span,reasoning and block design,dominance and digit symbol,sensitivity and special reasoning,apprehension and visual attention span,openness to change and visual attention span reach the statistical significance.Conclusion:Age is the most important reason to the cognitive impairment in aged people, education can prevent the cognitive impairment in a large degree.Personality can affect the cognitive ability although different personality factor affect different cognitive fields.

Objective To explore the levels of serum leptin and insulin and their relationships with growth and development in premature infants.Methods The serum leptin and insulin concentrations of 37 premature infants were examined by the radioimmunoassay(day 1 and day 10,respectively),and anthropometric measurements were performed at birth.The blood sugar and triglyeride,cholesterol were tested at the same time.Twenty full-term newborn without severe diseases were controlled in 24 h after delivery and the level of leptin and insulin of them were detected,too.The results were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software.Results The leptin and insulin levels in preterm infants were significantly lower than those in full-term infants[(6.45?2.24)?g/L vs(8.56?1.33)?g/L,(5.84?1.07)IU/L vs(10.85?5.24)IU/L Pa0.05).Serum leptin was positive correlation with serum insulin(Pa0.05).Conclusions Serum leptin and insulin can be the markers that reflect intrauterine nutrition status of preterm infants and the growth and development of fetus.A dipoinsular axis may be functional before 34 weeks gestation without maturity.The changes of leptin and insulin concentrations are useful for metabolism and growth in preterm infants.

Objective: To investigate the changes of gallbadder motive function in diabetics. Method: The size of gnllbadder,recovering rate,echo and half-empty time after fat food were compared and statistically analyzed between 22 healthy individuals and 20 diabetics with ultrssonograph. Results:The gallbadder recovering rate was similar between the healthy individuals and diabetics (P>0.05), but the rate of cholecystitis (30%) and choletethiasis (35%) of diabetics were higher than those in healthy individuals, the gallbadder half-empty time after fat food was obviously slower in diabetics (46.1+12.9 min)than those healthy individuals (27+4.4 mmin). Conclusions: The diabetics had obvious gallbadder motive funciion obstruction and higher rates of chronic cholecystitis and choletethiasis with ultrasonograph observations.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of rat cerebral hemorrhage model via autologous blood injection.MethodsBlood extracted from rats' cardiac ventricles was injected into the right caudate nucleus via stereotactic method. Pathological examination,ultrastructural visualization and motor functional test were applied to validate the feasibility of this method.ResultsRats showed paralysis of left extremities rapidly after surgery. Pathological examination confirmed the formation of hematoma in caudate nucleus. The deviation of hematoma volume and location among individuals was significantly lower than that of rats made by collagenase injection. Transmission electron microscopy showed wide mylin degeneration in right caudate nucleus. Motor functional test revealed the dysfunction of left extremities with marked lower deviation among individuals compared with that of collagenase injection (P<0.05).ConclusionAutologous blood injection can result in significantly lower deviation of hematoma volume and location as well as dysfunctional degree compared with that of collagenase injection.