Objective To study the CT manifestations of delayed traumatic hematomas of the brain and evaluate their diagnostic significance in predicting the delayed traumatic brain hematoma. Methods The manifestations of initial CT studies and follow-up CT examinations of 31 delayed traumatic brain hematomas were analyzed. Another 50 CT studies of head trauma without delayed brain hematomas were included randomly as control. Results The abnormal findings of CT studies of the 31 delayed traumatic brain hematomas included: (1)Decreased density of the local brain parenchyma and disappeared difference between gray and white matter of the same area in 18 cases; (2)Local subarachnoid space hemorrhage in 24 cases; (3)Slight mass effect of local brain parenchyma in 16 cases. (4)Subdural hematoma in 9 cases. The locations of the abnormalities were roughly the same with the delayed hematoma except one local subarachnoid space hemorrhage, which was in the opposite of the delayed hematoma. The appearing rate of those abnormal findings in the control group was low and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion The decrease of density of local brain parenchyma, the disappeared difference between the gray and white matter, local subarachnoid space hemorrhage, and local swollen of brain presented in the initial CT study of the patient with head trauma should be taken as indicators of delayed hemorrhage of the same area of brain, and it is necessary to do follow-up CT studies to exclude it.

Objective To study the effects of diet and exercise intervention on prognosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods Fifty two patients with NAFLD received diet and exercise intervention.The treatment effects before and after intervention were analyzed.Result The body mass index(BMI),triglyceride(TG),cholesterol(TC)were significantly lower than those in control group after three-month intervention(all P<0.05).Conclusions Diet and exercise intervention can effectively improve liver function and promote the prognosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver,thus promote their quality of life.

A series of adefovir mono-L-amino acid esters, mono non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs carboxylic ester prodrugs with more potent anti-HBV activity and lower nephrotoxicity were designed and synthesized. Adefovir bis (L-amino acid) ester was used as lead compound, according to pathological and pharmacological findings that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can effectively inhibit the organic anion transporter 1 (hOAT1)-mediated adefovir phosphonic acid pairs of anion transport across tubular basement membrane thereby reducing the nephrotoxicity of adefovir. Flatten design principle was used to introducing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs structural fragments to design and synthesize target adefovir mixture ester prodrugs. HepG2 2.2.15 cell line was used as in vitro anti-HBV activity evaluation model. Five compounds exhibited antiviral activity, and compound 18 showed the most potent anti-HBV activity and relatively high selective index (EC50 3.92 micromol L(-1), SI 9.97). HK-2 cell line was used as in vitro model to evaluate nephrotoxicity. Results suggested the target compounds have lower cytotoxicity than the positive control. Moreover, by analyzing the primary structure and activity relationship of these compounds, it could suggest that mono-L-amino acid ester, mono non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs carboxylic ester prodrugs strategy has significant potential in the acyclic nucleoside phosphonates prodrug design.

Visual prostheses have the potential to restore partial vision for the blinds. The stimulating electrodes generate reproducible phosphenes. Still limited by the low resolution vision used in visual prostheses nowadays, it is important to optimize the image processing strategies in order to deliver better visual information to the patients. This paper presents a review of the current research progress on the image processing strategies based on visual attention models under simulated prosthetic vision and related psychophysics.
Computer Simulation ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Visual Prosthesis

To design and synthesize a series of novel scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs with more potent anti-oxidative activity and improved physicochemical properties. Scutellarein was used as lead compound, according to successful experience of improving bioavailability of oral administration drugs by active transport mechanism, principle of hybridization was used to introducing L-amino acid structural fragments at 4'-position of scutellarein to design and synthesize target scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid prodrugs. The synthetic compounds were tested on their physicochemical properties and in vitro anti-oxidative activity against H202 induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells. Five compounds were found to have more potent anti-oxidative activity than positive control VE. Moreover the physicochemical properties of synthesized compounds were evaluated, and the results revealed that L-amino acid ether derivatives are more stable (t1/2 9-92 h) than their corresponding ester derivatives (t1/2 0.5 h). Water solubility of scutellarein 4'-L-amino acid ester and ether derivatives were 1 796-4 100 microg.mL-1 and 27.7-81.1 microg.mL-1 respectively, in comparison with scutellarin, the solubility of compounds 18, 19 and 22, 24-27 increased about 120-280 fold and 2-6 fold respectively. All these results suggested that L-amino acid prodrug strategy has significant potential in scutellarein prodrug design.

Objective:To study the impacts of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on perinatal outcomes and mode of delivery.Methods:From November 2016 to December 2017, single-pregnancy women in early pregnancy (<13 weeks) regularly checked-up at our hospital were enrolled in this prospective cohort study and followed up until delivery. They were assigned into four groups according to pre-pregnancy BMI: obese group (≥28.0 kg/m 2), overweight group(24.0-<28.0 kg/m 2), normal group (18.5-<24.0 kg/m 2) and underweight group(<18.5 kg/m 2). A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy to screen for GDM. The optimal GWG was 11.0-16.0 kg for underweight group, 8.0-14.0 kg for normal group, 7.0-11.0 kg for overweight group and 5.0-9.0 kg for obesity group. The effects of pre-pregnancy BMI, GDM and GWG on perinatal outcomes and delivery mode were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression methods. Results:A total of 802 pregnant women were included. The incidences of pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were 21.8% and 8.9%, respectively. The incidence of GDM was 14.1%. 57.2% of the participants experienced excessive GWG. The incidences of macrosomia, low birth weight and premature birth were 7.1%, 2.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The incidence of Cesarean delivery (C-section) was 37.7%. Pre-pregnancy obesity [adjusted odds ratio ( AOR)=4.355, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.900-9.980] and excessive GWG ( AOR=3.799, 95% CI 1.796-8.034) were independent risk factors for macrosomia. Excessive GWG was a protective factor for low birth weight ( AOR=0.279, 95% CI 0.084-0.928) and inadequate GWG was a risk factor for low birth weight ( AOR=10.954, 95% CI 3.594-33.382) and premature birth ( AOR=8.796, 95% CI 2.628-29.438). Compared with the normal group, overweight group had an increased risk of C-section ( AOR=1.817, 95% CI 1.119-2.949). Compared with pregnant women without pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, GDM nor excessive GWG, any combination of two of the above-mentioned three factors increased the risks of macrosomia ( AOR=3.908, 95% CI 1.630-9.370) and C-section ( AOR=2.269, 95% CI 1.325-3.886). The risks of macrosomia and C-section were the highest when all three factors existed. Conclusions:Pre-pregnancy obesity and excessive GWG are independent risk factors for macrosomia and pre-pregnancy overweight is a risk factor of C-section. Exposure to any two of the three factors (pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity, GDM and excessive GWG) increases risks of macrosomia and C-section and the highest risk is observed when all three factors are present.

The access evaluation of new medical technology is an important part of the preclinical application of medical technology and plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and safety of medical services.However,in the con-crete practice of access evaluation,there are still some problems such as imperfect access theoretical framework,imperfect evaluation index system.With the strategic support of health policies,laws,and regulations,the theory and method of HB-HTA are used for reference,core elements such as assessment subject,assessment object,and assessment content are comprehensively considered,the index system is designed from the dimensions of tech-nical characteristics,safety,effectiveness,economy and applicability,and the access evaluation framework of im-ported medical new technologies is constructed.To offer a theoretical framework and evidence-based basis for medi-cal facility medical technology access management.

Objective To study the levels of antibodies against bordetella pertussis among pregnant women and neonates in Beijing. Method From December 2016 to March 2017, pregnant women and their newborns from three women and children′s hospitals in Beijing were enrolled in this study. 3 ml of venous blood from the mothers and 3 ml of umbilical cord blood from neonates were drawn.Pertussis bacillus IgG antibody (PER-IgG) and pertussis toxin IgG antibody (PT-IgG) were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. χ2 test was used to compare the positive rate of pertussis IgG antibodies in maternal and cord blood in the three hospitals. Correlational analyses of the antibodies levels in each hospital were conducted. The demographic characteristics, history of cough during pregnancy and history of DTaP vaccination of the mothers were collected via questionnaires. Result A total of 612 pairs of venous blood and cord blood samples were collected, including 4 mothers delivered twins and 616 cases of cord blood sample were collected. No history of pertussis were found in the 612 mothers. Among the 616 cases of umbilical cord blood, positive rate of PER-IgG was 13.3％ (82/616), positive rate of PT-IgG was 0.5％ (3/616). Among 612 cases of venous blood from the mothers, positive rate of PER-IgG was 7.7％ (47/612), positive rate of PT-IgG was 0.3％ (2/612). Positive rates of PER-IgG and PT-IgG in the mothers′ venous blood were not correlated with their residences (P=0.676 and 0.544). Positive rates of PER-IgG (r=0.842, P<0.001) and PT-IgG (r=0.619, P<0.001) in the mothers′ blood were positively correlated with the positive rate in umbilical cord blood. Conclusion This study shows that the positive rate of PER-IgG is very low in the maternal and umbilical cord blood in Beijing. Positive correlations of PER-IgG and PT-IgG between mother and umbilical cord blood were existed. Most mothers and their newborns do not have enough protection against pertussis.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis and its mechanism based on serum metabolomics. METHODS Forty mice were divided into normal control group （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution）， model group （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution）， and BP low-dose and high-dose groups （50， 100 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group， the other three groups were all treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis model； they were given relevant medicine/solution intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 8 weeks. After the last medication， the levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum were detected， and liver pathological changes were observed； the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and Collagen Ⅰ were detected in liver tissue； the serum of the mice was collected for metabolomics analysis. RESULTS Compared with the model group， serum levels of ALT and AST and protein expressions of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅰ in liver tissue were decreased significantly in BP high-dose and low-dose groups （P＜0.05）， while liver fibrosis was improved significantly. Meanwhile， metabolomics analyses showed that there were a total of 175 serum differential metabolites in the BP high-dose group and model group， of which 18 substances were upregulated and 157 substances were downregulated； the main metabolic pathways involved in bergapten intervention were pyrimidine metabolism， butanoate metabolism， fatty acid synthesis， tyrosine metabolism， β-alanine metabolism， nicotinic acid and nicotinamide metabolism， glutathione metabolism， etc. CONCLUSIONS BP is effective in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating pyrimidine metabolism， butanoate metabolism， glutathione metabolism and so on in rats with liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of total saponins from Panax japonicus (TSPJ) against high-fat dietinduced testicular Sertoli cell junction damage in mice. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into normal diet group, high-fat diet group, and low-dose (25 mg/kg) and high-dose (75 mg/kg) TSPJ treatment groups (n=10). The mice in the normal diet group were fed a normal diet, while the mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet. After TSPJ treatment via intragastric administration for 5 months, the testes and epididymis of the mice were collected for measurement of weight, testicular and epididymal indices and sperm parameters. HE staining was used for histological evaluation of the testicular tissues and measurement of seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous epithelium height. The expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin11, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin in Sertoli cells were detected with Western blot, and the localization and expression levels of ZO-1 and β-catenin in the testicular tissues were detected with immunofluorescence assay. The protein expressions of LC3B, p-AKT and p-mTOR in testicular Sertoli cells were detected using double immunofluorescence assay. RESULTS: Treatment with TSPJ significantly improved high-fat diet-induced testicular dysfunction by reducing body weight (P < 0.001), increasing testicular and epididymal indices (P < 0.05), and improving sperm concentration and sperm viability (P < 0.05). TSPJ ameliorated testicular pathologies and increased seminiferous epithelium height of the mice with high-fat diet feeding (P < 0.05) without affecting the seminiferous tubule diameter. TSPJ significantly increased the expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, N-cadherin, E-cadherin and β-catenin (P < 0.05) but did not affect claudin11 expression in the testicular tissues. Immunofluorescence assay showed that TSPJ significantly increased ZO-1 and β-catenin expression in the testicular tissues (P < 0.001), downregulated LC3B expression and upregulated p-AKT and p-mTOR expressions in testicular Sertoli cells. CONCLUSION TSPJ alleviates high-fat diet-induced damages of testicular Sertoli cell junctions and spermatogenesis possibly by activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and inhibiting autophagy of testicular Sertoli cells.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Testis ; Sertoli Cells ; beta Catenin ; Diet, High-Fat ; Occludin ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Seeds ; Cadherins ; Intercellular Junctions