PurposeSpinal cord is one of the most frequently involved sites of multiple sclerosis (MS), which seriously affects the life quality of patients. In this paper, we investigate the application value of voxel-based morphology (VBM) and resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) in multiple sclerosis patients with single spinal cord involvement (MS-SSCI).Materials and Methods Three-dimensional T1WI data and RS-fMRI data were acquired from 20 patients with MS-SSCI and 20 normal controls, grey matter volume (GMV), changes of white matter volume (WMV), total intracranial volume (TIV) and local nuclei volume were compared between the two groups using VBM, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) was regarded as the seed point and the functional connectivity about whole brain was compared between the two groups by using resting-state functional connectivity analysis, the relationships between MS-SSCI structure, function change parameters and expanded disability states scale (EDSS) scores were further explored.Results①Compared with the control group, GMV, WMV, TIV of MS-SSCI group were not significantly reduced, only the volume of some regions (bilateral middle temporal gyrus, left inferior temporal gyrus) showed significant atrophy (P<0.01); MS-SSCI exhibited increased functional connectivity (FC) in the left medial prefrontal cortex, left inferior temporal gyrus, left caudate nucleus and right supplementary motor area (two-sample t test, after AlphaSim correction,P<0.01, voxel size >40).②There was no significant correlation (P>0.05) between MS-SSCI structure change parameters and EDSS; while a significant correlation between EDSS scores and FC was noted in the left inferior temporal gyrus (r=0.633,P<0.05).Conclusion Both structural abnormalities and altered FC with PCC can be detected in MS-SSCI, but only functional parameters are associated with clinical abnormalities, which are more sensitive than microstructural changes.

We proposed a research of a heart sound envelope extraction system in this paper. The system was implemented on LabVIEW based on the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT). We firstly used the sound card to collect the heart sound, and then implemented the complete system program of signal acquisition, pretreatment and envelope extraction on LabVIEW based on the theory of HHT. Finally, we used a case to prove that the system could collect heart sound, preprocess and extract the envelope easily. The system was better to retain and show the characteristics of heart sound envelope, and its program and methods were important to other researches, such as those on the vibration and voice, etc.
Heart Sounds ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

By reshaping the cornea without the creation of a stromal flap, excimer laser corneal surface ablation eliminates flap-related complications and avoids the risk of ectasia that may occur after laser assisted in situ keratomileusis ( LASIK ) . Post-operative pain is one of the most significant disadvantages of surface ablation and thus the management of pain and discomfort following surface ablation is of great importance. We summarize mechanism of corneal pain and current approaches to pain management after surface ablation.

The lacquer figure with meridian-points marked of the western Han dynasty, unearthed in Tianhui town, Jinniu district, Chengdu in 2012, has been the earliest and the most complete human figure of meridian-acupoints in China so far. There were over ten courses of meridians, and over 100 visible acupoints as well as multiple intaglio inscriptions. All of them are valuable in academic study. The writers introduced the lacquer figure un- earthed in Laoguanshan in terms of the briefs and characteristics of meridian and acupoint distributions, which give the references to the future studies.
Acupuncture ; history ; instrumentation ; Acupuncture Points ; China ; History, Ancient ; Human Body ; Humans ; Meridians

To enhance the immunogenicity of DNA and adenoviral vector vaccines expressing HIV-1 subtype B gp160, human interleukin 15 (hIL15) DNA adjuvant (pVR-hIL15) was constructed. BALB/c mice received DNA prime/protein boost immunization with pVR-HIVgp160/Ad5-HIVgp160 alone or combined with pVR-hIL15. Cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated by IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Compared with those immunized with vaccines alone, the mice immunized with vaccines combined with pVR-hIL15 had significantly increased specific cellular response and antibody titer (P < 0.05). It suggests that the IL15 DNA adjuvant can enhance the immune responses induced by prime-boost regimen using DNA and adenoviral vector encoding HIV-1 subtype B gp160.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp160 ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp41 ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Interleukin-15 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology

Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Neoplasms ; Periodicals as Topic

Background Dyslipidemia is one of the major causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).At present,the study of the preventive and treating methods of A MD is still a hot spot.Objective The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of tonifying the spleen and promoting blood circulation on the retina and Bruch membrane in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice with dyslipidemia.Methods Thirty-six ApoE-/-mice aged 2 months were randomly divided into the normal diet group,high fat diet group and medicine group.A diet with a higher content of fat was given for 5 consecutive months to the mice of the high fat diet group and medicine group,and in the last month,a concoction that tonifies the spleen and promotes blood circulation was gavagely administered in the medicine group,and an equivalent volumes of normal saline solution was administered in the same way in the normal diet group and high fat diet group.Total plasma cholesterol (TC),low density lipoprotein (LDL)and triglyceride (TG) were detected by (ELISA? Name of assay?) using the 7170 Hitachi automatic biochemical analyzer,and morphological changes of the retina and Bruch membrane were examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The number of outer nuclear layer (ONL) cells,retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the thickness of the Bruch membrane were examined by semi-quantitative histopathology with the Mias 2000 Imaging Analyzer System.Results The concentrations of TC,LDL and TG were (6.47 ±0.49) mmol/L,(1.46 ±0.10)mmol/L and (0.62 ±0.21) mmol/L,respectively,in 7-month-old mice of the medicine group,showing a significant reduction in comparison with (10.53 ±0.30) mmol/L,(1.90±0.13) mmol/L,(1.15±0.29) mmol/L of the high fat diet group,and (9.63 ± 0.18) mmol/L,(1.12 ± 0.15) mmol/L,(0.88 ± 0.21) mmol/L in the normal diet group (P＜0.05-0.01).The disorder and atrophy of ONL and RPE cells,divergence of fiber of the Bruch membranes were found in both the high fat diet group and normal diet control group under the light microscope,and drusen formed in some of the mice in the high fat diet group.However,ONL and RPE were well organized in the medicine group.The cell numbers in the ONL and RPE layer in the 7-month-old mice were (23 124.00±755.18) and (10.75±0.59),respectively,in the medicine group,(19 107.00 ± 1436.82) and (8.55 ± 1.11),respectively,in the high fat diet group,(21 663.00± 1073.27) and (9.75 ±0.58),respectively,in the normal diet group,with significant differences among them (P＜0.05-0.001).Thickness of the Bruch membrane in the medicine group extensively reduced in high fat diet group and normal diet control group (P＜0.01).The ultrastructures of the RPE and Bruch membrane were much more improved in the mdedicine group.Conclusions Tonifying the spleen and promoting blood circulation can attenuate hyperlipemia in ApoE-/-mouse;furthermore,it lessens the pathological abnormalities in the ONL,RPE and Bruch membrane.

Background Retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) is a subtype of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).There are currently very few studies on RAP.Objective This study was to explore the pathogenic mechanism of RAP in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice with dyslipidemia.Methods Twenty-four 2-month-old SPF ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into the high fat diet group and the normal diet group,and twelve 2-month-old C57BL/6 mice received the normal diet as controls.A diet with a higher content of fat was given for 4 consecutive months in the high fat diet group,and normal diet was given in the same way in the mice of the normal diet group.The mice were sacrificed at 6 months of age.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) in the outer plexiform layer (OPL),microvascular density (MVD) and microvascular area (MVA) in the OPL were examined by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitatively by histopathology with the Mias 2000 Imaging Analyzer System.The expression of VEGF protein in the retina was examined by Western blot.Results The MVD in the retinal OPL were (20.67±3.20) and (19.50± 1.87),respectively,in the ApoE-/-mice of the high fat diet group and the normal diet group,which were significantly higher than that (12.50±1.87) of the C57BL/6 normal diet group (all at P＜0.01).MVA in the retinal OPL were (626.49± 120.99) μm2 and (514.06±88.83) μm2 in the ApoE-/-mice of the high fat diet group and the normal diet group,respectively,showing a significant increase in comparison with the (336.52±84.96) μm2 of the C57BL/6 normal diet group (P＜0.01).The staining area of VEGF in RPE cells was (21 048±1849) μm2 in the ApoE-/-mice of the high fat diet group,showing a significant increase in comparison with the (17 116±2023) μm2 of the C57BL/6 normal diet group.However,no significant difference was found in the staining area of VEGF between the ApoE-/-mice with normal diet group and the C57BL/6 normal diet group ([17 854±2967] μm2 vs.[17 116±2023] μm2) (P＞0.05).Significant elevation was also seen in the staining area of VEGFR-2 in the retinal OPL of the ApoE-/-mice of the high fat diet group (12 193±3806)μm2 and the ApoE-/-mice of the normal diet group (11 969± 3616)xm2 compared with C57BL/6 mice of the normal diet group (5387±2225)μm2(all at P＜0.01).The relative expression values (VEGF/β-actin) of VEGF in the retinas were (1.51 ±0.32) and (1.17±0.39) in the ApoE-/-mice of the high fat diet group and the normal diet group,respectively,showing a significant increase in comparison with (0.28±0.14) of the C57BL/6 normal diet group (P＜0.01).Conclusions The expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in the retinas increases in the ApoE-/-mouse,which leads to the enlargement of MVD and MVA in the retinal OPL and subsequent RAP occurrence.

A system analysis about the microbial flora of normal and abnormal soybean sauce liquor from the high-salt-level watery state fermentation was made and the dominant bacteria and yeasts were identified.On the other hand,a discussion of effect of temperature on microbial flora was made.The results indicated that there were no obvious differences about the count of aerobe,spore-producing bacteria,enterobacteriaceae,lactic acid bacteria and anaerobe between the normal and abnormal soybean sauce liquor and there were marked differences about the count of yeasts and salt-tolerant bacteria.The predominant yeasts in normal soybean sauce were Torulopsis and Saccharomyces,accounting for 55.9% and 35.3% of the total yeasts separately,and in abnormal soybean sauce were Pichia,candida and Saccharomyces,accounting for 62.8%,17.9% and 9.0% respectively.

These years with industrial antiseptics and disinfectants widely used, especially unscientifically used, the resistance of microorganisms is more and more serious, which brought much more difficulties to industrial producing. The developments on the resistance of microorganisms to industrial antiseptics and disinfectants, their resistant mechanisms and the control strategies are reviewed, which aids us to reasonably use industrial organic antiseptics and disinfectants in existence and provides academic and scientific basis.