Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs), which can be introduced in brain tissue by the strategies of brain parenchyma, blood and neurolymph transplantation, to repair tissue injury and promote functional recovery of neural system, have been considered as the ideal seed cells for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. However, as the special structure exists in the blood-brain barrier, study on correlation between MSCs and blood-brain barrier permeability will make it possible for more MSCs to pass the barrier to perform the treatment. This paper gives a review on the latest research development in the field.

Objective To compare magnetization transfer and diffusion characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS)lesions,normal-appearing white matter(NAWM)from patients,and normal white matter from control subjects,and to investigate the correlation between the magnetization transfer ratio(MTR)and mean diffusivity(MD)in MS patients.Methods Conventional MRI,magnetization transfer imaging(MTI)and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)were performed in 24 relapsing remitting MS patients and 24 healthy volunteers.Based on these images,the MTR,MD and fractional anisotropy(FA)maps were obtained.Then the MTR,MD and FA values were measured in lesions and NAWM from patients,and in the relevant white matter regions from volunteers.Results Average MTR in lesions(23.49%?5.16%)from MS patients was lower than those both in NAWM(29.49%?3.38%)and in the counterparts of the controls(32.78%?3.42%,F=101.44,P

Objective To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Baihui (DU 20) and Dazhui (Bill) points on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) around the area of cerebral infarction and evaluate the relation between learning and memory ability and BDNF. Methods Forty-eight male adult Wistar rats were divided randomly and equally into EA and control groups. The EA group was sub-divided into 1 week, 2 weeks and 3weeks sub-groups. EA was started 24 h after establishing a model of ischemic brain injury and continued for one, two or three weeks. The control group was reared conventionally and was not given any treatment. Morris' water maze test was used to evaluate the rats' learning and memory ability. The expression of BDNF in the CA3 region of the hippo campus was detected using immunohistochemical techniques. Results Learning and memory in the EA groups were better than in the control group, and spatial probe ability was also significantly better. Positive expression of BDNF was detected in the hippocampal CA3 region of the EA group rats, and it was significantly greater than that in the control group. Conclusion Learning and memory after cerebral infarction can be affected by EA at the Baihui and Dazhui points. The effect might be related with increased BDNF expression in the hippocampal CA3 region.

Objective To systematically assess the relation between angiotensin-I converting enzyme(ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) variation and type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) onset risk among Chinese population.Methods The related literatures were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data until June 1st,2016.The RevMan 5.0 was used to conduct the statistical analysis.The merge OR value and corresponding 95% confidence interval(95%CI) were used to assess ACE gene I/D polymorphism and T2DN onset risk.Results Totally 29 papers with 4 357 subjects were included according to the inclusion and exclusion standard,including 2 208 cases of DN and 2 149 cases of T2DM without DN.Meta analysis showed that compared with ACE gene I/D polymorphism I allele,D allele could significantly increase the risk of T2DM patients suffering from DN,the OR value and corresponding 95%CI were 1.44(1.25,1.66);the gene analysis showed that ACE gene I/D polymorphism loci were significantly correlated with DN onset risk in the Asian population.The corresponding relative onset risk OR and 95%CI were 1.42(1.15,1.76) and 1.75(1.46,2.10) in the dominant and recessive genetic model.The Begg′s test showed that the included data had no obvious publication bias existence.Conclusion ACE gene I/D polymorphism is closely correlated with the onset risk of T2DN,and D allele might be a risk genetic factor for DN occurrence in the patients with T2DM.

Objective To explore the status and economic burden of falls in elderly people living in an urban community and tO provide evidence for prevention of falls in the elderly. Methods A cross-section study was conducted in a community in Beijing.A total of 1512 persons aged 60 years and over were selected with stratified cluster sampling,and the data about falls within the past 12months,the consequences and the direct economic burden were collected by face-to-face interview.Results The overall incidence of falls was 18.0%within 1 year among 1512 interviewees.Of the participants,8.7%(131 cases)suffered from injuries of falls(143 times)and 77.6%(111 times)adopted the corresponding treatments.Direct economic burden caused by falls totaled 741.82 yuan per fall,including direct medical cost 650.77 yuan per fall,and 244.76 yuan per fall should be paid by the elderly themselves.In 143 times of falls,74.8%recovered and a few(5 cases)had complications and disability accordingly. Conclusions The incidence of fall in an urban elderly community of Beijing is high and will cause huge economic burden.

Objective To investigate whether abnormalities can be detected in normal-appearing white matter(NAWM)and normal-appearing white matter(NAGM)in patients with clinically isolated syndrome(CIS)and comparing them to the abnormalities in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis(RRMS)by using diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)histogram.To detect the potential relationship between DTI indices of NAWM,NAGM and patient's clinical condition.Methods Nineteen patients with CIS,19 clinically diagnosed RRMS patients and 19 sex-and age-matched healthy volunteers were included in this study.Conventional MRI and DTI images were obtained using Siemens 1.5 T Magnetom sonata scanner.DTI histograms of NAWM and NAGM were obtained after post-processing.The mean value,peak height,peak location of the histogram were used for analysis.All data was statistically processed with SPSS for Windows.Results NAWM average MD was higher and FA was lower in RRMS[MD(0.83±0.04)×10-3mm2/s,FA 0.36±0.03]when compared to CIS[MD(0.79±0.02)×10-3mm2/s,FA 0.40±0.02]and control[MD(0.78±0.02)×10-3mm2/s,FA 0.41±0.01](P＜0.01).But no statistically significant difference was found between CIS and control.The peak height of NAWM average MD histogram was significantly lower in CIS than control(P＜0.05),while the peak location of average FA histogram shifted to the left(P＜0.01).Patients with CIS[(1.08±0.06)×10-3mm2/s]showed significantly higher NAGM average MD than control[(1.03±0.05)×10-3mm2/s](P＜0.05),but,lower than RRMS[(1.18±0.12)×10-3mm2/s](P＞0.01).There were no correlation between DTI indices and EDSS scores in patients with CIS.Moderate correlation between NAGM average MD(r=0.568,P＜0.05)and EDSS scores were found in patient with RRMS.Conclusion NAWM and NAGM abnormalities do occur in CIS which can be detected by DTI.The underlying pathological changes in NAWM and NAGM in CIS may be milder than RRMS as demonstrated by DTI histogram.

Objective To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on synaptic interface structures around a cerebral infarct and evaluate how learning and memory relate to synoptic structure. Methods Forty-eight male, adult Wistar rats were divided randomly and equally into an EA group and a control group after models of ische-mic brain injury had been established. Each group was then divided into 1 week, 2 week and 3 week sub-groups. In the EA group EA was started 24 hours after the operation at the Baihui (DU20) and Da Zhui (BUI4) points and continued for one week, two weeks or three weeks. The control group was fed in normal cages and had no special treatment. Synoptic substructures in the hippocampal CA3 area of the ischemic side were assessed morphologically and quantitatively. Results The synaptic curvatures and postsynaptic density (PSD) an well as the width of the ac-tive area increased significantly in the EA group compared with the control group. Morris water maze learning ability in the EA group exceeded that in the control group. Spatial probe test results also significantly improved in the EA groups compared with the control groups. Conclusions Learning and memory improved in the injured rats following EA, and this is likely to be related to synaptic changes and synaptic plasticity increasing.

ObjectiveTo explore the treatment and economic burden of urine incontinence (UI) in the rural elderly,and provide evidences for preventive intervention.MethodsA cluster sampling was carried out in 743 people (aged 60 years and over) from 5 villages dominated by Yanliu and Dafengshang health centers,Jixian County,Tianjin from 2007 to 2008.The information about general state of health,treatment and economic burden of disease were analyzed. Results The prevalence of UI was 33.4％ (248 cases) among the 743 elderly people.Only 12 patients (4.8％) with UI ever visited community health-care service centers or hospitals for diagnosis and treatment,among whom only 1 case visited hospital within 1 year,8 cases during 1 to 5 years,and 3 cases over 5 years.And the method of treatment was all drug therapy.Among 248 cases with UI,there were 227 cases (91.5％) without any treatment,9 cases (3.6％) buying medicines by themselves.The direct cost for treatment of UI was 80-12000 yuan RMB,including 2 cases below 100 yuan RMB,2 cases 100-1000 yuan RMB,7 cases 1001-5000 yuan RMB and 1 case over 10000 yuan RMB. Conclusions Prevalence of UI is high while hospital-visiting rate is very low,and the financial burden of disease is serious,thus intervention measures for UI should be taken for the elderly people in rural areas of Jixian County,Tianjin.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of ultrashort waves combined with medication on children with cerebral dysfunction syndrome (CDS) accompanied with pneumonia.Methods76 children with CDS accompanied with pneumonia were randomly divided into treatment group (n=38, treated with anti-inflammatory and ultrashort waves one time per day for ten days) and control group (n=38, treated only with anti-inflammatory). The effective rate and the days of rales vanished of children in two groups after treatment were compared.ResultsIn the treatment group, 14 cases cured, 20 cases got significant result, 4 cases were effective, total effective rate was 100%; in the control group, 10 cases cured, 14 cases got significant result, 9 cases were effective, 5 cases were invalid, total effective rate was 86.8%. There was a significant difference between therapeutic effects of two groups ( P<0.05).ConclusionThe ultrashort waves therapy is an effective method for the children with CDS accompanied with pneumonia.

Severe liver disease during pregnancy is uncommon in clinical practice. The most common cause of liver disease during pregnancy is liver dysfunction, with an overall prevalence rate of approximately 3%. Liver disease during pregnancy is classified into the liver diseases directly caused by pregnancy and those co-existing with pregnancy, i.e., pre-existing liver disease or occasional liver disease during pregnancy. A differential diagnosis of pre-existing and co-existing liver diseases may help to improve maternal and fetal outcome. During clinical diagnosis and selection of treatment and intervention measures, priority should be given to the potential impact on mother and fetus. This article introduces the latest research advances in the general information, pathogenesis, treatment, and pregnancy outcome of major liver diseases during pregnancy and elaborates on the risk of pregnancy and related coping measures for patients with pre-existing liver disease, so as to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment and patient management.