Objective To compare the cardiac function parameters in gated SPECT determined by filtered back projection (FBP) and OSEM reconstruction methods. Methods One hundred and forty-four patients underwent 99Tcm-MIBI gated-SPECT imaging studies. The parameters LVEF, EDV and ESV, were derived using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS), four-dimensional model SPECT (4D-MSPECT) and emory cardiac toolbox (ECToolbox) softwares. Each image was reconstructed by FBP or OSEM. Bland-Altman analysis and paired t-test were applied to evaluate those parameters. Results Correlation coefficients for LVEF, EDV and ESV between FBP and OSEM methods were all more than 0.93 (all P<0.001). EDV calculated by FBP was lower than that by OSEM using QGS software, but became the opposite when using 4D-MSPECT and ECToolbox softwares. (QGS: (82.2±39.1) ml vs (83.5±40.8) ml, t=-2.53, P<0.05; 4D-MSPECT: (93.5±46.9) ml vs (88.8±45.2) ml, t=5.95, P<0.01; ECToolbox: (106.4±51.1) ml vs (100.8±49.0) ml, t=3.99, P<0.01). ESV calculated by FBP was higher than that by OSEM using 4D-MSPECT software (4D-MSPECT:(37.5±41.4) ml vs (34.8±37.6) ml, t=3.92, P<0.01). LVEF calculated by FBP was lower than that by OSEM using QGS software ((62.1±16.9)% vs (63.1±16.1)%, t=-3.14, P<0.05), but higher than that by OSEM using ECToolbox software ((74.1±18.8)% vs (71.3±17.1)%, t=5.28, P<0.01). Conclusion Generally, cardiac functional parameters based on FBP and OSEM construction methods correlated well, although they might have singnificantly different results.

Brain Abscess ; surgery ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: With the extensive application of small animal imaging and imaging studies, it requires the investigators to master the cross-sectional anatomy of mice, but the anatomy of mouse nasal cavity and sinuses cannot be obtained through vivisection.OBJECTIVE: To establish a highly precise serial colorful sectional image data set of mice using digital virtual human technology.METHODS: An adult male Balb/c mouse was killed for freezing embedded using modified Kawamoto's method and was then serially scanned at 5 μm of thickness by Leica CM3600XP cryostat microtome. The sectional images were photographed with a 24 million pixels Nikon D750 camera and stored as JPG files. All images were preliminarily registered by manually cropping the images based on the edge of block surface using software photoshop 7.0. Then, the image size, brightness and registration were corrected and adjusted, and the format of the images was unified as TIFF. The data set was imported to Amira 6.0 and was registered again with least square method. The quality of the data set was evaluated by three-dimensional reconstruction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 6034 original images with a size of 87 GB were captured. After cropping, adjusting and registration, the final size was 184 G. The mouse three-dimensional reconstruction model was satisfactory. To conclude, the data set established using the method and system mentioned above is characterized by high resolution and high-fidelity, which might facilitate the further study of the precise anatomy of mice and other fundamental experiments.

In-vitro assay methods were established to evaluate transactivation and binding activity of compounds on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y (PPARγ). Firstly, plasmids were constructed for transactivation assay of PPARγ response element (PPRE) triggered reporter gene expression, and for cell-based binding activity assay of the chimeric receptor, which was fused with PPARγ ligand binding domain (LBD) and yeast transcriptional activator Gal4. Secondly, by using PPARy competitive binding assay based on time resolved-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), affinities of compounds and drugs to PPARγ were evaluated. In application of these above methods, the PPARγ activating potency and characteristics of different compounds were evaluated, and a novel benzeneselfonamide derivative, ZLJ01, was found to have comparable binding activity and affinity with the well-known PPARy agonist, but lack of PPRE mediated transactivation activity. In preliminary study on in-vitro hypoglycemic activity, ZLJ1 was found to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by liver cells. Therefore, we believe that combining transactivation and binding activity as well as affinity evaluation, the system could be used to screen non-agonist PPARγ ligand as anovel PPARγ modulator

18 fungal strains including N.coenophialum,N.lolii, N.huerfanum、N.chisosum、N.aotearoae、N.sp.and 8 varieties of grass seeds belonging to Festuca arundinacea and Lolium perenne have been studied.With amplification of IS1～IS3 and F1～R1 of genomic DNA, the primers Tub-2-F～Tub-2-R from Tubulin-2 gene and F3～R3 from NC25 gene have been designed.A PCR method to detect N.coenophialum and N.lolii was established, and also a nested-PCR method to detect N.coenophialum and N.lolii in single seed was established.These PCR detection methods are strongly special and much credible and rapid-speeded.

Four screening methods, colorimetric assay, blood-plate hemolysis method, surface tension activ- ity and oil spreading technique were introduced to isolate strains producing bio-demulsifiers from 6 different bacteria source samples. The results of various screening methods were evaluated in this paper. Seventeen demulsifying strains were obtained, which are qualified in demulsification test of kerosene model emulsions. Among them, 5 strains showed high demulsifying ability, achieving 70% plus demulsifying ratio within 24 hours. Petroleum-contaminated soil, excess sludge from biological process treating oilfield produced water and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant were the best among all tested sources. Due to the determination limit, the colorimetric assay and blood-plate hemolysis method are not competent to screen bio-demulsifiers strains. The measurement of surface tension and oil spreading method were easy but accu- rate methods to isolate bio-demulsifiers strains. Although demulsification test of model emulsion is an effec- tive technique to target strains with the capability of breaking emulsions, it is sophisticated and time-con- suming. Thus it is recommended to use surface tension and oil spreading methods in pre-screening and vali- date the results in demulsification test with kerosene model emulsions.

In-vitro assay methods were established to evaluate transactivation and binding activity of compounds on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor y (PPARγ). Firstly, plasmids were constructed for transactivation assay of PPARγ response element (PPRE) triggered reporter gene expression, and for cell-based binding activity assay of the chimeric receptor, which was fused with PPARγ ligand binding domain (LBD) and yeast transcriptional activator Gal4. Secondly, by using PPARy competitive binding assay based on time resolved-fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET), affinities of compounds and drugs to PPARγ were evaluated. In application of these above methods, the PPARγ activating potency and characteristics of different compounds were evaluated, and a novel benzeneselfonamide derivative, ZLJ01, was found to have comparable binding activity and affinity with the well-known PPARy agonist, but lack of PPRE mediated transactivation activity. In preliminary study on in-vitro hypoglycemic activity, ZLJ1 was found to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by liver cells. Therefore, we believe that combining transactivation and binding activity as well as affinity evaluation, the system could be used to screen non-agonist PPARγ ligand as anovel PPARγ modulator
Genes, Reporter ; Hepatocytes ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; Ligands ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; Response Elements ; Sulfonamides ; chemistry ; Transcriptional Activation

Objective To investigate the effects of melatonin on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in rat hippocampus after isoflurane anesthesia. Methods Sixty male SD rats weighing 390 - 440 g were randomized into 5 groups (n = 12 each): control group (group C), 1% isoflurane group (group Ⅰ), 1% isoflurane + melatonin group (group IM) , 2% isoflurane group (group J) and 2% isoflurane + melatonin group (group JM) . In IM and JM groups, melatonin 10 mg/kg was administered intraperitoneally once a day for 7 consecutive days, while equal volume of normal saline was given intraperitoneally instead of melatonin in C, I and J groups. Groups Ⅰ and IM inhaled 1% isoflurane and groups J and JM 2% isoflurane for 4 h on 7th day. All the rats underwent Morris water maze test on the day after anesthesia for assessment of learning and memory ability (escape latency and probe time) . The training test was performed 4 times a day for S days. Six rats randomly selected from each group were sacrificed the end of the test. The blood samples were collected for detection of plasma melatonin level by ELISA.The brain tissues were removed for determination of the expression and activity of ChAT in hippocampus by Western blot or colorimetric assay. The left rats were selected and sacrificed for determination of the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and entate gyrus by immunofluorescence. Results The plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group I than in group C ( P ＜ 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly longer, the probe time was significantly shorter, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly lower in group J than in group C ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The escape latency was significantly shorter, the probe time was significantly longer, and the plasma melatonin level and expression and activity of ChAT were significantly higher in group IM than in group Ⅰ ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). The escape latency was significantly shorter and the plasma melatonin level and ChAT activity were significantly higher in group JM than in group J ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) . The results of immunofluorescent staining showed that the number of ChAT positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus wag consistent with the changes in the measured ChAT expression. Conclusion Melatonin can reduce isoflurane-mediated inhibition of ChAT expression and activity and thus improve spatial memory impaired by isoflurane anesthesia in rats.

Objective To explore the effect of L-carnosine on neuronal cell apoptosis in young rats with experimental febrile seizures(FS).Methods Forty 15-day SD rats were randomly divided into intervention group(n=30)and FS group(n=10).Warm water was used to induce 10 times FS.The intervention group was divided into E,G and H group,10 rats in each group.Intraperitoneal injection of L-carnosine(250 mg/kg)was separately given to the rats in E group,G group and H group respectively after 30,60 and 120 min of seizure.FS group were induced FS,but they were not given intervention.The rats were sacrificed at 12 hours after the last seizure.Neuronal cell apoptosis was determined by terminal eoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)in situ cell death kit.TUNEL positive cells were stained and counted as apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex.Ultrastructural changes of apoptosis neurons were observed under the electron microscope.Results The neuronal cells apoptosis count was 25.37?1.95 in FS group,12.36?1.13 in E group,17.85?2.04 in G group,and 22.69?2.69 in H group.Neuronal apoptosis of FS group was apparently higher than that of interventional groups(F=10.75 P0.05).Under the electron microscope,neuronal damage on hippocampal CA1 area and dentate gyrus of FS group and H group was obviously higher than that of E group.Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only relieve neuronal apoptosis of repeated FS,but also play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.

0.05).Conclusions Early injection of L-carnosine would not only improve cerebral oxidative phosphorylation,relieve neuronal injury of repeated FS,but play a role in the protection of neuronal cells.