Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

Objective To investigate the levels of trace elements such as fluorine(F), and aluminium (Al)etc. of osteomalacia malformation children and to make etiological diagnosis in reference with clinical manifestations.Methods Urine and occipitalia hairs of 14 diseased children(patient group) from endemic fluorosis area and 13 healthy children(control group) from non-endemic area were included in the study on November, 2008, and contents of 10 elements of fluorine(F), aluminum(Al), chromium(Cr), manganese(Mn), ferrum(Fe), cuprum(Cu), zinc(Zn), arsenic (As), selenium(Se), strontium(Sr), and barium(Ba) were tested. The data were analyzed with medical soft package PEMS 3.1. Results Urinary contents of F, Al, Mn, Cu, Sr, and Se(1.18 mg/L, 112.6 μg/L,6.62,29.86 mg/L, 177.5,4.23 ng/L) in patient group were significantly different from those in control group (0.48,47.1,2.04,16.61 mg/L, 55.17,15.52 ng/L, t = 4.592,2.486,4.850,2.210 2.078,2.912, all P＜ 0.05); Hair contents of Al, Mn, As, Sr, Ba, Fe, and Se in patient group(59.27,5.26,0.96,1.50,1.29,297.13,0.45 mg/kg)were significantly different from those of control group( 18.69,0.72,1.09,0.62,0.68,69.02,1.323 mg/kg, t = 4.583,6.318,3.309,2.704,5.606,6.294, all P ＜ 0.05); in patient group, the correlation coefficients of urinary Fe to Al,Zn, As, and Se were all bigger tan 0.662(all P＜ 0.05), those of urinary Se to Mn, Ba, Cu, Zn, Sr, and As were all bigger than 0.694(all P＜ 0.05), those among urinary Mn, Sr, As, and Ba were bigger than 0.550(all P＜0.05), those of hair Al to Mn, Cr, Fe, and Cu were bigger than 0.732(all P＜ 0.05), those of hair Ba to Mn,Cr, Fe, and Sr, and of hair Mn to Cr and Fe, and those between Cr and As, between Cu and Sr were all bigger than 0.686 (all P ＜ 0.05). In control group, the correlation coefficients of urinary Cu to Zn, Se, and Ba, those of Zn to Se and Ba, and those of Cr to Mn and Ba were all bigger than 0.516(all P ＜ 0.05), those of hair Al to Mn,Fe, Cu, As, and Se, and those of hair Se to Fe, Cu, and As, those of hair Fe to Mn, Cu, and As, those of hair Cu to Zn and As, and that between Zn and As were bigger than 0.739(all P ＜ 0.05). The correlation coefficient of urinary F to Se in patient group(0.762) was significantly different from that in control group( - 0.469, u = 2.079,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The burden of F and Al of osteomalacia malformation children in endemic fluorosis area of Shuicheng county is too high. The contents of multi-elements in urine and hairs and their correlation are coincident with high levels of Al and F and they cause network increase of multi-element content changes and their correlation. According to bone X-ray features combining with the living environment, the diagnosis of endemic Al-F fluorosis can be made. The biological significance of reducing urinary and hair Se levels and the correlations of F and Al need to be further studied.

Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and digital subtraction angiographic(DSA)characteristics of intmcmnial and extracranial artery diseases in patients with cerebral watershed infarction. Methods A retrospective analysis of the factors responsible for intracranial and extracranial large artery lesions was conducted in 29 Patients with watershed infarction confirmed by DSA and MRI. Results Among the 29 cases,DSA indicated severe cerebral middle artery disease in 18 cases and internal carotid artery disease in 6 cases including 2 with occlusive lesions.Conclusion The lesions in the intracmnial and extracranial large arteries are the major causes of watershed infarction,involving mainly the cerebral middle artery and the internal carotid artery.

Objective To investigate the intelligence standard for diagnose the sub-cretin children and children with mental retardation of socio-cultural type.Methods The full intelligence quotient(IQ),verbal intelligence quotient(VIQ)and performance intelligence quotient(PIQ)was tested by Wechsler scale(C-WISC)for mild iodine deficiency disordem children,children living in abnormal socio-cultural condition and normal children aged 7～14 years old in Qinba mountain area.The test results had been compared between the groups.Results There were no significant difference between psychomotor functioning well children and children living normal sociocuhural condition in VIQ,PIQ and full IQ(89.24±18.44 vs 90.75±17.58,87.58±15.78 vs 88.95±15.56,87.42±17.84 vs 89.02±17.18,t=1.14,1.19 and 1.24,respectively,all P＞O.05).PIQ and full IQ were significantly lower in mild iodine deficiency disorders children than in children with abnormal socio-cultural background (65.81±10.22 vs 72.33±13.23,62.42±12.31 vs 68.13±14.54,t=3.26,2.55,P＜0.01 or＜0.05,respectively).But the VIQ was not significantly different between these two groups.The average difference of VIQ and PIQ among mild iodine deficiency disorders children wag-0.32 without significant difierence(t=0.28,P＞0.05),however it was-2.91 among children under abnormal socio-cultural condition with significant difierenee(t=-3.59,P＜0.01).Conclusions IQ for iodine deficiency disorders children is characterized by that VIQ is damaged in parallel with PIQ,while that in children under abnormal soeio-cuhural condition is marked by that VIQ is retarded more severely than PIQ,which ean be used as an intelligence standard for differentiating the sub-cretin children from children wjth socio-cuhural mental retardation.

BACKGROUND:Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) has been used to monitor the effectiveness of precordial compression (PC) and regarded as a prognostic value of outcomes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study was to investigate changes of PETCO2 during CPR in rats with ventricular fibrillation (VF) versus asphyxial cardiac arrest. METHODS:Sixty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into an asphyxial group (n=32) and a VF group (n=30). PETCO2 was measured during CPR from a 6-minute period of VF or asphyxial cardiac arrest. RESULTS:The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after PC in the VF group were significantly lower than those in the asphyxial group (12.8±4.87 mmHg vs. 49.2±8.13 mmHg,P=0.000). In the VF group, the values of PETCO2 after 6 minutes of PC were significantly higher in rats with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), compared with those in rats without ROSC (16.5±3.07 mmHg vs. 13.2±2.62 mmHg,P=0.004). In the asphyxial group, the values of PETCO2 after 2 minutes of PC in rats with ROSC were significantly higher than those in rats without ROSC (20.8±3.24 mmHg vs. 13.9±1.50 mmHg,P=0.000). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of PETCO2 showed significant sensitivity and specificity for predicting ROSC in VF versus asphyxial cardiac arrest. CONCLUSIONS:The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after CPR may be helpful in differentiating the causes of cardiac arrest. Changes of PETCO2 during CPR can predict outcomes of CPR.

Pancreatic cancer remains a major troublesome clinical problem, with conventional cancer treatments having little impact on disease course. The extent of disease is often classified as localized, locally advanced, and metastatic. Radical operation is the most effective method, but only 15%-20% of patients have resectable disease, and around 20% of them survive to 5 years. For locally advanced, unresectable, and metastatic diseases, palliative treatment is more appropriate, but the median survival in these patients is less than 6 months and the 5-year survival rates are even lower than 4%. Neoadjuvant therapy has been gradually accepted in breast cancer and gastroenterological cancer, and its value in pancreatic cancer has attracted increasing interests. This paper reviews recent advances of neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; adverse effects ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of oxidative stress in development of acute high altitude response (AHAR) during the process of strong physical work at high altitude and its change after return to lower altitude.

METHODSNinety-six officers and soldiers of rapid entering into high altitude (3 700 m) with strong physical work were analyzed, all subjects were male, aged 18-35 years. According to the symptomatic scores of AHAR were divided into 3 groups: severe AHAR (group A, n = 24), mild AHAR (group B, n = 47) and without AHAR (group C, n = 25). Levels in serum 8-iso prostaglandinF2alpha(8-iso-PGF2alpha), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonaldehyde (MDA) were measured at higher altitude stayed 50 d and after return to lower altitude (1 500 m) 12 h and 15 d, and 50 healthy volunteers (group D) at 1 500 m altitude served as controll.

RESULTSLevels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA [(9.53 +/- 0.47) microg/L, (8.91 +/- 0.39) micromol/L] were significantly higher in group A than those in group B [(8.34 +/- 0.42) microg/L, (7.31 +/- 0.32) micromol/L] , group C [(7.02 +/- 0.48) microg/L, (6.41 +/- 0.23) micromol/L] and group D [(5.13 +/- 0.56) microg/L, (5.48 +/- 0.33) micromol/L], (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD [(52.08 +/- 3.44) micro/ml] was significantly lower in group A than that in group B [62.27 +/- 2.54) micro/ml], group C [(71.99 +/- 3.35) micro/ml] and group D [(80.78 +/- 3.44) micro/ ml] (all P < 0.01), there were significant differences between group B and C, C and D (all P < 0.01). At altitude 3 700 m 50 d, AHAR scores was positively correlated with serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA (all P < 0.01), negatively correlated with SOD (P < 0.01). Serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were negatively correlated with SOD (all P < 0.01). Levels of serum 8-iso-PGF2alpha and MDA were significantly higher at altitude of 3 700 m 50 d than those at altitude of 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), and serum SOD was significantly lower than that at 1 500 m 12 h,15 d in group D (all P < 0.01), there were significantly difference between at 1 500 m 12 h and 15 d (all P < 0.01), there were no difference between at 15 d in group D (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe more serious of oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance, the more serious of AHAR, oxidative stress and oxidative/antioxidative imbalance may be involved in the development of AHAR. The changes were obviously improved after return to lower altitude 12 h, and recovered to normal after 15 d.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Young Adult

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwise. The incidence rate of HCC is high and is easy to metastasis and recurrence, which seriously affects human health. Traditional chemical drugs have some challenges such as toxicity, side effects, and multidrug resistance, thus it is urgent to find new drugs and effective targets. Here we synthesized a novel chemical, protonic bis-phenanthroline (H-BP), and the antitumor effect was investigated in the study. The results showed that H-BP could selectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and cause HCC apoptosis. And also, in HCC tumor-bearing mice, H-BP could effectively prevent the growth of tumor mass, even completely eliminate the tumor at medium dose (5 mg·kg^-1) and high dose (10 mg·kg^-1), and meanwhile H-BP has no significant effect on the body weight of mice. The experimental protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southwest University, and the experimental operation was strictly carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of animal use and care. Mechanism studies showed that H-BP induced HCC apoptosis was related to down-regulation the expression of pleomorphic adenoma gene like-2 (PLAGL2), a oncogene transcription factor, resulting in the down-regulation of PLAGL2 downstream proteins hypoxia inducible factor and β-catenin. This study not only introduces the dimerization method to form novel compounds that will provide a new approach for drug design, but also suggests that PLAGL2 may be an effective target in tumor therapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the polymorphism and gene frequency of interleukin 6 (IL6) gene -572C/G in Chinese Han nationality population, that associating with susceptibility to myocardial infarction(MI) and impacting on the extent of coronary artery lesions; to analyze the function of IL6 gene -572C/G polymorphism.

METHODSWith PCR-RFLP method, IL6 gene -572C/G polymorphism was genotyped to 232 MI patients and 260 healthy adults. The effect of IL6 gene -572C/G polymorphism was observed to the extent of coronary artery lesions and the ability of IL6 production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

RESULTSThere was IL6 gene -572C/G polymorphism in Chinese Hans. -572CG+GG genotype and G allele were more frequent in patients than in controls (P< 0.01). The relative risk for G allele carrier to suffer from MI was 1.68 times of CC genotype individual (95%CI 1.17-2.41, P< 0.01). However, the distribution of IL6 gene -572C/G polymorphism was no significant difference among patients with single-vessel, two-vessel and three-vessel lesions (P> 0.05). After PBMC cultured for 24 hours, the IL6 concentration in supernatant was significantly higher in subjects with CG genotype than those with CC genotype (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL6 gene -572G allele may be a genetic susceptibility factor to MI attack of Chinese Hans population, and related to the high expression of IL6.

Aged ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence has indicated that low-concentration hydrogen or hydrogen rich water or hydrogen saturated saline exerts a protective effect on various diseases, such as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. OBJECTIVE: To explore the protective effect of hydrogen rich water on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats were equally randomized into control and hydrogen-rich groups, and then subdivided into ischemic preconditioning, ischemia, and ischemia/reperfusion groups (n=8 rats in each subgroup). The myocardial ischemia/reperfusion model was established in the heart of each rat by the following procedures: reverse perfusion for 10 minutes, room temperature for 20 minutes, and reperfusion for 20 minutes. The control rats was perfused with pre-oxygenated (95% O2plus 5% CO2) 37 ℃ K-R solution and the hydrogen-rich group was perfused with pre-oxygen-equilibrated (95% O2plus 5% CO2) 37 ℃ K-R solution plus hydrogen-rich water (0.6 mmol/L, pH=7.3). Subsequently, the heart was removed, the pathological changes of the myocardial tissues were observe by hematoxylin-eosin staining, the activities of lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase in the myocardial tissues were determined, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β were detected by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In the control group, the activity of lactic dehydrogenase at the ischemic and ischemia/reperfusion stages was significantly higher than that at the ischemic preconditioning stage (P < 0.05), and the activity of creatine kinase at the ischemia/reperfusion stage was significantly higher than that at the ischemic preconditioning and ischemic stages (P < 0.05). In the hydrogen-rich group, there was no significant difference in the activities of lactic dehydrodenase and creatine kinase at each stage, but the activities of at the ischemia/reperfusion stage was significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). In the two groups, the order of the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β was as follows: the ischemia/reperfusion stage > ischemic stage > ischemic preconditioning stage (P < 0.05). The levels of above factors in the hydrogen-rich group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Our findings imply that hydrogen rich water has protective effect on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury of the rat hearts in vitro,which may be by reducing the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β, and further alleviating the inflammatory response.