Objective To study the feasibility and clinical values of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)in the spinal cord at 3.0 T MR.Methods Forty patients with spinal cord compression including cervical cord herniation and cervical spondylosis(30 cases),tumors in spinal canal(9 cases)and old injury in cervical vertebrae(1 cases)and 20 healthy volunteers participated in this study.Single-shot spin- echo echo-planar diffusion tensor sequence for tractography of the spinal cord was performed.The fibers of spinal cord were visualized by using fiber tracking software.Results On the DTT maps,the normal spinal cord was depicted as a fiber tract showing color-encoded cephaloeaudally,which indicated anisotropy in the cephalocaudal direction.By setting two ROI,the main spinal cord fiber tracts,such as corticospinal or spinothalamic tract,were visualized.The tracts from two sides of the brain did not completely cross.It was asymmetric in the number of tracts on the two sides in most normal subjects(8/10).The tracts of all patients with cord compression were seen oppressed or damaged in different degrees.The DrrT in patients with cervical spondylosis and extramedullary-intradural neurolemmoma demonstrated that tracts were oppressed but not damaged.The DTT in one ependymoma showed that tract was markedly compressed and slightly damaged.Conclusion DTT is a promising tool for demonstrating the spinal cord tracts and abnormalities,can provide useful information for the localization of compression and evaluation of the impairment extent on the white matter tracts of the spinal cord.

Objective To investigate the prognostic sequelae in neontes with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and ven-tricnlar dilatation.Methods Seventy-six full term newborns infants with HIE were followed up at the age from 3 to 19 months after therapy. Twenty-five infants among them were followed up by telephone in the epidemic period of SARS.Results Among 76 infants of 88 newborn infants with HIE(84.6%), 73 infants were normal (96.1% ). 1 infant had cerebral palsy (1.3%), 2 infants died (2.6 %).Among 39 cases with mild HIE, none of them had cerebral sequelae; among moderate HIE. 1 infant had cerebral palsy (2.9%) 1 infant died (2. 9 %), interlenkin-4 among severe HIE 50 % died (P00.5 The poor outcome of HIE in those infants were related to intrauterine growth retardation,severe birth asphyxia;and inadequate treatment.Cranial ultra-sonography of 49 infants were done on follow-up,and 12 of them (24.5 % ) had ventricular dilatations, which appeared after birth with 6 infants. Others occurred on follow-up with 1 infant had cerobral palsy,all ventricular dilatations recovered to normal at 12- 19 months except the cerebral palsy.Conclusions The poor outcome of HIE depends on the infants with intranterine growth relarda-tion,severe birth asphyxia and inadequate treatment.The prognosis of transient ventrealar ddatation are good except cerebral palsy.J Appl Clin pediatr,2004,19(12) : 1045- 1047

BACKGROUNDThe 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection is associated with the high risk of severe complications and is spreading more rapidly throughout the world than other reported seasonal influenzas. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the nature herbal medicine Lianhuaqingwen capsule (LHC) in patients infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus.

METHODSA total of 244 patients aged 16 - 65 years confirmed with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection by the real time RT-PCR were randomized to one of two treatment groups of 122 patients each. Each group assigned to receive either LHC or Oseltamivir for five days and observation for seven days. The patients were enrolled within 36 hours of illness onset if they had an axillary temperature of ≥ 37.4°C and with at least one of the following symptoms: nasal obstruction, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache, myalgia, chills and sweating. The primary end point was the duration of illness.

RESULTSOf 244 patients, 240 (98.36%) patients with a median age 21 years completed the study between October 24, 2009 and November 23, 2009. There were no significant overall differences between LHC treated and Oseltamivir treated patients in the median duration of illness (LHC 69 hours vs. Oseltamivir 85 hours P > 0.05) or the median duration of viral shedding (LHC 103 hours vs. Oseltamivir 96 hours, P > 0.05). However, it was worthwhile to note that LHC significantly reduced the severity of illness and the duration of symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, and fatigue (P < 0.05). Both study medications were well tolerated. No drug related serious adverse events occurred during the study.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with Oseltamivir, LHC achieved a similar therapeutic effectiveness reduction of the duration of illness and duration of viral shedding. Therefore, LHC might be an alternative therapeutic measure for influenza A (H1N1) virus infections.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To summarize and analyze the efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) for cerebral neurovascular compression syndrome and its postoperative complications. Methods MVD was performed in 39 patients with cerebral neurovascular compression syndrome, including 19 with trigeminal neuralgia, 18 with facial spasm and 2 with glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The surgical techniques and prevention of postoperative complications were analyzed. Results The immediate relief of pain was succeed in 17 with trigeminal neuralgia and 2 with glossopharyngeal neuralgia and the spasm was eliminated in 16 with facial spasm right after the operation. No hematoma, infection, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or death appeared and the total effectiveness rate was 94.87%. Follow-up was performed in 34 with an average of 1.58 years and 32 were recorded with good results. Conclusion MVD for cerebral neurovascular compression syndrome is safe, minimally invasive and effective. It is by far the first choice in the treatment of cerebral neurovascular compression syndrome.

Objective To investigate the effects of enamel matrix proteins (EMP) on odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (HDPC) in vitro.Methods HDPC were isolated by explant culture methods and expanded to passage 4 for experiments.The cells were seeded into 6-well plates (2 × 105 cells/well) and divided into 5 groups,treated with 1,10 or 100 mg/L EMP,10-8 mol/L dexamethasone and 100 mg/L ascorbic acid (Dex-AA) or basal media respectively.Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was measureded after up to 10 days in culture.The mRNA expression of dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1)and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.Calcified nodule formation was evaluated by alizarin red staining and spectroscopic method.Results The ALP activity levels of all 5 groups were increased in a time-dependent manner.There was no significant difference among each group after 1 day.After 5 days,the ALP activity was increased significantly especially for the 10 mg/L EMP,100 mg/L EMP and Dex-AA groups,values were 7.573 ± 0.267,6.119 ± 0.502 and 5.846 ± 0.096,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).After 10 days,the increase of ALP activity in the 10 mg/L EMP(21.035 ± 0.149) and Dex-AA groups(13.223 ± 0.797) was remarkable,compared with the negative control group (5.825 ± 0.404) (P ＜ 0.01).Statistical differences were detected for DMP-1 and DSPP mRNA expressions in 10mg/L EMP group(14.791 ± 0.164,12.238 ± 0.421),compared with negative control group (4.959 ± 0.184,2.645 ± 0.570) (P ＜ 0.01).Phase contrast microscopy revealed orange-red stained nodules in 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L EMP groups.Such staining was not that much obvoius in the negative control group.After quantifying the staining,it can be clearly seen that 10 mg/L EMP enhanced calcium deposition [(191.8 ± 2.0) μmol/L] significantly,compared to the negative control[(81.1 ± 8.1) μmol/L] (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions This study showed that optimized concentration of EMP can stimulate odontoblastic differentiation of HDPC,which suggests that EMP may be useful for directing HDPC down the odontoblastic lineage in dentine tissue engineering.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances in esophageal cancer (EC) with or without family history in Linzhou, Henan Province of China.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 13 cases with positive family history of EC and 32 cases with negative family history of EC. RESULTS DNA copy number gains on chromosome 10q was observed only in the cases with postivie family history of EC (30%), and none in cases with a negative family history (P<0.05). DNA copy number losses on chromosome 15q were significantly higher in cases with postivie family history (38% vs 6%, P<0.05). The frequency of DNA copy number gains in 3q, 5p, 7p, 8q and DNA copy number losses in 3p, 19q, 9q were similar in the two groups (both beyond 20%) (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFrequent DNA copy number gains on chromosome 10q and losses on chromosome 15q in EC casers with postivie family history indicate that these chromosome sites may harbor the genes related to high susceptibility to EC. Such chromosomal sites as 3q, 5p, 7p, 8q, 3p, 19q, and 9q may contain important genes related with the environmental risk factors of esophageal carcinogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate how smoking was affecting the prevalence of sleep apnea/ hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) among adults aged over 30 years in Chengde city of Hebei province.

METHODS1168 subjects, over 30 years of age were derived from a random sample from a community-based population in Shuangqiao district of Chengde city. All subjects responded to a questionnaire at their own houses regarding their habits of snoring and smoking. 1168 subjects (95.2%) answered the questions satisfactorily.

RESULTS(1) Among the smoking groups, the prevalence of snoring was 69.09%, higher than that in the nonsmoking groups 45.07% (P = 0.000). (2) In males, the smoking group had a higher prevalence (69.72%) of snoring than in the nonsmoking group (60.80%, P = 0.033). (3) Females in the smoking group had a higher prevalence of snoring (61.80%) than in the nonsmoking group (39.70%, P = 0.011). (4) The prevalence of snoring in males (60.80%) was significantly higher than that in females (39.70%, P = 0.000). (5) The prevalence (69.72%) of snoring in smoking males was similar to that in smoking females (61.80%, P = 0.336). (6) Data from logistic regression analysis indicated that smoking was one of the factors affecting snoring. (7) According to the degree of snoring, 127 moderate and severe snorers were measured by portable PSG for a whole night and the prevalence of SAHS was estimated. According to the AHI > or = 5 and the ESS > or = 9 cutoff-points, the prevalence rates of SAHS in smoking groups were both significantly higher than that in nonsmoking groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSmoking and snoring among adults aged over 30 years had correlation in our city.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Snoring ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction (pPED) remains a current problem despite improvements in surgical techniques. Vacuum therapy is clinically confirmed as a type of pPED rehabilitation. However, its underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Recently, autophagy and apoptosis were extensively studied in erectile dysfunction resulting from diabetes, senescence, and androgen deprivation but not in the context of pPED and vacuum therapy. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the roles of autophagy and apoptosis in pPED and vacuum therapy. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, bilateral cavernous nerve crush (BCNC) group, and BCNC + vacuum group. After 4 weeks of treatment, intracavernosal pressure was used to evaluate erectile function. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the molecular expression. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining was used to assess apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe autophagosomes. After treatment, compared with those of the BCNC group, erectile function and cavernosal hypoxia had statistically significantly improved (P < 0.05). Apoptosis and the relative protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X and cleaved Caspase3 were decreased (P < 0.05). Autophagy-related molecules such as phosphorylated unc-51-like autophagy-activating kinase 1 (Ser757) and p62 were decreased. Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 A/B, and autophagosomes were increased (P < 0.05). Besides, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway, as a negative regulator of autophagy to some degree, was inhibited. This study revealed that vacuum therapy ameliorated pPED in BCNC rats by inhibiting apoptosis and activating autophagy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to identify the gene expressions of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and to study its possible pathogenic mechanism on atherosclerosis using microarray technology. METHODS: The gene expression differences in HCMV AD169 strain-infected HUVECs were studied by the microarray technology to explore the potential molecular mechanism of HCMV infection. The qPCRs were performed to verify the transcriptome results. RESULTS: A total of 2,583 differentially expressed genes, including 407 down-regulated genes and 2,176 up-regulated genes, were detected by the systematic bioinformatics analysis. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses showed that the significantly differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in regulating protein kinase activity, inflammatory response, ubiquitination, protein phosphorylation, cell metabolism, and exosomes, among which 12 genes had significant changes and were screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and verified by qPCR. The experimental qPCR results were consistent with the microarray results. CONCLUSION The GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the regulation of protein kinase activity, inflammatory response, ubiquitination, protein phosphorylation, and cell metabolism played important roles in the process of endothelial cell infection. Furthermore, 12 genes were involved in the process of HCMV infection of endothelial cells and contributed to the current understanding of the infection and pathogenic mechanisms of atherosclerosis.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus/genetics* ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Atherosclerosis ; Protein Kinases ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing