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.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Compound Glycyrrhizin Injection (CGI) on liver function and cellular immunity of children with infectious mononucleosis complicated liver impairment (IM-LI) and to explore its clinical therapeutic effect.

METHODSForty-two patients with IM-LI were randomly assigned, according to the randomizing number table, to two groups, 20 in the control group and 22 in the treated group. All the patients were treated with conventional treatment, but to those in the treated group, CGI was given additionally once a day, at the dosage of 10 ml for children aged below 2 years, 20 ml for 2-4 years old, 30 ml for 5-7 years old and 40 ml for 8- 12 years old, in 100-200 ml of 5% glucose solution by intravenous dripping. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks. T lymphocyte subsets and serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBil) were detected before and after treatment. Besides, a normal control group consisting of 20 healthy children was also set up.

RESULTSBaseline of the percentage of CD3 + , CD8 + lymphocyte and serum levels of ALT, AST, TBiL in the children with IM-LI were markedly higher, while the percentage of CD4 + lymphocyte and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio was markedly lower in IM-LI children as compared with the corresponding indices in the healthy children ( P<0.01). These indices were improved after treatment in both groups of patients, but the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCellular immunity dysfunction often occurs in patients with IM-LI, and CGI treatment can not only obviously promote the recovery of liver function, but also regulate the immune function in organism.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; drug effects ; Infant ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Injections ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate regulation function of anodonta glucan HBP-A on chondrocytes through Wnt pathway in vitro.

METHODSRat chondrocytes were cultured and differentiated induced with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) in vitro. Chondrocytes were divided into five groups:IL-13 group,IL-1beta + IWP-2 (5 microM,Wnt pathway inhibitor) group, IL-1beta + HBP-A (0.3 mg/ml) group and IL-1beta + IWP-2 + HBP-A group. Wnt-3a, beta-catenin (24 h,48 h,72 h) and MMP-13(72 h) genes expression were detected by Rt-PCR, while beta-catenin, MMP-13, Sox-9 and coll-II (48 h) protein expression were measured by Western-blot.

RESULTSAfter induction of IL-1beta, gene expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were increased,so were the protein expression of beta-catenin and MMP-13. In contrast,protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were declined. Following addition of HBP-A, Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were shown as induction of IL-1beta, but protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were upgraded. Combining HBP-A with IWP-2 led to the lowest level in Wnt-3a, beta-catenin gene and beta-catenin protein expression and highest expression of Sox-9 protein.

CONCLUSIONHBP-A could not only delay the differentiation of chondrocytes through downgrading the signal expression of Wnt/beta-catenin,but also adjust the expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and Sox-9 when combinated with the Wnt inhibitor.

Animals ; Anodonta ; chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glucans ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Rats ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; Wnt3A Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic value of whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging score (WORMS) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

METHODSFrom November 2009 to January 2011,70 patients with KOA combined with knee effusion among outpatient and inpatient were analyzed retrospectively. Among the patients, 12 patients were male, 58 patients were female,ranging in age from 46 to 75 years,with a mean age of (59.66 +/- 9.93) years. The clinical symptoms were evaluated by WOMAC, the imaging of KOA was assessed by K-L score and WORMS, and COMP and CTX- II were measured respectively by ELISA. The correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analysis were studied to determine associations among biomarkers, clinical variables and radiographic findings of knee joints.

RESULTSThe average scores of WOMAC and WORMS were (57.50 +/- 8.20) and (64.54 +/- 16.45) respectively. The median of CTX- II nd COMP were 2.42 ng/ml and 4.56 ng/ml respectively. Grouped by less than the lowest quartile and more than the highest quartile of WORMS, COMP was significantly different (Z=2.04, P=0.039), but there was no significant difference in CTX-II (Z=0.79, P=0.427). WORMS were positively correlated with WOMAC and K-L score (r=0.777, P<0.01; r=0.716, P<0.01; respectively); WOMAC was also positively correlated with K-L score (r=0.692, P<0.01). WORMS's cartilage, osteophytes and synovitis were positively correlated with WOMAC, K-L score and COMP respectively (r=0.771, P<0.01; r=0.509, P<0.01; r=0.917, P<0.01). It was determined by stepwise regression that the KOA was mainly affected by WORMS, K-L score (P=0.015, P=0.025 respectively) when WOMAC as a dependent variable, age, gender, K-L score, WORMS, COMP and CTX- II as independent variables (F=20.327, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONWORMS has a better reference value for diagnosis of KOA. The expression of COMP is high in the synovial fluid when WORMS at the high point. The clinical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are mainly affected by WORMS and K-L score.

Aged ; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; analysis ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Matrilin Proteins ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Peptides ; analysis

Adult ; Aged ; Cisterna Magna ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of comprehensive control strategy of schistosomiasis with emphasis on infection source control in Anhui province.

METHODSForty endemic villages in Guichi district, Chizhou city, Anhui province were selected as national pilot villages in the years from 2006 to 2008, and another 10 provincial pilot villages were respectively selected from 10 highly endemic villages in 7 cities in 2007. The comprehensive infection source control measures, including "replace cattle with machines", "raise livestock in pens", "improve the sanitary toilets", "supply safe water " and so on were carried out among the above pilot villages. At the end of 2008, 13 national pilot villages and 6 provincial pilot villages were selected to investigate the popularity of schistosomiasis, and the effect of the comprehensive control strategy in those villages were compared.

RESULTSAfter implementing the comprehensive control strategy, the infectious rate of schistosomiasis in national pilot villages decreased from 4.57% (487/10 659) to 1.76% (147/8370), with the reduction rate at 61.49%, whose difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 115.16, P < 0.01); and the density of infected snails decreased from 0.0067/0.1 m(2) to 0.0008/0.1 m(2), the infectious rate of snails decreased from 0.28% to 0.04%, whose reduction rates were 88.06% and 85.71% respectively. While as to the provincial pilot villages, the infectious rate of schistosomiasis decreased from 1.27% (54/4254) to 0.21% (14/6592), with the reduction rate at 83.46%, whose difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 94.57, P < 0.01); and the density of infected snails decreased from 0.0025/0.1 m(2) to 0.0003/0.1 m(2), the infection rate of snails decreased from 0.13% to 0.05%, whose reduction rates were 88.00% and 61.54% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive control strategy with emphasis on infection source control implemented in marshland and lake regions can effectively control the transmission of schistosomiasis.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; parasitology ; Humans ; Infection Control ; methods ; Livestock ; Pilot Projects ; Rural Health ; Schistosomiasis ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

Effective biomarkers for clinical usage of osteoarthritis are still limited. It was confirmed that C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX- II) was a specific marker reflecting degradation of articular cartilage. Detection of CTX- II could promptly reflect level of cartilage injury and degradation ,diagnose OA,predict its progress,monitor effects of drug treatment, thus, reflect the condition of osteoarthritis patient indirectly. Application of CTX- II focused mainly on in the early stage of OA and need together to detect with other biomarkers,in order to more accurately reflection of the pathological changes of OA,but the specific clinical significance of CTX- II results still need to improve further.
Biomarkers ; analysis ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Collagen Type II ; analysis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; diagnosis ; Peptide Fragments ; analysis

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of preserving autonomic nerve (PANP) in patients with low rectal cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 68 cases of patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery in our hospital from March 2014 to January 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the surgical methods,the patients were divided into PANP group and non PANP group.Two groups of patients with postoperative micturition function,sexual function and quality of life were observed,compared with the two groups of patients with postoperative satisfaction differences.Results:In retention of PANP group of patients with postoperative ultrasonic residual urine volume was lower than that in non retention in PANP group were less and recovery of automatic micturition time is short retention in PANP group,IPSS score was lower than that in non low retention in PANP group,the difference is statistically significant(P＜0.05);The female and male patients with retention of PANP group were better than those of non retention PANP group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05);There was no significant difference in quality of life between the two groups before surgery.After surgery,the quality of life of the two groups was lower than before treatment,and the decrease of PANP group was more obvious than that of the non retention group (P＜0.05).Conclusions:The autonomic nerve preservation in the operation of low rectal cancer has a good protective effect on the urinary function and sexual function,and can obviously improve the quality of life of patients after operation.

OBJECTIVETo establish the method of clinic genetic testing for common deaf genes such as mtDNA nt1555, GJB2 gene and SLC26A4 (Pendrin's syndrome gene, PDS) gene.

METHODSThree hundred and sixty seven sporadic patients with hearing loss from out-patient department of General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, 60 patients with history of maternal inherited hearing loss from 27 family, 20 congenital deaf patients from special educational school for deaf and dumb, 3 deaf patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) confirmed by CT scan, 50 control individuals with normal bone conductive hearing were analyzed. The genetic testing kit for mtDNA A1555G mutation was used to detect mtDNA A1555G mutation. The whole gene sequencing were accomplished in 20 congenital deaf patients. In 3 patients with EVA, fragments covering all exons of PDS gene were analyzed by denatured high productive liquid chromatogram and special exons were sequenced when DHPLC showed abnormal wave patterns of amplicons covering these exons.

RESULTSFifty nine patients from 26 family and 5 sporadic patients were found to carry mtDNA A1555G mutation. Among 20 congenital deaf patients, 2 cases were found to have homozygous GJB2 235 del C mutation, 1 case had compound 235del C and 299-300 del AT mutation. Other 2 cases carried heterozygous 109 A-G mutation. Among 3 patients with EVA, 1 case was found to have heterozygous PDS G316X mutation and other 2 cases had homozygous 919-2 A-G mutation. CONCLUSIONS Genetic testing for deafness is feasible procedure with remarkable clinic significance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study role of TLR4/NF-κB pathway for early change of synovial membrane in knee osteoarthritis rats. METHODS: Eighteen male SD rats weighted (200±20) g were randomly divided into 2 groups, namely control and model group, and 9 in each group. Knee OA model group was established by using modified Hulth method in model group. Control group was not treated. Synovial tissue and serum was extracted at 4 and 21 d after operation. Expression of CD14, TLR4, IL-1β, TNF-α, ADAMTS-4, MMP-13 were detected by real-time PCR respectively. NF-κB p65 protein was detected by Western-blot; serum concentrations of haluronic acid (HA), N-propeptide of type III procollagen(PIIINP) was detected by Elisa. RESULTS: Expression of CD14, ADAMTS-4, and NF-κB p65 in model group were higher than that of control group at 4 and 21 days after operation, while expression of TLR4, IL-1β, TNF-α and MMP-13 were higher than that of control group at 21 days after operation(<0.01). Concentration of PIIINP and HA in model group were higher than that of control group at 4 days after operation, while there was no significant difference at 21 days after operation. CONCLUSIONS NF-κB pathway could mediate occurrence of KOA by early activating and triggeringg synovial increasingly secreting inflammatory secretion CD14, TLR4, IL-1β, TNF-α, ADAMTS-4, MMP-13, PIIINP and HA.
Animals ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Synovial Membrane ; Toll-Like Receptor 4