Humans and animals have a fundamental ability to use experiences and environmental information to organize behavior. It often happens that humans and animals make decisions and prepare actions under uncertain situations. Uncertainty would significantly affect the state of animals' minds, but may not be reflected in behavior. How to "read animals' mind state" under different situations is a challenge. Here, we report that neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats can reflect the environmental uncertainty when the task situation changes from certain to uncertain. Rats were trained to perform behavioral tasks under certain and uncertain situations. Under certain situations, rats were required to simply repeat two nose-poking actions that each triggered short auditory tone feedback (single-task situation). Whereas under the uncertain situation, the feedback could randomly be either the previous tone or a short musical rhythm. No additional action was required upon the music feedback, and the same secondary nose-poking action was required upon the tone feedback (dual-task situation); therefore, the coming task was uncertain before action initiation. We recorded single-unit activity from the mPFC when the rats were performing the tasks. We found that in the dual task, when uncertainty was introduced, many mPFC neurons were actively engaged in dealing with the uncertainty before the task initiation, suggesting that the rats could be aware of the task situation change and encode the information in the mPFC before the action of task initiation.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/cytology* ; Uncertainty ; Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Long-Evans ; Action Potentials/physiology* ; Acoustic Stimulation

Objective:To investigate the correlation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) classified by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Data and Report System (LI-RADS) with differentiation degree and Ki-67 index.Methods:A multicenter, retrospective study was conducted.The clinical and CEUS imaging data of 208 patients with 208 HCC lesions from December 2017 to December 2020 in China CEUS database were included and analyzed. According to the CEUS LI-RADS version 2017 proposed by the American College of Radiology, the HCC was classified. The diagnosis and pathological information of all lesions were confirmed by pathology. The differentiation degree of HCC and the distribution of Ki-67 index in different LI-RADS categories were evaluated, and their correlation was analyzed.Results:The degree of differentiation and Ki-67 index among HCC of different CEUS LI-RADS were statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.009). LI-RADS M HCC was more likely to be poorly differentiated and showed a higher Ki-67 index. The category of LI-RADS was positively correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation (tau-b=-0.250, P<0.001) and the Ki-67 index (tau-b=0.178, P=0.002), that is, the higher the category of LI-RADS, the lower differentiation degree and the higher the Ki-67. Conclusions:The CEUS LI-RADS classification of HCC is correlating with the degree of differentiation and Ki-67 index.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and prognostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT for response assessment after treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) when using the Deauville criteria and International Harmonization Project (IHP) criteria.Methods A total of 212 patients (119 males,93 males,average age:59.6(10-88) years) with DLBCL from February 2010 to June 2018 were analyzed.All subjects underwent restaging PET/CT after treatment.Images were evaluated with the IHP criteria,Deauville score of 3-5 (DC3) and Deauville score of 4-5 (DC4).The diagnostic efficiency of the 3 criteria for treatment effect was assessed and follow-up results were used as the gold standard.Spearman rank correlation analysis was used.Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model.Results The positive predictive value and accuracy of DC4 for treatment effect evaluation were 96.8％(61/63) and 94.3％(200/212),those of IHP criteria were 75.3％(67/89) and 87.7％(186/212)respectively,and those of DC3 were 82.9％ (68/82) and 92.0％ (195/212) respectively.IHP criteria results and Deauville scores were correlated(rs =0.926,P＜0.05).The 2-year PFS rates in IHP-,DC3-and CD4-positive groups were 78.7％,76.5％ and 69.8％,respectively,and those in IHP-,DC3-and CD4-negative groups were significantly higher (95.6％,94.7％,97.2％;x2=14.415,18.293 and 26.920,all P＜0.05).The similar results were found for OS rates (x2 =9.597,11.149 and 17.416,all P＜0.05).The 2-year PFS rates in Deauville score of 1,2,3,4,5 groups were 95.3％,91.7％,93.3％,88.9％ and 55.6％ respectively (x2 =48.199,P＜0.05).Cox-regression analysis showed significant correlation between Deauville criteria and 2-year PFS rate (P＜0.05).Conclusions PET/CT with DC4,DC3 and IHP criteria have high predictive values for treatment outcome,and DC4 is the best.Cox regression analysis shows significant risk of progression by Deauville criteria.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability and validity of Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-30, 4th version, 30 items) among government staff in the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas

METHODSA total of 1,175 members of government staff in the Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas were selected by convenience sampling and required to complete the ProQOL and Self-Reporting Questionnair (SRQ). The reliability and validity of the scale was evaluated by correlation analysis, t-test, and confirmatory factor analysis.

RESULTSItem-total correlation coefficients of the three subscales were 0.590 - 0.752, 0.389 - 0.603, and 0.340 - 0.647, respectively (P<0.05), and the average coefficients were 0.672, 0.482, and 0.555 respectively (P<0.05). The Cronbach's α coefficients of the three subscales were 0.864, 0.569, and 0.742 respectively, and the split-half reliabilities were 0.829, 0.490, and 0.677, respectively. P value was 0.88 in thE chi-square test of confirmatory factor analysis model. Goodness-of-fit indices of ProQOL-30 included GFI=0.895 NFI=0.856, CFI=0.895, RMSEA=0.063, and AGFI=0.912. For the ProQOL-28 as an optimized version o ProQOL-30, the Cronbach's a coefficients for burnout and trauma/compassion fatigue increased to 0.616 and 0.757, respectively. P value was 0.91 in the chi-square test of confirmatory factor analysis model test. Goodness-of-fit indices of ProQOL-28 were GFI =0.913, AGFI =0.924, NFI =0.900, CFI =0.913, and RMSEA =0.031 CONCLUSION: ProQOL-28 has good reliability and validity among government staff in the earthquake-stricker areas in China.

Objective To investigate the value of gastrointestinal tract preparation with oral racean?isodamine tablets and isotonic mannitol in 18 F?FDG PET/CT imaging. Methods From July to September 2013, 129 patients with confirmed or suspected tumors who were referred for 18 F?FDG PET/CT imaging were divided into 2 groups. In the study group (30 males, 37 females, age (53.4±13.9) years), raceanisodam?ine tablets (10 mg) and 1 000-1 200 ml isotonic mannitol solution (2.5%) were orally taken at 10 min after in?jection of 18F?FDG;while in the control group (37 males, 25 females, age (60.0±12.8) years), 1 000-1 200 ml water was given. Mann?Whitney u test was used to compare the difference between the 2 groups in the filling degree of gastrointestinal lumen, delineation of tube wall, physiological uptake, matching degree of PET and CT images, delineation of mesentery, and the influence of gastrointestinal uptake on the identification of ab?dominal and pelvic lesions. χ2 test was used to compare the difference between the 2 groups in the uptake pattern of gastrointestinal tract and the incidence of side effects. Spearman correlation analysis was used to study the correlation between gastrointestinal lumen filling and PET/CT image matching. Results The gas?trointestinal lumen filling, delineation of tube wall, PET/CT image matching in the stomach, small intestine and colon (z: -5.096 to -2.665, all P<0.01),and delineation of mesentery (z=-2.781,P<0.01) were better in the study group than those in the control group. The filling degree of gastrointestinal lumen correla?ted with the corresponding PET/CT image matching (rs:0.521, 0.755, 0.239, all P<0.01). The physio?logical uptake of small intestine and colon was significantly higher in control group than that in the study group( z=-4.131, -3.095, both P<0.01) . But uptake in the stomach between the 2 groups was not signifi?cantly different(z=-0.776, P>0.05). There was statistically significant difference in the uptake pattern of small intestine between the two groups(χ2=12.884, P<0.01) , but not in the stomach and colon (χ2=0.559, 1.083,both P>0.05). The incidence of transient diarrhea (20?9%, 14/67) was higher in the study group than that in the control group (4.8%, 3/62;χ2=7.256,P<0.01). Conclusions The abdominal PET/CT image quality is improved by gastrointestinal preparation with oral raceanisodamine tablets (10 mg) and 1 000-1 200 ml isoton?ic mannitol solution (2.5%).

Objective To investigate the risk factors on rectovaginal fistula after resection in rectal canc-er and clinical strategy. Methods Our retrospective study included 1123 patients of recter cancer who un-derwent anterior resection with TME technique. Results 3.03% patients(34/1123) developed reetovaginal fistula. Rectovaginal fistulas were raleted with menopausal, location tumor in rectal wall and distance between tumor and anal verge, anastomotic technique, while not with age, T stage, preoperative radiotherapy, diversion stoma construction. Among 34 patients 12 were cured conservatively, fistula repair and colon stoma were performed for the other patients. Conclusions Menopausal, location tumor in rectal wall, distance between tumor and anal verge, anastomotic technique were risk factors for rectovaginal fistula after resection in rectal cancer. Correct choice of surgical procedures, suitable operative timing, enough preoperative preparation are important.

Objective To investigate the effects of tissue specific cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine (CD/5-FC) thermotherapy on hepatic metastasis of colonic carcinoma in nude mice. Methods Forty-five nude mice were randomly divided into control group, 5-FC group and 5-FC thermotherapy group according to the random number table (15 mice in each group). Mice models of hepatic metastasis of colonic carcinoma were established by portal vein injection of LoVo/CEACD cells. The hepatic metastasis rate and number of metastatic nodules of the 3 groups were compared by ehi-square test and one-way ANOVA. The pathological changes in tumor tissues and apoptotic index of tumor cells were observed. The expression of the CD gene in tumor tissues was detected by fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Results The number of metastatic nodules and liver metas-tasis rate were 4.6±1.3 and 100.0% in control group, 2.2±1.0 and 60.0% in 5-FC group, 0.5±0.8 and 13.3% in 5-FC thermotherapy group, with statistical difference among the 3 groups (F=25.898, χ2=5.208, 19.548, 5.168, P<0.05). The mean apoptotic indexes of tumor cells of the 3 groups were 4.6%, 9.9% and 17.4%, respectively. Vacuolar degeneration, cell necrosis, cytolysis and apoptotic bodies were mostly observed in the 5-FC thermotherapy group. The expression of CD gene in tumor tissue was detected in all the groups. Conclusion Tissue specific CD/5-FC thermotherapy has inhibitory effects on the hepatic metastasis of LoVo cells transfected with CD gene.

This is a research carried out to explore a pragmatic way of BCI based imaging movement, i. e. to extract the feature of EEG for reflecting different thinking by searching suitable methods of signal extraction and recognition algorithm processing, to boost the recognition rate of communication for BCI system, and finally to establish a substantial theory and experimental support for BCI application. In this paper, different mental tasks for imaging left-right hands movement from 6 subjects were studied in three different time sections (hint keying at 2s, 1s and 0s after appearance of arrow). Then we used wavelet analysis and Feed-forward Back-propagation Neural Network (BP-NN) method for processing and analyzing the experimental data of off-line. Delay time delta t2, delta t1 and delta t0 for all subjects in the three different time sections were analyzed. There was significant difference between delta to and delta t2 or delta t1 (P<0.05), but no significant difference was noted between delta t2 and delta t1 (P>0.05). The average results of recognition rate were 65%, 86.67% and 72%, respectively. There were obviously different features for imaging left-right hands movement about 0.5-1s before actual movement; these features displayed significant difference. We got higher recognition rate of communication under the hint keying at about 1s after the appearance of arrow. These showed the feasibility of using the feature signals extracted from the project as the external control signals for BCI system, and demon strated that the project provided new ideas and methods for feature extraction and classification of mental tasks for BCI.
Algorithms ; Brain ; physiology ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Evoked Potentials, Motor ; physiology ; Hand ; physiology ; Humans ; Movement ; physiology ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Pattern Recognition, Physiological ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Thinking ; physiology ; User-Computer Interface

AIM: To detect surface electromyogram (EMG) signal accurately.METHODS: How to reduce noise in the detection of surface EMG signal was discussed. It has been explored to design an electrode unit by using methods of differential amplification, active electrode, filter and so on , andto investigate the electrode shape and the right placing method.RESULTS: The instrumentation amplifier AD620 was adopted to design a bipolar active electrode, which has been successfully used in the surface EMG detection.CONCLUSION: Experiments show that using active electrode can improve ratio of signal and noise, reduce noise and detect surface EMG signal effectively.

OBJECTIVESTo detect aberrant p16 promoter methylation in serum of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and to explore the possibility of using this assay in early detection or as a prognostic marker.

METHODSMethylation-specific PCR was used to detect p16 methylation in DNA extracted from 52 CRCs and corresponding serum samples. Serum samples from 34 patients with adenomatous polyps and 10 healthy individuals were used as controls. The association of p16 hypermethylation in serum DNA of CRC patients with clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTSp16 methylation was found in 38% (20 of 52) of CRC tissues. Among the 20 patients with aberrant methylation in the tumor tissues, similar changes were also detected in the serum of 14 (70%) patients. No methylated p16 sequences were detected in the peripheral serum of the 32 CRC patients without these changes in the tumor, in 34 paitents with adenomatous polyps, or in 10 healthy controls. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that p16 methylation in serum was significantly associated with later Dukes' stage (chi(2) = 5.7, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONThis assay offers a potential means for the serum-based detection and/or monitoring of CRC patients.