Objective:To investigate the difference in brain activity intensity between methamphetamine (MA) dependent patients (MA group) and healthy controls (control group) using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), and to establish a classification model between these two groups using support vector machine (SVM).Methods:From February 2014 to October 2019, a total of 46 male MA-dependent patients and 46 male healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University. The study collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and analyzed the differences in brain functional activity between the two groups. This analysis was conducted using both static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (d-fALFF). Additionally, the study examined the correlation between fALFF/d-fALFF values in specific brain regions and the total scores, as well as each factor score, of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Furthermore, the relationship between fALFF/d-fALFF values and the age of first use and total dose of MA in the MA group was investigated. Finally, the fALFF map and d-fALFF map of brain regions with significant differences between groups were used as features for constructing classification.Results:Compared to the healthy control group, those dependent on MA showed significantly increased fALFF mainly in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and amygdala nucleus( t=-5.21--2.72, all P<0.05). The MA group exhibited decreased fALFF in the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, orbital gyrus, and cingulate gyrus( t=3.59-5.00, all P<0.05). Most of the brain regions with decreased d-fALFF overlapped with those exhibiting decreased fALFF( t=3.33-4.87, all P<0.05). The results of the correlation analysis showed that the fALFF value of the right nucleus accumbens was positively correlated with the age of first use of MA ( r=0.537, P<0.001). There is no significant relationship between the abnormal fALFF and d-fALFF values in the MA group and the total scores and each factor scores of BPRS, as well as the total dose of MA taken (after removing outliers). Based on fALFF and d-fALFF values, the SVM classifier achieved accuracies of 90.33%±6.89% and 71.56%±7.80%, respectively. Conclusions:There are significant abnormalities in the low-frequency fluctuation of the resting brain in patients dependent on MA. These abnormalities reflect the rigidity of prefrontal cortex activity, functional impairment, and dysfunction of the anti-reward system. These factors may be one of the causes for MA dependent behavior and repeated episodes. In addition, the fALFF values may be helpful for distinguishing MA dependent individuals from the control group.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism by which histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) regulates steroid-induced apoptosis of mouse osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cells. METHODS: MLY-O4 cells were treated with 400 nmol/L trichostatin A (TSA) or 1 mmol/L dexamethasone for 24 h or transfected with a HDAC1-overexpressing vector prior to TSA or dexamethasone treatment. The changes in the expressions of HDAC1, SP1, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, SP1 acetylation level, cell proliferation, and cell apoptosis were examined. The interaction between HDAC1 and SP1 was determined with immunoprecipitation assay and Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with dexamethasone significantly increased cell apoptosis, enhanced the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, reduced HDAC1 expression, and suppressed proliferation of MLO-Y4 cells. Both TSA and dexamethasone obviously increased SP1 acetylation level and the expression of SP1 in MLO-Y4 cells. HDAC1 overexpression in the cells significantly attenuated the effect of TSA and dexamethasone, promoted cell proliferation, lowered the expressions of SP1, cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and inhibited dexamethasone-induced cell apoptosis. Immunoprecipitation assay and Western blotting demonstrated the interaction between HDAC1 and SP1 in the cells. CONCLUSIONS HDAC1 inhibits dexamethasone-induced apoptosis and promotes proliferation of cultured mouse osteocytes by suppressing SP1 expression via promoting its deacetylation.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mice ; Histone Deacetylase 1/genetics* ; Osteocytes/drug effects* ; Sp1 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Acetylation ; Dexamethasone/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Hydroxamic Acids/pharmacology* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the difference in brain activity intensity between methamphetamine (MA) dependent patients (MA group) and healthy controls (control group) using fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), and to establish a classification model between these two groups using support vector machine (SVM).Methods:From February 2014 to October 2019, a total of 46 male MA-dependent patients and 46 male healthy controls were recruited from the Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University. The study collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and analyzed the differences in brain functional activity between the two groups. This analysis was conducted using both static and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (d-fALFF). Additionally, the study examined the correlation between fALFF/d-fALFF values in specific brain regions and the total scores, as well as each factor score, of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Furthermore, the relationship between fALFF/d-fALFF values and the age of first use and total dose of MA in the MA group was investigated. Finally, the fALFF map and d-fALFF map of brain regions with significant differences between groups were used as features for constructing classification.Results:Compared to the healthy control group, those dependent on MA showed significantly increased fALFF mainly in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, thalamus, and amygdala nucleus( t=-5.21--2.72, all P<0.05). The MA group exhibited decreased fALFF in the superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, orbital gyrus, and cingulate gyrus( t=3.59-5.00, all P<0.05). Most of the brain regions with decreased d-fALFF overlapped with those exhibiting decreased fALFF( t=3.33-4.87, all P<0.05). The results of the correlation analysis showed that the fALFF value of the right nucleus accumbens was positively correlated with the age of first use of MA ( r=0.537, P<0.001). There is no significant relationship between the abnormal fALFF and d-fALFF values in the MA group and the total scores and each factor scores of BPRS, as well as the total dose of MA taken (after removing outliers). Based on fALFF and d-fALFF values, the SVM classifier achieved accuracies of 90.33%±6.89% and 71.56%±7.80%, respectively. Conclusions:There are significant abnormalities in the low-frequency fluctuation of the resting brain in patients dependent on MA. These abnormalities reflect the rigidity of prefrontal cortex activity, functional impairment, and dysfunction of the anti-reward system. These factors may be one of the causes for MA dependent behavior and repeated episodes. In addition, the fALFF values may be helpful for distinguishing MA dependent individuals from the control group.

Objective:To investigate the topological alterations of white matter networks in methamphetamine (MA)-dependent patients.Methods:Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based probabilistic tractography was used to map the white matter networks in 46 male MA-dependent patients (MA group) and 46 male healthy controls (control group). A network-based statistic (NBS) approach was used to evaluate the differences in the white matter connections between the two groups, and then a general linear model was used to compare the topological properties between two groups, and the correlation between the network parameters with significant differences between groups and the clinical variables were analyzed.Results:The study found the brain structural network for both MA group and control group presented with characteristics of a small-world network. The significantly increased structural connections in the MA group are mainly located in the reward system and visual system. The shortest path length in MA group was significantly reduced, while the clustering coefficient, global efficiency and local efficiency were significantly increased( t=-2.890, 3.179, 3.918, 3.077, P<0.01 after the 10 000 permutation test). The study also found that the betweenness centrality in MA group was significantly reduced in the orbitofrontal cortex and the parietal temporal cortex, while the left ventral anterior insula was significantly increased ( P<0.05 after the 5 000 permutation test).In addition, the betweenness centrality of the right thalamus, the left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, right precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus, and right superior marginal gyrus was negatively correlated to the lack of vitality factor score in the BPRS, and the negative correlations were found between the betweenness centrality of the right corpus callosum sulcus and the thinking disorder factor score, and the betweenness centrality of the right thalamus was also negatively correlated with total BPRS score as well as the activity factor score; the correlation coefficients r and P were r=-0.410, P=0.005; r=-0.331, P=0.026; r=-0.410, P=0.005; r=-0.337, P=0.024; r=-0.341, P=0.022; r=-0.317, P=0.034; r=-0.318, P=0.033; r=-0.342, P=0.022; r=-0.326, P=0.029, respectively. Conclusions:The brain structural network of MA-dependent patients still present with the characters of small-world network, and the efficiency of information transmission and integration between brain regions is significantly speeding up, and the betweenness centrality of some brain regions can some what reflect the severity of psychotic symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the topological alterations of white matter networks in methamphetamine (MA)-dependent patients.Methods:Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based probabilistic tractography was used to map the white matter networks in 46 male MA-dependent patients (MA group) and 46 male healthy controls (control group). A network-based statistic (NBS) approach was used to evaluate the differences in the white matter connections between the two groups, and then a general linear model was used to compare the topological properties between two groups, and the correlation between the network parameters with significant differences between groups and the clinical variables were analyzed.Results:The study found the brain structural network for both MA group and control group presented with characteristics of a small-world network. The significantly increased structural connections in the MA group are mainly located in the reward system and visual system. The shortest path length in MA group was significantly reduced, while the clustering coefficient, global efficiency and local efficiency were significantly increased( t=-2.890, 3.179, 3.918, 3.077, P<0.01 after the 10 000 permutation test). The study also found that the betweenness centrality in MA group was significantly reduced in the orbitofrontal cortex and the parietal temporal cortex, while the left ventral anterior insula was significantly increased ( P<0.05 after the 5 000 permutation test).In addition, the betweenness centrality of the right thalamus, the left superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, right precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus, and right superior marginal gyrus was negatively correlated to the lack of vitality factor score in the BPRS, and the negative correlations were found between the betweenness centrality of the right corpus callosum sulcus and the thinking disorder factor score, and the betweenness centrality of the right thalamus was also negatively correlated with total BPRS score as well as the activity factor score; the correlation coefficients r and P were r=-0.410, P=0.005; r=-0.331, P=0.026; r=-0.410, P=0.005; r=-0.337, P=0.024; r=-0.341, P=0.022; r=-0.317, P=0.034; r=-0.318, P=0.033; r=-0.342, P=0.022; r=-0.326, P=0.029, respectively. Conclusions:The brain structural network of MA-dependent patients still present with the characters of small-world network, and the efficiency of information transmission and integration between brain regions is significantly speeding up, and the betweenness centrality of some brain regions can some what reflect the severity of psychotic symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) changes of multiple sub-frequency bands in cirrhotic patients with or without hepatic encephalopathy using resting-state functional MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study recruited 46 cirrhotic patients without clinical hepatic encephalopathy (noHE), 38 cirrhotic patients with clinical hepatic encephalopathy (HE), and 37 healthy volunteers. ReHo differences were analyzed in slow-5 (0.010−0.027 Hz), slow-4 (0.027−0.073 Hz), and slow-3 (0.073−0.198 Hz) bands. Routine analysis of (0.010−0.080 Hz) band was used as a benchmark. Associations of abnormal ReHo values in each frequency band with neuropsychological scores and blood ammonia level were analyzed. Pattern classification analyses were conducted to determine whether ReHo differences in each band could differentiate the three groups of subjects (patients with or without hepatic encephalopathy and healthy controls). RESULTS: Compared to routine analysis, more differences between HE and noHE were observed in slow-5 and slow-4 bands (p < 0.005, cluster > 12, overall corrected p < 0.05). Sub-frequency band analysis also showed that ReHo abnormalities were frequency-dependent (overall corrected p < 0.05). In addition, ReHo abnormalities in each sub-band were correlated with blood ammonia level and neuropsychological scores, especially in the left inferior parietal lobe (overall corrected p < 0.05 for all frequency bands). Pattern classification analysis demonstrated that ReHo differences in lower slow-5 and slow-4 bands (both p < 0.05) and higher slow-3 band could differentiate the three groups (p < 0.05). Compared to routine analysis, ReHo features in slow-4 band obtained better classification accuracy (89%). CONCLUSION: Cirrhotic patients showed frequency-dependent changes in ReHo. Sub-frequency band analysis is important for understanding HE and clinical monitoring.
Ammonia ; Benchmarking ; Brain* ; Classification ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hepatic Encephalopathy* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Parietal Lobe

Objective To evaluate the implementation effect of the standardized training system for the residents in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine. Methods The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine 2015 Chinese medicine (including Chinese Medicine) clinical medical postgraduates of TCM standardized resident training mode, make a comprehensive evaluation on the analysis and comparison of the training mode of the traditional 2015 stage. Results The outstanding students in grade 2014 were 15 (10.1％), and the 2015 were 33 people (23.1％), where the difference was significant. There 134 residents in grade 2014 completed the training (90.5％), and the 2015 were 140 (97.9％), where the difference was significant between two groups (P<0.05). Conclusions One year of residents training in Hunan province has achieved certain results that the Chinese medicine standardized resident training mode is superior to the traditional training mode in the clinical skills, but the detail specification needs to be improved.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of esophageal cancer related gene 4 (ECRG4) in human hepatocellular carcinoma and the role of ECRG4 in proliferation, apoptosis and migration of hepatoma cells.

METHODSECRG4 expression was investigated in normal or tumor liver cell lines including QSG7701 and HepG2 cells, and in 24 pairs of fresh samples of hepatocellular carcinoma by quantitative real-time PCR or Western blot. ECRG4-pcDNA3.1 expressing plasmid was transfected into HepG2 cells, of which cellular proliferation, apoptosis and migration were documented.

RESULTSECRG4 mRNA expression was reduced or absent in most primary hepatocellular carcinoma samples (95.8%, 23 out of 24 hepatocellular carcinoma samples) compared to their paired normal liver samples (P < 0.01). ECRG4 mRNA was significantly lower in HepG2 cells than QSG7701 cells (P < 0.05) along with decreased ECRG4 protein expression. HepG2 cells overexpressing ECRG4 showed decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis and reduced migration as compared with control cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSECRG4 expression is frequently down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma. Overexpression of ECRG4 inhibits the proliferation and migration but promotes apoptosis of HepG2 cells, suggesting that ECRG4 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore may serve as a novel target for precision therapy.

Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the expression of esophageal cancer related gene 4( ECRG4) in human hepatocellular carcinoma and the role of ECRG 4 in proliferation, apoptosis and migration of hepatoma cells .Methods ECRG4 expression was investigated in normal or tumor liver cell lines including QSG7701 and HepG2 cells, and in 24 pairs of fresh samples of hepatocellular carcinoma by quantitative real-time PCR or Western blot.ECRG4-pcDNA3.1 expressing plasmid was transfected into HepG 2 cells, of which cellular proliferation , apoptosis and migration were documented .Results ECRG4 mRNA expression was reduced or absent in most primary hepatocellular carcinoma samples ( 95.8%, 23 out of 24 hepatocellular carcinoma samples ) compared to their paired normal liver samples ( P <0.01 ) .ECRG4 mRNA was significantly lower in HepG2 cells than QSG7701 cells (P<0.05) along with decreased ECRG4 protein expression.HepG2 cells overexpressing ECRG 4 showed decreased proliferation , increased apoptosis and reduced migration as compared with control cells ( P <0.05 ) .Conclusions ECRG4 expression is frequently down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma.Overexpression of ECRG 4 inhibits the proliferation and migration but promotes apoptosis of HepG 2 cells,suggesting that ECRG4 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and therefore may serve as a novel target for precision therapy .

Objective To know the basic hygienic condition of the drinking water safety project in the countryside of Ya'an. Methods The water samples were collected in 2008 and were analyzed complying with the standard protocol of drinking water quality test(GB/T 5750-2006),the basic condition of the water supply was investigated in the same time. Results The main water sources of the researched 133 water supply projects were brook and spring,accounted for 64.66%. The central water supply projects with complete water treatment accounted for 36.84% ,the projects with partial water treatment accounted for 56.39% ,the projects without water treatment accounted for 6.77%. In the projects with partial water treatment, 84% of them had no disinfection facilities. In low flow and ample flow period,the eligible rates of water quality were 26.32%(70/266)and 37.98%(98/258)respectively. The bacteriological indexes were the main influencing factors. Conclusion The centralized water supply projects in the countryside in Ya'an have a high eligible rate in the items,but the bacteria contamination is still a main influencing factor in the rural area drinking water safety.