We previously identified a unique nucleus, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-contacting nucleus. This study aims to understand its gene architecture and preliminarily suggest its functions. The results showed that there were about 19,666 genes in this nucleus, of which 913 were distinct from the dorsal raphe nucleus (non-CSF contacting). The top 40 highly-expressed genes are mainly related to energy metabolism, protein synthesis, transport, secretion, and hydrolysis. The main neurotransmitter is 5-HT. The receptors of 5-HT and GABA are abundant. The channels for Cl^-, Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ are routinely expressed. The signaling molecules associated with the CaMK, JAK, and MAPK pathways were identified accurately. In particular, the channels of transient receptor potential associated with nociceptors and the solute carrier superfamily members associated with cell membrane transport were significantly expressed. The relationship between the main genes of the nucleus and life activities is preliminarily verified.
Rats ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Cerebrospinal Fluid/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Meshes play a crucial role in hernia repair. However, the displacement of mesh inevitably leads to various associated complications. This process is difficult to be traced by conventional imaging means. The purpose of this study is to create a contrast-enhanced material with high-density property that can be detected by computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The contrast-enhanced monofilament was manufactured from barium sulfate nanoparticles and medical polypropylene (PP/Ba). To characterize the composite, stress tensile tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. Toxicity and biocompatibility of PP/Ba materials was verified by in vitro cellular assays. Meanwhile, the inflammatory response was tested by protein adsorption assay. In addition, an animal model was established to demonstrate the long-term radiographic effect of the composite material in vivo. Subsequent pathological tests confirmed its in vivo compatibility. RESULTS: The SEM revealed that the main component of the monofilament is carbon. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that novel material does not affect cell activity and proliferation. Protein adsorption assays indicated that the contrast-enhanced material does not cause additional inflammatory responses. In addition, in vivo experiments illustrated that PP/Ba mesh can be detected by CT and has good in vivo compatibility. CONCLUSION These results highlight the excellent biocompatibility of the contrast-enhanced material, which is suitable for human abdominal wall tissue engineering.

Objective: To explore the clinical features, the serotype distribution and drug resistance of the isolates in patient with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Methods: By retrieving the laboratory information system in 18 children′s hospitals from 2012 to 2017, the children with IPD were enrolled. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) must be isolated from the sterile sites (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, hydrothorax and joint effusion etc.). The clinical characteristics, serotype, drug resistance, treatment and prognosis were reviewed and analyzed. According to the telephone follow up results, the patients were divided into death group and recovered group. The index as an independent risk factor of mortality was demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 1 138 children with IPD, including 684 male and 454 female. The proportion of male to female was 1.5∶1. The age ranged from one day to 16 years. The median age was 1 year 3 month. The majority was under 5 years of age (89.3%, n= 1 016), especially under 2 years of age (61.9%, n=704). In all cases, 88.2% (n=1 004) were community acquired infection. The infections included meningitis (n=446, 39.2%), pneumonia with bacteremia (n=339, 29.8%), and bacteremia without focus (n=232, 20.4%). Underlying diseases were found in 242 cases (21.3%). Co-infections were determined in 62 cases (5.4%) with mycoplasma, 27 cases (2.4%) with adenovirus and 34 cases with influenza virus (3.0%). The penicillin insensitivity (PNSP) rates in meningitis and non-meningitis isolates were 69.5% (276/397) and 35.9% (221/615), respectively. There were 81 strains serotyped, in which 93.8% (76/81) were covered by 13-valent protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV13). In the 965 patients who were followed up by phone call, 156 cases (16.2%) were confirmed dead. The independent risk factors for the death were under 2 years of age (OR=2.143, 95%CI 1.284-3.577, P=0.004), meningitis (OR=3.066, 95%CI 1.852-5.074, P<0.01), underlying disease (OR=4.801, 95%CI 2.953-7.804, P<0.01), septic shock(OR=3.542, 95%CI 1.829-6.859, P<0.01), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (OR=4.150, 95%CI 1.468-11.733, P=0.007), multiple organ failure (OR=12.693, 95%CI 6.623-24.325, P<0.01) and complications of central nervous system (OR=1.975, 95%CI 1.144-3.410, P=0.015). Conclusions Most children with IPD were under 5 years of age, having underlying diseases and acquired the infection in community. The independent risk factors for death were under two years old, meningitis, underlying diseases and multiple organ failure. The problem of drug resistance was severe. The universal immunization of PCV13 would be effective to prevent IPD in Chinese children.

Objective To study the effect of recombinant human platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (rPAF-AH) on candidate plasticity-related gene 15 (CPG15) expression in focal cerebral ischemia rats.Methods Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,saline group and rPAF-AH group (15 in each group).A middle cerebral artery occlusion model of rats was established for the latter two groups.Each group was divided into 2 d group,7 d group,14 d group.Five rats in each of 2 d group,7 d group,14 d group were used in experiment.The total protein was extracted from coronary sections using homogenate.CPG15 protein expression was detected by Western blot.Results The CPG15 protein expression level was significantly higher in saline group and rPAF-AH group than in sham operation group on days 2,7,14 and reached its peak on day 7,and in rPAF-AH group than in saline group on day 7 (1.48±0.04 vs 1.12±0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion PAF-AH plays a positive role in neuroplasticity of cerebral ischemia by upregulating the CPG-15 expression in focal cerebral ischemia rats.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods Aretrospective study was conducted for 183 patients with moderate to severe TBI (125 males,58 females;6-91 years of age,mean 48.23 years).According the presence of PTH,the patients were allocated into PTH group (n =34) and non-PTH group (n =149).Risk factors of PTh were assessed by univariate and logistic regression analysis,including gender,age,injury types,injury severity,intraventricular hemorrhage,subarachnoid hemorrhage,midline shift,subdural effusion,therapeutic strategies and skull defect.Association between the boundaries of skull defect and PTH was determined.Results Between-group differences were not significant regarding age,gender,injury types and intraventricular hemorrhage (P ＞ 0.05),but differed significantly in injury severity,subarachnoid hemorrhage,midline shift,subdural effusion,craniectomy and skull defect (P ＜ 0.05).Further Logistic regression analysis confirmed subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR =6.169),interhemispheric subdural effusion (OR =31.743),and unilateral (OR =17.602) and bilateral (OR =30.567) skull defects were risk factors of PTH.Of the patients with unilateral skull defect following decompressive craniectomy,the inferior limit ≤ 10 mm from the zygomatic arch also played a role in the development of PTH (OR =5.500,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Subarachnoid hemorrhage,interhemispheric subdural effusion and skull defect are risk factors of PTH.Unilateral skull defects with the inferior limit too close to the zygomatic arch can predispose to the development of PTH.

Aim To determine the plasma protein binding rate of five components of Eucommia ulmoides extract. Methods The equilibrium dialysis method was used to study the plasma protein binding rate. The plasma samples were extracted by protein precipitation with methanol. With the use of puerarin as the internal standard, UPLC-MS/MS was carried out to determine the concentration of the five compounds in and out of the dialysis membrane. Results The average plasma protein binding rates of five compounds on the area of the concentration which was determinate were as fol-lows, respectively: geniposidic acid was ( 25. 77 ± 2. 68 )%, protocatechuic acid was ( 57. 54 ± 3. 79)%, chlorogenic acid was (53. 91 ± 3. 00)%, pinoresinol diglucoside was (24. 15 ± 4. 92)%, and pinoresinol singleglucoside was (49. 78 ± 3. 61)%. Conclusions The results show that the binding percentage of geniposidic acid and pinoresinol diglucoside is relatively low, but the binding rate of the others with rat plasma protein is moderate.

ObjectiveTo summarize the imaging characteristics of solitary necrotic nodule of the liver (SNNL) on contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and to investigate the role CEUS plays in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SNNL. MethodsTwenty-five lesions of 23 cases diagnosed with SNNL by CEUS were retrospectively analyzed for findings of ultrasonography and contrast enhancement. ResultsFive patients were confirmed with SNNL by pathological examination of surgically resected liver tissue; necrotic nodule was confirmed in 18 patients by ultrasonographic follow-up or other imaging methods (contrast-enhanced computed tomography or contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging). In 12 of the 25 SNNL lesions, no contrast agent enhancement was observed in all phases; 13 lesions showed thin-ring enhancement around the lesions on the arterial phase images and iso-enhancement with the liver on the portal and delayed phase images without enhancement inside the lesions in all phases. ConclusionThe typical imaging of SNNL on CEUS is no enhancement of the whole lesion in all phases or thin-ring enhancement around the lesion with no enhancement inside the lesion in all phases, which is helpful for the differentiation from other space-occupying lesions of the liver.

Objective To investigate the relationship between platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene Arg92His(4, 275; G→A), Ile198Thr(7, 593; T→C) and Val279Phe(9, 994; G→T) mutation and cerebral artery athero-sclerosis stenosis. Methods Six hundred forty-twopatients with cerebral infarction underwent cerebral digital subtrac-tion angiography (DSA).The patients were then divided into cerebral artery atherosclerosis stenosis (CAAS) group(n=477) and control group(n=81) accroding to the site and severity of their cerebral artery stenosis. Furthermore, the CAAS group were divided into intracranial artery stenosis(ICAS) subgroup(n=251), extracranial artery stenosis(ECAS) subgroup (n=115) and extracranial-intracerebral artery stenosis(ECAS) subgroup(n=111). The distributions of genotype and allele frequencies of Arg92His,Ile198Thr and Val279Phe mutation of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase gene were ex-amined and comparied in different groups. Results There were significant differences in the distributions of genotype and allele of Arg92His mutation between ICAS subgroup and control group(42.6% vs. 30.3%;23.3% vs. 16.4%, P <0.05). These associations were not detected in ECAS and IECAS subgroups. There was no significant association be-tween Ile198Thr and Val279Phe and stenosis at any site(P>0.05). The distributions of genotype and allele of Arg92His, Ile198Thr and Val279Phe mutation were no significantly difference between CAAS group and control group (P >0.05). Conclusions Arg92His mutation may be associated with intracranial artery atherosclerotic stenosis.

Objective To assess the association between interleukin-10-1082 (IL-10-1082) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of gastric cancer in the Chinese population.Methods Cochrane systematic evaluation was adopted for the analysis.Articles published in Medline,Embase,Cochrane library,CBM,CJFD and CSJD from 1966 to 2012 were retrieved.Case control studies on the correlation between the 1L-10-1082 polymorphism and gastric cancer in Chinese population were collected.Gastric cancer patients were in the gastric cancer group,and healthy individuals were in the control group.Two researchers extracted data and evaluated the quality of literatures independently.Meta analysis was performed to detect whether there were differences between the gastric cancer group and the control group about the distribution of genotypes of IL-10-1082 gene (GG,AA,AG,AA,alleles G and A).The heterogeneity was analyzed using the Q test or I2 test.Fixed effect model or random effect model was adopted,and the results of the meta analysis were presented with odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (95％ CI).Results Thirteen literatures including 5252 patients were included in the analysis.There were 2077 patients in the gastric cancer group and 3175 patients in the control group.The results of meta analysis showed that population with the genotypes GG and AG have higher risk of having gastric cancer when compared with population with the genotype AA (OR =1.76,95％ CI 1.33-2.33 ; OR =2.08,95％ CI 1.62-2.66,P ＜0.05).Population with the allele G have higher risk of having gastric cancer when compared with population with allele A (OR =1.67,95％ CI 1.31-2.13,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The genotypes GG,AG and the allele G of IL-10-1082 gcne of the Chincse population are significantly associated with the increased risk of gastric cancer.

Objective Toinvestigatetheriskfactorsforleukoaraiosis(LA)inpatientswithlarge arteryatherosclerosis(LAA).Methods Theclinicaldata(age,sex,hypertension,diabetes,smoking, serum lipid level,hyperhomocysteinemia,and numbers of stenosis or occluded cerebral arteries)of 312 patients with LAA classified by the modified stop stroke study trial of Org 10172 in acute stroke treatment (SSS-TOAST ) were analyzed retrospectively. The age-related white matter changes (age related white matter changes,ARWMC)scale was used to evaluate LA. All the 312 patients were divided into non-LA group(n=72)and LA group(n=240)according the T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence,and 3 groups according to the (age-related white matter changes,ARWMC)scores:mild LA,moderate LA,and severe LA groups. The patients with multiple risk factors were analyzed by the univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses. Results (1)Of the 312 patients with LA,227 were males (72. 8%). Their average age was 64 ± 11 years,and 240 of them (76. 9%)had LA. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR,2. 911,95%CI 1. 647-5.146,P=0. 000),hypertension (OR,2. 583,95%CI 1. 373-4.857,P<0. 01),diabetes (OR,1. 882, 95%CI 1. 058-3. 348,P <0. 05),the numbers of stenosis or occlusion arteries (OR,1. 851,95%CI 1.018-3. 367,P<0. 05),and lacunar infarction (LI)(OR,1.493,95%CI 1. 202-1. 853,P<0. 01)were the risk factors for LA. (2)The comparison of the clinical data in patients with different severity in the LA group found that there were significant differences in age,hypertension,diabetes,the numbers of stenosis or occlusionarteries,andLIamongthe3groups(allP<0.05).Conclusion Age,hypertension,diabetes, the numbers of stenosis or occlusion arteries,and LI are the independent risk factors for patients with LAA,and it is associated with the severity of LA.